First Interstellar Guide Chapter 115: Extra 16: Parallel World; First Stirrings of Affection

Chapter 115: Extra 16: Parallel World; First Stirrings of Affection

Translated by Addis of Exiled Rebels Scanlations

Editor: Karai

After graduating from the Sanctuary, as both of them were too young and didn’t meet the admission requirements of the Federal Military Academy, Lu Zexuan was taken back home and spent a year self-studying theoretical courses. Meanwhile, Xie Ran, under Marshal’s arrangement, temporarily sealed his mental energy and secretly studied combat skills at the church.

It wasn’t until the age of 14 that Xie Ran and Lu Zexuan together took the unified entrance exam for the Federal Military Academy. Lu Zexuan was admitted to the Sentinel Command Department, while Xie Ran was accepted into the Guide Command Department.

The Guide Command Department only accepted fewer than 20 students each year, with each student receiving individual instruction and having single-person dormitories. They received the best treatment in the entire military academy, but they also had to undergo the most extensive and complicated courses.

After graduation, they would become strategists for various major legions, even high-ranking leaders. Therefore, they not only had to master various astronomical, geographical, and historical knowledge, study battlefield terrain analysis, strategic deployment plans, but also needed to understand some psychology, guide medicine, and xenobiology.

Similarly, the Sentinel Command Department, where Lu Zexuan belonged, also had many courses. They had to learn survival skills in different environments, the principles of starship manufacturing and operation maintenance, and they also had to excel in various practical operations of warships, mechas, and firearms.

Xie Ran mainly studied theoretical courses, while Lu Zexuan focused on practical classes.

With different majors and tight schedules, their time to meet after the start of school became even less than before. Back when they were studying at the Sanctuary, due to their fast learning progress, Xie Ran dug a hole where they could secretly meet late at night every day.

But military school was different. The Federal First Military Academy implemented strict military management, and students couldn’t roam around during rest time. If students from different dormitories wanted to meet, they needed to register with the dormitory management, and the time was strictly limited. Moreover, most of the courses in the Sentinel Command Department, where Lu Zexuan was, were practical. They were often taken by teachers to nearby desolate planets for practical combat exercises, so Xie Ran couldn’t even see him even if he wanted to.

Xie Ran himself was also very busy. Just the course “Guide Medicine” covered a wide range of content. In addition to theoretical knowledge, they had to master human anatomy. The school arranged corpses for them to dissect in the laboratory, and Xie Ran was almost immersed in the lab every day.

Although they couldn’t meet, they always kept in touch. Sending messages to each other before bed every day had become a habit for both of them.

Their days at the military academy were fulfilling and busy, and both of them were gradually growing up, learning more and more knowledge.

In the blink of an eye, they had reached the second year, and the Sentinels began to learn how to operate warships.

In October of that year, the military academy decided to organize a “Wilderness Survival Challenge” specifically for second-year students. It required Sentinels and Guides to team up and participate in practical combat exercises on a desolate planet in the Serpens constellation. According to the clearance score, first, second, and third prizes would be awarded, and the prize money was very generous. The winning Sentinels could even choose an exclusive warship for training at any time during their school period.

The rewards were very tempting. As soon as this news was announced, students began actively preparing to sign up.

A Guide senior sister found Lu Zexuan and asked, “I heard you are an S-rank Sentinel. Can I team up with you? I’m an A+ grade healing Guide, and my healing ability can ensure your safety.”

Lu Zexuan politely replied, “Sorry, I already have a teammate.”

The senior sister was curious, “May I know who he is?”

Lu Zexuan said, “He’s a Guide… who understands me very well and has great chemistry with me.”

At the same time, someone approached Xie Ran and asked, “Xie Ran, would you like to team up with me for the competition?”

Xie Ran replied straightforwardly, “I don’t want to.”

The other person, “…”

At that time, Xie Ran didn’t agree to team up with Lu Zexuan. However, strangely, Lu Zexuan didn’t want to team up with any other Guide, especially not letting any Guide other than Ranran peek into his mental landscape. The school required teams to consist of both Sentinel and Guide members for the competition. If Ranran didn’t want to participate, he simply wouldn’t.

However, before Lu Zexuan could say anything, Xie Ran took the initiative to send a message, “Do you want to go to the wilderness survival challenge this time?”

Lu Zexuan immediately replied, “Yes, what about you?”

Xie Ran said, “Let’s team up.”

Lu Zexuan’s heart leaped with joy, “Great, I was just thinking of asking you!”

