Chapter 4 - New Recruit

In the land of Nyan-Qing, where war was forbidden and its people lived in peace, Goku Black found his twisted ideologies challenged. The planet defeated him not through force of arms, but through the strength of its heart, determination, culture, and history. Its art, scenery, and cuisine gradually won over both him and Mitarashi.

"So, Your Majesty, do you happen to have someone who could teach me how to cook?" Mitarashi asked politely.

"Oh, there is no need for that!" the emperor replied. "As thanks for sparing our planet, I can simply give you my Imperial Chef to serve you!"

Suddenly, a voice echoed from the hallway.

"Hua-ama! (Royal Father)!"

The emperor turned toward the sound and saw a young woman with messy brown hair styled in a fan-shaped arrangement running toward him.

She slid across the polished floor on her knees before stopping in front of her father.

"Hua-ama! You mustn't give them Kus-Yi!" she pleaded.

"But, Princess, they need a cook—"

"Hua-ama, Kus-Yi is Hua-anya's (Royal Mother's) personal chef! She'll be furious if you give her away!"

"Then who are we supposed to send with them? Kus-Yi prepared all the dishes they ate!" the emperor argued. "And pay your respects to the God of Destruction!"

The princess immediately turned toward Goku Black and performed a respectful kowtow.

"Greetings, my lord. May ten thousand years of fortune follow your path."

Goku Black smirked and crossed his arms while Mitarashi smiled and gestured for the princess to stand.

The princess quickly rose and returned to her argument.

"I made all those dishes they ate!"

Goku Black accidentally inhaled his tea and began coughing violently.

Mitarashi quickly handed him a cup of water.

"What?!" the emperor exclaimed. "There's no way you cooked all of that! Eunuchs! Was it truly the princess who prepared our lord's meal?"

One of the eunuchs stepped forward and bowed.

"Your Majesty, it was indeed Princess Nia. Lady Kus-Yi is currently bedridden with feline flu after attempting to rescue an injured bird during her day off."

The emperor gasped in horror.

His daughter's food had been eaten by the God of Destruction himself.

He had never trusted her in the kitchen. As a princess, she was expected to study governance and court etiquette, yet she constantly snuck away to experiment with recipes in the imperial kitchens.

"The food was excellent," Mitarashi assured him. "Neither of us feels unwell."

"R-Really...?" the emperor asked, sweat dripping down his face.

"If Your Majesty permits it," Mitarashi continued, "I would actually prefer the princess to cook for us."

Princess Nia's eyes sparkled.

"Hua-ama, you once promised that if I couldn't marry the person I wanted, I could travel the world instead. Maybe serving the God of Destruction is my chance to travel the universe!"

The emperor blinked.

"Ah... that's right, my daughter."

He sighed before gently embracing her.

"If joining them makes you happy, then I will support your decision."

Goku Black finally recovered from his coughing fit and straightened himself.

"Your kitten had better not poison us," he muttered while rubbing his chest.

"I stake my life on the fact that my daughter would never harm you, my lord!" the emperor declared, bowing deeply.

Night soon fell over the empire.

The emperor prepared luxurious guest quarters for Goku Black and Mitarashi.

After receiving a fresh set of clothes from the imperial household, Mitarashi entered Goku Black's room.

She found him perched on the balcony railing, gazing over the glowing city below. Lanterns illuminated the streets while distant music drifted through the mountain air.

She carefully placed his new clothes on the bed before approaching him with her hands clasped neatly over her abdomen.

"My lord, the emperor's gift has arrived. You should change into these clothes before you catch a cold."

"So I lost our little wager and now I have to stay here for a month?" Goku Black asked, turning toward her with visible irritation.

"You may leave earlier if you wish," Mitarashi replied calmly. "But that would tell me that you are not a man of honor."

"I never said I wanted to leave!" Goku Black snapped, pinching the bridge of his nose. "I was about to ask if I could stay longer!"

Mitarashi's eyes widened.

"Oh? So you actually like it here?"

