Belobog — the Underworld.
Bronya and the others had completely lost track of just how insane the world of Teyvat truly was.
But—
The moment the man even Bella feared was exposed, every gaze instinctively shifted toward him.
"I don't know… he doesn't really feel that different from us,"
March 7th muttered, staring intently at the light screen, where a warm, harmonious dinner scene was playing out.
"Could Bella have been exaggerating?"
Aside from his striking looks, Aerin appeared utterly ordinary. There was nothing about him that screamed world-ending terror.
"I thought Bella was deliberately smearing his image," March 7th continued.
"Someone who treats planets like kickballs—I was expecting some gigantic, ferocious monster. Maybe something even bigger than the Finality Demon God, with fangs and a terrifying face."
"Not necessarily," Dan Heng said solemnly.
"If he were truly that ordinary, would people around him treat him with such reverence?"
"Those women can casually destroy stars," he added quietly.
"And they can even ride clouds."
Recalling the terrifying power of the Valkyries piloting the Elemental Demon Kings—and the real footage of cloud-riding circulating in the chat—Dan Heng didn't believe Aerin was as harmless as March 7th suggested.
"It's fine," Stelle said thoughtfully.
"Now that he's been revealed, we'll eventually learn what kind of person he really is."
On the screen, the Valkyries returned exactly as planned.
Throughout Aerin's meal, none of them mentioned Bella's attack on Teyvat.
They treated him with deep respect—yet Aerin treated them with the same warmth in return.
He even remembered who liked which dishes and who didn't.
The atmosphere was peaceful and joyful.
It was almost impossible to imagine that this gentle man—who seemed special only because of his looks—was the same being Bella described as capable of annihilating worlds at will.
Curiosity bubbled within them.
They wanted to ask more about Aerin in the chat.
But—
With so little information, and Bella's terrifying reputation looming over them, no one dared speak first.
What if Aerin really was terrifying—and petty on top of it?
Seele glanced at Bronya, noticing her pale expression.
"You're still worried about Bella saying Aerin might come to Jarilo?" Seele asked softly.
"Since Bella already left, the chances of him coming here shouldn't be high."
"I hope so," Bronya replied quietly.
Then she turned to Stelle and the others.
"My mother asked me to return to the Overworld. I want to hear her thoughts."
"Bronya? Is that okay?"
March 7th hesitated. "The Supreme Guardian…"
"Don't worry," Bronya said.
"She's seen the future through the light screen and has temporarily given up using the Stellaron. She just… doesn't want to be alone."
"Oh… she's scared because of what Bella said," Stelle blurted out.
An awkward silence followed.
Who wouldn't be scared?
"Well then," March 7th said, forcing a smile,
"Stelle, Dan Heng, let's head back to the train too."
"We'll ask Himeko and Uncle Yang how to deal with Jarilo's Stellaron—or wait and see how the future unfolds."
They exchanged brief nods of farewell and went their separate ways.
[Aerin's dinner in Liyue was thoroughly satisfying.]
[After parting with the others, he returned to his Imaginary Space.]
[Moments later, Benares appeared before him.]
["Master, the massive entity that attacked Teyvat was controlled by Bella from behind the scenes."]
["I know," Aerin said with a smile. "No one else would bother with something so pointless."]
["The resurrection of the Black King Nibelung was her doing as well."]
Benares frowned.
This was the first time Aerin had mentioned it.
"You're saying… Bella was already acting back then?"
"Mm."
Aerin nodded. "The construct she gave consciousness to is called the Engine of Creation."
"It originated from a distant planet named Jarilo."
"I suspect she opened a spatial connection between Teyvat and Jarilo."
Benares snorted.
"Taking a hundred years just to connect two worlds?"
"She's really fallen behind."
Aerin flicked her forehead lightly.
"Don't underestimate her now."
"She spent most of that time in deep slumber, digesting a certain power."
"The Engine of Creation doesn't just carry her modifications—it carries traces of causality."
"She altered its fate."
Benares' eyes widened.
"You mean…?"
"Yes," Aerin said calmly.
"She used the power of the Finality Demon God."
"That's impossible!" Benares exclaimed.
"The Finality Demon God can't be summoned without Spiral Power—how could Bella—"
She suddenly froze.
"Master… are you saying that being?"
Aerin nodded heavily, his smile fading into quiet resignation.
"He implanted a Spiral Gene Factor into Bella."
"That's why she can draw upon more of his power."
The Spiral Gene Factor was a rare mechanism used by Spiral Awakeners—the only way to transfer Spiral Power.
But the price was annihilation.
"He likely believed he couldn't defeat me," Aerin said flatly.
"So he chose Bella."
"I always wondered why everyone Bella killed—good or evil—was revived afterward."
"I thought he blamed me for misusing Spiral Power."
"But it turns out… he was cleaning up after Bella all along."
Aerin's voice grew colder.
"Anyone who can't control or trust their own power has a weak will."
"The self-sealing of Spiral Awakeners was already a crack in their resolve."
"And over time, that flaw only grows."
Benares listened, cold sweat soaking her back.
She hadn't expected the Cosmic Overlord to go this far just to seal Aerin's power.
Bella was unique—one of the few who openly challenged Aerin without fear.
That was why she was chosen.
If Bella succeeded, the power she could wield against Aerin would surpass even the Cosmic Overlord's.
But—
The Gene Factor was only a test.
Fail, and Bella would vanish completely—beyond resurrection.
"So she can use fragments of his authority," Benares murmured,
"but she's not yet… inconceivable."
Aerin patted her head with a smile.
"Don't worry too much."
"Bella hasn't truly awakened Spiral Power."
"She still struggles against you and the Valkyries."
"And from now on—"
"You and the Valkyries will be unrivaled across the cosmos."
After that, Aerin opened a passage through Imaginary Space.
"I'll head to Jarilo for a bit," he said lightly.
"Let's see what kind of surprise Bella has prepared."
"And maybe pick up a few planets for you to travel on later."
News of Bella being chosen as the Cosmic Overlord's successor exploded across Teyvat.
No one envied her.
Because everyone understood—
Her path led only to tragedy.
To read advanced Chapters, head over to p@treon:
patreon.com/nani_kaito