80. A Day with Mei, Raven Arrives.
From the Second Eruption in 2000 to the Third Eruption in 2014, humanity enjoyed 14 years of stable life.
The Great Eruption in Siberia was intentionally kept under control by Schicksal and Anti-Entropy, preventing the general public from learning about it. People continued to believe they lived in an ordinary and peaceful world.
This period was indeed very stable, and nothing major or any great crises occurred on Earth during this time.
If one had to mention any crises, then Murata Himeko, a student, might have rarely encountered her father, only for him to leave her forever shortly after. This prompted her to make up her mind, abandon her studies in literature, and join Schicksal's Valkyrie assault team.
A girl named Bianka Atalanta, accompanied by a recently met older sister, Rita, would infiltrate the Sea of Quanta, taking the first step of her legendary life in various world bubbles, eventually earning the name "Durandal."
Similarly, Kiana, Bronya, and other protagonists of this world gradually embarked on their destined paths, beginning their own stories.
As for Gao Qi... he, who had always been caught up in battles and conflicts, also enjoyed a rare period of relaxation.
In Nagazora City, there were no Honkai Eruptions or wars. Schicksal and Anti-Entropy, in this far-eastern border area, maintained a delicate balance thanks to the mediation of Einstein and Theresa.
Gao Qi's life revolved around daily chores and simply accompanying Raiden Mei. For him, this life was nothing short of paradise.
"Alright, that's enough. Turn up the heat to reduce the sauce... Good, it's ready to serve!"
Late at night, a villa in the affluent district of Nagazora City was unusually lively.
The sizzling of stir-frying, the clanging of spatulas, a girl's cheerful laughter, and a young man's hurried instructions echoed through the spacious villa.
At this moment, Mei was carefully holding a spatula, stirring a pot of braised pork, while Gao Qi, assisting her on the side, earnestly taught her the key points of cooking.
In the original story, Mei, as a young lady, wasn't naturally skilled at household chores from the start. Her abilities were purely forced out by Kiana and Bronya, two "giant infants."
There was no other way. Gao Qi knew them all too well: Kiana's personality was defined by laziness—if she could lie down, she'd never sit up. Bronya was a pure shut-in, sitting in front of the computer all day without moving. Mei was forced to transform from a young lady into a "cooking maid"... Thinking about it, it wasn't easy for her.
Rather than letting her cram at the last minute in the future, Gao Qi thought it would be better to teach her these skills now. After all, in the future, she would be raising Gao Qi's precious daughter—what's wrong with a father teaching a stepmother?
To Gao Qi's satisfaction, Mei genuinely enjoyed the process. Even as a young lady, she took great pleasure in cooking.
"Mmm, I understand! Don't worry, Brother Gao Qi. Although I'm still far from your level, I'm sure I'll catch up. When that time comes... I'll be the one cooking for you."
Flustered, she plated the dish and took a bite. Looking at the unappetizing dish with far inferior color, aroma, and taste compared to Gao Qi's cooking, she turned to him, feeling discouraged, and began to act coquettishly.
"Sigh, it's still not good enough."
Currently, Mei was wearing casual home clothes. A light yellow sweater outlined her rapidly developing figure, and the checkered apron that looked plain on Gao Qi somehow gave her a fashionable flair—Mei was a natural clothes hanger. Many talent scouts had asked this young lady to model for magazine covers, but Gao Qi had turned them all down.
Coupled with her casually tied, dangerous hairstyle draped over one shoulder, Mei exuded a wife-like charm. For a moment, Gao Qi was slightly stunned—he was never a match for beautiful girls.
Indeed, people's temperaments varied greatly. Whether it was Mobius or Aponia, both were much older than Mei, but the wife-like aura was something those two mad scientists and the ultimate saint couldn't compare to.
Seeing her pitiful yet adorable expression, Gao Qi immediately reached out to pat her head and picked up a piece of braised pork, tossing it into his mouth.
"It's not bad at all. You've made a lot of progress. This is really good. Keep it up! Cooking isn't just about skill; it also requires a bit of love!"
Gao Qi winked at Mei. Hearing the word "love," Mei's face turned even redder.
"Mmm... Brother Gao Qi, you're always spoiling me. I'm not a child anymore—don't just praise me, give me proper feedback."
