Chapter 338: Very Happy

Next door, the Weigong family.

Weigong Qiesi sat on the living‑room sofa while the TV aired the evening news— a newly opened commercial district somewhere, the mayor speaking, and the weather forecast announcing tomorrow will be sunny.

The sound was low, like background white noise.

From the kitchen came Ailisi Feier humming, along with the gentle clatter of pots and pans.

She had been preparing dinner for nearly an hour—a lavish meal with stew, roasted fish, salad, and apple pie for dessert.

Ilya hadn't returned yet, but faint laughter from her, Sakura and Rin could be heard in the yard, along with Al's occasional low gurgle.

Weigong Qiesi leaned against the sofa back and closed his eyes.

The news anchor's voice, Ailisi Feier's humming, the children's laughter, and the distant murmur of traffic on the street…

All these sounds intertwined, forming a reassuring background hum.

He felt a long‑missed relaxation.

There were no tactics to devise, no threats to assess, no weighty moral dilemmas that suffocated.

Only post‑work fatigue, anticipation of dinner, and helplessness over his daughter's late‑night play.

Is this… the life of an ordinary person?

He opened his eyes and stared at the ceiling.

The light was warm‑yellow, the illumination soft.

If the world had always been like this, if the Holy Grail War had never existed, if the Magus's world were merely an urban legend, if he truly were just an ordinary office worker with a gentle wife, a cute daughter, friendly neighbors, and a strange yet loyal pet…

How wonderful that would be.

From the kitchen, Ailisi Feier's voice called, "Qiesi, dinner's almost ready. Go fetch Ilya back, okay?"

Weigong Qiesi stood up and walked toward the doorway.

In the yard, Ilya was crouching with Sakura and Rin beside Al; the three little girls seemed to be examining the flesh pad on a "Lion" claw.

Al lay prone, his emerald eyes half‑closed, looking utterly at the mercy of others.

"Ilya, it's time to come back for dinner," Weigong Qiesi said.

"Just a bit longer, Daddy! We found Al's flesh pad is pink! So cute!"

Weigong Qiesi couldn't help but laugh, "That doesn't mean you can skip dinner. Come back now; we'll study it tomorrow."

Ilya finally rose reluctantly, telling Sakura and Rin, "I'll go back now! I'll come play with you tomorrow!"

"Mm! See you tomorrow!"

Weigong Qiesi took his daughter's hand and walked back.

Ilya hopped and chattered about which constellation today's puzzle formed, how steadily Al ran, and how impressive Sakura and Rin were.

At the doorway, Ilya suddenly stopped, looked up at her father, and said, "Dad."

"Hm?"

"Today… was very happy."

The little girl's eyes glittered in the night like red gems, "Super happy."

Weigong Qiesi crouched down, ruffling her hair, "That's good."

"Will tomorrow be this happy too?"

"…It will." Weigong Qiesi said softly, "Tomorrow will be too."

He led his daughter into the house.

The aroma of stew drifted from the kitchen as Ailisi Feier carried the final dish out, her red eyes curving into a crescent, "Just in time! Wash your hands, dinner's ready!"

"Alright!"

The door shut behind them, keeping the night's cool air outside.

Inside, the lights shone brightly, warm as spring.

Meanwhile, on another street in real‑world Winterwood City, the true Ailisi Feier walked alone, staring blankly at the people collapsed around her, their eyes vacant.

She didn't understand what had happened, but instinctively searched for the familiar faces—Saber, Qiesi.

She didn't know that in some illusory mirror, another "self" sat at a warm dining table, ladling soup for husband and daughter, a smile of happiness spreading across the face.

Inside the Illusion Realm, outside the Illusion Realm.

Awakened, The Drowned.

Perspective shift.

A Xing and San Yue Qi walked side by side on the sidewalk.

The pink‑haired girl's steps were light, her hands clasped behind her, the hem of her school uniform swaying gently with each stride.

She was enthusiastically recounting today's amusing incidents at school:

"Then, the math teacher stared in shock at Xing's problem‑solving process; you can't imagine that expression! Eyes widened so much—"

San Yue Qi gestured exaggeratedly, "It's like seeing an alien!"

A Xing walked beside her, golden eyes calmly watching ahead, occasionally responding with a soft "mm."

On the surface, she is a quiet, reticent high‑school girl.

But in reality, her mind is racing at high speed.

(To awaken San Yue Qi… a strong shock is needed to break the Illusion Realm's cover over her. So, what left the deepest impression on her?)

A Xing's thoughts rewind, recalling the real memories outside the Illusion Realm that she and San Yue Qi shared.

(Beloberg's adventure… Yaliluo‑VI's snow… and—)

Her gaze flickered slightly.

(That Salted Fish.)

A Xing clearly remembered that in a subterranean area of Beloberg, when she first pulled out that deep‑green Salted Fish exuding an eternal stench, San Yue Qi's reaction was spectacular—the pink‑haired girl stepped back three paces, covered her nose, eyes bulging, shouting "What is this, Xing! Put it away!" before collapsing on the spot.

If there is anything that can instantly pierce the Illusion Realm's mist and trigger San Yue Qi's true Memory, that Salted Fish is definitely on the list.

The problem is—

A Xing subconsciously touched their own body.

(I didn't bring Immortal Salted Fish into the Illusion Realm. With the setting of being a high‑school student in Winterwood City, I could not possibly carry a strange artifact…)

Her steps paused slightly.

At that moment, her gaze was drawn to something by the roadside.

It was a green metal trash can, a standard municipal model, standing in the shadow of a streetlamp, completely unremarkable.

But in A Xing's eyes—

The surface of the trash can was emitting a golden light that only she could see!

Just like the flashing point that marks an important item in a game!

(Treasure… treasure?)

A Xing's golden eyes widened slightly.

Although Reason String told her this was likely some Illusion Realm misdirection, or an over‑hopeful illusion… but it was a glowing trash can!

As a seasoned Pioneer with abundant rummaging experience, how could she possibly let it go?

"Xing? What's wrong?"

San Yue Qi noticed her stop, followed her gaze, "Ah, it's a trash can… do you have something to throw away?"

A Xing gave no answer.

She inhaled deeply, her face showing an expression as if a pilgrim were about to step onto a holy site.

Then she took a big stride toward the trash can.

"Wait, Xing? What are you doing?" San Yue Qi followed bewilderedly.