Chapter 47: Remielle: I'm Not Fat, I'm Really Not Fat! (5k, Please Subscribe!) (Patreon)

"Sis, I'm fine. I didn't even get hurt, see? There's really no need to worry," Yixuan said, a little helplessly, phone held to her ear at her lodgings as she explained herself to her sister on the other end.

"Fine? If something happens, won't it be too late by then? What did Mayflower promise me before you left? He said it was just a simple investigation mission — and look what happened! A Tier 7 Ethereal showed up! If I don't tear his office apart this time, my name isn't Yixuan!"

"Um — anyway, just calm down for a second. It's not as crazy as you're imagining. I'll fill you in on the details once I get back. Could you arrange for Fufu and Shiyuan to come to New Eridu? There are still some loose ends to handle here, and they'd be perfect for it," Yixuan said hurriedly, trying to placate her furious sister before steering the conversation elsewhere.

"Hmph, fine. By the way, how's it going with Senior Brother's thing?" Only after Yixuan had calmed her down did her sister let out a cold snort, before finally getting down to the real matter.

"Senior Brother's Nirvana was taken by an Ethereal. I'm not sure exactly what happened. That Ethereal was incredibly powerful — even a Tier 7 Ethereal couldn't get past it, every attack blocked with ease. After it defeated that Tier 7 Ethereal, it took Senior Brother's Nirvana for itself. There was nothing I could do to stop it."

"Fine, so long as you're safe. Senior Brother's weapon isn't something just anyone can take. Wait — what do you mean it was 'taken'? Give me the details."

"Nirvana just... vanished into his body for no reason. It might be some kind of spatial ability. I don't really know the specifics either."

"I understand. I'll have Fufu and Shiyuan head over — they should get there by tonight. There's no more danger this time, right?"

"Don't worry. I already sent the two of them over, so there's definitely no danger."

"Good. I'm hanging up now."

With that, Yixuan — still on Yunkui Mountain — ended the call.

Seeing this, Yixuan let out a sigh of relief.

That should be fine now, shouldn't it?

Just as Yixuan thought the matter was settled, her sister dialed Mayflower's number.

At that moment, Mayflower was chairing a meeting, discussing how to handle the fallout from the incident — after all, the disturbance at Hollow Zero had left people more than a little on edge.

Just then, his phone rang.

Phones were supposed to be silenced during meetings, but no one outranked Mayflower anymore, so naturally no one said a word about it.

He hadn't even checked who was calling. These past couple of days had run him ragged, and the moment he heard the ringtone, he just answered.

And then...

[Mayflower, you fing— #$%&%@#$@&%&*(%#)]

The phone's volume was low, but the meeting room was dead silent, so every word carried clearly out through the speaker.

For a moment, Severian sat up ramrod straight, eyes fixed dead ahead, the very picture of composure.

Isolde, the military representative, let the corner of her mouth curl up — then quickly reined it back in.

Hoshimi Souichirou, head of the Hoshimi Family, showed no such restraint. He'd already been bored out of his mind by the meeting, and the moment he heard what came through the phone, the corner of his mouth curled up beyond his control.

Still, given the Hoshimi Family's standing, as long as he didn't laugh out loud, it wasn't much of a problem.

And besides, Souichiro wasn't exactly thrilled with the mayor these days. His benefactor's Void Hunter weapon had been found and then stolen — something that big, and no one thought to tell him beforehand?

After all, if it weren't for the Taixu Sovereign, his precious wife and precious daughter might have been lost to him forever, ten years ago.

"Ahem — old friend, I'm in a meeting right now. I'll give you a proper explanation for this later," Mayflower said, holding the phone away from his ear as he shook off the daze the high-decibel voice had left ringing in his skull.

"You'd better." Yixuan snorted coldly and hung up without another word.

Watching the matter resolve itself, Mayflower let out a breath of relief.

As long as she was willing to listen to reason. At least his office was still standing.

A moment later, he cleared his throat, his expression turning serious, and looked at the people seated around the table.

Every single one of them wore a grave expression, as if nothing at all had just happened.

It was almost funny — the only reason anyone could talk to the mayor like that was because Yunkui Mountain had two Void Hunters and outsized influence among the public, enough that even the mayor had to mind his manners. But if any of them dared crack a smile, they'd find themselves escorted out tomorrow, chair and all, over something as flimsy as walking into the office left-foot-first or having a taste for salty rice dumplings and sweet tofu pudding.

