Chapter 33

Chapter 33

From his words alone, it was clear that he was a dominant Omega, much like the description Qiu Autumn had always received from other Alphas or Betas, fitting the typical image of an Empire Omega perfectly.

Behind him followed four or five Omegas, each with plants on their heads, without exception.

Unlike the Omega with baby's breath flowers, these Omegas had small, undernourished grasses on their heads, not flowers.

To Qiu Autumn, their appearance seemed akin to collective streaking.

This reminded him of Dong Kui, who wore a toy bear sunflower, similarly displaying the intensely private part of the plant so unabashedly.

Qiu Autumn couldn’t understand why his kind were so keen on displaying their reproductive parts on their heads; wasn't this publicly indecent?

The noisy cafeteria instantly quieted down, but the number of onlookers increased. Apart from the original crowd, many were drawn by the news of several Omegas gathering here - not just the curious freshmen, but even seniors who had been at the school for four years rarely saw such a scene.

However, everyone was sensible enough not to make much noise, only quietly observing the situation.

That was the B-grade Omega from the healing department of Dark Star Military Academy, known as the 'little devil'.

All the Alphas and Betas present were worried for the delicate and fragile little Omega.

Faced with such an assertive Omega, the first thing Qiu Autumn said after putting down his nutrition fluid was...

"Excuse me, may I ask, who are you?"

— The air froze for a moment, and audible gasps could be heard from all around.

Qiu Autumn swore he wasn’t trying to provoke the other party; he was genuinely baffled by being approached and accused by someone he didn’t know, especially being called a traitor.

As far as he remembered, he hadn’t really interacted with other Omegas, let alone made enemies. So, he was truly at a loss about the current situation.

As expected, that Omega was infuriated, his white baby’s breath flowers on his head suddenly perking up, resembling...well, like a cat's fur standing on end?

His ears turned red with anger: "You don’t know Bai Tianxing, the only B-grade healing Omega on Dark Star? Where did you even come from?!"

Qiu Autumn blinked, his long, thick eyelashes fluttering.

He looked up earnestly and answered, "A wandering Omega rescued by the Ailibiz, I've only recently arrived on Dark Star."

The initially aggressive Bai Tianxing was taken aback by Qiu Autumn's revelation of being a wandering Omega, his anger quickly extinguished, looking somewhat at a loss as he glanced at his companions.

Then, Qiu Autumn witnessed the initially fierce group start to whisper and plot right in front of him.

"He's a wandering Omega..." Bai Tianxing said, conflicted, looking at an Omega with ivy leaves on his head.

"Poor thing... No wonder he doesn’t know anything, must’ve been deceived by those shameless Alphas," the ivy Omega said.

The holly Omega stole a glance at Qiu Autumn, sitting quietly in his seat, his expression conflicted: "He looks like he's just reached adulthood, still a young Omega."

The plantain Omega patted his chest, somewhat relieved, "Did we scare him just now? Poor little Omega, we should be gentler with him."

The unfolding scene left the watching Alphas and Betas in shock. The Omegas, who were initially haughty, quickly changed their tone. A mild-looking bamboo Omega stepped forward and spoke softly to Qiu Autumn, "Little Omega, could you come with us for a moment? We have something to discuss with you, is that okay?"

Autumn Sparrow looked at the Omegas with their eager eyes, and then at Figo and the others beside him, uncertain whether he should agree or not.

Bai Tianxing, always quick-tempered, saw Autumn Sparrow's hesitation and mocked Figo, "Aren't you the Alpha who lost control at the training ground this morning, nearly harming an Omega? How come the inspection team hasn’t sent you to the treatment room yet? Or do they intend to leave you to pose a threat to other Omegas?"

In the past, Figo would never have retorted to an Omega's taunt, but with Autumn Sparrow beside him, he didn’t want the young Omega to think he was as despicable and savage as described, and instinctively denied, "I didn't mean to hurt him! It was an accident!"

The surrounding Alphas and Betas were shocked to their core—Autumn Sparrow’s fearlessness towards these Omegas was understandable, being an Omega himself; but what about this tiger-like Alpha? Daring to talk back to Bai Tianxing? Could it be because he’s a tiger Alpha, he’s actually this fierce?

Especially the Alphas, their gaze towards Figo was filled with astonishment: Since when did our Alpha community have such a brave Alpha?!

Bai Tianxing, relying on his Omega status and unique healing gene rank in the Dark Star, had always been domineering. Growing up, had any Alpha or Beta not treated him with utmost respect? When had he ever been publicly contradicted by an Alpha?

