Chapter 31: Isaiah is about to arrive at the Joint Military Academy...
Ai Ying expressionlessly looked away from Saville.
She controlled her breathing, trying not to let her eyes and heartbeat betray her fear.
She knew that all the insects who considered her queen would keep their eyes fixed on her, unwilling to leave her.
However, no insect would be like Savile.
Analyze her every movement, what each pause in her gaze signifies, and her facial expressions and physical state every second.
In just a few days, he noticed some of her preferences that she had never shown on the surface.
Thinking of this, Ai Ying's heart sank:
She acted as if she had no secrets from Savile.
For the true king, he might just be a helpful insect that saves the king time and effort.
But for her, it was an unprecedented threat.
Feeling Saville's gaze, Ai Ying didn't even dare to change her breathing.
Fortunately, there's more than just Savile here.
She could use another insect to distract Savile from her.
Ai Ying tried to relax and leaned back in her chair.
She didn't take the jewel from Savile's hand to warm it, but instead lazily looked at Fiedlock, who stood to the side, head bowed, filled with self-reproach.
What are you doing standing so far away?
After seeing that the king really enjoyed the food Savile had prepared, Fiedlock stood there dejectedly.
Despite having been by the king's side for so long, he still doesn't understand the king's preferences as well as Saville, who has only been there for two days.
He's so useless.
At this moment, he was not jealous of Saville appearing beside the king, but blamed himself for not paying attention to these things sooner, for not realizing what the king truly needed earlier.
He is a substandard insect.
He couldn't even create a comfortable hive environment for the king.
Just as Fedorok's self-loathing was about to reach its peak, the king's voice suddenly startled him awake.
He abruptly raised his head, his eyes filled with a mixture of flattery and trepidation:
The king did not despise him for being so useless!
Wang wanted him to get closer.
Realizing this, the Fiedlock core was so excited it seemed it was about to jump out of its throat.
He swiftly arrived at the king's right side, his dark purple pupils radiating joy and focus, as if an invisible tail was swishing merrily behind him.
Savile held the warm gem in his hands, slowly lowered his head, and concealed the heavy, suppressed jealousy in his eyes.
Is it because of the sense of loss in Fiedlock's aura?
That's why the king comforted him.
That's why the king ignored his existence and called out to him?
Rational deductions filled his insect core with overwhelming jealousy and loss:
Wang doesn't need to care about any insect's thoughts, nor does he need to actively appease any insect.
A king should be high above, never showing the slightest concern for any insect.
Moreover, it was Fedorok's mistake to fail to take good care of the king!
The king should despise him!
The king should punish him!
Instead of indulging in such favoritism towards him.
Savile's hand, holding the jewel, trembled slightly.
His despair and his pain far surpassed those of Fedorock, who was not far away.
But Wang didn't even glance at him.
Saville's body was completely drained of strength.
His head was bowed, and his slender neck, thin body, and fragile aura gave him a delicate, almost fragile beauty.
Unfortunately, no one, and no insects, cared.
the next day.
Ai Ying arrived at the simulated battlefield training classroom early in the morning.
She still feels lingering fear when she thinks about everything that happened last night.
Savile...
Thinking of this newly appeared lord insect, she took a deep breath:
She never expected that this insect would be so meticulous and rational.
He was one of the lords she least wanted to encounter right now.
Although it seems that Savile doesn't suspect her identity and just wants to please her.
But what about the future?
As time goes on, will he discover more of her secrets?
She was originally a human being, and even if she tried her best to hide it, she would inevitably unconsciously retain some uniquely human characteristics.
Moreover, the nutrient solution she's currently drinking, and her current concern and friendliness towards humans, are all flaws.
She could fool Fedorock with lies, but she had no confidence in fooling Savile.
Ai Ying felt her head was about to explode just thinking about all this.
All she can do now is improve her mental strength as quickly as possible.
As long as her Gu techniques become stronger, she is confident that she can use them to suppress Savile's suspicions.
She is still too weak.
Ai Ying, remembering the negligible effect of her current Gu techniques on the Lord Insects, looked at the training battlefield with exceptional determination:
This is the best place for her to practice Gu techniques and temper her mental strength.
She experimented several times, and found that this simulated battlefield could only monitor students' responses to the Zerg and their final scores, but it had no way to monitor the Zerg's status.
Therefore, she can use Gu magic on these insects without any restrictions.
Looking at these low-level insectoids before her, Ai Ying closed her eyes and activated her Gu technique:
contract.
One, two, three...
As she has been studying the mental power course these past few days, her understanding of mental power has been constantly increasing.
With frequent contact, she is now able to contract with five lower-level insects simultaneously.
