Chapter 172: Just a School Life Slice-of-Life?

According to currently known information, Lin Yu has confirmed that the distribution of the myriad worlds follows a certain pattern.

Starting from the Frieren world, the chat group has searched seventeen worlds in succession, and all those Lin Yu has observed are essentially anime and light novel worlds.

This cannot be mere coincidence.

Therefore, Lin Yu deduces that the prospective member named Bai Ze should also have been transported to an anime world.

As the scroll unfurled in his mind, a tranquil and peaceful high school campus appeared before him.

Outside the slightly weathered school gate, students in black uniforms rode bicycles or walked in small groups, entering the campus.

At the very center of the scroll stood a tall black-haired teenager.

He was about one meter eighty tall, with an average-to-better appearance, wearing the same black uniform, hands in his pockets, walking calmly through the bustling crowd, appearing somewhat aloof.

Lin Yu regarded him with interest, then turned his gaze toward the school gate.

There, inscribed on the stone pillar to the right of the gate, were the words: “Shenshan City High School.”

“Shenshan High?”

Lin Yu’s expression turned peculiar, as if recalling a certain curious girl.

Could this be that world?

As he pondered, Lin Yu pulled the scene higher, scanning the laughing students until he spotted a curly-haired boy with a sullen face.

"Hey, Houjou!"

A lively voice came from behind.

The boy sighed, stopped walking, and turned around to look back.

At the same time, Lin Yu recognized the boy’s identity from that address.

It was the male protagonist of the school romance mystery anime “Hyouka”—Oreki Houtarou!

“So, this is the Hyouka world?”

Lin Yu frowned: “That doesn’t make sense!”

The chat group has been upgraded three times now; new members mostly come from higher-energy worlds.

Forget the previous Marvel world—this time, his classmates were Bone King and Shadow; how did this guy end up in a no-magic school life story?

Lin Yu shook his head, certain things couldn’t be this simple.

Because Bai Ze’s world was the seventeenth world the chat group discovered.

Though Lin Yu hadn’t entered that world, he had lingered outside it for a while.

He could confirm: this world was absolutely not a no-magic world!

Thinking of this, he turned his gaze again toward the tall teenager suspected to be Bai Ze, seeking clues in his every movement.

But unfortunately, from morning to dismissal, the man’s behavior was utterly ordinary—as if he were merely an ordinary Chinese exchange student, with nothing noteworthy.

At this moment, only ten minutes remained until the second day of the chat group.

After ten minutes, the invitation progress would reach 30/30; even if Lin Yu didn’t cast his vote, the group would randomly select two from these three.

After brief consideration, Lin Yu cast his first vote for Bai Ze.

The other two were harder to choose.

In terms of personality and character, he leaned toward Shadow, but Suzuki Satoru had already been added to the prospective list; barring accidents, he would eventually join the group anyway.

Better to bring him in early and train him than wait until he becomes a heartless immortal king.

Moreover, the chat group has so far favored lawful good alignments; since it listed Bone King as a prospective member, there must still be hope for redemption…

As Lin Yu pondered, the name 【Suzuki Satoru】 on the list suddenly flickered, twisting into English letters amid brilliant silver light—

Ainz Ooal Gown!

Undoubtedly, during this time, Suzuki Satoru—or rather, Ainz—had contacted the other world and officially changed his name to his most cherished guild name.

His self-identity had shifted: he was no longer Suzuki Satoru, but Ainz.

Lin Yu paused, then finally decided to cast his second vote for Ainz.

As for Shadow, the guy was nearly invincible in his own world—let him run wild for now!

…

…

Nazarick Great Tomb, Throne Room.

This was a vast, solemn hall, as sacred as a temple, spacious enough to hold hundreds without feeling crowded.

Dozens-of-zhang-high ceilings hung with intricate, ornate crystal chandeliers, each tier embedded with magic gems of various colors, radiating dreamlike, dazzling light.

The walls were primarily white, adorned with golden decorations.

Forty-one massive banners, each with different patterns, floated slowly without wind.

