Genshin Impact: Villain Impact

"What's going on?!" Lucas shouted in disbelief. "Why are the rewards I'm getting someone else's gear? Isn't this just another form of being cucked?"

[Why are you guys so obsessed with this whole 'cuck' thing? It's like everything can somehow relate to that. You're my host! Do you think I'd go out of my way to mess with you on purpose?]

"Whoa, whoa, calm down…" Lucas quickly tried to ease the tension.

[As a system, you can say I'm flawed, but don't you dare call me a cuckold! That's where I draw the line! Kill all those ntr bastards!]

As Lucas was busy bickering with the system, there was a sudden thump. Startled, Lucas glanced over to find a small red object lying on the floor beside the couch. It looked like it had fallen from the sofa.

Lucas clearly remembered that when he first entered Jean's office, there hadn't been anything like that. It must have snuck in while he was 'AFK' during the simulation.

"Hey…" Lucas muttered, feeling uneasy. "You didn't give me any alerts while I was in the simulation? What if someone had attacked me?"

[Do you think anyone would actually dare attack you here?]

The system's retort left Lucas speechless for a moment. After all, this was the office of the Acting Grand Master of the Knights of Favonius. Anyone trying to attack here would need as much courage as someone attempting to assassinate the Raiden Shogun in her own castle.

Even though Lucas had caused plenty of chaos in Mondstadt through the simulator, he was well aware of the Knights' formidable strength.

"Ugh..." 

The small red figure on the floor slowly stood up, rubbing its cheek from where it had smacked against the ground. "Ouch... Klee's face hurts..."

Klee?

Sure enough, the red figure was none other than Klee!

It seemed she had snuck into Jean's office while Lucas was in the simulation and had fallen asleep on the sofa.

Maybe it was because Lucas had spent so much time being Klee's father in the simulation, but now, seeing her in real life made his heart swell with affection.

"Are you okay?" Lucas quickly stepped forward, helping the little Klee up. He instinctively said, "How many times have I told you not to sleep on the couch? You'll catch a cold…"

Oh no...

Lucas froze for a moment. He had subconsciously slipped into his 'fatherly' role from the simulator.

Luckily, Klee was just a little girl. Even if he slipped up, it probably wouldn't matter too much.

"Uh..."

Klee looked up at Lucas, her already large red eyes widening even more. "Dad... Daddy!"

Daddy?

Lucas's brain immediately short-circuited as Klee suddenly threw herself into his arms, nuzzling against his chest. "Ah, Klee's been so lonely without Daddy! Klee missed you so much!"

What the heck?

Being Klee's father was something that only happened in the simulation. Why was she calling him that in real life?

Could it be that the events of the simulation were affecting reality?

Wait, if that was true...

A cold shiver ran down Lucas's spine. If all those Genshin girls he had messed with in the simulations started showing up, knives in hand, he was done for.

[Don't worry, it's just a technical adjustment.]

[The simulator uses dreams as the activation method. Sometimes, it can affect the surrounding creatures during the simulation.]

[Since Klee was nearby and sleeping while you were using the simulator, it probably influenced her dreams.]

[Given that children's minds are still developing, it's not uncommon for them to confuse reality with dreams. This is totally understandable.]

Lucas had to admit, the system's explanation made a lot of sense.

"Klee…" Lucas said awkwardly, "I'm actually not your dad…"

"Eh?!"

The smile on Klee's face instantly vanished, replaced by a heartbreaking expression, her eyes welling up with tears. "Daddy doesn't want Klee anymore! Waaaah! Why? Klee's been so good and obedient, but why doesn't Daddy want Klee anymore?"

Klee's sobbing threw Lucas into a panic. If someone overheard and came in, how would he explain this? To an outsider, it would look like he was some creep forcing Klee to call him 'Daddy.'

"No, no! I was just kidding!" Lucas quickly tried to soothe her. "Daddy would never not want Klee. You're Daddy's treasure!"

Sure enough, Klee's sobbing softened after Lucas's words, though she still looked a bit hurt. "That joke wasn't funny. Klee doesn't like it!"

"That's my fault," Lucas sighed, rubbing Klee's soft hair affectionately. "I won't make that joke again."

"So… did Daddy come back to Mondstadt to see Klee?" she asked, wiping her tears.

"Of course," Lucas replied, rolling with her narrative. "Has Klee been behaving well at the Knights of Favonius?"

"Definitely! Klee's been sooo good! I haven't been put in solitary confinement for three whole days!" she said proudly, placing her hands on her hips. "Klee is amazing!"

"Yes, yes… Klee is the best," Lucas said, ruffling her hair even more affectionately. Even though he wasn't really Klee's father, the paternal love he felt for her was undeniable.

"So, where's Klee's present?" Klee extended her hand expectantly, looking up at Lucas with wide eyes. "Didn't Daddy say he'd bring Klee a gift if she behaved?"

"A present?" Lucas froze for a second.

"No… no present?" Klee's face immediately fell, her disappointment palpable. She tried to be brave, saying, "It's okay. Daddy came back to see me, so Klee's already really happy. I-it's fine… even if there's no present… it's okay…"

Despite her words, tears once again began to well up in her eyes.

"Of course I did!"

Lucas, thinking quickly, grabbed the book Hero Klee vs. the Demon King and handed it to Klee with a smile. "This is a picture book I made just for you, Klee."

"Wow... Yay!"

Klee's face lit up with joy the moment she saw the book. She hugged it tightly to her chest, as if it were the most precious thing in the world. "I love it! Daddy is the best!"

Saying that, Klee leaned in and gave Lucas a big, affectionate kiss on the cheek.

At that very moment, the office door suddenly opened. To their surprise, Jean and Barbara walked in.

The room froze instantly.

From Jean and Barbara's perspective, they saw Klee giving Lucas an affectionate kiss on his cheek.

"What... what are you doing?!"

Barbara, the first to react, already had a bias against Lucas due to the simulator incident. Seeing Klee act so close to him made her immediately assume the worst. She rushed over and snatched Klee into her arms, asking carefully, "Klee, did this guy do anything to you?"

"Sister Barbara? Captain Jean?" Klee tilted her head and smiled brightly. "Daddy brought me a gift!"

"Daddy?"

Hearing that word, the other three in the room were left in stunned silence.

An empty office, a cute young girl, and Klee calling him "Daddy" after an intimate moment? It was hard not to think something strange was going on.

"Mr. Lucas..." Even Jean, who usually held a favorable view of him, now had a serious expression. "Can you explain what's going on here?"

What do I do, what do I do?

Admit that I'm Klee's father?

No, I'm only in my twenties. I couldn't have possibly had a child with Alice when I was just twelve or thirteen.

Tell them it's because of a dream?

That's too ridiculous! They'd never believe me!

But Lucas, being quick-witted, immediately turned to Klee and said, "Klee, could you go outside for a bit? I need to have a talk with Jean and Barbara."

"Ugh, more secrets you're not telling me? That's the third time..." Klee pouted, clearly displeased. "Fine, I'll go look at my picture book, but you'd better finish talking soon!"

With that, the little one skipped out of the room.

"Alright," Barbara said, crossing her arms and frowning. "You'd better give us a good explanation. Otherwise, even if you're an envoy from Liyue's Qixing, we won't let you off the hook easily."

"Barbara, don't be so rude," Jean, much calmer, said. "Mr. Lucas, I'm sure there's a reason behind all of this, right?"

"Exactly. In fact, I'm here on a mission from Senior Alice." Lucas put on his most serious face and lied with confidence. "I'm an alchemy enthusiast, and Alice stayed in Liyue for some time. During that period, I learned a lot about alchemy from her."

"Alice isn't exactly someone who makes friends easily," Barbara interjected, skeptical. "If you really know her, then you should know what she looks like and what kind of person she is."

That question might stump most people, but it was no problem for Lucas. After all, in the simulator, he and Alice had lived like an old married couple.

Lucas casually described Alice's appearance and personality with incredible accuracy—details that even Jean and Barbara had never heard of.

"Barbara, there's no need for further doubt. He's telling the truth," Jean said, believing Lucas's words. However, she still had one more question. "But why does Klee call you 'Daddy'?"

In truth, neither Jean nor Barbara knew who Alice's husband was. However, they knew one thing for sure: Klee couldn't have hatched from an egg. She had to have a father somewhere.

"As I mentioned, this is a mission from Alice. She misses Klee but doesn't have time to visit herself, so she asked me to go in her place," Lucas continued smoothly, weaving his fabricated story. "It's a long story: Klee's father has always been absent, and when Senior Alice introduced me to Klee, she mistakenly thought I was her father. Even though Alice tried to correct her, Klee began calling me 'Daddy,' and it seems she still hasn't forgotten."

"Wait a minute," Barbara said, still puzzled. "Are you suggesting that Klee thinks you're her father?"

"Yes," Lucas replied with an awkward chuckle. "Klee was a lonely child, so she started calling me her father. Plus, Alice gave me a gift to give Klee—a picture book featuring Klee as the main character. That's something I can't fake, can I?."

"I... I believe you," Jean finally nodded. "And I trust my judgment. You're definitely not a bad person."

After all, Lucas was the one who had risked his life to save someone he had only met once. A person like that couldn't possibly be someone who would deceive a little girl.

Moreover, his detailed knowledge of Alice and the thoughtful gift for Klee were solid evidence.

"Hmph, since Sister... ahem, Captain Jean believes you, I'll trust you for now too," Barbara reluctantly agreed. "We'll just ask Alice herself when she returns."

Ask Alice? I'll be long gone by then!

"Also, I have a small favor to ask," Lucas said, his voice steady. "To keep Klee from being upset, could you please help me maintain the role of her father for a while longer?"

"Of course!"

Jean patted Lucas on the shoulder, her expression softening with a rare look of admiration. "To go to such lengths for a girl you barely know... you really are a good person."

Uh-oh...

That scene made Barbara's heart tighten with concern.

In her mind, Lucas wasn't supposed to be a good guy!

