"Just as you guessed, for these three days, Senior and I have been performing the ritual of love."
"Are you satisfied now that I've said it?"
If someone else had said this, it might have sparked a dramatic confrontation born of jealousy.
But neither Kiana, who spoke the words, nor Yuna, who heard them, experienced any significant emotional turmoil.
For Kiana, she was simply stating a fact.
And for Yuna, who had long suspected this, she was merely confirming an answer through her companion's words.
If anything, Yuna's mood did indeed worsen after hearing this.
But this worsening was not because 'this woman dared to sleep with Senior!', but because 'oh no, my plan seems to be completely useless'.
In the period before the Herrscher of Binding's advent, Yuna, who had been secretly plotting with Bronya, had hoped to have Leo Ash establish a relationship with someone in the dorm, so that Leo, having a lover, could relax through love.
But now—they've already done it, and Senior hasn't changed one bit.
Isn't this situation even worse?
Looking at Yuna's expression, Kiana sighed softly.
"See, you're not surprised at all."
"So, you already knew about this, why bother asking me?"
"Based on your attitude, I can probably confirm a few things."
Letting out a soft breath, Yuna put aside the troubles in her heart and fixed her gaze on her companion.
"Let's put Senior's matter aside for now. The person I'm most worried about right now is actually you."
"Kiana, you're not yourself right now. Even after performing the ritual of love with Senior, you're still in this state—"
"Then what do you want me to be like?"
Facing her companion's concerned words, Kiana calmly gazed at her.
"In the past, I always believed I was a warrior of the Kaslana family. But now, my memories have suddenly told me..."
"The identity I've always been proud of is a lie."
"My so-called parents are a lie."
"Even my name is a lie."
"As a demon who slaughtered tens of millions, I was reborn in a new body, stole the name and identity of [Kiana Kaslana], and have been living in a void of lies ever since."
"Now that I'm aware of all this, is it still possible for me to live as carefree as I did in the past?"
Staring at the ceiling, Kiana murmured as if to herself.
"Senior did those things to me, perhaps hoping to use 'love' to dilute the worries and bitterness in my heart. And because of that, I tried hard to pretend that 'I'm fine', but, Yuna..."
"—Unlike you guys, who haven't caused a major disaster, I was a goddamn Herrscher from the very beginning."
"Do you really think that after my Herrscher Personality was suppressed and I spent a few days doing it with Senior, the sins of slaughtering tens of millions will just disappear?"
Listening to Kiana's calm words, Yuna felt a pang of heartache, but also realized where the problem lay.
She had hoped that Leo would form a loving relationship with someone and engage in a deep exchange of body and soul, but the current relationship between Kiana and Leo... was clearly a hundred thousand miles away from her ideal state!
With Kiana in this state of potential self-destruction, for Leo to make a move on her at this time...
In terms of affection, Leo probably had some for Kiana.
But as for how much love there was, Yuna couldn't see it.
Even after successfully imagining the scene of the two of them going at it, Yuna felt that Leo wasn't doing something everyone loves to do with a lover, but was instead...
—Working.
As a companion, Leo cared about Kiana, but at the same time, as a Schicksal Knight and an Avenger, what Leo did at that time was probably mainly for the following purposes.
To help Kiana suppress her Herrscher Personality, to stabilize her potentially self-destructive mindset, and to add a powerful combatant to humanity's side.
They were supposed to be doing something filled with romantic atmosphere, but after realizing their true intentions, Yuna really felt...
—Ah, so annoying.
Now that things have come to this, can I say I don't want to do this anymore?
After Kiana became like this, Senior has already worked hard to pull her back.
But... Mr. Siegfried really taught Kiana too well.
Even though Kiana says 'everything is fake', her heart is still filled with the sense of justice her father nurtured.
If there was no justice in her heart, why would she be on the verge of collapse just because she has memories of killing people with meteorites over a decade ago?
Leo bringing Kiana back to Schicksal was supposed to be a happy occasion for everyone.
But now, seeing through the fact that even Leo's act of 'soothing Kiana with the ritual of love' was tinged with a 'work' nature, Yuna no longer knew what to do.
"Yuna, you..."
Seeing Yuna's face full of conflict, Kiana suddenly burst out laughing.
"Did I fool you?"
Kiana waved her hand and said to Yuna in a relaxed tone.
"Alright, don't look so down. I'm not as fragile as you all think."
"That state just now was purely to tease you. As for doing those things with Senior..."
"Mm, he was a bit rough, but during the ritual, I did feel a sense of exhilaration."
If only that were true.
This cheerful expression now, in my eyes, is the real act.
"And, his needs in that area seem to be quite high. In the past... I never realized Senior's desires were so strong."
Seeing that Yuna still didn't believe her words, Kiana suddenly jumped off the bed, walked over to Yuna, and whispered in her ear.
"Do you want to try this feeling? If you want to, Senior probably won't refuse."
"...I think you've gotten something wrong, Kiana."
Hearing Kiana's explicit words, Yuna immediately pulled away from her and quickly retreated to the doorway.
"He's your man now, and you're saying this to me?"
"Kiana, something's not right with you."
"Eh, is that so?"
Seeing Yuna's expression grow increasingly strange, Kiana placed a finger on her lips and said thoughtfully.
