You Have a New Job (Continued)

Your pre- Apponia Previous Civilization was already in the realm of metaphysics, constantly talking about things like the threads of fate, seeing through people's hearts, precepts, and so on.

Although I, Anqi, don't have any particularly bad intentions, even if I saw through you, I probably wouldn't make you turn into a moth and fly over on the spot—referring to the understanding Su.

But after all, we Thousand-Person Ruler rely on those little secrets to get by. If they were to be completely exposed, the thought of it would be quite terrifying.

"You... can you see through everything? How much have you seen?"

Anqi revealed her second eye and asked timidly.

"If I make more... make you an extra delicious meal every day... could you please not make it difficult for me?"

Anqi timidly added a sentence.

But thinking about it, it seemed like I hadn't expressed enough sincerity, so I added:

"Or do you have any other requests... we can discuss it... I've had a tough time too, okay?"

Anqi pulled one eye back in, leaving only one eye sticking out, anxiously awaiting Apponia's reaction.

"Oh--"

Apponia smiled and stretched out her hands toward Anqi.

Wearing a pure white nun's veil, with a train of skirts resembling the magnificent wings of a flying insect, the nun possessed an exceptionally imposing figure. Yet, when she revealed a compassionate smile, her eyes radiating a faint sorrow and a gentle tenderness—truly, no evil thoughts could arise in her presence.

"Thump!"

Anqi had no idea when she had walked right into her arms.

Apponia clasped her hands together and gently comforted the nervous Anqi.

"You must be very tired. Do you want to take a nap? Here, no one will hurt you. It's very safe."

"... Are you sure you won't hurt me?"

"Why would I hurt you? You're a good child, a very, very good child."

Apponia spoke softly in her incredibly beautiful voice.

Anqi had no idea how many secrets she had uncovered.

However, her impressions of Apponia, and the incredibly warm embrace she was receiving at that moment, made Anqi decide to believe her.

My eyelids grew heavy without me even realizing it.

Thinking about it carefully, this body has been traveling to different areas of the Land of the Past every day, and it has indeed been a while since it took a nap.

"Huff... huff... huff..."

Apponia slowly knelt down, carefully supporting Anqi's body and adjusting her to a comfortable resting position without making her feel any jolted.

Just as Apponia was gazing tenderly at the adorable sleeping face on her lap, familiar footsteps entered the space after a long absence.

"Long time no see, welcome, Kalpas."

"... Hmph! You should know why I'm here to ask you."

Kalpas said rather bluntly.

Arms crossed over the chest.

But he spoke very softly, clearly not wanting to disturb someone's afternoon nap.

Apponia shook her head and sighed.

"Kalpas, I am not an omnipotent answering machine, nor do I possess the wisdom of Mobius or Vill-V. I am not clever; if you don't speak, I won't know what you're thinking."

"Apponia!"

Kalpas raised his clenched fist.

"Mmm~~"

Anqi then moved her head and uttered a soft murmur.

Kalpas's movements froze.

After a long silence, as if he had given up on something, he crossed his arms and said coldly:

"This kid is hiding a lot of things. Tell me what you've seen?"

"Then, are you willing to believe her, Kalpas?"

"Hmph! You clever little brat, why should I believe you?"

"No, Kalpas, you've already believed it."

Apponia's gentle voice made Kalpas's veins bulge once again.

Then Apponia continued:

"Kalpas, you don't actually know this. If she had approached everyone with genuine caution, even you wouldn't have been able to see these things. Trust is a mutual thing. She had already trusted us without realizing it, which is why you were able to sense the secret, and why you chose to trust her in the same way. Am I right?"

"..."

"Kalpas, she's a good child. But she's also very tired. There are too many things in the real world that weigh on her. The Land of the Past is perhaps one of the few places where she can relax. Let's not add any more burdens to her here, okay?"

To not add to one's burdens is to not seek secrets.

Apponia did not reveal what she saw, but she has expressed her choices and attitudes.

If Kalpas were speaking in such a mysterious manner under normal circumstances, he would have burned down the house and demolished it by now.

However, the girl's steady breathing restrained the flames erupting from his chest.

"...baffling!"

Kalpas gave a cold, hard snort, neither responding nor asking any further questions, and simply disappeared without a trace of expression.

Apponia smiled slightly, used to Kalpas's awkward personality, and bent down to tidy Anqi's hair.

She gazed at Anqi as she slept, her eyes filled with boundless tenderness and love.

An hour later, Anqi's eyelashes fluttered, and she slowly opened her eyes.

"Are you awake? Did you sleep well?"

Anqi blinked blankly, and after a moment, the confusion in her eyes disappeared completely.

The cat jumped up.

The cat stretches.

The cat puts its hands on its hips.

"I slept so well, I feel so refreshed!"

"That's good. If you get tired again, you can come here to rest anytime. Next time, I'll prepare a more comfortable bed."

Apponia gazed tenderly at the energetic Anqi.

Then Anqi lowered her head, fidgeted with her fingers, and said shyly:

"Thank you... thank you, Apponia."

Although it's still unknown exactly how much Apponia saw, it certainly appears to have seen far more than the other Flame-Chasers.

However, despite being active in the Land of the Past for so long, Anqi has never encountered excessive doubts, and every encounter with Flame-Chasers has gone exceptionally smoothly.

As soon as Anqi rushed into Apponia's arms, she realized that this situation was actually thanks to Apponia not revealing any unnecessary secrets to her companions.

Apponia simply shook her head and smiled without saying a word.

Is there anything you want to talk about?

"Uh... can I not say?"

"I know, it's because we're not familiar with each other yet, right? You're really on guard, but it's okay, I'm always here whenever you need me."

Apponia reached out her hand to Anqi.

Unlike Raiden Mei, who went to the Deepest Place and devised a murder mystery game, Apponia at this moment only showed pure gentleness and love.

Perhaps she felt that Anqi was more mature?

Or perhaps she saw something even more extraordinary?

Anqi couldn't figure it out.

All she knew was that such tolerance and gentleness made one want to shed tears—the last time she felt such emotions was in the Chikai Ichijo, beside Su who was about to leave.

Anqi smiled shyly, took Apponia's outstretched hand, and nestled into that reassuring embrace.

"Very nice..."

"Actually, you can try to trust your friends more. Being alone can be very tiring."

"No way! I've decided to keep this a secret forever. It would be terrible if the real secret were to be exposed!"

"Then we'll just have to keep working hard."

Apponia didn't insist; she simply comforted the little girl in her arms with a tender tone, gently stroking her head.

Such tolerance and understanding are truly rare for Anqi, who carries so many secrets.

"Thank you, Apponia."

Anqi said again.

Holding Apponia's soft, voluptuous body in her arms, Anqi couldn't help but smile, feeling a long-lost sense of peace.