"Is that so? What a pity..."

After being rejected by Aya, the smile on Bright Scale No.2's face gradually disappeared, making Aya keenly feel that the atmosphere around them was turning unpleasant. She took two steps back, raised both hands, and assumed a stance that looked like the East Land martial arts starting position but was actually nothing.

Well, if you want to say what use this stance has, it's probably similar to when a girl is being chased by a perverted stalker in a narrow alley telling them not to come closer...

"Hey, what are you trying to do? You just said you wouldn't do anything to me!"

"Of course," the girl nodded seriously, "I wasn't lying. As a projection, I currently don't have the power to do anything to you, and I can't even stay here for long. In fact, if you were to do something to me, I wouldn't be able to retaliate either."

As they spoke, muffled booms could be heard in the distance, sounding like distant thunder approaching from all directions.

Aya raised her eyebrows in slight panic and looked at Bright Scale No.2, "So, are you saying that all these approaching footsteps around us are just a coincidence?"

"I called them here," the girl said innocently, "I may not harm you, but they might, these children are my creations, and if I'm upset for being rejected... they might be angry too, right?"

"Don't be like this! Aren't you supposed to be a god? How can you be so petty?!"

Indeed, stereotypes are harmful—there was a moment when Aya actually believed that Bright Scale No.2 wouldn't harm her!

"Well... if everything really goes as it does in the stories, with gods giving blessings and mortals expressing gratitude, the world wouldn't have turned out like this."

In response to Aya's skepticism, the girl's expression changed briefly, and she calmly uttered those words. Before Aya could react, the body that had projected into this world gradually became transparent and disappeared.

The meaning behind that statement, coupled with this Bright Scale's animosity towards humans, seemed to hint at a backstory... Aya speculated, then shook her head vigorously, scolding herself for wandering off track! Now wasn't the time to think about this at all!

As the thunderous footsteps drew closer, it was evident that what was approaching was not a herd of horses but rather more ferocious monsters.

Realizing this fact, Aya felt a sense of despair. Perhaps the only consolation was that all the shadowy figures in the vicinity had been summoned to deal with him, ensuring his safety in the short term within the Valley City.

The question that remained was how long he could hold out against the countless elemental creatures chasing him.

"Miss Tiran, you must hurry..."

...

"Achoo!"

Sitting comfortably on a bench, the princess sneezed suddenly. With a cup of milk tea in one hand, she reached for the box of cookies on the table in front of her.

Returning to this world of a repeated seven-day cycle, Tiran almost effortlessly managed to successfully infiltrate the Tairaeda Mansion alongside Ayako. Subsequently, she effortlessly defeated the mansion's most formidable guards and even the fate of Uncle Yamahiko, who, although not encountered in this cycle, was still destined for a beating.

With Ayako's exceptional combat skills and the added advantage of being a woman, Tiran's father had no need to worry about his precious daughter being harassed by the guards. The princess had now been promoted to be Ayako's personal bodyguard, allowing her to be by Ayako's side twenty-four hours a day.

One can only wonder how War King Granzon, upon hearing that his daughter, the esteemed princess, was earning a living by throwing punches, would react.

Well, considering the rough nerves inherited from the royal bloodline of Milanía, maybe they can take it calmly?

"Look at me, this relaxed appearance is totally unlike that of a bodyguard..." Licking the crumbs of biscuits off his lips, Tiran set down his teacup and waved to Ayako, who was still practicing not far away: "Ayako, come take a break and have a cup of tea!"

"Huh? Take a break? No, no, the dance right now is still...”

"Well, a few minutes of practice won't hurt, and practicing too hard can have the opposite effect. Come on." Completely ignoring the girl's refusal, Tiran smiled and pulled her over.

"Then... let's take a break." Ayako herself wasn't the type to refuse others much, and faced with Tiran's strong persuasion, she had no choice but to sit down and take a sip from the cup he handed her.

"Wow, it's so sweet?"

"How is it? Never had it before, right? This lady prepared a specialty drink made with the original flavor of a beautiful girl's stockings - stocking milk tea~"

"Of course, stockings are just a joke, there's no such thing here, right?"

Seeing the girl's startled expression, as if she almost spat out the milk tea that she had just sipped with elegant manners, Tiran shrugged. Simply because he didn't like plain tea, and with no black tea available, he had to use green tea as a base and mix up a roughly similar substitute.

"Even so, don't scare me like that, Miss Tiran." Ayako patted her chest, relieved.

