In the following time, Victor and Emi Yusa engaged in extensive conversation, exchanging questions and answers about their respective worlds.
Victor learned a wealth of information from Emi Yusa during their discussion.
First and foremost, unlike the original storyline, Emi Yusa had not come to this world in pursuit of the Demon Lord.
This development wasn't entirely surprising.
After all, she had mentioned earlier that she had arrived in this world alone.
Secondly, the world they currently inhabited was not the Earth where the Demon Lord had fled to in the original series.
In this reality, Emi Yusa could still sense the presence of magic and holy power flowing through the air around them.
However, this supernatural energy did not exist on the Earth depicted in the original work.
Thirdly, and what surprised Victor most profoundly, was that her original world, the Holy Cross Continent of Ante Isula, was also being invaded by forces from another dimension!
Moreover, these otherworldly invaders possessed overwhelming power, forcing the defenders into continuous retreat.
This dire situation had prompted the humans of Ante Isula to form an unprecedented alliance with the Demon Lord and a faction of demons against their common enemy.
Understanding the significance of this development required recognizing the power levels involved. In the Holy Cross Continent of Ante Isula, whether human, demon, or angel, the combat capabilities were extraordinarily formidable!
Take the Hero Emi Yusa sitting before him, for example.
Her strength ranked among the absolute pinnacle within the "Hero versus Demon Lord" genre of warriors.
The fact that these invaders could defeat such powerful defenders step by step and force them into alliance with their traditional mortal enemies demonstrated just how terrifyingly strong these interdimensional conquerors truly were!
This revelation made Victor even more interested in visiting that world someday.
The potential Abstract Points to be gained there would be substantial!
Unfortunately, there was currently no viable method to travel to that dimension.
The dimensional rifts connecting the two worlds, caused by the collision between realities, appeared to function as one-way passages.
People from that world could cross over to this one, but travelers from here could not make the reverse journey.
Otherwise, Emi Yusa would not have been stranded in this world for more than half a year.
"You two stop chatting, dinner is ready."
Kanae approached them wearing a cooking apron and announced the meal.
Although they now had two professional chefs, Erina Nakiri and Hisako Arato, preparing food for everyone, Kanae still chose to assist in the kitchen.
Not only her, but Shinobu was also helping with the meal preparation at this moment.
Victor nodded in acknowledgment, then turned to Emi Yusa, who was preparing to leave. "Please stay for dinner before departing. Consider it my gratitude for the valuable information you've shared."
Emi Yusa considered the offer briefly and chose not to refuse.
Primarily, the appetizing aromas wafting through the air had awakened her curiosity about the cuisine served in this household.
As it turned out, she did not regret her decision.
This dinner proved to be the most satisfying and delightful meal she had ever experienced!
After the feast concluded, Emi Yusa bid farewell to Victor with a contented smile and departed.
Shortly afterward, Belle also returned to her own world through the dimensional gateway.
Victor had hoped to convince her to stay longer, but Belle politely declined.
After all, she wasn't yet fully prepared mentally for such a commitment.
However, just before they parted ways, Belle suddenly returned and placed a gentle kiss on Victor's lips, whispering softly, "Come visit me at home when you have free time, and I'll spend some quality time with you alone."
After saying this, she blushed deeply and quickly stepped through the dimensional portal, disappearing from sight.
Victor touched his lips where the kiss had lingered and couldn't help but smile warmly.
"I'll definitely look forward to that invitation."
That evening, Victor lay on the large bed and opened the chat group interface, with the exhausted Shinobu and others resting peacefully beside him.
[Shinoa Hiiragi: Stelle, I'm planning to bring my sister to your place tomorrow for an extended stay. Would that be acceptable?]
[Stelle: No problem at all. You two might as well become permanent residents of the Astral Express.]
[Shinoa Hiiragi: We'll need to consider that possibility carefully.]
[Victor: Shinoa, have you resolved your family issues?]
[Shinoa Hiiragi: Everything's finished. It was just a matter of eliminating a few despicable individuals. The task didn't take very long.]
If it hadn't been for the offline gathering last night and her desire to avoid getting blood on her hands before such an important event, she would have dealt with those people yesterday afternoon.
[Rin Tohsaka: By the way, Sister Shinoa, who exactly were you planning to eliminate?]
[Shinoa Hiiragi: My father, Tenri Hiiragi, and several other bastards who participated in human experimentation programs.]
[Tsunade: You actually killed your own father?]
Tsunade was genuinely shocked by this revelation.
What kind of family drama was unfolding here?
[Victor: Don't be too surprised, Tsunade. Although Tenri Hiiragi is nominally Shinoa's father, he's nothing more than a complete scumbag, the kind whose death benefits society.]
[Tsunade: Ah, I understand now.]
[Victor: By the way, Stelle, is your crew still not planning to leave the Xianzhou Luofu?]
[Stelle: We'll be departing in a few days.]
[Victor: Oh? So you'll be heading to your next destination, Penacony, soon?]
[Stelle: No, Himeko wants us to return to Herta Space Station first for repairs and to conduct the annual maintenance on the Astral Express before proceeding to Penacony.]
[Victor: Trains require annual maintenance?]
[Stelle: Of course! The Astral Express is still a vehicle, why wouldn't it need regular maintenance?]
That logic was completely sound and undeniable!
[Stelle: Besides, there's still considerable time before the date specified on Penacony's invitation, so there's no rush to arrive early.]
[Stelle: And now that we know what events will unfold at Penacony, we naturally need to make thorough preparations in advance.]
That approach made perfect strategic sense.
[Victor: When you reach Penacony, make sure to notify me immediately.]
[Stelle: Absolutely will do!]
After chatting for a while longer, Victor closed the chat group interface.
He embraced Alisa with his left arm, cradled the two Kocho sisters with his right arm, and held Krul against his chest as he slowly drifted off to sleep.
The following morning.
When Victor awakened from his slumber, he found himself alone on the expansive bed.
The air still carried the lingering scents from their passionate activities the previous night.
"You've become too complacent, Victor," he murmured to himself.
Ever since experiencing the pleasures of multiple partners, he hadn't devoted nearly enough time to his cultivation practice recently.
"I can't continue like this. Starting today, I will temporarily abstain from such activities and focus intensively on my training!"
With this firm resolution, Victor rose from the bed, assumed a cross-legged meditation posture, and began his spiritual cultivation.
However, after only a short while, he sensed that his Emperor's Divine Weapon seemed to have entered a "Water Curtain Cave."
He immediately opened his eyes and discovered Krul seated on his lap with her arms wrapped around his neck.
When Krul noticed Victor had awakened, she smiled mischievously and said, "You're finally awake."
Victor gently pushed Krul onto the bed and declared dramatically, "Hey now! You vampire temptress, how dare you interfere with my cultivation! Behold the power of the Abstract Emperor as I subdue you completely!"
"Taste the might of my Emperor's Divine Weapon attack!"
Krul's expression froze momentarily before shifting to panic. "Wait, that's not the right place, you're aiming wrong! ...Ah!"
Shinobu, who had been approaching the door to wake everyone for breakfast, heard the commotion from within and silently withdrew her hand from the door handle, turning to retreat as if fleeing for her life.
She was genuinely concerned that if she lingered too long, she might be drawn into the Abstract Emperor's conquest as well.
Two hours passed in the blink of an eye.
Krul lay completely spent with unfocused eyes, her body limp against the bed sheets.
Meanwhile, Victor had resumed his cross-legged meditation posture, continuing his cultivation as if nothing had transpired.