Heavy girl? I feel worse than Black Hole Trigger!

"Father, I am Qianli."

"A thousand miles. ... You must be tired after traveling for so long. Go back and rest."

Chisato Hiiragi opened her eyes slightly. Her father's tone was still full of concern, but his words hinted at dismissal.

She buried her doubts deep in her heart, and symbolically saluted the closed study door. She said, "Father is the one. I will go to the study to work as soon as I get home. Please take good care of yourself. Can you get a good night's rest tonight?"

“…Ah. I understand.”

Then no more words came out of the room.

Chisato Hiiragi stared at the cold door, clenched his fists and took a few deep breaths.

She believed her father, like herself, was worried about Inazuma, the Kanjo Bugyo, and the future of the Hiiragi family. However, her status prevented her from questioning the current Kanjo Bugyo beyond his authority—no. If she were just a "daughter," she shouldn't be so timid.

But she is more than just "Shinsuke Hiiragi's daughter".

If you are destined to take on that responsibility, you must show respect for that identity.

"It would be nice if Xiao Qianna was here."

Unlike Chisato Hiiragi, Chinana, the second daughter, is a purer "daughter" than Chisato. She can speak more effectively than her older sister about certain matters.

Where on earth did that child go...?

She was worried about her sister, whose whereabouts were unknown, and her anxiety about her father's current condition exacerbated her impatience.

After leaving the study, Hiiragi Chisato was about to return to her room. As she passed through the corridor, she called out to the maid and asked, "Any news about China?"

"Second Miss?" The maid thought for a moment, "Didn't the Second Miss just come back? Didn't the eldest miss see her?"

Hiiragi Chisato blinked, "...Huh?"

The maid reminisced while rambling, "The Second Miss came back with her martial arts teacher. A while ago, I thought the Master had given up on teaching the Second Miss martial arts, but it turns out he's found another teacher."

"Martial arts, teacher?"

Did her father secretly hire someone else to teach Chinana? That child clearly said she hated him!

Chisato Hiiragi couldn't help but feel a bit resentful. Her father doted on her and her sisters, but he was also quite stubborn in some ways. For example, Chisato herself didn't really enjoy martial arts training, but as a future magistrate, she couldn't be completely powerless. At the very least, she had to be able to hold her own against an assassination attempt until her guards could intervene.

Unexpectedly, he finally forced Chinana to do something she didn't like.

No wonder he wanted to get rid of me. He must be feeling guilty!

"Where's China? I'm going to go find her."

Hiiragi Chinana is only slightly willful towards her older sister. Although she is usually naughty, when she is really in person, she still knows the ladylike manners taught by her family.

She must be worrying about how to reject that teacher right now. I have to help her!

The maid replied, "He must have gone to the reception room."

"Okay." Hiiragi Chisato took two steps and turned back, "Tell Sasaki that Chinae has returned home."

"Eh? Okay...ah, he left..."

The maid tilted her head.

The eldest lady seems to be particularly decisive today?

Chapter 39 of the Box: Autumn Frost and Falling Maple Leaves, Snow Clears and Meets the Chinese Toon Tree: Episode P

"It's already too late..."

Hiiragi Chinana dragged her heavy steps to the tree trunk, barely preventing herself from collapsing into a puddle on the ground.

Baodeng Zheli folded his arms and looked at the girl with an expression that was difficult to describe.

The sky was still clear and blue. It had only been a few minutes since the two men had come to talk beside the statue.

Trying to recall, just now, Zhe Li only told her the most basic exercise methods... and before the formal exercise started, just during the warm-up stage, the girl surrendered.

Could it be that his usual energetic appearance is just an illusion?

"Calm down and breathe slowly."

Although the child dropped out during the warm-up phase, catching Zhe Li off guard, he still began to instruct the closing exercises as planned.

Although Chinana was still panting and unable to speak, she followed Zheli's instructions, gradually calming her breath and soothing her aching muscles. This girl was a complete loser physically, but she was very serious about learning. It was probably because she had put all her energy into warming up that she had used up her energy so quickly.

With this level of ambition, if she had not been born in Inazuma, but had lived an ordinary life in modern Japan, and had undergone special training to make up for her physical deficiencies, she might really be able to become an idol!

