Chapter Three: A World of Sorrow (With Gratitude to the Alliance Leader Determined Lettuce)

Stepping out of the colossal domed hall of admissions, the sky outside was heavy and overcast. Sparse raindrops fell steadily from the dark clouds, striking the black plaza and splashing water upward.

A cold wind swept by, and a few strands of rain drizzled over Heshiya, sending a chill that crept along her skin.

“Such weather...” Heshiya gazed at the rain-draped world outside, standing among several other students who had just emerged.

If it were ordinary rain, with current technology and tools, there would be no need for concern. But the rain on the planet Emerald Skirt was different. Especially in the northern 26 districts, the corrosive properties of the rain had a noticeable effect.

The admissions hall’s faceted crystal dome was designed precisely to withstand this corrosive rain. Had it been made of metal or common concrete, within a few years it would have deteriorated, compromising safety.

Each year, during the rainy season from April to May, the planet’s rain was highly toxic. By June through August, the toxicity lessened gradually, and the corrosive nature greatly weakened, allowing people to walk in the rain without protective gear.

What to do? Should I call for a ride? It feels expensive, but there seems to be no other choice, Heshiya thought to herself.

Though her living expenses were modest, her income was almost nonexistent, so every penny had to be carefully saved. Fortunately, she had just graduated from junior high and was now entering high school, enabling her to take on simple jobs to earn some money.

After a brief hesitation, Heshiya, like the other students, used her personal terminal to book a hovering taxi and waited patiently.

The gray curtain of rain fell over the world before her eyes, striking the ground, the dome, and steel structures, producing different splashes. Mixed with moisture and cold, the wind carried the damp chill. Though she knew the rain bore some toxicity, the quiet amidst the bustling rain brought Heshiya a faint sense of happiness.

She was about to come of age; the future held many possibilities.

“Hey~ Heshiya~”

Just as the silver-haired girl stood waiting before the rain, a familiar voice called from behind.

Who could that be?

Heshiya turned to see three girls approaching. They wore the same school uniforms and were classmates from her junior high.

“Did you come alone, Heshiya?” one outgoing girl with short hair stepped forward, patting Heshiya’s shoulder.

“Uh, yes.” Heshiya’s expression was timid and nervous, like a small bird.

Timid, introverted, socially anxious—these were perhaps the most lasting impressions she left on others.

“Haha, you’re braver than I expected,” the girl laughed, and the four of them stood together, chatting about their assessments that day.

“Clara, Millie, how did you do?” the short-haired girl asked the other two.

“I think I did well. I performed a dance piece, and the teacher was totally amazed,” said a girl dressed in a trendy crop top, making a gesture.

“Are you planning to debut as an idol?”

“Of course! Being an idol means making big money, and countless men shower me with gold coins. That’s the glamorous life I want, not some stiff job.”

“Wow, impressive. When Clara becomes a big star, don’t forget us—we’ll come to lean on you.”

“How about you, Millie?”

“I took the assessment for Slev Academy. I should get in,” Millie replied. Slev Academy specialized in medical professions and was known for its tidal sequence training.

“Millie is humble again. Many of your relatives work in pharmaceutical companies, right? Your path is already paved.”

“Well...” Though she wouldn’t admit it outright, Millie’s smile betrayed her pride.

The short-haired girl chatted easily with her friends, her practiced social skills making the silver-haired girl beside them envious.

“So, what about Lina?”

At last, the silver-haired girl couldn’t resist whispering. She had been Lina’s deskmate before and was somewhat familiar with her, unlike other classmates she feared.

“Well— we’ll get to that later. First, tell us about yourself, Heshiya,” Lina teased.

“I... I applied to Erin Academy. I’ve been preparing for a long time, and maybe I’ll get in this time.” Heshiya hesitated slightly, refraining from mentioning her application to Eds Academy, which seemed overly ambitious.

“Erin Academy’s not bad. I remember in eighth grade, you were already studying medical materials. You’ve always been a good student, Heshiya.”

