"...."
Adam didn't reply. He merely remained silent.
Frankly, the answer is obvious. An impression formed from two cases is truly…difficult to shatter entirely.
"Oh, is it because of this one?"
As if reading his mind, the white-haired girl lowered her head and looked at the 'silly' version of herself in the picture.
"Perhaps she caused you to develop some stereotypes about Kianas…."
Thinking of this, she chuckled.
Multiple 'Kianas'. This concept is hard to wrap her head around, yet at the same time, it's also…comical.
Perhaps, just because of one foolish Kiana, all of Kianas will suffer a negative reputation?
"Heh, you're right. She has made me naturally regard all Kiana faces as airheads."
With a shrug, Adam also chuckled.
Bianka and Kiana. These two sisters…In terms of their IQ department, they are lacking. Oh, Sirin too- she can roughly be counted as a 'half-Kiana face'.
Actually, it's unfair for them to call their IQ low. After all, they aren't dumb or stupid. It's just that their talents are put into more practical things.
It's like skill points. Bianka and Kiana have both invested them in combat and willpower.
"You two's relationship seems good…."
She looked between Adam and Kiana in the picture, eyes narrowing in suspicion.
"Can you tell me more?"
The Kiana of this world raised her head, her blue eyes staring deeply at him- again.
God knows how anxious the Kaslana became when she realized that this man and her alternate self might have a deep relationship.
She felt quite uncomfortable with it. Well, she isn't particularly averse to him- but it's still weird to just see a 'self' be so intimate with a stranger-bordering-acquaintance.
"Haven't you already guessed?"
Amidst her thoughts, Adam broke off the light hopes(delusions) she had.
"It's a recent thing, though. We haven't gone far."
The silver-haired boy shrugged, and his words silenced her
"Yes…You didn't have to tell me." She sighed. It wasn't nice of him to share such a detail. "But now your previous behavior makes sense."
If he is the boyfriend of 'her', then his previous weird behavior does make sense.
Imagine seeing your loved one at a random time, and her not recognizing you. Since Adam also didn't immediately call her out, then he instantly realized that he was in a parallel universe.
So not only does your 'girlfriend' not recognize you, but you also have to pretend not to know her.
…Regardless of the fact that this whole situation sounds like the plot of a movie or a light novel- it's indeed tough on him.
Though….
"Mei too, huh?" She smirked, a teasing glint shining in her eyes. "You're quite the playboy."
Kiana didn't feel anything by it. She, the Kiana of this universe, wasn't his girlfriend and thus didn't have the right to say anything about this.
But also, she heard from her father that some high authority figures in Shickshal had multiple wives and concubines.
There were also some that had multiple Valkyries as 'bodyguards'- which in truth was a term used to describe mistresses.
Her father always remarked how amazing this was. Not because he was envious- her mother would slap him for that. But that old man just admired those normal men in high positions that could actually 'keep up' with bona fide valkyries.
Though to her knowledge, most men with legitimate harems were the heads and elders of the 3 major clans. With their bloodlines, they not only could keep up in terms of energy, but they also had the responsibility of 'expanding' the family.
-Though this guy in front of her belongs to none of these categories. Is he just built different?
"Oya? Why did you exclude the gray-haired girl?"
Adam's joking voice snapped her out of her thoughts.
There is indeed the gray-haired shortie who seems quite affectionate with him.
But at this moment, the silver-haired boy's expression is playful- so the Kaslana immediately came to a conclusion.
"Because she's too young, duh."
Her stare bore down on him, the corners of her mouth curling upwards-
Then, her expression turned serious. "You wouldn't really 'attack' such a young girl, would you?"
Kiana doesn't know him that well, so perhaps….There is a very slight possibility that….He will spout something like 'Age is irrelevant for immortal vampire beings', and then just dive in and 'taste' this gray-haired shortie!
"Ahem! That is too beastly!" The transmigrator coughed, shamefully avoiding her piercing gaze. "I would never do such a thing!"
…
He couldn't bear to say this to her with a straight face. A few scenes flashed in his mind, and those ignited his shame.
Bianka, Bronya, Seele, even the two Vodka twins….
Come to think of it, has there ever been a case where he hasn't been suggestive at all?
Adam has the bad habit of letting his mouth blabber recklessly with the people he trusts. The type without a filter.
A reincarnator in a child's body interacting with other children without a filter….What a disaster!
…
"...."
The white-haired girl continued looking at him with narrowed eyes.
"Okay then."
After a few seconds of staring, she shrugged and turned away.
Even if he did have intentions towards the shortie, it wasn't her place to tell him off.
