"What... what is this?"
Looking at the rolling round balls swirling around everywhere, Fang Zheng, Nymph, and the others were all stunned.
"Ying ying... Ying ying..."
The balls made strange noises and rubbed against their feet like pets, occasionally gazing at them with their shiny, sparkling eyes. This sight couldn’t help but give Fang Zheng the impression that he was facing a group of cute pets... Could it be that these were Harlows?
"They are not purely biological, Master."
At that moment, Nymph also reached out and pressed her hand on top of one of the small spheres. After a moment, the little angel quickly came up with an answer.
"They are a type of artificial biomechanical creatures... somewhat similar to us Artificial Angels."
"I see."
Hearing this, Fang Zheng finally understood why there were so many ying ying creatures here—after all, there was no food here, it didn’t seem to have water either, and it was simply not suitable for the survival of ordinary creatures. But... even if they were artificial creatures, they should have an energy core, right?
With this thought, Fang Zheng couldn’t help but glance at Nymph again.
Speaking of which, he still didn’t know what Nymph’s power source was. The little angel also dined with them, and she had a liking for sweets. Could it be that Nymph’s power source was the same as humans, obtained through eating?
"They are so cute..."
At this moment, Fina also picked up a small ball, and the little ball seemed to enjoy being held in Fina’s arms, continuously "ying ying" with joy... Was this thing a ying ying creature? But then again, watching these things roll around at his feet, Fang Zheng couldn’t help but feel an urge out of nowhere, it was like...
"Ah, this thing is really soft and comfy."
Just then, a small ball just happened to roll to Javelin’s feet, and Javelin instantly used her foot to flick the little ball into the air, juggling it up and down. Her actions were just like those of a skilled soccer player. Seeing this scene, Iona beside her tilted her head.
"Javelin, doing that might make it angry, you know?"
"Not at all! Look, Iona, it’s so happy."
"Ying ying... Ying ying..."
As if to confirm Javelin’s words, the little ball being juggled by her also emitted cheerful noises, and hearing the ball’s cries, Javelin seemed to get even more excited.
"What? Should I do it a bit harder? Alright, watch this! Goal! Hei—!"
Before her words ended, Javelin kicked the little ball in mid-air with all her might!
"Ying ying—————!!"
Joined by a shrill cry, the little ball flew out under Javelin’s powerful kick, hitting the wall beside them, then it made a soft "ying ying" sound as it slid to the ground. Everyone was taken aback by this scene, and even Fang Zheng was dumbstruck, unsure of what to say... I know these things look like balls, but you can’t really kick them around like balls!
"Ying ying!!"
Seeming to realize that one of their companions had been attacked, the other small balls quickly ran over. Even the one Fina was holding in her arms jumped out from the arms of the young priestess and rolled over to the side of the struck ball. After a few "ying ying" exchanges between them, the little balls surrounded Fang Zheng and the others once more.
"I knew there would be trouble..."
Seeing this, Fang Zheng let out a helpless sigh. If possible, he would have liked to communicate with the balls, but before he could even attempt to use "comprehend languages" or "intent of hearing", Javelin’s kick—worthy of landing in the World Cup’s top ten highlights—had ruined it.
While these balls seemed cute and harmless, they were, after all, created by the Goddess of Order. Even if they were not dangerous on their own, there must be something protecting them. Seeing as they had commenced an attack unprovoked, trouble was likely to follow.
"Ying ying..."
The cries of the small balls were not threating at all, but the way they closed in caused Fang Zheng’s heart to pound. He gripped his longsword tightly, anticipating the potential conflict that might arise. Then, under Fang Zheng’s watchful gaze, the small balls rolled one by one in front of Javelin, and then... began rubbing against her feet?
Fang Zheng: ???
What kind of operation is this?
Could these little spheres possibly have some unspoken hobby?
"Ying ying... ying ying..."
The little spheres kept rubbing up against Javelin, who was totally confused. She looked at Fang Zheng with a plea for help in her eyes, apparently unsure of what to do.
"Commander, what should I do now?"
"This... maybe kick it again?"
Although puzzled by Fang Zheng’s response, Javelin still stepped back and, once more, assumed the kicking stance. Seeing this, the little spheres got even more excited, jumping up and scrambling in front of the escort ship girl, each one "ying ying" incessantly. To Fang Zheng, it was as though they were shouting, "Let me at it, let me at it."
"Haah— Super Gravity Shoot!!"
Yelling loudly, Javelin kicked out forcefully at the little spheres in front of her!
A full-force strike from a mind model is no joke. Soon, Fang Zheng saw the clumped-together little spheres fly into the air like scattering blossoms from heaven, emitting excited "ying ying" noises as if they were enjoying some kind of delightful entertainment... Don’t tell me these are a bunch of perverts!
Could the Goddess of Order possibly be a pervert too?
"What’s the matter, Mr. Fang Zheng?"
Seeing the odd expression on Fang Zheng’s face, Fina couldn’t help but ask. Fang Zheng glanced at Fina before speaking.
"That... Fina, are you sure these spheres are really related to the Goddess of Order? No offense... but what did the Goddess create these things for? Could it be just to kick them around?"
"Eh?"
Faced with Fang Zheng’s question, Fina was taken aback, then hurriedly waved her hands.
"No, of course not, they are messengers of the Goddess! There are records in the Sanctuary that the Goddess conveys her oracles through them!"
... Not only is your Lady Goddess’s taste in question, but I think her entire mind is messed up.
"That’s what you say, but... I still feel there’s something very wrong with these so-called messengers..."
Watching the little spheres gather once again and then get kicked away by Javelin, Fang Zheng was speechless. All he could think about was the Lady Goddess, with nothing to do all day, creating a group of self-aware little spheres just to play kicking games. For some reason, it made him feel so sad that he wanted to cry...
That’s just too pitiful!
"... Mr. Fang Zheng, are you thinking something disrespectful?"
"No, no, I’m not thinking anything."
Faced with the cleric girl’s inquiry, Fang Zheng hurriedly waved his hands. The other party was a devout believer, and if he told her that his image of the Lady Goddess had shifted from the original respectable figure to someone who had no one to play with and could only squat at home talking to a doll, Fina would probably turn against him on the spot.
"Since these little guys aren’t dangerous, let’s just keep moving forward."
Honestly, Fang Zheng wasn’t holding out much hope for this so-called divine relic. Although his Future Sight hadn’t triggered, from the appearance of the little spheres at the entrance, Fang Zheng had a premonition.
That this exploration would probably be completely different from what he had imagined.
And as it turned out, Fang Zheng’s thoughts were correct.

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