"Where were we?"

"Mr. Mayor, we'd just gotten to TOPS," an official nearby hurried to remind him.

"Oh, right. TOPS's representative! Why hasn't there been a single satisfactory answer to this day? Canggang Group secretly researched a Tier 8 Ethereal, and after getting caught, tried to destroy the evidence with an Ether Annihilation Bomb — activating the Ethereal in the process and nearly causing a disaster! TOPS owes us a reasonable explanation for this. Otherwise..."

"Please, calm yourself, Mr. Mayor. This was entirely Canggang Group acting on its own. Trust that TOPS would never cross that line. As for Canggang Group, an officer from the Krampus Compliance Authority has already stepped in — it won't be long before we give you a satisfactory explanation," the TOPS representative said, seated at the far end of the table and sweating buckets.

"Hmph. You'd better."

The bookstore.

After bringing in a batch of bestsellers, Musachi found the move had actually paid off.

Quite a few people dropped by that afternoon.

Hardly any of them actually paid for a book or signed up for a membership, but compared to the days when barely a handful of customers came through at all, it was already a huge improvement.

Remielle handled the customers while Musachi sat in his boss's chair, scrolling through the Inter-Knot out of boredom.

[Heard there was some kind of disturbance at Hollow Zero yesterday. Is something going down?]

[Even a Void Hunter got sent out there, and the military's mobilizing too. God, that's terrifying.]

[I'm on a business trip in the outer ring these days. Think I'll just stay put for now.]

[Business trip? I straight-up sold the house I just bought and picked up a lot cheap in the outer ring instead. Once New New Eridu gets built, I'm gonna be rich!]

[Damn, that's bold. But hey, is there a chance that if nothing happens, you'll just end up flying back and forth for nothing?]

Reading the replies under the post, Musachi's mouth twitched.

He scrolled to another thread.

[Hollow Special Operations Section 6~ we love you~ Hoshimi Miyabi~ Tsukishiro Yanagi~ Soukaku, for real, for real~]

Great, another lunatic. Next.

Honestly, Musachi didn't spend much time on the Inter-Knot normally, but he was starting to realize the thing doubled as a forum on top of handling job requests.

Pretty entertaining, actually.

A moment later, though, he stumbled onto a thread about himself.

The title read: "The Proxy World's Rising Star."

[So apparently there's a Proxy going by Taixu who's pretty amazing — cleared a ton of super high-difficulty commissions. Even Cunning Hares, Frankenstein, and members of a tactical squad all gave him high praise.]

[Yeah, that's legit impressive. Those three are all famous Agent crews — if they're all singing his praises, this Proxy must really be something.]

[Trash. Doesn't even come close to Phaethon.]

[Lol, calm down, Phaethon's just got more seniority. If you ask me, this Taixu guy might just replace him and become the new legend!]

[Prepared two different opinions depending on which way the comment section leans.]

[Lmao, a fence-sitter.]

[Said some really nasty stuff. (dumpling meme)]

[Said some stuff meant to start a fight. (dumpling meme)]

[Everyone's out here obsessing over Taixu, and I'm the only one who noticed his handler, Miss Venus, is a total babe?]

[Facts. I'm a rookie Proxy too, and she's helped me out a ton — like, mom-tier helpful.]

Venus: [Would you please stop losing your minds, everyone!]

[I am Venus's dog!]

[I am Venus's dog!]

[I am Venus's dog!]

Reading through the thread, Musachi's mouth twitched despite himself.

Further down, though, plenty of people had staked their own claim to the name.

Taixu Sword God: Correct, Taixu is indeed me.

Taixu Sovereign: How are there so many people impersonating me? I'll raise a hundred thousand troops with a wave of my hand and wipe you all out!

The Real Me, Taixu: These are all frauds. I'm the real Taixu Sovereign. I've just woken up from a decade-long coma after suffering grave injuries, out of touch with the times, and now I'm homeless and starving. Send me fifty bucks to help me get back on my feet, and once I reclaim my rightful place as Void Hunter, I guarantee I'll bring you all along to get rich with me!

Taixu: ???

Reading the replies, Musachi typed a question mark of his own.

A moment later, a few more usernames with "Taixu" in them piled on, repeating the same jokes.

Then, after a beat.