Gently patted on the head, Mei's face instantly flushed. She quickly picked up another dish with her chopsticks and shyly offered it to Gao Qi.
"Ah—open your mouth!"
Clearly, any excuse would do. Mei just wanted to enjoy the feeling of feeding Gao Qi.
Now, she loved doing the things Brother Gao Qi had once done for her, hoping to reduce the likelihood of him seeing her as a child.
"Alright, alright. I'll demonstrate a few more dishes for you later—ah, mmm!"
Without hesitation, Gao Qi opened his mouth wide and swallowed the dish Mei had offered him.
"Hmm, the heat was indeed a bit too high, but it's still quite good. Alright, I'll handle the rest of the dishes. Mei, go check if the rice is ready."
"Mm-hmm!"
Successfully feeding Gao Qi, Mei felt genuine joy and happiness.
As Mei grew older, she could clearly feel that she and Brother Gao Qi were becoming more and more in sync in their daily lives.
Whether it was their habits during outings, each other's tastes and preferences, or shared interests—initially, only Gao Qi understood Mei, but now, Mei was making an effort to understand him.
And now, the two of them could cooperate seamlessly to prepare a lavish dinner. It was almost, almost like... a married couple!
Thinking of this, Mei's smile brightened even more. She could only lightly cover her mouth to stop herself from thinking further and quickly walked over to the pressure cooker.
Although she was a standard rich second-generation, Mei didn't have many desires. She only hoped to live a stable, ordinary life filled with happiness—a goal that wasn't easy to achieve.
Speaking of which, I'm already sixteen. According to Far Eastern law, I can get married now. But does Brother Gao Qi still see me as a child? What if I confess my feelings and he only sees me as a little sister?
As adolescence arrived, Mei's heart grew increasingly restless. The way she looked at Brother Gao Qi became stranger and stranger, but clearly, this "Raiden Queen," admired by countless girls, still lacked a little bit of courage.
Taking the spatula, Gao Qi stood in front of the stove and began preparing the remaining dishes.
Compared to Mei, Gao Qi's thoughts were naturally far more complex.
Unlike with Kiana and Bronya, although Gao Qi had raised Mei since childhood, their relationship wasn't like father and daughter but more like siblings.
After all, Raiden Ryoma, Mei's biological father, was alive and well, and Gao Qi wasn't some middle-aged man in his thirties or forties but a fine young man only seven or eight years older than Mei.
Rather than saying Gao Qi raised Mei, it was more accurate to say they grew up together. Gao Qi couldn't maintain the same paternal mindset he had with Kiana and Bronya when facing Mei.
In fact, even his older-brother mindset when facing Mei differed from when he faced Fu Hua.
After all, when acting as Fu Hua's older brother, Gao Qi had never harbored any worldly desires toward little Hua.
Well, of course, Gao Qi absolutely didn't mean that little Hua's figure wasn't alluring or couldn't stir up hormones.
Putting aside her bust size, little Hua's figure was actually quite good. After all, she was a martial artist, so it was natural for her physique to be well-proportioned!
Moreover, even without Nuwa's later "alterations" to the "Herrscher of Sentience," little Hua's chest probably, maybe, also had... some curves. Probably—definitely!
Of course, it wasn't because Fu Hua had any personality issues. Before becoming a MANTIS, Fu Hua was just a slightly socially awkward girl. In front of Gao Qi, she was especially soft and tender, blushing instantly whenever Gao Qi teased her.
So, the reason Gao Qi never developed strange thoughts about little Hua was simply because... his experience wasn't rich enough back then!
After all, at that time, he had never been in a relationship, but the current Gao Qi was completely different.
Although his relationship with Mobius was somewhat different from ordinary ones, and his "relationship" with Sister Aponia was mostly seen as a child's mischief, Gao Qi's own experience in this area was gradually increasing.
Looking back, Gao Qi realized that little Hua had expressed her affection for him early on, but he just hadn't noticed it.
Later, when facing Cocolia and Raven, although Gao Qi noticed their feelings, he was afraid of hurting them and ultimately didn't accept them.
However, it turned out that Cocolia still became obsessed with Gao Qi, much like Otto, and triggered the Third Eruption.
This made Gao Qi understand that avoiding someone's feelings contradicted his desire to change tragedies.
