Fang Zheng certainly doesn’t think he’s being too harsh. In fact, he drafted a magic contract for Meiyin. Of course, there’s no patent law in this world, and naturally, Fang Zheng couldn’t apply for a patent for the papermaking machine. Otherwise, he would definitely patent every part and process of the papermaking machine, creating an impenetrable patent barrier for everyone.

But would that trouble him?

What a joke!

Fang Zheng directly divided the papermaking machine into the main body and modules and then granted separate licenses. Just like a game’s main body and DLC, the papermaking machine is the main body, the module is the DLC, and the upgrade module is DLC 2.0. That means if someone wants to get authorized by Meiyin Workshop, they cannot skip both the main body and module licenses. It won’t work if someone wants to save money by only buying the module license!

The magic contract in this world is absolutely binding! Violating it would bring down five thunderous strikes!

So if you want to make paper, you’ve got to obediently buy both the main body and module licenses, and then wait for DLC2, DLC3, DLC4... licenses!

"Mr. Fang Zheng, this is practically robbery!"

After reading the contract drafted by Fang Zheng, Meiyin broke out in cold sweat, while Fang Zheng rolled his eyes.

"Nonsense, robbery doesn’t earn this much!"

"...But isn’t this a bit unfair... considering Mr. Banno and I..."

"Feelings are feelings, business is business."

Seeing Meiyin’s conflicted look, Fang Zheng knew the young girl was making the student mistake of discussing feelings instead of business... which isn’t a good thing.

"Back home, we have a saying about brothers keeping clear accounts. I know Mr. Banno treats you well, but we’re not without reciprocation here. I’m offering him the exclusive license as a convenience. If you feel guilty, you can consider giving him priority during future negotiations."

"Priority?"

"Yes, once the contract expires in three years, Chirbota Trade Guild can choose to renew first. We won’t negotiate with other guilds until they decide. You might mention this when negotiating with Mr. Banno and put it in the contract. He should be able to accept it—of course, there should be a time limit."

"Alright, I understand."

Upon hearing this, Meiyin’s uneasy expression brightened substantially. She nodded enthusiastically before skipping away.

Young girls are indeed inexperienced.

Watching Meiyin’s departing figure, Fang Zheng shook his head and chuckled. He could imagine how Mr. Banno would react upon hearing Meiyin’s proposal.

Yet, how does that concern him?

However, for Fang Zheng, the day’s events weren’t over. After dinner, he finally met with Mel, who had been reclusive.

"Hey, finally out of your shell? How do you feel?"

Seeing Mel’s somber look, Fang Zheng greeted her cheerfully, but Mel seemed nothing like her usual lively self, instead very dejected.

"Mr. Fang Zheng, what are we supposed to do now...?"

"Let’s hear what you’re thinking."

Fang Zheng sat behind the desk, looking at Mel. Mel furrowed her brow and wore a pained expression.

"I... I really don’t know what to do... I..."

As she spoke, Mel hung her head.

"I’ve always been an obedient child who everyone praised as a top student. Since I was young, my grandparents, parents, teachers, classmates all had excessive expectations of me. Everyone considered me a genius, but I’m not a genius; I’m just a bit sharper than others."

"Being other people’s children isn’t easy."

Fang Zheng nodded knowingly at Mel’s lament.

"But not everyone thinks that; my family doesn’t, my classmates don’t—they all expect me to be first in class because I’m a top student, or to be athletic, or to get into a famous university..."

Talking about this, Mel clutched her skirt tightly.

"During those times, I could only strive to meet everyone’s expectations. Study hard to be the top in class, review diligently to get into a renowned university, yet even then, nothing changed—or perhaps, because of it, nothing changed... that day too..."

As she spoke, Mel’s eyes dimmed.

"That day, after I finished my farewell speech and left the high school I had studied at for three years, everyone cheerfully walked home in groups except me, who remained alone. It was then that a little girl was accidentally pushed into the street, and then a large truck came..."

"........."

"But no one saved the girl. Even though many were closer to her, they all stood by and watched. Everyone looked at me. Although they said nothing, I knew what they were thinking."

(That child is very athletic)

(If it’s that child, she can probably save her)

"I pushed that child away, and then..."

Saying this, Mel looked at her own hands.

"I ended up in a place like the Heavenly Kingdom, where a deity who introduced herself as the Goddess of Water, Aqua, appeared before me and asked me what I wanted. So I thought... if my abilities weren’t so exceptional, if my abilities were just average, then... maybe I’d have a different life."

Sadly, it was still a mess.

"You and Meiyin really are two extremes."

After hearing Mel’s story, Fang Zheng shook his head and smiled wryly. Meiyin is overly committed to her desires; she’s willing to do anything to read books, even if it means changing civilization, just so she and everyone around her can read.

As for the impact on the world, Meiyin neither cares nor is bothered.

Conversely, Mel is overly devoted to others’ wishes, almost like a puppet. She’d even sacrifice her life to meet everyone’s expectations...

Yet it’s perfectly normal. Fang Zheng has seen many students like this, who excel in school by listening to their teachers and parents. Yet things change upon entering society, as Mel experienced; school has straightforward goals—like being top of the class or in the top ten, getting into good high school or university, as the sole expectation from parents and teachers, allowing them to focus efforts in that direction.

But society is different; people must act toward personal goals. Work isn’t simply completing tasks but includes maintaining relationships and learning workplace skills. It’s not as straightforward as school, and Fang Zheng has seen graduates from prestigious universities breaking down in tears and quitting because they don’t know what to do or what should be done.

Definitely not Fang Zheng’s fault for demanding overtime.

