The changes in the world line... In other words, could the game plot Xu Ziling had seen before crossing over only be used as a reference, and not completely trusted anymore?
After realizing this, Xu Ziling silently nodded. Although the amount of unknowns had increased, the story seemed to be gradually becoming more interesting.
Then, Xu Ziling looked at Elysia somewhat strangely and asked:
"Miss Elysia, aren't you going to ask what the Herrscher and Honkai in my eyes specifically refer to?"
"Hmm... I don't think I need to know, do I?"
Elysia blinked at Xu Ziling, propped her chin up with one hand, and said with a smile,
"After all, the amount of information contained in Little Ziling's few words is already enough for Miss Elf to digest for quite a while!"
"Hmm... All right, then I don't have any more questions."
Xu Ziling gently shook his head at Elysia and said,
"I also need time to digest the current situation."
"Mm-hmm?~"
Elysia smiled, then stood up and said,
"Then... Little Ziling can digest things on his own for now. It's getting late, so how about Miss Elf makes you all a healthy lunch?"
"Cook?"
Xu Ziling was somewhat surprised.
"Mm-hmm?"
Elysia smiled, then pointed at the laboratory's waste bin, which was piled high with empty instant-noodle containers, and said,
"Look, the doctor's waste bin is full of instant-noodle containers... How can she eat only that? And I, as the inspector officially appointed by the organization, naturally have the responsibility and duty to take care of the daily lives of those under investigation, right?~
"As for the expenses... Mm-hmm~ Don't worry about that. When I came, I used Miss Elf's universally beloved qualities to apply to my superiors for enough funding. There's more than enough for the institute to eat for an entire year!"
Once Elysia brought up food, Xu Ziling was no longer sleepy.
It wasn't that Xu Ziling's cooking skills were particularly impressive. Rather, if they were going to cook, they would naturally have to eat as well. Xu Ziling could clearly feel that although this body of his could move freely now, it was still in an extremely weak state and urgently needed an intake of energy. That pile of instant noodles from earlier was nowhere near enough.
Now that Elysia had volunteered to cook, Xu Ziling shamelessly said,
"Ahem... May I ask something presumptuous, Miss Elysia? Could you make an extra portion of the lunch you're preparing?"
"Mm-hmm?~? Isn't that only natural? Or is Miss Elf such an inconsiderate person in your eyes?"
Elysia gave a mischievous smile, then reached out and poked Xu Ziling in the chest with one finger as she said,
"Could it be that Miss Elf was only focused on talking to Dr. Mobius just now... leaving you all to the side and making you feel a little upset?"
After poking him, Elysia withdrew the finger she had just pressed against Xu Ziling's chest and muttered regretfully,
"So hard... It seems you really are a boy... What a pity..."
"Ahem."
Xu Ziling tactically coughed twice, wisely ignoring Elysia's muttering from just now. Continuing the previous topic, he said,
"The Pink Elf in my heart is naturally a person as gorgeous and flawless as a crystal flower. She certainly wouldn't mind a companion's appetite... It's just that I might eat a little more than most, so I hope Miss Elf won't mind."
"Mm-hmm~ No problem! This Miss Elf will definitely make you an extra-large lunch~!"
Elysia seemed to enjoy Xu Ziling's praise. She nodded in satisfaction, and a hint of surprise surfaced in her pink-and-blue eyes. Then she hurriedly waved at Blanca, who had already walked out of the institute's rest area behind Xu Ziling, and said,
"Hey, hey, our adorable little Blanca~ Miss Elf, the inspector, is planning to cook lunch for the institute. Do you have any requests? Feel free to name them—Miss Elf knows quite a few dishes, you know?"
"Uh..."
Faced with Elysia's question, Blanca's gaze became evasive, because he knew about Elysia's reputation as the world's number-one lesbian queen. If this had been before his marriage, he wouldn't have minded getting a little closer to her. But now... Blanca was afraid that if he talked with Elysia too much, she would turn him gay.
After thinking for a while, Blanca chose a relatively middle-ground response and said,
"Well... Don't worry too much about me, Elysia. Instant noodles are fine for me."
"How could that be? Blanca is already a mother, so how can you keep eating instant noodles?"
Elysia cheerfully walked over to Blanca, then reached out and patted him on the head reproachfully as she said,
"All right, I guess your little head can't think of any nutritious meals besides instant noodles... Hehe~ But considerate Miss Elf will prepare everything for you. It'll absolutely suit your tastes while being packed with the nutrition a mother should get, too!"
Blanca lowered his head and said softly,
"I understand the reasoning... But how do you know what I like?"
"Don't ask."
Elysia pressed one finger to Blanca's lips and said,
"If you ask, the answer is Miss Elf's magic~!"
Hearing the exchange between the two women, Xu Ziling, on the other side, thoughtfully glanced at Blanca's currently rather ordinary-looking belly.
Judging from what Elysia meant, had Blanca already had Griseo at this point in time?
If he built a good relationship with Blanca afterward, could he even meet Griseo before she turned six?
The difference between twelve years old and before six... Heh, Kosma, I'm way ahead of you. Laughs.
"All right."
On the other side, Elysia patted Blanca on the shoulder, then turned back and smiled at Xu Ziling before saying,
"Now, Miss Elf is going to cook! I might as well buy some good-looking clothes for everyone while I'm at it, so look forward to it~"
Then Elysia smiled and nodded at Xu Ziling and Blanca before walking over to pick up the toy gun she had brought from the institute floor nearby. She rested it on her shoulder and left in high spirits.
After Elysia's little commotion, although Mobius had successfully been angered unconscious, there was no denying that Elysia's appearance had perfectly harmonized the relationships among the three people in the institute.
The most obvious result was that Blanca was no longer as afraid of Xu Ziling. It seemed that after seeing Xu Ziling's earlier conversation with Elysia, he had realized that even a mysterious creature that had leaped out of a statue possessed human emotions, rather than being some ferocious and savage occult monster.
"Um... Senior Blanca, may I call you that?"
After Elysia left, Xu Ziling scratched his head and looked at Blanca as he said,
"May I ask where the institute's rest area is? I'd like to go check on the doctor."
Xu Ziling took the initiative to start a conversation. After Blanca froze for a moment, he hurriedly said,
"As for what you call me, hmm... Whatever you like is fine. The institute's rest area is this way. The doctor is already asleep, so remember to keep your voice down when you go see him."
"Oh, okay."
The laboratory jolted and swayed. Mobius opened her eyes.
She said that after being struck twice just now, she had dreamed.
In the dream, the Pink Demon discovered her...
Before you continue