Non-Human Seeking Re-employment

llumination, she revealed her true form; her entire person was just bare bones, her hair was withered, yellowed and dry, and her cheeks were utterly hollowed out.

Bit by bit, she crawled and crawled before she stopped on an empty piece of land. 

The empty snowy ground, once bereft of everything, suddenly ignited with a cluster of fire.

Above the firepit hung a soup pot that was smoking steam and a soup was currently being cooked inside.

Lisa stood up with a violence, shrugging off her bindings with both hands.
Without the slightest fear of being burnt, she placed her hands on the side of the  pot and stared at the gurgling and churning soup for a while before she pressed herself into the pot directly.

Even if a full-grown adult was emaciated to the point where they were a walking skeleton, it was impossible for them to stuff themselves into a soup pot, but she forcibly drilled herself into the small soup before she ultimately disappeared without leaving a shadow or a trace, as if she had never existed. 

What remained was the soup pot, emitting steam steadily.

Inside, the soup simmered, and a strand of blond hair could be seen.

 * * *

On the second morning, the players were awoken by a dense fragrance. 

The Businessman rubbed his eyes: “What smells so good?”

Then, he saw the soup pot set up before the tents and he shut his mouth immediately, choosing not to speak.

No matter how delicious it was, he did not dare to drink it; who knew what was cooking inside.

Alas, some people evidently had different thoughts. 

Braided Pigtails’ eyes were vacant as she headed for the soup pot directly, and saliva was trailing down her lips.

Hurriedly, the Doctor grabbed onto Braided Pigtails: “That’s made out of human flesh!”

Seemingly deaf to his words, Braided Pigtails threw off his grip with enormous strength, such that even the Doctor, a grown man, could not hold her.

Sponsored Content

She ladled up a bowl of soup and said without any fluctuations in her tone: “I’m starving, if I don’t eat anything, I’m going to die.” 

“I would rather let other people die than let it be me!”

Braided Pigtails downed the soup in one gulp.

 

Internet Celebrity abruptly said: “Lisa is gone!”

Only Leo and Borg were present inside of the tent.
In spite of the fact that their companion was missing, the two NPCs were extremely calm. 

Borg said: “Since we can eat other people, they can eat us too.”

Leo issued a strange laugh: “You guys can become us too.”

They were trapped in this hellish place because they drank the soup, forced into this vicious cycle.

As long as these new and unexpected arrivals drank the soup and entered the cycle, they could take their place and allow them to leave. 

The players casted their eyes on Braided Pigtails subconsciously, only to notice that the pleasured expression on her face bore a faint resemblance to the previous Lisa.

The Businessman swallowed his saliva and thought of a matter: “Yesterday, she drank the most soup.”

They were becoming increasingly hungry and they had chosen to drink Lisa’s soup because they had no choice left.
Apart from Shen Dongqing and Zhou Wenyan, everyone else had drank the soup.

Who was next then? 

“Hurry up and find who the deceased is!”

 * * *

Zhou Wenyan stepped out of his tent and lying on his back was a strengthless Shen Dongqing.

Shen Dongqing muttered powerlessly, “I’m starving…” 

Zhou Wenyan reached out to pat his head, saying: “It’ll be over soon.”

Once the Businessman saw them, he seemed to find a pillar of support as he rushed towards them in a hurry.
Then, he proceeded to repeat what had just transpired to them.
When they turned their heads, they discovered that Braided Pigtails had already learnt Lisa’s mannerisms of cooking the soup and she was perfectly identical.

Zhou Wenyan narrowed his eyes slightly.
“I understand now.”

Businessman: “Ah?” 

Zhou Wenyan walked towards Braided Pigtails.

Braided Pigtails: “Do you want a bowl of soup?”

 

Zhou Wenyan: “Give me a bowl.”

Braided Pigtails basically refused no one’s request; in the next second, she ladled a bowl for Zhou Wenyan. 

Instead of drinking it, however, Zhou Wenyan poured the soup straight to the ground.
Steam rose briefly, but once the hot air had dispersed, a strand of blond hair could be seen lying on the ground.

It looked like Lisa’s.

She had vanished and turned into a pot of soup.

Sponsored Content

Zhou Wenyan eyed the seething soup pot and said: “I know who the deceased is.” 

 * * *

On the second day, dinnertime arrived again.

The game was punctual as per usual.

【 Identification time has started 】 

【 Please identify who you think is the deceased 】

As that was announced, Braided Pigtails continued to hum a small tune as she stirred her soup like she hadn’t heard the system’s words at all.
It was as if she had been stripped of her identity as a player, fully transforming into a character in the copy.

The Doctor drank a lot of soup as well, and he was now staring at Zhou Wenyan with urgency in his eyes.

If they did not find the deceased today, he was afraid that he would be replacing an NPC tomorrow. 

Shen Dongqing was extremely curious: “Who is it?

He had not figured out who the deceased was up until now.
Afterall, it was not like everyone was wearing a death date on their persons.
Logically speaking, however, dead people would always have the breath of death lingering on them.

Zhou Wenyan said: “It’s not a person on the scene.”

There were players and two NPCs on the scene.
Besides Lisa who had transformed into a soup, the deceased was not within the eight people present. 

Shen Dongqing cupped his chin with both hands.
“Could there be someone else?”

He did not perceive them at all.

 

Zhou Wenyan said: “That pot.”

The players exchanged gazes and they spoke in unison: “You want us to pick a pot?” 

A pot?

It was not plausible no matter how they looked, alright?

The Internet Celebrity and Doctor whispered amongst themselves before they eventually declared their positions.

“I think we should choose Borg.” 

“Choosing a pot isn’t very reasonable, whereas I think that Borg looks especially calm.
Adding on what he previously said, it’s quite likely that he is the deceased.”

Even the Businessman who had given Zhou Wenyan his unfailing belief showed some hesitation.
“No way, isn’t it too illogical for you to choose a pot?”

Only Shen Dongqing agreed with Zhou Wenyan’s choice.
“I’ll choose whatever you choose.”

Zhou Wenyan held his hand and said in a joking manner: “Choose the pot then.” 

The Businessman looked left and right, but he did not dare to follow Zhou Wenyan’s absurd choice.
Hence, he chose the more reasonable option instead.

He gritted his teeth: “I choose Borg as well!”

Three against two.

Three people chose Borg, and the other two chose a……. 

Pot.