Although Fang Li had spoken about it rather lightly, Sylvia still sensed the deeper implications.
The so-called Esper development program, on the surface, was said to be carried out using drugs, hypnosis, and various advanced instruments.
But in reality, what did that actually mean?
Injecting unknown chemicals into the body.
Inserting unknown electrodes into the brain.
Applying unknown mental and energetic stress.
Performing unknown modifications on the internal organs.
This was what they called using drugs, hypnosis, and advanced equipment to develop abilities.
And those subjected to these procedures, what else could you call them but test subjects?
Sylvia understood this very clearly.
That's why this rare Diva now wore such an unmistakably displeased expression.
"What a twisted world…"
That was her most honest thought. And it came from real, personal understanding.
After all, in the City of Scholarly Warfare, where she came from, many students were likewise used and exploited for various reasons.
Just like in Academy City.
Fang Li, on the other hand, didn't seem particularly affected by it.
At most, he simply commented:
"Should we be grateful that we're both Lv.0 Espers?"
This time, the background assigned to Fang Li and Sylvia by the Main God's Dimension placed them as students in two of Academy City's lesser-known schools.
In a place like Academy City, where supernatural abilities were the main focus of research and where students with powers were treated as valuable research subjects and development targets, a student's value was almost entirely determined by their ability level.
So, the higher the level, the better the conditions, and vice versa.
Since they were enrolled in unknown schools, it was natural that Fang Li and Sylvia's background would assign them low ranks as Espers.
"If we hadn't already gone through class transition, maybe we could've undergone esper development and become Espers ourselves," Fang Li said.
"But since we've already transitioned, developing powers is no longer possible. So, Lv.0 it is."
Then again, even if they hadn't class transitioned, even if they had the option to develop abilities, was it really worth it?
After all, not everyone could accept having their body tampered with at will, injected with unknown drugs, and subjected to experimental research whose effects could be good, or horrifying.
Sylvia clearly agreed. She gave a soft smile.
"Still, I never thought that even after coming to another world, I'd end up as a student again, and a normal student at that. That's kind of surreal."
It really was surreal.
To Sylvia, just being able to walk down a public street as her true self was already an unbelievable experience.
As the world's number-one Diva, she never had the chance to walk around openly in her original world, disguises were always necessary.
Now, even though she wore a completely ordinary summer school uniform assigned by the Main God's Dimension, short-sleeved white shirt with a tie, a gray pleated skirt, rather than her usual attire, her long, brilliantly purple hair and amethyst-like eyes still began to draw attention as they shimmered softly.
Being able to walk around looking like this… for Sylvia, it must have been a long time since she last experienced it.
Sure, she had also walked around like this in the Main God's Dimension, but that place was mostly filled with non-human races and fantastical elements. It was like a mythological realm. Walking there felt entirely different from strolling through a bustling, modern city filled with ordinary people.
So, it wasn't until now that Sylvia truly felt how novel this experience was.
Of course, possessing what was hailed as the most beautiful appearance in the world, with her overly glamorous purple hair and crystal-like violet eyes slowly beginning to shimmer, this stunning girl walking down the street naturally caused an explosive head-turn rate. Countless boys, and even some girls, turned to stare.
As expected, in this city filled with 1.8 million students, there was no shortage of delinquents, some of whom cast unrestrained, sizing-up gazes at Sylvia. A few even seemed to be debating whether to go up and flirt with her directly.
Perhaps, in Sylvia's eyes, this too was a kind of nostalgic attention?
In response, Fang Li simply shrugged and gave the delinquents a sidelong glance.
"---!"
A wave of cold dread, like a venomous snake, crept up the backs of those delinquents.
In that instant, Fang Li muttered under his breath, half to himself and half as if declaring to some invisible entity:
"Maybe I should gouge their eyes out…"
It was a calm statement, completely devoid of joking intent, so chillingly serious that those delinquents who were about to make a move froze in place, then immediately fled in a panic.
"Hehe…"
Sylvia looked at Fang Li with a teasing smile.
"Fang San, are you… Jealous?"
Hearing that, Fang Li just rolled his eyes at her, clearly annoyed.
But in the face of Sylvia's playful expression, he simply walked on with her, his mischievous little girlfriend, continuing down the street.
In Academy City, there were three types of buildings that made up the bulk of its infrastructure:
Schools
Dormitories
Research Institutions
After all, this was a city built with the primary purpose of researching and developing students' supernatural abilities, where 80% of the population were students.
As students, Fang Li and Sylvia were naturally assigned their own dorms.
Of course, the two dormitories were not together.
At the moment, Fang Li was bringing Sylvia into his own dormitory.
Surrounded by similar buildings that resembled apartment complexes, these were inexpensive student dorms, plain and utilitarian.
Fang Li and Sylvia entered the dorm building and arrived at Fang Li's room.
It was a very standard single room.
Though it had a bathroom, kitchen, and toilet, aside from that, there was only a small entryway, bedroom, and balcony; the overall space was no bigger than a slightly roomy apartment.
So, upon entering from the door, they passed through the narrow hall and immediately stepped into the main room, which had a low table and a bed.
"Not even a TV or computer?"
Looking around the room, Fang Li spoke with mild exasperation.
"Looks like I'll have to get those myself."
Sylvia, however, didn't seem the least bit bothered. She threw herself onto the bed, stretched lazily with a content sigh, then looked at Fang Li with a playful grin:
"Now I'm starting to get excited about my own room. I wonder if I'll have a roommate?"
Clearly, even having a roommate was something quite novel for Sylvia.
Fang Li, however, had a different thought spark in his mind.
"I'll have to sneak in sometime and check it out…"
At this point, infiltrating the girls' dorm no longer even struck him as improper.
Without telling Sylvia what he was thinking, Fang Li simply sat on the edge of the bed and spoke seriously:
"Alright, let's decide on our future plan of action."
And with that, they began to outline their approach, an action plan that would determine how Fang Li and Sylvia would grow and evolve in this world.
(End Of The Chapter)
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