Xie Ran said, “I saw that there’s an exclusive training warship in the prize pool, and I guessed you must really want it.”

Zexuan had loved starships and mech models since he was a child. Now, being able to get an exclusive training warship meant that during his years at the military academy, he wouldn’t have to queue up for training ships. With such a big temptation, how could Lu Zexuan remain indifferent? Therefore, as soon as Xie Ran saw the announcement of the competition, he wanted to help Lu Zexuan fulfill this wish.

That afternoon, the two met at the cafeteria to discuss the specific matters of signing up for the competition and then went together to fill out the registration form.

The competition was scheduled for October 29th and 30th, with the location being the S7 planet in the Serpens constellation. The environment there was complex and the climate varied greatly, with deserts, jungles teeming with wild beasts, and swamps shrouded in mist, making conditions extremely harsh.

The combination of Sentinels and Guides had to survive in the dangerous wilderness. It not only tested the Sentinels’ close combat skills but also required Guide teammates to think more and analyze pros and cons, avoiding dangerous areas and finding the most suitable paths.

Many Sentinels and Guides were teaming up for the first time. In case of trouble, they might complain or even argue with each other. But Lu Zexuan and Xie Ran had grown up together since childhood, and they were very tacit with each other. They were confident in winning the first place.

***

On October 28th, all the registered students collectively boarded a starship to head to the S7 planet in the Serpens constellation.

The examiners read out the rules on the starship, “The competition will start at 8 a.m. on October 29th and end at 8 p.m. on October 30th. You need to choose two out of three designated challenge areas: desert, jungle, or swamp, and reach the finish line through the designated challenge areas. The electronic tracker will record the time when you reach the finish line, and the scores of the two areas will be added together to calculate the final ranking.”

“This is a wilderness survival lesson. The jungle and swamp areas are full of fierce beasts, and the desert area has harsh climates. You are all comrades, and attacking each other is not allowed. You can cooperate with each other. When encountering insurmountable dangers, please press the emergency assistance button. The examiner team will patrol by helicopter to ensure the safety of the students.”

“Now, please collect your competition toolkits.”

Xie Ran and Lu Zexuan exchanged glances and went to collect their items. The organizing committee gave each person a backpack containing camouflage suits for wilderness survival, some weapons, as well as tools such as compasses, watches, lighters, and trackers.

That night, the starship arrived at the temporary camp on the S7 planet, and the students rested for one night. Early the next day, everyone set off fully equipped. The 16-year-old teenagers had grown up, and when they put on their camouflage suits, they looked even more capable.

Xie Ran opened the map and analyzed, “I guess most people will choose the desert area on the first day because there are fewer monsters there, relatively safer. They just need to be a bit faster and not get lost to get out. They don’t need to experience too much combat. The jungle area is of A-level difficulty, and the swamp area is A+. There will definitely be a large number of beasts. Let’s go to the jungle on the first day and the swamp on the second day. What do you think?”

Lu Zexuan nodded, “Okay, let’s do that.”

The two entered the jungle area together. With Xie Ran remembering the map and doing path analysis, they proceeded smoothly all the way.

This competition was about clearance speed. Encountering other participants, let alone disputes, would only waste time. It would be even more troublesome to encounter unreliable teammates. There were many participants in the jungle, but Lu Zexuan had excellent vision and hearing, and Xie Ran had the emotional perception ability of an S-rank Guide. The two of them avoided almost all other participants and acted alone, choosing the best path.

Along the way, they encountered many poisonous snakes and fierce beasts.

Lu Zexuan wielded an electromagnetic knife by Xie Ran’s side, his movements swift and decisive. Every time he could accurately decapitate a fierce beast. With an S-rank Sentinel protecting him nearby, Xie Ran felt particularly secure, only needing to focus on analyzing the path.

By 7 p.m., they were the first to emerge from the vast wilderness jungle. On the first day, their clearance time was 11 hours, 15 minutes, and 17 seconds, ranking in the top three among all participants. The first and second places were teams that chose the desert area. They didn’t experience much combat and were faster than the two. But the results of the second day would be cumulative, so Lu Zexuan and Xie Ran weren’t worried.

Lu Zexuan said, “We’ve been tired all day. Let’s rest for a while. You make a fire, and I’ll go find something to eat.”

Xie Ran found a clearing and quickly lit a fire. After a while, Lu Zexuan came back with a few fish and a bamboo tube of water.

“I found a stream with fish. Let’s have grilled fish tonight,” he said, handing the bamboo tube to Xie Ran, “You drink some water first, and I’ll go kill the fish.”

