Seeing how serious Xier looked, Caelg smiled gently.
"Let's talk about that once you're strong enough."
What he really meant was: when you're stronger.
Xier nodded hard, her eyes burning with determination.
"I understand!!"
Hu Tao, seeing that Xier wasn't joking around, felt a sense of pressure herself.
If she didn't take action now, how could she keep up?
Fine. After today, I'll start moving—contacting other nations, opening branches!
Caelg, of course, had no idea what was going on in the minds of these two.
Nor did he want to know.
Hu Tao suddenly stood up and clapped her hands.
"Since you finally came back! Tonight we're having a feast!"
"Eh?!"
Both Caelg and Xier froze.
Hu Tao grinned. "Tonight—we're having hotpot! The super popular kind!"
"Hotpot…"
Both of them visibly relaxed.
Hu Tao narrowed her eyes. "Don't think I didn't notice what you two were imagining!"
The two immediately turned their heads away in perfect sync, pretending to know nothing.
"…."
A Private Talk
Hu Tao headed out to buy ingredients, leaving Caelg and Xier alone.
Finally—time to talk properly.
Xier waited until Hu Tao was gone, then straightened and spoke softly.
"Lord Agares—"
Caelg raised a hand, stopping her.
"Tell me first. How does your new Vision feel?"
Xier nodded.
The dark-element Vision at her chest glimmered faintly, and a crimson-black scythe manifested in her hand.
"It gave me tremendous power," she said seriously.
"But it also awakened… something inside me."
As she spoke, another presence emerged beside her.
From the shadows stepped a girl almost identical to Xier.
Same face. Same build.
But different hair, different clothes—and an entirely different aura.
Where Xier was gentle and timid, the other girl was sharp, aggressive, and faintly unhinged.
Caelg's doubts finally settled.
As expected…
This was Seele—from another world.
Abilities, appearance, even the name—everything matched.
Yet Xier had always been a native of Liyue.
Her village had existed for centuries.
He himself had saved it long ago.
Which meant—
This wasn't an outsider crossing worlds.
Something had changed the world itself.
The dark Seele tilted her head, studying Caelg with interest.
"So you're our 'master'?" she said lazily.
"You look pretty weak. You're the one who gave us this thing? The Vision?"
"Don't be rude!" Xier snapped.
"You're talking to Lord Agares!"
"Alright, alright~" the dark girl waved it off, clearly unconcerned.
Caelg spoke calmly.
"You're her other self, aren't you?
How should I address you—Xier, or 'Xier'?"
She shrugged. "Doesn't matter.
As long as Xier calls me 'Seele.'
Others can call me Dark Xier, Bad Xier—whatever."
Caelg chuckled.
"Then I'll call you Black Seele."
That was what he'd always called her.
She blinked, then smirked.
"Straight to the point. I like it."
Caelg observed carefully.
Her form was clearly being sustained by dark-element energy.
"So—can this body fight on its own?" he asked.
Black Seele shook her head.
"Not yet. I'm still sealed.
Right now, all I can do is borrow dark energy.
Splitting myself like this doesn't give me real combat power."
"Understood."
Caelg nodded.
If Seele existed… then Bronya might truly exist as well.
And suddenly—
Penghuai Village…
崩坏村…
"…You've got to be kidding me," he muttered.
A phonetic pun??
He looked back at the two girls. They clearly had reached an understanding—coexistence, not conflict.
Xier bowed apologetically.
"I'm sorry, Lord Agares… Seele can be a bit much."
Caelg waved it off.
"I don't mind. You two are interesting.
Just… try to keep your conversations quiet.
Xiangling already thinks you're mentally ill."
"EH?!"
Xier froze in horror.
Self-talk… personality…
Okay, that did sound suspicious.
Caelg clapped his hands.
"Alright. From now on, work together.
That's how you'll reach your full potential."
Then he looked at Black Seele.
"Welcome aboard."
"…Yeah, yeah," she replied lazily.
"One more thing," Caelg added.
"When I have time, I want to visit your village."
Xier's eyes lit up.
"Really?! Then let's go together!"
Black Seele rested her chin on her hand, scowling.
"…You're way happier than when you talk to me."
Nightfall — Hotpot Feast
Hu Tao didn't just invite a few people.
She invited everyone.
Yun JinXinyanXianglingChongyunXingqiu
Xiangling even brought Yaoyao.
Zhongli arrived as well—
—and with him, his wallet.
Ahem.
Tartaglia.
"I ditched work for this," Tartaglia laughed.
"Didn't expect a funeral parlor to be this lively."
Zhongli nodded solemnly.
"By common logic, this is indeed… unusual."
Chongyun stared at the bubbling hotpot and shivered.
"Xingqiu… you didn't tell me it was hotpot."
"It's a yin-yang pot," Xingqiu replied calmly.
"Spicy and mild. Just eat the mild side."
"…Hotpot can do that?" Chongyun visibly relaxed.
Yun Jin was equally cautious—protecting her voice.
Xinyan, meanwhile, had already claimed her seat.
Caelg wiped sweat from his brow.
"Hu Tao, I'll admit—your social network is terrifying."
Hu Tao puffed out her chest proudly.
"Of course! I'm the underground alleyway freestyle poet!"