Chapter 37

In the early morning, the chirping of birds could be heard from the trees outside the window, mingling with the laughter of Klee and Hinata Gokou from downstairs.

Pulling back the curtains, Hiroshi looked down to see the two little girls, each holding a small trowel, busying themselves in the garden below, both of them covered in dirt.

Heading downstairs, Hiroshi greeted Oz, who was perched on the living room sofa, and began to prepare breakfast.

Because of her new close friends, Fischl had stayed over at Hiroshi's place. She was now strolling around the estate with Megumin and Ruri Gokou, the three of them planning to visit the Adventurers' Guild in the afternoon to take on a mission. Meanwhile, Kazuma Sato was busy in Mondstadt, shopping for local specialties, with Jean even assigning a Knight of Favonius to act as his guide.

Xiaohei and Mu, on the other hand, had left last night. Xiaohei said that he had felt the presence of Fengxi spying on him and wanted to return to settle things. After all, to travel to a fellow group member's world, one only needed the other party's consent. However, in one's own world, time would flow normally, unlike during mission mode—meaning however long he stayed in the other world, that much time would pass back home.

With breakfast ready and laid out on the table, Hiroshi's voice echoed in the ears of everyone in the estate.

"Come eat breakfast."

The three "chuunibyou" girls by the shore of Cider Lake exchanged glances and nodded.

"My friend calls for me," Fischl said in her usual grandiose manner.

Outside, the two little girls in the flower garden glanced at each other, noting the dirt all over them. Setting their trowels down, they held hands and ran off together to wash up.

In Xiaohei's world, Mu and Xiaohei exited the inn. The bustling streets in the early morning were filled with people going about their busy lives. Leading Xiaohei, Mu blended into the crowd.

Longyou, a massive city home to around ten million people, was always vibrant. Wearing period-style clothing, Mu strolled down the street with Xiaohei, who was dressed similarly. Mu's serene demeanor made him look like someone straight out of a historical drama, attracting countless stares.

"Master, is this the big city?" Xiaohei asked, gazing around in wonder at the tall buildings. Though he'd seen such scenes in the destiny fragments, nothing compared to experiencing it in person.

Mu looked down at Xiaohei, whose eyes couldn't seem to take everything in. Smiling, he patted the boy's head. "You'll see more in the future," he said, taking Xiaohei's small hand as they headed towards the subway.

Nearby, among the people covertly watching them, a few stylishly dressed young women gathered excitedly around a phone. Amid the busy crowd, a young man dressed in traditional garb, with his hands behind his back, bent down with a gentle smile towards the cute little boy at his side, holding his small hand.

Not far from the group of young women, a yellow-haired boy wearing a hat whispered to himself, "Found you."

On the subway's automatic escalator, Xiaohei glanced back and transmitted a message to Mu. "Master, they're here."

"Hmm." Mu's expression remained unchanged as he watched the descending escalator. His calm voice echoed in Xiaohei's mind: "Since you want to resolve this matter on your own, I won't interfere."

"Thank you, Master." Xiaohei smiled, listening to the approaching rumble of the subway. Determined, he said, "Master, I will handle this."

After swiping their cards at the turnstiles, Mu and Xiaohei joined the line. A fashionable woman carrying a bag noticed Xiaohei, bent down to speak to him, but the light in her eyes vanished. Her bag dropped to the ground as she, along with the surrounding people, moved like zombies towards Mu and Xiaohei.

Metal strips flew from Mu's arm, subduing the people under mental control. Mu watched as Xiaohei disappeared into white light, his heart stirred slightly. After placing the unconscious people in a safe spot, Mu looked towards where Xiaohei's aura was coming from and murmured, "Xiaohei, if you're still unwilling to hurt them, then I will step in."

At the back of the speeding subway, Xiaohei materialized in the glow of a teleportation circle.

