HHR 94-103 (Patreon)

Chapter Ninety-Four: Elysia's Minefield DiscoEden's eyes were exquisitely beautiful.Her pupils were a flamboyant gold. Elysia remembered her standing on stage, bathed in the spotlight, the elegantly dressed singer unleashing her voice, her flowing dance moves flawless. Her exuberant demeanor was like that of a queen conquering a battlefield; her plaintive singing voice complemented those golden eyes, overflowing with the light of stars, effortlessly captivating listeners and driving them wild.But Elysia also wouldn't forget that when this queen stepped off the stage and stood before her, her gaze would instantly soften.Few knew that this dazzling star on stage was actually a kind and gentle person in private. If one could enter her heart and become this star's closest friend, she would completely let down her guard, revealing a captivating, almost childlike indulgence.And coincidentally, Elysia was the one who could enter Eden's heart.In their moments alone, Elysia had seen countless times her gaze directly into her eyes—those breathtakingly beautiful, noble eyes, which always revealed a languid, intoxicated expression after their owner had succumbed to excessive drinking.Elysia had always been proud of this, even somewhat smug.In this world, there were few things that could make someone as radiantly beautiful as her feel proud, but her close relationship with Eden—and other girls—was definitely one of them.However, after arriving at this café, those beautiful eyes that should have belonged only to her looked elsewhere.If it were just that, it wouldn't be so bad… While Elysia enjoyed being close to girls, she wasn't the possessive type; rather, she was quite adept at being promiscuous.Elysia wouldn't expect others to do what she herself couldn't.Normally, even if the person she was flirting with had someone else, the most likely thing she'd do, given her fickle nature, wouldn't be to jealously question who that woman was; instead, she'd happily join in and flirt with them.That's the kind of altruistic fairy Elysia is.But this altruism absolutely doesn't include the situation where "the person who should be flirting with her is just going through the motions while their attention is on someone else."Although she's altruistic, Elysia also has her pride. Losing to someone else is one thing, but losing to her past self is just unacceptable.Of course, Elysia didn't deny that she was adorable as a child—so adorable that she herself wanted to cuddle with her.But, but, but—she was the one who had spent over 50,000 years with Eden, so why did Eden focus all her attention and gaze on her past self instead of her?Elysia pouted, closed her eyes, tossed her head, and subtly shook her shoulder, brushing Eden's hand off her shoulder.Elysia was unhappy. She needed Eden to comfort her.Based on Elysia's understanding of Eden, when she showed this aggrieved expression, the Eden who cared so much about her would probably immediately abandon her bias towards outsiders and instead protect their relationship.She could already imagine the somewhat helpless yet doting expression on Eden's face.One second passed.Five seconds passed.Ten seconds passed.Half a minute passed.A lonely, cold wind brushed across Ellie-chan's face, but there was no sound from beside her.What...what's going on?Why didn't Eden come to comfort me?Could it be that I was too willful and accidentally made her really angry?Elysia turned her head slightly back, secretly reopening one eye.Then, a bolt from the blue struck.At some point, all the Flamechasers who had been standing at the door, including Eden who had just been evasive, had all moved several tables over, arranged them around the table where Ellie-chan was sitting, and sat down properly around that large table.To avoid disturbing other diners—and perhaps to avoid startling Ellie-chan—all the Flamechasers kept their movements and voices as quiet as possible.Their abilities were indeed sufficient to allow them to perform the miraculous feat of moving all the tables together without making a sound.Rita's face was radiant with a gentle smile.When not encountering any troublesome customers, this elegant waitress, who aspired to be the perfect maid, immediately displayed her professional yet humble demeanor, giving off a warm and welcoming feeling.In truth, Rita was secretly reflecting on her situation.Since this café opened, aside from the initial few Trailblazers (excluding that shameless gray-haired thief), Raiden Mei from Nagazora City, and that adorable pink-haired small girl… almost all the customers were determined to cause trouble and create a big scandal.Kiana, who went completely out of control within minutes of entering; the two Raiden Meis and Dr. Lobster, causing a ruckus in the shop; Durandal, who smashed through the window; and her other self from another world, who surrounded the entire shop with a group of people; Bronya, who almost got into a fight with Kiana and Raiden Mei…To be honest, even someone as composed and elegant as Rita couldn't help but feel utterly exhausted in dealing with these unreasonable "customers."So much so that, after encountering these thirteen quiet, polite, and well-behaved Flamechasers, she couldn't help but feel a little moved.The Flamechasers surrounding Ellie-chan were all remarkably well-behaved. Even Eden, who was gently nagging Ellie-chan, kept her voice as low as possible, completely refraining from shouting or disturbing the other customers.The masked man deliberately suppressed his previously uncontrollable, intense aura, drawing it deep into his body.Rita could tell that, unlike the troublemakers, this masked man who was somewhat unable to control the fiery power within him, was desperately trying to restrain it.He was making a considerable effort to prevent his uncontrollable power from causing any damage to the café.This customer was truly different from his flamboyant style; he was quite well-behaved. Even in public, he must be a very polite man. Rita couldn't help but admire him.Apart from the shifty-looking cat-eared woman who was slightly wary, these thirteen customers made Rita feel more at ease than ever before.If only all customers could be as worry-free as them.With this thought in mind, she gracefully approached Elysia, whose entire body had turned ashen white. She lowered her head and smiled."Esteemed customer, aren't you with your companion?"Completely petrified, Elysia remained rooted to the spot, unable to respond to Rita's concerned voice.Rita reached out and gently patted the fairy's shoulder. "Esteemed customer? Are you alright?"Elysia, petrified and nearly shattered by the blow, finally managed to recover.She had to admit being NTR'ed was considerable damage: even the usually cheerful and optimistic Miss Elf was starting to question her existence after such a near-fatal blow.She looked at Rita whose face was filled with concern, forced a smile ad was about to say she was alright when a sudden thought struck deep within her mind.The moment they saw Ellie-chan, almost all the Flamechasers simultaneously lost their ability to think rationally. They all transformed into doting, almost unreasonable elders, showering Ellie-chan with affection. Eden, Aponia, and even Sakura, whose personalities naturally leaned toward older sisterly traits—not to mention Su, the doctor who was adept at caring for others—all softened their usually cold and uninteresting expressions after taking their seats.Those icy eyes shone with a gentleness that Elysia only occasionally saw when she was alone with Su.Elysia knew her past self well. Although innocent and kind as a child, her perception had always been remarkably sharp.She was never deceived because she couldn't see through others' false pretenses; rather, the concept of deception simply didn't exist in her mind back then.Even after seeing through the hypocrisy, young Elysia was still easily convinced that others wouldn't deceive her.Of course, after experiencing deception a few times and understanding what deception was, Little Elysia, who wasn't unintelligent to begin with, naturally learned to doubt others and question illogical things.However, with such keen perception, she couldn't possibly reject any contact from someone who approached her with genuine goodwill.So, when the Flamechasers suggested sharing a table, Ellie-chan readily agreed. Her innocent personality captivated them in seconds, dragging their IQs down one by one.Even Vill-V and Mobius quickly lost their curiosity and focused their attention entirely on Ellie-chan. The two researchers were initially interested in the café.However, while Elysia herself found her past self adorable, her deep understanding of "herself" limited her interest to the level of "I was so cute as a child!" She lacked the intense, personal curiosity she felt toward other girls—the desire to "understand this girl! I want to know her story!"Therefore, in terms of the intensity and purity of her interest, her curiosity about Ellie-chan was even less than that of the other Flamechasers.This allowed her to devote more energy to things that the other Flamechasers had no time to consider because their attention was entirely focused on Ellie-chan—Why was her past self in this café?While Elysia didn't have Fu Hua's hyperthymesia, she believed that if she had seen her grown-up self as a child, she couldn't possibly have been completely oblivious.But as Mobius had said the moment she entered the café, this past version of herself was undeniably real. Elysia could even guess which time she was from by her attire—herself halfway through her world tour, and her first time entering what was then the most prosperous and technologically advanced region: "Mu Continent."Could this café connect to 50,000 years ago?No; since she had no memory of entering this café, it meant it came from a parallel world, not their world's past.Elysia's eyes darted around, growing increasingly bright uncontrollably.Although she wasn't a researcher and didn't fully understand scientific principles, the fact remained that this café allowed the Memory Replicas within the Elysian Realm to encounter their past selves. By the same token, she could also encounter the other Flamechasers from her childhood.Realizing this, Elysia, instantly revitalized, snorted smugly."Hmph Kevin and the others really picked up the sesame seed and lost the watermelon~"They rushed over to see their past selves, completely forgetting that the café that allowed them to meet their past selves was the more important thing.Of course, it's not their fault; after all, they were so cute and lovable as children!But since everyone's attention was focused on their past selves, she wouldn't be blamed for building a strong relationship with this café first.The one who gets the biggest treasure can only be her, Elysia.Hmm, so who should she choose next?Elysia looked around and, in less than half a second, locked onto the closest target—the long-haired maid who was showing her concern.Let's start with this waitress. Elysia's café strategy begins now."Hello, thank you so much for your concern~" She placed her hands behind her back, leaning slightly forward toward the elegant maid with flowing long hair, her pink eyes sparkling with a captivating smile. "Beautiful lady, would you mind getting to know me?"The elegant maid blinked, a mischievous smile playing on her lips."What? Is this customer perhaps interested in Rita?""Yes, can you tell?" The fairy leaned forward even more. "How about a sweet date with Miss Lovely Elf?""A very tempting offer, but unfortunately," Rita said with a smile, raising a finger and pointing toward the door, "I already have a boyfriend."Elysia followed Rita's finger toward the door, her expression freezing.A red-haired boy, dressed in a sharp suit adorned with countless gold ribbons and colorful flowers, was staring intently at her, his gaze as if she were a corpse.-----Chapter 95: A Triple MisunderstandingAt this moment, the Store Manager had just returned to his café and was actually quite conflicted.During his journeys as captain of the Hyperion, constantly visiting various Bubble Worlds, aside from Dream Witch Rita whom he had rescued shortly after the start of the voyage, the person who had accompanied him the longest was Her Majesty the Sage King—Kongming, who had single-handedly ended the chaos and unified the entire Bubble World.He and Kongming knew each other inside and out.But often, knowing each other inside and out doesn't mean being able to handle things perfectly.It's like how, even if a normal person knows the mass, composition, and shape of a boulder weighing thousands of tons, they still can't lift it with their bare hands.Even if the Store Manager knew that Kongming's sweet words and mannerisms were purely an act to achieve her goal, he couldn't possibly put up much effective resistance against her just because he knew that.The end result was that, despite knowing absolutely nothing about music theory and having no dance skills, he was forced to stand on the same stage as Kongming, who was dressed as a magical girl, simply to cater to Kongming's whimsical mood.Up to this point, it wasn't a big deal.Because he was too lazy to design new clothes, since stepping down as captain of the Hyperion, he still wore the white military uniform he was used to wearing.It must be said that Schicksal's aesthetic sense was indeed quite unique; even the commander's uniform possessed a remarkably clean and elegant beauty, and even on stage, it didn't feel out of place at all.The Store Manager, once on stage, thought that since it was simply to accommodate Kongming's whimsical mood, even if he messed up badly on stage, it wouldn't have any unexpected consequences; at most, he would just receive some boos from the audience.However, at that moment, the Store Manager overlooked two very important points.First, he underestimated the influence of the iconic "Magical Girl Teriri" in Canghai City.Teriri's charm transcends gender and age.Second, he underestimated miHoYo's art team; well, he severely underestimated his own looks and his charm.The Store Manager is undeniably handsome. His handsomeness is a clean, refined kind, with red, tousled hair, golden eyes, and a remarkably youthful face—a striking face that would stand out even in a crowd.Actually, the Store Manager doesn't think he's particularly good-looking because most of the girls he's encountered haven't stayed because of his appearance.While he's not insecure about his looks, being surrounded by beautiful women has made him feel for a long time that his appearance isn't particularly outstanding.It was obvious... the moment he and Kongming stepped onto the stage side by side, he realized how terribly wrong his perception was.Honestly, the feeling of being liked and adored wasn't so bad....until another female fan shouted from below the stage."Fanbaby! Mommy loves you!"The atmosphere instantly veered off course into an uncontrollable abyss.The atmosphere was so overwhelming that he, already feeling incredibly uncomfortable, didn't even notice Kongming standing beside him on stage or Luna's lifeless gaze directed at him from below.As a result, after he fled from the crowd, the Store Manager who had just escaped from that hellhole simultanously stumbled into the clutches of His Majesty the Sage King and the Vampire Queen.After finally calming down the two jealous Theresas who swore never to set foot in this Bubble World again and with their approval, the exhausted Store Manager finally returned to his café.The atmosphere in the café was much more peaceful than he had imagined.A serene and quiet atmosphere prevailed; no customer disturbed anyone else, and everything was perfectly orderly.