area51novel Page 312
Page 312
Artemis nodded as if she understood, pondered for a long time, then suddenly frowned and murmured:
"Time-space flow... I feel like I've heard that name somewhere before..."
"Hmm?" Latis asked, somewhat surprised. "Arte, you've heard of this concept?"
"Where is it...?"
The half-elf suddenly opened his eyes wide, and legends about elves flashed through his mind. He immediately exclaimed in surprise:
"The Sea of No Light! It's the Sea of No Light!"
Latis paused for a moment, then remembered that in the previous simulation, the simulation text did indeed use "Sea of No Light" as another name for "Time Flow". At the time, he didn't pay much attention to it because the name wasn't particularly special. But now that he thought about it, it seemed to be the place where souls were banished in the legends of the elves!
Judging from the effects, the "Sea of No Light" mentioned by the elves seems to match the "Flow of Time" perfectly!
He met Ateliers's gaze with a somewhat solemn expression for a moment, pondered for a while, then shook his head and said:
"Let's talk about these things when we come into contact with your mother's clan in the future... Right now, I need your cooperation in an experiment."
"Huh? What experiment?" The half-elf blinked, didn't press for details, and simply smiled and nodded.
"Of course!"
“…You little sprite!” Latis chuckled, stroking his chin as he explained:
"In the upcoming 'simulation,' I need to investigate the truth about these various factions within the Kingdom of Norard. Furthermore, I need to experiment on you to see exactly when you will become aware of the process of this 'simulation.'"
"what?"
Artemis sat up straight obediently and asked seriously:
“Professor Latis, please guide me.”
"In short... although it's a simulated experience, it might make you work hard for decades."
Latis sighed softly, vigorously rubbed the half-elf's bewildered face, and whispered:
"Simulator, start!"
Chapter 311 The Return of the Titan King
【Dear Mr. Latis, welcome back to the Magic University Simulator!】
"Longing is a very mysterious thing."
The "Voice of the World" radio from the Endless Dimensions Travel Agency is selling like hotcakes! On this radio, you can hear songs from all the planes of existence!
Whether you're an old-school fan of folk, succubus, and slime-filled electronic music, or a pioneering musician who enjoys hell metal, elfin-style bel canto rock, or dwarf-style iron-fire disco, you can find your favorite genre on the "Voice of the World" channel!
Don't hesitate, take action now! Find the nearest star tower and order a "World Voice" radio for your starship! It's only 399, and ordering now includes free automatic installation!
(PS: Clicking the "Up Up Down Down Left Left Right B A B A" buttons on the radio in that order will unlock the hidden R18 channel.)
[Atlantic time: Monday evening 9:00]
Please select a simulation program.
【Dimensional Journey (Entry Requirements: 10-50)】
【Path of the Sage (2/2 times this week)】
[Battle of Laws (2/2 this week)]
"Damn, this ad is still so enticing, when am I finally going to buy it?!"
Latis grumbled as he frantically pressed the ad bar a dozen times, but nothing happened. He sighed, rubbed his head, and regretfully skipped the ad.
"Hey? Bro, what ad?"
The half-elf's question brought Latis back to his senses. He glanced at the half-elf sitting opposite him, thought for a moment, and explained:
"Sometimes my simulation ability receives promotional advertisements from certain organizations between different dimensions. I don't know why I have this strange function, but sometimes looking at those advertisements is quite tempting."
"Ah, so it's information circulating between dimensions..."
A hint of admiration appeared in Ateliers' eyes as she whispered, "As expected of my elder brother, he can gather this information even across dimensions!"
"It's not that I'm particularly good... Never mind, Arte can worship me however she wants, I definitely won't let you down."
Latis chuckled and shook his head, feeling a bit smug from the little elf's flattery. He stroked his chin, suppressing a hint of arrogance, and said:
"Arte, I'm about to begin."
"Hmm!" Arterifus blinked, staring curiously at Latis, unconsciously softening her breathing, afraid of disturbing his spellcasting.
Latis took a deep breath and looked at the simulation panel that he hadn't seen for a while. Although he had been somewhat relieved after learning from the simulator that the simulation could be interrupted on its own, he couldn't help but worry again when he ran the simulation function again.
