Chapter 14

Xia Zhi did not go consider, regarding Index's unexplained disappearance, what sort of joyous waves it would stir up in her world.

The Anglican Church, even the entire magic side, all at once tensed up……

Academy City, even more innocently, was directly saddled with a heavy black pot……

He merely set off on a journey with Vivian, beginning to travel the entire Fairy Kingdom, to personally witness this fantasy world's customs and conditions, to personally measure every inch of Britain Island, deeply exploring the Fairy Kingdom's actual appearance.

This, honestly speaking, was very necessary, and very meaningful.

Because for Vivian, this personal experience far surpassed any hearsay or written records, appearing more vivid and detailed down to the finest minutiae.

And for Xia Zhi, he could also gain a more intuitive understanding and cognition of this Britain Fairy Kingdom, so as not to be unclear and muddled, completely at a loss.

Finally, for Index……emmmmm, perhaps it was just eating through the Fairy Kingdom's various ingredients, seeing each region's different specialties? Estimated that for the glutton little nun, this was the core value of traveling the Fairy Kingdom.

Of course, there actually existed another layer of deep meaning——

For example, as this journey gradually deepened, Index would bit by bit verify Xia Zhi's previous statements, and for that saying which was neither completely real nor entirely illusory, find the most crucial piece of the puzzle.

In short, she would soon realize, this indeed was Britain Island without doubt, merely at this moment it was ruled by the fantasy race known as Fairies, no longer the familiar world in her memory.

In this way, it undoubtedly matched up with Xia Zhi's previous exposition.

Simultaneously, for certain things that in Index's view seemed unreasonable, whether theory or physical objects, they could also be attributed to the world's difference. If she did not believe it, then let her explain it herself.

Just like providing an all-encompassing container, any parts needing explanation could be stuffed inside……this was also the strategy Xia Zhi adopted, for a clever little girl like Index, it was the best response.

…………

Why are the magic theories all different?

——Naturally because the world we are currently in is different.

Why does the world have such vastly different distinctions?

——Who knows that, nobody can figure out how it happened.

Why did we come to this strange world?

——Good question, actually I myself am also pondering this problem.

…………

Basically it is just like this.

Mainly kicking the ball, the key lies in shirking responsibility.

Anyway, regarding this aspect of questions, absolutely do not attempt to explain, but turn the problem around and throw it back to Index, let her ponder it herself. Her mind possesses rich imagination ability, surely she will soon be able to make it self-consistent.

No need to demand perfection on every trivial detail, only need to pinpoint the core key, grasp the main contradiction, a mature victim will deceive themselves.

Such sleight of hand, obviously compared to Xia Zhi painstakingly weaving complex lies, then having to create more lies to patch up the lies, comes much more easily and conveniently.

The pure little nun where would she know the human heart's treachery, under this situation of intentional calculation against unintentional, naturally she was easily led by the nose.

She had long fallen into the opposite side's rhythm without knowing it, moreover the opposite side's sugar-coated cannonballs were truly hard to resist. For example, the two's daily attitude towards her, that was both intimate and respectful.

Never harshly demanding she must do something, also never sternly demanding she cannot do something, this kind of warm care was like a spring breeze blowing, pleasant.

Moreover, the most most most important point is——every day's food supply is especially generous, abnormally sumptuous, no way could Index go hungry.

Even at every campsite, the team checklist's first item, is hunting and gathering.

To guarantee this little nun's food inventory is sufficient, prevent her from encountering any food shortage problems.

How to put this, simply a decisive god-tier move——

Under this kind of warm and subtle gentle encirclement, the little nun's originally already few guard hearts naturally rapidly dissolved completely……

————

————

The Fairy Kingdom's territory is not considered very large, after all it is just one Britain Island.

But to say it is very small, that is not the case either, especially under the premise of no convenient transportation tools, wanting to travel the entire island, however you look at it is not a task that can be finished in a short time, no matter how smooth it goes estimated to take several years, over a decade of time.

After all this is not simply walking past, but conducting the most thorough possible exploration and in-depth investigation, only then can one truly grasp the Fairy Kingdom's actual situation.

However on this point, the two have no objections.

After all Vivian can endure the temperament, Xia Zhi is even more not lacking in patience.