—Except for the Elysian Realm lesbian who was flirting with Rita.Thus, the Store Manager's already less-than-ideal mood instantly turned even more unpleasant.—A well-known little-known fact.Most of the Bubble Worlds in the Sea of Quanta are projections of the real world.For the destroyed civilization of 50,000 years ago, the "projections" within the Sea of Quanta weren't entirely absent. However, because their "prototypes" had long since crumbled, most of those Bubble Worlds were nothing but desolate ruins.Aside from a few dreamlike Bubble Worlds created by chance, the vast majority of Bubble Worlds lacked the presence of these thirteen Flamechasers from the Previous Era.Nevertheless, a faint impression of "Elysia" remained in the Store Manager's mind.He naturally admired this Miss Elf who loved humans.—If only this god-son who deeply loved humans hadn't seduced his wife."You really want to get to know my wife?"The Store Manager stared scrutinizingly into Elysia's slightly stiff pupils, arms crossed, eyes narrowed, his tone carrying a hint of coldness that was hard to decipher—was it questioning or mockery?"And you even want to have a sweet date with her?"Elysia's face flushed red and then paled, her expression one of utter embarrassment."Uh… well, that…"She stammered for a long time, unable to utter a coherent sentence.Logically speaking, given Elysia's shameless and socially adventurous nature, she shouldn't have panicked so much under the Store Manager's questioning.Normally, she would have shamelessly approached the person questioning her the moment she was questioned, trying to strike up a conversation.However, what happened in this café was simply too bizarre.This series of unexpected events left even someone like Elysia feeling somewhat helpless."Ahahaha, misunderstanding, it's all a misunderstanding."Finally, the elf-like girl, her mind a complete mess, could only manage a couple of dry laughs, forcing a smile and speaking ingratiatingly."I just didn't know that this beautiful maid already has such a handsome lover, did I? There's an old saying in Shenzhou, something like... 'A fair maiden is sought after,' right? You can understand the urge to approach a cute girl, right?"The Store Manager couldn't help but roll his eyes at her nonsensical and argumentative manner."First of all, the saying is 'A fair maiden is sought after by a gentleman.' Ancient Shenzhou poets wouldn't have sung poems praising such intimate relationships between women. Secondly, seeing a cute girl makes one unconsciously want to strike up a conversation… Fine, you're a very cute girl too. Since you yourself think this behavior is acceptable, then let me strike up a conversation with you.""Oh dear." The elf blinked, then suddenly smiled. "So that's how you see me? You look so cute, but I didn't expect you to be so much more frivolous than I imagined.""So you know this kind of behavior can be called frivolous?" the Store Manager said sullenly."Although a slightly mischievous girl is a plus in some people's eyes, this kind of joke is still a bit too much. I advise you to tone it down a bit in the future.""Uh—"Elysia scratched her pink hair somewhat guiltily, letting out a slightly dejected sigh."Okay, it's definitely a suggestion worth considering. I'll seriously reflect on it."In just a few words, the previously tense atmosphere quickly melted away in the unspoken exchange between the two."Human, what are you doing blocking the door?"Just then, a slightly confused voice came from behind the Store Manager."Nothing, a customer was chatting with Rita at the door for some reason, and I just happened to bump into them."The Store Manager shook his head and stepped aside to let them through the door.Luna and Kongming, the two "Theresas," one big and one small, walked into the café's lobby.The Flamechasers surrounding Ellie-chan quickly glanced at the two silver-haired women at the door.The moment they saw Luna, most of their expressions visibly stiffened, except for Griseo, who could see through "colors" and remained unfazed.Mobius's serpentine eyes were fixed on Luna's crimson pupils, a smirk playing on her lips, seemingly lost in thought.The instant Luna stepped into the café, almost every Memory Replicas felt a deadly threat emanating from her.They didn't know the source of this threat, except for Mobius, who had conducted numerous experiments on the Herrscher of Corruption in the lab and recognized the immense danger Luna posed to these data entities.The power of Corruption—though Luna's Corruption power was incomplete—was undoubtedly a deadly threat to the Memory Replicas, which were essentially just a collection of data.At the same time, the silver-haired man who had an expression indifferent stood up and turned his gaze toward the Store Manager.His tone was completely emotionless."Are you the owner of this coffee shop?""I am." The Store Manager turned his gaze to Kevin, a strange glint in his eyes. "What's the problem?""Can we speak in private?"Kevin asked calmly, his detached tone more like a statement than a question."Is there anything we can't say here?" the Store Manager asked calmly, unmoved by the cold aura surrounding Kevin. "There's nothing to hide in this café. If you have any questions, just ask."Kevin glanced at Kiana, Raiden Mei, and Luna in turn and spoke indifferently."You can't shoulder this responsibility.""Is that so?" The Store Manager chuckled, tilting his head."You're really underestimating me."The moment his words fell, a terrifying aura descended without warning.That aura, almost—no, even surpassing—"Finality," plunged all the Flamechasers into an ice cave for a single moment, only to dissipate instantly before they could react."And now?" the Store Manager smiled. "Am I qualified to shoulder this responsibility?""..."Kevin was silent for a moment, then quietly sat back down in his chair."I have no more questions."Now it was the Store Manager's turn to feel curious. He asked, somewhat surprised."Aren't you going to ask about the source of this power?""That's not my concern," Kevin spoke succinctly. "My job doesn't include worrying about real-world issues for my true self."Just as the fleeting power dissipated, Mobius, who had been watching Luna with great interest, turned her gaze toward the Store Manager almost instantly.In Mobius's eyes, the Corruption power which she had found quite interesting just a second ago from was emanating from Luna suddenly became utterly uninteresting compared to the Store Manager's power, which even surpassed "Finality."This Store Manager was definitely not humanMobius made her judgment almost instantly.No, rather than saying he wasn't human, it would be more accurate to say that this Store Manager was the kind of "perfect life form" she sought—transcending humanity and having completely completed its evolution.I want him!In that instant, all that—the new body, the Herrscher's powers, the MANTIS, the Stigmata holder—became utterly unappealing in Mobius's eyes.Compared to those worthless things, she only wanted this Store Manager.Snakes are creatures adept at lying in wait.Mobius had a profound understanding of her social skills, so often, to gain the trust of visitors she was interested in, she didn't mind borrowing Elysia's way of speaking and attitude.However, even Elysia herself had been rebuffed in front of this Store Manager.She wouldn't make the same mistake as Elysia.Revealing her ill intentions rashly would only lead to the same fate as the foolish fairy.Mobius, unusually restrained, took a small bite of cake. Her predatory, snake-like eyes narrowed slightly. She licked her lips, a faint, pleased smile playing on them.But just as Mobius was silently sketching out a route to lure the Store Manager into her trap, a woman suddenly stood up."You look like you just came off stage?"The speaker was Eden.She had been staring at the Store Manager's face for some time, a hint of surprise flashing in her usually languid eyes."Red hair, golden eyes, an artist with many fans...""I apologize if I'm wrong, but could you possibly be... me from another world, Store Manager?""Huh?" Everyone exclaimed in unison, puzzled.---Chapter 96: It's Only Natural That Neither Memory nor Soul Can Afford ItBefore arriving at this café, these Flamechasers from 50,000 years ago only had a superficial understanding of the concept of the "Sea of Quanta."Although their civilization built a spacetime portal in a city called Atlas that connected to the Sea of Quanta, that portal, along with the entire continent of Mu, was utterly destroyed shortly after its construction by the pseudo-black hole of the Ninth Herrscher.While the ruins of that portal were rediscovered by Anti-Entropy 50,000 years later in the present civilization era, at that point in the Previous Era, after being swallowed by the pseudo-black hole along with a vast expanse of the surrounding sea, the continent of Mu was completely corrupted by the intense and malevolent Honkai energy, much like Nagazora City after the Third Eruption.Furthermore, the loss of one-sixth of the world's population and the collapse of an entire continental plate—two devastating blows that nearly destroyed the social structure—made it impossible for that civilization to dedicate sufficient manpower to searching for the continental fragments that had sunk into the sea. Consequently, research into the Sea of Quanta was stillborn.The Flamechaser surrounding Ellie-chan understood the concept of the Sea of Quanta because Fu Hua shared some information about the café with her memory replica—Hua—who in turn used Fenghuang Down's ability to further share that knowledge with her other companions.—Of course, among these shared memories was Miss Pink Pig, abandoned by the Flamechasers.Therefore, when Eden, based on her knowledge of the café, the Store Manager's appearance, and her recent departure from the stage, deduced the absurd yet strangely plausible conclusion that "you are me from another world," the Flamechasers surrounding Ellie-chan quickly recovered after a brief moment of astonishment.They looked into Eden's eyes, then into the Store Manager's eyes, then glanced at Eden's hair, then at the Store Manager's hair, pondered, and suddenly understood. They clapped their hands in a fluid, seamless motion without a trace of awkwardness.“I see,” Mobius said with a smile, her clear, childlike voice full of joy."Biologically speaking, judging kinship solely by physical characteristics is quite unreliable. However, since this world has the so-called ‘Sea of Quanta’ and the concept of ‘isotopes,’ using biological laws to determine the relationship between the two is probably already quite foolish.“After all, even the physical laws of the so-called Sea of Quanta are quite different from those of the real world…”“Stop! Stop!” the Store Manager spoke with a dark expression. “Your associations are a bit too far-fetched! How could I possibly be an isotope of Eden?!”“Huh, isn’t that right?”Eden blinked, a hint of disappointment flashing across her face. She gave a wry smile and sat back down in her seat."It’s a real shame. I was hoping to see another version of myself in the Sea of Quanta, like Ellie did. It seems the chances of finding that ‘other self’ in your café aren’t as high as I initially thought.”“What? You were really looking forward to seeing another version of yourself?” The Store Manager was quite surprised.“Opportunities to face another version of yourself are rare. While I have Ellie, with whom I can confide, unfortunately, in terms of artistic expertise, Ellie… well, she’s not exactly a good listener.” Eden sighed and shook her head.“Wait, why am I suddenly being rejected?!”Elysia looked completely bewildered.“Fools are disliked everywhere, especially after a fool has bothered you for fifty thousand years,” the Store Manager spoke sullenly.“Wait—wait!! I didn’t bother anyone!”Elysia’s eyes widened, a blush of embarrassment rising on her face.“Saying such hurtful things to a cute girl—you’re going too far, Store Manager!”“You shouldn’t argue with me, but with your companions whom you’ve harassed for fifty thousand years,” the Store Manager said, shrugging.“I was just interpreting your best friend’s words.”“H-How could that be?! Everyone! Miss Fairy isn’t a bothersome person! Right?”Elysia hurriedly turned to her companions, her eyes filled with trust and expectation.“…”However, she was met with silence.Elysia’s expression gradually stiffened.After a long silence, as the leader, Kevin probably felt he couldn't just leave this alone. So, under Elysia's relieved gaze, he reluctantly and laboriously shook his head."You really aren't a troublesome person…”“Kevin! You really are something—!”Before Elysia, who was almost moved to tears, could even shout it out, Kevin followed with his next sentence."Of course, it would be even better if you could behave a little more normally.”“What are you saying? Aren’t you the head of Flamechaser?” the Store Manager said. “Can’t you control her?”“I can’t control her,” Kevin replied instantly.Elysia’s shoulders trembled with anger. “You… you two boys are in cahoots!”“Is that so?” Mobius smiled sinisterly. “But I feel like this Store Manager’s assessment of you is actually quite accurate.”“Is that so? So, when I grow up, I’ll become a stupid and annoying bad kid?”Ellie-chan blinked innocently, gave Elysia a serious look, and shrank her shoulders.“I don’t want to become an adult like you!”These innocent words successfully struck a chord with Elysia.“You—you—you—!! Waaaaaah—!”Completely breaking down, Elysia burst into tears. She wiped her eyes, turned, and ran."You all ganged up on me! Remember this!! Elysia will get her revenge one day—!!”Just as she ran out the door, she accidentally bumped into Herrscher of Thunder - Raiden Mei who was about to enter.Herrscher of Thunder - Raiden Mei stared blankly at Elysia's retreating figure, then turned to look at the hall and pointed outside. “What happened to her?”“I can only say that the truth is an incredibly sharp blade. Even someone like Elysia would have her defenses pierced by it,” Mobius said, a bored expression on her face.But as soon as she finished speaking, her innocent face instantly broke into a genuine smile, completely different from a second ago."Hey, Big Bro Store Manager~ See, isn’t Mobius right?”“You... you shouldn't be like that. Be normal.” Her affected, childish tone sent shivers down the Store Manager's spine. “You're scaring me.”