If not for her concern for Hei Nai, and because there had been no need before, she would have already stepped into the realm of the "inhuman."
And White Night... during that bout of slaughter, Ning Yin could sense that perhaps he did not possess that same brutality, but his ruthlessness was no less than hers.
Didn't White Night always mention it too? So-called "life-and-death friendship" was not just something to pay lip service to.
"...Better not."
After a moment of silence, White Night still shook his head—no one could replace Hei Nai's place in Ning Yin's heart! Even this confession had merely been a comparison with Hei Nai.
White Night naturally knew all that, but he did not care. Who said he had to claim the highest position from the start? Feelings accumulated day by day through time spent together.
He did not even need to surpass him. Catching up would be enough.
Besides, White Night also understood that in the infinite worlds, it was impossible for him to have only one partner. Even Bronya... ahem, for now, he would choose to remain human.
White Night tried hard to maintain his moral standards, though he had no idea when they might slip away. Then, in a teasing tone, he said, "You know I'm pursuing Xiao Ai."
"Ah, I get it. You're trying to set me up, aren't you? Killing someone with Xiao Ai's knife—how vicious of you."
"You bastard, Xiao Bai!"
Seeing through White Night's terrible acting at a glance, Ning Yin hurled the Spirit Armor in her hand at him and stormed off. "Who are you acting for? Am I really that unwanted?"
"Hey, Ning Yin! Leave it to fate."
After taking a few steps, Ning Yin had reached the stairway. It was then that she heard those words from behind her.
Her charm had still been acknowledged. The corners of Ning Yin's lips rose slightly, but she did not turn around and simply left...
"Hmph. As if I care~"
After chatting with Ning Yin for a while, White Night checked the sky. He decided not to look for Ikki after all and began heading back.
"Where's Xiao Ai?"
By the time he returned to their residence, Edelweiss had already left, leaving only Bronya in the kitchen washing dishes.
White Night naturally walked over to Bronya's side and began washing dishes with her in perfect sync. From that brief exchange, he more or less understood. "Cooling off for now?"
"After all, when it comes to experience, Xiao Ai isn't much better. It's normal for her to feel nervous."
Without looking at White Night, Bronya handed him a dish. White Night casually took it and rinsed it. "But she was too nervous. She even forgot the agreed time."
"That's why Xiao Ai is cute."
"True."
White Night deeply agreed. After placing several bowls onto the rack, he began organizing the knives. "By the way, Bronya, did you call the contact Xiao Ai left behind? I'm a little suspicious..."
"There shouldn't be a problem, right?"
"Not necessarily. According to Xiao Ai, we're supposed to meet later at Sword Peak Edelberg. Have you considered the altitude there?"
Emmm...
—In the Chivalry of a Failed Knight world, Edelberg was the tallest peak, standing over ten thousand meters high. Not only that, it was enveloped in Xiao Ai's power of fate.
"Bronya will call in a moment... no, right now." Heavy Rabbit manifested beside her and began placing the call.
"Beep—beep—"
After waiting for quite a while, Edelweiss did not answer. The call automatically disconnected.
"...Something probably held her up, like a flight or something? Bronya, try sending a text. That way, Xiao Ai will definitely receive it."
"Bronya understands." Heavy Rabbit's indicator light flickered as it quickly composed and sent a message.
After washing the dishes, the two of them wordlessly adjusted the television, then flopped onto the sofa in perfect unison.
"By the way, Bronya, what day did you arrange in that text you just sent?"
"Three days from now."
Bronya changed channels a few times and found them rather boring. She took out her student handbook, quickly found several instructional videos, and began teaching herself programming.
Perhaps it was talent. Bronya did not find it very difficult and could understand it quite easily. "White Night, settle whatever you need to settle tomorrow. The day after tomorrow, we'll go to Kiko's place together."
"Alright, alright, I got it." White Night answered absentmindedly and reached downward. Emmm...
The spot where his student handbook should have been was still empty. White Night thought back and finally realized, "Tch. I talked with Ning Yin for a while and forgot about it."
"Bronya, help me contact Ikki. Set up a meeting at the training grounds tomorrow morning."
Sword Peak Edelberg was just as its name described—a mountain peak that towered into the clouds like a sharp sword.
In that silvery white world, a small cabin stood quietly amid the endless wind and snow, bringing a trace of life to the place.
"Mm, romance..."
Edelweiss threw herself onto her soft bed, her delicate fair face faintly flushed.
Ever since becoming famous as the "Twin Wings," Edelweiss had lived alone atop Sword Peak. There were hardly any people around her who could truly be called friends, much less anyone to speak of romance with.
In other words, she was an absolute novice at love. Though she was not in any hurry, the concerned looks from her elders sometimes... even she found them troubling.
"Then, should I give it a try?"
A small hand expertly swiped across her phone. Edelweiss opened the text she had already read, her beautiful eyes becoming slightly unfocused. "The time is three days from now..."
Edelweiss rolled over, her fair forearm resting across her forehead as her smooth snow-white hair spread around her. "Come to think of it, what should I prepare to receive guests?"
