Battle details

9:23 AM

Rin and Nocker had just woken up in bed, but Rin was gazing at Nocker with a very gentle look.

“Does your neck still hurt?”

“It stopped hurting a long time ago, but I really didn’t expect to get one-shotted. I guess I really shouldn’t underestimate gods… or maybe I’m just too weak as a human.”

“Don’t dwell on it too much. But more importantly, I need to stay on guard. Otherwise, if we run into another nasty god, you all could be in danger.”

“But I think it’s still best not to provoke most of them unnecessarily. Also, I’m not sure whether what we did yesterday was a blessing or a curse? According to Her Majesty, you two had quite the fight.”

“It really was quite the fight. Too bad I didn’t get to personally avenge you.”

“That’s okay. This still counts as experience. Besides, with how strong you are, I’m sure you can protect everyone just fine.”

“But remember, if enemies show up out of nowhere, don’t engage—especially if I’m not around. That way, the chances of staying safe are much higher.”

“Mm, let’s not chat for now. Should we check if Her Majesty and the others are awake? If they’re up, we can have breakfast together.”

Then the two of them got up, and Rin instantly reverted to her original form.

“Yep, my original body is definitely more comfortable.”

“Yeah, and since you look so cute, it really makes me want to hug you.”

“When I was sleeping, you were hugging me super tightly.”

“I won’t deny that. I do have a habit of hugging something while I sleep.”

“But it’s kind of nice like this. At least it gives a sense of peace—maybe because I don’t want to lose you all.”

“Same here. Although we haven’t known each other for that long, it feels like we’ve become pretty close.”

“Yeah! All for Her Majesty—I’ll never change on that. Though sometimes we run into some real headaches. Anyway, I’m gonna brush my hair—can you go check if Her Majesty is awake?”

“Sure.”

After arriving at Celine’s room, Nocker found Celine playing a game similar to Call of Duty at her computer, with Bella watching nearby.

Then Nocker walked over.

“Good morning, Your Majesty! Bella!”

“Good morning!”

“Morning!”

“Your Majesty, what are you playing?”

“I just randomly downloaded a game to try. By the way, are you feeling okay?”

“Don’t worry, I’m totally fine! But it turns out the super-regeneration power from Yuhai couldn’t keep up with the damage speed. I really need to be careful with unknown enemies from now on. Bella, you alright too?”

“I’m fine. But thinking back, it really was frustrating. Her Majesty has surpassed so many people. Other than Ailu, An Yue, and Eve—the top three—no one should be able to beat her. But we just had to run into a god of misfortune!”

“Let’s just treat it as a nightmare. Thankfully, it ended well. Next time something like this happens, it’s better not to fight. Less risk of trouble.”

“True. Honestly, I thought our strength could at least match lower-tier gods. And then there’s Mio—on the elven king level. She could wipe out all surface life… didn’t expect the difference to be so huge when facing a real god.”

“By the way, is Rin awake?”

“Already awake.”

“Then tell her we’re going to get some crab roe soup dumplings. My treat. Let’s also bring a portion back for Hiyokumaru.”

“Thank you, Your Majesty!”

Although she used the Law of Reason to create money, it was mostly coins—using paper money was risky since it’s easy to spot repeated serial numbers.

A little while later, everyone arrived at a soup dumpling shop. Celine ordered two boxes of crab roe soup dumplings for each person. Rin was curious.

“Your Majesty, why crab roe soup dumplings today?”

“I just really felt like eating them. Also, I remember my mom saying when I was a kid: eating delicious food helps you forget unpleasant things.”

“Fully support that, Your Majesty. It’d be even better if they were spicy.”

“You like spicy food?”

“Yeah, especially barbecue covered in extra spicy chili powder—that’s when it really hits the spot!”

“I can’t handle that much spice. But doesn’t Kiana like spicy food too?”

“Not sure about that…”

“Hey.”

Suddenly, a girl’s voice came from behind Rin. When she turned around, she saw a short silver-haired girl who looked about 17 years old—with green dragon-pupil eyes.

“Who are you?”

“A god on the same level as Ratel. I’m Karo. Hand over the little fox spirit.”

Everyone instantly became alert.

“You gods are so annoying! All this over a little fox?”

“Watch your tone. Unless you’re looking for a fight? That little fox was originally mine to raise, but Ratel wouldn’t hand it over. And now you mortals have it? You think I can’t take it back?”

