A Guide to Raising Snake Spirits - Chapter 17

“They don’t even let you stay in the institute at night?” Guan Yuexi raised an eyebrow.

 

“Right,” Bian Mengmeng said. “When I first started, I wasn’t very familiar with the rules. Once, I stayed late to process some data, and the security guard came over to chase me out.”

 

Guan Yuexi asked half-jokingly, “You didn’t end up in some kind of military enterprise, did you?”

 

“Hard to say.” Bian Mengmeng shook her head. “Let’s not talk about those frustrating things anymore. Let’s talk about your Sentry.”

 

“Technically, he’s probably not mine yet,” Guan Yuexi chose his words carefully. “Maybe after the mark fades, we won’t mark each other again?”

 

Shiraishi Haru returned to school. After two days, the fixed brace on his arm could finally be removed. A Sentry’s self-healing power was truly unreasonable.

 

The grey-haired Sentry moved his wrist. There was still a slight stiffness in his movements, but it should be fine soon. He could attend duel classes as usual, healing even faster than the doctor had predicted.

 

“How was your weekend?” the class monitor greeted him.

 

“I went fishing,” Shiraishi Haru said, omitting the part where he was injured and picking something light to share.

 

The monitor assumed he had gone alone and invited him, “I didn’t expect you to have that hobby. We can go together next weekend.”

 

After another exhausting basic combat class, the monitor wiped away sweat while gasping for air. Shiraishi Haru also drank water to steady his breathing.

 

“Starting this week, we’ll be having joint classes with the Guide class for Mental Defense,” the monitor said. “Most people find their partners here at school. Since you’re new, do you have a matched Guide?”

 

“…” Shiraishi Haru smoothed the folds on his cuff and remained silent.

 

The monitor interpreted his silence as shyness or a refusal to admit it.

 

“I bet you have one,” the monitor sat up. “I smelled the scent of Guide pheromones on you before. You have a Guide, right? Is it a student from another grade?” The monitor laughed heartily. “He feels about the same age as you, a male Guide?”

 

Shiraishi Haru put down his towel and asked, “Can you smell all of that?”

 

“Sure. A section of the Information Analysis class specifically teaches this. You just came late and missed that part.” The monitor gave an example, “For instance, I can tell that the mark between you and your Guide is almost a month old. The scent isn’t as strong as when you first arrived.”

 

Shiraishi Haru admitted, “That’s true.”

 

“Even more professional teachers can smell the compatibility level and what type of spiritual body they have, but that takes a lot of experience.”

 

“Monitor, do you have a Guide you like?”

 

The monitor scratched his head, looking a bit embarrassed.

 

A curly-haired Sentry with an afro chimed in from the side, “He does! Our monitor likes that Guide girl we share classes with.”

 

The monitor said seriously, “Don’t spread rumors like that, it’s bad for her reputation. I just admire her. Whether she responds or not is her own business.”

 

“Oh, okay…” The afro Sentry dropped the subject.

 

Shiraishi Haru suddenly asked, “How do you pursue a Guide?”

 

“…You’ve hit the nail on the head.” The afro Sentry sighed deeply. “Do you know what the hottest topic on our forum is? It’s how Sentries can escape being single.”

 

“Yeah, every day people post chat logs with their Guide crushes,” the afro Sentry’s partner added.

 

Afro Sentry: “Do you remember that forum user named ‘Won’t Change My Name Until I Get a Guide’?”

 

His partner: “Of course. That’s the guy who went up to compliment someone’s pheromones and got reported for sexual harassment.”

 

Shiraishi Haru: “…”

 

“Off-topic. What I really wanted to say is that there are many experience posts on the forum. You should check them out,” the afro Sentry wagged a finger.

 

His partner chimed in: “Though they aren’t necessarily useful, otherwise he wouldn’t have been single for so long.” He gestured toward the afro Sentry.

 

The afro Sentry changed the subject. “But Shiraishi Haru, I don’t think you need to worry about this. You already have a marked Guide!”

 

Shiraishi Haru shook his head.