"Hold on!" Barbara quickly stepped between Jean and Lucas, her eyes narrowing like a protective kitten. "Captain Jean, don't just go trusting people so easily!"

"You're still not done talking?"

Just then, Klee peeked back into the room, looking a little impatient. "Jean, Barbara, and Daddy, can you play games with me?"

"Of course!" Lucas jumped at the opportunity to change the subject. "We can play whatever you want! Daddy will spend the whole day with you!"

"Yay! Awesome!" Klee exclaimed as she jumped into Lucas's arms once again, snuggling up to him. "Daddy, you're the best!"

Standing nearby, both Jean and Barbara couldn't help but smile at the scene.

Though Klee always appeared cheerful and full of energy, the reality was that she'd grown up without her parents, living independently within the Knights of Favonius. Jean had, on more than one occasion, overheard the little girl quietly crying in her room.

Now, being able to reunite with her "dad," must have been a source of great happiness for her.

"Captain Jean and Sister Barbara, why don't you come play with us too?" Klee raised the picture book in her hands, grinning. "This game needs four players to play together!"

"A game?" Barbara asked in confusion. "Isn't that just a picture book? How can you play a game with it?"

"Of course! Look!"

Klee placed the book, Hero Klee vs. the Demon King, on Jean's desk and opened it to the first page. To their amazement, the book transformed into a game board, complete with four playing pieces and two dice.

Lucas blinked in surprise. He had assumed it was just an ordinary picture book, but now it seemed that, as an S-class item, it might hold some hidden secrets.

Jean and Barbara were both surprised as well, but knowing it was a gift from Alice to Klee, they realized it couldn't possibly be an ordinary picture book.

The four gathered around the table, examining the board. It depicted an ocean dotted with a few small islands, resembling a classic board game like Monopoly. The dice determined the number of steps players could move their pieces. From the starting point, players would encounter unexpected events on certain spaces, and the first to reach the end would be the winner.

Unlike games that required strategy, this one was almost entirely luck-based, making it perfect for children.

"This looks like fun," Jean remarked with a curious smile. However, she soon sighed, "But I still have work to do this afternoon."

At that, Barbara, and Klee turned toward her with pleading expressions.

"Big sister..." Barbara said softly, "Look, Klee's having so much fun today. Can't you take a little break from work and play one round with us?"

"I bet you're the one who wants to play," Jean teased, seeing right through her sister's intentions. Barbara stuck out her tongue playfully, caught in the act.

"Captain Jean, Barbara's right," Lucas chimed in. "One round won't take that much time. Besides, you've been working so hard—you deserve a little break."

"Alright, alright, just one round," Jean said, laughing. "But just one!"

"Yay!" Klee cheered, her excitement bubbling over. "I want to go first!"

Without waiting, Klee eagerly picked up the dice and tossed them onto the board, rolling a 2 and a 3.

"Two plus three… uh… five!" Klee moved her red piece forward five spaces. "Klee's moving five steps!"

However, as soon as she picked up the piece, a bright light suddenly shone from the board, enveloping the four of them.

Before they could even react, their bodies began to distort and transform, and the next moment, they were sucked into the board.

...

When Lucas regained consciousness, he was stunned to find himself no longer in Jean's office, but standing on a tropical island.

Beneath his feet was soft sand, above him a blazing sun, and in the distance, the endless blue ocean stretched out. The cool sea breeze carried a salty, refreshing scent.

"What the...?" Lucas muttered in confusion. "Is this some kind of simulation?"

[No. This is the world inside the board game. Everything happening now is the result of the item's effect and has nothing to do with the system.]

Before Lucas could ask for more details, he heard the sound of footsteps on the sand. Turning around, he saw Jean, Barbara, and Klee standing behind him.

"What... what is going on?" Jean, though startled, quickly regained her composure. "Could this be related to the game we just started?"

"Look!" Klee pointed to the sky excitedly. "There are words up there! They must be clues from Mom!"

Sure enough, in the sky above, several lines of text had appeared.

Unlike the system messages Lucas was used to, everyone could see these words.

Welcome to Klee's Brave Adventure!

This game is called: Search for the Golden Apple Archipelago

This is a game for the brave. Please note: Everything on the board will happen for real.

The game will only end when a winner is declared.

After the game, rewards will be given based on your final performance.

Have fun and enjoy the adventure!

"Um… welcome to Klee's… I can't read that," Klee said, tilting her head in confusion. "What do these words mean?"

Due to her young age, Klee couldn't read some of the more complex words, looking completely puzzled.

"It looks like this is part of the game too," Barbara explained. "In simple terms, once we finish the game, we should be able to leave."

"As expected of Alice," Jean murmured, her face filled with admiration. "To create such a magical item..."

To the other three, this was simply another one of Alice's "spells." Given how powerful and mysterious Alice was, no matter how strange things became, Jean and Barbara seemed able to accept it without question.

Lucas thought for a moment, deciding not to reveal the full truth to avoid unnecessary suspicion. After all, this was just a board game—how dangerous could it be?

"Well then, let's continue," Lucas said, patting Klee's head. "Let's see what happens on your space."

Klee's red piece had landed on a space that bore a single line of text:

All players must change into swimsuits.

Seeing the words on the board, the four of them exchanged puzzled glances.

On this deserted island, where were they supposed to find swimsuits?

---

As the four of them stood puzzled, Jean's attire suddenly began to change. Her usual outfit seemed to morph, right before their eyes, into a swimsuit.

"Huh?"

Jean blinked in surprise, her cheeks beginning to flush. After all, her usual attire was her dignified, modest uniform; this swimsuit felt entirely improper for her.

"Don't look!"

Barbara instantly threw herself in front of Jean, spreading her arms protectively, afraid her sister might be glanced at by the man before them.

Yet, in the next instant, Barbara's priest robes also started transforming. In a matter of seconds, her familiar white dress turned into an adorable swimsuit.

"This is strange... What's going on?" Barbara murmured, examining the swimsuit. "I... it actually turned into a swimsuit."

Jean sighed, studying herself. "Doesn't this swimsuit look... odd on me?"

"No way!" Barbara shook her head earnestly. "It looks beautiful on you, Sis!"

Oddly enough, these swimsuits looked quite familiar—they resembled the "costume skins" from the popular game. However, unlike the conservative in-game designs, these versions had been strikingly altered, making them more daring.

Jean's swimsuit, for instance, now lacked the high neckline and had less fabric covering the front and back. Barbara's was even more revealing, with her one-piece suit removed entirely, leaving only a ribbon-tied outer layer, making it look especially airy.

The only thing unchanged for the sisters was the leg bands on their thighs.

Barbara's legs were slender, so the smallest leg band could barely stay in place, while Jean's were notably different. Years of training had left her legs muscular and toned, the leg band pressing into her skin and leaving faint marks—a detail adding to its unique charm.

"So that's what it means?" Lucas said with a bit of surprise. "That's... interesting."

However, Jean and Barbara were both glaring at him, their cheeks a deep shade of red, as if they'd just seen something terrifying.

Just then, Klee's voice broke the awkwardness. With a little hand over her eyes, she shouted, "Daddy, shame on you!"

Lucas suddenly realized why—he, too, had been forcibly changed out of his clothes. Though he now wore beach shorts, the earlier scene was vividly imprinted in the sisters' minds. And their thoughts were oddly in sync: It's exactly the same as the dream!

Klee, however, had avoided this embarrassing transformation. Her swimsuit had simply appeared on her, and the system even thoughtfully added a little duck floatie around her waist.

A definite double standard.

"Ahem..."

Jean was the first to break the tension. "It seems like this is just part of the game's rules. Such a straightforward approach... very much Alice's style."

"Well, since we're here at the beach anyway, a swimsuit fits the mood better," Barbara admitted, glancing helplessly at her own rather bold swimsuit. "Though... this style really doesn't suit me…"

She couldn't help but feel a little self-conscious, especially around the chest area, where things felt... emptier than usual.

At this thought, Barbara glanced enviously at Jean. The comparison was, unfortunately, painfully clear.

Noticing her sister's discouragement, Jean quickly encouraged her, "Barbara, you're still young. You have plenty of room to grow."

"Yeah, yeah!" Lucas chimed in with a nod, though his gaze had somehow drifted back to Jean.

Men, after all, often preferred reaching higher peaks.

"That's enough from you!" Barbara huffed, grabbing the dice and tossing it in frustration. "Anyway, let's just get on with it!"

The dice landed on three and six, moving Barbara's piece forward nine spaces.

The tile's prompt read: Stranded on an island, stomach empty. Roll a four or seven to escape hunger.

"What's this supposed to mean...?" Barbara had barely finished her sentence when her stomach suddenly emitted a loud, unmistakable growl.

Flushing crimson, she hurried to cover her stomach. "It's... It's not true! I'm not hungry!"

"No need to be embarrassed," Lucas said kindly. "Are you feeling hungry now?"

Barbara nodded, her expression bewildered. "Yes, but... how? I just had lunch!"

"It must be the game," Jean explained. "Until you roll a four or seven, it seems you'll keep feeling hungry. But... forcing someone to feel hunger—Alice really can do anything, can't she?"

Alice was certainly skilled, but the game itself had an almost omnipotent air to it. For cautious Jean, this kind of influence was naturally unsettling.

"This isn't the time to worry about that," Lucas urged. "Hunger is no joke, and who knows what could happen if it goes on. Let's keep moving, alright? It's my turn now."

Lucas rolled the dice, and they landed on double ones.

"Ha!" Barbara chuckled. "You rolled the lowest possible! Looks like you're losing this round."

"Actually, there's a common rule in board games like this," Lucas said with a sly smile. "If you roll double ones, you get an extra turn."

"Where'd you hear that?" Barbara protested. "You're making that up!"

"Why don't we try it?" Lucas threw the dice again. "If it's not allowed, the game should stop me."

However, the game didn't stop him. This time, Lucas rolled a four and a five, moving his piece forward and pulling far ahead of the others.

