A moment later... I, who was still at the mansion, found it hard to figure out that I could smell my brain being roasted.
-Scrchh.....
"Arghh!!! I can't really think of what kind of stupid threat could lead to the extinction of humanity?!!" I mumbled, scratching my head, trying to come up with a possible answer.
Why am I like this? Well, this is the very first time I've read something like this?!
"Young Master Khierom?" Aurilya worriedly asked as she noticed me doing something strange.
Hearing this, I looked down and composed myself before turning my face up.
"Nothing, hehehe, please don't worry about me," I replied innocently, with a cute smile.
However, deep inside, I was both annoyed and curious, wondering how humanity was almost wiped out from the face of the world.
Cuz, If I want to survive in this world longer, I need to know what threats this book is talking about.
After all, this is a world I was reborn into, and there's no certain chance that I'm going to be reborn again.
So, knowing the threats will greatly increase my chances of surviving later in the future.
Anyway, what may be the reason for the almost wiped-out? Is it a zombie apocalypse?
I guess not because with how advanced Ark is; mere zombies would definitely have their brains blown off the moment they moved.
A pandemic? That's wrong, too, because when I accidentally cut my palm in the past, it almost healed instantly when Aria applied some ointment to it.
Also, when I had a fever, they just put me into a capsule, and the sickness that I had magically disappeared.
Thus, the pandemic theory is discarded.
So maybe a natural disaster? Like a tsunami or an earthquake? Hmm, maybe not, because if it were, there would be no reason for the Ark to be built.
"Then what the heck is it?!!" I frowned in utter frustration.
"??!" When suddenly, a knocking sound instantly disrupted me. From thinking.
-knovkk!
-knockk!!
-kncook!
"Young Master, this is Teacher Steele. May I enter?" The voice asked in a husky tone.
Hearing this, I immediately signaled Aurilya to open the door.
-Squckk...
As the door opened, a gentleman with long, white, square-shaped glasses, wearing a formal white blazer and a white tie, which was also paired with his pure black coat, entered.
"Teacher Steele!! I'm here!" I joyfully responded, with a smile on my face, as if I were a child meeting his great-grandfather.
"Please pardon me, Young Master," Steele said politely before bowing his head. After that, he walked towards where I was.
"Young Master, are you ready for today's class?" Steele politely asked for permission as he sat beside me.
Hearing this, I nodded in response.
"Yes! By the way, Teacher Steele, I'm curious about this history book called 'The Ark Great History.' It always mentions how great Ark was built, but it doesn't specify why it was built and what threats it faced—" I curiously asked, gazing at Steele with childlike curiosity in my eyes.
"!!!"
However, as I said, Little didn't expect that Steele's face would suddenly shift 360 degrees.
Eerk!?! What's up with that furious face, old man? Did I say something wrong? Blame Aurilya; she's the one who told me to ask you!
Seeing the situation become more tense, I couldn't help but lower my gaze while pretending to be frightened.
Why did I do that? To gain some sympathy and make myself look completely innocent, even though I'm really... really innocent.
"Young Master Khierom," Steele questioned with a serious tone in his voice.
"Y-y-yes?" I stuttered, putting on a trembling voice.
"Where did you find this book? You know that owning illegally based limited information will greatly put your life at risk?!" Steele retorted loudly while maintaining a strict teacher demeanor.
Wait... What? T-that book was illegally based on limited information?! I thought it was just a normal history book?! God damn it, do I really want myself to be killed?!
"I'm innocent. I found it in the pile of books that you gave me yesterday, Teacher Steele," I sincerely responded while looking down.
This time, I'm not pretending to be frightened anymore, as I'm actually in trouble.
Ugh... Why do I have to deal with this shit?! It's you who gave me that damn book.
That right, it's your fault, you old man!
"..." Hearing this, Steele paused for a moment as if he were thinking about something.
Grr....! Hurry up, old man; my neck is starting to feel hurt!!! It feels like my neck is gonna snap in half.
"..."
"..."
So, after a few moments of awkward silence, Steele finally spoke as he stared at me with a guilty expression.
"I'm sorry, young master. It seems I accidentally mixed this book in with your homework." Steele politely apologized with a guilty expression on his face.
Hearing this, I looked up and stared directly into his eyes before I smiled.
"Nah, Haha, it's normal to accidentally make a mistake," I reassured, followed by another light smile.
However, my thoughts said the opposite.
'Mistake, my ass. you are blaming me for something I didn't even do!' I thought as I secretly clenched my fists under the table.
"Young master, as an apology for what happened, I would gladly give you one answered question," Steele politely requested.
Before, he placed his right arm on his chest while giving a serious face at the same time.
Hearing this, I instantly turned my head and bumped it through the desk as I smiled creepily.