Now, about a dozen figures radiating powerful auras knelt on one knee, gazing with fervent devotion at the throne atop the stone steps.

Upon the throne sat an enormous skeleton.

He wore a magnificent black cloak, held a golden scepter embedded with seven gems, wore gemstone rings glowing with spiritual light on all ten finger bones, radiating an indescribable aura of oppression.

Undoubtedly, this ornate skeleton was Ainz Ooal Gown—the Bone King!

Just moments ago, he had formally announced to the entire Nazarick Great Tomb that from now on, he would abandon his player name “Flymouse” and walk the world under his guild name, “Ainz Ooal Gown.”

The reason was simple: if he could cross over, why couldn’t his fellow guild members?

If his guild companions had also crossed into this world, they would surely find him by this name…

Thinking of this, even Ainz felt an uncontrollable surge of anticipation.

“Hum—”

Green light burst from his bone frame, instantly erasing the rising excitement and anticipation.

【Forced Calm】!

This was Ainz’s passive skill: any excessive emotional fluctuation, positive or negative, was forcibly suppressed.

In fact, much of why Ainz became the Bone King stemmed from this skill.

But Ainz felt no issue now; after calming down, he sighed in relief, grateful the skill existed—otherwise he’d have lost composure before his subordinates…

Gazing at the NPCs below, eyes blazing with worship, Ainz paused, then opened his jaw again.

But before he could speak, an inexplicable message suddenly appeared, filling his mind.

【Congratulations! You have qualified to join the Myriad Worlds Chat Group. Do you wish to join?】

【Yes/No】

What?!

Red light flared in Ainz’s hollow eye sockets; his calm mind surged again.

The next instant, green light flared—Forced Calm activated once more, restoring his composure.

“Myriad Worlds Chat Group…”

Ainz’s mind stirred. As a middle-aged internet addict who had devoted most of his life to virtual networks, he automatically ignored the high-flown prefix “Myriad Worlds,” focusing solely on “chat group.”

After all, chat groups had all kinds of names—if he believed this one, would a group called “God’s Council” mean everyone in it was God?

What mattered more to Ainz was the meaning behind this message.

The pop-up format differed slightly from the game’s chat system.

But he’d already crossed over—what did a minor difference matter?

“So… someone is contacting me?”

Who? Could it be his guild companions?

Thinking of this, Ainz was deeply tempted, eager to click “Accept” immediately.

But his cautious nature held him back.

After brief thought, he vanished in a flash, using the ability of 【Ainz Ooal Gown’s Ring】 to teleport to his bedroom, then pulled out various magic scrolls from his inventory and activated them one by one.

Instantly, multicolored magical auras shimmered over his body.

Only after stacking dozens of buffs for information protection and resistance enhancement did he stop, then cautiously accepted the invitation.

【New members ‘Ainz’ and ‘Bai Ze’ have joined the group. Come chat happily together!】

【Lin Yu: Welcome, welcome!】

【All members: +1】

Messages flooded the chat, warmly welcoming the two newcomers.

Seeing this, Ainz was stunned; when he regained his composure, he quickly turned his gaze to the member list.

But sadly, all names were pure Chinese characters—none of his familiar guild companions.

This left Ainz somewhat disappointed.

Yet immediately followed by deep confusion—what kind of chat group was this?

Ainz shifted his gaze to the chat interface; the other newcomer had already sent a message:

【Bai Ze: Myriad Worlds Chat Group?!】

【Bai Ze: [Excited.jpg] Is it the one I think it is?!?!】

Three exclamation marks fully conveyed the newcomer’s excitement.

【Su Haoming: Hehe, looks like you know something!】

【Bai Ze: Of course I know!】

【Bai Ze: Boss, you have no idea—you really have no idea!】

【Bai Ze: I’ve been waiting for this cheat for four whole years!】

In the seemingly Hyouka world, twenty-year-old high school sophomore Bai Ze sat on his bedroom bed, staring at the chat group in his mind, tears streaming down his face, overwhelmed with emotion.

After crossing over for four full years and enduring five deaths…

My goddamn godhand—it’s finally here!

(End of chapter)