Chương 285: This Trainee Fatui Harbinger is Too Unreliable [285]
According to Theresa, Buer and Makoto had woken up before dawn to prepare breakfast together, filling the table with their creations.
"Luo Qing, please make sure to try everything~," Makoto said sweetly from his left, wearing an apron and radiating the aura of a dutiful wife.
"Luo Qing, I made some too. Please have a taste~," Buer added from his right, her tone equally gentle as she lifted a heart-shaped fried egg to his lips with a fork.
"..."
[Frustration +1 from Luo Qing.]
Did they strike some kind of competition last night?! Are they trying to outdo each other for the role of the head wife?!
Looking at the sheer amount of food, he sighed inwardly.
What am I, Paimon?!
"I'll... do my best," Luo Qing muttered, reluctantly starting to sample their offerings.
There was too much.
Far too much.
I can't eat anymore...
Urgh...
---
"I'm heading out for a bit. Stay home and don't cause any trouble, alright?" Luo Qing said as he stood at the door, looking at the silver-haired and purple-haired figures before him.
He suddenly realized something.
It wasn't that I was good at avoiding drama at home before—it's just that the real troublemakers hadn't shown up yet.
"Mm, Luo Qing. I'll tidy up the house properly while you're out. It won't be messy like before," Buer said, holding a broom and wearing an apron, nodding obediently.
Translation: The way Makoto cleaned before was a disaster, and I'll fix her mess.
"Don't worry, Luo Qing. I'll keep an eye on her so she doesn't mess around," Makoto chimed in, gently nudging Buer aside as she approached Luo Qing with a serene expression.
Translation: I'm the one in charge of this house, and as long as I'm here, even Buer won't stir up trouble.
"You two..." Luo Qing sighed, shaking his head before stepping out the door.
He had promised to borrow Nahida's Gnosis for only one night.
Now it was time to return it.
At the Sanctuary of Surasthana, Luo Qing pushed open the door and was surprised to see Nahida and Lumine sitting together, engaged in a quiet conversation.
When they saw him, both waved.
"Hey, everyone's here," Luo Qing greeted casually, handing the Dendro Gnosis back to Nahida.
Nahida gently accepted it with a soft nod, then summoned a deep red Divine Canned Knowledge from her consciousness.
The sight of it made Luo Qing pause, his emotions conflicted.
The item in her hands looked eerily familiar.
"What are you two planning to do?" he asked.
"Luo Qing," Nahida said softly, her eyes filled with shyness and a hint of longing. "We want to uncover the knowledge hidden within this Divine Canned Knowledge, but it requires the power of two Gnoses to open."
Her voice grew even quieter as she continued, "So... may I borrow your Electro Gnosis?"
"Of course," Luo Qing replied with a warm smile, reaching out to ruffle her hair.
She wasn't biologically his daughter, but as Buer had said, Nahida carried traces of his power. She was, in a way, his child.
How could I refuse my daughter's request?
"Here. Take it and have fun," he said, handing the Electro Gnosis over.
"Thank you, Luo Qing," Nahida said with a sweet smile, accepting the Gnosis and turning back to the deep red canister in her hands.
"Now, with the power of these two Gnoses, we should be able to open it," she murmured.
"Are you sure you want to open it?" Luo Qing asked, leaning closer.
"Is that... not okay?" Nahida faltered, clutching the canister tightly.
Since her release from confinement, she had become particularly sensitive to Luo Qing's opinion.
"It's fine," Luo Qing said, waving a hand dismissively. "If that's what you want to do, go ahead."
But as he spoke, he couldn't help casting a brief glance at the canister.
The real Divine Canned Knowledge had been destroyed last night when Buer was revived. The corruption inside had been cleansed completely by the Verdant Rebirth Sprout's power.
As for this one...
It was a fake—a carefully crafted replica Luo Qing had made to avoid suspicion. He had even used the Void System's permissions to set its defenses to the highest level, ensuring that only Nahida could unlock it.
But the contents inside?
Well...
As Luo Qing pondered, Nahida activated the power of the two Gnoses. The canister began to glow, unlocking with a soft click.
Just as Nahida prepared to delve into its secrets using the Void's power, a loud, exaggerated male voice echoed in her mind.
"Plant a little seed in your heart, da-la-dee-da-la..."
"It grants little wishes with magical power..."
"Every child dreams of it, you know..."
"Are you ready? Ohyo!"
"..."
[Frustration +1 from Lumine.]
Hearing the absurd singing in her mind, Lumine furrowed her brow and turned to glare at Luo Qing, her eyes practically shouting:
It's you again, isn't it?!
"How odd... Lumine, why does it sound like..." Nahida murmured, utterly baffled.
She still thought this was what the canister originally contained.
"Nahida..." Lumine sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose. "This canister is fake."
