The Best Way to Test Oolong Tea Is with a Lighter

"I'm wearing black stockings~ If you don't like the stockings from the captain's maid outfit, you can change into these~"

"Winning in lingerie, Himeko ~"

Himeko's face darkened as she watched her seniors enthusiastically and openly displaying those... things that weren't really suitable for public display.

If it were just underwear or something, that would be fine... Hey! I see someone holding up a massage device! How shameless!

"Um... isn't it a bit inappropriate to hold these things up like this in public?"

Although Himeko has become a bit "badass" according to Liu Bai, she is still a pure girl at heart.

"Huh... isn't this your house? Where are you in public?"

Himeko's seniors smiled knowingly.

"Keep it; you'll definitely need it someday."

Without a word, the seniors handed Himeko the gifts they had brought.

"Don't worry, they're all brand new. Do you think the seniors would try to fool you with secondhand stuff?"

"... I don't think that's the point."

Himeko glanced at Liu Bai beside her, then stiffly hugged the "gifts" in her arms.

There's someone of the opposite sex here!

"Sorry, sorry, these guys are all a bit anxious—even though they're not old enough to be considered 'leftover women' yet."

Ragna sighed.

The Valkyrie are still quite young; Ragna and the others are only eighteen or nineteen years old.

"But perhaps it's just that she's reached puberty?"

"These are all the experienced advice from our predecessors. If you don't consider it now, you'll become a spinster later... although, Captain, someone like you definitely won't have trouble getting married."

"Why am I suddenly not worried about getting married?" Ragna said, quite displeased. "Besides, even Senior Lewis has recently started dating and seems to be preparing for his wedding. What's the rush for you guys?"

"... Humans?"

"A gorilla?"

"After all, he's that senior Lewis..."

Everyone except Himeko and Ragna wore expressions of disbelief mixed with a hint of fear.

"... You guys really have no respect for your seniors."

Ragna was speechless. "Don't you guys consider the possibility that Senior Lewis might have stolen a bandit husband?"

"Captain, you're not exactly showing much respect either, are you?" Even though she didn't know who Lewis was that everyone was talking about, Himeko couldn't help but complain.

"Sorry, sorry, but the fact that Senior Lewis can get married... well, I personally think it should be included in Schicksal top ten fantastic events of the year, or the top ten inspirational figures of Schicksal year?"

Ragna looked apologetic, then opened his phone and handed it to Himeko.

"Look, this is a photo of Lewis."

"... What kind of ape did this senior marry?"

Bang!

"Show a little respect for your seniors, will you?" Ragna said irritably, tapping Himeko on the head. "But looking at it this way, it's quite inspiring, isn't it?"

"Yes, I sincerely think this senior is amazing." If it weren't for the fact that the other person was wearing an old-fashioned combat uniform, Himeko would have even suspected that the other person was a man.

"In fact, this senior is really remarkable. She participated in the legendary Second Honkai War as the captain of a ground squad, leading the team to intercept Herrscher head-on and serving as a rearguard in Siberia. In a sense, she is a 'living legend'."

Himeko is no longer a newbie who just started playing Honkai. Although she doesn't fully understand some of the technical terms, she has learned about the Second Honkai War.

"That's really impressive..."

"Got it... So don't worry about becoming a spinster, it's all just those guys spreading fear-mongering." Ragna patted Himeko on the shoulder.

"What about the Valkyrie's specific marriage rate?" Himeko wasn't stupid; she figured out some of the truth.

"Uh... hundred..."

"Fifty percent?" Himeko guessed as low as possible. "Or not even fifty percent, only thirty percent?"

"One in a hundred...one in a hundred." Ragna looked away guiltily.

"..."

This isn't just a matter of low probability anymore!

"Here's a joke from Schicksal: Lewis is already married, and there are still Valkyrie who can't find boyfriends," Liu Bai said quietly—this joke is probably enough to break the defenses of half of the Valkyrie in Schicksal.

"For specific details, you can ask the seniors in the logistics department... Most of the seniors who retired from the front lines will go to the rear to work as logistics personnel or local instructors."

Ragna scratched his face.

"But to be honest, we're not at the point of considering this kind of issue yet. Don't follow their example and embarrass yourselves."

"Captain really has no sense of urgency at all... I can already imagine how embarrassing it will be for you to hang out with those single women after you retire. Don't worry, I'll definitely send you the first invitation when I get married."

"A guy who doesn't have a boyfriend yet is really bold to say that."

Ragna glanced at the Valkyrie who had spoken, "Don't pass on this 'leftover woman' anxiety to Himeko... By the way, Himeko, what are you doing? Making dumplings?"

"Yes, we're about to do it."

"I see... would you mind if we had a few more... uh, a dozen more mouths?" Ragna glanced at the cross-eyed man behind him with a slight headache. "If you don't mind, how about we have the New Year's party in your room this year?"

"Alright, I'm pretty miserable spending the holiday alone anyway, so this is a good opportunity for you, Captain, to try my cooking."

As Himeko spoke, she glanced almost imperceptibly at Liu Bai.

You say I'm a bad cook? Today I'll prove you wrong! I'll show you what a master chef is all about!

"?"

Ragna couldn't understand what a holiday had to do with being mistreated, but since Himeko had already agreed, she didn't press the matter.

