In this regard, our position is no different from Mei's.
Hearing what Fu Hua said to her, the Herrscher of Sentience suddenly felt her thoughts thrown into complete chaos.
She had a system of logic different from others, but while this logic might seem absurd at times, now...
—The Herrscher of Sentience, with great sorrow, found that she couldn't refute Fu Hua's point with her own logic.
She was so angry.
But after fuming for a long time without being able to utter a word, the Herrscher of Sentience could only choose to continue throwing a tantrum inside Fu Hua's body, trying to persuade Fu Hua to give her control.
However, Fu Hua, knowing the Herrscher of Sentience's personality all too well, would never let her out at a time like this.
Although after that intimate contact with Leo Ash, the Herrscher of Sentience seemed to have accepted the fact that she was a Herrscher Personality, but...
—That doesn't mean she's settled down!
Now that the Herrscher of Sentience has affirmed that she is a Herrscher Personality, she spends her days shouting, 'Don't lock me up, I want to go find my great disciple.'
Honestly, without being able to confirm how much influence the Honkai still has over her, Fu Hua certainly couldn't gamble with other people's lives.
[You, you, you, you, you—you're being unreasonable!]
[Leo Ash is about to be all over that woman, and you're telling me you don't mind being cuckolded?!]
...Actually, I really don't mind that.
[Huh?]
*Sooner or later, we and the Honkai will have a final showdown, just like fifty thousand years ago, won't we?*
[Yeah, so what does that have to do with what's happening now?]
*Leo Ash's actions right now are indeed very fickle.*
*But because of that, I'm relieved.*
[Relieved about being cuckolded? Old-timer, are you out of your mind?]
*It is precisely because Leo Ash's desires in this area are so strong, and because he loves everyone, that he won't pour all of this affection onto me alone.*
*And in this way, I'll receive less of his affection, so even if something happens to me on that day, there will be others who will remain by his side to accompany him on his journey.*
[You, you, you, you, you—you're impossible!]
[Who would be happy about having that kind of affection divided!]
[I think you've really gone mad!]
*Perhaps, I don't deny that.*
*But now, I...*
Sensing a certain consciousness, Fu Hua's heart ached, but she also felt a real sense of relief.
*Mei is gentler than me, and her figure is better than mine...*
—*I'm sure she'll be a better wife than I would be.*
[I can't be bothered to talk to you, you're just impossible!]
"Um, Master."
Noticing that Fu Hua's emotional fluctuations seemed a bit strong, Wendy, who had already stopped her training, looked at Fu Hua with a worried expression.
"Does the other Master have something to say?"
"...It's nothing, you can continue your training."
"Yes~"
At this moment, upon seeing Wendy, the Herrscher of Sentience suddenly stopped her antics.
[Hey, I say, old-timer... you should know that Wendy also has feelings for our stinking disciple, right?]
*Mm, that's naturally obvious.*
[Then she's now...]
Looking at the green hair on Wendy's head, the Herrscher of Sentience suddenly said with a hint of pity.
[Sigh, let's not talk about it. Compared to Wendy who's completely cucked, we're at least in the game.]
[Stinking disciple... forget it, I'm not watching anymore!]
After actively blocking the prying ability of her consciousness authority, the Herrscher of Sentience said angrily.
[Coming to Shenzhou and not even visiting his Master first, this rebellious disciple...]
[The next time we meet, I will definitely wring him dry!]
*Sigh, that's why I said Mei is more suitable to be a wife than we are.*
*With your personality, you'll only bring pressure to Leo Ash. The reason he doesn't come to Mount Taixu might be related to you as well.*
[W-what did you say???]
*It's not impossible.*
*Although when dealing with us and Kiana, Leo Ash's main purpose was to soothe our emotions, while he was soothing others' emotions, he naturally also craved spiritual comfort for himself.*
[Well, that seems to be the case.]
*Then think about it, if he comes over next time and you question him as soon as you meet, what will he think?*
[This, this, this—but I'm not the one in the wrong, am I?]
[What did I do wrong? If I did nothing wrong, why should I feel guilty!]
*Sigh, never mind, never mind.*
*As long as you don't disturb Mei and Leo Ash's meeting, I couldn't care less what you're thinking right now.*
*However, you still need to think carefully. As Leo Ash's master, should you be soothing his heart or continuing to put pressure on him?*
[D-damn it—this is emotional blackmail!]
*I'm just telling the truth.*
[How could you do this—we're supposed to be in the same boat, but you're helping Leo Ash to PUA me???]
[Old-timer, if you had even a third of this kind of thinking ability when you faced Otto, you wouldn't have been played for a fool by him!]
*Yes, Otto...*
At the thought of that man in hiding, a shadow of gloom inevitably fell over Fu Hua's face.
*That guy, it's been so long since he went into hiding.*
*The next time he makes a move, it will surely bring an even greater disaster to the world.*
[Tch, just a useless bum who couldn't even protect his wife. What kind of trouble can he stir up?]
[We have so many people on our side now. Forget the others, you and Su could beat Otto like a dog.]
[With sufficient fighting power, I see no possibility of us losing.]
*Yes, that's what I thought during the Second Eruption as well.*
*But back then, a situation I should have been able to handle almost ended in a major disaster because of an unforeseen event.*
*Don't underestimate the Honkai, and certainly don't underestimate Otto.*
[Now that you mention it, it's true... that bastard is a real expert at backstabbing his teammates.]
*You can't really say that.*
*Perhaps for Otto...*
—*No one in this world is his 'teammate'.*
.....
Meanwhile, in a field in Shenzhou.
When Mei was teleported to this grassy field by Leo Ash, she found her heart inexplicably calming down.
Perhaps it was because she had completely made up her mind, or perhaps it was because the environment here was so refreshing, but Mei now felt that her state of mind might have reached its peak.
