Hajime’s return to his room was a quiet journey… being partially blind and deaf tends to do that to an ill guy. Yet something else was off—the prisoners around him were eerily silent. Hajime glanced at them… they looked drained, like a succubus had siphoned away all their HP. An ominous sight indeed.

  Valiant said, “It’s interesting that security is so low in this lower zone.”

  Hajime replied, “Probably just Deus’s arrogance showing again. No one would ever dare make a fuss in her domain and not expect retaliation.”

  Caladblock added, “That hasn’t stopped you from succeeding, hon.”

  Hajime hesitated for a few seconds. “My dread is that she doesn’t really care about mortals in any meaningful way.”

  Valiant said, “Hajime? Dreading something? That’s a new side of you.”

  Whalescalibur commented, “He’s right tough. She never really cared much about mortal existence. She only intervenes when Elnora is at stake.”

  Walletbreaker chimed in, “That’s why the Demon Goddess is better. The Dark Lord scams everyone indiscriminately, sure—she’s a real scumbag—but she always tries to leave you with a smile.”

  Hajime sighed. “Of course there’s a Dark Lord in this world.”

  Morrigad texted, “Aunt isn’t that bad… but her blood feud with Mom is—never mind.”

  “So the Dark Lord is Deus’s sister… These feel like reveals that should’ve appeared much later in my journey,” Hajime muttered.

  Walletbreaker said before going back to sleep, “It’s widely known that siblings love and hate each other allot. Some just never stop.”

  Whalescalibur said, “That’s not the case for us! We only tolerate each other because of you Master!”

  Caladblock added, “She speaks the truth. I would abandon her without regret if the chance presents itself.”

  Valiant said sarcastically, “Wow… such strong sibling chemistry we have here.”

  Hajime then asked Morrigad, “Morrigad, why is Elnora so important to Deus?”

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  Morrigad texted back, “…”

  “You can’t say?”

  “It’s not allowed to discuss family details with outsiders.”

  “Am I an outsider to this?”

  “Yes… for now, at least.”

  Hajime sighed. “I assume your contract prevents you from disclosing internal information?”

  “No. That’s not it. We’re allowed to reveal personal information as long as the plot demands it. How should I put this… if it’s entertaining, you’ll know.”

  “…Who decides what is entertaining?”

  For the first time, Morrigad spoke aloud:

  “The Clout.”

  Such cryptic words coming from the almost mute goddess… and then she turned off the ring and the text disappeared.

  Hajime was left with more questions than answers.

  Valiant said, “Interesting… I need to take some notes for my archive.”

  Whalescalibur added, “Clout? I have lots of it—but is there something deeper to it?”

  Caladblock mused, “Even when I almost destroyed the world, my clout was abnormally high…”

  Hajime rubbed his temples. “This is getting complicated.”

  He shoved the thought onto the back burner. He still need's to survive the big day.

  When he entered his room, he hug's Zeus.

  “You’re the only one who soothes my heart.”

  Zeus moo's happily.

  Just as Hajime finished cuddling, Chun Bu arrive's—accompanied by the last person Hajime wanted to see.

  Xian Xu stood at his door, cold as frost, staring at him with razor-sharp eyes.

  Hajime forced a smile. “Chun Bu… great to see you, and who might your… friend be?”

  Trying to play it cool, Chun Bu said, “Greetings, my friend. This is Xian Xu—my ex-fiancée. She is here to participate as the representative of the Kunlad continent.”

  Xian Xu: “Un.”

  Hajime asked bluntly, “I know this may sound rude, but why is she here?”

  He looked at Chun Bu with concern.

  “I invited her to debate the Dao and spar later tonight. She accepted.”

  Xian Xu: “Un.”

  “Then I won’t disturb you.” Hajime continue's petting Zeus while they speak.

  Chun Bu begin's, “The Dao of this world is easier to comprehend than in our original realm. Any breakthroughs in your understanding of the Ads?”

  Xian Xu: “Un.”

  “I’ve found that my cultivation increases the more gacha tokens I spend on Divine Fruit Ads, mixed with Dragon Juice catalogues. I believe their great for all cultivators”

  Xian Xu: “Un.”

  Hajime muttered, “This is not a debate…”

  Then Xian Xu suddenly said, “I agree that Divine Fruits may help all cultivators, but Divine Spring Hotel Ads are superior for yin constitutions.”

  Hajime whispered to Caladblock, “Gag my mouth with miasma until she leaves.”

  Caladblock replied, “Sure, luv.”

  Hajime muffled himself and kept petting Zeus.

  Xian Xu giggled wile seeing Hajime. Chun Bu’s eyes sparkled at the blossoming cold flower.

  The two cultivators left for their late-night training—they hadn’t needed sleep for centuries, no harm no foul for them.

  Hajime lay's down. “Tomorrow’s the big day… let’s just hope I don’t die.”

  As if on cue, a silver ad materialized in front of his only good eye—sent by Morrigad:

  “Ebony, walnut, or cheap wood—Morrigad’s Mortuary Service offers a comfy end with style.”

  Hajime stare's at it and says:. “Such a bad omen.”

  He closes his eyes and fall's asleep under the pale glow of an ad pretending to be moonlight.