[Alchemy Division]
As the Chief Alchemist, Dan Shu had her own personal alchemy chamber.
There was no one else in the room. She sat alone, staring at the letter in her hand, her face full of anger.
"Bastard!"
She slammed the envelope onto the table, clenching her fists so tightly that her body trembled nonstop.
According to the intel coming from within the Cloud Knights Army, last night's operation was a complete failure.
Not only did they fail to capture Levi, even the Disciples who had gone there were completely wiped out.
Completely annihilated.
Not a single one came out alive.
And all of it… was the handiwork of Luofu's General, Jing Yuan.
He had personally hidden himself in the shadows of Starskiff Haven, waiting for the Disciples to show up, and then captured them all in one sweep.
Dan Shu guessed there were likely two reasons why Jing Yuan didn't leave anyone alive to interrogate.
One, to show the Disciples a display of power, a warning.
Two, because Jing Yuan already understood the Disciples too well and didn't need them alive to gather more information.
If it was the first, then Dan Shu didn't have to worry.
But if it was the second… then she needed to carefully test exactly how much Jing Yuan knew about them.
If he even knew her own identity, then she couldn't stay in Luofu any longer, she would have to leave immediately.
As she was thinking this, there came a knock at the door.
"Chief Alchemist, I just heard some noise from your room, did something happen?"
It was one of the passing alchemists.
Dan Shu composed herself and casually dealt with the one outside the door, sending them away.
Then she began writing letters to the other Disciples, warning them to be cautious for the time being.
Creak!
Suddenly, the door to the room was pushed open. Dan Shu calmly set down her pen and looked toward the person who had entered.
———
[Ding! Congratulations, you've obtained: Kaslana Gunfighting Technique!]
[Kaslana Gunfighting Technique]
[Description: A firearm technique from the Kaslana family, it's said the bullets can even curve midair.]
Levi wasn't surprised to receive this ability.
After all, compared to the other abilities Kiana possessed, this one was relatively low-tier.
Looking over the skill, Levi rubbed his chin and said, "Next time I get the chance, I'll ask Kiana for two guns to test this out."
No way he was going to let a new ability just collect dust.
After washing up, he relaxed and enjoyed breakfast while a craftsman fixed his broken window.
"Give me one too!"
Hearing the familiar voice, Levi, who had already expected this, tossed the spare portion toward Qingque, who had just walked in.
"Hehehe, I knew you were the best!"
Praising her "provider" with a grin, Qingque sat down beside him, watching the craftsman work on the damaged window, her face full of confusion.
"Your house got robbed last night?"
Levi explained casually, "This morning, the Cloud Knights said a notorious thief broke into Starskiff Haven last night and killed a lot of people."
After listening, Qingque scratched her head in confusion. "Really? Did that happen?"
If something like that had occurred in Luofu, the Divination Commission would have been the first to know, before the Cloud Knights even moved.
So how come she, a diviner, hadn't heard a single thing about this supposed 'thief'?
She checked the quiet work chat and decided she'd go back and ask about it later.
"Anyway, I'm outta here. Lately, Lady Fu Xuan's been keeping a really close eye on me, doubt I'll have time to come play cards with you anytime soon."
Hearing that, Levi almost wanted to give her a thumbs-up.
Even after losing several months' worth of meal money, nothing could stop her from gambling again.
That kind of spirit, Levi truly admired it.
After quickly finishing the breakfast she freeloaded, Qingque licked her fingers and, before leaving, winked at him. "Remember to have lunch ready for me!"
Watching her leave, Levi scratched his head.
"So that's why she never worries about going hungry, she's already tied herself to a meal ticket."
And that meal ticket… was him.
"…"
Levi fell silent for a few seconds before dashing to the door and yelling after her, "Damn it! Prepare to pay me back, Qingque!"
"Can't hear you! Totally can't hear you!"
After sending Qingque off, Levi, now enjoying his life of financial freedom, lay on his bed, watching the chat group grow livelier by the minute.
[Kiana: School is terrifying!]
[Especially when you have to report in right after registration!]
[That's the scariest!]
[They don't even give you time to mentally prepare!]
Kiana lay on her desk, while on the podium stood St. Freya Academy's only male teacher, the brown-haired Welt Yang, lecturing about the history of the Honkai world.
Not interested in history at all, Kiana started slacking off.
