Liu Bai: Why Do I Have to Look After Kids Every Day-?! (Continued)

"...If I raised children like you, little Liesel would have died long ago." Planck sighed, "At least she'd be old enough to use an umbrella in the rain, right?"

"Hey, hey, hey! What are you two talking about! I won't pick up anything from the ground to eat! — Unless Teacher Liu tells me to eat it! As for rainy days... even if I don't use an umbrella, the rain won't get on me!"

You're quite self-righteous about it, aren't you...

"Magnificent..."

"Yes!" Shibao responded immediately.

Go to sleep.

After a day of disciplining the unruly child, Liu Bai was truly exhausted.

"Huh?"

Shibao tilted his head, looking somewhat unsatisfied.

"Sleep now?"

"What else did you think?" Liu Bai glanced at the clock; the hour hand was already pointing to eleven. "Just go straight to room 101."

"Oh..."

It's clear that Shibao is still full of energy.

Even if he went out for another round of Shibao hunting, he probably wouldn't be tired—but unfortunately, Liu Bai was really a bit tired.

Shibao didn't know whether he had seen through this or simply dared not disobey Liu Bai. Although he was unwilling, he still obediently walked towards room 101.

"Then I'll stay in room 105 tonight."

As Planck spoke, he took a bowl from the kitchen and poured the noodles into it.

"Would you like to spend the night with me?"

"You wish!"

Before Liu Bai could respond, Shibao became agitated.

"You think you're something else...?"

Shibao's voice trailed off halfway through his sentence.

"Go back to sleep."

"Oh..."

Shibao shrank back when he saw Liu Bai looking somewhat unhappy. He didn't dare to linger and ran into room 101 in a flash.

"Seriously... can't you just give me a break?" Liu Bai sighed, then looked up at Planck. "And you, why did you use such a misleading way of saying it?"

"That's precisely why I'm using it."

Planck said with a smile, "If it doesn't cause any misunderstandings, then she doesn't need to!"

"Eating such oily noodles so late will make you fat," Liu Bai said abruptly.

"..." Planck had just slurped a couple of mouthfuls of noodles, stiffly put down his chopsticks and looked at Liu Bai with a resentful expression. "Alliance Leader, do you have to hurt my feelings with such a discouraging statement?"

"I used it precisely because such discouraging remarks could hurt your feelings."

Liu Bai responded with a cold laugh.

Come on, let's hurt each other!

"But weren't your bodies all fixed by Welwitschia? It's okay, keep eating."

"... He said such hurtful things to my sister, and you still made me keep eating. Lord Alliance Leader, you truly deserve the title of a scumbag!"

"Being sad because of gaining weight is really hard to criticize from a certain perspective."

"This is what a beautiful girl looks like."

Beautiful girl...

Liu Bai shifted his gaze from Planck's face.

Okay, if you say she's a pretty girl, then she's a pretty girl.

"Oh, by the way, here's a message Welt sent me. I printed it out. Take a look."

Planck took a folded A4 sheet of paper out of his pocket and handed it to him.

"Important information?" Liu Bai asked as he flipped through the book.

"I guess so? But it's not really that important to say."

When Liu Bai opened it, he found that the contents were sent by Rita rather than Welt.

"... Was it first handed over to the Gray Serpent of Shencheng Pharmaceuticals, then handed over to the Gray Serpent Abyss City Shencheng Pharmaceuticals, and finally forwarded to Welt, sent via the Anti-Entropy line?"

Liu Bai glanced at it and roughly understood that the information had passed through several hands.

"We weren't exposed, were we?"

"No, Otto doesn't have the ability to monitor Welt's line yet."

The above is roughly a list of orders Otto issued after the Schicksal Headquarters was destroyed.

Somewhat surprisingly, Otto didn't send Bianka or Rita back, but simply urged them to take action.

Is it because they believe Shibao won't launch a surprise attack?

If that's the case, Liu Bai inexplicably felt a desire to launch a counterattack with Shibao.

... Let's just forget about it. The Schicksal Headquarters isn't exactly our own backyard, after all.

Have I been infected with a bit of the "self-destructive virus" by Shibao?

Then, Rita described the strange expression Raven showed when she discovered that the AV she was watching wasn't what she had imagined.

... The poor Raven was easily manipulated by Rita.

