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"What?! Zeke is becoming an emperor? Does that mean he can openly have a harem now? No way! This young lady strongly objects!!"
In a breezy pavilion, Kiana stood up, pointing her left index finger at Zeke with fierce determination. However, moments later, she swiftly tossed a soup dumpling from her right hand's chopsticks into her mouth, transforming her defiant expression into one of blissful enjoyment as she savored the taste.
"Munch...munch..."
"Mmm, thin skin with plenty of filling and savory meat juice—delicious~"
Kiana licked her lips and raised her chopsticks to grab another dumpling from the table.
At that moment, Zeke put down his utensils and said sternly, without any hint of humor, "If you don't want your fingers anymore, I can perform their amputation for you."
Kiana promptly placed both hands behind her back, defiantly puffing out her chest.
"You won't scare me!"
"If you can't control your mouth, I could always help by stitching it shut," Zeke murmured ominously, slowly flexing his fingers with faint clicking sounds.
"I'm sorry! That was out of line!" Kiana bowed deeply at a ninety-degree angle, her apology utterly sincere. The movement caused captivating ripples in her white blouse.
Full yet balanced, Kiana wasn't one to rely on exaggerated features to draw attention. However, her figure was indeed perfect, exuding the grace inherent in femininity.
Overall, she had developed remarkably well, and most importantly, looked very healthy—a thought crossing Zeke's mind as his gaze lingered briefly, feeling quite satisfied.
"Snap!" x 2
Sin's and Bronya's eyes dimmed simultaneously as they crushed their chopsticks.
Sin lowered her head, taking in the sight of her own top and thighs. Given the age difference, the budding growth was evident, leaving her with an inevitable sense of inadequacy regarding her small cup size.
Bronya also glanced down—her disappointment stemmed not from age but genuine sorrow.
"Hm?"
Zeke, oblivious to their subtle emotions, directed a worker bee to replace their broken chopsticks. Instead, he gently tapped Kiana on the head with his hand.
"Behave."
"Heh~"
Kiana chuckled mischievously, lifting her playful grin and playfully sticking out her tongue.
Despite carrying a traumatic past, bearing heavy guilt, and constantly battling her alternate personality within, Kiana's smile remained free from any shadows or gloom.
Her greatest reliance lay simply in knowing that no matter what happened, Zeke would always care for and support her, guide her, and indulge her whims.
She sat back down, stuffing dumplings into her mouth while gazing at Zeke with bright, sparkling eyes, eagerly awaiting him to continue his story.
Zeke sighed softly and continued, "The second matter: The Herrscher of a Thousand People will be dealt with by human-side Herrschers, including Kiana. This is both your mission and a test for you all to overcome. Our Herrschers are crucial forces of civilization, not protected mascots... Kiana, just this once, I won't provide any assistance. You must face this challenge using only your own wisdom and abilities."
As Zeke watched Kiana quickly devouring the buns on the table, he finished speaking without rushing her or adding further remarks.
He knew Kiana understood his message.
After a moment of silence, she picked up her chopsticks and resumed eating enthusiastically. Soon, she stuffed the last bun on the table into her mouth, chewing with her cheeks puffed as she put down the utensils.
Swallowing her food, Kiana flashed a radiant smile at Zeke and gave him a thumbs-up.
"Leave it to me! No worries!"
"...All right, I trust you." A gradual smile spread across Zeke's face.
Kiana was truly exceptional.
Despite often teasing her, Zeke fully recognized that Kiana excelled in both intellect and capabilities. Her fearless courage and unwavering resilience endowed her with boundless potential.
Perhaps, unintentionally, it was Zeke's overprotectiveness that had been limiting Kiana's growth?
Zeke took out a clean handkerchief to wipe away the grease from Kiana's lips, saying gently:
"I don't want you to force yourself or risk getting hurt, but I also understand that you've been striving relentlessly... Keep going strong; you can become the hero who saves the world. Of course, the condition is taking care of your own safety first. Don't make me worry, alright?"
Zeke sighed, his words carrying a hint of contradiction.
How could he expect Kiana to fulfill her desire to be a great hero while simultaneously ensuring she protects herself and avoids worrying him? It seemed impossible.
