Chapter 41

Chapter 41

Look! We must watch it!

Not only will they watch it, but they’ll also save it to watch again, download it to watch again, and take screenshots while watching!

After all, who knows when they’ll get another chance to see His Highness Philo moving?

With hearts pounding and hands trembling, the crowd accessed the military academy’s official website with a sense of reverence.

The annual traffic of the Kalms Military Academy’s website probably couldn’t compare to the traffic it received in just one hour at this moment. Soon after the response was posted, the academy’s website crashed under the overwhelming surge of clicks.

Before the frustrated insects could start complaining, the Geshaluolin Family, responsible for the Star Network’s operations, promptly dispatched Tech insects to fix the issue, barely stabilizing it.

At last, the insects were finally able to access the two videos released by the academy.

Yes, the footage published by the Kalms Military Academy was divided into two parts. One video showed Philo taking the theoretical exam, while the other captured his performance in the individual combat assessment.

Following the chronological order, most insects clicked on the first video—the one featuring the A-grade male taking the theoretical exam.

Unlike the combat assessment, the theoretical exam footage only showed Philo alone.

Moreover, since the recording came from the academy’s high-level proctoring system, the video was exceptionally clear—so clear that the exam questions were visible. The camera angle was also extremely close, allowing viewers to catch glimpses of the male insect’s partially exposed collarbones.

The delicate, pink-tinged contours resembled polished jade.

...

“Which fool authorized this video?! Didn’t the Kalms Military Academy send this to the Tulas Family for approval before releasing it? How dare they let those common females see this?! Are they even worthy?!”

Shattering a rare artifact with his palm, Siluan’s face alternated between pale and flushed the moment he opened the video.

Already in a foul mood due to the online chatter—though he disliked Philo, facts were facts—Siluan had long known about Philo’s plans to take the Kalms Military Academy’s entrance exam. Not only was he aware of the application, but he also knew Philo had been studying diligently in preparation.

Yes, studying.

Even though Siluan had mocked him endlessly, the truth was that after the last banquet, Philo had secluded himself, focusing entirely on his studies—even postponing their promised meeting until after the exam.

While Siluan didn’t know how well Philo had performed, he was certain that, given the latter’s inflexible pride, he would never resort to cheating.

With a cold snort, the black-haired male insect’s expression darkened further.

It seemed some insects truly thought they could take advantage of Philo’s good temper. Did they really believe all male insects were the same? These low-level males couldn’t even provide proper psychic stabilization, yet they were quick to fight for resources and prestige.

But why didn’t they dare provoke other A-grade male insects? Probably because they knew that even as male insects, they’d face severe consequences if they crossed the wrong high-level male.

Well, good. His temper wasn’t as forgiving as Philo’s.

Narrowing his eyes, the black-haired male insect glared at the video again.

Meanwhile, though Siluan planned to teach those troublemakers a lesson, the female insects and Subfemales couldn’t help but feel a perverse gratitude toward the anonymous male insects who had questioned Philo.

Ahhhhhh—

Wuuuuuu—

What incredible fortune were they witnessing?!

This wasn’t just an exam video—it was their future dinner viewing, stress relief, sleep aid… the kind of video they’d take to their graves!

Just look at His Highness Philo’s perfectly shaped collarbones, his exquisitely sculpted profile, those occasionally lowered amethyst eyes, and lips as red as the most vibrant Silk Flower.

This… this was really something they were allowed to see?!

The insects, who had somehow turned a military academy exam video into something resembling illicit material, found their breathing growing heavier even through the screen. Some, overwhelmed with excitement, gulped down entire bottles of ice water, as if that could quell their uncontrollable emotions.

At this point, most had completely forgotten that the video was meant to prove Philo had genuinely taken the exam himself.

Seriously, who cared about neutron-quantum material science when they could be staring at His Highness Philo, who looked like a divine incarnation of the Insect God? Only fools would focus on boring numbers and text instead of that face!

Clenching their fists, the self-respecting viewers barely spared a glance at the exam questions, at most admiring the male insect’s slender, bamboo-like fingers. Anything beyond that? Sorry, conveniently ignored.

Unaware that most female insects were practically mesmerized, the main instigators—male insects who couldn’t care less about Philo’s looks—focused solely on his test-taking performance.

