Chapter 154

Polaris turned her gaze from me and directed it towards Victoria.

“Torri, what kind of magic was that just now? I didn’t feel any magic power at all. Is it the same thing as when the floor got wet earlier?”

Completely unlike how she had been talking to me until now, she spoke to Victoria in an incredibly excited tone. She immediately used a nickname. What a bold move!

Victoria looked at me with clear discomfort. But even if she looks at me like that, there’s nothing I can do.

“Is it really psychic ability, like I saw on TV? What else can you do?”

Polari approached closely.

Victoria started to explain hesitantly.

“Yeah… Psychic ability. The only thing I can control is water.”

Victoria pulled a thin stream of water into the air. Polaris watched it intently.

“Still no magic power. That means it isn’t magic then. Hmm… This psychic ability can be easily used even in cities where magic power is scarce, huh? Scary.”

At Polaris’ words, Victoria tilted her head.

“Scary? Compared to magic, it’s nothing much.”

Polaris chuckled softly. Then she poked Victoria right above her heart with her index finger.

“It’s not the psychic ability that’s scary. You’re what’s scary, Torri. Did you follow me here planning to bury me alive or something? I could feel that murderous intent.”

Upon hearing that, Victoria subtly turned her head away to avoid Polaris’ gaze. Seeing this, Polaris straightened her shoulders.

“See? People like you are rare. Add to that, such power… Interested in becoming a knight? It comes with noble status, and I can take good care of you. Think about it, will ya?”

A commoner advancing to become a knight—still, in a society where class distinctions remain, it’s a good opportunity. However, Victoria shook her head.

“The knight I want to be is a clockwork knight. If you’re looking for another type of knight, go find someone else.”

“How about giving you your own factory?”

At Polaris’ casual probing, Victoria showed interest for a moment. But after shaking her head violently in refusal, Polaris giggled.

“Aww, too bad. If you ever change your mind, come to the Barrington household. If you’re still someone I like by then, I won’t hesitate to support you.”

And with that brief farewell, Polaris headed back toward the building.

“She’s a stormy one, but doesn’t seem bad. Considering how her voice dropped when she mentioned someone dropping out earlier, she probably tried helping Bell.”

“Is that so?”

“Meeting the prince sure seemed like a setup for trouble.”

“I agree.”

It seems like some sort of bloody conflict arose in the prince’s grade…

Judging by how they use benefactors as bait, it fits the criteria for being accepted into the Harvesting System. Aside from that point, though, it seems fine.

“So, are we heading to Shiodore next?”

Victoria cautiously asked while checking my expression. Instead of answering directly, I slightly shifted the topic.

“I didn’t know Shiodore was in such condition.”

“You met him last time, right? Didn’t you notice then?”

“He was sitting the whole time. I figured someone of high rank might be like that, so I didn’t pay much attention.”

In every world, I’ve always been somewhat of an outsider, so this level of interest is new to me.

As long as I have a physical form in this world, it means I’m part of it—not merely observing through the Harvesting System.

Following the flow and picking up stray warmth along the way has been enough so far, but can I create the flow myself?

It feels like realizing you can step into the simulation game you’ve been playing and become a player inside it.

While I’d prefer to pretend I lack self-awareness until I establish a foundation, opportunities like this don’t come around often.

Hmm…

When did I ever weigh pros and cons like this? I used to just focus on one goal and handle whatever came up in between.

Let’s keep responding situationally this time too.

The topic changed, and instead of asking about Shiodore, Victoria began grumbling.

“Why did I suddenly end up entering the Royal Academy and get tangled up in all this?”

“From the perspective of accepting notable social figures without exclusion, it should be seen as quite open-minded.”

Although understanding history and current international situations would give a more accurate view… I don’t know those things. Right now, the memory stored in my harvesting system contains almost no foreign information.

At best, it’s limited to rumors of major events happening somewhere or trivial details like how the food there tastes good.

If I harvest Shiodore, I might gain some useful intel.

But I won’t make contact.

After all, this situation isn’t inconvenient at all. Using facts as weapons makes you dependent on them. While facts are powerful, they also impose significant constraints.

Since the purpose is treating disabilities, they’ll approach us first eventually. Let’s seize the initiative here.

“Hey, is Bell smart?”

“Nope. Not bright. She knows a lot and is confident in interpretation, but she can’t create or predict anything new based on her knowledge. In short, she lacks creativity.”

Interpreting objects based on received information and predicting the future are entirely different functions.

But it doesn’t seem like Victoria sees it that way.

“Apologize to those aspiring clockwork knights who scream because they can’t even interpret simple things!”