He didn't expect to be repeatedly humiliated, and in a fit of rage, he slammed his palm on the table with a loud smack, which didn't intimidate Figo but ended up hurting himself, bringing tears to his eyes.

Bai Tianxing, enduring the pain in his palm, spitefully said to Figo, "You're an A-grade Alpha? Hmph, when it’s your turn for psychological counseling and pheromone soothing, I assure you, not a single Omega in the Dark Star Military School will want to help you!"

Hearing this, everyone gasped in shock.

Apart from the education and social norms teaching Alphas and Betas to accommodate Omegas, Bai Tianxing’s threat to Figo was also one of the reasons why they tended to endure the arrogance of spoiled Omegas.

Because of their rarity, Omegas were especially united, like how they immediately sympathized with Autumn Sparrow upon learning he was a wandering Omega. Offending one meant offending all the Omegas in the school.

Being unilaterally blocked by an Omega is a terrifying ordeal; without their spiritual guidance and pheromone comfort, the latent genetic illness in Alphas and Betas remains unchecked. Even with soothing agents, it's just a drop in the bucket. Left unchecked, a genetic illness outbreak is inevitable. To survive, no one wants to cross them.

If it were the old Figo, he would have been scared, especially after witnessing the tragic end of his captain.

But when he lost control, it wasn't these high-and-mighty healing Omegas who gently comforted and patiently listened to him; it was Qiuqiu.

In his darkest, most painful moments, only the one who claimed to be a defective Omega accepted him without reservation.

He had found his own light, and besides the fear of being abandoned by it, he was fearless.

Figo straightened his back, ignoring Tang Butian's sneaky sleeve-pulling and Xu Feng's worried gaze. He faced Bai Tianxing and said firmly, "I respect every Omega equally. If this is your decision, I have no right to interfere. But I stand by my stance: I have never intended to harm any Omega, and Alphas are not just mindless beasts."

"You!" Bai Tianxing was furious.

"If you want to talk to me, at least show some respect to my friends—"

Qiuqiu coldly interrupted Bai Tianxing: "What do you think?"

"Who allowed you to be friends with an Alpha! They are all a bunch of violent maniacs who can't even control their own emotions!" Bai Tianxing was livid, having never encountered an Omega as peculiar as Qiuqiu.

Faced with his sweeping accusations, the Alphas present dared not speak out, meekly lowering their heads and silently chanting, "If I can't see me, then it's not about me."

"Why can't I be friends with Alphas?" Qiuqiu was puzzled, "I have not only Alpha friends but also many Beta friends."

"You, you—" Bai Jinxing struggled to find words to vent his anger.

"You idiot!"

He stood with his hands on his hips, brows raised, looking very fierce.

"You're being cheated by Alphas and Betas and still helping them count their money! They love deceiving fools like you who don't understand anything!"

Qiuqiu initially thought Bai Tianxing was a formidable character, but it turned out he ended up infuriating himself in the argument, leaving Qiuqiu unsure about who was actually picking the fight.

"Alright, I'll go with you. Don't be angry, you're almost wilting with rage," Qiuqiu conceded, not wanting to continue the confrontation with these Omegas in front of so many people.

Hearing his flowers were withering, Bai Tianxing immediately panicked, hastily pulling out a small mirror to check the baby's breath flowers in his hair. Only after confirming they were still thriving did he sigh in relief.

Then, it dawned on him that Qiuqiu had agreed to their request.

Bai Tianxing instantly cheered up, disregarding the harsh words previously exchanged with the Alphas. He grabbed Qiuqiu's hand, his white baby's breath flowers shaking happily.

"You're so obedient, so adorable, no wonder those stinky Alphas and Betas all like you."

Qiuqiu: "..."

In this world, Omegas and Alphas wear their likes and dislikes on their faces; psychologists would probably be out of a job.

Before leaving, he instructed Figo and the others, "I'll go straight back to the dorm. You guys can head back after eating; no need to wait for me here."

Bai Tianxing couldn't wait to leave the place filled with Alphas and Betas. He didn't even let Qiuqiu finish speaking before dragging him away.

Xu Feng, watching the direction the Omegas left, quickly filled his eyes with tears.

"Is Qiuqiu... going back to the healers?" His voice quivered with a distinct sob: "Does he... not want us anymore...?"

Tang Butian stared blankly at the now empty seat, his round bear ears drooping sadly.

Figo packed up the unfinished nutrient drink for Qiuqiu, consoling the two Alphas sunk in gloom: "Don't think like that, let's head back to the dorm. Qiuqiu said he'll be back later."

Though Figo said this, he himself wasn't sure whether Qiuqiu would return after leaving this time.