First, the exam pod was monitored, ruling out cheating. Second, the screen showed only questions—no hints or answers. Philo was clearly thinking through each problem before answering.

Finally, glancing at the exam content, the male insects raised in the Alliance assumed they’d know more than Philo, who grew up on a frontier planet. Yet, faced with the questions, they could only blink in confusion.

The universe was just… the universe, right?

Planets were just… planets, right?

What did any of this have to do with the Doth-Carven formula? And what was the point of calculating particle motion’s Kasu value? Could you eat it? Wear it?

What kind of nonsense was this?! No wonder the Kalms Military Academy’s proctors were idiots!

The male insect’s academic underperformers had come to pick a fight, only to end up overcome by frustration.

But not all male insects were academic failures. While astrophysics, material science, and military theory weren’t universally taught, some curious males had studied these fields. Even those who hadn’t could use AI devices to identify the answers in real time.

Soon, many realized that while Philo had gotten many questions wrong, he’d also answered many correctly.

Considering he’d only returned from the frontier planet a few months ago, even the most reluctant males felt a flicker of grudging respect.

Well… insects naturally admired strength.

Just as low-level female insects instinctively gravitated toward high-level females, forming groups around them, low-level male insects also observed high-level males, subconsciously aligning themselves to fit into their social circles.

Currently, the A-grade male insects in the capital—whether it was Siluan from the Qi Mengtu Family, Ya Jin from the Qiankesilan Family, or even the notorious Qi Limei from the Sakhoff Family—had all naturally attracted clusters of lower-level males.

If Philo Tulas hadn’t been lost on that frontier planet as a child, he probably would have…

Tsk-ing, the male insects couldn’t help but speculate wildly.

But compared to these strangers who were strangely agitated, the insects who actually knew Philo remained relatively calm.

Yi Jia Fa watched his son focus on the exam, feeling a surge of pride—this studious manner was clearly inherited from him. When he was serious, he was just as intelligent and charismatic.

Gore noticed that Philo had nailed all the key concepts he’d emphasized during their lessons and allowed himself a smile.

Shang Ling was currently in a meeting at the prosecutorial bureau and shouldn't technically have time to watch the video. But upon closer inspection, it was obvious the female insect had surreptitiously streamed, his eyes barely moving as he covertly watched the footage. Notably, several junior female insects in the office were similarly occupied.

However, the first to see the video wasn’t Philo’s family, nor the impatient onlookers—it was Li Wei.

Li Wei, full name: Li Wei Geshaluolin, came from a family whose corporate holdings encompassed the StarNet and its subsidiary ventures, including the hologame set in the Viridescent Algae system that Philo loved.

Recently, since Philo's gaming had dwindled, Li Wei had speculated about waning interest. But then, mere days prior, news of Philo’s military academy candidacy had broken across the networks.

Although Li Wei had noticed that His Highness was unusual during their first gaming session together, he never expected the prince to be this extraordinary.

A male insect—one who’d turn and flee at the sight of a star beast in the game and couldn’t even handle a gun at first—actually wanted to enroll in a military academy?

The female insect frowned, baffled by his choice.

When Kalms Military Academy announced the assessment results and the news of Philo’s admission sparked a firestorm of debate, whether out of curiosity or the camaraderie they’d built lately, Li Wei jumped on the video as soon as it dropped, even before it passed review.

Though he hadn’t finished watching the first segment yet, it was evident from what he’d seen so far that Philo had genuinely proved himself on his own merit.

Realizing this, the female insect found himself staring at the male insect’s focused gaze in the video, spaced out. This prince… was seriously odd, and indeed seemed different from other male insects.

At this thought, he couldn’t help but zone out while watching the video. And right now, he wasn’t the only one staring at Philo in a daze—in fact, the number of insects doing the same was uncountable.

But soon, as the first segment of the video ended and the screen abruptly turned black, it was as if the Insect God had hit pause.

All the insects who had been gazing dreamily at the smiling male insect in the video suddenly froze, their smiles stiffening.

As if snapping out of it, they rubbed their stiffened faces and, without hesitation, dove straight into the second segment of the video.

