Alice in the Land of Steam

Chapter 1271 Do you want to take a photo together?

"When you arrive at Bad Ain, please hand this letter over to Mr. Carson or Miss Regina. I have explained your situation in detail in the letter. If nothing unexpected happens, they should arrange for you to join the Youth Army. You are also familiar with the leader of the Youth Army, Mitch, so I will not say much. Since you are still new recruits, he may assign you some simple tasks. Don't feel that you are being underestimated, and don't be radical and impulsive just because the tasks are simple. On the battlefield, this mentality is very dangerous. Ask your predecessors for advice. Although they may not be older than you, they have much more combat experience than you..."

In the office, Lingge's chattering was like an old father who was seeing his child off to embark on the journey of life, which was completely opposite to the impression he usually gave people. Kyle and others looked at each other in surprise. They didn't expect that the teacher who usually looked calm and gentle would have such a side. But they could really feel the concern and expectation in his words, so they didn't dislike or resent him. They all lowered their heads honestly and remembered every word he said in their minds.

I wonder if they will feel sad or emotional when they recall this scene many years later? But at least at this moment, apart from a little trepidation, they are more excited and expectant.

This afternoon, they will follow a support team responsible for escorting supplies (this is actually no longer important as the rebels' power gradually expands) and confidential intelligence (this is very important) to the iron city of Bad Ain and plunge into the vast wave of war. Whether it is for the rage of revenge or for the cause of restoration, there is always a time to vent strength.

They had nothing with them except themselves and their determination, and they didn't need time to prepare themselves mentally. This made Linger more convinced that it was useless to stop them. Even if someone who really wanted to leave was reluctantly allowed to stay, he would disappear quietly one day in the future. If a teacher forced a student to do something like that, it would be a dereliction of duty.

"In short," the young man paused, without saying any words of blessing or encouragement, but said with emotion: "Try your best to survive until the day when the war is won."

This is his greatest expectation for these children.

Kyle grinned and was about to say something to respond to Teacher Ling's concern. At this moment, hurried footsteps suddenly came from the corridor, followed by someone with brilliant blond hair rushing into the office: "Ling... uh, are you teaching a student a lesson?"

As one of the bad students who was often punished, Alice instinctively resisted this situation and took two steps back: "Then I won't bother you for now. I'll come back after you've punished them?"

Ling Ge shook his head slightly and corrected: "I was not teaching the students a lesson. I was just saying a few farewell words to them."

"Farewell?" Alice looked at Kyle and the others in surprise. She also knew these students and had invited them to play games together. "Where are you going?"

"To Bad Ain, the iron city." Linger answered the question on behalf of the students: "They have decided to drop out of school, join the rebels, and contribute their own strength to the liberation of their hometown."

"This——" Alice opened her eyes wide in surprise, as if she had heard something incredible: "Ling Ge, did you agree?"

This question made the young man silent for a moment. The matter-of-fact tone of her voice seemed to be accusing her of something. Although Alice didn't really mean that, it sounded that way to the young man. Perhaps it was because he already felt remorseful and guilty. "They have already made the decision. Naturally, I have no reason to refuse."

His voice was a little low, and Kyle smiled at Alice, indicating that this was indeed their idea and had nothing to do with the teacher. Alice looked at the young man, and then at the students who had decided to leave, and suddenly understood why Lingge was in such a bad mood last night? It was probably not only because of Xinuo's matter, but also because of these students.

Although the two are essentially the same thing.

"So that's how it is..." Alice nodded thoughtfully, "That's perfect."

"Just right?" Linger frowned slightly: "What do you mean?"

"What I mean is," Alice blinked and raised her hands. Ling Ge and the others then noticed that she was holding a black machine in her hands. It didn't look like the game console she usually treasured, but more like a kaleidoscope wrapped in a metal shell. "Would you like to take a picture?"

Kyle and other East Continent natives might not know what this machine is, but Lingge from the West Continent recognized it at a glance and frowned even deeper: "Is this... a camera?"

A photo machine invented only in recent years, which can freeze the real scene in an instant on a small photo. It is said that when it was first invented, art critics even wailed that "the end of realist painters has come". However, due to the difficulty in manufacturing, the high price, and the need for specialized technology to clean the film, it has been difficult to popularize. At present, it is still a small toy used by the upper class in the Western Continent to show off their style, but it is completely meaningless to the people in the Eastern Continent.

"It's not just a camera." Alice chuckled, "It's also the One-Hit Kill Camera that I asked Rorona to create using alchemy!"

What a strange name, even stranger when you consider its creator and user.

But it's actually not that strange, the [One Hit Kill] here mainly refers to the number of uses, it can only be used once, and in return, the photos taken with this camera do not need to be developed, they can be directly generated with magic power, which is convenient and fast, and unlike other cameras that can only take black and white photos, they can take color photos.

"It does sound good." After listening to Alice proudly talking about the powerful functions of this camera that had nothing to do with her, Linger nodded slightly and asked, "But why do you suddenly want to take pictures?"

"Because I want to take a group photo with everyone."

The genius player said in a matter-of-fact tone: "Shino is leaving soon, and I don't know when he will be back, so I thought, why not take this opportunity to take a group photo with everyone, maybe we can keep it as a souvenir. Ah, you guys are leaving too, why don't you take a photo together?"

The last sentence was said to Kyle and the others. They looked at each other and had no intention of objecting. Instead, they were eager to try - just as Alice said, they were about to leave here, not knowing when they would come back, or even if they could come back, so they would naturally want to leave something behind as proof of their existence here.

