However, as a reserved young lady, even though her family had fallen from grace, Raiden Mei wouldn't just cast aside her old habits.
After composing her emotions, Raiden Mei said worriedly.
"Leo Ash, I'm very grateful that you helped me like this."
"But... if you do this..."
"If I do this?"
Looking at the worried expression on Raiden Mei's face, Leo Ash said very calmly.
"Are you talking about me beating people up at the school gate?"
"Yes."
Seeing not a shred of worry on Leo Ash's face, Raiden Mei said with great concern.
"You're an exchange student at our school. If you just break a few school rules, the teachers will naturally turn a blind eye."
"But today..."
"What about today?"
Looking back at the still-chaotic main gate, Leo Ash said with a sneer.
"Did you want me to just stand by and watch you get bullied?"
[Did you want me to just stand by and watch you get bullied—although it's a third-rate line, for the current Raiden Mei, it's undoubtedly a powerful blow straight to the heart!]
[Affection points soaring! Soaring! At this rate, it won't be long before you can win this girl over, and then... hehehe.]
I'm seriously done with you. I'm trying to do something serious, and all you can do is relentlessly push me to pick up girls.
Is this the time for picking up girls?!
[Is this the time for picking up girls—this question arises in your mind.]
[But in the next moment, you have an epiphany—yes, now is the time for picking up girls!]
[Raiden Mei turns into a Herrscher not only because of Cocolia's plan, but, to be frank, a large part of it is due to the anxiety in her heart.]
[And judging from the fact that she became the Herrscher of Thunder, the support pillar that was the original Kiana was not enough to support her spirit.]
[Love! Only the power of love can save an innocent girl from the fate of 'becoming a Herrscher, being forced to kill millions, and thus shouldering the sin'!]
[Go for it! Host! Fall in love with her, make her shy, then Up when you should Up, and Sleep when you should Sleep!]
Oh, that almost sounds reasonable... not.
It's only a few days until the Third Eruption breaks out in Nagazora City. All I can do is try to delay it as much as possible.
Although I do intend to improve her mood, getting too close to Raiden Mei means that if she awakens as a Herrscher and her body is taken over by the Herrscher Personality, she'll probably kill me, the person closest to her, first.
If you're not happy with me, just say so. You don't have to keep egging me on towards a dead end every day.
[Hehehe, is that what you really think in your heart?]
[But regardless of what you truly think, you helped Raiden Mei and left an impression in her heart. This is an undeniable fact. Someday... hehehe.]
You're so annoying.
Did you want me to just stand by and watch you get bullied?
Just as the System said, it was indeed a cliché line.
But for Raiden Mei, who was already 'drowning', regardless of how cliché the line was, Leo Ash's actions at this moment were undoubtedly the 'rope' that saved her.
"That..."
===============
Right now, should I say thank you?
But Leo Ash risked expulsion to help me. Is a simple 'thank you'... too ungrateful?
For a moment, not knowing what to do, Raiden Mei froze due to her inner turmoil.
And at the same time, having completely ignored the still chattering System, Leo Ash looked at Raiden Mei's troubled expression and continued to speak to her.
"Besides, it's the school's problem for not dealing with bullying in the first place."
"Those little brats causing trouble will only tarnish the reputation of Senba High School—today it's you, can you guarantee that others won't become victims?"
"But... others are different from me. After all, in their eyes, I'm the 'daughter of a criminal'."
"Different my ass."
Speaking bluntly, a trace of disgust appeared on Leo Ash's face.
"Do you really think these people are suppressing you because of this 'daughter of a criminal' identity?"
"Don't overthink it. This bunch of trash just likes to find excuses to bully others. There are only two reasons you're being bullied."
"They are that kind of scum, and you happened to show a weakness. That's all."
Listening to Leo Ash's words, Raiden Mei felt that although his words were a bit rough, they did make sense.
Even if she were still the young lady of ME Corp, she could only guarantee that she wouldn't become a victim.
But with such perpetrators present on campus, there would inevitably be other victims.
"Also, I have to say—your timidity is also one of the reasons you're being bullied."
After a moment's thought, Leo Ash sighed helplessly.
"The HOMU Sword Saint practiced swordsmanship with you and helped you achieve Menkyo Kaiden in Hokushin Ittō-ryū, yet you don't use the power you possess—if he knew you were still as cowardly as before, he'd probably die of anger."
"Wait!"
Suddenly hearing this name that very few people knew, Raiden Mei immediately asked anxiously.
"Leo Ash, do you know the HOMU Sword Saint?"
The HOMU Sword Saint, this was the title of Raiden Mei's swordsmanship teacher.