It can also deter and appease other insects.
If she were on Carlo Star, such abilities would be more than enough for her to perfectly disguise herself as the Insect Queen there.
But now, these Gu techniques are far from enough in front of the two Lord Insects.
Ai Ying exited the training battlefield and expressionlessly glanced at the score of 100 on the screen.
She can now basically control the lower insects.
Next comes the more advanced higher insects.
She then entered the higher-level simulated battlefield again.
Initially, her Gu magic could only command higher-level insects to perform simple reactions, such as moving away from her or moving closer to her.
Later, she gradually became able to establish rudimentary one-way links with the higher Zerg.
Later on, she was able to barely form a contract with a higher-level insect.
But……
After leaving the simulated battlefield, Ai Ying frowned, realizing that her mental strength had not improved at all.
Has she not practiced enough these past few days?
Why is her improvement in mental strength almost negligible?
At the current pace, it's impossible for her to command or even influence the Lord Insect's thinking.
what to do?
Ai Ying clenched her hands, trying hard to suppress the irritation in her heart.
She needs to stay calm.
She looked up and took off the full-fledged simulation helmet.
In the past few days, she has returned to the insect hive much less often than before. If this continues, Fedlock will start to feel uneasy.
Half the day has already passed, and she needs to go back to comfort the two insects in the nest.
The thought of experiencing Saville's meticulous 'care' again made Ai Ying sigh silently.
Inside the insect nest, which was converted from a building.
Ai Ying sat in front of the study by the window, casually flipping through a paper book.
In the interstellar world, paper books are scarce because they consume more materials and are not as convenient to carry as e-books.
However, after observing her slight preference for paper books, Savile prepared a room in the insect hive filled with paper books.
Ai Ying looked at the flowers she had been liking lately, which were displayed on the window, and blinked silently.
Moreover, after discovering her friendliness towards humans, Savile never again showed any disgust or murderous intent towards humans in her presence.
This is the complete opposite of Fedorock's view.
Fidelock would become even more disgusted with humanity because of her focus on human beings.
He makes no attempt to hide his true thoughts, yet he strictly obeys her orders, making him so simple that she can see right through him.
Thinking of this, Ai Ying couldn't help but turn her head and glance at Fedlock in the corner.
His outwardly assertive yet obedient personality makes him the perfect insect for her, the 'queen'.
When Saville saw this, the nutrient solution in the water glass he had been holding in his palm rippled slightly.
It's happening again!
As long as Fidelock is around, the king's gaze will always fall on him first.
Fidelock was clearly just a useless bug who didn't even know the king's preferences and couldn't do anything right...
Savile habitually suppressed the dense jealousy surging within the insect core, his deep blue pupils flawlessly concealing all emotions, leaving only pure focus.
He wanted the king to see only his flawless appearance whenever he looked at him.
Ai Ying didn't even look at Saville.
Although she appeared calm and composed, her vigilance towards him was actually constantly increasing.
If it weren't for the fact that her frequent absence from the insect nest would arouse the suspicion of the two insects, she would have preferred to stay in her bedroom as soon as she returned to the building.
Ai Ying casually flipped through a page of the book in her hand. Feeling a little thirsty, she subconsciously glanced at the table.
Then, a figure came to her side.
Saville held the glass of water filled with nutrient solution in both hands, positioned just within easy reach.
Ai Ying paused in her act of turning the page.
Saville was even able to sense what she needed earlier than she was.
The once monotonous nutrient solution has been flavored and placed in her most frequently used water cup.
If she is the true queen, Saville would definitely be her best lord insect.
She didn't move, but merely glanced at the table, and he silently placed the water glass in the most suitable position on the table.
In those few seconds of her thinking, Saville keenly noticed her distraction.
He glanced at the page in the book with his deep blue eyes, tilted his head slightly, and his long silver hair swayed gently with his movement, like a silver waterfall in the sunlight.
Was the king's distraction caused by... those inferior insects?
Recalling the lowly insects that had spent some time with the King when they searched for his whereabouts, Saville narrowed his eyes slightly.
"Your Majesty, do you wish to see Bilia?" He knelt on one knee, one hand covering the insect core, his voice as elegant as a cello, vivid and melodious.
When Ai Ying heard the name "Billia," her heart skipped a beat.
How would Saville know the name Villa?
She hadn't revealed a single thing about what happened on Planet Carlo to him.
How did Savile find out? Thanks to the instinctive acting skills she had developed during this time, she was able to keep her composure.
Ai Ying casually glanced at the book she was reading, and after seeing the explanation about lower insects, she turned the page with a flick of her finger.
Saville couldn't immediately guess what the king was thinking.
