---o---
In the world of No Game No Life, the distinction between day and night wasn't particularly obvious.
Because whether it was day or night, the world was perpetually filled with Spirit Remnants—the glowing ashes of spirits who had been drained to death and exploited in war.
However, even so, there was still some difference between day and night—daytime was slightly brighter than nighttime.
In winter, the nights were exceptionally long. When the sky finally brightened, the inhabitants of this world—aside from a portion of nocturnal races—had basically all woken up, begun gathering their equipment, and prepared to bombard their enemy factions' home bases.
As time passed, this world gradually grew noisy.
"Target acquired! Smash those Ground Moles' iron contraptions into scrap metal!!"
"All units listen up! Blow apart those tree-dwelling idiots' little wooden boats!"
"Chop up every last one of those damn Werebeasts!!"
...
Such shouts continuously rang out across different regions.
Thousands of streaks of firelight crossed the night sky, their brilliance so dazzling one could barely look directly at them. Following immediately were unceasing massive explosions, surging heat waves reaching the ground, vaporizing the surface trees, soil, and even the underground rock along with the enemies.....
Even from a great distance, one could see steel fragments scattering and bodies being blown apart within the scorching red flames.
In this era, blood feuds spanning generations were being recorded through warfare. Many races had already forgotten their mission to assist their patron gods in seizing the Star Grail.
Now, they fought largely for the sake of fighting itself.
At this moment, in Li Zihan's home...
Since humans lived underground, whether it was bright outside or not made no difference.
Fortunately, a certain someone possessed the Authority of the Herrscher of Reason and could manufacture various high-tech products, forcibly simulating a normal environment.
Therefore, this underground world was actually much brighter than the outside world, and many things inside could be clearly seen.
Scattered across the floor were various articles of clothing, even intimate garments, making the originally clean and tidy hall look somewhat disheveled.
On the sofa, the seat cushions were completely covered by a not-too-thick blanket, leaving only a soft armrest exposed to the air. There, three heads were resting, their bodies covered by the blanket...
"Mm~~"
At a certain moment, a small, soft moan emerged from one of those heads, breaking the silence of the scene.
A pair of eyebrows furrowed slightly, eyelids trembled, then opened rather lazily yet with apparent difficulty, revealing a pair of beautiful blue eyes.....
The not-particularly-bright light entered Ling's field of vision. The glaring brightness made her instinctively squint her drowsy eyes, which rippled with traces of moisture.
On her cheeks, circles of blush spread—so captivating that one couldn't bear to look away—as if she had just experienced a very pleasant dream.
But the truth, of course, was not so simple...
As consciousness returned to her mind, Ling looked around in confusion. Then she felt it—her body felt tingly, numb...
An unusual sense of comfort spread through her body, making the not-yet-fully-awake Ling think that she had accidentally fallen asleep while bathing last night and had soaked in the water all night.
It wasn't until a terribly familiar breathing sound reached her ears that Ling suddenly snapped to awareness, and memories flooded back into her mind.
"Eh... EH?!?!"
The blush on her face rapidly spread, instantly dyeing Ling's complexion a shade even more vivid than the red hair framing her forehead.
Feeling the embrace so close at hand and the faint scorching temperature it radiated, Ling started to cry out, but remembering there was another person beside her, she quickly clenched her teeth, held her breath, and didn't dare make another sound.
With a hint of panic, she sat up from the sofa. Ling initially wanted to jump straight down, but she was completely bare—if she jumped down, she'd be completely exposed. She could only forcibly suppress the urge to flee, clutching the blanket tightly around herself. Only when she saw Li Zihan still sleeping soundly did she breathe a sigh of relief, though the blush on her face remained.
Recalling yesterday's madness, Ling was utterly embarrassed. Although she hadn't been without fantasies that she too would have such a day...
She could never have imagined that her first time would be together with Seele.
This made Ling feel all kinds of shame, all kinds of mortification.
When that certain someone had said he wouldn't risk making her angry by messing around recklessly, Miss Ling had still blushed.
After confirming such matters, that certain scoundrel had very naturally chosen to step forward and embrace her.
And then...
And then things happening became quite natural.
And then being discovered by Seele was also quite natural.
This guy really was a bastard.
After that certain someone had repeatedly released himself inside Seele to the point where it wouldn't be surprising if she tested positive for pregnancy in a few days, that scoundrel had let Seele sleep first, then pulled Miss Ling along to shift the battlefield.
Having been frightened considerably at the time, yet never expecting that certain someone would also bring Seele into things, Ling inexplicably wanted to viciously bite that certain someone's face to vent her frustration.
She looked at that certain someone's face, contemplating for a moment.
It really would be better to bite him.
Otherwise, her emotions wouldn't settle.
Thinking this, Ling opened her small mouth, revealed her slightly sharp canines, and bit down.
However—
After biting down, she only symbolically poked that certain someone's cheek with her fangs.
Actually biting down—she couldn't bear to do it.
But even so, this stimulation was apparently enough for that certain someone.
Very quickly, the young man opened his eyes.
"Morning, Ling."
Clearly having enjoyed himself thoroughly, that certain someone looked at the girl who had initially warned him "if you dare get ideas about me, I'll kill you" but ultimately agreed to date him, his smile carrying a hint of pleasure.
"Morning your big fat head!"
If it were the past, Miss Ling would definitely have shouted that.
But—
Now the situation was somewhat different.
"...Morning."
Still able to recall that scalding sensation churning in her lower abdomen, Ling's face was very red, and her voice carried a few traces of weakness.
Clearly, the once wildly spirited Little Fox had undergone some psychological changes after a single night.
"Want to eat something?"
The certain someone who had thoroughly worn out both Ling and Seele last night blinked his eyes, asking.
"...Whatever."
Actually wanting more to try cooking herself, but with her body not quite suitable for it right now, Miss Ling looked at that certain someone who had always been such a bastard, her face somewhat red.
"Then it'll be fried tofu udon and rose pudding."
Still very clear about what foods Ling and Seele liked, the young man smiled, helped Ling arrange her hair, then headed to the kitchen.
Meanwhile, on another front.....
"Would you all STOP IT ALREADY!!"
Having been inexplicably dragged into the battlefield and only avoiding elimination thanks to Azriel's support, Jibril roared in fury.
The God-Slayers were still engaged in their free-for-all brawl.