"Huh, so you aren't a monster? Then what's the reason?"
In the afternoon, after classes let out at Senba Academy, Mei walked beside Fu Li, voicing the question on her mind.
"Ah, that..." Fu Li considered for a moment. "There are some things it's better you don't know. It's for your own safety."
Though soon enough, you'll not only learn what the Honkai is, but you'll also become a Herrscher, the very apex of the Honkai.
And you'll even have horns quite similar to mine.
Mei nodded. "Alright. Thank you for walking me home, Fu Li-san."
"It's no trouble. I was just worried those delinquents might try to retaliate against you."
Fu Li shrugged. He was the type of person who covered all his bases and detested leaving trouble to fester.
As such, he was quite accustomed to handling the clean-up after an incident.
"Mm..." Mei lowered her head, hiding the faint blush on her cheeks, her hand clutching her bag a little tighter.
The last time she'd walked home with someone... it was a long, long time ago.
And this time, it was with a very peculiar boy.
Is she getting shy?
Fu Li felt a little awkward himself. He really wasn't very skilled at interacting with girls.
The only two he had ever been close with were Mobius and Klein, and unfortunately, they were both research fanatics with absolutely no interest in romance.
As for pursuing Mei? He knew his own limits. There was no way he could compete with Kiana, that queen of the yuri harem.
After seeing Mei to her door, Fu Li gave a wave.
"So this is where you live. Well then, see you tomorrow?"
"Yes. Thank you. See you tomorrow."
After their goodbyes, Fu Li and Mei started walking in opposite directions. But before she had gone more than a few steps, Mei suddenly called out.
"I won't tell anyone your secret, Fu Li-san."
"Mm, I trust you."
After all, you're not Rozaliya or Liliya.
Once he returned home, Fu Li finished his homework, got a workout in, and then took out the Honkai Crystal.
The instant the crystal appeared, the ambient Honkai energy around Fu Li began to surge violently before he suppressed it.
The Honkai Crystal was just like the legendary "Demon Core," except one emitted Honkai radiation and the other, nuclear radiation.
The surge lasted only half a second, but if an ordinary person were directly exposed to that level of Honkai energy, they could already be planning their own funeral feast.
"So this is a Honkai Core?" Fu Li could feel his body's desire for the object shift from a mere craving to an impatient, urgent need.
And as someone who had been Mobius's assistant, he had complete confidence in his own body.
Fu Li's horns slowly emerged. He opened his mouth and, as if munching on a cookie, crunched down on the Honkai Core and swallowed it whole.
After finishing it off, he licked his lips, feeling it wasn't quite enough.
Just then, the system's voice sounded.
[Host has been detected consuming a 'Honkai Core'. Congratulations on obtaining the long-term buff 'Energy Saturation'.]
[Energy Saturation: Host's Honkai energy density will permanently and continuously increase. You cannot retract your horns during this period. Remaining absorption time: 3 hours.]
It takes three hours to fully devour it?
Fu Li nodded.
This absorption ability was quite good. He estimated that once the process was complete, his strength would increase by at least twenty percent, enough to rival an A-Rank Valkyrie.
With enough time, once he recovered a portion of his strength, he could even spar with the S-Rank Valkyries of this era.
Oh, with the exception of one particular former S-Rank Valkyrie.
But still...
Fu Li, who had been planning to sleep, suddenly no longer felt tired.
Just moments ago, he had wanted to rest for a day after dying so many times, but after consuming the Honkai Core, his fatigue vanished.
"Since I can't sleep anyway... might as well go one more time..."
Fu Li mused that if he drew Griseo this time, he could use his horns to tease her.
Perhaps it would be a nice, relaxing journey.
With that in mind, Fu Li lay down on his bed and chose to begin the simulation.
[Entering Simulator...]
[Host is entering the Flame-Chaser Simulation for the second time. Gacha attempts +1.]
[Reroll your talent? (Previously obtained talents will not be discarded and can be reselected in subsequent simulations.)]
"Reroll talent?"
Fu Li considered it. The memories and knowledge he gained as a researcher were still with him, so rerolling once didn't seem like a bad idea.
The familiar slot machine materialized, and Fu Li pulled the lever.
[Ding! Congratulations, Host, on acquiring your second talent.]
[Second Talent: Playboy (By choosing this talent, you will be born into a wealthy family and will never lack for money in this life.)]
No way!
Seeing this talent, Fu Li was ecstatic.
With this, couldn't he just shower Mobius with money? She would never have to worry about research funding again!
...But, Mobius probably wouldn't recognize him in this life.
A heaviness settled in his chest at the thought. He selected the new talent and pressed the "Begin Simulation" button.
[Entering simulation...]
[Current Simulation Scenario: Eden's Personal Story, "The Kingdom After Sunset"]
[You were born into the second-largest arms-dealing family on the Mu Continent.]
[Because you exhibited astounding scientific talent from a young age, your father doted on you, but also strictly instilled in you the need to use your gifts wisely.]
[You have used the item 'Tarot Card - The Lovers'. For this scenario, you have gained immense charm and artistic talent.]
[Following this, from elementary to middle school, you were incessantly pursued by those damn girls, much to your annoyance.]
[This continued until you were 15, when you attended a banquet hosted by your family.]
[As a golden child since birth, you have not developed any bad habits, much to your parents' relief.]
[Bored by the banal music of the banquet, you retreated to the rooftop. There, you heard an enchanting song and saw a graceful figure.]
[Ethereal notes danced between the keys, their melody winding and graceful, like sprites in the deep of night, or the whisper of dawn.]
[In the darkness, that elegant and beautiful figure was now firmly engraved in your heart.]
[As the music concluded, the young woman turned her head and smiled at her one and only listener.]
"Hello. My name is Eden. And you are?"
The tall young woman smiled, her expression elegant and poised.
"I... My name is Fu Li..." For some reason, Fu Li felt his face flush.
After all, being caught eavesdropping was more than a little embarrassing.
"Oh, a member of the Fu family." Eden hopped down from her seat. "I know of you. Our families are old friends. It's a pleasure to finally meet you."
"The pleasure is all mine..." Fu Li extended his hand, shaking Eden's. He offered a sincere compliment.
"Um, you play beautifully..."
"Oh? Do I?" Eden gave a faint smile. "Thank you for the compliment. But I am still a far cry from my mother."