Cipher said, "Anyway, class is over now. Let's leave this classroom and talk somewhere else. We shouldn't hog the space; there's probably another class scheduled here soon."
Soon, the group left the academic building and arrived at an outdoor athletic field. In a typical university, such a field would have basketball courts, soccer fields, and similar facilities. However, in this world, people's physical abilities were so absurdly advanced that Tribios had initially tried to introduce these sports, only to find that neither basketball nor soccer could be played properly.
Even a small basketball court couldn't accommodate a single leap from a Catfolk. They could jump from their own hoop and dunk directly into the opposite basket in a single bound.
Of course, the opposing team would try to intercept, but how? By jumping up and knocking their opponents out of the air.
So, Tribios realized that not everything could be easily adapted from Earth. These basketball and soccer attempts eventually fizzled out, and the school's athletic field evolved into a pure relaxation and recreation area. Lined with benches and lush greenery, it resembled a small park.
After finding a quiet, secluded spot, Feidric, who had been pondering the matter all the way there, spoke first. "I think I finally understand what Magitech is. It's... it's truly astonishing, beyond belief! I never imagined magic could be used in such a way!"
"So, what exactly is Magitech?" Aria asked, her curiosity piqued. Douglas, standing beside her, remained silent but also turned his gaze toward Feidric. Seeing this, Feidric frowned, a troubled expression appearing on his face. He realized he had no idea how to explain it.
In that moment, Feidric suddenly understood why Lady Aglaea hadn't given them any explanation when they discussed the Magitech Vehicle as a "Magic Item" yesterday. Instead, she had simply told them to come to the school today to see for themselves. It was just too complex and difficult to explain!
After struggling to organize his thoughts, Feidric finally said, "To cast magic, a Wizard needs to chant incantations, perform gestures, and expend their own Magic Power. But Magitech uses external devices to perform the incantations, gestures, and even supply the Magic Power for you."
"In other words, with just a complete set of this equipment, an ordinary person can use magic at will with just a few button presses! The inventor of Magitech was undoubtedly a genius!"
Typical Momma Feidric, the explanation was so clear and easy to understand that even Aria nodded in agreement, saying, "So that's how it works? Amazing!"
Feidric then turned to Cipher, asking curiously, "Cipher, you mentioned earlier that almost everyone in Okhema attends school from their teens to their twenties. Do they all study Magitech?"
Cipher replied, "Absolutely not! The education system is divided into elementary, middle, and university levels. Elementary school focuses on literacy and other foundational knowledge. Middle school introduces basic Magitech concepts. Students are then assessed for aptitude in this field; only those with high enough grades can advance to specialized Magitech universities, like the one we're currently in."
"Besides Magitech, middle school also covers subjects like math, science, and physical education. Students excelling in other fields will progress to universities specializing in those domains."
Aria interjected, "So, from ages ten to twenty, the kids in this city can't do anything but go to school all day? That's so sad..."
For example, in Aria's hometown, children could do whatever they wanted—roam freely and play wherever they liked. When they grew up, they could choose any job they liked—helping their parents farm or becoming adventurers, for instance. At first glance, it seemed pretty good, right?
But Feidric countered, "Sad? No, I think the children in this city are far happier than those anywhere else."
According to Sister Cipher, everyone in this city had the opportunity to receive an education and could read and write! That was truly astounding!
The children in Aria's hometown might seem free and carefree during their childhood, but was that really the case?
In reality, their entertainment was extremely limited. All they could do each day was run around the countryside, play simple games with other children, or help their parents with chores during their free time. Otherwise, how could Aria have reread that Hero novel so many times?
It was because that Hero novel was one of their few sources of enjoyment.
Growing up in the countryside offered children few choices: either inherit their parents' farming work and toil in the fields, or become servants in the city, enduring hard labor. As for becoming adventurers, it was an extremely dangerous profession where one wrong move could cost them their lives!
Now, consider the children of Okhema. In their childhood, they were truly carefree, attending just six classes each day. After school, they had plenty of time for other activities, like playing with friends. Okhema's entertainment options far surpassed anything available in the rural areas outside the city.
Thanks to Tribios's personal ambition, Okhema boasted highly advanced novels, comics, and films, as well as the latest smartphones that were all the rage across the city—each one a knockout compared to what was available outside.
Furthermore, these students could discover their strengths through their studies and advance to specialized universities. After completing their education and graduating successfully, even an ordinary graduate from Okhema would be considered a highly sought-after intellectual by other countries.
In Okhema itself, such graduates had no shortage of job opportunities. They could secure stable employment with a steady income immediately after graduation, ensuring a comfortable life without financial worries.
So, where's the misery in all this? If outsiders knew there was a place where you're guaranteed a job after graduation, they'd be clamoring to get in!
Feidric and Aria explained the full story, adding, "Without exaggeration, this city's education policies are more advanced than anywhere else in the world. Even the Arcane Federation, renowned for its academic prowess, can't compare."
Afterward, Cipher led the group on a tour of the school, including the dormitories, the cafeteria, and the Magitech Research Lab. The first two need no further explanation, but the lab, as the name suggests, was a place for students to conduct their own experiments. It was filled with a dazzling array of Magitech equipment. Feidric spent a long time there, staring in bewildered awe at the machines until he fell into a dazed stupor.
By the time the tour concluded, it was already noon. Cipher naturally took the group to the cafeteria for a student meal. However, the sheer number of people overwhelmed Eve, causing her to revert to her Little Squirrel form and frantically try to burrow into Cipher's clothes. Cipher grabbed her by the scruff of her neck and shook her vigorously, shouting, "Transform back! Transform back now!"
