Chapter 1869: Chapter 1867: Officially Taking Shape (I’m Planning to Change to the White Hair, Red Eyes Attribute Level)
This trip for Fang Zheng, in a sense, turned out to be unexpectedly fruitful. Not only did he obtain a plan to save the world, but it also served as a great training ground for him.
Of course, not for him.
Afterward, Fang Zheng returned to Academy City, and once again gathered Emilia, Felt, Misaka Mikoto, Saten Reiko, the Priestess of the Goddess, and others, explaining to them the situation in the new world in detail.
"...In short, that’s the gist. Now you all should know what kind of force and organization Heavenly Dao Palace is. Our goal now is to carry out a comprehensive reconstruction of that world... but remember, unless the other side commits inhumane actions, we cannot wantonly interfere with or disrupt their powers and systems."
"I don’t understand, little brother."
Upon hearing this, Felt raised her hand in dissatisfaction.
"From what you’re saying, it seems like we’re just going over there to volunteer without any benefit to ourselves. What’s in it for us?"
"Certainly, you might see it as us helping without expecting a return, but the stability of order is a very important part for Heavenly Dao Palace. As for the reason... hehe, I’ll tell you when you’re older."
"Ugh... you make it sound like I’m just a kid."
"Aren’t you?"
"No way, I’m already fourteen!"
"Still a kid."
Fang Zheng sunk Felt with one sentence, and then it was Megumin’s turn to raise her hand.
"Mr. Fang Zheng, Mr. Fang Zheng, can I freely release burst magic in that world?!"
"Hmm, of course, that world has plenty of creatures. I think your burst magic will be quite popular."
After all, the Wasteland World has nothing left to explode, so a few more explosions shouldn’t matter.
"Then I must go, I definitely must go!!"
It seems that life in Academy City has really bottled up Megumin, though the place is fun, she feels stifled due to being unable to freely unleash burst magic.
"I want to go too. As a believer of the Earth Mother Goddess, I cannot turn a blind eye to those in need."
Recently, due to World’s activity, the goblins in the neighboring territories have been mostly wiped out, reducing the Priestess’s assignment load. But to a devoted follower of the deities, helping those in need is also her belief.
"If the creatures in that world are strong, I won’t miss out."
For Ais, it’s evidently seen as a great opportunity to improve her skills.
However, at this moment, Emilia was looking uneasily at Felt.
"Felt, are you planning to go to that world?"
"Hmm? Emilia isn’t going? That world sounds fun, surely there would be meaningful adventures!"
"But... the Royal Selection is about to begin soon..."
"...Ah..."
Upon hearing Emilia’s reminder, Felt was completely stunned.
Speaking of which, there’s still the Royal Selection to deal with.
"...Can I withdraw from it?"
"Talk to Reinhard about that."
Watching Felt gaze at him pitifully, Fang Zheng shrugged his shoulders.
"Even if you treat it as going through formalities, participating in more election activities is considered experience."
"It’s easier said than done..."
Listening to Fang Zheng’s response, Felt wore a bitter expression. To be honest, after coming to the territory, joining the adventure team, and now arriving at Academy City, Felt has no longing to return to that world at all.
After all, for Felt, there’s nothing good about that world.
"Emilia, do you still want to participate in the Royal Selection?"
Felt was evidently trying to form an alliance, and would naturally be thrilled if Emilia decided to withdraw with her.
However...
"I still want to participate... No, I should say I really want to be part of the Royal Selection!"
Felt was gracefully stabbed in the back by Emilia.
"Why!"
Upon hearing Emilia’s answer, Felt was taken aback.
"Don’t you feel living here is wonderful? Everyone’s so friendly too."
"Because it’s so nice here, I want Lugnica to become such a country too — living without worries, enjoying every day, chatting happily on the streets, shopping, a world where both commoners and nobility live peacefully...
"Ugh... But that’s difficult, isn’t it?"