“What’s there to be afraid of? With your abilities, manipulating an innocent girl like me shouldn't be a piece of cake, right?”Mobius's smile grew even brighter. “Don't worry, big brother, I won't hurt you~ It's just that I want to take a little something from you, you see...”“No! I refuse! Don’t even think about it!”“Don’t refuse so quickly. I haven’t even said what I want yet! Don’t you trust Mobius that much?”Mobius put on a ridiculously fake, tearful expression.Now, not only the Store Manager but everyone, including the Thirteen Flamechaser and Herrscher of Thunder (Raiden Mei) standing at the café entrance, felt a chill run down their spines.The hot-tempered Kalpas was the first to lose his temper. He raised his hand, about to slam it on the table, when he suddenly realized that Ellie-chan and Griseo's desserts and drinks were still on the table.So, the hand that was originally aimed at the table suddenly twisted in mid-air, striking Mobius's head with perfect precision.His roar, unlike his usual fiery and aggressive tone, was now a low, guttural sound, like the roar of an engine.“What nonsense are you spouting in front of these brats?! Are you trying to corrupt her?! Huh?”Pia~!!“You…!!”Completely caught off guard by Kalpas's sudden attack—or rather, even if she had expected it, she probably wouldn't have been able to dodge it—Mobius was initially stunned by the sudden blow to her scalp, then flew into a rage."Kalpas! Do you want to die?!”“What? With your bean sprout-like snake body?”“You—!!”Before the two hot-tempered and stubborn Flamechaser could escalate the conflict further, the Store Manager suddenly appeared behind them.“If you want to fight, go back to the Elysian Realm and have a good fight. My little lobby can't withstand your antics.”He grabbed the two by the backs of their collars, one on each side, and threw them out the door without a word.“I'll f*** you!!!! You just wait—!!!” Kalpas roared as he flew out the door.“…Very well, little guinea pig, I’ll remember you,” Mobius, who also flew out the door, said in a sinister tone.“Tsk, not even a little resistance and still so stubborn. Are all you former civilization MANTISes platypuses?” the Store Manager spoke, looking utterly exasperated.“…We’re about done.”Kevin stood up and pondered for a moment. “How much does this café charge?”“You actually brought money?”The Store Manager was utterly stunned. He had actually prepared himself for the possibility of not getting a single penny for this large table of desserts and drinks, but Kevin bringing it up himself even made him feel a little touched.“Uh…” Kevin’s expression visibly froze. “Can I use money from the Elysian Realm in this café?”“Huh? Money from the Elysian Realm?” The Store Manager was taken aback. “What’s that?”“…Felis’s cat paw silver coins,” Kevin spoke.“What—!!!”Pardofelis, who was still drinking her sweet milk, spat it out. She stared in disbelief."Boss Kevin, Boss Kevin, Boss Kevin! Those silver coins are only useful to successors! What do you need them for—wait, where did you get my cat coins?!”“…”Kevin glanced at Pardofelis’s face, which was practically bristling with fur, then looked away.“I found them.”“Where did you find them?” Pardofelis blinked, scratching her head as she tried to remember. “When did I ever drop those silver coins?!”“After the successor died—and lost the Elysian Realm trial—some of the remaining silver coins were collected by me.”“…”You just said “died,” right?!The Store Manager’s eyelids twitched. So, challengers who lose the trial drops gold coins…?That actually sounds surprisingly reasonable.Ellie-chan looked around, suddenly feeling that these adults were a bit unreliable.“If Felis’s silver coins can’t be used, my gems should be fine as payment, right?” Eden said calmly.“Although we can materialize currencies from our memories, the currencies of our era should also be…”Eden suddenly paused, frowning and thinking for a moment.“…Wait, it seems like they should also be usable? After all, Ellie from when she was little appeared in your café.”“…” The Store Manager rolled his eyes and waved his hand helplessly. “Forget it. Although you memory replicas and the things in the Elysian Realm have become physical in this café, I can’t take those things out. What’s the use of unusable currency?”“…”Now, the entire table fell into silence.All the Flamechaser turned their gaze toward the doorway, where there was nothing—except—“Why are you all looking at me?”—Herrscher of Thunder - Raiden Mei took a step back, her scalp tingling, and sighed in despair. “Tch! Okay, okay! I know! I’ll pay for your meal! World Serpent pays pretty well; I can certainly afford your dinner party.”She wondered if those Gray Serpents who regarded these lords as gods would be so angry they’d vomit blood if they saw their lord unable to pay for the meal, the Herrscher of Thunder - Raiden Mei thought maliciously.Kevin was silent for a moment, his voice as calm as ever but with a strange hint of guilt."Thank you for your trouble.”He shouldn't have said that; the moment he did, Herrscher of Thunder Mei glared at him fiercely.“The best reward would be if you didn't make me guess every day!”With that, Herrscher of Thunder Mei pulled out her wallet."How much?”“...”The Store Manager glanced at Herrscher of Thunder Mei, then pointed at her.Herrscher of Thunder Mei's expression turned cold. “What do you mean?”“I want the Herrscher power within you,” the Store Manager stated succinctly and clearly.-----Chapter Ninety-Seven: The Script Was Right, the Actors Were Wrong—Spring 2017, Arc City, Heliopolis Life Sciences Technology Park.At midday, the blinding sunlight shone on the ice-covered ruins, reflecting a golden glint.The moisture in the air had long since condensed into tiny, swirling ice crystals in the sub-zero temperatures exceeding -100 degrees Celsius.Two steel-like figures repeatedly clashed and separated within the icy mist that obscured their vision. The booming sounds of explosions echoed with each collision, and an indescribable pressure and chilling aura spread outward like a collapsing mountain.On the outer edge of the icy mist, Rita, pale-faced, gazed at the two figures constantly intertwining in the thick fog. Her once calm and confident wine-red eyes were now filled with barely concealed anxiety, worry, and a profound sense of powerlessness.Although Rita had moved as far away as possible from the core battle zone, which was about a kilometer in diameter, within her direct line of sight—even at that distance—the bone-chilling cold still relentlessly stung her cheeks.Rita is a master of ice manipulation. With the combined power of her innate Stigmata and the crescent particles released by her Godsbane Battlesuit Argent Knight, she can easily steal heat from her environment during battle, creating an extreme cold hell where only she can survive.Once a human's body temperature drops below 34 degrees Celsius, their life ends when brain cells cease functioning.For humans are warm-blooded animals and need to exchange air through respiration, so this ability to artificially create large-scale ultra-low-temperature environments is deadly, a fact Rita herself has proven in countless battles.But now, facing that man, Rita, skilled in using ultra-low temperatures in combat, is forced to a point where she can't even enter the battle due to his similar ability to achieve the same level of cold.To be honest, Rita wasn't incapable of surviving in the frigid space created by that man.After all, she was equipped with the latest Godsbane Battlesuit, and under the protection of the Azure Knight: Moon Soul, she wasn't completely unable to approach Kevin.However, at the same time, Rita clearly realized that not only was there an insurmountable chasm between her and the two “monsters” she was facing—a chasm that transcended even the scale of their extreme cold abilities and their physical capabilities, or even the scale of life itself.If she were to ignore the ultra-low temperature that made her dizzy just from breathing and force her way into the battle, the help she could offer, with her combat power greatly weakened, would likely be less than the burden Durandal carried by diverting some of her attention to care for her.Fortunately, neither the man from World Serpent nor Lord Durandal, with whom she was currently fighting, seemed to want to infringe upon the ordinary citizens of Arc City during their battle.They consciously kept the fighting confined to the ruins of Heliopolis Life Sciences. The man also didn't actively step out of the fray to target her, as she was easier to defeat.Rita knew very well that the reason she was still standing there wasn't because of her own strength, but simply because the man fighting Durandal hadn't taken her seriously from the start.To him, she, guarding the massive cloud of ice mist, posed absolutely no threat, no matter what efforts she made.Lord Durandal…Realizing this, Rita couldn't help but gently bite her lower lip, a worried and powerless cry echoing in her heart.Deep down, she secretly hated her own weakness and incompetence.“I can't do anything...?”“...”If the person standing here wasn't her, but “Rita” from another world...In an instant, the figure of the Dream Witch, with the same face as her, suddenly intruded into her mind which was overwhelmed by a sense of powerlessness.The nightmarish thought vanished in an instant.Although Rita forcibly suppressed this unrealistic thought back into her mind with her strong will, a “thought,” once it appears, no matter how brief, can never be completely forgotten.In fact, quite the opposite.Just like an insomniac who can't fall asleep no matter how hard they try, the thought makes it even harder to fall asleep.If you keep trying to distance yourself from or forget an image that has already appeared in your mind, that image will ignore your intentions and be imprinted more deeply in your mind....If it were that “Rita,” who had also brought her an indescribable sense of powerlessness, could it be——Rita's complex thoughts were, of course, unknowable to the two “strongest warriors” vying for supremacy within the extreme cold.A storm carrying ice crystals obscured their vision.All around were clusters of icicles growing densely in the extreme cold. In this bitter hell, where even breathing was tantamount to death for ordinary people, the knight's lance, wreathed in flames, collided repeatedly with the ever-forming ice blocks around the man. The flames quickly extinguished, and the icicles melted rapidly.For warriors whose Honkai energy exceeded a certain limit, the impact of using Honkai energy on the enemy became negligible. This was because almost all anomalies created through Honkai energy could be neutralized by an equal amount of Honkai energy.Therefore, in the end, the battle between the two strongest warriors quickly devolved into pure close-quarters combat.It was obvious that while Durandal possessed enough energy to sustain her battle in this frigid hell, she couldn't neutralize the enemy's environmental influences.The enemy couldn't directly freeze Durandal's body with this extreme cold, but they had completely suppressed the blazing flames surrounding her to a mere meter or so.The difference in combat ability was stark.In terms of burst damage alone, while Durandal could contend with this man, she couldn't harm him at all.Dea Anchora's golden flames clung to the Valkyrie's body, protecting her from the extreme cold brought by the Parvati genes.The weaponry originating from the Bubble World clashed with the Meta-Morph factor's abilities; the existence of these two abilities represented the binary opposition of quantum and imaginary numbers."Tsk—"With a crisp clang, the knight's lance hurtling toward her was once again stopped by a block of ice that appeared out of nowhere.Looking at the cold, stern face so close to hers, Durandal couldn't help but click her tongue.This is troublesome…While she was confident, she wasn't the kind of fool who couldn't see the difference in strength.The opponent's ability was not only pressuring her but also constantly influencing the real world, continuously lowering the ambient temperature.Although Durandal didn't believe the opponent's power was limitless, in this environment, even if she possessed the power of the entire Bubble World, she couldn't possibly sustain a prolonged battle.The ambient temperature would stop decreasing once it reached a point where it couldn't be lowered any further—minus 273 degrees Celsius.At that point, the opponent would only need to expend a small amount of power to maintain this extremely unfavorable home-field advantage.On her side, Dea Anchora's power would only continue to burn at an ever-increasing rate.Should she stop fighting and try to escape?Just as Durandal was contemplating a strategic retreat, the silver-haired leader of the World Serpent suddenly spoke.“You’re quite good, a Valkyrie of the current civilization era,” he spoke calmly. “Stop. Fighting the Honkai is our shared mission. I have no intention of being your enemy.”Durandal’s eyes turned cold. She suddenly remembered why she had been so determined to fight this “serpent” leader to this extent. Her upright and clear voice was filled with undisguised rage:“Fight the Honkai? Is your way of fighting the Honkai to conduct horrific human experiments on ordinary people?”As she spoke, Durandal forcefully struck the man’s face with her flaming lance, the rapidly flashing tip like lightning.The man's expression remained unchanged. He didn't even glance at the rapidly approaching spear tip. With a swift movement that Durandal's dynamic vision completely missed, he reached out and grasped the lightning-fast lance in his hand."I have no intention of arguing about the crimes committed by the World Serpent. Considering these things before the Honkai is meaningless. As a Valkyrie of Schicksal, you should know better than anyone that no one can reason with the Honkai."Durandal spoke coldly, "I don't deny that. Fighting the Honkai is Schicksal's mission, and Schicksal has committed unforgivable crimes for it. But in any case, a Valkyrie's mission will never include the option of killing the entire population of a city.""You have crossed the line, leader of the World Serpent."Kevin remained silent. He couldn't refute this statement.After several technological upgrades and the recruitment of a prototype like "Hare," the Project Stigma designed by Gray Serpent no longer needed to involve the indiscriminate killing of humans as it had five thousand years ago.The so-called "Project Stigma" designed by Jackal had little practical significance from the beginning. The technologies and methods she used to promote it were neither practical nor efficient.For World Serpent, launching a large-scale indiscriminate killing spree in Arc City was more like a deliberate act of folly, inviting Schicksal's contempt."