"See? I was right." Lucas grinned, looking at the prompt on his new tile.

Before your next turn, you must perform a bad deed or miss a turn until you do.

Upon reading the mysterious message, the four of them exchanged puzzled glances.

"Do something bad?" Lucas murmured, perplexed. "But what kind of bad thing, exactly?"

"I know! I know!" Klee exclaimed.

Excitedly, Klee pulled out a bouncing bomb and declared, "Captain Jean said that blowing up fish is a bad thing! Daddy, why don't you blow up some fish too? It's the biggest bad thing you could do!"

In Klee's innocent view, Captain Jean's strict prohibition on "blowing up fish" had become the ultimate definition of bad deeds.

"Klee! Didn't you say you ran out of bombs for fishing?" Jean raised an eyebrow and scolded, "And yet here you are, hiding a secret stash! Once this game is over, you're facing half a day of confinement."

"Huh? That's not fair!" Klee turned her puppy-dog eyes on Lucas, pleading, "Daddy, please help me out here!"

"Well… Daddy can't really do anything about it," Lucas shrugged with a wry smile, "After all, Captain Jean is the boss here. We have to listen to her."

"Sigh… But it's a special situation right now," Jean said with a resigned smile. "Just give it a try. Besides, since we're in this strange world inside a gameboard, blowing up fish shouldn't be a big problem."

Lucas let out an awkward chuckle and accepted the bomb from Klee. The bomb was only the size of his fist, so he figured it wouldn't do too much damage.

"Alright, Go Pokeball!"

With a playful tilt of the newly manifested sunhat on his head, Lucas tossed the bomb into the sea.

With a thunderous "boom," the once-tranquil sea erupted, sending waves several meters high. Fish of all shapes and sizes began surfacing, flung into the air by the blast.

An endless shower of fish rained down like a cascade. Overjoyed, Klee darted around, catching as many as she could. She'd blown up fish plenty of times before, but never had she seen a haul this big.

But just then, a giant shadow loomed over Klee, cast by a colossal creature that had surfaced alongside the fish. It hurtled toward her, threatening to squash her flat.

Lucas leaped forward, snatching Klee into his arms and sidestepping just in time.

As the massive creature landed with a resounding thud on the sand, Lucas and the others finally got a good look at it—a black-and-white, lumbering sea beast… it was a killer whale!

"A fish! A huge fish!" Klee cried, her eyes sparkling with amazement as she rushed toward the massive creature. "Daddy, you're amazing!"

"Technically, it's an orca," Lucas replied, scratching his chin. "But why would an orca be here in these coastal waters?"

After all, they were in a "fantasy world." It wasn't shocking to see an orca—or even a tiger-striped shark—come flying out of the water.

"It's huge…" muttered Barbara, her eyes glazed over as she stared at the orca. "It looks… really delicious…"

Affected by the gameboard's strange power, Barbara seemed to be stuck in a state of perpetual hunger, eyeing everything as potential food.

Orcas, often called the "pandas of the sea," were known for their friendly demeanor toward humans. This one, having been blasted ashore, was still dazed, letting out pitiful "oooh-oooh" sounds as it lay helplessly in front of them.

"So, it's an orca?" Klee gently patted the orca's head and introduced herself politely, "Hello, Mr. Orca! My name's Klee!"

"If I were to kill it…" Lucas's eyes flickered with a hint of mischief. "Would that count as doing something bad?"

"No way!" Klee immediately stood protectively in front of the orca, waving her tiny fists. "You can't hurt Mr. Orca!"

"But orcas are living beings just like those fish," Lucas used the opportunity to teach her. "Why treat them differently?"

"Because I like Mr. Orca!" Klee replied with an expression of pure certainty. "As for the other fish… well, I like eating them!"

Indeed, children tend to think simply and directly. They don't rely on complex logic but instead make decisions based on pure likes and dislikes.

"Well then, let's work together to send Mr. Orca back home."

Lucas's hand summoned a large sword—a gift from Eula, known as the Song of Broken Pines.

"Wait a second!" Jean gasped. "Isn't that the Lawrence family heirloom?"

"Yes, it is," Lucas nodded, confirming. "Eula loaned it to me for safekeeping."

Jean's gaze grew complicated. That sword was a precious family treasure that only the Lawrences could wield… Could it mean Lucas had become a part of the Lawrence family? Is he gonna marry Eula?!?

Through her rose-colored lens, Jean saw Lucas as a talented, handsome young man who had single-handedly stepped into the Lawrence household to support Eula. It was only natural she'd admire him.

However, the next scene completely shattered Jean's illusions. Lucas took the great sword and started using it like a shovel, digging a trench in the sand between the orca and the shore.

If Eula were to see her family heirloom being used as a shovel, she'd probably do more than just hold a grudge.

Lucas channeled his Cryo abilities, freezing seawater into a slick surface beneath the orca.

Then, he and Klee worked together to push the giant orca along the icy path, finally sliding it back into the water.

After all, this wasn't some simulator where Lucas had to force himself to act like a villain.

Besides, committing a misdeed in front of Klee wasn't something Lucas could bring himself to do.

The orca, unaware it had been bombed out of the water, probably thought the humans on the shore had rescued it. It circled them in the water and playfully sprayed a few jets of water before reluctantly swimming off into the sea.

"Goodbye, Mr. Orca!" Klee waved enthusiastically. "Don't get caught again, okay?"

Barbara, on the other hand, wore a disappointed expression, as if it wasn't an orca swimming away but a prime cut of meat.

"Alright, we'll have to find another chance to do something bad," Lucas shrugged and said, "Captain Jean, it's your turn."

"Alright." Jean nodded, rolling the dice to land on a two and a three.

She moved five spaces on the gameboard, and a new message appeared—The party shall scatter; only when reunited may you proceed.

"What's that supposed to mean?" Lucas raised an eyebrow. "Did Kelsier design this game? Why is it so cryptic… wait, huh?"

Lucas looked up, stunned to find that the three people who had been with him… had all disappeared!

It was as though they'd vanished into thin air. Three living, breathing people—gone without a trace.

"Klee! Jean! Barbara!" Lucas called out, turning in circles as he shouted their names, but no answer came.

The text on the game board had been clear: The party shall scatter; only when reunited may you proceed.

So that's what it meant—this effect separated them all. They'd have to regroup before the game could continue.

The idea seemed absurd, yet, based on what had already happened, Lucas was almost certain that everything in this game—this "chessboard" world—was unfolding according to the game's own rules and will.

For now, he had one task: find the others.

If this was indeed a game, then there had to be a path to completion. His companions should have been scattered to random points across this island, but finding them alone would be a daunting task.

Then he heard a familiar cry: "Ar-ar-ar!"

Turning toward the sound, he saw the orca he'd helped earlier. It had returned, bobbing in the water as if it wanted his attention. The creature faced eastward, nodding its head repeatedly in that direction as if signaling him to follow.

Right—Lucas suddenly remembered that while orcas might not have a strong sense of smell, they had excellent vision. Perhaps this one had spotted something in the distance—maybe even his friends.

"Are you saying they're in that direction?" Lucas asked, taking a hopeful step toward the orca.

"Ar-ar!" The orca nodded enthusiastically.

The orca, however, showed no sign of leaving. Instead, it circled a few more times as if waiting for Lucas to approach.

"Could it be…" Lucas ventured, testing the waters, "you want to give me a ride?"

"Ar-ar!"

The orca nodded eagerly.

"Well, I won't say no, then!" Lucas leaped onto its back. "I'm counting on you!"

[Skill: Ride Anything Activated—This creature is now designated as a mount.]

Only then did Lucas recall that he possessed this strange talent, allowing him to consider any creature weaker than himself as a "mount," which he could then control skillfully.

[Please name this mount. Upon naming, a contract will be established.]

"Hmm, a name… Since it's an orca…" Lucas mused, "I'll call you Oga!"

"Ar-ar!" The orca seemed to like its new name very much.

[Mount successfully acquired.]

[Oga]

[Grade: B]

[Species: Orca]

[Skills: High-speed Swim, Charge, Killer Whale Punch]

[Description: A highly intelligent orca with a friendly disposition toward humans.]

What is this, a Pokémon template?

And why does an orca have a skill called "Killer Whale Punch"? You don't even have fists!

Before Lucas could complain, Oga took off, swiftly swimming toward the location he had indicated. Its speed even outpaced a regular yacht by a considerable margin.

The ocean breeze brushed against Lucas's face, bringing him a sense of comfort so pleasant that he couldn't help but shout with excitement.

As apex predators, orcas had few enemies in the wild. Thus, their journey was smooth, with almost no obstacles in their path.

Sure enough, before long, Lucas spotted his first missing companion.

A young girl with golden pigtails lay sprawled on the beach, looking rather worse for wear. Her luck seemed lacking; she must have been randomly transported to the ocean near the island, where the waves eventually carried her to shore.

"It's Barbara!" Lucas called out, quickly signaling Oga to stop. He jumped onto the shore and turned to the orca. "Could you look for the other two for me? I'd appreciate it!"

"Ar!" Oga gave an affirmative nod and dove back into the water.

"Barbara! Barbara!"

Lucas gently shook her shoulder. Her face was pale—clearly, she had drowned.

Without hesitating, he quickly untied the bow at the front of her swimsuit and began rhythmic compressions on her chest. After a few presses, Barbara spat out a mouthful of seawater and slowly regained consciousness.

"Cough, cough…" Barbara hacked a few more times before she could speak. "What…happened?"

"It's the effect of the board—we were all split up," Lucas explained quickly. "I only managed to find you thanks to that orca."

"How could this happen…" Barbara murmured, but her voice trailed off as she noticed a cool sensation at her chest. Looking down, she saw that the bow from her swimsuit was still hanging off Lucas's arm.

"Aah!"

Barbara quickly covered her chest, her face flushed red. "You…what did you do to me?!"

"Just CPR," Lucas replied calmly. "I only loosened your clothing to make sure your breathing wasn't obstructed."