Was he wrong?
He sensed the presence of the king's blood in both Bilia and the group of inferior insects.
That's why he managed to suppress the insect core's rampage and spare them.
Later, in order to please the king, he would occasionally give those insects a little care.
He knew that no matter how many lower or higher insects there were, they posed no threat to him.
His only real threat was fellow lord Fidelock.
Therefore, he was willing to do things that went against his instincts in order to gain the king's attention.
If only Wang would glance at him even once.
But……
Seeing that Wang's profile remained unchanged after hearing the name "Villa," a strand of Saville's silver hair slid from his side to his front, perfectly obscuring all the emotions in his eyes.
Ai Ying calmly reached for the water glass and took a sip of the nutrient solution inside:
She couldn't show that she didn't care about Bilia and the others, otherwise, who knows what Saviel might do to them once he knew they existed.
But she couldn't show too much concern; paying excessive attention to lower insects wouldn't be befit her status as a queen.
Moreover, her excessive focus on those insects is tantamount to a death warrant for them.
Thinking of this, she put down her water glass and said lazily:
"Villa?"
Ai Ying leaned back in her chair, glanced lazily at Savile kneeling beside her, and thought for a moment without much thought:
"That looks like a low-level insect, doesn't it?"
She referred to the already evolved, higher insect, as a lower insect.
She just wanted Savile to know that she had some impression of the insect, but not much.
"Some insects may be useless, but they're not entirely uninteresting." She casually praised the group of lowly insects, making him hesitant to attack them, and then nonchalantly changed the subject.
"Just like this group of humans."
With a casual remark, Ai Ying shifted the topic to what she was currently doing.
"Although they are weak, there are some things that only this species possesses."
Her words were full of condescending praise, implying that humans were superior, but they also explained her recent focus on human courses.
Seeing Savile's thoughtful expression, she wearily turned her gaze to Fiedlock, who was looking at her pitifully not far away.
She waved at him, watching him stand there blankly, unsure of what to do. Her voice held a hint of disdain mixed with a touch of trusting intimacy:
"Why are you still so stupid?"
She thought to herself with exasperation:
Didn't he know to move closer to her and push Savile aside?
She would rather face three Fedorocks than one Savile.
Upon hearing this, Fedorock lowered his head cautiously.
For some reason, even though the king was clearly disgusted with him, he felt... so happy.
To be cared for by the king, to be noticed by the king, or even to be reprimanded by the king, is a great blessing.
Savile lowered his head, listening to the king's voice in his ear, his insect core trembling uncontrollably.
It seems that no matter what he does, it can't compare to the status that stupid Fedorok holds in the king's heart.
If the king treats all insects with equal cruelty and ruthlessness, then even if the king kills him because of a momentary displeasure, his insect core will not be affected at all.
However, when the king showed such obvious favoritism towards Fedorocco, even though the king did not kill him or even harm him, it made him suffer more than if he had died at the king's hands.
With comparisons, he regretted his choice that day even more.
However, he no longer had the right to regret it.
Savile's insect core was gradually filled with deathly silence.
As a Gu Master, Ai Ying can sense Fedorok's state, and naturally she can also sense Saville's state.
She looked at the insect kneeling beside her, head bowed, his long silver hair now dull and lifeless, and reached out to pluck a strand of silver hair from his side.
When it comes to taming Gu worms, a balance must be struck.
We cannot spoil them unconditionally, nor can we ignore them completely.
The same approach should be needed for the Zerg.
and……
Even knowing how dangerous Savile was, she couldn't help but soften her heart when she saw his pitiful state.
After all, everything he did from the moment he came into her life was to make her life more comfortable.
Savile was already in despair.
He thought that no matter how much he did, the king wouldn't even glance at him.
He thought his life as an insect would be spent in regret for not receiving the king's favor.
So, when he felt the hair pulling on his scalp, he looked up blankly at Wang.
Watching his hair slip through the king's fingertips, his lifeless insect core suddenly began to throb, and his deep blue pupils were filled with disbelief, caution, and trepidation.
His voice was slightly hoarse:
"king……"
Ai Ying released her hand, and the silver hair quickly slipped from her fingertips.
She said casually:
"Take better care of yourself."
Savile's deep blue eyes were like the sky after a heavy rain, a pure azure that shimmered with captivating brilliance.
He raised the corners of his lips, a genuine emotion he had never shown before:
"Yes, my king."
At that moment, Savile realized deeply:
It doesn't matter if it's not as good as Fedorock.
As long as Wang looks at him like that again.
As long as Wang can touch him again.
He would give anything for it.
