This chapter is equivalent to Chapter 9 of Volume 2.
For the Volume 1: The Awakening of The legendary King, it is polished and completed in Amazon: https://a.co/d/0f0nCyAq
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After Mai dealt with Bokku and his gang, they came to and immediately ran off, not daring to look back.
She turned to the pho shop owner and asked,
"Are you okay?"
His face still carried some shock from what had just happened, but he gradually regained his composure.
"I'm fine. Thank you, kids! If it weren't for you, I wouldn't have had enough EN for a chance to see my younger brother again."
At that moment, Mai fell into thought. After a brief pause, she made a suggestion:
"I have an idea. Could you give me your 100 EN…"
"Huh…?" The pho shop owner's face filled with surprise. He had just escaped from extortionists, and now this unfamiliar girl was asking for money. He couldn't help but hesitate.
Sensing his confusion, Mai quickly explained:
"Please don't misunderstand… My AI Witch, Miki, can help you fulfill your wish to see your younger brother again. Normally, I would help you without needing any EN, but right now, we're a bit… short."
There was a moment of hesitation, but remembering what Mai and the boys had done and how they had fought for him, he spoke:
"Alright, here are 100 blue EN coins. I can give it a try…"
Mai smiled and turned to Miki, giving her command:
"Miki, generate the current image of the owner's younger brother from the photo…"
Miki's eyes suddenly lit up. Mai held her breath as she waited, because Miki's magic would not work on someone who had already passed away.
Then, a figure appeared—a tall, middle-aged man with a radiant expression.
Mai let out a sigh of relief and turned to the owner.
"This illusion shows your younger brother as he is now. He's still alive!"
The owner couldn't believe his ears. He murmured in disbelief,
"Is… is it really him?"
Still uncertain, he slowly stepped closer to the illusion. His trembling hand reached out and gently touched the man's cheek.
His vision blurred with tears, and his voice quivered:
"Yes… it really is my little brother…"
Then the middle-aged man in the illusion turned toward a woman holding a baby. The three of them looked like a happy family.
The pho shop owner choked up, his voice breaking:
"I'm sorry for missing the important moments of your life… I've cooked so many bowls of pho, waiting for you to come home, my little brother…"
Mai gently took his hand and slipped an information card into it.
"Please take this. This is an address generated by my AI Witch. It's where your younger brother is currently living…"
As he held the card, the man suddenly dropped to his knees. His eyes squeezed shut as tears streamed down his face. He thanked Mai over and over:
"Thank you… After 30 years, I can finally see my little brother again…"
Mai smiled softly. Then she quietly left with the others, leaving the pho shop owner immersed in the joy of his long-awaited wish coming true.
After walking for a while, she closed her eyes briefly, smiling, and took a deep breath to enjoy the fragrance of cherry blossoms drifting through Sohy Bok City.
She turned to the group, still smiling happily:
"We're officially poor now. We won't have any EN left, so everyone will need to tighten our spending!"
Dreamy looked utterly disappointed. From now on, he would have to part with so many delicious foods under such a tight budget.
Long spoke up:
"Actually, we've already found a way to earn more EN…"
He then recounted everything Madam Li-chang had told him.
Mai exclaimed:
"That's great! Not only will we earn more EN, but we'll also discover what your wheel of fate is… Wow, you're really lucky, Long!"
Dreamy sighed dramatically:
"You should hurry and complete the mission so we can earn more EN and join the AI Witch tournament. Only then can I… eat more—no, I mean, regain my strength."
Mai suddenly clasped her hands together with a clap, her voice full of determination:
"Alright, let's head to the Asarina region!"
Just as they were about to leave, they heard someone calling—it was the pho shop owner. The man ran after them, slightly out of breath:
"Hey, you can't just leave like that. Please let me repay you—here's some EN for your journey. You've helped me so much!"
Long smiled warmly:
"Thanks…But I think it is not needed…"
Mai nodded in agreement:
"That's right, we don't need any reward!"
Dreamy crossed his paws, thinking for a moment, then floated gracefully toward the man:
"I think accepting a small reward is fine. I'm hungry, and your pho smells wonderful!"
The owner gave Dreamy a firm pat on the shoulder, grinning proudly:
"That nose of yours is impressive! Come on, let me treat you all to a free bowl of pho before you go!"
"Hmph, to dare pat the AI King Witch so roughly—you've got quite the nerve. For a bowl of fragrant rare beef pho… to be so disrespectful to me. Don't think I'll eat your pho," Dreamy thought to himself.
Seeing Dreamy lagging behind, lost in thought, Long called out:
"Dreamy, are you coming to eat? Everyone's already following the owner. Why are you still standing there?"
Dreamy quickly flew after them and replied:
"I'm coming!"
Meanwhile, in another world, within a magnificent royal palace—
The moon tonight was full and radiant, and the star-filled sky enhanced the beauty of an extraordinary woman sitting in contemplation by a palace window. Her hair flowed gently in the wind, and beside her rested an enormous greatsword.
As a men entered, she spoke to him:
"Prepare to receive some guests who will be visiting our world."
The man bowed respectfully:
"Yes, Your Majesty. Everything is ready!"
"Good."
With that, she rose into the air—one leg extended, the other slightly bent—her silhouette framed against the moonlight, a massive blade held firmly in her hand.
Her gaze stretched into the distance, shimmering like the stars in her night sky. She soared higher and faster, the very space around her seeming to tear apart, her flowing hair trailing behind like that of a powerful goddess.