Rena's tears had barely dried.
The last child had just left the medical wing.
And Takumi—exhausted, satisfied, and slightly lightheaded from using too much power—collapsed onto his sofa like a deflated god.
He stretched his legs, staring up at the ceiling of his rebuilt home.
Two days.
Two days to undo suffering carved over years.
His Authority pulsed quietly, almost humming.
As if pleased with its own performance.
Don't get arrogant, he thought.
You're still human… probably.
The air vibrated slightly.
He exhaled slowly, letting his power settle before accidentally reconstructing the entire sofa again.
He Opened the Group Chat
It was noisy.
Too noisy.
More than usual.
Takumi squinted.
A new name sparkled with annoying energy.
Houraisan Kaguya has joined the group.
Kaguya:[I'm just a seventeen-year-old beauty!!] [What's wrong with loving games?!]
Takumi stared.
"…What the hell?"
This felt illegal on a metaphysical level.
So, naturally, he replied:
Takumi:[Why does the old crone pretend to be a maiden?]
The chat exploded.
Kaguya:[???? WHO IS THIS RUDE MAN?!]
[SAY THAT AGAIN!!]
Takumi:[NEET-hime? Purple granny?]
His suspicion sharpened.
Only one being dared claim "seventeen" for centuries straight:
Yukari.
But the chat corrected him.
Chika Fujiwara:
[We already checked! It's REALLY NEET-hime!!]
Sagiri Izumi:
[Yes! Not the purple grandma!]
Takumi frowned.
Takumi:
[You verified it? How? Did you check her legs or something?]
Kaguya:
[Picture]
[SEE?! Here! Exclusive selfie!]
Takumi zoomed in.
Chat UI behind her.
Actual NEET energy.
Definitely Kaguya.
Takumi:
[No long legs? Disappointed.]
Everyone in the chat practically choked.
Chika:
[ARE YOU DONE WITH THE KIDS YET?!]
[Miori said it was a LOT!]
Takumi nodded to himself.
Takumi:
[All done. Every child.]
[Missing limbs? Restored. Corrosion? Gone.]
The chat briefly paused.
Then—
Himeko:
[Impressive work, Leader.]
Sagiri:
[Takumi-oniichan is incredible!!]
Bronya:
[The Bronya acknowledges your efficiency.]
Akeno:
[Ufufu~ such a benevolent miracle worker~]
Takumi:
Akeno.
Akeno:
…sorry…
He smiled.
It was nice to be appreciated.
Even if they were chaotic.
Zhongli Appears With World-Shaking News
Zhongli:
[@Takumi, do you want Khaenri'ah's legacy?]
Takumi sat up.
Oh?
His heart raced.
Takumi:
[YES.]
Khaenri'ah's tech was legendary — even ruined. Its lost sciences, alchemy, energy systems… incredibly valuable.
But—
Takumi:
[Old man, how do you even HAVE that?]
A calm reply flowed back.
Zhongli:
[I intend to give the Gnosis to the Cryo Archon.]
[In return, I'll demand both Khaenri'ah's records and Snezhnaya's alchemical archives.]
Takumi's soul exited his body for a moment.
Takumi:
[Weren't you RETIRING?!]
There was a long pause.
Zhongli:
[Plans change.]
The chat erupted.
Chika:
[HE CANCELLED HIS RETIREMENT?!]
Himeko:
[Classic Zhongli.]
Bronya:
[The Bronya expected this.]
Kaguya:
[I don't understand what's happening but I sense drama.]
Takumi rubbed his temples.
Zhongli returning?
This was not small.
This meant Teyvat was shifting.
Takumi Felt It— the World Had Tilted
Not metaphorically.
Literally.
His Authority detected a subtle ripple—
A dimensional oscillation.
Like tectonic plates between worlds shifting.
Something big was coming.
Something that wasn't monsters.
Something stronger.
He stood and walked to the balcony overlooking the megacity: bio-domes glowing soft blue, holographic trees flickering, drones soaring in smooth arcs.
The children were safe.
The infrastructure was stable.
But the world…
The world was waking up.
And he didn't know why.
His Authority whispered to him:
[CONVERGENCE SIGNATURE DETECTED.]
[UNKNOWN ROOT CAUSE.]
[PREPARE CIVILIZATION FOR MULTI-FACTION CONTACT.]
Takumi stiffened.
"Great," he muttered.
"Now even the planet is sending warnings."
His world — the ruined Earth — was still empty, uninhabited except for the children and a handful of adults he'd brought.
But that emptiness was fragile.
He needed power.
He needed allies.
He needed knowledge.
Which Zhongli now offered.
A Knock at the Door
"Takumi-sama!"
It was the Holy Empress, breathless, elegant, worried.
He turned.
"You felt it too?" he asked.
"Yes."
She swallowed. "The world shook. Not physically — spiritually."
He nodded.
The Empress stepped inside, posture straight, eyes serious.
"The city AI reported something."
She handed him a tablet.
It displayed:
[MULTIPLE DIMENSIONAL INTERFERENCE ATTEMPTS: BLOCKED]
Takumi inhaled sharply.