 

The monitor coughed twice and said seriously, “I think the most important thing in pursuing a Guide is sincerity.”

 

“The monitor is right,” the afro Sentry supported.

 

The monitor turned to the grey-haired Sentry. “All pursuit should be based on not bothering the other person and not causing them trouble. Also, communicate more. The compatibility is there, so believe that language is the bridge to understanding.”

 

He was clearly worried that Shiraishi Haru might go astray. As the monitor, he acted like a helpful older brother, a purely lawful good soul worrying about the troublesome Sentries in the special class.

 

---

 

The Practical Mental Defense class was held in a massive training room that looked like a ballroom, featuring metallic floors and mirrored walls. Projector screens on the walls were connected to cameras, replaying footage from thirty star-seconds ago.

 

This training room could also be used for combat training, making it easy to review one’s movements from thirty star-seconds prior.

 

To ensure everyone had a matched partner, several classes usually joined together. If a Sentry or Guide was already marked, they could bring their own partner.

 

Shiraishi Haru had already undergone a preliminary marking with Guan Yuexi, so there was no reason for him to partner with another Guide.

 

However, if mental compatibility reached a certain level, he could still be mentally attacked by other Guides. For a Sentry protected by a Guide, this would turn into a duel between the two Guides.

 

A Sentry’s mental resistance, besides being determined by their innate mental grade, also depends on experience, training, and compatibility with their Guide.

 

For example, if two Sentries both have a B-rank mental grade and a level 1 compatibility with the attacking Guide, the Sentry who has resisted more mental attacks will last longer. It’s just like how muscles become stronger through exercise.

 

A preliminary mark didn’t stop Shiraishi Haru from testing compatibility with other Guides, but out of dozens of Guides, none even came close to a level 1 compatibility with him.

 

“You’re prime material for a Dark Sentry,” the monitor remarked. “Look at you, you have great physical fitness and you’re not easily affected by other Guides. You’re the standard mold for a Dark Sentry.”

 

“I’m so jealous.”

 

“But honestly, if it were up to me, I’d still rather have a Guide with level 3 compatibility,” the afro Sentry said. “Sentries with Guides are just happier.”

 

“Keep dreaming,” the afro Sentry’s partner rolled his eyes at him. “You talk as if you have either one.”

 

“Am I not allowed to dream?” the afro Sentry protested.

 

“Here’s someone who actually has one,” the partner shrugged. “Shiraishi Haru, as the man himself, what are your thoughts?”

 

Because Shiraishi Haru didn’t have a matching Guide and had a hidden ailment in his mental sea, he spent the whole class observing. At the moment, he was sitting on the metal steps with his long legs stretched out, wearing black tactical gloves and typing on his terminal. When mentioned, the grey-haired Sentry looked up and said calmly.

 

“I choose the Guide.”

 

The partner: “Dark Sentries are cool too. Aren’t you going to consider it? You could become the Head Sentry.”

 

“I won’t consider it.”

 

“Looks like he still thinks Guides are better,” the afro Sentry said. “And honestly, having a Guide doesn’t affect physical performance at all, right? Those Dark Sentries probably just can’t find a matching Guide. If a high-compatibility one suddenly appeared, I bet they’d all come running.”

 

“You only dare to say that here. Those Dark Sentries are all big shots, they’d beat you into a pulp,” the partner sneered.

 

“Hey, what does it feel like to have a Guide?” the afro Sentry asked longingly. “Is it really as good as they say? If I could have a Guide during my restless period, that would be great…”

 

“I can’t take it, he’s dreaming again.”

 

Shiraishi Haru didn’t continue their discussion. He kept typing on his terminal. His screen was packed with text, all organized notes from this week’s classes. He was currently writing notes for this Mental Defense class.

 

Shiraishi Haru didn’t participate in the practice, but that didn’t stop him from recording what the teacher said and adding his own speculations for future verification.

 

Furthermore, just listening to the lecture was useful. Mental headaches were far too familiar to him. By comparing the data, he already understood about seventy or eighty percent of his own condition.

