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‘I… I’m… Where am I? Wasn’t I unconscious?’
For a moment, Xiamiya lifted a hand to scratch her head, utterly bewildered.
Logically, after conceiving the Star God’s Egg, she should have fallen into a deep coma from exhaustion. But now? It seemed she was still ‘awake’?
“What’s going on?” the cherry-haired maiden muttered to herself, puzzled.
“And what in the world is this place?”
Scanning her surroundings, Xiamiya’s brow involuntarily twitched.
Indeed, the sight before her made the Demonic Godess almost disbelieve her own eyes.
What greeted Xiamiya was a magnificent palace, bathed in golden sunlight and shimmering with a dreamlike radiance. The palace’s architecture was both grand and exquisite, with intricately carved beams and painted rafters, every detail exuding an endless sense of artistry and luxury.
High above, the vaulted ceilings were adorned with vibrant frescoes, depicting scenes from myths and legends, making one feel as if they had stepped into a sacred realm.
Surrounding the palace was a vast garden, where various exotic and beautiful flowers bloomed in profusion. Their fragrance drifted on the gentle breeze, refreshing both mind and spirit.
Dewdrops sparkled like jewels on the emerald grass, gleaming enchantingly under the sunlight. In the distance, a small stream flowed lazily, its surface rippling with soft waves and emitting a gentle gurgle, as if providing a musical accompaniment to this beautiful scenery.
“Oh, wow… A style I’ve never seen before? What era is this architecture from?” Xiamiya murmured, perplexed.
Then, facing the unfamiliar environment, the Demonic Godess instinctively felt a hint of panic. She looked left and right, trying to find Youka.
Although Xiamiya was sometimes afraid of Youka, the Doll-like Maiden provided an unparalleled sense of security. Confronted by an unknown situation and environment, Xiamiya instinctively sought Youka’s protection.
“Youka!!! Youka!! Where are you?!! If you hear me, answer me!”
Unfortunately, Youka did not appear reliably by Xiamiya’s side as she usually did.
“Hmm, she’s not here?”
Realizing this, the cherry-haired maiden couldn’t help but nervously swallow.
After a moment of hesitation, Xiamiya anxiously looked up at the palace ahead. As if drawn by an unknown force, a profound curiosity about this palace inexplicably welled up within her.
‘Should I go in and ask? Standing here dumbfounded won’t solve anything.’
‘I am a Holy Maiden, how can I always rely on a Calamity Demon?’
With these thoughts, Xiamiya slowly walked forward.
As Xiamiya approached, the palace’s grand doors opened automatically, revealing a long corridor carpeted in red. The walls on either side were adorned with magnificent tapestries and artworks.
Her gaze swept over these beautiful objects, each one leaving her utterly awestruck and amazed.
Undoubtedly, this place was even more resplendent than the Holy Royal Palace.
“What is this place, exactly?”
Harboring this question, Xiamiya looked around, confused, as if searching for an answer.
But after walking for some distance, Xiamiya realized with a frown that she couldn’t find a single person. The vast palace was deserted; even if she wanted to ask someone, there was no one to be found.
However, this palace didn’t seem as desolate as she had imagined.
While there were no humans, it was filled with all sorts of adorable small animals. As Xiamiya’s footsteps echoed in the corridor, the surrounding air seemed to instantly become more lively and cheerful.
Hidden behind the palace, the small animals one by one poked their heads out from corners and secluded spots, their eyes filled with excitement and joy.
Various birds were the first to notice Xiamiya’s arrival. They flew lightly from high branches, chirping merrily around her, as if welcoming her. Their brightly colored feathers shimmered in the sunlight, adding a layer of vibrant brilliance to the entire palace.
Next, soft felines emerged from various corners. They approached Xiamiya silently with agile steps, circling her feet. They meowed while emitting contented purrs.
Additionally, there were other adorable creatures, such as small lions, ponies, and even chubby little dragons.
These small animals gathered around Xiamiya, each seeming to express their welcome to the Demonic Godess in their own unique way.
Xiamiya, initially startled, gradually felt an unprecedented warmth and joy.
“Wow, what adorable little guys.”
With a gentle smile, Miss Xiamiya waved friendly at the little darlings.
‘Hmm, strange. It’s the first time I’ve seen a palace with so many animals. They seem to like me quite a bit? But why do they always keep a certain distance from me? Strange…’
As she looked around at the small animals enthusiastically welcoming her yet maintaining a distance, the number of question marks above the Demonic Godess’s head multiplied.
‘Also, I wonder if it’s just my imagination, but whenever I look at these cute little guys, why do I always associate them with those monsters from Starfall Palace?’
“No, no, no, no, what am I thinking?!”
‘These little darlings are so cute; how could they be related to those terrifying Calamity Demons? My brain must be fried.’
