Chapter 173: Some Farewells, Don't Look Back
As mentioned before, Yagami Hikari was the last guest of this long night, and also the most suitable guest to bring this long night to an end.
The heavy curtain of darkness that had draped over the world was beginning to fray at the edges. As the night gradually receded, the deep, inky black of the sky was slowly diluted by a soft, bruised purple, which in turn gave way to the pale, hopeful blue of the coming dawn.
The horizon held the faint, blushing hues brought by the sun, which was ready to crest over the distant cityscape at any moment. The sunrise is always the beginning of a day, the most natural and insistent alarm clock that no living creature can truly ignore.
Inside the restaurant, the atmosphere shifted from the cozy, enclosed intimacy of a midnight shelter to the crisp anticipation of morning. The air grew slightly cooler, carrying the silent promise of a new start.
Sudden, rhythmic footsteps broke the silence.
Thump. Thump. Thump.
It wasn't the heavy tread of a tired worker, nor the sharp click of Lucifer's heels. It was a chaotic, bounding sound, full of boundless energy that seemed to vibrate through the wooden floorboards.
When the footsteps sounded, both Lucifer and Ren smiled. It was a smile of familiarity, the kind one wears when a beloved but noisy pet wakes up. Yagami Hikari, however, paused in her consumption of the beef soup. She looked a bit confused, her spoon hovering midway to her mouth.
Was there a fourth person in the shop? she wondered. Or perhaps... three people?
"Master, Master, Master! Rec... Eh? There's a guest..."
From the top of the stairs, a burst of energy materialized. Cerberus—the Triple Demon of Hell—came bounding down. She moved with a dexterity that defied physics, her three bodies moving in a strange, synchronized chaos. She had been about to launch herself from the landing in a playful tackle aimed at Ren, but her six eyes simultaneously locked onto the small figure sitting at the dining table.
The three identical girls froze in unison, one foot hovering over the first step, tails stiffening under their skirts.
Yagami Hikari turned her head, her large brown eyes blinking in surprise as she looked at the trio. She saw three girls with white hair, crimson eyes, and dog ears that twitched with curiosity. The sight was bizarre, yet undeniably cute.
Cerberus had no choice but to declare that she couldn't take off today. The presence of a stranger triggered her 'good dog' protocols—mostly because she sensed the atmosphere wasn't right for a chaotic rampage.
The three bodies of Cerberus scrambled down the remaining stairs, their movements fluid and canine. They ran to Ren's side, flanking him.
"Morning, Master!" "Morning!" "Morning~!"
They chirped in a staggered chorus, nuzzling against his arm before turning their collective attention to Yagami Hikari.
Yagami Hikari was very cute. She had that soft, unblemished aura of a well-loved child, and Cerberus, despite being a demon of Hell, also liked cute things. It was a simple equation in her hive mind: Small + Cute = Friend.
"Hello there~" The center Cerberus leaned forward, sniffing the air theatrically.
Yagami Hikari, not shy in the slightest, looked at the cute Cerberus sisters. She gazed at their wiggling ears, fascinated by how expressive they were. She also thought they were very interesting Big Sisters.
She placed her spoon down and beamed, "Hello, Big Sisters! I'm Yagami Hikari! Just call me Hikari-chan!"
"Hikari-chan!" "Hikari!" "Chan!"
Cerberus nodded repeatedly, the motion rippling through her three bodies. Then, her six eyes darted between Yagami Hikari and Lucifer. The scene was domestic: Ren standing by, Lucifer relaxing with a drink, and Hikari eating. It looked like Ren and Lucifer were watching a movie with Yagami Hikari, or perhaps babysitting.
Was this one of Ren's acquaintances? Or maybe a secret child?
Ren, observing the gears turning in the demon's heads, also saw through Cerberus's little thoughts. He reached out, patting the heads of the left and right Cerberus simultaneously.
"Cerberus," Ren said with a smile, his voice calm and grounding. "Hikari-chan is a guest from Another World. She's had a rough night, chased by some nasty creatures. But Lucifer and I both really like this girl. She's very cute and sensible."
Yagami Hikari shyly scratched her head, a light blush dusting her cheeks at the praise.
Cerberus's eyes lit up. The endorsement was all she needed. A child that Ren and Lucifer both liked? Then it was decided. This was part of the pack.
Cerberus—all three of her—leaned in closer, eyes sparkling with curiosity. "Hikari-chan, are there any fun things in your world? Do you have giant bones? Or squeaky toys?"