To change someone and avoid tragedy, he had to intervene in their lives. But if the other party had feelings for him and he intentionally ignored them, it would only lead to worse outcomes.
After being with Sister Aponia, Gao Qi followed his heart and bravely confessed to her. Although he still died in the end, he achieved a gratifying result.
Aponia did not sink into sorrow but continued to strive to live on. The changes left behind by Gao Qi truly revolutionized the Flame-Chasers, allowing Gao Qi to receive an SS-tier evaluation for the first time.
Therefore, after the last simulation, Gao Qi understood that in the simulation, he must not only work hard to change others but also accept the changes brought about by himself. Only then would the future of the simulated world continuously evolve in a positive direction.
This way, Gao Qi could transform this imperfect world into the one he desired.
So now, Gao Qi would absolutely not shy away from any emotional entanglement—he wouldn't take the initiative, but if someone truly had feelings for him, Gao Qi would never refuse.
He was going to be a playboy, so what! If he was going to be a playboy, he'd do it thoroughly! He took pride in being a playboy!
Thus… similarly, he wouldn't reject Mei either.
Turning around, Gao Qi looked at Mei, who was fiddling with the pressure cooker, and couldn't help but smile.
The Herrscher of Food was beginning to reveal herself today—pots, pans, bowls, and utensils, submit to me!
This girl, gentle in appearance and polite to others but strong-willed inside, was someone whose every step of growth Gao Qi had almost witnessed.
Compared to Kiana and Bronya, although Mei was the young lady of the ME Corporation, her life trajectory was more like that of an ordinary person than a clone or a child soldier.
For the current Mei, who still didn't understand the true nature of the world and knew nothing about the Honkai, the trials and Tribulations she would face in the future, as well as the things she would need to accept and learn, were likely far greater than those of Kiana and Bronya.
Gao Qi couldn't tell Mei too much about the Honkai now, but from childhood to adulthood, he had always been by her side, teaching her to be strong, to remain courageous when alone, and to learn to seek help from those close to her.
As for her little thoughts… Gao Qi had long seen through them clearly.
But clearly, Mei was still in a stage of self-conflict, so Gao Qi wasn't in a hurry to bring it up. Before the disaster erupted, he still had plenty of time to spend with her.
As long as Mei spoke up, Gao Qi would absolutely not refuse.
In the end, perhaps this kind of ordinary, mundane life was what Gao Qi wanted the most.
No Honkai, no war, just living a blissful life with beautiful girls—twice a day, or three times if there's something special, an unabashedly wonderful life… wouldn't that be great?
[Perhaps I really have the ability to let everyone in this world live a stable and peaceful life—then what I'm fighting against might not just be the Honkai.]
Shaking his head, Gao Qi tossed the wok, while the authority of the Herrscher sensed the grand, sacred, and majestic power within Mei's body.
The Lightning Stigmata and the Gem of Conquest—the former was a relic from the previous era, recording hatred toward the Third Herrscher along with her abilities and knowledge, while the latter was a gem bestowed by the Honkai Will of this era upon the Herrscher of the Void to create the Herrscher of Thunder…
Raiden Ryoma combining the two indeed allowed them to suppress each other, but Gao Qi knew this method was no different from drinking poison to quench thirst.
Although these two forces would initially cancel each other out, with just a slight trigger, they would instead complement each other and create—the Herrscher of Thunder!
Even without Cocolia's meddling, Raiden Mei was destined to become the Third Herrscher.
[Before that inevitable judgment arrives… let Mei enjoy a few more good days.]
Suddenly, Gao Qi felt a strong embrace from behind, along with a surge of波涛 directly pressing against him.
How should he put it? Although not as terrifying as Aponia or Mobius… it was still quite impressive. For a high school student, Mei's size was already remarkable!
"What's up? I'm still stir-frying here. Be careful with your hands; don't get splashed with oil."
Gao Qi's face flushed slightly, but he remained calm and composed. He was no longer an innocent young boy; even if shy, he would pretend to be unfazed in front of others.
"Just hugging for a while, what's wrong? Since childhood, haven't I often hugged you from behind like this when you're cooking, Gao Qi-ge? What, do you hate me now?"
