Starting from the Collapse World, I became the behind-the-scenes boss

Almost the instant darkness descended, the lights came back on, and a fluffy white ball of fur jumped out: "I want the first piece!"

As she spoke, Kiana looked up at the boy, her blue eyes sparkling like stars.

"Nobody's going to take it from you."

Himeko glanced at Mei, who had a helpless expression, and said leisurely.

"Well……"

Kiana merely puffed out her cheeks slightly, but her gaze remained fixed on the boy without wavering.

Stared at by the girl, Shihen shook his head helplessly, then cut off a piece of cake and said, "This is for Miss Kiana."

For those little white fluffy balls that are still like paramecia, you just have to coax them a lot.

Click——

The plate was handed out, but it collided with another plate, making a crisp sound.

Following that small, fair hand, Shihen met Youlandail's slightly embarrassed face.

"Kiana, you can have mine too."

Avoiding the boy's gaze, Durandal spoke to Kiana.

"..."

Looking at the two cakes in front of her, Kiana's eyes filled with confusion. Her body instinctively took them. "Then... thank you?"

Shihen glanced at the white fluffy ball that seemed to be frozen in a daze, smiled slightly, and couldn't help but feel a little sentimental.

From the moment the two first met through the experimental chamber, Kiana has always been the one who is loved.

When the girl truly understands all of this, she will appreciate Durandal's good intentions.

Bringing his wandering thoughts back, Shihen quickly cut the cake into pieces.

"Hmm~ Mei's cooking skills are getting better and better. I wonder which brat will benefit from her in the future." After taking a bite of the cake from Shihen's side, Himeko tried the one Durandal handed her and couldn't help but smile and nod. "Rita's cooking skills are not bad either."

Well, this time, neither Shihen nor Durandal's birthday cakes were custom-made by a dessert shop; they were baked by Mei and Rita themselves.

"No, I've only been studying for a short time."

Her cheeks flushed instantly, and Mei lowered her head modestly.

"I hope everyone is satisfied."

With a slight smile, Rita appeared poised and confident.

As if infected by the maid's confident demeanor, Mei also mustered up her courage to look at the boy beside her and ask, "Ken, what do you think?"

"It's delicious! It's sweet but not cloying. Mei must have put in a lot of effort."

With a smile and a nod, Shihen didn't hold back his praise at all.

Since learning about his tastes, Mei has never disappointed him.

As for the piece from Durandal... it's already in the white fluffy dumpling's stomach.

The two small cakes were quickly finished, and the banquet moved on to the next stage under Himeko's expectant gaze.

Instead of cake, a delicate and sumptuous meal was served, and Shihen also took out a dark glass wine bottle.

This wine was sent by a raven as a gift for the boy's eighteenth birthday.

Even including Raven, a former executive, there's still only one other person in the entire World Snake... Oh no, now we should include Yae Sakura and Himeko.

The shrine maiden gave her a handmade amulet, while the little fox gave her a cherry blossom bookmark.

As for the Gray Serpents... even the Gray Serpent Clan already belong to Shihen, so whether or not the other party gives a gift is actually not important.

Himeko glanced at the label on the bottle, a strange light flashing in her eyes: "This vintage... your sister really went all out."

Is it really that lucrative to be a mercenary?

Even for an A-rank Valkyrie like her, it would be painful to spend a lot of money on a bottle of wine of this caliber.

Is this wine expensive?

Shihen asked, looking puzzled.

"Regardless of the price, the sentiment behind the gift is more important."

Rita smiled and said.

There is an old Chinese saying: "A gift of a goose feather from a thousand miles away is a small gift but carries great meaning."

Shihen nodded in agreement.

"Alright, hurry up and open it to try it. I can already smell the aroma of the wine that has been fermented over time."

She urged, her eyes gleaming with anticipation.

At this moment, only alcohol is her only reality.

"Drink less, and don't get drunk!"

Holding her own special bottle of bitter melon juice, Theresa said sternly.

"I know, I'm a teacher, after all. I won't drink indiscriminately."

Himeko waved her hand helplessly.

Honestly, after all these years, don't they even have this much trust between them?

As if hearing the woman's thoughts, Theresa raised her eyes and glared fiercely at Himeko.

It's precisely because she knows what kind of person the other person is that she's worried.

"Speaking of which, it's a rare long holiday, Hen, aren't you going home for a visit?"

Watching the boy skillfully use the bottle opener, Kiana couldn't help but ask.

Unlike them, the boy has a place he can go back to.

"I originally planned to do this, but... I had a last-minute mission."

As he spoke, Shihen shrugged.

St. Freya's Christmas holiday had just begun when Otto dumped the quest for the Tranquil Gem on her.

If it weren't for this mission, he really intended to return to China.

They've been together for almost a year now, and there's no rush to build a bond between him and Kiana and the others.

