Honkai: Man(Sludge) From Future

After returning home, Kiana suddenly felt that the academy city wasn't so bad after all.

At least it seemed much better than the outside world. She wasn't sure if it was just because everything else was so messed up, but it made her feel more confident in her governing… or rather, lack of governing skills.

It raised a question in her mind.

She and Noldrei had basically adopted a hands-off approach, yet these people were managing themselves quite well. But those outside the academy city, who tried to control everything, why did they make such a mess of things?

Back home, Kiana ignored Dr. Tesla, who was sprawled on the floor, stepping right over the lobster girl.

Then she saw Bronya playing games with Noldrei.

"Hurry up, hurry up, save me, save me!"

"Coming, don't worry, you can hold on a little longer."

"It would be so much easier if we just cooperated, why make it so hard?"

"I just like exploring the game world..."

Kiana watched as Noldrei and Bronya happily played games together.

When did they get so close?

A row of question marks appeared above the white-haired girl's head. She had no idea about the special Seele body pillow treatment Noldrei had given Bronya.

"Is it okay to just leave Dr. Tesla lying there like that?" Kiana thought Noldrei was being a bit harsh on Tesla.

"She's very sturdy, and she's sleeping soundly now. What about you? Any results from your night out?" Noldrei, on the other hand, thought Tesla might actually enjoy this.

"Some, but not much." Kiana sat down cross-legged.

Bronya had always thought Noldrei had better gaming ethics than Kiana. At least he wouldn't just suddenly cheat because he was losing. If he did cheat, he would have done it from the beginning, using his inherent abilities.

But Noldrei always held himself back, trying to experience the game like a normal person; this was remarkable gaming spirit!

"I found that people in reality don't seem to directly manifest their willpower, while in the Stigmata Space, those wills, or rather, the wills expressed through genetic information, are very disconnected from the person themselves."

Kiana had been cooped up at home lately, rarely going out in the past six months. Simply because staying home was too comfortable. She had been wandering for so long that she naturally developed the desire to settle down somewhere.

No Honkai beasts to fight, her father was alive and well, and she had everything she needed: food, drink, entertainment, the whole nine yards.

If that didn't spoil someone, then their willpower must be as strong as Otto Apocalypse's.

She didn't have any grand ambitions to begin with, and after finding her father, she slacked off even more.

If it weren't for the accidental body modification by Noldrei, Kiana wouldn't have become the academy city's saint.

After the white-haired Tuna returned, she suddenly brought up such a high-level topic, leaving Bronya confused.

What on earth did you encounter out there?!

Bronya was tempted to check the academy city's surveillance footage.

"Oh? Isn't that normal? I remember the Kaslana family Stigmata Space is filled with the wills of many people. Although the past wills are suppressed by the strongest one, 'revenge against the Honkai', it doesn't mean that other people's genetic information hasn't seeped in."

Noldrei calmly explained, "Since genetic information can seep into the Stigmata Space, it can also seep back into humans. The mirrored Stigmata Space allows people to see their own will flowing out and the parts of their consciousness they are most reluctant to acknowledge. Humanity's chaotic thoughts gain new understanding in this reflection."

"That's the benefit of the Stigmata Space. It's like a portable 'introspection' tool. Whether a person reflects on themselves, whether they have self-awareness, is normally an invisible process. But in the Stigmata Space, it becomes visible."

"It can accelerate the maturation of a person's will. Those who can't pass this threshold will be excluded from the new ruling class."

While chatting with Kiana, Noldrei finished the game with Bronya.

Bronya seemed a little distracted. She thought Noldrei's ideas were quite amazing. Especially these futuristic fantasies gave her a feeling of being swept along by some grand scheme.

"The materialization of human will is the next thing we need to work on. The liberation of genetic modification will make it even more difficult to distinguish between people, so how should we define the differences between individuals?"

Noldrei pointed at Kiana's head and said, "It's the thoughts inside your head. The inheritance of genetic information will become an indispensable tool for the new humans to create their own kind."

"As long as you grasp this link of genetic information transmission, you will be at the center of the greatest conflict of the new era."

"At that time, you will be both male and female, both adult and child, both saint and prisoner. All the characteristics of the old humans will melt away, just like me now."

Kiana frowned and asked, "Are you also planning to soak me in formaldehyde and then dump me in a windowless building?"

"So you're reading A Certain Magical Index too?!" Bronya couldn't help but retort.

"There's no need for that. At that point, why would you confine yourself to one place? You could go anywhere you want, anytime, and grant wisdom to any life you like." Noldrei didn't have any confinement play hobbies; he was just explaining the situation.

"Then will I still be me?" Kiana wondered if she would still be herself at that point.

Bronya cautiously said, "Will I become selfless?"

Noldrei quickly stopped Bronya, "You can't put it that way. You'll understand when the time comes. Perhaps humans in that era will have new ways of interacting with each other."

Kiana initially thought Noldrei just liked to be cryptic, but she gradually understood later.

It was because he was adapting to the pace of modern humans, omitting a lot of later developments.

"I don't really want to do this job anymore; it feels so troublesome..."

Kiana felt that it would be difficult for her to control the future development, even if she had managed to implement compulsory education in two months. She couldn't handle such a complex organizational ecosystem.

"Why not try putting your body on autopilot?"

Bronya remembered that Kiana had the ability to put her body on autopilot.

"It doesn't seem right to just leave it like that, does it? What if someone else enters the Stigmata Space? By the way, Bronya, do you want to try out the new Stigmata Space experience?"

Kiana made a proposal that Bronya wasn't sure whether she should refuse.

The small girl remained silent for a long time before finally nodding in agreement.