Bronya's words left Kiana petrified on the spot.
Calling that scoundrel's name in her dreams?
How could that be possible?
Kiana found it hard to accept, but she didn't think Bronya would lie to her.
In that case, there was only one possibility.
Kiana forced herself to calm down, cleared her throat, and said, "That's perfectly normal. It's not just affection; when you hate someone to the extreme, your thoughts during the day can manifest as dreams at night. Essentially, it's all just a form of emotional feedback."
Bronya just stared at Kiana, her dead-fish eyes seeming to say, "But the way you were calling Ye Feng's name, you clearly sounded like you were in heat."
However, Kiana's words did make Bronya pause, staring blankly at the white-haired dango in front of her.
"..."
"Wh-why are you looking at me like that?"
"Bronya is truly shocked that Kiana is capable of saying something... with such cultural substance."
"?"
Kiana was visibly taken aback, the stiffness in her face was undeniable.
The little bug huffed, placing her hands on her hips. "What do you mean by that, you shorty! This young lady is very smart!"
"Yes, yes."
Bronya just looked at the little bug with a gentle expression.
This made Kiana even more annoyed.
"Fuck! What are you smiling at? You're clearly mocking me!"
"...'Fuck'?"
Bronya tilted her head.
Her understanding of this word, which was laden with many meanings, was only the most basic one: it was a popular slang term among the people of the Shenzhou region.
"I didn't expect Kiana to be so knowledgeable about Shenzhou."
Kiana's body jolted.
Fuck, what's going on?
How did I bring a habit from that world over to this one?
Kiana felt a pang in her stomach.
Ye Feng always said she had been molded into his shape.
Kiana would never acknowledge such a thing.
Taking a million steps back, it was Ye Feng who had been conquered by a knight of House Kaslana!
BOOM—!
A clap of thunder echoed outside the window.
Kiana couldn't help but look outside. Dark clouds covered the sky, and a bolt of lightning, white with a purple tinge, struck the distant coastline. The pitch-black surface of the sea was illuminated into a vast sheet of white for an instant before being swallowed by darkness once more.
A torrential downpour began, as if draping the entire world in a sheer, white veil.
The flowers and trees in the green belts were washed clean. The collected water quickly filled the puddles, bubbling murkily as it flowed swiftly down the small paths.
"...So big, so white, what beautiful lightning."
Kiana couldn't help but murmur.
Mei... is the Herrscher of Thunder, isn't she?
"So white?"
Was it her imagination? Bronya felt that Kiana's choice of words was becoming increasingly profound.
Kiana, however, was looking at Mei.
She was still asleep.
Even a storm this intense hadn't woken her.
Mei's sleeping face was serene and beautiful.
Kiana's gaze hardened.
Right now, Mei was probably still in that scoundrel's world.
Last night, she had even called out his name... although Bronya said she had done the same.
But that was different.
Hers was out of hatred, out of defiance, an indomitable will!
Mei, why were you calling out his name?
And, Mei was waking up later than before...
Although it was only 5:40 in the morning, Mei's usual habit was to get up at 5:30.
She would practice the "Hokushin Ittō-ryū" until 6:30, and then prepare breakfast.
"..."
Kiana opened her mouth, but the words wouldn't come out.
At this moment, it felt like a fire was raging inside the young girl's heart.
Bronya glanced at Kiana, then at the sleeping Mei.
She could vaguely sense that something had happened in a place she didn't know about.
Although Bronya was a little curious, she was more concerned about Seele.
She had heard that [Ye Feng] had the ability to see the future, and Bronya had long wanted to ask Kiana to inquire about Seele...
But Bronya had never figured out how to bring it up.
At first, Bronya didn't believe Ye Feng had such an ability.
Later, amidst all the "legends," Bronya began to think that "maybe there's some truth to it."
But as luck would have it, the [Anti-Entropy] attack destroyed the Valkyrie dormitory, causing widespread complaints.
Especially the Principal, who looked like she wanted to skin Wa Yi Te alive.
That was an entire building!!!
How much would it cost to rebuild it after it was destroyed?
St. Freya Academy had always been running a financial deficit.
The night before last, Bronya had even heard the Principal muttering deliriously, saying something like, "To save the academy from bankruptcy, is becoming an idol the only way?"
