newbobooks Chapter 514 The Crystal Palace's Trap of Happiness: Childhood Sweethearts No Match for Unexpect
Chapter 514 The Crystal Palace's Trap of Happiness: Childhood Sweethearts No Match for Unexpect
Chapter 514 The Crystal Palace's Trap of Happiness: Childhood Sweethearts No Match for Unexpected Pleasure
Shizuka Nanahoshi was overjoyed to have the chance to regain her memories from the previous playthrough. In her 52nd playthrough, she worked even harder to immerse herself in a higher level of happiness.
This somewhat affected her research on anti-summoning magic, but it doesn't matter, because as long as the output of happiness points keeps up, she will have plenty of time.
Starting from the 51st playthrough, the Broice Adventure Team also began their adventure in the Six Faces world. However, by the 52nd playthrough, one more member had joined the adventure, making the team a five-person team of Broice VII.
Kyrie Irvine didn't come along because her profession overlapped with Alice's. In order for Alice to have a better adventure experience, she stayed behind in Buena Village as a guard dog.
As for Broly, although there is some overlap with him, he usually doesn't take the initiative. Adventure has to involve danger to be called adventure. If he is the one who does all the work and deals with the dangers encountered in the adventure, then the others are not doing adventure, but simply winning by doing nothing.
Therefore, the main combat members of this team are Alice, Loki, and Sylphie. Of course, Shizuka Nanahoshi was added in the 52nd playthrough.
This girl from another world is not good at swordsmanship or magic, but she is quite skilled at researching magical artifacts.
In order to increase her happiness points, she always tried her best to fit in with the Broly family, and she succeeded in doing so by joining the Broly Adventure Team as a magic item maker.
"I feel that the adventurers' guild in this world should grant Seven Stars a new profession."
Alice said this while resting after exploring a maze.
"What's your occupation?"
The others looked over with some curiosity.
"Battle Magic Item Master".
Alice loudly proclaimed what she felt was a very fitting job title.
"Hey, I don't like fighting."
Shizuka Nanahoshi, who was resting next to her large backpack, quickly said.
"Talking about fighting is too biased, Alice. Seven Stars is much quieter than you. At home, she's always reading."
Luo Qixi said.
"People who like to read should be called scholars, right?"
Hilfi responded, adding that she also enjoyed reading.
While accompanying Loki to the Lanoa Magic University for an academic exchange on Emperor-level water magic, she was asked by her mentor, Genus, who was said to be Loki's teacher in her previous playthrough, whether she also wanted to become a learned and knowledgeable magic scholar in the future.
"Therefore, the correct profession should be a magic item scholar."
And so, after an adventure through a dungeon, during a casual chat among the Broisi 7 squad, Shizuka Nanahoshi acquired a new, unofficially recognized profession: [Magic Item Scholar].
However, the original title was a bit awkward to pronounce, so it was later shortened to "Witch Doctor".
This is a profession that uses the knowledge in one's mind and external money to monetize combat power, thereby serving oneself.
However, unless one possesses substantial wealth at their disposal like her, the average person cannot afford this extremely expensive profession of researching and creating various magical artifacts.
Based on the clever use of water elemental summoning, Shizuka Nanahoshi, a magic scholar who relies mostly on external objects, has a strength that fluctuates between the upper-level and the emperor-level.
If she can research and create god-level magical artifacts in the future, it would be acceptable for her to declare herself a god-level master.
The career prospects are very bright, but there are a lot of expenses involved. The income gained from otherworldly knowledge each month is simply not sustainable.
Often, she would receive her money at the beginning of the month, only to find herself in a financial deficit by the end. If it weren't for the fact that she was eating and drinking with the Broly family, Shizuka Nanahoshi would have suspected that she might have starved to death because of her research.
Of course, this is just an exaggeration. In reality, without Broly as a safety net, she wouldn't have spent so much money to research magical weapons like the Rock Cannon Pistol, Frost Grenades, and Fire Blast Crossbow.
It's worth mentioning that the ability to research these things wasn't solely due to Shizuka Nanahoshi herself; Rudeus, a fellow reincarnated person from the same hometown, also made a significant contribution.
For example, providing creative ideas and assisting in the research and development of these magical items.
. . . .
Time quickly passed, and we reached the 53rd playthrough.
