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Uchiha Madara was passionately explaining things to the new members of the chat group when—
Rose quietly popped in.
[World's Number One Princess]: "Huh? I was gone for just a bit and we already have two new members?"
[World's Number One Princess]: "Hi there! I'm Rose, the group's admin. If you've got any questions, feel free to ask me."
Her cheerful message had barely been sent before someone immediately tagged her.
[APTX4869 Researcher]: "@World's Number One Princess, the admin said this chat group can bring people back from the dead—is that actually true? Can you explain how it works?"
Madara, being a newly promoted admin, didn't actually know much about that part.But after hearing hints from him, Ai Haibara—using the codename "APTX4869 Researcher"—jumped straight in once the group owner showed up.
[World's Number One Princess]: "The person you want to resurrect… is your sister, isn't it?"
[APTX4869 Researcher]: "Wait… how do you know that?!"
Haibara froze. She had mentioned wanting to bring someone back, sure—but she'd never said who.
[World's Number One Princess]: "Relax, I'm not part of any Black Organization. Once you join this group, your world's past and future can be partially observed."
[World's Number One Princess]: "Of course, that 'past and future' is based on the version of you that hadn't joined yet."
[APTX4869 Researcher]: "I… see. That makes sense."
[World's Number One Princess]: "This chat group exists to change fate—to rewrite regrets of the past and alter the future for the better. You can even gain great power here if that's what you're after."
[Abyss Princess]: "Power, huh… @World's Number One Princess, are you really that strong yourself, group leader?"
On Teyvat, Lumine—the Abyss Princess—was immediately interested. Power was something she desperately needed.After all, her final battle with Celestia was inevitable.
[World's Number One Princess]: "Every world follows different rules, so 'power' doesn't always translate. Unless we actually fought, it'd be hard to compare. But in my own world… yeah, I'm doing alright."
Rose's answer was deliberately vague. Lumine didn't press further—she was still wary of the whole chat group thing.
[World's Number One Princess]: "Oh, and about that resurrection question earlier—once the chat group reaches Level 3, the trading system unlocks. The answer you're looking for will be there."
[World's Number One Princess]: "To level up the group, we need two things: member activity and total member count."
[World's Number One Princess]: "@APTX4869, any other questions?"
The chat went silent for a moment. Then—
[Haibara Ai]: "No, that's all. Thank you, group leader."
At some point, Haibara had quietly changed her nickname to her real name.
"Resurrection…"
Over on Teyvat, Lumine was reading through the messages, whispering to herself."In most worlds, anything related to resurrection is taboo… but this group leader just says it so casually. Maybe her power really is above Celestia's."
But just as she said that—
A warning notification popped up, making her frown.
[Ding—— Warning: Member 'Spider' is in mortal danger. Vital signs rapidly declining.]
Right after that, the group's live feed automatically activated.
[Spider]: "Help! Somebody help me! I'm about to die, seriously!"
The screen showed a hellish landscape of lava and blazing heat.Spider was clinging to a chunk of rock barely above the molten surface, panting hard.Half her abdomen was gone, several legs missing, and blood was still dripping from the wounds.
Above her head, her HP bar was almost empty.
[Kikyo]: "That's… a serious injury."
[Uchiha Madara]: "What kind of enemy did you run into?"
[Haibara Ai]: "Wait, she's one of us too?"
[World's Number One Princess]: "Where are you right now, @Spider?"
Lava everywhere… and she's hurt that bad?Could it be—
[World's Number One Princess]: "Fire Dragon Rendol?"
[Spider]: "Eh?! You know about that thing? Yeah, it's that jerk! He's got way higher stats than me and won't stop bullying me!"
As she spoke, a blast of flame shot toward her. Spider shrieked and jumped onto another rock floating on the lava.
[Haibara Ai]: "A fire-breathing dragon?!"
[Spider]: "Yup! I don't even know what I did wrong! The moment he saw me, he just started trying to kill me! I'm small and pitiful—does he really have to go that far?!"
[World's Number One Princess]: "@Spider, I could transfer some of my power to you and help you take it down—but are you sure you want me to do that, knowing someone might be watching?"
[Spider]: "Wait—there is someone watching me?!"
Spider had felt that creepy "being watched" sensation for a while now, but never found anything when she looked around.
[World's Number One Princess]: "The one spying on you is the creator of your status system—the same being who sent you to that world. She's a goddess, you know."
[Spider]: "What?! No way! I thought you made the system! You're telling me it's actually some goddess? Why me of all spiders?!"
Being under divine surveillance was not something she wanted.
[World's Number One Princess]: "If I help you, and she notices, you might get dissected or worse."
[Spider]: "Wait—so you can't beat her?"
[World's Number One Princess]: "Haven't fought her, so who knows. But since the group can only send part of my power through, if I lose… you're the one who'll pay for it."
[Spider]: "…Yeah, on second thought, maybe I'll just handle this myself."
Between a fire dragon and a goddess who could literally build systems, the choice was obvious.
At least the dragon looked slightly beatable.
Spider had already suspected she was being monitored, which was exactly why—even in the middle of battle—her expression didn't change as she chatted.She didn't want to let that unseen watcher notice her fear.
"....."