"But, Senior hasn't actively confessed to anyone for so long. It's obvious he plans to start a harem, right?"
"There are no losers in a harem, at most it's just a matter of who comes first."
"I'm just the first, but I never thought I would be the last."
This is bad.
I didn't notice it before, but Kiana's attitude now doesn't seem like an act.
Um, you were just asking Bronya about swimsuits and how to seduce men a while ago.
Now, the Kiana who was competing for Leo's affection and wanted to have him all to herself has become like this...
—This problem is even more serious.
Her thoughts and my thoughts have already overlapped.
Kiana, right now, you...
—Could it be that you have no intention of surviving at all, and that's why you hope someone else will accompany Senior for life?
....
Half an hour later, in Mei's room.
When Mei opened the door with her voice control system, she saw a weary-looking Yuna slowly walk into her room.
"Yuna, are you... really okay like this?"
Seeing Yuna's clearly unwell state, Mei said with great concern.
"If you're too tired..."
"I'm fine."
Lightly rubbing the space between her eyebrows and slapping her cheeks hard, Yuna's eyes suddenly became sharp.
"Compared to Senior's problems, everyone else's problems are minor issues now."
"Leo Ash????"
Listening to Yuna's incredibly serious tone, Mei, who was now staring into Yuna's eyes, saw an unprecedented seriousness in her companion's gaze.
"What happened to him?"
What happened to Senior?
Even sleeping with a girl has turned into a job for him. If his mental state isn't adjusted, even if we defeat the Herrscher of Finality, he'll never be able to enjoy the good life that follows.
Compared to his and Kiana's abnormal relationship, Senior really needs a gentle and kind girl like Mei to soothe his body and soul.
"Yuna?"
Mei, under Yuna's gaze, unconsciously took a step back.
"You... you seem really not okay right now."
[Indeed, Poison Ivy... the oppressive aura she just exuded, even I, who am just inside your body, could feel it clearly.]
[Wow, what on earth is this woman thinking? How can her presence be so terrifying?]
In this tense atmosphere, Mei, who was backing away step by step, suddenly found herself cornered against a wall.
And Yuna, who had walked towards Mei, now stood before her with an incredibly strange sense of pressure and asked.
"Mei, do you want to spend the rest of your life with Senior?"
"...Why are you suddenly asking this?"
[Wow, how come you can't even get hard in front of a companion at a time like this?]
[With that attitude, forget about confessing to Leo Ash. In the future, you'll be the last in line.]
You're talking nonsense—
I will, I will...
Taking a deep breath, Mei looked at Yuna with a determined gaze and said.
"Of course I hope to spend the rest of my life with Leo Ash."
"Mm, that's good."
Seeing the clearly determined Mei, Yuna said to her very seriously.
"There's no point in saying more now. We'll wake up early tomorrow morning, I'll help you with your makeup, and then tomorrow..."
"—I will find an opportunity for you to sleep with Senior directly."
"Eh???"
[Ah, a not-at-all-surprising plot development.]
At this moment, the Herrscher of Thunder, dormant within Mei's body, saw through Mei's eyes the undisguised determination and seriousness on Yuna's face.
But in her eyes, the purple hair on Yuna's head...
—It seemed to be gradually assimilating in color towards her emerald green pupils?
Although I know this is a hallucination, no matter how I look at it...
—Right now, Poison Ivy's head is so green it's almost black.
....
Next day, somewhere in Schicksal HQ.
Leo Ash, waiting for Mei and Yuna at the appointed place, was currently thinking about what kind of actions he should take after they met.
Although his original intention was to take his two companions away from Schicksal to exchange information somewhere, he felt that before he left, he still needed to create an atmosphere of 'Ah, Leo Ash is finally taking a break'.
Otto might not fall for the atmosphere Leo created.
But it wasn't a loss anyway. Just pretending for a few minutes gave him a chance to deceive Otto, thereby increasing his chances of winning in their future confrontation. Wasting a few minutes was no big deal.
Mm, so today...
[Be more assertive! More aggressive! Let everyone in Schicksal know—that you, Leo Ash, like beautiful girls!]
Ah, by the way, shouldn't normal people like beautiful girls? Do I need to prove this?
[Isn't that obvious? It's been almost four months since Otto started forcibly building you up.]
[Four months, and a handsome young man hasn't had any ambiguous relationships with any beautiful girls... that's one thing.]
[The key is that in these four months, your living environment has been filled with beautiful girls.]
[If you don't touch one of them soon, people will probably start thinking you're impotent.]
Being famous is such a pain.
Fine, I'll be a little more assertive today... Huh?
Seeing Mei and Yuna walking towards him in the distance, Leo Ash was stunned for a moment, then immediately activated the poker face feature of Cold, Handsome Man and the Mind Like Still Water ability.
The reason was simple—today's Raiden Mei was like a completely different person compared to her usual self.
Raiden Mei was undoubtedly a beautiful girl even without makeup.
In the past few months of being with her, Leo had confirmed this fact with his own eyes.
But now, looking at the girl walking towards him, Leo felt...
—If he didn't use Mind Like Still Water, he was probably going to make a fool of himself today.
[Ah, actually, even if you don't use it, they won't say anything when they see it.]
Shut up.
[In fact, as this System sees it...]
[If you did get a reaction, the two of them would definitely be even happier.]
....