Chapter 77

"Ah! Ah! Ah!"

"Kill me! Just kill me! I don't want to live anymore! Waaaa..."

Aqua's desperate cries kept pouring out of her mouth. In the room, Megumin snapped the charcoal pencil in her hand, her eyes blazing with red light as she stared coldly at Aqua. "What's the matter this time, Aqua?"

"Megumin..."

Weakly looking at the fiery Megumin in front of her, Aqua lay on the ground and murmured, "It's been five days since I last had delicious sake."

"What? What did you say?!"

"I said! It's been five days since I had delicious sake!!!"

Clutching her head, Aqua screamed as if she was on the verge of a breakdown. "I've been locked in this room for five days straight without being allowed to leave, eating terrible food, barely sleeping, and being used for experiments every day."

"I don't care! I don't care! Today, I will definitely drink some delicious sake!"

Looking at Aqua rolling on the floor, Megumin's face twisted with anger, veins bulging on her forehead as she raised her fist.

Recently, Megumin had been particularly, particularly annoyed. That Satou Kazuma—how dare he use a mission as an excuse to flirt with some busty beast-eared girls? What did he mean by that? Did he think her chest was too small?

Glaring down at Aqua, whose chest was trembling with her movements, Megumin shouted, "Aqua, brace yourself and take this blow filled with resentment!"

Bang!

Creak!

The door gently closed. Lumine silently touched her own chest, recalling the scene she had just witnessed. With a pained expression, she left the room.

Inside, Aqua held her chest, her face filled with tears.

Meanwhile, Megumin let out a satisfied sigh, her frustration seemingly gone as she looked at the quietly weeping Aqua on the floor. She grabbed Aqua by the collar and said, "Come on, let's go. Kazuma and the others are back. If you want, I'll let you join in when I teach him a lesson."

Sitting on the floor and letting Megumin pull her, Aqua clutched her chest and asked tearfully, "Really?"

"Yes."

Red light flickered in Megumin's eyes as she grinned widely. She dragged Aqua out of the room, staring at Satou Kazuma, who was standing in front of her, smiling nervously with sweat dripping down his face.

"Beat him as much as you like. With his immortal body and your resurrection magic, he'll come right back even if he dies."

At the large table, Shirou Emiya and Hiroshi were serving dishes while everyone else had gathered around.

Today was the day Satou Kazuma and the others returned from their mission, and soon, it would be time for Vanir and Riku to set out.

So everyone decided to put aside their research and enjoy a good meal together.

Under Vanir's lead, Keqing, Lumine, Schwi, Riku, Shirou Emiya, Kuroneko, Megumin, Kamijou Touma, Klee, Hiroshi, Aqua, and others—a total of fourteen people—combined their skills and wisdom. With Aqua's sacrificial help and the war god information provided by Schwi and Riku, they had finalized the plan.

Yes, Aqua just stayed in the room to let everyone experiment with her divinity. All she needed to do was stay put. After all, everyone knew what the so-called goddess of wisdom was really capable of.

Happy moments passed by quickly, and after lunch, Satou Kazuma bid everyone farewell in tears. Megumin dragged him back to the room while Aqua followed with a smug smile.

Hearing the door slam shut down the hallway, everyone exchanged glances and burst out laughing.

"These times spent with everyone have truly been a joy."

Taking out a handkerchief, Keqing wiped the oil stain from her lips. She smiled as she looked at everyone laughing together.

"Is something wrong? Was it not good before?" Lumine asked curiously, seeing Keqing smiling.

Shaking her head, Keqing spoke softly, "Back in Liyue, I was the Yuheng of the Liyue Qixing. I had to uphold that identity at all times, constantly occupied with work. And many people just couldn't keep up with my pace. They always fell behind so easily."

"But here, it's different. I'm not the Yuheng of Liyue anymore. No one here keeps their distance from me, and that makes me very happy. Plus, everyone can keep up with my rhythm, working alongside me."

"Really?"

Scratching her head, Lumine grinned, "I'm glad you feel that way. But if it was so tiring, why did you become one of the Liyue Qixing?"

"No, it's not tiring at all!"

Keqing spoke with determination, her eyes seemingly glowing. "It's my homeland. How could it be tiring to make it better?"

With a smile, Keqing looked at everyone gathered together, happily saying, "And I believe if I ever face difficulties in the future, everyone will help me. That makes me even more confident to leave my mark in Liyue."

"Don't worry, everyone will surely help you then."

Lumine extended her hand towards Keqing, smiling. "After all, you're a wonderful person, Keqing. My next journey will take me to Liyue, so I hope you'll be my guide then."

"Of course."

Clasping Lumine's hand, Keqing smiled. "I'll definitely give you a great tour of Liyue."

"Now, let's get to work! Time is tight."

As Lumine was led away to work by Keqing, Kuroneko and Hiroshi, who were cleaning the dishes, glanced at each other and smiled.

Earlier today, Lumine was overjoyed to hear she could take a break, yet now she was dragged off to work by Keqing.

Passing the dishes to Klee, who stood beside him with her hands raised, Hiroshi watched Kuroneko carry the dishes with one hand while holding Klee with the other. He couldn't help but show a happy expression.

"Stop smiling like a fool."

Shirou Emiya and Kamijou Touma approached Hiroshi, seeing his silly smile and waving their hands in front of his face.

Seeing no reaction from Hiroshi, Touma and Shirou exchanged glances, raising their eyebrows.

Each of them grabbed one of Hiroshi's arms, dragging him towards the lab.

"Let's go, Keqing called for overtime."

Passing by Megumin's room, they also dragged Aqua, who was excitedly tying Satou Kazuma with ropes.

"Let's go; there's an experiment you need to join later."

In the room, Megumin looked at the door as it closed again. She laughed, swinging the whip in her hand.

This afternoon, Megumin and Kazuma were absent from the lab.

"Well then, let's prepare to set off as well."

Vanir stood up from his seat, looking at Riku, who had just finished talking to Schwi.

Holding Schwi's hand, Riku gently patted her head. Under Schwi's longing gaze, Riku stood up and walked towards Vanir.

"Schwi, I'm leaving now."

"Mm, Riku, be careful and stay safe."

Nodding gently, Schwi held Riku's hand tightly, whispering her reminder.

"Don't worry. I'll be fine."

With a smile, Riku turned and walked towards Vanir.

Bang!

"Riku, you must come back. Schwi will be waiting for you!"

"Yes."

Feeling the hands wrapped around his waist, Riku looked towards the entrance of the cave.

"I still have a wedding ring I've prepared for you, Schwi!"