Back when Ayaka was still a little girl, Alice had indeed visited the Kamisato residence several times. It was just that, by sheer coincidence, she and Kamisato Satoru had managed to miss each other every single time.
"So it’s Ms. Alice?"
"No wonder this child looked so familiar."
Kamisato Ayaka studied Klee in amazement and realized that the girl was practically a miniature version of Alice.
"Auntie, did you really know my mommy before?"
Hearing her mother’s name, Klee curiously moved closer and began bombarding Ayaka with questions.
"Mm. I met her several times when I was little. She’s an incredibly accomplished adventurer."
"Ayaka, take Klee upstairs and let her choose a room she likes so she can get some rest."
Kamisato Satoru interrupted their conversation.
"Klee doesn’t want to sleep alone! Klee wants Daddy to tell her a story. Pleeease!"
Klee unleashed her ultimate weapon—acting spoiled.
Her sweet, childish voice was enough to melt anyone’s bones.
Kamisato Satoru had absolutely no defense against it and could only raise his hands in surrender.
"All right. There’s really no winning against you."
"Ayaka, good night. If you’ve got time tomorrow, remember to stop by my new shop and support the grand opening."
Kamisato Satoru took Klee’s warm little hand and headed upstairs.
"Mm. Good night, Brother."
Kamisato Ayaka stood downstairs with a gentle smile.
...
"Daddy, hurry up and tell the story! Klee’s already tucked in! What kind of hero story are you telling tonight?"
Klee burrowed beneath the covers until only her large eyes remained visible.
Kamisato Satoru glanced at the little brown backpack resting on the cabinet beside them, and a mischievous idea suddenly popped into his head.
"Ahem. Tonight, we’re going to hear an inspirational story called The Little Girl Who Sold Nuclear Bombs."
"Once upon a time, there was a little girl wandering the streets. By late at night, she still hadn’t managed to sell any of the nuclear bombs she was carrying..."
"Daddy, what kind of treasure is a nuclear bomb?"
"Well... you can think of it as a super-evolved version of a Jumpy Dumpty. It’s called the ’Jumpy Mega-Nuke.’"
"Whoa—! That sounds super powerful!"
"Anyway, when the little girl realized nobody was going to buy one, she finally ran out of options. So she struck a match and lit the nuclear bomb. Then everyone in the village went with her to Heaven to meet Grandma..."
"Oh my gosh! That’s amazing! Daddy, can you make a Jumpy Mega-Nuke like that?"
The more Klee listened, the more energetic she became.
Her tiny hands waved excitedly through the air as her head filled with spectacular images of throwing one into a lake to blast fish.
Kamisato Satoru was completely dumbfounded.
He regretted his decision so much he could practically feel his insides turning green.
Why did I have to run my mouth and tell her such a messed-up fairy tale?
If this little menace actually develops some kind of nuclear-powered Jumpy Dumpty, Mondstadt might be flying side by side with the sun tomorrow.
"Well... actually, Daddy doesn’t know how to make one either. But your mommy Alice is extremely knowledgeable. I’m sure she knows how."
Without the slightest hesitation, Kamisato Satoru passed the problem straight back to the child’s distant mother.
"Okay! Next time Klee talks to Mommy, Klee will definitely ask her how to make a mega-nuke!"
Klee murmured contentedly.
At last, her eyelids began to droop, and she slowly drifted off to sleep.
Kamisato Satoru could only watch with a helpless smile.
Considering Alice’s personality and her tendency to thrive on chaos, there was a genuine possibility that she had a few nuclear-physics blueprints stuffed somewhere in her pockets.
As it turned out, his guess wasn’t wrong in the slightest.
At that very moment, beyond the continent of Teyvat, in the desolate and lifeless Dark Sea, the sky was perpetually shrouded in dense gray mist.
A mature woman with a voluptuous figure stood amid a field of ruins, dressed in an elaborate red witch’s robe.
A closer look at her exquisite features would reveal that she and Klee looked as though they’d been carved from the same mold.
She was none other than the famous Alice.
The reputation of this genius witch was enough to give even The Seven headaches.
BOOOOM—!!
Without warning, a terrifying explosion loud enough to rupture eardrums erupted in the distance.
A blinding flash instantly blossomed across the horizon.
Immediately afterward, a scorching storm of energy swept across several miles as an enormous mushroom cloud soared into the sky.
The Abyssal god that had occupied the area was reduced to ashes in an instant.
"The power of this newest Jumpy Nuclear Bomb really is quite satisfactory."
Alice adjusted the goggles on the bridge of her nose while carefully recording the explosion data in her notebook with a quill.
...
In the blink of an eye, morning arrived.
"Daddy! The sun’s already shining on your butt! Get up! It’s time to work!"
Standing beside the bed, Klee vigorously shook Kamisato Satoru’s shoulder.
Her clear little voice was better than any alarm clock.
"Yaaawn... Morning, my little taskmaster."
Kamisato Satoru sat up with a yawn and stretched lazily.
"Hmph! Daddy is a big sleepyhead!"
Klee huffed softly, her face full of disapproval.
"Yes, yes, I’m a big sleepyhead. Come on, let’s get going."
Kamisato Satoru casually pulled out a pair of pitch-black sunglasses and settled them firmly on the bridge of his nose.
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