"Y-Yeah..." he admitted, avoiding eye contact. "For some reason, this place is... therapeutic."

A bright smile spread across her face.

"I'm glad you're willing to experience new things."

"Now please, let me prepare your bath. Afterwards, you can wear the emperor's gift."

"Fine. Lead the way."

The God of Destruction reluctantly followed her.

However, when they entered the bathhouse, both of them froze.

Instead of finding an empty room, they found five eunuchs waiting patiently for Goku Black.

Apparently, on Nyan-Qing, it was considered improper for a woman to bathe a man who was neither her husband nor her son.

One of the eunuchs stepped forward.

"Miss Mitarashi, please excuse us. This bathing hall is reserved for men."

"B-But I bathe my lord every day!" Mitarashi protested. "I am his personal assistant! You could say I'm like a Gugu or a Momo!"

"It's fine, Mitarashi," Goku Black said as the attendants began helping him remove his outer garments. "Go get some rest yourself."

She hesitated for a moment before bowing.

"As you wish, my lord."

Trusting the attendants to care for him, she left for her own room.

Meanwhile, Mitarashi settled before a beautifully crafted vanity adorned with silver and gold. A large mirror reflected the soft lantern light while a small drawer contained various cosmetics.

As she adjusted a loose strand of hair beside her face, she noticed movement behind the curtains through the mirror's reflection.

Pretending not to notice, she continued grooming herself.

A second later, something suddenly launched at her.

Mitarashi effortlessly sidestepped and caught the attacker.

It was Princess Nia.

The young princess grinned from ear to ear.

"Why would Your Highness attack me like that?" Mitarashi asked while carefully setting her down.

"To see if you're a god too!" Nia replied proudly.

Mitarashi chuckled.

"Not exactly. I'm more of an overseer of time and space... and the servant of the God of Destruction."

"That's so cool!" Nia exclaimed. "How long have you been serving him?"

"Only a few days."

Mitarashi sighed and sat on the edge of her bed.

"And he's quite a handful."

The princess followed her and plopped down onto a nearby footstool.

"I bet he's difficult to manage."

"I'll get used to it, Your Highness."

Mitarashi glanced at the princess.

"Although it's not proper for a princess to sit on a footstool."

Before Nia could protest, Mitarashi gently lifted her and moved her onto the bed instead.

“Don't worry, Miss Mitarashi! Once I move into your house, I'll help you as much as I can!” Princess Nia volunteered enthusiastically.

“Thank you, Princess...” Mitarashi paused, realizing she did not know the young woman's given name.

“Nia! I'm Princess Nia!” she exclaimed in a bubbly voice.

Mitarashi smiled warmly. The princess seemed blissfully unaware of the dangers beyond the peaceful world of Nyan-Qing. She possessed a genuinely kind heart, something increasingly rare among both mortals and gods.

A short while later, Goku Black returned to his room.

He now wore a purple variation of the emperor's golden coat, signifying his authority above the ruler of Nyan-Qing. Decorative braids had been woven into his hair, and fragrant perfume pouches hung from his belt. He looked every bit like Nyan-Qing nobility—except far more imposing, befitting a divine being.

Mitarashi and Princess Nia greeted him with a bow.

“My lord, you look divine in those clothes,” Mitarashi complimented.

“You look just like us and Hua-Ama, my lord!” Nia added, stars practically shining in her eyes.

“I do like them,” Goku Black admitted while studying himself in a full-length mirror. “They're comfortable, and I can move freely in them. Though I'll still need to wear my original attire most of the time.”

He slowly turned around, inspecting every detail of his outfit with obvious satisfaction.

Princess Nia then turned toward Mitarashi.

“You should try wearing Nyan-Qing clothing too! And style your hair like mine! You'd look amazing!”

“Ah, no offense, Your Highness, but how am I supposed to properly serve Lord Black while wearing those clothes? They'd get stained or damaged during chores,” Mitarashi explained.

“We can do it when you're free, then!” Nia insisted.

