Chapter 3: The Clown is Actually Myself
"Arifureta (Group Leader): It's finally here, the long-awaited new features are finally coming."
"Iron-Blooded Hot-Blooded Cold-Blooded Vampire: Haha, that's great. I thought this chat group had too few features."
"Asuna: Yay!"
"Arifureta (Group Leader): No 'yay' allowed!"
"Arifureta (Group Leader): Wait, we have new members in the group. Let's not focus solely on discussing the new features. We can explore them after the chat group update is complete. The main thing now is to welcome the newcomers!"
"Arifureta (Group Leader): Welcome to our united and friendly Multiverse Chat Group, @Kashiwagi Eri @Ashen Witch."
"Flower Hashira: Welcome, newcomers."
"Iron-Blooded Hot-Blooded Cold-Blooded Vampire: Welcome, newcomers."
"Asuna: Welcome, newcomers."
"Archangel Gabriel: +1"
"Kashiwagi Eri: ..."
A sense of awkwardness slowly emerged in Eriri's heart. One moment she was proudly thinking the chat group was created because of her, but then realized she had made a fool of herself.
"Ashen Witch: What kind of magic is this? It could break through my magical defenses without my notice and appear directly in my consciousness. You must be a great and powerful witch. What do you need from me? Although I am very cute and have a noble personality, I am just a small witch traveling."
"Arifureta (Group Leader): Ah, it's Eriri. I'm done for..."
"Iron-Blooded Hot-Blooded Cold-Blooded Vampire: Eriri? Do you already have all the newcomers' information, Arifureta?"
"Flower Hashira: Arifureta, what happened? Is everything okay on your side?"
"Arifureta (Group Leader): It's not that..."
"Kashiwagi Eri: You know me?"
"Arifureta is the original name of Yue, the heroine from Arifureta: From Commonplace to World's Strongest, right? And her world is also a fantasy world. How does she know about me? And she's the group leader? Could it be... no way, no way."
A flash of confusion appeared in Eriri's eyes as she looked at the group name "Arifureta" with the prominent label "Group Leader" next to it, forming a bold guess in her mind.
"Arifureta (Group Leader): Of course, who doesn't know the famous 'Blonde Loser'?"
"Ashen Witch: Um, can someone please respond to me?"
"Kashiwagi Eri: Shut up!"
"Ashen Witch: ???"
Eriri, initially joining the chat group with great confidence, felt slightly unsettled to find it wasn't her cheat after all, and then to be called a "Blonde Loser" just stirred her temper.
Even if Eriri in the original work was indeed a "Blonde Loser," that was the original Eriri. What did that have to do with Sawamura Spencer Eriri?
Feeling indignant, Eriri directly muted the chat group notifications in her mind.
After calming herself, Eriri resumed her work, intending to add colors to her sketch, unaware that her last message in the chat had left a certain witch puzzled.
...
"Eriri, come out for dinner!"
"Got it, Mom! Just give me a minute."
Hearing Miss Sayuri's voice from outside, Eriri glanced at the computer clock. It was already past 6 PM. She quickly completed the last bit of coloring, put down her digital pen, and headed to the villa's dining room on the first floor with Miss Sayuri.
After living together for sixteen years, Eriri had developed deep feelings for the Sawamura couple, her biological parents in this life, without any resistance due to memories from her previous life.
"Is Dad working overtime today?"
Seeing only two sets of tableware on the dining table, Eriri asked Miss Sayuri beside her with a certain tone.
"Oh, Eriri, you're already missing your dad after just one day? You're such a daddy's girl! If your dad knew, he'd be so happy he wouldn't be able to sleep tonight."
"No, I'm not! I was just asking casually. Honestly, Mom, you're always teasing me."
Sayuri unfolded a purple folding fan in her hand, hiding her rising lips, and looked at Eriri's frustrated but cute expression, her heart filled with joy.
As Eriri's biological mother, Miss Sayuri was nearing forty years old. However, after Eriri mastered her powers, she occasionally used them to strengthen the Sawamura couple, enhancing their physique, extending their lifespan, and preserving their youth.
So, despite being almost forty, Miss Sayuri still looked like a young girl in her twenties.
She wore a colorful kimono over her petite figure, perfectly inherited by Eriri, with purple twin tails identical to Eriri's. When they went out shopping together, they were often mistaken for sisters.
"Ah, Eriri is just too cute."
Miss Sayuri hugged the frustrated Eriri tightly and rubbed her cheek against Eriri's smooth face.
"Okay, stop it, Mom."
Eriri quickly broke free from Sayuri's embrace, a blush spreading across her fair cheeks, and spoke to Sayuri helplessly.
"Oh, Eriri is such a shy child, but that's okay. You can always cuddle up to me whenever you want to."
Miss Sayuri said with a joyful tone as she watched Eriri sit down at the dining table.
"I know, I know. Anyway, let's eat first; the food will get cold."
After serving the rice, Eriri and Miss Sayuri put their hands together in prayer before the meal, as is traditional.
"Itadakimasu!"
...
"Beep beep beep beep beep..."
The alarm clock by the bed kept ringing, waking Eriri from her warm bed.
It was April, with clear skies and gentle sunshine, the season when flowers bloomed and trees flourished.
Eriri opened the floor-to-ceiling windows in her room and looked at the cherry blossoms blooming brilliantly in the villa's courtyard. Clusters of white cherry blossoms, like snow and clouds, looked ethereal.
With the gentle spring breeze, the cherry trees swayed, and petals floated with the wind. A few petals drifted past the window and into Eriri's room. Standing by the window, her long golden hair cascading down her back, the morning light cast a dreamlike beauty on Eriri's face.
Today was the day Eriri would officially become a high school student.
Just as in the original story, Eriri chose to attend Yumenosaki Private Academy, looking forward to meeting Megumi Kato and Utaha Kasumigaoka.