A Man Lives Between Heaven and Earth, How Can He Be Depressed and Live Under Others for a Long Time?! (4k)

Getting back to the main topic.

Mobius was naturally pleased that Klein had agreed to her request with such an adoring expression. However, to maintain her sophisticated persona, she put on a calm facade and said indifferently:

"Hmph... I guess you have some taste after all. Enough talk, eat up. Just having good taste isn't enough. Come with me to the research institute later, I want to see what you're made of."

"Yes!!"

Klein nodded, her eyes full of admiration.

But as the saying goes.

Time is the best nourisher and the best witness. Klein was smiling happily now, but who knew if she would be able to smile in the future.

However, this was at least her own choice, her own will to move forward. As long as her future self wouldn't regret her decision today, no one had the right to criticize her actions.

Elysia simply smiled without saying a word.

Breakfast was as delicious as ever. Anyone who tasted it without knowing would find it hard to believe it was the result of Elysia practicing Chinese cooking for less than half a month.

Halfway through breakfast, Klein suddenly seemed to realize something and asked Mobius:

"Oh, right... Professor Mobius, may I be so bold as to ask what your current research is about? I... I think if I could know your research projects in advance, I could provide more help in the experiments."

"Oh?"

Mobius raised an eyebrow, saying with slight surprise, "You haven't even started working yet, and you're asking about my research direction? I thought you'd ask about the usage of the instruments first. What, have you studied this before?"

"Not at all..."

Klein shook her head and said.

"I previously represented Chiyu Academy in an international biology competition and have some understanding of the world's cutting-edge instruments. Also... I have a feeling that if I can truly understand and join your experiments, then today's decision will definitely change my future life. Please grant my request, Doctor."

"Is that so... Alright then."

Mobius finished her breakfast, pushed her tableware to Elysia, and then looked at Klein, saying, "Little one, since you're ready to learn from me, you'd better listen carefully. My research direction isn't difficult, nor is it simple... Have you heard of the Honkai?"

"Honkai?"

Klein scratched her head and then said, "Ah, I've seen that word in the news... Is it like a natural disaster, similar to typhoons, earthquakes, and mudslides?"

"Tch... That's just what Fire Moth tells the general public."

Mobius pouted and then looked at Xu Ziling, casually saying, "Little Mouse, you explain to Klein... Never mind. Considering your understanding of the Honkai might be different from ours, to avoid unnecessary errors, Elysia, you explain it."

"Mhm~ Wait a moment, Doctor Mobius, I actually have a few ideas of my own, you know?"

Elysia waved a finger in front of them, her legs swinging restlessly under the table. She smiled, "It's precisely because Little Ziling's understanding of the Honkai is different from ours in this era that we should have Little Ziling explain it, right? Think of it as... exchanging information? Oh, don't worry, don't worry~ Anyway, Doctor, you and I will be here to supervise. If Little Ziling's explanation of the Honkai differs from ours in this era, we can point it out to student Klein, right~"

Hearing this, Xu Ziling pondered for a moment. He glanced at Elysia subtly before smiling and standing up, saying:

"Yes, it's always inconvenient to trouble Miss Elysia; Doctor, please let me explain this time. Besides, even if I don't say it this time... someone will always ask next time."

Mobius raised an eyebrow again, not commenting on the matter, but simply watching Xu Ziling quietly.

This left the unaware Klein utterly bewildered. She looked at Xu Ziling, then at Mobius and Elysia. She wondered if her high schooler's mind was too slow, but she felt that the conversation among the three of them seemed to be on different levels.

What did she mean by "the Honkai in this era"? Could the Honkai have spanned more than one era? But since they were all standing here today, didn't that mean they were from the same era? Then why the phrase "our era"?

She couldn't understand it, she really couldn't.

As an outsider, Klein didn't feel it was appropriate to interrupt, so she weakly looked at Xu Ziling, wanting to understand the situation further.

"No need to be nervous, student Klein, I will now explain to you what 'Honkai' is."

"Mhm, mhm, mhm."

Klein quickly nodded. For her, every word she heard at this moment was new knowledge. As a model student, she immediately entered learning mode, even taking out a portable notebook from her pocket, looking like she was diligently attending a lecture.