However, being a young girl, she quickly grew fond of the sweet and creamy drink, and soon her attention was fully on the milk tea in her hands.

After pulling Ayako over, Tiran began to think about how to achieve the goal Minglin mentioned.

...

"My memory is fragmented, but it's clear to me that my split is related to the girl you encountered, Ayako. The other part of me harbors hatred towards humans, while I... wish for Ayako's happiness."

When Tiran heard Minglin say this to him, he was completely dumbfounded. So you wish for her happiness, and because I can't personally descend into the world, you want me to give her happiness on your behalf?

If it hadn't been clear in his mind that this was a serious task, Tiran would have thought the next step was part of a script... While talking to Minglin, Tiran had already mentally constructed a whole plot involving minotaurs, wondering if he was supposed to be the blonde one?

Fortunately, Minglin provided more detailed instructions.

"Her divine dance in previous cycles was a residual image I left behind in the microcosm to complete it for her. That residual image does not belong to me or any thought of the dark world."

"You mean that child?"

Recalling the girl he saw when he and Ayako entered the cave to break through, Tiran realized that she was the true form of Minglin himself? Unexpectedly adorable... He had thought gods would be at least... somewhat bigger?

"I hope you can help Ayako, so she doesn't rely on that residual image to complete the divine dance on her own, thus fulfilling the obsession of my split."

...

So, Ayako's happiness is completing that dance? Seems... too simple?

Noticing Ayako engrossed in the milk tea, Tiran tried to observe her closely to catch some clues, but in the end, it was all in vain.

Forget it, let's not dwell on why Minglin's obsession is to make a human dance on their own, or why Ayako's happiness revolves around this dance. Just treat it like completing a task and get it done.

Finishing the dance, breaking it down into two key points: myself and dancing well.

"Ayako, I have a question for you."

Tiran suddenly asked from the side, "Are you planning to go to the Seacliff Cave and have that kid disguise herself as you if you can't practice well enough?"

*Cough cough!*

This time, it was really choking. Ayako couldn't even bother to wipe the milk tea coughed out from her mouth. She froze, incredulously staring at Tiran.

Even the Princess herself was taken aback, seemingly accidentally blurting out what she'd been thinking.

As it turns out, besides math problems, people can still find solutions when pushed. Moreover, Tiran's brain isn't too shabby either.

Since pretending it was a slip of the tongue won't work, might as well spin it to the end.

"How would I know that?"

The Princess forced a stiff smile.

Ayako's secret was bluntly revealed, and for a moment she couldn't figure it out, so she just nodded along.

"Hmph." Feigning mystery, Tiran chuckled twice, covering his face with his left hand and spoke in a low voice, "Because, I am the messenger of the gods!"

Oh my, what terrible acting!

Maintaining a tough and cool demeanor on his face, Tiran felt a surge of embarrassment inside. Although the Princess was known for her thick skin in most respects and had no problem teasing Ayako, she simply couldn't tolerate anything related to her embarrassing history of adolescent delusions of grandeur.

Unbelievably, the antics of the middle school syndrome boy actually came to the rescue at this moment, leaving the Princess on the verge of tears.

But stealing a glance through the gaps in his fingers covering his face, Ayako was completely stunned, seemingly believing him.

That's good, luckily the sheltered miss hadn't encountered a teenage girl with middle school syndrome of the 21st century.

"That child is actually a test from the gods to you! If you use her abilities to present a false dance to the gods, the gods will be furious, and might even unleash their wrath on this island. And I, am here to assist you in completing the Dance of the Divine... No, the divine messenger! Now, offer up your devoutness, young lady..."

Ayako was left dumbfounded by his words, and Miss Minglin No.1, who was keeping an eye on Tiran's progress from outside the miniature world, was also dumbfounded. Tiran himself was almost crying with embarrassment.

What on earth was he saying!

"Um... Divine messenger, may I ask a question?"

After a moment, the girl broke the silence, raising her hand timidly.

"Speak... *cough cough*, go ahead," Tiran quickly corrected his tone, still amazed that she actually believed him.

"If this is a test for me, why would you tell me in advance? Doesn't that make the test meaningless?"

"I, I don't know, probably the will of the gods. Yes, that's it, the will of the gods! How could it be meaningless? How could mortals like you possibly fathom the thoughts of the gods!"

"I see, I understand. I will do my best! I will not disappoint the divine messenger!"

...

"I certainly do not have such a stupid will to die!"

Outside the miniature world, Minglin No. 1 angrily knocked over a table.