Usually, during a street brawl, passersby tend not to intervene. At most, they'll call the police and keep their distance, especially when weapons are involved.
However, the brawl outside a teahouse in the bustling city center... or rather, the one-sided beatdown... was an exception.
"Bullying a little girl, huh?!"
"Popping a little girl's balloons, huh?!"
"Popping them and not apologizing, just standing there laughing, huh?!"
"Why aren't you laughing now?!"
"Go on, keep laughing!"
The commotion of the beating and cursing attracted countless onlookers, who quickly pieced together what had happened.
The warm-hearted citizens of Arc City saw the adorable little purple-haired girl, crying her eyes out while being comforted by a purple-haired woman dressed as a Valkyrie... and they were instantly enraged.
Beautiful and cute things always inspire people's protective instincts, and the adorable little girl named Sirin was certainly one of those beautiful things.
"Bullying a little girl, huh?!"
"Still laughing, are you?!"
"The world's gone to hell! Morals are decaying, society is collapsing!"
The same scene was playing out again, but this time, it wasn't Miss Delta unilaterally beating up Ms. Jackal...
A certain Doctor Cleo, who could only be described as deserving it, was surrounded by a crowd, curled up on the ground and being kicked, not daring to even squeak...
"Goodness, Little Ancestor, what are they beating up over there?"
Having finished his shift and changed into casual clothes, Raven came over for tea and sat down next to the ever-trouble-loving Imhotep.
"Beating a dog."
Without a moment's hesitation, the girl immediately answered Cioara's question.
"Huh? Do they need so many people to beat a dog? They're packed three layers deep... And that noise... Even a robot dog would be beaten to pieces by now..."
Raven looked at Imhotep, utterly baffled.
"Ah, for that, you have to admire the wonders of the human body."
The white-haired Nuo nodded thoughtfully, leaving Cioara even more confused.
"Weren't they beating a dog??? How did this suddenly relate to the wonders of the human body...? Are they beating some kind of dog-man or something...?"
"Fuck... Jackal?"
Seeing Imhotep's "teachable student" expression, Raven stared in shock at the center of the crowd...
"That's right, it's Jackal."
"So what did she do... to get mobbed and beaten by such a huge crowd?"
Watching the furious crowd, packed several layers deep, with those on the outside replacing the tired ones in the middle, Raven was completely bewildered.
Didn't you guys say you'd just report her to the police and have her arrested? How did this suddenly turn into a people's war?
"Ah, this beating? She absolutely deserves it."
"Remember that adorable little Sirin you were hugging and calling 'my daughter'?"
"Of course I remember... Little Ancestor, have you finally come to your senses and decided to transfer guardianship to me?!"
Raven looked at Imhotep like a patient suddenly struck with excitement, instantly forgetting all about his plastic camaraderie with the colleague being mobbed in the center of the crowd.
"? You're dreaming!"
"Tsk..."
"Hmph, I don't know what's wrong with her brain, or maybe she's just having a fit..."
"She was popping kids' balloons, and if that wasn't enough, after popping them, the psycho stood there doing a three-part queenly laugh."
"...And then she popped the little cutie's balloon?"
Raven immediately guessed the outcome.
"Exactly."
"So, my omnipotent Little Ancestor, do you happen to have any of those track and field shoes...?"
"You mean spiked shoes?"
"Mhm, mhm, mhm..."
Raven nodded earnestly.
"Actually, I'd recommend ice skates."
After a brief moment of thought, Imhotep solemnly offered her suggestion...
"Ah... that's... that's not a good idea, is it?"
Cioara was stunned by the Little Ancestor's idea.
"Emmm... you're right... There's a sporting goods store fifty meters from the teahouse exit. You know what I mean, right?"
The latter gave an "I get it" look and vanished from Imhotep's sight in a flash.
Then, she rushed back in front of Imhotep just as quickly and dove into the crowd.
-
"Sometimes, maintaining good relationships with colleagues is a very important thing..."
"At least when you're in real trouble, you don't expect them to lend a hand..."
"At least they won't kick you while you're down..."
Watching Raven dive into the crowd and join the chorus of "Fuck, Jackal, beat her!", Imhotep felt deeply moved.
"Or maybe it's just that Little Sirin is too cute?"
Thinking of the adorable little purple-haired girl, Imhotep's fists suddenly clenched...
"Waiter!"
"What can I get for you, esteemed guest?"
"Go get me a few jars of chili sauce..."
"Uh, esteemed guest, our signature chili sauce is a collaboration between a Hunan master and a Sichuan master... You should know what I mean, right?"
"Isn't that even better? I'm going to add some spice to that Human Trash..."
Imhotep jutted her chin, gesturing toward the crowd outside beating up Jackal.
"You know what I mean, right?"
"I understand, I understand. I'll go tell the two masters in the kitchen to stir-fry a fresh batch for you. That'll pack a real punch."
"Also, esteemed guest, these two jars of chili sauce are on the house."
Looking at the boisterous crowd outside, the waiter gave a thumbs-up, flashed an "I get it" expression, and vanished into the kitchen in a flash.
-
"Sigh, you're slacking off here, are you?"
Just as Imhotep was wondering why the two jars of chili sauce still hadn't arrived, several figures appeared before her.
"You guys cleaned up that fast...?"
Looking at the group who had just finished their work, Imhotep wore a strange expression.
"Oh, that. I'm a Herrscher, and Bella is a Judgment-class Honkai Beast. Of course we're experts at reacting to this kind of Honkai energy."
"Hmm... Rita actually brought Lady Durandal's cat this time... Stan seems to be very sensitive to this Honkai energy too..."
The black and white Siamese cat was now happily circling at everyone's feet, seemingly tamed by a certain airheaded Schicksal Valkyrie, no longer showing the imposing presence of the Ultimate Lifeform Stan.
"Where's Lady Kyuusyou? Shouldn't she be on a date with you...?"
"Well, about that..."
Imhotep briefly explained to the group what had just happened...
"Popping a child's balloon? That's even more despicable than a frog's piss!"
Miss Captain made a comment...
"Guest, your chili sauce has arrived!"
The waiter, who had been gone for a long time, finally returned to Imhotep's table, carrying two jars.
"...Impressive."
The jars in front of her weren't the fruit preserve jars she had imagined...
They were two whole earthenware pots...
"Tsk tsk tsk... Let's go! We're going to marinate a certain piece of Human Trash!"