But Rin noticed that Karo had no killing intent. She was just being unreasonable like a child.

“The problem is, we’re already raising her. Her name is Hiyokumaru now.”

“How about this—I’ll trade you a dragon egg. It can hatch a little dragon.”

“No need. We already have a dragon.”

“Really? Where?”

“You’re looking at her.”

Bella responded.

Karo used her divine eyes and realized she really wasn’t human—then froze up a bit.

“Why does your original form look like Beibei Dragon from Honkai Impact 3rd? Are my eyes under some kind of spell?”

“Think whatever you like.”

But Karo wasn’t ready to give up.

“The one that looks like Ichihime—how about I offer you a fortune for her? I mean it. Your country’s money. I’ll give each of you 10 billion.”

“You want her that badly? Is she some kind of rare species?”

“No, it’s just her fur color is really pretty. Besides, I already have my own house here in the human world. I can feed her lavishly every day—if you’re willing, I can take care of you for life too! And you’d live like millionaires.”

The more she spoke, the more ridiculous it sounded.

“No matter what you say, the answer is no. Of course, if you just want to see her or pet her, that’s fine. But you’ll have to tell me something about the heavens.”

“I get it. What do you want to know?”

“I could ask An Yue, but since you guys hang around heaven more, you should know more.”

“I need to clarify—I mostly live in the mortal world. Also, I’m only 20 years younger than An Yue. So you’re friends with her?”

“My little sister is her best friend. But about Ratel killing my friend yesterday—what are you guys gonna do about that? How will you compensate her?”

“Hold up. That has nothing to do with me. I would never kill anyone. I just wanted to take the little fox back as a pet.”

“Alright. But you can only look and touch. Your Majesty, you don’t mind, right?”

“I’ll leave that to you.”

“Hmm?”

Suddenly, Karo felt someone gently grab her head. She turned—and immediately broke into a cold sweat.

“L-Lady Anya?!”

“I was looking all over for you yesterday. Still want to cause trouble?”

“I just wanted a pet. They said no, and I’ve accepted that. But now I’ve got permission to look and touch.”

“Is what Kazami Ichihime said true?”

“It’s true. Also, I’m Rin—not that little brother-obsessed girl.”

“You’re just a queen-obsessed girl. Not surprising since you look exactly alike. Anyway, as long as everything’s fine, I can relax.”

“Don’t worry. But if most gods in heaven really have such poor character, why don’t the higher-ranking ones do something?”

But Karo just laughed playfully.

“That’s because it’s not against the rules. Just like how humans can be awful as long as they don’t break the law. We have laws too—but a lot of annoying gods are just extreme.”

“I want to file a complaint against the gods’ regulatory department. After all, my friend died at the hands of those damn gods.

It’s like a police officer arresting a criminal, and a random elementary school kid causes trouble—normally you’d just pull them away or ignore them. But a god outright kills them? That’s way too much.

Especially since the victim was underage.”

But Anya looked a bit confused.

“You’re not holding a grudge, are you? If you want compensation, I can fulfill your request anytime.”

“If it’s about compensation, ask Nocker. She’s the real victim.”

“Good point. So Nocker, what would you like?”

“I don’t want status or power—honestly, I don’t even really understand those things.

If I have to say, I’d just like to live the life of a rich young lady. And if I could have two maids, that would be perfect.”

“That simple?”

“Yeah. I’m not out here trying to rule the world. I just want an ordinary life in a wealthy household.

Oh, and one more small request—if I ever get fat, please help me slim down again. That’s all.”

Karo chuckled when she heard that.

“Students these days all seem to want the same thing.

Hey Ichihime—after you finish eating, let’s go to your house and check out that little fox. I just want to take a look and play with it for a bit, then I’ll leave.”

“Can you guys stop calling me Ichihime? I only have two names: Kamigoe Rin Wescott and Eleia!

Is it really that hard to remember them?”

“Sorry! It’s just—you look exactly the same.

Oh, and by the way, I quit my job tomorrow.”

“What does your resignation have to do with me?”

“Don’t you want the benefits of being close to a god like me?”

“No thanks.

By the way, with how young you look—you’re already working?”

“Not in the human world. I’m quitting my position as a god.

There are a few old fossils up there who keep arguing over nonsense. I can’t take it anymore.

I’m afraid I’ll end up just like them, so I decided to start living in the mortal world early.