Glancing at the man on the podium, she typed in the chat group, [By the way, isn't the name 'Welt Yang' kind of common? Our teacher here has that exact name.]
[Stelle: Huh? You guys have a 'Mr. Yang' in your world too?]
[Yeah, brown hair, black-rimmed glasses, looks weak and gentle.]
Stelle quietly looked toward the man eating nearby, Mr. Yang.
Brown hair, black-rimmed glasses, matched. The only difference? This one was not weak and gentle.
Stelle shook her head. 'Probably just a coincidence.'
[Lumine: Ah~ You're all up so early~]
[Kiana: It's true, it's early.]
[Stelle: I'm in space, so there's no such thing as early or late.]
[Elysia: Good morning~ my lovely group friends~ Haven't seen me all night, did you miss me~?]
[Levi: No.]
[Elysia: Then you're not one of my lovely group friends.]
———
After a bit of idle chatter...
[Lumine: I'm logging off. Captain Jean asked me to collect tears, and I still haven't finished.]
[Lumine: Bye-bye.]
[Stelle: Bye-bye.]
[Kiana: Bye-bye.]
[Elysia: baba!]
[???]
[Group member Elysia withdrew a message!]
[Elysia: Oops, typo!]
Her face flushed pink.
[Elysia: Speaking of unfinished business… @Levi, back in Changkong City, you promised you'd let me experience what it feels like to be possessed! Don't you dare lie!]
Seeing the tag, Levi froze, he hadn't expected her to want that experience so badly.
But since she asked so earnestly, he had no reason to refuse.
After all, the one who ultimately benefited… was still him.
[Levi: Think of a reward first. Don't just give me another 'collectible'.]
[Elysia: You think I wouldn't give you one if you wanted it!]
She wasn't as outrageous as Kiana, who had literally offered her personal belongings as payment.
Elysia? Even if she died, died outside, jumped off a building, she would never give Levi something like that.
Even if it was washed, still no.
Elysia sat cross-legged on her bed, thinking for a while.
[Elysia: Then the request is… help me live through a perfect day! The reward will be a lovingly-made lunch from me!]
As soon as she finished speaking, Levi's system chimed.
[Ding! Mission: Live Through a Perfect Day!]
[Issuer: Elysia]
[Accept or Decline]
"'Live through a perfect day,' huh?"
Levi rubbed his chin.
That kind of mission sounded vague.
After all, what exactly counted as a perfect day?
How was 'perfect' supposed to be defined?
Then another thought occurred to him, if the mission goal was too vague to complete, did that mean he'd be trapped forever in someone else's body?
[Elysia: Every day of mine is perfect~]
"Accept!"
Seeing her response, Levi instantly chose to accept the mission.
Just like last time, the world around him began to rewind rapidly.
Everything blurred into a critical point, then a burst of light flooded his vision.
Levi reflexively shut his eyes.
'Oohhh! So this is what being possessed feels like! It's like playing a third-person game!'
Elysia's voice rang in his ears as Levi opened his eyes.
What he saw was a room overflowing with girlish décor and atmosphere.
Standing up, Levi washed up and inspected the powers he'd gained while possessing Elysia.
[Ding! System Panel Expanded!]
As he willed it, the system interface opened before him.
[Name: Levi]
[Abilities: Hacking (MAX), Big Appetite, Super Strength, Honkai Resistance (High), Kaslana Gunfighting Technique]
[Temporary Abilities: Herrscher of Origin, Bow Mastery (Max), Honkai Resistance (MAX), Wanderer (Advanced)]
[Current Mission: Live Through a Perfect Day]
[Issued by: Elysia]
Seeing the detailed list, Levi froze for a moment.
When did his system get so smart?
If it had even half this intelligence before, he wouldn't have had to test everything manually.
Standing before the full-length mirror, he smiled and said, "Elysia, how does it feel?"
'So amazing~'
Elysia's response came, her tone full of curiosity.
She now had two perspectives, one from Levi's first-person view, and another from a mysterious third-person view.
She could switch between them at will.
For someone who'd never experienced supernatural powers, this was incredibly fun.
"Glad you're enjoying it."
Levi kept a calm face.
He quickly picked out an outfit from Elysia's closet that looked pleasing to the eye and put it on.
Standing before the mirror, he struck a few poses he thought looked handsome, and honestly, they did look pretty good.
"Let's go! Time to hit on girls!"
'Huh?'