Luo Xiaobai's World.
A flash of white light appeared, and Luo Xiaobai materialized in his familiar world under the starry sky. He took in a deep breath, feeling the tranquility of being home.
In the chat group, everyone was reporting their safe return after completing their respective missions. Suddenly, a new notification flashed across everyone's minds, indicating an upgrade of the chat group, and soon everyone went offline to explore the new functionalities.
Wind whistled by, as Luo Xiaobai dashed from one tree branch to another. He was moving at lightning speed towards his destination.
The new invitation function had stirred something in Luo Xiaobai's heart. Finally, he didn't have to hide his secrets from Wuxian anymore. He could call him his master openly. The thought of this future made his heart burn with excitement.
"Wuxian!" Luo Xiaobai shouted, his voice echoing through the darkness outside the cave. Wuxian, who had been wondering why Xiaobai had returned so soon, stood up and turned towards the entrance.
A figure raced into the cave, kicking up a bit of dust, and stopped right in front of Wuxian.
"Wuxian, I have something I want to tell you," Luo Xiaobai said, his voice tinged with excitement. His eyes sparkled with expectation.
"Can we go outside and talk?"
Wuxian looked at Luo Xiaobai's enthusiastic expression for a moment, then smiled gently and placed a hand on his head.
"Alright, Xiaobai. Whatever you want to say, I'll listen. Let's go outside," he said.
"Mhm!" Luo Xiaobai nodded happily, taking Wuxian's hand as they walked out of the cave.
Watching them leave, Jiulao chuckled to himself while stroking his beard. He took a sip of tea and said, "Looks like Wuxian is finally about to take in a new disciple tonight."
Next to him, Ruoshui put down the teapot she had used to refill Wuxian's cup and picked up a piece of pastry, resting her cheek on her hand. She watched Wuxian's figure, his long hair flowing behind him, and muttered, "Wuxian is such a wonderful person; it's only natural, isn't it?"
Outside the cave, Xiaobai expanded his domain, enveloping the area around them. Wuxian remained calm, curiously observing the invisible energy encompassing them.
"Xiaobai, I didn't expect you to be able to control and stabilize your domain so well already. Very impressive," Wuxian praised, his gaze filled with surprise.
Luo Xiaobai smiled shyly and then clasped his hands together. A golden invitation appeared in his palm. With a serious expression, Luo Xiaobai respectfully offered it to Wuxian.
"Wuxian, no—Master, please accept this invitation and open it," he said.
Wuxian reached out with a smile to take the invitation from Luo Xiaobai. However, when he heard Xiaobai address him as "Master," his hand paused mid-air, his voice trembling with surprise and delight.
"Xiaobai, what did you just call me?" Wuxian asked.
Luo Xiaobai looked at Wuxian, who couldn't help smiling. His eyes filled with tears as he knelt before Wuxian with a thud, holding the invitation high.
"Master, please take me as your apprentice! I want to stay by your side!" Luo Xiaobai cried out.
Hearing the plea, Wuxian confirmed he had heard correctly. He looked down at the kneeling Xiaobai, his face full of warmth and affection. He stretched out his right hand, bypassing the invitation. His spiritual senses told him that the invitation held a tremendous opportunity, but it could never compare to Xiaobai calling him "Master."
Feeling the warm hand on his head, Luo Xiaobai heard Wuxian say gently, "From today on, Xiaobai, you are my apprentice. From now on, your master will always be by your side. You will no longer have to wander alone."
Looking up at Wuxian, who had crouched down in front of him, Luo Xiaobai choked out a sob and hugged Wuxian tightly, his tears streaming down and soaking Wuxian's chest. At their feet, the golden invitation slipped to the ground.
The domain surrounding them disappeared. Jiulao, listening to the sobs of joy from the distance, happily took another sip of tea, looking thoroughly satisfied. Next to him, Ruoshui, her eyes lost in thought, murmured, "It feels like something special just happened."
Meanwhile, in the Konosuba world.
Kazuma Satou, Aqua, and Megumin were gathered in a small inn room, staring at the golden invitation that lay between them.
"So, who should get this invitation?" Kazuma mused, crossing his arms as if it were a difficult decision.
Aqua and Megumin looked at each other, a competitive glint in their eyes.
Aqua slapped her chest with confidence, causing a noticeable bounce. She declared loudly, "Kazuma, I'm a goddess, you know? Who else but me deserves to have the privilege of joining an interdimensional chat group? So, Megumin, you should give up this time! I'll make sure to have Kazuma invite you next time."
She turned to Kazuma, grinning ingratiatingly, "Kazuma, Kazuma-sama! You'll pick me, right? Right?"
Kazuma quickly shifted his gaze away from Aqua's chest and cleared his throat. "Aqua, what you're saying is not fair. Megumin is also our companion. You can't just claim the invitation because you were here first. That's not right."