President of the Taixu Sovereign Fan Club: To all you fakes out there — don't let me find out who you are, or I swear I'll teach every last one of you a lesson! How dare you impersonate Lord Taixu Sovereign!

Oh, and there was a diehard fan too.

After glancing at it, Musachi closed the Inter-Knot.

The state of mind of everyone on the Inter-Knot wasn't exactly healthy. Better to look at less of it.

He always felt like if he kept staring at this stuff, he'd turn into the kind of creep who stared at girls' little feet and chests...

Musachi was sly like that — clearly a pervert himself, but always insisting he'd been "infected" by the Inter-Knot crowd.

"Boss, sign me up for a membership card."

Just as Musachi was zoning out, a boy of about ten came up to the counter with a girl in the same school uniform beside him, a guide to Hollow exploration clutched in his hands.

"Hm? Kid, what do you need this book for? Aren't you a bit young to be studying something like this?" Musachi raised an eyebrow. The customer wanted to buy, so he'd sell — but he was curious enough to ask anyway.

"I'm going down into the Hollow to find my little sister!" the boy declared with tremendous spirit.

"Your sister's lost in a Hollow? Which one?" Musachi's eyes narrowed. If that were true, he could go help search.

"No, no, I don't have a little sister yet!"

Musachi: ???

The boy's words left Musachi at a total loss.

What did it even mean to not have a sister yet, but have one lost in the Hollow?

"Ugh, I've always wanted a little sister, but my dad says I'm the 'big prize' he and Mom pulled out of a treasure chest during a Hollow expedition back when they were young. Now that he's older, he doesn't want to go into the Hollow anymore, so I guess I've gotta do it myself! I'm gonna go crack open a big prize of my own!" The boy clenched his fists, his face full of determination.

"Brother Cole is so cool! I want to learn too. Once we've both learned enough, we'll go into the Hollow together and find your little sister!" the girl beside him said, looking at the boy.

Kid, if you two go down into the Hollow, what you'll pull out won't be a little sister — it'll be a daughter.

Musachi choked down the words lodged in his throat.

Even having kids had apparently gotten localized to this world.

Before I ended up here, kids were the free gift you got with a phone plan top-up. Guess in this world, they're the free gift you get from diving into a Hollow?

"Kid, you won't find a little sister down in the Hollow. You're still way too young for this. Here's what you should do — go home and tell your dad you want to take this little girl down into the Hollow to find a sister. He'll tell you how it's actually done," Musachi said with total seriousness.

Musachi definitely didn't want these two little troublemakers sneaking down into a Hollow on their own.

Otherwise, the two kids would end up turning into little Etherals themselves.

"I see... I understand now. Thanks, mister." The boy smiled, then took the little girl's hand and walked over to another shelf, where — with Remielle's help — he picked out a fairy tale book. After thanking the "big sister," he brought it over and set it down in front of Musachi.

"I'd like to borrow this one. I'll read it with Lingling tonight!"

Musachi nodded and processed the paperwork for him.

Well, that's one more member today.

Though who knew if this member would ever renew... especially after he'd just told the kid to go ask his dad...

And who knew if the dad, upon hearing what his son had to say, would beat some sense into that kid's backside...

Still, the boy was likeable enough. If only he'd call Musachi "big brother" instead of "mister."

"Mister~ what are we eating tonight?" Once the boy had left, Remielle drifted over with a sweet smile, calling out cheerfully"

It was obvious the "big sister" comment from the boy earlier had put her in a good mood.

Well, well — going places at such a young age. The crowd really does have sharp eyes.

"How about a little bird with white feathers?" Musachi glanced at her, then said.

"Ugh, I mean, I'm not against poultry as an ingredient, but I really don't feel like meat tonight," Remielle said, resting her chin in her hand, looking a little troubled.

Musachi looked her over for a moment, then nodded.

"What's that supposed to mean?" Remielle stared at him, taken aback — that look on his face seemed almost insulting.

"You really should eat something light tonight, Remielle. Haven't you noticed you've put on some weight lately?" Musachi said, eyeing the mark her white stockings had pressed into her plump legs.

Compared to when they'd first met, the soft flesh squeezed out over the edge of her stockings had noticeably grown.

Plumper too.

Then again, drinking three cups of milk tea every single day — of course she'd put on weight.

Remielle: ???

