[Chika Fujiwara (Level 7, Stage 2): Now there's just one last newcomer left to be dealt with. But this one hasn't said anything at all. @Ellen (Level 1, Stage 2)]
[Yuuki Asuna (Level 7, Stage 2): Not true, I saw her speak in the group earlier. But she hasn't said a single word since the memory recording was uploaded.]
[Arche (Level 7, Stage 2): Maybe she's still processing the contents of the memory recording?]
[Ruri Gokou (Level 7, Stage 2): I think it's more than that. Probably realized her villainous persona got exposed and doesn't know what to say now. laugh.jpg]
[Eriri (Level 8, Stage 9): @Ellen (Level 1, Stage 2), come out and have a talk. You should know the conditions for staying in the group by now. What happens next depends on your own choice.]
[Eriri (Level 8, Stage 9): Oh, and don't even think about lying to me. The consequences will be serious.]
[Kyoko (Level 2, Stage 7): Uwah, so scary, so scary! If I went back on what I said before, wouldn't I be in big trouble?!]
[Eriri (Level 8, Stage 9): Would you go back on your word?]
[Kyoko (Level 2, Stage 7): Of course not~ Hehe.]
[Eriri (Level 8, Stage 9): Alright, enough messing around. Time for serious talk.]
[Eriri (Level 8, Stage 9): Tell us what you're thinking. You can't run from this. If you keep staying silent, I'll have to kick you out of the group.]
[Ellen (Level 1, Stage 2): ...]
[Ellen (Level 1, Stage 2): I have nothing more to say. Just remove me from the group chat. I won't give up on my revenge against humanity.]
[Ruri Gokou (Level 7, Stage 2): Called it. That kind of vengeance obsession isn't easy to erase.]
[Azusa (Level 7, Stage 1): That's a shame. Ellen looked pretty cute in the memory recording too.]
[Eriri (Level 8, Stage 9): Alright, so be it.]
[Eriri (Level 8, Stage 9): Same as always, just don't mess with me. Otherwise, I won't be so nice next time~]
[Ding! Ellen (Level 1, Stage 2) has been removed from the group chat.]
...
Feeling the chat group disappear from her mind without a trace, Ellen finally let out a sigh.
She had actually planned to pretend to give up on her revenge against humanity just to stay in the chat group. Leaving DEM temporarily wouldn't have been out of the question.
From the memory recording, it was clear that even thirty years later, their revenge plan hadn't succeeded.
But if she stayed in the chat group, she was confident she could gain power surpassing that of the Spirit of Origin within ten years.
This belief came from the fact that all the veteran members were at least Level 7, Stage 1 or higher.
Once she gained the power to easily annihilate humanity, she would launch her revenge.
At that point, even if Eriri killed her for lying, it would still be worth it.
But looking at Eriri's warning, she ultimately chose not to deceive.
She was afraid that Eriri might take her anger out on Karen, Elliot, and Isaac if she found out.
If the goal of revenge could be achieved, she didn't care what happened to herself. But she definitely didn't want to see the few comrades she considered family die with her.
After sorting out her emotions, Ellen left her room.
She was now eager to inform Isaac about the chat group and memory recording, and also prepare for Elliot's impending betrayal.
If she couldn't use the group to gain power, then they would have to rely on the future knowledge to give DEM an advantage.
As for Eriri's final warning, she didn't take it seriously at all.
After all, their target for revenge was the humans of their own world—not Eriri.
What's more, through Eriri's earlier conversation with Kyoko, she had come to understand that Eriri wasn't the type to make saving the world her mission—so there was no reason they would ever cross paths with her.
...
[Arifureta (Level 7, Stage 2 / Group Leader): Four newcomers and three are gone just like that. Feels like we added them for nothing.]
[Yuuki Asuna (Level 7, Stage 2): The time gap between new members joining is way too long now. I really miss the early days when a batch would join every few days.]
[Chika Fujiwara (Level 7, Stage 2): Totally agree. Yue-chan, why not ask Skirt-chan to bring in another batch of newbies?]
