IWYTBW - Chapter 25

Chapter 25

The So-Called Genius is the First Person to Invent French Fries Dipped in Ice Cream.[e/n: literally had this recently, chocolate frosty + french fries = heaven]

The protagonist’s late-night meltdown had interrupted Yi Zhen’s plans for modifying his primary weapon. Having slept only five hours, he immediately dove back into the design schematics upon waking, foregoing even breakfast.

[Player, while I understand your state—last night’s conversation with the male lead indeed unsettled you, leading to a flurry of complex and peculiar thoughts,] Tai’a said, [it is crucial not to skip breakfast. If you don’t want to face the day in a disoriented state due to low blood sugar, make sure to eat.]

Yi Zhen, irked, replied, “I didn’t have any ‘complex and peculiar thoughts,’ okay? I was just slightly confused, just a bit—not much at all!”

[I believe this reaction is entirely normal, considering both your initial encounter and the subsequent extraordinary nature of your interactions. Player, what do you think is the likelihood that Rong Hongxue might secretly be a submissive masochist?]

Yi Zhen nearly choked on his words. “Secretly a submissive? He’s more like an ultra-dominant sadist, as blatantly obvious as the sun at midnight! Your hypotheticals should still adhere to some basic logic, you know.”

He shook his head. “I suspect thst either he’s testing me, or the narrative of this world continues to influence him. His actions towards me likely stem from an unconscious instinct—because the protagonist should be with the protagonist, but as ‘Yi Zhen,’ I no longer care for him. It’s like the poles of a magnet; when one retreats, the other inevitably advances. This behavior isn’t necessarily driven by emotions or self-awareness but rather a rule-like instinct. So, he spontaneously tries to compensate for the growing distance... Hmm, I must admit, these overly assertive yet somewhat idiotic attempts at reconciliation do seem quite fitting for him.”

Yi Zhen kept replaying the details of Rong Hongxue’s words in his mind, feeling something was off. He even had Tai’a repeat their conversation from last night multiple times, but despite pondering it extensively, he couldn’t pinpoint what exactly felt amiss.

“Or perhaps there’s some other purpose I haven’t considered... After all, how can mere mortals decipher the thought processes of a lunatic? Well, let it be. We’ll cross that bridge when we come to it. Who has time to care?”

[You’re indeed right,] Tai’a mused. [Unless he finds some inexplicable allure in your personal attacks and sustained verbal abuse, developing a moth-like attraction to the flame, there’s no clear explanation for why he repeatedly targets you...]

“Come on, that’s getting even more far-fetched,” Yi Zhen waved dismissively, his tone exasperated. “I don’t have time to worry about him now. Instead, help me organize my schedule and remind me not to forget meeting Miss Sakura[e/n: Previously Yingxue, which was the pinyin, but it keeps giving me Sakura now and I have decided to submit to the robot overlords- at least on this] this afternoon.”

[Understood.]

Strangely enough, since bidding farewell to She Xin yesterday, Yi Zhen had sent several messages but received no response; She Xin remained consistently offline.

This couldn’t help but concern Yi Zhen. Was She Xin perhaps being controlled by his family? Considering how highly The Desna valued their minors, such intense protection wouldn’t be surprising.

After hastily eating breakfast, Yi Zhen dove into his studies without missing a day. Once the morning classes concluded, he rushed through a speedy shower, towel-drying his damp hair before running to the dining table for lunch.

[Approximately half an hour ago, Miss Sakura contacted your photobrain,] Tai’a said. [I replied with ‘currently taking a shower, please wait.’ How do you feel about that?]

“Well, telling a woman that I’ve only met once that I’m bathing is a bit...” Yi Zhen pondered for a moment, then shrugged. “Never mind, why should this ‘male sister-in-law’ worry so much? I’ll reach out to her after finishing my meal.”

A holographic image popped up, showing Miss Sakura sitting upright and apprehensive.

