"Join in my ass!"
After cursing arrogantly, Senti suddenly turned her head away, her eyes darting around as she muttered in a small voice, "If you sincerely invite me... this Immortal might reluctantly consider it..."
She really was terrible at being honest... Why did it suddenly feel like there was a brat being raised at home?
"Then forget it. I won't force you," Fu Hua replied calmly.
She had no intention of indulging Senti. Seeing her acting all awkward like that, Fu Hua made a show of withdrawing the hand she had extended.
"I'll just let Her Majesty beat you to death instead..." she added deliberately, stretching the final words.
"Wah! You heartless bastard! Fine! I agree, alright?!"
Senti immediately jumped up and grabbed Fu Hua's outstretched hand with both hands.
"Hmph. I didn't expect you to agree without even thinking," Fu Hua said, swinging her arm slightly with visible disdain.
However, if one carefully observed the look beneath Fu Hua's eyes, one could catch the brief flash of delight hidden there. Her words were insincere—she actually cared a great deal about Senti.
"Hah?! And you have the nerve to ask that? It was all for your sake! What heartless cruelty is this? I must have been blind to trust you! Bastard! After I worried about you so much before!"
While clutching her arm, Senti raised her head and unleashed a furious tirade. Her image as a tough, iron‑willed warrior—well, iron‑willed woman—completely collapsed as she cursed nonstop, getting more worked up with every word. Her mouth moved as if it had been dipped in honey.
"Meanwhile what about you? This is a banquet hall, right? You're eating the finest food and drinking the best wine while I'm getting beaten half to death! What kind of ridiculous world is this?! And you even teamed up with outsiders to toy with my feelings! You shameless pervert!"
Senti released Fu Hua's arm.
"And you were even carrying around that massive thing! Why aren't you carrying it now?! I've never seen someone so shameless in my life! Ugh—!"
Wearing the exact same face as Fu Hua, Senti stood right in front of her and launched into an endless stream of insults. As she cursed, her delicate face even twisted into a dramatic retching motion.
"Senti, quiet down. Be civilized..." Fu Hua advised calmly.
"Tch! What Senti? That name was chosen by some tasteless illiterate! We're both Fu Hua! Why do you get to be Fu Hua while I'm stuck with some third‑rate background character name like that?"
"Senti, watch your words. There is a reason for it," Fu Hua explained patiently.
"Watch my—?! This Immortal is going to smash her bra—"
Enough.
She couldn't hold it in anymore.
Even the mental discipline of Edge of Taixuan couldn't suppress it any longer. If this brat wasn't beaten now, she wouldn't just tear off the roof—she'd start digging up the foundation.
Then—
Bang!
The Immortal struck with a single punch, cracking Senti across the head and instantly suppressing the "rebellious" Herrscher.
"Quiet down!" Fu Hua shouted. "Her Majesty is watching!"
"You dare hit me?!"
"And you dare talk back?!"
Bang!!
"Ow—! You dead bastard!"
Veins bulged at the corners of their eyes. Noticing Selene barely suppressing her laughter and the strange look on General Esdeath's face, Fu Hua wished she could hang Senti up and beat her on the spot.
Clap! Clap!
"Lord Fu Hua and Senti seem to have such a good relationship," Selene said happily, tilting her head as she applauded.
"Who has a good relationship with her?!" ×2
Aside from Senti's louder voice and more exaggerated expression, the two of them moved almost perfectly in sync.
"Since you've joined us, that makes you one of our own. Senti, you must have had a hard journey. Nothing unexpected happened along the way, I hope?" Selene asked with a gentle smile, her hands clasped together.
Whether it was sincere or not, Selene's control over her expression was flawless—no one could find fault with it.
Hard journey? Very hard.
Unexpected events? There were plenty.
Thanks to your subordinates—especially that ice‑playing lunatic—my consciousness body was practically beaten to pieces!
"No. Thank you for your concern," Senti said.
She shrank behind Fu Hua like a frightened chick, her small body barely visible except for her head. A faint blush colored her cheeks.
Of course, all those complaints only existed inside Senti's mind. Saying them out loud in front of Selene...
Well... better not. Staying alive was nice.
Ahem.
This definitely wasn't cowardice. It was the Herrscher of Sentience core being useless and scared. It had nothing to do with Senti. She was extremely brave—everyone knew that.
Fu Hua quickly returned to her usual composed demeanor and nodded toward Selene.
"Your Majesty, we can begin."
"Mm." Selene nodded slightly.
"?"
Senti looked around in confusion.
