Chapter 5: Pandora

... Is giving up one's own existence equivalent to meeting one's end?

In fact, from the moment the young girl announced that she was from the Holy Spirit Empire, I no longer hoped that the plot would develop in a reliable manner

"That... can I not be this emperor?" I said cautiously, jokingly. With 135 genuine emperors, there is no doubt that each of them is far more capable than I am. Once another Hiling Emperor awakens and discovers this impostor, any one of them would easily overpower me, a rookie who is unable to utilize 99.999999% of my commands.

I am not a lolicon, I really am not a lolicon, it was a slip of the hand, I truly just slipped my hand once

The Xiling Apostle is a magical energy construct organism. The little girl opposite me completely disregarded my abruptness, as if she sensed my confusion. In her emotionless voice, she said, "The Xiling Apostle is a magical energy construct organism. We are not robots, and magical technology is vastly different from the natural technology of your world. Although it may appear similar to natural technology, it is actually based on surreal energy and mysticism, more akin to the magic and alchemy described in the legends of this world. Strictly speaking, my current physical nature and structure are very similar to the carbon-based life forms of this world. I even need to consume food to replenish energy like ordinary carbon-based life forms. This is because magical energy construct technology allows us to freely alter the material form of our bodies. In a non-combat state, you can regard the Xiling Apostle as a normal human being.

Thanks to the torrent of information from yesterday, I woke up the next day with a splitting headache, my mind filled with those so-called instruction sets that were imbued with surreal meaning, making me feel dazed and as if I might walk into a wall. This symptom was exactly like that of a hangover, to the extent that when I got up in the morning, my sister even thought I had been drinking alcohol all night the day before.

Thus, I, Chen Jun, an originally ordinary university student, on a certain year, a certain month, and a certain day, absurdly became the inexplicable emperor of an inexplicable empire

I lifted my head and glanced around, then noticed a little girl not far from the alley on my right, who was looking in my direction

However, there have been a few unusual occurrences that I have encountered recently. For some inexplicable reason, my own mental world has become intertwined with something called the "Xiling Empire." To be honest, I now believe that the strength of my nerves is approaching that of aerospace steel.

This question must be asked. Although being called an emperor by an apparently powerful empire is quite exhilarating, this title is not so easily obtained. If it turns out to be a misunderstanding, I would undoubtedly face serious consequences. Moreover, based on that 99.999% unusable instruction set, it is uncertain whether this empire, which has been dormant for who knows how many years, can bring me any benefits; however, trouble is certainly guaranteed.

"Wait, did you say one of the emperors?" I noticed this term with sensitivity, as if emperors of such a kind are mass-produced in the Holy Spirit Empire

At that moment, I suddenly felt something unusual, as if I were being watched by someone. This sensation jolted me awake, and my somewhat dazed mind became much clearer.

Yes. The little girl expresses herself succinctly

According to the Singularity Law, individuals who relinquish NT-level privileges are considered to have forfeited their own existence. Do you confirm that you wish to execute this choice? This confirmation will be conducted three times.

A world that originally existed only in dreams suddenly became increasingly real, even giving rise to a living "person" emerging from that world. This made me feel as though my brain was nearing overload, and so, almost instinctively, I reached out my hand and gently pinched the cheek of the little girl across from me

Yes, individuals with NT-level authority in the Xiling Empire are referred to as Emperors. According to the most recent database update, there are a total of 135 Emperors in the Xiling Empire, distributed across various ruling regions of the universe. Each Emperor possesses equivalent authority, and you are not among these 135 Emperors. The specific reason cannot be determined

Well, this question has passed, after all, no one has ever seen what true magic looks like, and although the things in that world appear to be heavily scientific, in fact, no one knows what they rely on to function, so I will just consider them as magic and alchemy

After going back and forth in my mind with what the other person said many times, I finally began to grasp their meaning. There was no other choice; this matter was simply too surreal. The fact that I could listen calmly and analyze it, rather than shouting "impossible" or "you must be joking" and running away, is already a sign of mental resilience. However, due to my personal intelligence limitations, I still felt somewhat dazed

The other party appeared to be only around thirteen or fourteen years old, dressed in a white outfit that resembled a trench coat, with long, jet-black hair cascading over her shoulders. She was quite adorable, with soft, pink lips gently pursed, displaying a curve that was not quite a smile yet very pleasing to the eye. Her petite nose was slightly upturned, giving off a hint of mischief, which, combined with her serene demeanor, made her a strikingly beautiful little girl. However, her eyes struck me as somewhat discordant. Her large, dark eyes should have been very expressive, yet they seemed completely unfocused, merely turning in my direction, carrying that same pleasing curve. If it weren't for the feeling that her gaze was fixed on me, I would almost suspect that this little girl was actually blind.