Shaking her head vigorously, Xiamiya cast aside those outlandish, unrealistic thoughts.
****
Thus, Xiamiya, still deep in thought, was escorted by the throng of small animals as she passed through the winding corridor and entered a spacious hall. Sunlight streamed through the tall glass windows, bathing the entire space in a warm and bright glow.
“Wow, what is this place? A shrine?” Xiamiya murmured to herself, surveying the decorations and scene.
As she spoke, the Demonic Godess’s attention was quickly drawn to the magnificent statue standing in the center of the hall.
The statue appeared to be carved from the finest silver marble, glowing with a soft luminescence. It towered skyward, its intricate details and vivid expressiveness breathtaking.
Walking slowly towards the statue, Xiamiya’s eyes narrowed slightly.
“…”
The subject of the statue was a man, his face handsome and possessing a warm, approachable demeanor. His eyes were gentle, and the corners of his mouth turned up slightly, revealing an endless sense of care and benevolence. The man’s posture was natural, his hands gently stroking the small animals beside him, as if he were engaged in intimate conversation with them.
“Who is he?” Xiamiya instinctively asked.
‘To have a statue erected here, he must be the owner of this palace, right? Or perhaps closely related to the palace owner?’
In any case, with no one else around, Xiamiya had no way to confirm her suspicions.
‘Hmm? Wait?’
‘No one?’
Suddenly, beneath the magnificent statue, Xiamiya’s gaze was drawn to a faint movement.
Then, our Demonic Godess saw the first human since entering the palace.
It was a shy, silver-haired little loli, standing timidly in the shadow of the statue.
The little loli’s white hair shimmered softly in the sunlight, appearing exceptionally pure and beautiful.
She looked to be no more than five or six years old, dressed in a simple yet clean black dress. Her large, scarlet eyes were filled with unease and hesitation. Her gaze occasionally darted towards Xiamiya, then down at her tiny feet, making her appear very nervous. Her hands were clasped tightly together, her fingertips slightly white, clearly trying to restrain something.
Xiamiya looked at the timid little girl before her, and a surge of tender affection immediately welled up in her heart.
Without stopping to consider the girl’s identity, guided by instinct, Xiamiya gently stepped forward, her footsteps slow and soft, fearing she might frighten the shy little girl.
At this moment, a warm and approachable smile gradually appeared on the cherry-haired maiden’s face, making her expression as friendly and kind as possible.
“Hello there, little one? Don’t be afraid, Big Sister won’t hurt you~” Xiamiya said softly, extending one hand, palm upward, slowly reaching towards the little loli.
Upon hearing this, the little loli looked up at Xiamiya’s face, her eyes still filled with hesitation and unease, yet seemingly drawn by Xiamiya’s gentleness and kindness. Her body leaned slightly forward, clearly wanting to respond to Xiamiya’s invitation, but her inner reservations kept her indecisive.
Xiamiya waited patiently, without the slightest hint of impatience. Her hand remained extended, and the smile on her face never faded.
“It’s alright, come, there’s no need to be scared~” the Demonic Godess added.
Encouraged by Xiamiya’s soothing words, the little loli plucked up her courage and timidly extended her small hand, tentatively reaching forward, then pulling back, repeating this several times.
Finally, under the envious gazes of the surrounding small animals, the little loli gently grasped Xiamiya’s finger.
“Good girl, you’re so sweet~” Xiamiya smiled with satisfaction, looking at the adorable little girl.
However, in that very instant,
“Eh???”
Under Xiamiya’s slightly bewildered gaze, the previously timid white-haired little loli, upon making contact with Xiamiya’s body, suddenly changed completely. Before the Demonic Godess could react, the little loli opened her mouth wide and greedily bit down on Xiamiya’s arm!
Instantly,
A sharp, intense pain rapidly spread from where the little loli bit, engulfing Xiamiya entirely.
“Hiss… You little girl, why would you suddenly…”
Just as she was about to pull her hand back, Xiamiya’s vision blurred, and her entire body felt weak and powerless. She staggered and fell backward.
‘What in the world…’
“What the hell…”
****
“Hmm?!!”
The brief haze quickly faded, and as Xiamiya’s consciousness returned and her vision cleared, what greeted her was the familiar ceiling of her own room.
Looking at the rather exquisite chandelier, Xiamiya blinked, bewildered.
‘Was I… dreaming just now?’
Just as the Demonic Godess was muttering to herself, Youka’s calm and pleasant voice gently floated into Xiamiya’s ears, causing the cherry-haired maiden to freeze.
[Congratulations, Master, conception successful.]
Xiamiya: “Eh?”
The adventure continues! If you loved this chapter, Not Me, The Fans is a must-read. Click here to start!
Read : Not Me, The Fans