After all, how can programmers experience life without overtime?

Blaming me for your lack of resilience?

The 996 work schedule is a blessing.

Given Mel’s disposition, if she entered society, Fang Zheng guessed she’d be the unpopular office woman pushing the limits for results, perhaps even willing to go against principles, only to eventually be abandoned and brought to tears by men...

"So what do you truly want?"

"I... I just want to live an ordinary life."

Mel now looked confused, and Fang Zheng could tell this was just a simple idea for her.

It’s like asking someone, "Do you want a happy life?"

Most would definitely say yes.

Then ask, "What does your happiness look like?"

A lot of people would get puzzled.

Just like Mel now, she desires an ordinary life, but what constitutes ordinary, Mel hadn’t really thought about.

However, Mel could be sure that the encounters of adventurers defeated by goblins definitely didn’t link to the ordinary life she desired.

"If you want an ordinary life, I could point you in the right direction."

"Eh? Really?"

As expected, hearing Fang Zheng’s answer, Mel immediately looked up with gleaming eyes at him.

"That’s right."

Fang Zheng nodded.

"You can go to a small village, buy a house, and start farming, raising some chickens, ducks, cows, sheep... Have you ever played Harvest Moon? It’s a life like that, working from sunrise to sunset every day. How about it? Seems pretty ordinary."

"It’s really... quite ordinary..."

"That’s what ordinary life is like."

Fang Zheng shifted his position, leaning back in his chair.

"In many villages, some people may never have been to a city in their entire lives, but they still live happily and joyfully. Isn’t that the ordinary life you’re after? Going out every day to farm, feed the chickens, greet everyone in the village, chat about the world, then marry a farmer and have a few kids... How about it? There’s no life more ordinary than that."

"That’s true, but..."

Although it was certainly ordinary, Mel’s expression remained subtle.

"Pretty boring, right?"

"Eh?"

"Isn’t this kind of life pretty boring?"

"......"

Facing Fang Zheng’s inquiry, Mel hesitated for a moment but eventually nodded lightly.

"So what you want isn’t an ordinary life after all."

"......"

This time, Mel stayed silent.

"Since that’s the case, let me give you a little homework."

Fang Zheng wasn’t a devil, really. Seeing Mel’s dejected look, he offered his suggestion.

"Homework?"

"That’s right. Meiyin has been busy with her work recently. You can go help her. Do you know what Meiyin is doing?"

"Well... I’m not quite sure."

Mel shook her head. Ever since returning from the Goblin Nest, she’d been holed up in her room, her mind filled with "This isn’t the life I want, what kind of life do I actually want?" musings, without paying attention to these things.

"She’s improving the papermaking technique, hoping to enable more people in this world to afford books."

"Eh? Eh? Eh?!"

Hearing this, Mel was stunned.

"Meiyin... is she really that amazing?"

"Hahaha, whether she’s amazing, you can go see for yourself. I think Meiyin could really use some help, and as a fellow transmigrator, you’d surely be a great help to her. So, it’s decided."

"Alright, I’ll do my best to try!"

With a goal in mind, Mel didn’t feel as lost as before. Certainly, part of the reason was that Meiyin, like herself, was a transmigrator, making them get along better. She cheerfully gave a bow to Fang Zheng and then opened the door.

"Ah."

"Oh, hello, Miss Cleric."

Seeing the Priestess of the Goddess standing at the door about to knock, Mel was startled and quickly nodded in response.

"Are you here to see Mr. Fang Zheng?"

"Yes, is now a good time?"

"Of course, come in."

Fang Zheng nodded toward the Priestess of the Goddess standing at the door. She and Mel exchanged greetings, then walked into the room and closed the door.

"Welcome back, how did the trial go?"

"Yes, I have successfully passed the trial of the Earth Mother Goddess."

Saying this, the Priestess of the Goddess clenched her fists in excitement.

"The Earth Mother Goddess has granted me brand new divine arts, and there are two of them, Sir Knight!"

"Congratulations, congratulations. Speaking of which, Ais seems to have also received a blessing that advanced her divine arts to level five from her deity. Your team’s strength has considerably increased."

"Indeed!"

Upon hearing Fang Zheng’s words, the Priestess of the Goddess was even more delighted.

"Though it seems not much has changed for Megumin..."

"Well, Megumin is just Megumin..."

Hearing this, the Priestess of the Goddess paled slightly.

Considering how difficult it already was to withstand the current Burst Magic, if Megumin grew even stronger, the question would be if they could even make it out alive.

"Oh, right."

After exchanging a few pleasantries, it seemed something suddenly occurred to the Priestess of the Goddess. She pulled out a letter from her bosom.

"Sir Knight, this is from the Adventurers’ Guild for you."

"A letter?"

Fang Zheng took the envelope, opened it, scanned the contents, and then slightly curled his lips into a cold smile.

"I never imagined they’d send it right to me."

"Sir Knight?"

Seeing Fang Zheng’s unusual expression, the Priestess of the Goddess was puzzled.

"Who is the letter from?"

"It’s from the Sage Association of the Kingdom of Lugnica."

Fang Zheng casually tossed the letter onto the table.

"They are requesting me to go to the Royal Capital of Lugnica to explain the matter of the death of Border Count Roswaal..."

"Eh?"

Upon hearing this, the Priestess of the Goddess was shocked.

"Is everything okay, Sir Knight?"

"It’s nothing too serious."

Facing the Priestess of the Goddess’s anxious inquiry, Fang Zheng waved his hand. At the same time, he squinted his eyes and let out a faint hum.

"It’s just as well; I have some questions I want answered by them too."