Nanahoshi Shizuka looked at Cui Ciyou's expression-the classic confused guy meme face.
She thought her refusal just now had disappointed him.
After a moment's thought, Nanahoshi Shizuka added, "We may be friends, and friends should help each other, but this-"
"Wait." Cui Ciyou finally recovered from his shock and raised a hand to interrupt her.
"May I ask how you reached that conclusion?"
Nanahoshi Shizuka frowned. "What conclusion?"
"That I'm going to kill the Dragon God."
"When did I say I was going to kill the Dragon God?"
Nanahoshi Shizuka froze.
Still frowning, she began rapidly replaying their conversation in her head.
From the beginning: Cui Ciyou had said he wanted to find the Dragon God. Then she had said, "I won't help you." Then... wait.
She thought it over carefully, and her expression turned rather peculiar.
It became a subtle look of "I really might have gotten this wrong," made especially vivid on the pale, delicate face of a professional shut-in who rarely saw daylight.
"...You're right. You really don't seem to have said anything about 'killing the Dragon God.'"
Cui Ciyou took a deep breath and slowly let it out. Only after repeating this twice did he speak. "I told you the whole story, from beginning to end."
"We went from magic stone disease to parallel world abilities, then from parallel worlds to the Human God's true nature."
"I even laid out information like 'the later plot of the original story' for you."
"And your conclusion was-that I wanted to kill the Dragon God?"
Nanahoshi Shizuka had no comeback!
Cui Ciyou continued, "I do want to find the Dragon God-but that's to negotiate, to form an alliance, and to drag that sewer rat, the Human God, out of the Void Space."
"If he's willing to talk, we'll sit