Chapter 13: Offering Everything to Mother

Meanwhile, in the Void Spirit Realm.

Along the golden corridor leading to the palace, white lily-of-the-valley blossoms adorned the sides.

Their petals gleamed like ivory, releasing a faint fragrance. Yet from the massive pillars wreathed in these flowers, bead after bead of blood-red liquid seeped down endlessly.

A young girl walked lightly across the red carpet.

Her features were delicate, almost ethereal. Short pale-violet hair, tied into a ponytail, trailed behind her. One eye was crimson, the other violet—two luminous gems glowing faintly. Her skin was fair as fresh snow, and her black-and-white maid uniform, paired with garter stockings, highlighted her graceful figure to perfection.

Slowly, she reached the end of the corridor.

Atop the dais sat an Evil God.

“Good day, Mother.”

The girl lifted her skirt slightly with both hands, crossed one leg behind the other, and offered a graceful curtsey. Her voice was melodious, gentle as a canary’s song, though tinged with hesitation.

But the Evil God on the throne did not respond. Instead, she buried her face into the armrest, her shoulders trembling, pearl-like tears streaming down her cheeks.

“Mother? You are…”

“Our little daughter doesn’t love us anymore!”

Before the girl could finish, the Evil God Nyara shot upright. Her face was flushed scarlet, tears still flowing.

“Little Nami, Mama is heartbroken!”

This pitiful display was nothing like the appearance of one of the most powerful Evil Gods.

“Mother, please calm yourself. What happened? Isn’t Linger performing for you right now?”

The girl, Namilah, hurried forward to support Nyara, her expression filled with concern.

“I cannot calm down! Linger—how could she treat her loving Mama like this…”

Nyara suddenly shoved Namilah aside, collapsing to the ground and rolling about, wailing like a child denied candy. If left unchecked, her tears might truly flood the palace.

“Linger is usually your favorite. What could she have done so terribly?”

“She thought about letting that little girlfriend of hers be her Mama! She’s replacing me as her first love! Waaaahhh!”

…Seriously?

Namilah was utterly baffled. Mother was usually scatterbrained and carefree, treating everything as trivial. How could she suddenly be so devastated over something like this? Even when their eldest sister had been rebellious, she had never seen Mother like this.

“Linger must have just been daydreaming. I know her best. Mother will always be most important. Whether it’s Linger or me, both of us love you more than anyone.”

“Really?”

Nyara sniffled, her sobs softening at Namilah’s words.

“My daughters truly are the sweetest! Little Nami, Mama has been so lonely lately. Linger’s not home, and your three sisters are all busy performing for me… only you remain by my side~”

Nyara’s laughter returned, bright and mischievous. From behind her, countless black tentacles sprouted, curling around Namilah. In an instant, she was pulled into her mother’s embrace.

“Dearest Little Nami, Mama is bored. You know what to do, don’t you~?”

Nyara’s eyes brimmed with love as she caressed her daughter with warmth.

“Yes, Mother. Namilah will surely… please you.”

She was the one who had created her. To offer everything to Mother was what a daughter ought to do—what she must do.

“So sensible. Mama’s love for you has never been in vain, Little Nami~ Come, let’s go to my playroom and deepen our mother-daughter bond~”

“It is my honor, Mother…”

On the streets of Xifa Star.

“Xingling, I didn’t expect you to pull such a dirty trick. Dealing with those designers is terrifying.”

Even now, Xinghui still felt shaken. For this future Sword Immortal, she would rather face battlefield slaughter against the Calamity Legion or the Swarm of World-Eaters than deal with a noisy crowd of humans.

“Hehe, I just love watching you make a fool of yourself. A drop of ‘gratitude’ must be repaid with a whole spring, you know.”

Linglinglan’s grin was mischievous.

“Besides, that ridiculously expensive outfit was given to you for free. What are you even complaining about?”

“Well, that’s true…”

Xinghui thought it over. That set of clothes had to be worth at least a thousand credits—half their entire budget. Normally, people like them should have only admired such clothes through a shop window.

“You should be thanking me.” Linglinglan winked at her.

“Is that so? Then I suppose I should thank you… wait, no! Why should I thank you? This was all Xiaofu’s doing!”

Suddenly realizing she was being led by the nose, Xinghui quickly dismissed the thought. Linglinglan hadn’t done much—just said a few words. Without Xiaofu, they would’ve been thrown out of the shop ages ago.

Truthfully, Linglinglan’s original plan had been darker: send Xinghui and Xiaofu away, then throw up a barrier and slaughter everyone in the store. She could live like a normal person most of the time, but anyone who dared oppose her would meet a gruesome end. Though she disliked dragging others into her affairs, her emotions often refused to be controlled.

For the sake of this city, she held back.

Also… for Xinghui’s sake.

She didn’t want to cause her trouble.

Ugh, since when had she started worrying about her like this…

“By the way, Xiaofu—that note… no, that bill—where did you get it from?” Xinghui asked curiously.

From her conversations with Velf in the game, Xinghui knew she didn’t come from a wealthy family. Yet the denomination of that banknote was terrifying: a million credits. Across the entire Kehar Universe, the Karna Logistics Bank had only ever issued ten of those notes.

The moment the shopkeeper saw it, who would dare offer change? Of course they gave away the goods for free.

“Ah… Senior Xinghui, um… let me think…”

“Go on. We’re friends. Xingling and I would never betray you.”

Xinghui smiled and gently ruffled Velf’s hair.

“Senior Xinghui! I…”

“Mm?”

“Could you pat my head again? It feels so nice… your hand is so warm…”

“My hand is warm too!”

Linglinglan, jealous, immediately pressed herself close.

“Big Sister Ling is gentle too—just like Senior Xinghui!”

“Tch, she’s nothing compared to me.”

Linglinglan and Xinghui spoke at the same time, then glanced at each other, flustered, cheeks reddening.

The scene looked just like a married couple out with their daughter.

“I remember now! That day, when I was staring hungrily at the restaurant food, an old granny gave me that banknote. She told me, ‘Whenever you want something, just show this to the shopkeeper.’”

Linglinglan’s fourth sister: Namiira