Danrito, become a consultant for the Millennium Game!

"Anyway, let's just leave it like this for now!"

Danrito inserted the blank cassette he had rolled into the Genesis MK1 - this thing also supports power-off save and archive functions, and the game data previously entered can be transferred with one click. Hmm, super convenient!

124. Understanding is not complete analysis

"Huh...this way there won't be any more problems, right?"

Yuzu breathed a sigh of relief, her eyes sparkling as she waited for the cartridge to be refilled with games. The first Saiden 2 game cartridge she'd made had been snatched away the moment she'd laid eyes on it, leaving her practically visibly pale. She was determined to keep this one—she wanted to play it first!

"This, this is my right as the author!"

That’s what Yuzu claims.

On the other side, Key, surrounded by the crowd, had nowhere to hide and could only endure the observations and gazes from all sides. Alice looked at this person who looked like herself with curiosity: "Kei..."

"Kei? Ah... you can call me that." Key listened to Alice's poor pronunciation, but didn't correct her. Alice could call herself whatever she wanted, or even not call herself that at all. It was just that she pronounced Key as Kei because of her poor pronunciation, which was a small matter.

"Why does Kei want me to destroy the world?"

"Why..." Key lowered his eyes a little: "Isn't this the duty we were created for?"

"All gods are enemies. Isn't it right to destroy them?"

"Enemy?" Alice was stunned for a moment. "But everyone is so nice to me."

Alice held the machine and told Key what she had seen: "Since Alice came here, every day has been very happy."

"Xiaotao, Xiaolu, and Yuzu will recommend many interesting RPG games to Alice. The seniors in the Engineering Department often create magical props, and everyone in the Ministry of Truth always helps answer many questions—"

Pressing her palm against her chest, Alice whispered to Key on the screen, "Although Alice didn't encounter a grand adventure here, didn't draw the sword of the king, and didn't save the princess, but... Alice feels that everyone is a very good person."

"So, Alice doesn't want the world we all live in to be destroyed."

This is Alice's inner voice, guided by the kindness of those around her. Even without any conflict that hurts others, the "conclusion" she draws from the accumulation of daily life's little details can be drawn in her daily life.

I don’t want this campus that brings everyone laughter, nor this game development department, to disappear.

Alice might not yet understand the world beyond the Millennium Campus, but for her, this small activity room where she lives, and the bonds she's forged with everyone in the game development department, is her world. The world Key mentioned as destroyed must also include her own little world, right?

"Princess..." Key raised her head and found that without her guidance, her princess also had her own ideas.

"So, Kei... can you promise Alice not to destroy the world?"

Alice's sincere gaze penetrated the screen and met Key's gaze without hesitation.

"...I understand, since it is your Highness's request."

After a long pause, Key withdrew her gaze. After receiving the body of the Collapse Origin, some of Key's structures had quietly changed. Even Key herself could sense the difference. No longer a simple piece of code, she now possessed a mind and body composed of 0s and 1s—although she couldn't fully comprehend the changes that had occurred to her body.

However, the rewritten body no longer had to abide by the rules and restrictions left by the 'nameless priests' when they created her. The existence of the Collapse Source Body transcended biology and data, paying this 'freedom' to her in advance without charging any price.

And destroying the world is just the only thing written on Key's schedule.

"But... with this kind of attitude, how should I continue to live?"

Key was confused.

If leading the princess of the nameless gods to destroy the gods is the only value and goal of Key's existence, and he gave up this goal because of the princess's words, then for what should Key's value be demonstrated, and for whom should Key live his life?

"In that case, Alice has a lot of games to recommend to Kei!"

Alice laughed. "As a newbie in the gaming world, I recommend you start with The Legend of Selna: Dream Island!"

Key was confused: "Selna...what is that?"

"What? In the end, I'm just a poor guy who has no idea where to go." Nero propped his cheek with his palm and poked the screen with his finger. "If you're interested, do you want to go out and fight some thugs together next time?"

"You're talking about something like this right off the bat?" Yuka was shocked. "Why don't you talk about some girlish hobbies? Like shopping, eating cake, buying pretty clothes, etc. Not asking me to fight!"

"In that case, let's aim to make the best game in the world!"

"Why don't you become a maid? A maid! Akane said it's time to find some new faces to wear maid outfits!"

Suddenly, everyone in front of him started arguing about what Key should do. Soon, they had different opinions and started a heated debate. Key on the screen had no room to interrupt. He just watched silently as everyone in front of him started a verbal battle in order to find a new way of survival for himself.

"Why... I clearly wanted to destroy the initiator of this peace before, so why are you now discussing my future as if nothing happened?"

Key didn't understand, but there was an inexplicable urge filling her body. She clutched the clothes on her chest tightly, unable to understand what this feeling was.

“There is no need to understand, because understanding is unnecessary.”

Danrito had taken the worm incubator from Alice at some point. He held it up so that Key could see everyone discussing whether or not she should wear a maid outfit. "They'll never understand me, nor will they be able to become another me. But I still have a good time with the guys in the game club."

"I do not understand."