After all, the second segment featured the individual combat assessment conducted in the holographic simulation system. Even if His Highness Philo was only participating as an observer, the mere thought of him possibly wearing a military uniform was enough to hype the crowd up.

Soon, the second segment began playing, and the screen flickered back to life.

As if on cue, the first image that appeared was the male insect dressed in the academy’s black cadet gear after entering the holographic system.

It wasn’t a formal military uniform—after all, none of the participants were official cadets yet. But even so, the sight of the male insect in the black cadet outfit made many female insects’ eyes widened in shock.

Unlike military uniforms, which were tailored for solemnity and rigidity, the cadet uniform had a more casual design.

Especially against the wild backdrop in the video, the male insect in the black cadet uniform stood motionless, the desert winds lifting his collar as it brushed against his slightly raised chin. Lowering his gaze slightly, his eyes brimmed with a mix of wild intensity and cool composure.

Watching this scene, the insects felt as if they were locking eyes with the male insect in the video, their hearts stuttered.

This kind of male insect… really fit someone who’d grown up solo on a barren planet.

Unconsciously, someone seemed to mutter this thought under their breath.

But at this moment, the words that had once been meant to mock the prince no longer had lost its bite—instead, they sounded almost like… praise?

Biting their lips, as if unable to believe their own reactions, many male insects looked away, flustered. In contrast, the majority clenched their fists, glued to the screen.

As the sand whipped around, the insect in the video didn’t remain still for long.

Soon, a display screen appeared before the male insect, spelling out two strict rules he had to follow during the assessment.

Unlike their disinterest in the theoretical exam questions earlier, the crowd now caught attention to see what restrictions Kalms Military Academy had imposed on Philo.

They didn’t have to look for long—the instructions were brief. But after reading them, many couldn’t help but frown.

Barring His Highness from meddling with other participants’ assessments was one thing, but why insist he complete the entire simulation? Wasn’t the point just to let him observe? Why be so strict?

Moreover, the academy had chosen a desert terrain for the simulation. How could they throw His Highness into such a brutal setup for an extended period? There was even a note stating that if the prince "died," he’d be automatically ejected without penalty.

Like that’s the damn problem! Even if it was a virtual scenario, daring to let His Highness suffer distress would land Kalms Military Academy in court, thanks to their class-action suit!

The insects shook their heads, brushing it off the possibility of such an outcome, assuming the warning was merely a formality.

And while the academy’s refusal to let the prince withdraw freely seemed disrespectful, it also meant they’d get to see more of him.

This thought got them pumped again.

In the video, the male insect quickly finished reviewing the mission details and prepared to set off.

Unfazed and without hesitation—despite the audience’s outrage for his sake—he adapted well and soon began his trek.

With his silver hair tousled by the wind, the newly embarked male insect moved with a brisk, easy stride, showing no signs of discomfort in the harsh simulated environment.

Drawn in by his calm demeanor, the crowd momentarily forgot about his circumstances.

Time bled away like sand. Against the desolate desert backdrop, the silver-haired male insect in black cut a tall, lean figure.

Unlike many lazy, pudgy male insects nowadays, the young prince’s frame was lean and well-proportioned, even in the loose cadet uniform.

Perhaps it was the vast emptiness of the desert or the wind’s dull roar, but as they watched Philo walking alone across the sands, the insects couldn’t help but drift off again.

Was this… what his life had been like before?

On a barren planet, with no other insects, no entertainment, no safe haven—just endless solitude and hardship.

Their chests tightened.

Watching the narrow-waisted, thin-shouldered male insect slow his pace from exhaustion, his forehead slick with sweat under the scorching sun, some insects quietly fought back tears, fists tightening.

What were male insects?

Their lifespans were far shorter than female insects’. Even with female insects dying yearly from Psychic Outbreaks, male insects were dwindling in number.

They were precious treasures to be cherished, yet for the sake of the race’s survival, they had to rely on male insects’ psychic energy—only to watch them disappear bit by bit.

And this prince, this very prince whom all female insects and subfemales were taught from birth to protect—how could he go through that kind of hell?

Even if it was virtual, it was unacceptable.

Gritting their teeth, the viewers flooded Kalms Military Academy’s page, risking bans to rage-post.