One is a born Immortal Species, a Fairy dispatched by the Star Inner Sea Faction, her understanding of time is completely different from mortals, a hundred years, a thousand years, in her eyes are merely dust in the process of achieving a goal, for this she has long had mental preparation.

The other, although outwardly still retaining a human's normal state, but the inner heart's time concept is even more distorted than an Immortal Species. Even now seemingly having returned to normal time flow, that kneaded time perception has long been deeply branded on the heart.

The two therefore naturally hit it off, gladly accepting this long journey's arrangement, viewing long-term travel as a good opportunity to improve themselves.

Traveling to investigate is to investigate and grasp the Fairy Kingdom's situation, improving self is to possess the capital to stir up trouble in the Fairy Kingdom……no matter how you look at it, Paradise Fairies seem to stand on the opposite side of all Fairies.

Therefore, Xia Zhi resolutely set the final aspiration as "rebellion".

With destroying the Fairy Kingdom's existing order, reshuffling as the main purpose, and reverse-pushing from this goal, it is not difficult to clarify what level of power their team needs to possess to meet the standard.

One can imagine, with the current team status of just a few big cats and small cats……

The distance to this goal is still too far.

So the most urgent task is still to improve strength.

…………

On the forest clearing.

Numerous towering into clouds trees cluster around the quiet clearing, dense shade covering, branches and leaves flourishing, closely interdependent covering this forest, blocking most scenery outside, only above a line of sky displayed.

"Can start now, first try moving……move the fingers, try controlling this level of reflex, then try controlling more body parts……"

The silver-haired little nun stands on the clearing, currently expression focused and proficiently instructing, very quickly she frowned again, that childish face revealing a trace of troubled color.

"Why no reaction ah, can't hear me speaking? Want to separate out first, try fusing again?"

In Index's direct front, there are no other people, only a primitive-shaped doll silently exists.

Obviously visible is, this doll's crafting is not refined, its surface not carefully polished and trimmed, only retaining a rough human form outline, joint bearings parts especially obvious. It sits peacefully on the ground, back leaning against a big tree, maintaining a fixed posture.

No matter how the silver-haired little nun tries to awaken it, this doll remains completely motionless.

There wasn't the slightest reaction.

"Mm..."

Index looked somewhat discouraged, then heard a faint voice from behind her, as if it had been expected—

"Failed?"

Vivian had appeared behind the little nun at some point, unnoticed. She examined the doll with a gentle gaze, tilting her head slightly, her golden pigtails falling over her shoulders.

"Yes, failed... The last doll could still be barely controlled, but this one won't obey at all." The youth crouched beside the doll, as if his figure had suddenly appeared, yet also as if he had always been there.

He sighed while drawing circles on the ground with his finger, as if searching for the answer to the problem.

Extending his finger, he tapped the doll's head a few times forcefully. The dull thuds reverberated in the air, and Xia Zhi fell into serious contemplation.

This construct was originally intended as an experimental carrier, prepared to serve as an alternative shell for him, a "Homeless Wandering Soul," so he could attempt "Soul Borrowing Possession" at any time.

—Although this doll's appearance was poor, that was completely unimportant.

—Because according to Vivian, if necessary, these dolls could be made completely indistinguishable from real humans... literally indistinguishable from real humans.

Xia Zhi naturally believed this, especially recently, as he had also been wholeheartedly delving into the art of Doll Magic. As his study deepened, he gradually grasped the fundamental philosophy behind this magecraft.

So-called "Doll Magic" appears on the surface to be the technique of manufacturing, repairing, and manipulating dolls, but its core concept actually involves the magecraft concept of human body replication, pursuing the mysterious reproduction of the flesh's prototype.

Of course, reaching the realm of reproducing the flesh prototype undoubtedly requires vast time and effort; it is not something achieved overnight.

Although Vivian casually said "it seems simple" and "I'm confident"...

However, Xia Zhi currently didn't ask for too much, maintaining a pragmatic attitude of "usable is fine." Although he also liked equipping cool skins for his characters when gaming, that was usually a mid-to-late-game luxury.

As for the early game... you just use whatever works.

"At least the path of Doll Magic is still feasible..."

Vivian was neither surprised nor disappointed, speaking calmly.

