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"Zeke-san, thank you for indulging my whims!"
On a high observation deck within the Inner City, bathed in the fading sunlight, Raiden Mei materialized amidst a flash of lightning. She solemnly bowed to Zeke, who sat casually with his legs crossed amid the crimson twilight.
Allowing a Herrscher freedom on the eve of the ceremony was already significant. Moreover, conveying Sakura's intentions directly impacted Hiru, whose origin was Rin. Zeke himself had acknowledged the profound importance of Dizang Mitama to him.
In summary, by accommodating Raiden Mei's request, he earned her heartfelt gratitude.
"I dislike wasting words on fools and am not one to feign pleasantries, but neither am I heartless. Looking after the sentiments of my subordinates requires no special thanks."
Zeke twirled an ancient golden sword, soon to become his symbol of authority, and pointed its tip at the chair opposite him.
"Please sit."
"Yes, sir!"
Raiden Mei moved across the room, carefully smoothing her skirt with both hands before gracefully taking a seat, embodying poise and etiquette.
Zeke looked up at the lovely yet composed young woman facing him and sighed.
"Do you feel under immense pressure around me?"
"N-no, not at all! It's respect! Yes, it's just respect!"
"Don't mimic Kiana or Sin's clinginess, but learning some composure from the other girls wouldn't hurt. As I've mentioned before, you will be my assistant, managing various tasks by my side, representing me externally, and conveying my intentions—constantly feeling stressed in my presence will exhaust you."
"...Understood, Zeke!" Raiden Mei nodded politely.
However, from her evasive gaze, Zeke knew she was still tense.
After a moment of silence, he suggested, "Perhaps I should choose someone else; you don't seem quite suited for this role."
"No! I can do it, Mr. Zeke!" Raiden Mei hastily stood up.
With Honkai looming, everyone should contribute their abilities to the best of their capacity. By keeping her close, Zeke acknowledged her potential, and Raiden Mei undoubtedly didn't want to lose his trust.
"Zeke-san, as a woman of the Raiden family, I will never betray your confidence!"
"Hmm, that's commendable. Alright then, take your time to adjust. There'll be plenty to do, so don't burden yourself with unnecessary stress."
"Yes, Mei understands!"
"Good. Now, would you like to rest downstairs or join me in watching the sunset?"
Raiden Mei pondered for a moment before settling back into her seat.
Tonight's dinner was prepared by Seele, with Wendy assisting. Since there wasn't much else for Raiden Mei to do upon descending, enjoying the sunset seemed like a fine choice.
Zeke leaned the Xuanyuan Sword against the nearby wall, paused briefly, and conjured a water cup on the table. A transparent teapot floated in mid-air, slowly pouring steaming hot water into the cup.
As it was nearing dinnertime, tea wouldn't be ideal, and Zeke knew Raiden Mei had no particular favorite beverage. To show care and consideration towards his female subordinate, he could only think of one appropriate phrase—
"Make sure to drink plenty of warm water."
"Ah? Oh, thank you, Zeke-san."
Raiden Mei picked up the steaming cup and took a sip.
The warmth spreading from her mouth brought a comforting sensation.
Raiden Mei gently exhaled, feeling slightly more relaxed. Now, she could calmly look at Zeke.
Bathed in the fading sunlight, his expressionless yet handsome face seemed subtly softer. His clear blue eyes, flawless and boundless like the sky itself, radiated beauty and tranquility, instilling a sense of reassurance upon meeting them.
"Why are you staring at me? Look at the sunset instead. It's been ages since I've had such a peaceful moment to watch the sun go down... True, you haven't left much, so you must be quite accustomed to it."
"U-um... Yes, as you said, watching the sunset—it's beautiful!" Raiden Mei responded hastily, lowering her gaze.
Zeke was fully absorbed by the sight of the sun slowly sinking below the horizon, not noticing Raiden Mei's unease. He sighed deeply and remarked, "Don't you feel that this resembles the twilight of a civilization?"
"Huh?"
"The final rays, gentle and exquisite, but soon followed by enduring darkness. The setting sun is infinitely beautiful, yet it signifies dusk's approach."
"But the stars and moon will appear too, won't they?" Raiden Mei replied instinctively.
Raiden Mei responded instinctively.
She also turned to gaze at the setting sun, witnessing the crimson disc slowly sinking towards the horizon where sky meets sea. Half of the sky was painted orange-red, and the distant shoreline transformed into a dazzling golden hue.
"How beautiful..." Raiden Mei murmured involuntarily.
Indeed, she had seen this sight often, but precisely because it was so familiar, she seemed to have forgotten just how breathtakingly stunning it truly was.
Zeke's lips curved upwards as he chuckled lightly, "You're right; there's still the moon, stars, and tomorrow's sunrise. This isn't the end. Still, I must admit, part of me wants to slow down Earth's rotation, just to prolong this moment!"
"The entire surface environment would be affected, wouldn't it...?" Raiden Mei grimaced slightly. Her excellent foundational science education allowed her to comprehend the catastrophic consequences of forcibly altering Earth's rotation - tsunamis and earthquakes would sweep across the globe!
True to his reputation, Zeke casually uttered terrifying words. What's even more frightening is that he undoubtedly has the capability to make good on them!
"Just kidding, don't take it too seriously."
"The issue is, Zeke-san, you rarely joke around! I genuinely thought you were going to do it!"
"Hmm, showing concern is good; remember to maintain this mindset."
In response to Raiden Mei's sudden increase in volume, Zeke raised an eyebrow and shifted his gaze towards her face. He nodded approvingly as he praised her.
Under Zeke's watchful eyes, Raiden Mei stiffened momentarily, then lowered her head, softly murmuring with a weak voice:
"Yes..."
Zeke shook his head and stood up, saying,
"You continue watching the sunset. I'll go check if Kiana and Senti have caused any trouble. See you later."
"Understood!" Raiden Mei respectfully rose and bowed.
After seeing the figure wielding the golden sword descend the stairs, Raiden Mei straightened up, unconsciously touching her forehead.
"Phew! No sweat this time, I'm improving—wait, why am I even celebrating such progress?!?"
Raiden Mei's face flushed red, feeling both embarrassed and frustrated, as she stomped her foot out of character.
Having vented slightly, she dejectedly sat back down, fidgeting with her fingers and mumbling:
"Zeke-san is usually quite approachable, so why can't I be more composed? What's there to be nervous about? How will I handle work like this in the future? Useless Raiden Mei!"
"Wahhh!" Raiden Mei covered her face with both hands, sinking deep into self-loathing.