Hikari blinked, thinking seriously about the question. "Hmm... It's not much different from here... just regular schools and parks. But there are Digimon..."
"Digimon?" Cerberus tilted her heads. "Like that yellow rat? Pikachu?"
"Pikachu?" Hikari repeated, confused.
Lucifer, observing from her seat, sighed elegantly. She swirled the ice in her glass and interjected, "That's a Pokémon, you silly dog. This is a Digimon. There's a difference, okay? One says its name repeatedly, the other talks like a human. And many of the Digimon in Yagami Hikari's world are the bad kind right now. Yagami Hikari was even chased here by a Vampire Digimon."
"Chased?"
"Vampire?"
"Bad kind?"
Cerberus's ears twitched violently. The playful atmosphere around the three girls evaporated instantly, replaced by a low, growling tension. After understanding the situation, the simple-minded Cerberus immediately wanted to go and deal with that 'Myotismon'.
Bullying a pup? Unforgivable.
"We should bite him!" one Cerberus declared.
"Rip him to shreds!" added another.
"Bury his bones!" finished the third.
After all, this little girl was someone Lucifer and Ren were very fond of. Cerberus would definitely not stand by if anyone dared to bully her. But then, reality set in. She couldn't leave the shop. The dimensional constraints were a headache, and Ren probably wouldn't let her run off to another universe before breakfast.
Thinking that she couldn't go, Cerberus pouted, scratching the back of her head in frustration. Then, a lightbulb went off in her hive mind.
She reached out—three hands extending at once—and stroked Yagami Hikari's head. The touch was surprisingly gentle for a demon known for destruction.
Yagami Hikari was startled by the sudden tactile affection and asked, "Big Sister, what are you doing..."
"Just a little magic!" Cerberus grinned, revealing sharp canines. "This way, no one can hurt Yagami Hikari! Also, I'm Cerberus! The Guard Dog of Hell!"
Upon hearing 'magic', Yagami Hikari became excited, her fatigue forgotten. She asked with some anticipation, "Magic?! Can I use magic now? Like a fireball?"
"No," Cerberus shook her heads in unison. "Because Yagami Hikari doesn't have magic power in her veins, so she can't use active magic. But I've put a 'Scent of the Hellhound' on you."
Ren raised an eyebrow. "Scent?"
"It's a barrier!" Cerberus corrected quickly. "This way, if Yagami Hikari encounters danger, this magic will make all low-level malice hesitate. And if a big attack comes... it will disappear! Poof!"
It was a conceptual defense. As the Gatekeeper of the Underworld, Cerberus possessed authority over 'entry' and 'denial'. She had essentially marked Hikari as 'Do Not Touch'.
Although Yagami Hikari was a little disappointed that she couldn't throw fireballs herself, she became happy upon hearing that she was protected. She quickly bowed slightly. "Thank you, Big Sister Cerberus!"
"Hehe~" Cerberus chuckled, looking proud of herself. Then, her nose twitched. She smelled the beef soup. "Okay, job done! Snacks time!"
She ran off to the pantry to scavenge for food. As long as Cerberus didn't have a stomach ache, her appetite was always good, bordering on a black hole.
Lucifer watched the interaction with a faint smile. She set down her glass and looked at Yagami Hikari. The Queen of Hell felt that the dog had done a decent job, but as the Queen, she couldn't be outdone by her subordinate.
"Yagami Hikari," Lucifer said, her voice commanding yet soft. "Lift your head."
"Huh? Oh!" Hikari straightened her back, looking at the beautiful silver-haired woman.
Lucifer raised a single finger. A tiny, crimson rune flickered into existence at the tip of her nail, then shot forward, vanishing into Hikari's forehead like a drop of water into a pond.
"Done!" Lucifer declared.
"Eh?! What happened?" Hikari blinked, patting her forehead. She felt... warm. A deep, resonating warmth that seemed to seep into her bones.
Lucifer casually said while drinking the last of her juice, "Nothing, just improved your physical condition a bit. You look like you're often sick—pale skin, weak constitution. I fixed it. Now, minor illnesses will basically have nothing to do with you. And you won't get tired so easily when running away."
"Really?!"
Hikari stood up and hopped in place. She felt lighter. The heaviness in her chest that she had carried for years—the frailty that often worried her brother Tai—seemed to have evaporated.