Even Lady Anya said last time that she’s done with it all…”

At this, Anya’s expression changed.

“What do you mean by that?”

“An Yue and I met a while ago. We’re on good terms.

She told me that she’s just going to finish a few more years and then quit being a god.

She wants to enjoy life with her friends.”

“And what you’re saying now—you dare say it’s true?”

“Of course I do. She told me directly.

If you don’t believe me, go ask Lady Anya.”

“Do you know why?”

“Same reason as me.

Some positions restrict your freedom.

If you give up your rank, you’re actually freer.

And with how strong Lady An Yue is, what job could she not do?”

“I don’t need to ask to understand.

In simple terms, she just wants to slack off.

Just another irresponsible type—just like her father.”

“But Lady Anya, aren’t you the same?

Lady An Yue said ever since she was born, she’s only ever seen you living a mortal life.”

Anya didn’t deny it and simply sighed.

“No wonder her father so readily gave her the position.

Now father and daughter both want to slack off.”

“The thing is, Lady An Yue is still pretty young—just over 400 years old.

Wasn’t that a bit early to inherit the position? Didn’t she have a deputy?”

“A deputy… that’s a good idea!

Actually, I have someone in mind.”

“Even if you have someone, it doesn’t matter—she hasn’t resigned yet.

But Lady Anya, I have a favor to ask—if it’s okay.”

“Go ahead.”

“I want it to rain lightly in Tokyo for two days straight, starting from 2 PM.”

“Why?”

“A human friend of mine loves watching the rain.

He said if it rains for two days in a row, he’ll agree to go out with me.”

“You’ve got some guts… Dating is forbidden in heaven.

No wonder you’re quitting.”

“As expected from you, Lady Anya.

I already turned my boyfriend into a demigod—he’s immortal now, just like me.”

“And you’re just telling me that straight up? Aren’t you afraid I’ll report you and get you wiped out?”

“Relax.

Lady An Yue would never abandon me.

She and I teamed up a hundred years ago—we played together for decades.

If the higher-ups dare to make a move, she’d come charging in.”

“You’re using my daughter as a shield? That takes guts.”

“Helping out between friends is fine.

Besides, Lady An Yue hates those people too.

It’s only a matter of time before she acts—she’s just waiting for the right trigger.

If a friend’s life is in danger, she’ll fight to the end.

And I would too.”

“Why didn’t you resign today then?”

“I wanted to say goodbye to some old friends.

And I was planning to take the fox home today.

But given everything, I’ll let it go—I’ll go find another one.

This will be the last thing I do in the name of a god.”

But Nocker found it kind of interesting.

“So, after you resign, will you still have your powers?”

“Rank has nothing to do with actual strength.

Like, even if Lady An Yue stops being Queen of the Underworld, her power remains the same.”

“Then what’s your power like?”

“My rank is the strongest among lower gods, just like Ratel.

But my strength surpasses his by about fifty times.

I’ve even reached the level of some mid-to-high gods.

So taking something from you guys would be easy.

But since you’re just kids, I’ve been thinking about giving up.”

Rin wasn’t happy about that.

“Don’t treat us like kids!

We’re Apostles of Honkai!”

“Sounds like you’ve been playing Honkai Impact 3 too much.

That purple-haired one of yours looks like a baby blowfish.”

Celine acted like she didn’t hear it at all.

But then Rin’s phone suddenly rang. She answered.

“It’s me—Lin. Mio and I are joining a big-eater competition this afternoon.

If we finish the set meal within the time limit, we get 10,000 yen.

Want to come too?”

“What’s the food for the competition?”

“Curry pork cutlet rice.

But wait—who are you? Your voice sounds different.”

“It’s Rin. I just changed bodies…”

“You changed bodies?”

Karo tilted her head.

“So are you guys joining?”

“I’ll ask Her Majesty.

Your Majesty! Bella! Want to join a big-eater competition this afternoon? There’s delicious curry pork cutlet rice.”

“Sounds great!

We Herrschers are a bit different from ordinary people anyway.”

“If Her Majesty’s in, I’ll join too.”

“What about me?”

Nocker asked.

“Enhanced humans like you don’t need to ask—your appetite probably hasn’t changed.”

“I still want to join.”

“Fine. Lin! We’re in. Send me the time and location later.”

“Sure, but heads-up—Xiao Ya and the others are joining too.

That includes An Yue, Ai Lu, and Xiao An.”

“Damn, how did it attract so many people?”