..."Judging from Durandal's displayed anger and disdain, Gray Serpent's plan was undeniably successful, which left Kevin slightly frustrated.While he didn't mind—in fact, he was willing to take the blame and didn't care about others' opinions—Kevin was stubborn. He wouldn't deny what he had done, even if it meant being condemned by everyone.But to pin something on him for something he hadn't done was a little…...Never mind.Kevin sighed quietly.He wasn't entirely unfamiliar with indiscriminate mass killing. One more wouldn't hurt.Although World Serpent wasn't particularly useful to him, it was still "that one's" offspring. He'd just accept the blame for now.Anyway—he wasn't planning on letting this "strongest Valkyrie" go.In less than a millisecond, the chilling aura within a one-kilometer radius was instantly compressed in Kevin's mind.Durandal's pupils contracted slightly.She saw through Kevin's intention and released her grip on the weapon without hesitation, but it was too late.Absolute zero of -273 degrees Celsius froze the air around Durandal. Dea Anchora's flames burned fiercely within the compressed crystalline form, providing its wielder with enough heat to survive in such an extreme environment.However, Durandal herself was completely bound by Kevin's ice, utterly unable to escape.Thus, this battle between the "strongest" and the "strongest" came to an end after the strongest Valkyrie of the current civilization era was completely frozen.Kevin casually tore open a spatial rift, tossing the crystalline form containing Durandal into a blank Bubble World he had created out of boredom while imprisoned in the Sea of Quanta.He gently closed his eyes."I understand your feelings for your comrades, but you should know that with your half-baked extreme cold power, you have no hope of defeating me."“…I know, so I don’t intend to fight you here.”With a series of low footsteps, Rita slowly approached Kevin from behind, unarmed."I just want to know, what are your plans for Lady Durandal?”“She is, after all, my descendant. I don’t intend to harm her.”Kevin turned to face the expressionless Rita.“But you should know that for the World Serpent now, you Schicksal are too much of a hindrance. I have no way of knowing your ‘Overseer’s’ purpose, nor do I intend to speculate on his thoughts. Therefore, I will temporarily take your strongest member. After the World Serpent has achieved its goal, I will naturally return her to your side.”“…”Rita smiled silently, her alluring wine-red eyes as lifeless as still water.She understood Kevin’s implication.Schicksal is a nuisance, but as long as Durandal is under control, including her, the vice-captain of the Immortal Blades, the Schicksal organization is no threat.—The evidence is that even after defeating Durandal, he could easily have controlled her as well, yet he didn't even entertain the slightest thought of taking her away.Perhaps sensing Rita's thoughts, Kevin glanced at her and said calmly,"...World Serpent needs more talent. Would you be willing to come with your captain?"Rita chuckled softly, her dignified smile impeccable in terms of etiquette, yet also mechanical in quality."Forget it. For someone like you, Rita's insignificant power is probably dispensable. What you might see as a meager act of resistance is perhaps less than ideal. However, it's better for me to honestly report what I've seen and heard to His Holiness the Overseer.""Let His Holiness the Overseer gain a deeper understanding of your power, thus avoiding unnecessary conflict. This is a better choice for both World Serpent and Schicksal, wouldn't you agree, Your Excellency, leader of World Serpent?"Kevin was silent for a moment. "...I respect your choice."After speaking, his body vanished into the distance without warning.Rita clenched her fists tightly, her dark eyes fixed on the spot where Kevin had disappeared.Suddenly, she turned and left without hesitation in a certain direction, her steps heavy yet resolute.-----Chapter 98: Store Manager Gets Toughened Up by Mei (Sad)When Rita made a tremendous decision and stepped towards into the Hyperion café, entering it, the scene that met her eyes made her freeze in place.A woman with horns on her head, "Raiden Mei," knelt listlessly in the center of the hall, her face filled with disbelief and indescribable fear, as if she had suddenly realized she was about to commit an unforgivable sin and an irreversible mistake.Directly opposite her was a strangely colored thick fog floating in the Store Manager's palm, constantly changing shape with his flickering thoughts.Besides "Raiden Mei" and the Store Manager in the center of the hall, several men and women formed a circle around them, their expressions ranging from solemn to calm, relaxed to wary.Among those surrounding the Store Manager and "Raiden Mei," some were very familiar to Rita, while others were completely unfamiliar.Among the ten people vaguely gathered together, Rita even recognized the silver-haired man who had brought her immense frustration and helplessness just minutes before.Had he sensed Rita's gaze?The silver-haired man glanced at the doorway, a flicker of doubt crossing his icy blue eyes before he quickly looked away, clearly uninterested.From that gaze, Rita simultaneously sensed the unfamiliar "Who is this?" in his eyes and a familiar, condescending thought: "This person poses no threat whatsoever; therefore, I don't need to pay any attention to her.""..."Thus, her already rather depressed mood instantly intensified under this guy's gaze.Rita's sudden intrusion—no, perhaps it should be said "visit"—had no effect on the events unfolding in the hall. The Store Manager didn't even glance t the stunned maid standing at the door and casually controlled the thick mist floating in his palm while shaking his head and clicking his tongue in admiration."Although it's not yet fully developed, it is indeed a complete Power of Corruption—no, judging from the vitality emanating from this thing, it's less a simple power and more a microorganism possessing life and the Power of Corruption, isn't it?""Running around with something like this, you really have a big heart," the Store Manager said with a smile."..."Herrscher of Thunder Mei bit her teeth hard, took a deep breath, lowered her eyelids, and desperately tried to recall her recent experiences.—Not long ago, the moment this Store Manager made the offer to her, “I want the Herrscher powers within you,” before she could even clearly object to this absurd request, he immediately added a further explanation."It's not the one with Thunder; it's the Corruption one."Corruption?While this name was not entirely unfamiliar, it was utterly out of place in this setting. Herrscher of Thunder - Raiden Mei almost thought she'd misheard. Then, in the next instant, the Store Manager reached out and beckoned to her.Since she sensed no hostility from the Store Manager, Herrscher of Thunder - Raiden Mei didn't react to the gesture. However, her body suddenly dissipated into invisible fog before her, following the Store Manager's movement.Leaving aside "Origin" and "Finality," among the twelve "Regular Sequence Herrschers," the Herrscher of Corruption was arguably the most unique.Normally, Herrschers possess an extremely strong perception and ability to distinguish fellow Herrschers.The formula for forming a Herrscher is "Honkai energy sufficient to condense into a Herrscher core" and "a suitable candidate to become a Herrscher." When both conditions are met simultaneously, regardless of whether the latter is human or not, they can transform into a Herrscher after the core is generated.As beings wielding power, Herrschers possess extremely strong control and keen perception of Honkai energy. The Herrscher core itself is a substance radiating intense Honkai energy. Therefore, if two Herrschers meet, they will instantly recognize each other as Herrschers.While all Herrschers share a common goal, not all Herrschers controlled by the Honkai are on the same side.A Herrscher desires to destroy "everything except themselves."Therefore, when two Herrschers also controlled by the Honkai meet, the most likely outcome is a life-or-death battle, with the winner taking all and the loser eliminated.However, only the Herrscher of Corruption is extremely difficult to detect by any Honkai energy detector, including other Herrschers.Because the Herrscher of Corruption lacks a physical form and its body does not possess a solid core composed of vast amounts of Honkai energy—this is why, although the people of the previous civilization detected Honkai energy fluctuations equivalent to Herrscher level within the Herrscher of Corruption, they were unable to confirm their true nature.Subsequent events proved that even killing a Herrscher of Corruption and destroying the physical body inhabited by that intense Honkai energy allows its essence and power to spread unchecked, causing irreversible damage to the real world.When did the Herrscher of Corruption possess her?Overwhelmed with fear, Raiden Mei racked her brains to recall her recent experiences.A thin layer of cold sweat covered her forehead and her eyes widened."Was it...that time?"She recalled everything she encountered when she submerged her consciousness into the deepest part of the Herrscher's core—an indescribable "space of nothingness," the source of the Herrscher's power. In that space, she encountered the "Will of Honkai," which controlled the vast majority—well, a minority—of Herrschers.When facing the "Will of Honkai," she felt something trying to forcefully infuse her consciousness, only to be blocked by the conquering authority.At the time, she thought this was the "Will of Honkai's" way of controlling Herrschers, but now it seemed that feeling of being invaded wasn't the work of the "Will of Honkai," but rather the masterpiece of the formless Herrscher of Corruption."…………"Having grasped the current situation, Herrscher of Thunder Mei couldn't help but swallow hard. She realized what it would mean if she, as the "Herrscher of Corruption," were to re-enter the Elysian Realm—essentially a data space—of the past.Although she didn't get along well with some members of Flame-Chasers, she absolutely didn't want these memory replicas to be destroyed by intruders because of her mistakes.Thinking this, she stood up and spoke seriously to the Store Manager.Thank you for discovering it before I made an irreparable mistake. I...""..."She paused abruptly. Herrscher of Thunder Mei quickly glanced at her other "self" and Kiana, then pursed her lips. "It seems the 'me' from another world has also received a lot of your attention.""It's not really attention. After all, I know several of your counterparts, so it's hard to treat you as complete strangers," the Store Manager shrugged. "I'll accept the power of Corruption for now; it's a great tonic for my staff. You shouldn't mind, right?""Is this... for this lady?" Herrscher of Thunder Mei looked behind the Store Manager, a complex expression flashing in her eyes as she looked at the voluptuous, beautiful woman.“My name is Theresa. You can call me Luna.” Luna smiled slightly.The dignified demeanor and gentle tone of her voice created a strong sense of unease in Raiden Mei, who was facing that all-too-familiar face.“By the way, I’m the Store Manager’s wife.”Suddenly, Luna stepped forward and approached the Store Manager. She wrapped her arms around his large, soft bosom, her crimson eyes incredibly moist, her flushed cheeks as delicate as a flower—a clear display of dominance from a queen.The Store Manager coughed slightly, his face flushing, but he didn’t break free from Luna’s sudden advance. Instead, he grasped Luna’s outstretched white hand, their fingers intertwined.Kongming silently raised her feather fan, obscuring her face and preventing anyone from seeing her expression.The two magical girls simultaneously turned their gaze toward Sirin. Sirin, though outwardly unresponsive, couldn't help but tremble violently as she trimmed the banner—and the welcome banner prepared overnight was tragically cut in two by her out-of-control scissors.With their faces slightly flushed, Kiana and Mei averted their gazes, their eyes unfocused, seemingly lost in thought."Uh…"Seeing Theresa's adult form and a boy past than herself, their fingers intertwined intimately, Herrscher of Thunder Raiden Mei felt a little strange but didn't harbor any other thoughts about the couple.Confused as to why the grown-up Theresa was suddenly asserting her dominance over the Store Manager, Rita could only offer a slightly bewildered congratulation."Con...congratulations...?""Congratulations...my foot—!!!!!""Congratulations...my foot—!!!!!"Outside the door, two roars, different in tone but equally filled with anger, rang out without warning.Followed immediately by a deafening clap of thunder.Being closest to the door, Rita quickly moved aside.In less than an instant, a girl with several transparent lightning wings unfurled behind her forcefully burst into the café, her body enveloped in bursting lightning.Another silver-haired loli, with dazzling speed, scurried in, her flushed, childlike face filled with shock and intense embarrassment.Herrscher of Thunder Mei was stunned when she saw the third "Raiden Mei" suddenly barge into the café, while the café's Store Manager was also momentarily lost in thought after feeling the "Herrscher persona" that he had personally suppressed.Wait, wasn't he kicked out of that world's cocoon after helping Mei of Nagazora City suppress the Herrscher persona?Normally, this Mei should have already forgotten him and wouldn't be able to enter his café anymore, right?How did she get in?Confused and bewildered, the Store Manager didn't even immediately realize why this person had stormed into his shop with such an angry expression.By the time he realized something was wrong, his collar was suddenly grabbed, and his entire body was shoved against the café wall by the other person's forceful movement."Store Manager!""Human!""Captain!""Mr. Assassin!""Hey! Are you alright?!"The four café staff, along with Bronie who had just returned from Canghai City, all spoke with a hint of worry.At the same time, the Store Manager, forcibly pinned against the wall, stared in astonishment at the menacing "Raiden Mei," his lips twitching slightly."Why did you lose control again?""..."Upon hearing this, "Raiden Mei," with her lightning wings, her already menacing expression deepened.She pressed his face against the wall, gritting her teeth."You heartless man! You've already done that to someone else, and you still want to distance yourself like that?!"As several icy gazes pierced the Store Manager in an instant, the atmosphere in the café plummeted to a freezing point."Stop! Stop! Stop! Stop!"The Store Manager was stunned. The instantaneous tension made him forget to break free from the other person's grip. He frantically began to protest his innocence."Don't talk nonsense! What did I do to you?! My wife is right here! Don't mess with me! Ms. Mei, I'm a married man! Please have some self-respect!!""You clearly pushed me to the heavens so hard, and you still dare to say you didn't do anything to me?""Don’t make it sound so vulgar, as if I knocked you away! I only touched your forehead with my fingertip! I didn’t touch any of your private parts! And I used chains the whole time I controlled you afterward! Don’t make it sound like I did something terribly wrong to you!""Yeah, you chained me so I couldn’t move an inch, and then slammed me hard on the butt with that kind of impact..."Raiden Mei’s pretty face flushed slightly as she glared at the Store Manager, her voice filled with murderous intent."Wait, wait, wait?! When did I slam your butt?!"The Store Manager stared in disbelief."Enough talk! Since you dared to forcefully intrude into someone else’s life, you should have been prepared to take responsibility. I’m not going to let you disappear from my world again. You’d better be prepared!""I—Ugh—!!!"She was stunned.Snap—The frozen atmosphere shattered instantly.