System Eight!! My mind went completely blank and I just blurted that out to the guy! By the time I snapped back to reality, I was already being followed by three people. Truth be told, I’d never planned to drag three companions along to fight some so-called Demon King from the start—but honestly, this was just plain unavoidable. Well, mostly my own damn fault.

"Hmph! No matter how you, a demon deluded into playing god, try to justify yourself—you could never be the Almighty Divine Lord! Thus, I shall grant you forgiveness in His name for your insolence!"

"Hah?! Before the guardian deity of this land, you dare show such disrespect?! Let me warn you, foolish mortal—stop trusting that so-called god who’s never even shown their face to you!"

"You little runt—no, more like a cursed dwarf stuck in childhood! You could never be the mighty, majestic god everyone describes! Keep falsely claiming divinity, and you’ll face punishment!"

"I am the supreme deity! Who dares punish me?! How absurd, you ignorant human!"

"......"

These two immature brats hadn’t stopped bickering since we left the church—no, they’d been at it the entire way out. They seemed utterly unfamiliar with the concept of "tiredness."

And so, without a single sip of water or bite of food, they’d argued for over an hour. I had to admit—I was impressed by their sheer stamina.

Mengxiang and Lingchuan should’ve been the last pair to fight, based on my memories. Back in our world, they were inseparable—though I never knew when they’d gotten so close. Probably on some day off I wasn’t aware of? Somehow, Lingchuan had even surpassed me in Mengxiang’s heart...

After crossing into this world, their appearances stayed the same, but their core personalities flipped. Why? Well, look at the biggest change: Lu Zixuan. Back home, she’d cling to me constantly. Now? She trailed behind me in silence. That alone explained everything.

Everything changed after we crossed over. Their personalities, speech, mannerisms—all transformed. Only their appearances remained the same: height, weight, faces untouched.

"Hey! You—human!"

I didn’t realize she meant me until the third shout. Only then did it hit me—I was human?! I had to admire my own bizarre thought process and crumbling common sense. Though... wasn’t that nun human too?!

When I finally noticed the girl’s third call, I stopped walking. A forehead bumped lightly against my back. That faint contact sent my heart racing, my mind flooded with wild fantasies.

But the person behind me didn’t pull away. Who could it be? Only two people would rest their forehead there—Zixuan or Lingchuan. Mengxiang was out of the question, obviously. Height difference. Unless she’d strapped on sky-high heels.

And if it were that violent healer Lingchuan? She’d lean against my neck—she’s nearly my height. So... only Zixuan remained.

To test it, I slowly stepped forward, hands hovering behind me, ready to catch her if she fell. But she stood frozen like stone, rigid on the spot.

Zixuan stood stiffly, only her head tilted forward. Her cat tail had stiffened in shock, her body trembling slightly. Her ears drooped low. Was she scared? Did bumping into my back terrify her that much?

Then I remembered my earlier theory: personalities change after crossing over. If Zixuan adored me back home... did she hate me now? Or fear me? Actually—

I crouched down slowly to peek at her face. Looking up, I saw her flushed, crimson cheeks—was she... shy? So shy she couldn’t move?!

Her porcelain skin burned bright red. That sudden, flustered charm made her utterly irresistible—no, *multiple* levels of adorable. Was this really the same Yangdelei I knew? Impossible!

Just seeing Zixuan’s blushing face made my heart skip wildly.

I’d never realized my heart could be so easily shaken—not even when Xi Mo gave me those accidental fanservice moments, or when she stole my first kiss. Was this... legendary *gap moe*?

The next second, her eyes met mine. Zixuan yanked her hands over her face, dropped into a crouch, buried her head in her arms, and let out soft, muffled whimpers: "Mmmph... mmmph..." Seriously? A yandere’s gap moe? This was lethal.

Lu Zixuan... a terrifying (kowai) child indeed...

But wait—where was the culprit who started this? If she hadn’t called out to me, Zixuan wouldn’t have bumped into me, and none of this would’ve happened—

I turned to Mengxiang, the source of the voice. She stood there, hand over her mouth, giggling. Beside her, Lingchuan mimicked her pose exactly. These two really synced up in the weirdest ways—

I had no idea what they were laughing about, but it definitely wasn’t good. I didn’t dig deeper—I knew better. Pursuing it would be a catastrophically stupid move.

"So," I said, turning back, "why’d you suddenly call me? Give me a good reason, or I won’t forgive you."

I rarely used such a threatening tone with my childhood friend. Honestly, it sounded more like pouting—no, full-on tsundere. How could anyone scold someone wearing the face of their closest friend?

"Well..." She cleared her throat dramatically, standing unnaturally straight. Mengxiang’s forced seriousness made me want to laugh, but I held back. Ruining someone’s act felt cruel.

"Simply put—who holds more power: me, the *true* guardian deity, or this fool’s invisible god ‘Kami’? Or rather—" Her eyes locked on mine. "Tell me plainly: do you believe in a mighty guardian like me... or in this never-seen ‘god’ she worships?"

Mengxiang looked dead serious. Beside her, Lingchuan had dropped her playful smirk, staring intently at me too. Being pinned by two beautiful girls’ gazes for the first time in my life... yeah, it was kinda embarrassing.

But first—answer the question. I couldn’t dodge it. I couldn’t pick sides. Was there a third option?

I suddenly realized multiple-choice questions were the scariest things on earth. Sure, "three long, one short—pick the short" worked on tests. But here? Damn it! Where were the four choices?! How do you pick between two options?!

"Uh..." I glanced nervously at the sky. This evasion instantly drew glares. Both girls planted hands on hips and advanced, their pressure making it hard to breathe. If looks could kill, I’d be dead ten thousand times over.

"You..." Lingchuan’s smile was the calm before the storm. "You’re not thinking of brushing this off, are you? Before the gods, all lies are exposed. Just speak truthfully—I won’t be angry, no matter who you choose..."

I knew that smile. Choosing Mengxiang on my left meant a brutal beating from Lingchuan. Choosing Lingchuan on my right meant Mengxiang’s staff cracking my skull. Disaster either way.

Only one solution: create option C.

"I choose to worship the Cat God!"

I declared it while placing my hands on the shoulders of Zixuan—who still crouched behind me, frozen in flustered silence.

"Hah?!"