Thirsty from a day’s journey, Xie Ran took the stream water Lu Zexuan brought and drank a few sips, finding it incredibly sweet. Seeing Lu Zexuan rolling up his sleeves to work, Xie Ran sat by the fire and said with a smile, “Does your wilderness survival class also teach hunting and grilling fish?”

Lu Zexuan said, “Yes, these are all basic skills.”

He skillfully cleaned the fish, removing its entrails, and then roasted it over the fire. Soon, Xie Ran caught a whiff of a delightful aroma. As the sky gradually darkened, the two of them enjoyed the grilled fish with relish before leaning against a large tree to rest.

The wilderness at night was a bit chilly. Lu Zexuan took off his coat and draped it over Xie Ran, whispering, “I’m a Sentinel, with better physical condition than you. Be careful not to catch a cold.”

The coat still carried Lu Zexuan’s warmth. Xie Ran felt a warmth in his heart and joked, “Remember when we used to go camping as kids? That was at the camping base on the capital star, with tents, blankets, and all kinds of barbecue food. Today’s camping is the real deal, right? Using the sky as a blanket and the ground as a bed, not even a piece of cloth to block the wind.”

Listening to his banter, Lu Zexuan couldn’t help but gently raise the corners of his mouth. “Consider it a fresh experience,” he said.

Indeed, everything in the wilderness was fresh and exciting. The two sat together against the tree, gazing up at the night sky.

The sky of the Serpens constellation was different from that of the capital star. The night sky was filled with dazzling stars, as if those stars were within reach. Xie Ran pointed upwards, saying, “That’s the Southern Cross region. Do you see those stars connected together? Doesn’t it look like a cross?”

Ranran had excellent astronomy grades, and Lu Zexuan had learned many constellations from him since childhood.

“Where is Scorpius?” Lu Zexuan asked.

“Let me find it.” Xie Ran looked up carefully at the sky and then pointed with his finger, saying, “There it is. Can you see it?”

“Yeah, I see it,” Lu Zexuan said softly. “That’s our constellation.”

The two were born on the same day of the same month, so their constellation was also the same, both Scorpios. It was said that people born under Scorpio were independent, but when two scorpions were together, they couldn’t help but be attracted by each other’s mysterious aura.

Xie Ran didn’t believe in astrology. There were billions of people in the Federation born under Scorpio, and it was impossible for all of them to have the same personality. However, he and Lu Zexuan were indeed attracted to each other and had become the best of friends.

Xie Ran turned to look at Lu Zexuan, who was also looking at him. The second hand on the watch gently moved, quickly pointing to midnight.

October 30th, 490 AD, midnight, the two looked into each other’s eyes and simultaneously said, “Happy birthday.” At that moment, both of them seemed to hear the clear sound of their heartbeats.

They had known each other since they were six years old, and now it has been ten years. They were born on the same day, so every year on their birthdays, they would wait until midnight and say “happy birthday” to each other. This year was a bit special. On their birthday, they were participating in a competition in the wilderness.

On a strange planet, in the dangerous wilderness, they sat under the starry sky, leaning against a tree, looking at each other, and said: happy birthday. This scene was vividly and deeply imprinted in their minds.

Unconsciously, they had grown up. Although they were still sixteen-year-old teenagers with a touch of youthfulness on their faces, the features of Sentinels and Guides were becoming more prominent. Lu Zexuan was tall and becoming more handsome. Xie Ran had fair skin, and his features became more refined as he grew older.

At that moment of eye contact, they felt a palpitation they had never experienced before. There was no one around, and occasionally they could hear the chirping of insects in the wilderness. In this quiet night, the two facing each other for the first time felt a flutter in their hearts.

They had accompanied each other for ten years, growing up together since childhood. Although they were busy with their studies after entering the military academy, the opportunities to meet had decreased, but they were still each other’s most important person. In this competition organized by the school for the second-year students, many Guides approached Lu Zexuan to form a team, and many Sentinels reached out to Xie Ran. However, when they saw the notice, they only thought of each other.

Lu Zexuan only wanted to team up with Xie Ran. And Xie Ran also only wanted to participate in the competition with Lu Zexuan. They were friends, not bound Sentinel and Guide pair, but strangely, they couldn’t accept being with another Sentinel/Guide, feeling that it would be awkward. Perhaps it was because they had played together since they were young? Or perhaps… unconsciously, they had already become each other’s only one in their hearts.