Chapter 2: What’s Wrong?
Alright, let’s get up now.
I stretched, and just as I was getting out of bed, Xiao An suddenly reappeared. How does she pop up out of nowhere? Oh, that’s right, she’s a god.
It was then that I saw clearly how Xiao An appeared. First, a light sphere appeared, and then this light continued to transform into Xiao An’s shape. I guess she disappeared in the same way, by de-materializing into light.
“Where were you hiding just now? Don’t tell me it was in my shadow?”
“What kind of god do you think I am? How could I hide in a shadow? I’m not some dark creature like a vampire.”
That’s true. If she really turned into a vampire and was also a blonde loli, people would definitely complain about the character design clashing.
But then again, it already feels very familiar. Still, I see Xiao An as my daughter!
“I didn’t disappear, I just became invisible light. If you hadn’t given my magatama away as a gift, I wouldn’t have had to put in so much effort, nor would I have to walk. I could have just comfortably nestled inside the magatama. It’s amazing what you’ll give away to please that woman, hmph, men!”
She was openly showing her jealousy, her pouting lips even more pronounced than before.
Children express their emotions so directly. Compared to the Shura Field I experienced before, this level of chaos here is merely a tickle. And this Xiao An is just too cute!
However, I did get a crucial piece of information from this. Since me giving the magatama to Lian Bing still happened, it means she’s still my girlfriend right now.
For some reason, I felt a little relieved.
Phew~ I was wondering how I would manage to win Lian Bing over again if our relationship had been completely erased.
That would have been an SSS-level攻略 (strategy) difficulty.
Of course, one thing at a time. For now, I need to comfort my dear daughter.
“I’m sorry, Xiao An. I didn’t know it was the Yata no Kagami then. If I had known beforehand, I would have chosen a different gift for Lian Bing. Besides, if I don’t have the magatama, don’t I still have the Yata no Kagami?”
“Are you serious?”
Her expression of dissatisfaction turned into one of pity as she listened to me, looking at me as if I were an idiot.
Uh, did I say something terrible?
Then, I subconsciously looked at the top of Xiao An’s head, intending to use the status bar information to gauge her inner fluctuations. But suddenly, I found I couldn’t see anything. Was it just her title I couldn’t see?
“Why can’t I see the title? Isn’t the Yata no Kagami in my head anymore?”
“You really don’t remember? To free me from the Yata no Kagami, didn’t you smash the Yata no Kagami?”
“Me? Smashed the Yata no Kagami!”
Did I actually do something like that!
After the surprise, I didn’t feel surprised. It felt like something I would do.
I had wanted to smash that darn mirror for a long time.
“Yes, it was not long ago. While smashing it, you were saying, ‘I’ve wanted to smash this darn mirror for a long time.’ You’re really strange today. And this sudden surge in Destiny Power… you didn’t happen to dream that you went on a trip to another world for a few years and then came back, did you?”
“Cough, cough.”
It’s actually true.
“What about the broken shards of the mirror?”
“They were repossessed by the organization as payment. You don’t think you destroyed a divine artifact with your bare hands, do you? To smash the Yata no Kagami, you borrowed tools from the organization. The price was the mirror shards.”
“You also said you didn’t want to spy on other people’s privacy with the Yata no Kagami anymore, and besides, it would free me. It was killing two birds with one stone. That’s why you agreed, wasn’t it?”
“Mhm, yes, it was indeed killing two birds with one stone.”
“Haah? You’re not seriously suffering from dementia, are you?”
I’m not suffering from dementia! I just genuinely agree with that point.
It’s better not to know what I don’t know. Often, knowing too much is the root cause of a sharp decline in one’s personal safety.
But without the Yata no Kagami, the current situation is a bit problematic.
I had originally planned to judge my relationship with others by the color of their titles, but without it, I can only observe things secretly to understand the current situation.
“You’re really strange today. If I couldn’t sense that there were no changes in you except for the added Destiny Power, I would have thought you were possessed by someone else.”
“Just think of me as having gotten senile dementia.”
“I don’t want my first, and only, believer to be an idiot!”
Unfortunately, I am indeed an idiot who knows nothing about the current situation.
“Oh, right.”
Just as I was about to ask Xiao An more questions to gather more information, I heard hurried footsteps approaching from outside. It was probably Xinran coming to rush me.
I accidentally chatted for too long.
“An Juncheng, what are you dawdling for? Talking to yourself again?”
“Uh, sorry, I’ll be down right away.”
Talking to myself again? Xinran mistook my conversation with Xiao An in the room for me talking to myself.
But her tone isn’t good, and there’s a sense of incongruity.
