Everything had a default setting in the world. For example, objects were categorized as large or small based on a presumed middle ground—a common norm of what was considered as ‘regular’ that always existed. Thus, a person was inclined to feel discomfort when something outside that standard was suggested.0

“Can I have one iced americano please?”2

“Yes, is large okay?”2

Crockta had always wanted to interrogate cafe owners in real life who indirectly suggested that the customer purchase the large size when the regular size existed. Did they not understand what regular meant? Were they testing some absurd negotiation psychology? Or were they trying to push their agenda because the customer looked like a yes-man who couldn’t say no?3

At this very moment, Crockta felt the same way.0

[Right now, your love mode is locked. Would you like to activate your love mode?]0

Was this question really necessary? How was it different from asking ‘Are you really human?’ to someone’s face?13

‘You missed the mark with that question!’ Crockta replied sternly in his mind.1

***2

Crockta and Eileen headed toward Quantes’ academy. It was a large educational facility located at the center of the city, and it was the cradle of magic engineering research. Many advanced technologies and products had been invented there, including the heart of the gnomes’ garrison—the Asura Heaven-Breaking Cannon.0

The first researcher that Crockta and Eileen sought out at the academy was a monster ecology scientist. Because of Quantes’ proximity to the north, gnomes ran into monsters more...0