After leaving Mona's room, Xia Zhi didn't return immediately. He walked to another door.
"Who is it?"
"It's me."
"Boss!"
"Big brother!"
Diona opened the door, blinking in surprise. Her tail swished behind her.
"Boss, what brings you here?"
"I have something for Klee."
"Huh? Big brother brought a present for Klee? What is it?" Klee's eyes sparkled.
"This." Xia Zhi took out the Tactical Eyepiece. "A new pair of goggles."
"Wow! Klee loves it!"
He helped her put it on.
"Klee can see farther now!"
"Mm. They also help with enemy targeting."
"Big brother, what's enemy targeting?"
"It means you'll hit what you aim at more often."
"Oh! Klee understands!"
Xia Zhi patted her head. He was about to leave when he noticed Diona watching him with an expectant stare.
"Alright, I'll go."
"Wait, boss!"
"Mm? Something else?"
"That… I… no… nothing…"
Her tsundere nature was clearly as stubborn as ever.
If she wanted a gift, she should just say it. It wasn't like he'd refuse.
Xia Zhi smiled and opened the Shop, purchasing a little item he'd been eyeing earlier.
[Lightweight Tail Bell]
Quality: Gold
Type: Accessory
Trait: Lightweight
Effect: Agility +20%, stamina consumption -20%.
Hidden Effect: When worn on a tail, all effects doubled.
Price: 50 points.
The small bell appeared in his hand.
Diona's eyes immediately locked onto it.
He shook it lightly. It rang with a clear, pleasant chime.
"Diona, this is your gift."
"I… I… a gift… I…"
"Want me to put it on for you?"
"…okay… boss…"
She stepped closer, tilting her head to reveal her slender, pale neck.
Xia Zhi chuckled. "Not there."
"Huh? Not the neck? Then where?"
"The tail."
"??"
Diona froze.
"Why would a bell go on a tail?"
"This isn't an ordinary bell."
"But…"
"Diona, do you think I'd ever lie to you?"
"…no, boss…"
So she obediently turned around and bent slightly, lifting her tail.
The pose made her feel embarrassingly exposed.
Like a cat presenting itself during mating season.
Xia Zhi tied the bell carefully onto her tail.
He'd touched her tail plenty of times during Massage sessions, but this felt different.
He could feel her tail trembling faintly under his fingers.
She was nervous.
Probably because Klee was watching with big, innocent eyes the whole time.
Diona's face felt hot.
Strange tingles kept running along her tail.
Nothing like the pleasant relaxation from Massage—this was different.
Somewhere deep inside, she felt… excited.
Ugh… it felt like she was going to break.
"All done."
"Huh?"
"Feel anything?"
"It… feels like my whole body is lighter. And my limbs are suddenly so quick!"
She swished her tail. The bell chimed sweetly.
"See? I wasn't lying."
"Thank you, boss!"
"Alright, rest early. I'm heading back."
"Goodnight, boss!"
"Goodnight, big brother!"
"Goodnight."
Xia Zhi waved and left.
Inside, Diona paced around. The agility boost and reduced stamina drain made her body feel feather-light.
Klee lay on the bed, fiddling with her eyepiece, then rolled over to watch Diona dart around like a cat, bell ringing nonstop.
"Diona, what are you doing?"
"Look how fast I am now."
"It does look fast!"
"If I went back to Springvale now, I'd be the strongest hunter! Even stronger than my dad!"
Diona stared off dramatically by the bedside.
Klee, wearing her eyepiece, asked, "Really?"
"Of course! No prey could escape me! No one could even touch me!"
Klee blinked, picked up a pillow, and tossed it at her.
The throw wasn't strong. The pillow drifted slowly.
With her special bloodline and agility gear, it looked even slower to Diona.
She smirked and casually stepped aside.
Only to get smacked squarely in the chest.
What?
What?!
I moved out of the way! How did it still hit me?!
Diona stared at the pillow, stunned.
Klee giggled. "Diona was bragging! Klee hit you so easily!"
Diona looked at Klee, then remembered Xia Zhi's earlier words.
[This eyepiece helps with enemy targeting.]
Enemy targeting…
So this was the "better aim" he meant?
Diona tossed the pillow back.
"Klee, throw it again."
"At you?"
"Yes."
"Klee will throw it!"
"Go ahead."
The pillow flew.
Still slow.
Diona sprinted all the way to the bedroom door.
Useless.
The pillow curved midair and nailed her again.
Silently, she picked it up and brushed it off.
"Wow! Klee's amazing!"
"Mm…"
"Diona, let's do it again!"
"No. Bedtime."
"Noooo…"
"If you keep whining, I'm calling Jean."
"Uuugh… you're mean…"
----
Late at night, inside the kitchen.
Ei was preparing a midnight meal.
This time it wasn't that sticky sukiyaki hotpot anymore.
