The sound of the violin was melodious, pulling the curtains to reveal the shape of the wind.
The room was dimly lit, with only the flickering candlelight igniting a hint of an ambiguous atmosphere.
A man and a woman, meticulously dressed, sat down, lending a touch of playful spirit to the fragmented candlelight.
There was no third person at this candlelight dinner, only S-rank Valkyrie Rita Rossweisse and her target for this trip.
The dishes on the table were sumptuous, the work of a master chef, after all.
But clearly, neither of their minds was on the food.
Brian held Rita's dark history, while Rita had a mission from the Overseer that she had to complete.
When all was said and done, it seemed Rita was the only one caught in a difficult position.
She explained, "The Overseer is not interested in what secrets Lady Theresa is hiding in the Far East Branch. To him, there are limited things of value here."
In the entire Far East Branch, aside from the golden goose that was K-423, everyone and everything else was expendable to Otto.
Brian knew this, and he knew Theresa's worries were unfounded, but some things couldn't be said outright.
"But he has taken an interest in me, the man who became the Herrscher of Death, hasn't he?"
Rita: "The Overseer believes you have significant research value and has sent me here to collect some data and samples from you."
The Gem of Serenity, which could create the Herrscher of Death, had been assessed by Schicksal HQ's research institute as almost incapable of creating a Herrscher of Death anymore.
The power of this Herrscher Core was too extreme. Any unqualified being would be disintegrated into the most basic material particles by that terrifying black mist.
And beings like Raiden Mei were a once-in-a-millennium occurrence. Even Schicksal hadn't found anyone with a high compatibility with the Herrscher of Death.
But in the plan where Kiana was supposed to absorb the Gem of Serenity, the man in front of Rita, of unknown origin, absorbed it instead, becoming the supposedly impossible Herrscher of Death while stopping a Honkai Eruption.
It was truly astonishing.
Although Otto didn't care much about the Herrscher of Death, he had become interested in Brian's research value.
And that was why Rita was here.
"I see."
The youth's face showed understanding. It was just a small matter, nothing to make a fuss about.
"Well, since I'm your target, what have you prepared in exchange?"
The me of yesterday, you ignored; the me of today is a different story.
Having evolved from the Inner World Protagonist to the Inner World Protagonist X Herrscher of Death, Brian felt his value had skyrocketed. He was no longer at a level where he had to obediently listen to Otto's every command.
Rita: "..."
She had been on guard against this man's improper designs on her, but she had forgotten about this.
This Herrscher wasn't like Raiden Mei or Kiana, who had no awareness of their own status. To get what she wanted from this guy, she, a Valkyrie, would have to pay a price.
Money was useless, and power was pointless to give.
Excluding these two easiest ways to buy people's hearts, only feminine charms remained.
Rita gave a very awkward, dangerous expression: "My apologies, but unlike Miss Mei, I am not infatuated with you."
If she weren't outmatched and couldn't win a fight, Rita would very much like to teach this detestable man a lesson.
"Oh, is that so?"
Brian held Rita's weakness in his grasp. "Let's not talk about the unpleasant things that happened between us before."
Rita breathed a sigh of relief, thinking that this man could, at times, show a bit of gentlemanly conduct.
She was most afraid of that indescribable dark history, terrified of getting wet on the spot for a third time.
Brian continued, "But you're not willing to pay any price at all, only thinking of getting a free ride off an innocent boy from a good family like me. Isn't that a bit too much?"
In-innocent boy from a good family?
Raiden Mei and Ana are already a complete mess from your games, and you have the nerve to tell me you're an innocent boy from a good family?
"That joke isn't funny."
Rita's expression was a bit strained.
Suddenly...
*Clack, clack~~*
The sound of high heels on the floor echoed in a space where no third person should have been. A tall figure inserted herself into their conversation.
"What joke are you two talking about? Can I join in?"
The flickering candlelight illuminated Raiden Mei's delicate face. The girl wore light makeup, her lightly penciled eyebrows giving her a mature air.
The Raiden Mei in Brian's vision wasn't wearing a grand outfit, but rather the clothes she wore when they first met—the Senba Academy uniform.
This seemingly ordinary uniform seemed to be whispering to the man about their beautiful past, stirring his love for her.
