Two Worlds, Starting with Kaguya of Penglai Mountain

Long chestnut hair, petite figure, a mature yet scholarly air, but most striking feature is undoubtedly her large, seemingly radiant forehead.

—Asakusa Chihaya

Kazuya Kurokawa had heard Yoshiki mention the "refresh company" members before. They were specially recruited members who didn't ask for much salary, but instead asked for knowledge about the other world.

Kurokawa Kazuya sent the books containing information about the extraordinary that he obtained from Houraisan Kaguya to her in the form of photocopies.

According to the information that Yoshiki secretly passed to Kurokawa Kazuya, Asagumo Chi had already spent almost all his time studying these books since he received the relevant information, and even conducted a lot of experiments for it.

"Kurokawa-kun, it's been a long time!"

The girl sitting at her desk across the screen smiled at Kurokawa Kazuya.

"It's been a long time, Chaoyun."

Kurokawa Kazuya nodded back at the other person.

Chihaya Asagumo: "The reason I took the initiative to contact you this time is that I wanted to ask Kurokawa to help me collect some historical knowledge about the other world. Simply using various cultivation books won't allow me to further understand the state of the other world. There is a lot of information that needs to be combined with the era to decipher it."

On the other side of the screen, Chihaya Asagumo had an enthusiastic expression on her face, looking like she had endless energy.

To be fair, the person Kurokawa and Mi had seen in the cram school before, while also enthusiastic about new knowledge, at least had some restraint.

But the way the other person is acting now gives the impression that they have broken free from some kind of constraint and completely let themselves go.

Kazuya Kurokawa: "That's fine. We're currently discussing information regarding the construction of this world's town. Do you have any suggestions?"

Chihaya Asagumo: "Oh, yes, that's true."

At this moment, a light flashed on his broad forehead. He moved the mouse towards Yun Qianzhao and began to display a document in front of Kurokawa Kazuya, Banami Anna, and Houraisan Kaguya.

The document itself wasn't anything special; it was mainly a summary of the industrialized items that Asagumo Chihaya could produce after studying the power system of the other world for a while.

It's basically the same old stuff, with gunpowder, cement, fertilizer, steam engines, and the like all recorded in detail.

Gunpowder and cement had actually already been invented by people around the world.

However, neither of these methods are used frequently. After all, when facing monsters that can interfere with concepts to a certain extent, gunpowder and cement alone are simply not enough.

In the world of the extraordinary, when it comes to combat, you really have to rely on extraordinary power; forget about modern technology for now.

Kurokawa Kazuya's main focus is on the productivity brought about by technology.

Compared to extraordinary powers that cannot be quickly replicated or increased in value, things like steam engines, which can be manufactured indefinitely as long as there are enough people, are more likely to bring about a true explosion in productivity.

Chihaya Asagumo: "When designing the steam engine, I actually researched information from the corresponding era. If you're interested, you can try the Victorian architectural style. There's a significant need for faith in this other world, so making the city look beautiful is also very important."

One image after another followed Asagumo Chihaya's movements.

As Kurokawa and Mi watched the various solutions being offered on the other side of the screen, they had the feeling that the girl opposite them was playing some kind of online building game.

As the other party continued to preview the images they sent, Kurokawa Kazuya even saw a blueprint for a plan that used steam to power the entire city and transform it into a giant robot.

I don't know where they found this information.

After a detailed discussion, Kurokawa Kazuya, Hanami Anna, Houraisan Kaguya, and Asagumo Chihaya basically finalized the plan.

Thanks to the extraordinary power of the other world, Kurokawa Kazuya himself didn't have to get stuck on the first step of creation like his predecessors who were usually transmigrators.

The blueprints were prepared and then handed over to the craftsmen who forged special equipment. Before long, a steam engine that met the modern definition could be quickly built.

In fact, the structure of this thing cannot be hidden from superhumans.

Kurokawa and Miya came up with these ideas to increase productivity in the other world, allowing the region to support more people and freeing the population from the land.

