Normally, when an evil spirit possesses someone and makes them stronger, it's only because that person no longer fears death.
When you fight them, it looks like they've become much stronger.
But in reality, they're just forcing out their body's full potential.
The evil spirit just now seemed different.
It wasn't making its host stronger by removing their fear of death or forcing out their potential for a short burst of strength.
It had even said, "Trying to kill me? It's not that easy."
Hu Tao rubbed her smooth chin, planning to ask around when she had the chance.
If she could figure out who the other party was, everything would become much easier.
Once she understood what they had gone through, she could treat the problem properly, making it much easier to drive out the evil spirit.
"But the most important thing right now is finding them first."
Looking toward the direction the other party had fled, Hu Tao immediately led her team to search there.
As for Paimon, she arranged for someone to escort her back to Liyue Harbor.
Once they found the possessed Lumine, they would notify her.
After all, the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor had taken quite a bit of Mora. They couldn't ruin its reputation.
———
Back in Liyue Harbor, Paimon dejectedly found Xiangling and told her what had happened to Lumine.
After hearing it, Xiangling also felt guilty.
"I should've contacted the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor yesterday and taken both of you there."
But by the time they had reached Liyue Harbor, it had already been too late.
Besides showing a few signs of becoming more primitive, Lumine hadn't shown any serious problems.
So they had put it off for the time being, planning to take her to the funeral parlor today.
Who would've thought that after just one day...
No, not even one day, just one night.
After only one night, this would happen.
Not knowing how to comfort Paimon, Xiangling could only cook her best dish, hoping the food would ease her sadness.
Looking at Paimon's miserable expression, Xiangling remembered what Lumine had told her before about why they had come to Liyue Harbor.
They had come to watch the Rite of Descension and see whether Rex Lapis was the god who had taken Lumine's brother.
Today happened to be the day of the Rite of Descension.
She could take Paimon there and see if the lively atmosphere would help lift her spirits.
"I'm done eating. Can I have another serving?"
"Coming right up!"
There was still some time before the Rite of Descension began.
For now, she might as well let Paimon eat her fill.
———
Meanwhile, Levi sat on the steps outside Bubu Pharmacy, holding his stomach.
"I'm starving..."
Grrr!
'Hahaha.'
Seeing how miserable he looked, Lumine laughed without any shame.
"What are you laughing at?"
'I'm thinking of something happy.'
"What happy thing?"
'I can't feel hungry.'
"..."
Levi fell silent after hearing that.
Grrr!
"I can't take this anymore!"
Getting up this early without eating, and not even carrying any Mora.
Wasn't this basically asking to starve to death?
He opened the chat group.
[@Everyone.]
[Levi: Rich ladies, food, hungry.]
It was already daytime, and everyone else in the group was awake.
[Stelle: If you're hungry, you shouldn't @ all of us. Just @ Asta directly. She's the only rich lady here.]
[Asta: Isn't my card with you?]
'Or...'
[Asta: Am I not enough?]
'Are you trying to flirt with other rich ladies too?'
[Stelle: See, Asta, this is where you don't get it. I remember there's a saying...]
[Stelle: Lick one person and you're a dog. Lick ten thousand people and you're a king. Lick millions and you're the king of kings. King of Kings Ham Sausage, one sausage is stronger than six.]
'Besides, if you flatter enough people, eventually they're the ones flattering you.'
[Stelle: Wait!]
Looking at Asta's message, the sleepy Stelle suddenly noticed the important part.
She kept rereading "Isn't my card with you?"
Only then did she realize what it meant.
Tears of envy welled up in her eyes.
No.
Tears of contempt.
[Stelle: @Levi, I look down on you. I'm looking down on you with my nostrils!]
'Something this good, and you didn't bring me along?'
'Are we even brothers anymore?'
[Levi: You need an older brother before you can be a younger brother. You don't even have a brother, so how dare you call yourself mine?]
[Stelle: ...]
Stelle was left speechless by that one sentence.
What made it even worse was that Levi was telling the truth.
In every sense of the word, she didn't have a "bro."
Looking down at her toes, Stelle looked even more miserable.
[Stelle: Thanks. I feel personally attacked.]
Grrr!
His stomach growled again in the real world.
His expression couldn't have looked any more miserable.
[Levi: I'm starving to death!]
As everyone knows, when hunger first hits, the period afterward is the hardest.
If you can endure it, eventually you stop feeling so hungry.
But Levi felt he was reaching his limit.
Meanwhile, Stelle completely misunderstood the message.
[Stelle: !!!]
Seeing those words, Stelle jumped in fright and immediately covered her chest, looking on guard.
Starving to death?
Was he planning to make a move on someone like her, a "disabled person" without a bro?
'Heh. Just as expected of you, Levi.'
'You can actually say something only a complete pervert would say in the group without even changing your expression.'
The thoughtful rich lady Asta understood what Levi really meant.
[Asta: Is the staff cafeteria okay?]
[Levi: !!! Thank you! Thank you!!!]
"Uh..."
Looking at the conversation and the exclusive red packet Asta had sent to the group, Stelle realized she had misunderstood.
'So when he said he was starving...'
'He meant it literally.'
She slapped herself on the head twice.
'Stelle, Stelle...'
'When did your thoughts become this dirty?'
'I've decided!'
"I'm going to become a pure person!"
"What kind of pure person?"
Hearing that, March 7th poked her head in through the doorway.
"What are you talking about? What are you talking about?"
Looking at March 7th, with only her head sticking through the door, Stelle smiled gently.
"Be good. Go play somewhere else, kid."
"There you go again!"
This wasn't the first time.
Every single time, Stelle used the same tone adults used with little kids, making it sound like she was the older one.
If they were really comparing ages...
March 7th might actually be older.
After all, who knew how many years she'd drifted through space after being frozen?
Maybe a few years.
Maybe decades.
Maybe even hundreds or thousands of years.
But March 7th obviously wasn't going to argue about age.
She only left behind one sentence.
"I'm not talking to you anymore!"
Then she left.
At the dining table, Welt looked at March 7th returning alone and asked, "Where's Stelle?"
"Still sleeping!"
March 7th sat back in her seat, still pouting.
Anyone could tell from her expression that she was sulking.
Who knew what Stelle had done to make her angry this time?
"I'll go get her."
Dan Heng stood up and left.
Welt then turned his attention to Kiana, who was eating elegantly in the corner.
He thought, 'This isn't the real you, is it, Kiana?'
As her teacher, no one knew her better than he did.
Although he'd never actually seen her at the dinner table, based on all the rumors he'd heard...
Compared to the graceful person before him now...
Forget being the same.
They weren't even remotely alike.
If Raiden Mei and Bronya saw this, they'd probably shout, "You're not Kiana! Who are you?!"
After finishing her meal, Welt wiped the corner of his mouth.
He looked at Kiana.
"Kiana... student. I didn't expect we'd meet again here."
"Who are you?"
"..."