By the River: Saint, Shrine Maiden, Green Grass.jpg / Her? She's Not an Idiot-She's a Paramecium.

"This viewer has sharp eyes. You guessed right—this is a small village in the Far East."

It really was a small village in the Far East? Could it be...!?

A sense of foreboding enveloped Otto.

Just as he was growing increasingly uneasy, a game dialogue box popped up on the screen.

As for the two people speaking, one was the experimental subject K-423 whom he knew well, also known as Kiana Kaslana.

The other was a pink-haired girl with fox ears?

Fox ears?

He remembered that folk legends from Shenzhou and the Far East had once recorded that animals could take human form through "cultivation."

But that claim was utter nonsense.

By comparison, the possibility of humans fusing with Honkai Beast genes and ultimately becoming fusion creatures with beast-like traits was more convincing.

Wait... what was I thinking? I shouldn't be focusing on such irrelevant matters.

Did I... forget something?

Otto searched through his memories, hoping to recall whether he had seen this girl before.

Then, he remembered...

Wasn't this the one Kallen had once mentioned!?

Huh, me?

Could you be a newly arrived traveler?

While Otto was still stunned, the name of the fox-eared girl had already appeared on the screen.

Yae Sakura...

"What a surprise. To think I'd see Sakura here..."

Upon seeing an old acquaintance, a string of pink comments floated across the screen...

By the river, Saintess, Shrine Maiden, green grass.jpg

When Beichen saw one green and one pink comment drift through the Live Stream, he couldn't help but laugh.

Bishop, Bishop, you just had to come in at this moment. Don't blame me for revealing the sweet story between the Saintess and Fox Lady to you~

As for Miss Pink Elf and Hua... they could just keep misunderstanding. As long as they didn't let it affect my gaming, they could think whatever they wanted.

Just as Beichen fell silent, a comment floated through the Live Stream.

"Why? Why would Sakura... cough! Why would this girl named Yae Sakura happen to run into Kiana?"

He looked closely and saw that the person who had sent the comment was Hua.

It was obvious that she was curious about Yae Sakura's identity and background, but she was too embarrassed to ask outright. So, she could only probe indirectly like this.

Then I won't keep hiding it. I'll just tell her directly.

"Perhaps because she's the protagonist of this side story."

"Sakura Samsara... I see." Hua sent a thoughtful comment.

After answering her question, Beichen continued tapping the screen.

Although Elysia and Hua might be completely confused after hearing that, Bishop Otto would surely understand everything.

So, what would you do next, Bishop Otto? Slink away from the Live Stream, or stay here and find out...

What exactly happened between Kallen and Yae Sakura back then?

Beichen paused and stared straight at the viewer list.

At this moment, Rita had already left the Live Stream, perhaps because Otto had sent her off to do something.

If Otto chickened out and left as well, there would only be three people left in the Live Stream.

That would feel pretty lonely, and not much fun...

Time passed bit by bit as Beichen waited.

In the end, Otto silently sent a green comment: "Why aren't you continuing? I can hardly wait to find out what sort of story this fox lady named Yae Sakura has that is worth savoring."

Haha! That really was something Otto would do.

But thinking about it carefully, if he didn't even have the courage to seek the truth, he probably wouldn't have become a false god.

"Cough, cough, I got distracted just now. I'll continue right away, so make sure you watch carefully."

Beichen tapped the screen and began playing the Sakura Samsara storyline.

Ah, yes, that's me!

Then... pardon my impertinence, but may I ask your name, traveler?

My name? Just call me Kiana!

Oh, Kiana, I'm heading to the river right now. Would you like to come with me...

The river? What exactly is going on right now? Whatever, I'll follow her and take a look first!

Otto: "..."

For some reason, while the story was playing, a certain viewer sent a string of question marks...

Seeing that, Beichen asked curiously, "What's wrong?"

Otto: "I'm just a little curious why anyone would be naive enough to follow someone after being asked once. In my opinion, even when luring away a child, you should at least give them a lollipop."

???

That was surprising. There really didn't seem to be anything wrong with Archbishop Otto's logic...

Thinking about it carefully, after Kiana fell into the unfamiliar Yae Village, she barely showed any curiosity before following behind that strange fox-eared girl...

Just how big was her heart?

"Cough! That's not the point. The point is that we need to head to the river next."

"Heh, true. It's only a side story in a game. There's no need to take it seriously."