Barbara, though embarrassed, was not unreasonable. Realizing that his actions were meant to save her, she lowered her head and extended a hand toward him, mumbling, "Anyway…please give it back."

"Oh…right" Lucas realized what she meant and quickly returned the bow to her.

"So…" Barbara, tying the bow back on, hesitated, then asked shyly, "Did you, um…touch anything?"

"As you can see, the seawater didn't magically come out of your mouth on its own." Lucas didn't hold back. "Relax, though—I didn't feel anything."

His response was meant to reassure her, but to Barbara, it sounded almost like an insult.

"Oh, sure, sure," she replied, unimpressed. "You guys must prefer girls like my older sister with a more…mature figure."

"Not necessarily," Lucas replied, trying to sound thoughtful. "Everyone's taste is different. Think about it like dumplings: some people like big pork buns, others go for char siu buns, and some even prefer… soup dumplings."

"Is that so…" Barbara murmured, narrowing her eyes as she pondered this. Then she caught herself and glared at him. "Wait—who are you calling a soup dumpling!?"

"I never said you were a soup dumpling!" Lucas shot back immediately. "If I had to pick, you're more like a soup bun that's lost its filling."

Barbara wasn't exactly as "plain" as he'd said; he was just teasing her for fun.

Barbara stomped her foot, shouting, "Fine, a soup bun is one thing, but saying it lost its filling is just too much…grr!" But her angry retort was cut off by a loud rumble from her stomach.

"See what happens when you keep talking about dumplings?" she muttered, clutching her stomach with a miserable look. "Now I'm even hungrier than before."

The gnawing hunger Barbara felt wasn't from an empty stomach; it was a deeper, spiritual hunger, gnawing at her to the point she could hardly stand. Her vision blurred, her knees buckling.

"Careful!" Lucas quickly caught her, concern filling his eyes. "Are you alright?"

"... So hungry…" Barbara murmured weakly. "Do you… have any food?"

Food?

Lucas glanced down at his swimsuit-clad self, helplessly shrugging. "Do I look like I've got any food on me?"

"I feel like… I'm about to starve," Barbara whispered dreamily. "I think… I see my late grandma, standing on a bridge, waving me over with a spicy hot pot… Grandma, wait for me…"

"Hey, let's not go that way!" Lucas shook her gently, trying to snap her back to her senses. "And don't burn yourself on that hot pot!"

At this rate, finding her something to eat would be best. But where? Ah! The Serenitea Pot! There must be food stored there.

Even if the Raiden Mai didn't need to eat, surely the Hilichurls couldn't go without food.

However, just as he prepared to enter the Serenitea Pot, a message appeared in midair:

[Leaving this realm is not allowed until the game is complete.]

So, there's a restriction? But that made sense. The Serenitea Pot was only A-rank, while this storybook was S-rank. It seemed the pot's "permissions" couldn't override the latter.

"Oh no… can't… hold on…"

Suddenly, a surge of strength swept over him. Starving Barbara had managed to muster up astonishing power and knocked Lucas flat on the sand, pinning him down.

Human potential truly was limitless— even gentle Barbara could pin him down when desperation kicked in.

Drool trickled from Barbara's lips, landing on Lucas's chest.

"So… hungry…"

Her bangs cast a shadow over her eyes, but he could see a faint red glow shining through. "I… need food!"

"W-Wait!" Lucas stammered. "Barbara, stay with me! Th-that…"

…

"Mmm…"

When Barbara opened her eyes again, she found herself standing in her favorite snack shop.

A golden light cast a dreamlike glow over everything.

And all around her were delicious, mouth-watering snacks.

"Barbara?" Jean's gentle voice drifted over. "You've been working so hard lately. Go on, pick out anything you'd like— it's on me."

"Mm-hm!"

Barbara nodded eagerly, reaching into the freezer and pulling out a bright red popsicle, her face lighting up. "I can't believe it! A super-spicy cheese-filled ice cream bar! Sister, can I have this?"

"Of course." Jean smiled. "You can have as many as you'd like."

"Here I go!"

Barbara tore open the wrapper and took a big lick. The fiery spice, mixed with the creamy cheese flavor, was oddly satisfying.

She took a nibble but found it surprisingly tough, so she could only gaze longingly at the cheese filling inside.

"Sister…" Barbara pouted. "Why is this popsicle so hard? It seems like it'll never melt."

"It's a new brand," Jean explained. "I think it's called… Bell Rock. I heard you could hold it over a fire, and it still wouldn't melt. It takes a while to get to the filling."

"No problem! I'm determined to finish it!" With renewed resolve, Barbara bit down, giving it her all.

After over twenty minutes of intense effort, she finally wore down the tough shell. The cheesy cream filling burst onto her tongue, rich and delicious.

The flavor was a bit strange but… unexpectedly good!

Greedily finishing off the cheesy filling, Barbara reached for another treat, but the dream around her started spinning, the scene peeling apart.

"No, wait! Sister! More ice cream! Don't leave me!"

…

With a start, Barbara sat up, her scream fading into the salty breeze.

There were no snacks, no Jean, only the vast ocean and Lucas.

"You're… finally awake," Lucas said, looking somewhat drained. "Feeling any better?"

"Weirdly enough…" Barbara touched her stomach, surprised. "I don't feel as hungry anymore."

"Yes… yes, that's it!" Lucas quickly explained. "When you passed out, I gathered some oysters and mashed up the meat to feed you."

Oysters?

Barbara wrinkled her nose; no wonder her mouth tasted faintly of seafood.

"Is that so?" Though she often had issues with Lucas, Barbara felt a deep gratitude for his continuous help. Nodding, she said, "Thank you."

"No problem!" Lucas stood, though his steps were unsteady. "We're all in this together now."

"Are you okay?" As a deaconess, Barbara could see something was off about him. "You look a bit weak. Are you feeling alright?"

Weak?

Well, wasn't that her fault?

Did she think the "food" he fed her was really oyster juice?

It had actually been sea cucumber.

But Lucas wasn't about to tell her the truth. She'd probably be mortified.

"I'm fine," he replied, shaking his head. "I'll just go gather some more food. After a break, let's continue searching for Jean and Klee."

"Hold on." Barbara stepped closer, placing her hands on his shoulders.

A blue glow pulsed from her palms, and Lucas felt as if cool water was washing over him, refreshing him and vanquishing all the fatigue from his body.

"Huh?"

Before Lucas could say anything, Barbara frowned. "Odd… My healing feels… stronger than before?"

Barbara possessed a "Hydro Vision."

Among the seven elemental Visions, each had its own unique characteristics: Geo typically focused on defense, Anemo on speed, and Hydro, like Barbara's, on healing.

People who awakened Hydro Visions often dedicated their abilities to support and healing.

Barbara was no exception. She had healed countless people suffering from wounds and illness, so she had a good grasp of her healing powers.

Yet when she used her skill on Lucas just now, she clearly sensed a far more potent force welling up from within her than ever before.

----

"Maybe it's because you've grown again, Barbara?" Lucas could only feign ignorance, unsure of what to make of it. "I think my body feels much lighter."

"D-don't get the wrong idea!" Barbara flushed and said, "I'm only helping you because I'm afraid you'll run out of energy and can't find food!"

"Alright, alright," Lucas replied helplessly, "I'll go get food now. You should rest a bit more."

Watching Lucas's figure retreat, Barbara suddenly felt a pang of guilt.

Was it fair to judge someone's character based on just a dream? Maybe that was a bit hasty.

Well, I'll apologize to him when he gets back.

But barely a few minutes after he left, Barbara's stomach growled with hunger again.

Sigh, if only I could return to that dream and have another ice pop.

Barbara smacked her lips as though savoring the taste from her dream. Unexpectedly, the lingering "oyster broth" flavor in her mouth was delicious, making her mouth water slightly.

"If it's just oysters, I should be able to find some…" Thinking this, Barbara began searching along the shore for the non-existent oysters.

...

Foraging on this island was no easy task. It wasn't that Lucas was unskilled, but edible items were truly hard to find.

His only regret was not asking Oga to catch a few fish before sending him out to find others.

Or he could've eaten those fish that Klee's bombs blasted onto shore earlier.

After quite a while, all he managed to gather were a handful of small berries, about the size of cherries, which were mildly sweet and pleasant.

Using his Cryo powers, Lucas fashioned a container to keep the berries fresh, knowing they'd taste even better chilled.

When he returned to their rest spot, he found Barbara curled up under a large tree, looking exhausted. Upon seeing him with food, her eyes instantly lit up.

"Hungry?" Lucas handed her the berries, "They're just berries, but they should help with the hunger."

Indeed, Barbara was famished to the point of weakness, struggling even to move.

"Th-thank you!" She couldn't waste time on formalities and quickly started eating. The berries were juicy and refreshing, and driven by hunger, she devoured several in a row.

"Take it slow," Lucas advised as he picked up a berry and started eating as well.

He wasn't as hungry as Barbara, but he was still thirsty and tired. Oddly, these berries weren't exceptionally tasty, but like snacking on mandarin oranges during the holidays, it was hard to stop once you started.

...

Meanwhile, on the other side of the island…

"Blow them all up!"

With Klee's excited shout, an explosion sent waves cascading along the shore, scattering fish and shrimp across the sand.

Unlike the other three adults, Klee was probably the happiest "player" on the island. For her, it was all just a big game.

And better yet, due to the food shortage, Jean had given her permission to use bombs to fish for the first time!

It was a rare opportunity, as unlikely as Lisa staying awake during a full shift or Bennett going a day without bad luck.

"Klee, even though I said you could bomb the fish…" came Jean's exasperated voice, "don't you think you overdid it a bit?"

Indeed, the once smooth beach was now pockmarked with craters, with countless fish and shrimp left in Klee's wake.

Fortunately, this was an uninhabited beach, or else there'd surely be trouble.

"Captain Jean, you're back!" Klee stuck out her tongue with a mischievous grin. "Show me what yummy treats you brought!"