What’s going on?
Where is this sense of incongruity, which I’ve felt since a while ago, coming from?
“Whatever you want. Keling and I will go ahead. You shouldn’t always make others wait for you.”
“Oh, oh—I know.”
I acknowledged her words for now.
Then, Xinran still didn’t come into my room. I could hear her footsteps fading away.
I stood there blankly, my brain pausing for a few seconds before processing the information in Xinran’s words.
She said someone was waiting for me?
And it’s every time?
How come I don’t remember anyone specifically waiting for me to go to school together?
Anyway, I should get dressed and go downstairs to check.
I changed out of my pajamas and put on the high school uniform for Gunshui High School. It was then that I remembered I was still a third-year high school student.
Because in the Mirror World, I not only finished high school but even attended university for a while, so I’m still a bit unaccustomed.
However, turning back into a high school student again makes me feel like I’ve gained something.
After changing, I turned to Xiao An.
“Xiao An, are you coming to school with me?”
“…”
I was too naive to think Xiao An would say pitifully, “Don’t leave me alone,” and tearfully ask me to take her to school with me.
“School is super boring. I’d rather play games in your room. God of War 4 just came out, nya.”
Speaking of which, I just noticed that it seems like a PS4 appeared in my room. There’s also an extra screen next to my computer monitor, as well as a beanbag chair that’s been specially modified for Xiao An, who is only half my height.
How much do I spoil this loli? I’m practically treating her like a god. Well, she is a god, though.
By the way, is it really okay for a god to play a game about killing gods?
What should I do if my daughter becomes a shut-in?
Can anyone share their parenting experience with me?
“Then I’m leaving? Really leaving?”
Xiao An didn’t even bother to acknowledge me, walking towards the computer desk with her back to me and pressing the power button on the game console.
I shook my head helplessly, picked up my school bag, and walked out of the room. If she likes staying in my room, let her stay.
After quickly finishing my morning routine, I tiptoed downstairs. But there was no one in the living room anymore.
It’s normal for Dad and Mom not to be here, but it’s quite surprising that Xinran and Keling aren’t here either. They really went to school before me.
What’s even more surprising are the breakfast left on the table and the bento box next to it.
Fried egg, toast, sausage, milk. It’s a pretty normal Western-style breakfast.
But the question is, who made this breakfast?
Wasn’t I the one responsible for making breakfast?
I walked to the dining table in a daze and found that besides breakfast, there was also a bento box.
There was a note on top of the bento box that read, “[Today I tried making hamburger steak. Tell me what you think after you eat it.]” It was also signed at the bottom right.
Holding the packed bento box, I felt like I was holding a bomb, trembling all over.
Strange, something is too strange!
This is where the sense of incongruity is coming from!
Xinran’s way of treating me and her attitude seem completely different!
Not only does she no longer call me “Brother,” but she doesn’t even come into my room. Seeing Xiao An sleeping openly on my belly tells me she won’t be sneaking into my room for a “night raid” anymore.
It seems like she’s adhering to some kind of bottom line.
But it’s not the same cold and indifferent attitude of complete disregard she used to have towards me. She not only comes to wake me up, but this breakfast and bento are also made by Xinran.
It feels wrong!
Speaking of which, Xinran just said someone was waiting for me. Who could it be? There’s no one in the living room either. Could they be waiting outside the door?
With that thought, I wolfed down the breakfast in hurried bites, casually threw the plate in the kitchen sink, and rushed to put on my shoes and go outside.
As I opened the door, I ran into Yu Hui, who was standing properly by the door waiting for me.
“Lord Juncheng.”
“Ah, so it’s Yu Hui.”
I said, “Who was waiting for me early in the morning to go to school? If it’s Yu Hui, then it’s normal.”
Speaking of which, this way of addressing me is also long overdue.
“You seem quite disappointed.”
“No, it’s just that I feel relieved seeing you.”
Yu Hui blinked, then pursed her lips, trying her best to maintain a calm expression as she said.
“I don’t quite understand what you mean.”
“It means it’s really good that you’re the first person I saw today.”
I smiled and naturally patted Yu Hui’s head. Yu Hui blushed and lowered her head shyly.
Yes, yes, that’s the reaction.
“Juncheng, you seem to be in a good mood today. For some reason, you only…”
I reflexively agreed, but in reality, until I fully reacted to Yu Hui’s happiness, she wasn’t normally like this. “It’s as expected. You only do things like patting heads when you’re making progress with Sister Li Nai.”
Only then did I understand Yu Hui’s previous question. I stopped walking, completely bewildered.
Huh?
