On how PhDs become human evil

In Bai Jie's perception, the white-haired boy clearly possessed an extremely large amount of magical power. Although it could not compare to Bai Jie, who was comparable to the world, it was definitely not inferior to the spiritual veins. Among all the people Bai Jie had encountered so far, this boy's magical power was enough to rank in the top ten.

The fact that Caihai Academy has such a student, coupled with the witch Nangong Nayue, suggests that this academy is indeed full of hidden talents—just like the Far East Branch.

Noticing that Bai Jie's gaze was fixed on the corner, Nangong Nayue's eyes narrowed slightly. She then said, "Alright, you guys, quiet down. Starting today, we're having a transfer student join our class. Remember to get along well—Ashiya, why don't you introduce yourself?"

"Ashiya Dōryū, from the local area, is 18 years old, just like everyone else. He is currently an amateur Onmyoji who has inherited the family business. If you have any questions for divination, you can come to me."

In recent years, the profession of Onmyoji has gradually evolved into the image of a Taoist priest who exorcises demons and monsters due to various games, movies, and novels. However, the original job of Onmyoji was to observe the stars, read faces, measure directions, and know about disasters and anomalies. To put it simply, they were observers. Their spells were just casting illusions. Therefore, it is not wrong for Bai Jie to say that he could consult him for divination.

The students in the class weren't too surprised by Bai Jie's self-introduction. This was a demon special zone, where demons could be seen on the streets all the time. Moreover, their teacher was a demon-attacking master. Now, there was just one more Onmyoji classmate. There was really no reason for the students here to be surprised.

The demon race doesn't have many special characteristics, but they do the most things that defy common sense.

"So, the seats in Ashiya..."

"Excuse me, Professor Nangong, may I sit in that seat?"

Bai Jie reached out and interrupted Nangong Nayue's words. Following the direction Bai Jie pointed, Nangong Nayue couldn't help but sigh, because that was the direction of the white-haired boy that Bai Jie had just been looking at.

"Sure, but it's a bit cramped in the corner. If you don't mind, you can sit there."

"Thank you so much, teacher."

Section 365, paragraph 2. Author: I just wanted to return the goods.

Bai Jie sat down behind the white-haired boy and patted him on the shoulder: "Ashiya Doryu, nice to meet you."

"Um... Ah, I'm Akatsuki Kojou, nice to meet you."

Xiaogu City....Xiao?

Bai Jie's lips curled up slightly: "It's a really nice name. Would you like me to do a divination for you? Like, your recent luck in love or something?"

"Well... let's forget about it."

Xiao Gucheng hesitated for a moment before refusing. Although he didn't know whether Bai Jie's identity as an Onmyoji was real or not, he still had to avoid the danger of his identity being discovered.

After all, Akatsuki Kojou is the strongest vampire in the world. If this fact were exposed, his peaceful life would be over, and he didn't want to get involved in any strange things.

Seeing that Xiao Gucheng had turned his head away, Bai Jie did not ask any further questions.

(Such immense magical power... according to the setting, it should only belong to vampires, and the surname Akatsuki paired with vampire... Kuroto, you've really developed quite a twisted sense of humor.)

The word "晓" means dawn in the West, and by extension, it refers to the fallen angel Lucifer, an angel known as the Son of Dawn. However, someone with this form became a vampire. It has to be said that Dan Kuroto's naming habits are really quite perverse.

"Ashiya! Akatsuki! Stop whispering over there! Class has already started!"

Nangong Nayue's reprimand came from the podium. Xiao Gucheng quickly sat up straight and pretended to listen attentively, while Bai Jie smiled and sat back down as well.

(Well, since I'll be living in this virtual world for a year anyway, there's no rush to figure everything out now. Let's take it slow. Besides, reliving my high school days isn't bad either.)

With that thought in mind, Bai Jie opened the textbook that Nangong Nayue had given him on the way here.

————————————————————————

Located about halfway off the edge of an artificial island, about a tram stop from Ayakai Academy, this is the residence that Dan Kuroto designated for Hakuge.

In the setting, although it is said to be the "last Ashiya", there are actually quite a few Ashiya people, some of whom have achieved success in different fields. After learning that Hakuge was coming to Itogami Island, they bought an apartment.