"Alright, don't just stand there."
After taking out a large blanket and spreading it on the ground, Leo Ash sat down on it and said to Mei.
"Sit down, let's chat for a bit."
"Mm, okay."
Sitting down beside Leo Ash, she took the initiative to speak.
"This is quite rare."
"What's rare?"
"The fact that you'd take the initiative to relax. That seems really rare to me."
Leaning on Leo Ash's shoulder, Mei said softly.
"Before, you always gave everyone the feeling that your nerves were stretched taut."
"Seeing you like that, we really felt like you might have a mental breakdown at any moment."
"Haha, is it that exaggerated? You guys are overthinking it."
*Although, you're not wrong at all.*
*I thought my acting had fooled everyone, but it turns out everyone's assessment was correct. I was the one fooling myself.*
"Leo Ash, I..."
Just as Mei was about to launch her offensive, taking advantage of the atmosphere, Leo Ash suddenly placed a finger on her lips.
"Alright, let me finish first."
Interrupting Mei's words with an intimate gesture, Leo Ash said to her calmly.
"Do you know why I came to this city?"
"Mm, I know."
Recalling the information she had read, Mei's tone suddenly became subdued.
"This... is your hometown."
"Yes, this is my hometown, the city where I was born and raised."
Noticing a hint of worry on Mei's face, Leo Ash suddenly smiled and said.
"You thought I was about to tell you a sob story, didn't you? Don't overthink it. At the end of the day, I'm a pretty carefree person."
"My parents passed away, and I was indeed very sad. I really did have the thought of dedicating my life to getting revenge on the Honkai."
"But in the end, that's all in the past. After coming back from the Sea of Quanta, I've come to terms with a lot of things."
"If my parents knew that I was still living unhappily after they passed away, they, who loved me so much, would surely be angry about it."
"I will never forget the wonderful times I spent with them, but now... I think it's time for me to look to the future."
At this moment, a smile that Mei believed was genuine appeared on Leo Ash's face.
"A person can't live in the past forever. Right now, rather than reminiscing about the past, I want to protect the companions and family by my side."
"Miss Raiden Mei, I solemnly ask you here, are you..."
"—Willing to spend the rest of your life with me?"
Although Leo Ash's change of subject was abrupt and sudden, Mei, hearing these words, could feel the undisguisable seriousness in his voice.
She really hadn't expected that after having a crush on Leo Ash for so long, she would actually get to hear him confess to her.
[Mei, congratulations—but you should give some kind of reaction.]
The Herrscher of Thunder, dormant within Raiden Mei's body, suddenly asked with some confusion.
[Why aren't you saying anything? Are you so moved you've forgotten how to speak?]
*This is the perfect moment to just agree, but a question suddenly popped into Mei's mind.*
*A question she was very hesitant to ask.*
"Leo Ash, before I answer your question, I hope you'll answer one of mine first."
Even though she already had her suspicions, and had even come to a conclusion, Mei still asked the question in this atmosphere.
"Between you and Kiana... did you do it?"
"...Mm, it's just as you guessed."
Facing Mei's question, Leo Ash nodded very directly.
"Those three days, I was with Kiana the whole time. I suppose we were indeed seeking solace in each other."
[This, this man, how shameless!]
[Hey, he confesses to you and then says something like that—he has no respect for you.]
Listening to Leo Ash's straightforward answer, Mei lowered her head and asked in a trembling voice.
"At a time like this, don't you think... it would have been better to lie?"
"Because I don't want to deceive you about this matter, I judged that telling the truth would be better."
Looking at the girl's slightly trembling body, Leo Ash asked in return.
"Now that you've discovered I'm a scumbag when it comes to relationships, is the illusion shattered? Are you disappointed?"
"...What do you think?"
*Ah, so it's come to this after all?*
*The System did say something like, 'Don't worry about being spied on, when you and your lover are passionately in love, this System will automatically block external senses.'*
*Otherwise, at a time like this, it would one hundred percent jump out to mock my foolishness.*
*It makes sense. It would be strange if Mei could tolerate such scummy words and actions.*
*After returning from the Sea of Quanta, I crave the intermingling of others' love for me and my love for them.*
*From that moment on, I may have already become a mad beast consumed by desire.*
"Leo Ash, honestly, after hearing this from you..."
Mei raised her head, revealing an expression Leo Ash had not expected at all.
"I can finally be at ease."
It was a smile that one would only show when completely and unreservedly relaxed.
Seeing the rare look of surprise on Leo Ash's face, Mei also showed a rare, playful smile.
"What, did you really think I was angry?"
"...You should be angry."
"Yes, perhaps I really should be angry."
Recalling herself from a month ago, Mei said with a touch of emotion.
"Before Isla's arrival, I did have thoughts of competing with Kiana, and I did have the desire to have you all to myself."
"But after you disappeared, I realized just how ridiculous those thoughts and desires were."
"I want to always be by your side. As for everything else, it's not important to me. In fact, to have you confess to me is already a pleasant surprise."
Gently hugging Leo Ash, Mei said to him in a very gentle voice.
"As you wish, I will spend the rest of my life with you, Mr. Ash."
"So, now that I have answered you, what... should you do?"
After uttering words that were like a sexual hint, Mei was instantly pushed down onto the blanket by Leo Ash.
As the Phantasmagoria barrier spread out, obscuring them from prying eyes, Leo Ash, who had kissed Mei, and Mei, who felt Leo Ash's love, said no more.
As an intense impact descended upon the girl, Mei felt pain, but also the happiness of being a woman.
At this moment, Mei felt a tear roll down from the corner of her eye.
This was not a tear of pain or sadness.
It was a tear of emotion, shed after finding happiness.
.....