And it also seemed to be proving to another person...
*You, the undead white moonlight, are outdated. I am his most beautiful white moonlight!*
Raiden Mei flicked her hair, revealing a gentle smile. "I'm a bit hungry too. How about I join you for a bite?"
The impoliteness, something that would never usually be seen from Raiden Mei, was full of incongruity.
But considering the current environment and atmosphere, it all seemed understandable.
Rita blinked, finding it rather amusing.
It seemed this Miss Herrscher of Thunder truly saw her as a love rival.
Even though it was just this lecherous man who had one-sided designs on her, Raiden Mei was still on guard against her.
It was truly a bit vexing.
But... she didn't mind creating some trouble in the life of the lecherous Inner World Protagonist and Herrscher of Birth.
"Please, have a seat, Miss Mei."
Raiden Mei brought over a chair and sat next to Rita, sharing a smile with the S-rank Valkyrie.
The atmosphere... became subtle!
...
"Everything was going according to plan, everything was developing as I imagined, so why..."
"Why am I still not happy?"
The silver-haired girl clutched her chest, feeling a wave of frustration in her heart.
Through her binoculars, she could clearly see Brian caught in a chaotic romantic battlefield, yet she didn't feel the happiness she had expected.
Upset, heartbroken, wanting to punch someone...
After throwing a few punches in the air, Kiana felt a little better.
She crossed her arms, looking in the direction of Brian's trio's candlelight dinner, and felt the stuffiness in her chest deepen.
I see. Seeing Mei fighting over that guy makes me feel unhappy, is that it?
Her world-shocking Kaslana wisdom began to analyze...
Rita is his ex-girlfriend, Mei is his current girlfriend.
When two girlfriends fight, one is bound to get hurt.
Raiden Mei could forgive me for seducing that lecher last time, but that doesn't mean she can tolerate Rita and him rekindling their old flame.
When it comes to matters of the heart, her own threat was insignificant compared to Rita Rossweisse's.
In conclusion, as long as she could make something happen between the three of them, she could plunge that guy into a frantic romantic battlefield.
Even if it didn't break his bones, it would definitely not let him have an easy time!
"I've decided! I'll do just that!"
At this distance, by the time she ran over, it would be too late.
You have to strike while the iron is hot. To punish a scumbag, you have to do it while his lust is raging!
Two white ponytails swayed with the girl's movements, her pair of azure eyes filled with world-shocking Kaslana wisdom.
A perfect plan formed in Kiana's mind and was immediately put into practice.
"Let's play it like this..."
A mischievous smile on her face, Kiana took off her shoe.
Her exquisite calf glowed with a jade-white luster under the light. The nails on her five toes were crystal clear, and the arch of her pink foot was flawless.
Kiana brought her jade foot up to her nose for a sniff, confirming there was no foul odor.
Using her eyes to measure the distance, she then inserted her completely bare jade foot into the spatial portal that appeared at her will.
Tease the lecherous Inner World Protagonist, then tease the other two parties involved. That way... the three of them would collide like a spark to a powder keg, creating an incredibly intense explosion!
Kiana could already see the scene of that scumbag, under her scheme, wishing for both life and death.
Except for the other person inside her body...
Herrscher of the Void: "..."
You idiot, is this what you use the Herrscher's power for?
...
"I never knew he was such a bad guy in the past, huh?"
"Indeed, Miss Mei and I feel the same way."
There wasn't much of a sword-drawn, bow-string-taut feeling between the two girls, nor did they have any intention of starting a physical fight here.
It was just that their recent conversation was full of pointed remarks, hiding a terrifyingly explosive undertone.
One wrong move... and it could lead to death and bloodshed!
Brian wanted to interject, but the two of them subtly blocked him.
This was a war between women. It wasn't his time to speak, at least not until tonight!
In his distress, Brian felt something on his pants, slithering like a snake, making him feel a little ticklish.
Taking a closer look...
"..."
A jade foot, without a shoe or sock.
If he remembered correctly, Mei wasn't wearing stockings today, and Rita was wearing flesh-colored ones.
Which means... this jade foot belongs to Mei, right?
Brian's spirits lifted, and he immediately reached out to seize this daring jade foot.
But his casual grab unexpectedly met with empty air.