In March of Ankylion Calendar 420, the Broeshi Seven Squad was adventuring on the Sky Continent.
On the 5th, Broly suddenly ran over and told Shizuka Nanahoshi some good news.
"Seven Stars, you've already recouped your happiness points!"
This was supposed to be good news, but upon actually hearing it, Shizuka Nanahoshi didn't feel particularly happy.
Instead, it was as if someone had poured a bucket of ice water over her head while she was having fun, causing her to stop in her tracks and stand there in a daze.
The reason for this is simply that the act of recouping one's investment carries a sense of detachment, implying that although she joined the Crystal Palace as a wife, her true intention was merely to preserve her memories from the previous playthrough, rather than willingly becoming someone else's wife.
"What's wrong, Seven Stars? You've already broken even on the happiness points you've generated. Aren't you happy?"
Broly noticed the anomaly on the Crystal Palace panel belonging to Shizuka Nanahoshi and couldn't help but ask.
"No, I'm very happy..."
This is a lie. The amount of happiness points you acquire often indicates the depth of your happiness. If a girl has already integrated into the family, can empathize with others' laughter and tears, and lives harmoniously with them, then suddenly receiving news of a return on investment is almost equivalent to being reminded that you are not a part of this family. How can she be happy about that?
"Broly, may I ask you a question?"
Shizuka Nanahoshi stood still and asked a question.
"What?"
Everyone turned to look at her, but they didn't know what she wanted to ask.
"After I break even on my Happiness Points, will I be able to join the Crystal Palace again in the next playthrough, live with you, and adventure with you?"
Shizuka Nanahoshi was very nervous, and asked the question in a hopeful tone.
"What strange things are you saying? After you break even, don't you regain your game cycle memories? Did you join Crystal Palace in the first place just to break even on your Happiness Points?"
Broly looked at her with some surprise.
"If your family doesn't live together, where else would you want to live?"
Luo Qixi tilted her head.
"Of course we'll adventure together! If you want to leave the party, you'll need my permission, Captain Alice, and I won't allow it! You're one of our most useful magicians!"
Alice said, hands on her hips.
"Sister Qixing, is something on your mind?"
Hilfi asked the question.
"No, no, I just suddenly thought of something, but it's resolved now. Alright, let's go, let's keep going. The Hell Labyrinth of the Heavenly Continent, here comes our Broeshi Squad 7!"
Shizuka Nanahoshi raised her right hand and strode forward, passing the crowd to become the leader of the group.
"What happened?"
Broly and the others behind her exchanged bewildered glances, not quite understanding what was going on with her.
"Brother Broly, don't you think Seven Stars seems really happy?"
A green-haired, long-eared girl leaned over and asked, and Broly nodded in agreement.
Meanwhile, Shizuka Nanahoshi's Crystal Palace panel is already generating Happiness Points again, and it looks like she's doing a lot of work.
That evening, when Broly dug a large pit in the Aurora Plateau to create an artificial hot spring in preparation for bathing, Shizuka Nanahoshi, who was usually going to bathe separately from them, came over wrapped in a towel.
Bro gave her a strange look, while Shizuka Nanahoshi's ears turned slightly red, but she pretended to be nonchalant and came over to ask, "It's a bit cold in here, I'd like to shower with everyone, is that alright?"
"Sure, but aren't you afraid I'll see you naked?"
"Ha, what's so scary about that? Aren't I one of those people who joined Crystal Palace and became your wife? And it seems like it's normal for a wife to be seen naked by her husband."
The girl from another world blushed more and more as she explained.
"Alright, Broly, stop asking questions. Go and scrub Alice and Sylphie's backs. Shizuka and I will scrub each other's backs, and then everyone can go take a bath."
Luo Qixi noticed something and came over to defuse the situation.
Broly went to the side, which relieved Shizuka Nanahoshi.
"Miss Shizuka, welcome. Today you officially join our family."
While Luo Qixi was helping her rub her back, the words she whispered in her ear made the girl with long, straight black hair blush instantly.
"Teacher Luo Qixi, you noticed?"
"Nanago Shizuka asked softly."
"What's so hard to see? A girl willing to let a guy see her naked body, aside from being coerced or tempted by external forces, what other explanation is there besides the fact that she's fallen for the guy she's willing to let see her naked?"
Don't you think I'm despicable?
Why would you ask that?