[Arifureta (Level 7, Stage 2 / Group Leader): That's actually a good idea. But Skirt-chan doesn't listen to me, the fake group leader. Better let Eriri handle it. @Eriri (Level 8, Stage 9)]
[Alice Nakiri (Level 7, Stage 1): Agreed!]
[Ruri Gokou (Level 7, Stage 2): I think it's fine as it is. No need to bring people in so frequently. The higher the frequency, the more likely we are to run into weirdos—like today. So it's better to just let it happen naturally.]
[Chika Fujiwara (Level 7, Stage 2): That's true, but fewer new members also means less fun.]
[Kyoko (Level 2, Stage 7): Oh my, are you calling me a weirdo, senpai?]
[Ruri Gokou (Level 7, Stage 2): Isn't it obvious? Do you not think your behavior was weird?]
[Ruri Gokou (Level 7, Stage 2): And stop calling me senpai. Every time you do, it feels like you're up to no good.]
[Kyoko (Level 2, Stage 7): Eh? Not at all~ I'm calling you senpai from the bottom of my heart~]
[Ruri Gokou (Level 7, Stage 2): ...]
[Ruri Gokou (Level 7, Stage 2): Fine, whatever makes you happy.]
[Arifureta (Level 7, Stage 2 / Group Leader): Eriri, what do you think? Want to bring in another batch of newbies?]
[Eriri (Level 8, Stage 9): Of course! I was planning on it anyway.]
[Eriri (Level 8, Stage 9): I'm thinking of pulling in one person each from the worlds of A Silent Voice, Re:Zero, and Date A Live. What do you all think?]
[Arifureta (Level 7, Stage 2 / Group Leader): Sounds good to me. No objections.]
[Chika Fujiwara (Level 7, Stage 2): Not from new worlds, but that works.]
[Eriri (Level 8, Stage 9): Alright then. Skirt-chan, get to work.]
The ever-obedient Little Skirt sprang into action the moment Eriri's message appeared.
In less than a second, she had already identified and pulled in three suitable candidates to join the chat group.
[Shouko Nishimiya has joined the group chat.]
[Echidna has joined the group chat.]
[Yoshino Himekawa has joined the group chat.]
Looking at the three new members, even Eriri was a little surprised.
But she was quite satisfied with the selection. Whether it was the pitiable Shouko or the adorable Yoshino, Eriri liked them both.
As for Echidna, even more so—especially this version from over four hundred years ago, whose personality hadn't yet grown so obsessive.
[Eriri (Level 8, Stage 9): Nice work, Skirt-chan.]
[Chika Fujiwara (Level 7, Stage 2): No surprise there! The moment Eriri gave the order, the new members were already in.]
[Arifureta (Level 7, Stage 2 / Group Leader): Of course. Skirt-chan always listens to Eriri the most.]
[Arifureta (Level 7, Stage 2 / Group Leader): All familiar faces this time. Welcome to the group!]
[Ruri Gokou (Level 7, Stage 2): Welcome, newbies.]
[Yuuki Asuna (Level 7, Stage 2): Wow, one of the newcomers is the adorable Yoshino!]
[Yuuki Asuna (Level 7, Stage 2): Judging by Yoshino's power level, it looks like she hasn't become a Spirit yet. So is the Date A Live timeline also set way back in the past?]
[Eriri (Level 8, Stage 9): That's right. Right now, that world's timeline is thirty years in the past. Mio Takamiya was just born a week ago—actually, she doesn't even have a name yet.]
[Arifureta (Level 7, Stage 2 / Group Leader): I knew it! I just knew you were planning to intercept Mio. Hmph.]
[Eriri (Level 8, Stage 9): Yue-chan, you always understand me best. Yep, I definitely plan to intercept her.]
[Arifureta (Level 7, Stage 2 / Group Leader): Well, that might be for the best—saves us all the trouble later.]
[Eriri (Level 8, Stage 9): Alright, everyone say something! Don't be shy—we all know you already.]