Such an action almost had 'playing hard to get' written all over it, just short of saying the words—Come on, flirt with me!
Brian immediately shot Raiden Mei a suggestive look, causing Raiden Mei's watery eyes to glisten uncontrollably.
'Th-there are other people here!'
'With Rita here, isn't it even better?'
While exchanging pointed remarks with Rita Rossweisse, Raiden Mei's heart also spat at this audacious man.
Even with an outsider here, he still wanted her to do those things that made her leak and cry with him. He was truly rotten to the core!
Let's talk about it when we get back.
In front of outsiders, Raiden Mei still couldn't quite bring herself to do it.
The ambiguous atmosphere was dissipating.
But...
"You think you can get away that easily?"
"No way!"
Finding a pair of Brian's shoes from the dorm, Kiana used the same trick again, but changed the target's direction.
A little teasing for the Inner World Protagonist was enough; being as lecherous as he was, he would do even more than she could.
Rita still didn't know what was happening, and Mei couldn't let loose in front of an outsider.
In conclusion...
"I'm really going to great lengths to make sure this guy suffers a terrible fate!"
Wearing Brian's shoe, Kiana stretched her jade foot into the spatial portal.
...
The demure girl, who was exchanging pointed remarks with Raiden Mei, had a slight change in expression. From a slight angle of her gaze, she saw the man sitting opposite them.
With Raiden Mei here, this guy still dared to do such a thing to her. He had truly become lawless after becoming the Herrscher of Birth.
In a breath, Rita, who was an expert in intelligence and assassination, noticed the abnormality in Raiden Mei.
Compared to her more composed self, Raiden Mei, who was experienced in another aspect, having tasted that wonderful flavor before, would uncontrollably feel desire due to some ambiguous atmosphere.
Look at the current Raiden Mei...
Her eyes were like water, her breathing slightly heavy, a hint of crimson on her fair skin, and her heartbeat had quickened...
This man wasn't just targeting her alone; he was teasing both of them at the same time.
If he were just secretly playing with Raiden Mei, Rita felt she could pretend not to know, to avoid being caught in a pincer attack between two girls.
But now, with things as they were...
Her and Raiden Mei acting together, watching this man's predicament as he's caught with his pants down, seemed like it would be a very interesting thing to do.
"Mei, I heard that on Coral Island you..."
At the table, the girl chatted idly with Raiden Mei, her multitasking skills, honed through heavy work, allowing her to better conceal her own physical reactions.
She extended her leg.
Her long, straight leg, wrapped in flesh-colored stockings, with the tip of her foot sliding up and down the man's calf, creating a silent, ambiguous atmosphere.
Brian's face changed slightly. He realized who it was but said nothing.
From a distance, Kiana saw that her plan was only half successful. How could this be?!
"No! I can't let this bastard take advantage!"
Kiana used her old trick again, giving Raiden Mei another hint.
The purple-haired girl reacted accordingly, her autumn-water eyes filled with a seductive charm.
'Even if we're going to play this game, we should do it when we get back.'
Raiden Mei made no move.
Kiana was very frustrated. "Damn it, I have to give this guy another little taste."
This was like fishing; she couldn't let either of them go. She had to cast the bait while making sure the line didn't snap.
The highly efficient Kiana did as she said, extending one of her feet in without hesitation.
Just then, Raiden Mei, unable to resist Brian's hints of wanting to enjoy the blessings of having two women at once, shyly lifted one of her jade feet and placed it in Brian's direction.
Looking at the three jade feet under the table, Brian fell into deep thought.
"..."
If his Kidney Warrior eyes weren't failing him from old age, he should be seeing three right feet in front of him now.
Unless one of Raiden Mei or Rita had drunk water from Fukushima, it would be impossible for a third foot to appear.
Also... who is who?
The moment the question arose, Brian had a flash of insight, thinking of the most likely suspect.
This person had always used her powers so sparingly that those around her had developed a stereotype of her.
—Kiana Kaslana.
As long as no one was hiding under the table, it had to be this white-haired fluffball's doing.
In that case.
Then... the choice was obvious.
Although he only had two hands, he still had two feet!
In any case, it's four against three. The advantage is mine!
Today, no matter who you are, once you get wet, there's no going back!
...