Chapter 1868: Chapter 1866: Mikoto’s Choice (Clearly Not Married Yet Already Has White Hair)
When the Edil Courtyard was completely destroyed in a sea of flames, everyone had already embarked on their journey home.
Saten took Lei to rest early; at this moment, Lei was also heartbroken. She hadn’t expected that even though she saw the person she was longing for day and night, the outcome would be like this. Everything she dreamed of was gone, replaced only by destruction and death.
As for Misaka Mikoto......
"Sorry, Kuroko, I want to rest early today."
"Hmm, good night, Sister Dear."
Watching Misaka Mikoto return to her room with a pale face, Kuroko Shirai also sighed. She knew why Misaka Mikoto was like this; after all, even though they hadn’t participated in the battle before, what they witnessed...... Honestly, even Kuroko Shirai, thinking about it now, felt a deep unease in her heart.
It’s not surprising that Misaka Mikoto would show such an expression.
As for Kuroko Shirai herself.........
After checking to see that there was no one around, Kuroko Shirai turned around, quietly walked to the end of the corridor, and then suddenly disappeared.
By the time everything was over, it was already the latter half of the night.
"Mr. Fang Zheng, you did it on purpose, didn’t you?"
Lying in Fang Zheng’s arms, Kuroko, with her long hair scattered, looked up with dissatisfaction and glared at Fang Zheng.
"Oh? What do you mean?"
"Earlier, all you needed to do was explain, so why show us such a scene? Don’t you think that kind of scene was too intense for Sister Dear?"
Speaking here, Kuroko Shirai reached out and grabbed Fang Zheng’s chest.
"You did it on purpose!"
"Haha, say what you will, but given Misaka Mikoto’s background, getting involved in this kind of thing was only a matter of time... oh, isn’t she already involved now? Giving her a bit of a shock isn’t bad, at least it can prepare her mentally."
Fang Zheng said while gently stroking Kuroko Shirai’s smooth and delicate skin.
"Besides, it seems you were quite frightened as well."
"What choice do I have? I’m still just a girl."
Upon hearing this, Kuroko’s cheeks flushed, and she buried her head in Fang Zheng’s chest. This was also why she sought Fang Zheng today; in fact, the previous scenes not only scared Misaka Mikoto quite a bit, but Kuroko Shirai also felt unsettled, which led her to seek some comfort.
"I certainly think that kind of approach is wrong, regardless of the reason, doing such things only results in tragedy... and in fact, it did bring tragedy."
"If Misaka Mikoto acted like you, I wouldn’t have such a headache."
"Do you think Sister Dear is troublesome?"
Kuroko Shirai couldn’t help but reach out and pinched Fang Zheng’s waist maliciously—of course, it didn’t bother Fang Zheng.
"Of course not, but she’s too noble... such nobility can become a sharp blade to her future. I wish for her to keep her true self but also hope she can mature a bit. Imagine if she time-traveled to that era’s Edil Courtyard and learned about the experiments on Holy War Angel there, what would she do?"
"This........."
Upon hearing Fang Zheng’s inquiry, Kuroko Shirai furrowed her brows. As someone most understanding of Misaka Mikoto’s nature, what choice Misaka Mikoto would make wasn’t a question; the question was what kind of outcome her choice would lead to.
"As an LV5, Misaka Mikoto has always had smooth sailing. She must realize that the world cannot be changed by her alone, even as an LV5, what she can do is very limited. If she doesn’t think beyond this framework, she’ll face more troubles sooner or later."
Indeed, this was precisely why Fang Zheng brought Misaka Mikoto to this world: not to make her a fighter but to let her understand that there’s nothing she can handle alone. And the post-apocalyptic world can significantly make one feel the powerlessness of the individual.
Actually, in the original story, it is the same; Misaka Mikoto only solved the problem itself but had no means to solve the resulting issues, including the sisters. Even if Kamijou Touma defeated Accelerator, so what? If Arestar didn’t need the sisters for experiments, how would Misaka Mikoto alone handle the leftover problems of more than ten thousand sisters? She, a fifteen or sixteen-year-old girl, has no financial resources, let alone contacts, unlike Shihou Souki who established factions and forces.
So how would Misaka Mikoto handle the matter?
Even if she seeks help from friends, Kuroko Shirai might be able to offer some assistance, but Hatsuharu and Saten Reiko are powerless in this regard.
Unlike Shihou Souki, even without using "Psychological Control," if any problem arises, she can completely depend on her faction to resolve it.
Misaka Mikoto, in comparison, is like the lone heroes in martial arts novels, looking dashing and heroic, but generally, such people end up——— in tragic deaths.
Not even having someone to gather their remains.
