The Vixen's Gambit: Tonight We Hunt

"Achoo!"

"Hmm? Your constitution is weak. You inherited my bloodline, yet you catch colds?" [Lee] raised an eyebrow at Lihua. "You need more training. Being sickly won't do."

"Uh, I'll try..." Lihua chuckled awkwardly. Her gut told her this wasn't a cold. Someone was probably talking about her… but since there were so many possibilities, she couldn't pinpoint who.

"So, Lee, what do you think of the food here?"

"Mmm, not bad." [Lee] cleared her throat, picking up a napkin with affected elegance. "Didn't eat anything good in the first half of my last life, couldn't taste anything in the second half... Overall, the food here is decent."

Poor kid, so happy over street food… Though pitiful, she was also incredibly willful. Earlier, she'd jumped out of the car window mid-drive to go shopping…

Having a disobedient, practically cataclysmic, walking weapon running around probably gave the people monitoring her a heart attack.

But this [Lee]'s behavior was so different from Unit 3's. Should Lihua remind her to stay in character?

"Lee, next time you want to go out, please tell the driver first. Jumping out of a moving car's window is a bit much..."

"Now, now, Lihua, I know what you're going to say—but why should I follow their rules?" Despite her out-of-character actions and words, [Lee] showed no intention of changing, instead giving a proud smile. "No one can order me around now. I'm free to do whatever I want!"

"I was stifled my whole last life. Now that I'm back, can't I enjoy myself?!"

"No, Lee, you've already done more than enough for humanity. Of course, you can rest if you want." Lihua shook her head with a wry smile. "But you've changed so much. You're very different from the Lee I know..."

"...Hmph, it'd be strange not to change after going through all that."

[Lee] poked at the table, grumbling, "Even I get angry... It's hard to keep loving humanity after something like that. The fact I haven't just wiped them out proves I'm still the same good person."

"Alright, enough of this boring stuff. Let's go!" Dropping the subject, [Lee] stood up abruptly and headed towards the car parked on the street. "You come with me, Lihua. You'll be staying with me from now on and helping me communicate with these people—you're familiar with this place, right?"

A chance to closely monitor this volatile element? Lihua wouldn't object. In fact, being with [Lee] was far better than being with those lunatics in the Elysian Realm.

Although [Lee] was self-centered, at least she wasn't delusional, and didn't seem dangerously Lesbian... It's like looking after a spoiled brat.

-----

It turned out Lihua had miscalculated. Living with [Lee] wasn't like babysitting a spoiled brat—it was like having a child!

"How can you say Kevin is overwhelmingly stronger than Lee?! His power is all external, all show! In the final battle, he only barely won because of those things! Have him throw away the Might of An-Utu and remove Aponia's mental protection, and you'll see Lee obliterate him! Mark my words, obliterate!!"

"I don't understand Honkai power levels or Lee?! Nobody in this world understands Lee better than me! ...What do you mean I'm getting worked up? I'm being logical!"

Watching [Lee] furiously hammering the keyboard, her fingers a blur, Lihua hesitated for a moment before approaching. "Um, Lee, arguing online again...? Why don't you take a break? Let's go eat."

"Ugh, can't you see I'm busy?!" [Lee] remained glued to the screen, as if wishing she had more keyboards to increase her firepower. "I have to make them realize their ignorance today!"

"Uh, okay. Dinner's on the table..." Realizing [Lee] was lost in the online world, Lihua wisely abandoned her nagging-mom routine.

How unpredictable life was. Just a few days ago, [Lee] had been itching to take over the world. Now, she'd forgotten all about it, transforming into a seasoned internet warrior.

Lihua wasn't surprised by the change. [Lee] had Unit 3's memories, but that near-apocalyptic era offered little in the way of entertainment, and Lee herself barely used a phone.

Earth's vibrant, modern world was a culture shock, and she, unsurprisingly, fell into it like a kid discovering the internet for the first time.

Watching [Lee] glued to her computer, Lihua was reminded of a certain catchy song from a short video: "XX, listen to me, today I'm going to talk about you…"

Though [Lee] looked like the mature Unit 3, she was technically only a few days old... The internet's negative influence on teenagers—no, infants—was truly immeasurable.

There was some good news, though. A few days ago, when [Lee] first got her phone, she'd commented on a video about how she was stronger than the people in it and got roasted for being a chuunibyou jock. She'd almost stormed off to "gank" the commenters IRL. Now, she could calmly trade insults online.

The internet did have its uses in developing patience.

At this rate, [Lee] might become a hikikomori... which was good. Safe. Better than obsessing over saving the planet and single-handedly trying to overthrow the world.

"So, you'll stay home then, Lee? I'm going out on patrol today. Mei will be with me. It won't be dangerous."

"Sure, sure. Call me if there's trouble." [Lee] waved dismissively, not even turning around. "But don't bother me with small stuff."