The Experiment and a New Identity

Unlike others.

The red-haired youth felt no sympathy for Mizuki Aoi.

Or rather, his sympathy had long been integrated into his actions, rather than merely spoken or displayed.

“Lord Shenhong, even if she is a princess from an enemy nation, she’s still just a child. Is it really necessary to treat her so strictly?” Li Tianming asked, clearly worried.

“I am merely doing what needs to be done. Besides, instead of worrying about this, you should focus your mind on training, you rascal. Didn’t you boast in front of everyone that you would lead us to victory in every battle and return triumphantly to our homeland? You don’t actually think mere words are enough, do you?”

“Of course not! I’ll go at once… But Lord Shenhong, could you please stop calling me ‘rascal’? I’m older than you, and it damages my image in front of my subordinates…”

“An image is earned. If you possess enough capability, even if I call you ‘grandson,’ they wouldn’t dare disrespect you. Moreover, as a transmigrator, my mental age far surpasses yours, so calling you a ‘rascal’ is perfectly natural.”

Mizuki Aoi understood.

The red-haired youth was simply doing what he deemed ‘reasonable’.

For her, a runaway princess, the red-haired youth’s solution was to ‘play the part’ of a strict mentor.

“Indeed, just as you said.”

The red-haired youth did not deny it.

Truth be told, Mizuki Aoi had never had a teacher in her entire life.

Because she was merely a symbol, a puppet, the Shogun had consistently rejected any memorials proposing her education, even targeting the officials who submitted them.

She had avoided illiteracy solely through the instruction of her wet nurse and servants, but not long ago, they too had been executed.

The reason given was rebellion; the true reason was that they had taught her and treated her too kindly.

“Here, no one will suffer misfortune for being too kind to you. So, if I ever see you treat those who extend a helping hand with such an attitude again, I will spank you senseless.”

Frankly, Mizuki Aoi wasn’t truly afraid of being beaten. More than physical pain, what she found truly unbearable was the anguish within her heart.

“Since you understand that those people sacrificed their precious lives to help you, you should realize that kindness is never a given; it requires careful nurturing. I don’t deny that Li Tianming acted out of a desire for gratitude, hoping to see others improve through his efforts, but this certainly isn’t an impure motive.

“Most kind-hearted people in this world help others with such thoughts, and often, their goodwill is temporary. More often than not, people hesitate, held back by worries of being bitten by the hand they feed, or of inviting trouble. Yet, this world becomes a better place precisely because of these occasional acts of kindness. Therefore, as someone living in this world, I will not allow you to commit acts that destroy goodwill.”

Mizuki Aoi understood.

Yet, she also didn’t.

“Are you not afraid of trouble?”

“No,” the red-haired youth replied, a hint of bewilderment in his eyes. “Perhaps I should say, I am merely doing what needs to be done, playing the most suitable role, and taking the optimal action. As for trouble, joy, or anything else… to be honest, I truly don’t understand them at all.”

As precocious and intelligent as Mizuki Aoi was, this was the first time she had encountered such a person; she simply couldn’t comprehend him.

But she did begin to understand a little.

“You help and teach me because you deem it reasonable?”

“Precisely. The Sakura Nation is on the verge of collapse; neither the Shogunate nor the Heavenly King Faction will remain. As for you, a mere puppet, this kingdom sees no need or intention to pursue you. In other words, in the future, you will simply be an ordinary girl. As your temporary guardian, providing you with guidance and education is only natural.”

“So, you’re looking after me out of a sense of responsibility?”

“More or less.”

This was a reason Mizuki Aoi could accept.

Those who protected her, cared for her, accompanied her, and guided her were like a mother, providing her with a warmth and security she had never known.

“Are you my mother?”

The red-haired youth’s expression stiffened upon hearing the question.

“In this world, no one will love you unconditionally unless you are my child, and you are not,” he said softly, lowering his head as if afraid of hurting her.

“Is that so?” A trace of disappointment flickered across Mizuki Aoi’s face.

“Therefore, I am not your mother. Nor do I exist to save you, for I am no saint,” his voice shifted, carrying a hint of mockery and disdain. “You are merely my experiment. The only reason I help you is to test some of my ideas on you. After all, a pure individual like you, with no past, is truly rare.”

Mizuki Aoi’s eyes seemed hollow. “Am I just your experiment? Am I just someone you’re using?”

“One could say that. You are merely my experiment; I am simply using you to obtain what I desire, including but not limited to your life, your very being. After all, you are nothing more than an experimental subject—without a past, without a future, without a self, without emotions, without thoughts, without anything at all. You are merely a shell imbued with consciousness.”

“So, you deliberately kept me alive?”

“No, I merely wished to observe,” he said, his gaze calm, as if discussing something unrelated to himself. “I simply wanted to observe how this shell of yours would live on in this chaotic world. I am curious to see what kind of end awaits you.”

“Are you just using me?”

The red-haired youth looked at her with a hint of surprise, seemingly unprepared for such a question.

“One could also say that. After all, you are merely my experiment. To me, you hold no inherent value or significance.”

“What if I’m not an experiment?” A flicker of light ignited in Mizuki Aoi’s eyes. “What if I’m a real person?”