A green comment floated across the screen in all its glory...

Although comments couldn't play audio, when Beichen saw it, he couldn't help imagining Bishop Otto leaning back in his chair, smiling as he spoke in that thoroughly punchable way...

Hmph, foolish Bishop.

You think this is just a game, huh? Fine. Once we get to the river, let's see whether you can stay so calm!

Beichen then controlled the character and began heading toward the river.

As he pushed the directional stick forward, Ri Duck spun around on the screen, and Project Bunny behind her transformed into a stylish motorcycle.

Then came a high-speed ride streaking through brilliant blue light...

Of course, it didn't last long. The river wasn't far from the starting point at all.

"So fast!"

Even so, Seele couldn't help sending a comment of amazement when she saw Bronya racing along on the motorcycle.

However, even as her comment drifted from one side of the screen to the other, it failed to draw any response from the others.

That was because everyone's attention had already been drawn to Yae Sakura and the girl lying beside her...

"Th-That's!"

When Otto saw Kallen again—especially her physical form within the game—he was, as expected, shocked.

If he weren't so rational and had forcibly restrained himself from revealing anything, he might have given himself away just then.

As the mission destination was reached, the game played another cutscene.

On the grassy riverbank, a girl in a kimono knelt on both knees as she looked at the unconscious nun.

Why did this person drift down the river? Could she already be... No, she's alive. She's still breathing!

As Sakura's narration played, the camera gradually pulled back from Kallen on the ground and settled on her delicate face.

Then it pulled back farther, revealing the clear stream, lush vegetation, Yae Sakura seated properly, and Kallen lying unconscious on the ground.

In that instant, the sunlight filter made the scene brim with vitality, while the lush green background seemed to symbolize new life.

"So beautiful..."

"Mm-hmm~ Yes, indeed. An encounter between two adorable girls~ Just imagining it is so captivating!"

"Though I don't understand the deeper meaning of this cutscene, the... scenery truly is beautiful. It's probably a view that's difficult to see where we are..."

As Yae Sakura and Kallen met, Seele, Elysia, and Hua voiced their thoughts and praise one after another in the Live Stream.

Watching the three of their comments float by in succession, Beichen became happy as well.

As a streamer, seeing his viewers happy probably made that happiness rub off on him.

However, there seemed to be one person in the entire Live Stream who wasn't very happy.

He hadn't sent a single comment even now?

Beichen stared at the comment list for a while, yet he never saw a comment from Otto.

Strange. He had thought Otto's reaction would be intense, but he was actually staying silent?

Had he been shocked speechless?

Just as Beichen was puzzled, a blue comment floated through the Live Stream.

"Streamer big brother, please hurry and continue?"

"Oh, right, continuing." Beichen immediately controlled the character forward to speak with Yae Sakura.

He thought that since Otto had nothing to say and was merely watching coldly,

he might as well push the story forward and see whether that man could remain unmoved.

She? She's Not an Idiot, She's a paramecium.

Beichen lightly tapped the screen, and the story dialogue box appeared once again.

Kiana, this lady is seriously injured. She has been in the river for too long, and if we don't treat her soon, her life may be in danger. Can you help me bring her to the shrine?

No problem! Leave this kind of physical work to me!

Facing Yae Sakura's request, Kiana agreed almost instantly, without even a second of hesitation.

How should one put this plot... The high-EQ way to describe it was cheerful and sunny; the low-EQ way was that she was simply an idiot...

"Miss Kiana... could she be an idiot?"

A blue comment floated across the screen...

The one who had sent that mocking comment was none other than Seele.

After seeing her comment, Beichen replied bluntly:

"No, she's a paramecium."

"Para...mecium? Um... I don't really understand. Big brother, please continue."

Compared to Seele's low-EQ phrasing, another viewer in the Live Stream used very high-EQ words.

"Mm-hmm~ What an endearing, energetic little girl. What should I do? The more I watch her, the more I want to have a wonderful encounter with her too~"

The viewer who sent that pink comment was Elysia...

Her words were truly full of threat♀ toward the person involved.

Beichen felt that with Kiana's current level, Miss Pink Elf was probably going to steal her soul away.

Still, there was no need to worry. After all, she and Hua most likely still regarded this as nothing more than a game. They wouldn't believe that this was a future they had yet to reach...

After Kiana agreed to Yae Sakura's request, the game once again entered gameplay mode.