Had I known this would happen, I might as well have skipped class. Why must I pretend to be a good student? As I walked on the way to school, a wave of regret washed over me. At that moment, I couldn't help but envy those students who live in dormitories because their homes are far away. At least when they skip class, it is not so troublesome; they can simply return to their dorms, close the door, and be done with it. As for me... My sister has an almost superhuman intuition; I do not have the courage to skip class in front of her. Moreover, I am already in my third year of high school, and my grades are not that great to begin with. If I skip class again... it really does not look optimistic.

"In the distant past, an unknown number of years ago, the Shiling Empire underwent a tremendous change, plunging the entire empire into a deep slumber. It was only recently that the empire's sole remaining operational external information collection system detected a thought wave emanating from the depths of this plane. According to information comparison, this thought wave perfectly matches the soul characteristics of the empire's emperor. The empire has awakened due to this signal, and I have been dispatched to assist you. Other materials have been irreparably damaged for unknown reasons and cannot be verified, but one thing is certain: you are one of the emperors of the empire, a fact that has been confirmed by all currently awakened Shiling apostles."

The loli in front of me did not seem inclined to answer my questions. After finishing her self-introduction, she stood there quietly, slightly tilting her head, her unfocused eyes revealing no hint of emotional fluctuation.

It is truly difficult for her to introduce such a lengthy passage to me in such a mechanical voice

I gazed intently at the little girl in front of me, trying to discern any hint of mischief in her expression, but I failed; her demeanor was calm, showing no signs of deceit.

Suddenly realizing what I had done, I immediately withdrew my hand, but the fleeting sensation of softness just a moment ago made me doubt the idea that the other party was a robot

Goodness, the Emperor's Council

This is an unusual loli I made a judgment at the first moment

It is an honor to meet you, Your Majesty," the seemingly innocent girl in front of me startled me as she spoke, "My name is Pandora Zero, General Shiling.

The young girl in front of me observed me expressionlessly for a while, then seemed to have made a decision, slightly nodded her head, and bowed to me

Why do I feel that someone is secretly saying that I am a creepy uncle who abducts little girls? Could it be an illusion?

In other words, you appear to be high-tech extraterrestrial beings, but in reality, you are extraterrestrial beings that can perform magic

Walking somewhat drowsily along the road, I occasionally shook my head vigorously, trying to wake myself up a bit. Although this relatively secluded Xiaohutu Road had few vehicles, encountering a traffic accident could lead to serious trouble. However, a head is not a sieve; no matter how hard you shake it, you cannot throw out the chaotic thoughts inside.

If this little girl is not lying to me (and she is unlikely to be lying, as I have never mentioned anything about the Spirit Empire to anyone else), then she is indeed a member of the mysterious Spirit Empire. Given the nature of that world, this little girl is actually a robot

Alright, I will be the emperor, but I want to make it clear that it was you who asked me to take on this role. So, if any issues arise later, do not come to me with trouble

What? This shocking self-introduction has left me in a state of paralysis, and I can only emit such meaningless sounds. What did that little girl just call me? Emperor? And her identity, General Shiling? The development of this plot is completely off track

The adorable little girl across from me slightly raised her head, her eyes devoid of focus seemingly not directed at any part of my body. Yet, I immediately felt that every move I made was completely under the control of this little girl in front of me—this was quite a strange sensation, leaving one utterly at a loss for words to describe it

So, how did the Hiling Empire actually enter my dreams? And why have I become your emperor? The title of emperor should not be so easily bestowed upon an ordinary person, should it

I adjusted my expression, revealing what I believed to be my most amiable smile, and stepped forward to say, "Little sister, is there something you need?"

I do not know if it is an illusion, but I seem to feel that something in my mind resonates with the little girl in front of me