Chapter 13: Chitong: I Think He…… Is Handsome

「This power is strong…… equally wild, like a wild Spinepeak Dragon; if a connection isn't established in time, it might harm oneself. 」 Xinuoning observes the golden light surrounding Star.

「After all, it's the first time using the power of the Star Core; being unskilled is understandable. 」 Maweika beside her gave a slight smile, 「Just like when I first received the power of the Fire God's inheritance, the first time also caused quite a commotion. 」.

The power within Star's body began to become hard to suppress; the overflowing impact force even directly flung away the Doomsday Beast in front of her.

In the City of Mondstadt, Klee watched the star floating in midair; the little girl was so frightened she covered her eyes, only peeking through two thin slits of her fingers.

Kaeya beside her chuckled: "How come? Little Klee doesn't dare to look?"

Little Klee shook her head, her red hat wobbling; she took a crayon and drew a simple boom-boom bomb on the paper, saying: "Now, Older Sister Star, it's very dangerous."

「Just like a bomb, it could go off——bang! 」 Little Klee made a gesture with both arms spread.

Star's current state reminded Little Klee of her boom-boom bomb—exactly the same, with the possibility of exploding at any moment.

「「Pa! 」」

「Suddenly, a cane tapped Star's forehead, as if breaking something; the frenzied surging power inside her instantly calmed, returning once more to her body. 」

「The camera slowly pulled back, revealing a middle-aged man with brown hair wearing an ordinary gray coat, a coffee-colored scarf around his neck, his signature glasses making him look dependable and rational, but what drew even more attention was the cane in his hand. 」

「Fortunately, the situation was timely controlled; Uncle Yang calmly adjusted his glasses, leaving only a mysterious silhouette for the audience off-camera. 」

「「Uncle Yang, she……」 March 7 hurriedly caught the falling Star, looking up at Uncle Yang with a worried face. 」

「「It's fine now. 」 Walter Yang said calmly: 「Let's talk elsewhere. 」」

——

Real World——

「Wow, this uncle really looks super reliable! 」

「He's the type of strategist who hides his talents. 」

「If he had acted earlier, there wouldn't have been any trouble with that Doomsday Beast. 」

People instantly remembered this man who looked stern yet powerful and steady, while in another part of the academy, Jizi stared blankly at Walter Yang holding the Star of Eden for three seconds before decisively dialing that familiar number on her phone.

After two 「toot——」 sounds, the phone connected, and a man's voice slightly coughing came from the other end.

「Sure, Yang, I didn't expect you to have such an impressive side. By the way, your image in the light curtain should appear more mature than you are now. 」

Jizi teased the man on the phone with a slightly playful tone.

On the other end of the phone, Walter Yang hurriedly defended: 「No, Jizi! Although the Walter Yang in the light curtain looks exactly like me in appearance, figure, voice, and attire, I can guarantee that's absolutely not me! 」

「Besides, I have an idea, namely——」

「I understand what you mean, Yang. 」 Jizi calmly interrupted, 「Is the theory you want to talk about concerning the Imaginary Number Tree? 」

Even a dull-witted person would realize something was off. Whether it's the girl resembling Bronya, the Silver Wolf, or Miss Jizi sharing the same name and surname, including this Yang Xiansheng right before our eyes who is practically his spitting image—all prove what she had in mind.

The world in the light curtain is exactly the parallel world of where they are.

She had once learned about the cosmic hypothesis proposed by the Pre-Civilization Era, which uses the "Imaginary Number Tree" and the "Quantum Sea" to summarize the structure of the entire universe. Countless worlds are nurtured on the Imaginary Number Tree, and the world in the light curtain might just be one of its branches.

Between heaven and earth, there is only one tree and one sea, so they began an endless competition.

Or perhaps the world in the light curtain is also a product of that competition?

Jizi didn't continue pondering; instead, she kept the call with Yang, and together they watched the images coming from the light curtain.

「Slowly opening her eyes, what came into view was the layout of the space station. 」

「Star rubbed her head, slowly rose from the medical bed, and Dan Heng, who was in charge of nursing nearby, raised a hand to greet her. 」

「「As long as you're unharmed, the Legion's threat has been lifted—you can relax. 」 Dan Heng led Star out the door while explaining. 」

「「Even as strong as the Doomsday Beast, it's nothing more than a defeated underling……」 Recalling her own valor just now, Star unconsciously puffed out her chest, full of a proud expression that said, "Come praise me."」

「「You seem to have recovered well. 」 As Dan Heng turned, a barely perceptible arc rose at the corner of his mouth; after lightly coughing twice, he explained to Star: 「This is the Black Tower Space Station; rest a while, I won't disturb you. By the way, give me your beacon address—so I can contact you if anything comes up. 」」

「「By the way, if it's convenient, go see Jizi—she said she has something to discuss with you. 」」

——

「「Hmm, this Dan Heng guy is the type who's cold outside but warm inside. 」 Maiyin rested her chin on one hand, her gaze shifting to look at the similarly typed Chitong beside her: 「Come to think of it, what do you think of this Dan Heng guy? 」」

From the first meeting onward, Dan Heng's outstanding marksmanship left a deep impression on Maiyin.

Such strength, even without the boost of Imperial Arms, would likely be unmatched within the entire night raid organization; for this otherworldly powerhouse, Maiyin thought back and forth, feeling that only Chitong could match him, and she was curious how this martial-obsessed Chitong would evaluate him.

「「Well, my opinion? 」 Chitong pondered seriously, chin in hand, before finally nodding as if certain. 」

「I think he…… is handsome. 」

Maiyin: 「…Ah? 」.

Ahhh?

What the heck are you saying, you guy?

Maiyin looked at Chitong with an expression of disbelief.

Chitong is undoubtedly a beauty, and undoubtedly has a poker face, but when she used that icy-cold poker face to speak those words in a serious tone, Maiyin always felt that this colleague who kills without blinking was so unfamiliar.

However, what she said was correct. Compared to marksmanship, Maiyin's attention to Dan Heng first lies in his flawless looks.

His eyebrows are long and graceful, short hair flying into the sideburns, under a touch of red eyeshadow his eyes are like black jade, merely with a hint of warmth like early spring March in his gaze.

Indeed, he's handsome.

Compared to that sluggish guy Tazimi……

「「Wait a moment. 」 Maiyin only then realized she had been led astray by Chitong's words; she patted her cheeks, cleared her throat, and said: 「I'm asking you about his marksmanship—what do you think? 」」

Chitong closed her eyes, slowly shook her head, and sighed: 「No flaws——at least I can't see any. 」.