“Simple—it tastes amazing.”

Anya chuckled softly on the side, then took Rin’s phone.

“Tell that silly daughter of mine—her mom’s joining too.

Lir probably won’t miss out either.”

“Got it.

By the way—have you seen Her Majesty?”

“What about her?”

“She said she was going to check out the food street, but she hasn’t come back yet.”

“She probably found something tasty and got stuck eating.”

“Maybe. Alright, I’ll stop here for now—hanging up.”

“Okay.”

After hanging up, Anya handed the phone back to Rin.

“I’m off.

Karo, be careful with your jokes.

I’ll handle the Tokyo rain request.”

“Understood!”

After Anya left, Karo got excited.

“Ichihime! Can I come with you to the big-eater competition? I want to eat too!”

“Pay your own entry fee.

Also, why are you still calling me Ichihime? Can’t you just call me Rin?”

“But you two look exactly the same! Same body and all!

Don’t you want to just embrace the role?”

“No thanks. Even if I wanted to be someone else, it’d be someone I actually like.

I prefer Black Seele.”

“Fine, fine.

But you guys finished those soup dumplings way too fast.

Why didn’t you say anything?”

“We eat and talk at the same time, since soup dumplings are bite-sized and go down quickly. Plus, we need to pack two boxes for Hiyokumaru.”

“Is there a portion for me? I didn’t bring any money, and if we become friends, it’ll be easier to treat each other.”

“I really admire you! You were planning to rob us, and now you’ve done a complete 360.”

“Aiya, don’t take it so seriously. Next time we meet, I’ll treat you to a deluxe pufferfish meal. Pufferfish is expensive and needs a specialized chef—one small mistake and it could be deadly.”

“You’ve had it before?”

“Very tasty and very fresh, especially with the special dipping sauce.”

“Your Majesty, would you like to try it?”

“As long as it tastes good, I’m in.”

“Alright then, I’ll go get you two boxes of crab roe soup dumplings.”

Although Karo finished eating everything in just three minutes, that amount was barely enough to fill a gap in her teeth. Then everyone headed back together.

After returning home, Hiyokumaru, in her fox form, immediately jumped onto Rin’s head.

“Hiyokumaru, your breakfast is ready! Come down and eat!”

Hiyokumaru then turned into Nocker’s form and started eating.

“So cute. Are you really not selling her?”

“You’re still thinking about that? I suggest you give up early.”

“Fine, but I thought this species only eats pure meat. Why would she eat the dumpling wrappers too?”

Hiyokumaru huffed.

“Depends on the individual. I eat exactly like humans. But in fox form, I eat less. In human form, I can eat much more.”

“Then can you turn into your fox form so I can pet you?”

“Only if you bring me something tasty next time. I’m not a fox spirit, but my personality is close to Yuhai’s.”

“You know that kissing maniac?”

“More or less. In fox form, we’re sometimes just like cats. Toss a fish, and we’ll go for it right away. I especially love black fish and tofu soup.”

“Foxes like black fish?”

Nocker was full of question marks.

“Yokai foxes and fox spirits aren’t regular foxes. Even regular foxes would eat it for survival if they have to.”

“I see. I better remember that.”

After a while, Hiyokumaru turned back into her fox form and ran over to Karo, letting her hug her.

“So adorable! Ichihime, what do you guys usually do to pass the time?”

“Depends on the situation.”

By now, Rin was basically used to being called Ichihime by Karo.

On the sofa, Celine came up with an idea.

“Karo, can you heal illnesses?”

“Of course. That’s easy for any god.”

“Then could you copy that ability and give it to us?”

“No problem. By the way, what’s your name again?”

“Celine. And the one next to me is Bella.”

“…Celine… Bella. Now that you mention it, you two really do resemble the characters from the Honkai Impact 3rd manga. What a coincidence. Plus, there’s Ichihime too. But the same names?”

“Nothing we can do about that.”

Celine didn’t plan on telling Karo her true identity—especially since what happened yesterday still left a shadow on her.

“Never mind then. My healing ability also includes wound recovery.

When fighting, it depends on whether your injuries are within the range of healing. You can also heal others.”

Then Karo shared the ability with everyone. Nocker touched her right eye, and her nearsightedness was instantly gone.

“Even nearsightedness? That’s amazing!”

“Of course. Some godly powers are incredible in the eyes of mortals.

Before I resign tomorrow, would you like to have a fight with me?”

