Chapter 61: Pressing Forward Beneath the Weight

"Um, I have a question—what happens if I don’t repay all my credits before graduation?" Zhao Jie asked curiously.

With so many credits lent out, there must be strict measures to ensure students pay them back. He wondered what kind of measures Xiangnan University had in place.

"If you haven’t settled your credits before graduation, you can’t graduate, and your personal credit rating will be restricted. You’ll be forced to undertake missions in the Secret Realm. Of course, if you’re unlucky enough to die there, you won’t need to repay the credits," answered the director.

Secret Realm. That word again.

He’d already heard it from Li Ping and Director Zheng several times, and from the director’s tone, it was clear that people could die in the Secret Realm.

Wasn’t it said that most Digital Secret Realms were already under human control, and except for newly discovered realms, there were no casualties in the older ones?

When he asked this question, both Li Ping and Zheng Qilin fell silent.

After a long pause, Director Zheng let out a sigh.

If only Digital Secret Realms truly had no casualties, but to this day, battles still occur within them.

"Now that you’re an ordinary Digimon Tamer, there are some things you should know. But keep these to yourself—don’t discuss them with ordinary people," Li Ping said, prompted by Director Zheng, and revealed information Zhao Jie had never heard before.

"Fifty years ago, a wondrous foreign world began to merge with Blue Star. There, we discovered miraculous creatures—Digimon."

"In the following years, countless foreign worlds descended upon Blue Star. We call these worlds Secret Realms."

Zhao Jie knew this already; some scientists even speculated that each Secret Realm was merely the entrance to a super-large world. Yet, so far, the academic consensus was that each Secret Realm constituted its own world.

But there were doubts—those micro-sized Secret Realms were too small to be full worlds, since some contained only deserts or glaciers, lacking a proper ecosystem.

In any case, the specifics were still under constant research.

"Indeed, many Digital Secret Realms are now safe, but there are still plenty that remain dangerous. In such realms, Digimon beasts, under the lead of their lords, sometimes attack the nodes linking to the human world. We call these attacks Beast Tides."

"I don’t know about other countries, but our nation has endured countless Beast Tides. Some Secret Realms have even seen their Digimon Tamers wiped out entirely."

"…"

"In recent years, the Digital Secret Realms have largely settled down; there haven’t been large-scale Beast Tides. But for public safety, every realm judged dangerous has Digimon Tamers assigned to missions."

"What Director Zheng meant by 'unlucky' is encountering savage Digimon beasts in those dangerous realms. If you don’t make it back alive, you’re considered to have sacrificed yourself for the country; naturally, the school will not pursue your debts, and the authorities will even provide your family with certain benefits."

The more he listened, the more disturbed he became. Zhao Jie had always assumed the Digital Secret Realms were safe, never imagining the cruel reality behind them. All the comforts of daily life were made possible by Digimon Tamers bearing these burdens.

And if not for becoming an ordinary Digimon Tamer himself, he might never have known any of this.

This is his homeland. In that particular world, whenever danger arises, the people are shielded and protected. When difficulties appear, those in charge always stand at the forefront.

A salute!

To my beloved country.

"That’s all I know," Li Ping said, his eyes growing red as he recalled his old friends—how they once promised to return to the human world after completing their last mission together.

Who would have guessed that he’d be the only one to survive.

"Thank you," Zhao Jie bowed deeply to the two of them.

Not for anything else, but simply for their work—it deserved his respect.

"Well, now you know about the Digital Secret Realms. What I just told you is the sincerity of Xiangnan University. So, what do you think? Will you join us?" Director Zheng Qilin accepted the bow graciously.

In truth, not every Digimon Tamer is willing to enter dangerous Secret Realms, since death is a real possibility.

You can choose not to go, but you must always show respect.

The worst are those who take from you, eat and drink at your expense, but turn around and betray you when it matters most.

Genuine respect cannot be faked, and from Zhao Jie’s actions just now, Zheng Qilin saw sincerity.

People like him are exactly the kind of Digimon Tamers Xiangnan University and the nation need.

"I’m willing," Zhao Jie replied, no longer refusing. The resources Xiangnan University offered were generous, plus the thousand-credit loan.

Even at universities in Magic City or Imperial Capital, he might not receive such treatment.

"In that case, we look forward to welcoming you to Xiangnan University this July."

Hearing his acceptance, Zheng Qilin smiled, stood up, and extended his hand to Zhao Jie.

"I’m also eager to meet the students of Xiangnan University," Zhao Jie said.

The Digimon Department’s school term begins months earlier than for ordinary university students. Once they decide to become Digimon Tamers, they no longer have summer or winter vacations.

"Oh, by the way—if my academic grades aren’t up to standard, can I still enter?" Zhao Jie asked suddenly, sitting back down.

Uh…

Director Zheng was momentarily stunned, but soon realized what he meant.

"You’re a special recruit—if you wish, you don’t even have to take the national exams."

"Alright, I understand."

But he still intended to take the exams. Many say a life without experiencing them is incomplete.

He didn’t want his life to lack fulfillment from the age of eighteen.

The meal ended with everyone satisfied.

"Director Zheng, could you send me the information on Tyrannosaurus’s Super Evolution ahead of time?" Zhao Jie asked a bit sheepishly, once the meal was over.

It wasn’t a particularly reasonable request, since he was not yet a Xiangnan University student.

"No problem—let’s add each other as friends. If you have any questions, feel free to ask," Zheng Qilin replied after a moment’s thought.

Given his status at the university, the archives wouldn’t refuse such a minor request.

PS: A new week begins—please vote for recommendations! Also, the group chat has been established. Welcome to join and discuss the plot together.