Tonight she'd made Spicy Hot Pot, the kind with instant noodles added in.
Xiangling had taught her the recipe earlier that day.
Once it was ready, Ei carried the dish up to Tenshukaku.
"Big sister, have something to eat."
"Ei, eat with me."
"Okay."
"Phew… so spicy… Xiangling taught you this, didn't she?"
"Mm."
"I knew it."
"Is it too spicy? Next time I'll use less Jueyun Chili…"
"It's fine. I like spicy food too."
In all fairness, the midnight meal Ei made tonight was actually good.
It just needed a bowl of rice to feel perfect.
They chatted idly while finishing the food.
Ei started collecting the bowls and chopsticks, but Xia Zhen stopped her.
"Ei."
"Big sister?"
"It's only two bowls. They can wait. Sit with me a bit longer."
"…Okay."
"Come closer."
"Alright."
"Give me your hand."
"…Mm."
Ei followed her every instruction without hesitation.
Xia Zhen held Ei's hand under the warm lamplight.
Her fingers were clean and bare.
"Ei, let me put Nail Polish on you."
"Huh? Nail Polish?"
"Yes. You've never used it before, right?"
"No."
Xia Zhen smiled, took out a bottle, and began painting Ei's nails with careful strokes.
Ei kept her eyes lowered, watching her sister work.
Before long, one hand was finished, her nails glowing with a soft, alluring sheen.
Xia Zhen asked, "Pretty, right?"
Ei nodded. "Pretty."
"Ei, don't be like before, only focused on martial arts. There's so much more in the world. Cooking, music, makeup—try things for yourself."
Ei paused, unsure. "Mm."
"Give me your other hand."
"Okay."
Soon, both hands were done.
"There. Do you like it?"
"I like it."
"Then take this bottle. It's yours."
"This…"
"I have more."
"…Alright."
Xia Zhen said a few more strange things, telling Ei that she didn't need to rule anymore, that she could try living like a normal girl.
Ei didn't really understand, but she nodded obediently.
When she stepped out of Tenshukaku, she still felt hazy and confused.
In her mind, Xia Ying spoke.
"What she really meant is that you can try living like Xia Ci."
"Greater Lord Rukkhadevata?"
Ei's expression turned thoughtful.
Over the past few days, she'd noticed Xia Ci never used divine power at all.
She just ate, played, chatted freely with everyone.
Anyone who didn't know her true identity might genuinely mistake her for an ordinary, extroverted girl.
For Ei, fully copying Xia Ci was impossible.
But…
Small changes like Xia Ci's weren't too hard.
Ei looked down at the Nail Polish bottle in her hand and tucked it away carefully.
It was a gift from her sister.
Xia Ying spoke again. "Did you notice? Zhen is acting different today."
"Different? How?"
"Her aura."
"Aura?"
"She looks prettier than usual."
"Big sister has always been pretty."
"…"
Xia Ying was speechless.
You blockhead. You dense, beautiful, clueless blockhead.
Your sister has already been stolen from home, you know?!
What do you think she's doing right now?!
She's setting up assists! For you!
And when you learned cooking, you seriously only learned cooking?!
Forget it.
I guess I'll have to do this myself.
Her voice faded.
Ei called for her twice, got no reply, and let it go.
Back at Grand Narukami Shrine, she put the bowls back in the kitchen, but because of her Nail Polish she couldn't get her hands wet. She used her power instead.
When she finished her chores, Ei went to the Sacred Sakura Tree, closed her eyes, and entered the dream world.
Just as agreed, Xia Ying openly went to Xia Zhi for her music lesson.
The two met inside the small practice room.
Xia Zhi watched as she played the piece he'd taught her yesterday. It was clumsy, stiff.
She definitely didn't have much talent for music.
Probably because Ei had dumped all her skill points into swordsmanship.
Xia Ying raised her head, eyes bright. "How was it?"
"Pretty good. A lot of improvement."
Xia Zhi nodded and added thoughtfully, "Just like I told Ei earlier… cooking isn't the only thing I can fast-track. I have ways to help you learn music faster too. Interested?"
Xia Ying paused, then shook her head firmly. "Fast learning is cheating. It's the same as martial arts. There's no shortcut."
"Really don't want it?"
"I trust myself. I'll learn properly."
"…Alright."
Xia Zhi looked helpless.
These two really were two halves of one being.
Stubborn in the exact same way.
"You really did improve. But there were a few mistakes."
"Really?"
"I'll point them out."
As he guided her, their hands touched, their bodies leaned close.
A man and a woman alone in a quiet room, bodies brushing as they played.
The atmosphere warmed subtly.
"This part… and here…"
"Oh, so that's how! I get it!"
Xia Ying's eyes shone every time she understood something.
Fast learning? As if I'd take that route!
I'm not here to learn music.
I'm here to spark romance.
----
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