Chapter 171

Laurentina raised her hand, then watched as a small crack gradually appeared in her palm. Blood seemed to come alive as it spread out from it, quickly transforming into a red three-dimensional image that was constantly being constructed in her hand.

"Is this... a map of the surrounding scenery?"

[Laurentina rolls down the car window.]

Okay~

The car window was opened, and Skadi watched as the Sapphire on Laurentina's chest gradually became more prominent, eventually falling completely as an eyeball between her thighs.

However, soon, several cuts were torn open on both sides of the eyeball, and wings resembling those of a bat extended from them.

Before Skadi could even see it clearly, the "eyeball" transformed into a blur and shot out of the car, quickly rising into the sky.

"This is..."

[After all, my recent flying practice has become increasingly proficient, and now I can construct a miniature topographic map of what I see while flying.]

[I will fly alongside the land vehicle and continuously update the map in your hand, Skadi. You just need to press...]

Just follow the instructions above.

[It will be much more convenient.]

"Oh, okay, I understand."

Skadi watched as Laurentina placed the "map" in her hand on the front seat of the vehicle. Zuo Jian, when she started the land vehicle, the terrain was constantly being updated, and directional guidance was also marked on it!

... The Zuo Jian... so convenient!

This was the first time Skadi had witnessed the powerful versatility that Zuo Jian had demonstrated in this area...

However, Zuo Jian himself didn't seem to feel anything.

After all, the one who initially came up with this idea... was actually the Doctor.

"Hey Zuo Jian, have you considered releasing a portion of your flesh and blood, mimicking birds or other creatures, to use as drones? That way, you could even evade anti-aircraft fire."

Sigh, Zuo Jian couldn't help but let out a sigh.

If it weren't for the Doctor, he wouldn't even know how long it would have taken him to realize that he could use his body in this way.

"By the way, the Zuo Jian."

But soon, Laurentina's voice pulled him back to reality.

[What's wrong.]

"Xiu Tina should be heading towards the Iron Duke's territory from the border region with that... high-speed warship? I think that's what it's called. She shouldn't have any problems on the way, right?"

[No, the Duke Wellington would welcome the arrival of that special "warship" amidst so many eyes and ears; it would also allow him to settle down with Xiu Tina a little.]

"Okay, that's good."

"But speaking of this, shouldn't you tell me exactly what you've done?"

Laurentina leaned against the car window, watching the scenery rushing past outside, and asked in a seemingly casual manner.

Although she previously said it was okay not to tell her, thinking about it carefully... it seems like that woman, the Doctor, was involved in all of this! Thinking about it that way, it's impossible not to be concerned!

[... Yes, at least you need to know about the current situation first, Laurentina.]

[Regarding the area we are currently heading to.]

Well, that place used to belong to a territory Warwick Earl, a typical Earl.

"Hmm, and then?"

[Then... then...]

That territory will soon be mine.

[You've probably already seen the Earl of Warwick's title, estate, and his two adopted daughters; they've all been adopted by me.]

"... Then what?"

[That's all.]

"Oh."

[?]

[Wait, wait, wait, why aren't you surprised at all?]

Zuo Jian looked at Laurentina with some surprise, as well as Skadi, who was focused on driving.

Strangeness.

He secretly secured an Earl's title behind both of their backs.

He's not some empty-headed Earl.

But those that have territory.

Why isn't Laurentina reacting at all?

Or is it...

[Laurentina, what do you know about the titles and duchies of Victoria?]

Why are you asking this?

[...]

"Hmm, let me think... what kind of large villages did the land dwellers plan? Slightly smaller than cities?"

Laurentina stroked her chin thoughtfully.

[... Okay, okay, I knew it. Damn it, just how developed are you in Aegir to think that a duchy of a powerful nation like Terra is only worth comparing to a village...]

Zuo Jian sighed. Sure enough, he had almost forgotten that Laurentina's living environment was even better than it was before he transmigrated.

"It's not that amazing, just the kind that completely solves production problems. What's wrong? Could it be that the village you got your Zuo Jian... that duchy is more developed than I imagined? Or is it—"

[If nothing unexpected happens, he's probably in a much worse state than you imagine.]

"Really? I knew it. After all, you couldn't have taken over that area just for some trivial thing, could you?"

[I guess so... If you were to live there permanently, would you be bothered? After all, the conditions are probably even worse than that little rental in Londinium.]

Why should I be averse to it?

Laurentina blinked her ruby-red eyes and asked.

"Didn't I tell you? Wherever you plan to go, I'll be with you."

[... Thank you, Skadi...]

"Don't worry about the Orca. No matter how bad you think the conditions are, they can't be worse than the environment when her captain trained her."

Zuo Jian:?

Skadi:?

(The event starts tonight, so I'm updating early today so everyone can see it and participate in the event!)

Happy Labor Day everyone, and may you graduate in ten consecutive pulls!

Chapter Six, The First Threat?

"However, the wilderness, or rather the suburbs, between Victoria's various Mobile City blocks are truly vast."

