Chapter 1786: with translation of chapter title

NO. 401: Digital World's Aomo Lindun

Bi Ze's reason for hesitation is not hard to guess, because he is a thick‑skinned person.

So thick‑skinned that he can use his phone, flip through color charts, and even chat a few sentences on the subway without changing expression, making you, whose skin isn't that thick, want to pretend you don't know him.

Only in front of authority‑symbolizing superiors like bosses, teachers, or homeroom teachers do you see him restrained—of course, that's the first impression.

Later, as Aomo's female housemates increased, you got a chance to see new items on this alien youngster's self‑restraint list.

Even now, Aomo can still see him acting courteously with his girlfriend in front of everyone, putting on a shy, sweet‑and‑sour love act, as if his tough‑topic discussions with David in the brothers' little group were fake.

But that doesn't mean his skin has gotten thinner.

Aomo knows that the increase in such pretentious behavior toward specific groups is just an inevitable part of social relations, completely unrelated to personal change.

If one really had to repackage oneself because of some responsibility, start over as a person… that would likely be a major blow capable of shattering one's worldview.

When Aomo's mind is running multiple trains of thought, he feels that if things collapse now, that would be the opportunity.

Like Barbar Beast X dying in the Hei'an Area because of Bi Ze's inaction… that's classic creation theory— the simplest, crudest way to remodel a personality is to kill off loved ones.

But it's not needed.

The more one values logic and pursues reason, the more they wish for everything to proceed step by step, refusing any wild development that would tear a hole in the whole world.

Aomo Lindun rejects such developments from the bottom of his heart, and that's why yesterday he unusually urged Bi Ze to go talk to Barbar Beast X.

If it were his usual self, he would always spare no effort to support the lifestyles of those around him while doing his best to maintain each person's chosen way of the world. For example, if Bi Ze were that carefree, muddled‑through‑life type, he would constantly find himself unable to resist giving a couple of pushes and shoves, seeing if he could make them rise like a frog poked and jumped, hoping they'd find a clear path rather than drag each other down… but he wouldn't let the other's life become too miserable.

He always lives by the idea of lending a hand whenever he can, hoping those around him live smoothly, offering help when they encounter problems to get them out of trouble quickly, without hesitation.

Such a person has no reason to let someone like Bi Ze—neither literary nor martial, merely a bit stronger than average thanks to some savings and a Magic Staff—get involved in the 'Chosen Children'‑level Digital crisis handling.

Even if Barbar Beast X were his partner, there should ideally be a way to resolve Barbar Beast X's hidden dangers while keeping him in a safe situation throughout—

But actual developments failed to provide such an ideal choice.

Because it gave Bi Ze, earlier on, the reason he must throw himself into that matter, and the essence of that reason is his own choice.

That is the subtle friendship between humans and Digital Monsters.

Although the earliest trace leads back to Aomo Lindun's recommendation, the demon obviously didn't trust the compatibility of those two at that time.

He merely thought that even if things were bad, they wouldn't come to blows, since Barbar Beast X is an exceptionally intelligent Digital Monster that should know human society holds many important bidirectional emotions—defined as familial love, romantic love, friendship, etc. —and that the longer and tougher they are, the more they'll cling on if one side is lost.

Yes, it cannot be understood from a legal standpoint.

Digital Monsters like it are capable of escaping legal constraints.

But doing so also means it won't be bound by law, and on top of that being hunted by a Monster Tamer named Aomo Lindun… it clearly knows what that entails, since the latter is precisely the 'human' it has been watching during that time.

It is precisely based on such considerations that he made the introduction.

To let his friend, a transmigrator who in his view always lacked enough firepower to avoid sudden death in accidents, meet that noble king who should have a complicated past.

This essence is, of course, a recommendation for a bodyguard.

In Aomo's eyes, Barbar Beast X is of the same kind, so it ought to have an extraordinary past; under those circumstances, even if Bi Ze is an outgoing alien youngster in front of people he's interested in, they might not truly develop any friendship.

At least having a bodyguard as a fallback isn't a loss.

Barbar Beast itself is similar to an Angel‑type Digimon, a special species whose strength exceeds its peers, and attaching the X‑antibody suffix means it can still gain the upper hand against most ordinary Ultimate‑level opponents.

In real‑world terms, its value is no less than that of a monster capable of a two‑stage transformation.

But obviously, if that person overcomes all those obstacles, truly befriending the monster requires thinking in another way.

Indeed, friendship itself isn't a particularly heavy emotional bond; compared with familial or romantic love, it's the most casual and fleeting kind, often insufficient to entrust one's life to.

But what about a transmigrator who has just arrived in this world, never had a Digital Monster friend, while on the other side it's the first time a Digital Monster has long‑term contact with humans?

First time, beginner, first attempt—sentient beings always imbue their first step into the unknown with unique meaning, and that meaning is first imparted to the heart.

Although friendship is by no means a synonym for a gravity field, the quality of friendship invested with this concept will easily swell, and when one side falls into deep crisis it can erupt with unprecedented radiance.

——All of the above has been recorded in the works of every generation of the Digimon/Digital Monster IP.

Although those feelings are accumulated during adventures, akin to the bond forged by 'shouldering guns together', it doesn't mean daily life cannot possess that same sincerity.

Rather, for an existence as powerful as Barbar Beast X, comradeship in battle is hard to achieve.

What truly makes it urgently need that direction is actually Bi Ze's everyday behavior.

Those overly free choices and remarks, which it craves intensely and is now striving to pursue at their core, if wrapped by Bi Ze's proactive kindness, become a gift capable of shaking its indifferent heart.

But what's truly important is clearly Bi Ze's own action of, when Barbar Beast X hesitates over a choice or makes a choice yet finds no breakthrough, being prompted by Aomo to go consult it.

Regardless of whatever mental struggle they went through, the moment it informs Bi Ze, he will not only call it 'Barbar Beast'—a name that deviates from the stable naming convention for Digital Monsters—but will also treat 'it' as 'him'.

At the same time, Bi Ze becomes the sole friend in Barbar Beast X's subtle and unremarkable social circle who approximates universal friendship.

When Barbar Beast X's danger investigation yields no results and the situation is even more unstable, Bi Ze's hemming and hawing over the information is precisely to ensure that Barbar Beast's seemingly rash plan can be carried out smoothly, rather than being wrecked by the reckless fools in the large crowd summoned by Aomo.

But this is actually unnecessary.

Aomo clearly understands that his evasive behavior is absolutely not for himself, but for Barbar Beast.

For that he can simply draw a tiny silent barrier.

Tentative questioning yielded no result.

But that's fine; he can still communicate indirectly, having Bi Ze relay this side's information and express willingness to cooperate.

And when Barbar Beast sends back a reply, ordering him to relay words to the Royal Knights, Heaven's Pole, etc., and to make a show of vigorous investigation to pressure the Seven Demon Lords——

——Aomo can then reverse‑engineer the purpose behind those orders.

He then analyzes their approach, deduces their situation, and passes this information to the Xiangyu siblings, combining it with each team's understanding of the 'Dark Area locals' to confirm the path Barbar Beast X has chosen.

Then, as expected, he verifies a familiar route.

Barbar Beast X is doing what Lilith Monster under Amy couldn't accomplish.

The former King of Gluttony may return.

(End of chapter)