Although Jean and Klee had been transported to different areas, the sounds of Klee's explosions quickly helped Jean locate her.

The two, like Lucas, decided to replenish their strength with some food before setting out to find the others.

"I found some berries I've never seen before," Jean showed Klee her "loot" with a wry smile, "Sorry, this was all I could gather, but they taste fine."

"Ah! We can't eat those!" Klee shook her head, "Mom taught me about them before. These berries are called 'Temptation Fruits'—the more you eat, the more addicted you become, and they even mess with your mind!"

"Really? I didn't know such berries existed!" Jean quickly threw them away. "It's no big deal; the fish we caught should be enough."

It was more than enough—likely enough to feed the entire Knights of Favonius a seafood feast.

With Klee's Pyro Vision, grilling fish was effortless. As they enjoyed their meal, they chatted away.

"Klee…" Jean asked, curiosity piqued, "Do you know how your mom and dad met?"

But Klee, munching on her grilled fish, muttered, "Klee… doesn't know."

Jean pondered, "Then, what kind of person is your dad?"

"Dad's super amazing!" Klee said proudly, "We've blown up monster lairs, burned the demon king's supplies, and defeated tons of his minions together!"

The "crimes" Klee spoke of so excitedly were, of course, committed within the simulator, but to her innocent mind, all those scenes of mischief were transformed into battles against a "demon king."

In Klee's memory, every story from that picture book had become "real."

But hearing this, Jean couldn't help but feel somewhat puzzled.

After all, Klee had been brought to the Knights of Favonius at a very young age. Could it be that her Lucas had taken her on monster battles even before that?

It sounded unlikely, but considering Lucas' strength, perhaps such things weren't entirely impossible. Maybe he was also just as remarkable from a young age.

Jean sighed lightly, gently patting Klee's head, "Having parents like that… Klee, it must be hard for you sometimes, right?"

"Huh?"

...

The scene shifts back to Lucas.

"Haa… haa…"

"This… this is so good!"

Lucas and Barbara, who had been peacefully sharing berries earlier, now seemed completely bewitched, greedily stuffing the crimson fruit from the chilled container into their mouths. They paid no mind to the red juice that dripped all over them.

Though Lucas was down to just his swim trunks, he still wore the Ring of Manipulation on his wrist, faintly glowing with a sinister orange light.

It was a sign of "Gluttony's" influence!

Under the effect of the Temptation Fruit, the two of them seemed almost addicted, unable to stop themselves.

Soon, only one berry remained in the box.

As Barbara reached out to take it, Lucas was a step ahead, seizing the last berry along with the container.

"G-give it to me!" Barbara's eyes had lost their usual sparkle. Grabbing hold of Lucas, she pleaded, "The last one… give it to me!"

"No way!" The malevolent power of the Ring of Manipulation surged, darkening Lucas's thoughts. "I'm the one who found these berries, so I should get the last one, right?"

"Give it to me!"

Under the dual control of hunger and the berry's addictive toxins, Barbara was almost entirely losing her grip on reason. She lunged at Lucas, trying to wrest the berry from him.

But Lucas, learning from earlier, sidestepped, and Barbara stumbled onto the sand.

Scarlet berry juice mingled with the golden sand, clinging to Barbara's skin and sending a shiver through Lucas.

The desire to… dominate her completely surged within him.

Just like in the simulator!

A pink tint, symbolizing lust, began to glint on the bracelet.

Barbara, now desperate and ravenous, suddenly knelt before Lucas, pleading, "P-please… just give it to me!"

"Hey, Barbara," Lucas looked down at her with a smirk, "There's no such thing as a free lunch. If you want this berry, you'll have to pay the price."

"What… what do you want?" Barbara quickly replied. "I'll do anything!"

Leaning down, Lucas lifted Barbara's chin with his finger, whispering, "I want you."

"Wh-what?" Some part of Barbara's reason seemed to resurface.

The meaning in his words was unmistakable.

So, the fox had finally revealed his tail?

"You remember, don't you? I have to commit at least one bad deed to continue the game." He toyed with the berry in his hand, rolling it across his fingers. "This is my 'bad deed.'"

Under normal circumstances, Barbara would never have agreed to such an outrageous demand.

But this wasn't a normal circumstance.

The gnawing hunger in her belly and her desperation for the Temptation Fruit made her grip on reason begin to falter.

"Don't worry," Lucas's voice was a devilish whisper. "This is a world of fantasy; whatever happens here is just a dream. Even if you let me have my way here, it won't change anything in the real world."

"Is… is that true?"

Barbara couldn't help but remember the "dream." Indeed, no matter how many times Lucas had toyed with her in that dream, she would still wake up her innocent, unblemished self, a deacon of the Church of Favonius.

"Of course it's true." Lucas held the berry against his tongue, rolling it around and making tempting sounds. "Look at this delicious berry… if you don't decide soon, I'll just eat it myself."

"I… I understand!"

Finally, desire overwhelmed reason. Barbara lowered her head in surrender. "If I can have that berry… I'll do anything."

"Don't worry, I'll make sure you get more than enough."

A thought seemed to occur to Lucas. He planted the Temptation Fruit into the sand at his feet, and soon a seedling sprouted, growing with supernatural speed until it blossomed and bore fruit.

In an instant, the branches were laden with bright red berries, their glossy skins glowing with an alluring sheen.

"Let them fall."

At Lucas's command, the berries fell like raindrops, showering down on Barbara.

"Berries… so many berries!"

Barbara, like a miser hoarding treasure, grabbed the berries with both hands, devouring them one after another.

Lucas could sense the effects of the berries after consuming a few. They had some influence on one's mind but were harmless to the body.

And while Barbara indulged in the sweet taste of the berries, Lucas, too, began to enjoy his own reward.

The taste was a curious blend—slightly tart, mildly sweet, with a hint of sea salt.

[Bad Deed Complete, Restriction Lifted: You may proceed with the next action when it's your turn]

It seemed that even the game's "Eye of Judgment" recognized Lucas's actions as a bad deed.

[Effect of "The First Glass of Red Wine" activated, receiving a permanent 30% boost to Mental Attributes]

....

The dust settled.

When Barbara opened her eyes, she felt as though she had woken from a strange dream.

But the grains of sand on her body and the sticky residue of fruit juice still clinging to her skin reminded her that everything that had happened was all too real.

She found herself lying under the shade of a large tree, resting on a bed of soft, cool palm leaves.

As Barbara struggled to stand up, she noticed that the sharp pang of hunger in her belly had eased, though a lingering ache still made her frown slightly.

She made her way toward the nearby ocean, but just as she'd taken a few steps, a familiar voice called out from behind her, "Barbara! What are you doing?"

The voice was, of course, Lucas's. He'd been keeping an eye on her nearby, and seeing her head toward the sea without a word had him worried. "Don't tell me… you're not thinking of doing something drastic, are you?"

"I… I'm not that weak," Barbara replied, biting her lip. "I just wanted to… wash up."

Of course, only Barbara herself understood exactly where she felt unclean.

"But seawater has a high salt content—it could cause infection, and it'll sting on any wounds," Lucas reminded her gently. "I've already melted some ice into fresh water with the sunlight. You can use it to wash up instead."

Barbara turned and, to her surprise, saw that Lucas had somehow rigged up a large bath from vines and wood. The water inside looked crystal-clear, sparkling in the sunlight.

Without a word, Barbara stepped over to it, dipping her foot in first to test the temperature. The water was pleasantly warm under the sun's rays. She said nothing more, slipping off her clothes and immersing herself in the soothing bath.

---

"I... I'll excuse myself," Lucas said, preparing to turn and leave.

"Do you really think that's necessary?" Barbara, surprisingly composed, replied coolly, "You've been working hard all day too. Just stay and wash up together."

After all, with everything that had already happened, avoiding each other now seemed a little redundant.

Settling himself in the water, Lucas sighed. "About what happened earlier… I'm sorry."

"It's my own fault," Barbara replied flatly, her expression unreadable. "I should've trusted my instincts. You're a shameless scoundrel."

"That's a bit harsh, don't you think?" Lucas responded, feeling slightly embarrassed. "Didn't you notice that there might've been something… off about those berries?"

"You're right," Barbara nodded. "Based on my experience, that fruit likely affects one's mental state. That's why… we ended up doing what we did."

"So…," Lucas asked cautiously, "does that mean you don't hate me?"

"I do hate you," Barbara shot him a sharp look but then sighed, "But what good would that do? It's not like I could take you on in a fight."

Oddly enough, despite her words, Barbara didn't truly harbor deep resentment toward the man before her.

Though the experience had been painful, there had also been a surprising sweetness to it, like the allure of those forbidden berries.

Wait a second!

Barbara, what are you even thinking?! You're a priestess serving the gods—how could you let such worldly desires cloud your mind?

"You could always tell Captain Jean," Lucas said offhandedly. "She'd definitely get justice for you if she knew—whoa!"

Before he could finish, Barbara lunged forward, gripping his shoulders, her gaze icy and intense.

"Promise me," Barbara said, her words slow and deliberate, "you won't tell anyone about this. Especially not my sister!"

"I-I promise," Lucas stammered, nodding repeatedly. "I swear, I won't tell a soul."

As expected, Barbara was keen on keeping the incident a secret, particularly from her beloved older sister. She couldn't bear the thought of tarnishing her pure image in her sister's eyes.

"As for revenge," Barbara clenched her fists. "Someday, I'll make you pay."

"Do as you wish," Lucas replied, his tone softening. "But tell me… are you still in pain?"

Hearing his words, Barbara's complex emotions crumbled, and tears began to roll down her cheeks.

"You… you jerk!" she cried.

She pummeled Lucas's chest with her small fists, though her punches lacked strength. In fact, they were almost soothing.

After a while, her fatigue caught up with her, and Barbara slumped against him, sniffing and muttering, "If you're going to play the villain, at least do it right. First, you're awful to me, then you turn around and act all caring. Just… what am I supposed to do with you?!"