Lingge probably thought of this as well. He looked at Alice deeply, and the golden-haired maid smiled at him. The smile still looked carefree and casual, but in the eyes of those who knew about it, it had a more complicated meaning. Want to leave a mark, to commemorate something?

The young man nodded: "Okay."

"Great!"

Alice raised her hands high and cheered, then urged impatiently: "What are you waiting for? Let's go. Well, I'll go call the others first. Don't forget to gather at the school gate! Alas, it's a pity that Medien, Sister Livia and Miss Nevi'er are not here, otherwise everyone would be here!"

She left in a hurry, just as she came, leaving Lingge and his students looking at each other in bewilderment. They had a new understanding of the genius player's initiative. This was probably the first time that Alice was so active in something other than games and pranks.

If only she could keep her big mouth under control.

When Lingge took Kyle and others out of the office, due to Alice's publicity, almost all the students knew that someone was going to drop out, especially Kyle. He was very popular among this group of war orphans. Many people had actually guessed his true ambition through various details in their daily interactions, but they did not expect that he would really make this decision.

So along the way, as they passed through the corridors, crossed the gardens, and walked across the playground, they received a lot of attention. Some students hid in the classroom and observed secretly, while some students cast their eyes openly. The most common expression in their eyes was surprise, then confusion, and finally incomprehension - they didn't understand why Kyle and others had to make such a decision. Obviously, the current life is good enough, why would they rather give up the stable life they had dreamed of before and choose a difficult path?
However, since there are misunderstandings, there must be people who understand and even admire them. These people once had the same idea, whether for revenge or for other reasons, but compared with Kyle and others, they lack a little courage and awareness, so it is difficult for them to make the same decision.

However, when there is already someone to serve as a role model, won't the hatred, anger, and even revenge that has gradually faded in their carefree lives be rekindled? Linger seemed to foresee such a future, more and more students will follow Kyle and his footsteps and leave, stepping onto the distant battlefield, and Linger has no way to stop them. Because what they want to protect is not in this school, and what they want to avenge is not in this school, what reason should young people have to let them stay?

A burst of noise interrupted Ling's thoughts.

He looked up and found that he had already reached the school gate. The companions called by Alice were lining up under her command, preparing for the upcoming photo shoot. As for the camera, it was placed on a bracket about 20 meters away from the school gate. Its creator, Rorona, was adjusting the angle and focal length for it, looking very professional.

"Hey, Lingge! And you guys! Here, here, come here quickly!"

Alice waved excitedly to the group and called out.

Beside her, Xinuo smiled helplessly but somewhat relievedly: "She came to see me last night, and her attitude seemed very sincere. I thought it was something important, but it turned out to be just for taking pictures."

Saint Xia Liya said softly: "Perhaps in her mind, this matter is indeed very important."

Xino didn't say anything, but suddenly thought of the portraits of ancestors in the old house of the Shadoli Manor. Did they have the same thoughts as Alice when they left these traces? No one could prove it, but she hoped so, because they could prove that the emotions of all living beings, whether they were tiny humans or great royal powers, were not false.

The proprietress, Shesta, was holding a comb and gently smoothing Shelia's bangs, revealing her bright blue eyes. Although Shelia was a little awkward and repeatedly emphasized that she thought the original look was better, she ignored her sister's objection and claimed that it was for the image of the Fairy Sleep Inn and she couldn't be on camera in such an unkempt manner; Leticia and Shemi got a large piece of cardboard from somewhere and drew Metien, the Lady Aunt, and the Lady Aunt on it with simple colored lines. The Duke and Sister Livia, although the stick figure-like sketch looked more like a child's doodle; Yieta raised a bronze mirror with great effort, and the clear mirror reflected the anxious face of a certain Belmang princess. She was dressing herself up in the mirror, straightening her messy bangs and smoothing the wrinkles at her neckline. At the same time, she did not forget to complain that Alice played a surprise attack, so that she did not have time to tidy up her appearance before taking pictures. If the pictures were not good, wouldn't it damage the majesty of the Belmang royal family? Yieta nodded repeatedly and said yes.

After Lingge arrived, Alice arranged the young man to the most central position without saying a word. The latter wanted to refuse, but Xino was already standing beside him with a smile. As the protagonist of today's photo shoot, Kyle and other students were arranged to sit behind Xino. As for the other side of the young man, everyone had assumed that Saint Xia Liya's position was originally the default, but for some reason the shepherdess did not stand there, but chose the second row. When Olvera asked her cautiously if she didn't want to go over, her cheeks blushed slightly, and she said nothing, just shook her head, so Princess Bemang happily and took the position without hesitation, and forced herself to ignore Yieta's aggrieved and accusing eyes.

Only at times like this would she forget about her role as a sister.

After everyone stood in position, Rorona, who was in charge of taking pictures, began to count down: "Everyone, look at me, um, don't smile too stiffly, relax a little. I'll count to three, three, two, one... start shooting!"

After the countdown, Princess Umi pressed the timer button that had been set long ago, and then ran slowly to her position. But whether it was intentional or accidental, when she was about to run to the team, she was "very careless", "unexpectedly", and "unexpectedly" tripped by a small stone that did not exist.

"Oops~"

So he pushed aside Avella awkwardly, grabbed a young man's arm, and winked at him: "You slipped, eh?"

"..."

Click!

The picture is frozen here in an extremely dazzling flash.

Give me some meow