St. Freya High School. Himeko's Home.
Having already completed his mission this morning, Stan certainly wasn't bored enough to go wandering around outside.
The clever cat had, of course, not forgotten the words Leo Ash had spoken while they were on patrol last time.
He was a prisoner of war, after all—although his treatment didn't seem like that of a POW, he had once been a member of World Serpent regardless.
No one treated him like an enemy, but he had to have that self-awareness.
Obediently staying on the balcony, sunbathing and munching on cat food from time to time, was actually quite nice.
In the past, he had risked life and limb for World Serpent... well, there weren't many masters who could defeat an Emperor-class Honkai Beast, so it wasn't really up to Stan to risk life and limb.
But back then, even after completing a mission, he'd get a few bags of cat food at most. Jackal's attitude towards him wasn't bad, but it was just that.
Sigh, in this day and age, who would risk their life for a few bags of cat food a month.
Lazing around at the boss's house was much better than being thrown into battle every day back in World Serpent.
It's just that...
Hearing the sounds from outside, Stan, who had been enjoying the sunlight quite comfortably, suddenly opened his eyes.
From the second-floor balcony, Stan saw Kiana and Bronya sneaking back into the dormitory.
*Sigh, that scary little girl and that short little brat...*
*Although I don't know what they went out for, it's none of my business.*
Then, about ten minutes later, Stan opened his eyes once again and saw Yuna and Mei also return home.
But this time, the two who appeared before Stan were clearly much more normal in their demeanor than the previous pair.
*The oppressive feeling from these two girls isn't weak either... whatever, their outing has nothing to do with me either.*
*Anyway, it's not like I can stop the boss from being asked out by another girl. You people...*
[Yo, little kitty, what are you looking at?]
Just as Stan was about to close his eyes and continue sunbathing, a voice suddenly appeared inside his mind.
*You, you, you—it's you!*
[That's right, it's me.]
After Mei's body returned to Himeko's home, the Herrscher of Thunder naturally sensed Stan's gaze.
As the true master of the Gem of Conquest, she was, of course, more adept at using Herrscher abilities than Mei.
Her perception through bio-currents was a given, but the Herrscher of Thunder could also use her other authorities as a Herrscher.
Herrschers possess the authority to create and command Honkai Beasts and Honkai Zombies. Although Stan was a cat modified into an Emperor-class Honkai Beast, he was now clearly considered a 'Honkai Beast'.
Unlike the other girl who had just become the Herrscher of Death, the Herrscher of Thunder was clearly much more proficient in the use of her authority.
Not only could she communicate directly with Stan through consciousness, but she could even use her authority to make Stan unconsciously obey her commands.
Of course, Stan was not a Honkai Beast created by the Herrscher of Thunder. If he wanted to resist, he might be able to struggle a little—but the problem was, how could he dare!
[I can feel that you fear me in your heart.]
[There's no need for that. I have no interest in abusing cats. I'm just very curious—where is Leo Ash right now?]
*T-The boss?*
*Uh, I was sleeping earlier...*
[Hm↑?]
Although there was nothing wrong with the other party's tone, at that moment, Stan felt a sense of dread.
This dread—he had only ever felt it from Leo Ash!
*S-So scary!*
*This woman—*
[I've discovered that you don't seem very polite towards me.]
[Have you forgotten something—before a Herrscher, Honkai Beasts are nothing more than our subordinates.]
[That girl Mei is usually too gentle, so gentle that even a mere cat dares to walk all over us.]
*I'm sorry, I was wrong! The boss was asked out by that girl named Anna.*
[Mm, now that's a good little kitty.]
Just as Yuna was about to return to her room, she suddenly glanced back at Mei's figure.
*Strange, why did it feel like she was using the Herrscher's power just now?*
*But there was no lightning coming from her body, and the Herrscher of Thunder... shouldn't be able to break through Mei's seal.*
*I must be overthinking it.*
In any case, the first step of the operation was a success today.
As for Anna and Senior... that's an unexpected bonus. If they can grow closer, that's definitely a good thing.
Now everything is ready. We just have to wait for that day to arrive...
*Well, no matter what, at least one of us will succeed... right?*
.....
Meanwhile, as soon as Mei returned to her room alone, she immediately heard a voice in her head.
[Alright, the problem is now serious.]
*What are you suddenly talking about?*
[Do you know where Leo Ash went?]
*...Well, he probably went to train or to see the Headmaster.*
*Anyway, ever since he was promoted to A-rank, the things he usually does... oh, wait. In the past, except for the time he asked Class Rep Fu Hua out, I feel like he's always been doing one of three things: training, studying, or going on missions.*
[Mm, the past Leo Ash might have been doing that.]
*What are you trying to say now?*
[But just now, I finally understood—Leo Ash was asked out by Anna!]
[They went on a date!]
*...So?*
Hearing Mei's words, the Herrscher of Thunder felt a little helpless.
[No, don't you understand the seriousness of this situation???]
*W-What's so strange about it?*
*The day we first came to St. Freya High School, Class Rep also took us to the commercial street.*
*I don't think there's anything wrong with Anna asking Leo Ash to show her around.*
[Forget it. Let's just pretend I didn't say anything.]
[I should just get ready to watch the show.]
*...I think you really overthink things sometimes.*
*If Leo Ash can relax a little by going out with Anna, isn't that a good thing?*
[This line of thinking of yours...]