Therefore, if Fang Zheng wants to assimilate Misaka Mikoto into Heavenly Dao Palace, he must make her ideologically recognize the organization, politically rely on the organization, professionally obey the organization, and emotionally trust the organization... instead of pursuing personal heroism and placing personal importance above the collective and the people.
Even if Fang Zheng wants to save the world, he cannot depend on himself alone; Heavenly Dao Palace, Sea Mist Fleet, Swarm, players—all the forces he would utilize. Fang Zheng is merely a vanguard and someone overseeing the entire situation, not needing to personally handle every plan. In fact, Fang Zheng only deals with the most crucial parts; the remaining tasks are delegated to others.
This time, bringing Misaka Mikoto out was precisely to let her realize that even for herself, a Deity, saving the world is not something that can be done effortlessly solo.
Now it seems, Misaka Mikoto has started thinking about this issue.
"Forget it, let’s not talk about this."
Kuroko Shirai seemed unwilling to continue entangling with this issue; instead, she blushed and asked softly.
"Um, there’s something I want to ask Mr. Fang Zheng."
"Hmm? What is it?"
"Just...... um......"
At this point, Kuroko Shirai was somewhat embarrassed, but she gritted her teeth and continued to ask.
"Um... will we have kids?"
"Hmm... to be honest, it’s quite difficult."
"Eh?!"
Hearing Fang Zheng’s answer, Kuroko Shirai looked at him in surprise.
"Why, aren’t you a deity?"
"... So what?"
"In myths, don’t those deities always come down to be with mortals, and then those mortals end up having kids? Look at Perseus, Heracles, Dionysus..."
"... I’m not like Zeus, that old lecher."
"... Mr. Fang Zheng, excuse my bluntness, but I don’t think you’re much better than Zeus."
"I think I have much more integrity than Zeus."
"I really can’t tell."
"Is that so?"
Hearing this, Fang Zheng chuckled, then turned over.
"Then let me give you a firsthand experience."
"Wait, Mr. Fang Zheng, don’t... ah, why again... it’s growing...! "
"Are you ready?!"
"Ah... no... we just..."
Soon, Kuroko Shirai’s shouting was interrupted by a series of rapid breaths, and in the pitch-black room, a new wave of heat arose once more.
When Fang Zheng walked out of the room feeling refreshed, it was already the morning of the next day.
"I didn’t expect things to go this far... hmm, I guess these are the mistakes of youth."
Recalling Kuroko Shirai, who was still unconscious in his bedroom, Fang Zheng shook his head too. Maybe he went a bit overboard last night... this is bad, what if Misaka Mikoto asks about it...
"Mr. Fang Zheng!"
As the saying goes, speak of the devil and he appears, Fang Zheng had just thought of this when he saw Misaka Mikoto appear in front of him, which gave him quite a scare.
"Uh... what’s the matter?"
Fang Zheng coughed and looked at Misaka Mikoto—what if she asked where Kuroko was? How should he answer?
He couldn’t possibly say she was in his room.
Say she got a stomach ache and went to the bathroom?
That doesn’t seem right either...
"I have something I’d like to discuss with you privately, can we?"
"Of course, no problem, let’s go to the terrace."
Staying here would be risky in case Kuroko Shirai stumbled out and got seen by Misaka Mikoto, so Fang Zheng hurriedly led Misaka Mikoto to the terrace on the other side. There, through the window looking out at the world outside, Misaka Mikoto remained silent for a moment before speaking.
"Mr. Fang Zheng, I’d like to ask... is there anything I can do?"
"... Huh? What do you mean?"
"I, I want to do something!"
Facing Fang Zheng, it seemed Misaka Mikoto couldn’t quite organize her words, speaking somewhat frantically.
"After seeing Wira... and Lei’s situations, I feel like I also want to contribute to this world, I want to help! I want everyone to have a good life, without being threatened by Wild Gods or Contaminated Beasts, and without having to worry about food and safety, but I don’t know what to do..."
So that’s it, she has developed a sense of mission? That’s not surprising either.
For Misaka Mikoto’s request, Fang Zheng wasn’t surprised. If it were just an ordinary person, at most they’d feel like "I’ve learned a lot", but it would pass. However, Misaka Mikoto is different; after all, she is an LV5 superpower user, with abilities beyond the average person, yet she currently lacks a clear goal and simply feels she should do something... well, this is a good development.
"This isn’t your world."
"I know, but... I don’t want something like that to happen again, and I feel like I should be able to do something..."
"... Hmm, I understand."
Hearing this, Fang Zheng nodded.
"Since you have such determination, very well then."
It’s about time to let this Young Lady experience it for herself.