Felt is no longer the little girl from the slums, being forced by Fang Zheng to attend so many political ideology classes and learning a lot of modern knowledge and history from Academy City, she understands how difficult Emilia’s vision is to achieve in Lugnica.
"Indeed, it’s difficult, but if we don’t do it, who will? You’ve read the history books, haven’t you, Felt? This world had periods similar to our country; they spent years developing to where they are today. During that time, various issues arose due to numerous reasons, because no one knew what the future held, they had no choice but to proceed that way."
Even Fang Zheng was unexpectedly looking at Emilia. To be sincere, he initially thought Emilia, like Felt, isn’t interested in political affairs... It seems her time in Academy City allowed her to grow too.
"But we are different; we know what the future is like. Eventually, an era will come where there’s no nobility, and everyone lives equally and harmoniously together; though it might not change rapidly, through our efforts, it will progress in that direction."
"But..."
Felt seemed to be persuaded by Emilia, and others were curiously watching them.
"So, have you formed a plan?"
"Hmm, I can’t do it alone. I need help from others, and I can also seek wisdom from internet users!"
"...... Huh?"
Hearing this unexpected term from Emilia’s mouth, even Fang Zheng was stunned.
"Internet users?"
"That’s right, Mr. Fang Zheng."
Emilia nodded vigorously and then began to speak.
"Isn’t there a discussion board online? I found many novels and discussions on ’what if I reincarnated into another world,’ so out of curiosity, I started a similar discussion thread, asking them how they would change a country like the Kingdom of Lugnica... Surprisingly, those internet users gave me a lot of good advice."
As she spoke, Emilia handed a stack of papers to Fang Zheng, who accepted them and looked at them curiously. They were all printed discussion thread contents. Apart from some brainless comments like ’I hope I can be invincible and have a harem,’ there were actually quite a few suggestions and opinions, including how to guide the populace, use the power of media, and win over companions... It even seemed like there were some contributions from professionals.
"You’ve done well."
Flipping through the documents in front of him, Fang Zheng couldn’t help but sigh. Generally speaking, such discussion threads are mostly filled with nonsense, but Emilia’s thread was so professional, mainly because her ’another world setting’ was very strict and intricate. After all, Emilia is one of the representatives in the Royal Selection and is well aware of the domestic political and economic situation, so the initial setting she gave in the discussion thread was very ’hardcore.’
For those who just enjoy brainless harem and another world adventures, such ’hardcore’ and intricate settings are certainly not popular, but for true ’hardcore’ enthusiasts, it’s a different story. So while Emilia’s thread started with low quality, it gradually became a place of professional discussions as it progressed.
Some even provided ways to improve production efficiency and create industrial chains in another world...
What can I say... I didn’t expect you to have a protagonist aura too.
Seeing this, Fang Zheng’s gaze towards Emilia changed. To be honest, he always thought of Emilia as a gentle and kind person, but for her to come up with this idea and actually use this method to gather suggestions... Frankly, she really seems to have some protagonist aura attached.
Fang Zheng could imagine that even without the support of the nobility within the Kingdom of Lugnica, Emilia could similarly rely on the internet to gather a large number of professionals to provide her advice.
From a certain perspective, this is even more powerful than the advisors beside those nobles. After all, the number of advisors is limited, but the number of internet users is unlimited...
"In that case, just go ahead and do it. I’ll give you a communicator so that even in Lugnica, you can connect to the network here."
"Thank you, Mr. Fang Zheng!"
Upon hearing Fang Zheng’s words, Emilia smiled, and Fang Zheng nodded to her. To be honest, Fang Zheng also wants to see what kind of ending such a web-novel-like development will have.
Besides, she still has the Heavenly Dao Palace backing her up.
As for Frenda and Riko, they are still enthusiastic about the action of returning national treasures in museums to their ’original owners.’ Although ’Lupin IV’ is now the number one on the blacklist in European and American countries, with Academy City backing them and due to Riko’s bizarre abilities, everyone still thinks ’Lupin IV’ is merely a highly skilled phantom thief and hasn’t connected her with ability users.
