Chapter 18: Chapter 13: World Dimension Restriction
The next day was Sunday.
"Are you sure you want to go out with me?" Luh Yao asked, looking at the young woman before him.
"My lord, a Demon is watching you. I must stay by your side at all times to ensure your safety."
Isabel’s tone was firm.
"Going out is necessary. We need to stock up on food and minimize contact with suspicious individuals. This will prevent the Demon from poisoning our food or performing some kind of demonic ritual."
She had already slipped into her role as a guardian.
Luh Yao had to agree she had a point.
’Still, having Isabel herself follow me out would cause other problems.’
’First off, there was her strange attire. While it was a significant improvement over her black-robed, blind-monk getup, it would still draw some attention.’
"Alright, I’m going to create a simple persona for you. You need to remember it well."
"My lord, what is a persona?"
"It’s basically a background story to describe your identity."
"I see. Yes."
"Okay. Your name will still be Isabel, but you’re from a small country. Our parents know each other, so we’ve been friends since we were kids, and you’ve spoken Chinese since you were little."
Isabel nodded.
"You’re eighteen years old, and you’ve come to this city for a relaxing vacation."
"I’m hosting you and showing you around. When we’re out, you should call me Luh Yao. If you encounter any questions you can’t or don’t want to answer, just stay silent."
"Yes."
With the preparations complete, Luh Yao led Isabel out the door.
"First, let’s get you a pair of shoes."
"Yes."
Isabel’s feet were too small for Luh Yao’s shoes, so she could only wear a pair of slippers out, which made it difficult for her to move around.
Luh Yao took her to a mall and had her try on a pair of canvas shoes. Then he wanted to buy her an inexpensive set of clothes.
Isabel kept insisting it wasn’t necessary.
"M-Luh Yao, I can cut and sew my own clothes from cloth. That’s how I’ve always done it."
"I can make shoes as long as I have leather and cloth."
"Or I can just wrap my body in a single piece of cloth. That way I won’t feel ashamed, and at night I can use it as a blanket. It’s very convenient."
Hearing these words, coupled with Isabel’s earnest and straightforward expression, made Luh Yao feel a twinge of pity.
’Constantly on assignment in other worlds... being an Apostle isn’t easy.’
Entering the fresh produce section, Luh Yao bought plenty of storable food like meat and potatoes, and also picked up some rice and noodles. He estimated this haul would last them half a month.
"Luh Yao."
Someone suddenly called out to him.
’Oh no, someone I know!’
It was Sister Peng. She and a male companion were pushing a shopping cart filled with ingredients for hot pot.
Luh Yao had no choice but to steel himself and say hello.
"You guys are out grocery shopping, too?" Sister Peng said cheerfully. "This is my boyfriend—my fiancé, actually—Fu Chenggang. And this is Luh Yao, the cute guy from my office I told you about. He’s really nice."
Fu Chenggang was a tall, slightly dark-skinned man. He wore a stiff jacket and had a square face and a broad nose, giving him a very masculine air.
"Hello," he said, greeting Luh Yao with a smile.
"So, Luh Yao, aren’t you going to introduce your friend?" Sister Peng said with a grin.
"Isabel, a friend of mine."
"Wow, a foreign girl. How did you two meet?"
"Our parents know each other, so we’ve known each other since we were kids."
Luh Yao maintained a calm expression.
Isabel, meanwhile, remained silent.
Sister Peng’s gaze darted between them, but she tactfully left it at that. "Well, we won’t keep you then."
Fu Chenggang suddenly spoke up. "You live in the locomotive factory dorms in Jiuyuann Community, right?"
"I’m with the municipal criminal investigation division. I was at the scene when that incident happened in the alley outside the locomotive factory dorms," he explained briefly. "I was surveying the scene, though. Other colleagues were the ones who took your statement."
’So he’s a police officer.’
Luh Yao nodded.
"What’s going on? Is Luh Yao involved in the case at the locomotive factory dorms?" Sister Peng seemed surprised. She apparently hadn’t known about this.
"Luh Yao was one of the witnesses. He called the police at the time, and some of my colleagues went to take his statement," Fu Chenggang said concisely.
Luh Yao took the opportunity to ask, "Officer Fu, have you caught that pervert yet?"
"I’m not at liberty to disclose that."
"So they haven’t caught him yet?" Sister Peng didn’t care about procedure. She couldn’t help but complain, "That guy is just too terrifying. Stripping someone naked and hanging them up, like an animal waiting to be slaughtered... The victim will be traumatized for life. I’ve seen a lot of people online saying he must be a butcher with some kind of special fetish."
Fu Chenggang looked a little awkward. Bound by police protocol, he couldn’t reveal any inside information, so he could only say, "We will bring him to justice. Please wait for the official announcement."
After parting ways with Sister Peng and Fu Chenggang, Luh Yao and Isabel, carrying bags big and small, hailed a rideshare back to their residential complex.
The task of unpacking and sorting the groceries was left to Xiaohuo.
Luh Yao eagerly sat down at his computer desk and started up the God Simulator.
Isabel sat beside Luh Yao, watching him click the mouse. She couldn’t help but sigh softly. "So this is what a Low Realm Dimension looks like from a High Realm Dimension."
"It’s easy to understand," Luh Yao said, moving the mouse and offering an analogy. "When you look down from a great height, every one of us looks as tiny as an ant. It’s just a matter of perspective."
Isabel seemed lost in thought.
She sat ramrod straight, looking as if she were just watching Luh Yao play a game. In reality, she was on high alert, paying close attention to the slightest disturbance in the small apartment.
"By the way," Luh Yao said, voicing an idea he’d had. "Isabel, since I was able to summon you here, does that mean I can also use the Divine Hall to bring other tribe members over?"
"My lord, please do not do that. It is extremely dangerous."
Isabel said with a grave expression, "When a being from a Low Realm Dimension enters a High Realm Dimension, they lack the foundation and form to exist there, and they will be twisted by Rule Power. Without the protection of a God’s Fire of Faith, these beings will undergo unpredictable, irreversible changes, eventually becoming grotesque monsters."
"Only Apostles, who carry the seed of the Fire of Faith bestowed by a God, can temporarily remain in a High Realm Dimension. But even we will be affected if we stay too long."
’A World Dimension restriction?’
Luh Yao mulled it over. ’It seems the real world is the High Realm Dimension, and by comparison, the Pixel World is the Low Realm Dimension.’
He pointed at the busy Cactus Ball behind him. "What about it, then? Xiaohuo seems completely unaffected."
"The Cactus Ball Attendant’s situation is special."
Isabel explained calmly, "It was originally born in a High Realm Dimension and then cast into a Low Realm Dimension by a God. Plus, it’s a very simple life form that can adapt to many environments."
Luh Yao asked, "Then how long can you stay here?"
"The absolute limit is about fifteen days. You must let me return to the Low Realm Dimension before then. Otherwise, I might be twisted by the High Realm Dimension’s Rule Power, becoming something strange... or even a monster."
"And if I summon you back here with the Divine Hall after you’ve returned, that won’t have any ill effects?"
"No, it won’t. However, it would be best to let me remain in the Low Realm Dimension for at least three days. That will allow my foundation and form to re-synchronize with the Low Realm Dimension’s Rule Power..."
Luh Yao understood.
’It’s a bit like recharging a battery, or maybe getting a vaccine.’
’If Isabel stays here too long, she might mutate into a monster. But as long as she can go back regularly for her "medicine," she can maintain her current, stable form.’
