The girls in the bedroom were filled with righteous indignation, while outside in the kitchen, Leo's eyes were bone-chillingly cold.
Although he had profited overall from this accident, he would rather not have these gains than have such an accident occur!
Furthermore, if Kiana could be taken away by the opponent using this method, then... what about Mei?
"Don't worry."
Hugging Leo from behind, Raiden Mei rested her head against his back and said, "I currently belong to the category of an object. Even if those existences can control my dead body, it is absolutely impossible for them to take me away from your side in this manner."
She knew very well what Leo was worried about, so she wanted to use her own way to reassure him as much as possible.
"Mm..."
Nodding, Leo retracted the coldness in his eyes and chuckled softly, "I still trust Tongzi's guarantee."
Although he wasn't sure where his Tongzi came from, at least for now, it was very reliable. There was no punishment for mission failure, and if it was something within his capabilities, it would give him hints.
Precisely because of this, he truly trusted Tongzi and wouldn't engage in intrigue against his own system.
"Not just your system, you can also trust us a bit more."
Rubbing against Leo's broad back, Raiden Mei said, "Don't carry everything on your own shoulders."
"I won't anymore."
Shaking his head slightly, Leo said, "From now on, I won't arrogantly think that everything is under my control. And I will also make it clear to Kiana that in the future, I will make good use of her life and not waste it."
In fact, when Kiana's [Resurrection] count was separated from the [Reset] count, he should have realized that both his and Kiana's lives were already consumables leading to victory!
"That's the right way!"
Seeing Leo say even this, Raiden Mei couldn't help but reveal a satisfied look. "We are all in the same boat now. Kiana is not a weakling who needs protection, nor is she an object for you to protect... at least not right now."
"Heh!"
Hearing Raiden Mei say this, Leo couldn't help but chuckle softly. "I really didn't expect that one day you would say this to me. In your memory, you should have the experience of joining World Serpent for Kiana's sake, right?"
Then, imitating Raiden Mei's tone, he said, "I will fall into darkness to trade for your return to the light!"
"You..."
Having her old accounts dug up by Leo, Raiden Mei's pretty face couldn't help but flush red. "Can that be the same?"
And most critically, if not for Leo's reminder, she really wouldn't have remembered this event. There was no helping it; her memory was too fragmented. Only with someone reminding her could she recall it.
"How is it not the same?"
Turning back to look at Raiden Mei with some amusement, Leo laughed, "At that time, didn't you also think you had to do it? But speaking of which, now that you've come to this era, you really can see Elysia and the others. How about it? Are you a little excited?"
"Uh..."
Facing Leo's inquiry, Raiden Mei's expression froze. After all, she really hadn't thought about this question.
It was still that same issue: given the state of her memory, without someone reminding her, she simply couldn't recall memories related to the Elysian Realm period. But now that Leo mentioned it, a difficult-to-surpass throbbing naturally surged in her heart.
"Ellie, is it?"
"I really do want to see her..."
Revealing a subtle expression, her beautiful purple eyes were full of nostalgia.
"You will see her."
Smiling as he gave an affirmative answer, Leo said, "It's just hard to say if she has memories of the future."
After all, he hadn't seen the person herself yet, so he couldn't determine Elysia's condition. However... if she really had future memories, presumably she should be busy changing the future ending right now!
He had absolute trust in Elysia, not to mention the other Flame-Chasers. If they had future memories, they must also be changing things in their own ways right now.
"I hope so."
Though she said that, Raiden Mei didn't hold too much hope for this. But it's always good for people to have something to look forward to.
"Alright."
Glancing at the sky, Leo laughed, "Are you here to help me cook, or do you plan to keep hanging on me like this?"
"Hmph!"
Snorting lightly, Raiden Mei said, "I kindly comfort you, and this is how you treat me? Don't think about hugging me tonight!"
"Heh!"