Mitarashi sighed.

“Alright. Only when I'm free.”

The princess cheered victoriously.

Meanwhile, Goku Black remained completely focused on admiring himself in the mirror.

The next morning, the sun rose over the eastern horizon of Nyan-Qing.

To Mitarashi's surprise, Goku Black was already awake and dressed, seemingly excited to explore the planet.

She stood behind him, carefully straightening the back of his purple coat.

“I've never seen you this eager to go sightseeing, my lord,” she commented while rolling a lint brush over his shoulders.

“Everything is a first between the two of us,” Goku Black replied while adjusting his cuffs. “It's my first time seeing things I never paid attention to before. And it's your first time seeing me like this.”

A smile appeared on Mitarashi's lips.

“Indeed, it is a first. I am honored to witness these new experiences with you, my lord. It warms my heart.”

“I'm hungry,” Goku Black declared. “Let's get something to eat.”

He stood from his chair and walked toward the door.

As Mitarashi opened it, they found two palace servants waiting outside.

The moment they saw the pair, both servants knelt.

“Good morning, Lord Black. Miss Mitarashi. Your breakfast has been prepared as instructed by His Majesty.”

“Please allow us to escort you.”

“Good,” Goku Black replied. “Lead the way.”

The two servants guided them through the palace grounds.

Outside the gates, an entourage awaited them, along with an ornate sedan chair.

“Please step inside, my lord.”

Confused, Goku Black complied.

The moment he sat down, four servants lifted the sedan simultaneously.

The sudden movement nearly startled him into grabbing both armrests.

Mitarashi couldn't help but chuckle as she walked beside the sedan like a proper attendant.

Minutes later, they arrived at a grand banquet hall.

Goku Black stepped down and entered through another massive gate while Mitarashi followed behind.

The doors opened.

Inside was another feast prepared in his honor.

The emperor rose immediately upon seeing him. Beside him sat the empress and Princess Nia.

Everyone present dropped to their knees and performed a respectful kowtow.

This time, Goku Black was seated at the head of the table—the very seat normally occupied by the emperor himself.

The emperor instead took a lower seat traditionally reserved for princes.

Even after everyone had settled, Mitarashi remained standing beside her master's chair.

“Good morning, my lord,” the emperor greeted.

“It is indeed a good morning, Emperor,” Goku Black replied while reaching for his chopsticks. “I slept well. The room was excellent, the scenery was pleasant, the ride here was surprisingly enjoyable, and the food before me looks admirable.”

The empress smiled.

“I am delighted to hear that. I hope you continue to enjoy your stay, my lord.”

Mitarashi then spoke.

“There is something I would like to ask. Would Your Majesties permit Princess Nia to accompany us when we leave?”

As she asked the question, Goku Black was busy attempting to fit an entire meat bun into his mouth.

The empress immediately looked concerned.

“I worry for my daughter's safety. Nia is my firstborn. She was meant to marry the prince of a neighboring southern kingdom, but...” she sighed. “Her personality is far too rash for court life.”

“Hua-Anya, you have to trust me!” Nia protested. “How am I supposed to become a responsible lady if I never leave home? Besides, Lord Black isn't going to make me fight, right?”

She immediately turned toward Mitarashi, silently begging for support.

“Princess Nia would be serving as Lord Black's personal cook,” Mitarashi reassured. “She will not be involved in combat.”

“I just want her to prepare good Nyan-Qing cuisine,” Goku Black added while casually popping an entire crayfish into his mouth.

Mitarashi blinked.

“My lord, you need to remove the shell first.”

“You're not supposed to eat it?”

Crunch.

“It tastes fine.”

The emperor nearly choked.

The empress buried her face in her hands.

After a moment of silence, the emperor gently reached for his wife's hand.

“Nia will be safe with them,” he said softly. “After all, she will be serving the most powerful being in the universe.”

His words seemed to calm her.

She looked toward her daughter and sighed.

“You're right.”

Then she smiled faintly.

