A Simulation Appeared to Verify Something

The worst-case scenario was that you hadn't chosen to let these people regain their memories, yet they had regained them anyway.

The less serious possibility was that your actions in the simulation had changed how they felt about you—making them dislike you more, or simply like you more.

If it was the former, you could find a chance to run away and hide in some remote mountain forest.

If it was the latter, and their feelings changed based on your actions, then there would be plenty of room to maneuver. And if their feelings simply improved, you'd have more options while avoiding a lot of trouble.

So...

You needed to test it.

Li Ke was still talking with Shen, but even Shen could tell he was preoccupied. Their meal ended soon afterward.

The two returned to the inn. Shen had originally planned to sleep on the roof, but after Li Ke gave him a long, exasperated look, he reluctantly went and rented a room.

Since there was obviously no way to keep observing in secret anymore, they might as well be direct about it.

"Then I'll need to see what problems might arise from traveling with Shen."

Lying on his bed, Li Ke popped a pill into his mouth, then closed his eyes and opened his simulator. As he selected the simulation, he kept repeating one thought.

"Cause as much trouble as possible!"

"Would you like to blur your memories?"

"Yes."

On the first day, you and Shen were invited by Karma, the ruler of the Placidium. Seeing that Karma was still a young girl, you subconsciously looked at her legs.

Karma could read people's hearts, so before you could say a word, she answered the question on your mind.

"After becoming Karma, there is no more marriage or personal romance, so there's no risk of the Spirit of Ionia possessing us and seeing anything inappropriate. Also, thank you for saying my legs are beautiful."

Karma wasn't upset at all. If anything, she seemed pleased. Even so, her followers threw you out, and Shen was thrown out with you because of your actions.

Shen wanted to hit you, but held back.

You began telling Shen the story of Kakarot escorting Saitama on his journey to the west.

On the second day, you and Shen set out. Shen thought you walked too slowly, so he hired a fine carriage and enchanted it.

You arrived at a village at dusk, where you saw a cute girl. After asking around, you learned her name.

Irelia.

You asked her to be your guide. Out of respect for Shen, Irelia agreed to put off going to the Placidium to study dance and guide you instead.

You continued telling Shen and Irelia the story of Kakarot and Saitama's journey to the west, but this time, the group had gained a mount named Thanos.

That evening, Irelia's father called you outside and warned you not to make a move on Irelia.

You protested. There was another man in the group, so why was he only warning you?

Irelia's father beat you up.

On the third day, you, Shen, and Irelia encountered a Noxian force that planned to slaughter a village to prevent information from leaking. You immediately attacked. Shen, who had initially said he wouldn't get involved, and Irelia, who had always thought she could only dance, both snapped when they saw an infant killed because you hadn't been able to reach it in time.

Shen displayed terrifying martial skill and mastery of magic, while Irelia danced gracefully, sending metal shards and all kinds of weapons swirling through the air with her movements.

In barely ten seconds, you had slaughtered the entire elite Noxian squad.

But half the villagers had been killed, too.

Irelia had no choice but to leave the group and lead them to her village for refuge. Then she accidentally saw the family sword you'd hidden away and froze. She had seen the same sword when she left the day before. Remembering that her father had called you out late at night, she boldly gave you her scented sachet.

Irelia's father, who had secretly been protecting—and following—his daughter, looked at you as if you were a corpse in pieces, but he said nothing.

Shen was deeply troubled. He had violated the teachings of the Balance Order, though he didn't think he'd done anything wrong.

You told him about the idea of taking life to protect life, and destroying evil rather than people. He said that had nothing to do with the principles of balance and asked what nonsense you were spouting.

So you tried a different approach.

"Can people who would kill even a baby really be anything but demons?"

Shen grew even more troubled.

You continued telling him the story of Journey to the Bald.

On the third day, you encountered an assassination squad. Shen silently drew his sword and killed them all. That evening, after hearing the story of Saitama punching a black bear demon into a pancake, he seemed to realize something.

On the fourth day, you met Xayah. After giving her a beating, you began explaining your theory for unifying Ionia. Xayah spat at you the whole way.

You kept telling the story of Journey to the Bald and began to feel that you were running out of material.

On the fifth day, you continued sharing your theory for unifying Ionia with Xayah as you traveled. Feeling like she was being tortured, Xayah said she'd never gone to school and couldn't understand your blather. All she knew was that humans had enslaved magic, leaving the Vastaya unable to survive.

So you began talking about development, harmonious development, and your ideas for coexistence between the Vastaya and humans. Xayah looked utterly bewildered, while Shen joined the discussion, deep in thought.

That night, you continued the story of Journey to the Bald, but accidentally had Saitama kill the four Dragon Kings of the Seas. Xayah and Shen enjoyed the story anyway.

On the sixth day, you continued discussing things with Shen while Xayah felt like she was going insane.

That night, you told them how Saitama killed Tony Stark with one punch for blocking the road, freeing the workers under him. Shen realized that violence could solve every unreasonable system and make people see reason.

Xayah said she, a Vastaya, couldn't understand human affairs at all.

On the seventh day, magic brought you to your destination village. Shen killed the target monster with a casual swing of his sword and summoned his good friend, Zed.

You told them the story of Saitama being tormented by mosquitoes, but realized your tale had nothing whatsoever to do with Journey to the West anymore, since your group had gained a new member.

Clark Kent.

On the eighth day, you discussed the Greater Ionia Plan with Shen and Zed. Xayah, bound tightly, tried to kill herself by headbutting a stone pillar. You stopped her with a laugh and asked what she thought of the lessons she'd been hearing these past few days.

"Ugh, just kill me."

That was Xayah's answer.

Of course you wouldn't kill her. How could you bring yourself to kill a Vastaya who could unite the Vastaya?

So you continued patiently teaching her, telling her that each person only had one life and must never give up.

And while humans were born from human mothers and Vastaya from Vastaya mothers, the two groups weren't reproductively isolated. Their children could be either Vastaya or human, so fundamentally, humans and the Vastaya were one and the same species...

Xayah rolled her eyes.

Today, you told the story of Saitama and his team fighting Sargeras.

You'd completely lost control.