Chapter 20: The Painful Birthday Gift (Part 1)

  It's been many days since the Valentine's Day massacre that left one person seriously injured (the self-destructive Balthazar), over a dozen people lightly injured (the unfortunate duelists), one person with impaired taste (the guy who got Sophia's chocolates) and one person with food poisoning (poor Fabiano). Time has entered March, when all things are reborn.

  The members of the Soy Sauce Department, who were not diligent and did not take their work seriously, had a very fulfilling time during this period. They spent their days drinking afternoon tea, dozing off to pass the time, occasionally holding study sessions, making fun of each other's cuteness, and watching Ilya and Mishelle put on an almost suffocating "I'm so angry I could die" performance, among other things. It was a leisurely and carefree existence.

  But - what a great turning word it is, it can make the heavens change color, the gods cry, time and space go wrong, even a certain loli control without any moral integrity will have to surrender at its feet - but, the turning point of fate will always come quietly in an unexpected moment, like a child who likes to play tricks on people, making them busy and flustered.

  I had just finished school and was about to head to the activity room for a cup of afternoon tea and a quick nap, but instead I saw Lockley surrounded by a group of girls with hearts in their eyes at the entrance of the teaching building. In my shock, I tripped on the stairs and fell onto Fabiano who was walking in front of Cecilia, dedicating a fatal blow to him. Then, I frantically dealt with Elisia's crazy rampage beside Cecilia, this is the best depiction of the situation.

  "It seems you're having a great time every day." Lockley elegantly bowed to the girls around him, and walked through them to Eliya who was still struggling.

  "Why are you here!?" Eriol finally calmed down Cécile and asked while adjusting her appearance.

  "I'm the head of the Harris family, can't I even take a walk around Hope Garden to find someone?"

  "You're doing this on purpose, aren't you? I didn't ask why you could get in!"

  "Alright, alright." Against a warm and luxurious background, Lockley's entire body sparkled with small stars as he smiled faintly. After causing the girls beside him to shriek in excitement, he opened his arms wide towards Eriolita, "A long-awaited reunion, how about a warm hug, my beloved little sister?"

  The little loli stepped forward quickly under the jealous eyes of the girls, puffed out her chest, sucked in her stomach, took a deep breath, stood firm, twisted her waist, and viciously punched Lockley's belly with a loud shout: "You siscon go die!"

  In an instant, the sky turned bluer, the water greener, and the air was no longer polluted. Even the crows' singing voices became louder.

  "It's really not cute at all." With the temporary stone statues surrounding him, Rockley stood up with an undiminished demeanor, "Obviously, you used to be a little girl who followed me around every day and acted spoiled."

  "You want another punch from me?"

  "Alright, I won't say anything. But are you planning on entertaining your own brother right here?"

  "Come with me to the club activities room. There, I'll treat you well and have you tell me in detail why you came here, O-Ni-Chan!" Elisia said with emphasis on the last few words, gritting her teeth.

  I am a divider line

  "Speak up, what are you here for?" Eliya sat upright at the table and glanced at the red tea that Kracie had just brewed, but didn't take it. She was afraid she would spit everything out in the next second due to the shameless answer from the lolicon in front of her.

  Lockley sipped his red tea calmly and nodded slightly at Char with a gentlemanly smile, making her blush bright red before turning to Eriol and saying, "I'm here for the sauce."

  The little loli grasped the metal tea tray that had once contributed a big package to Ilya's head and threw it with force.

  Locklear tilted his head slightly and the poor tea tray came into intimate contact with the wall behind him.

  "If you don't change your temper, be careful that no one will want to marry you in the future."

  "Mind your own business!"

  Eyes fixed on Eriol as she was about to pull out some lethal weapon from her spatial bracelet, Lockley hastily intervened: "You wouldn't have actually forgotten what today is, would you?"

  "What's today?" Elisia asked inexplicably, "March 15th, the day when consumers around the world have been deceived countless times throughout the year and finally waited for a day to buy goods with confidence, but still got deceived. Is there anything strange about it?"

  "That way of speaking is already quite strange in itself..."

  From the dark turn of profession to spit out the failure of Luo Ke Li Pu, had to do spiritual link with little loli: "Recall recall the identity information I prepared for you. Have you never carefully looked at it?"

  Alicia struggled to flip through her identity settings in her mind, and then she was stunned.

  "Is today my birthday?" Eriol asked uncertainly, pointing at herself.

  "What kind of imposter are you, who can't even remember your own birthday and shows no tenderness towards me!? Tell me, where have you taken my adorable little sister!?" Rockley shouted.

  "When have you ever cared about me like that?" Eriol's single sentence sent the hypocritical lolicon back to his original form, "I only remember you coming to find fault with me for no reason."

  "Just kidding, don't get worked up." Lockley smiled brightly and effortlessly dissolved the discontent that had been brewing in the other people standing by, who were initially shocked and ready to intervene on their friend's behalf, only to find out they had been played.

  "So what are you here for anyway?" Eliysha finally lost her patience.