If given the choice, Zeke would genuinely prefer locking Kiana in a meticulously crafted cage, only allowing her freedom once Honkai was defeated—to let her then unleash her energy without restraint. Unfortunately, Kiana wouldn't accept such protective measures; she had her own unwavering pride and determination.
After Zeke finished wiping her mouth, Kiana smiled brightly, her eyes shimmering with warmth as she said:
"I promise, Zeke, I'll take good care of myself! Because I want to spend so much more time with you. As long as you're waiting for me, I will never be defeated!"
Love is both a vulnerability and an armor.
Kiana's promise reflected the boundless strength within her heart.
Zeke gazed at her intently, gently caressing her cheek with his hand. He felt both its softness and warmth emanating from her tender skin.
These sensations were familiar yet irresistible, making it hard to let go.
"I understand," Zeke finally replied simply.
He withdrew his hand, facing three girls—each unique but equally lovely—in turn. "The third matter: I need to be away for some time."
"Oh. Where are you going? When will you return?"
Swinging her slender legs back and forth, Kiana's silvery antenna hair bounced in sync, her face displaying an endearingly nonchalant expression.
As someone holding such high authority, Zeke was indeed overwhelmed with responsibilities day in and day out. It wasn't surprising that he had to travel for important matters.
Then belatedly, Kiana realized a more crucial question:
"Can I come along?"
"Sin wants to join too!"
"Bronya believes, considering various tasks, she can provide more assistance."
Kiana glanced at each of them, her antenna hair suddenly standing straight up.
"Hold on! I asked first, okay? Are you two even playing fair?"
"Bronya's speaking logically here. Logically speaking, Bronya is wiser than you, and Sin is more obedient... When it comes to handling serious matters, we're clearly better suited as companions than Kiana." Bronya spoke matter-of-factly, leaving Kiana wide-eyed with indignation, momentarily unable to counter.
Sin's response was simpler and more direct—she merely glanced sidelong at Kiana before turning away.
"Hmph!"
With just one word, she conveyed all her hostility and disdain.
Zeke watched them quietly, involuntarily stroking his chin.
Could this be...
"A Shura field?" Zeke murmured, sounding like both self-reflection and a question directed at them.
Kiana blinked, then smacked her palm against her hand with sudden realization.
"Ohhh, so this is what they call a Shura field!"
Zeke and Kiana exchanged glances, nodding simultaneously, feeling enlightened by the experience.
Bronya opened her mouth, hesitated for a moment, and then dryly stated, "Bronya thinks... it's not a Shura field."
At most, it was just a hint of rivalry for affection—not quite reaching the intensity of a true "Shura field." In fact, Bronya couldn't even fathom such a scenario arising around Zeke.
Based on her extensive research through various romantic literary works, a Shura field typically emerges when emotions are unstable, multiple love interests remain ambiguous, and the male character exhibits weakness in emotional stance or personality.
However, their relationships had always been open and transparent. As for Zeke's personality... if anyone dared to create a Shura field near him, he would simply view it as mischief and disobedience, promptly suspending them all before slowly disciplining them until they learned obedience.
No doubt about it, he's that dense yet brutally unforgiving.
Zeke glanced at Bronya but didn't delve deeper since it wasn't crucial knowledge. He stated, "I'm going on a trip to the quantum world. Having never been an emperor before, I need some time to reflect. Additionally, over these years, my abilities have been hastily layered; I require a quiet place to properly organize and adjust them. Furthermore, I'll be meeting with two Fusion Warriors from the previous civilization; their strength is vital for shaping the future of our society... Anyway, this journey is something I must undertake alone."
Zeke's decision elicited varying degrees of disappointment from the three girls.
"As for the duration, it could be as short as two to three months or at most half a year. During this time, managing the Herrscher of a Thousand People, navigating global turmoil, and taking care of matters at home...all these responsibilities will fall on your shoulders. You must learn and adapt to true independence, handling various situations without my presence. After all, I can't always be watching over you."
As Zeke spoke, he tidied up the table, his gentle gaze towards Kiana, Bronya, and Sin filled with both encouragement and anticipation.
Hopefully, upon his return, he would not only find a transformed world but also witness their genuine growth.