Upon seeing Yi Zhen, she bowed immediately. “Apologies, Mr. Machinist, for the sudden disturbance. It truly was impolite of me.”

Yi Zhen didn’t wish to correct her title again. “It’s fine; I haven’t even thanked Mr. Igarashi for lending me his workshop yet. So, what brings you here? If it’s within my capabilities, I will certainly help.”

Igarashi Sakura responded, “No, actually, my father doesn’t know I sought you out—it’s just a personal request... Here’s the matter: You must be quite a traditional machinist, aren’t you?”

“Traditional...” Yi Zhen considered for a moment. “If we’re talking about forging methods, then yes, indeed very traditional.”

“That’s exactly it,” Igarashi Sakura said with a relieved smile. “In this era, very few people are willing to uphold traditional values anymore. Rapid and convenient technologies along with mechanical assistants have replaced bellows, furnaces, and avils. My family has declined, my grandfather passed away early, and now my father is plagued by mental distress, unable to find fulfillment... Perhaps part of his anguish stems from these circumstances.”

Yi Zhen hesitated before responding, “I’m sorry, Miss Sakura, but the tide of progress cannot be reversed. Regardless of how we wish, things always move forward. This is not something that can be altered by the will of a few generations or even an entire family... Even though I employ extremely ancient forging techniques, I must acknowledge this truth.”

“I understand,” Igarashi Sakura replied with a bittersweet smile. “Sometimes, my father truly suffers. He often says, if alchemy itself can become a renewed discipline, why then do industries requiring immense mental focus neglect their ancient traditions?”

She gathered her composure and continued, “So, when I saw you leaving Father’s workshop that day, I was truly overjoyed—we share a common path! That evening, Father spoke at length and seemed much more spirited. It made me wonder if I could ask a favor from you...”

“A favor?”

“Yes... Please,” Igarashi Sakura clenched her teeth, “I beg you to become the champion of the Heroic Champions Tournament!”

Yi Zhen stared, momentarily speechless.

“Ah???”

Fearing he might misunderstand, Sakura Igarashi hastily explained everything.

“It’s like this! As you likely know, my ancestor, Igarashi Yama, created the Six Thrones, which have been passed down through generations. If you were to win the tournament or even reach the top ten, would it be possible for you to extend a small kindness? Could you take my father to the imperial palace to see the last two Thrones from the royal collection?”

Still bewildered, Yi Zhen asked, “...Miss, do you understand what it means to become the champion or even just reach the top ten in the Heroic Champions Tournament?”

It was akin to randomly pulling someone off the street and saying, “Please participate in the elections and become the President of the United States!”

“I understand,” Igarashi Sakura said, her head bowed. “Even if there’s only a one-in-a-million chance, it’s better than none at all. It is with this belief that I came to ask for your help.”

Well, you certainly know how to aim high—your first request lands on the protagonist himself…

Yi Zhen sighed. “To be honest, I’ve heard some rumors. May I ask if you have...a certain connection with the Empire’s crown prince?”

Igarashi Sakura’s expression shifted slightly, prompting Yi Zhen to hastily clarify, “I mean, why not seek assistance from the crown prince directly? If he is indeed your...”

If he is your boyfriend, getting access to the imperial palace shouldn’t be too difficult, right?

“You must think I am romantically involved with the crown prince.” Igarashi Sakura chuckled softly, her features gentle as flowing water, lips tinted like peach blossoms. Even her melancholic smile seemed as graceful as moonlight filtering through branches. “Actually, that’s not the case. The prince and I have met only three times, each hurriedly under pressing circumstances, exchanging brief pleasantries. He treats me with utmost courtesy, much like a dear friend...”

The girl’s emotions flowed like a sorrowful poem from her gaze. Yi Zhen now understood—it was a tale of unrequited love. The maiden adored a powerful crown prince, but he, having seen countless blossoms across vast lands, paid little heed to a thistle blooming wild... such was their story.