-----Chapter 99: Kiana: No—!!The spacious hall was silent.The Flame-Chasers that had just been preparing to leave just ten seconds earlier sat back down around the pieced-together table, enjoying the newly served cake and drinks, clearly determined not to leave until the very end.Ellie-chan pulled out a pocket watch Vill-V had given her, glanced at the time, and her long, narrow eyebrows furrowed in a troubled expression.Schadenfreude is bad behavior.Watching gossip is human nature.When these two conflict, only one choice remains:—to watch the gossip without a trace of schadenfreude, to maintain a proper attitude, and to watch respectfully.Putting away the pocket watch, Ellie-chan sat up straight, her slightly chubby face serious, like a delicate doll.Not far from this group of onlookers, two groups were at the very center of the forced-kiss incident, enacting two completely different yet equally entertaining dramas.One group was staging a suspenseful crime-solving drama starring the culprit—Raiden Mei—while the supporting characters, the interrogators, were two other “herselves” from the not-too-distant future.Another group was a romantic comedy centered around a young, womanizing store manager. The supporting characters—or rather, the women he attracted—were a five-member café group, two magical girls following Sirin as the atmosphere team, and Theresa, who was baffled by the sudden boyfriend and furious. Together, they formed a “machete squad.”Ugh, so annoying.The Flame-Chaser members sitting at the table—even Fu Hua floating in mid-air—all simultaneously took a sip of the various colored and flavored liquids, some cold, some warm. Ellie-chan, following suit, took a sip of hot milk.Between these two dramatic events, which side should they watch?Everyone watching couldn’t help but wonder.Only Kiana, whose face inexplicably looked somewhat sullen, unhesitatingly turned her gaze to the three “Raiden Meis.”Wearing a sailor uniform, and with a face that appeared more youthful than the other two “selves” from the future, Raiden Mei sat upright in a chair, her head almost buried in her chest.She was going to die.She was going to die…!She was really going to die—!!!Her long, slender legs, clad in lace-trimmed, knee-length black stockings, trembled as if they had been bent over for three days and three nights. Sweat poured down her forehead, nose, and cheeks, soaking a small patch of her pleated skirt.Standing before this Raiden Mei in her sailor uniform were the other two “selves,” each from a different time period.One of them had two horns on her head, and her long hair almost reached the ground. She rested her forehead on her hand, her expression a mixture of helplessness and speechlessness.The other was dressed in a suit-style coffee shop uniform, her once waist-length high ponytail now cut short to shoulder length. She crossed her arms, her gaze toward “herself” filled with scrutiny.“Tell me.”Perhaps because she knew she was the oldest of the three Raiden Meis, the Herrscher of Thunder, with a demeanor completely different from the other two “selves,” spoke first.“Why did you suddenly do that to the Store Manager?”“…I… can I say I don’t know?”Dressed in a sailor uniform, Raiden Mei was practically in tears. She desperately called out in her heart to the Herrscher persona who had suddenly taken over her body, kissed the Store Manager, and run away. She felt her entire worldview and philosophy of life crumble.“Are you trying to pin your actions on your Herrscher persona?”The Herrscher of Thunder asked calmly.“What do you mean by blaming…”Sailor Uniform - Raiden Mei spoke weakly. “I just regained consciousness and this happened... I’m innocent too, okay?”“You are the ‘Raiden Mei’ from three years ago… that is, from 2014, right?”Just then, Cafe Uniform - Raiden Mei spoke up. “From this café’s perspective, I only came here for the first time last night. You had already visited before me, right?”“…” Sailor Uniform - Raiden Mei nodded silently, her expression suddenly becoming confused. “You said 2014… is three years ago?”Cafe Uniform - Raiden Mei looked this youngest version of herself up and down, frowning. “Don’t you understand the nature of this café?”“Actually, I’m not entirely sure about that either.” Herrscher of Thunder Raiden Mei suddenly turned her gaze to “herself” in her uniform. “Compared to this person from three years ago, our timelines should be very close.”“What’s your timeline…?”“October 17, 2017.” Herrscher of Thunder Raiden Mei was concise. “As for yours, I don’t remember the exact date, but judging from Kiana’s state, it should be around April, before the Arc City incident, right?”“Your Kiana also…?” Raiden Mei, in her uniform, glanced at Kiana, whose ears were practically perked up, and asked in a low voice.“She’s much better lately. At least after the Herrscher of Legion incident, her physical condition is no longer affected by the Herrscher of the Void’s power.” Herrscher of Thunder Mei calmly glanced at Kiana. “However, she’s still not as good as the one next to you. Has all of her power been blocked? How did you manage that?”“Uh… thanks to the Store Manager of this café…”“Him…?” Herrscher of Thunder Mei understood. “So that’s why you two stayed at this café, working for that boy?”“Sort of.” Mei, dressed in her uniform, nodded. After hearing Herrscher of Thunder’s explanation, a strange unease suddenly arose in her heart.“That’s pretty good. You’re luckier than me. Compared to our side, with the Store Manager’s help, your Kiana should be much easier to manage.” Herrscher of Thunder Mei calmly asserted.“…Um, can I leave now?” Sailor Uniform - Raiden Mei weakly raised her hand.“No.”“No.”The two Raiden Meis, both from 2017, said in unison.Herrscher of Thunder Raiden Mei pondered for a moment."Do you like the store manager of this café?”“Huh?! I—”“You don’t need to lie to either of us. You should know yourself that, as a fellow Raiden Mei, you couldn’t possibly deceive your future self."Herrscher of Thunder Raiden Mei spoke calmly.“I don’t know the specifics of your experiences, but I didn’t sense the miniature bomb that should have been implanted in your heart. Therefore, you shouldn’t have experienced the Third Eruption of Nagazora City. Yet, you appeared with Headmistress Theresa.”“The Third Eruption?”“The massive Honkai disaster that destroyed Nagazora City, with a death toll exceeding seven figures."Herrscher of Thunder Raiden Mei succinctly summarized the catastrophe that left a deep scar on human history.It was such a simple description, yet it sent a chill down Raiden Mei’s spine in an instant.“Wh-seven…”“Judging from your expression, Nagazora City in your world hasn’t been destroyed by the Third Eruption yet, has it?”Herrscher of Thunder Raiden Mei pursed her lips, a complex emotion—a mixture of envy and relief—flashing in her eyes.*Like Kiana, was it the store manager of this café who kept you in check? If so, it’s understandable that you’d fall for the store manager.”Sailor Uniform - Raiden Mei lowered her head, her face flushed. “I-I told you, I didn’t…”“—Tsk, so what?”Without warning, Raiden Mei, whose face had just been flushed, abruptly raised her head.A faint current flickered through her hair. A slight smirk played on her lips, and disdain gleamed in her light-patterned pupils.“What? Have you grown wings? Dare to challenge me? Even planning to interfere with my choices? Although I don’t know what happened in your world, nor why that guy like me would give you all his power, you haven’t forgotten who gave you your power, have you?”Seeing her past self suddenly replaced by a Herrscher persona, Raiden Mei, dressed in her uniform, narrowed her eyes and instinctively assumed a defensive stance, only to suddenly see an arm blocking her way.“?”Raiden Mei, dressed in uniform, was puzzled.Wasn’t she out of control?This “she,” who had awakened Herrscher powers, was stopping her; why wasn’t she controlling the “she” in front of her, who had clearly lost control?Upon closer inspection, it was clear that not only Herrscher of Thunder Mei, but also the Flame-Chaser members observing the situation in the café had no reaction to “their” loss of control; at most, they just looked a little surprised.“You misunderstand. Although we share the same identity, our experiences have both changed because of this café. Even though we are both Raiden Mei, you and I are not the same person. Of course, I have no reason to deprive someone else of their freedom to love.”Herrscher of Thunder Raiden Mei spoke calmly.“But since you were the first of the three ‘Raiden Mei’ to enter this café, you should also understand that the store manager is married. He clearly rejected you before you forcibly kissed him, didn’t he?”A cold glint flashed in Raiden Mei’s eyes, dressed in a sailor uniform."So what? What I want to do is none of your business, you coward who borrowed power from me! Or do you want me to be like you two incompetent fools, watching helplessly as the things I want slip away one by one?”“When you see something you want, you have to use any means necessary to keep it by your side! You were entrusted with all your power by my other-world self, for example. Even a child could understand this; do I need to teach you step by step?!”“You two dare to call yourselves ‘Raiden Mei’ from the future? What a joke! You two cowardly bastards have completely disgraced ‘Raiden Mei’!”Facing her past self, now in full-blown verbal sparring mode, Raiden Mei, dressed in her uniform, her face ashen, rebuked her righteously.“What a joke! Don’t you have any sense of shame or morality?!”Herrscher of Thunder Raiden Mei narrowed her eyes slightly, a dangerous glint in them. “Cowardly? You’re calling me cowardly?”“Otherwise what?” Sailor Uniform - Raiden Mei sneered."One of you can’t keep that woman named Kiana by your side, and the other doesn’t even realize she’s already fallen for someone else. You’ve both harbored such dark thoughts, yet you still dare to preach so-called morality and shame in front of me… You two are truly shameless, utterly pathetic!”“Kiana is—”Herrscher of Thunder Raiden Mei was about to retort when she suddenly froze.Not only her, but even the Flame-Chasers who were just watching the drama unfold, Kiana, who had all her attention focused on the scene, and even the other group who had temporarily quieted down because of the argument between the three Raiden Meis, all fell into pin-drop silence.“You…"Herrscher of Thunder Raiden Mei’s neck twisted like a rusty robot. She stared blankly at the temporary clerk Raiden Mei standing next to her, her mouth agape.“…Fallen? You?”“I… I didn’t—!!!”Cafe Staff - Raiden Mei exploded. Her eyebrows furrowed as she glared angrily at her past self, who was now smirking coldly. Her voice was anxious and tinged with guilt.“Don’t slander me for no reason! You need evidence to prove your point!!”“Oh~” Sailor Uniform Wearing - Raiden Mei, smirked. “Do you remember what I said earlier?”Raiden Mei, in her uniform, thought for a moment, then tentatively repeated, “…We’ve completely disgraced the name Raiden Mei?”“You two incompetent fools could only watch helplessly as the things you wanted slipped away from you one by one—!” Sailor Uniform Wearing Raiden Mei sneered.“Kiana was right beside you, yet you didn’t refute that. You know what that means, don’t you?”“In your heart, that girl named Kiana is no longer that ‘thing you wanted’—!!”Crack! Crack! Crack!Amid a series of crisp shattering sounds, everyone’s gaze turned to Kiana.Kiana’s heart shattered into pieces.“No—!!!”Snowflakes fluttered, the north wind howled…-----Chapter 100: The entire Shanxi–Northwest region was in complete chaosKiana collapsed to her knees on the floor of the hall, her entire body like a pure white plaster sculpture, pale gray, with only a few abstract lines outlining her form remaining.“In your heart, that girl named Kiana was no longer the ‘thing you wanted’—!!”“In your heart, that girl named Kiana was no longer the ‘thing you wanted’—!!”“In your heart, that girl named Kiana was no longer the ‘thing you wanted’—!!”In her mind, the voice of another “Raiden Mei,” filled with mockery, sarcasm, and ridicule, yet brimming with confidence, echoed incessantly.That incredibly familiar voice—the gentle, virtuous, and strong voice that had sustained her through countless battles in the past—now felt like a series of devastating blows striking the softest part of Kiana’s heart.The silver-haired girl, burdened by immense weight, slightly opened her mouth, slowly exhaling a puff of mist.The mist, as if possessing a soul, gradually transformed in mid-air into a shape identical to her physical form, gushing forth like a waterfall—a mixture of sorrow, despair, and intensely suppressed tears.“Waaah, Mei… my Mei… she’s become someone else’s shape!”Among the Flame-Chasers, Kevin gazed at this descendant burdened with immense weight, a hint of pity flickering in his eyes.As a fellow Mei-face enthusiast, the founding Kaslana was the one most capable of empathizing with Kiana’s feelings.Of course, understanding aside, his true desire to watch the drama unfold remained unchanged.After all, it wasn’t him who had been cuckolded.This emotional drama revolving around the three Herrschers of Thunder was unparalleled throughout all civilizations.How could Kevin, who had been bored out of his mind for fifty thousand years, possibly resist such a spectacle?Just as all the onlookers were engrossed in watching the three Meis torment each other, with Kiana caught in the crossfire, while surrounded by all the café staff, the suddenly appearing Theresa, and two magical girls supporting Sirin, The Store Manager suddenly raised his hand.“Let me make this clear beforehand: I didn’t do anything wrong to either of them.”The Store Manager solemnly affirmed his innocence.“As for Mei from Nagazora City, I merely flicked her forehead with my fingertip when her Herrscher persona went out of control, and then moved her a short distance with chains while her body was immobilized by the violent impact. Throughout the entire process, I did not touch any sensitive female parts, nor did I do anything that would cause misunderstanding—”“Hmph~~?”Sailor Uniform - Raiden Mei raised an eyebrow. She crossed her thighs, which were covered in black stockings that reached past her knees. Her uniform shoes and rounded heels, covered by a thin layer of black stockings, were separated, casually hanging on her toes, swaying slightly up and down. She sneered, ruthlessly interrupting the Store Manager’s self-defense. Her tone was as sharp as a queen’s."But I clearly remember that, during the time I was unable to move, you seemed to have told me… you'll use my body while it was still hot? This perverted ‘monster,’ Mr. Store Manager~~?”In an instant, everyone glared at the Store Manager as if he were trash. Kiana’s tear-filled eyes revealed a shocking rage.