Deer College · Cathedral.
[WARNING!!!] [Any unauthorized personnel entering this area will be immediately executed by the [Sword of Judgment] memetic kill agent. Descending into the inner area without receiving the appropriate Meme Vaccine will result in immediate death by cardiac arrest.] [You have been warned!] [Memetic kill agent activated] [Vital signs detected-requirements met!] [Releasing security lock-] [Welcome, authorized personnel-Xiu Abraham]
Xia Xiu rolled up his sleeve as a spherical machine beside him extended its mechanical arm and injected an entire vial of red reagent into him. Meanwhile, Heaven's Red Book flipped through its pages on its own, special aetheric symbols constantly refreshing across them.
[Lineage peripheral-dedicated Lineage loaded successfully!] [Lineage peripheral-connection to public Lineage [Deer College] successful!] [Remote access permitted!]
A distinctive virtual fawn appeared beside Xia Xiu. This was Deer Spirit, Deer College's Lineage think tank. The college's primary research focused on Lineage think tank development and artificial intelligence, and Deer Spirit was one of its research achievements.
[Current Lineage rejection rate: 7%] [Please remain within Three Portlands and Deer College whenever possible. Once you travel more than 10 kilometers beyond Three Portlands, the peripheral device will disconnect automatically.] [Note: please disable the peripheral device when casting through your Lineage during normal use to prevent an increase in the rejection rate.]
Lineage registration was lifelong and tied to one's real identity. Once someone bound themselves to a Lineage, they belonged to it for the rest of their life. In theory, two different Lineages were incompatible. To facilitate academic exchanges and alliance activities, however, the major Lineages had made a series of modifications to their own structures and think tanks.
Lineage peripheral devices were the fruits of that research.
Through a Lineage peripheral device, the Heaven Lineage could also connect to Deer College's Lineage. Once connected, the peripheral displayed a Lineage rejection rate. The higher the rejection rate, the fewer Deer College Lineage interfaces and resources were available.
In addition, peripheral devices did not provide traits, EVE Particles bonuses, ARad Fields, loudness, or other Thaumaturgy bonuses. They primarily offered interface services, computing resources, and AI services.
[Hello, I am Number 10086, an AI sprite under Deer Spirit, Deer College's think tank.] [You may customize my name. Throughout your life at Deer College, I will serve as your assistant.]
"From now on, your name is Jarvis. Address me as sir." Xia Xiu stroked his chin, indulging his mischievous sense of humor.
[Generating changes-] [Sir, Jarvis is at your service.]
"Jarvis, tell me what Deer College has planned for us next."
[Certainly, sir.] [First, I will briefly introduce Deer College's housing options: · Dormitories: most dormitory rooms are singles or partitioned shared rooms, but first-year students may be assigned to unpartitioned double or triple rooms. · House of Languages: the House of Languages hosts visiting language scholars who live alongside students, helping them build a community centered on foreign languages and nonhuman linguistic cultures. Most members of this community are "foreign" students. · Cooperative apartments: cooperative apartments are generally not open to first-year students. Each occupies a separate building on campus. Rather than having an assigned resident supervisor, residents select a cooperative coordinator from among themselves to represent them in communications with the residential life office. Some cooperative apartments have eligibility requirements that students must meet before applying. · Canyon House: at the center of Deer College's campus lies the canyon, a forest and wetland area home to many plants and animals unique to Three Portlands. Canyon House lies somewhere within it, protected by Nature's own ancient druidic Thaumaturgy. It is a community dedicated to understanding nature and coexisting with the natural world. · Haunted House: the Haunted House aims to provide a space for incorporeal and deceased students, building a community free of stigma against nonliving beings.]
"Where have I been assigned?"
[Sir, you have been assigned a single room in the Anderson Dormitory. Your room number is 404.]
A single room. Not bad.
[After housing assignments comes academic group selection.] [Deer College has two broad academic divisions: the Mundane Studies Group and the Esoteric Studies Group.] [Each division has four academic groups, and each group has its own head.] [The Mundane Studies Group includes the Arts Group, the Literature and Languages Group, the History and Sociology Group, and the Mathematics and Natural Sciences Group. The Esoteric Studies Group includes the Unnatural Sciences Group, the Prayer and Summoning Group, the Magical Knowledge Group, and the Metaphysics Group.] [Each academic group offers several majors.] [Every Deer College student must complete one year of occult coursework.] [New students must read the "Deer College Student Handbook," "An Overview of Lineages (100,000 words)," and "Occult Thaumaturgy-Issue 121, Section 242, Selected Excerpts" before choosing their desired major within the Esoteric Studies Group.] [New students must choose one branch of the Mundane Studies Group as their minor.] [New students must earn 100 credits within one year.]
Xia Xiu whistled, unable to resist teasing Jarvis:
"What a wonderful campus life. What time is it?"
[20:21]
"Where is Deer College's cafeteria? Are they serving food now?"
[Dining services are available 24 hours a day. Some food is free for Deer College students, while other items require payment.]
"Show me the way. I'll head back to the dorm after I eat."
[Certainly, sir.]
A holographic map appeared before Xia Xiu, displaying three-dimensional map data. A green dot represented him, while a red arrow showed him which way to go.
Following the directions, Xia Xiu reached the cafeteria. At the entrance, he spotted a familiar figure: Camille, who possessed Synesthesia. She stood outside, torn, looking as though she wanted to order but did not quite dare.
Xia Xiu glanced at the serving counter and immediately understood what frightened her. A plump cafeteria lady stood there-except she was floating. In other words, the lady was a ghost.
"Your AI sprite should have explained this to you, right? Most of the ghosts here still retain their consciousness."
Xia Xiu approached Camille as he spoke. She was so startled that she stumbled, but he reacted quickly and caught her by the arm.
"I-it's you." Camille's face flushed again.
How embarrassing.
"Sorry, I scared you."
"I... I just overreacted..." Camille fidgeted bashfully, twisting her index fingers together.
Grrr-
Suddenly, Camille's stomach growled, turning her already rosy face an even deeper red. Anyone who did not know better might have thought she was a steam engine incarnate.
I wish I could find a crack to crawl into!
"Come on, I'll order with you. You'll gradually get used to this place." Xia Xiu smiled gently.
"...Okay."
Camille obediently followed behind Xia Xiu. He led by example, chatting briefly with the cafeteria lady before placing his order. Then he stood behind Camille with his tray, looking at her encouragingly so she could order too.
Camille plucked up her courage and ordered from the cafeteria lady, who smiled and chatted with her. She told Camille that some newly arrived little deer found things unfamiliar at first, but as the days passed and they spent more time here, things would gradually get better.
"Okay." Camille smiled happily.
(End of chapter)
If you enjoyed this book, remember to add it to your bookshelf so you can find it again next time.
Before you continue