They all knew that compared to the tough and perilous combat department, the healing department with its better conditions and safety was the most suitable place for Qiuqiu.

They weren't so selfish as to insist on keeping Qiuqiu in the combat department. Rather than having the small Omega stay by their side, they wished for him to graduate smoothly and lead a safe and joyful life, free from any danger.

But logic is one thing, and emotions are another. The days spent with Qiuqiu were so blissful, like a dream. Everyone treaded carefully, as if they were guests accidentally wandering into a dream.

When the dream ends, they would lose this rare and unique happiness.

Most Alphas spend their brief lives struggling in darkness, and Qiuqiu was undoubtedly a ray of light in their cold world, piercing through the clouds to reach them in the abyss.

In this deeply troubled world, Qiuqiu was a healing elixir.

It wasn't just Figo and the others; other Alphas and Betas who knew about this were also keeping an eye on the outcome, after seeing Qiuqiu being led away by Bai Tianxing and other Omegas.

The question was whether he would stay in the combat department or return to the healing department where he originally belonged.

*

After leaving the cafeteria, Qiuqiu was taken to the Omega dormitory area by these Omegas.

"How is it? Much better than the Alpha's kennels, right? If you return to the healing department, you can have a big house to yourself, complete with a personal butler!" Bai Tianxing, leading the way, boasted to Qiuqiu about the perks of the Omega dormitory like a child showing off his sweetest candy in the world.

Qiuqiu had only glimpsed the exterior of the Omega dormitories before; this was his first time stepping inside.

Well... how to put it...

Observing the lavish decorations around him, Qiuqiu once again realized the Empire's bias towards Omegas.

The Alpha dormitories were just ordinary buildings, with nothing special inside. They were perhaps more spacious and open due to the larger physique of Alphas in this world, but luxury was out of the question. At most, they were slightly better than the average dormitories on Earth.

But the Omega dormitories looked like castles from the outside, and even inside, they were built to the standards of a castle.

Long corridors with carved reliefs, dazzling crystal chandeliers, Rococo-style carpets, and ornately splendid cathedral windows...

It almost made one believe they had stepped back into a 16th-century palace.

Not just the grandeur of the décor, but considering there were only twenty-eight Omegas in the entire Dark Star Military Academy, living in a massive castle with over a dozen floors, one could imagine how spacious it was per individual.

There were even six elevators, as if to spare the Omegas even the slightest bit of walking.

Their destination was Bai Tianxing's dormitory, and upon entering, one could see it was fully equipped, including a swimming pool.

Honestly, seeing all this, Qiuqiu could understand the school doctor's point of view.

After all... his medical room seemed smaller than Bai Tianxing's walk-in closet.

"Make yourself comfortable. Would you like something to eat?" Bai Tianxing pressed a call bell on the coffee table, and soon, a Beta butler arrived, pushing a cart brimming with food.

As the butler arranged the dishes, Qiuqiu glanced over and was surprised to see some common fruits from Earth.

He was taken aback; he had thought that Dark Star only had stone fruits.

But it seemed that Dark Star didn't just have stone fruits; rather, the ordinary Alphas and Betas only had access to them.

Seeing the little Omega eyeing the fresh fruits, Bai Tianxing smiled knowingly, offering a piece of apple skewered on a toothpick: "You've been wandering in space; you probably haven't had these fruits before. They replenish Omega's spiritual energy much faster than nutrient solutions or stone fruits. Such delicate fruits can't grow in Dark Star's environment, and they aren't available in the market. They must be bought through the black market."

"One apple costs as much as five hundred bottles of nutrient solution."

Bai Tianxing praised the ordinary apple to the skies, which might indeed help Omegas regain their spiritual energy. However, for Qiuqiu, it was of no use.

The spiritual energy he needed was only present in the nutrient solution, which Bai Tianxing seemed to disdain.

Moreover, as Qiuqiu looked at the apple slice fed to him, he didn’t know how to tell the enthusiastic Bai Tianxing that the hillside near where he grew up was filled with apple trees bearing plump and juicy fruits, unlike these underdeveloped ping-pong ball-sized apples of this world.

But appreciating the gesture, Qiuqiu obediently ate the apple slice fed by Bai Tianxing, immediately scrunching up his face at the sourness.

Little Rose's delicate face wrinkled from the sourness, his cheeks puffed out by the apple slice, resembling a soft and pale bun. His earnest eating endeared him to the surrounding Omegas, who couldn't resist the urge to dote on him, eagerly feeding him.

The fruits offered varied, including a banana as thick as a finger, an orange the size of a ping-pong ball, strawberries that felt like eating sand, and a series of fruits that, despite their names, were unrecognizable in appearance and taste to Qiuqiu.

