Girl in the Box: Please tell me why I was reincarnated as a mimic monster!

"It doesn't matter what you do, it's all the same, right?"

"This sentence sounds a bit ambiguous to me..."

"You're overthinking it. Oh, I was thinking of having salad tonight."

"Salad... I don't think we have any. Just make it ready."

"Hmm. Do you need any help?"

"No need, sit there."

Li took out a table and kitchen utensils from her treasure chest, then took out ingredients in a paper bag. She tossed the vegetables and fruits into the air, then used magic to wash them, tore them open, put them in the container, and added salad dressing. Ning sat behind her, her face full of undisguised smiles. Only at times like this could they temporarily put aside all their work and rest. Looking at her preparing dinner for them, they felt as sweet as if they had eaten honey.

Li quickly prepared the salad and then took out dinner. She turned around to hand Ning her portion, and their eyes met.

"What are you doing?" Li handed her dinner. "Laughing. What's so funny? Did I put my clothes on backwards?"

"That's not quite it," Ning laughed. "It just feels so relaxing."

"Ugh..." Li looked at her suspiciously and moved away from her. "Are you broken? How could you say something like that..."

"Compared to that," Ning shrugged, "how do you feel now?"

"What do you mean, how?" I couldn't understand what she meant.

“I mean, what you’re doing right now,” Ning said bluntly. “We’ve been doing this for over a month now, haven’t we? I’d like to hear your thoughts.”

After the events in the Kingdom of Alyas ended and they rested for a while, they devoted themselves to the construction of Akihabara for a month. During this month, the two of them accomplished a lot. Ning was naturally adept at these tasks, but she was not quite sure what kind of state Li was in.

This should be Li's first time experiencing this kind of work. Back on Earth, she wasn't even eighteen yet, and she had to stop attending middle school due to the worsening of her illness. Therefore, Ning was somewhat worried that Li wouldn't be able to keep up with the intensity of the work, because this stubborn girl would definitely try to make up for her lack of ability with time.

"Hmm...Is it alright?" Li sat in front of the fire. "I'm not entirely sure what it feels like. Actually, it's alright...The process was quite enjoyable because it was my first time doing...something like this, so it was novel and tiring, but of course, the beginning was the most important thing. Being able to do something so incredible with you guys makes me feel pretty amazing."

This is Riri's true thought. She doesn't have the talent of those genius madmen from Akihabara, but she's willing to spend time learning such a skill before starting work. She might say she can't do it halfway through a task, but afterwards she'll still try to do it well, no matter how long it takes, until she possesses the skill.

It has to be said that the skill system in this world is a very convenient system. Even if you don't know how to do something, as long as you do it more and try more, you will get the relevant skills.

Once you have the relevant skills, the Magic Eye will automatically activate those skills to assist you in your work. Rin has gradually come to feel that the Magic Eye is no longer just a simple skill, but rather as if it has gained intelligence.

However, because her skill level was low, it was still quite difficult to do. Because of the precedent of the "Goddess Agent" skill, she was optimistic that the skills would upgrade. Once these skills upgraded, the subsequent work wouldn't be so strenuous, so she was doing it with great enthusiasm.

"Really..." Ning felt a little relieved and drank some hot soup to warm herself up.

In this desolate landscape, the extreme temperature difference between day and night was unbearable. The temperature difference inside the maze was relatively mild, but here it was practically zero degrees Celsius. In this environment, sitting by the fire and sipping hot soup felt incredibly comforting. Despite their heavy responsibilities, they knew they needed to rest. The two sat by the fire, silently finished their dinner, and then tidied up.

Li sat by the fire, bathed in its warm light, her ruby-like eyes sparkling in the flames. She did nothing, seemingly lost in thought; she rarely pondered anything so quietly. Ning sat opposite her, tending to the fire to keep it burning. She knew Li wanted to say something, so she waited for her to speak first.

However, looking at Ritsu like this, she really does resemble a beautiful and moving painting. Ning concluded that she would be just as beautiful as a painting whenever she quieted down. But no matter what, Ritsu would always be her favorite, and that would never change. The two sat by the fire until late at night when Ritsu spoke.

