"That blue gem… what exactly is it?"
Focalors turned to look at Xia Zhi.
"Since you're so clever, why don't you take a guess?"
"…Is it something similar to a Vision?"
"No. To put it bluntly, it's more like a Gnosis."
"A Gnosis!?"
Focalors' eyes widened with disbelief.
Meanwhile, Xia Zhi, through his god's-eye view, observed Furina still playing with the water.
Though she was now wearing [Tears of the Goddess] and could cast Hydro spells, no progress bar of any color had appeared on her.
It seemed the system's criteria for progress bars had some rigid conditions—perhaps her mana pool needed to reach a certain threshold before she could cast any Hydro spell at will…
This outcome wasn't entirely unexpected for Xia Zhi.
Otherwise, he could've easily farmed a pile of Diamond-tier treasure chests from his shop employees long ago. There'd have been no need for this slow "investment" process.
Shifting his gaze, Xia Zhi observed Focalors, still bound by those black chains.
A sparkling Diamond progress bar hovered above her.
Progress: [16%].
He checked the countdown on his system panel—twenty-five minutes had already passed, leaving ninety-five.
That should be more than enough time to max out her Diamond progress bar.
Xia Zhi raised his hand and gave a slight beckoning motion toward Focalors.
The black chains restraining her vanished without a trace.
Focalors regained her freedom. She glanced down at her slightly disheveled clothes, then back up at him.
"What's the meaning of this?"
"I only restrained you to ensure your cooperation. Now that you've told me what I wanted to know, there's no reason to trouble you further."
Xia Zhi extended a hand toward the girl still sitting on the floor, his tone earnest.
"I apologize for earlier."
"…"
Focalors gave him an odd look but didn't take his offered hand, choosing to stand up on her own while straightening her clothes.
"Forget it. I won't hold it against you."
Xia Zhi silently withdrew his still-outstretched hand.
Physical interaction was a no-go, it seemed.
Time to switch tactics.
For example, his most frequently used method—Feeding.
Xia Zhi walked over to the table in the room.
His sudden movement drew the attention of both Focalors and Furina.
Reaching the table, he opened his inventory and retrieved two small cakes from the items he'd prepared over the past couple of days, placing them at opposite ends.
"Ladies, standing around talking must be tiring. Why don't we sit and continue our conversation?"
Furina and Focalors approached together.
The cakes on the table were exquisitely decorated.
Furina caught a whiff of an exceptionally sweet fragrance and couldn't help but swallow. "What's this?"
"A cake I made. Please, help yourselves."
Focalors studied him, suspicion in her gaze. "Since when could you make cakes?"
Xia Zhi smirked. "Since when couldn't I?"
"I—"
"Of course, it's true I didn't know how before… So, just like Furina, you've seen my past as well?"
"…"
Xia Zhi chuckled. "No need to be nervous. My past isn't anything shameful—just ordinary. You've seen it, so be it. It's not like you're the first. Here, try the cake."
"Mm!" Furina nodded eagerly, picking up the small spoon beside her cake.
She scooped up a tiny portion and carefully brought it to her lips.
"Mmm~" Her eyes instinctively squeezed shut as she let out a muffled, blissful sound around the spoon. "This cake is amazing!"
"Glad you like it."
Xia Zhi turned his head.
"Focalors, aren't you going to try?"
Focalors eyed him. "I don't have a physical body. I can't eat."
"Ah, my oversight. One moment."
With an apologetic tone, Xia Zhi lightly touched the cake in front of her and activated [Path of the Netherworld Chef].
"?"
Focalors watched his actions in confusion—until she suddenly caught an incredibly sweet fragrance in the air.
Her eyes widened in disbelief as she stared at the cake.
Xia Zhi withdrew his hand softly. "There. Please, enjoy."
Focalors looked up at him. "What did you just do?"
"Altered its state between life and death."
"Altered… its state?"
"It's complicated to explain, and not worth dwelling on. Just eat."
"…"
Focalors picked up her spoon, scooped a small portion, and brought it to her mouth with the same cautious motion as Furina.
Through his god's-eye view, Xia Zhi noticed their movements were identical.
"Mmm~"
The moment the cake touched her tongue, the smooth cream melted away.
Focalors' eyes instinctively closed as she let out the same muffled, contented sound Furina had made moments ago.
Even the noise was identical.
Xia Zhi asked, "How is it?"
Focalors nodded reflexively. "Delicious."
"Good."
Xia Zhi watched as her progress bar quietly rose by [1%].
"Care for something to drink?"
Furina perked up. "What kind?"
"A specialty from my shop—Rainbow Juice."
Xia Zhi produced three glasses and began mixing with practiced ease.
Soon, three beverages with dreamlike, multicolored hues sat on the table.
He slid two toward the girls.
"Ladies, enjoy."
Then he lifted the last glass to his lips for a small sip.
A flavor he'd never tasted before.
Furina, without hesitation, picked up her glass and took a sip, her eyes lighting up. "This is delicious too!"
Focalors eyed the colorful liquid in her glass and let out a soft humph. "You're being awfully nice to me now."
Xia Zhi set his glass down. "Are you still hung up on what happened earlier?"
"Yes."
"Which part?"
"You said my brain was waterlogged."
"…You're an Archon. How can you be this petty?"
"And?"
"I admit, I did have some preconceptions about you because of Furina."
"Not just preconceptions—arrogance too."
"Is that so?"
"Whatever. I already knew your true personality from your past anyway."
Focalors sighed lightly.