"Kalms Military Academy, go to hell! The admissions team must have rotten hearts! Making His Highness trek alone through a desert—you got a death wish or what?!"

"Holy shit! From now on, I’m beating up every insect from your academy! You all deserve to die!"

"Has your admissions team never heard of the Male Insect Protection Regulations? I’ve filed a complaint with the Male Insect Management Committee. Apologize to His Highness Philo immediately!"

"Which idiot put His Highness in the desert zone? Show yourself! I’ll teach you what respecting male insects means!"

"Moronic academy! Brain-dead staff! You’re all worthless!"

Unlike the calm or excitement during the first segment, now, seeing the prince trudging alone under the blistering sun with a heavy pack, barely any insect could suppress their rage.

It wasn’t just the female insects and subfemales flooding the academy’s site with insults—even the male insects watching fell silent.

Initially, many had admired Philo’s cadet uniform and considered getting one themselves. But now, seeing him grow increasingly weary, his hair matted with sweat and sand, they couldn’t help but sober up.

Though male insects competed and clashed among themselves, externally, they stood united. And after the earlier footage, even the most reluctant had to admit—this Tulas family male insect… had done them proud.

Given the uproar, if Philo had truly relied on privilege to enter Kalms Military Academy, while he’d be mocked, it would also reinforce the stereotype of male insects being incompetent.

Though this stereotype wasn’t entirely unfounded, male insects, who prized their dignity above all, still hated the idea—even if female insects wouldn’t dare say it aloud and would still flock to them.

Fortunately, this Philo from the Tulas family had saved face for them. While some male insects seethed with envy, others who’d come out of curiosity were pleased with the outcome.

But if the male insects were pleased to see the theoretical assessment scene, the scene in the combat assessment video made them see red.

What does Kalms Military Academy mean by this? Do they think the male insect from the Tulath family is easy to bully just because he just got back and seems easygoing?

An assessment is an assessment—it’s understandable if the theoretical part is strict. But what’s the meaning of this combat assessment? They claim it’s just a practice match, yet they go so far as to bully a male insect?!

Without hesitation, though not angry enough to rage online, the male insects couldn’t help but curse aloud. They also called in their head and deputy aides from the Male Insect Management Committee, demanding they quickly check whether Kalms Military Academy’s actions violated the Male Insect Protection Regulations.

If they did, hmph, they’d show these jerks that not every male insect is as easy to push around as Philo!

Unaware that he was now considered "easy to bully," Philo had neither the mood nor the energy to deal with the reactions from all sides. In the main hall of the Tulath residence, Yi Jia Fa was already fuming after watching the video and even wanted to storm into the military academy to teach those ignorant, disrespectful instructors a lesson.

Grabbing Yi Jia Fa’s arm to stop him from charging out, Philo was so exasperated he could barely speak.

When Kalms Military Academy had asked for permission to release the assessment videos to prove fairness, he had agreed. He’d also anticipated that Yi Jia Fa would likely be furious upon seeing the combat assessment video.

But considering it was just a virtual assessment from days ago and he was now safely in the mansion, Philo had still consented.

Who knew Yi Jia Fa would get this angry just seeing him sweat a little in the video? If things continued like this, it would only get worse…

Frowning, Philo forced Yi Jia Fa back down into his chair, trying to figure out how to persuade him to stop watching. But it was clear there was no chance of that now.

Fortunately, the video soon showed Philo having walked a considerable distance, with subtitles indicating he was about to encounter other female examinees. This slightly calmed the viewers, who reluctantly refocused on the video.

And then…

*Thud!*

An incredibly grotesque star beast dropped from the sky, almost crushing the male insect.

At the same time, a female insect in the distance raised her plasma rifle—aiming precisely at the star beast.

Which also happened to be right where the male insect stood.

Everyone: ...

Goddamn Kalms Military Academy, are you trying to get your academy shut down today?!

Author’s Note:

Ducking for cover—I saw your comments wanting more updates, so here’s an early release today.

But I’ve been crazy busy recently, just scraping by with daily posts with no buffer chapters. I’ll try to add more chapters when I catch a break.

Also, no extra updates today. I’ll see if I can fit some extra in after these busy days—now making my escape…