[Eriri (Level 8, Stage 9): @Shouko Nishimiya (Level 1, Stage 1) @Echidna (Level 3, Stage 9) @Yoshino Himekawa (Level 1, Stage 1)]
[Yoshino Himekawa (Level 1, Stage 1): Um... who are all of you?]
[Arifureta (Level 7, Stage 2 / Group Leader): Welcome to our chat group, Yoshino! You can call me Arifureta-nee, or Yue-oneechan!]
[Chika Fujiwara (Level 7, Stage 2): Welcome welcome, Yoshino~ You can call me Chika-nee!]
[Yuuki Asuna (Level 7, Stage 2): And me! You can call me Asuna-nee, Yoshino-chan~]
[Kanae Kocho (Level 7, Stage 2): Yoshino is so cute! I wish my little sister were this adorable. Oh right, Yoshino-chan, you can call me Kanae-nee!]
[Shinobu Kocho (Level 7, Stage 1): Hey, sis, what nonsense are you spewing in the group! Ugh! angry.jpg]
[Shinobu Kocho (Level 7, Stage 1): Welcome to the group, Yoshino. If anyone bullies you, come find me. I'll teach them a lesson!]
[Kyoko (Level 2, Stage 7): This is totally unfair. I didn't get this kind of welcome when I joined. So jealous~ crying.jpg]
[Ruri Gokou (Level 7, Stage 2): Alright, quit acting. And do you seriously think you can compare to Yoshino?]
[Ruri Gokou (Level 7, Stage 2): Hello, Yoshino. Welcome to our chat group. Be careful around this Kyoko character, okay?]
[Kyoko (Level 2, Stage 7): Senpai, you're slandering me! I've turned over a new leaf, promise!]
[Ruri Gokou (Level 7, Stage 2): Heh...]
[Yoshino Himekawa (Level 1, Stage 1): Umm... hello, big sisters.]
[Eriri (Level 8, Stage 9): Didn't expect Yoshino to be the first to speak up. So brave! Don't worry—we'll be your family from now on.]
[Yoshino Himekawa (Level 1, Stage 1): Huh? Family?]
[Eriri (Level 8, Stage 9): That's right. Yoshino, you can call me Eriri-nee from now on. If you have any wishes, just tell me. I'll make them all come true~]
[Yoshino Himekawa (Level 1, Stage 1): Really?]
[Eriri (Level 8, Stage 9): Of course it's true. Now, what's your wish?]
[Yoshino Himekawa (Level 1, Stage 1): I... I want my body to get better, so Mom won't have to work so hard.]
[Eriri (Level 8, Stage 9): Such a sweet child. Very well, I accept your wish. Let's let you feel your body changing for yourself.]
Just like when she extended her consciousness to the A Silent Voice world, Eriri once again channeled her immense awareness to cross the boundaries of the universe and enter the Date A Live world.
The moment her consciousness entered, Eriri instantly sensed Yoshino's exact location and appeared by her side.
Looking at the frail girl lying in the hospital bed with her eyes closed, a tender expression emerged in Eriri's eyes.
In the original story, Yoshino didn't become a Spirit until four years after Mio was born. For now, she was still a frail, sickly little girl, only nine years old.
Without any delay, Eriri summoned the surrounding cosmic energy using her consciousness and directed it into Yoshino's small body.
As the cosmic energy flowed through her, all of Yoshino's ailments vanished in an instant. And with further nourishment, her weak body quickly became strong and healthy.
...
Yoshino felt like she was having a lucid dream.
In the dream, she had joined a magical chat group filled with kind big sisters.
Though she hadn't known what a chat group was before, she now understood—it was a place that brought many people together to talk.
Everyone in the chat group welcomed her warmly, especially the big sister named Eriri, who promised to grant any wish she had.
Yoshino couldn't help but wonder if this Eriri big sister was an angel sent to save her.
Unfortunately, it was just a dream.
But even if it was a dream, she still wished for a healthy body, so she wouldn't need to stay in the hospital all the time or be a burden to her mother.
So, without hesitation, she voiced her wish.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
40 Advanced Chapters Available on Patreon:
Patreon.com/DaoOfHeaven