But she definitely would have a lower impression of him. Because....Come on, would it be so hard to just wait for her to grow a bit older?
…
The rest of the conversation was casual chatting. Adam described his world, and Kiana described her own.
At first, the white-haired Kaslana was surprised at the similarities. But on second thought, it's a parallel world- so it's actually normal.
And so, just like that, the Ferris wheel gradually lowered to the ground.
…
..
.
"Yo, guys! How was it?"
After disembarking from the Ferris pod, Adam and Kiana found a wild Kyuusyou waving her arms at them.
She was jumping up and down in excitement, her eyes almost shining.
Considering that previously, this same girl was shaking in fear…These mood swings of hers are quite strange.
"..."
Mei, ever silent, stood behind the waving girl, with her head bowed down.
"It was good enough, I guess." Adam shrugged nonchalantly, "Certainly not as adrenaline-pumping as fighting zombies and parkouring around."
…
A mere Ferris wheel can't get him excited. After all, what scenes hasn't he seen? He has flown, battled, and even faced a dragon!
Compared to the feeling of absolute freedom when he's flying, can the slow ascent and descent compare?
….With Kiana there, it sure can!
[.....]
…
"I think only flying would get your blood pumping like that."
As if reading his thoughts(again), Kiana exclaimed dryly, putting her hands on her hips.
"That's right. Those are my exact thoughts."
He shrugged again. And not wanting to continue this conversation further, he looked around at the zombie corpses on the ground.
They had burnt marks on them- something that is beyond the Chuuni Savior's capabilities.
His gaze strayed towards the quiet and gloomy purple-haired girl:
"Thanks for keeping this stupid girl safe, Mei."
The transmigrator nodded at the Herrscher with a smile.
It was obvious to both Kiana and Adam that Mei used lightning to deal with these zombies.
"Mhm…"
With a low hum, the purple-haired girl raised her head to look at him. She gave him a restrained nod; however, a very small smile graced her face- one that couldn't be hidden.
"Hey! I could have taken care of them myself!"
Kyuusyou suddenly burst out of nowhere. Her voice was loud and clear despite the possibility that it could attract other zombies.
"Hmph!" She huffed, pointing at Mei, "I was just testing this companion's power! It wouldn't be fair for me, the max level Savior, to steal this newbie's prey!"
She put a hand on her hip, puffing her chest in untold arrogance.
"...."
Silence reigned as everyone stared at her- all three of them, even Mei herself.
"So anyway!"
After a few seconds of awkward silence following that proclamation, Adam clapped his hands once. He addressed everyone, acting as if the Chuuni's weird outburst never happened.
"Now that we have had our fun and have unwound. It's time to go back to the Chiba rooftop." He stretched his hands over his head, his blue eyes turning towards the direction in which the Academy is present. "Since Mei is also able to use some Herrscher powers, our safety should be guaranteed….probably."
The silver-haired boy muttered the last part to himself- though Kiana gave him a weird look, and Mei blinked at him.
With their physiques, they obviously heard that very unconfident 'probably'.
This time, no one objected. And Kyuusyou also didn't jump out to say her random chuuni things.
"...."
She had her head down, gazing intensely at the floor. There was a flush on her face- one that reached her ears and neck.
'It seems that this girl does actually have some shame….'
Adam beamed, amused at the Chuuni's surprising bashfulness.
"We will use the same formation as last time, right?"
Seeing no further instructions from the 'team leader', Kiana stepped ahead in front of the group, already on her way to stand in position for their return trip.
"Sure."
The silver-haired boy shrugged noncommitantly at this. He himself didn't think it mattered that much- the most important thing is to protect the fragile members of their group. Any other tactic is meaningless.
"Kyuusyou, you stay in the center." Adam gave a pointed stare towards the still-ashamed Chuuni girl. "Now that Mei can use her Herrscher powers, you're the weakest-"
The dark purple-haired Savior's head snapped towards his direction, the look in her reddish-violet eyes instantly causing him to change his next words.
"Oh, don't get me wrong." He spread his hands innocently. "We just need to protect you until you reach your full potential. After all, a talented genius who hasn't grown up is in the most dangerous phase! You wouldn't want to be killed just by a mob, wou-"
[""""ꏸꆂꁒꍟ"""""]
Adam suddenly froze in place, his head snapping towards a certain direction. His mouth parted in surprise, and instantly after, the surprise was replaced by a frown.
...
..
.
-----
A/N:
I underestimated how many words it would take to fully complete this chapter. It was close to 4.000 words, so I split it into 2.
But no need to fret, I shall release the other half on Saturday!
p@t reon.com/Adam_Flores