“Hey…” Li asked, “Sometimes, I feel like it’s all a dream… I have so many like-minded friends, such a wonderful life, and such family and you, it feels like a dream…”

For Li, her life should have ended on Earth a year ago due to AIDS. However, by chance, she came into this world and began another wonderful life, as wonderful as a dream. This was a huge surprise for her life. She never dared to imagine that she could live like this, a dragon king.

She was also afraid, afraid that this was just a dream, afraid that the dream would disappear when she woke up, never to return. She was terrified that everything she had experienced was just a dream, that if these encounters, these conversations, these everyday moments, everything was a dream, then it would all disappear after she woke up. If she really faced such a fact, she might collapse from the shock of not being able to accept it.

She dared not think about what happened next.

"Ning." Li's gaze lingered on Ning. "Are you... really?"

This question was so pointed that even Ning was taken aback, but she quickly recovered and delivered a fatal blow to the sentimental Li with a ruthless chop.

“Wow!?”

"So what are you being so sentimental about?" Ning added another blow. "Are you trying to say that this realistic pain is fake? Or have you turned your Demon Eye into a gamer's brain from using it too much? Let me tell you, neither of those scenarios is possible. Give me your hand."

"Eh...oh..."

Ning grabbed Li's hand and pressed it against her chest. Just as she was about to say something, she got stuck in her throat because she realized something was wrong, but she couldn't think of a way to smooth things over. So the two of them remained in an awkward silence for a long time.

“Um…” Li seemed to have discovered something, “I think I know what you’re trying to say…”

"No, don't say it out loud," Ning interrupted her, her face flushed.

"You're not trying to be like those characters in romance novels, are you?"

"Noisy!"

She still blurted it out, because she rarely saw Ning act so foolishly. The last time she acted foolishly was probably because she didn't know how to use a lighter and got burned. This time, she was probably trying to show off like someone from a romance novel, with a line that was something like, "Can you feel this heartbeat? This is proof that you're alive." The reason she suddenly stopped talking was probably because she didn't have a heart.

Seeing her face turn so red, Ri couldn't resist teasing her. However, Ri didn't expect what would happen next.

Li's hand suddenly sank into Ning's melting chest, startling her so much that she instinctively tried to pull it out. But Ning held her hand firmly and pushed it deeper inside. Finally, her hand touched a small bead...

"Um..." Li said somewhat awkwardly, "Ning, this wouldn't be..."

“Right.” Ning nodded. “This is the core of the slime. It’s very small, right?”

"That's not what I meant..." Li said somewhat anxiously.

“This is proof that I’m alive,” Ning said to himself. “If you want to confirm whether all of this is real, you can crush it to prove it.”

"Wait!" Li immediately pulled her hand back. "I would never do such a thing, and don't do anything rash..."

"It's nothing," Ning said casually. "That's fake."

"You bastard! You actually lied to me!! You scared me to death, okay?!"

Rin was genuinely startled by what she had just done, because the slime's core was extremely fragile. If either of them had exerted just a little force, they could have crushed the core. Destroying the slime's core would kill it, a common understanding in many isekai games. This must be the same for Ning.

If she had caused an accident because of her slip-up, she would have regretted it for the rest of her life. However, Ning was actually forcing herself to do this, and that little bead was indeed her true core. She wanted Li to calm down. She was quite embarrassed in the situation just now, but she managed to smooth things over.

"So what do you have to worry about?" Ning straightened her chest. "We're both here, aren't we?"

"Hmm..." Riku said with a wry smile, "It might be because I've really used my Mystic Eyes too much..."

Because Magic Eye is so convenient, it can visualize and digitize many things, making people feel like they are playing a game. Perhaps they have used Magic Eye too much and subconsciously believe that it is just a game.

“You don’t need to worry about that,” Ning said calmly. “Besides, if all of this is just a dream, you can write it down when you wake up over there.”

"Write it down...?" Li looked hesitant. "That's... a bit difficult... I..."

"Don't worry. I will come find you," Ning promised. "No matter where you are, I will find you. I will help you finish writing this book. If you can no longer move, I will write it for you. If you are gone, I will continue writing for you until we finish telling our story."

"Don't be ridiculous..." Li laughed. "If all of this is a dream, how could you possibly exist? And... how are you going to find me?"

"I don't care about any of that." Ning stuck out her tongue. "Just you wait and see."

"Okay, okay, if this really is a dream, I'll wait for you over there."