Someone had tried to enter his world.
Multiple times.
And failed.
"Who?" he asked.
"Unknown," she said.
"But the interference signatures resemble… an Archon-level domain."
Takumi's eyes narrowed.
"Teyvat?"
"No."
Then who?
Only one possibility emerged—
Something beyond Teyvat.
Beyond the chat group worlds.
Something older.
He felt a thrill.
And fear.
So the planet's revival wasn't natural.
Someone triggered it.
And now they wanted in.
Chat Group: Emergency Ping
A red alert flashed.
[DING! Dimensional Chat Group Emergency: Try Not To Panic!]
The chat blew up instantly.
Chika:
I AM PANICKING ALREADY—!!
Kaguya:
Who's invading whose world?!
Himeko:
Takumi, did YOU cause this?
Bronya:
Statistically speaking, yes.
Takumi:
Not me. Something tried to intrude into my world.
Silence.
Absolute silence.
Even Akeno didn't flirt.
Zhongli:
Interesting.
Takumi-dono, check your Authority. The Herrscher of Reason should detect the intruder's form.
Takumi:
It did.
But it didn't recognize the signature.
Himeko:
…That's not good.
Bronya:
Very not good.
Kato Megumi:
Should we… be worried?
Takumi:
Not yet. The barrier held.
Sagiri:
Takumi-oniichan, please stay safe…
He smiled a little.
Takumi Switched Perspective — Herrscher Mode
He closed his eyes.
The world dissolved.
Only blueprints, vectors, geometries remained.
His Authority expanded — a conscious projection of pure reason.
In this state:
Every structure was a mathematical lattice
Every atom a movable module
Every possibility a blueprint
Every threat a solvable equation
A sphere of warped space flickered at the edge of his perception.
He reached toward it.
A foreign pattern.
High-order energy signature.
Ancient coding.
A concept older than elemental systems.
He analyzed.
And froze.
This structure was not from any known world.
Not from Teyvat.
Not from anime worlds.
Not from his original Earth.
This was—
[ROOT PROTOCOL — UNKNOWN ORIGIN]
He opened his eyes sharply.
The balcony rail had reconstructed into a reinforced alloy without him realizing.
Oops.
He dismissed the power.
This wasn't the time to rewrite furniture.
But his heart was pounding.
"Something ancient is watching," he muttered.
The Holy Empress paled.
A Sudden Mission Popup
[DING! Chat Group Mission Issued!]
Mission: "Identify the Interfering Entity"
Reward: 40 points
Bonus: One Dimensional Barrier Upgrade Module
Note: The Leader (Takumi) must participate.
Chika screamed.
Chika:
WHY 40 POINTS THAT'S SO HIGH SOMETHING IS DEFINITELY WRONG—!!
Himeko:
This mission looks serious.
Bronya:
The Bronya accepts.
Kaguya:
Wait wait wait this is my FIRST DAY can we not fight eldritch gods yet?!
Zhongli:
Takumi-dono. I will assist you from Teyvat's side.
Takumi:
Thanks, old man.
Zhongli:
Also, regarding Khaenri'ah's legacy—
I will secure it within two days.
Takumi smirked.
Perfect.
Preparation Phase — World Stabilization
Takumi raised his hand.
"AI."
[Yes, Takumi-sama.]
"Reinforce the dimensional barrier around the city.
And prepare the children for a possible lockdown."
[Understood. Initiating Barrier Strengthening Protocol.]
Dimensional lines rippled across the sky dome like glowing threads weaving reality tighter.
The Empress watched, awe-stricken.
Every time Takumi used his power, she was reminded:
He wasn't just rebuilding a world.
He was shaping a civilization born from destruction.
"Takumi-sama… will the children be safe?"
"Yes," he said firmly.
"As long as I stand here, nothing will harm them."
A warmth spread through the room—
not magic, not energy.
Conviction.
Even the AI registered it.
Chat Group Slice-of-Life Interruption
Right as he was issuing lockdown protocols—
Chika:
TAKUMI-SENSEI, CAN I HAVE A DISCOUNT ON WORLD ENTRY NOW THAT YOU'RE IN DANGER?!
Akeno:
Ara, Chika-chan, that's not how emergencies work.
Sagiri:
Chika-chan please read the room…
Kaguya:
I WANT A DISCOUNT TOO! If I die I die IN STYLE! LET ME IN!!
Takumi:
10 points. No discounts.
Chika:
(╥﹏╥)
Megumi:
Leader… can we enter later and bring snacks for morale?
Takumi chuckled.
"Yes, Megumi. Snacks are allowed."
Even the Holy Empress blinked at how casually he addressed multiversal visitors.
The Holy Empress Stepped Closer
"Takumi-sama… what will you do now?"
He looked out at his city.
"My job," he said softly.
"Protect this world.
Learn the truth.
And prepare everyone for what's coming."
His Authority flickered — a soft distortion, bending the air.
Not destructive.
Not overwhelming.
Just a reminder:
Takumi had surpassed human limits.
But he hadn't lost himself.
Not yet.