Just as Ize was finally able to relax, thinking he’d soon arrive smoothly at the Quiet Moon Wharf, that alarm-like system prompt suddenly blared in his mind without warning:
[The God-Level Choice System is at your service. Host, please make your selection as soon as possible.]
[Choice 1: Continue straight ahead to the Quiet Moon Wharf. Difficulty: B. Completion Reward: Protagonist Value +10]
[Choice 2: Turn right at the intersection ahead to change your route. Difficulty: B. Completion Reward: Villain Value +10]
[Choice 3: Turn left at the intersection ahead to make a detour. Difficulty: E. Completion Reward: NPC Value +10]
Ize’s steps instantly froze in place. The leisurely look on his face vanished without a trace, replaced by a heavy seriousness, as if facing a formidable enemy.
“Ize-senpai?” Luke, who was leading the way in front, noticed Ize suddenly stiffen and approached with a puzzled look.
Ize didn’t respond, his mind racing at full speed.
Other than the way they came, there were just three paths ahead—straight and right turns were both B-rank difficulty!
That meant no matter which direction he chose, there was a high chance of trouble ahead.
He was a typical “academy shut-in,” barely knowing anything about the surrounding geography.
He took a deep breath, pointed to the road on the right, and asked, “Luke, where does this road lead?”
“On the right? That’s the way to Liyue Academy.” Luke answered honestly.
Liyue Academy! Ize’s internal alarms blared.
No wonder it’s B-rank difficulty! The advanced magic exams had just ended, and members of the “protagonist team” like Leon and Rhea were likely heading from there toward the Quiet Moon Wharf to rendezvous.
If they turned right, there was a good chance they’d run right into them—trouble written all over their faces!
He quickly pointed left, “What about this way?”
“Left is the road to Wulan City. I went there for training recently, so I’m pretty familiar with it.” Luke answered straightforwardly.
Wulan City? E-rank difficulty!
“Alright! Then let’s go left!” Ize made his decision almost without hesitation, his tone firm and resolute.
“Why?” Emma, who had been quiet on the side, frowned, her face full of confusion. “Going straight takes us directly to Quiet Moon Wharf—that’s our original, fastest route. Even if we need to take a detour, we should go right and meet up with Senior Sara and the others who are likely coming from Liyue Academy’s direction.”
She asked with piercing clarity, “Ize-kun, please give me a reasonable explanation—why waste precious time and choose the longest, most illogical route?”
Ize’s heart tightened at the question. He certainly couldn’t say, “The system told me straight and right are both dangerous,” right?
In his panic, he could only make up an excuse, glancing aside as he spoke, “Uh… I heard… Wulan City has… a lot of local specialty foods? Right, Luke?”
Luke, the straightforward guy, immediately nodded vigorously, “Yes, yes! Senpai! Wulan City’s food is amazing! Especially the roasted rock lamb ribs and honey-berry pie!”
At the mention of “food,” Emma’s eyes visibly brightened a bit, her throat seeming to move slightly.
But her sense of responsibility as the team leader quickly suppressed any craving. She straightened her face, struggling to maintain her seriousness, “Nonsense! We’re on a dangerous investigation mission, not a pleasure trip! How can we let food delay our duties? Listen to me—go straight, don’t waste time!”
No way!
Ize wailed inwardly.
That’s B-rank difficulty! Senpai, you’re leading us straight into the fire pit!
Thinking quickly, he forced a look of longing and pleading onto his face, “Emma-senpai, you know I rarely get the chance to leave the academy. Now that I finally have, I really want to see other cities, try different foods… How about this: let’s split up? Luke and I will check out Wulan City, bring back some local specialties for you and Senior Sara, and then meet you at Quiet Moon Wharf. We promise not to delay too long!”
This suggestion left Emma struggling inside.
She really wanted to eat, and she wasn’t naturally forceful—she wasn’t used to forcing others.
After a brief hesitation, she sighed and relented, “…Alright then. Just be careful, don’t cause trouble, and come meet us as soon as you can.”
Ize hadn’t expected Emma to be so easy to persuade. For a moment, looking at this pure-hearted senpai, he actually felt a bit guilty for “screwing over” his teammate.
He decided to try one last time, to give this “burden-bearing” senpai a chance at survival.
Adopting a tone of reliance, he spoke softly, “Um… Emma-senpai… How about we just go together? Without your clever and experienced guidance, I—I’d be kind of scared…”
This outpouring of “sincere emotion” was quite pleasing to Emma, who enjoyed the praise inwardly, but outwardly became even more serious, patting Ize’s shoulder earnestly, “Ize-kun, this world is full of challenges. You must learn to face them on your own. Teachers and senpai can’t protect you forever. Think of this as a bit of training for you.”