Speaking here, the girl casually cast her gaze toward the somewhat crude doll, then quickly shifted her gaze away, yet deep in her pupils there seemed to hide a trace of a hard-to-detect smile:

"However, it seems we'll have to use my method to make it work."

"Seems like it..."

Standing up from the ground, Xia Zhi spread his hands, admitting the girl's words.

"Then let's use your method, Vivian."

Analyzing the current situation, the girl's specially adjusted reconnaissance magecraft must be integrated into the doll's core jutsu. This way, even without her directly intervening to observe, a certain level of magecraft perception could be maintained.

This would in turn allow Xia Zhi, this ghost, to retain an appropriate degree of reality intervention power while in an incorporeal state.

Although there were still significant limitations, it seemed to be the most suitable solution for now. Xia Zhi thought it over and simply stopped agonizing. In any case, solve the existence problem first, then consider quality choices.

This solution that still required binding Vivian to some extent and diverting the girl's attention would naturally not truly satisfy him.

So Xia Zhi made up his mind to continue delving deeper afterward, until he completely solved this problem—

Then he'd give Vivian a surprise; she'd surely be very happy.

"Then I'll make a few finer dolls to use for now, and when conditions allow, I'll try to make some higher-grade ones..." The girl nodded, then turned and left. "Let's go eat something first; we're about to enter the Wing Clan's territory."

"Mm..."

Xia Zhi reached out, picked up the experimental doll from the ground, and hoisted it onto his shoulder, simultaneously sighing that they were finally entering the Fairy Clan's territory again.

Same old saying: the Fairy Kingdom isn't large, but it isn't small either.

Only a few clans divide and rule the territory; in reality, most places are still undeveloped primitive wilderness, wilds rarely tread by humans. The three of them had already walked unknowingly for over half a month, stopping and starting, and basically hadn't encountered any other fairies.

One reason was they weren't walking fast to begin with, stopping and starting; another was that the fairy density in the Fairy Kingdom really wasn't very high.

Collecting his thoughts, he glanced at the little nun following beside him step for step, and discovered she was gloomy and unhappy.

Casually ruffling Index's head, messing up her silver hair: "It's just a meal, why not be a little happier?"

"Mm... I feel like I'm really useless..." The silver-haired little nun's expression was troubled, seemingly depressed because she couldn't be of use.

"This has nothing to do with you; it's the world itself. The magic theories you're familiar with might not fully apply here..." The youth smiled lightly, comforting her. "But there are also plenty that can still work, did you forget?"

"Mm..."

The little nun nodded gloomily, seemingly not so easily convinced.

"Speaking of which, Idol Theory seems to still have some effect, right? If I use that theory to craft magecraft dolls, could it significantly enhance the dolls' performance?" Xia Zhi coughed once, directly raising a question, attempting to divert Index's attention.

The "Index Librorum Prohibitorum" had, after this period of persuasion and self-persuasion, begun cooperating quite well in performing the Magic Teacher's function; she mustn't be easily discouraged.

"Eh, this... this... maybe? How do you plan to do it?"

Index thought for a moment, answering somewhat uncertainly.

She had already become aware of this world's unique laws, so she thought it over but still didn't rashly give a judgment.

"Anyway, it's all crafting dolls. If I can utilize Idol Theory to shape dolls into the forms of those legends, wouldn't they theoretically gain a portion of their power, thereby greatly enhancing the dolls' performance?"

The youth seemed to have a half-baked idea, saying enthusiastically: "For example, if I make a doll in the image of the Great Sage Equal to Heaven, even if it can't fully replicate those divine abilities, it should get a portion, right?"

"This... theoretically possible? But we'd have to test it to know..." Index subconsciously felt it was unreliable, answering very softly.

"If it's theoretically possible, it's worth trying. We'll know when we see the results."

Xia Zhi was in a great mood, striding forward—

"If it succeeds, could the doll come with built-in skills? For instance, Skill 1: pluck hair to create avatars; Skill 2: Somersault Cloud omnidirectional movement; Skill 3: Indestructible Vajra Body; Skill 4: Insight..."

"Why is Skill 4 Insight?"

The little nun expressed doubt, even if it really could succeed: "Shouldn't it be the Golden Cudgel?"

(Chapter End)