"It's so perfunctory."

"Yes? No?"

The two exchanged a smile. Although Li's answer sounded perfunctory, she was genuinely touched; her eyes welled up with tears, though she didn't cry much. Ning was serious; no matter where they were, Ning would find her. Because the atmosphere was a little awkward, Ning changed the subject.

“By the way,” Ning asked, “after all this is over and we retire, what do you want to do?”

"Ugh..." Li said with a wry smile, "I'd like to know... but is retirement even possible for us?"

The entire Akihabara was built around their vision. This was a long-term project, and it would probably take a long time to complete everything and hand it over to their successors. It was impossible to do so in the short term, so Rin didn't even dare to think about it.

“This is meant to be thought about,” Ning encouraged. “I know it will be a long time before that time comes, but we can think about it first and then make a plan, right?”

"Hmm... what you're saying makes some sense..." After thinking about it, it really is true. "Hmm... I want to go see the world... by then the environment will definitely have improved... I want to take Xiao and the others on a trip, to go on an adventure."

"Haha..." Ning chuckled wryly, "That's exactly the kind of thing you'd say. But then again, in a world like this, travel and adventure are the most romantic things..."

“I’ve always wanted to travel,” Li said, looking at the fire. “Traveling around at a time like this is really pointless… everywhere is desolate, and I’m getting tired of seeing it.”

"Yes, I have the same thought."

The two chatted on and on about their future plans and ideas. They wanted to travel—or rather, go on their honeymoon—to solve the hero's problem, to see what the world was like, and to understand it. If possible, they wanted to return to their original world, to see the familiar streets, to see the familiar faces, and then… to see the guy in the next bed.

Finally, the two drifted off to sleep amidst their hopeful and romantic discussion, ending their day...

Is it really?

Chapter 13 Conversation with the Goddess

"Ha..." Li was too lazy to even complain anymore, "What happened this time..."

Logically, she should have been asleep by now, but for some reason, she found herself in another world, with an unusually clear mind. This time, it was similar to the bugged area she encountered earlier, only slightly different, as it was a black and white world, a world covered in black and white fragments.

As far as the eye could see, everything was black and white, each occupying half. But upon closer inspection, one would notice that the two colors seemed to be fighting each other, trying to increase their territory. Fragments of black and white moved closer together, and larger areas of black and white kept increasing in size. Hmm, it felt like I had seen this scene somewhere before.

Oh.

"I remember now..." Li realized how the plot was going to unfold.

Based on this scenario, she will next encounter the person she least wants to meet—the kind of character who spouts grand theories and talks big. You see, black and white, and they're even fighting. What kind of topic can we extend this to? Of course, it's the struggle between light and darkness, good and evil. And this character will definitely have a deeper discussion with you, the kind of philosophical topic.

At this point, Li had to admit that she was a simple-minded, physically strong treasure chest monster, because she was completely clueless about broad concepts like philosophy. Incidentally, even when Ning subtly mocked her, it took her a while to understand what he meant. Moreover, she hated these kinds of scenes the most; they were too idealistic. She'd rather do something useful than waste time arguing with others.

So, Rin decided to punch that person as soon as he appeared, threatening him to release her back to her original world. Seriously, there are always so many powerful characters around, but whenever a crisis occurs, these people just stand by and watch, leaving everything to the protagonist. What's the point? It's so troublesome. Remember that line again?

With great power comes great responsibility?

Okay, this isn't reflected in most novels and light novels, which is a serious problem. How many works have you seen where a seemingly powerful figure actually steps in to protect the world? Sigh... if they all stepped in to help, there wouldn't be so much trouble.

However, at this moment, Li thought of another terrible possibility... that he had woken up from the dream.

"No way……"

Li had discussed this with Ning that night. What if it was all a dream, and now that the dream is over, everything has disappeared? What should Li do? She looked around blankly, trying to find something familiar. She tried to move forward and run in this black and white world, but she didn't see anything familiar.

"Ugh... Damn it, they actually pulled this cheesy plot twist..." I don't even know who to complain to.

She was just saying it casually last night, but who knew she would actually stumble upon such a ridiculous situation. Now it's no use talking to anyone. What's more, she woke up not in a hospital room filled with the smell of disinfectant, but in this damned black and white world. That's what's giving her the biggest headache. She doesn't even know what state she's in right now.