Erin Academy, located in the North Seventh District, was a mid-ranked high school primarily training future doctors and nurses. To become a doctor, however, one had to attend university; graduating from high school meant only becoming a nurse.

“Erin Academy’s alright, I guess,” Millie muttered with a hint of disdain and jealousy.

The four were in Arpeggio City, not a major metropolis. Even the junior high education quality was poor. For the top students in their class, gaining admission to a mid-ranked high school in North Seventh District was an enviable achievement.

“By the way, have you heard about Tiffin?” Clara suddenly asked.

“No, what about her?”

“She got a boyfriend!” Clara said with exaggerated excitement.

“That’s not that surprising,” Lina replied, pushing back her hair.

With today’s advanced information networks, early relationships were common—even dating in junior high wasn’t shocking.

“The thing is, her boyfriend has elf bloodlines. So handsome! I’m so jealous.”

“Elf bloodline? That’s rare. Most elves on this planet migrated away.”

Originally, the planet Emerald Skirt was developed by an elven consortium within the Federation, hence its elven-inspired name. But as industrialization advanced and the environment degraded, many elves gradually left for other Federation territories.

“Right, right, I’m so envious! Her boyfriend even bought her the latest personal terminal from ‘Ink Rhythm Workshop.’ I saw online—it costs at least 30,000 Federation credits.”

“Wow, that’s rich,” the others exclaimed.

Income disparities across Federation star regions were vast. In the Leaf Crystal star region, median income was 32,400 Federation credits per year—roughly an average person’s yearly wage.

“Tiffin’s really something. At the winter festival, she deliberately wore a skirt to attract boys. It was freezing, yet she endured it. Now, who knows what tricks she’s using,” Clara said with a smirk.

“Millie, you should learn from her,” Lina teased, seemingly unbothered by such matters.

“Me? Maybe in sophomore year, if my grades hold up, I can ask my aunt for money to get cosmetic surgery. I know about this stuff—many in my family work in that industry.”

“Millie’s so lame. You’re too timid. Just go for it! Those boys are easy to fool. You probably haven’t had a boyfriend yet, huh? But it’s hard to find one who’s rich, handsome, and single.”

Clara mocked Millie without restraint, unconcerned about offending her.

“You...” Millie tried to retort but fell silent, suddenly self-conscious when she looked at Clara’s good figure and skin.

Then Millie’s gaze landed on the silver-haired girl standing quietly in the corner, and her mood lifted.

“Heshiya, you’re so pretty. You must have several boyfriends, right? Why haven’t any bought you anything?”

“I—I’ve never dated,” the girl answered timidly, unsure why she had suddenly become the focus.

“Yeah, right! I don’t buy it. Nowadays, everyone wants a man to spend money on them. You look fine; if you weren’t so studious, how come you haven’t snagged one?” Millie teased with a sly grin.

The other two burst into laughter, leaving the silver-haired girl embarrassed and at a loss for how to respond.

In their class, the popular students were usually those who could sing, dance, or excel at sports and combat. Quiet, studious types like Heshiya were often marginalized, invisible to their peers.

“Who do you think you are, expecting to get ahead through studying? Fool!” some classmates had mocked the introverted students, provoking laughter.

Heshiya knew studying wasn’t everything, but such ridicule still hurt deeply, making her feel trapped and tormented.

Thankfully, Lina stepped in to smooth things over.

“Alright, enough laughing. Heshiya is aiming for Erin Academy. When she becomes a doctor, you’ll be coming to her for help,” she said, stopping the teasing.

“Where were we? Oh right, my turn.” Lina brushed her short hair back, revealing large, round gold earrings set with rubies.

“I took the entrance exam for Turbulence Instrument High School. You probably haven’t heard of it—it’s in the South Third District.” The southern hemisphere of Emerald Skirt was much more prosperous and environmentally better than the north.

“It’s a subsidiary school of the Black Spiral Group. Graduates can easily find jobs within the company.”

“Black Spiral Group? The company that makes waterproof materials?”

“Yes, that one. Business is booming.” Though Lina feigned indifference, everyone knew it was a highly coveted company.