After that, Kurokawa Kazuya was able to bring these people over to make all sorts of things for him.

After all, people who can't even afford to eat have no time to pursue art or entertainment.

As for those who study this world, why do they put people in a state of hunger, cold, and fear from time to time in order to increase their faith and piety?

Kurokawa Kazuya dismissed this.

Even if Kurokawa Kazuya himself needs the world's faith, he still despises the current behavior of these people.

With such a small population, how much faith can be extracted even in the face of hunger and cold?

If we increase the population by hundreds or thousands of times, then we'll have everything we want.

Time passed in the discussion, and Banami, Kaguya, and Kurokawa Kazuya themselves, perhaps influenced by Asagumo Chihaya, gradually adopted a mindset similar to that of playing a building game, and began to think about all of this.

More and more diverse ideas were put forward by them.

However, in the end, all of Hanami and Asagumo Chihaya's strange ideas were rejected by Kurokawa Kazuya, who overruled the objections of a large group of proposals and decided on the initial Victorian style.

After all, this thing has existing references; we can just copy an existing city.

Not only architecture, but also a series of related management rules, tax rules, street layouts and so on related to modern inventions such as steam engines can be copied from history, saving Kurokawa Kazuya a lot of energy.

There's no reason why Kurokawa Kazuya wouldn't use the experience that his predecessors had learned from countless mistakes.

After setting the general tone, Banami, along with Kurokawa Kazuya and Kaguya, began to actively work on the venue, using drawing software to create models and arrange the venue with Asagumo Chihaya on the other side of the screen, while making various shouts and noises.

Incidentally, it was mainly Banami who was making a fuss; as a modern girl, she actually knew no more about this than Kaguya Houraisan.

After the group had discussed their general plans and were about to split up to do their own things, they decided to go their separate ways.

The beautiful princess suddenly gave Kurokawa Kazuya a meaningful look, and then said something.

Kaguya Houraisan: "Kurokawa, let's get down to business now."

Kazuya Kurokawa: "..."

Hanami Anana: "?"

Upon hearing the riddles of the two people beside her, the blue-haired girl's eyes immediately lit up with the light of discovering a blind spot.

She immediately nudged Kurokawa Kazuya with her shoulder, then glanced at him sideways.

The meaning in his eyes was roughly: "What did you and Kaguya talk about behind my back?"

To be honest, at this moment, Anzu Hachimi was just acting on instinct.

It's somewhat similar to a girlfriend asserting her boyfriend's ownership, mainly for Kaguya Houraisan to see.

After all, Kurokawa Kazuya had just been proposed to by Saigyouji Yuyuko a few days ago, so Hanami was in a sensitive state at this time.

The seemingly carefree, blue-haired beauty actually has quite a few hidden thoughts in her heart.

However, Kurokawa Kazuya's reaction this time was clearly completely unexpected.

He let out a soft breath and pointed to the woods not far away.

"Hanami, there's something we need to discuss privately."

【2-in-1】

P.S.: I'm thinking of changing my name, any good ideas? (facepalm)

Chapter 44 Banami: Say that again and I'll die with you!

Anna Hanami: "Hmm?"

The blue-haired girl, deep in thought, initially looked puzzled when Kurokawa Kazuya invited her to the grove, then—

Hanami Anna: "Huh?!!"

He instinctively took two steps back in a defensive stance.

Anna Hanami: "Don't say things so loudly in this kind of situation."

She glared fiercely at Kurokawa Kazuya.

After giving Houraisan Kaguya a shy yet apologetic look, he pulled her towards a secluded corner.

The breeze in the forest rustled through the leaves.

As the surroundings gradually quieted down, Kurokawa Kazuya took a deep breath.

Kurokawa Kazuya: "Hanami, I want..."

He looked into the other person's eyes and spoke with a serious expression.

However, he was stopped halfway through his sentence by the blue-haired girl in front of him: "Wait a minute!!"