"I'm different from you all. I only joined to preserve my memories from the previous game, but now I'm planning to interfere in your families and relationships."
"That's an interesting point. I've never thought about this before, but if it's you, Shizuka, I think it should be fine."
"Huh, why?"
"Didn't we gradually become family through our time together in different time loops? Or are you trying to deny the close relationship you once built with us?"
No, of course not.
After rubbing each other's backs and getting into the bath, Luo Qixi comfortably rested the back of her head on the stone at the edge of the artificial pool and said, "Moreover, rather than saying you are despicable, it is Crystal Palace that is despicable. The gentle haven it provides to outsiders is like a woven net."
The more someone pursues a high output of happiness points, the more they will get trapped in this gentle web woven from happiness.
It's perfectly normal to feel trapped and unable to escape this situation. So, if you don't dislike it, relax and enjoy this happiness!
"Thanks."
Shizuka Nanahoshi imitated Rokishi's posture and also rested her head on the rock.
Above her head was a dazzling aurora borealis sky. In the modern world before she transmigrated, such a beautiful scene would probably never have been seen by her as a high school girl in reality, but she could see it here.
"Sister Luo Qixi, what are you and Sister Qixing talking about?"
Thirteen-year-old Hilfi swam over and asked.
"He didn't say anything specific, just that the sky here is beautiful."
Loki did not reveal anything about Shizuka Nanahoshi's condition.
"Hey, it really is."
Following suit, Hilfi also rested her head on the stone at the edge of the artificial pool, looking up at the aurora-filled sky.
Is the sky really that beautiful?
Soon, human-to-human transmission began to occur.
Alice also came over and lay down on the edge to look at the aurora borealis and the starry night sky.
Broly didn't quite understand this, but he watched it along with everyone else.
In the artificial hot spring pool, the bodies of four adults and one child rested against the edge of the pool, floating on the water.
From a distance, they looked like five corpses that had been looted, murdered, and their bodies dumped.
. . . .
"So, you've fallen for Broly?"
"Um."
"Do you still want to go back to your past life?"
"Yes, I should at least go back and let my parents know that I'm safe and sound, and that I'm living a happy life in this world, so they don't have to worry about me."
"What if you go back and can't come back?"
"That's probably impossible. If I can come here once, I can definitely come here a second time."
"Alright, then I'll ask you one more question, Miss Seven Star. If you were to choose a world to live in long-term in the future, would you choose the modern world before you transmigrated, or this world after you transmigrated?"
Rudeus, in his 53rd cycle, asked the question, and Shizuka Nanahoshi only thought for a moment before giving a definite but indirect answer: "My current home is here, but the children have grown up and will eventually have to start their own families. I can't live with my parents forever."
"Okay, but what about your boyfriend from before you traveled here?"
Rudius asked again.
"He's not my boyfriend, just a childhood friend I have a slight crush on, right? I've told you that before, haven't I?"
Shizuka Nanahoshi looked over with displeasure.
"You're the one who told me about the other playthroughs, right?"
Rudeus complained that everyone around him had memories of the previous playthrough except him, so this information gap often occurred when he chatted with Broly and the others, and Rudeus himself had gotten somewhat used to it.
"Should I say that even a green plum can't withstand a gift from heaven?"
"It's not that childhood sweethearts are no match for those who fall from the sky, but rather that childhood sweethearts who spend only a short time together are no match for those who fall from the sky and have spent a long time together and lived happily together."
"So, you came all this way just to talk to me about this?"
Rudius found it strange.
"No, I mainly came to thank you, Rudy."
"Hey, what are you thanking me for?"
"Thank you for persuading me to join Crystal Palace, and thank you for getting me involved in Broly's life. Without you, I definitely wouldn't have found my happiness so quickly."
Thank you, Rudius, but I won't give you my worn underwear. If you need anything else, as long as it's not some perverted request, feel free to ask, and I'll repay you.
Shizuka Nanahoshi sincerely thanked him, but also warned in advance that Rudeus might make excessive demands for repayment.
Rudyus: "..."
I never expected that I would be the one to act as matchmaker for Shizuka Nanahoshi.
Even though it was his own version from another timeline, it still made him feel very uncomfortable.
Keep in mind that he was just a novice with only theoretical experience, while others might have already entered the real world and become seasoned veterans with rich practical experience, thanks to his connections.
(End of this chapter)