"Getting one answered a question, huh... how lucky," I mumbled under my breath.
So lucky~ Why? Because getting one answered a question, A.K.A 'Kasam,' in this world is more precious than gold and any kind of jewelry. The information is much more limited and difficult to obtain.
As the only heir to the Soulshearth Duke family, I am fortunate enough to have been born with a silver spoon in my mouth, enjoying privileges that most children do not have. Yet, I can't even have access to illegal-based limited information, so having this opportunity is really lucky~ Let alone that it comes from someone whom I don't know personally.
"R-really? But Teacher Steele, you know that sharing limited information could have consequences, right?" I replied, pretending to be worried about him.
Yes, having or obtaining limited information through illegal means will put you in a tough situation.
They have these so-called 'micro identity chips' that they implant around a part of your brain. You receive it the moment you are born.
Although 'micro identity chips' may sound like something that invades people's privacy, they don't.
Micro identity chips only trace the total number of people who have illegal-based limited information.
Additionally, micro identity chips cannot harm or brainwash users since they are all controlled by an AI named Alice.
Also, hacking or destroying AI Alice is close to impossible since its location is highly classified.
Only selective government members and the head of the royals know the exact location of it.
However, even after that, micro identity chips only serve as personal trackers for illegal-based limited information and nothing more.
"Don't worry; just treat this as an advance happy birthday gift, not an apology, young master," Steele reassured with a gentle smile.
Are you sure about that? If not, then I wouldn't accept that because I don't want to be executed at such a young age. Not until I find my cute, innocent heroine!
"Okay, fine," I replied before shifting my gaze. "Aurilya, come here!" I called her.
"Yes, young Master Khierom?" Aurilya questioned, standing next to the door.
"Can you please go outside and guard the room?" I said in a pleasing tone.
Hearing this, Aurilya nodded her head.
"Yes, young Master Khierom," Aurilya replied politely before going outside to guard the room.
As soon as Aurilya left the dining hall, I looked at Steele with excitement in my eyes, knowing that I would finally get the answer I had been looking for!
"Are you ready, young master?" Steele asked.
"Yes, I'm ready," I excitedly replied as my eyes lit up with excitement.
"Okay, then I will give you one answered question-based on my experience," Steele said in an imposing tone.
Experience-based information, huh... Wait, isn't that an EX-Rank experience-based information?!! I thought you would just give me a B-Book-based information?!!
"Just how my luck will go..." I mumbled once again.
After all, I would be getting one of the top-tier limited information.
◇
▪︎ LIMITED INFORMATION RANKINGS ▪︎
This ranking was created by AI Alice in collaboration with the Central Union to rank the limited pieces of information that users have.
[EX - Experience-based information.]
This is the most valuable type of limited information, as it is obtained through personal experience and can only be created by the users themselves. For the safety of the user, AI Alice cannot access this type of limited information.
[User's private knowledge, user's true weaknesses, user's true name, user's cup size, Pyrosites true name, Pyrosites abilities, Pyrosites weakness]
[A - Discovery-based information.]
This type of limited information is obtained accidentally or through discovery, such as through experience gained from someone or knowledge received from someone. For the safety of the user, AI Alice cannot access this type of limited information.
[Enemy knowledge, enemy weaknesses, enemy true name, enemy Pyrosites abilities, enemy Pyrosites weaknesses]
[B - Book-based information.]
This type of limited information is obtained through reading secret information, such as limited information books. AI Alice can access this kind of information for the safety of the user.
[Books knowledge, personal knowledge]
[C - Research-based information.]
This type of limited information is obtained through extensive research and discovery. AI Alice can access this kind of information for the safety of the user.
[Research knowledge, research discovery knowledge]
[D - Common-based information.]
This type of limited information is based on shared knowledge that is accessible to anyone. AI Alice can access this kind of information for the safety of the user.
[Common knowledge]
[E - Illegal-based information.]
This type of limited information is illegal to obtain without permission from AI Alice. Users are not allowed to share this type of limited information without AI Alice's permission. Owning this type of limited information will not kill you, but it will put you in a tough situation.
[History before the year 4880, Central Union classified information, AI Alice classified information, Ark's classified information]
Note: If any action is made through illegal means, the information being shared will be deleted for both the receiver and sender.
Note: Any note that's being written will automatically filtered through the human's eyes.
◇
"Are you sure I can have this type of limited knowledge?" I asked again.
To confirm that is made through legal means, cuz if not, then there's no use in listening to him; also, writing it down is useless.
"Yes, so tell me what kind of information you want," Steele reassured.
"Fine, I want some information about Shadow Arcane," I inquired with seriousness and determination in my eyes.
Hearing this, Steele couldn't help but smile suspiciously.