"I haven't gained weight! I'm actually thinner than before! I teach the three little ones every day — how could I possibly gain weight? Keep saying I'm fat and I'm actually going to get mad!" Remielle puffed out her cheeks, glaring at Musachi indignantly.

Seeing this, Musachi broke into a grin and waved her over.

"Come here."

"What for?"

"Wanna do something."

Remielle: ???

"Just come here first. Come sit in the chair," Musachi said, clearing his throat and changing the subject as he pulled her over to his side with a grin.

Remielle, thoroughly confused, had no choice but to sit down beside him.

Once seated, her legs — which hadn't looked all that thick while standing — suddenly pressed tightly together under the pressure.

Then Musachi raised his hand.

Smack!

He brought his palm down on Remielle's leg.

Instantly — leg jiggle, hip ripple.

"Still gonna say you haven't gained weight? My eyes don't lie!" Musachi sneered, eyeing Remielle sidelong.

In an instant, Remielle visibly flushed red with fury.

"Oh my god, let go — let go, damn it, why are you biting me? I'm sorry, I'm sorry, you haven't gained weight, you really haven't, just don't sit on me, you're too heavy, I'm gonna get crushed, ow!"

A shriek echoed through the bookstore.

Good thing there was no one else around — otherwise, seeing the position Musachi and Remielle were in, anyone would've covered their eyes in shock, then peeked greedily through their fingers.

At that moment, Remielle — red-faced with rage — had climbed onto Musachi's lap, pinning both his hands down so he couldn't fight back.

Then she bit down hard on his shoulder.

Anyone who knew the situation would understand it was just Remielle furious and flushed. Anyone who didn't would've assumed something else entirely was going on in broad daylight...

After all, from an outsider's perspective, their position looked a little too intimate.

"I'm doomed, I'm doomed, I'm gonna turn into a zombie, I got bitten!" A moment later, once the two had separated, Musachi wailed, staring at the bite mark on his shoulder.

"What zombie? Even if you did turn into something, it'd be an Ethereal — at least those actually exist in this world," Remielle said, giving him a petulant look.

"Once I become an Ethereal, the first thing I'll do is turn you into one too, then drag you back to the Hollow to be my kept woman," Musachi said with a wicked grin, looking at Remielle.

"Can you just talk normally? Why'd you have to bite me?"

"I felt like it. And besides, who says I'd be your kept woman? I don't even want to become an Ethereal — that'd be way too ugly," Remielle said, looking at him with disdain.

Then she checked the time. "All right, I'm done arguing with you. I need to go teach the three little ones how to dance."

As she spoke, Remielle waved and walked out of the shop.

Today, she'd decided she was going to dance along with the three little ones to work out — she really didn't want to turn into a chubby pink hippo.

"You coming back for dinner tonight?" Musachi asked.

"Not eating." Remielle rolled her eyes irritably.

"Shame. I was actually planning on making a real feast tonight." Musachi clicked his tongue, watching her retreating figure with what looked like genuine regret.

Remielle's footsteps had clearly gotten heavier as she walked.

Her heels clicked crisply against the floor.

"See, you're so heavy now even your footsteps got louder," Musachi said, courting death yet again.

But Remielle wasn't in the mood to deal with him anymore. She strode off quickly and vanished from his sight.

Watching her go, Musachi nodded to himself in satisfaction.

Sometimes, being around Remielle just brought out his petty, teasing side — after all, an angry, pouting girl was pretty cute too.

I wonder how things are going over at city hall...

Once Remielle had left, Musachi couldn't help muttering to himself.

After yesterday's commotion, everyone over there was probably scrambling today.

Still, thinking back to Hoshimi Miyabi from yesterday, Musachi found himself a little amused.

Good, let them be busy — the busier Hollow Special Operations Section 6 got, the more likely Hoshimi Miyabi would forget all about him.

Then again, maybe she'd already forgotten. A Void Hunter had a mountain of duties to handle — surely she didn't have time to play cat-and-mouse with some small-time Proxy like him.

Just as Musachi was thinking this over, the door opened.

"Welcome, come—?"

Musachi greeted her with a smile on his face, and then, the next moment, he froze.

She was strikingly beautiful — sleek black hair in a princess cut framing a cool, delicate face, giving off a faint sense of distance. But what stood out most was the Hollow Special Operations Section 6 uniform she wore, along with those tall, tall fox ears.

Well. Speak of the devil.

The High-Eared Princess had arrived.