Well, to call it a title, he was actually just a man in a HOMU mascot costume.
And just a while ago, Raiden Mei had faintly realized that her swordsmanship master was very likely her own father.
Hearing this title, known only to the Raiden father and daughter, from Leo Ash's mouth, how could Raiden Mei possibly remain calm?
"Know him? Perhaps."
After saying this with ambiguous words, Leo Ash suddenly looked up at the overcast sky.
"Rather, among the people in Nagazora City, who doesn't know of Raiden Ryoma?"
He really does know!
After Leo Ash said this, a look of delight appeared on Raiden Mei's face.
And just then, the narration, which had briefly paused, popped up again.
[Oh! Deceiving an innocent young girl with ambiguous words! This is the opening move of a playboy!]
[Plus, the HOMU Sword Saint is her father. By ambiguously implying that you're an acquaintance of her father, you've invisibly closed the distance between you two!]
[Looking at the excited expression on Raiden Mei's face, a cold smirk couldn't help but appear in your heart—hehehe, so gullible!]
...Please, I'm looking at the sky right now.
What do you mean, 'looking at her with a cold smirk'? Your narration is already ridiculous enough, and now you've gone blind too?!
"I don't know what Mr. Raiden was put in for. But whether he's a criminal or not, I don't think he would want his daughter to be bullied every day after he went to prison."
"Actually, I don't expect you to change your mindset and fight back against that trash right away, but the problem is, sometimes you just need to show a bit of spirit to intimidate those petty cowards."
Looking at Leo Ash, who continued to keep his head raised, Raiden Mei, who now completely regarded him as one of her own, immediately nodded happily.
As for why Leo Ash was maintaining this 45-degree upward gaze—was it important?
For Raiden Mei, knowing she had one more trustworthy companion was enough.
[Affection points surging! Surging! With just a few more words, you can surely make her your captive! The thought that this girl so easily regards you as a companion makes you let out another evil 'Kekeke' laugh.]
...Forget it, I can't even be bothered to retort to you anymore.
Looking at the dark clouds in the sky, Leo Ash couldn't be bothered with this narrator anymore.
As for why he was looking up at the sky...
—Duh, when you're lying, it's easy to get caught if you look the other person in the eye.
.
After they finished talking, Leo Ash and Raiden Mei temporarily parted ways.
Although Raiden Mei was reluctant to part, she still chose to listen to Leo Ash's words and return to the classroom alone first.
As for Leo Ash, he hadn't forgotten what his 'mission' was.
After finding Kiana's classroom, Leo Ash saw the half-smiling expressions on several girls' faces and immediately felt that something was off.
"Senior Leo, are you here to see Kiana again today?"
"But what a pity, she took the day off for personal reasons."
Personal reasons?
The only family this paramecium has left is Siegfried, and Siegfried is missing. What personal business could she possibly have to suddenly take a day off?
Going off to play... that's not very likely either.
If she really wanted to go play, this person would most likely just skip school. Why would she go through the formality of requesting leave?
Strange, very strange.
It can't be that Siegfried, the person of unknown whereabouts, just so happens to be in Nagazora City, and just so happens to be found by Kiana, right?
Could there really be so many coincidences in this world?
......
That morning
After resting enough in the infirmary, the girls who had been piled up like trash at the school gate by Leo Ash now stared at each other with venomous expressions, instantly knowing what their companions were thinking.
"That brute Leo Ash, he actually humiliated us in front of the whole school for that bitch Raiden Mei!"
"Damn it! She's already a criminal's daughter, that guy must have lost his mind to be thinking of helping her at a time like this!"
Seeing the expression on the lead girl's face grow increasingly terrifying, another girl said resentfully.
"But no matter what, from today on, we can't treat Raiden Mei with the same attitude as before."
"Leo Ash is unreasonable, and he's a transfer student. At most, he'll get a few demerits for hitting people; the school won't expel him easily."
"You haven't forgotten..."
"Shut up! Of course I remember!"
At that moment, recalling a certain matter, the corners of this girl's mouth suddenly curled up crazily.
"Hmph, back then, someone gave us enough money to suppress Raiden Mei. The worse her mood got, the more money we received."
"I figured it out back then. Raiden Mei's criminal old dad must have really pissed someone off for them to want to mess with his daughter like this."
"And now that someone has disrupted the plans of those important people... why should we be stupid enough to go head-to-head with that idiot Leo Ash ourselves?"
"If we tell those people about this, they will definitely come and deal with Leo Ash and Raiden Mei. By then, after that little bitch Raiden Mei watches Leo Ash get beaten up, her mood will only get worse."
"And at that point, they will regret it, they will be remorseful—why did they choose to oppose us back then!"
....