Ize: “……” He gave up completely.
Watching Emma-senpai’s figure—half longingly thinking of food, half trying to maintain her senpai dignity—disappear down the straight road, Ize’s gaze filled with complex emotions: three parts sympathy, three parts gratitude, and four parts “good luck.”
He patted Luke on the shoulder, sighing with feeling, “You see, Luke? In this world full of crises, peace exists only because someone else… bears the burden for us.”
Danger lurks everywhere, but there are always brave “trailblazers” who step without hesitation onto the paths the protagonists walk, to face those unknown B-rank risks.
Silently, Ize lit a candle for Emma in his heart and whispered, “Senpai, take care.”
Luke, apparently not catching the deeper meaning, scratched his head, watched Emma disappear with Ize, and finally couldn’t help but ask, “Ize-senpai, why aren’t we going straight with Emma-senpai? Isn’t that faster?”
“You’re still too young.” Ize, leading the way as he turned left onto the “safe” road to Wulan City, explained, “The broad, bright road the protagonists take looks smooth, but it’s actually riddled with hidden dangers. For passersby like us, the best way to survive is to avoid the main road and walk our own country path. Safety comes first.”
He didn’t care whether Luke understood his “Way of the Coward” philosophy, and simply quickened his pace.
To be fair, choosing the detour to Wulan City was absolutely the right move—in terms of enjoyment, at least.
Wulan City’s reputation for food was well-deserved. Ize completely cut loose here, eating from street stalls to alley shops, finally giving his academy-cafeteria-abused stomach a proper treat.
By the time they set off again, fully satisfied and heading toward Quiet Moon Wharf, it was already the afternoon of the third day—a full two days later than planned.
Looking at the bustling, ship-packed Quiet Moon Wharf in the distance, Luke grew anxious, “Ize-senpai, there’s Quiet Moon Wharf up ahead! Let’s go find Emma-senpai! She must be tired of waiting!”
Ize secretly prayed that the pure-hearted senpai was merely impatient, not in trouble on the road… Though the system marked it as B-rank difficulty, he could only hope fortune favored her.
The closer they got to the wharf, the denser the crowds became. Shouts, bargaining, and the blast of ship horns mingled together, alive with the hustle of everyday life.
“Special Intermediate Mana Recovery Potion! Five silver coins per bottle! Guaranteed genuine or ten times your money back!”
“Fresh from the master’s hands—Super Defensive Robes! Only three gold coins each! Don’t miss out!”
“‘Empire Press’—latest issue! Hit novel ‘As an Academy Failure, I Just Need to Add Points to Level Up My Magic’—newest chapter! Only two silver coins!”
At the last shout, Luke stopped like he’d been magnetized, eyes sparkling as he looked at Ize.
“If you want it, buy it.” Ize waved a hand, resigned.
Luke bought the Empire Press. The stall owner, a skinny middle-aged man, saw that they seemed easy to talk to, lowered his voice mysteriously, and started to pitch, “Gentlemen, just a newspaper is boring, right? Interested in something more exciting… Imperial secrets, perhaps?”
Ize snorted, imitating a girl’s voice and bluntly exposing him, “Heh, if you’re selling it openly on the street, how ‘secret’ could it possibly be?”
That instantly woke up Luke, who was about to pay, making him awkwardly retract his hand.
The stall owner wasn’t the least bit offended. Grinning thick-skinned, his small eyes darted around to make sure no one was watching, then he deftly pulled a much finer-bound, characterless silk artbook from the very bottom of the box.
“You two are men of taste, I can see that. The stuff for the rabble is beneath you, but I have something good here… ‘Imperial Beauties Illustrated.’ Many noble young masters are regular customers.” He rubbed his hands together, grin turning somewhat sly.
Imperial Beauties Illustrated? Ize was immediately seized by an ominous feeling.
But before he could stop him, the ever-curious Luke had already opened the book to the first page.
“Bzzz—”
Ize’s mind went blank. Amid swirling steam, a graceful beauty was shown bathing—her skin fair… and the profile on that gorgeous, dignified face was so familiar it nearly scared him out of his wits!
“Damn! My eyes!!” Ize jerked around, instinctively squeezing his eyes shut, forgetting in his panic to cover Luke’s mouth first.
All he heard was Luke’s astonished, baffled exclamation:
“This, this woman in the painting… doesn’t she look just like our Dean Clare?!”
……
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