*He's been so tired for so long. If Anna helps him relax a bit, I think I should even thank her.*
[What a spirit of dedication.]
*Besides, Leo Ash and I are just friends. What right do I have to stop him from going out with someone?*
[Fine.]
Hearing Mei's words, the Herrscher of Thunder said bluntly.
[Since you've decided to withdraw from the race, why should I bother worrying?]
*You're wrong.*
*Why do you have the mistaken impression that I'm going to withdraw?*
At that moment, the Herrscher of Thunder suddenly felt an aura that Mei did not usually exude erupt from her.
Usually, Mei was gentle and kind to others, a typical Yamato Nadeshiko-type young lady.
But now, the Herrscher of Thunder could feel that the gentleness in Mei had completely vanished.
In its place, an incredibly sharp aura erupted from her.
The current Mei was like a famous sword drawn from its sheath, radiating a sharpness that made it impossible to look at her directly.
[Mei, you...]
*I can feel that you're really worried about me.*
*Thank you, but this time, it's alright.*
*After all...*
Glancing at the swimsuit she had chosen, Mei said to the Herrscher of Thunder with great confidence.
*I am no longer lost.*
*When that day comes, I will make sure Leo Ash—sees my most charming side!*
[Heh, very good. I really did underestimate you.]
Feeling the conviction in Mei, the Herrscher of Thunder said no more.
After all, in her eyes...
—The current Mei had clearly undergone a transformation for some unknown reason.
[This is the kind of spirit the wielder of the Thunder of Conquest should have, Mei.]
....
About an hour later, when Leo Ash returned home, the first thing he saw was...
Oh, it was Stan with a peculiar look in his eyes.
Unfortunately, Stan couldn't speak human language, so he couldn't tell Leo Ash what he had seen and heard. He could only watch as Leo Ash and Anna returned to the dormitory and went to their respective rooms.
After all, he was just a cat. Even the name [Stan] was something he had scratched into the dirt with his claws one day.
Otherwise, the people at St. Freya High School wouldn't even know his name.
And after returning to his room, the first thing Leo Ash saw was...
—Oh, it was Rin, with a complicated expression.
"What's wrong?"
Looking at the ghostly girl floating in mid-air, Leo Ash sat down relaxedly on the sofa and asked Rin.
"Why are you looking at me like that?"
"I'm telling you, do you not realize the seriousness of the situation?"
?
Ah, am I in some kind of crisis?
Sys, you there?
[I'm not. Screw you.]
Oh, looks like there's no problem then.
So why is she staring at me with that contradictory look of slight worry and schadenfreude?
"If there's a problem, you have to say it clearly."
Looking at Rin, Leo Ash said earnestly.
"No matter how much you dislike me, we're two grasshoppers on the same rope."
"If I die, you might have a chance to escape from the Stigmata Space, but—Otto won't let you go. I can guarantee that much."
"No, no, no, I'm not talking about that kind of crisis—do you really not understand what I'm talking about?"
"I told you, I have no idea what you're talking about—can you stop speaking in riddles? It's a good habit to speak plainly."
At that moment, Rin suddenly smiled and shook her head, then floated out of Leo Ash's room.
But before she left, she gave Leo Ash a meaningful look.
To be honest, Leo Ash felt a little creeped out.
But the System didn't give him any rewards, so it couldn't be that the System suddenly became useless and...
[You'd better stop using such talk to test this System.]
Oh, looks like there's really no problem.
The little girl is trying to bluff me.
Wow, is this really the big-sister-type monster from the original story?
Why does it feel like even her intelligence has subtly increased?
.
As for Rin, who had floated out, she looked at the large villa and just thought...
—Heh heh heh, there's a show to watch.
She was usually bored, with nothing to do but wander around.
Today, she happened to be at the commercial street and overheard the discussions between Kiana and Bronya, and between Yuna and Mei.
As for how she could hear conversations from two different directions at almost the same time...
—Don't underestimate the speed of a ghost's flight, you bastard!
It's human nature to gossip.
And although Rin had been a Herrscher for fifty thousand years, now that her resentment wasn't so heavy, the thought of watching some drama naturally surfaced in her mind.
To be honest, her resentment towards Leo Ash was dwindling.
But that didn't stop her from preparing to watch him crash and burn.
Even now, Rin felt that Leo Ash hadn't realized the seriousness of the situation.
*Heh heh heh, you definitely won't die.*
*But next... I absolutely have to follow along that day!*
The incredibly powerful warrior Leo Ash, who led the Fire Moths to victory against the Herrscher of Finality, was, in the end, just a kid not yet twenty years old.
Anyway, this fire won't burn me, so why should I remind him at a time like this!
*That little girl who left with her arm linked in his chose an incredibly bold swimsuit.*
*The one who uses lightning isn't much better in that regard.*
*And that white-haired girl over there... Hmph, none of them have good intentions.*
*Even the little girl and the one who uses poison might join the fray at a critical moment.*
Leo Ash, who was so formidable when facing enemies, was ultimately just an ignorant child when it came to handling relationships.
I once saw a handsome high school boy at the commercial street who, because he was involved with too many women, ended up... hehe.
And now Leo Ash...
*Heh, let me see. Are you going to choose one of them, or...*
*Are you going to be an eight-timing scumbag?*
*I'm so looking forward to it. I'm really looking forward to the scene on the beach in a few days.*
*If I can see a scene like that this time...*
*—Getting a scolding from Leo Ash afterward would still be worth it.*
..