Looking at Gao Qi from behind, without meeting his direct gaze, Mei felt a bit braver. She stood on her tiptoes and rested her chin on Gao Qi's shoulder.
She thought about secretly kissing Gao Qi-ge but ultimately didn't have the courage. Instead, she hugged him tighter and rubbed against him a few times.
"How could I? I like it more than anything. Then hug a little longer. A lone man and a lone woman—if you keep teasing me like this, be careful I turn into a beast."
With warmth and softness pressed against his back and Mei's gentle breath constantly brushing against his neck, as Little Gao Qi was about to lose control, Gao Qi quickly activated the authority of the Herrscher of Ice for some local cooling, calmed down a bit, thus avoiding embarrassment while trying to shoo Mei away.
However, to Mei, these words made her light purple eyes suddenly brighten.
Did this mean—Gao Qi-ge saw her as a woman, not just an ordinary child?
As soon as this thought arose, many strange ideas flooded into Mei's mind.
The next second, Raiden Mei had already skipped the process of falling in love, getting married, her father breaking down in tears, and going on a honeymoon with Gao Qi-ge, fast-forwarding to the birth of their child.
[W-what should we name it? Although in principle, it might be considered marrying into the family, but my relationship with Gao Qi-ge can't be seen that way… How about giving it a Shenzhou name or an Extreme East name—ahh!]
Her face flushed red with embarrassment again. Mei quickly opened the pressure cooker, scooped out all the rice, and ran toward the dining room.
"Sigh, still just a kid after all, huh."
Although Gao Qi could use "Discipline," he couldn't read minds at all, so he had no idea what Mei was thinking. He simply shrugged, plated the remaining dishes, and walked out of the kitchen.
[But come to think of it, that matter is almost here. I'll have to be Mei's steadfast support after Raiden Ryoma is imprisoned, encouraging and supporting her properly, so she doesn't shut herself off—sorry, Kiana, your job is mine now. This is payback for that time Siegfried stole my chance to look cool!]
Gao Qi also knew that he would likely see his precious daughter Kiana and Bronya again soon—he needed to prepare their favorite foods in advance.
"Food's ready, let's eat, Mei—huh? What's wrong?"
When Gao Qi walked into the dining room, he saw Mei staring blankly at the TV, her rice spoon paused in her hand.
On the TV screen, an emergency news report was being broadcast.
"November 16th: The chairman of the ME Corporation, the largest electronics manufacturer in the Extreme East, Raiden Ryoma, has been accused by employees of the same company of misappropriating corporate assets and a series of other scandals. The board of directors announced that Raiden Ryoma will be removed from his position as chairman effective immediately and handed over to prosecutors for legal action."
"Raiden Ryoma denied the allegations against him at a press conference, calling it a premeditated factional struggle and stating that the charges were fabricated by his opponents."
"Currently, Raiden Ryoma has been temporarily detained by the police, awaiting further investigation of the case. This station will continue to follow up on the report."
Gao Qi understood that Raiden Ryama had finally been framed by Cocolia, and the methods hadn't changed.
And this was what would plunge Raiden Mei into gloom, stripping away her past sunshine.
"G-Gao Qi-ge?"
—————
Meanwhile, atop the ME Corporation building in Nagazora City, a person in a black trench coat, face hidden under a hood, sat at the edge of the roof, chatting with someone on the phone.
"What you asked me to do is done, Cocolia. Raiden Ryoma can no longer protect his daughter. Honestly, I admire you. If it were me, I couldn't make an entire city's people leave their homes for Gao Qi's sake—you're playing with fire, Cocolia. You can't control the power of a Herrscher. If necessary, I will kill her!"
Natasha chuckled lightly into the phone, then leaped off the tall building like a crow in the night.
The World Serpent remained dormant, but this grand play unfolding in Nagazora City had a role for her as well.
"Raiden Mei, a girl born with a silver spoon, Cocolia's pitiful sacrifice… why do you deserve the attention of the Honorable Ones?"
Looking at the photo on her phone of an ordinary, rather good-looking Extreme East high school girl, Raven thought… this kid would be interesting.
But for Natasha, a Herrscher—must die!
Note: I'm new to translating so please be kind and tell me any mistakes you all find, I will try to release a chapter a day but don't expect much
Please support the original author: warboss
Raw: 崩坏模拟器,你找的人是我么?