“Oh, I see,” Yi Zhen said, quickly changing the subject. “So, what about the Six Thrones? Does the imperial family truly possess two of them?”

“Yes,” Sakura Igarashi replied. “Among the Six Thrones, there is the maglev car Gram, the mechanical horse Pegasus, the motorcycle Kirin of the Western Hunt, the manned aircraft Psyche, the ship Noah, and wearable wings named Angel.”

Yi Zhen listened with astonishment. “I only knew about Gram...”

“They... rather than being mere modes of transportation, they should be considered works of art.” Igarashi Sakura smiled bitterly. “Similarly, it’s not that my father hated Igarashi Yama; instead, his jealousy escalated to the point of hatred.”

“Why?” Yi Zhen asked curiously. “After all, Igarashi Yama is your ancestor.”

“Why?” Sakura Igarashi’s gaze was filled with such sorrow. “Do mortals need a reason to envy and hate geniuses? The Six Thrones are still celebrated as the brilliance of the Divine Era today. Everyone who has seen them marvels at their deadly beauty. Perhaps Mr. Igarashi Yama’s other machines were lost amidst the fires of war, but these six masterpieces continue to showcase the genius capable of captivating a nation... The Six Thrones represent six royal positions; he was crowned eternally. Yet not a single aspect of his talent, craftsmanship, or even vision survived. Only his descendants remain, struggling under the fading glow of that genius, declining generation after generation.”

“How could one not harbor hatred?” Miss Igarashi’s expression seemed caught between tears and laughter. “After he left, the Igarashi family endured countless generations under the world’s awestruck gazes, yet no successor ever matched Igarashi Yama’s prowess. He transformed from a decorated figure into an insurmountable mountain, and then from a mountain into a wall of shame, highlighting the incompetence of his successors. The Igarashi family truly declined! That’s what everyone says, but nobody saw the prematurely aged grandfather, the increasingly despondent father, nor the ancestors who grappled bitterly, all ground down by suffering until this very day.”

Having finally heard the inner story, Yi Zhen felt only profound empathy.

He asked, “So, your father insisted on using these ancient techniques because they were similar to those employed by Igarashi Yama during his time?”

“Yes, you’re absolutely right,” Miss Igarashi whispered softly. With tears welling up in her eyes, she bowed to Yi Zhen. “Therefore, even if there’s only a one-in-a-million chance, given the extraordinary connection between you, my father, and the Igarashi family, I must set aside my pride and plead with you. The imperial palace houses Pegasus and Angel; we have already collected and completed the design plans for the other four Thrones. However, these two remain inaccessible due to their deep concealment within the court. To revive the Igarashi legacy... we can only rely on the sole surviving works of Igarashi Yama.”

“So, you’ve obtained Gram’s blueprints as well?” Yi Zhen was somewhat surprised. Could Rong Hongxue be so benevolent, willing to facilitate others’ requests?

“Yes,” Sakura Igarashi smiled faintly. “It was about four years ago when Gram belonged to the pilot of the ultra-S class mecha ‘Mahakala.’ Although Mahakala’s pilot is known throughout the Empire as the Smiling Tyrant, surprisingly, Mister Rong readily agreed to our request upon hearing it...”

Sakura Igarashi tapped her chin with one finger, seemingly reminiscing. “According to him, he hadn’t given much thought when purchasing Gram; his exact words were... oh yes, ‘since making too much money isn’t even enjoyable, I spent it casually. If you find it useful, feel free to use it.’ Ha ha, he’s actually quite laid-back.”

Yi Zhen remained silent.

*Bullshit! How is that laid-back? He still comes off as insufferably punchable.*

“...Never mind,” Yi Zhen shook his head. “In any case, your request is that if I win the championship or secure entry into the imperial palace, I should bring Mr. Kazuo Igarashi along so he can replicate... the blueprints for Pegasus and Angel, correct?”

