Whether it was taking a step forward on humanity's path by defeating the Herrscher of Domination, or the miracle of Cecilia and Alexandra being revived—both were more than enough reasons to celebrate.
A feast was only natural.
And of course, as the Herrscher of Rice, Mei was the head chef.
In this dorm, no one would ever doubt her cooking.
When Nagami pushed open the door and entered, the living room was empty.
Everyone had gone out together to shop for ingredients and daily necessities for the new residents.
After all, the newcomers weren't just Cecilia and Alexandra, but also Kurumi and Inori.
In the corner of his eyes, Nagami caught sight of a figure in the kitchen.
Silken strands of deep violet hair, tied into a ponytail with a white ribbon, revealed her slender neck and the delicate lines of her collarbones.
Her tall, graceful figure was outlined perfectly by the warm light, each curve soft and elegant.
Long legs wrapped in black nylon stockings, delicate feet resting on slippers—the faint glimpse of her smooth heels adding a touch of irresistible allure.
The evening breeze gently lifted strands of her lavender hair, while her amethyst eyes shimmered like starlight.
For a moment, Nagami froze at the breathtaking sight.
Almost instinctively, he used his Herrscher of Reason powers to capture the moment as a photograph, before silently stepping forward.
The focused look on Mei's face only made her presence more captivating.
Nagami couldn't help it—the urge welled up inside him to wrap his arms around her from behind.
And so he did. Sliding his arms around her slender waist, he rested his chin on her soft shoulder.
"Ah!"
Mei let out a small gasp, her body stiffening for a heartbeat.
But the moment she felt the warmth of the chest against her back, the familiar breath brushing her skin—she knew instantly who it was.
A soft glow seemed to light her eyes.
"Honestly, Nagami, the first thing you do when you come back is cause trouble~"
Her voice carried a note of complaint, but it was wrapped in tenderness.
She relaxed almost at once, a gentle, serene smile blooming on her beautiful face—like the very image of a caring wife.
"I'm not causing trouble. I just saw my beautiful Mei, and couldn't resist wanting a hug."
Nagami buried his face in her violet hair, inhaling deeply.
The unique fragrance that belonged only to her filled his senses.
The warmth and softness in his arms made him lose himself further.
Such candid words made Mei's fair face bloom with a faint blush.
Her long lashes lowered shyly over her eyes.
"Still… there's a time and place, you know. Who sneaks up and hugs someone when they're cooking?"
Her tone carried playful reproach, yet it remained gentle, like flowing water.
And despite her words, she didn't pull his hands away from her waist.
In fact, she leaned back ever so slightly into his embrace, letting him hold her close.
Nagami shifted, guiding Mei to turn toward him.
His hand brushed her shoulder, coaxing her to face his gaze.
Slowly, he leaned closer to that flushed, radiant face.
With one hand, he swept aside a strand of hair near her ear, his fingers lingering on her silky cheek.
"But Mei," he whispered, "I'm hungry now. I want dessert."
"D-d… dessert…!"
She blinked in confusion for a moment.
Then, realizing the meaning behind his words, her face flared crimson.
"If Nagami… wants to eat, then Mei will… will make it for you…"
Her voice trembled, broken by shyness.
Her breath came unsteady as her heart pounded in her chest.
The rise and fall of her bosom gave away the storm within, while her long legs tensed and pressed together, her slender frame quivering faintly.
"Really?"
Nagami's lips curved into a grin.
His eyes locked onto her slightly parted pink lips, the glimpse of her tongue visible in the gap.
Her faint scent filled his lungs, sweet and intoxicating.
He licked his lips slowly and leaned down.
Mei's eyes widened slightly, then fluttered shut in nervous anticipation.
Her delicate hands rose, entwining with his fingers, lacing them tightly together.
The kitchen fell silent. No sound but the pounding of two racing hearts.
No one knew how long that silence lasted—until suddenly, a wave of killing intent, sharp as a blade, crashed in like a tidal wave.
Nagami's eyes snapped open. And he turned toward the source.
Outside the dorm stood a figure, frozen in place, his eyes glowing faintly crimson.
And in that instant, Nagami remembered exactly what he had originally come here for.
He looked down at the girl in his arms—Mei, her body soft and trembling, her violet eyes glazed, her lips parted as she panted faintly.
With careful restraint, Nagami let her go, hiding the sharp intake of breath that escaped him.
His mind raced with quick calculations.
From that angle, Ryoma shouldn't have been able to see clearly inside.
At most, he might have seen faint silhouettes—or worse, their shadows cast against the curtains.
"Tch."
Nagami hesitated only a moment. Then, gazing at Mei's flushed, rose-like face, he curved his lips into a gentle smile.
"Thanks for the meal."
After all, Ryoma had already seen this much.
One more little tease hardly mattered.
But anything beyond that? Not a chance.