“No thanks. I absolutely refuse to fight a god.”

“Alright, can’t force it. What about you, Ichihime?”

“I’ll pass too. I don’t want to cause trouble for Anya.”

(And I don’t want to reveal my true strength. But if it came to it, I’d show you the might of a Herrscher. With my current power, all Herrscher abilities are terrifying! Even with just the Herrscher of Ice, I could freeze the entire universe.)

“Sigh, fine then.”

Meanwhile, Mio and Yue Mio were soaking in the bath. Earlier, while out buying games, the road suddenly collapsed under them, and they fell into a hole, dirtying their clothes.

“Mio, I heard from Xiaoya that you’ve totally changed since coming to the original world.

Even when we fell into the pit earlier, you didn’t react at all.”

“It’s not that I changed. I’ve just been thinking.

Can everyone really adapt to life in our original world?

I need to observe carefully.”

“I see. But I wonder how Rin is doing?”

“Probably about the same.

Besides, I also like Her Majesty. You too, right?”

“I’m into the white-haired queen, actually.

But I really want a final-form Kiana.”

“I want a little bug, but now the game changed her into a firefly.”

“Still our little bug. This water’s pretty comfy though.”

“Want me to give you a massage?”

“No! Knowing you, one massage leads straight to H scenes.”

“We’re both ourselves. What’s the big deal?”

“It’s not a big deal, but you always go too far.

You sure love teasing Xiaoya.”

“Bullying a former big villain is kinda fun.

Besides, I’ve got that Cecilia-style soft heart.

Maybe I inherited that from Mom.”

Just then, the bathroom door opened and Shizuku walked in, joining them in the bath.

“So nice! Sis, you and Yue Mio are joining the big eater contest this afternoon, right?”

Shizuku still wasn’t used to calling Yue Mio “big sis,” so she just used her name.

“Yeah. Even if we eat that place into bankruptcy, it’s worth it. The food’s that good.”

“Same here. Shizuku, do you like the taste too?”

“Yup! Plus, we’re all having hotpot tonight.

Although Esther said it’d be even better if we added cod fillet.”

“Cod fillet? Mio loved that as a kid. Maybe that’s why Esther suggested it.”

“Probably. Esther already knows all my food preferences.

But even if everyone has my memories, they won’t really understand my thoughts.”

Yue Mio sighed.

“But really, everyone having your memories—are you sure it’s okay?”

“It’s fine. Without memories, modern life is way harder.

Passwords for games and bank cards can be changed.

And teaching each person individually would be a pain.

If absolutely necessary, Xiao An can erase some memories.”

“Sis, I suddenly had a thought. Would you be willing to hear it?”

“Sure, go ahead.”

“Do you still remember Naixue?”

“Of course. Four months before my car accident, even together we couldn’t beat her.

Why do you bring her up—are you planning revenge?”

“Something like that.

Back then, we both said we’d get her eventually.

A little harmless payback could be fun.”

“But picking on a normal person is kinda boring.

And I’m not really looking for revenge anymore. That was just angry talk back then.”

“I said harmless payback. I even have the right kind of drug.”

“If it’s just a laxative, we did that in childhood. It’s kinda boring now.”

“No, sis, you know what an aphrodisiac is, right?”

“I do. Where’d you get that stuff?”

“From the Sword Dance world. I’ve seen how it works.

It’s a liquid, but packed in an eyedrop-sized bottle.

Drop it on the floor, and when it shatters, the gas fills the air.

Inhale it and desire explodes to the max.”

“If there’s a boyfriend involved, it’d probably get wild. Or for yuri types.”

“So what do you plan to do afterward?”

“Let her go. The effect lasts 28 hours, and it’s kinda fun.

I’ve even sniffed it myself, but it has zero effect on me since I’m the Dark King.”

“Maybe the Elf King’s power is acting as a barrier.

By the way, have you ever tested it on one of our own?”

“Nope. Everyone’s on good terms—no need to mess with them.”

“True. Yue Mio, are you going too?”

“Nope.

Besides, Shizuku’s small birthday is coming up.

Shizuku, what do you want as a gift?”

“A cake is enough. No need for presents.”

“Speaking of cakes, Mio—any ideas?”

“I don’t know what kind of cake Shizuku likes.”

“No need for you two sisters to worry about that. The only cakes I like are chocolate or Black Forest cream cakes. As for ice cream, today I want to eat some Häagen-Dazs. We haven’t had it in about six or seven years.”

