Volume Three: The Academy's Full-Scale Rampage - Nine

On the second floor of World's Little Corner, Xiao Wu was facing a group of lolis with complicated expressions, helplessly rubbing her forehead.

"So, how many times do I have to say it? Club Hunt has been suspended, and training camps are no longer necessary. You should all return to your normal lives. Also, from now on, don't stay overnight here anymore. Those of you with dormitories at school should stay there, and for those without, I will find you places to stay outside. Understand?"

""""""..."""""

Don't look at me with such pitiful eyes, really... Xiao Wu's mind was getting more and more confused.

"Um, Sister Sakura Dance..." Ailian raised her hand and asked.

"How?"

"Can I... stay here?"

"... reason?"

"Because, because..." Ailian pursed her lips, making up her mind, "Because... I'm not happy at all outside! Everyone points and whispers about the scar on my face! And I'm not smart, my grades are terrible, and my teachers and classmates don't like me... So... So... I'd rather stay here than go back to school!"

"..." Xiao Wu was speechless.

Taking Ailian's speech as an opportunity, all the lolis started talking at once.

"I don't want to leave either! Going to school is no fun at all!"

"I have no friends outside, and my parents are very cold to me! Nobody cares about me!"

"I'd rather stay here forever than stay outside!"

"I don't want to leave! I don't want to leave! I don't want to leave!"

"And why?! Why can't I even stay overnight?! My roommates clearly hate it when I go back!"

Their reactions were increasingly intense, as if the world were ending. These girls, who were usually shy and taciturn in public, showed unusually strong resistance.

"I'm telling you, there's no need for you to be so resistant... You usually spend your days at school and your nights here. During Club Hunt, your training camps are just a change from 'only being here at night' to 'being here all day.' Now you're just going back to your normal routine and spending the night outside for a while..."

That's different!!!!!!!!!!!

"..."

Xiao Wu suddenly remembered a sentence she had read in a book in the past.

If you suddenly start feeding your pet very delicious food, over time, the pet will become picky about its food and won't want to eat regular food anymore.

Have I been spoiling them a little too much lately?

Already socially maladjusted, they were only connected to society during their daytime school days. The indifferent society, their own powerlessness, the lack of friends and care in the school—all of this caused them pain. But during the Club Hunt, he suddenly gave them a seemingly legitimate reason to escape the outside world. "For safety reasons, we have to stay in the clubroom." Naturally, they were overjoyed.

And now, this troublesome situation is the result.

If possible, Xiao Wu always hoped that she could not only protect them from being bullied, but also help them reintegrate into society, but this was ultimately just a beautiful fantasy.

The weak will always remain weak.

Some struggling students, through extraordinary effort, succeed in becoming top students. Are they still weak? Of course not. People who possess the strength and will to change themselves in adversity, even if they initially appear to be struggling students, are essentially top students.

Some children from poor families, after arduous struggles and weathering many storms, ultimately fail. Are they weak? Of course not. They rise from adversity, possessing the courage to fight against fate. Even if they come from poverty, even if they ultimately fail, the fact that they are inherently strong and daring to fight will not be changed.

The truly weak are born into fragile bodies, live in fragile environments, possess only fragile wills, fragile abilities, and fragile hearts—everything about them is hopeless. They lack the ability to change their situation, and cannot even entertain the thought of doing so. They can only hide from the dazzling light of the strong, living in dark corners, struggling to maintain their own existence. Even if a lucky weakling occasionally encounters someone like Xiao Wu, it can only "slightly improve their situation." The fact that they are weak is not erased simply because they received help.

It's pitiful and tragic; this is the reality for the majority of people in World's Little Corner.

However, even so.

This time, Xiao Wu cannot be soft-hearted.

Returning them to normal life is not a question of whether they want to or not, but a question of whether it is absolutely necessary.

Because of Ye's presence, this place is no longer safe.

She's already nearing her limit; it wouldn't be surprising if she went berserk again at any time. She's a ticking time bomb.

Even though Haoyue and I went all out, we only managed to "weaken" her from her berserk state. In the end, it was only through Givinia's methods that she returned to normal.

If Ye were to lose his temper in front of the children...

Xiao Wu didn't dare to think any further.

"Don't be stubborn! Wait for my instructions. If you really don't want to be alone, I'll find you another place to stay—and so will you, Little Butterfly and Evelynths!"

"Huh? Why?"

"Little Butterfly doesn't want to be separated from Mother!"

"Little Butterfly, so you don't want to be with your friends anymore?"

"Huh?"

"You only have friends your own age, right? Or are you happy spending all your time with your mother? Don't you want any other friends?"

"Of course I'm happy to be with my mother! But, but, but... if I can't play with everyone in this World's Little Corner..."

"What?"

Little Butterfly bit her lip indignantly.

"Fine! I'm leaving! Sister Sakura Dance is the worst! She won't include you when she plays with everyone!"

"... As you see fit."

One hour ago--

How is she?

"She was awake, but immediately fell asleep again, probably because she was too tired."

"That's good. If she had stayed awake, it would have made things much more difficult for me."

"By the way, you... shouldn't you be able to use that projector to see what's going on in the room? Why did you specifically ask me?"