In truth, Lucas's personality was deeply conflicted. On one hand, he wanted to stay true to his kind nature. But on the other, the influence of the simulator's darker persona and the Ring of Manipulation often tempted him, making self-restraint difficult.

This wasn't a case of split personalities; both the benevolent and malevolent sides of Lucas were part of the same person. The shifts in his behavior, however, led to wildly different actions and consequences.

Barbara cried for a while longer, eventually tiring herself out, until finally, she collapsed against Lucas, her small, flat stomach rumbling once more.

"Are you hungry again?" Lucas asked. "Would you like me to gather some more berries?"

"No berries!" Barbara's refusal was resolute. "Just thinking about them makes me nauseous."

"Then what would you like to eat?" Lucas asked patiently.

"I want… that oyster broth you mentioned earlier." Barbara's eyes sparkled as she recalled the taste she had only imagined, and she couldn't help but drool slightly. "I couldn't taste it properly while I was out of it, but it seemed delicious. I searched for so long but couldn't find any."

"Actually… there never was any oyster broth," Lucas admitted, his face reddening as he leaned in to whisper in Barbara's ear. "It was actually…"

"What?!" Barbara's face immediately turned crimson. Instinctively, she wiped her mouth and mumbled, "So… it was that?"

No wonder there had been a familiar smell.

"So maybe you'd like something else?" Lucas suggested, trying to change the topic. "If you're craving seafood, I could try to catch some fish."

"No," Barbara narrowed her eyes, her tone firm. "I want oyster broth… and nothing else!"

"I already told you, didn't I?" Lucas spread his hands. "That oyster broth you're asking for… it's actually..."

"No, you're hiding it," Barbara insisted, her gaze fixed on him with an intensity driven by hunger that was eroding her sense of reason. "You've just buried it somewhere deep… but I'll find every bit of it."

"Wait..." Lucas's expression shifted as he realized what she meant. "You're not actually thinking—"

"Here I go!"

Without waiting, Barbara launched herself at him once more.

This time, Lucas wasn't able to dodge.

And Barbara once again savored that "delicacy" she had dreamed about, something that took so much effort to finally taste.

...

It was unclear how much time had passed before Barbara finally felt her appetite satisfied.

As before, her hunger wasn't physical; it was a psychological effect caused by the influence of the *Temptation Fruit, driving her to constantly crave sustenance. Now, with her appetite finally sated, the hunger faded, leaving her in peace.

Lucas, however, wasn't in such good shape. The energy he had only recently managed to recover was now nearly depleted once again.

Indeed, committing mischief had its price.

Just then, a distinctive orca call echoed from afar, startling Lucas as he looked into the distance. Sure enough, the orca, Oga, was returning, and Lucas could make out two figures on its broad back.

There was no doubt—it was Klee and Jean!

It seemed that Oga had found them and brought them back.

"It's Klee and Jean!" Lucas exclaimed excitedly. "They're here!"

"My sister's here?" Barbara quickly dressed herself, but not without giving Lucas a pointed reminder. "Remember, not a word about what happened between us!"

"Relax," Lucas said with a sigh. "The last thing I want is to be on the receiving end of Jean's blade."

Although, in truth, Jean likely wouldn't be much of a match for Lucas now.

"Thank you, Mr. Orca!"

As Klee hopped off the orca's back, she politely bowed to Oga, waving her little hand in farewell before turning around, jumping up to greet Lucas, and landing directly in his arms. "Daddy! Klee finally found you!"

"Good girl," Lucas chuckled, ruffling her hair. "I wasn't expecting you all to meet up too."

"Yes, we ran into each other," Jean nodded to Lucas, her expression full of gratitude. "Thank you so much for looking after Barbara."

"Don't mention it." A small, teasing smile tugged at the corners of Lucas's mouth. "Barbara and I… well, we've been helping each other a lot."

"Well, as long as nothing happened." Jean's expression suddenly became one of concern as she turned to Barbara. "By the way, Barbara, are you still hungry? Should I ask Klee to blast some fish for you?"

That Jean would volunteer to let Klee use bombs showed just how much she cared for her little sister.

"No, no, I'm fine." Barbara shook her head. "I… I just ate something."

"What did you eat?" Jean asked with a meticulous care. "Was it safe? Are you feeling okay?"

Barbara glanced over at Lucas, her cheeks flushed. "It was… perfectly clean. Lucas made it for me himself."

In a way, it was true. Lucas had provided it, but perhaps not with his hands, exactly.

"Thank you again." Jean nodded in appreciation. "You really are a good person!"

Hearing this, Lucas and Barbara exchanged a complex look.

If Jean knew the truth… well, the outcome would be unimaginable.

"Enough chatting!" Klee interrupted, bouncing on her feet with impatience. "Aren't we still supposed to be playing? We've barely covered any ground so far!"

True enough. Even now, they'd barely taken a few turns each, and their pieces on the game board still had a long way to go before reaching the end.

"Klee's right," Lucas agreed, nodding. "Now that all four of us are together again, it's time to keep moving in this game."

"If I remember correctly, it's Klee's turn," Jean said. "The order goes Klee, Barbara, Lucas, and then me."

Jean didn't seem to notice that when she said "Lucas," Barbara's gaze had shifted, her expression subtly tinged with surprise.

When did her sister start addressing him so informally?

But Klee's enthusiastic voice broke Barbara's thoughts.

"Klee's going to roll a high number!"

With a toss, the dice came up as a two and a six, allowing Klee's game piece to advance by eight spaces.

The other three eagerly leaned over to read the text on the square Klee's piece had landed on.

"Age Swap Fun: Until someone rolls a one."

"Age swap?" the three said in unison.

"That's pretty straightforward," Lucas mused, rubbing his chin. "It means our ages will be swapped, but… hey, why do you all suddenly look so tall?"

In that moment, Lucas realized that the other three hadn't actually grown taller at all.

No… he had shrunk!

Not only that, but his voice now had a high, childish tone to it.

"Wow! Daddy's so cute!" "Klee" exclaimed as she picked Lucas up, beaming. "Up you go!"

The reason for the quotation marks around "Klee" was that her appearance had changed dramatically—now she looked to be around eighteen or nineteen years old.

And as for Lucas, his height had shrunk to match Klee's usual size—he was now the same age as her!

"So this is what a grown-up Klee looks like?" Jean marveled, looking her over. "She looks just like her mother, Alice."

Jean herself had also turned into a child, though her mature speech and expressions made for an oddly contrasting appearance.

"Sister, look!" Barbara suddenly puffed out her chest with excitement. "It's… incredible!"

Barbara, who had transformed from a young girl into a woman in her early twenties, now possessed a more… impressive figure than her sister Jean, perhaps even surpassing her.

Jean, meanwhile, now looked as small and adorable as a young child, her once refined face now round and cherubic.

Lucas quickly pieced it together: he and Jean had both become Klee's age, while Klee had taken on Jean's age, and Barbara had assumed his.

Looking down at his short, childlike form, Lucas couldn't help but feel utterly defeated.

This game was playing a joke… and it was way too big!

"They can even change our ages like this?" Jean muttered, looking down at her now child-sized body. She seemed slightly unsettled. "What if we encounter danger? Can I really protect everyone like this?"

Unlike Barbara and Klee, who were thrilled by the novelty, Jean, ever composed, immediately thought about their safety.

"Don't worry, Sister!" Barbara appeared behind Jean, suddenly lifting her up with a grin. "If there's any danger, I'll protect you… And besides, Sister, you look way too adorable like this!"

"N-no… not like this!" Jean's face flushed red as she struggled to free herself from Barbara's embrace. However, with her strength significantly reduced, she couldn't quite match Barbara's now adult-level strength. "Barbara, p-put me down!"

"No way!" Barbara giggled, rubbing her cheek against Jean's. "You're officially the cutest sister in the world!"

"That's not true!" Not to be outdone, Klee hoisted Lucas up to face Barbara. "Daddy's the cutest!"

"No, Sister's cuter!"

"No, Daddy's cuter!"

Watching these two oversized "kids" arguing over something so trivial, Lucas and Jean exchanged looks and shared a sigh of exasperation, each with a small smile.

"Alright, alright… enough with the arguing," Jean said, sighing. "Let's get back to the game. We can only return to normal if someone rolls a one."

"Aww… no!"

---

"Come on, let's wait a little longer!" Barbara and Klee chimed in unison, both looking slightly reluctant to continue the game right away.

For Barbara and Klee, experiencing the feeling of being an adult was amusing and fun; naturally, they wanted to enjoy it for as long as possible.

Especially Barbara—she found herself thinking that, as her sister Jean had suggested, maybe she was only a few years away from growing into quite a nice figure herself.

With this thought, Barbara couldn't resist glancing over at Lucas, even puffing out her chest a bit in an unspoken show of pride.

Lucas could only groan inwardly, watching with exasperation as a few metaphorical black lines appeared over his head.

What on earth is this woman trying to show off?

"So, what do you think?" Barbara crouched down to Lucas's eye level, patting his head with a smug look. "I'm all grown up now… but you've shrunk, haven't you?"

Clearly, Barbara's mention of growing and shrinking wasn't just about their ages.

"Sorry to disappoint you," Lucas shot back, "but I checked myself earlier—only the age has changed. Everything else… is still the same."

"Th-that can't be!" Barbara blushed slightly, her gaze flicking downward as she muttered, "That's… impossible!"

"Please, since when has anything happening here been logical?" Lucas countered. "If you're that doubtful, feel free to look for yourself."

"Wh-who would want to look at something like that?!" Barbara shot him an indignant glare. "Little earthworm!"

"Leaky dumpling," Lucas retorted, sticking his tongue out at her.

"Dumplings? Where?" Klee suddenly popped over, her curiosity piqued. "Klee wants some dumplings too!"

"There aren't any dumplings," Barbara said with a victorious grin, "but there's a nice big bun right here!"

Right on cue, a loud rumbling sound came from Barbara's stomach.