What were they talking about? Why did she have no idea what was going on?
In the next moment, her mouth slowly opened and she froze.
She swallowed two or three times as if her throat had suddenly gone dry.
"Th‑th‑this..."
In her line of sight, a human‑sized puppet was rapidly taking shape before her.
Its skin glowed with the lifelike sheen of living flesh.
Black short boots wrapped around smooth, athletic calves. Above them were tight black shorts. Her slender body was draped in a black cloud‑patterned cloak in the style of ancient Shenzhou.
It was unmistakably identical to Senti's consciousness form.
"A physical body. It will serve as your reward for joining the Empire," Selene said.
At that moment, Senti felt as though she were witnessing an entirely new world.
This so‑called Her Majesty Selene...
Maybe she wasn't that bad after all.
"Eh?"
Suddenly remembering something, Senti's eyes widened.
A puppet construct?
Which meant that earlier illusion she experienced...
Looking up, she was about to ask a question when Selene spoke first.
"Hm? Do you have a question?"
"Uh—no."
Putting on the appearance of a well‑behaved child, Senti hurriedly shifted her gaze back to the puppet body.
As she examined it carefully, a bold thought suddenly appeared in her mind.
Since it was a brand‑new body...
Did that mean she could customize certain parts?
She didn't have many requirements. Senti didn't have any bad intentions—she just wanted to look a little more feminine.
"Um... could you maybe..."
Under Fu Hua's increasingly dark gaze, Senti looked at Selene with hopeful eyes, gesturing vaguely with her hands.
"You're still being picky?! Get in there!"
With a furious shout, Fu Hua stepped forward and delivered a flying kick, sending Senti's consciousness straight into the puppet body.
"Wait! It hasn't been modified yet! I refuse to accept this! Fu Hua, you're just jea—mmph!"
"Get in."
Expressionless, Fu Hua's red‑framed glasses flashed coldly as her merciless hand clamped down firmly on Senti's head.
Immediately afterward, the puppet's body gave a faint twitch. The gathered consciousness that formed Senti gradually disintegrated and dissolved, merging seamlessly into the construct.
"Finally quiet." Fu Hua wiped nonexistent sweat from her brow before turning around. "My apologies, Your Majesty. We must have made a spectacle of ourselves."
"No. I think it is proof of a strong bond," Selene replied, resting her chin on her hand. Her gentle smile was as refreshing as a spring breeze, leaving Fu Hua momentarily dazed.
It was as if peaceful clouds, holy radiance, and the faint hymn of a distant choir had gathered around Selene.
"Take her down. Mobius, Pardofelis, Theresa as well. I can see that they are far too restrained staying here. It is dull."
Except for Mobius, Selene thought to herself, casting a sidelong glance at the snake who was currently forcefully petting a cat.
"Understood!" Fu Hua knelt on one knee and saluted respectfully.
This time, Fu Hua had truly yielded.
As long as Selene did not launch large-scale indiscriminate slaughter against human civilization, Fu Hua could no longer find any reason to oppose her.
Lifting the unconscious Senti—who had fallen into a coma during the fusion—in a princess carry, Fu Hua then led Theresa and the others from the corner out of the hall.
Watching them depart, Selene swirled the wine in her glass.
She hadn't forgotten anything... had she?
"Very well. Everything has settled. Enjoy the banquet. Liver has already entered its final phase. As for Budo, there is no need to worry. With Gray Serpent's assistance, completely annihilating World Serpent and confiscating all of its assets is only a matter of time."
"In other words, this campaign will conclude in victory."
"Horaah—!"
...
At this moment, Li Sushang was suspended upside down with her legs raised straight in the air. Supporting herself with a single finger on the ground and her hands clasped behind her back, she was performing what she claimed to be post-meal exercise.
"Bronya is very concerned. Will this really aid digestion instead of hindering it?" Bronya said expressionlessly, watching Li Sushang balance on one finger.
"Rozaliya / Liliya are very concerned," said the Olenyeva sisters in unison.
"Li Sushang-senpai, perhaps you should refrain from doing that," Seele stood up and said worriedly.
"No matter. With Edge of Taixuan protecting me, ordinary human physiology does not apply to martial artists like us."
As she spoke, Li Sushang caught sight of Fu Hua returning from the corner of her eye. She flipped in midair, turned her back, and landed smoothly.
"Master Hua!"
"Class Monitor!"
Even from a staircase nearly a hundred meters away from Kiana's section, Fu Hua could already hear their energetic voices. She waved back at the approaching Kiana.