"Ugh... This is so annoying!!!"

Li could only stand there in frustration, but then she remembered what Ning had told her, and she calmed down. Ning had complained many times that Li was someone who overthinks things, and she was right. Right now, instead of going crazy, Li should be figuring out what was really going on.

So the question is... where is she right now?

"Eh……?"

Then she discovered another problem, because she had returned to her former appearance, the thin and frail look she had on Earth.

Long black hair, a white uniform, a thin body, and an unhealthy complexion—this was likely before her condition worsened and she was hospitalized. She had shrunk in height and was feeling increasingly weak; this was very strange…

"What is this...?" Li stared blankly at her body.

The way things were now gave Li a bad feeling, because it reminded her of how she looked back on Earth. It felt like an illusion, and she became uneasy. She tried to activate her skills, but they didn't respond, meaning this was a completely different world.

"Ugh... my head hurts." Li pressed his temples, his head throbbing.

The problem wasn't whether she was still the Time-Space Dragon King, or whether she still possessed reason, but rather that there was nothing here, and she didn't know what she could do. This feeling was actually quite unpleasant; she wanted to do something, but there was nothing that allowed her to interfere. Just as her insecurity was gradually increasing, a white table suddenly rose in front of her, upon which was set out an exquisite tea set.

The black and white world on the other side of the table suddenly separated, and a white-clad girl was walking gracefully towards them. The fragments were like lotus leaves on the water being parted, and after she left, they returned to their original positions.

"Hello, it's great to see you again, Rin."

The girl in white extended her hand to greet Li. Her hand was wrapped in thick bandages, and Li could see a sliver of bright red peeking through the gaps. She remembered where and when she had seen this girl before.

"Please take a seat."

The girl in white gestured for him to sit down. The black and white world shifted with her voice, and a chair emerged from the fragments. The girl casually sat down, and another chair appeared behind her. She didn't know what to do, but she sat down anyway, her gaze fixed on the girl.

"I said..." Li asked, "You're the goddess, aren't you?"

“That’s right.” The goddess smiled sweetly. “You can think that way.”

"And you even said that it's possible to think that way... Do all you gods like to make things mysterious...?"

Li felt her mind was in a mess, unable to make sense of anything. The girl in front of her was the goddess with whom she had been intricately connected since she came into this world. She had said before that if she could, she would punch or two her, and even complained about it, but now that she saw her, she didn't know what to say. She thought of something to say, but it got stuck in her throat and she couldn't say it.

"Anyway," Li said dejectedly, "tell me first what you want with me here. You didn't just bring me here for tea, did you?"

"Hmm, of course not. I'm glad you understood so quickly." The goddess poured a cup of tea and pushed it in front of Li. "It won't take long. I'll ask you for a favor and answer your questions at the same time."

"Ugh...it's that kind of plot again." Li was speechless. "It's one thing to be mysterious, but to use such an old trick is another. Next, you're going to use moral blackmail to force me to help you, right? In return, you'll give me some help or some kind of cheat code, right?"

"Although I don't know what prejudice you have against me... that's probably it." The goddess didn't seem to intend to hide anything. "Besides, this should be considered a favor you owe me."

"Ahhh...okay, I got it." Li said resignedly, "I'll help you, but in return, you have to promise to send me back after everything here is over. Also, you can't hide anything or give evasive answers to the questions I ask next. If you can promise that, I'll accept it."

“Of course,” the goddess nodded. “That was my initial plan too.”

"That would be nice."

Li made no attempt to hide her distrust of the goddess, and the goddess didn't seem to mind. Li took a sip of tea; the taste wasn't particularly good, not as good as Xia Ling's tea, but it wasn't terrible either. Li used it to moisten her throat, and seeing that the goddess seemed to be waiting for her, she put down her teacup.

"Alright, go ahead and tell me," Riri asked. "What is it that made the goddess notice me, this almost invisible treasure chest monster?"

Li's tone was barbed. She didn't like this kind of pretentious, self-important guy. Moreover, she had never liked the goddess since she came to this world. She just wanted to finish her business here as soon as possible and return to the other world. Staying here always made her feel uncomfortable.

"First, let's talk about the problems of this world," the goddess said casually. "I thanked you once after you defeated Seric, didn't I?"