Amused by Raiden Mei's words, Leo hurriedly smiled and admitted his mistake. "Okay, okay, okay, I was wrong. If I don't hug Mei tonight, I won't be able to sleep."
"You guy, you really have no shame..."
Facing Leo who instantly yielded, Raiden Mei felt a bit between laughter and tears.
"What use is shame at a time like this?"
The corners of his mouth hooking into a cheerful smile, Leo said, "Anyway, there will always be a time when I can get even. Being able to bend and stretch makes one a true husband!"
After speaking, he looked at Raiden Mei with a playful expression.
"..."
Understanding Leo's meaning, Raiden Mei's pretty face turned completely red. After all, she really couldn't beat Leo at this kind of thing.
——This guy's stats are stacked too high!
Silently letting go of Leo, she wordlessly began to help.
Incidentally, her memories regarding culinary arts had also gradually revived during this period of familiarization. The food she made was no worse than Leo's, showing a trend of becoming even better. Presumably, before long, she would be able to take charge of Leo's kitchen.
At that time, except for some Shenzhou cuisines, Leo would only have the fate of being a prep cook. She might even spend a little more time and not leave even the Shenzhou cuisines to Leo. Unfortunately, it wasn't possible just yet.
Smelling the fragrance drifting from the dining room, Kiana and MEI walked out of the bedroom. The four took their seats, none actively bringing up a topic.
Until—
"I'm done eating."
MEI ate very little to begin with, and today she had even less of an appetite. "Leo, I plan to drop out of school."
"Hmm?"
Seeing the seriousness in MEI's eyes, Leo nodded and said, "Is it to research Kiana?"
The invisible tacit understanding between MEI and Kiana was seen by him; he guessed MEI's objective immediately.
"Mm."
Seeing that Leo figured it out, MEI didn't hide it and said openly, "I want to research the Stigmata on Kiana's body. Before, I thought we still had time, but this accident made me understand that time waits for no one. I can no longer train step-by-step; I must obtain strength at the fastest speed."
After speaking, her eyes were full of determined resolve.
"No problem."
Nodding again, Leo said, "Later, I'll write down the research directions I know for you. In addition—"
Turning to look at Raiden Mei, he said, "Mei, although your memory is incomplete, with my reminders, you should be able to recall some Valkyrie knowledge from St. Freya Academy. Presumably, you can also help MEI."
In the final analysis, he was just playing a game; he couldn't possibly know too much. But Raiden Mei was different; she had actually been a Valkyrie! And with Raiden Mei's knowledge as an honor student, she should be able to help MEI avoid many detours.
Of course, if Bronya could also come to help, that would be even better.
"Mm, I will try my best to recall."
Understanding her own importance, Raiden Mei also revealed a serious expression.
"What about you?"
After Raiden Mei finished speaking, MEI looked at Leo and asked, "Are you going to continue enjoying your youthful life?"
"Of course I can't enjoy it anymore."
Shaking his head at MEI, Leo said, "But the matter of the third year is related to the Honkai Domain, so I must continue being a student. Or rather, let's settle the matter of the third year as soon as possible."
After speaking, he looked at Kiana. After all, if it was something like a ghost possession, with Kiana's [Divine Prayer] present, she should be able to exorcise evil.
"Then let's solve the third-year matter first."
Her eyes turning, MEI decided and said, "At that time, we will drop out together."
"Heh~"
Without rushing to answer MEI, Leo laughed, "But if we drop out together, aren't you afraid of people gossiping?"
"?"
Tilting her head slightly, MEI looked at Leo exasperatedly and said, "I've already given myself to you, and you're talking to me about this now?"
"Isn't it because I'm considering..."
Looking at MEI with interest, Leo laughed, "Given your personality, you aren't afraid of people gossiping, but what if the rumors are true?"
"Is teasing me that interesting?"
Rolling her eyes at Leo, MEI said, "Or perhaps, you feel I've made the atmosphere too heavy?"