If her father stormed in with his Magstorm Cleaver, Nagami would be a dead man.
Mei didn't answer.
She just lowered her head shyly, her gaze shifting nervously.
"Ah, right—Mei, I've got a gift for you."
If he didn't change the subject soon, Nagami felt like he'd lose control of himself.
Mei looking like this was just too adorable!
"A gift?"
Her shy expression gradually faded, replaced by a sparkle of barely contained excitement.
"Mm."
Nagami gently took her soft, slender hand and led her out of the kitchen.
He stopped when they reached the dorm entrance.
With the perception of a dual-ranked Herrscher, Nagami could easily sense that frigid aura locked onto him not far away—an aura clearly aimed at him.
To avoid angering Raiden Ryoma to the point of hurting his health, it was better not to show up in front of him right now.
He gave Mei's delicate hand a light squeeze, and when her gaze turned toward him, Nagami raised a finger and pointed in the direction where Raiden Ryoma was waiting.
"Dad!?"
Her expression instantly lit up with delight, a smile blooming brighter than the sun on Mei's face.
She tilted her head, gazing at the boy beside her with soft, glimmering eyes.
So when C.C. said Nagami had something important to do, he'd actually gone to bring her father here?
After Kiana and Bronya's mothers had been revived, they were both spending time with their families.
Only she had been left alone…
Nagami must have noticed that—and gone to get her father for her.
Her long lashes trembled, her brows filled with unspoken tenderness, and her violet eyes sparkled with emotion.
From Nagami's point of view, though, it was simply Mei's joy at seeing Raiden Ryoma again. He chuckled softly and gave a small nod.
Of course.
The smile on Mei's delicate face grew even brighter.
Her violet eyes, shining with laughter, locked onto Nagami as she suddenly leaned forward and planted a feather-light kiss at the corner of his lips.
A warm, wet softness brushed against his mouth—then vanished in an instant.
Caught off guard, Nagami froze for a moment, staring blankly at Mei's playful smile as she dashed off toward Raiden Ryoma.
That cold gaze pierced him again, but disappeared before Nagami even turned his head.
Ryoma's expression had already softened, his face warm as he watched Mei run toward him.
Nagami just shrugged.
A second later, his figure vanished from the spot—he still needed to bring her mother back.
Though Nagami had spent nearly a month in the era of the Second Eruption, only a few hours had passed in reality.
That was the price of traveling back and forth between the real world and the "space in between worlds."
————————————————————————
Inside a hidden World Serpent base.
Wearing a headset-like device, Gray Serpent's eyes flickered with red light that gradually dimmed, until his gaze turned completely calm, as if detaching from a sea of endless information.
The atmosphere was deathly still, like a graveyard at midnight.
Dust drifted faintly in the dim light, and on every face was a solemn expression, as if a shadow of dread loomed overhead, pressing down on them.
His voice was as hard as steel.
"An existence we never anticipated."
Across from him, Jackal sat upright in her seat, her Anubis mask resting quietly on her lap.
Her sharp, cold face was lit only by the glow of the terminal screen she was staring at with grave focus.
Of course World Serpent had been keeping tabs on Nagami and C.C.—the ones who stopped the Third Eruption from breaking out.
To test them, Jackal had subtly pushed Cocolia to deploy her Welt clones.
Conveniently, Cocolia had the same idea.
From how they fought against the Welt replicants, the two were indeed at the level of ordinary Herrschers.
But that was all. Compared to their Lord, the difference was heaven and earth.
Afterward, they had stayed quietly at St. Freya Academy in the Far East branch.
No one expected that in just a few short months, Nagami would reappear on the battlefield—this time with power beyond anything they had imagined.
He had even created multiple Herrschers that sided with humanity!
Such methods were unheard of.
"Could our Lord even accomplish something like that?"
Both Gray Serpent and Jackal were utterly devoted to the grand design of World Serpent, following their master Kevin Kaslana with unwavering loyalty.
Raven, however, was the exception.
She didn't worship Kevin with the same near-mad fervor as the others.
She had only one goal in life, her sole pursuit: to own her own villa on a private island.
For that, even working nonstop year-round for World Serpent was fine.
After all, money was money—nothing shameful about earning it.
Both Jackal and Gray Serpent frowned at her words, their eyes turning cold as they looked at Raven.
"My bad, my bad! I shouldn't have spoken so disrespectfully about our great Lord." Raven quickly raised her hands in surrender, admitting fault.
Still—the truth remained.
She was just a worker earning her pay.
"…No matter what happens, the Serpent's grand plan will not be obstructed!"
At last, Jackal broke the silence.
She gave a sharp snort, though the heaviness on her face betrayed that she wasn't nearly as unconcerned as she sounded.
"The plan must accelerate." Gray Serpent's voice rumbled, deep and mechanical.
"Contact Cocolia. We need more intel about the Deep."