  "I originally wanted to prepare a birthday party for you outside the academy, but I still have to go to the Roland Empire to discuss some business, so forget it." Lockley pulled out a large box of exquisitely packaged cake from his ring and said, "But at least I must personally deliver your birthday cake and gift."

  Let's not mention the excuses you made as a creation god to do business with mortals, which are full of comedic points. Brother, why is your cake exactly the same as the signature product in the girls' dormitory, Sugar House!? By the way, how did you get in under Miss Marlin's lockdown?!

  "Ugh, done venting, the little loli continued in her mouth: 'Which deep-sea phantom demon is impersonating you, a soul so gentle that it would prepare birthday gifts for me!? Tell me, how much of my big brother without self-restraint have you eaten and left over?!'"

  "Using the same rant point twice, are you sure this isn't the author cheating on word count?"

  Then there's no need to worry about it anymore...

  So you set my birthday to March 15th just to show off the quality of this body you created, right!? Don't give me that "ah, I've been found out" look, Soul Dull!

  After placing the cake on the table, Lokley pulled out a black suitcase and handed it to Eriol.

  "What is this?"

  "Your birthday present." Lockley said, finishing his red tea and standing up. "I have to go... Don't bother opening it, the box isn't the gift, what's inside is."

  "Uh, I thought you knew I liked traveling and that's why you gave me this suitcase." Eliysha felt a little embarrassed.

  "Is the space ring on your hand just a sample?"

  Li Hua's voice, which had been silent for half a chapter, finally found the opportunity, and she fell onto the sofa, shouting loudly: "That's why I despise rich people ahhhhh~~~~~~!!"

  Your entrance is too sloppy...

  Ignoring Li Hua's eccentric behavior, Elisha began to examine the suitcase: "May I open it?"

  "The gift inside is charging, wait until 5 o'clock." Lockley said and turned around, elegantly bowed to Charsi, took her hand from behind and lightly kissed it with a smile, "Thanks for the red tea, it's very delicious."

  Then Jia Xi turned into a just-steamed shrimp.

  "Stop teasing me, just disappear quickly! You're always the first to appear and steal the show!" Amidst Xiao Loli's loud shout, Lockley put his left hand behind him, bowed to everyone in the room with a flourish, and then sauntered away.

  "Listen to me, Kaji. Whatever you do, don't get involved with that guy." Eriol said seriously to Kaji, who was covering his cheek.

  If you can be looked at by him, it's indeed possible to live forever young, but I don't guarantee that your beautiful figure won't shrink down to my current state. Hmm, what's with this subtle sense of failure...

  Although Khasi didn't understand why Erihlya said that, she still nodded in agreement.

  The little loli put down her heart and took a sip of red tea, but before she could swallow it, she was completely transformed into a beautiful rainbow in the sunlight at the window under Li Hua's sudden words "Little Aili's brother is really handsome, help me introduce him another day".

  "Has that guy's charm reached the point where it can bring spring to a perverted yuri girl!? Huaying, congratulations on turning back from the brink, you've finally been able to draw a clear line with Kuroko-sama."

  Alicia coughed forcefully a few times to clear her airway, took a deep breath and said to Li Hua Yin: "Do you really want to get to know that guy, Hua Yin? Although I don't know what you see in him, but I still have to congratulate you for finally showing interest in men."

  "It's actually okay if I were to marry him." Li Hua said something astonishing once again.

  "Why? What's good about him?" Little Lori was suddenly shocked.

  "Think about it, Little Aili. Your brother is so excellent, there must be many beautiful girls around him. Then I can meet more beautiful girls than in the academy, right?"

  Sorry, Huayin, I shouldn't have doubted you. What's Shirai Kuroko compared to you? Miyauchi Kanako is nothing, the universe's most perverted, sadistic, and shameless super yuri girl Li Huayin has been decided! You're the role model for all new generation yuri girls! I'm really sorry that I thought you were interested in men!

  The little loli quietly walked up to Li Hua's side and gently hugged her, then magnificently took out today's 30-second electric shock.

  "But, come to think of it, Elysha, your brother's noble etiquette is quite standard." Sophia said with a squinted eye, "You're a Harris, you and your siblings are members of the ancient Harris family from the Byrea Empire?"

  "The academy doesn't distinguish between identities, Sofia, you won't forget that?" Eriol nodded in agreement, "You guessed it right, we are all direct descendants of the Harris family."

  "...Why have I never seen a single proper noble courtesy from you?" Sophia asked, recalling Eliycha's usual behavior and sweating profusely.

  "Because everyone here is my friend." Little Lori said matter-of-factly.

  Sophia covered most of her face with a fan and fell silent.

  "Alright, I admit that I was just talking nonsense earlier. You don't have to pretend to be profound anymore. I simply despise those complicated formalities from the bottom of my heart."

  “……”

  "Hey, I say, why don't we open the trunk and take a look?" suggested Cecilia, who had been squatting beside it for quite some time.

