After understanding the situation, Tribios consulted with Melly and proposed a slight alteration to their evening plans. As a distinguished guest, Heinrich deserved a lavish banquet, complete with exquisite food and fine wines.
Originally, Melly was to handle the preparations, but Tribios insisted on taking over this task herself. The reason was simple: Hysilens was present.
Currently, Okhema's finest wine was the Holy Maiden Wine. Serving this premium vintage to a state leader would be perfectly appropriate. However, there was something odd about offering a foreign dignitary wine produced by treading grapes with one's own feet.
With Hysilens's Authority at their disposal, they could simply command her to create some Honey Brew, which would undoubtedly surpass the Holy Maiden Wine in quality. Better quality, no awkwardness—a win-win situation!
After issuing these instructions, the three dispersed as there was still time before the evening banquet. Tribios went to prepare the rest of the banquet arrangements, excluding the wine.
Cerydra purchased a smartphone and began researching the Northern Territory online. As for Hysilens, she decided to take a bath and soak in a hot spring.
After all, she still carried a faint fishy smell. Attending the banquet directly in this state would be impolite; it was best to freshen up first.
Thanks to Tribios's deliberate efforts, Okhema now resembled its namesake in the Honkai: Star Rail game, where hot spring culture thrived. You could hardly walk a few steps down any street without spotting a hot spring establishment—they were immensely popular.
Beyond the standard male, female, and mixed baths, Okhema offered an extraordinary variety of hot springs: ultra-high-temperature baths, ultra-low-temperature baths, chili baths, work baths, business baths, and countless others. Whatever a customer's needs, they could almost certainly find a hot spring to suit them.
Hysilens, however, wasn't picky. She went straight to the nearest hot spring establishment and purchased a single-person hot spring service—a small private room just for herself.
First, she removed all the ornaments from her hair and earlobes, then slowly shed her clothes piece by piece. It was only when she reached her stockings that she noticed the tear on her right leg had grown significantly larger—hardly surprising, given her recent strenuous underwater activity.
Well, I was planning to change them anyway, so it's no big deal.
After stripping off all her clothes, she felt a sense of liberation, like gulping down a huge mouthful of water after a thousand-meter sprint—pure bliss!
Before officially soaking in the hot spring, Hysilens took a shower, a necessary step to wash away sweat and allow her skin to better absorb the minerals in the spring water, while also preheating her body.
Though Hysilens herself never sweated—her true form was essentially a mass of water—the step seemed pointless. Yet Tribios always showered before entering the hot spring; it had become such a deeply ingrained habit that changing it now seemed impossible. Besides, who could argue with the simple pleasure of a shower?
After a quick rinse, Hysilens approached the hot spring. She first dipped her right foot into the water, testing the temperature with her toe. Satisfied, she slowly waded in, settling into the spring with only her head above the surface.
"Ah~" Hysilens sighed deeply, savoring the warmth of the hot spring enveloping her body. "This is just too blissful~"
She had soaked in hot springs countless times under her various identities, such as Tribios and Aglaea, but this felt completely different—far more comforting and relaxing.
"It's like my entire being is melting away~"
Then, as she soaked, a whimsical thought suddenly struck her: Could I technically be considered a fish? And if so, does this count as making fish soup?
Hysilens glanced at the steaming water beside her. If I added some ginger slices, cooking wine, and white pepper, it might actually taste pretty good, right?
Of course, she was just musing idly. She would never actually drink her own bathwater.
As she gradually cleared her mind, she reveled in the exquisite sensation of the spring water caressing her skin. Some experiences, once tasted, can never be forgotten.
The thought she had previously suppressed—the urge to swim naked—surfaced once more in her mind...
-
Time passed quickly, and evening soon arrived. Heinrich had spent the entire day immersed in the Library, finally being forcibly dragged out by Melly.
As they walked, Heinrich kept marveling, "This is truly incredible! Is this what Magitech Technology is? Completely abandoning manual spellcasting, pre-programming everything, and entrusting the entire process to machines! What a perfect concept!"
"How did you even come up with the idea to invent something like this?"
It was clear that Heinrich already knew Melly was the pioneer of Magitech.
Melly replied calmly, "It's simple. I was born without Magic Power, so I couldn't cast spells."
Hearing this, Heinrich's face filled with awe. "To have achieved such heights despite that... you must have exerted unimaginable effort."
What an inspiring story—a person born with a deficiency who, through relentless effort, ultimately reached the pinnacle of success!
However, Melly shook her head. "No, come to think of it, I don't think I've ever really suffered much hardship in my life."
Heinrich paused, a confused expression crossing his face. "Huh?"
In a normal setting, someone with Magic Power Insulation wouldn't necessarily face discrimination, but they certainly wouldn't be valued. Yet Tribios treated Melly with the utmost importance. Any invention Melly wanted to develop was immediately approved, and vast resources were poured into her projects. It was truly a case of getting whatever she asked for.
Reflecting on it, Melly realized the only hardship she'd ever truly endured was before she met Tribios, during her time digging for medicinal herbs in the countryside.
As they chatted, the pair finally arrived at their destination for the evening banquet: a spacious hall on the ground floor of a hotel. The building belonged to Tribios, one of her many properties, so there was no need to book the venue; a simple advance notice sufficed for the staff to begin preparations.
In other nations, a banquet welcoming distinguished guests might feature crystal chandeliers, red carpets, tables laden with gourmet food and fine wine, nobles vying for conversation, and bards strumming lutes and singing songs. But in Okhema, none of these trappings were present.