Danrito closed his eyes and found a simple phrase: "Seek common ground while reserving differences."

"Eh?"

"You don't need understanding, just tolerance." Danrito chuckled. "A question without an answer will never lead to a conclusion. Instead of wondering why they treat you this way, why not relax, accept their kindness, and return the favor with the same kindness?"

"As for those unclear questions, I don't think there's any need to think about them."

Danrito pressed the button on the worm incubator and pulled out the cassette.

Gashu~

Looking at the cassette lying motionless in his hand, Danrito shook it. "Still pretending to sleep? Come out!"

The virus from the Collapse Body leaked from the cassette, gradually taking the shape of a young girl. Key's figure gradually solidified, finally becoming a solid object. She opened her eyes and nervously looked at the discussion group before her, which had suddenly lost its voice due to her presence.

"..."

Key was embarrassed and didn't know how to start, but the next second, everyone rushed over and surrounded her.

"That one from before! Perform it again! How did you suddenly appear?!"

"Kei, what do you like to eat? Do you want some snacks?"

"Come and choose one of these three new games to start your adventure!"

"The texture of this hair...is exactly like Alice-chan's..."

"Now there's another Alice."

The cacophony of chatter made Key panic for a moment, unable to withstand the overwhelming onslaught, feeling that it was even more difficult to deal with than a sky full of gunfire and bullets. Key looked at the people in front of him. Although what they said was completely different, the emotions that Key could feel from them were all the same.

“Ah… This is something I cannot comprehend…”

Free Skirt Nine Five Hundred One Eight Hundred Nine Hundred Nine

A hand like hers grasped hers. Key looked at the princess who had finally emerged from the crowd. She seemed unhappy that she hadn't spoken to Key immediately. "Kei! I figured it out! After all, the first time should start with a school tour! In campus gal games, bond events are usually triggered!"

"What the hell is this..."

"Ohhhh, you're amazing, Alice-chan! Let's get started!"

"Then what are you waiting for? Let's go!"

"Wait, I'm going too..."

125. Millennium Awards Ceremony

"Alright! The following is the live broadcast of the Millennium Awards, hosted by the Millennium Broadcasting Department! I'm the host, Luo Luo!"

A beautiful girl with a healthy complexion raised the microphone and passionately pointed it at the live broadcast in front of her: "Can you see it? Can you see it? This is the center of the venue! The fruits of wisdom from all the clubs of Millennium Academy can be displayed here one by one! Welcome to watch live!"

The sky above the academy was filled with the roar of fireworks, the colorful fireworks dazzling against the clear sky. Banners held high by balloons flowed along the academy's main thoroughfare, and numerous millennial students, adorned with halos, were flocking to the exhibition venue.

"Ah wow wow wow... this day has finally arrived."

Yuzu sat on the floor of the game development department, staring nervously at the TV screen. Thanks to thorough preparations, and even an easier process than usual, Yuzu and her team had significantly sped up the production of "Final Goddess Legend Sword 2," their entry for the Millennium Awards. After submitting the required materials and sending the game cartridge for evaluation, four full days had already passed.

"Looking back, this game was actually completed six days ago, right?" Xiao Tao slumped down on the sofa, hugging her pillow. "But besides the time spent making the game, I encountered all sorts of unexpected things."

Xiaolu also sat beside her sister, hugging a pillow, and nodded in agreement: "The time spent on completing side quests accounts for more than half of the total time spent on the main quests. This must be Yubi's conspiracy!"

"Yubi?" Alice asked in confusion, "What is that?"

Xiao Tao patted her shoulder earnestly, "We're the first game studio to use an ecological server and to fill the open world with obsessive-compulsive question marks."

"I always feel... sorry."

Key, who looked like Alice, stood beside the sofa, feeling a little uneasy. "I've caused you a lot of trouble..."

"It's okay, it's okay! The best ending is that no one got hurt in the end." Xiao Tao put her hands on her hips proudly: "Even though we were just watching the show in the end!"

After the previous turmoil ended, he obtained his own body in the form of a Hoshigaki, becoming an independent Key. Eventually, under the supervision of Danrito, he became a member of the game development department.

To be honest, as the president of the seminar, Liyin is not so relieved about the existence of Key. This is why she sent the maid club to take turns on duty beside Danrito.

Even with Himari's persuasion and Danrito's confirmation, Liyin still maintained a basic level of caution towards Key, who had taken over her body, and Alice as well. Although this surveillance did not interfere with Alice and Key's daily lives, nor did they do anything too extreme, it was Liyin's bottom line.

"The safety of the students must be put first. As for you... I don't have complete trust in you yet."

After that incident, Liyin came to see Danrito again. Although she had no effective way to deal with the power Danrito displayed, Liyin still had no way to deal with it. However, having the ability is one thing, and how to express it is another.

"Is that so? Then it's up to you to monitor me or anything like that. I don't mind. Just don't interfere with my activities."

Danrito was indifferent to Rin's statement. Whatever the millennial student council president decided to do was her business. Since she had tentatively acknowledged Alice as a millennial student and ultimately only placed her under surveillance, leaving her alone with no further outrage, Danrito let Rin do the small things that reassured her.