The scene was like pointing at the family cat and demanding it transform into a catgirl.
In the end, Eve didn't revert. Her eyes swirled like mosquito coils, white foam dribbled from her mouth, and she fainted outright. During this commotion, several well-meaning students cast suspicious glances and even approached Cipher to ask if she was abusing an animal. Cipher was left speechless, and it took some explaining to convince them it was a Druid.
After lunch, the group left the school. Standing at the gate, Cipher said, "We have no plans for the afternoon. Is there anywhere you'd like to go?"
Feidric, Aria, and Douglas answered simultaneously: "The Library!" "A comic store!" "The military barracks!"
Feidric wanted to delve deeper into the region's history at the library, while Aria's interest had been piqued by overhearing students discussing the latest comic releases during lunch. Douglas, on the other hand, was intensely curious about Okhema's military strength.
Three people, three different requests. Cipher couldn't help but wear a troubled expression. She couldn't exactly split herself into three copies to take each person to their desired location, could she?
Wait a minute... she actually could split herself into multiple copies.
With a thought, two clones identical to Cipher materialized beside her. She had obtained this ability to create clones by deceiving an Archduke of Demons back in the Nine Hells, similar to the Shadow Clones from Naruto.
The advantage was that she no longer needed to multitask; each clone possessed independent consciousness. The downside was precisely that each clone had its own distinct personality—personalities that could be... somewhat challenging to handle.
The clone on Cipher's left, for some inexplicable reason, materialized wearing glasses. Combined with the school uniform, she exuded the aura of a diligent scholar. Pushing up her glasses, she declared, "I'll take care of the Library."
The clone on Cipher's right, however, proved far less reliable. Immediately after appearing, she slid down to the original's feet, wrapped her arms around one of Cipher's thighs, and nuzzled her cheek against the white stockings while emitting a strange, giggling "hehe" sound.
Cipher: "..."
Without hesitation, Cipher delivered a sharp knuckle rap to the right clone's head. The clone instantly dissolved into a puff of white mist, vanishing into thin air. However, upon vanishing, the clone's memories transferred back to the original. A faint blush crept across Cipher's cheeks. She activated the ability again, this time producing a clone indistinguishable from herself—remarkably normal.
For some reason, Cipher felt like her ability was akin to a lottery draw.
Seeing this spectacle, Aria exclaimed in awe, "So many Sister Ciphers! That's amazing!"
Cipher struck a pose, one hand on her hip while her tail swayed back and forth behind her. "I'm a demigod, you know," she said. "Creating a few clones is nothing for me."
In the end, Cipher's main body accompanied Aria to the comic book store, the spectacled clone went with Feidric to the library, and the ordinary clone accompanied Douglas to the military camp.
The trio parted ways. Starting with Aria's side, though they were supposed to be going to the comic book store, Cipher actually took her shopping and sightseeing all over town. She bought Aria a new phone, a few recently popular novels and comics, and even took her to a movie. This inevitably gave Cipher the feeling of being on a date.
That afternoon, after emerging from the cinema, Aria continuously dabbed at her teary eyes with a tissue, muttering, "Ugh~ That was so moving! In the end, John actually agreed to sign a contract with the demon to save the team, guarding the pyramid entrance alone forever. He must be so lonely..."
"Sister Cipher," Aria asked, "if we find that pyramid and defeat the demon, can we rescue John?"
Cipher sighed, her expression weary. "It's just a movie plot, Aria. Everything you saw was fictional—made up. There's no such pyramid."
"As for John, he's a veteran actor. He's actually in Okhema right now, probably filming another movie."
Aria persisted, "But the story felt so real, so moving! How could it be fake?"
Cipher explained, "It's precisely because they create that sense of realism that people watch and pay for it. Just like the novels and comics you bought earlier—stories need to be vivid and captivating to draw readers in."
In truth, Cipher was subtly hinting that the Legend of the Demon King and the Hero Aria had been reading was just as fabricated.
I'm hoping that once Aria explores more of Okhema's fascinating novels and comics and forgets most of the garbage plot from Legend of the Demon King and the Hero, she'll be more receptive to history lessons later, Cipher thought.
Afterward, Cipher took Aria to a highly-rated chain restaurant near the cinema for grilled fish. The enjoyable 'date' concluded on a high note.
Meanwhile, the perspective shifted to Feidric. He was simply reading a book, and Cipher's glasses-clad clone sat beside him, equally engrossed in her own book.
Whenever Feidric had a question, the clone answered it instantly. Aside from these brief exchanges, the two remained mostly silent throughout the afternoon. Fortunately, he had drawn the clone; if the real Cipher had come, she might have died of boredom.
After finishing The History of Okhema's Founding and its Predecessor, the Grand Duchy of Augustus, Feidric put down the book and pinched the bridge of his nose. "This is... truly..."
He didn't know how to describe his feelings. Could the legendary tale of the Demon Lord and Hero actually be a lie? Was the Demon Lord the righteous one, and the Hero the villain?
This version of history was truly shocking, almost impossible to accept.
Feidric looked up at the "strange" Cipher before him. "Is all this... history... really true?"
Cipher replied matter-of-factly, "Of course it's true! There are even elderly half-elves in this city who personally experienced the relocation event. If you don't believe me, go ask them yourself. It's as true as it gets!"