 

Shiraishi Haru still lived with Guan Yuexi. Since Guan Yuexi was injured, he mostly stayed home to recover. Shiraishi went to the Tower alone and returned alone.

 

He stopped in front of the door. The blue-glowing auto-sensor camera activated, scanning his retina. The lock clicked open with a beep, and warm yellow lights turned on along with the smart butler’s routine welcome.

 

“Sentry Shiraishi Haru, welcome home.”

 

While changing his shoes, Shiraishi Haru said, “Thank you.”

 

There was no need to thank an AI, but Shiraishi Haru still replied every time.

 

He walked inside to complete his daily task: calling the Guide out from the fixed terminal.

 

In the living room, under the snake’s climbing tree, there was a man-sized egg-shaped device with a beautiful black linear metal shell.

 

Shiraishi Haru stood by the fixed terminal. Without him doing anything, the terminal automatically detected someone nearby and sent a message to the user.

 

After a moment, the lid of the seamless, integrated egg-shaped container slid open. The black-haired Guide sat up halfway and poked his head out. He pushed back his hair with one hand to reveal his handsome forehead and rested his other hand on the edge of the shell, smiling.

 

“You’re back.”

 

Guan Yuexi had a fractured rib, so he couldn’t exercise much. With nothing else to do, he had immersed himself in the virtual star-net. He could spend fourteen out of twenty-four hours in there, vowing to level up his “Lost Voyage” account to the maximum.

 

The fixed terminal offered better graphics and processing power than the wrist terminal, supporting full-immersion gameplay.

 

A few days ago, when Shiraishi Haru came home in the evening, the Guide hadn’t crawled out of the terminal yet. He had been so obsessed with the game that he nearly fainted from low blood sugar.

 

From then on, Shiraishi Haru had an extra daily task: supervising the fragile Guide’s meals.

 

“Can I invite you to my Mental Defense class?” Shiraishi Haru asked out of the blue.

 

“Hmm?” The Guide’s mind didn’t seem to have fully returned from the game. He looked a bit dazed and took a beat to react. “Oh, the class that requires a partner.”

 

“Yes,” Shiraishi Haru nodded.

 

“Sure.” Guan Yuexi stretched his neck. Even if the terminal was designed for comfort, lying down all day was tiring. “When is your next class?”

 

Shiraishi Haru replied, “Next Wednesday. Is your body better?”

 

He showed a look of concern.

 

“Almost. Teacher Qiushui will probably reassign my classes soon. If there’s no conflict, I’ll go to yours.” Guan Yuexi agreed easily. He had been a bit too bored staying at home.

 

Two days later, Guan Yuexi received a message from Teacher Qiushui.

 

“Huh?”

 

He couldn’t help but let out a sound of surprise.

 

[Qiushui: Teacher Guan, the Tower has decided. They want you to teach the Basic Piloting class for Shiraishi Haru’s class. What do you think?]

 

Now he didn’t have to worry about scheduling conflicts. The special class definitely wouldn’t have Piloting and Mental Defense at the same time. It was just…

 

Guan Yuexi felt a bit of a cold sweat. How was this any different from a teacher teaching their own kid’s class? It felt like attending a parent-child activity. However, he was also curious about how Shiraishi Haru would react.

 

After a moment, he replied normally.

 

[Guan Yuexi: Received.]

 

Guan Yuexi hadn’t read the papers Dr. Xudian sent him yet. During his recovery, he pulled them all out to read. These were parts not available in the Tower’s library.

 

What exactly was Dr. Xudian’s background? He had papers that even the Tower library didn’t possess, and the dates were from decades ago. Was he a pure hobbyist collector of papers or a classification fanatic?

 

Guan Yuexi temporarily set that question aside and looked at the materials.

 

There was a case similar to what Xudian had mentioned. A female Sentry with a feline spiritual body had manifested a tail through mental fusion, which increased her agility and balance. However, her mental fusion state was very unstable. The fragility of her mental sea was positively correlated with the degree of mental fusion, and it increased the probability of going berserk.

 

The common point of these papers was that all the experimental observation samples were Sentries. There were none for Guides.