It's really convenient to set this up.

"Ring ring ring!"

As soon as Bai Jie entered the apartment, he heard the telephone hanging on the wall ring.

"This is the Ashiya family home. May I ask who you are?"

"Looks like you've adapted quite well, Doctor," Dan Kuroto's voice came through the phone. "How's life in the virtual world going?"

Bai Jie put the phone on speakerphone, took a bottle of soda from the refrigerator, leaned against the wall next to the phone, took a sip, and grinned: "Well, it's been a long time since I've experienced what high school life is like. Surprisingly, it's not bad. It makes a 91-year-old like me want to relive my youth."

What is youth?

Different people have different answers to this question. For high school students, youth is the time spent with classmates at school, club activities, school trips, school festivals, fireworks displays, summer vacations... This is what high school students' youth is like, and Bai Jie has never experienced such a youth.

What? You mean that time in the Godslayer world? Sorry, Bai Jie doesn't think that was a proper high school experience.

Whose high school life involves fighting tooth and nail with a god who doesn't obey?

Sensing the satisfaction in Bai Jie's words, Dan Lidou chuckled and said, "Well, as long as you're happy—then let me explain a few more things to you."

"First, let's talk about this room. In this setting, this is your base. Any item that is within the permitted range can be found in this room. If you want it, just think about it."

"Oh? Really? That's really convenient." Bai Jie said, switching his soft drink to vodka and chugging it down in one gulp. "Ahhh... refreshing. So, what's next? Anything else to say?"

"To avoid external interference affecting the virtual world, our communication will be limited to this telephone from now on. In addition, I will contact you regularly every two hours—one month in your time zone."

"Hmm, and then what?"

"About eight hours later, we will load the emotion program module, eleven hours later the combat program module, and sixteen hours later the final soul program module—which translates to four months, five and a half months, and eight months in your timeframe. Please keep an eye out for these times."

"How do I pay attention...?"

"Regarding the emotional programming, our prototype is designed to test emotions that are clearly expressed, such as love, anger, and hatred. You just need to pay attention to whether anyone feels these emotions towards you."

After hearing this, Bai Jie suspected that Dan Lidou wanted to smear him with the stigma of infidelity, and that he had evidence.

"Combat procedures, to put it simply, are like suddenly having a sudden epiphany."

Could you explain it in simpler terms?

"The exhilarating feeling of holding it in for ten minutes and then suddenly it all comes out."

Hearing Dan Lidou say that, Bai Jie looked down at the spicy beef noodles he had just taken out and suddenly felt that the noodles were no longer fragrant, and even had a foul smell.

(Dan Kuroto, the first thing I'll do when I get back is beat you up, no questions asked.)

Just as Bai Jie was making this vow in his heart, Dan Kuroto continued his explanation: "As for the final soul module... I actually feel that you are more proficient in this than I am. You have had more contact with Tenkuji Takeru, so you should be more familiar with the feeling of the soul."

"First, I need to correct something. What you're talking about at Sky Temple isn't a soul, it's a ghost. And while I can distinguish souls, this world is just a bunch of data, right? How can you expect me to distinguish a snakeskin?"

In the world of data, everything is essentially data, even the soul. It is fundamentally different from the soul in reality. Even if Bai Jie had extraordinary abilities, he could not distinguish the soul in the data world.

"Don't worry, I've set you up as an [Onmyoji], and what Onmyoji are best at is dealing with matters of the soul. I believe you can do it. I'm leaving everything to you, Doctor."

"So that's what you were planning, assigning me the Onmyoji role." Bai Jie sighed. "Well, I understand. If there's nothing else, I'll hang up."

"Well then, Doctor, I wish you a pleasant year ahead."

P.S.: I'm so frustrated! I wanted to buy a throw pillow for 200 yuan, but they only sent a pillowcase. When I asked the seller, they said it didn't include a pillow insert. I wanted to return it, but they said they don't accept returns for in-stock items, and they don't support the seven-day no-reason return policy. I'm so done with this! Does anyone know how to deal with a seller like this? I've been dealing with them for two days already.

Section 366.3. Half a Year

"Hey! Ashiya! A new arcade just opened near the station, wanna check it out?"