“I—” The Store Manager was shocked by Raiden Mei’s shamelessness. He was stunned for half a second, then immediately flew into a rage.“Don’t slander me out of thin air! Back then, you were so stubborn you looked like you were about to commit seppuku! I was just trying to stimulate your will to live, and you’re turning around and biting me?”Sailor Uniform - Raiden Mei crossed her arms and sneered. “When did I ever act so stubborn that I was about to commit seppuku?”“Back then you clearly—”The Store Manager suddenly realized something was wrong.“—No, what I wanted to stimulate was the hidden will to live within you, the Mei! When did I ever say anything like that to you!”“But I am Mei! This body doesn’t just belong to that crybaby; it belongs to me too!” Sailor Uniform - Raiden Mei said matter-of-factly."What you said to that crybaby is the same as what you said to me. Besides, you explicitly stated that you wanted to use a ‘body,’ so it’s even more inseparable from me.”“…”The Store Manager was dumbfounded. He stood there for a long time, then lowered his head, his dejected tone filled with resignation.“I thought I’d never see you again… How was I supposed to know that you’d be back in my store in less than twenty-four hours…”“…”Sailor-uniform-wearing Raiden Mei suddenly fell silent. She shifted her gaze from the Store Manager, her eyes focusing on empty space."Should you speak to him yourself, or should I?""...?"Hearing this abrupt question, everyone paused except for the other two Raiden Meis, who instinctively focused their attention on this "self" in a sailor uniform.They knew that she was communicating with another will residing within that body.After a moment, Sailor-uniform-wearing Raiden Mei closed her eyes. When she reopened them, the queen-like sharpness had silently vanished, replaced by a gentle and virtuous expression like that of a Yamato Nadeshiko.She stood up, slipped her feet back into her JK uniform shoes, and then, with firm steps, slowly walked to the Store Manager seated in a chair under everyone's gaze.Amid the subtly shifting glances of the store employees surrounding the Store Manager, Sailor Uniform Wearing Raiden Mei suddenly crouched down, leaning into his arms. She pressed her entire weight against his chest and abdomen, then stretched out her arms as if confirming his flesh, his warmth, and his very existence, tightly embracing his waist."I thought I'd never see you again..."A muffled sob escaped from the Store Manager's chest."...That's wonderful. This café, the person who saved me, they're real. It's truly wonderful..."Gazing at her past self from three years ago tightly embracing the Store Manager, Herrscher of Thunder - Raiden Mei pressed her brow, her complex expression a mixture of melancholy and reflection.Just as she had said, even though they were both Raiden Mei, she and this "Raiden Mei" from three years ago were not the same person. She certainly had no right to deprive someone else of their freedom to love.But—With mixed feelings, Herrscher of Thunder - Raiden Mei slowly turned her face, her gaze fixed on another "Raiden Mei" who was closer to her in time.As expected, this "her," dressed in a café uniform displayed an expression of bewilderment, heartache, sorrow, and a hint of resentment upon seeing the "Raiden Mei" from three years ago recklessly embrace the Store Manager. Her entire body began to gradually turn gray.Her expression and posture, as if something important had been stolen from her, were exactly the same as Kiana's just seconds before.Herrscher of Thunder - Raiden Mei rubbed her temples, feeling a sharp pain in her head as she untangled this bizarre and complex web of relationships.The expression that had eased slightly not long ago upon hearing the good news that Kiana—her Kiana—was safe and sound was now replaced by the gloomy, aloof, and distant expression she wore when she first joined World Serpent."You can never deceive yourself."—This confident statement was the sharp spear she had used not long ago to pierce the facade of her "past self," but now that spear had been used against her, becoming a boomerang equally sharp, striking her squarely in the face.No, strictly speaking, since Herrscher of Thunder - Raiden Mei herself hadn't developed any special feelings for the Store Manager, the boomerang didn't hit her in the face but rather struck the heart of the "Raiden Mei" who had become a store clerk.Even so, although the boomerang didn't directly hit her, Herrscher of Thunder - Raiden Mei still felt utterly powerless.They had been wiped out in one fell swoop.Besides her, all the "selves" from other timelines—all the "Raiden Meis"—had been wiped out by the Store Manager of this café.Thoroughly.An indescribable, eerie feeling rippled through the mind of this Herrscher, who, since joining World Serpent, had resolved to eliminate all enemies threatening Kiana's safety and was determined to turn her heart into a sharp blade.Could she possibly fall in love with a boy?The Herrscher with a sharpened heart asked herself this question deep within.Soon, she gave her answer.Yes.Although she didn't currently have anyone she liked and had even actively closed her heart after joining World Serpent, she had to admit that even before joining World Serpent, she had been somewhat swayed by Kiana.She did indeed have a special feeling for Kiana, a feeling somewhat like romantic love.But ultimately, her special feelings for Kiana had little to do with gender.Herrscher of Thunder - Raiden Mei was willing to do anything for Kiana simply because she knew that when Kiana was trapped in darkness, Kiana would be willing to pay any price to pull her out of it.She closed her eyes, and the events of three years ago seemed to transcend time, flashing wildly through her mind once more.Herrscher of Thunder - Raiden Mei remembered her experience awakening as the "Herrscher Persona" in Nagazora City.In a daze, she heard cries, wails, anger, and helplessness in the outside world.Finally, everyone fell silent.She vaguely realized they were all dead; no one had returned.The world had become a hellish landscape, leaving only her soul imprisoned in pitch-black darkness.There was no light, no sound, nothing but endless death and darkness. No matter what pleas she uttered, no one could hear her, and of course, no one would respond.Yet, in this despair where even pleas for help were denied, Kiana appeared like a ray of light piercing through the endless darkness.Looking back now, from that moment on, she regarded that light as the most important person in her life.It had nothing to do with who appeared there; she was pursuing the light itself.Three years ago, whoever had broken through that darkness where no one would ever respond, she probably would have become hopelessly attached to that person.Herrscher of Thunder - Raiden Mei sighed softly. She lifted her eyelids, reopened her eyes, and looked at the "herself" from three years ago tightly embracing the Store Manager.A hint of relief finally appeared in her eyes.Even though she herself was Raiden Mei, she had to admit that it was perfectly reasonable for her three-year-old self to have fallen for the Store Manager who helped her control the Herrscher Persona and prevent the Third Eruption.Especially since this Store Manager's appearance was quite to her liking.Even if she were to go back in time and experience the situation again, the outcome would probably be no different.Herrscher of Thunder - Raiden Mei sincerely wished them well in their relationship.—But having said that, she finally understood why her "other her" from Nagazora City had fallen for the Store Manager.So what about this other person whose timeline was not far removed from her own…?Herrscher of Thunder - Raiden Mei turned her head, her eyes filled with a mixture of weariness, frustration, and a touch of melancholy as she surveyed her other self, now completely ashen.Regardless of which timeline she came from, Raiden Mei was not a good liar.She might be stubborn or arrogant, but as long as it was a "reality" she accepted, Raiden Mei would face it without any pretense.Therefore, when her own somewhat Cao Cao-esque... otherworldly affair was completely exposed by her other self, and that other self accepted the fact, Temporary Cafe Staff Raiden Mei stopped deceiving herself and stopped concealing her purpose.But even so, even if this infatuated Raiden Mei stopped running away and faced her own heart, would this do them any good in untangling this increasingly messy web of relationships?The Raiden Mei of three years ago developed a near-admiring infatuation with a Store Manager who saved her life.The Raiden Mei of few months ago suddenly abandoned her obsession with Kiana, transferring her affections entirely to the Store Manager.That Store Manager, in fact, was a playboy with several families.--Chapter 101: Sailor Uniforms Are Awesome!The more Herrscher of Thunder - Raiden Mei analyzed the relationships at the scene, the more she felt a kind of weed-like growth spreading endlessly within her.She looked at her "self" clinging tightly to the store manager and refusing to let go, then glanced at her "self," who, like Kiana, was almost out of her mind.She opened her mouth, feeling an endless stream of complaints she wanted to vent, yet also a premonition that uttering such complaints would be a complete surrender in some crucial matter, an utter admission of defeat.She quickly recognized that eerie premonition, as if she were about to lose something very important.As a young lady from the Far East, despite her eventful life, she had received a traditional Far Eastern aristocratic education. This education taught her that harboring desires for a married man was immoral, unethical, and shameful—a despicable act that would be condemned by everyone with conventional values, including herself. If anyone else—even Kiana—had told her that she had fallen for a married man, Herrscher of Thunder - Raiden Mei would have righteously rebuked them and ordered them to immediately abandon this immoral thought.However, the one who had such thoughts was Raiden Mei herself.Although not the same person, no matter how much she denied it, she still shared the same essence.What does having the same essence mean? It means that if she encountered the same fate, her choices, actions, and thoughts would be exactly the same as the other person's.She and the two "Raiden Meis" who were all taken down by the Store Manager had no difference in their thought processes; the only difference lay in their experiences and perspectives.In this situation, did she really have the right to criticize them or correct their thinking?Herrscher of Thunder - Raiden Mei was both frustrated and confused.Leaving aside the "herself" who joined this café, the employee Mei had only harbored such thoughts but had not acted on them. However, the "Queen of Thunder" from three years ago had indeed forcibly kissed the Store Manager in front of everyone.Although the one who forcibly kissed the Store Manager was not actually Raiden Mei herself, but rather the "Herrscher Persona" residing within her, others might not know this, but Raiden Mei, the Herrscher of Thunder who had already "ascended" to immortality, knew perfectly well that the being everyone considered the "Herrscher Persona" was not actually a Herrscher Persona at all—what Herrscher Persona in this world would not have the ultimate goal of destroying the world?Rather than being a Herrscher Persona, that tyrannical, ferocious, possessive, and utterly self-centered "Queen of Thunder" was simply the Will of the Stigmata that Raiden Mei inherently possessed, a manifestation of her own desires.Raiden Mei was able to perceive this because she realized that when she followed her own idea of regarding Kiana as the most important person and being willing to pay any price for it, the so-called "Herrscher Persona" voluntarily relinquished all the power and strength it had previously controlled to her.This was because, in that instant, the "Herrscher Persona's" obsession with Kiana had been fulfilled by her, and once that obsession was satisfied, the "Herrscher Persona" naturally lost its reason for existing in the world.Conversely, since the "Queen of Thunder" forcibly kissed the Store Manager, it meant that the consciousness of "Raiden Mei," who shared the same body as the "Queen of Thunder," also subconsciously harbored the same thoughts.It is the same principle as knowing that one day she would face her own heart and be willing to pay any price for Kiana, willingly becoming the Herrscher of Thunder.And the choice made by this Raiden Mei from Nagazora City was not much different from what she had expected.Although she did not do the extreme thing she had imagined, at the moment their consciousness switched places, this Raiden Mei still unreservedly poured out her emotions to the Store Manager.If this Raiden Mei from Nagazora City were left unattended, she would one day do the exact same thing as the "Queen of Thunder," recklessly taking advantage of the Store Manager again....I really wanted to erase these last few minutes of memory and return to the Elysian Realm as if nothing had happened.Having barely grasped the current situation, despite being usually bold to encounter any threats the Flamechasers throw at her, Herrscher of Thunder - Raiden Mei suddenly had the urge to run away.Escape is shameful, but it is useful.In any case, this complicated web of relationships had nothing to do with her; why should she meddle in their love troubles?With her thinking completely clear, Herrscher of Thunder - Raiden Mei ultimately chose to give up.She left her out-of-place "self" behind, strode over to the Flame-Chasers' table, and casually pulled up a chair, squeezing in beside them."Is there any cake left? Give me a slice.""I'm done. You were too slow." Kevin licked his fingers, seemingly still savoring the food.For some reason, eating while watching a show always seemed to elevate the flavor of everything."Is the problem over there resolved?""Resolved."Herrscher of Thunder - Raiden Mei spoke frankly.She glanced at the messy table, thought for a moment, then suddenly stood up, turning her gaze to the Store Manager."Could I borrow your kitchen? Is that alright?""Aren't you going to do anything about them?" the Store Manager asked, his lips twitching."I can't. You brought this on yourself, so you're responsible," Herrscher of Thunder - Raiden Mei said with utter nonchalance."That's right." Long-Haired Rita chuckled softly. "Store Manager, you should know best that no one has an obligation to be responsible for a counterpart from a different world. This Raiden Mei's decision to extricate herself from this quagmire as soon as possible is quite wise.""You may use the kitchen freely. Hmm... if possible, could you please prepare a meal for the other Rita?" Rita bowed slightly to Herrscher of Thunder - Raiden Mei. "As you can see, we simply cannot spare the energy to serve other customers for the time being.""Sure." Herrscher of Thunder - Raiden Mei nodded, then turned her gaze to Rita, who had been standing by the door without a chance to speak. "Is there anything you'd like to eat, Rita?"Rita, standing in the doorway, was silent for a moment. "I... I'll go into the kitchen with you.""Suit yourself," Herrscher of Thunder - Raiden Mei said calmly, then lifted the kitchen curtain and walked in without looking back."