Chapter 18: Want to Take a Walk?

“This function, you solve it like this…”

The math teacher was eloquent at the podium, chalk tapping incessantly on the blackboard.

Bai Li frowned, twirling the pen in her hand, her gaze fixed on the blackboard but not taking anything in.

The pen spun around her fingertip once, twice, three times…

Thud.

It fell on the desk.

She picked it up and continued twirling. Her mind was completely occupied with yesterday’s events.

After the meeting ended, the Lady had kept her back alone.

“Regarding the identity of ‘Blazing Knight,'” the Lady began slowly, “have you found any leads?”

Bai Li froze on the spot.

She knew this question would come eventually. She’d known from the first day she was sent to infiltrate.

But when the time actually came to answer, all the excuses she’d painstakingly thought up beforehand—things like “the target is too cautious,” “no suitable opportunity for contact,” “Blazing Knight is actually a shut-in who only controls his mech for battles”—were completely forgotten.

Her mind went blank.

“This… that… I…”

Cold sweat broke out on her back, trickling down her spine.

She wanted to make something up on the spot, but her brain seemed to have crashed. She couldn’t come up with anything.

Those violet pupils hidden behind the mask seemed capable of seeing through all her secrets.

Forget it.

I give up.

“Sorry,” she lowered her head. “I haven’t found any leads regarding Blazing Knight. During this time, I’ve only encountered him once.”

The Lady said nothing.

Bai Li kept her head down, able to feel that gaze resting on her, as if it had substance, slowly sweeping over her from head to toe.

Every second was torture.

“Escaped again, did you?” The Lady finally spoke, her tone carrying a hint of interest.

“I distracted him,” she confessed honestly. “Then used the water vapor from ice sublimation to run away.”

The Lady nodded.

“Well done.”

“Huh?”

Bai Li blinked, a little disbelieving.

That’s it?

No scolding? No punishment? No whipping?

Something’s off.

“The first time could be called luck,”

The Lady stood up, slowly walked over to her, leaned down, and brought her face close.

“To escape from his grasp a second time…”

The Lady’s voice was very soft, brushing past her ear like a feather.

“Perhaps you… no, perhaps that Blazing Knight, has… hehe…” She trailed off.

Bai Li’s heart leapt into her throat.

Has what? What does that mean?

Riddlers get out of Gotham!

The Lady straightened up, took a step back, a mysterious smile curling at the corner of her mouth.

“Before the final plan begins, you continue to infiltrate human society for now. Notify me immediately if you have any news.”

“…Okay, I understand.”

Bai Li fled the hall as if escaping.

…

The bell signaling the end of class rang. She didn’t seem to hear it, her mind still racing at high speed.

The Paradise Project.

What a succinct name.

Because the three blond idiots successfully transformed into monsters, they want to turn the entire city’s population into that using that drug?

Bai Li clenched the pen in her hand, the barrel making a slight crack sound.

What a crazy plan.

Turning the entire city’s people into monsters, into those mindless beasts that only know how to bite and tear.

What would this city become then?

Purple monsters everywhere on the streets, tearing at each other, rivers of blood…

But what could she do?

She was just a pawn sent to infiltrate.

No background, no power, no one backing her up.

She couldn’t even beat Blazing Knight, could only run every time they met.

Oppose the Lady? Rebel against the Starfall Society?

Don’t be ridiculous.

She’s a monster now, why would she oppose it? And Martha could crush her with a single finger.

She lowered her head, staring at the textbook spread open on her desk.

Those densely packed formulas crawled around like ants; she couldn’t recognize a single one.

If the plan succeeded, even Blazing Knight might become a monster.

That detestable tin man, that violent maniac who chased her down.

If he became one of those mindless monsters… would her infiltration mission even have meaning anymore?

Bai Li’s pen stopped moving.

What did it matter to her what happened to Blazing Knight?

He was the enemy!

A human lapdog hunting her! The most dangerous threat in this city!

It’d be better if he became a monster. Then she wouldn’t have to run and hide from him. Maybe she could even turn the tables and beat him up.

Not bad.

But what about Lin Du?

If he became a monster too, there’d be no steamed buns every morning.

No one to walk to school with her.

No one to cover for her.

No one to stand in front and protect her when she was in danger.

“Sigh.”

Bai Li threw her pen onto the desk, slumped forward, burying her face in her arms.

So annoying.

What was she even thinking about?

She was just a transmigrator.

This wasn’t her world. These weren’t her people.

Once the mission was complete, she could return to her original world, her original life.

What did it matter to her if this city fell or not?

What did it matter to her if these humans lived or died?

What did it matter to her if Lin Du became a monster or…

“Bai Li.”

A hand suddenly rested on her shoulder.

“Ah!”

Bai Li was so startled she nearly jumped out of her seat.

She whipped her head around, meeting Lin Du’s face.

He stood behind her, holding a notebook, his expression somewhat puzzled.

“What’s wrong?” he asked. “You don’t look too good.”

“N-nothing!” Bai Li waved her hands frantically. “Just a little sleepy! Didn’t sleep well last night!”

Lin Du looked at her, his gaze lingering on her face for a few seconds, then he handed the notebook over.

“Math notes,” he said. “I remember you said you weren’t very good at math, right? The test is this afternoon. You can at least memorize the formulas first.”

Bai Li looked down at the notebook. On the cover, neatly written, was “Math Formulas,” the handwriting as proper as printed text.

She took it, hugging it to her chest.

“…Thanks.”

Lin Du nodded, turned, and returned to his seat.

Bai Li hugged the notebook, slumped on the desk, burying her face in her arms.

Sunlight streamed in through the window, warm and cozy.

She closed her eyes, letting out a deep sigh.

Forget it.

Just treat this as a game.

NPCs in a game, if they die, they die.

A city in a game, if it’s destroyed, it’s destroyed.

That person in the game who brings her steamed buns… whatever happens to him is none of her business.

Right.

That’s how it is.

She opened her eyes, flipped open the notebook, and started reading line by line.

Lin Du’s handwriting was impossibly neat. Every formula was clearly marked, with red pen annotations next to them.

The more she looked, the more agitated Bai Li felt inside.

She smacked the notebook shut and slapped it onto the desk.

No, she couldn’t just let it go.

She stood up, the chair legs scraping a harsh sound against the floor.

Lin Du was sitting at his seat, head bowed over a book.

Bai Li strode over, placing both hands on his desk.

“What’s up?”

Lin Du looked up, meeting her eyes.

Something was churning in those gray-black eyes.

“Are you free?”

Bai Li’s voice was a little lower than usual.

“Want to go out and talk?”