After a while, Hiiragi China's overheated head cooled down a little.

"I'm sorry, teacher." She lowered her head and said in a low voice, "You can't even do such a simple thing."

Zhe Li smiled reassuringly, "No need to apologize. Everyone needs time to adapt at first. ...It's a bit unexpected that it has come to this. Next time, let's start with basic physical strengthening, shall we?"

"——No. Please train me as much as you can, Master!"

After the break, Hiiragi China returned to her usual energetic self, shaking her fists vigorously and humming:

"To become an idol, you can't be so unwilling to endure this little bit of hardship!"

"'Idol'..." Zhe Li thought about it and simply sat down cross-legged.

As the sun sank to the other side of the sea, the cool breeze gradually carried away the heat accumulated since noon; the soft grass retained some warmth and was quite comfortable to sit on, so he waved to Chinae to sit down and rest for a while.

Only after the girl carefully sat down, slowly stretched her legs, and relaxed a little did Zhe Li curiously ask, "If you just want to see everyone smile, there are many other ways to achieve your goal besides being an 'idol'. Why does it have to be an 'idol'?"

Chinae's knowledge of idols only comes from that simple magazine, and this magazine comes from Alice, a great adventurer who is suspected to have traveled to different worlds. It is not a crystallization of the local culture of the continent of Teyvat, so it is unlikely to be the classic plot of "having seen an idol and been fascinated by it."

In Inazuma, the person closest to an "idol" is probably the "Princess Shirasagi", the second daughter of the Kamisato family, who is widely loved by the public, as described by China.

Even so, with her high position and power, it is unlikely that she can impress the audience with her dancing and singing like ordinary actors.

Her popularity is largely due to her identity.

When other people have a high opinion of themselves, or simply have limited energy, and spend most of their time with political and business celebrities of the same class or higher, as long as they are a little more respectful and listen to the voice of the people, the people will naturally prefer to pay attention and favor such people.

Not to mention, according to Chinae's description, the princess treated Chinae, who was of the same generation, with courtesy, and always conformed to everyone's stereotype of a "lady from a noble family" and a "daughter of a noble family". It would be strange if she was not popular.

"Wouldn't it be possible to achieve the same results by being closer to the people, just like the 'White Egret Princess' did?"

For Chinana Hiiragi, whose status and position within the family are very similar, Kamisato Ayaka is a perfect role model. In fact, compared to a shabuyuki, whose duties are already related to the daily lives of ordinary people (such as festivals and entertainment), a kanjo bugyo in charge of outlying islands would definitely gain more favor by doing the same thing.

Chinae blinked, "Same as Miss Ayaka, huh?" Her voice was hesitant.

Zhe Li asked curiously, "What's wrong? Although it's unlikely to be exactly the same, it should be easier for you to learn to be the 'White Egret Princess' than to learn to be an 'idol'."

After all, "idol" is a rather complicated concept.

If we have to be particular, Inazuma's greatest "idol" should be General Raiden, the god and ruler.

…She does have her own statue after all.

Whether it's General Raiden or Kamisato Ayaka, they simply embody "everyone's ideal form," earning widespread admiration: admiration breeds respect, and admiration breeds affection—this is what it means to be an "idol" in the broadest sense. Furthermore, having a clear goal to emulate and compare oneself to is more reassuring than burying oneself in vague concepts...at least it allows one to grasp one's current progress.

Baodō Oori believed that Hiiragi Chinana had dreamed of becoming an idol for a long time before she met him. But now it seemed that she didn't even know how to work hard or in what direction to improve herself.

This is the crux of the problem with chasing empty dreams.

“…” Qiannai opened her mouth and pursed it again, as if she wanted to say something but had something to hide.

Zheli then looked at China with a concerned look, encouraging her. Bathed in that resolute gaze, the little girl hesitated for a long time before finally taking a deep breath and slowly saying, "Well, I actually have a secret."

"What kind of secret?"

"...Since childhood, I have often had this dream."

"Dream?" Zhe Li raised his eyebrows at the right time and asked with interest.