Seeing this, Xu Ziling smiled helplessly and began:

"First of all... [Honkai], it is born with civilization and also falls with civilization. You can understand it as the 'entropy' that arises as human civilization climbs the technological tree. The more powerful our technology becomes, the 'entropy' born from our technology will also experience a terrifying proportional increase, and thus, the [Honkai] will become even more powerful.

But don't naively think that if we stop climbing the technological tree, the Honkai won't get stronger. First, student Klein, you should have learned about sociology. 'The whole' never represents 'all'. Humans, thinking they can contain the growth of the Honkai by closing off science, but there will always be madmen born for research who conduct research in unknown corners."

Hearing this, Mobius's expression became a little unnatural. She felt as if these words were directed at her.

"Secondly, the Honkai itself is not that simple... Let's take a simple example. Let's assume that the universe we are in is a huge school, our 'civilization' is a candidate within it, and the 'Honkai' is the teacher who gives us the exam papers in this school called 'the universe'.

And our act of stopping the development of civilization's strength is no different from those students who give up and slack off... Student Klein, you should understand this point. A 'school' will not stop operating because students slack off, and a 'teacher' will not lower the difficulty of their exam papers because students slack off. So, my dear student Klein, what do you think will happen to those slacking students when they face the 'monthly exams' or even the 'final exams' in this situation?"

"Uh..."

Klein scratched her head. She was completely engrossed now. After thinking for a long time, she tentatively said, "They... get points deducted?"

"Haha~ In normal circumstances, of course, that's what happens, student Klein. After all, in human society, slacking students are at most expelled. They never understand the heavy price behind the word 'giving up'."

Xu Ziling chuckled. In his past life before transmigration, he had witnessed firsthand how many university students, after joining the company he worked for, went from being full of confidence to becoming numb and indifferent, eventually having their potential drained and being discarded like trash by the company.

"Giving up" was always just a joke, and beneath that joke lay the terror of "numbness." Of course, to put it more nicely, one could also call it... "tolerance" or "silence."

But the price of "silence"... was a bit too heavy for those who were young and ignorant.

Fortunately, Xu Ziling was not silent; he knew how to "speak up" for himself. After transmigrating, he absolutely would not stand by and watch this brilliant civilization "fall silent."

"So... Assistant Xu, you mean that we are facing a disaster called 'Honkai,' and we must bravely resist, absolutely not collapsing on our own without doing anything?"

Klein summarized and asked Xu Ziling, "Is... that what you mean?"

"Something like that."

Xu Ziling stroked his chin, then smiled slightly and added, "But back where I'm from, we have a more fitting saying for this kind of thing – 'A true man born between heaven and earth, how can he be content to live under others for long?'"

"?!"

Hearing this, Klein blinked in surprise, as if awakening some strange trait.

This startled Mobius, who quickly got up and pulled Xu Ziling's arm, saying with a hint of reproach, "Little Mouse, if you really can't do it, let me explain. We're discussing Honkai, but your talk has already veered off towards M Continent."

"Uh... cough, cough, sorry Doctor. Since I experienced it personally, it's hard not to get a bit worked up when talking about it. Please don't mind."

Xu Ziling gave an awkward yet polite smile, then turned back to Klein and said, "However, the relationship between civilization and Honkai that I just described is also something you need to keep in mind. It will help you better understand what I'm about to say next, student Klein.

Where were we? Ah... right. Let's compare 'Honkai' to a test-giving teacher, and 'civilization' to a student. Then, the beings on the side of Honkai called 'Herrschers' are the 'midterm exams' we need to face.

And depending on the field of study... that is, the direction of civilization's development, the test-giving teacher will give different papers. If we pass smoothly, then the student called civilization can remain safe and sound. But if we fail... it will be like what you just said, Klein, we'll lose points, which corresponds to the decay of civilization. And once all the points are deducted, we'll be expelled... and our civilization can officially declare GG.

Alright, that's my general explanation of the existence of [Honkai]. It should be no different from the Honkai you doctors have encountered, right?"

After Xu Ziling finished speaking, not only Klein was stunned, but Mobius and Elysia were also bewildered. In this world where the First Herrscher had not even been born yet, what Xu Ziling was saying was extremely advanced information, like leaks from an internal spy. It was no wonder they were surprised.

"Uh... um, Little Ziling."

Elysia patted Xu Ziling's shoulder and asked, "Although you've explained it very clearly, I still want to ask again, Herrschers... what are they? Do they absolutely hate humanity? Why did you say that if civilization cannot pass the 'Herrscher' exam, it will be declared extinct?"