“Our daughter will probably be safer with them than married off to a prince who might mistreat her far from home.”

Princess Nia immediately leapt from her seat.

“Hua-Anya!”

She wrapped her arms around her mother, who reluctantly returned the embrace.

Across the table, Goku Black quietly watched the scene while crunching through another unfortunate crayfish shell.

“Nia, my daughter, please take care of yourself when you are with them!” the Empress pleaded.

“Hua-Anya, don’t worry about me. If I’m old enough to get married, then I’m old enough to be independent! Besides, I can visit you anytime. Miss Mitarashi told me that Goku Black’s planet is just nearby!” Nia assured her mother.

The two embraced, both aware that this could be the last time they would see each other for a while. However, Mitarashi had already considered allowing the princess to visit home from time to time once things settled down on her lord’s planet.

After the meal, Goku Black was invited to another room. Upon entering, he found seven beautifully dressed women standing in a line, waiting for him. The Emperor’s head eunuch stood nearby, along with the Emperor himself.

The eunuch announced loudly, “His Majesty and our Lord have arrived!”

Everyone immediately knelt in respect before the two powerful figures—one who ruled the planet and one who ruled destruction itself.

As expected, Goku Black was the first to take his designated seat while Mitarashi carefully adjusted his robes. The Emperor sat afterward, assisted by his head eunuch.

“My lord,” the Emperor began, turning toward Goku Black, “I present these women to attend to your nightly desires.”

He gestured toward the women standing silently in line.

“Nightly desires?” Goku Black repeated, raising an eyebrow.

“I assume he means companionship... perhaps even mating?” Mitarashi asked cautiously.

“Well, not only that,” the Emperor replied enthusiastically. “They can pamper and please our lord in every way!”

“No.”

The room fell silent.

“No,” Goku Black repeated firmly. “I am a God of Destruction. Procreation is not my duty. I have no interest in mating, nor do I possess any desire for a harem. Do not offer such things to me again.”

His voice carried enough authority to make everyone tense.

Indeed, a God of Destruction had no business maintaining a collection of women or producing heirs. His role was simple: to destroy when necessary.

The Emperor immediately dropped to his knees.

“Forgive my ignorance, my lord! I did not know such offerings would offend you!”

“Now you do.”

Goku Black stood from his seat.

“I would rather drink tea with your people than be surrounded by women who were brought here without their consent.”

With that, he turned and left the room. Mitarashi quietly followed behind him.

The God of Destruction descended the palace stairs with his hands clasped behind his back, visibly irritated.

“My lord, is there anything I can do to ease your frustration?” Mitarashi asked.

Goku Black stopped midway down the stairs.

“As a woman yourself,” he said, turning slightly toward her, “do you believe that is acceptable?”

Mitarashi sighed.

“Many cultures, civilizations, planets, and star systems view women as property—bearers of children, commodities to be traded. That is why the Emperor so readily offered Princess Nia to us as a cook. It stems from the same mindset that led to what happened earlier.”

“Pathetic,” Goku Black growled.

“Well, that is their culture,” Mitarashi replied. “The Emperor assumed that because you are a man, you would understand his perspective. Especially considering how people often view women.”

She paused briefly.

“Even me.”

Goku Black remained silent.

“I am your servant,” she continued. “And I just happen to be a woman.”

The god turned to face her.

“But serving me is your choice, is it not? You care for me because you believe it is the best way to assist me.”

“My lord, I was assigned to you by the Grand Priest and the Omni King,” Mitarashi answered calmly. “However, it is indeed my choice to serve and care for you as I do.”

Goku Black lowered his gaze for a moment before turning away and continuing down the stairs.

As he walked, he sensed another presence behind him besides Mitarashi.

When he glanced back, he spotted a familiar figure.

Princess Nia.

She was carrying an enormous meat bun with both hands—nearly the size of her head—and happily chewing on it.

“How long have you been following us?” Mitarashi asked.

“Since I saw you both coming down the stairs!” Nia replied cheerfully. “Where are you going, anyway? You might need a tour guide!”