Chinanai tucked her legs together and hugged her knees. She tilted her head slightly, and the hair that had previously clung to her cheeks due to sweat fell from her ears. Her bright eyes gazed at the ocean, as if she wanted to cast away her thoughts towards Changmeng.

"It was a magical world. There were tall houses everywhere, and people were just like me now, born into wealthy families." The girl's lips curled up slightly. The faint smile testified to the beauty of her dream. "In that world, people were just like me now, dreaming of becoming 'idols.'"

"—And then, in my dream, I felt very, very happy."

She raised her head and smiled at Zheli.

"I want to be an 'idol' and make everyone happy because of me."

She captivated the audience with her gorgeous performance, allowing everyone to feel the happiness from the brilliance she displayed.

There is nothing false in this wish.

...But this is not the end in itself.

I just want to perform the most beautiful and lovely posture on the shining stage.

Just because I look happy like that.

"Then, make yourself the happiest girl in the world."

When she said this, she paused for a moment and looked embarrassed.

"It's a very childish and selfish dream, right...?"

In the center of sight, Baodeng Zheli paused for a moment and shook his head slightly.

“I think it’s a great dream.”

Chinana blinked, "...eh."

“No one is destined to sacrifice anything for anyone.”

Zhe Li slowly stood up. In the final hours before sunset, this man stretched out his hand toward the distant sun, then suddenly clenched it into a fist, as if trying to grasp the sunlight.

"It's only natural to fight for your own happiness."

If this is called selfishness, then what kind of bad words should be used to describe those who are unwilling to work hard for themselves and just wait for others to create a future for them?

"You are willing to share happiness with everyone around you, which is already a very remarkable thing."

He squatted down, grinning widely in the slanted sunlight.

"Let the 'teacher' help you with this—"

"Let me train you to be the world's number one idol!"

Chapter 40: A Makeshift Troupe

shhhhh-

The paper door of the reception room was hastily opened.

The conversation in the room suddenly stopped. Hiiragi Chinae raised her head in confusion and looked towards the door. A young woman had a serious expression on her face, which only relaxed slightly when she looked into Chinae's eyes.

Qiannai said in surprise: "Sister! You are back already?"

A few days ago, she had been looking forward to her father and sister's return, thinking of giving them a warm welcome. Instead, she received a messenger saying they would be staying in Inazuma Castle for a few more days. Given the heavy responsibilities of a magistrate, delays were common, so Chinae held no grudges.

Since she was a child, she has been accustomed to staying at home alone.

Little Chinae hurriedly stood up and ran to the door, smiling broadly at her elder sister, Chisato Hiiragi, saying, "Welcome home! Seriously, why didn't you tell me you were coming? I thought you wouldn't be back until tomorrow!"

Qianli just wanted to frown when he was choked by Qiannai's words.

She glanced back and forth at the girl in front of her, and at a strange man still sitting at a table in the distance—the man even smiled and nodded at her—then thought for several seconds with her mouth open, finally giving a wry smile, reaching out to hug her sister, and whispering:

"Yeah. I'm back."

……

The three of them sat down around the low table in the reception room.

Hiiragi Chisato couldn't help but look at the strange man a few more times, noticing that this man had maintained an upright sitting posture from the beginning, with a gentle smile on his face all the time, which was far from the image of a "warrior who was arrogant because of his talent" that he had imagined.

Father had found a pretty good candidate this time...but that blond hair? Is he a foreigner? Or did his hair color change after obtaining the "Eye of God"?

The former is better, the Kanjo Bugyo has many means to restrain foreigners.

But what if it was the latter, an Inazuma who had obtained the Eye of God? That wasn't someone they could easily control: the Hiiragi family, after all, was in charge of finances, not the military. Beyond the outlying islands, the Hiiragi family's power would be useless.

While he was thinking, the strange man was the first to say hello: "Hello. Miss Chisato Hiiragi, right?"

"Yes." Hiiragi Chisato also showed a polite smile and asked, "May I ask your name?"

"Baodeng Zheli."

The man that Chinana invited into her home was of course Baotou Ori.

Although he didn't quite understand why the guard at the door let Chinae in easily just by calling out "Teacher", he at least knew that the reason he could pass through the family mansion at the core of the outlying island's politics was definitely not because of his ordinary handsome face.