Hearing this, Xu Ziling looked deeply at Elysia. Under the questioning of this incredibly beloved Pink Elf, the plot of the future Elysian Realm flooded his mind, rendering Xu Ziling speechless.

"Is it inconvenient to say..."

Not getting the answer she wanted, Elysia was visibly disappointed, but she quickly realized her gaffe and her face once again lit up with the smile she had when they first met, saying, "It's okay~ Regarding the civilization exam, although the price is a bit heavy, as long as we all work hard, we can pass it, right!?~"

"Heh, only you, you pink fatty, could say something like that."

Mobius glanced at Elysia and said, "Little Mouse has already made it clear enough. 'Herrschers' are the 'exam papers' for 'civilization'... and the purpose of 'exam papers' is for the examinees to answer them, isn't it? Elysia, your question just now is like a student in an exam asking the invigilator, 'Can I get a perfect score if I don't write the paper?' - it's equally ridiculous."

"Mmm... what are you saying..."

Elysia scratched her head and looked at Xu Ziling again, saying, "But in the end, we know too little about Herrschers... Little Ziling, can you explain it to us in detail?"

"Mmm..."

Xu Ziling pondered for a moment and then said, "Then I'll elaborate further... Klein might not know this, but Miss Elysia and Doctor Mobius, you should have at least heard of 'Honkai Beasts' and 'Mortal,' right?"

"Mmm-hmm-hmm."

Elysia nodded, and so did Mobius. The latter was even desperately seeking a Honkai Beast.

"Very good, then my explanation will be much easier."

Xu Ziling looked at Klein, who was diligently taking notes despite not understanding, and said, "I'll continue to use examples to explain. Since Doctor and Sister Ellie know what Honkai Beasts and Mortals are, you should know how powerful these creatures are in front of ordinary people... but what I want to say is that 'Honkai Beasts' are actually just lice on [Honkai], beings that don't matter how many die.

But 'Herrschers' are different. These beings, who transcend Honkai Beasts, can be said to be the 'flesh and blood' of [Honkai]. They possess 'Authority' directly granted by [Honkai], and usually, the possessor can command the power of a Honkai Beast tide. Therefore, the power of Herrschers usually far surpasses that of Honkai Beasts... Of course, it's not impossible for a very small number of women with the surname Jia to suppress Herrschers, but that's ultimately a minority.

Also, the 'Authority' of Herrschers is not fixed. It can be wind, lightning, fire, ice, rock, or it can be intellect, joy, hunt, or abundance... This is directly linked to the development direction of human civilization. For example, the civilization era we are currently in has mastered quantum mechanics, so Honkai might descend a Herrscher of the Void specifically targeting quantum mechanics.

And also, the way Herrschers wield Authority is very special. Their method of wielding Authority almost subverts the entire edifice of physics. I don't know the specific reasons, I'm just giving Doctor a heads-up, so don't feel like your understanding has been overturned just because you see a Herrscher who can conjure a Rasengan out of thin air later.

Alright, that's my personal summary of Herrschers. After listening, do you all have a preliminary understanding of these Herrschers born from [Honkai]?"

"Heh, as expected... just as I guessed, [Honkai] is not that simple. It can be the key to developing civilization, and it can also be the meteor that annihilates civilization... Hmph, I even proposed similar views at the Mu conference before, and those old fossils in Fire Moth didn't believe me..."

Mobius muttered to herself, then looked at Xu Ziling and said, "However, Little Mouse, listening to your description of Herrschers... do you mean that no matter how we develop our technology, Honkai will create a Herrscher specifically to counter us? Doesn't that mean humanity will always be at a disadvantage in the struggle against Honkai?"

"Yes."

Xu Ziling nodded and said, "But that's not the most tragic part. What's even more tragic is that the beings known as 'Herrschers' are selected by the Honkai from among us humans. And because the Honkai itself operates behind the scenes, this leads to almost all Herrschers, after their birth, harboring extreme hostility towards human civilization. The possibility of negotiation... can't say it's nonexistent, but it's infinitely close to zero. Unless..."

Elysia blinked her eyes and instinctively asked, "Unless what?"

"...Unless the Herrscher chosen by the Honkai can deeply love every 'person' in civilization, just as they did at first sight."