"Last time it was my brother Torso, the sixth-ringed mage warrior. I wonder who it will be next... In this simulation, I must remember not to leave my name in front of the Queen."
Latis, having considered this, composed himself and said in a low voice:
"Simulator, choose the path of the sage."
You have chosen the path of the sage.
【Simulation starts】
A familiar feeling washes over you; you know you're now in a simulation.
Previously, without realizing all this, you treated the simulation as if it were real life. Now, you're starting to wonder if you could pay a price that your real-life self couldn't to gain guidance for your real-life self.
Of course, you wouldn't cross your own bottom line and arbitrarily harm others. The simulation isn't a true human-machine game; the girls' reactions are exactly the same as in real life. You feel you must adhere to your principles, otherwise you'll inevitably fall into the same trap in real life.
[You are about to face the assessment for newly promoted nobles in a week, but you have changed your plans. You will naturally have to face the assessment, but you do not intend to go to the capital so soon.]
[After all, once you enter the capital, the spacetime flow attached to you could be discovered by the Queen at any time. And the Queen is no longer in a state of complete unpreparedness. Therefore, in the simulation, your entry into the capital may very well lead to a direct confrontation at the Forbidden City.]
So, for this simulation, you plan to first roam around outside until you reach the maximum level, and become the Sword God of Shili Slope for once.
After thinking it over, you looked at the half-elf who had been quietly waiting for you, hesitated for a moment, and said with some difficulty, "Arte, I need you to do me a favor..."
After a difficult explanation, the bewildered half-elf finally understood your intention to have her consolidate control over the entire Herod mage territory and isolate it from outside inquiries as much as possible. In other words, you wanted to minimize the disclosure of information about those connected to you, and keeping Ateliers within the mage territory would also facilitate your experiments with her perception of simulated fragments.
Although the half-elf only had a vague understanding of the current situation, she understood that she needed to give up decades of her freedom. After a brief hesitation, she agreed.
You gently patted her head, feeling a little guilty. Although it was a simulation, for Ateliers at this moment, it was her reality. Only in front of her would you dare make such an outrageous request, and even without any coercive contract, she would try her best to fulfill it.
You stand up, ready to leave the room and find everyone to begin your plan, but you suddenly notice the half-elf's uncertain gaze, guessing that she might be feeling a little uneasy, so you stop in your tracks.
"Arte, um..." You scratched your head, unsure how to comfort her. Suddenly, you noticed the gloves she had placed on the table and instinctively reached out and picked them up.
Ateliers paused, met your gaze for a moment, then, as if suddenly understanding something, shyly clenched her hands.
"Wait! It's not what you think!" You were startled, realizing the implication Arte had made when she took off her gloves. You scratched your head, trying to salvage your reputation, but before you could speak, you slapped your face.
The half-elf's ears twitched slightly as it poked the protrusion in front of its eyes. Then it looked up at you, its mood seemingly improving suddenly. Its eyes crinkled into a smile, its face tense, and after a long pause, it finally couldn't help but whisper:
"Big brother, your body is very honest..."
"I didn't... Never mind." You instantly gave up struggling, sighed, sat down on the edge of the bed, looked at the half-elf who walked gracefully towards you, hesitated for a moment, and asked softly:
"Arte, can we try a different approach?"
"Huh?" Ateliers blinked, thought for a moment, then leaned down and whispered in your ear, "Then please teach me, teacher—"
You gasped, pinched her cheek helplessly, and finally placed your finger on her lips.
"Hmm?" The half-elf's ears twitched slightly, revealing a hint of confusion. After a moment, as if gradually realizing something, a blush slowly crept onto her cheeks.
She gave a soft snort, raised her eyebrows, glared at you, then took a deep breath, grabbed your finger, and opened her mouth with a soft "ahhh."
"...Not my friend?"
Latis, who had been staring at the simulated text, suddenly wore the expression of an old man using a cell phone on the subway and couldn't help but loudly complain:
"Go and finish your plan! What the hell are you doing?! Do you think I'm that kind of person??"