“Ayah...” Mitarashi sighed.

She pulled out a white handkerchief and gently wiped the sauce smeared across the princess’s face.

“Here. Use this instead of your sleeves.”

While Mitarashi cleaned Nia up, Goku Black wandered toward a small bamboo tea shop nearby. He sat on one of the stools and rested his arms on the wooden table.

The shopkeeper quickly approached carrying a wooden menu board.

“I’ll have this one,” Goku Black said, pointing to a tea selection.

Nia and Mitarashi joined him.

“Ah! Your Highness, you're here!” the shopkeeper greeted.

“Hello, Ming-Yao!” Nia waved excitedly. “I'm showing these two divine beings around!”

“D-divine beings...?” Ming-Yao asked nervously.

“Nyah! This woman is Miss Mitarashi, a Goddess of Time! And this man is Goku Black, the God of Destruction!”

The shopkeeper immediately fell to his knees.

“It is an honor to host such divine beings! May ten thousand years of fortune follow your path!”

“You may stand,” Goku Black said with a smirk. “And serve us our tea.”

The shopkeeper quickly complied.

Mitarashi turned toward Nia.

“You don't have to introduce me as a Goddess of Time. I'm merely an overseer. The only true god among us is Goku Black.”

“Kais are considered gods, Mitarashi,” Goku Black corrected. “Creator gods, as some mortals call them.”

“Oohh...” Nia's eyes sparkled. “So there are even more gods out there?”

“Of course,” Goku Black replied proudly. “You'll meet many of them once you move to my planet.”

Moments later, the shopkeeper returned with their tea along with a small bowl containing fresh milk.

Goku Black frowned slightly.

“What is this white liquid?”

“Oh!” Nia exclaimed. “That's fresh milk! You mix it into the tea if you want it creamy!”

“That sounds delicious,” Mitarashi commented.

Nia immediately poured milk into her tea and stirred it.

Goku Black stared at the cup in suspicion.

Never in his existence as a Kai had he witnessed someone add milk to tea.

Part of him found it offensive.

The other part was curious.

After a brief internal struggle, he reluctantly poured some milk into his own tea.

He stirred.

Lifted the cup.

Prepared for disappointment.

And took a sip.

His eyes widened.

He swallowed slowly and stared down at the cup.

“It... tastes better?”

The words escaped his lips before he could stop them.

“There is no way this tastes this good!”

Mitarashi chuckled.

Nia burst into laughter.

“Looks like we'll need milk for tea from now on,” Mitarashi said, trying—and failing—to suppress her amusement.

After calming down, Nia reached for the sugar bowl.

Without hesitation, she dumped a mountain of sugar into her tea.

The mixture became a horrifying semi-slurry.

Both Goku Black and Mitarashi stared in absolute horror.

“I like mine sweet!” Nia announced proudly before drinking the entire cup.

“Oh... my... self...”

Goku Black slowly rose from his seat.

“YOU RUINED A PERFECTLY GOOD TEA!”

His shout echoed through the tea shop.

Before he could launch the princess into orbit, Mitarashi quickly grabbed his arm.

“My lord, calm down!”

Then she turned to Nia.

“And you! You're going to make yourself sick from all that sugar!”

Nia simply smirked, completely unbothered.

She finished the last bite of her meat bun and sat there happily, content with life while the God of Destruction continued questioning everything he knew about tea.

A while later, Goku Black had finally calmed down from his earlier outburst. As he looked around, his attention was drawn to a tall mountain crowned by a single cherry-blossom-like tree.

Without a word, he took to the air and flew toward it.

Mitarashi followed close behind, holding Princess Nia by the side. The princess flapped her arms enthusiastically as they flew through the sky, pretending to be a bird.

“I believe I can fry~!” she sang loudly.

The moment Goku Black landed atop the mountain, his left hand brushed against the tree's trunk. Before him stretched a breathtaking view—the imperial palace, the bustling city surrounding it, rolling mountains in the distance, and vast expanses of untouched nature.

