Chapter 1246

Huh?

Of course, the precondition is that I continue working as a Public Safety Devil Hunter in Special Division 4. By the way, I'll let the two of you live on, live to a ripe old age, and not stir up any weird trouble. Then I'll live to that time as well.

……

Denji and Pawa stared at him silently.

Even the fat cat lying on Pawa's leg lifted its head and looked at Aki Hayakawa with its round eyes.

Wait… why are we just an afterthought to survive?

Protest! Discriminatory treatment!

"No matter what you think, this is my current ideal." Aki Hayakawa said calmly, "Living safely and soundly—that's the most concrete and greatest ideal."

——

"Yasinthe—since you suggested it, why not also wrap up with you—share your 'ideal' with everyone here, so we can see if your answer is outstanding." Nahida lowered her gaze to the pink-haired girl beside her.

""Well, looks like it's my turn after all…" Fu Xuan crossed her arms, wearing a confident, smug expression, "Heh, good thing I prepared beforehand—I won't be stumped—my ideal is to fill in the final 'blank page' of the hero's epic.""

Having finally heard an interesting answer, Nahida repeated it with interest: "…'Blank page'?"

""That's an interesting take. Why don't you elaborate a bit, assistant lecturer?""

"During my time studying at the Tree Court, I read through all of Vennessa's heroic epics and noticed their uniformity—almost every epic ends with the hero's deeds, yet hardly anyone mentions how ordinary people lived their daily lives in the era they created, or what hardships those ordinary folk endured."

"You mean you're more interested in the ordinary people hidden in the margins of history than in the heroes whose names go down in history?"

"Perhaps it's because of my lineage. My ancestor, the 'Sunlight Knight' Senecios, raised her spear and challenged the sky, inaugurating the Age of Ember that continues to this day. Every descendant of the sky grew up hearing her story. For us, Senecios's greatness is beyond doubt, but consequently… her towering figure swallowed up that age."

"The Sunlight Knight's kin, allies, companions, the survivors and victims of the great war… Whenever I sit by the campfire and recall their stories, I always find that the legends' details have been lost, leaving only Senecios's name. Unbeknownst to me, her radiance became as dazzling as Aegle's, eclipsing all things on earth."

"So I'm grateful to live in an age that doesn't lack heroes."

"Our ancestors only have a sorrowful past, but I have a future that needs protecting. What I want to do is stand behind the heroes, and when the golden tide pushes the world toward rebirth, I will use all my ability to heal every ordinary person who might drown. No need to return to the sky; instead, I will walk the earth alongside people. This is my wish, and I believe that only in this way, as the verses of creation are being written……"

"Only then can I add a mortal's footnote to that blank page."

——

Genshin Impact.

Full marks.

Full marks.

……I-I would also want to give Miss Fu Xuan full marks!

In a daze, Collei felt that this girl, about her age, was shining brightly; her fluent expression and outstanding eloquence made even Collei, who was also a teaching assistant, feel a bit embarrassed.

"Don't be embarrassed, Collei—expertise lies in specialization, and you're doing just as well in your own field." Tighnari keenly caught the nervousness in Collei's eyes and comforted her softly.

"Yeah, Collei, I actually agree with Tighnari on that." Lesser Kusanagi nodded slightly, her fingers unintentionally twirling the strands of hair hanging by her cheek, "The experience you've accumulated in the rainforest is just as valuable as the wealth those students at the Akademiya strive for. In my view as a senior, you young people who are willing to put your ideals into practice step by step are all flawless, full‑marks individuals." Kaveh said.

Th-thank you, Senior Lesser Kusanagi!!

"Besides, I never expected Fu Xuan's perspective to be so grand—this view of history from the people's standpoint actually resembles some of the ideas of the Causality School. If Fu Xuan came to Sumeru, she'd likely become a scholar of the Causality School." Kaveh said.

"No, no." Tighnari crossed his arms, "How could she possibly join the Causality School? She's a doctor, clearly better suited to be a scholar of the Biology School. The Biology School has extensive research in medicine and animal husbandry; her pet, the little Ika, might even open up new topics in the husbandry of exotic beasts."

"Then why couldn't she join the Material School?" Cyno interjected, "If her teacher Nahida also came to Sumeru, she'd definitely join the Material School—the Material School's alchemy research is unrivaled in Teyvat. If the teacher joins the Material School, the disciple would too; that makes sense, right?"

Tighnari looked speechless: "Where's the logic? Fu Xuan is Nahida's student at the Tree Court, and she's not studying alchemy with him. Still, given Fu Xuan's near‑resurrection‑level medical skills, it feels like a waste for her to be a mere scholar in the Biology School…"

Cyno looked at him seriously: "What about just becoming a sage?"

Tighnari rubbed his temples: "…Then my teacher might end up losing sleep at night."

——

"Toot… toot?"

"The little Ika's call pulled Fu Xuan's thoughts back to reality."

"Although it hasn't been long since my time at the academy, things have changed—the once‑crowded platform is now empty and deserted. The teachers and students of that time…… are now only her and Bai Hao left."

"Recalling my former stiff, proper self… it's actually kind of embarrassing. But my idea has never changed. Now I really have the chance to stand behind the heroes and fulfill my ideal."

"…Fu Xuan?"

"Suddenly a familiar voice sounded from behind."

"Dan Heng! What are you doing here?"

"Dan Heng: "I didn't expect to meet you again at the Tree Court. Bai Hao said you're preparing to conquer Aegle—could it be…?""

"You guessed right. To reach the heavenly realm of Aegle, the descendants of the Skyfolk must undergo a blood‑line ritual, summon the spirits of their ancestors, and receive their blessings. Only then can the earthly beings create a rainbow bridge to the sky. And the first ancestor I wish to seek, whose spirit resides right here in the Tree Court…"

"To retrieve Aegle's fire seed, building the rainbow bridge is essential. For such an important ceremony, going alone is rather reckless."

"Fu Xuan gave a light smile, looking at the plump little Ika beside her: "Don't worry, with little Ika by my side—it'll protect me, right?""