The conversation shifted to Lina, and once again, the silver-haired girl was left unnoticed. But she didn’t mind; this lack of attention helped her relax.

Time passed slowly, and the car Heshiya summoned arrived.

“Hey, you called your own car? If I’d known, I would have invited you to share a ride with us. That would save a lot of money,” Lina said, surprised.

“Ah, um...” Heshiya didn’t know how to reply and simply nodded, quickly stepping inside as the doors closed behind her.

Inside the gray hovercar, the rain and noise outside immediately quieted, replaced by faint beeping sounds within.

The AI for autonomous driving began its notification, and the screen displayed text.

[Welcome aboard. Your destination: North Seventh District, Arpeggio City, 653 Spinrock Street, The Courtyard.]

[Please confirm: Yes/No]

“Yes.”

[Received. Calculating route, please wait.]

[Route planned. Commencing drive...]

The AI’s mechanical voice was steady and calm, soothing Heshiya’s previously restless thoughts.

Electronic AI was wonderful—they never said hurtful things.

Inside the car, she held her folder close, leaning against the window as she stared out at the gray world.

The rain still fell, tiny droplets sliding down the glass, forming rivulets. Unconsciously, Heshiya traced patterns with her fingertip before snapping back to awareness.

She wasn’t famous in class. Though her academic scores were good, few noticed her except the teachers. In such a poor school, everyone talked about who was the best at playing or fighting; no one admired the top student.

This was not unusual. The Leaf Crystal star region’s economy was sluggish, many companies were downsizing, and even high-achieving students struggled to secure decent jobs.

Anyone could do most jobs now. Technology had reached a bottleneck. Life for Federation citizens a thousand years later was not much different from a millennium ago.

With no new frontiers, no fresh vitality, many jobs had become standardized and simplified, requiring little special talent. Instead, connections and networks became paramount.

This concentrated wealth at the top, while the lower layers indulged in entertainment and competition, worshiping luxury and consumption. Facing this unchangeable harsh reality was painful.

This was an era of advanced technology and civilization, but also one where all beautiful illusions shattered. Humanity transcended nature’s shackles with knowledge and experience, but those same tools became chains of interest.

“So, this is a sorrowful world,” Heshiya thought.

Though the classmates’ mockery hurt, she understood the problem was bigger than a few people. Many sought answers about their future paths.

Of course, one obvious path was cultivating the transcendent sequence.

From level 1 to 9, each new layer added to the transcendent core marked a rank-up. Different structures and patterns bestowed astonishing abilities, admired by many. This was a rare way to break through one’s social strata.

The stronger and more unique the ability, the more complex the structure required. Though belonging to the same sequence level, two individuals’ power could differ greatly for this reason.

Eds Academy was coveted because it offered five perfect methods of advancing to transcendent sequence 5, allowing practitioners to build a solid, flawless foundation and thus go further in the future.

If one advanced with crude, simple structures, sequence 2 would likely be the lifetime limit. Foundations too fragile would collapse under even moderate pressure. A high-sequence transcendent core was like a burning nuclear fusion reactor, producing immense, unique power. Controlling this power while maintaining clarity and avoiding corruption was extremely challenging. This explained why few high-sequence transcendent individuals existed across the star sea.

Lost in thought, the silver-haired girl clutched her materials and slowly fell asleep in the car, until an hour later, the mechanical voice announced:

[You have arrived at your destination.]

Have we arrived? Heshiya rubbed her eyes and sat up, feeling much more alert.

She opened the door and stepped out into a vast square courtyard.

Sharp-edged crimson steel structures surrounded and divided the central courtyard. Looking down from above, ships and hovercars moved in and out continuously. Along the courtyard’s four walls stretched long trapezoidal stairs, lit with flickering lights. Pedestrians bustled about, and countless shops and homes hid within this underground steel jungle. Wisps of white vapor rose gently from the abyssal courtyard below.

This was where Heshiya lived—Arpeggio City, an industrial city beneath the surface.