Ding-dong~
"Seele, I'm here."
"Argh, so annoying! Why is it you again?!"
Pushing the door open, Fu Li was met with the sight of a small, fair foot kicking towards him.
"Alright, Seele, being naughty again, are we?"
Effortlessly catching the kick, Fu Li wore a gentle smile as he princess-carried her and slowly set her down on the floor.
"I told you to remember to wear your slippers, silly."
"Damn you, you blasted Li! It's none of your business! I won't listen, so there! Nyeh nyeh nyeh!"
Seele was currently dressed in a cute shark onesie, her hands hidden inside the plush fins, which she used to repeatedly smack Fu Li.
Perhaps because they were growing more familiar, although she was still as fierce as ever, Seele had at least started calling Li by his name.
And even though every time he opened the door he was greeted with a knight's kick, it was always easily suppressed by Fu Li, so she could only express her dissatisfaction through rebellious acts.
Suddenly, however, Seele spotted a figure behind Fu Li. Her expression instantly turned cold, and she screeched like a cat with its fur on end.
"Hey! Li! What kind of inferior human did you bring back?!"
"Ah, she is…" Fu Li was just about to make an introduction when Hua suddenly stepped forward, speaking with a forcefulness that was different from her usual self.
"Watch your words, Miss Herrscher. You are currently under the custody of us humans."
"Ha? Under the custody of you humans?!"
Seeing that the two of them looked ready to start a fight, Fu Li could no longer sit back. He quickly put his hands between them.
"Alright, alright, stop it, both of you. Seele, this is Hua, my younger sister. Hua, this is Seele, my… other younger sister?"
"Younger sister?"
"Younger sister?"
Two questioning voices rang out at the same time. Being stared down by two pairs of beautiful eyes, even Fu Li couldn't help but feel sweat bead on his forehead.
"Li! I don't want this human in my room!! I hate that human!!"
It was Seele who spoke, her hair practically standing on end as she puffed up her cheeks and blocked the doorway.
Hua was not to be outdone, retorting directly, "Hah, you think I would even come here if it weren't for my brother?"
"Tch, you damn flatboard."
"Heh, you little shorty."
"What did you say?"
"You started it."
"Hey, hey, hey! Whoa, don't you two start fighting!"
An hour later…
"Hah… honestly, you two. Can't you give me a break?"
Looking at the two girls sitting side-by-side in a row, their faces clearly showing their defiance, Fu Li felt a little helpless.
He could understand Seele—she was young, and a Herrscher to boot, so it was normal for her to act up. But why was Hua acting like this too?
"Seele? Want to know what we're planning to do today?"
"Don't know, and don't want to know."
Seele crossed her arms and turned her face away, looking completely uninterested.
Fu Li didn't mind her attitude. He just silently pushed the tablet over to her.
"We have a few days off, so I was thinking of taking you guys here to have some fun. We can also go on a shopping spree at the supermarket."
"Fun? Shopping spree?"
Hearing those two phrases, although Seele still looked indifferent, the speed at which her legs were swinging in the air clearly picked up.
Seeing that she was obviously tempted, Fu Li smiled knowingly and increased the allure.
"That's right. A shopping spree means I'll take you to the store to buy delicious food and fun toys, and I'll pay for everything."
"This…" Seele finally turned her face back, her delicate features tilting up slightly. "You're impossible. Since you're begging me to go, I suppose I can reluctantly accompany you."
"Hah. Get it straight. My brother didn't beg you, he invited you. You're perfectly free not to go," Hua added coolly from the side.
She had clearly emphasized the words "my brother."
"You—!"
"Alright, Seele, be good. Behave."
Just as Seele was about to jump up and hit someone, Fu Li pressed a hand on her head and gently ruffled her hair.
"Hua, don't bicker with a little girl. Since it's settled, let's go."
"Oh, I know." Although reluctant, Hua agreed as they had planned.
---o---
[After submitting your application, you were granted three days of leave to visit Changbai City.]
[Due to Seele's special status, headquarters assigned a dedicated helicopter for your trip.]
[Upon arriving in Changbai City, you checked into a hotel and then, as promised, went on a shopping spree at the supermarket.]
---o---
In the afternoon, Fu Li drove a jeep with Seele sitting beside him, while Hua sat in the back.
As one of the few scenic cities that had not been affected by the disasters, the atmosphere here was still tense, but the lives of the people had not been greatly impacted.
On the streets, visiting pedestrians painted a picture of the era. There was the sweet intimacy of young couples, the leisurely grace of old men amusing themselves with their birds, and a little girl holding her parents' hands, playing happily.
Fu Li noticed that Seele, who had been bickering nonstop on the way here, had fallen silent. Her hands were gripping the car door as she stared intently at a pair of squabbling siblings.
As for Hua, upon seeing the very people they were protecting, the animosity in her eyes towards Seele dissipated somewhat, but it was replaced by a sense of confusion.
Seeing this, a smile touched the corner of Fu Li's mouth. After parking the car, he spoke with a laugh.
"Alright, stop staring. Buy whatever you want today. All expenses are on me."
"Yay!"
Compared to Hua's bewilderment, Seele was a child at heart. After getting Fu Li's permission, she couldn't wait to open the door and hop out of the car.
After all, Seele had been alone in the MOTHs' facility for over a year. Apart from being occasionally taken out for a walk by Fu Li, she had basically been confined to that spacious yet enclosed room.
Even then, whenever she appeared anywhere within the MOTHs' base, she was always met with malicious and hateful glares.
But here, no one knew her. There was no God guiding her actions. She could truly be herself for once.
"Hmph." Looking at the now-lively little girl, Hua crossed her arms, her expression cold.
"Come on, Hua." Fu Li reached out and patted her shoulder, feeling a bit helpless.
He wondered what kind of complicated feelings Hua would have in the future when she herself became a Herrscher. But that was still a long way off—another fifty thousand years, in fact.
Suddenly, Seele pointed to a small stall selling sugar figurines and said:
"Hey! Li! I want to eat that."
"Alright. Hua, do you want one?"
"…I'll try it."
It was just a sugar figurine, so Fu Li paid for them without hesitation, making sure to buy one for Hua as well.
As the shared older brother of the two, he knew very well that both of his kids had to be treated fairly, so that neither would feel he was being partial.
Seele chose a butterfly design, while Hua picked a phoenix. As for Fu Li, he chose a fox.