"Perfect timing. I've also prepared some ingredients for the party. We can't rely on just a few dumplings for so many people. All of you, stop being useless in front of your juniors and get to work. Those who can cook, go cook. Those who can't, stay here and help Himeko clean and do chores."

"Captain, what if I can't do either of them? Can I just lie in bed and wait for dinner?"

Which toilet in Schicksal do you prefer?

"... Just kidding."

"It's unexpectedly noisy, isn't it?" Liu Bai looked at the lively room. "Now it's starting to feel a bit like the New Year... By the way, for those dumplings, pinch the middle closed. Use your left hand to make a small wave on the top half of the dough and pinch it closed, then make two more small waves. Pinch the edges of the left half closed in the same way."

"What?"

Himeko, who was making dumplings, looked up.

"How to make dumplings." Liu Bai shrugged. "Originally, I was planning to wait until your dumplings fell apart after they went into the pot and then laugh at you, but now I should at least try to look good in front of my friends, right?"

"You really are the worst kind of nasty." Although Himeko was annoyed, she still obediently followed Liu Bai's instructions to knead dumpling wrappers. "I don't remember you being this nasty usually."

"Because I want revenge for the time you called me a maid fetishist."

"Ha, that hit someone's sore spot, didn't it?" Himeko retorted sarcastically. "Wasn't that person just criticizing the maid outfit the captain gave me?"

"That... that was just simple appreciation," Liu Bai, feeling a little guilty.

It must be admitted that Liu Bai did fantasize about Himeko wearing a maid outfit.

"How about you admire my cheongsam?"

"... The slit is quite high." Liu Bai looked at it carefully this time and answered honestly.

"It's quite chilly," Himeko complained. "I'm already considering whether I should wear thermal pants underneath."

"..."

Wearing thermal pants under a cheongsam? What kind of devilish idea is that?

"Maybe you could try wearing stockings?"

For cheongsams, wearing stockings in Liu Bai is still acceptable.

"You're really good at this," Himeko said, adjusting her hem. "You're even better at it than your seniors."

"If you can't understand me at all, then there's a problem, isn't there?"

Liu Bai said as he watched Himeko's increasingly skillful dumpling-making movements.

"..."

Himeko paused for a moment, thought about Liu Bai's words, and nodded silently.

"... You can actually say something philosophical sometimes."

It was precisely because she could understand what the other person was thinking most of the time that Himeko was willing to get close to Liu Bai —even if it was partly due to her own self-righteousness.

Himeko had to admit that Liu Bai was her "companion who depended on her for survival".

"But now that you mention it... you're still hiding a lot from me, aren't you?"

Himeko's eyes sharpened instantly.

She hadn't forgotten that the easygoing and easy-to-understand guy in front of her was the Alliance Leader of Anti-Entropy.

"Hmm... like what?"

Aside from the unspeakable future and the simulator itself, Liu Bai really had nothing to hide from Himeko. After all, he wasn't some cold-blooded schemer who came up with a new plot every two minutes.

However, this "nothing" contains the cause of Ryusuke's death...

Aside from that, all Liu Bai has left are the experiences he simulated before. If Himeko wants to hear them, Liu Bai can tell Himeko as if it were a story, since they all happened a long time ago.

"For example... um... if I knew, why would I ask this?"

"Hey, isn't this just being unreasonable? Should I tell you my height, weight, blood type, and... well, you know, concentration?"

"You're a ghost and you're bringing up concentration... Okay, I'm still a little interested."

"... Are you a female hooligan?"

Chapter 188 The best test for Oolong Tea is a lighter.

"Dinner's ready! Dinner's ready!"

Ragna, who had somehow changed back into a maid outfit, was banging a spoon against a stainless steel pot.

"Himeko! Is everything ready on your end?"

"That's all." Himeko came out carrying a plate. "There are a few more plates left. It's not much, but it'll be enough for everyone to have a taste."

Thanks to Himeko's lack of knowledge about ingredient ratios, she prepared far more filling and dough than one person could handle, and by sheer luck, it turned out alright.

"I'll serve it to you."

Ragna and Himeko worked together, and soon eight or nine plates of dumplings were served.

The other Valkyrie in the team also prepared their own dishes, and even though someone had specially borrowed a large table, it was already quite full.

"Bring another table over."

"Hey, Captain, where's the wine? No wine tonight?" Some of the Valkyrie looked around and then asked Ragna.

"Don't you dare corrupt Himeko." Ragna tapped the speaker on the head with a spoon. "There are only drinks, take it or leave it."

"Waaah, Captain, you're so biased... Himeko, want to have a drink with your senior... Oh, okay, you're not an adult yet." The senior, suddenly remembering this, shrugged her shoulders sheepishly.

"I think it's best not to let Himeko see you seniors acting like this when you're drunk, regardless of whether you're adults or not... Alright, is everyone here? Let's eat! Cheers!"

"Oh—! Cheers!"

"Let's try Himeko's cooking first." Ragna, who had just finished his drink, looked at the dumplings first and immediately picked one up and put it in his mouth.

"..."

"How is it, Captain?"

Himeko watched expectantly as Ragna savored his dumplings.

"Uh..." Ragna's face flushed slightly after eating the dumpling. "...Very good. It has a strong personal touch and is unforgettable after just one bite."