The Herrscher of Thunder stared at Ye Feng, her gaze as cold as ice.
She was fearless.
She didn't believe Ye Feng would dare to do anything to her.
After all, Mei was right there.
Everyone had seen how Ye Feng acted around Mei these past few days.
Whenever Mei was present, Ye Feng would restrain himself, pretending to be harmless.
But today, the Herrscher of Thunder was mistaken.
After a direct "+3," the Herrscher of Thunder's mind had already dissolved, and lightning flickered erratically across her body.
The Herrscher of Thunder arched her long, snow-white neck.
"——!!"
The involuntary physical reaction brought immense shame to the Queen of Thunder.
Damn it! How could I have almost lost my senses?
Even as her body burned, the Herrscher of Thunder still clung to her reason.
"Did you see that, Mei?"
"Eh?"
Mei, wrapped in a blanket with only her small head peeking out, watched the scene before her and felt her brain short-circuit.
Her blank little eyes were completely stunned.
Before Mei could even begin to process it, Ye Feng spoke in a gentle voice, "A Herrscher is nothing more than an ordinary girl, you know."
His voice was so gentle, as if it could soothe anything.
Mei's gaze followed his words, and she saw the Herrscher of Thunder clinging to her... lover.
Before she could react, Ye Feng continued:
"Look. Just like this, a Herrscher has the same basic impulses as a human. That's right. A Herrscher is just a human."
"The Herrscher you fear, the calamity you worry about, is nothing more than a 'human' who happens to possess great power."
Mei's pupils contracted. "A Herrscher is... human..."
"Yes. A Herrscher is nothing more than a 'human'."
Mei was frozen in place.
Ever since she had learned of the horrors of the Honkai, this was the first time she had ever heard someone say that "a Herrscher is just a human."
In that instant, Mei felt as though she'd been struck by lightning.
It was just like when her father was arrested; her own shallow belief that "my father was framed" now seemed so naive.
Thanks to Feng-kun, Mei had come to understand that it didn't matter even if her father's crimes were proven.
All she needed to know was that "her father did it for her." That was enough.
Just like now, Mei was finally beginning to unravel the knot in her heart regarding Herrschers.
She had always seen Herrschers as "monsters," as "calamities"—messengers who brought nothing but destruction and death.
Because of this, Mei had always resisted and detested the Herrscher part of herself.
From a human perspective, she harbored a deep-seated inferiority complex.
But today, Ye Feng had taught her to look at the problem from a different angle.
Mei stared at the Herrscher beside her. She was like a lone boat in a storm, able to do nothing but drift with the waves.
At this moment, she too was being forcefully suppressed by Ye Feng. Mei could feel it, truly and deeply—the so-called Herrscher... seemed to be just an ordinary girl?
No different... from herself.
It was just as Feng-kun said. A Herrscher was just a... girl who possessed great power.
What mattered wasn't "possessing power," but "who holds that power."
Mei stared blankly, the gloom that had been weighing on her heart dissipating. Suddenly, it was as if the clouds had parted to reveal a bright moon.
...Ah, I understand.
Mei was beginning to understand everything!
Feng-kun is pinning the Herrscher down to help me build up my courage...
I, Raiden Mei of the Hokushin Ittō-ryū, will never again be lost over something like this!
Feng-kun, I will seize my own future!
"..."
"..."
In that instant, Mei's and the Herrscher of Thunder's eyes met.
If the Herrscher of Thunder could hear Mei's chuunibyou internal monologue, she would have definitely spat out, "Fucking idiot!!"
But right now, all she wanted was to break free from Ye Feng's grasp.
The lofty, stern, and majestic Queen of Thunder wanted Mei to see her in this disgraceful state the least of all.
However—
"Mei, help me hold down her hands."
"Eh...?"
Mei looked over. The ominous, purple-glowing Ring of Calamity that floated behind the Herrscher of Thunder had been dismantled, and the vermilion [Kagutsuchi's Sin] gauntlet lay whimpering beside the bed.
All that remained was the Herrscher of Thunder, stripped completely bare. She thrashed about like a fish out of water, her pale body flailing wildly.
Mei hesitated for a second, then did as Ye Feng instructed, grabbing the Herrscher of Thunder's wrists and pinning them firmly to the bed.
Herrscher of Thunder: ??
For a moment, genuine bewilderment filled the Herrscher of Thunder's eyes, which was then immediately ignited into a purple flame of rage.
You stupid coward! I was about to save you!
Tch, I really misjudged you!
If I had known you two were a pair of shameless adulterers, I would have struck you down along with him!
But that was just a thought. The Herrscher of Thunder had long since understood that in this place, Ye Feng was the absolute ruler.
Even if the "God" the Herrscher of the Void spoke of were to arrive, it would have to obediently bend over.
But this was a different matter.
This weak little coward dares to restrain me?
She dares to restrain me!
Rage boiled in the Herrscher of Thunder's heart.
She was furious at Mei's actions.
But what angered her more was—why did she feel a sense of gratification?
Aaaah!
Damn it!
---o---
Early morning.
Mei climbed out of bed, moving her legs carefully.
But she found that the tearing pain on their inner sides had vanished like a bubble on a midsummer's day.
The phantom sense of dislocation left her feeling as if she were in a dream.
"Mei, you're awake!"
Before she could fully experience this strange sensation, Kiana's voice called out.
"Kiana..."
Their eyes met, and in the next second, they both looked away as if they had received an electric shock.
The two sisters, who were usually the closest of friends, were now both harboring an unspeakable sense of guilt.
A strange, awkward atmosphere spread through the air.
Silence.
The air was filled with the scent of the morning sun.
"Mei-oneechan."
Bronya pushed the door open, ending the long yet brief moment of awkwardness.
"Why did Mei-oneechan wake up so late today?"
Bronya floated in, hugging a HOMU doll.
"Ah, th-that's..."
Mei stood up from the bed and pretended to casually put on her slippers. "I... I was challenging my weakness."
"Weakness?"
"Mhm, yes, that's right. Facing the Herrscher head-on... yeah, that's it."
Bronya stared into Mei's eyes and couldn't help but tilt her head.
"Mei-oneechan is acting very strange today."
"Am... Am I?"
"Setting that aside for a moment, Mei-oneechan—"
"Yes?"
"Your slippers are on the wrong feet."
"..."
Mei's face instantly turned bright red.
It was such a trivial thing, yet on this particular morning, it was enough to make her heart flutter.
Something is definitely wrong.
Bronya thought to herself.
The little duck then looked over at Kiana. She had been exceptionally well-behaved this morning as well.
Bronya and Mei were having an intimate conversation, and Kiana hadn't interrupted even once?