Chapter 34: The Song

yoo, can anyone tell me where i should use Italic and where i should use bold? or maybe both? also if you have a fanfic and want me to tl it just hit me up with the title and author name, I mainly looking for naruto, fate, one piece, all honkai impact related, including genshin and star rail. you can still suggest even if its not one of them tho. ohh also RI and LOTM is welcomed.

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[Master, don't die, okay?] Irigar suddenly popped up.

Li Xiang felt a headache coming. Just as he left the Law and Governance Section, he heard Irigar's voice. "What are you getting involved in now?"

[Because dying is really sad. It's like you're stuck forever in an empty wasteland—black skies, black earth, no light, no freedom. You're trapped in silence until the end of time.]

Li Xiang paused, instinctively reaching out as if to touch something. Then, he chuckled, "Hey, hey, aren't you just a system? Where's this melancholy coming from?"

[Because Irigar is Irigar, and the system is the system.]

"What kind of nonsense is that? Aren't you the system?"

[Nope, Irigar is an AI, and the system is just my body. If you ever find a better body, I could live in it.]

A chill ran down Li Xiang's spine as he realized something. "So if I die, you'll take over my body?"

[Master, you're so smart.]

"???"

What the hell? Is this supposed to be a world of magic? How did it suddenly turn into a sci-fi scenario?

[That's why, Master, you absolutely can't die. Terrible, terrible things would happen.]

Irigar's gentle voice carried a devilish undertone, like a soft murmur of evil.

"..."

What should I do when my system starts threatening me?

Li Xiang resumed walking, glancing up at the sky. The sun, as always, remained unchanging, just like life and death.

"If I die, make sure you bury me somewhere with a nice view."

[Huh? Eh, eh! I was joking! I... I... I won't let you die, no matter what!]

Her voice, usually calm, suddenly became flustered, but there was an unshakable conviction in it.

"Well, look at that, you do have your cute moments," Li Xiang was caught off guard for a second before his expression turned cold. "Think you can kill me that easily? Not a chance."

[Um... I'm going to sleep now. Goodbye, Master!]

She ran off in panic.

You're a system—what's there to be embarrassed about?

"Wait, where's my mission reward?"

Li Xiang shouted after her, but there was no response, just a screen popping up in front of him.

[ You have completed Sub Quest 7, reward granted. ]

A cold system notification.

His magic circuits instantly activated.

Li Xiang's fist relaxed as magical energy surged through his arm like a small stream feeding into a river, instantly swelling with power.

Ascended to Eldest Rank.

The sensation was like it had all happened naturally.

Feeling his spirits lift, he started humming a tune and made his way back to the dormitory.

As usual, he got beaten up for another night of practice.

"Huh?"

Li Xiang checked the system log. Originally, his "Demonic Spear Technique" should have shown 65/100, but the number had now jumped to 80/100.

"Irigar, what's going on?"

[It's simple. Any skill gets easier the closer you get to mastering it. The significant increase in proficiency means you're close to learning it.]

"So, I can stop getting beat up two days early?"

Excitement filled Li Xiang as he dressed quickly. He watered the fairy seeds on the balcony and went out for breakfast before heading to the library.

Both today and tomorrow were the days for the club performances, but they wouldn't start until the evening.

The "Eastern Cultural Magic Society," which he had joined, informed him that their performance would begin at 6 p.m.

Li Xiang entered Reading Room 101 like he always did.

"Good morning, Professor Hisis."

Since arriving at the Clock Tower, Li Xiang had spent almost all of his time in the library—apart from classes and the dormitory—over the past twenty days. He had grown familiar with Professor Hisis Carla, who was in charge of the library. 

She was an assistant professor in the Department of Modern Magic, still relatively new and yet to be promoted to a full lecturer. 

After exchanging greetings, Li Xiang walked towards the shelves. 

He had a specific goal today: to learn about things not taught in class, such as black magic. 

Of course, forbidden magic spells and incantations wouldn't be found in the library. But there were plenty of descriptions about its effects, dangers, and appearances. Knowing these would be enough for Li Xiang, at least to understand what he might face—so that if he encountered it, he wouldn't die in ignorance.

 However, today he was looking for books about Arthurian legends.

 The reason, of course, was what Iliana had told him the previous day about the "Black Armored Knights."

 "There's so much..."

 Li Xiang stared at the row of shelves in front of him, estimating close to a hundred books.

 Arthurian legend was incredibly popular in England, and the number of derivative stories was overwhelming.

 Sighing, Li Xiang picked up the first book and began his day in the library.

 "There's no such thing as a 'Zodiac Black Armored Knights intelligence division,' is there?"

 Li Xiang felt like he had been tricked, foolishly searching for these legendary tales.

 Though he hadn't read every word, most of the stories revolved around four key themes: Arthur's rise to kingship, the Knights of the Round Table, the Holy Grail, and Arthur's death. Among them, the most detailed account was Sir Thomas Malory's Le Morte d'Arthur, published in 1485.

 The earliest mention of "Arthur" appeared around 800 AD in the Welsh monk Nennius's Historia Brittonum, which described Arthur leading the Welsh in resisting the Saxon invaders from the Thames River.

 However, there was very little about King Vortigern, let alone any record of the "Black Armored Knights."

 "It all boils down to how different the Nasuverse's take on history is."

 Li Xiang sighed, jokingly considering if he should fly to Japan and track down someone named Nasu Kinoko to ask what was going on.

 "Li Xiang, the club performances are about to begin."

 "Thanks for the reminder, Professor!"

 Li Xiang glanced at the time. It was only half an hour until the event, so he quickly left the library and hurried towards the large square where all the general department students would gather.

 Suddenly, brilliant fireworks burst across the sky, illuminating a vast magical barrier.

 By the time Li Xiang arrived at the crowd-filled square, the fireworks had faded away.

 With no other light, the square was pitch black.

 Just as Li Xiang was wondering what was happening, shimmering lake water poured down from the sky like sapphire jewels, creating a delicate, tinkling sound.

 "What is that?"

 On the stage where the performance was set, the falling gems revealed a figure.

 A girl with cascading wavy brown hair that flowed past her waist. Her clear, bright eyes shimmered with a hint of mischief, her pale face tinged with a soft blush. Her lips were as delicate as flower petals, and her purple evening gown, with its low neckline, revealed her stunningly graceful figure.

 She held a microphone and opened her mouth.

 A deep, melodious voice echoed gently through the air. The soothing notes flowed with magic, like a stream, like the sea—clear and far-reaching. Her voice had an unimaginable depth and texture.

 Li Xiang stood frozen, feeling like he had become a bird, freely soaring along with the rhythm.

 "Rushed travelers of this world, 

Please stop and listen. 

You will hear the messenger of Flora, 

Her confession in this grand court: 

Not the shame of fairies, 

Nor the unwillingness of flowers to bloom. 

Crossing the Gros Mountains, 

The song of witches echoes in the Boston Pool. 

On those romantic, lonely nights, 

They will all sing of this beauty. 

Even if I travel across Britain, 

Even if Flora has blessed every inch of land, 

Countless souls will chase after her, 

The princess of the Pendragon line. 

Her smile is like a flower, 

Blossoming in every eye."