"Eh?"
"That can't be. I retrieved it from the Akademiya myself. They wouldn't have the ability to create something like this..." Nahida said, her voice tinged with doubt.
The canister's high-level defenses and the need for two Gnoses to open it made it impossible for the Akademiya to fabricate.
"Nahida, trust me. It's fake," Lumine insisted.
"If it's fake, then the real one..." Nahida trailed off, her expression changing as she looked at Luo Qing.
"Luo Qing, you..."
Her thoughts raced back to the previous day when Luo Qing had borrowed her Gnosis to investigate something.
At that time, he'd also held two Gnoses.
"As expected of Nahida," Luo Qing said, sighing as he gently ruffled her hair again. "You're right. I did take the real canister."
"Why?" Nahida asked, her voice tinged with betrayal.
"Because there were things I needed to resolve, things that required it," Luo Qing explained.
"But I have things I want to know too..." Nahida said, her voice wavering with emotion.
She had trusted him, only to learn that he had taken the only key to uncovering the mysteries of the past.
"Nahida..."
Seeing the disappointment in her eyes, Luo Qing felt his heart soften.
"You want to know what really happened in the past, don't you?"
Nahida nodded silently, her expression expectant yet uncertain.
"Maybe," Luo Qing said with a smile, "there's someone who can tell you."
---
T/N: I hope this Makoto vs Buer fued doesn't resolve easily I like it
Ahem! Gather close, esteemed audience! Do you comprehend the privilege of basking in my radiance? Truly, you're witnessing history in the making—a performance unparalleled in the annals of Fontaine!
Ah, but don't get distracted! Let me be clear: this brilliance isn't conjured from thin air. No, no, no! It requires effort, dedication, and… well, a touch of your generosity. If you fancy being part of something truly extraordinary, do step forward here: [patreon.com/WiseTL].
Oh, but wait! You're probably wondering, "Furina, how can someone as magnificent as you need assistance?" To that, I say: why deny mortals the honor of contributing to such greatness? Supporting me is supporting art, and who doesn't want to say they were instrumental in a legend's rise?
Now, off you go. Make your offerings, and perhaps, perhaps, I'll acknowledge you in my next soliloquy!
— Furina ✨
Chương 286: This Trainee Fatui Harbinger is Too Unreliable [286]
Nahida's adorable little face carried a hint of confusion.
It seemed that Luo Qing knew many secrets about her, yet he kept them hidden, refusing to share.
"Yes, someone who's even closer to you."
Luo Qing gently patted Nahida's head, speaking softly. "Would you like to meet her?"
"Her…"
Nahida was momentarily speechless.
Her intuition had already revealed the answer Luo Qing was hinting at.
Could it be her...
But how could that be possible...
"Luo Qing..."
Nahida raised her head to look at him, her gaze resolute.
"I want to meet her."
"Alright..."
Luo Qing nodded, tenderly ruffling her hair before glancing over at Lumine.
"But before that, I'll need to head home and prepare a little. Lumine, could I trouble you to bring Nahida to my house this evening?"
"Your house?"
Lumine tilted her head, puzzled.
Unbidden, the image of Makoto as a perfect, virtuous wife popped into her mind.
Could this person also be...
Huh…
"Yes, my house."
Luo Qing nodded again, continuing. "Now that I've returned the Gnosis, I'll take my leave for now to get everything ready. Nahida, I'll see you tonight."
After finishing, Luo Qing fondly ruffled Nahida's hair once more before leaving the Sanctuary of Surasthana.
While he had claimed he was giving Nahida and the others time to prepare, in truth, it was more for himself.
He needed to go back and handle the two women vying for the title of his "main wife."
Otherwise, if Nahida were to visit his house, eager to have a heart-to-heart with someone she thought of as a maternal figure, only to walk in and find her "mother" embroiled in a fierce spat with another woman over the position of household authority…
That scene would surely leave an indelible mark on Nahida's memory.
Even if it was just for tonight, Luo Qing had to make them pause their inner rivalries.
Even if it was all an act, they needed to at least put on the appearance of a harmonious family.
---
By the time Luo Qing returned home, it was already noon.
Usually, when Luo Qing wasn't busy, he'd come back to eat.
Before Bu'er arrived, Makoto had been in charge of most of the cooking, with Rosalyne occasionally helping out.
But that was before Bu'er's arrival.
After that…
Before stepping inside, Luo Qing never imagined that one day, his lunch would rival the grandeur of a palace feast in Snezhnaya.
The moment he entered, he was greeted by the sight of the dining table, covered with a dazzling array of dishes. From desserts and drinks to renowned delicacies, it was all there.
Luo Qing glanced toward the kitchen.
There, two figures—one dressed in deep purple, the other in silver—were each wearing aprons and immersed in a culinary battle.
