The dessert shop was quiet, its warm lighting reflecting off glass cases filled with cakes and parfaits.
Kiana sat across from the purple-haired girl, her hands folded awkwardly on her lap.
"Once again, thank you for helping me find my wallet," the girl said politely, her voice soft but steady.
"You're… welcome," Kiana replied, her tone stiff, betraying her nerves.
Silence lingered between them, heavy but not uncomfortable. The purple hair girl had insisted on treating Kiana as thanks for returning the wallet, and now here they were, sitting opposite one another with nothing but the scent of coffee and sugar in the air.
Clearing her throat, Kiana spoke first. "I'm… Kiana."
The girl chuckled lightly, the sound easing the awkwardness like sunlight breaking through clouds. "Mm. I'm Raiden Mei."
Kiana blinked. Did I hear that right?
Her chest tightened. The name echoed in her mind, stirring something deep within her. To be sure, she asked again, her voice betraying her disbelief. "I'm sorry, could you… repeat your name?"
"Raiden Mei," she said clearly this time, her violet eyes calm and serene.
Kiana stared, wide-eyed. The same name. The same face. The same air that reminded her of Mei. And yet… this world wasn't Honkai's world. There was no 500 year old blond man, no Schicksal, no Herrscher records in history like disaster happen at siberian tundra.
So she's just… a normal person here? No Herrscher core in her body? no battles, no destiny tying her to me… and yet, she's still Mei.
Kiana's thoughts twisted. Every Kiana has her own Mei, right?
Lost in reflection, she didn't notice Mei tilting her head with curiosity. "What's the matter, Kiana-chan?"
"Ah… ah?" Kiana blinked, startled by the honorific.
Mei flushed slightly, covering her mouth. "Oh, I'm sorry. It just slipped out."
Kiana shook her head quickly. "No, it's fine. I don't mind."
"Alright then… Kiana-chan," Mei said with a gentle smile.
Badump.
Kiana felt as if an arrow had struck her chest. Her heart raced, warmth blooming in her cheeks. This feeling strange and sharp, yet sweet was unlike anything she'd ever experienced.
"…By the way, can I call you Mei?" Kiana asked cautiously.
"Of course," Mei nodded.
Gathering her composure, Kiana leaned forward slightly. "So… what brings you here?"
"Just sightseeing. I was wandering around until my wallet went missing," Mei admitted with a soft laugh.
"I see… so you're on vacation in Korea with your family?"
Mei nodded. "Yes. And what about you, Kiana-chan? Your name doesn't sound Korean. You're not from here, are you?"
Kiana's lips parted, but no words came. Where am I from? Do I even have an identity in this world?
Her silence stretched too long, her face shadowed with confusion. Mei quickly changed the subject, sparing her from the question. "Then what were you doing in the mall?"
Kiana blinked, relieved, and answered honestly. "Looking for a gift. For someone."
Just then, the dessert Mei had ordered arrived a beautifully plated ice cream cake.
Kiana's gaze lingered on it, but her thoughts suddenly drifted elsewhere. Sister Heewon… she must still be waiting outside for me right?
"Mei, I think… after this, I need to leave. Someone's waiting for me."
"I see." Mei reached for another box the waiter had set down. She neatly closed the lid on a second dessert, then pushed it gently toward Kiana. "Here. You can give this to the person you wanted to find a gift for."
Kiana's eyes widened. "Mei… there's no need."
But Mei only smiled and insisted. "Just take it. Think of it as my way of saying thanks."
For a moment, Kiana hesitated. Then she accepted the package with both hands, her expression softening. "Thank you, Mei."
Mei smile lingered as if she had decided something quietly to herself. She didn't know why, but she felt compelled to help this white-haired girl sitting before her.
The more Kiana spoke with Mei, the lighter her chest felt. Every word, every small smile, seemed to chase away the heaviness she had been carrying since waking up in this strange world.
If I can just stay near her… if I can keep talking to Mei… everything will be alright.
But happiness never lingered for long.
When it came time to part, Kiana forced the brightest smile she could muster. "Thank you for today, Mei!"
Mei chuckled softly, her expression as warm as spring sunlight. "No, thank you. Talking with you made me really happy, Kiana-chan."
Her words pierced Kiana's heart.
"Ah—Kiana-chan! Let's exchange numbers, so we can keep in contact," Mei suggested suddenly.
Kiana blinked, then nodded eagerly, reaching for her pocket… only to freeze. Her face twisted into an awkward smile as she scratched her cheek. "Uh… Mei, I don't even have a phone."
Mei sighed helplessly but smiled anyway. She pulled a pen from her bag and scribbled something onto a small piece of paper. "Then take mine. When you get a phone, call me, okay?"
Kiana held the slip of paper like a treasure, her eyes glowing as though she'd been handed a miracle. "Mm! See you later, Mei!"
The clock on the wall ticked to 6:59 p.m. as Kiana walked toward the door.
But just as her hand reached out—
Thud.
She stumbled back, clutching her forehead.
"Ah!" Mei hurried over, worry flashing in her purple eyes. "Kiana-chan, are you alright?"
"I'm fine… but…" Kiana frowned, her hand pressing against empty air. No—not empty. There was something there. An invisible barrier that stopped her cold.