The red-haired youth scoffed dismissively. “You are not human. You are merely a shell imbued with consciousness. You have no need to live, nor any reason to.”

“But I don’t want to die.” Mizuki Aoi’s voice was soft, trembling slightly, yet exceptionally firm.

The red-haired youth fell silent, simply watching her.

“I don’t want to die; I want to live.” Mizuki Aoi’s voice grew louder, her eyes increasingly resolute. “I want to survive. I want to live out my own worth. I want to live my own life.”

“I want to survive. I want to live out my own worth. I want to live my own life.” She repeated the phrase, her voice growing steadily louder, her gaze more determined.

“I want to live!” Her voice resonated like a great bell, echoing through the entire room.

The tranquility in the red-haired youth’s eyes shattered. He looked at Mizuki Aoi, his gaze filled with surprise, confusion, and a touch of shock.

He had never encountered such a person, never witnessed such resolute eyes, never met anyone so desperate to live.

He watched Mizuki Aoi, his eyes reflecting a complex mix of emotions: hesitation, and an inner struggle.

He didn’t know what to do, how to answer her, or how to face her.

He simply watched her, gazing into her eyes, which brimmed with fervent longing.

Finally, he sighed, and the complexity, hesitation, and struggle in his eyes vanished, leaving only calm.

“Very well. If you insist, then live on.”

Mizuki Aoi’s eyes instantly brightened. She looked at the red-haired youth, her gaze filled with joyous surprise and profound gratitude.

Unable to utter a word, she simply hugged him tightly.

The red-haired youth’s body stiffened for a moment, then quickly relaxed. He gently patted her head, his eyes holding a hint of indulgence and tenderness.

“Since you wish to live, then live on. I will help you do so.”

Mizuki Aoi smiled, a radiant, blissful smile.

Her deceased wet nurse and the caring servants had always taught her to study diligently and to fulfill her duties as a Heavenly King in the future.

Though that was now an impossible dream, she could, from this point forward, fulfill her duties as an ordinary person and simply live an ordinary life.

****

‘Wait.’

“Since it’s ‘temporary,’ who will look after me afterward?”

Recalling that the Shogun had also mentioned ‘duty,’ and remembering how different people had different expectations for her role, she decided to clarify the direction of her future life before determining her actions.

“There are many options…”

“Can I choose to follow you?”

“Preconceived notions are not always the best choice.”

“So it’s not possible?”

“It isn’t that it’s impossible, but if you wait a little longer, perhaps there will be an even better choice.”

However, these words solidified Mizuki Aoi’s resolve completely.

If she had asked Li Tianming, he likely would have agreed without a second thought, regardless of whether it was the right decision.

But the red-haired youth was different; he would consider if there was a better approach for her.

Perhaps this was what it meant to truly think of others?

It wasn’t hard to imagine that if she stayed by the red-haired youth’s side, she would constantly encounter such situations in the future.

Therefore—

“No, this is fine… Can I call you ‘Brother’?”

Mizuki Aoi made the biggest mistake of her life.

Not long after, Mizuki Aoi realized she had chosen the wrong address.

Later that evening, the red-haired youth suddenly transformed into someone else.

A beautiful older sister with deep-sea long hair and crimson eyes.

This person was someone even Mizuki Aoi had heard of.

The Saintess of the Vermillion Bird Kingdom, the strongest Battle Princess of the current era.

“Bro… no, Sister?”

“Good girl.”

She quickly realized that apart from the change in gender and a slightly colder aura, nothing else about the person before her had changed.

“I will be in this state for six hours a day. If I need to appear during the daytime, I’ll project a false body, but you needn’t worry; even Li Tianming cannot discern my illusion. However, the fact that I can transform into Hai Zhu needs to remain a secret for now… You also don’t need to worry about my identity causing you any pressure; I will arrange everything.”

This was still the same person—her ‘sister’ (or ‘brother’) who always pursued the optimal path and considered her best interests.

“Understood.”

Mizuki Aoi nodded emphatically.

“As for your name, it might need to change. You can take my surname. As for your given name… what would you like to be called?”

“I have no parents, so I have no particular attachment to my original name.”

“I didn’t have parents before I transmigrated either, but my adoptive mother gave me a name, and my surname happened to be the same as in this life. Even if it weren’t, I think I would still want to keep the name ‘Shenhong,'” Xie Haizhu mused, gazing at the moonlight outside the tent. “However, because I am a sealed entity, my parents in this life gave me the name Hai Zhu.”

Mizuki Aoi understood that Xie Haizhu was prompting her to incorporate a meaningful character into her name.

She thought carefully, and the only character that came to mind was ‘Ai’ (love).

Even though her parents were gone, so many people had helped her along the way… she must have been ‘loved,’ mustn’t she?

“Just ‘Ai’ alone doesn’t sound quite right. How about this: let’s combine it with the character ‘Shen’ from my male form?”

“No problem.”

And so, she became Xie Shenai, gaining family for the very first time.

This should have been a joyous occasion, and she believed that all past shadows would be swept away, that everything would improve.

Yet, unexpectedly, in less than a month,

She lost everything.