  "I think it's better if we open it after 5 o'clock." Elisha stopped her, "There might be a magic crystal bomb tied inside."

  "What?! This is a birthday gift! Who would tie that thing inside?!" Cecilia exclaimed in shock.

  "Judging from Eliya's usual personality," said Tsukika, putting down her book, "her brother is likely to do something like that, after all they are siblings by blood."

  "Normally having a bad personality is really sorry, I'll pay attention in the future." Elisha said with an unpleasant tone.

  "No, just stay as you are." Yuet Ngoh suddenly pulled out a pair of plain glasses from who-knows-where and put them on, saying "You're our minister, too big of a change will provoke intense reactions from the department members."

  Whether you're a COS big Meng Shen or Chu Da Shen, just stop it! You think having green hair tied in twin tails makes you some kind of pseudo-third-rate celebrity?!

  Cecilia turned her gaze to the box of cake on the table after giving up on the suitcase: "Before 5 o'clock, let's celebrate Eliya's birthday first?"

  "I know you just want to eat my cake, but at least bring out the gift."

  "If you've even forgotten your own birthday, don't suddenly come to us for gifts." Cecilia reached out her hand without hesitation towards the exquisitely wrapped box on the table.

  Just as Little Loli hesitated about whether to stop her, the door was opened and Ilya and Michelle walked in carrying something wrapped in cloth.

  "Wow? Is today's afternoon tea dessert a cake this big?" Michelle asked in surprise.

  "This doesn't look like ordinary dessert at all!" Eriol almost fell to the ground.

  Li Hua, still coughing out smoke, crawled up from the ground and sat on a chair: "This is actually Little Aili's birthday cake. What a pity! I didn't even prepare a gift to express my thoughts!"

  "Are we roommates?"

  "Really?" With a natural silly smile, she put the package on the table and opened it, "I just happened to make some cookies at Wakissa's place, let's have them with cake together."

  Except for Ilya, who was busy moving a chair for Masha, everyone else shuddered involuntarily.

  Passersby members of the Soy Sauce Department, with Wakaba's enthusiastic help, have basically left the stage of turning food into charcoal. However, two great killing kings still do their own thing: one is Cecilia-sama, who can turn any ordinary material on the continent into a deep-sea product in unimaginable ways, making it hard to tell whether she's cooking or alchemy; the other is Miharu, whose creations look exquisite but taste so bad that they'll send you straight to the underworld for a round of soy sauce, earning her the nickname "Alternate Reality Version of Kiri Rishii" from Little Loli.

  These two people, Cecilia has a very clear understanding of Michelle's cooking, and Michelle's personality dictates that she will only be slightly curious about the former's cooking. Their only common point is probably that they have absolute confidence in their own cooking, so they never taste it themselves...

  "Alicia waved her hands frantically and said, 'No, no, no, Misha. These cookies were made by you for Ilya, right? We won't bother, just give them to Ilya instead.'"

  "Yes, yes, we really don't need it." Cecilia chimed in on the side.

  "Right, right, we've already had afternoon tea. Let's give it to Ilya instead." Sophia's face suddenly changed, even her fan couldn't cover it up.

  Beep——

  Li Hua shouted: "Wait a minute! Let alone Yu Ge, why was my line cut off?!"

  There are already three people in front of you, and if you say one more sentence, there will be a suspicion of cheating on the word count...

  "Alright then." Originally, there was no persistence in Misha's heart as she carefully placed the small cookies from the package on the table in front of Ilya and even brewed a cup of tea for him. Then, with her hands clasped together at her abdomen, she stood to one side, looking at her lover with a hopeful expression.

  The wife of a natural fool is full of degrees at this moment - if we ignore those beautiful killer cookies.

  But if Elijah were to give a score, Michelle would definitely get full marks. Haven't you seen how deliciously he eats?

  By the way, in addition to the two major serial killers of cooking in the Soy Sauce Department, there is also a super iron stomach - Ilya Toy Shoes, who is envied and suspected by all male students in the school and is opening the back (divine beast) palace. If the first two are said to be able to make any food that normal people can't eat at all, then the latter can digest anything he eats.

  At least Xiao Loli had seen Ilya pick up a poisonous leech from the Black Mire Swamp, which Cecilia had carefully prepared for Fabiano's meal, and eat it casually, then was chased by Cecilia who was furious and ran wildly around the house for half an hour - wasn't that a bit too much? Both of them were...

  As she watched Ilya and Michelle being affectionate in the background filled with colorful bubbles and a soft glow, Eriol quietly wiped away cold sweat. The others were doing about the same thing.

  "Wooo, my lovely Muxue is running towards her own happiness with a man like this! *sigh*... I'm relieved. Li Hua Yin started being goofy as expected, "Although it's hard for me to let go, I'll still bless you guys."

  The two people who were mentioned suddenly turned bright red and then became embarrassed.

  "Hua Yin, are you watching your good friend get married and preparing to be a bridesmaid?"

  "No, Little Ai Li. I am marrying into the palace of my own (divine beast)."

  "That's enough..."