"Pleasure to meet you," Ahe said, crouching down in front of Xiaohei. With a flash of white light from his index finger, Xiaohei collapsed unconscious.

Lifting Xiaohei, the burly Yezi and Ahe kept a wary eye on the fast-disappearing tunnel behind them, eventually relaxing.

Ahe looked down at the unconscious Xiaohei in Yezi's hand and said with relief, "We got lucky this time. Mu didn't spot us. Once we reach the next station, we need to regroup with Fengxi as soon as possible."

In Xiaohei's unconscious state, a blue panel that Ahe and Yezi couldn't see appeared before him.

**Group Chat**

**Xiaohei:** @Mu, Master, I've successfully been captured by Fengxi and the others. Everything is proceeding as planned.

**Hiroshi:** I'm choking on a metaphorical old phlegm here—can't spit it out, can't swallow it.

**Mu:** Xiaohei, are you alright?

**Xiaohei:** Don't worry, Master. Fengxi and the others have no reason to harm me right now.

**Xiaohei:** Besides, if there's any danger, I'll subdue them all and talk afterward.

**Xiaohei:** Trust me, Master. I won't take unnecessary risks. I still want to explore different worlds with you.

**Mu:** ...

**Hiroshi:** "When the enemy is ashamed, strip him of his clothes!"

**Kazuma Sato:** "When the enemy is ashamed, strip him of his clothes!"

**Megumin:** "When the enemy is ashamed, strip him of his clothes!"

**Ruri Gokou:** "When the enemy is ashamed, strip him of his clothes!"

**Hinata:** "When the enemy is ashamed, strip him of his clothes!"

**Klee:** ???

**Hiroshi:** @Klee. Focus on your breakfast, Klee. Aren't you going to go fishing with Hinata later?

**Ruri Gokou:** @Hinata. Focus on eating.

**Ruri Gokou:** @Hiroshi, Fischl says she wants to join the group. Can I give her one of my invitations?

**Hiroshi:** ???

**Hiroshi:** I'm sitting right next to you at the table. Couldn't you just tell me directly?

**Ruri Gokou:** Oh, right.

...

**Hiroshi:** Stop!!!

**Kazuma Sato:** Too scary!

**Hiroshi:** @Megumin, Ruri Gokou. Stop filling my head with endless chuunibyou lines—my brain can't function anymore!

**Hiroshi:** I'm sorry. Ruri, just discuss it in the group chat.

**Ruri Gokou:** So, what do you think, hiroshi?

**Hiroshi:** Whatever you decide. Amy is my friend too, so even if you didn't add her, I would.

**Kazuma Sato:** ???

**Megumin:** "Amy"? Oh my, is that Fischl's real name? What a cute name!

**Hiroshi:** Megumin, I think you're considering something dangerous. I advise you to be kind.

**Megumin:** Hehehe! I'll just say Hiroshi told me.

**Hiroshi:** Kazuma, Megumin says you need to take responsibility at home!

**Megumin:** W-Who's his "at home"?!

**Ruri Gokou:** Megumin, you're not supposed to be tsundere. You're out of character.

**Megumin:** Shut up!

**Hiroshi:** @Kazuma Sato, what did you do last night? Megumin's acting weird.

**Kazuma Sato:** Hehehe.

**Hiroshi:** Ah, those three letters say it all. No wonder you drank so much with me last night.

**Hinata:** ?

**Ruri Gokou:** Hinata! Focus on eating.

**Hinata:** Okay.

**Hiroshi:** And that concludes this topic.

**Hiroshi:** @Xiaohei, can you stream this? I'd like to see how it turns out.

**Xiaohei:** Sure, that was my plan anyway.

*[Ding! Xiaohei has started a livestream.]*

**Mu** has entered the room.

**Hiroshi** has entered the room.

**Ruri Gokou** has entered the room.

**Megumin** has entered the room.

**Kazuma Sato** has entered the room.

**Klee** has entered the room.

**Hinata** has entered the room.