"Barbara…" Jean asked with concern, "are you hungry again?"

"Y-yes," Barbara replied awkwardly, her expression uncomfortable. "Even though I already ate quite a bit."

"It's likely that this kind of hunger hits on a mental level," Lucas speculated. "No amount of food will satisfy it. I'd suggest you roll the dice quickly. If you're lucky, it might lift this hunger."

Though Barbara was reluctant to leave her grown-up state behind, the persistent hunger gnawing at her was unbearable, and she had little choice but to continue the game.

Fortunately, her luck held—she rolled a two and a five, totaling seven.

Just as expected, the instant she rolled the number, the oppressive hunger that had plagued Barbara for so long vanished completely.

However, since she didn't roll a one, all four of them remained in their altered states.

"Hard work takes its toll. Rest for half a day before continuing."

With the words appearing on the game board, their four tokens promptly tipped over as if they'd fallen asleep, and the dice's pips disappeared, replaced by a twelve-hour countdown.

"It seems that we're required to rest for half a day, or twelve hours, before we can continue," Lucas remarked, scratching his chin. "Looks like we'll have to remain in these bodies until then."

"Yay!"

Unlike Lucas and Jean, Barbara and Klee seemed overjoyed at this news.

By now, the sky was beginning to dim, and with the setting sun, the temperature was dropping. The cool breeze off the ocean made them shiver slightly in their swimsuits.

"Ah-choo!" 

Klee couldn't hold back a sneeze, and a little stream of snot began trickling from her nose.

"Daddy…" Klee crouched down, her expression pitiful. "Klee's got a runny nose."

"Got it." Lucas gently wiped her nose with a leaf, then looked around, concerned. "Seems we'll be spending the night here, so let's prepare a place to sleep."

At this, the other three exchanged uncertain glances.

"Klee only knows how to blow things up…" she admitted sheepishly, counting on her fingers. "Not build stuff."

"I wish Eula were here," Jean added with a sigh. "As captain of the reconnaissance team, her survival skills in the wild far surpass mine."

"Leave it to me," Lucas said, crouching down and pressing his hands into the ground.

A soft glow radiated from the soil, wood, grass, and stones around them, all gathering and combining at a visible speed. Within minutes, the raw materials transformed into a sturdy shelter.

"Amazing…" Jean murmured, watching in awe. "How did you do that?"

Even a Vision typically controls a single element. It shouldn't be possible to manipulate both the Geo-like soil and the Dendro-like wood simultaneously.

"Just a bit of alchemy," Lucas explained with a shrug. "It's not elemental control—just a matter of equivalent exchange."

Thanks to the Alchemist talent Lucas had recently acquired, he now possessed the theoretical knowledge of an alchemy expert.

However, similar to his Medical Sage talent, the alchemy skills granted were largely theoretical. To become a true alchemist, he'd still need much hands-on practice to develop real expertise.

A powerful alchemist could easily construct tall buildings with raw materials, but for Lucas, building a simple hut still required some time.

"That's right!" Klee said proudly. "Daddy is the head alchemist of the Knights of Favonius!"

Lucas's face changed instantly.

Good grief—this girl was starting to mix up dreams with reality.

"Oh, really?" Jean, however, didn't seem the least bit surprised. She nodded with a smile. "That's truly impressive."

She played along with little Klee, exchanging amused glances with Lucas.

Jean found herself intrigued. Such a talented young man, not only strong but also highly skilled—no wonder he was held in such high regard by Keqing. It would be wonderful if he could join the ranks of the Knights of Favonius.

But, of course, she knew that trying to recruit someone favored by the Liyue Qixing would be… unwise.

Lucas went on to build three additional small huts with his alchemy.

Technically, just one or two would have sufficed, but Lucas wanted to take the chance to practice his skills. Since the materials were free, he figured he might as well build a few extra.

After all, these simple structures didn't require advanced techniques.

"Let's all get some rest tonight and regain our energy," Lucas suggested. "We don't know what challenges tomorrow's game might bring."

"I'm sleeping with Daddy!" Klee declared without hesitation, grabbing Lucas and pulling him toward one of the huts.

"No, you're not!"

Jean quickly intercepted Klee.

"Why not?" Klee tilted her head in confusion. "I used to sleep with Daddy all the time."

"That was when you were still a little kid. Now you're an adult," Jean said, looking up at Klee due to her own childlike size. Seeing Klee's adult physique, Jean couldn't help but feel a bit strange. "Only children can sleep with adults!"

"But it's fine!" Klee cuddled Lucas close, rubbing her cheek against his affectionately. "Even if Klee's a grown-up, Daddy is a child now, so it's totally fine!"

When she put it like that, it did make a sort of sense.

"Sister, just let them sleep together," Barbara interjected with a mischievous smile, throwing a sidelong glance at Lucas. "After all, there's no way Lucas could cause any trouble… in his current state."

"F-fine, I suppose." Jean had no choice but to relent.

"In that case… I'll sleep with Sister!" Barbara said, scooping up Jean and grinning. "Tiny Sister is just too adorable!"

"N-no! Don't do that!" Jean stammered, embarrassed. "Put me down!"

"Even cuter when she struggles!" Barbara had no intention of putting Jean down. Instead, with a sly smile, she declared, "This is a rare opportunity, so tonight, Barbara's going to have some fun teasing her big sister!"

With that, Barbara carried Jean into one of the huts, and soon Jean's distressed voice could be heard from within.

"Huh?" Klee looked worried. "Is Barbara going to bully Captain Jean? Let's go help her!"

"Don't worry, Klee," Lucas replied with a chuckle. "When Barbara says 'bully,' she really just means it as a way to show affection."

"Really?" Klee looked at him with wide eyes. "So… can Daddy 'bully' Klee too? Please?"

Um… teasing between sisters was one thing, but with a father and daughter… it felt a bit odd.

Though Lucas and Klee weren't related by blood, their bond as father and daughter was real and deep.

Especially for Klee, who, being a child, had jumbled or forgotten many of the simulator's memories. However, her image of Lucas as her father had taken deep root in her heart.

"Daddy loves Klee very much, even without any 'bullying,'" Lucas assured her with a smile. "Let's get some rest. How about Daddy tells you a story to fall asleep?"

"Yay!" Klee's face lit up with excitement. Even though she now looked like an adult, her heart remained that of a child. She nodded eagerly, "Klee wants a hundred stories!"

Looks like sleep won't come any time soon...

Though the hut was basic, it had doors, windows, and a bed of sorts, made from leaves and dried grass. It was simple, but surprisingly comfortable.

Despite Klee's initial insistence on hearing stories, she was clearly exhausted after the day's activities. She fell asleep before Lucas even finished the first story, her grip on him tight as if afraid he'd disappear while she slept.

Moonlight filtered in through the skylight, casting a soft glow on Klee's peaceful face.

Grown-up Klee looked strikingly like her mother, Alice. With her elf-like features and flawless complexion, she was like a living work of art.

"Alice, where are you now?" Lucas murmured to himself, then chuckled wryly. "Not that it matters. Even if we did meet, she'd probably have no idea who I am."

It wasn't just Alice—all the Genshin girls he'd encountered in the simulator wouldn't remember him in reality.

And yet, somehow, he had crossed paths with them in real life—Keqing, Shenhe, Barbara, Jean, Eula, Klee…

Was it mere coincidence, or was something greater at work?

Just as Lucas pondered, a faint sound of footsteps came from outside the hut.

"Who's there?"

Even though Lucas was currently in the body of a child, his alertness hadn't diminished in the slightest.

Realistically, no one besides their group of four should be on this island, but Lucas quickly slipped out of Klee's embrace and hurried to open the door.

Standing outside, however, wasn't a stranger, but… Captain Jean?

The young Jean looked particularly conflicted, nervously tugging at the hem of her shirt, her face flushed with embarrassment.

"Oh, it's just you, Jean…" Lucas breathed a sigh of relief, then asked, "Why aren't you asleep at this hour?"

"I… I need to… pick a flower," Jean said, her cheeks turning even redder as she whispered, "But Barbara is sleeping so deeply. Could you… could you go with me?"

"Pick a flower?" Lucas asked, confused. "Can't it wait until tomorrow?"

"N-no, not that kind of flower!" Jean's blush deepened as she lowered her voice. "I mean… I need to go to the bathroom."

It dawned on Lucas then. For someone like Jean, raised with noble etiquette, openly mentioning such things wasn't an option, so she used "picking a flower" as a polite substitute.

He hadn't picked up on it, which explained Jean's obvious embarrassment.

Under normal circumstances, Jean wouldn't be the timid type, but given her smaller, younger body and the unfamiliar, remote environment, it made sense she'd feel nervous going alone.

"Alright," Lucas held out his hand, "I'll go with you."

Jean nodded, taking his small hand in hers. Both of them now appeared to be no older than ten, looking for all the world like childhood friends.

For some reason, holding Lucas's hand filled Jean with an inexplicable sense of security.

It felt just like that dream she'd had—as though, with Lucas by her side, any problem could be solved.

"It's so nostalgic…" Jean murmured thoughtfully. "When we were younger, I'd hold Barbara's hand like this all the time. Back then, she cried easily… she was such a sweet little scaredy-cat."

And now, it seemed, the scaredy-cat had become her.

"I can tell," Lucas replied with a nod. "Barbara really looks up to you."

"That's why I'm so grateful to you," Jean's eyes softened with appreciation. "For looking after Barbara when we were separated. Otherwise, she might have run into trouble."

Hearing this, a wave of anxiety washed over Lucas.

If Jean ever found out how he'd "looked after" Barbara… well, he might as well skip the trip back to Liyue and start planning his future in the dungeons of the Knights of Favonius.

Quickly changing the subject, Lucas asked, "So, what exactly happened between you and Barbara? It doesn't seem like many people know about your relationship."

Jean sighed. "It's because our parents divorced," she replied, sounding weary. "They split due to irreconcilable differences. My mother is a very headstrong woman, and after a serious dispute, she decided to part ways with my father. We sisters had no choice but to separate as well."