“Häagen-Dazs? I remember Mio got an upset stomach from eating too much of that.”

“Yeah, she ate way too much, but now it doesn’t matter how much we eat.”

“Then let’s take a bath, buy one for everyone, and also send some to Rin. But since Bella is a dragon, she might eat more, so let’s buy a few extra.”

“Alright!”

At 1:28 PM, Veynront of the Celestial Realm personally descended to the mortal world to investigate a mysterious power.

Although he visited the mortal realm five or six times a year, things felt particularly strange these past few days.

“I better investigate early before something happens.”

Veynront’s clothes instantly changed into a black suit, and he styled his hair similar to his older brother, looking like a middle-aged man in his 40s or 50s.

He arrived at a busy street and noticed how much livelier the human world had become. He strolled around casually.

Although the weather had turned cloudy, Veynront used his power to clear the skies. However, Anyame noticed this and intensified her own powers to bring back the rainy weather. Veynront noticed this shift.

(What’s Anyame doing? Maybe the flowers in her yard need watering? Whatever, arguing with her is pointless anyway.)

As he continued walking, Veynront spotted Karlo and Rin and their group, and he approached them.

“Karlo.”

Karlo turned around and immediately broke into a cold sweat—worse than when seeing Anyame.

“Lord Veynront?!”

“Relax. I’m only here to investigate the unknown energy. Are these your friends?”

“Yes. And by the way, Lord Veynront, I plan to resign from my godhood tomorrow. Lady Anyue has already approved.”

(Good thing he can’t read minds, or I’d be dead.)

“Approved by Anyue?”

“Yes, and I haven’t informed Heaven yet—it was originally planned for tomorrow. But I already told Lady Anyame.”

“Then I approve it as well. While we’re at it, who are these kids next to you? No ordinary humans have such immense power—I can sense it clearly.”

Rin smiled (in Mio’s body).

“That power was given to us by Anyame. Also, we’re childhood friends of Anyue, so Anyame takes good care of us.”

(Not exactly a lie—she really does treat us well.)

“Still fond of children, I see. By the way, Karlo, do you know anything about those strong mysterious powers that appeared recently?”

“Sorry, I don’t know either.”

“I do.”

Rin suddenly spoke.

“That was the full power released by me and Celine here. We moved to an uninhabited desert to test our powers. Afterward, Anyue came and told us she had broken through her limits, then showed us her power. That’s all—just a power test.”

“I see.”

But Rin discreetly pulled out her phone, pretending to check the time, and secretly sent a message through a temporal rift to Anyue and Anyame saying Veynront was with them and might cause trouble—asking them to distract him.

Coincidentally, the mother and daughter were nearby planning to attend the food competition, so they quickly realized where to go after seeing the message.

“But don’t worry. We only unleashed our power with Anyue’s permission. Otherwise, we’d have gone to another planet.”

“Good thing it was in the desert. Otherwise, with current human tech, they would have detected you. So, do you guys want to spar with me?”

“Can we not? We’re about to go to a food-eating competition. If we fight, we might pass out or run out of time and miss the contest.”

“Do you know who I am? Doesn’t my identity outweigh some eating contest?”

“I only listen to my Queen. Anyue already said she surpassed her father a long time ago. With such a powerhouse on our side, do you really think we’d be afraid? I am, after all, a Harbinger of the Fatui. Our Ice Queen is one of the Seven Archons of Teyvat.”

Nokel tried not to laugh.

(I’ve got a few friends who love calling themselves Harbingers.)

“You’re not from this world?”

“You could say that—except for Nokel here.”

“Alright then. If we really fought, it might turn into an interdimensional incident. That’d be a nightmare.”

“Veynront!”

Anyame and Anyue approached together.

“Anyame, Anyue—why are you here?”

“I sent these kids to participate in a food-eating contest. What are you doing here?”

“Investigating the sources of the unknown energy. But this gray-haired girl says she’s a Harbinger from Teyvat and that her master is the Ice Queen, one of the Seven.”

Anyame burst out laughing.

“Are you trying to kill me with laughter? Because if you want, I am the Ice Queen.”

“…?”

“Enough about that—did you do anything to these kids?”

“I tried to spar with them, but got rejected. It’s the first time someone who knows my identity has refused me.”

Rin smirked.