"What…?" Kiana pressed harder, her palm sliding along the invisible wall. "Something's blocking the exit."
Mei hesitated, then tried for herself, only to jerk her hand back in surprise. "It's real… I can't get through either."
Before either of them could say more, the atmosphere in the dessert shop shifted.
Outside, shouts rose into chaos. An announcement crackled over the speakers:
[Everyone, please remain calm. There has been a situation—]
The voice cut off mid-sentence, leaving only static.
Inside, a sudden crimson glow burst into existence at the center of the shop. The light seared their vision, forcing most people to shield their eyes.
Mei lifted an arm instinctively to cover her face. But Kiana… Kiana stared straight at it, every nerve in her body on edge.
"W-What is happening?!" a customer shouted, panic spreading like wildfire.
"Mei, stay behind me," Kiana ordered sharply, stepping forward to shield her.
A cold, mechanical voice sliced through the noise.
[THE FREE SERVICE OF THE 8612TH PLANETARY SYSTEM HAS COME TO AN END.]
[THE MAIN SCENARIO WILL NOW BEGIN.]
From within the red light, a creature emerged small, floating, its two stubby horns and straw mat making it look absurdly out of place. Its fluffy form radiated an eerie glow.
"Dokkaebi…" Mei whispered without thinking.
Kiana glanced back at her. "What did you say?"
"I—I don't know," Mei stammered, shaken. "The word just… popped into my head."
Gasps spread through the shop.
"It's floating!"
"What is that thing?!"
"So creepy…"
"Cute!" a young girl blurted, clasping her hands.
Her brother gawked at her in disbelief. "Which part is cute?!"
"You just don't understand," she sniffed, pouting.
But most of the room was stricken with terror.
The dokkaebi's mouth moved, but the sounds that poured out weren't human language.
「&아#@!&아#@!...」
「&아#@!&아#@!...」
Twisted syllables, static and distortion, grinding into the ears of everyone present.
"What… what's it saying?" an old man asked, pale with fear.
Kiana's expression hardened.
She stepped forward, her voice sharp. "Mei stay close to me!"
Mei swallowed and nodded, she than walk behind Kiana.
Kiana glanced at Mei beside her, the faint tremor in the girl's shoulders tightening something in her chest. Her own eyes hardened as she turned back toward the strange, horned creature hovering in the center of the café. Its presence felt wrong as if it didn't quite belong in this world.
The creature, which Mei had muttered to be a Dokkaebi, abruptly stopped speaking, its wide grin freezing in midair. It tilted its head, as if listening to something unseen, then nodded once and resumed.
"[Ahem, ahem — test, test. Can you understand me now?]"
A murmur rippled through the café. The Dokkaebi's tone was oddly cheerful, its voice echoing from nowhere and everywhere at once.
"[Good, I'll take that as a yes,]" it continued, spinning lazily in a circle. "[I'll be your temporary guide until this scenario ends.]"
An elderly man stepped forward, his brows furrowed in confusion. "Scenario? What are you talking about? And what are you supposed to be?"
The creature floated closer, its grin widening until it was almost grotesque.
"[You'll understand soon enough—when you experience it yourself.]"
It snapped its fingers.
A sharp digital chime rang through the air. Then, one by one, glowing blue windows appeared before everyone's eyes.
[#BI-###### Channel is open.]
[The constellations have entered.]
Gasps echoed across the café as translucent text hovered before the stunned patrons.
[Main Scenario #1 – Proof of Value]
Category: Main
Difficulty: F
Clear Conditions: Kill one or more living beings
Time Limit: 30 minutes
Reward: 300 Coins
Failure: Death
A tense silence fell — broken by the scoff of a man in his late twenties. "What kind of sick joke is this?!" he barked, jabbing a finger at the Dokkaebi. "End this nonsense! I have work in ten minutes!"
"Yeah!" a woman shouted from across the room. "Stop playing around — I need to get home!"
One by one, voices rose in irritation, disbelief, and anger.
Kiana stayed quiet, standing with Mei in the corner. She could only stare at the crowd, half in disbelief herself. Why are they acting like this? Do they have the survival instincts of cotton candy?
The Dokkaebi's grin faltered — and somehow, that made its expression far more terrifying.
[You want to go, right? Then let me send you first.]
The man who had spoken earlier didn't even have time to scream. His head burst apart like a ripe fruit, painting the café walls red.
The screams came next.
Blood splattered across the floor — some droplets even hit a nearby woman's lips before she could recoil. Her shriek tore through the air as panic erupted.
"Kyaa!!!" a girl screamed, clutching her head.
Beside Kiana, Mei trembled violently, her eyes squeezed shut as she clung to Kiana's sleeve.
Kiana's instincts screamed at her to move, to fight. Her body tensed, ready to leap at the white creature — but something inside her warned against it. No… if I attack recklessly, things might get worse.
She wasn't sure if she still had the full strength of Kiana Kaslana, or if she could even awaken the Herrscher of the Void's power within her. And if she tried Mei might get caught in the backlash.
So she held her ground, forcing her breathing to stay steady as she squeezed Mei's hand, silently reassuring her.
The Dokkaebi's smile returned, cruel and unbothered.
"[Then, good luck, everyone. Please… make it an interesting story.]"
And with that, it vanished.
(A/n: let me horsing around)