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By the time Xia Chen arrived at the Valkyrie Dormitory following their directions, Mei had already prepared a table full of dishes.
Kiana glanced left and right, contemplating sneaking a bite of takoyaki placed before her but was caught by Bronya's watchful gaze nearby.
Theresa gulped down bitter melon juice, her taste buds being somewhat unique; these savory dishes held little appeal for her. However, Fu Hua considerately prepared scrambled eggs with bitter melon, which Theresa seemed quite content with.
Himeko had already poured herself a glass of wine, and upon Xia Chen's arrival, she raised her glass, asking, "Can you drink?"
"I've tried it before, not really my preference," Xia Chen honestly replied. "But I can have a few drinks with Teacher Himeko."
"That surprises me; I thought you'd outright refuse."
Due to the artificial stigma, Himeko's remaining lifespan was limited, leading her to often exhibit a despondent demeanor outside of teaching hours.
Living in the moment could best describe her current mindset.
However, Saint Freya Academy was unique; she couldn't bring any negative influences to the school. Thus, indulging slightly through alcohol remained her only outlet.
Xia Chen held great respect for this woman, and accompanying her for some drinks wasn't an issue. It reminded him of spending time with his elders in his previous life.
Smiling, he said, "In my former home, there's a saying 'one must not refuse when elders offer,' and Teacher Himeko can be considered one of my elders."
He hadn't forgotten how during their first Herrscher of the Void simulation, Himeko shielded him, urging him to keep living.
Although ultimately, fueled by anger, he provoked the Herrscher and met his demise that day.
On the side, Fu Hua instinctively adjusted her glasses.
Having lived all her life in Shenzhou, Xia Chen's phrase resonated deeply with her.
Curious, Fu Hua asked, "I wonder where you're originally from, Xia Chen-sensei, and how did you join Schicksal?"
"I'm not from this world."
Xia Chen straightforwardly introduced the concept of world bubbles, repeating what he had previously told Ana to these individuals.
Kiana's mouth dropped open in surprise.
"So you're actually an alien! No wonder your progress is so remarkable."
Fu Hua's determination reignited as she declared, "But I won't give up that easily."
Bronya remained expressionless, but internally, she took note of Xia Chen's explanation about world bubbles.
Theresa was equally taken aback. "An...alien from another world? World bubbles? So you're like Durandal then?"
Kiana couldn't help her confusion. "Auntie? Is Durandal also an alien?"
"No, but she has visited other world bubbles before." Theresa had heard Otto mention this briefly, though at the time, she didn't delve deeper since it wasn't directly relevant to her.
Kiana's imagination ran wild. "So does that mean if someone visits these 'world bubbles' and returns, their combat abilities can skyrocket?"
Based on Xia Chen's account, he was just an ordinary person unaware of Honkai in his original world.
Theresa was momentarily stunned. "That...is indeed something worth considering."
However, Himeko shook her head, "It's not that simple."
She bluntly explained, "In a 24-hour day, Xia Chen spends at least 14 hours training on the battlefield."
"Attributing someone else's achieved strength to mere luck is inherently disrespectful," she sternly told Kiana.
Himeko was a soldier, and fairness is paramount in the military; what they most discourage is relying on luck.
Kiana couldn't help but apologize, "I'm sorry."
"It's not that serious. In fact, from the outcome, my joining the Immortal Blades can also be seen as fortunate."
Strictly speaking, his rapid power growth could largely be attributed to sheer luck. Without this system, his achievements would likely have been similar to Himeko's.
If not for being part of the Immortal Blades, he wouldn't have encountered 100 Honkai Beasts so quickly, nor accessed the system well before the Major Honkai Eruption.
Xia Chen changed the subject, "By the way, it's dinner time now. Can we start eating? Teacher Himeko mentioned there'd be a feast, and I've been looking forward to it for quite some time."
"Of course, Xia Chen. Sit next to me, so we can conveniently enjoy drinks together," Himeko said with a smile.
Her fondness for Xia Chen continued to grow, albeit not romantically, but rather as appreciation for a junior.
He was humble and courteous, attentive to details, strong yet disciplined, principled yet adaptable.
Without the presence of Honkai, she firmly believed his life would still have been remarkable.
Unfortunately, this is a world plagued by Honkai.
Himeko handed him a bottle of beer, saying, "Here, something lighter for the young ones."
"Thank you."
Xia Chen accepted the compliment without modesty.
Nearby, Kiana whispered to Mei, "Mei, Mei, don't you think Teacher Himeko seems particularly happy today?"
"Mm-hmm," Mei nodded. "I agree; it might be because someone is joining her for drinks."
Even Theresa refrained from spoiling the atmosphere by saying things like 'don't drink too much.' The meal was filled with a warm and convivial ambiance.
Mei introduced the dish, "This spicy boiled pork is specially prepared by our Class Monitor using Shenzhou cuisine techniques. Xia Chen, please try if it suits your taste."
"It already looks appetizing." Without hesitation, Xia Chen picked up a piece of meat with his chopsticks and praised, "Class Monitor Fu Hua's cooking skills are impressive! The tender meat infused with rich broth could make me eat three bowls of rice in one go."
Spicy boiled pork pairs exceptionally well with rice, making his words a genuine compliment.
Upon hearing this, Kiana eagerly expressed her desire to taste it.
"Ow, hot, hot!"
"Mm, delicious!" She couldn't help but exclaim, "It'd be great if Class Monitor cooked every day."
"Kiana," Mei's eyes narrowed slightly, "that's not polite."
"Mei, I was wrong," Kiana quickly admitted her defeat.
Meanwhile, Theresa devoured the bitter melon and egg stir-fry.
She had a fondness for any dish containing bitter melon.
This time, Bronya didn't intensely watch Kiana competing over food. Instead, she pondered the likelihood of Xia Chen honestly answering her questions about world bubbles.
Fu Hua and Mei exhibited the most reserved behavior during the meal. The former, accustomed to never engaging in disputes regardless of circumstances, while the latter maintained decorum due to her family's upbringing.
On the other hand, Himeko, delighted by having a new drinking companion, happily consumed several extra cups.
Eventually, the intoxicated Himeko needed Theresa's help to be escorted back to her room.
The dinner concluded on a satisfying note. Due to Xia Chen's mastery of Taixuan Sword Qi's Still Water realm, his desires towards Kiana and Mei significantly diminished when facing them.
At least, he no longer felt an intense urge to devour them whole.
The meal lasted almost an hour, with Kiana and Xia Chen ultimately responsible for clearing the dishes.
Kiana, always determined not to lose, even competed fiercely in eating speed.
However, this time she truly met a formidable opponent who matched her appetite.
By the time Xia Chen returned to his seat, he was too full to move.
"Mei... I'm stuffed."