Bronya had buried her face on the table, her thin hands hanging limply at her sides as her body began to convulse. If Luo Hong weren't holding her, she would have slid under the table. Even the nervous Theresa noticed something was wrong.
"Bronya really is a 'zakusako' (small fry)~" Luo Hong smirked and gave one final, powerful thrust.
Then—
"Eh?" He suddenly appeared at the cafeteria entrance, speaking in a surprised tone. "You haven't left yet?"
His voice instantly snapped Mei and Theresa's attention away. Simultaneously, Bronya's "refresh" kicked in; she regained her senses and glared at the culprit, Luo Hong, with pure indignation.
"Mr. Luo Hong!" Mei said with joy. "We were just looking for you. Please, come look at the Principal. Did something go wrong when she entered this world?"
She paused and looked back at Bronya, surprised. "Bronya, are you okay now?" No matter how hard she looked, there was no man behind Bronya. Strange, why did I have such a ridiculous thought?
"Yes, Sister Mei, I'm fine," Bronya explained expressionlessly. "I almost 'woke up' just now. Sorry for worrying you."
"Oh... so that's what happens when you're about to go offline." Since Mei didn't know what it looked like to leave the world, she accepted the excuse. Seeing that Bronya looked normal again, she relaxed.
While they talked, Luo Hong walked over and sat naturally next to Bronya, then looked at the "Magical Old Lady" Theresa.
"What's wrong with Theresa?"
"TeRiRi isn't Theresa! TeRiRi is TeRiRi!" Theresa chirped in her high-pitched "cutesy" voice. She didn't know who Luo Hong was, but she remembered the world explanation she got earlier. Most importantly, she remembered that this man was "omniscient." She had to keep the act up.
"Alright, alright," Luo Hong smiled warmly. "Then you're TeRiRi."
He turned to Mei with a serious face. "Miss Mei, you're familiar with the concept of 'World Bubbles', right?"
"World Bubbles... I've heard of them," Mei nodded. "Major Himeko mentioned them in class."
"That makes the explanation quite simple."
Maintaining his smile, Luo Hong explained, "Within World Bubbles, parallel versions of yourselves are born—alternate world counterparts."
"TeRiRi is one of them. The consciousness that has entered this body isn't the Principal you know, but rather, the Magical Girl TeRiRi."
"Eh?" Mei tilted her head slightly, looking adorable. "Does Magical Girl ☆ TeRiRi really exist in this world?"
"Of course she does." Luo Hong turned his gaze toward Bronya, who was sitting beside him eating her meal with a cold expression. "There is also Magical Girl ☆ Bronya, Magical Girl ☆ Seele, and Magical Girl ☆ Sirin."
"Of the four, Bronya, you are one of them." He spoke with total seriousness, making his words sound incredibly persuasive.
"Hmph!" Bronya let out a light huff. She had no desire to engage with this man who lied as easily as he breathed—especially since she could still feel the lingering "remnants" of the scoundrel's affection inside her.
Besides, from the information she had, Sirin was the Herrscher of the Void. How could she be a magical girl? Not to mention her beloved Seele was on that list too.
"I'm telling the truth." Knowing Bronya didn't believe him, Luo Hong turned back to Mei. "Miss Mei, as the price for this information, please allow me to join this meal."
"That is only right. Even if you hadn't mentioned it, Mr. Luo Hong, I was just about to invite you." With that, Mei stood up and headed toward the kitchen. "Please wait a moment while I get some utensils for you."
"Really?" Bronya looked at Luo Hong suspiciously. "Is Seele really among them?"
"Naturally." Luo Hong nodded with a serious face. "However, that Seele isn't the 'White Seele' you know, but 'Black Seele'."
"What? White Seele? Black Seele?" Bronya's disbelief grew. "And if she's a Seele from a World Bubble, she obviously isn't the Seele Bronya knows."
"You can look at it that way, but—" Luo Hong rested his cheek on his hand, admiring Bronya's confused but beautiful face. "You've vaguely sensed it, haven't you? That Seele has two personalities."
"Mm..." Bronya nodded slightly. "So 'Black Seele' is Seele's hidden personality?"
"You could say that," Luo Hong smiled. "And in the Magical Girl world, their roles are reversed. Black Seele is the primary personality, and White Seele is the hidden one."
"Th-Then... what about Sirin?"
At this moment, Theresa spoke up, risking exposure because she had to know. Even if it was just a version of Sirin from a World Bubble, Luo Hong had called them "counterparts." She hoped to find a weakness that could apply to the Sirin in their own world.
"Oh?" A playful expression appeared on Luo Hong's handsome face. "It seems TeRiRi wants to know about Sirin."
"O-Of course! She is TeRiRi's comrade!" Theresa crossed her arms, thinking that if they were both magical girls, they must be allies.
"I can tell you, but what do you have to trade with me?" Luo Hong said playfully. "You should have known the moment you arrived: information comes at a price. What do you think you can offer?"
"TeRiRi..."
Before Theresa could answer, Bronya interjected. "Bronya will pay the price. Just tell her."
Since she had already been "devoured" by Luo Hong, she decided to exploit a loophole. She didn't want to see anyone else falling prey to this demon!