"So I asked you what you're worried about..."

Danrito picked up his mug out of boredom and filled it with coffee. The automatic coffee machine, which no one else used except Danrito, was now prominently displayed in the game development department's activity room. According to Danrito, he had bought it because he felt the place needed one.

"With the technical support of my Huanmeng Company and my divine talent as a backup, winning the Campus Science and Technology Innovation Award shouldn't be a piece of cake."

Xiaolu looked at him and said, "Well... that's what I said, but shouldn't we maintain the sense of mystery before the lottery draw?"

"Rather than this, why don't you go and see it in person?" Tan Lidou pointed to the venue in the distance. "It's rare that I have a front-row seat for free."

"Because Yuzu isn't very good at handling crowds like this~" Xiaotao looked at Yuzu, who was squatting on the sofa beside her. The latter could only give a shy smile in return: "No, I can't help it. I get nervous when there are too many people I don't know around me... Normally, attending club meetings is the limit..."

"In that case, I'll just take you there by force!" Danrito suddenly stretched out his hand and lifted Yuzu directly from the sofa: "Just like that, I'll take you directly to the Millennium Awards! And then sit you in the front row!"

"Ah wow wow wow..."

Yuzu imagined the scene, and her whole body twitched. She shook her head vigorously and said, "What a mess! If the game development department sits in the front row, the whole school will laugh to death!"

"Danrito, just let Yuyu go. If you force her into a place like that, she'll definitely burn to ashes." Xiaotao shook her head knowingly, "It's common sense that Yuyu is shy. She even has to rely on online classes for her classes."

"Ah! Look, the judging results are about to be announced!"

Alice suddenly shouted excitedly, drawing everyone's attention to the screen. Following the host's excited shout, Yaduli, the additional guest, appeared on screen.

"Ah~ Thank you so much for inviting me to be the guest commentator and host of this year's Millennium Awards. I'm really honored~ This year's Millennium Awards received the most entries yet. I guess it's because of the policy changes made at the symposium, which now require clubs to achieve 'results' in order to continue, that's why the enthusiasm is so high!"

The blonde-haired girl with glasses looked very excited, chatting with the host and warming up the atmosphere.

As the live broadcast continued, Yaduli also picked out a few works and said, "This time, our entries include 'a portable cheese bottle that looks like toothpaste but can squeeze out cheese', 'a protective umbrella with missiles inside', 'a portable refrigerator that can fit a can of Coke under a window', and so on..."

Just when Yaduli was about to lose control and start explaining why fusion was the noblest form of summoning, the host Luo Luo quickly shifted the topic to the award competition that was about to be announced.

Host Luo Luo wiped the sweat from his forehead and pointed the microphone at Yaduli. "There's a dark horse emerging in this year's competition. A completely unexpected club has come up with an invention that has astonished everyone. Do you think there's anything that particularly attracts you?"

126. Shut up and take my money!

Facing the camera, Yaduli laughed heartily: "Ahahaha~ I was really shocked when I saw it. I really want to know what the person who invented this thing was thinking when he made it. It's really hard to imagine!"

Tan Lidou on the other side of the TV heard this and puffed out his chest, humming proudly, "Of course! I think he's a genius! With me helping him, the Millennium Prize will be easy to win!"

"Ohhhh~" Xiaotao clapped her hands: "Cool, brother."

"So, according to Mr. Danrito's prediction, our game should have taken first place?" Xiaolu glanced at the smug Danrito, who replied without hesitation, "Of course! This Saiden 2 cartridge, whether it's the game itself or the cartridge containing the game, would have taken first and second place! Taking it to a campus competition here would be a waste of talent!"

"If it's really that high, I'd be a little uncomfortable..." Yuzu said, cringing in worry. "This year's top spot will definitely go to Shiraishi-senpai and the others from the Engineering Department, right?"

Xiao Tao nodded repeatedly, "Well, I understand, I understand. After all, whether in terms of functionality or style, the things produced by the Engineering Department are the most consistent with the theme of the Millennium Awards."

Dan Lidou knocked on each of the three men's heads. "How can you lose your own prestige right at the start? Do you still want to sell your products?"

"But we're not selling games right now, are we?" Xiao Tao covered her forehead in pain and turned to the side with tears in her eyes. Someone who hadn't spoken in a long time had been sitting on a cushion next to her. "Senior Zhu... Senior Zhu Yin, you're not saying anything and just staring at me. It's really a bit scary..."

Zhu Yin, who was wearing a maid outfit, pushed up her glasses and smiled, "Is there? At least I don't think so."

The person on duty at the 'special supervisory post' today was Akane, who had been transferred from the maid club. Compared to Asuna, who was overly lively yesterday, Akane seemed more like a careful and silent observer.

She would actively help Xiaotao and the others, and would also help tidy up the mess in the game development department, looking more like a maid than the others. However, when she was free, she would always stare at Alice and Key, even if it was only for a day, Alice would cry out that she couldn't stand being stared at.

"Stop talking, the rankings are about to be announced, sister."