After a moment of silence, he looked up at Ateliers, whose face was full of curiosity, and immediately gasped, muttering somewhat awkwardly:
"Maybe it really is..."
He didn't dare explain to the little elf and continued to look at the pulsating simulated text.
Half an hour later, you left the half-elf's room. Now in your sage mode, your mind was filled with grand ambitions. You decided that this simulation would be a resounding success, a testament to the sacrifices of your best friend and lover.
[A day later, you returned to Ateliers's room. The little sprite, who was studying the mage tower's decor, was taken aback, thinking you needed the Saintly buff again.]
Fortunately, you're not entirely naive. You came to tell her your upcoming plans. Although you still intend to consolidate control over the entire Herod mage territory, you won't keep everything from the half-elf; that's your principle as a man.
[You've already made all the necessary arrangements throughout the day.]
[First, you let the little bird continue attending classes as usual, but try to speed up the pace. After completing the necessary courses, return to the mage territory to build its own experimental building. Second, you want Yashutia to travel as little as possible, although this requirement is a bit harsh for an alchemist who frequently goes out to purchase materials, she still agreed.]
Third, you plan to take Serfal to the floating island with Jennifer as soon as possible. After curing Serfal's mental disability, you hope she can return to Dragon Valley to retrieve some dragon crystals to help you level up.
Fourth, you informed Princess Slingk through the beacon about your noble assessment and some of your plans. After pondering for a while, she decided to find a reason to come see you with the assessor.
Fifth, you met with Lady Oriana and told her frankly that you would proceed according to your own plan this time. Although she found it strange, she had no objections. However, before leaving, she asked you about two things: the handling of the magic network key and the strange aura emanating from you.
[You then remembered that you still carried a magic network key, which added an extra layer of security to your plan. As for the strange aura she spoke of, you guessed it was the spacetime flow attached to you, but Lady Oriana didn't seem to be able to distinguish it as accurately as the Queen.]
[You cautiously inquired about Lady Oriana's magic affinity for reference. After a moment's thought, Oriana told you that her affinity was more than twice as high as yours. In other words, numerically speaking, her magic affinity would not be lower than 400%.]
[This might puzzle you. If 400% affinity isn't enough to accurately perceive the spacetime flow, then how high would the Queen's magic affinity be for you to be so completely defenseless against interference with the spacetime flow link? 500%? 600%?]
Fortunately, your magic affinity has unlimited potential for improvement, so you don't need to worry about being forever unable to defeat the Queen; all you need is time.
After properly arranging the activities of the girls in the house, you temporarily closed the windows of the mage territory to the outside world, only opening up partial access to the magic circle so that Frico could make supplies and purchases.
[Afterwards, you took Serfal to find Jennifer. After agreeing to her request to train her apprentice along the way, the three of you and the dragon flew straight towards the floating island.]
On the road, you met a girl named Leafa. As a prospective knight personally trained by Jennifer at the Pope's behest, Leafa possessed the same excellent character and the hardworking spirit of a farmer. Even you couldn't help but admire the promising future this young woman held.
You thought the journey would proceed smoothly as planned, but you were wrong. You didn't expect Jennifer's talent for getting lost to lead her so badly that she even misread the way home.
"Flying in the sky is quite different from being on the ground!" Jennifer stubbornly tried to salvage her image, then scratched her head dejectedly. "Alright, I'll just throw a bottle of holy water to guide me..."
"No need, let's take a look first," you said with a smile, patting her shoulder.
[Actually, Jennifer can't be blamed for getting lost this time. If Serfa had been kept flying at a high altitude, they definitely wouldn't have gotten lost. However, because Leafa, who is a prospective knight, was with them, they chose to fly at a low altitude to take care of her health.]
[The towering trees blocking your view caused you to turn around and realize that you had strayed off course and entered a magical vortex in the wilderness. You were accidentally disturbed, which is why Serfa crashed into the forest, got entangled in vines, and was forced to transform back into the dashing, mature woman in a red dress.]
"There doesn't seem to be enough space here to transform back into a dragon!" Serfar tossed his high ponytail and stroked his chin thoughtfully.
"Little La, let's climb to the top of the tree and take off again!"