Meanwhile, in the kitchen.
Qin Yu exchanged glances with the Zhenying sisters.
The atmosphere was tense, with only the simmering sounds of cooking filling the silence.
"What's wrong, so surprised to see me?"
Qin Yu scratched his head, looking at himself hesitantly.
Was something wrong?
"Good morning, Yu."
Yae instinctively pushed Zhen forward.
Sister, help me.
"...Morning."
Zhen sighed inwardly, this again.
For the past few days, whenever it was time for Yae to have a deep exchange with Qin Yu, she would make an excuse to back out.
As compensation...
Zhen could no longer remember how many times she had substituted for her sister.
Eating for two.
"You're in the kitchen so early."
Qin Yu's gaze couldn't help but drift to the stove.
As he got closer, the sour smell grew more intense.
"Just... a little hungry, grabbing a bite."
Yae's voice was a little unnatural as she subtly moved the pot behind her. kuAiδugg
She wanted to sneak a snack in the early morning and was caught by Yu.
A strange nervousness began to build in her heart.
She could face down a demon god without batting an eye,
But now...
"I see, but Yae has been getting hungry easily lately."
Qin Yu frowned, muttering unconsciously.
It wasn't suspicion, just concern for Yae's health.
"...!"
He spoke without thinking, but she took it to heart.
Yae quickly nudged Zhen.
Sister!
"Never mind that, Yu, are you continuing your special training today?"
Zhen took Yae's small hand and they walked together to Qin Yu's side.
With a chirp, Zhen gave him a gentle good morning kiss.
Yae, of course, didn't just watch.
"Yes, with the Cryo Archon."
Qin Yu, who was embraced by the two women, had his thoughts interrupted. The image of the noble figure flashed through his mind.
He was looking forward to it.
"Yu, you're spacing out."
Zhen poked Qin Yu, glaring at his eyes with a pout.
"Ah... sorry."
Qin Yu snapped back to reality and coughed lightly.
He wrapped his arms around Zhen's soft waist and shamelessly kissed her back.
Trying to smooth things over.
"Hmph, who are you thinking about this time!"
Zhen wasn't buying it. She pushed him away, shielding Yae behind her.
She put her hands on her hips, trying to assert her authority as an elder sister.
Unfortunately, with her gentle and lively nature, she couldn't be fierce at all.
"Ahem, what young girl? Nothing of the sort."
Qin Yu said with a sincere expression.
The Archon wasn't exactly a "young girl," and she was quite fierce.
Fierce in every sense of the word.
Suddenly, he sniffed the air.
"Wait a moment, what's that burning smell?"
"Oh no, my cooking—"
Zhen finally realized and rushed to salvage it.
For a moment, pots and pans clattered loudly.
In the morning kitchen, the aroma of cooking gradually grew stronger.
Zhen was busy, and though she was flustered, it was also heartwarming.
"Sister, you're clumsy."
Yae watched her sister's retreating back, her eyes full of tenderness.
Now, she was no longer alone.
Sister, Guuji Yae, Yae Miko.
And...
Yae gently touched her abdomen, leaning into Qin Yu's embrace, her heart filled with happiness.
"Yae."
Qin Yu held Yae, enjoying the warmth and contentment of having her in his arms.
If only they could stay like this forever.
"Alright, come try it with us."
Finally, Zhen brought the dishes to the table and beckoned to them.
"..."
Qin Yu and Yae exchanged glances, seeing the smiles in each other's eyes.
"Okay—"
The secret eating session began.
Time slowly passed.
"Yu, do you want more?"
"Ahem, I'm full. How about you, Zhen?"
"I'm full too."
Qin Yu and Zhen tacitly put down their chopsticks, their expressions stiff.
It was a little sour.
"You're full already?"
Yae's mouth didn't stop, and she moved the portions belonging to them in front of herself.
This was not enough at all.
"We have training later, so let's not eat too much."
"Yae, you didn't use to like sour food."
Qin Yu asked, looking at Yae, who had an unusually good appetite.
He then glanced at the Sansai Dango, untouched beside her.
Good heavens, she wasn't even interested in dessert.
Something was wrong, very wrong.
"!"
Yae's eyelashes fluttered.
"Actually, it's me who's been limiting Yae's sweets lately."
Zhen quickly smoothed things over, giving Yae a meaningful look.
"Eating too much sugar will give you cavities!"
"Do gods get cavities too..."
"Of course."
"..."
Zhen subtly kicked Yae.
Sister, I'm about to be found out!
"..."
Yae puffed out her cheeks, looking at Zhen with pleading eyes.
Sister, please.
The three of them gradually fell silent.
Qin Yu and Zhen accompanied Yae, watching her finish the food.
"Eat slowly."
Qin Yu smiled and tucked a stray strand of hair behind Yae's neck.
He could never get enough of her beautiful profile.
Just then.
"Yu, I forgot to tell you."
"I won't be accompanying you to the Enkanomiya expedition this time."
Yae put down her chopsticks, her gaze becoming more serious.
"I'll go."
Zhen leaned on Yae's shoulder and winked playfully.
"Zhen? How can that be?"
Qin Yu was slightly stunned.
The Electro Archon, with such formidable combat power, wouldn't be going?
Moreover, Zhen wasn't exactly skilled in combat!
"Don't worry, Yu will protect me, right?"
"Besides, the Cryo Archon and the Hydro Archon will be there."
Zhen made two small fists in the air.
Even if she wasn't skilled in direct combat, she was still a true Electro Archon.
As they say, a tank is a tank, and a DPS is a DPS.
"But..."
Qin Yu was still uneasy.
"This is the result of joint deduction by the Dendro Archon and the Hydro Archon."
Yae said softly.
The "enemies" were never just the Abyss Order.
...
After a while longer.
It was getting late, and Qin Yu was ushered out of the kitchen by the two women.
It wasn't because Yae was still hungry and too embarrassed to ask for more food in front of Qin Yu.
"The ship will reach its destination when it gets there. Worrying too much won't solve anything."
Qin Yu let out a long sigh.
Before his training with the Archon, he should warm up a little.
...
He arrived at an open field.
He hadn't expected to see someone already training there.
"Qin Yu—"
Someone called out, and then waited, walking in place.
Qin Yu, who had been lost in thought, snapped back and raised his hand in greeting.
"Morning, Eula."
He caught up with the graceful, tall figure.
They started running together and chatted.
"Good morning. You look well-rested after a few days off."
Eula's gaze was steady, her tone a little cold.
Her pen pal had been holed up in his room these past few days, which was truly lazy.
If this continued, his skills would surely decline!
The upright knightly lady couldn't allow Qin Yu to become complacent.
"Don't mention it, I haven't had a moment to rest."
Qin Yu, who had finally calmed his mood, recalled a dreadful experience and his face turned bitter.
Alas, the double fatigue of mind and body, you wouldn't understand.
"What, you mean you can't train day and night?"
Eula turned her head and glanced at Qin Yu, her eyes full of suspicion.
"In a sense, yes."
Qin Yu smiled wryly.
Didn't he train day and night? His kidneys had almost given out.
However, the next second.
"Oh? Then let me see the results of your training these past few days."
The knightly lady suddenly stopped.
What was the point of just talking? Let's have a spar.
"...Are you sure?"