Spirit Tomb Albion was a colossal underground labyrinth sprawling beneath the Clock Tower, the shared property of the magi belonging to the Clock Tower.
Legend had it that when the Age of Gods ended, a great dragon named Albion perished underground, its remains shattering and scattering across various locations.
To utilize its corpse as a magical energy resource, the Clock Tower headquarters was built directly above it, and they began to excavate downwards.
Upon actual excavation, they discovered that time and space within the Spirit Tomb were ambiguous, the environment constantly shifting, and the air suffused with True Ether. In specific regions, one could even find traces of Divine Beasts.
Only then did the magi of the Clock Tower understand that the abnormality of this domain wasn't due to the dragon's remains, but because this area was a physical passage leading to the Star's Inner Sea (Reverse Side of the World).
The corpse of that great dragon, which had lived in the twilight years of the Age of Gods, was found here because it had intended to dig its way to the Star's Inner Sea through this passage.
In that unique environment, Fantastical Species, largely unseen in the outside world, had yet to go extinct.
Creatures like Chimeras, Manticores, Hydras, and even giant earthworms possessing golden-grade Mystic Eyes could all be found.
Within a bottomless chasm known as the "Pit of Nothingness," the existence of Divine Beasts related to Cerberus and Abaddon had even been confirmed.
Li Zihan's magus workshop was established in the Mining City Magisphere.
"You have no idea how devastated I was after spending nearly a month and a half grinding that damned earthworm to death, only to find out its Mystic Eyes weren't compatible with me."
In a milk tea shop by the roadside, the young man sat by the window, sipping his drink and complaining.
"And then there was that time I tried to capture a Manticore. I wanted to get a few poisonous barbs from its tail, but the idiot used all its barbs to attack me. By the time I caught it, it had no barbs left."
Sitting opposite him, Miss Mei listened to the young man's complaints, her face a mask of bewilderment.
Albion the Great Dragon, the Mining City Magisphere, the Star's Inner Sea, the Pit of Nothingness, Manticores, earthworms with Mystic Eyes...
One after another, mystical things that sounded like they should only exist in mythology spilled from Li Zihan's lips, thoroughly overturning Miss Mei's understanding of the world.
Are we... really living in the same world?
"May I ask, Zihan, where exactly are you from?"
After listening to a long string of adventure stories that sounded like myths, Miss Mei couldn't help but ask.
"The London Clock Tower, of course," the young man, who indeed resided at the London Clock Tower, replied.
Unlike the composed Li Zihan, Miss Mei, who had also been taken to England by Raiden Ryoma as a child, looked extremely hesitant.
Is it that terrifying beneath the Elizabeth Tower?
Judging from Li Zihan's description, the underground of London sounded like a veritable hell.
If those subterranean monsters were to break through to the surface, it would surely mean death for the entire city, wouldn't it? Has Great Britain and the United Nations made adequate preparations?
Unaware that the Clock Tower Li Zihan spoke of was actually in another world, the girl looked deeply worried.
"By the way, Zihan, don't you have any friends?"
The girl, feeling that her worrying was pointless, sighed and continued to inquire about Li Zihan's situation.
Perhaps it was because Miss Mei naturally liked to take care of others; after learning that his age could technically be considered fourteen, younger than her, her attitude towards Li Zihan relaxed considerably.
"Friends... it's not like I don't have any."
The young man, sensing a slight shift in Miss Mei's attitude towards him, took a sip of his milk tea. After a moment's thought, he decided to speak.
This world wasn't the Moon World anyway; talking more wouldn't lead to the dispersal of Mystery.
"Beo, Kuonji Alice, and Waver."
He was actually quite familiar with the Aozaki sisters as well, but he really didn't want to mention those two perverted shota-cons, the young man stated.
Because of those two regrettable beauties, his aesthetic preferences had once shifted all the way from older-sister types to younger-sister types and lolis.
Beo, the Golden Wolf, was a top-tier Fantastical Species and a great help to Li Zihan during his explorations in Spirit Tomb Albion.
Kuonji Alice, on the other hand, was someone Li Zihan met when he accompanied Aozaki Touko home to stir up trouble.
Since Aozaki Touko didn't mess with the ley lines, Kuonji Alice, as one of the ley line administrators, naturally had no reason to join the fray.
Li Zihan was also one to slack off. While the Aozaki sisters were fighting tooth and nail, he was mostly drinking tea with Kuonji Alice, discussing fairy tales and antiques.
As for Waver's situation... those who knew, knew.
Overtime.jpg.
Not even the Human Order Incineration / Human Order Freezing / destruction of the Quantum Record Tapes could stop his overtime.
"If you'd like to meet them, I can take you to see them after a while," Li Zihan continued.
Once he got his hands on Jizo Mitama, he would contact Otto through it after his interdimensional travel cooldown ended, and try to borrow a few things.
Once all the items were gathered, it would be time to tackle missions. After completing them, he could take people on trips.
Li Zihan was still very curious about how Honkai energy would perform in actual combat in the Moon World.
His use of magecraft in the Honkai world yielded outstanding results, so he figured Honkai energy wouldn't disappoint in the Moon World either.
"Are you inviting me to your home as a guest?"
The girl, unaware that the fellow who offered to introduce his friends was still contemplating some utterly depraved matters, showed a hint of joy in her eyes.
He's willing to tell me his story and even invite me to his home.
Does this mean... he considers me someone he can be close to?
"Mm."
The young man thought about his upcoming plans and added, "Of course, that'll be in three months."
There was still nearly a month's cooldown before the system refreshed its missions, and he needed to complete a mission to get a second travel slot.
He himself needed one slot to return to the Moon World, and rescuing a certain pitiful child also required a slot, so there were no vacancies for the time being.
Once he arrived in the Moon World, there would be another month's travel cooldown. Then, a trip back to the Honkai world, followed by yet another month's cooldown.
Honestly, just thinking about all those back-and-forth cooldown periods made Li Zihan feel a bit weary.
Why is taking someone on a trip so troublesome?
If he could modify the system according to his own will, he would definitely max out the interdimensional travel function.
"That's alright," Miss Mei said, waving her hand.
Just being trusted by someone made her very happy.
People who were rescued from difficult situations often admired those who saved them.
She, who had been saved by Kiana, also hoped she could pull Li Zihan out of his loneliness.
"By the way, would you like to come to my home as a guest?"
Having received an invitation, Miss Mei looked at the young man before her, thought for a moment, and then spoke.
Since he had invited her, then, by the principle of reciprocity, she should also make some gesture.
The young man, who would be quite free before Welt's arrival, recalled Miss Mei's formidable reputation as a "Rice Cooker," and an idea sparked in his mind.
If she's known as the Rice Cooker, her cooking skills must be excellent, right?
"Is that okay?"
"Of course, it is," Miss Mei replied in a gentle tone.