...Sigh."Rita sighed softly, turned around, closed the open door, and followed Herrscher of Thunder - Raiden Mei into the kitchen."..."It's over.It's all over!"This is really bad—!!"The suspenseful, crime-solving drama revolving around the three Raiden Meis was drawing to a close. Knowing his own part was about to begin, the Store Manager was sweating profusely.Initially, he was not panicked at all; he was even somewhat looking forward to the spectacle.After all, this incident, in essence, was just a story of Raiden Mei suddenly barging in and forcibly kissing him.Throughout the whole process, he felt he had nothing to be ashamed of.At most, he had not immediately seen through her intentions, and his momentary surprise had allowed Raiden Mei to succeed.However, he had not expected the backlash to come so quickly."Um, Ms. Raiden Mei? Have you hugged enough? Shouldn't you get ready to stand up?"He raised his hand and gently patted the back of Raiden Mei, who was clinging to him, with a pained expression."You... well, never mind. If you don't want to come out, then that's fine for now. But there's something I want to explain to you.""...""If you don't say anything, I'll assume you agree."The Store Manager spoke helplessly."For some... somewhat strange reasons, I possess a special ability that works on certain groups of people. Through physical contact, I can subtly increase the level of affection people like you have for me.""So, I'm very happy that you trust me so much, but... although I feel a little bad about your trust, I still have to make it clear first: the feelings you have for me are very likely just due to this special ability to increase affection through physical contact, and not your original intentions."The moment the words fell, Raiden Mei and Kiana, whose bodies had turned grayish-white, both shuddered simultaneously.They instinctively drew their wandering souls back into their bodies, then instantly turned their gazes toward the Store Manager.Increasing affection through physical contact...Raiden Mei and Kiana, their energy instantly restored, blinked, exchanged a glance, and both saw bewilderment in each other's eyes.Could it be that their attraction to this Store Manager was because of that?Physical contact... physical contact...They both recalled the scene from last night when the Store Manager grabbed their ears.Could it have started from that moment?Come to think of it, Durandal, who had suddenly burst in through the window last night, was strange too. Could she also have been affected by this ability?...But when the Store Manager grabbed their ears, they had felt nothing but pain, right?Just as Kiana and Raiden Mei were feeling puzzled, a slightly shy voice came from the Store Manager's arms."...It's too late..."She raised her head, her eyes filled with misty tears as she looked at the Store Manager. Her pretty cheeks were flushed with a delicate blush, and her trembling voice, mixed with a few gasps, sounded almost like she was climaxing."...What you said... is a bit too late...""..."The Store Manager rolled his eyes helplessly."Stop pretending, okay? This ability to increase affection through touch is subtle and gradual. It's not intense enough to arouse desire unless the person I touch has their body controlled by me first or actively wants to... wait..."As he spoke, the Store Manager's expression gradually turned terrified."Could it be... you..."Sailor-uniform-wearing Raiden Mei didn't speak, but her cheeks flushed even more. Her whole body writhed restlessly within the Store Manager's chest and abdomen, her fingers gripping his back even tighter."..."Just as the Store Manager said, although he could increase a specific person's affection through touch, this increase always occurred subtly and gradually.However, if the other person's body was controlled by the Store Manager before contact, or if the other person actively chose to absorb the Store Manager's ability, then the effect of this ability was amplified to a great extent.For Raiden Mei, who actively threw herself into the Store Manager's arms, greedily feeling his warmth, smelling his scent, and touching his body, even a few minutes of contact were enough for this "increase in favorability" ability to reach its limit.What does top-tier favorability mean?It means that everything about the other person has become her fantasy.What happens when you hug someone whose entire being is your fantasy?Raiden Mei's behavior perfectly illustrates the answer to this question."..."To be fair, Raiden Mei is beautiful.Although this Raiden Mei was about three years in the past than the other two in the hall, and her figure and face were slightly more youthful, this very youthfulness gave her a unique charm that the other Raiden Meis had lost, all while dressed in a sailor uniform.The form-fitting summer sailor uniform, the neat pleated skirt, the lace-trimmed knee-length black stockings, the smooth waist-length hair, the fair and slender arms, the budding figure... all of this was extending an invitation to the Store Manager, who was standing just a few feet away, silently saying, "Please make me yours."...There's no way around it.Don't blame me for giving in to your wishes later."Excuse me, everyone."The Store Manager suddenly stood up, picked up the blushing Raiden Mei, and walked toward the stairs without looking back.A man and a woman disappeared at the top of the stairs on the second floor. No one, including the store clerks surrounding the Store Manager, stopped him."Wait! You—"Completely oblivious, Theresa finally found a chance to speak before the two disappeared up the stairs."—Be careful! Don't go too far!"Everyone thought to themselves, "You might as well not have said anything."----Chapter 102: Raiden Mei - Major DamageIn this wonderful world, there are always things that can touch people's hearts, inspiring longing and anticipation.Of course, for different people, those things that inspire anticipation vary greatly and each has its own unique characteristics.To gamers, those things are unreleased games; to anime fans, they are upcoming broadcasts; to anglers, they are big fish that might go unfished even after sitting on the riverbank all night—but for the Store Manager has never hidden his lewd nature. The things he most anticipates are none other than a group of beautiful girls, each with their own unique charm.Beautiful girls are the most exquisite treasures in the world.Before the Store Manager reorganized its rules, the Sea of Quanta was a chaotic and disordered alternate dimension. This chaotic space was both chaotic and empty. Even a time-traveling vessel like the Hyperion, capable of eternal cycles, had a high probability of not encountering anything that could be called "things" for a very long time while navigating the Sea of Quanta.This kind of journey, where there is no future, no scenery, no known destination, and even difficulty in discerning direction, is actually quite empty and torturous.Humans are social animals. An experiment once showed that if a person is confined to a completely white space, within twenty-four hours they will experience a range of hellish sensations, including hallucinations, anxiety, disorientation, and loss of self-awareness. Therefore, during that lonely journey that even the current Store Manager couldn't fully predict, he needed to create a reason to survive and continue to avoid a mental breakdown and suicide.That reason had to be something he loved, something he was willing to work for without expecting anything in return.Ultimately, he set his sights on the beautiful girls he had admired even before his transmigration.During his time as captain of the Hyperion, he was a young man passionate about rescuing and pursuing all beautiful girls, considering them the most precious treasures he had ever encountered.To save those girls in distress and win their hearts, he devoted countless hours and energy, even risking his life in the end.From this perspective, his initial motives for approaching Kongming, Luna, Rita, and the other beautiful girls couldn't be called pure; rather, they were driven by a relatively self-serving purpose.His willingness to risk his life to save them wasn't because he didn't value his own life; rather, it was because only by doing so could he avoid the sudden urge to slit his own throat one day.Of course, for the Store Manager who now has several beautiful girls willingly by his side and has already made countless friends in the Sea of Quanta, that depressing and lonely journey that nearly destroyed his spirit is a past he will never revisit.After establishing this café, he also curbed his desire to see beautiful girls as his life's goal, instead focusing all his attention on these lovable wives who were willing to entrust their futures to him.He traveled through various Bubble Worlds, constantly encountering beautiful girls and always appearing before them with an air of unbridled confidence.He freely displayed his excellence, freely intruded into their lives, freely offered his help, and freely imprinted his dazzling tail feathers deep into the hearts of each beautiful girl.But now, he has concealed those outwardly displayed feathers, like a devoted peacock displaying its plumage only to its lovers.When other beautiful girls approach him, he will tell them without reservation that he is a married man, that his family is happy and complete, and that there is no room for outsiders to interfere.However, one's true nature cannot be forcibly changed, even if it is suppressed.He tells the girls who approach him without reservation that he is a married man not because he is not interested in beautiful girls, but because he needs to be responsible for the wives who have entrusted their futures to him.Despite Kongming and his girlfriends' constant displays of jealousy and their attempts to create drama around him when he interacts with other beautiful girls, the Store Manager knows deep down that these women, who have entrusted their futures to him, have virtually no limits to their tolerance for him.No matter what he does, Kongming and his girlfriends would never hurt him, nor would they ever leave him.Most of the time, the dramatic situations surrounding him serve more as a warning than a practical deterrent—like now. If he were truly determined to win the heart of his beloved, his wives wouldn't actually stand in his way.In the second-floor bedroom of Hyperion Cafe, the Store Manager carried Raiden Mei in his arms. He then closed the door with his heel, his expression somewhat complicated."Sigh, I really am a person with weak willpower," he sighed softly to himself, a hint of self-mockery in his voice.Despite his aloof and cold demeanor in front of Kiana and Raiden Mei, only he knew that he felt absolutely nothing toward these women, the subjects of his pre-transmigration madness; it was all just a facade.Therefore, the moment he realized that Raiden Mei had completely succumbed to his charms while throwing herself into his arms, the Store Manager understood that no matter how righteously he declared he was married, no matter how much he asked those beautiful girls to have some self-respect... as a pervert, he still couldn't refuse a beautiful girl who genuinely threw herself at him.Between his arms, through a thin layer of black silk, came a warm, soft touch.For some reason, Raiden Mei who had entered the store yesterday in casual winter clothes suddenly appeared today in a sailor uniform that looked like something only summer would wear.Wasn't she cold walking around? Shouldn't Nagazora City in that world still be in the dead of winter in November?"Am I... making you feel awkward...?"Just as the Store Manager was lost in thought, the girl in the sailor uniform, her head buried in his chest, suddenly uttered a soft, almost inaudible murmur."Ah, yes, of course it's difficult. You've put me in a really difficult position."The Store Manager's complex expression vanished, replaced by a flat, emotionless voice."You've destroyed the purity I maintained for thirteen days, made me betray the rules I set for myself thirteen days ago, and caused both my mind and body to stray. Tell me, how are you going to compensate me?""..."The girl in the sailor uniform lightly tapped the Store Manager's chest, as if venting her grievances and resentment.At a time like this, couldn't you at least say something nice to comfort me a little?Maintaining purity for thirteen days... first of all, a guy who's had so many girlfriends can't possibly be pure! Secondly, is maintaining that purity for only thirteen days really that impressive?However, after giving the Store Manager a light tap on the chest, her clenched fist suddenly loosened, and her slender fingers gripped his collar tightly.Despite the Store Manager being a womanizer, mean-spirited, and utterly clueless about romance, it was this very man who brought her hope in her most desperate moment.As a top student who received an elite education, Raiden Mei wasn't someone who couldn't analyze pros and cons. Skilled in calculation, she was acutely aware that her position and the Store Manager's were unfair from the start.Perhaps, in the Store Manager's eyes, he had merely stopped something he disapproved of; his intervention was insignificant and didn't require much effort. But even so, he was the only ray of light that pierced through the darkness in her life.The pursuit of light is human nature.Humans are not creatures entirely governed by reason.For Raiden Mei, she would probably never forget what happened that night.Under the moonlight, lying in the ruins, she looked up at the boy with his back to the moonlight.That guy, utterly disregarding her girlish feelings, repeatedly reiterated with a tone full of mockery, sarcasm, and disdain the fact that she had been instantly defeated by him.To be honest, that scene was neither beautiful nor romantic... even now, thinking back on it still makes Raiden Mei's blood pressure rise. If possible, she really wanted to forget that embarrassing and infuriating experience.But she never imagined that when those memories truly faded away, she would feel so panicked and lost.No matter how infuriating, how unreliable, how clueless about girlish feelings, or how unreasonable, it was ultimately her light, giving her hope and dispelling that endless darkness."Will you suddenly leave my world again?"With a hint of unease, Raiden Mei asked this.The Store Manager glanced at Raiden Mei in his arms."You mean this café and the sudden disappearance of your memories? Unfortunately, that's beyond my control. As long as the 'Cocoon' exists in your world, once my interference in your world exceeds a certain level, both I and my café will be deemed 'unfit for existence' by that thing and expelled.""Cocoon?" Raiden Mei lowered her head, a sharp arc of electricity flashing in her hair. "So, this is what stole my light...""Calm down," the Store Manager spoke calmly. "Even I am only on par with that thing. Since you recalled what happened yesterday evening, you should understand the gap between us. You are no match for it now.""Are you worried about my safety?" Raiden Mei raised her face again, a faint blush creeping across her cheeks."If I wasn't worried about your safety, I wouldn't have helped you escape Cocolia's control in the first place," the Store Manager said calmly."You knew perfectly well that I would forget my world after I took action, so why did you still lend me a hand? You should know that if I couldn't recall what happened yesterday evening, I certainly wouldn't repay your help."Raiden Mei's gaze suddenly wandered, and she asked softly with a hint of expectation."You... were you just acting on a whim? Or is it...""I was lusting after your body. Are you satisfied with that answer?"The Store Manager was nonchalant, a hint of pleasure seemingly hidden in his eyes as he looked at Raiden Mei.Raiden Mei's face flushed instantly, her delicate features showing a hint of panic. She instinctively lifted her leg, as if trying to break free from the Store Manager's embrace, but abruptly stopped herself.Her voice was weak."Is it... just lusting after my body? But my looks and figure can't compare to your wives... You won't admit it, but deep down, do you still have a slight... slight feeling for me?""First of all, I've never denied it. If I didn't have any feelings for you, I wouldn't have carried you to the bedroom." The Store Manager shook his head."I like you, Raiden Mei, and I also like Kiana, Bronya, Kongming, Luna, Sirin, Theresa, Rita, Durandal, and every cute, beautiful girl. Is that so strange?""