novelraw Chapter 10 : Chapter 10
Chapter 10 : Chapter 10
Chapter 10
When Ji Qing emerged from the pure white space, it was already three in the morning.
He had no intention of going to sleep immediately.
After absorbing such a massive amount of information, his mind was filled with scattered fragments of text. Even if he managed to fall asleep, he doubted the quality of that sleep would be very good.
Ji Qing simply took out a blank notebook and began writing down several key points that required attention.
First, the acquisition of Popularity Value was linked to the popularity of the manga. If he wanted to gain as much Popularity Value as possible, he had to increase the manga’s popularity as much as possible.
Second, the readers’ discussions were connected to Xie Chang’an’s perspective. If he wanted to fully utilize the analytical abilities of the manga forum, he needed to place Xie Chang’an in an appropriate position.
Third, the situation of the manga artist was currently unknown. However, for now, this point could be ignored.
“So…” Ji Qing muttered with a slight frown, “the core of the problem lies with Xie Chang’an?”
At present, the best method was for Ji Qing to influence Xie Chang’an’s actions through his own actions. That would affect the main storyline of the manga, increase discussion among readers, raise the manga’s popularity, and ultimately earn him more Popularity Value—while also making use of the analytical abilities of the manga forum.
“Though the analytical ability of the manga forum…”
Ji Qing leaned back and recalled the forums he had browsed in the past. After a moment of thought, he concluded that it was rather unpredictable.
It would be better not to place too much hope in it.
After organizing his thoughts, Ji Qing lit the thin sheet of paper.
Orange-red flames flickered before his eyes.
When the burning charcoal began to heat his skin, Ji Qing released the paper between his fingers and allowed it to burn away in midair, eventually turning into ashes on the ground.
Ji Qing glanced at the clock on the wall and stood up to wash up.
The current time was 4:12 a.m.
It was finally time to sleep. When daylight came, he planned to visit Zhou Que. He had heard that Zhou Que was currently lying in the school infirmary.
As a classmate, he certainly ought to pay him a visit.
Ji Qing smiled helplessly at the thought.
Just as he reached for the doorknob of the washroom, Ji Qing suddenly felt as though his head had grown heavier.
A tentative voice sounded in his mind.
[Host?]
Speak of the devil.
Ji Qing stopped immediately.
[Good evening, System,] he said coolly. [Could you first explain where you disappeared during this time?]
[Of course, Host.] The System replied seriously. [I returned to the Bureau to register your basic information in the employee system. I also upgraded the system functions in preparation for better cooperation in the future.]
[I believe I did not delay for too long. And—] The System paused before asking, [did my greeting at 4:13 a.m. affect your rest tonight?]
Ji Qing fell silent.
[…]
With a forced smile, he said, [Not before. But now it has.]
The System had appeared just as Ji Qing was about to go to sleep. However, since the System had returned, Ji Qing no longer intended to sleep.
Staying up all night occasionally would not harm a young person.
Ji Qing released the doorknob and sat back down at the desk.
The System sounded puzzled.
[Hm?]
Ji Qing asked bluntly, [In the original manga storyline, did You Xingluo enroll in the Third Ability Academy?]
[You Xingluo?] The System seemed confused. It paused briefly before replying sincerely, [Please wait a moment, Host. I have not finished loading the latest world data.]
[Then load it.] Ji Qing said helplessly.
He felt the System behaved somewhat mechanically.
It resembled an artificial intelligence that had just been activated and had not yet been influenced by large-scale data training. Although it possessed excellent performance and could contribute greatly in many professional fields, it was also capable of asking some rather absurd questions.
[I have completed the loading process.] The System replied stiffly. [In the original manga storyline, You Xingluo did not enroll in the Third Ability Academy.]
Ji Qing’s fingers, which had been twirling a pen, suddenly stopped.
[What happened to him?] Ji Qing asked.
[In the original storyline, You Xingluo did not choose to enroll in any Ability high school and did not appear directly in the main storyline. Instead, after his death, Shao Huayu chose to withdraw from school.]
[Hm?] Ji Qing frowned.
Just from the System’s words alone, he could sense the approach of a storm. Something major must happen in the future.
But should he ask about it now?
Ji Qing began to ponder.
The current storyline had already diverged significantly from the original version. Even if he learned the truth now, the event might not occur in this timeline. Instead, it might only disrupt his judgment.
Ji Qing changed the question.
[Does he have any special identity?]
The System replied,
[Member of the Federal Council. Patriarch of the You family. Prophet who predicts the Black Tide. And later in the original manga storyline, he is also known as “the one who prophesies the destruction of the world.”]
Ji Qing stared in astonishment.
[…Why does he have so many identities?]
He had even become the patriarch of the You family. What position could You Xingluo not hold?
Other people’s high school life consisted of repetitive confrontations and humiliations.
You Xingluo’s high school…
Ji Qing suddenly fell silent.
He asked sincerely, [Do you think someone with that identity needs to attend school?]
[No.] The System answered honestly.
Indeed, he did not.
But this also aligned perfectly with You Xingluo’s confession from yesterday. He had told Ji Qing that he was troubled about whether he should attend school.
…At that time, You Xingluo had certainly not mentioned he was this influential.
Ji Qing suddenly felt a chill on his scalp.
How had he ended up being targeted by someone like that?
