Chapter 102: A New Herrscher Has Appeared
Life at St. Freya Academy seemed to have settled into a state of absolute peace. It was as if some strange, gentle magic permeated the grounds, compelling all who resided there to forget their worries and troubles.
On the television, the classic scene from "Titanic" was playing. The male lead, his voice raw with emotion, was demanding to know why the female lead had returned to the sinking ship for him. In response, she affectionately caressed his face before uttering that timeless line: "You jump, I jump, right?"
It was a deeply moving moment, but Rovel didn't dare to move a single muscle.
"My dear Mei..." Rovel began, his voice a careful, placating murmur. He was trying to summon back the gentle, doting Head Chef he knew and loved.
"What is it, my dear Mr. Ruobai?" Mei purred, snuggling deeper into his arms.
"How about... we put the knife down before we continue watching?" Rovel suggested, gently pressing his index finger against the razor-sharp tip of the kitchen knife she was holding, nudging it a fraction of an inch away from his side. "It would be terrible if you accidentally hurt yourself."
"Don't you worry, Mr. Ruobai. I know exactly what I'm doing," Mei whispered. She captured his hand, pressing it flat against his torso. Then, with a silent, deliberate motion, she guided her own hand—the one holding the knife—until its point rested firmly against Rovel's kidney.
He could feel the faint, stinging pressure of the blade's tip through his shirt.
"Mornin'..." A hungover Himeko shuffled into the living room, scratching at her messy crimson hair. She blinked, her eyes struggling to focus on the scene before her. "What kind of game are you two lovebirds playing so early?"
The strap of Himeko's nightshirt had slipped, revealing the smooth expanse of her left shoulder. The small beauty mark just above her chest only added to her disheveled charm.
Mei calmly explained what had transpired, her tone suggesting she was seeking a sympathetic ear from her teacher.
To her surprise, Himeko merely strode to the fridge, cracked open a can of beer, and plopped down on the sofa next to Rovel, slinging a casual arm around his shoulders.
"Not bad, kid. You've got some nerve, saying things like that right to Mei's face," Himeko said, clearly amused. She gave his back a hearty slap that made him wince.
"Major Himeko, how could you..." Mei was stunned. Was this really the appropriate reaction?
"Mei, you're thinking about this all wrong." Himeko wagged an index finger back and forth before taking a long gulp of beer, letting out a satisfied sigh. "Haaa... buuurp..."
Rovel and Mei exchanged a look, both momentarily speechless. She had been drinking like that all last night, and now she was starting again the moment she woke up. A true alcoholic.
"This kind of thing is bound to happen," Himeko declared, waving her hand dismissively. "Look, it's simple. If the girl's got the upper hand, the guy's happy to go along for the ride. If the guy's stronger, the girl's pinned against the wall. A teenage boy's mind has a hundred and one dirty thoughts. It's normal for him to have these little fantasies."
She gestured toward Rovel. "Once he sees just how formidable you are, Mei, he won't have room for any other ideas." Himeko paused, a wicked grin spreading across her face. "On the other hand, if you can't handle him... well, then you don't really have any grounds to complain, do you?"
Himeko's train of thought had suddenly and spectacularly gone off the rails.
"Major Himeko, what are you talking about!" Mei's face flushed with embarrassment. She was starting to suspect Himeko hadn't sobered up from last night. No, wait, it was entirely possible she was already drunk again.
"How about I test him out for you first?" Himeko continued, her playful gaze landing on Rovel. She gently caressed his cheek. "I was very satisfied with this kid's performance yesterday. I wouldn't mind a repeat."
"Major Himeko!"
Seeing the genuine anger flare in Mei's eyes, Himeko finally backed down. "Sorry, sorry! Just kidding."
After all, Mei was in charge of the meals. If she pushed too far, she might find herself eating shredded ginger stir-fried with shredded potatoes, or green peppers stir-fried with chili peppers for dinner. She wouldn't be able to stomach that.
"Besides," Himeko mused, changing the subject, "the male-to-female ratio in our world is so unbalanced that polygamy isn't exactly uncommon. If it wasn't, humanity would have probably died out by now..."
Her eyes suddenly lit up with a new line of inquiry. "Hmm... wait a minute. Can Descenders even have children?" she asked, posing a question that struck at the very heart of the matter.
"This..." Rovel and Mei looked at each other. How was anyone supposed to know that?
"Aren't your bodies digitized?" Himeko murmured, thinking aloud. "No, that's not right. When I examined your body last time, I found it wasn't all that different from ours. Logically speaking, there shouldn't be any major issues."
"Why did the topic suddenly get so deep?" Rovel complained. "Mei and I haven't even reached that step yet."
"Oh, it's only a matter of time. It's better to plan ahead," Himeko said nonchalantly.
'She's clearly been single her whole life, yet her theoretical knowledge is surprisingly extensive,' Rovel thought. Of course, he didn't dare say that out loud.
"Mei," he said, turning to her. "How about we go practice kendo? It's been a while."
"Yes," she agreed instantly. "I feel like I'm getting a bit rusty."
The two found their common ground and hurriedly made their escape, leaving Himeko alone on the sofa.
"Honestly, those two kids..." Himeko chuckled, downing the rest of her beer. She set the can down, stretched, and began to limber up.
Suddenly, her expression changed. A secure communication from Theresa was coming through.
"What's wrong, Theresa? It's vacation time," Himeko asked, her voice tinged with curiosity.
"A new Herrscher reaction has appeared in Nagazora City," Theresa's voice was grim and direct, cutting straight to the point.
Himeko froze, all traces of her earlier laziness vanishing in an instant.
"According to satellite monitoring, after Raiden Mei left, the Honkai Energy concentration in the center of Nagazora dropped significantly. However, it seems to have gradually shifted and reconcentrated over Chiba Academy."
"Just now, the Honkai Energy concentration at Chiba Academy reached 1300 HW. The satellite also captured specific images."
Theresa transmitted the satellite photos to Himeko's device. The image was chilling. The grounds of Chiba Academy were covered in a thicket of menacing thorns, and at its very center, a lone, purple-haired girl was kneeling amidst them.
"Understood. I'm heading over now." Himeko was already sprinting towards the Hyperion's launch bay.
"By the way, take Rovel with you," Theresa added. "According to the records I found, this girl seems to know both him and Mei."
"But Mei's current situation is unstable. If the Herrscher core inside her is reactivated by a high concentration of Honkai Energy, it would be extremely dangerous. You'll only take Rovel this time."
"If possible, perhaps..." Theresa's voice trailed off, but Himeko understood her unspoken meaning perfectly.
If this new Herrscher was as controllable as Mei had been, she could be brought back to St. Freya Academy, trained, and turned into an excellent Valkyrie.
"Yeah. I understand."
Himeko reached the Hyperion first, immediately beginning the pre-flight launch sequence for the battleship.
"Himeko, I'm here!" Rovel arrived shortly after. Mei was with him, but only to see him off. She was keenly aware of her own situation. Faced with this crisis, she was consumed with worry but powerless to help directly.
"Mr. Ruobai, please be careful," Mei urged, her eyes full of concern.
"I will. Don't worry," Rovel nodded, his expression firm.
As the massive form of the Hyperion ascended into the sky and disappeared over the horizon, Raiden Mei finally turned to leave, a reluctant sigh escaping her lips.
'Asaka Yuno...'
The image of the purple-haired girl flashed through her mind. She never would have expected it. She never would have expected that girl, of all people, would become a Herrscher, just like her.
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