“That’s right,” Sakura Igarashi said gratefully. “Can we count on your agreement?”

Of course, he had to agree—not just to repay the favor but also because the main quest was right here…

Yi Zhen forced a smile, feeling helpless. “Alright, I promise you. If I become the champion... although winning outright seems unlikely...if I obtain the qualification to meet the emperor, I’ll take your father with me.”

Igarashi Sakura bowed deeply.

“I truly don’t know how to express my gratitude.”

Main Quest: The Truth Complete

Quest Rewards:

Skill Points x5

StarCoins x100,000

[Please choose one attribute from Strength, Skill, or Spirit to enhance with remaining Skill Points: 5]

Main Quest: Ascending to the Top Triggered

Quest Objective: Become Number One

After hearing Miss Igarashi Sakura’s detailed account, I am now burdened with a weighty task. Even as the protagonist of this world, securing victory in the Heroic Tournament of Champions will undoubtedly require enduring fierce battles.

However, there’s no turning back; a promise made is like devouring a cheesy chicken cutlet—irreversible. Just like food that eventually converts into calories and fat stored within the body, a promise, once made, always stays with you.

...Well, time to give it my all.

Quest Rewards:

Skill Points x10

10-second Invincibility Buff x1

Finally, some money! Hooray!

Yi Zhen beamed, feeling refreshed and undeterred by the daunting challenges ahead.

After bidding farewell to Miss Sakura, he embarked on a shopping spree for materials he had long been eyeing, then fully dedicated himself to upgrading his primary weapon.

Meanwhile, in the Crimson Cloak Galaxy, at Sage Star…

Adjutant Lorry Leo stood beside his superior, his brows slightly furrowed with concern, exchanging glances with several colleagues across from him.

Adjutant Yista had been dispatched for external affairs, taking along the fleet’s top think tank. With the final negotiations with Wiseman’s Hall approaching, Sir DaHeiTian’s decision to arrange this was perplexing.

“Sir,” Rory Leo addressed his superior by his formal title, unlike others who simply called him Mister Rong, maintaining his traditional habit. “I remain worried whether Yista will make it back in time for the negotiations next week...”

Even if Yista’s presence wasn’t critical, the most important aspect were the chief members of the think tank. They could be likened to a vicious pack of wolves nurtured by substantial funds and the blood of victories, always ready to pounce at the negotiation table, devouring their opponents’ interests and lives.

Rory Leo had personally witnessed how these seemingly polished elites unleashed carnage during the Warhorse’s mining operations on distant planets. By exploiting conflicts between miners and native mine owners, they incited widespread riots throughout the mining districts. Ultimately, the miners united and hanged over a hundred uncooperative mine owners on mining machinery—along with their entire families.

Naturally, such audacious actions by subordinates stemmed from their master being even more unhinged. However, with the final and most crucial negotiations about to commence, the absence of these ruthless wolves significantly weakened their combat capabilities.

“No need to worry,” Rong Hongxue said without a hint of his usual sardonic smile. He calmly scrutinized the data report before him. “I’ve already ordered Yista to return.”

Despite lacking his customary veiled smirk and unreachable twisted mind, his underlings remained silent, fearing to incur misfortune until Rory Leo spoke up. This was due to an unnerving tranquility that sent shivers down their spines. His expression wasn’t truly contemplative; rather, it resembled a stagnant pool, seemingly possessed. Anyone attempting to delve deeper risked certain engulfment.

“...Excellent.” Overcoming his fear momentarily, Rory Leo heaved a sigh of relief. His gaze inadvertently swept over the data report: one, ten, hundred, thousand...a record of a hundred thousand credits? What could warrant presenting a transaction of a hundred thousand credits to Sir DaHeitian?

There must be something peculiar here. As if stung, Rory Leo quickly withdrew his attention. To avoid falling out of favor with his superior, it was best not to ponder too deeply.

In any case, as long as Yista will return, he can rest at ease.

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