Megumin, who had looked a little dejected, suddenly perked up at Kazuma's words, her eyes filled with hope. She looked at him with tears of gratitude. "Kazuma, I didn't expect you to be such a good person. I apologize for calling you a lolicon every time you carried me back from using Explosion. Thank you!"
Kazuma's face went pale at her words. He forced a dry smile, struggling to respond, "Megumin, I'm glad you realize it was all a misunderstanding... I'm definitely not like that."
He quickly opened the chat group and used his administrator privileges to hide his fate recordings in the most obscure corner of the interface.
Feeling a bit safer, Kazuma let out a sigh of relief, but when he looked up, he was startled to see Aqua and Megumin staring at him. He chuckled nervously, "W-Why are you both staring at me like that?"
"Kazuma, are you hot? You're sweating all over," Megumin pointed out.
Kazuma wiped his forehead, realizing it was soaked with cold sweat. He waved his hand dismissively, forcing another laugh, "I don't know why, but I suddenly feel really hot. Ha... hahaha."
"So suspicious..." Megumin mumbled, frowning at Kazuma.
"Holy Splash!"
A burst of cool water splashed onto Kazuma as Aqua, holding a fan in one hand and spraying water with the other, hurried over to fan him.
"Kazuma, Kazuma! Look how useful I am! Please give me the invitation!"
As she said this, Aqua used her fan to block Kazuma's view of Megumin, and for an instant, a spark seemed to ignite in her eyes as she glanced at Megumin.
'For the believers of this other world.'
'For the glory of Explosion Magic.'
"I won't lose!" Megumin shouted, stepping forward.
Kazuma found himself trapped between the two of them, Aqua on one side and Megumin on the other. He smiled blissfully and shouted, "Well then, if both of you want it, compete for it! Whoever makes Kazuma-sama the happiest gets the invitation!"
Thud!
A heavy blow landed on Kazuma's head, knocking him out.
Inside the room, Aqua and Megumin drew their staffs, turning to face each other.
"Megumin!"
"Aqua!"
Back in the Real World.
Kuroneko, dressed in her self-made "Fallen Angel Dark Black Cat" costume, walked out of her room, her footsteps echoing on the old wooden floor of the hallway.
Frowning, she glanced at the worn wooden boards beneath her feet, then headed for her sister Hinata's room. As she passed through the living room, her mother's voice called out to her.
"Is that you, Ruri? Are you going to your sisters' room? Remember to call everyone to dinner. It'll be ready soon. Thanks to your recent job earnings, I bought lots of delicious food for tonight."
"Got it, Mom," Kuroneko responded as she made her way to her sister's room.
She slid the door open to find Hinata bent over her desk, working on her homework, while her youngest sister, Tamaki, played with a plush toy on a soft cushion nearby.
Upon hearing the door, Tamaki looked up and ran over to her sister, hugging her with a happy cry.
"Ruri-nee, are we eating now? Did Mom call us for dinner?" Hinata looked up, putting down her pen, and asked while stretching her sore shoulders.
Kuroneko patted Tamaki's head and took her small hand, nodding. "Yes, Mom said we can have dinner soon."
She closed the door behind her and stepped further into the room.
Hinata, who was just about to get up for dinner, paused as Kuroneko walked in with a serious expression. She stared at her for a moment before a look of concern appeared on her face.
"Ruri-nee, do you have something important to tell me?"
"Yes," Kuroneko replied, but before she could strike a dramatic pose, Hinata hugged her tightly.
"Ruri-nee! You shouldn't do it. It's not good!" Hinata's eyes began to water.
Taken aback, Kuroneko tried to calm her sister, her hands awkwardly patting Hinata's back. "Hinata, what's wrong? Why are you crying all of a sudden? Did I do something wrong? Please, don't cry!"
Sniffling, Hinata wiped her eyes, her voice trembling. "Ruri-nee, are you doing something dangerous for money?"
"???"
"Hinata, what are you talking about? Dangerous?" Kuroneko asked, puzzled.
Hinata looked at Kuroneko's confused face and said quietly, "Your job earnings suddenly increased a lot recently. Are you doing something shady, Ruri-nee?"
"Something shady?" Kuroneko paused to think, and then her face turned red as she shouted, "Hinata, what nonsense are you talking about? I would never do something like that!"
"Really?" Hinata asked, looking skeptical. "You're not lying?"
"Of course not!" Kuroneko's face was still flushed. "The extra money is just from commissions for helping a friend buy items. It's nothing like what you're thinking!"
"You made a friend, Ruri-nee? Are they real? Where are they from? How old are they? Are they a boy or a girl?" Hinata, tears forgotten, now looked excited.
"Hinata!" Kuroneko called out in embarrassment as she turned, holding Tamaki's hand and leading her out the door. "It's time for dinner, and yes, they're real!"
"Really? Tell me more, Ruri-nee!"
"Hmph, you'll find out after dinner."
"Aww, I want to know now!"
"Sister dearest?"