As Heinrich entered the hall, he immediately noticed two "speakers" flanking the hall, softly playing soothing music that had completely replaced the role of a Bard. Several white "sweeping robots" crisscrossed the floor, diligently cleaning every inch.
Apart from essential staff, there were no nobles present—no tedious social rituals, no insincere pleasantries. Instead, the atmosphere resembled a casual gathering among close friends.
After finding a seat near a long table laden with food, Heinrich realized the entire dinner party consisted of only five people: himself, Melly, Tribios, and two unfamiliar women he had never met before.
Normally, banquets were grand affairs—the more attendees, the better, creating a lively and bustling atmosphere. A small turnout could easily be interpreted as a sign of disrespect. After all, Heinrich was a head of state. Was this meager group all they could muster to welcome him?
Heinrich had visited other countries before, and each time, the fanfare had been overwhelming. But honestly, he preferred this quieter atmosphere. The nobles were always clamoring for his attention, their noise and eagerness a real nuisance.
As Heinrich and Melly settled into their seats, Heinrich noticed Melly, seated beside him, wore a slightly puzzled expression. It seemed she didn't recognize the two figures flanking Tribios either, which was quite odd.
Just as Heinrich and Melly were pondering this, Tribios gestured toward Hysilens and Cerydra, introducing them: "These are the demigods who recently returned to Okhema: Hysilens, the Demigod of the Ocean and Cerydra, the Demigod of Law."
Creak— Heinrich shot to his feet, the chair scraping backward across the floor with a sharp sound.
Heinrich stared blankly at the trio before turning to Melly beside him. Wait, what kind of extravagant lineup is this?!
The more guests at a banquet, the better? Fewer guests mean disrespect?
Come on! Even if you brought a hundred or a thousand Nobles to any other event, they wouldn't hold a candle to the sheer gravitas of four Demigods!
Moreover, among these four Demigods, only Melly seems to be a relatively normal True Demigod. The other three are likely 'True gods' masquerading under the title of 'Demigod,' just like Anaxa and Hyacine.
The welcoming ceremony was so grand that Heinrich felt overwhelmed by the honor.
Noticing his reaction, Tribios smiled and said, "No need to be so formal. Just relax and enjoy yourself as if you were dining at home."
Heinrich finally sat down again, his curious gaze first drifting to Hysilens. Her cheeks were flushed, and she held a tall-stemmed glass filled with a wine-red liquid, taking small sips with a slightly tipsy air that made her look rather endearing.
As for Cerydra, a cake was positioned directly between Heinrich and her, obstructing his view. He could only see the top of her head and the peculiar blue flame crown resting above it. To see her face properly, he had to lean slightly to the side.
Cerydra was currently holding a small plate with a slice of cake on it. She was daintily eating it with a spoon, bite by bite, looking like a cute little girl who had wandered into a banquet by mistake.
However, having learned from Hyacine's example, Heinrich wouldn't underestimate her. Who knew what kind of power lay hidden within that petite frame?
To be honest, the concept of an Ocean Demigod was easy enough to grasp, but what exactly was the Authority of a Law Demigod?
While pondering this, Heinrich voiced his most pressing question: "You're both True gods, so why do you prefer to call yourselves Demigods?"
Tribios paused, then replied in a gentle tone, "Because compared to being gods, I actually prefer being human a little more. The title 'Demigod' helps us feel closer to mortals, perhaps."
Heinrich nodded, a wistful expression crossing his face. His recent experiences were constantly shattering his preconceived notions about what it meant to be a god.
Just then, Hysilens finally set down her goblet. She produced four identical glasses, extended her palms, and a pool of wine-red liquid materialized in her palms. With a graceful motion, she divided the liquid evenly among the four glasses.
After all, the process of creating Honey Brew—channeling divine power—was akin to mixing a cocktail. Even the slightest adjustment in detail could completely alter the final flavor. Since emerging from the Hot Spring, Hysilens had been experimenting relentlessly, determined to concoct the most delicious brew imaginable.
It's worth noting that Hysilens also discovered her ability wasn't limited to alcoholic beverages. She could create non-alcoholic drinks that were equally delicious. While these were certainly palatable, she honestly preferred alcohol—perhaps due to her body's natural inclinations?
By contrast, when Hysilens offered her brews to Tribios and Cerydra, Tribios praised them as exceptionally delicious, while Cerydra found the taste utterly unremarkable, disliking it.
Just as in her previous life, some people preferred alcohol while others favored cola. This divergence stemmed from individual preferences and physical constitutions, hardly surprising.
Yet, to Hysilens, all her incarnations were fundamentally the same person, sharing identical personalities. Thus, Cerydra's aversion to alcohol must stem purely from physiological reasons.
This problem was easily solved. Hysilens' body enjoyed drinking alcohol, so she would simply drink more alcohol. Cerydra preferred cola, so she would drink more cola. This way, she could simultaneously experience the dual pleasures of savoring fine wine and refreshing cola—perfect!
Getting back to the matter at hand, since this was a banquet, Hysilens naturally created alcoholic beverages. After filling four goblets, she controlled the liquid within to drag the goblets, causing them to float over to the other four guests.
"This Honey Brew is a special blend I've concocted for this banquet," Hysilens announced. "Its flavor is exceptional, far surpassing any fine wine currently known in the world!"
As for Heinrich, he had clearly sensed the divine power radiating from Hysilens as she brewed the Honey Brew. Gazing at the goblet before him, filled with crimson liquid, he murmured inwardly, A drink brewed by a god?
This was unlike the tea previously prepared by the Goddess of Magic. That tea was essentially a magical construct, crafted by the goddess in her role as a Wizard. But Hysilens' creation was genuine Divine Mead, made using her divine power in her true form as a god.