Although there was a bit too much salt, since it was the first dish his disciple had ever made under his guidance, Shun still ate it all with a straight face.
"How was it, Teacher Shun?" Mei had no idea how it turned out and looked a little nervous.
"It's passable. There's a lot of room for improvement." To avoid discouraging Mei's enthusiasm, Shun spoke tactfully. After all, Mei had to become the cooking lady. A Mei who didn't become the cooking lady had no soul.
Fortunately, Mei probably didn't understand the subtext in Shun's words and took it as praise.
"Yes, I will continue to work hard, Teacher Shun." After fooling Raiden Mei, next came feeding Kiana. As expected, today Kiana ate thirty percent more than usual.
Good thing both Shun and Mei had prepared the meal today, otherwise it really might not have been enough to feed her.
By the time they finished dinner, the sky had already turned dark. After all, it was winter now, so it got dark especially early.
"Kiana, you escort Mei home." Shun instructed Kiana.
After all, Raiden Mei's life trajectory had been changed. She had not experienced darkness and naturally could not meet the necessary conditions for becoming a Herrscher.
Shun was worried that Cocolia would play dirty tricks and stop using the relatively mild method of pressuring her at school. Instead, she might use other methods to make Mei feel despair toward this world…
Shun suddenly thought of a person Asakura Miyuki. After her death, Shun had investigated her case and discovered that a girl from her original school, out of jealousy, had hired some delinquents from outside to harass Asakura Miyuki.
What they hadn't expected was that Asakura Miyuki's timid personality caused the delinquents to gradually escalate. Even after completing their employer's request, they refused to let her go.
This ultimately led to the tragedy. So after learning about this, Shun had found a good feng shui spot and buried that person alive.
To be honest, he was now a little worried that Cocolia would also resort to these underhanded moves. Although Raiden Mei possessed the full license (Menkyo Kaiden) of Hokushin Ittō-ryū, two fists were still no match for four hands.
Hiring more yakuza to force the current Mei into a fallen ending wouldn't be too difficult. And from what Shun knew about that bitch Cocolia, once she thought of something, she wouldn't have any scruples.
That woman would use any means necessary. Therefore, to ensure Raiden Mei's safety, having Kiana follow her every day was the best option. After all, ordinary people really couldn't do anything to Kiana, and Kiana also had a gun.
The moment Kiana and Mei left, a phone call came in right after. The number wasn't displayed, but once Shun picked up, the other party's unique milky voice immediately revealed her identity.
"What's up, Bronya?" Calling me now is probably because of Raiden Mei.
"Cocolia has set her sights on you." Bronya said concisely.
"Mhm, I'm not surprised. After all, I made contact with Raiden Mei today. But she shouldn't have found out anything, right?"
Shun's identity had been arranged by Gray Serpent. Cocolia's side had basically been hollowed out by Gray Serpent. If she could dig up anything, then the Gray Serpent who arranged his identity might as well go die.
"She really hasn't. In Cocolia's eyes, you're just an ordinary person. However…" Bronya suddenly changed her tone.
"She still wants to kill you. Bronya has accepted the mission. I lied to her and said I need to observe your character first. If you're a good person, Bronya will abandon the mission. But it probably won't buy much time."
"Baby, is she sick?!" Just because he showed kindness to Raiden Mei, she wanted to kill him? Cocolia really was a madwoman. If it weren't for still needing to borrow her hand for something, Shun wished he could kill this woman right now.
"Bronya can help you stall Cocolia for at most half a month. This is already Bronya's greatest effort. Bronya cannot arouse her suspicion yet."
Bronya truly had the basic qualities of an undercover agent. One could only say she truly deserved to be called "someone who would do anything for Seele."
"Mhm, thank you for your hard work. Once the matters in Nagazora City are over, I'll take you to see Seele." Although these past few days Shun had been feeding Bronya quite a few empty promises, he would eventually have to deliver on them, right?
Shun was not some unscrupulous boss who only knew how to draw pies but never fulfilled them.
"Mhm, good!" Even though Bronya's emotion module had been burned, one could still hear the excitement in her voice.
No, what kind of miserable life have I been living on Cocolia's side? She only knows how to feed me empty promises every day. Following Boss Shun is so much better. In just a few months I can already see Seele.
"By the way, what has Seele been liking recently? Bronya wants to buy her a gift."
Shun thought for a moment. Every time he contacted Seele, she always said, "Seele likes big brother the most." It felt like the number of times Seele mentioned Bronya had been getting shorter and shorter.
Maybe he shouldn't say it? Otherwise Bronya's heart might not be able to take it.
"Just buy her some Homu stuff!"
After hanging up the phone, Shun left a note on the table that said "Out for something" and then went out the door.
He sensed the location of the key he had left on Raiden Mei that allowed entry into the world bubble.
It looked like Raiden Mei had returned to the dojo… Tsk, should he remind her that this thing can be used anywhere?
Teleporting to the dojo, Shun hid within the gap between the Imaginary and the real, watching as Raiden Mei walked to the door of that washitsu and pushed it open.
She probably treated this as some kind of ritualistic action, didn't she? What a troublesome case of chuunibyou.
Shun emerged from the gap, took a step forward, and caught Raiden Mei's body as it fell backward.
Mhm, Raiden Mei's consciousness should have already entered the world bubble by now. Then it was time for him to get into position as well.
Shun sealed off the surrounding space to prevent anyone from breaking in, then entered the world bubble himself.
Let me think. After her arm was cut off, Raiden Mei should wake up in a dilapidated temple after the Buddha sculptor installs a prosthetic arm on her, right?
In that ancient temple that had weathered the vicissitudes of time and looked dilapidated, the light was dim and filled with an old, decaying smell. A massive Homu with only one arm was intently carving ferocious and terrifying Buddha statues.
Not far from this Homu, on the ground, the originally unconscious Raiden Mei suddenly stirred. Her eyelids trembled slightly, then she slowly opened her eyes. After adapting to the dim surroundings, she laboriously used both hands to support her body and gradually climbed up from the cold, hard floor.
"This is…?" Raiden Mei looked at the left hand that should have been severed in this world. The place that should have been empty was now fitted with a mechanical arm?
She reached out with her right hand and stroked the weather-beaten mechanical arm. It looked as if this hand had once belonged to someone else.
"You're awake? Looks like your life wasn't meant to end yet…" Just as Raiden Mei was still pondering what other story lay behind this hand, an old voice drew her attention.