*
After Ai Ying emerged from the Zerg simulation battlefield once again, looking at her unmoved mental energy, she felt a strong sense of defeat despite her efforts to restrain herself.
She only felt a significant increase in her mental strength during the few days immediately after leaving Planet Carlo, when she was being fed nutrient solutions by Fedlock every day.
Now, no matter how much mental potion she takes, or how much she trains on the battlefield, her mental strength doesn't change much.
At this rate, she won't be able to appease even one Lord Bug, let alone two.
Remembering how Savile knew about the existence of those insects like Belial, Ai Ying slowly clenched her hands.
For her, Savile was too dangerous.
He was not only observing her, but also very likely probing into her past.
She could keep it from him for three or five days, but if it went on for any longer, it would be hard not to reveal her true colors.
What should she do?
Just then, the door to the training room beeped.
Teacher Lucia walked in wearing a military uniform.
Upon seeing Ai Ying, there was no surprise in her eyes, only an admiring sigh:
"Ai Ying is really hardworking."
Ai Ying nodded slightly to Lucia, concealing all the frustration and panic in her heart.
As if she had just thought of something, her gaze suddenly intensified.
"Teacher Lucia."
"I've been trying to improve my mental strength lately, but no matter what I do, it doesn't seem to be working."
"Can the teacher give me some advice?"
Lucia glanced at the scores on the screen, and before she could even express her surprise, she heard Ai Ying's question.
Looking at the expectation in her eyes, she hesitated and said:
"The growth of mental strength is not achieved overnight."
"As long as you regularly replenish the relevant energy and medicine, and with persistent training, your mental strength will definitely develop significantly."
Ai Ying listened to Lucia's official and clichéd remarks, her expression remaining calm:
"Teacher, I just want to know how to quickly improve my mental strength."
She said, seemingly seriously but also feigning:
"I've been stuck in a mental bottleneck for a long time, and the reason I came out this time is because I want to break through it as soon as possible."
"No one in my family wanted to guide me, so I had to go out and look for opportunities."
Hearing this, Lucia sighed inwardly, her face becoming more serious:
"Since you've tried so many methods, it means you also know that it's almost impossible to improve your mental strength level."
“For humans…” she glanced at Ai Ying, then added, “For humans and all species, it is the same.”
"Mental strength is already formed in adolescence. In adulthood, no matter how many resources you have, you can only accumulate one level at most."
This is also why she regrets that Ai Ying's mental strength is only C+.
If she could reach rank A, given her unique mental strength, she would be equivalent to a powerful army on the battlefield.
"Youth has a great influence on mental strength level, right?" Ai Ying understood the key point Lucia was making, and her heart sank.
Her body was unable to provide adequate nutrition when the boy was on the abandoned planet, and he had no way to study.
I missed the best time to improve my mental strength.
"Is there really no way to improve mental strength after adulthood?" she asked, unwilling to give up.
Lucia assumed that Ai Ying was of noble birth and did not consider that she might have experienced malnutrition during her childhood.
Moreover, even if a teenager's mental strength is low due to malnutrition, it cannot be changed once it is established in adulthood.
Looking at the noble and composed demeanor of the person in front of her, she added:
"That's not the case either."
"With hard training, my mental strength might break through the current barrier at some point."
"If we give up just because we can't reach it, then there would be no miracles in this world."
Hearing Lucia's comforting words, Ai Ying forced a smile.
"Thank you for reminding me, teacher. I understand now."
Why is a miracle called a miracle?
It's precisely because it's almost impossible.
Besides, with things so urgent, she doesn't have time to improve herself little by little.
Ai Ying lowered her eyes, concealing the irritation within them:
Even if she uses all her strength and spends a month, two months, or even longer to raise her mental power by one level, then what?
For the Lord Insect, there is no difference between C-level and B-level mental power.
Even S-rank or higher humans have little impact on the Zerg.
Even with the aid of her Gu technique, she would still need at least S or even SS level mental strength to barely be able to use it.
Ai Ying suppressed all her thoughts.
Just as she was about to say goodbye to Lucia, Lucia's campus network device suddenly flickered.
Ai Ying watched as Lucia answered the call.
As time went on, her expression grew increasingly solemn, until finally, a sense of impending doom permeated her being.
After seeing Lucia hang up the communicator, she suddenly had a bad feeling:
"Teacher Lucia, what happened?"
Lucia looked at Ai Ying, unable to manage a smile for a long time.
Since the entire school will know about this soon anyway, there's no need to hide it anymore.
Her voice was heavy:
"Isaiah, the Zerg lord, is about to descend upon the United Military Academy."
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Author's Note: Ai Ying: Truly a matter of life and death
Hey everyone, today's red envelopes are random!
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