Seeing this, layers of doubts linger in the hearts of the Sumeru people. Although they don't understand the purpose behind the Akademiya doing these things, they do understand the Akademiya!
The Akademiya doing this definitely isn't holding back any good farts!
Whatever the enemy supports, we must oppose! No matter if they want to create a god or commit atrocities, first smash their venue!
So there's no need to care why they want to make the Scaramouche become a god—just stop them quickly!
The Sumeru people themselves aren't brainlessly opposing the Akademiya, but alas, the Akademiya is too inhumane.
They don't treat the lives of Sumeru people as lives, using their brains to madly mine just to help the Scaramouche become a god?
So, who exactly is this Scaramouche!?
Using our lives to exchange for someone who isn't even from Sumeru to become a god? Akademiya, are you human?
In fact, for the Sumeru people, it really wouldn't matter if the Akademiya wanted to create a god—if they truly succeeded, it would indeed be a great achievement.
The problem lies in the Akademiya's method of creating a god: using ordinary people's brains for mining, using the god's creation as a vessel, filling the Gnosis with energy, and even the leader is the Doctor—what does this project have to do with you?
When signing the achievers of the project, even if all Sumeru people are listed, there's no place for you.
Even Setaria could at least get credited for 'pouring water on site'—would you, Grand Sage, pour water for others?
They don't know what this project has to do with the Grand Sage, but in the story, Tighnari does figure out the relationship between Haypasia and the Scaramouche.
["Tighnari analyzed: 'I see, so that's how it is... No wonder Haypasia's symptoms are different from those scholars who went mad before. It turns out she came into contact with the consciousness of a new god who is in the process of being born...'"]
This sentence is said quite euphemistically; its meaning is roughly 'Haypasia isn't that mad yet,' 'her madness is different from others.'
Alright, it's still too hard to understand. Simply put: 'This sister's madness is refreshingly unique.'
Haypasia is now in a state of 'as if mad'—seemingly mad but also seemingly not.
Compared to those who are truly mad, Haypasia actually has no issues; she can still think and conduct research. But compared to others, she is indeed a bit deranged.
How many people would idly hug their own shoulders, laugh madly, and then say something like 'Please forgive this dirty heart of mine~'?
It's completely reasonable for others to stay away from Haypasia—after all, in her state, people are afraid she'll suddenly say something heart-wrenching, and then splatter blood all over them.
Her current state looks like the type that would dig out her heart and lungs for someone!
But if truth be told, in reality, Haypasia doesn't hate the Scaramouche, because she knows that, in a certain sense, the Scaramouche actually saved her.
If there hadn't been the Scaramouche's intervention, becoming a mad scholar would have been Haypasia's ending.
Although now she's become a 'performance artist,' at least her brain hasn't collapsed yet.
Haypasia actually connected to the wrong target from the very beginning—it wasn't that connecting to the Scaramouche made it wrong; she was wrong from the start, and precisely because it was wrong, she connected to the Scaramouche.
In other words, connecting to the Scaramouche wasn't the cause of the failure, but the result of everything.
If there hadn't been the Scaramouche, Haypasia would have also come into contact with some forbidden knowledge like the other mad scholars and been driven insane.
Her current state is that the Scaramouche hijacked her just before she touched the forbidden knowledge.
Although Haypasia didn't come into contact with forbidden knowledge and is different from the mad scholars, in the eyes of ordinary people, she is still a bit mad—a proper fanatic heretic.
It's also thanks to Haypasia having no other issues besides being a bit 'fanatic'; otherwise...
["Tighnari: 'Haypasia has probably already been exiled by the Corps of Thirty to Aaru Village in the desert.'"]
Otherwise, Haypasia would have been exiled long ago; right now, she might be counting ants in the desert.
After finishing talking about Haypasia's issue, Tighnari pulls the topic back on track.
["Tighnari: 'The Doctor' and 'the Scaramouche'... Two Fatui Executives are both in Sumeru... It sounds like the future is worrisome.'"]
The good news is that there's still time for now; the god-creation project hasn't succeeded yet, and what the Traveler is best at is 'dealing with' gods—demi-gods are even less of an issue.
Tighnari will stay behind to look after Haypasia and keep an eye on the Akademiya, while the Traveler is responsible for going to the desert to seek aid—clear division of labor.
Caravan Ribat, the fastest route to the desert; passing through the Wall of Samiel from here leads to the desert.
The Traveler and Paimon arrive here and are still marveling at the grandeur of the Wall of Samiel—a gigantic wall immensely tall, truly like a miracle that only a god could achieve. This should be a divine trace of the Greater Lord Rukkhadevata, right?
But before the Traveler can properly appreciate it, a slightly indifferent voice comes from behind.
["Alhaitham: '...Don't stand there in a daze. Come over here and follow me.'"]
This really catches the readers off guard—how could they encounter Alhaitham here?
And you're too domineering, aren't you? Without saying anything, you just tell the little girl to follow you.
It's not only beyond the readers' expectations but also beyond the Traveler's. No matter what, she didn't expect Alhaitham to appear here—you're from the Akademiya, aren't you?
However, the Traveler isn't worried about anything; she's not some weak queen—she has plenty of strength and means, not afraid at all of Alhaitham abducting beautiful girls.
The Traveler follows Alhaitham to run and hide in a dark place. Upon looking, a group of Gilded Brigade people come running to the spot where the Traveler was just standing.
It turns out they've been tracking the Traveler all along; Alhaitham discovered all this and thus led the Traveler to shake off these 'little tails.'
After shaking off the 'little tails,' Alhaitham even gives a 'sharp review' of the Traveler.
["'You were too careless. The tracking techniques of those few 'tails' were very clumsy; you should have discovered them long ago.'"]
Yeah, Lumine sister is usually very sensitive; who knows why she's not sensitive now—maybe because there have been too many people along the way, leading to some desensitization.
No matter what, Alhaitham did indeed help, so obedient Lumine sister expresses thanks.
["Alhaitham: 'Spare me the thanks. I have no interest in the back-and-forth of favors.'"]
Regarding the Traveler's gratitude, Alhaitham acts very indifferently—not to mention gratitude, even if it were lingerie, he wouldn't care.
For Alhaitham, the readers can only say: You're so arrogant, oh, I like it so much.
We just love your indifferent attitude; the more you ignore us, the more excited we get!
Alhaitham always has this aloof kingly vibe, but everyone doesn't dislike him.
The root reason is that Alhaitham really has the skills; if he had no skills and forced the act, then everyone would dislike him.
The most important point is that Alhaitham doesn't have double standards—he treats everyone like this, as if in his eyes, everyone present is...
In short, just based on his attitude toward people, the readers are convinced that Alhaitham is very capable; otherwise, with such arrogance, he wouldn't be able to walk down the street without getting beaten ten times along the way.