Trivial Matters

“Flower crowns... such a familiar thing...” Li Yue placed a cup of coffee on the table. Wearing a professional fake smile, she moved between the tables with a tray.

She saw off the last wave of customers and smiled with relief. She kicked the ground with her toe, adjusting the gap between her high heels and her feet.

“You’ve been a big help. Miss Li Yue, I didn’t expect you to have time lately.” Bai Cha smiled. Since the academy officially started classes, Li Yue had hardly come by. On one hand, she had exchanged for enough coins and wasn't short on money for daily life; on the other hand, she was gradually getting busier.

“Where are the others? I didn't see them today.”

“Zijing and Xiao Lin are busy with academy assignments lately. It seems they have to collect herbs and concoct potions themselves. As for the sisters who usually help out here, the younger one has a fever, so the older one has to stay home to take care of her...” Bai Cha sighed. “The risk of getting sick during the changing seasons has increased so much. I might as well close shop for two days tomorrow and the day after.”

“Getting sick and being busy, that's how it goes.” Li Yue nodded. She took the opportunity to sit and rest for a moment.

“Do you have those activities?” Bai Cha took a sip of water, pulled over a chair, and chatted with Li Yue, who didn't seem to have much else to do.

“I suppose I do, I just haven't been in a rush to finish them.” Li Yue rested her chin in her hand and thought. She did have plenty of those boring trifles. Sometimes it felt like she was busy all day, yet felt like she hadn't done anything.

Well, that's student life.

“How are the professors at the academy treating you? I heard quite a few of the rigid ones were transferred to the Western Continent campus.”

“The professors' requirements are very loose. Life is fairly relaxed, though daily chores are a hassle.” Li Yue sighed, glancing at the clock on the wall. The hour hand was slowly approaching seven.

“I need to go back and make dinner. Luckily, I marinated the meat in advance. I just need to roast it when I get back.” Li Yue untied her hair tie and ran toward the locker room.

“Her magic is truly unique, radiating a strange aura. Is this what they call a genius, or an eccentric?” Bai Cha thought to herself. Looking out the window, she felt like she had seen a few figures more than once today.

Li Yue finished changing and slowly stepped out of the locker room. Bai Cha's mouth opened to speak, but Li Yue put a finger to her lips in a “shush” gesture and slowly, step by step, walked toward the door.

“The heretic you mentioned is that girl with white hair and red eyes?”

“She certainly looks like someone from the Royal Court, but whether she is a heretic is still up for debate.”

“The Lord's authority cannot be profaned, especially not in this sacred land.”

...

A few Holy Knights and clerics—members of the Church on patrol, it seemed. But the frequency with which they passed by here was increasing. Based on their route and speed, they should appear here again at 7:03...

Looks like trouble is coming... Is the Church here also in opposition to the Royal Court?... Then what am I?... A heretic?

Probably not. An evil god... most likely...

Li Yue moved through the crowd, walking slowly along the somewhat noisy street. Her high heels clicked rhythmically against the pavement.

One, two, three... they're starting to close in. Are they going to surround me? Really...

“Miss, would you like to buy a balloon?” An old man carrying balloons of various colors walked up to Li Yue. He smiled faintly, pulled out a blue one, and held it out to her.

“Thank you... I'll take all of them.” Li Yue took out a silver coin and pressed it into the old man's hand. “Keep the change. The weather is nice today, and I want to add some color.”

Li Yue took the large bunch of balloons from the old man. A gust of wind blew, and the balloons scattered into the sky. People on the street looked up at the heavens, startled to find that today's sunset was exceptionally beautiful.

Li Yue left a smile behind, and her body instantly merged into the pitch-black Death Abyss. She closed her eyes, feeling the countless undead around her. Death whispered in her ear, and a pair of cold hands reached from behind to embrace her waist.

Li Yue's figure appeared in front of Clo's villa. She tied the blue balloon in the courtyard, her body trembling slightly as she walked slowly toward the house. Her eyes held blood-red vertical pupils, devoid of any excess emotion.

Within the pitch-black Death Abyss at her feet, something seemed to grab at her ankle, only to be casually kicked away.

Still... I had to use the power of God's remains to teleport out of the encirclement... This feeling is... strange. That divinity is starting to erode me again... So annoying, yet I can't feel any actual irritation...

...

So annoying.

On the street, the Holy Knights and red-robed clerics who were slowly closing in froze. They checked each other's positions, their eyes filled with shock and disbelief.

A girl had vanished instantly right under their watchful eyes. Such a thing had never happened before.

They felt a momentary daze, and they could no longer remember what the girl looked like. As they tried to recall her appearance, they had no specific impression left.

It seemed their minds had been affected in an instant, their memories interfered with.

Inside the sun-drenched kitchen, Li Yue used a knife to slice the marinated meat. She looked at the sunset outside the window, and her mood inexplicably improved.

She twirled the kitchen knife in her hand, the sharp blade dancing at her fingertips. (Dangerous action, please do not imitate.)

For some reason... I feel a bit unwilling... Should I have killed them all before leaving?

I should eliminate the source of trouble permanently and slaughter every last one of those guys' followers!

Ha!