After a day of classes, Bai Jie was putting away his schoolbag when he heard shouts from several male classmates.

After putting the last book into his bag, Bai Jie smiled and declined, saying, "Sorry everyone, I have to go to the supermarket today. We don't have much food left at home, so I need to buy some."

"Oh, okay? Then let's do it next time."

"Ashiya, you must have a tough life living all by yourself."

"Let's go then. See you tomorrow, Ashiya."

Watching his classmates gradually leave the classroom, Bai Jie sighed silently and took out his phone to check the time—5:30 pm.

(I hope I can get home before six o'clock. Today is the day the battle program loads, and I don't want anything to go wrong.)

According to Dan Kuroto, the battle program was supposed to load five and a half months after Bai Jie started living in this virtual world, but Dan Kuroto informed Bai Jie half a month ago that a small bug had been found in the program, so it has been delayed until now.

In other words, Bai Jie has been living in this virtual world for half a year. During this time, Bai Jie has built good friendships with everyone in his class. Among them, the person he is closest to is his deskmate in front of him, Xiao Gucheng.

"You said you wanted to go to the supermarket... You just went to the supermarket the day before yesterday, right? If you don't want to go, just say so."

Kojou Akatsuki, who was lying on the desk in front of him, turned around and said.

“Gucheng, do you even know what socializing is? It’s because of your way of making friends that you only have a few friends like us so far.”

"Dao-ryu is right. Your straightforward way of making friends is indeed a problem, Kojo."

The boy at the next table with Gu Cheng turned around and said.

His name is Yase Motoki, the second son of the Yase family, who manages the artificial island council. He is currently studying at Ayakai Academy, having initially been tasked with monitoring Akatsuki Kojou. Of course, this purpose has already been exposed to many people, such as Nanami Nagatsuki and Hakuge.

Seeing the two people who kept teasing him, Xiao Gucheng couldn't help but feel embarrassed: "I'm really sorry that my way of making friends is not good. I can only make friends with you guys who are just teasing me."

"Well, that's to be expected. Besides us, there aren't many people who can stand your straightforward way of speaking," Bai Jie laughed. "Then I'll head back first. I really have some things to do today."

"Huh? You went back so early? I remember you still owe Asagi a cake buffet, right? I think you were supposed to pay it back today."

Yase Motoki's words made Bai Jie stop in his tracks.

Covering his face, Bai Jie let out a long sigh: "I actually forgot about this, of all times it has to be today."

Last week, Bai Jie overslept and forgot to write his world history report. The person who helped him out was Asagi—whose full name is Aiba Asagi. To repay her, Bai Jie said he could take her to a newly opened cake buffet near the Keystone Gate.

Dan Kuroto had just told him yesterday that the battle program would be loaded today, which caused the two things to collide directly.

Scratching his hair, Bai Jie looked at Xiao Gucheng: "Sorry, Gucheng, you go in my place today. I'll pay you back later."

"Looks like you really don't have time today, then I'll go in your place—though that's what I wanted to say, but Asagi is already here." Akatsuki Kojou said, pointing towards the back door of the classroom, where Ayu Asagi, looking displeased, was standing.

Walking briskly up to Bai Jie, Lan Yuqian said irritably, "You're not free today? You clearly promised to treat me to a cake buffet."

"I'd like to take you if possible, but I suddenly received a message from home yesterday asking me to take care of some things, so I really don't have time today," Bai Jie said with a wry smile.

After staring into Bai Jie's eyes for a while, Lan Yuqian suddenly sighed: "Haa~~~ Never mind, you can treat me to a crepe on the way home. We can make up for the cake buffet in a few days. Anyway, summer vacation starts next week, so there's plenty of time."

"Thank you so much."

--------------------------

Bai Jie, Xiao Gucheng, Yase Motoki, and Aiba Asagi all lived quite close to each other, so before changing trains, the four of them took the same train.

There are many food stalls in the station around the tram, just like a shopping street. The crepes that Asagi said Bai Jie would treat her to are right at the entrance of the station.

Looking at the other three people, each holding a crepe, Bai Jie frowned: "Why is it that in the end I'm the one treating the three of you?"