The wind was cool and gentle. It swept through his ebony hair and caused the tails of his coat to flutter like banners.

Slowly, he lowered himself onto the grass beneath the tree. Crossing his legs, he rested both palms on his knees and simply observed the landscape before him.

For once, he spoke no words.

He simply admired.

Mitarashi stood behind him with her hands clasped over her abdomen as usual, quietly enjoying the view alongside her master.

Meanwhile, Princess Nia had already climbed onto one of the tree's larger branches.

“Miss Mitarashi!” she called from above. “I've noticed something about you!”

“Hm?” Mitarashi tilted her head upward.

“Your mannerisms!” Nia pointed dramatically at her. “You act like a Nyan-Qing woman! The way you walk, the way you clasp your hands—oh! And those nail guards! The long golden things on your fingers!”

Goku Black glanced over his shoulder.

“Have you been to this planet before, Mitarashi?”

“Oh, that?” she replied. “I've observed countless planets throughout history, but Nyan-Qing always stood out to me because of its fashion. I adore the way the women accessorize themselves. Since a Kai of Time has... quite a lot of time on her hands—pun intended—I enjoy collecting styles that suit me.”

She lightly touched one of her nail guards.

“These were actually a gift from one of my Kai sisters, Gurenshi. She visited Nyan-Qing roughly a century ago and brought them back for me.”

“I see,” Goku Black said thoughtfully. “So you've been observing this planet for quite some time.”

“Only from a distance,” Mitarashi replied. “I knew of their culture and customs, but nowhere near as much as you learned yesterday from Emperor Loong Mao.”

Goku Black nodded in satisfaction before turning his attention elsewhere.

In the distance, something metallic caught his eye.

Near the city stood a towering monument gleaming beneath the sunlight.

“Nia,” he called, pointing toward it, “what is that structure near the city?”

“Oh!” the princess exclaimed. “That's the statue of the most influential woman in Nyan-Qing history!”

“The most influential woman?” Mitarashi asked.

“Princess Ming-Zho!” Nia announced proudly. “She was the Seventh Princess of Emperor Miyao-Su!”

“Princess Ming-Zho?” Mitarashi repeated.

Nia nodded enthusiastically.

“She was the first woman to challenge the palace tradition that only men could serve in court. She convinced my great-grandfather to strengthen many of the ironclad laws that Hua-Ama showed you yesterday.”

The princess beamed with admiration.

“She was amazing! When she died at the age of two hundred and thirty-seven, the entire planet mourned. People built that statue to honor her as a symbol of women's wisdom and influence.”

Her expression softened slightly.

“Sadly, no other woman has ever challenged the court the way she did. She remains the only female minister in our history.”

“How inspiring...” Mitarashi murmured.

She discreetly dabbed at the corners of her eyes with a handkerchief.

“I hope many women of Nyan-Qing find inspiration in her legacy.”

Goku Black rose from his seat beneath the tree, placing a hand against the trunk for support.

“I think someone already has.”

His voice carried unusual conviction.

“And who would that be?” Mitarashi asked, putting away her handkerchief.

At that exact moment, the branch Nia was sitting on finally gave way with a loud crack.

“AHHHHH!”

The princess plummeted from the tree.

Before she could hit the ground, Goku Black stepped forward and caught her effortlessly in his arms.

Nia immediately clung to him like a frightened kitten. Her claws were fully extended, her tail puffed up, and every strand of hair on her head stood on end.

“Oh gods!” she squeaked. “I thought I was going to die! Even though I would've landed on my feet!”

Goku Black glanced down at the trembling princess before looking back at Mitarashi.

A satisfied smirk appeared on his face.

“This one right here, Mitarashi.”

He adjusted his grip on the princess.

“This one will carry the legacy of the Seventh Princess into the cosmos.”

Princess Nia blinked in surprise.

Mitarashi smiled warmly.

And for a brief moment, beneath the shade of the ancient tree, the future seemed just a little brighter.