Chapter 263

Family Restaurant

Honjou Nia ate her meal without any concern for etiquette, while Kurumi elegantly drank her coffee. Mio Takamiya, eating for the first time, said with the curiosity of a child, "So this is what it tastes like."

Takumi calmly picked up his coffee and shook it gently. He could clearly feel that as Mio came into contact with more people, her cognition and personality were evolving at an exaggerated speed. It might not even take a few days—maybe just one day—for her to develop a complete personality. No, it seemed she wasn't learning all of this on her own, but rather, the world itself was passing on this knowledge to her.

Just as if Takumi wanted to know something, he could communicate with the world directly. Mio Takamiya couldn't communicate with the world, but the world was transmitting knowledge to her unilaterally.

While Takumi was thinking, the food on the table gradually disappeared at a visible speed. Finally, Honjou Nia patted her belly with satisfaction and said, "Wow! I'm revived."

Immediately, Nia lay down on the table, blinking at Takumi, then at Mio Takamiya, and finally at Tokisaki Kurumi.

"So, are we going to find the next spirit now?"

Tokisaki Kurumi put down her coffee and looked at Takumi. "According to the plan, yes."

Honjou Nia pursed her lips. "Looking at it like this, it seems there's nothing much for me to do."

"All you need is for Takumi to walk on the timeline and send the 'spiritual crystals' to those girls again. Even though I've just become an 'elf,' I feel like there's no room for me to use this power."

Takumi looked at Honjou Nia, who was sighing in boredom, and said, "Nia, you are actually very useful."

"Aside from the special case of Kurumi, you are effectively the first spirit girl. At the forefront of the timeline, with the 'Omniscient Angel,' you, Nia, can easily become the world's number one mangaka. Maybe the others will grow up reading the comics you draw."

Honjou Nia blinked, suddenly realizing. She slapped her palm on the table and exclaimed, "I understand now!"

"Hey, if I draw the stories of Takumi and Mio, wouldn't it be an incredible twist when they realize they're the people in the story?"

Takumi nodded, giving her a thumbs up and smiling brightly. "As expected of you, Nia. Your brainwaves are synchronized with mine."

Honjou Nia patted her chest proudly, her expression triumphant. "Of course! My brainwaves are absolutely in sync with the two-dimensional world."

Takumi rested his cheek on his hand, smiling knowingly. "Am I a two-dimensional character in your eyes, Nia?" He touched his chin thoughtfully, a hint of mischief in the corner of his mouth. "So, tell me, what do you think of me?"

At the same time, he emitted an aura that matched Nia's imagination perfectly. Since Teyvat was a natural law, he could project its essence. For people in this world, that kind of aura was akin to a dimensional rift—impossible to resist.

Thump!

Honjou Nia was instantly struck by Takumi's demeanor, feeling as though her heart skipped a beat. Her cheeks flushed, and her pupils turned into hearts.

"Then... then, do I even need to say? You... you are the Creator from another world. You're the ultimate, most awe-inspiring character ever. Even if you're not the protagonist, you're the most incredible hidden figure. Invincible, domineering, gentle, kind, overlooking everything, and reversing everything with your own will... almost perfect. You simply don't exist in reality! I fell in love with you as soon as I met you!"

There were no protagonists like him in the manga or novels of this world. Most were protagonists who suffered from deep hatred, were overly enthusiastic fools, or were trapped in love triangles. His template outclassed any character in this world.

Takumi stood up, his golden eyes looking down at Honjou Nia, who was caught up in her feelings, and said in a commanding tone.

"Then... I'll leave it to you to refine our story. If you don't become the best mangaka, I'll make sure to give you a smack."

With little red hearts still in her eyes, Honjou Nia quickly nodded and patted her chest. "Don't worry, leave it all to me! I will definitely become the best-selling mangaka in the world."

She hesitated for a moment. "Um... Takumi... can I call you Mr. Heng?"

"Are you trying to give me a nickname?"

Takumi knew that Honjou Nia liked giving nicknames to others. She had given nicknames to almost all the spirits.

Honjou Nia said excitedly, "Calling you by your first name or just 'Creator' is too straightforward. Calling you Mr. Heng sounds mysterious and perfectly suits a powerful hidden existence. Can I call you that? Please?"

Takumi shrugged. "Mr. Heng? Not bad. I already have many names, so call me that if you like."

Honjou Nia jumped up with joy. "Oye!"

After leaving the family restaurant, Honjou Nia returned to her apartment in a good mood.

Tokisaki Kurumi held Takumi's arm with both hands. "I noticed that you seem quite mischievous, not at all like the benevolent savior I first thought you were."

Hearing this, Takumi spoke with a hint of amusement. "You figured it out, Kurumi. Yes, I'm a fun-loving person. Are you scared?"

Kurumi rolled her burgundy eyes. "Is this part of your bad taste?"

Though they hadn't spent much time together, she understood the Creator's personality. He genuinely loved all the beauty in the human world, but he also had a mischievous side, viewing everything as part of his amusement. As he said, he held the strongest emotions in the world, and his bad taste was part of his charm.

Takumi didn't answer, but instead smiled as he extended his hand, with the timeline wrapped around his fingertips. "Alright then, the second timeline change begins."

Tokisaki Kurumi let go of Takumi's arm. He looked at her and asked, "You're not coming?"

Kurumi said, "No, since I am now your angel and won't be affected by the changing timeline, I'll wait for you at the end. You and Mio should go ahead."

Takumi nodded. "Okay then. We'll see you at the end, my Kurumi."

Kurumi smiled and waved. In her eyes, Takumi and Mio Takamiya disappeared into a bright light.

"That's a story between another girl and you. I won't be part of it, so see you at the end."

Meanwhile...

Takumi returned to the timeline of Natsumi Kyouno.