“My patron deity is from another world. Why should I listen to you? Besides, I’m not that strong. If we fight, I’d lose anyway. You’re just bullying kids.”

Even though Rin said it playfully, she really did want to stay low-key.

Anyue pulled Rin’s hand.

“Let’s go. Leave this to my mom.”

“Alright, Queen! Let’s move!”

“Mhm!”

Since Celine and the others had Mio’s memories, they understood Veynront was the leader of the gods that Eve had mentioned—so they avoided unnecessary talk or attention.

After the group left, Veynront sighed.

“How much do you love kids? You casually let them use divine power.”

“Veynront, don’t you get it? It’s a new era—young people’s time. And isn’t your daughter the one who hates you? All those annoying rules are pointless. We’re doing better than you are.”

“But some rules are necessary. You know what happened back then.”

“Your brother is different from you. Stronger than you and with a much more relaxed attitude (he slacks off). That makes him better than you.”

“Sigh… but soon, there’s going to be a full divine meeting. This time, it’s a vote—to decide which rules to keep or remove. Are you attending?”

“Of course. Don’t forget one rule: if you want to change a law, you can do it with strength—by defeating the one who made it.”

“Are you suggesting you could beat me?”

“Take a guess. Anyway, I’ve got a food competition to attend. Go finish your investigation.”

“Fine. But I have a warning for you.”

“A warning? Haven’t heard you say that in a thousand years. What are you warning me about?”

“That gray-haired girl—be careful. The evil energy in her is more terrifying than even our divine power.”

“Don’t worry about it. I gave her that power—I know it better than you do.”

(What’s there to fear about Honkai energy? Besides, Lier and I now have all the Herrscher powers—though none of them know yet.)

“Alright then, I’ll be off.”

A while later, Anyame arrived at the restaurant and noticed fewer people than expected. Lier, who had arrived early, greeted her.

“We all tasted a bit of the competition curry rice, and it’s seriously delicious.”

“Why are there so few people? I thought everyone was already here.”

Anyame scanned the crowd. She saw Lier, Eve, Anyue, Elu, Ren, Alexander, Mio, Shizuku, Lin, Celine, Bella, Karlo, Nokel, Kamine, Rin, Yue Mio, and two unfamiliar black-haired girls.

“Some people don’t have a big appetite. Besides, there’s still ten minutes before it starts. If you finish the giant plate of curry rice within an hour, it’s free and you get prize money.”

“I see. So Alexander, Ren—why are you two here?”

“Never had this kind of food before. And we’ve got pretty big appetites.”

“I agree.”

“Perfect timing for me to try it too. Boss, can I have a glass of cola?”

“Sure!”

Since they were gods, drinking cola wouldn’t affect their stomachs. Even overeating could instantly be converted into energy to fuel their bodies.

Then the contest began, and the shop owner brought each person a massive bowl of curry rice, topped with several pork cutlets.

“Wow! So much!”

Xi Lin took a bite of the curry and rice, and the moment it entered her mouth, she was shocked.

“So delicious!”

Lil also took a few bites and immediately understood — this curry was of top-tier flavor. She secretly used mind reading on the chef and found that he had indeed gone all out. The knife skills, heat control, and cooking were all flawless.

“Anya, it’s been a long time since you’ve had this kind of flavor, right?”

“Yes, and the spiciness of this curry is also just right. But Noke’er, are you sure you can finish it?”

“Don’t worry! Lately, my consumption has been huge. Ever since I ate that so-called ‘Underworld Fruit,’ my appetite has grown. Maybe it’s because my strength increased and so did the energy burn.”

“Good to hear! But why are you here too, Caro?”

“Thought I’d have a good meal the day before quitting. It felt like a good choice, plus I’ve become friends with Rin and the others.”

“Making friends while you’re young is a good thing. Boss, two more colas please.”

“Coming right up!”

“Ma’am, don’t you know that drinking carbonated drinks in eating contests is a big no-no? Too much gas in the stomach could mess things up.”

“Who do you think I am? You think I’m human?”

“Wouldn’t dare.”

“She’s got a bit of that cringey magical girl energy.”

Anyue threw in a casual jab.

“You’re not much better.”

After a while, everyone had finished their curry rice — all within 20 minutes. The shop owner was a little stunned. He didn’t expect such young girls to have such massive appetites.

(This is bad. I’m definitely losing money this time.)

Then, as per the rules, the owner handed out the prize money, though Bella still didn’t feel full.