Finally, he asked when Liu Bai would return, subtly expressing his resentment.

"It seems that the Alliance Leader and the S-Rank Valkyrie of Schicksal have a very close relationship? Indeed, compared to the ninety-year-old elder sister, is the body of a twenty-two-year-old girl more alluring? Or does the Alliance Leader prefer the maid type?"

After watching Liu Bai finish reading the message, Planck pretended to cry at the opportune moment.

A woman in her nineties...

Liu Bai sighed, "You're kidding me..."

"But then again, I do have a little bit of interest in maid outfits and stuff like that."

"You want to see me wear it?"

"I never said that."

Liu Bai shook his head.

"I'm going back to rest too. I'm exhausted after a long day."

"You really don't want to spend the night with your sister?"

"... I already told you not to use those kinds of words that could be misunderstood."

After complaining, Liu Bai drifted into room 105 without looking back—the very room where he first started in Lab 42.

"You really have absolutely no sense of romance, our dear Alliance Leader..."

Room 105

Liu Bai lay comfortably on the bed. Although it was just a doll's body, it felt really good to be able to lie on the bed by himself.

In the past, room 105, although nominally one's own room, was actually occupied by Edison, Planck, and Schrödinger.

The old system of taking turns living together...

So this ghost didn't get a chance to lie in bed—although he wouldn't feel anything even if he did.

Unlike a doll, you can't truly feel the softness of the bed.

Next, we just have to wait for midnight.

With only one more attempt needed to accumulate enough attempts, once it reaches midnight, I can begin simulating those Flame-Chasers.

... But then again, isn't the reward for a reunion a bit greater than accumulating it slowly?

Liu Bai finally had some time to think about his own affairs.

Einstein, Rita, and Bianka alone gave Liu Bai nine chances to accumulate progress, averaging three rewards per person, not to mention the other numerous skills.

My original reason for accumulating attempts was to take a break and have a safety net, but now it seems that the safety net isn't important?

Just as Liu Bai was secretly planning his future simulation rhythm, a rustling sound suddenly came from the door.

"..."

Liu Bai rubbed his forehead. Although there was no reason, his innate intuition made Liu Bai realize something.

"Hua, is that you?"

Liu Bai asked without turning his head.

"Um... Good evening, Teacher Liu."

Sure enough, the voice of Shibao came from outside the door.

"You're still awake..."

"What's wrong? Is something the matter?"

"No, no! I was just a little thirsty, so I came out to get a glass of water."

Shibao, standing outside the door, quickly denied it.

... I hope you really are just collecting water.

"Um... Teacher Liu, you should get some sleep..."

After Shibao finished speaking guiltily, Liu Bai heard hurried footsteps outside the door leaving.

"... Hua, are you there?"

"Yes, Teacher Liu, what can I do for you?"

The guy who should have left immediately responded.

"It's nothing—Hua, weren't you going to get water?"

"Eh? Teacher Liu, you tricked me!" Shibao Bao's aggrieved voice rang out from outside the door.

It seems that Shibao has just realized what's going on.

—What are you complaining about!

Liu Bai is so tired. Can anyone tell him if preventing night attacks is also part of taking care of children?

He was exhausted and just wanted to be alone tonight.

The more I thought about it, the more I missed Rita's good qualities.

"... Go back to your room and go to sleep."

"Oh..." Shibao replied disappointedly, "I want to sleep with you, Teacher Liu..."

Don't even think about it.

I just want to be alone... why is that so difficult?

"Well, it's okay if we don't sleep together! I don't have to sleep! If you kick off the covers at night, I can cover you back up."

"Hua, do I look like someone who kicks off the covers when I sleep?"

"Then, if you get thirsty or hungry while you're sleeping, I can..."

Sure enough, this child's dependency symptoms are a bit too much, aren't they? It's definitely at the point where drastic measures are needed for treatment.

But even though he said it, Liu Bai himself couldn't bring himself to say anything too harsh.

"... Then you'll guard the door for me. Don't let anyone in before I leave."

"Come in? Who? That shameless green-haired old lady Planck? Alright! Teacher Liu, just watch me! I will absolutely not let those scoundrels near this room!" Shibao's voice instantly became excited.

Even through the door, Liu Bai could hear Shibao rubbing his hands together in anticipation.