Chapter 241: A Foxian Tale of the Haunted 『 Part Sixteen 』
〜Dragon Raja World〜
In Caesar's memory, Qingque had always been a slothful little thing, the type of person hardly rare within the Student Council. As President, he rarely deigned to interact with such "slackers"—in his view, spending too much time with the mediocre only invited mediocrity to seep into one's own soul.
"…Interesting."
Watching Qingque's MVP-caliber performance on the light screen, Caesar felt the first seeds of doubt regarding his past judgment. She was brilliant—far too brilliant to be a mere "gatekeeper" of the Divination Commission's archives.
Caesar offered a faint smile, a sharp glint flickering in his lake-blue eyes.
"So, she's been hiding her light under a bushel all this time."
Chu Zihang sat beside him, silently polishing Murasame. The blade reflected Qingque's rare, solemn expression on the screen. Chu Zihang spoke tonelessly:
"There is certainly an element of concealment, but the core reason… is likely that she simply doesn't care for her position."
"A low-level clerk willing to step up at a critical moment to save the Divination Commission from ruin… someone like that shouldn't be rotting in the archives. Every second she spends slacking off there is a waste of talent. Once this is over, Fu Xuan should promote her—at the very least, to her own deputy."
Chu Zihang glanced at him, his voice calm.
"Not everyone thinks like you, Caesar. Qingque just wants to choose the lifestyle that makes her most comfortable. If you forced her into a high-ranking position, she'd probably apply for a transfer within days, wouldn't she?"
"…A total waste of talent."
"I don't see it that way,"
Chu Zihang whispered.
"Having the right to choose whether or not to 'waste' one's talent is a form of happiness. Much like Chisei Gen—the undisputed King of the Japanese underworld, a true 'Emperor'—whose dream was simply to sell sunscreen on the beaches of Montalivet, France."
"To me, he and Qingque are the same. They haven't wasted their talents; they just happen to know exactly what they want their lives to look like."
—
「 "The universe, you see, is just like a game of Celestial Jade. Once the tiles are shuffled, the tides of victory and defeat are often already set."
"While you can calculate which tiles have been played and what hands others are building, if it were all just math, the game would lose its soul."
Qingque raised a finger, speaking unhurriedly: "Adapting to the moment, meeting challenges as they come, the twists and turns, the dead ends, and the breakthroughs. It's a bit of calculation, a dash of the unknown, and a sprinkle of chaos that makes Celestial Jade—and life itself—truly interesting."
"If I'm facing a losing hand, does that mean my choices at the table are meaningless? No. The meaning lies in the choice itself." Qingque looked at Heliobus Keralum, her voice more certain than ever before: "Just as I keep making choices to lose with dignity, the Master Diviner makes her choices for the sake of her goal."
"She must untangle the messy threads of fate day after day, year after year, just to keep this giant ship safe. In this cosmic game where everyone eventually loses, she never stops choosing, never stops struggling, all to keep the Xianzhou Luofu sailing for just one more second. Hehe, she really is the best player I know."
In Qingque's eyes, the Master Diviner would never seek trouble over the confusion of destiny. It was for this very reason that a Heliobus, imprisoned by determinism, could never comprehend the joys of being human.
These words didn't just silence Keralum; they reignited Fu Xuan's consciousness. She began to struggle, attempting to break free of the possession while Keralum's resolve wavered.
Previously, Stelle couldn't have imagined Qingque angry, but now she was seeing it. Qingque's gaze sharpened as she strode forward, shouting at the monster attempting to manipulate the Master Diviner: "Keralum! Get out of the Master Diviner's body, now!" 」
「 .....」
〜KonoSuba: God's Blessing on This Wonderful World〜
"Whoa! Miss Qingque is so cool and reliable!"
Megumin cupped her flushed cheeks with both hands, completely oblivious to her staff clattering onto the floor.
"So her usual lazy attitude was all just an act? She was hiding her power so deep…"
"Huaksushushu,"
Aqua suddenly stood with hands on her hips, triumphantly wagging a finger.
"I get it! She must be just like me—saving her true strength for the most critical turning points. It's like Kazuma says… 'Pros only play the clutch games.' It seems there's finally someone on the Xianzhou Luofu who understands me."
Kazuma rolled his eyes.
"No, you're just a genuine klutz. There's zero 'hiding' involved. She slacks off because she actually has 'real skills.' You're 'useless normally, and even more useless when it matters.' Anyone who isn't an idiot can see the difference,"
Kazuma interrupted ruthlessly.
"Remember the last time we were attacked by monsters? You were the first one to cry and run away."
"Th-That was a strategic withdrawal!"
Aqua's face turned beet-red.
"Withdrawal isn't running away… It's a tactical retreat! How can a Goddess 'run away'?"
She continued to ramble incoherently with a crimson face, muttering things like "I just had an upset stomach that day" and "performing Nature's Beauty at the party drained too much mana," drawing laughter from everyone. The guild hall was filled with a merry atmosphere.
—
「 The group quickly succeeded in sealing the shaken Keralum into the gourd.
After this ordeal, Fu Xuan saw Qingque in a new light. Though she was usually slothful, she was unexpectedly reliable when the chips were down. Even the Master Diviner's voice held a hint of praise: "Qingque, thank you for turning the tide."
"Ah, don't mention it, Master Diviner," Qingque said with a beaming smile. "You fired me while you were possessed, and that decision seemed pretty official. I'll be needing you to issue a formal written notice now to unilaterally terminate my contract."
"With the seniority I've built up in the Divination Commission, I'll be entitled to a massive severance package… Hehe." Qingque was already daydreaming about her bright future. "I've got it all planned out. I'll use the money to open a parlor, hire some staff, and live a life of leisure off the profits. No more work for me, haha!"
"Ah… sigh. What a shame. This master spoke much nonsense earlier and doesn't remember a single word of it." Fu Xuan intentionally rubbed her forehead, then looked up at Qingque, her expression returning to its usual sternness. "Speaking of which, Qingque, why are you still here? Shouldn't you be on duty in the archives right now?"
Qingque was no match for the Master Diviner's authority and trudged back with a look of utter disappointment.
Fortunately, the matter concluded successfully, and Fu Xuan resumed command. After casting Keralum into the matrix, the group began searching for their next target. Before long, Huohuo scrolled onto a post about Cloud Knights losing control. 」
「 .....」