“Memorizing more will help.”

“No matter how much I try, it just won’t stick!”

Ah, she was talking about herself. Victoria grumbles.

Is memorizing really that hard?

I search through faded memories.

There’s a recollection of struggling with memorization. So, being good at memorization does indicate intelligence to some degree. Even if you know things, it can be frustratingly impossible to use them to create something new.

“Let’s say that someone who can create something from that is remarkable.”

“Even monsters envy what they lack…”

For some reason, Victoria looks like she’s gained some insight, gazing absently at the air with a dazed expression.

Don’t people usually notice their deficiencies more clearly? Once jealousy sticks, it doesn’t let go easily.

Which is why I actually recommend fostering an environment where I can easily obtain warmth.

Anyway…

“Let’s head home now.”

“You mean the dormitory, right? I have somewhere to stop by, so I can’t go with you.”

Victoria is busy preparing to become a clockwork knight.

“Oh, right. Where does Bell live now?”

Victoria asked a legitimate question. So, I pointed toward the main gate of the Royal Academy.

“Past the main gate, turn left immediately onto the main road. I live in the building there.”

“Left from the main gate? Oh, is that it?”

She must’ve recalled it from memory. The Clockwork Knight School is also in the capital like the Royal Academy. Plus, since Victoria has been around this area before, she can likely recall it.

“When you get back to your room, Bell, what do you do? Do you watch videos? Or do housework like cooking or cleaning?”

Victoria asks about what I do in my room, referencing her own home. So, I shake my head.

“That’s handled by the staff. I just sit quietly in my room.”

“Nothing else?”

“Yes. There’s no need, so I don’t do it.”

At my answer, Victoria looks at me with a worried expression.

“Aren’t you bored?”

“It passes in an instant.”

I have over ten thousand harvesting systems. In other words, that many channels. And it’s not like I can only watch one—I’m simultaneously observing all of them. And that continues even now.

So, I’m never bored.

To put it simply using a faded memory: it’s like lying in bed watching highly edited videos.

Human life is fundamentally a comedy from afar, so I enjoy watching it.

Though so far, the only warmth I’ve received is from a harvesting system crushed under construction materials while working.

Someday, I’ll surely receive a lot of warmth.

Of course, killing creatures other than humans also provides warmth.

But it’s insufficient. Slaughtering domesticated animals yields almost no warmth. Wild insects on the road have more warmth than those animals.

Perhaps, it means those livestock were closed off from potential from the start.

Of course, there are plenty of living beings. Like the jungle I observed from the sea while traveling from a small port to Bern City.

It was full of creatures brimming with warmth. Clearing it all would certainly grant a lot of warmth in that moment.

However, ultimately, humans provide the most efficient warmth. Though individually, monsters may possess more warmth, humans have higher density overall.

In terms of efficiency, humans make excellent potential harvesting systems.

“Passing in an instant, huh? Sounds like something a grandma would say. By the way, how old are you?”

“Time tends to feel faster as you age.”

First, accept that fact—then Victoria made a horrified face.

“Wow, I don’t wanna get old. I still have so much to do, yet each day feels shorter?”

“Don’t worry. You won’t age much anymore.”

Pointing at Victoria, I said that.

Once you become a harvesting system, older people grow younger, and younger ones stop aging. Lost hair regrows, and signs of aging disappear.

“Really?”

“Yes. Think of it as roughly doubling your lifespan.”

Of course, it resets with the next generation, but adding me extends it.

“Bel is amazing.”

At that comment, I smile.

That’s why people obsess over me. Everyone ages, and aging bodies break down. If you could restore youth, many would pay any price.

King Highpion will definitely seek me out eventually.

Hehe.

But first, there’s one problem I must face.

The witch who cursed Aurora.

That witch might see me as an enemy and attack. I welcome the attack itself, but there is something worrying me.

The witch was perceptive. Tsuchkesuni was proof of that.

After falling to the ground, I transformed into a monster—but failed mid-transformation and disintegrated. Not everyone who falls becomes a creature like me.

In the first world, that witch constantly suspected me.

And she nearly uncovered the truth.

The hidden side of the harvesting system. The real danger I haven’t told anyone. The reason I can only be an evil monster.

What will the witch do if she figures it out?

I might have to resort to aggressive force then.

Or, if I gain nothing and am chased away, it might be better to destroy this third world and collect its warmth.

Let’s lay out the few options available to me and wait.

“Expecting too much will lead to regret, Victoria.”

Then I walked toward the main gate. Victoria followed briefly before waving goodbye, saying she had to go to the faculty office.

Time passes quickly.

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