Emmm...
After a moment of pondering, she quickly unlocked her phone again and hurriedly searched through the browser. "And, and... I wonder what White Night likes..."
"No, why am I thinking about this? Relax. It's just an ordinary meeting with guests."
Even as she said words she did not believe herself, the blush on Edelweiss's face never faded.
"Bronya, you're up so early today?"
Early in the morning, White Night was preparing breakfast in the kitchen as usual when he heard Bronya's bedroom door open. Yet when he turned around...
"Wait, you look like you didn't sleep all night. You don't need to go this far just to learn programming."
"Don't worry. Bronya knows her limits." Bronya watched an instructional video, showing no trace of fatigue whatsoever.
"...Fine."
In a certain sense, the two of them had gradually stepped into the realm of the "inhuman." Staying awake for one night was nothing much. "You'd better know what you're doing, because I really wouldn't want..."
"To suddenly unlock the death route called 'death by overwork' one day," White Night said leisurely in a joking tone.
( ? ? ? )
"White Night should worry about himself."
Though she said that, Bronya still closed her student handbook and silently sat down at the dining table.
A simple but nutritious breakfast was laid out before her, flawless even in appearance—over time, White Night's cooking skills had practically been maxed out.
Bronya ate in small bites, her movements exceptionally refined. After finishing her meal, she briefly tidied up her appearance. "White Night, at the Fourth Training Ground."
"Alright, I know."
"Go easy on him. Don't break anything again. Chairman seems to have been a little irritable lately."
Irritable... White Night imagined Hei Nai repairing the academy all day long, so busy that he barely touched the ground, and could not help laughing. "Indeed. Hei Nai will explode."
"Anyway, I'll keep that in mind." White Night paused slightly as he spoke, then continued on his way.
"Ikki, why are you up so early too?"
At the Fourth Training Ground, White Night walked over slowly, step by step. As light gleamed from his palm, Myriad Phenomena appeared in his hand. "Seriously, aren't you a little too fired up?"
White Night leisurely swung his sword, reflecting a cold flash of light. "Stella will get jealous, you know~"
"She will not!"
In the spectator stands, Stella's face flushed red as she stood up and loudly refuted White Night. "Ikki, go for it! Teach White Night a good lesson!"
"Oh~"
Drawing out the word, White Night looked at Ikki with a half-smile. "She told you to teach me a lesson. Want to listen to her and give it a try?"
"Stop teasing me."
Ikki smiled helplessly. How could he possibly beat White Night? But even so... Ikki lowered his center of gravity, and a sharp aura instantly erupted from his entire body.
"Please instruct me."
"You really called it, Ikki. This time, I really did come to tutor you."
As he spoke, White Night casually performed a Sword Flower where he stood, leaving his whole body full of openings. Yet Ikki's instincts faintly stung...
—He would die!
"You felt it?"
Seeing that, White Night smiled casually as well and made Decade's classic sword-wiping gesture. "You know, Ikki, not long ago, I met that Twin Wings."
"This is swordsmanship I learned from her. It's only the surface of it, but it'll still be enough for you to benefit from."
In an instant, Ikki's eyes lit up. White Night nodded. This was exactly the effect he wanted. "Watch carefully, Ikki. I'm looking forward to your growth."
"You still need to work harder, Ikki."
After some time, White Night walked over to Ikki and crouched beside him, poking the prone Ikki with the hilt of his sword. "You should know Stella has already started taking off."
Since they had used Fantasy Form, Ikki had no obvious injuries. His stamina had merely been drained completely.
Ikki panted heavily, his chest rising and falling violently. Even speaking seemed difficult. "...What... taking off..."
"Didn't you see it before?"
White Night shifted positions, sitting cross-legged with one leg folded beneath him and his sword-bearing arm resting on his knee. He looked very relaxed. "She isn't some fire mage. She's the concept of a 'dragon' among Fantasy Species."
"With her Supernatural Ability truly awakened, her power will experience a surge of growth over the next period of time."
White Night patted Ikki's shoulder twice, neither too lightly nor too heavily, his tone teasing. "Come to think of it, you two seem to have an agreement, right? At this rate, you won't be able to win, Ikki."
???
"How... do you know..."
"Didn't I tell you before?"
At that moment, another thought suddenly flashed through White Night's mind. He stood up from the ground. "Don't overthink it. I'm not omniscient. I only know what I know."
"Alright, Ikki, work hard. Your agreement, the Demon Domain... you do not have much time left."
As he spoke, White Night waved his hand at Ikki with his back turned and headed toward the training ground exit. He passed Stella on the way. "You finally came. I'll leave that guy to you."
But Stella's heart was entirely fixed on Ikki. Without paying White Night any attention, she ran over.
"Heh, a maiden's heart in love..."
White Night turned slightly and smiled at the two leaning against each other behind him. He continued walking at an unhurried pace. "No rush. I'll meet someone too."
"Finished handling it?"
"Yeah. That kid Ikki really is worthy of being the protagonist. His talent for swordsmanship isn't just for show—he's got the real thing."
Before you continue