"Luo Zhen" and "Roman"

# Chapter 6: "Luo Zhen" and "Roman"

For some reason, Luo Zhen had always felt a deep wariness toward Leff.

Although the man known as Professor Leff was well-liked throughout all of Chaldea, and even Mashu held a trace of respect for him, Luo Zhen simply couldn't bring himself to like the man.

Because, even though this person always showed him a frank, cheerful smile, Luo Zhen still found it hair-raising.

That feeling was as if the other party wore a human-skin mask over his face.

What lay hidden behind that frank, cheerful smile — Luo Zhen had no idea.

Thus, Luo Zhen had always felt wary of Leff, even fearful, in fact.

On the surface, however, Luo Zhen didn't show any of this. Instead, he spoke with a smile that didn't reach his eyes.

"You've come too, Professor Leff."

Hearing this, Leff nodded, his smile never fading, even narrowing his eyes as he grinned.

Then, Leff spoke.

"Although this isn't your first Simulated Battle, Spiritron Dive still carries risks. One misstep and you might not return. So, not only the entire facility's technical staff, but I too must keep constant watch."

Spiritron Transfer was not something to be undertaken lightly.

Converting the body into Spiritrons and sending it to an era completely different from the present meant that the person no longer existed in the modern age — causing the Adaptable One to face the problem of "loss of existential meaning."

If the transfer were carried out directly like that, the person would effectively cease to exist in the current era. Upon attempting to return, they would be rejected by the present era, unable to return smoothly.

For this reason, during Spiritron Transfer, all of Chaldea's technical staff had to work desperately to prove the Adaptable One's existence in the modern age, preventing the concept of their existence from vanishing, while also being ready at any moment to receive the returning Adaptable One, ensuring they didn't get lost in the chaotic flow of time.

Additionally, the conversion of the physical body into Spiritrons and back into material form meant that even the slightest mistake could cause the Adaptable One to disappear entirely. The risk level of this technology was easy to imagine.

To adapt to the technology of Spiritron Transfer, starting not long ago, all the Adaptable Ones gathered in Chaldea — led by Luo Zhen — periodically conducted Spiritron Dive Simulated Battles.

As the name suggested, these were simulation tests for Spiritron Transfer.

By sending the Adaptable Ones into a Virtual World for Virtual Training, they gradually adapted to the burden of Spiritron Transfer and endured the disappearance of existential meaning — that was one purpose of the tests.

Of course, as the name also implied, besides testing Spiritron Transfer, the Adaptable Ones also needed to simulate combat.

To safeguard the Human Order, the Adaptable Ones would inevitably have to fight in various eras, making this an excellent simulation exercise.

However, the ones actually doing the fighting were not the Adaptable Ones.

The Adaptable Ones were merely "support."

Dealing with a great event capable of erasing human history itself was not something a mere human Magus could accomplish.

The power truly capable of reversing such an extinction scenario belonged to someone else.

The Adaptable Ones were beings who manipulated that power, not beings who actually fought.

Luo Zhen understood all of this very clearly.

(Though I'm somewhat reluctant to entrust my physical safety to Professor Leff...)

But there was no helping it. Within Chaldea, Leff was ultimately the highest-ranking technician. With him present, at least they could handle any situation.

Compared to the ill-tempered Olga Marie, Leff was the most reliable figure in all of Chaldea.

Even Luo Zhen had to admit that.

Besides, aside from Leff, Luo Zhen also had someone he could absolutely trust with his body.

That person had just arrived.

"Sorry I'm late!"

With a flustered voice, another man burst through the door.

He was a doctor wearing a white coat, tall and thin, with long orange hair tied into a ponytail, exuding an air of frivolity.

Seeing this doctor, everyone present reacted differently.

"Doctor Roman."

Mashu let out a relieved sigh, as if seeing reinforcements.

"You're late too, Romani!"

Olga Marie's anger flared up again, the fury that had just subsided swelling once more.

"You two brothers really are..."

Professor Leff looked somewhat helpless.

As for Luo Zhen, watching the doctor rush in flustered, he couldn't help but smile.

"Didn't expect you to be later than me, big brother."

Indeed.

The man before him was Luo Zhen's elder brother — Roman.

"You... you got here before me too, Luo Zhen!"

Seeing the entire Central Control Room fully assembled, including his own younger brother — that habitual latecomer — smirking at him, Roman halted his flustered steps, looking disheveled, his expression somewhat embarrassed as he let out a dry laugh.

"S-sorry, everyone. I could have made it on time, but I stumbled across a really interesting site last night and accidentally pulled an all-nighter..."

It seemed like the brothers were cut from the same cloth.

"Doctor..."

Mashu, who had just relaxed, was left speechless again.

As for Olga Marie, she burst out in fury.

"Do either of you have any idea what responsibilities you're carrying!?"

Right then, Olga Marie roared at Luo Zhen and Roman, her anger blazing.

"You're the number one Adaptable One in Chaldea, and you're the head of Chaldea's medical department—and you both show up this late on such an important day? Do you really think my tolerance is limitless!?"

Clearly, Olga Marie's dissatisfaction with Luo Zhen and Roman had reached its peak.

And as she said, unlike Luo Zhen, who was an Adaptable One, Roman—his older brother—wasn't an Adaptable One, but he was the head of the medical department, responsible for managing the physical conditions of the Adaptable Ones undergoing Spiritron Transfers. For those who could suffer physical issues from the transfer at any moment, he was a crucial figure.

But unlike Luo Zhen, who loved to contradict Olga Marie, Roman let out a yelp when faced with her fury.

"Sorry! Sorry! I'm really, really sorry! I swear I won't do it again!"

Roman bowed repeatedly in apology, looking utterly terrified.

Even Luo Zhen was left speechless.

"You're a disgrace to the family."

Luo Zhen said it right out loud.

"It's called strategic surrender!"

Roman, looked down on by his own little brother, immediately argued back stubbornly.

Luo Zhen raised an eyebrow, refusing to back down.

"Strategic surrender? I've only heard of strategic retreat!"

"Just because you haven't heard of it doesn't mean it doesn't exist!"

"But in your case, you're just scared, so you surrendered, right?"

"I-I'm not!"

"You are!"

"I'm not!"

"You are!"

"I'm not!"

The two brothers launched into a very childish argument, leaving Mashu and Leff standing there, dumbfounded.

"Enough!"

Olga Marie shouted, fuming.

"Both of you, get to your positions right now! The Simulated Battle starts immediately!"

Under Olga Marie's furious yelling, the childish argument was finally put to a stop.

And so, the Simulated Battle officially began.

PS: (Today's third update is here. Since Ru Qing has kept his integrity, friends, what are you waiting for? Recommendations! Clicks! Bookmarks! I'm begging for a wave!)

PS2: (This book has been changed to a signed status, so tips are now available. Generous folks, feel free to send a wave. Thank you! O(∩_∩)O~~)