No, no. Just pretend I do not know anything…
Ji Qing forced himself to shift the topic.
[So what did You Xingluo go to do yesterday?]
The System replied, [A vote on a new bill in the Council.]
[I see.] Ji Qing said expressionlessly.
From this moment onward, Ji Qing decided he knew nothing.
You Xingluo was still just that mysterious classmate with a constant smile.
He certainly did not have a pile of exaggerated identities.
Knowing too much ahead of time might make Ji Qing’s heart unable to bear it.
[Wait—]
Ji Qing suddenly had a flash of realization.
[If he is really that powerful, why did he only rank fifth in admission? Should he not be first?]
The System speculated,
[Possibly because his Ability has already been developed to its limit. In addition, his physical combat ability is extremely poor. Support-type Abilities lack combat power by nature. Currently, there are no teachers in the Federation capable of instructing him further. Also—]
Ji Qing rubbed his temples.
[Let us change the topic.]
[Understood, Host.]
Ji Qing continued,
[What is the situation with Xie Chang’an being an Infected?]
[Xie Chang’an is an Infected. Is that unusual?] The System asked in confusion. [Are you asking why he was not detected during the infection tests?]
[Yes.]
[There is a fatal flaw in the Federation’s infection detection system. I currently do not have permission to disclose it.]
The System paused briefly before continuing.
[However, Xie Chang’an’s condition is special.]
[Xie Chang’an is the only unique variant among the Infected: the Devourer.]
[Devourers are not controlled by Aberrants and carry no infection risk. However, the corresponding drawback is that Devourers cannot possess Abilities. Xie Chang’an’s status as an Ability user is a misjudgment caused by the Devourer’s unique physiology.]
[…I see.] Ji Qing said in a sudden realization.
In the wasteland world, Ability users were less likely to become infected than ordinary people. The higher their Ability rank, the lower the infection probability.
Under such circumstances, Xie Chang’an being misdiagnosed was not impossible.
In essence, Xie Chang’an was like a patient whose immune system had spontaneously produced antibodies against the virus known as Aberrants.
The virus existed in his bloodstream—but so did the antibodies.
He was both an Infected and an ordinary person.
[…So that is why he is the protagonist.] Ji Qing laughed softly.
A person with such an identity truly deserved to be the protagonist.
After all, in the several hundred years since the Federation was founded, Xie Chang’an was the only person who had transformed from an Infected back into an ordinary human.
[What was the original storyline like?] Ji Qing asked.
[Hm?] The System replied.
[I mean…] Ji Qing hesitated.
He found it somewhat difficult to explain familiar manga tropes to the System.
So he asked instead,
[In the original storyline, how many students ultimately remained in Class S?]
[Six.]
Ji Qing inhaled sharply.
[That is surprisingly few.]
There were currently six students in the Class S he belonged to. Ji Qing had originally thought the number was somewhat small.
Yet in the original storyline, the number had been exactly the same.
Wait…
You Xingluo never enrolled.
Shao Huayu withdrew from school.
Zhou Que likely withdrew as well.
And Ji Qing himself had originally left early.
That meant only two original members of Class S remained.
In other words, including the protagonist’s group, only four students were promoted into Class S.
“…Then there is no need to say more,” Ji Qing sighed.
Just as the System had stated, from the moment the Bureau intervened, every encounter had become brand new.
The past was already the past.
Every step from this moment onward was unknown.
[One last thing, System.] Ji Qing suddenly said seriously. [After hearing this, I hope you can calmly evaluate the value of cooperating with me.]
[I believe I have already done so, Host.] The System paused, sounding confused. [Has something occurred that worries you? The current situation in the manga world remains within controllable limits.]
[Or are you planning to reveal your hidden identity?]
[I suppose you could call it that.] Ji Qing said slowly. [It is indeed related to my identity.]
[Please go ahead.]
Ji Qing answered honestly.
[I am a transmigrator. I likely arrived in this world some time ago, though I do not know exactly when. Before you spoke to me, I had just lost my memory.]
[My memories end at my home during my university summer vacation. They begin again on the train where I met you.]
The System fell silent.
[…]
After a long time, the System spoke again.
[Please wait, Host. I am retrieving world data to determine what anomaly might have caused such an event.]
[Go ahead.] Ji Qing smiled again.
A mechanical System truly lived up to its name.
Whenever something uncertain happened, it would first check the world data for errors.
Did the System believe him? Or not?
In any case, it had already begun retrieving the data.
[I have completed the search.] The System said apologetically. [I did not find records of such an event in accessible data. It likely belongs to encrypted data.]
[I am sorry. I do not have permission to access encrypted records.]
The System paused before continuing seriously.
[I will submit an incident report to the Bureau as soon as possible. However, due to the instability of the manga world and the rarity of such incidents, it may take a very long time to resolve.]
[There is another option. If we can determine the complete chain of cause and effect behind the incident, I can calculate the route back to your original world through the channel that brought you here.]
Ji Qing listened quietly to the System’s suggestions.
Suddenly, he felt his nose sting slightly.
He could not help asking,
[Do you not think this sounds like a lie? And that it would be extremely troublesome to deal with?]
[I do not.] The System replied.
[You are my Host. Helping you is my duty.]
Ji Qing laughed softly.
[…Alright.]
To live up to that trust, he would have to work seriously as well.