"I feel so much lighter! It's like I'm floating! Thank you, Sister Lucifer!"
Lucifer waved her hand dismissively, though the tips of her ears were red. "It's a small matter. It's just circulating a bit of high-grade magic power through your body to clear the meridians. Takes less than a second. There are no other effects, it just makes you healthy. Don't think too much about it."
Yagami Hikari shook her head vigorously and said, "A healthy body is already the best gift! I can run with Koromon and the others without panting now! Thank you, Sister Lucifer! Thank you, Sister Cerberus!"
Ren just watched silently, a gentle expression on his face.
Were the things Cerberus and Lucifer gave valuable?
To the supernatural world, a blessing from the Gatekeeper and a vitality infusion from the Queen of Hell were priceless treasures. Wars had been fought for less. But to the two of them, looking at this brave, kind child, it was probably just a fleeting thought, a whim of kindness.
Yagami Hikari suddenly noticed that the shop was much brighter. The ambient light had shifted from the warm yellow of the lamps to the cool, natural light of day. She turned her head towards the windows and saw that the sky outside had already brightened. The sun was claiming the world again.
Her time was up.
Looking at Ren, the beautiful Lucifer, and the energetic Cerberus trio munching on crackers in the corner, Yagami Hikari felt a pang of sadness. But she knew she had a duty. Her world, her brother, and her partner were waiting.
"Brother Ren! Sister Lucifer, Sister Cerberus! I have to go!" Hikari announced, her voice filled with determination.
Ren walked over and opened the door for her. He smiled and said, "Yes, I believe you're getting restless, and your family must be worried. So I won't keep you. Even with Cerberus's magic and Lucifer's blessing, try to be careful. If you ever need a safe haven, just use the method I told you before."
Yagami Hikari nodded, a little disappointed to leave this paradise, but she held her head high. "Thank you, Big Brother. Next time, I'll bring everyone with me! Tai, Agumon, everyone!"
"Always welcome!" Ren replied.
"Goodbye!"
After speaking, Yagami Hikari ran towards the door. She stepped across the threshold, and the scenery rippled like water. She disappeared from their sight without looking back. She ran straight into the light, back to her foggy city, armed with a full stomach and the blessings of Hell.
Some goodbyes are best not looked back on, because looking back creates hesitation. And right now, she needed to run forward.
Ren looked at the empty space where Yagami Hikari had vanished. The morning breeze drifted in, carrying the scent of dew.
He turned back and said with a smile, "Hmm, the Chosen Children all seem to be good kids, don't they, Lucifer?"
Lucifer was startled from her thoughts. She coughed lightly, then her face flushed slightly as she looked away. "Mmm, Yagami Hikari is... acceptable. A very good child. Unlike the noisy ones we usually get."
She quickly changed the subject. "Cerberus, are you eating those crackers now? Are you not eating dinner later? You know Ren is making breakfast soon."
Cerberus swallowed a mouthful of crackers, crumbs falling from her lips. She looked up with wide, innocent eyes and said as a matter of course, "Snacks and main meals are different! They go into different stomachs! Master said so! Right, Master?"
Ren paused, thinking for a moment.
He smiled and nodded. "Technically, yes."
He had indeed said that, but not in that literal biological sense. Ren's original meaning was that snacks are for leisure and meals are for sustenance, so enjoying one doesn't forbid the other if done in moderation. But to Cerberus, it was automatically translated into a convenient anatomical reality where she possessed a 'Snack Stomach' and a 'Meal Stomach'.
Ren looked at the sky outside, which was gradually turning a vibrant, awake blue. The city was stirring. He didn't dwell on correcting Cerberus's misunderstanding.
He walked to the center of the room and stretched lazily, his joints popping satisfyingly. "Never mind. Let's keep the shop open a little longer today. I have a feeling something interesting is going to happen."
"Something interesting?"
The question rang out in perfect unison. It wasn't just a sound; it was a collective curiosity shared by the Queen of Hell and the Triple Demon. Four pairs of crimson eyes fixed on him, waiting for an explanation.
Ren said nothing. He just smiled mysteriously, walked straight to the shop door, and pushed it fully open, locking it in place.
The outside in the early morning was different; it wasn't the silent void of the night. The dew carried the faint scent of damp earth and awakening greenery. From time to time, a gentle breeze carried this morning scent into the restaurant, brushing against the faces of the people who had already set out for their day.
The night has passed, a new day has arrived. Time to wake up!
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