The girl was only tall enough to reach his chest. Zhu Haomiao casually patted her head, brushing her off as if calming a pet. "Alright, alright, I got it." The raging fire of anger was extinguished by a couple of head pats, and Abe Waka bit her lip in frustration, uncertain whether to scold or not. "Damn it! What’s your name?!" "Me? I’m called Yamakami Tetsuya, profession: male gun, best at making people happy." Looking at the young man in black speaking so earnestly, although she didn’t know why, Abe Waka was sure this guy was messing with her again! "Tell me your true name!!" Abe Waka raised her hand, channeling magic power into the black dragon pattern, and shouted in anger. On the other side, feeling the imminent contract suppression, Zhu Haomiao quickly tried to soothe the irritable girl. "Just a joke, don’t be hasty..." After finally calming Abe Waka, the young man in black became serious and extended his hand, smiling. "My name is Zhu Haomiao." Muttering the words to herself, Abe Waka looked him over with a peculiar expression before finally focusing on his outstretched hand. "I’m Abe Waka. From now on, we’re partners, sharing both joys and sorrows." Her slender hand grasped his, and the moment their palms locked, the black dragon pattern on the back of her hand radiated a mysterious glow, as if some kind of contract had been formed, evoking a warm sense of kinship. From soul to body, the two seemed to form a deeper connection. The wariness and caution slowly faded away, and Abe Waka’s tense nerves relaxed as she curiously asked. "Judging by your name, are you Chinese?" "Are the countries in the Otherworld the same as our world?" "What exactly is the form of existence of you Heroic Spirits?" "Are you spiritual beings, physical entities, or concept forms?" "Does the Heroic Spirit Hall really exist?" Listening to the curious barrage of questions, Zhu Haomiao could only smile politely, albeit awkwardly. [Article one of the Transcendents’ Charter: It is forbidden to disclose any information about reality to the natives of the Illusion Realm!] "Uh... I can’t say much about the specifics. Those who know, know." Patting Abe Waka’s head, Zhu Haomiao subtly shifted the topic. "But I’m very curious about your world. Why summon Heroic Spirits? Is there a purpose?" Faced with the young man in black’s inquiry, Abe Waka hesitated for a moment before mumbling. "Because of the Holy Grail War..." Zhu Haomiao’s eyes flickered, and he continued to probe. "Holy Grail War? What’s that?" "The Holy Grail is a miraculous item that can fulfill any wish, but to obtain it, one must summon Heroic Spirits from the Otherworld for a sacred war. The final winner can make a wish to the Holy Grail..." Hearing the information he had anticipated, Zhu Haomiao slowly furrowed his brows. A lighthearted story just needs a reason for a bit of playfulness, but in the real world, there’s a lot to consider. This so-called Holy Grail War is full of weirdness at every turn. But Abe Waka knew very little as well, and Zhu Haomiao could only temporarily suppress the doubts in his heart. "By the way, was that astrological phenomenon this morning really not caused by you?" Suspiciously staring at the young man in black, Abe Waka persisted in asking. "Really not. If I had done it, one of the suns would have been black." Seeing the girl’s startled and confused expression, Zhu Haomiao chuckled and diverted the conversation. "However, I do know one of them." "You know one of them?!" "Yes, not only do I know them, we’re quite close, really like best friends." For some reason, Abe Waka felt that Zhu Haomiao’s words might not be as straightforward as they appeared. "Her name is Amaterasu." Mentioning these two words, Zhu Haomiao couldn’t help but smack his lips at the thought, as if tasting something delicious. "Her flavor... is truly wonderful..." Originally pondering why someone would share the same name as the goddess Amaterasu, the strange whisper reached her ears, and Abe Waka shivered, instinctively looking up to catch the fleeting glow of deep green in the boy’s eyes, causing her hair to stand on end. In a vague sense, Abe Waka realized that the Heroic Spirit she had summoned seemed far from the harmless appearance he presented. On the contrary, something terrifying was lurking beneath his skin! In the morning, the bamboo deer-scarer struck against the rock, creating a clear and distant, ethereal sound. In the exquisite Japanese-style courtyard, Zhu Haomiao reluctantly looked at Abe Waka. "Why do I have to accompany you to school?" Attending school in reality is one thing, but why do I have to do it in the Illusion Realm too? Otherwise, isn’t my entry into the Illusion Realm in vain?! "I already told you, what happens to one of us affects the other, for better or worse. You wouldn’t want me to be ambushed, and then you inexplicably get expelled from this world, right?" Handing a suit uniform to Zhu Haomiao, Abe Waka hurriedly urged him to change. After hesitating for a moment, Zhu Haomiao made a last-ditch effort to resist. "You’ve already joined the Holy Grail War, so why do you still need to go to school?" "The Holy Grail War needs enough participants to start. Who knows when enough Heroic Spirits will be summoned? If it starts ten years later, should I not attend school until then?" Your family is so wealthy; can’t you just be a spoiled brat? Wouldn’t it be nice to eat, drink, and have fun with me every day? Noticing Zhu Haomiao’s reluctance, Abe Waka reassured him while pushing him along. "My dad is a board member of this school; no one can tell you what to do. You don’t really need to study, just ensure my safety." Unwillingly taking the uniform, Zhu Haomiao glanced at it and pouted. "Stop pushing; I don’t need to change clothes." On the other side, before Abe Waka could react, the well-tailored black suit on the boy seemed to come alive, as if countless scales were moving around his body, reflecting a kaleidoscope of colors in the sunlight. Her hand recoiled as if shocked, and Abe Waka’s wide eyes watched as Zhu Haomiao’s clothes transformed into a school uniform. "Is this... your Treasure?" After overcoming her initial fear, curiosity surged within her as Abe Waka inspected the boy’s uniform, noticing that although it appeared the same at first glance, a closer inspection revealed subtle differences. More mysterious, more luxurious! As a whole, it gave Zhu Haomiao an indescribable noble elegance, an ethereal, dreamlike beauty, as if he had stepped out of a 2D shoujo manga! "A Treasure? I guess so?" Zhu Haomiao gently moved his body, feeling the feather-light fabric that clung like a second skin, casually replying.