After speaking, she looked at Leo expressionlessly.
"Uh..."
Slightly stunned, Leo hurriedly restrained his smile and said solemnly, "My mistake. But honestly, don't put too much pressure on yourself."
Ultimately, he was just worried that MEI's psychological burden was too heavy. After all, in the original world line, MEI constantly forced herself under such heavy pressure, and in the end, she essentially died at her post.
Although there was definitely the reason of the battle with the Herrscher of Domination, if she had more ample time, the result would inevitably be different.
"I understand..."
Seeing the concern in Leo's eyes, MEI couldn't help feeling warmth in her heart; the dissatisfaction generated by Leo's teasing earlier completely dissipated at this moment. After all, she knew clearly that Leo also wanted to use his own way to make her relax a little.
"But you are the one least qualified to say this to me!"
Feigning anger, she said solemnly, "Clearly you should know how to maximize my utility, yet you let me continue studying and wasting time."
"Not just MEI!"
At this moment, Kiana also joined the battlefield.
"And me! I can also fight, and I can also live and die together with you! In future explorations, I don't want you to be afraid of fighting to the death because you are worried about me! This Miss also has pride; I don't want to become your dead weight!"
The more Kiana spoke, the more agitated she became. After all, she knew very well that Leo had become 'cowardly' because of her!
"You guys..."
Facing the indignant MEI and Kiana, Leo couldn't help looking helpless.
But eventually—
"I admit this matter; it's all my fault."
"Indeed, I was considering you two, wanting you to have it a bit easier. But my real mistake was actually that I always thought things were under my control. I was too arrogant, sorry."
Although even if he hadn't been arrogant, Kiana's accident still would have happened. But correspondingly, he would have had more trump cards to deal with this matter, rather than risking rescuing Kiana without any [Resurrection] counts.
In the final analysis, he never treated the enemy as an enemy and was facing all this with a gaming mindset. And if he continued like this, one day he would suffer a huge fall!
"Hmph!"
Seeing Leo bow his head to her, Kiana snorted lightly and said, "That's more like it. Of course, I also admit I'm afraid of death, otherwise I wouldn't have needed you to save me, but would have come back myself. But fear is fear; since this is a shortcut that allows us to become stronger quickly, then we cannot shrink back. Besides, as long as you are by my side, I'm not afraid!"
In fact, when Leo truly arrived by her side, she no longer had any fear of death. At that time, she was even thinking that no matter what, she had to let Leo leave that place. After all, she could revive, but Leo couldn't.
Precisely because of this, the combat power she displayed even exceeded the sum of her previous efforts. Otherwise, she might not necessarily have been able to block those countless shadow monsters.
"Mm."
Nodding at Kiana, Leo said, "Then from now on, everyone will journey to the Yellow Springs together."
As long as they could revive, in his view, living and dying together was quite romantic too. Although it would be better if it didn't have to be like this!
"But speaking of which, I originally intended to tell you this. If you don't believe me, you can ask Mei."
After speaking, he looked at Raiden Mei on the side.
"Just now when cooking, he did indeed tell me."
Facing the gaze Kiana cast over, Raiden Mei nodded, testifying for Leo.
"Hmph!"
Snorting lightly, Kiana's expression became even more satisfied. After all, the former was forced by her, but the latter words meant Leo had figured it out himself. Since that was the case, she was relieved.
"Tonight..."
Seeing Kiana satisfied with him, Leo spoke bluntly, "Let's try our best to rescue Bronya back."
"Oh..."
Suddenly, as if thinking of something, he spoke again, "No! We should change the time. Future exploration times will be after eight in the evening, ending at twelve. In this case, even if there's an accident again, we have the [Resurrection] count to deal with it."
This accident gave him quite a few revelations; he even planned to change the time for entering instances.
However, since today was the first day of the change, he rarely had nothing to do tonight.
And after washing the dishes, the three women gradually realized something was wrong.
This night... might be very... long!
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