As Fu Hua drew closer, Kiana quickly stood up to greet her. She had been about to give Fu Hua a hug, but upon noticing the unconscious Senti in her arms, her smile softened. She gently patted Fu Hua on the shoulder and guided her to a seat at the long table.
"Principal," Raiden Mei said, stepping aside to make room. She glanced at the two small girls and the pet following behind Fu Hua. "Who are they?"
"A woman pretending to be young," Theresa replied irritably, shooting a fierce glare at Mobius, who was leisurely surveying her surroundings.
"Oh?" Raiden Mei raised an eyebrow slightly. Pretending to be young... Are you sure you're not describing yourself?
In the next instant, a pair of green-to-pink gradient snake-like eyes suddenly moved close.
"The Third Herrscher—Herrscher of Thunder. Allow me to introduce myself. My name is Mobius. You may call me Dr. Mobius. I am Hua's friend."
She bit down hard on the word "friend."
"Class Monitor's friend?"
Looking at Mobius, who flicked her tongue like a serpent, Raiden Mei fell silent for a moment. From her, she sensed a strong threat.
But it did not matter.
This was Kiana's domain. Raiden Mei did not believe that someone named Mobius would dare cause trouble here.
She extended her hand with natural elegance, fully displaying the refined upbringing of a proper young lady.
"Meow~ Let me shake too! Let's get acquainted. My name is Pardofelis," a paw-like hand reached out as Pardofelis eagerly followed up.
"...Hello."
A carefree and energetic girl, Raiden Mei thought.
"Hehe." Scratching the back of her head, Pardofelis gave an embarrassed laugh.
Li Sushang stared at Senti in Fu Hua's arms for a moment before suddenly blurting out something shocking.
"Master Hua, could this be my little Grand-Master? Who is my Grand-Master-in-law? When did you—ow! That hurts!"
Clutching her reddened forehead after being flicked, Li Sushang stumbled back several steps.
"What are you thinking about?" Fu Hua replied calmly, having anticipated this. "She is the Eighth Herrscher—Herrscher of Sentience—born in my likeness while I was gravely injured and in slumber."
"Tsk..."
Li Sushang clicked her tongue and let her gaze wander between Fu Hua, Kiana, Raiden Mei, and Bronya.
"A whole nest of Herrschers," she remarked.
Although she had awakened relatively late, Otto had still disclosed the necessary information to Li Sushang, including Fu Hua's time as class monitor and instructor at St. Freya.
And what a result it was.
The three key individuals under surveillance—one Herrscher of Reason, one Herrscher of the Void, one Herrscher of Thunder—and now Fu Hua herself had produced a Herrscher of Sentience.
Li Sushang could only exclaim in disbelief.
What were the odds?
Just as everyone fell into awkward silence due to Li Sushang's blunt commentary, Senti suddenly opened her eyes. She rolled her neck and stood up with a stretch.
"How does it feel? No stiffness, I hope?" Fu Hua asked.
Senti nodded enthusiastically.
"Of course not! Wow, this feeling—amazing! It's practically seamless compared to before."
She clenched her fist and cracked her thumb against her knuckles, squeezing her palm as crisp popping sounds echoed. Her expression was flamboyant and proud.
"Let's fight again! That ice-playing woman—this Immortal will definitely send her flying next time!"
"Yes, yes. Hindsight heroics," Fu Hua replied lightly as she returned to her seat. Now that she was no longer constrained in the center of the banquet hall, she relaxed and poured herself a small drink.
"You don't believe me? What, want to throw down?!"
"I believe you. Of course I do," Fu Hua answered without even turning her head, speaking as though humoring a child. "As Her Majesty said, once we return to the Imperial Capital, there will be plenty of opportunities for martial exchanges. Just don't cry if you lose."
"Tch! Don't spout nonsense! Who's going to cry?!"
Glug.
Draining her cup in one go, Fu Hua could not help but admit—Selene had been right.
With Senti around, her life would never be dull.
...
Elsewhere, in Central Europe, within the ruins of Kolosten on the outskirts of Vienna—
"Hmph. I'm unhappy. Where did Her Majesty go? It's already night and she still hasn't come to pick me up."
Pouting, Arisa kicked at a certain soulium construct.
"Ahem. My name is Otto Apocalypse. Why is this beautiful young lady so vexed? Perhaps you might confide in me. I would be more than willing to serve as your listener."
"No."
"Why? I am quite puzzled."
"Her Majesty said you're a very, very bad person. She said not to believe even a single punctuation mark that comes out of your mouth."
"..."