She seemed quite determined, but the next day she was glowing with health again...
Her mental state seemed a bit unstable.
Later, Bronya learned that the Principal had made a phone call to Schicksal HQ.
But according to Major Himeko, the last thing the Principal wanted was to contact HQ...
But because of the Anti-Entropy attack, the Principal couldn't afford to worry about saving face.
Therefore, Bronya held back again.
If Kiana and Mei were to ask about Seele, Bronya didn't want to lie.
So, she needed the right opportunity.
Some things, if you don't say them at the beginning, become much harder to say later.
"Bronya, Bronya?"
Kiana's voice pulled Bronya back to reality.
"Ah?"
"I said, should we wake Mei up? It's almost 6 o'clock."
Bronya looked at Kiana and could sense a trace of anxiety in her emotions. Her gaze then fell upon the sleeping Mei.
"...Bronya thinks it's better to let Sister Mei rest."
Although she wasn't entirely sure, Bronya felt that most of Kiana's suggestions were bad ideas.
In the Far East, the school year started in the spring.
St. Freya Academy was the same. The fall semester began with registration, a class meeting, and then classes started immediately.
This period was history class.
The teacher looked like an unremarkable, scholarly-looking middle-aged man. He wore glasses, had a scruffy beard, and seemed a bit listless.
But Kiana knew he was the Sovereign of Anti-Entropy, Welt Yang.
Kiana glanced at Mei in front of her. She was listening attentively and taking notes from time to time—a model student.
However, it seemed... she didn't know he was the Sovereign of Anti-Entropy?
That scoundrel Ye Feng didn't tell Mei?
Heh.
Kiana's mood seemed to improve a little.
She pouted, holding an eraser under her nose.
'Auntie Teri boasts that the academy's security system is an iron fortress that not even a mosquito can fly into. Isn't this place full of holes like a sieve?'
'And Auntie Himeko, isn't Old Yang your university professor? Even with a disguise, you interact with him at the staff office all the time, and you still can't recognize him?'
Kiana grumbled inwardly, calling him Old Yang just like Ye Feng did.
But she didn't plan on telling Theresa or Himeko about this. That's what Ye Feng had suggested.
Kiana propped up her chin, looking at the listless man rambling on at the front of the class. According to Ye Feng's 'prophecy,' this guy infiltrated St. Freya Academy to protect me. Can you believe it?
The reason he chose to be a "history teacher" was to instill correct ideals.
That's weird, am I some kind of person with a warped sense of values?
You think I need your guidance?
Well, whatever, it's the thought that counts, I guess.
Kiana thought to herself.
Besides, once his "term of office" was up, he would leave and deliver a "Moonlight Throne."
She heard it was a huge, super cool battleship.
She didn't know if it was true or not.
But since Ye Feng 'prophesied' it, it was probably true.
Still, it didn't feel real, like reading a manga without any sense of immersion.
As she thought, Old Yang's lecturing voice in the classroom became like an old monk's chanting, having a hypnotic effect.
Kiana's eyelids grew heavy, and the eraser fell onto her desk.
Her consciousness began to drift away.
...Strange, I was always wide awake in Ye Feng's world before, full of energy. These past two nights I've been sleeping... yet I feel exhausted...
Kiana's head bobbed, and then she slumped onto her desk, fast asleep.
---o---
She closed her eyes, and then opened them again.
It was a familiar feeling!!
Before Kiana could get excited, a pair of azure pupils filled her vision.
Hmm?
And that white hair...
Why does it look so familiar?
Fuck! Isn't that me?
Only then did Kiana finally understand. She was pressing down on "her own" body.
"?? "
What... is going on?
Kiana's brain short-circuited a little. At the same time, ripple-like shockwaves assaulted her from behind, hindering her thoughts.
Kiana turned her head, and deep purple hair swayed in her vision.
Ye Feng's detestable smiling face came into view.
"Hey, little bug, we meet again. I'm so happy."
"...I'm in again?"
"Why ask something so obvious?"
Ye Feng patted her bottom.
The little bug whimpered, her body softening slightly.
But the feeling was... a little different from before.
She couldn't quite put her finger on what was different.
Kiana looked down again, at "herself." The two of them were stacked together.