..."Sailor-uniform-wearing Raiden Mei couldn't help but tap the Store Manager's chest again, this time with more force than before.Are you reciting menus here?!What kind of boy would mention another girl's name when alone with a young woman, especially when they're about to sleep together?!Raiden Mei's resentment was almost materializing.To be honest, after hearing "I like you, Raiden Mei," Raiden Mei felt a little happy.Although, in order to prevent this light from fading from her world, her life, and her memories once again, she had mentally prepared herself to become his possession when she threw herself into his arms, she was still, after all, a girl.If this Store Manager wouldn't admit he liked her even after all this, then she, as a woman, was a complete failure.------Chapter 103: ExplorationThen, before she could even enjoy her happiness for half a second, this guy rattled off a string of other girls' names...To say he's honest wouldn't be wrong, but does this guy really have no idea how to care about other girls' feelings?"What? Regretting it?"The Store Manager chuckled, suddenly lowering his head until his face was almost touching Raiden Mei's nose, his warm breath almost aggressive."You knew I had many wives, knew I wasn't the kind of person who would commit to one woman, yet you still offered yourself up. You should have been mentally prepared for all of this. Isn't it a little too late to regret it now?"The sudden action made Raiden Mei hold her breath.Slightly startled, she tried to avoid the Store Manager's gaze, but being held horizontally, her neck was firmly held by his arms, limiting her head's range of motion. Even if she looked away, she couldn't escape the warmth of his face....In fact, from the moment she was picked up, she had lost all possibility of escaping.Raiden Mei's eyelashes trembled slightly. She pursed her lips, her breathing becoming slightly rapid. Her porcelain-like skin flushed even more, a rosy hue emerging from the realization that she could be taken at any moment."Please... please at least be gentle..." she could only say.....Hyperion Café, first-floor lobby.Only after the boy and girl disappeared at the top of the stairs to the second floor did Theresa manage to utter, "—Be careful! Don't go too far!" This warning, neither authoritative nor stern, suddenly gave Theresa a strange sense of unease.Theresa Apocalypse.Headmistress of St. Freya Academy, Schicksal, former S-rank Valkyrie.Currently forty-one years old.—Single.In her forty-one years of life, she had never had a boyfriend, nor had she ever felt any feelings of love for any member of the opposite sex.Even she herself probably didn't realize that the closest she ever came to love was during her time with Cecilia.However, that budding affection died in the womb after Cecilia and Siegfried got married.Unlike Raiden Mei, who went straight to the Store Manager from the start, Theresa's main purpose in coming to this café was to uncover the truth behind it.However, the sight that came into view and the words she heard as she approached the café's door caused her blood to rush to her head, making her lose her composure.—My name is Theresa, you can call me Luna.—By the way, I'm the Store Manager's wife~Strictly speaking, "Theresa" isn't a very common name; there are definitely more people in the world named Theresa than just her.But the person who spoke had long silver hair, and behind that person stood someone who looked exactly like her.She immediately realized that the person who looked exactly like her was the "Store Manager's girlfriend" that Raiden Mei had mentioned.Good heavens, are you the one ruining "Theresa's" reputation?!In a fit of extreme anger, Theresa—well, she was extremely angry for a moment.Because, following the prevailing atmosphere, as she and several other girls, including several "herself" and "Rita"... and even a "Sirin," surrounded the Store Manager, Theresa suddenly realized that she... didn't seem to have the right to interfere with other people's romantic relationships.This was incredibly awkward.So, although she had inadvertently blended into the group surrounding the Store Manager, her brain was practically overheating the entire time. She only snapped back to reality after the three Raiden Meis who were essentially torturing each other had finally decided their fate, with one of them was carried away by the Store Manager.Watching the boy and girl disappear down the stairs to the second floor, Theresa blinked her bewildered blue eyes, sensing something was amiss.—She was the headmistress of St. Freya Academy.—The Raiden Mei who was taken away had just enrolled at St. Freya Academy yesterday, becoming her student.So, should she try to stop her student from having an inappropriate relationship with a boy outside?No, that's not right. St. Freya Academy has a very free academic atmosphere, and their school rules do not restrict students' freedom to date.But the problem is... the problem is... the problem is... to carry someone else's student away in broad daylight, even if it does not violate school rules, is not that a bit too outrageous from a normal, worldly perspective?!Besides, is not that boy a married man?His wife is—oops! That girl with the same name as her!"Hey, are not you going to do anything about him?" She could not help but nudge Luna's waist lightly with her elbow. "When I came in just now, did not you say you were that guy's wife... wife? He is cheating on you right in front of you! Are you just going to watch him take Mei away?""Indeed."Luna adopted a thoughtful expression. She looked down at Theresa's bewildered and incredulous face, then suddenly smiled and gently patted the latter's head. Her mature voice was incredibly calm."You have reminded me. Humans who cheat really should be punished properly.""No, you should stop him first!"Theresa completely could not understand this busty woman's thought process and slapped away the hand that was patting her head."And! Do not touch my head! It will stunt my growth!""Why should I stop him?" Luna was not annoyed by the sudden slap and just smiled faintly."Does a wife need a reason to stop her husband from cheating on her?" Theresa stared in disbelief."Is the problem with you or with me?!""Normally, a wife does not need a reason to stop her husband from cheating."Jst then, a voice exactly like hers rang out calmly, a youthful voice that was both composed and clear."However, do you think we can be categorized as 'normal'?"Theresa turned to the speaker, opened her mouth, hesitated for a long time, and finally spoke dejectedly."Okay, I admit your café does seem a bit... unnormal...""You had better not judge our relationship by conventional standards of male-female relationships," Kongming spoke coldly. "Those of us who become employees here have all carefully considered our options after fully understanding his situation and ultimately chose to stay by his side. We know better than anyone his complicated romantic relationships. If we could not accept that, we would not be standing here in the first place.""..." Theresa's eye twitched. "Wait, all of you employees...?""Yes, is that so strange?" Rita Rosemary, with her flowing hair, smiled slightly."Ahem, well, I cannot let him go." Sirin coughed lightly, her face flushed."After wandering for so long, wanting a stable place to settle down is not hard to understand, is it?" Bronie waved her hand casually."That is the gist of it." Kongming fanned herself with her feather fan, speaking calmly. "Compared to us, I think you should be more worried about the child you brought along.""You mean Mei?" Theresa's face contorted in distress. "I would like to stop her, but St. Freya Academy does not have a rule against dating... If even you guys do not care, is not it a bit inappropriate for me, an outsider, to interfere? Mei herself does not seem unwilling..."She was just worried that the Store Manager might ruin the girl; he usually takes on multiple partners at once...Kongming shook her head helplessly.Forget it, it is better not to say that.With that person's abilities, it is unlikely he would cause his S○X target any pain.As for whether it will become addictive... that is not something she can guarantee."Hmm?"Just then, the two busy in the kitchen lifted the kitchen curtain and emerged one after the other, carrying a tray laden with drinks and desserts.Herrscher of Thunder - Raiden Mei glanced around the hall, then stared at Theresa for a moment before finally fixing her gaze on the Flamechaser group of onlookers."Where is the Store Manager?""He took the past you upstairs," Kevin spoke casually.After saying that, he stood up. "That is about it. Let us get back to the Elysian Realm. If the data disappears for too long, it will alert the real me, and that will be troublesome.""...Are you guys leaving?" Ellie-chan asked playfully."Hmm." Kevin nodded, looking at Ellie-chan's face, his expression unusually gentle. "Take care. If you have the chance, let us meet at this café again. If you need any help, just let us know. We are happy to lend you our strength and knowledge within our capabilities.""Hmm..." Ellie-chan looked troubled. "But... I do not think I have anything to give back to everyone...""We do not need anything in return.""How can that be! Of course, you should receive something in return for your efforts!" Ellie-chan's eyes shone brightly."We have already received enough in return from you as you have grown up," Kevin shook his head and said softly."Oh right... it seems everyone knows the grown-up me... if anyone needs help, they will definitely go to the grown-up me..."Ellie-chan pondered for a moment, then shook her head."No, she is her, and I am me! There is definitely something I can do now, but the grown-up me cannot!""..."Hearing this, Kevin closed his eyes and remained silent for a long time.Not only him, but most of the memory replicas sitting next to Ellie-chan showed a dazed expression the moment Ellie-chan finished speaking.Although they had miraculously encountered young Ellie traveling the world in this café, none of these Flamechasers actively revealed anything about what might happen in the future.Firstly, because the current Ellie-chan was still very young, even if they told her about things happening in the future, she might not understand much.Secondly, because none of the Flamechasers wanted to add pressure to Elysia that she should not have to bear.Elysia was a girl as delicate as a falling flower.Although the future she was about to face was a complete tragedy for most of the memories here, they still did not want this innocent girl to be imprisoned by the events of the future.If it was information she needed, then as long as this café remained connected to these two worlds from different eras, she would naturally come to this café to seek answers.At that time, these memory replicas would not mind telling her everything they knew.The silence lasted a very long time.Although these Flamechasers from the Elysian Realm were merely memories, and they all knew they were just strings of data, they had inherited all the memories, personalities, and emotions of the original body. It would be a lie to say they had no regrets, especially Flamechasers like Sakura, who deeply valued family.After hearing Ellie-chan's words, the image of her past sister uncontrollably surfaced in her mind.If only she could go back to the past—On one side, the Flamechasers fell into collective silence.On the other side, Raiden Mei and Kiana from Arc City also watched in silent solitude, observing the translucent, ethereal figure floating in mid-air."...No, I could not find it."Fu Hua, floating in mid-air, gently shook her head."I did not find any trace of modification in your consciousness.""But the Store Manager just admitted that he has the ability to increase favorability through touch." Raiden Mei frowned slightly. "If that ability has already taken effect on Kiana and me, our consciousness should not be completely unchanged.""Three possibilities," Fu Hua spoke, holding up three fingers."The first possibility is that the Store Manager himself admitted to the ability to 'modify favorability through physical touch,' and that the modification at the level of consciousness is so subtle that even Fenghuang Down could not detect a trace of it.""The second possibility is that the so-called 'favorability' modified by this ability does not originate at the level of consciousness, but from something deeper.""The third possibility is that this ability does interfere with your consciousness, but it does not modify consciousness itself; it merely amplifies something that already exists within your consciousness."Kiana stroked her chin. "Class Monitor, which possibility do you think is most likely?""To be honest, I do not know."Fu Hua shook her head."Although I am the holder of the Eighth Divine Key, my mastery of consciousness is not actually that high. If you want someone to consult, you might as well ask Su and Aponia. I think they would not mind answering your questions."