"Miyano Shiho's parents are really impressive. They could actually create such a bizarre drug," Sanzenin Nagi couldn't help but sigh.
"It's honestly strange that scientists like them weren't taken seriously."
"Nagi, I think it has a lot to do with development funding. Developing a drug like that probably isn't cheap, and Miyano Shiho's parents clearly didn't have that kind of money," Ren replied.
"Plus, this kind of research is nearly impossible to monetize."
Nagi thought it over for a moment and then nodded in agreement.
"That's true. Even if the drug is successfully developed, it's not something you can profit from."
"People dream of drugs that restore youth and extend life, but if such a drug were ever made public, it would cause global chaos. At worst, it could even start a war."
Ren smiled and nodded at her reasoning.
"If a drug like that really existed, it would definitely stir things up. But even if it did, it would only extend lifespan, not grant true immortality."
"After all, the number of cell divisions in the human body is limited. I don't know the exact mechanism of the drug, but I'm pretty sure it just temporarily rejuvenates the body. At best, it could increase the number of cell divisions."
"So even if you took the drug and turned from an old man into a child like Kudo, it wouldn't actually reverse your lifespan. At most, you'd get a few extra decades, aging backward from old age to adolescence, improving your quality of life."
"Yeah, that makes sense," Nagi said, nodding. From a scientific standpoint, she felt that life extension and rejuvenation were far more realistic.
"Amamiya even if we wanted to live forever, it wouldn't be that easy, would it?"
Ren nodded slightly.
"To truly achieve immortality by your own strength, you'd need to at least reach the level of a demigod. From our perspective, as we grow stronger, we gradually drift away from being ordinary humans."
"We're steadily advancing in power, and fundamentally changing who we are—that's the beginning of becoming immortal."
"But stepping into the realm of demigods isn't easy."
"Even if you had the chance to attain immortality, it's still extremely difficult. That's why I think Miyano Shiho's parents were a bit too idealistic. At best, their drug can extend life and rejuvenate the body. Immortality? That's just wishful thinking."
Ren had never denied the potential of technology. However, he also believed that human immortality could not be solved with a couple of pills.
At the very least, unless humanity can solve the issue of limited cell division, the lifespan barrier cannot be broken.
Although Ren explained it from his own perspective, Miyano Shiho's parents probably believed the drug could still be improved to create a perfect version—one that could overcome cellular limits.
He took out the maple leaf coin from Sefirah Castle and flicked it with his thumb. The coin spun in the air before landing in his palm, face side up.
"Looks like my guess was right."
"Even if APTX4869 is perfected, it can only prolong life at best."
He flipped the coin again, and once again, it landed face side up.
"This is the limit."
Ren lightly shook his head and put the maple leaf coin back into Sefirah Castle.
"Technology's ceiling is life extension. It can't completely stop the natural cycle of cell division."
"Only by introducing new variables to science can we go beyond mere longevity and approach eternal life."
The girls present understood that the variable he spoke of was the mystical.
But that kind of mysterious variable would never be added to normal scientific methods. At least, not unless there was cooperation. Without it, such variables would never be integrated.
"Immortality is definitely a complicated topic, but it's one that every era obsesses over," Nagi said, shaking her head. She wasn't too disappointed. After all, if just two pills could solve humanity's greatest problem, it would be too easy.
"Let's drop the topic for now. We're still just teenagers. We don't need to be worrying about immortality."
That made all the girls laugh.
True enough, the average age among them was under 20. Why worry about such a distant issue?
"We were just talking about the popular characters in Ran and Sonoko's stories. So, are there any popular characters in my story and Shinomiya's story?"
Nagi changed the subject again, but this one gave Ren a slight headache.
"The popular characters in Kaguya's story mostly revolve around her. There aren't many surprises. I think the most popular one is probably Hayasaka."
"As for your story… I think you already know who the top character is, right, Nagi?"
Hearing Ren say that, Nagi immediately understood who he meant.
"Katsura Hinagiku, right?"
Ren nodded.
"The student council president won both popularity polls. And both times, her votes were more than double the second place. You could call it a landslide victory."
"Apart from Hinagiku, the only one who might surpass her is Athena from Tenou Academy. She's just as talented and knowledgeable, with athletic skills superior to Hinagiku's. She even outclassed Saginomiya in some aspects and was the first person to make her taste defeat."
"Though the others are popular too, none come close to those two in terms of strength and appeal."
Suddenly thinking about the topic of popularity, Ren glanced at Maria, who was sitting next to Nagi.
"Also, Miss Maria ranked second in both previous popularity polls, consistently ahead of Sanzenin."
(To be continued.)