A Sweet Tooth

"Captain, I never imagined we would meet like this, in another world. And you're still so little... so adorable."

Raiden Mei held Starry Sky's cheeks in her hands. She had already changed out of the Raiden Queen's armor and into everyday clothes.

A lock of hair was braided into a small plait that rested over her chest, tied at the end with a red bow. She wore white pom-pom earrings, a beige turtleneck sweater, a black skirt, and a light-colored long coat.

However, the pair of horns on her head remained very conspicuous.

For some reason, she retained all her previous memories, yet now possessed only the Herrscher of Thunder's powers.

But being able to come to Starry Sky's side and protect him as he grew up filled Raiden Mei with comfort.

"Mmm... Sister Mei, that feels so good..."

With Sister Mei, who looked like such a mature older sister, kneading his cheeks, Starry Sky could not have enjoyed it more.

"If the Captain likes it, can I knead your cheeks like this every day?" Raiden Mei asked with a smile.

Starry Sky nodded vigorously and hummed in agreement.

"So this place is outside Teyvat, and you all are people from beyond Teyvat!" the Raiden Shogun said sternly.

"May I ask where this is? How did I get here?" Underworld was still confused. She often forgot things, let alone something like crossing into another world.

Had she simply kept cutting and cutting until she reached the end of the world?

After all, when she checked her phone, she found there was no signal here.

"Traveler, I clearly remember hearing your call. You said something like—my beloved wife, Raiden Shogun, answer my summons!" The Raiden Shogun frowned, staring sharply at Starry Sky.

Her voice turned fierce. "I am the Raiden Shogun. I am the unchanging law of all things. I am the guardian of eternity! Save those sweet words for inside, and if you keep shouting nonsense, be careful or I'll brick you into a statue!"

The Shogun's dignity permitted not the slightest defiance!

"Captain, casually calling someone your wife is not a good habit. But I'm sure you had your reasons. In this unfamiliar world, you've even turned into a child. You must have had a hard time before this, right?"

Mei was still the gentlest. Starry Sky was about to cry.

Watching Starry Sky interact with the two women, Underworld gradually remembered something as well. She spoke in a melancholy voice:

"I, too, was once held in someone's heart as you are. Those insignificant moments, when recalled, always surpass a thousand words... The past made us who we are today. Some things are difficult to remember, while others are difficult to forget."

"'Underworld'... Though it is only a borrowed name, if you know what kind of person I am and remember the things I have done, then from this moment onward... I am Underworld."

"So you are Miss Underworld. I'm very happy to protect the Captain together with all of you. Everyone must be hungry, right? Do you have any foods you avoid? Let me prepare lunch for everyone." Mei's Cook-like housewife instincts immediately erupted!

"I want to eat the lunch box Sister Mei makes," Starry Sky instantly replied.

Underworld stared blankly at the pair of horns on Raiden Mei's head. She took out a peach as voluptuous as a butt from somewhere on her person, took a bite, and said:

"I like sweet-tasting fruit. It would be nice if we could make a dessert with peaches."

"Then I'll make some sweets!" Mei rested her cheek on one hand and spoke softly.

"A foolish question. Food comes in only two kinds: that which must be eaten to sustain the body's nutrition, and that which harms the body. Especially sweets!"

Just as the Raiden Shogun finished speaking, her tone suddenly became much gentler, so abrupt that it felt utterly out of place.

"Don't listen to the Shogun. I want sweets! As for cavities, I can just switch to another set."

"Hmm?" Raiden Mei and Underworld both looked at her in confusion at the change in the Raiden Shogun's attitude.

"It's Shadow! Great." Then Starry Sky did not forget to explain to the two of them:

"Underworld, Mei, the Raiden Shogun is actually a puppet Shadow made. Shadow herself resides within this puppet. She usually cultivates in the Plane of Euthymia while the Shogun handles all the complicated affairs. At important moments, Shadow replaces the Shogun's consciousness and uses this puppet to walk the world."

"Oh! I understand. Eating sweets is Shadow's most important matter!" Mei was incredibly perceptive and immediately caught the key point in Starry Sky's words.

"Since both of you like sweets, that saves me quite a bit of trouble. Please wait a moment. I'll have lunch ready for you soon."

Raiden Mei happily rose to her feet, found Old Jack, and after receiving his permission, cheerfully took on the role of Cook.

Underworld blankly gnawed on her peach.

Meanwhile, having finally gotten the chance to come out, Raiden Ei was rather curious about this world.

"Crossing worlds... Yae Publishing House has no shortage of novels like that. This is my first time encountering something like it."

The two walked along a small path in Holy Soul Village. Raiden Ei recalled the past and said,

"Kong, you have experienced quite a few worlds. You must already be used to things like this, right?"

In a sense, this was Starry Sky's first time crossing worlds too.

But wasn't playing a game, reading a novel, or watching a movie all a way of experiencing things from another world?

So he nodded and said:

"Shadow, this world comes from a novel I once read. I still remember a lot of the plot. Want me to tell you about it?"

Raiden Ei quickly shook her head. "I am currently inside a novel. Just as when reading one, I should continue forward through this world with curiosity and anticipation. Kong, your spoiler-filled behavior is unacceptable."

Starry Sky nodded. In any case, with the abilities of his beloved wives, there was no need to worry about them failing to get by in this world!

As she walked, Raiden Ei observed Starry Sky. Resting her chin on her hand, she pondered for a long while before saying:

"It seems you have lost far too much power. Is there anything you need me to help with?"

"Giving you a simple introduction to the common knowledge everyone in this world knows doesn't count as spoilers, right?" Starry Sky smiled faintly.

"Mm, if it is common knowledge, then it indeed does not count as spoilers."

"This world is different from Teyvat. When people turn six, they awaken Martial Souls. Those whose Martial Souls possess Soul Power can cultivate them and become Soul Masters. Martial Souls are somewhat like Teyvat's Visions, granting different powers, but there are many more types of Martial Souls."

"Soul Masters are ranked from level 1 to level 99. Every ten levels, if they wish to advance their cultivation further, they must absorb a Soul Ring."

"Soul Rings come from..."

Starry Sky rambled on and on about many things.

Raiden Ei was intelligent as well, and she quickly understood this world's cultivation system.

"The other two and I were summoned by you in the form of Martial Souls. Yet it seems somewhat different. I can feel immense power within this body. It does not seem like what a Martial Soul should be?"

"That is easy to understand. Just think of it as a God-tier Martial Soul. With the power of a god, it can produce such an effect."

In Soul Land 2, Huo Yuhao's Electrolux Martial Soul, Wang Dong's third Martial Soul, Poseidon Descends, were all similar to the current situation.

"I see." Raiden Ei understood much more at once.

"Then, with your body being so weak right now, you need to absorb Soul Rings in order to quickly increase your strength."

"Right! I think only by increasing my strength will I be able to wield more of your power."