The girl raised both hands to block Kurokawa Kazuya's path.

Subconsciously turning her head to the side, the blue-haired girl blushed slightly and mumbled something under her breath.

Anna Hanami: "It's too early for the festival's magic. Although you'll most likely agree, the consequences will definitely be a headache. Kurokawa, are you sure you're prepared?"

His gaze darted around, his tone was flustered, and his expression kept changing.

That expression wasn't so much a question to Kurokawa Kazuya about whether he was ready, but rather a blunt statement that he wasn't ready at all.

Looking at her silly appearance, Kurokawa Kazuya found Hanami quite cute.

This clumsy appearance is completely different from the aloof and arrogant person she remembered before she transmigrated.

The sight of a cool, aloof beauty blushing with shyness over her own feelings is itself quite captivating. Not to mention, he actually quite admires the true personality that Lao Ba reveals after his transmigration.

However, it seems the misunderstanding has deepened a bit.

If we were to discuss this now, I doubt Banami would get angry or embarrassed.

As his thoughts raced through his mind, Kurokawa Kazuya shook his head to dispel the distractions. He had no intention of delaying any longer.

Kurokawa Kazuya: "Calm down, Hanami. It's not about that. There are some things we need to discuss further. I talked to Kaguya about going back to the modern era."

His words became increasingly calm as he continued speaking.

He began to recount to Hanami, bit by bit, the conversation he had with Houraisan about how Hanami Anna could return to the real world in a short time while he probably couldn't.

The blue-haired girl, who had initially been shy, grew increasingly silent.

Later, she simply stared directly at Kurokawa Kazuya with her blue eyes.

Stare~~~~~~

After recounting everything, Kurokawa Kazuya faced the gaze of the eighth brother, who was staring intently at him.

Anna Hanami: "So, Kurokawa, what are you planning to do?"

The girl asked Kurokawa Kazuya in a seemingly nonchalant tone.

Kurokawa Kazuya shook his head: "The question should be, what do you want to do about Hachina?"

Anna Hanami: "Huh? You're asking for my opinion now?"

Kazuya Kurokawa: "Of course I'm asking for your opinion, Hanami. My attitude has never changed. I'm not so heartless as to sever ties with you, Hanami, who has shared hardships with me."

He shook his head at this point: "Yanai knows you're planning to return to the modern world. If I were in your position, the choice I made wouldn't be any different from yours."

Love between young men and women doesn't usually develop to the point of making vows of eternal love.

Kurokawa Kazuya felt that if he were in Hanami Anna's position, his choice would also be to return to the modern world, rather than stay here with Hanami Anna.

Even if he is reluctant to part with the other person, the modern world is filled with the relationships he has built up over the past ten years, his parents, his sister, and his life plans and goals.

None of these things can be given up.

Giving up everything you already have for a lover you've only known for a short time sounds incredibly romantic.

But in a sense, this also proves that everything in its past is of little value to it, something that can be easily discarded.

Deep affection and indifference are essentially the same thing, varying depending on the object of affection.

Both Kurokawa Kazuya and Hanami Anna were satisfied with their past lives, living what they considered to be happy lives.

Neither of them wanted to give up their own ideas for the other.

In truth, Kurokawa Kazuya himself had no hope whatsoever, and Banami Anna sacrificed herself for him.

Kazuya Kurokawa: "I'm someone who can't handle pressure. If someone puts their life on my shoulders, I'll kick them out. You have to be responsible for your own life. I can't bear the responsibility of making Banaka abandon everything for you."

Even though he actually had a lot of feelings for her and had even been subtly treating her as a partner during their time together, Kurokawa Kazuya still refused to let Banami put her life on his shoulders.

Anna Hanami: "The way you put it, Kurokawa, you really sound like a scumbag."

Kurokawa Kazuya: "The situation now should actually be that Hana sees you as a scumbag woman."

He corrected the girl in front of him.