"For the Gunnhildr clan, a failed marriage is considered a disgrace," Jean continued. "That's why the family chose to keep my relationship with Barbara a secret."

---

"I don't see anything shameful about it," Lucas shook his head. "To break free from societal constraints and end a marriage she didn't want—your mother sounds like a woman worthy of respect, Jean."

Jean blinked in surprise before a small smile appeared on her face. "Thank you… No one's ever said something like that to me."

"Alright, this spot should be fine," Lucas gestured toward a nearby cluster of bushes. "Go ahead, I'll wait here."

Jean nodded, looking a bit bashful, before cautiously heading to the bushes and crouching down.

"Are… are you still there?"

"I'm here."

"Still there?"

"Don't worry, I'll stay right here until you're done."

After receiving his reassuring response, Jean finally relaxed, and the gentle sound of trickling water filled the quiet night air, oddly calming in its rhythm.

But suddenly, there was a loud, panicked "Ah!" as Jean bolted from the bushes, mid-process, her face pale with fright. Before Lucas could react, she threw herself into his arms, trembling.

"S-something scary!"

It was the first time Lucas had ever seen Jean so frightened. He could even feel a warm trickle running down her leg onto him.

What on earth could have scared her so badly?

"Ribbit!"

Just then, a bumpy toad hopped out from the bushes.

"T-take it away!" Jean shrieked, clinging to Lucas's neck in terror. "Get rid of it!"

Seeing the "culprit" that had terrified Jean so much, Lucas couldn't help but laugh a little. Summoning a small shard of ice, he flicked it gently, sending the toad soaring through the air in a graceful arc until it vanished.

"No need to be afraid," Lucas said softly, patting Jean's head. "It's gone now."

"Thank you."

Jean finally relaxed, releasing her grip on Lucas, but upon seeing the "mess" between them, her face flushed deep red. "I-I'm so sorry!"

"It's alright, we can dry it out by the fire," Lucas replied nonchalantly. "Besides, it's not like it smells or anything."

"H-how could it not smell…?" Jean mumbled, nervously wringing her hands. "I mean… that's…"

"Come on!" Lucas grabbed her hand with a smile, leading her back. "I know what it is. And if it's from you, Jean, I don't mind at all."

Jean felt a strange shiver run through her.

He didn't mind… something like that? And only if it was her?

Could… could this be some kind of confession?

Jean's cheeks burned as an odd image popped into her mind.

She imagined a luxurious room dimly lit with candles, Lucas dressed sharply in a suit, swirling a glass in his hand filled with a "special drink" she'd prepared for him.

He reached out, lifting her chin with a charmingly wicked smile. "If it's from you, Jean, I wouldn't waste a single drop."

Ahhh!

The thought made Jean shake her head frantically, as if she could physically shake the bizarre vision from her mind.

"How disgraceful! How impure!"

As a member of the noble Gunnhildr family, Jean chided herself. How could I harbor such impure thoughts?

"Jean?" Lucas, noticing her unusual silence, asked with concern, "Are you alright?"

His voice snapped Jean out of her thoughts, and she blurted out instinctively, "You… can't drink that!"

"Huh? Drink what?" Lucas looked utterly confused.

"N-nothing," Jean stammered, clearly flustered. "I was just… lost in thought, imagining myself… brewing tea."

"Oh, so you know how to brew tea?" Lucas chuckled. "I'd love to try your tea sometime."

"O-okay," Jean mumbled, nodding shyly. "My… tea?"

Soon, they returned to the huts, where the fire Klee had set was still crackling away. They sat down by the flames, letting the fire's warmth dry the mysterious dampness on their clothes.

"Looks like it's mostly dry," Lucas said softly. "We should get some rest."

However, Jean didn't respond. Lucas glanced over and noticed her head resting on his shoulder, her soft breaths steady. She had drifted off.

It looked like the day's events had thoroughly worn her out.

Asleep, Jean's usual serious demeanor was replaced with a peaceful, innocent expression, making her seem even more endearing. Unable to resist, Lucas leaned over and gently kissed her on the cheek.

"Mm…" Jean made a soft sound, shifting slightly, but she didn't wake up.

What Lucas didn't realize was that Jean hadn't actually fallen into a deep sleep. She was very aware of his gentle kiss.

Caught off guard, she chose to feign sleep, too nervous to open her eyes.

Lucas, for his part, refrained from any further actions. Jean felt a mix of relief—and a strange twinge of disappointment.

Of course, given their current child-sized bodies, nothing more could have happened anyway.

Despite his smaller size, Lucas still possessed strength well beyond a typical child's, and he easily lifted Jean up, carrying her back to the hut she shared with Barbara.

He tiptoed inside, careful not to wake Barbara, and gently laid the "sleeping" Jean on her bed before quietly slipping out.

Jean, meanwhile, kept her eyes tightly shut to maintain her ruse, but her heart was racing from that single kiss.

She was so absorbed in her thoughts that she didn't even notice Barbara was missing from her side.

Just as Lucas exited the hut, he sensed something unusual. He looked up just in time to see a large water bubble descending from above, enveloping him entirely.

This water prison didn't burst but instead trapped Lucas within a floating sphere of water.

It was obvious who was responsible—Barbara.

Sure enough, she stood in front of him, arms crossed, giving him a stern look. "Quite bold, aren't you… Doing those things to me was one thing, but now you're moving on to my sister?"

Lucas blinked, finally realizing what was going on.

Barbara must have seen him kiss Jean earlier and was furious because of it.

Normally, Barbara wasn't particularly skilled in combat, and though she had a Hydro Vision, she couldn't control water with such precision. But with her adult physique, and after taking Lucas' Essence which enhanced her more, her power had increased dramatically—producing a water bubble was no problem for her now.

Conversely, Lucas's power had diminished due to his smaller body, making it easy for Barbara to catch him off guard.

Of course, Barbara had no intention of actually harming him. She just wanted to teach him a lesson.

"Don't worry, I won't hurt you," Barbara said with a mischievous smile, watching him struggle. "I just want to… punish you a little."

Gradually, Lucas began to lose consciousness as the water surrounded him.

...

Cough, cough!

Lucas sputtered, coughing up water as he finally regained consciousness.

He quickly realized that his hands were bound with rope, and he was in one of the other huts.

He saw Barbara standing in front of him, smiling calmly. "Don't bother shouting," she said. "Even if you scream your lungs out, no one can hear you. I've sealed the doors and windows with water barriers."

Lucas glanced around and saw shimmering water walls covering every exit.

"Barbara," he frowned. "What exactly are you planning to do?"

"That's my question to you," Barbara retorted, biting her lip. "Why were you and my sister alone together in the middle of the night?"

"She just needed someone to go to the bathroom with her," Lucas explained. "After becoming a child again, she's a lot more timid."

"Fine, I can accept that," Barbara pressed on, her eyes narrowing. "But I saw you… kiss her just now! What was that all about?"

"Well…" Lucas laughed awkwardly. "Little Jean is just so cute, you know? It's natural to want to give a cute kid a kiss, isn't it? Wouldn't you feel the same?"

"I… I've already done that," Barbara blushed, then pouted angrily. "But that doesn't matter! My sister's cheeks are mine to kiss!"

"Fine, fine, I admit my mistake," Lucas sighed. "But isn't your reaction a bit… intense?"

"Do you really think I'm only upset about that?" Barbara stepped closer, her gaze piercing. "After what you did to me, you turn around and start cozying up to my sister. Don't you think that's a bit… scummy?"

"Heavens, have mercy!" Lucas exclaimed, feeling helpless. "When did I ever 'cozy up' to her?"

"I don't care—you're a bad boy!" Barbara reached out, giving him a playful tap on the nose as a mischievous grin spread across her face. "And bad boys need to be punished!"

Lucas suddenly remembered that, after his earlier "mischief" with Barbara, she'd repeatedly muttered about getting revenge on him.

At the time, he'd brushed it off as harmless talk—much like Eula's frequent "I'll remember this" grudge. He'd assumed it was just idle words, nothing more.

But to his surprise, Barbara—who seemed far less intimidating than Eula—was actually serious about taking action.

He hadn't thought much of it. After all, with Barbara's usual strength, any attempt to "punish" him would be laughable. Even if he stood still, it would be hard for her to do much more than flail at him.

"Well…" Seeing no hope for escape, Lucas resigned himself. "If you want revenge, go ahead and get it over with. I guess I just have bad luck."

"What?" Barbara looked unimpressed with his calm acceptance. "You're giving up that easily? At least beg for mercy or something!"

"You'd ignore my pleas anyway, wouldn't you?" Lucas replied with a knowing smile. "Besides, I'd suggest you hurry up—once the others wake up, you won't get another chance."

How annoying!

Barbara clenched her fists in frustration. Why was it that, even with the upper hand, Lucas still seemed so composed?

"Fine, straight to the point, then!"

With a determined expression, Barbara sat down on a nearby rock, pulling Lucas's face close to her. She straddled him with her thighs, bringing her face close to his as she smirked. "So, you think you're invincible, huh? How does it feel now?"

Despite the supposed "punishment," Lucas felt more amused than anything.

Did she really understand the difference between "punishment" and "reward"?

If this was her idea of vengeance, he might just start doing bad deeds as a full-time hobby.

To humor her, Lucas put on a pained expression, groaning dramatically, "No, please… this is too much! This humiliation… you might as well just kill me!"

Seeing his reaction, Barbara beamed with satisfaction. "Oh, it's not that easy to get off the hook. You'll endure this for as long as I say!"

Determined to press him further, Barbara leaned in close, her face just inches from his. She smirked, tightening her hold, adding just enough pressure to assert her dominance.

As time went on, however, it was clear that Lucas was enjoying himself far more than suffering, while Barbara—unused to holding such a position—began to feel an ache in her thighs. Despite the strain, seeing Lucas's "anguished" expression only fueled her motivation, making it all seem worthwhile.

---