Back in the dream world.
Xia Zhi and Xia Ci appeared beneath the enormous cherry tree.
"This the place?"
"Yeah."
"…Definitely has that real scent…"
"You two and your freakishly precise noses... Go on, catch up. I'll wait over here."
Xia Zhi turned and sat under the tree, staring up at the falling blossoms.
Xia Ci glanced once at his back, then approached the tree and placed her hand gently on it.
A familiar woman's voice echoed in her mind.
"Buer?"
"Makoto?"
"...You've really grown since five hundred years ago."
"Told you."
"I'm just glad you're okay."
"Well, I wasn't always."
"Huh?"
"Let's not go there. What's your situation now?"
"I'm honestly not sure."
"...?"
"I'd been asleep under the Sacred Sakura for ages. Today, for some reason, I woke up. Then I saw him."
"I see."
"He's really your cousin?"
"He is."
"Recently recognized?"
"Yup."
"What made you want to get a cousin?"
"These are hard times. Figured a nice big bro could help take care of me."
"You're seriously that bad off? Isn't Sumeru—"
"Sumeru's under Nahida now."
"Nahida?"
"The current Dendro Archon. Lesser Lord Kusanali. My adorable little sister."
"You got a sister now too?"
"It's a long story. Anyway, I'm currently an unemployed freeloader. Cousin gave me a job, pays enough to stay alive."
"..."
"So... Makoto, it's like you've been sleeping for five hundred years straight?"
"Mhm."
"I heard Inazuma's been quite unstable lately. Ei apparently took a very different path from you when it comes to governing. Her beliefs don't align with yours at all."
"My sweet sister…"
"She's not as cute as mine."
"...Buer, you've really changed."
"Have I?"
"What did you even do for five hundred years?"
"Skipped them."
"Skipped?"
"Can't elaborate on that. I made a pact with my cousin. Let's talk about you instead—what's your condition?"
"Fading. Near complete dissipation. I expected it. This dream… is the only surprise."
"Oh?"
"Can't talk much about it either. I made a promise to someone else."
"I see."
"When I left Inazuma to Ei, I also left her my dream. But she was too stubborn back then. Wouldn't listen to anything. I embedded a sliver of my will into it. If she ever fully releases the dream's power, my final will would awaken—for just a brief moment."
"Your... 'final radiance'..."
Xia Ci fell silent for a while, then softly asked.
"Makoto. Do you want to be revived?"
"Revived? That sort of thing..."
The woman laughed quietly.
"To even see you before my end... is already more than I could hope for."
Xia Ci's tone grew firm.
"I'm asking you seriously—do you want to come back?"
"...yes. I want to see Ei again. More than anything. But what does it matter?"
"Maybe cousin can help you."
"Him?"
Xia Ci removed her hand from the tree and sat beside Xia Zhi.
"Cousin."
"Done catching up?"
"Mhm."
"It's her?"
"It's her."
"How is she?"
"...A remnant soul, on the verge of fading."
"Oof."
"She should've vanished five centuries ago. Ei preserved her all this time."
"I see."
"Cousin."
"Yeah?"
"How did you help revive Chi Yu before?"
"Used a Light-type spell—[Revival]."
"Would that work on a god?"
"Probably. But the cost would be massive."
"How massive?"
"Well... it should be a lot. Never actually tried it."
"Would you want to try?"
"Nope."
"Hey now!"
"Look what overusing divine power did to you. I don't wanna end up mini-sized."
"But tiny-me was cute!"
"No."
"Cousin—"
"Hm?"
"Do you want a new employee?"
"Our shop doesn't really need more people, right?"
"But this isn't just any person. It's a goddess. Isn't that exciting?"
"You're a goddess too."
"It's different!"
"I'll think about it."
Xia Zhi looked down, acting like he was seriously considering.
In truth—reviving Raiden Makoto was more beneficial than not.
If she came back, he'd immediately get access to a [Platinum Treasure Chest].
Her sister, Raiden Ei, was a god as well—and she should also have a [Platinum Treasure Chest].
If the big sister's relationship with him improves, getting to Ei would be simple. Clearing her progress bar? Even easier.
The only risk was whether [Revival] truly worked on gods, and how much power it would drain.
But Xia Zhi had the [Essence Bottle], and [Essence of Sun and Moon] should replenish his divine energy just fine.
Given that the [Essence] is a renewable resource, trading it for two platinum chests was a bargain.
Xia Ci returned to the tree, pressing her hand on the trunk.
"Makoto."
"Hm? What is it?"
"Cousin said he's considering it."
"Considering? He can actually bring me back?"
"We had a ghost working in our shop once. She's alive now."
"!"
"I'm not teasing you."
"That must require a huge cost, right?"
"Yeah. Which is why he's thinking it over."
"..."
Xia Zhi stood and walked over.
Xia Ci looked at him. "Well, cousin?"
He nodded. "After thinking it through, I've decided—we actually do need one more employee in the shop."
"So?"
"Miss Baal, would you perhaps be interested in joining our humble establishment?"
"...What kind of establishment?"
"It's a drink shop."
"What would I do?"
"Waitress, probably."
"...You can really revive me?"
"Most likely."
"Then… alright."
"We'll be heading to Inazuma soon. First stop will be Grand Narukami Shrine."
"Okay."
—
One night passed.
The next day, an editor from the Liyue Publishing House arrived.
She brought several freshly printed novels along.
"Miss Zhu Zi, your signed novel is now in print. It'll be available for sale early next month. These are your author copies."
"Thank you so much, Editor!"
The editor turned to Xia Zhi with a slightly resentful look.
"Mr. Xia, when will Volume 2 of your novel resume? Readers have been writing us nonstop—so much pressure on our end!"
"Ah, that... next year."
"Really? You'll write again next year?"
"I plan to travel for inspiration, then finish Volume 2."
"That's great! Looking forward to your good news."
"Mhm."
"Well, I'll take my leave then."
"Take care, Editor."
Then Xiangling came over and curiously picked up one of the beautifully packaged books.
"This is your novel, Zhu Zi?"
"Yeah."
"Let me see… A love story between a female apprentice… and her chef master…"
Xiangling kept reading—and gradually, her cheeks flushed bright red.
This plotline…
Why did it feel so uncannily familiar?!
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