''Look, she's really my daughter! Did you give birth to her, Kierra?''

''...''

After making Lan morph into a human, Diamante proudly lifted her 'daughter' and stared at her with sparkling eyes. In truth, Diamante used to have pinkish-orange hair when she was young, and it gradually turned into a bright pink as she grew up.

Other than the hair color, anybody could easily see the similarities between Lan and Diamante.

It was a shocking revelation.

Even the White Lotus crew didn't know the origin of the phoenix egg Kierra used to revive Lan. If this fluffy woman's words were true, would they become Lan's stepmothers??

''Of course not.'' Kierra sighed. ''Did you forget the egg you gave me after our first meeting?''

''Huh? Wasn't that just an ordinary egg? How does this child have a consciousness, then?''

''What do you think?''

Diamante broke out a silly smile and hugged Kierra tightly, enclosing the little girl Lan between them in the process, ''I dunno! Kierra is amazing, so I think she must have used some incredible magic!''

''Eek...!''

Crushed between Kierra and Diamante's chest, Lan let out a pitiful squeal before turning back into a bird and flying behind Shen, the little fox.

''Mhm... you might be shy for now, but it doesn't change the fact that you are my daughter—!☆''

For some reason, Diamante's bubbly dialogues with Kierra and Lan greatly eased everyone up. Kierra could sense that on a physical level. In this department, she was actually glad that Diamante stayed the same as she remembered.

It had been a long, long time since she had felt the phoenix-like warmth on her body; her scent, her soothing voice, her cozy snuggles... more than anything, Kierra could still see Diamante's love for herself burning eternally as though an undying flame.

And guilt. A gnawing, intense guilt.

Promising to herself that she would apologize to Diamante later, Kierra soon switched the topic.

''Ahem. First of all, can you introduce yourself, Angelica?''

''Yes, master.''

Lifting her glasses, Angelica stood up.

''My name is Angelica, the Crimson Archwizard's first disciple, and the Crimson Tower's vice tower master. I was born and raised in Linoel, the continent of prosperous magical and technological wonders. It is nice to meet you all.''

''W-What did you say?!'' Tian Yun exclaimed. ''V-Vice tower master...?''

''Yes?''

''But... I am the Crimson Tower's vice tower master...?''

'Crap.'

Kierra thought.

If you come across this story on Amazon, it's taken without permission from the author. Report it.

She always thought of the tower in the Central Divine Realm as a V2, yet she never actually told people that. So, it appeared that the crew thought there was only one Crimson Tower.

Tian Yun had experience as a sect leader, so Kierra thought it might be a good idea to give her the title of 'vice tower master.'

Before the awkward stare-down between Angelica and Tian Yun could evolve into something more aggressive, Kierra intervened.

''Angelica is indeed my first disciple. It is also true that she is the second-in-command of the Crimson Tower, which is situated in Linoel.''

Immediately after that, she smoothly diverted everyone's attention to other places.

''And this is Diamante de Soleil, my...''

''Wife! I'm her wife!''

Kierra didn't deny Diamante's enthusiastic words. She simply smiled, enduring August's cold rage from behind.

''Dia is the crown princess of the legendary Phoenix race. Do treat her well.''

Afterward, she began to introduce the other members to the two, starting from Bai Qing, who she first met, to the three Immortal Empresses.

''Master.''

Then, Angelica suddenly kneeled before Kierra, shooing Yan Shi away. This slightly surprised the archwizard, and that was precisely when she struck.

"I understand it. I might not have lived for as long as you have, and I certainly do not wield the same magical prowess that you do, but I understand your boredom."

''...''

''Still, despite all of that... at least don't erase your trails completely like this! Do you know just how long it took for us to find this place?? Even then, it took nearly half of the remaining archwizards in the world just to activate the transportation circle! It's ridiculous! Ridiculous!''

Seeing Angelica lashing out like a child, Kierra was speechless. Was she always this... talkative?

The disciple Kierra knew she was a shy child whose only obsession was magic, yet perhaps through years of being the face of the most esteemed magic tower in the world, she had 'matured.'

'Well, certainly not in a normal sense, I suppose.'

After all... she was still a child in Kierra's eyes. The same child that Kierra met some three hundred years ago near a slump, the same child whose eyes sparked brilliant stars when she saw magic for the first time.

''Master...''

''Good job.''

Gently, the archwizard's hand combed Angelica's blonde hair.

''What you did was commendable, disciple. Not only did you correctly piece together my magic ritual, but you had successfully gathered so many wizards to accomplish this feat. I'm proud of you.''

''N-No way... who are you?! My master don't give out compliments!''

''This little...''

And so, Angelica's slightly freckled cheeks were pinched. Some laughed at this comical scene, and some actually felt bitter.

(・∀・)?(・∀・)?(・∀・)?

Excuse me?

Who was this random girl? Why was Kierra showering her with such sweet words??

This was what was on the mind of the women from Central Divine Realm... except for the three Immortal Empresses. The latter had already been eating popcorn since a bit earlier.

''Fight! Fight!''

''Shut up, you idiot...!''

Once there was something hilarious, the one jumping straight in was always Enigma Masked. Before she could do even more devastating damage, the other two empresses hurriedly covered the sinner's mouth—only to remember that a mask was in the way.

''Hahah! I've never seen a harem situation this entertaining!''

''Huh? Harem?''

Only Angelica was baffled. Although she looked as though she had many questions, being a respectful disciple, she soon shook it off.

''Either way, master. Since the coordinates of this planet have been recorded this time, people will soon arrive here. Those wizards... I think we should prepare a way to deal with their curiosity.''

Hearing this, Kierra rubbed her chin a bit before curling her mouth into a smirk.

''No need.''

Aside from the Crimson Tower, there were a few prominent ones scattered across Linonel as well. Assuming they had collaborated with Angelica, they would rightfully be interested in this 'unknown' world.

However, it was Kierra who trailblazed first.

There was a price she could charge as someone who came first.

So... why would she not take advantage of this sudden migration and make those stinky wizards fight these monsters?

After the decision was made, the archwizard immediately discussed the plan with the empresses, who happily took on the offer to be actors in Kierra's ploy the moment they heard that more people like her would come.

''So, representatives from every tower would be present?''

''Yes, master. It has been a long time since all of us wizards have gathered.''

''Hm... that's a good thing, I suppose.''

''Ah, this piece of news is for you, Your Majesty.''

August, who had been dozing off on Kierra's shoulder, opened her golden eyes.

''The empire's knight commander and her special squad will also travel along the wizards, so...''

''W-What did you say?''

For the first time since coming to this place, August stuttered.