Laurentina leaned against the window with one hand, gazing at the desolate scenery outside and sighing.

If I'm not mistaken, the unified flat terrain surrounding these cities is designed to allow their prized high-speed warships to traverse quickly between the duchies... Perhaps this is...

Is this the current state of the Terra nobility? They're not a monolithic entity to begin with. The stated reason for this design is likely to defend against external enemies, allowing neighboring dukes to quickly send reinforcements if one side is attacked, but in reality...

"Is it to make it easier to lend a helping hand, or to make it easier to bare one's fangs?"

[To put it optimistically, it's probably a combination of both.]

After listening to Zuo Jian's words, Laurentina turned her gaze away from the wilderness outside. Her sharper eyesight than ever before allowed her to see the answer several meters away.

Can you even see the tire tracks left by some high-speed warships in a place like this?

"The struggle among land-dwellers... it really is..."

[It's more accurate to say that this is what humanity is supposed to be like, the way the vast majority of humanity is supposed to be. Those who ultimately manage to stay away from conflict are nothing more than those who rely on external forces or limit the scale of their actions... a very small minority.]

Zuo Jian's voice gradually faded, and then a voice so soft that even Laurentina could barely hear it came from beside her.

[Conflict is something etched into the genes of the human race. Even though their physical structures differ significantly from those of original humans, they still cannot avoid their similarities in this respect...]

Laurentina:...

"But you made your own choice, didn't you?"

Yes, although they are similar in essence, the suffering this land has endured far exceeds my imagination... I don't believe in fate, nor will I claim to be a savior.

[But I believe there's a reason for everything. The reason I walk on this land in this state is certainly not just to satisfy the survival instincts of an ordinary, mundane person...]

Perhaps at some point, the gods received not only their own requests and desires, but also the lamentations of the creatures that were dying all the time on this land.

No one would not want to live.

So, if the god only responded to his own expectation, does that mean he needs to deliver hope to those immortal beings in this manner?

But, but...

Even he was filled with hesitation and worry about such a future.

Zuo Jian wasn't unaware of the abnormalities in his body; in fact, they became clearer with each occurrence. Initially, when he uttered some strange words, he would immediately realize the incongruity of them. But now, he could subconsciously distinguish himself from humans by making almost cold gestures and speaking, without even feeling any sense of incongruity. If... if it weren't for Laurentina, he might not have realized this many times, and it would have only gotten worse over time.

To put it bluntly, she has long been an indispensable travel companion on this unknown journey.

He worried that, if he were alone, how long would it take before he became a monster who measured equivalence solely by the number of lives taken?

[Laurentina, you...]

His tone had never sounded so uncertain, and tinged with trepidation.

The latter seemed to have noticed his strangeness long ago and spoke first.

"Didn't I tell you? No matter what you choose, I will always be with you, Zuo Jian."

No matter how many times you ask me a similar question, my only answer will be "I do".

The girl closed her eyes and supported her cheek with her hand. She knew that by doing so, the other person would feel the same touch, as if she were caressing the other person's cheek as she responded.

Time seemed to stand still for a moment, except that the surrounding scenery continued to recede into the distance.

Skadi sat in the driver's seat, focused intently on the road ahead.

From the very beginning, the conversation between Shark and Zuo Jian in the passenger seat gradually became something she couldn't understand at all. After secretly listening for a while, she realized that she really couldn't understand, so she focused all her attention on the road in front of her.

After a pause, Zuo Jian's voice lost its anxious tone and returned to its usual parental tone as he spoke to Laurentina, though this time it was tinged with a slight hesitation.

"I... didn't I already say... Laurentina, the word 'I do' isn't something you can just use casually. You know, it's..."

"Yes, yes, I know. I'll find a suitable occasion and a suitable person to say it to in the future. But Zuo Jian, your reaction... what? You're blushing?"

Laurentina covered her mouth, a teasing expression on her face, and spoke softly.

Why would I blush? I don't even have a face to save right now. Or are you trying to trick me?

"Hey, is it really that obvious?"

[... But thank you anyway, Laurentina, I feel so much better now...]

Zuo Jian was about to say something more, a sudden change occurred!

The gaze brought back by the pupil soaring high in the sky was instantly shrouded in darkness, and a cacophony of roars and whispers erupted from all around.

Countless negative emotions surged towards me like a geyser, but then scattered as if they had touched some untouchable barrier.

What... thing?

In an instant, the Zuo Jian

Realizing that he had been dragged into the mental space, or rather, the space of consciousness, in that instant, something was rushing towards him, carrying countless anger, sorrow, and pain, attempting to tear his soul apart... and then... then it crashed into an invisible barrier, howling as it retreated.

In an instant, so much happened that he couldn't even react. The dark shadow, filled with negative emotions, began to detach itself from this space of consciousness the moment it was blocked by the barrier.

What the hell is this thing...?

Zuo Jian managed to open his eyes just before detaching. If his consciousness, that headless Bones, did indeed possess biological structures like eyes, then at least with the thought of "opening his eyes," his vision returned in the final moment, bringing back the last things he could see clearly.