According to Riko and Frenda, they plan to finish this world’s ’return activities’ and then go to a new world to lay low... Anyway, the martial investigators and police in this world can’t do anything about another world.
Misaka Mikoto, just as she told Fang Zheng before, plans to go to the new world to find her future goals. Kuroko Shirai is rather simple—she just needs to follow Misaka Mikoto.
Saten Reiko is the same, although Fang Zheng doesn’t know how Saten Reiko later communicated with Lei, it seems Lei has already come out of sadness. She hopes to fulfill Xia’s dream of rebuilding a new world, and Reiko is willing to help Lei accomplish this together.
But this leaves Hatsuharu miserable. If three out of the four-member group leave and disappear daily, there’s no guarantee she won’t feel excluded. As for how they communicate among themselves, let them handle it.
As for Tokisaki Kurumi (clone), she will stay here with Ram, Rem, and Reiji to handle Academy City and Wasteland World issues. For now, everything seems to be nearly settled. Next, it’s the story of these protagonists going to grow, and as for Fang Zheng...
"...... Why do I have to drink tea with you here?"
Shihou Souki looked at Fang Zheng with a complex expression, while Fang Zheng happily drank his juice.
"Because we met on the road, so why not have a chat and drink tea? Would you like a piece of cake?"
"No way!"
Upon hearing this, Shihou Souki almost slapped the table in anger. After that day, the speed at which her weight increased annoyed her so much that she had to ask her faction partners for help in losing weight, and only with great effort did she return to her original shape... She absolutely couldn’t let Fang Zheng lead her around by the nose again.
"I barely returned to normal weight!"
"Really? But I feel you seem to have reduced the unnecessary parts?"
Fang Zheng’s gaze swirled around Shihou Souki’s chest, and detecting Fang Zheng’s eyes, Shihou Souki hurriedly covered her chest.
"It’s all your fault! Moreover, after that day, you have no idea how troubled I’ve been!"
"Hmm?"
"The rumors about me dating you; it’s really frustrating!"
Upon mentioning this, Shihou Souki gritted her teeth. Ever since they were seen shopping together during the Daihasei Festival, various rumors have spread.
Initially, it was just at the level of ’I heard Lord Shihou is dating Mr. Fang Zheng,’ but gradually the rumors changed, escalating into ’Lord Shihou is Mr. Fang Zheng’s fiancée, and Mr. Fang Zheng gave up superior conditions outside to come to Academy City and stay by her side out of concern for Lord Shihou’...
After all, the young ladies of Tokiwadai are like flowers in a greenhouse and naturally yearn for romantic and beautiful love stories. Unknowingly, the whole story has completely changed, and now nearly everyone has accepted that Shihou Souki is Fang Zheng’s fiancée...
Shihou Souki has no solution to this; she can alter memories but can’t change the messages on computers and phones. Of course, Misaka Mikoto can easily achieve this, but Shihou Souki knows well what would happen if she asked Misaka Mikoto... Besides, Misaka might not help out of revenge!
Rather than this, she might as well tough it out; after all, rumors can only last 90 days.
It will pass with time.
"Actually, girls being a little chubby is quite cute. Being as skinny as a skeleton isn’t a good choice."
"So, Mr. Fang Zheng, does that mean you’d still like me even if I became a fat pig?"
"Of course."
Facing Shihou Souki’s inquiry, Fang Zheng gave a chuckle—a family-raised orange cat is definitely cute when young, but it’s still interesting when it’s chubby.
"......"
On the contrary, facing Fang Zheng’s response, Shihou Souki didn’t know what to say. Noticing Shihou Souki’s gaze, Fang Zheng pushed the dessert in front of him forward.
"Cake, want some?"
"...... Just a piece."
Looking at the cake before her, Shihou Souki thought it over and eventually reached out for it with a look akin to going to execution.