Occasionally, they exchanged glances, like warriors sizing each other up before a duel.
"These two…"
Luo Qing didn't even know what to say.
He moved to the living room and found Ei calmly reading a light novel, feigning ignorance of the kitchen antics.
Sitting down on the sofa, Luo Qing gave another helpless glance toward the kitchen before asking softly, "When did they start this?"
"About ten minutes after you left."
"They said they're competing to see who gets to be the 'head of the house.' They're having a full-scale contest—whoever wins takes the title."
Ei flipped through her book, her tone indifferent.
She was just here to slack off, after all.
As long as Luo Qing didn't sneak into her room at night and mess with her, she couldn't care less about who ruled the backyard.
"..."
"And you're not going to stop your sister?" Luo Qing asked, exasperated, glancing toward the kitchen again.
"What does this have to do with me? Why should I stop them?"
Ei answered confidently. "Besides, it's your fault for bringing Bu'er back to life and bringing her here."
"..."
Her reasoning was so sound that Luo Qing couldn't argue.
So, he decided to change the subject.
"By the way, where's Theresa?"
"She went out."
"Out?" Luo Qing was baffled. "Where did she go?"
"Makoto and Bu'er finished a dish and asked me and Theresa to taste-test them to settle the score…"
Ei continued flipping through her novel, speaking nonchalantly. "She couldn't take it anymore and made up an excuse about meeting a colleague to sneak out."
"..."
"And you? Why didn't you sneak out?"
"Me?"
Ei set her novel down and gave Luo Qing a once-over, as if he'd just said something utterly ridiculous.
With a faint chuckle, she replied, "I can handle it."
"..."
Her response was so absurd that Luo Qing didn't even know how to retort.
Just then, the kitchen door swung open, and Makoto and Bu'er each emerged, carrying a new dish.
When they saw Luo Qing in the living room, their faces lit up with delight. Setting their plates down, they hurried over.
"Luo Qing, you're back!"
"You must be tired—should I give you a shoulder massage~?"
"..."
Luo Qing was momentarily speechless.
These two were absolute beauties. Back in his past life, if even one of them had spoken to him like this, he'd have felt like the luckiest man alive.
So why did it feel so exasperating now?
"You two…"
Luo Qing sighed internally, rubbing his temples before patting the space on the sofa beside him.
The two women understood the gesture, quickly removing their aprons and sitting down on either side of him.
"You don't need to do this," Luo Qing said softly, looking at the two.
"In my heart, you're both equally important. There's no need to compete like this…"
In other words:
I liked it better when you two were your usual, headstrong selves. Please revert back to that.
These two were women he had personally revived. Both were equally dear to him, and he couldn't bring himself to neglect one for the other.
If you're going to build a harem, fairness is key!
"I understand…"
Bu'er was the first to speak, nodding obediently. "I'm sorry, Luo Qing. I was being a bit childish. I won't do it again."
Makoto was stunned.
She realized she couldn't underestimate Bu'er—this woman was a force to be reckoned with.
One moment of carelessness, and Bu'er had already gained the upper hand!
"I won't do it again either, Luo Qing…" Makoto murmured softly, though she was inwardly dissatisfied.
Next time, she wouldn't let Bu'er outpace her.
"Good..."
Seeing how quickly the two admitted their faults, Luo Qing felt something was off but decided not to dwell on it.
He affectionately patted both their heads and continued.
"Oh, by the way, Bu'er, Nahida is coming over tonight. Be sure to prepare yourself."
"Nahida? She's coming to see me?!"
Bu'er looked startled.
"Yes, I told her I'd let her meet you…"
"This..."
Bu'er suddenly seemed nervous.
"Nahida…"
Seeing Bu'er's reaction, Makoto looked puzzled as well.
"You and Nahida…"
"Mm…"
Bu'er glanced at Makoto, her expression suddenly becoming shy.
She leaned against Luo Qing's shoulder and said softly,
"She's the child of Luo Qing and me…"
"?"
---
Ahem! Gather close, esteemed audience! Do you comprehend the privilege of basking in my radiance? Truly, you're witnessing history in the making—a performance unparalleled in the annals of Fontaine!
Ah, but don't get distracted! Let me be clear: this brilliance isn't conjured from thin air. No, no, no! It requires effort, dedication, and… well, a touch of your generosity. If you fancy being part of something truly extraordinary, do step forward here: [patreon.com/WiseTL].
Oh, but wait! You're probably wondering, "Furina, how can someone as magnificent as you need assistance?" To that, I say: why deny mortals the honor of contributing to such greatness? Supporting me is supporting art, and who doesn't want to say they were instrumental in a legend's rise?
Now, off you go. Make your offerings, and perhaps, perhaps, I'll acknowledge you in my next soliloquy!
— Furina ✨
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