Persona is the most important thing.

"I'm sorry, it was my fault for not coordinating the relationship between St. Freya and headquarters properly."

Upon hearing the boy's words, Theresa decisively lowered her head.

Although she is the highest-ranking headmistress at St. Freya, she has never acted arrogantly.

On the other hand, Durandal also felt a little ashamed.

"Principal, you're exaggerating. After all, this is an unavoidable situation."

Besides, Christmas isn't really celebrated in China, so Natasha is probably busy with work right now.

Shihen explained with a smile.

Well, although the boy's words were partly true and partly false, objectively speaking, Raven was indeed not in China during this period.

Raven was already a retiree; he only took on this role because of the boy's request. It was obviously impossible for him to stay obediently in China forever.

Based on recent contact, the other party is probably still on vacation in France.

With no mercenary work to do and no children to care for, Raven's whereabouts were so elusive that even Shihen had difficulty keeping track of them.

Of course, the main reason is that he doesn't care about that.

Since the raven is pursuing freedom, why should he interfere with it?

Seeing the smile on the boy's face, Theresa felt even more ashamed.

If it weren't for the mission, and if Kiana hadn't been injured and unconscious, she would probably be reunited with her family by now.

Thinking of this, Theresa raised her head, a determined look on her face: "Since we missed Christmas, I will make sure you have another holiday to enjoy!"

Although St. Freya would most likely have already started school by the time of the Chinese New Year, she is, after all, the headmistress!

"Ok?"

Shihen looked puzzled.

Anyway, just look forward to it.

Theresa gave a mysterious smile and offered no further explanation.

Shihen glanced at the over-aged loli, but didn't think much of it. He got up and poured some red wine into everyone's glass.

Of course, minors like Bronya and Seele only have a shallow layer at the bottom of the cup.

Even though they are a nation known for its fighting spirit, they are still not old enough.

And for a certain thousand-year-old doll... the other party even tried to change the bowl.

Having thwarted the puppet's plan, Shihen returned to his seat after finishing pouring a round of wine, raised his glass, and said in a slightly heavy voice, "In Shenzhou, there has always been a custom of observing the seventh day after death."

Legend has it that on the seventh day after a person dies, their soul can briefly return to the human world.

So let's offer this first toast to that senior who fought his entire life.

Today marks the seventh day since Siegfried was "murdered" on December 25th.

Although the other party should be discussing the feasibility of creating a sequel to "The Magic Sword" with Walter Young in the dark room, it doesn't stop the boy from mourning for him.

Chapter 249 Siegfried and the Goose: Father or Hero?

After a few rounds of drinks, the first person to pass out was not Himeko, who was addicted to alcohol, but Theresa, who had always advised the other person not to drink too much.

They exchanged a glance, and both Himeko and Rita saw a certain longing in each other's eyes.

So, one of them started talking about the duties of a subordinate, while the other talked about the responsibilities of a maid. Together, they led Theresa away first, their movements so practiced that it seemed as if someone had simply made up an excuse to get the group out so that the story could move on to the next part.

"I never expected that Senior Theresa would have this side to her..."

Durandal's lips twitched as she watched Theresa, who was shouting that she wasn't drunk, being fought over and carried away by the two men.

In her memory, this short senior was just a bit lazy and often acted like a child.

"After all, the headmaster has known that senior for twenty years."

Shihen glanced at the white fur ball beside him, whose eyes were also glazed over but which was still trying to stay awake, and sighed softly.

"..."

Upon hearing the boy's words, Durandal's expression became much more complicated.

However, since Kiana was still present, the girl wisely refrained from mentioning that name and simply picked up the bottle and poured herself a full glass.

"Miss Durandal, you should drink less of this drink, as it is ultimately harmful to your health."

Shihen gently advised.

Given how drunk the white-haired dumpling was after only a few drinks, he couldn't be sure how much alcohol Durandal could handle.

If the other party gets drunk and does something crazy like uprooting a willow tree, no one here can stop this strongest Valkyrie.

"It's alright, the S-rank Valkyrie of Destiny won't be defeated by these things."

A blush rose to her cheeks, and Yulandel shook her head, looking relaxed.

Her body has been modified by Honkai energy, and her resistance to substances like alcohol is far beyond that of ordinary people.

Even with Theresa, it was mostly because the other person wanted to get drunk that they did that.

"But as the saying goes, 'nip problems in the bud,' even Miss Durandal should be cautious."

Mei also spoke up to persuade them.

At this moment, she could also see that the strongest Valkyrie had something on her mind.

At least, she couldn't imagine that Durandal, who usually spent more than eight hours a day in the training room, would drink alcohol for no reason.

“That makes sense.” Nodding slightly, Durandal downed the wine in her glass in one gulp, then looked at the young man. “Could you please escort me home, Shihen?”