She took a sip of the Rainbow Juice, then blinked in surprise.
It really was delicious.
Fine, she'd temporarily forgive this secretly sharp-tongued man.
Through his god's-eye view, Xia Zhi saw her progress bar rise by another [1%].
The rate was a bit slow.
He needed to steer the conversation.
As he took another sip, Focalors set her glass down and spoke. "You've asked me so many questions. Can I ask you some now?"
Oh? She was taking the initiative?
Maybe this was his high Luck stat at work…
Xia Zhi nodded. "Of course. But I'll only answer what I deem appropriate—to avoid you learning too much and accidentally altering the future in significant ways."
"Fine."
Furina, still nibbling on her cake, also focused her attention on their exchange.
Focalors thought for a moment. "Earlier, you said you came back from five hundred years in the future?"
"Yes."
"You have time-travel abilities?"
"I do, but only for this occasion."
"How long can you stay?"
"Two hours."
"Two hours?"
"Yes. Once the time's up, I'll return to the future—five hundred years from now. In other words, the next time you see me won't be until after February twentieth, five centuries later."
"Why?"
"Because tonight is when I traveled back in my timeline, and in my memory, today was our first meeting."
As he spoke, Xia Zhi's expression turned slightly odd.
That wasn't entirely accurate. He'd entered Furina's dreams before—that had been their true first encounter.
But back then, he'd concealed himself with the [Hat of Secrecy], so Furina remained unaware. He couldn't mention it now; otherwise, she might realize and alter the future he knew.
Focalors pondered, then asked, "Earlier, you mentioned knowing the Greater Lord Rukkhadevata. She's alive? Or did you resurrect her?"
Xia Zhi hesitated. "That answer… I'm afraid I can't share it yet."
Focalors seemed to contemplate this before continuing. "Then why help us? If this is our first meeting, we were strangers before. Do you have a reason for going this far?"
Xia Zhi shook his head. "The reason… I'm sorry, but I can't tell you that either. If you insist on an answer, all I can say is that I think Furina is a good kid. I don't want her bearing such a heavy responsibility alone, completely unaware."
Focalors glanced at Furina beside her. "Is that so?"
Furina's cheeks flushed slightly at being called a "good kid."
"Well… At first, I did wonder why I had to suffer. But if my pain can save all of Fontaine's people, I'm willing."
Xia Zhi nodded. "Which is exactly why I said you're a good kid…"
His mind flashed to the image of Furina's unconscious tears.
Furina, you've underestimated the agony of that prolonged torment… It's this world's [Erosion] upon you…
Focalors spoke up. "Enough of that. Let's discuss your so-called 'best plan.' You gave Furina this blue gem. Then what?"
"This gem is called [Tears of the Goddess], a unique divine artifact."
"What does it do?"
"Simply put, it works like a mage in a game. Every time Furina casts a spell, her maximum mana increases. The more she stacks, the higher it grows. Once her mana pool is large enough, she'll become the Hydro Archon."
"?!"
Focalors had never heard of such an artifact.
This thing was on a whole other level compared to a Gnosis.
"You're just giving something this precious to Furina?"
"The right gift for the right person."
Focalors studied him, then suddenly asked, "Do you like her?"
Furina's face instantly turned crimson.
Xia Zhi remained unfazed. "I do. But not in the way you're thinking. It's more like an older brother's affection for a younger sister."
"?"
Furina froze again.
Focalors felt an inexplicable irritation. Frowning, she said, "Never mind that. Back to your plan. I understand your logic—you don't want the future you know to change drastically, so while helping us, you want us to superficially stick to my original plan, right?"
"Correct."
"Giving [Tears of the Goddess] to Furina means she won't have to endure the pressure of acting anymore. There's a world of difference between a mortal pretending to be a god and an actual deity playing the role."
"After all, the best performance is becoming the character you're meant to portray."
"I've considered this, but I don't have artifacts that can elevate someone to godhood as easily as you. Hence my original plan. Now, the other issue—how do you intend to save Fontaine's people from the prophecy?"
"Follow your original plan: destroy the Hydro Archon's throne and return the authority to the Hydro Sovereign."
"But then I'd die!"
"Relax, I won't let that happen."
"If I don't die, how will you extract the authority?"
"Simple. Just one injection."
"?"
Xia Zhi produced the [Universal Syringe].
If this could extract Diamond-tier [Forbidden Knowledge] from the Greater Lord Rukkhadevata, then Diamond-tier [Hydro Authority] should be no different.
Worth a try. If it failed, he still had enough points to [Enhance] it to Diamond rank.
Focalors stared blankly at the syringe.
"An injection?"
"Not the ordinary kind. It won't hurt."
"Do I… need to pull my pants down?"
"You don't have a physical body. But if you insist, I won't stop you."
"!"
"Just extend your arm. Don't worry."
Hesitantly, Focalors offered her arm.
Xia Zhi grasped it and inserted the syringe.
The extraction was conceptual, causing no actual harm.
Soon, the syringe filled with a watery, mystical substance.
Focalors glanced at the syringe but focused on her arm—specifically, Xia Zhi's hand holding it.
She could feel the warmth of his palm.
This… how?
"You—you can touch me?!"
"Obviously."
"But I don't have a body."
"Doesn't matter. Wait… Earlier, when I offered to help you up, you ignored me. So you weren't actually angry—you just assumed I couldn't touch you?"
"…"
Focalors fell silent for a beat.
"No."
Xia Zhi's expression turned peculiar.
So you're actually a tsundere.
----
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