It was only then that Qiuqiu realized why some of the fruit-flavored nutrient solutions he had tasted before had such odd flavors. He had thought they were spoiled or expired, never considering the possibility of plant degeneration.

But on reflection, this world's environment indeed isn't conducive to most plants' growth. To survive, plants can no longer allocate the majority of their energy and nutrients to fruiting like they did on Earth, naturally leading to fruits that are inferior in appearance and taste to Earth's plants.

He quickly stopped the last Emerald Creeper Omega from feeding him, pointing expressionlessly at his slightly swollen belly: "I can't eat anymore."

"Ah, so cute~" The Emerald Creeper Omega couldn't resist poking Qiuqiu's cheek, delighted by the soft touch.

Seeing other Omegas eager to try, Qiuqiu backed away, pressing against the couch and sternly refused, "We're not very familiar yet, and I don't like physical contact with strangers."

The Omegas' eyes revealed their disappointment, but they still looked at Qiuqiu with affection, as if he were a baby.

Qiuqiu: "Let's talk about serious matters."

Bai Tianxing nodded, sitting upright, facing Qiuqiu.

"We hope you'll leave the combat department and return to the healing department."

Qiuqiu frowned: Could it be Geb again?

But he quickly dismissed this thought.

It could be said that Geb might have anticipated that the Omegas of Dark Star Military Academy would persuade him to return to the healing department, but he wouldn't need to personally instruct them.

After all, considering Bai Tianxing's volatile and arrogant demeanor, he didn't seem like someone who would easily heed others' calls.

"Regarding this topic, no matter how many times you ask, I have only one answer: I will not leave the combat department."

Bai Tianxing's face darkened instantly: "Why?! The combat department is very dangerous. Do you know that every major exam involves real combat assessments, and there are always casualties? Are you going to throw your life away?!"

Facing his barrage of questions, Qiuqiu calmly replied, "I am a defective Omega, unable to provide the pheromonal comfort even regular Omegas can. Yet, while I lack healing genes, I possess combat genes. Would staying in the healing department be more appropriate than being in the combat department?"

Bai Tianxing and the other Omegas had not expected this aspect of Qiuqiu's story, believing they had uncovered his painful secret. Overwhelmed by guilt and self-reproach, they didn't know what to say for a moment.

"Then, then you could choose the command department, or, or the mechanical department. These are relatively safer," Bai Tianxing said anxiously.

"But I don't like them," Qiuqiu stated simply.

Actually, he didn't particularly like the combat department, but he always resisted being forced into things.

The life journey of a plant is an endless struggle against harsh environments and natural predators.

Bai Tianxing, out of options, pouted and grumbled, "Then, at least, you shouldn't be so nice to those stinky Alphas, and Betas too!"

Qiuqiu genuinely didn't understand: "Why?"

"Why else? Alphas are the most disgusting, selfish, and violent beings in this world! If there really is a hell, every one of them should be enslaved there after dying from their genetic disease!"

Qiuqiu looked at him, puzzled: "Why?"

He wasn't trying to be contentious; he was genuinely curious. From what Qiuqiu had observed these past days, Alphas seemed to respect Omegas a lot, even willingly wearing restraining collars and showing no resentment towards the preferential treatment Omegas received.

Logically, Omegas shouldn't hate Alphas this much.

Yes, hate.

Qiuqiu discreetly observed the group and noticed that even the seemingly kindest Omegas had hatred in their eyes when Bai Tianxing spoke against Alphas.

Was it because Omegas were forced to provide spiritual counseling and pheromone comfort to Alphas and Betas?

Just this reason alone?

His intuition told him there was more to it than met the eye.

Bai Tianxing became agitated upon hearing Qiuqiu's counter-question, pacing back and forth, while the other Omegas sat dejectedly, a stark contrast to their previously joyful demeanor.

It seemed Bai Tianxing was trying to organize his thoughts. After pacing for a while, he finally burst out, "You're a wandering Omega, so probably no one has ever told you that hundreds of years ago, Omegas were not revered as they are now. Instead, they were confined and used as drugs!"

"Those enslaving the Omegas were the Alphas, who now pretend to be so civilized! And those seemingly ordinary and kind Betas were nothing but their accomplices!"

Qiuqiu's expression changed.

Author's note:

Bai Tianxing is not a villain; actually, all the Omegas are quite protective haha.

Bai Tianxing (volatile and tsundere): You're not allowed to play with those stinky Alphas! You can only play with me!

(Oh, and I played a little Easter egg with the release time, happy Double Eleven everyone haha.)