Their curves pressed against each other.
Seeing Kiana's gaze, "she" seemed a little shy, averting her eyes and turning her head to the side.
"Nghh~~... What on earth is going on?"
Kiana turned her head and asked.
"Little bug, have you completely given up on thinking? How could you not guess something so simple right away? Fine, since you've asked with such sincerity, I'll graciously tell you."
Ye Feng pulled out his glistening forearm and inserted it into the tight drawer below.
Kiana instantly felt a sense of emptiness and subconsciously writhed her hips... but the movement felt uncoordinated, and her chest felt heavier.
Ye Feng smiled. "As you wished, Kiana. You're inside your favorite Mei's body."
"!!!"
Kiana finally got it.
She had indeed arrived in Ye Feng's world, but her consciousness hadn't entered her own NPC; it had entered Mei's NPC.
"You—"
Kiana turned her head, glaring at Ye Feng.
"Me what?"
Ye Feng looked down at the expanse of beautiful, pale flesh on the desk. Mei's face, but Kiana's consciousness.
It was quite interesting.
The gentle and kind Mei would never make such an expression.
"You really just want to play with Mei."
"The little bug is being so polite. What 'play with'? It's fucking. What's there to be shy about?"
"..."
Kiana bit her lip, staring at Ye Feng with hostility.
But Old Ye said, "This is also proof of love, little bug."
"?? "
Kiana had a look on her face that said, what kind of nonsense are you spouting?
"You don't want to roll around in the sheets with the person you love?"
"Huh?"
"If you don't even want to fuck her, how can you have the nerve to say you love her?"
"..."
Kiana froze, falling silent for a moment.
It seems... to make a little sense?
It was true. Putting herself in that position, she liked Mei, so she wanted to have more intimate interactions with Mei.
Kiana shook her head.
The little bug wasn't stupid. Even if she thought Ye Feng had a point, she wouldn't be convinced.
"That's just twisted logic!"
"It seems the little bug admits that what I said makes sense. So, why do you think it makes sense?"
Ye Feng let out a "Jie jie jie" laugh. "Because you're that kind of person too."
"..."
Having her thoughts read so accurately, Kiana softened.
Ye Feng raised his forearm again. "Isn't this great? You're inside Mei, and so am I. We're comrades in arms, you and I."
Kiana gritted her teeth, remaining silent.
Then, she noticed a problem.
The "Kiana" she was pressing down on didn't seem as dull as an NPC.
No, to be precise, the way she had just avoided her gaze clearly meant there was a "person" inside.
"Take a guess who it is."
Ye Feng chuckled.
It couldn't possibly be Mei, right?
No, no, Kiana remembered that when she came in, it was during class, and Mei was diligently taking notes.
Since it wasn't Mei, then it didn't matter... No, it super-duper-mattered, okay?
"Who?"
Kiana asked.
"Who did you put inside my NPC?"
"What do you mean, your NPC? That's my NPC."
"..."
Fine, Kiana couldn't refute that.
Kiana looked down at "herself," turned her head straight, and looked directly into her eyes.
"Who are you?"
"..."
She said nothing, her pupils filled only with moisture.
"Don't bother asking her. Guess yourself, Kiana. There's a reward if you get it right."
"Hmph? Trying to make me part of your play again? You think this young lady will fall for your evil tricks again?"
Ye Feng laughed. "Hasn't the little bug already become a part of it? Kiana's and Mei's breasts pressed against each other is a truly beautiful sight, you know."
Fu Xuan and Qingque couldn't do it. Their front armor was too small.
But they could stack their beautiful butts, which was also great.
Seeing as she couldn't get an answer, Kiana couldn't be bothered to keep asking.
She simply flopped down, letting Ye Feng do whatever he wanted.
It wasn't like she could resist anyway.
The "Kiana" being pressed underneath, however, was having some trouble breathing.
The little bug, on the other hand, was both secretly shocked and ecstatic: So Mei's are this big?
However, Ye Feng stopped his movements.
He even left them, sitting down on a chair behind them.
"?"
Kiana felt an infinite emptiness, and at the same time, a strong sense of fullness.
She looked up and could see the pink progress bar above her head.
It was already full.
But the heart-shaped lock... was locked.