Mio looked at the menu.

“Boss, do you have a takeout card? I’m thinking of ordering some curry rice later for my friends at home.”

“Sorry, no cards. But if you search ‘Tete Curry King’ on your delivery app, you’ll find our store.”

“Great.”

At that moment, Caro stood up and stretched.

“I feel so satisfied. Ichihime, got any plans this afternoon?”

“Not really. After a big meal, it’s easy to get sleepy. I’m planning to take a nap. If you want to hang out, let’s do it tomorrow.”

“Why do you call her Ichihime?”

Mio asked curiously.

“Because her other body looks exactly like Kazami Ichihime.”

“Hey, don’t go saying that outside. Regular people could really get the wrong idea.”

“Got it.”

As everyone was getting ready to leave, Kamine whispered something in Noke’er’s ear, and Noke’er nodded.

“Leave it to me.”

“Thanks.”

Then everyone went their separate ways, while Rin and the others felt a bit bored wandering the street.

“Noke’er, why aren’t you going back?”

“Nothing to do at home anyway. Might as well hang with you guys.”

“By the way, what did Kamine say to you earlier?”

“She said she wanted to spar with me sometime. Said we’re both just enhanced regular people, so we might be evenly matched. So I agreed.”

“You think you can win? She was crazy strong even before eating the Underworld Fruit.”

“She ate one too? Then how do I even fight that?”

“Relax, it’s just sparring. Should be just friendly, not serious.”

“Let’s hope so. Hey, Your Majesty, what did you think of the curry?”

“It was amazing! If there’s another event like that, I’m definitely going again!”

“I actually have an idea — not sure if it’ll work.”

“Let’s hear it.”

“Rin, why don’t you message Elu, Eve, Anyue, Lil, and Anya — ask if there’s a way to analyze the curry recipe? Then we could make it ourselves.”

“Great idea! Then we can have that flavor right at home. Rin, go ahead and message them.”

“Yes, Your Majesty!”

But just a minute later, Lil replied:

“You guys can’t. I already mind-read the chef. He went all in — top-notch cooking, precise control of heat, flawless knife skills. The ingredients were also high quality. Honestly, you guys don’t stand a chance. If you really want to learn, master all those skills first. Otherwise, you’ll never recreate the flavor. I could use divine power to copy it, but even then, it wouldn’t match freshly made.”

Xi Lin sighed.

“She’s got a point. By the way, Rin, did you cook back when you were a witch?”

“Rarely. I didn’t need to eat or drink. Mostly I just played with humans.”

“Now that you say that… I never thought about food or fun when I was out wiping out humans. Now I finally understand — if all humans were wiped out, I’d probably die of boredom.”

“For me, I’d just hop to another world. Play around until I cross a line and someone comes to stop me.”

“Feng Leiyin, is there really nothing you can do to stop her?”

“It’s hard to say. I have ways to make myself stronger, but whether I can surpass her… who knows. She says I can rule the world, just not destroy it.”

“So do you actually want to rule the world?”

“Of course! But it’d take tens of thousands of years, one planet at a time, just to conquer a single galaxy. Also, I’m not sure if you all have memory wear-and-tear issues. I don’t, at least.”

“Then what’s your so-called ideal world?”

“Super simple. As long as I can stay with Her Majesty and everyone else, I’m good. Ideally, we have anime, novels, games — and for food, anything tasty is fine with me.”

“Same here. We really are in sync. But I guess all of us dying once counts as a life experience.”

“Yeah. Anyway, let’s head home. This drizzle is kind of annoying.”

Back at the house, Rin noticed Hiyokumaru was gone. On the table was a note:

“I went to Yuhai to hang out for a while. Soon, a lot of fox spirits and yokai will be gathering, and I don’t want to miss the party. If I find anything good, I’ll bring it back.”

“What are a bunch of foxes doing at a party anyway? Whatever — more importantly, what’s for dinner tonight? Your Majesty, any cravings?”

“Can’t think of anything. Got any recommendations?”

“How about the four of us head to Xiao Feng’s world? Noke’er and I went there before and tried some delicious drinks we’d never had. If we stayed there long-term, we might get to try even more new stuff.”

“Sounds good. Noke’er, Bella, what do you two think?”

“I’m bored anyway. I’ll tag along.”

“I’ll follow Your Majesty’s lead.”

“Alright then — I’ll take a nap, and then we head out!”