"I just want to talk to you more. These days, it's rare to see a girl as handsome as you."

"Why are all the women around me lesbians?"

Xiao Wu crossed her arms and looked at Givinia with impatience, while Givinia remained calm, wearing a smile that was 100% more approachable than even Haoyue.

This woman is the type I'm least good at dealing with... Xiao Wu thought to herself.

With a click, the door opened, and Haoyue and Xiao came out. They were already dressed; Haoyue looked like she hadn't had enough, while Xiao's face was flushed.

"Where are Little Butterfly and Evelynths?" Xiao Wu, of course, didn't care about the feelings of these two lesbians and went straight to the point.

"They've fallen asleep too. Just between you and me, it's super comfortable sleeping next to Xiao Ye; her scent is so reassuring."

"All I can smell on her is blood... probably because of her supernatural abilities."

"That's the downside of having such a sensitive nose!"

"Ahem, everyone, quiet down, it's time to get down to business."

Givinia spoke, her tone kind and gentle, yet containing an unyielding authority.

Xiao was immediately stunned, but Xiao Wu and Haoyue, the two seasoned veterans, remained completely unmoved. Seeing this, Givinia didn't say anything more. She led them to the empty living room and set up many projectors around the perimeter to monitor the area.

"Please make yourself at home, everyone."

Despite being a guest, Givinia acted as if she were the hostess, and what's even stranger is that she didn't seem out of place at all.

Xiao immediately sat down in the armchair. Haoyue gave her a cold look and then sat down on the sofa as well. Only Xiao Wu was still wary, with her arms crossed and leaning against the wall.

"Now, we need to explain A Ye's situation. Of the three of you here, has any of you heard A Ye mention her background, the World Crossing Gate, and... the 'organization'?"

Their origins? The World Crossing Gate? The organization? Xiao and Xiao Wu were completely baffled, but Haoyue suddenly stood up.

"Hey, you called Givinia, I don't care who Xiao Ye's enemy is, but this is definitely not something you can just tell anyone!"

"On the contrary, Miss Haoyue," facing the aggressive Haoyue, Givinia simply smiled calmly, "All of you will be dragged into this; no one can escape it, so it's best to know this sooner rather than later."

"Tch!" Haoyue sat back down, her face full of impatience.

"Then let's begin... First of all, do you know that there are nine Divine Item in this world?"

Xiao Wu and Shino's eyes widened slightly, clearly indicating that they had thought of something.

"If I remember correctly, the Gleaming Gold South-Pointing Compass' from my hometown..."

"I... never mind, it's nothing."

"It seems you all have some ideas, that makes things easier," Givinia seemed quite satisfied. "According to ancient records, there are nine magical things in this world—"

The Gleaming Gold South-Pointing Compass, symbolizing analysis and guidance.

Crystal Realm Fruit, symbolizing solidification and suppression

The Rakshasa True Word symbolizes ferocity and rage.

Boundary Breaking Armor symbolizes greed and corruption.

Truth Incantation, symbolizing holiness and order

Crimson Lotus Karmic Fire symbolizes spread and intense heat.

The Nether Radiance Lamp symbolizes turbidity and destruction.

The Water Heart symbolizes flow and inclusiveness.

The Emperor Slaying Sword symbolizes power and conquest.

Each of these nine things possesses power and abilities beyond the comprehension of ordinary people; they are supreme beings beyond common sense, and only the strongest on this planet can control them. Alright, are there any questions now?"

Xiao raised her hand.

"Okay, Miss Si Nan, please go ahead."

"I just want to know..." Xiao swallowed, her lips trembling slightly, "Is that the Gleaming Gold South-Pointing Compass the family's treasured artifact that was stolen from the Si Nan Family?"

"Of course, but don't even think about getting it back."

Why--

"Do you really think your Si Nan Family can suppress that Divine Artifact? The Crystal Realm Fruit was revered as a deity by the ancient people of the Northern Realm, the Rakshasa True Word was once the treasure of the Rakshasa Divine Sect, and the Truth Incantation is the core of the Divine Law Cult of the West Saint Continent. Only such large organizations are worthy of possessing Divine Item. Although your Si Nan Family was once a prominent family even on a global scale, it is still far inferior to those large organizations that can occupy an entire continent at will."

"Uh..." Xiao was speechless and could only lower her head in grievance.

"I also have a question." This time it was Xiao Wu to speak.

"You have one too?"

"Is it not possible...? By the way, are these nine Divine Item fixed? Is it possible that more might be added?"

"You mean, could a new Divine Item be born or something like that?"

That's roughly the idea.

"Unfortunately, I don't know either. But given enough time, the birth of a new Divine Item isn't impossible. And to be precise, there are eight Divine Item now, not nine, since the legendary Emperor Slaying Sword broke on its own with the death of the Saint Emperor... By the way, why did you ask that?"

"It's nothing, let's continue..."

The Emperor Slaying Sword, is it?

Xiao Wu quietly memorized the name.

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That's the end of the outburst. Actually, almost every proofreading for this chapter... cough Anyway, I hope everyone enjoys reading it.