Beyond the World

Morning on the Western Continent was hardly any different from the Southern Continent. Although it was closer to the Northern Continent and the climate was slightly colder, it wasn't yet time for migratory birds to head south. When Li Yue woke up, she could see several small birds of unknown species chirping outside her window.

She got out of bed quietly, making sure not to wake Clo, who was still making soft purring sounds in her sleep. She took a tissue and wiped the drool from the corner of Clo’s mouth. Though she acted so tough in front of strangers, in private, she was still just a little girl who drooled in her sleep.

Li Yue smiled faintly. Perhaps this was the meaning of her continuing to present herself in human form. She tied on an apron and took out the ingredients she had purchased. Recently, the West Academy had done an excellent job of settling the people. Plenty of food was being sent from countries in the Northern Continent, while minerals and daily necessities could mostly be purchased from Yakutsk.

The manufacturing system established singlehandedly by Reinhardt had turned Yakutsk into a very wealthy town, despite its small size as a city-state. It was rumored that the Empire of Les to the north wanted to incorporate Yakutsk into its territory, but that would depend on Reinhardt's intentions.

She strolled through the long corridors, where marble pillars were carved with various figures. Students acting as guides nearby said these included the academy's historical greats, as well as gods depicted on existing parchment scrolls, carved into the pillars or the domed ceilings of the corridors after some artistic refinement.

It was said that the most recent pillar was carved with the image of the God of Death, using Li Yue as the model. In Li Yue’s own words, only that one was actually accurate; as for the gods on the other pillars, she didn't recognize a single one of them.

These were the gods who now appeared before her almost every night. She remembered their final struggles before death, their most hideous faces. This clashed violently with her earliest memories; she herself hadn't expected her to become what she was today.

Passing students bowed to her in greeting. After all, at several ceremonies over the past two days, although she hadn't spoken, she had consistently sat beside the head seat. This was the General Principal of the West Academy, who had taken office in the last two years. After meeting the spokesperson sent by the magic beasts, she had decided to have a chat with the humans—this person who was both familiar and a stranger to her.

The largest freshwater lake on the Western Continent was surrounded by the academy. This vast lake had remained unnamed in ancient times until the previous principal, the "Miracle Magic User" Merlin, stepped down. It was then named "Merlin," though people also liked to call it "Miracle."

Li Yue felt the wind pick up significantly, and the temperature dropped slightly. Since this area wasn't sheltered by buildings, the strong wind was normal. As for the temperature, Li Yue had always been extremely sensitive to it, likely because she was a snake. Even in daily life, if she quietly hugged Clo from behind, she could perceive the subtle shifts in body temperature in an instant.

During the first few days after her memories returned, her five senses had been extremely dull. She could only rely on body temperature to judge Clo's mood and level of shyness.

Looking out into the distance, near the center of the lake where a light mist lingered, there was a small fishing platform made of wooden planks. Everyone affectionately called it the "Air Force Base." Sometimes, trainees also liked to row small boats to their favorite waters to fish.

Like a gentle breeze blowing from the shore to the center of the lake, Li Yue’s figure emerged from the pitch-black and entered this world of color.

“It’s been a long time, Professor Leonardo Black,” Li Yue said flatly. She looked at the old gentleman tending his fishing rod. After giving her greeting, she said no more.

“This is clearly our first formal meeting, yet you have a way of making it feel like we are old acquaintances.” Leonardo smiled and packed up his fishing gear. “The fish have all been scared away. Let’s go have some tea. The black tea leaves from my hometown are very fragrant.”

“The tea leaves from the Royal Court... I remember the taste being slightly bitter,” Li Yue remarked casually. “Mr. ‘Professor,’ there are only the two of us here. We haven't met since the ‘Meeting’ ceased to be convened.”

“When I first saw you, I wondered if the Divine Lord had truly sent down His vassal,” Leonardo smiled, leading Li Yue to a small pavilion by the lake. “Let’s talk while we drink. Have you had breakfast yet?”

“I have.”

“At that time, I never would have imagined that the Divine Lord would personally deign to come to this world.”

“It wasn’t deigning. They didn’t come themselves because their bodies were killed by me. I only appeared personally because I didn’t die.” Li Yue took a small sip of tea. She quite liked the slightly bitter taste. However, if it were Clo, she would probably add milk and sugar. Perhaps she could ask for some tea leaves when she left to brew for Clo back home.

“After all, vassals are simply the vessels they choose. Since I am still alive, there is no need to choose one.” Li Yue gave a contemptuous smile.

“Though I had such suspicions before, hearing it from the mouth of a god is still quite a shock.” Leonardo’s eyelids lowered slightly. He looked at the calm surface of the lake, momentarily speechless.

“There is no need to discuss their affairs anymore. Tell me about the current state of the Royal Court. How is everyone from the Meeting? I still have a few items to return to them,” Li Yue said, resting her head in her hand.

...

Inside the West Academy, Clo, who had just changed and finished breakfast, was fighting off sleepiness as she listened to a professor talk at length on the stage. Although her lack of sleep made her impatient, the professor’s hypothesis was actually somewhat interesting.

On the high platform of the hall sat a map recently drawn by the academy’s fleet, covered in dense annotations. Ever since the sea routes were fully opened, the academy and the Royal Court had each sent out fleets to draw two maps centered on their respective locations. When compared, the two were almost identical.

However, everyone present, including the other two of the Five Staves, was not paying attention to this precious map. They were looking at the hypothesis on the blackboard, each lost in thought.

The hypothesis was titled: “The Western Continent is a world that does not belong to the secular realm.”