Miss Kobayashi's Dragon Maid.

"Why did Mimi suddenly become able to speak?" Tohru's thoughts began to drift aimlessly as she wondered curiously, "...Is it because she could speak all along? Or was she actually once a human, and then Fuli cast some kind of magic on her to turn her into what she is now?"

Tohru recalled the children's picture books she had bought for Kanna; she had curiously flipped through a few pages, which told stories of human princes who had been turned into frogs by magic and then turned back into princes after a kiss from a princess.

...Could Mimi be the same?

Kobayashi leaned back on the sofa, an unopened bottle of beer in her hand:

"Dan Heng suspects that Mimi is related to the Aeon Fuli, and since Mimi's goal is to collect the scattered memories of Amphoreus, thinking about it from the opposite perspective, there's a high probability that the purpose of her collecting these memories is to serve the Aeon. This planet is very important to Fuli." Kobayashi walked to the refrigerator and took out a chilled can of beer, "...But then again, what kind of magic does this backward planet, Amphoreus, actually possess? It's clearly a civilization that can't even reach space..."

Tohru tilted her head. "Maybe it's because of those chaotic substances? Those substances isolated the universe from Amphoreus, making it so that even the Aeons couldn't obtain the memories of the humans and Nautiluss within. And just as the Astral Express Crew pried open a gap, it allowed the Aeon to send its emissary to Amphoreus."

"But Oronis keeps calling out 'Mother' and 'Heavenly Father'; it's hard to believe it doesn't know the Aeons. Moreover, it knows Mimi and seems to understand her quite well, letting her follow Stelle to find their mother's whereabouts. If this 'Mother' isn't Stelle, then who could it be?"

—

【Castorice: "I don't know the principles behind it, but if thinking this way makes you feel more at ease... then I support your view."】

【"...Thank you." Standing on the balcony, Phainon gazed into the distance. "The Chongyuan is just ahead... Ah, I remember now, the question I didn't have time to ask back then."】

【"In the Temple of the Scales of Justice—when Oronis was making things difficult for us with its riddles—why did you stop me then, Miss Castorice?"】

【"..." Castorice took a deep breath and answered seriously, "Because I believed there had to be another solution.'Something heavier than the fate of Amphoreus'... This problem was too cruel and unfair for you."】

【Phainon: "You should know that if Dan Heng hadn't found the solution in time, I would have tried anyway."】

【"I understand. The situation at the time left no room for hesitation, and my stopping you was just a subconscious reaction..." Speaking to this point, Castorice let out a long sigh of relief. "...Fortunately, the two of them were there."】

【"Yes, fortunately for them."】

【"...Are you still thinking about what happened then, Lord Phainon?"】

【"Every moment, every second." Phainon lowered his head with a complex expression. "Just now, I lied in front of the two demigods—I told them that all I think about now is the mission of the Chrysos Heirs. I wonder if I can hide it from Aglaea's golden thread this time."】

【"No one can deceive her, My Lord. She simply chooses to turn a blind eye to our lies."】

【"Indeed, it was a foolish bit of wishful thinking." Phainon's shoulders slumped slightly, like a leaf falling from a branch. "I thought defeating Nicadori would silence the doubts in my mind... I didn't expect them to become even more clamorous."】

—

Genshin Impact.

"Mediocre... is it?"

"My goodness, if even the great hero who slew a god considers himself mediocre, then what am I? Am I not even worse than mediocre, just someone who wastes air and food?" Yakoda held her head, her face full of shock.

...This big brother Phainon is really underestimating himself too much, isn't he?!

"Yakoda." Nefer's voice drifted softly from the room.

"Ah... Yes! Boss!"

"Don't belittle yourself, okay? If you were less than mediocre, wouldn't my judgment be absolutely terrible for hiring you as the only official employee of the Curatorium of Secrets? Not just anyone can become an employee of the Curatorium of Secrets."

"O-Okay!" Having been suddenly praised by her boss, Yakoda scratched her head in embarrassment. "I just... felt that the guy named Phainon was a bit too lacking in confidence. He's a Chrysos Heir, after all, and he's so good at fighting—he even achieved the feat of slaying a god! I don't understand why someone like him would feel mediocre."

Nefer didn't answer her immediately but asked back, "Didn't you also feel mediocre just now?"

Yakoda was stunned for a moment. "B-Boss, you flatter me too much. I can't slay a god."

"Heh..."

Nefer, inside the room, didn't seem to intend to continue this topic. As the saying goes, "the bystander sees clearly while the player is confused." Yakoda might not have realized it herself, but her recklessness and pride, her courage and kindness, had long since helped her escape the "mediocrity" spoken of by the world.

After all, what mediocre person would dare to launch an attack against a Moon Hunter in a moment of crisis?

—

【Castorice comforted him softly: "I can't find the right words at the moment... but I know you are not mediocre, Lord Phainon. Mydei often jokingly calls you the 'the Savior'... I think his tone isn't entirely in jest."】

【"I should probably give up on useless thinking and just let my mind go blank until the time for the ritual arrives..." Phainon showed a nostalgic expression. "I used this trick before, before Teacher Tribbie's history exam—with mountains of stone tablets and documents, who could possibly review them all? It was better to accept fate early and cherish the time spent practicing swordsmanship and playing."】

【"Then... what was the result of the exam?"】

【"The score? I've long since forgotten—I only remember that Teacher Tribbie punished me by making me clean the Chrysos Heirs' baths for a week, and no one was allowed to help."】

【Castorice couldn't help but smile. "So Lady Tribbie has such a strict side as well... Lord Phainon, please continue to maintain a peaceful state of mind. I think you'll be fine."】

【"Thank you, Miss Castorice. I want to just stay like this for a while longer, trying not to think about those troublesome matters; I can't come up with any results anyway." Phainon looked at the distant Kephale. "Lately, the scenery of my hometown... Aelymiche, has been constantly flashing before my eyes."】

【"The fellows in Suspended Blade City have mastered some incredible technology... If only I could separate my body and soul like that. Then, I could let my spirit leave my body at any time and fly back to the familiar thatched fields of my hometown."】

【"Only there... can I enjoy a moment of peace."】