Riku and Alice chatted, both wearing identical, mischievous, "belly-black" smiles. Once the conversation ended, they returned to their routines. Life had to go on.
The daughter had not been born yet. The [Universe Gate] remained imperfect, and their grand plan was still just a theory. So, what else could they do? They simply lived their lives.
The couple remained holed up at home. Aside from their daily activities, they spent their time playing games, watching anime, reading manga, and enjoying dramas. For these simple pleasures, Riku only needed to wave his hand to manifest anything from his memories.
"Do not look down on the Lord of the Universe, alright? Hah!"
As for the risk of spoilers or the inability to experience the fun of a first viewing, the solution was simple. Under Alice's intense, hopping-mad insistence, Riku sealed those memories away. He could unseal them whenever he wished, or he could simply experience everything slowly, as if for the first time.
Regardless, they had plenty of time. For a [Long-lived Species], figuring out how to spend a vast lifespan was a truly important proposition. Especially since Riku could no longer be called a mere [Long-lived Species]. As a lifeform that functioned as a [Humanoid Universe], calling him an [Eternal Species] was no exaggeration.
Alice was originally a [Long-lived Species]. Now? After being drenched in an abundance of the Lord of the Universe's [Universe Energy], her life level had undergone a transformation. Otherwise, why had she not conceived during those first few decades?
Riku had been in a [Weakened State], and Alice had been in a state of [Gradual Transformation]. That was how the pregnancy finally occurred.
To be precise, the situation was ridiculous. Their life levels were fundamentally unequal, which, to put it bluntly, could almost be considered reproductive isolation. The conception of their daughter was 99.99999% pure luck.
As for the future? Unless Riku could maintain that kind of luck before he fully recovered, or unless a being with a truly equal life level appeared—and even then, they would still have to gamble on luck.
Simply put, for Riku to have one daughter was the greatest stroke of fortune. The possibility of conceiving another child on the road ahead was virtually non-existent, or even zero.
And so, Riku stood by the bed, his eyes flashing with joy and excitement, yet he remained deep in thought.
Alice lay on the bed, her body enveloped in a vast, profound energy. This was the [Universe Energy] birthed specifically to celebrate the arrival of the [Daughter of the Universe].
If nothing else, this single wave of energy could directly clear away a small portion of [Extinction]. The benefits brought to the universe by the birth of a [Daughter of the Universe] were immense.
How should one put it? The universe was like a massive country, but usually, no Emperor was ever born. Riku was already the Emperor, and now the Emperor had an offspring. Was that not an heir?
The effect was monumental. Many ministers who followed the Emperor to conquer the world needed to see a successor. Why? Because only with a successor could people truly feel at ease, knowing their prosperity would be passed down through the generations.
"It is almost impossible now," Riku concluded as he watched the [Universe Energy] begin to recede.
Facts proved that aside from this eldest daughter, the possibility of him having more children in the future was basically nil.
"Well!"
'There is no need to dwell on it. In this life, having one daughter is enough.'
Riku did not obsess over it. Instead, he stepped forward as the energy dissipated to reveal a baby as exquisite as carved pink jade. Despite having just been born, she was not wrinkled at all. Instead, she was perfectly formed, with the same hair color as her mother, the same eyes, the same...
'...'
Riku and Alice both stared at the daughter floating in mid-air, and then simultaneously fell into silence.
How to put it? If it were not for the proof from her origin, soul, bloodline, and the way the universe itself stood guard—all confirming little Klee's identity—Riku would have actually doubted if this was really his daughter.
He was the Lord of the Universe, after all. Did his genes not show up even a little bit?
As for the name? Whether it was a coincidence or destiny, Alice had blurted out the name almost instinctively, and Riku had not refused. After all, who could refuse that adorable "Little Sun"?
"Hahaha!"
After the silence, Alice burst into wild laughter. She laughed so hard she started pounding the bed with one hand, her body shaking and swaying, unable to stop.
Riku silently took his daughter into his arms. Feeling the gentle aura, the little darling snuggled into his chest and fell into a deep sleep. Even as the daughter of the Lord of the Universe, though she was born with extraordinary talent, she still needed her sleep.
"Dear..."
By this time, Alice had crawled up. She leaned against Riku's shoulder, looking at her daughter with a smile as gentle as water. A quirky, lively witch—even if she looked like a mature woman—was usually not the "gentle" type.
Sure enough, only the continuation of one's bloodline could make a woman this soft.
However, that gentleness was short-lived.
A moment later, the corners of Alice's mouth curled up wickedly. Wearing a "Feng Aotian" style smirk, she tsk-tsked, "My dear! Your genes are not up to snuff, are they? Look at our daughter—does she look even a little bit like you? And you call yourself the Lord of the Universe? You are not... 'weak,' are you?"
"Ah!"
The response Alice received was a sharp cry of surprise. She was tossed back onto the bed, only to see Riku's half-lidded, smiling eyes.
"Alice, were you planning to say something?" Riku asked with a tilted head and a smile.
"Dear, I just gave birth to Klee, I am tired, I want to..." Alice did not even finish her sentence before she shut her mouth. When she opened it again, the sound she made was like the cry of a phoenix.
After all, she had just imitated the "overbearing male lead" with her "Feng Aotian" smirk. It was only natural to imitate the cry now, right?
But soon, Alice was begging for mercy. Clearly, even a "Feng Aotian" was bound to lose when facing the "Lord of the Universe."
As for the parents' roughhousing, little Klee was completely unaware. She lay in her little bed, covered by a thin blanket, turned over, and let out a cute, sweet smile, sleeping soundly.