To be honest, MEI's sudden appearance took Leo completely by surprise.
Originally, he thought his previous maneuvers were too flashy, causing a certain girl who couldn't handle losing to ban his account. But looking at it now, he had misunderstood; he had just been logged out by MEI taking over the account.
—Is this the gold standard of a Parallel Time-Space Isotope?
Admittedly, he didn't want to drag MEI into Honkai matters yet, but since she was already here, he could only watch her operate for now.
The only thing that made him feel fortunate was that this wasn't the "reality" within the dungeon, but merely a young girl's unwilling obsession with the past and the deepest fears in her heart.
Plus, that kick MEI delivered just now proved to him that MEI hadn't entered here with her physical body, but merely via mental projection.
In other words, even if MEI died here, her body in reality wouldn't suffer any fatal injuries.
She might even break the connection with this place and wake up directly from the "dream" if the pain reached a certain level.
Of course, the premise for all this is that she doesn't encounter thought assimilation or some other kind of mental contamination.
But... with me reminding her from the side, that shouldn't be a big problem, right?
While Leo was thinking—
"You actually started operating..."
Watching MEI successfully get leave from school to go home by constantly questioning the "teachers," and now having even walked to the school gate, he couldn't help but let out a sigh of admiration.
—As expected of impressive people, they are impressive everywhere!
"...Without your guidance, I couldn't have reached this step."
After a brief silence, MEI replied to Leo in a whisper.
One thing is one thing; without Leo's prior reminder, she really wouldn't have been able to get this far.
Just being surrounded by those eerie "students" had made her panic. If not for Leo speaking up in time, she wouldn't have been able to muster the courage to attack any existence here.
Therefore, although she was still a little reluctant in her heart, the rational her still expressed gratitude to Leo.
"Thank you, Student Leo."
"Heh~"
Letting out a light chuckle, Leo said, "Let's not stand on ceremony between us. First, let's think of a way to end this resentment."
"Also, after leaving the school gate, there's a high probability the scene will switch to the next one. Stay alert and be careful of sudden attacks."
Looking at the [Bond] that had increased by 5%, and the [Favorability] that was just 1 point away from becoming [Friend], he couldn't help but hum lightly in his heart.
A good girl like MEI understands the principle of repaying kindness best.
So even if her mouth is still a bit tough right now, her heart is soft through and through.
"En..."
Nodding, she accepted Leo's goodwill. Vigilant against the surrounding "teachers" until the very last moment, she took a step out of the school gate, and immediately, the scene indeed changed.
"This is... a dojo?"
"You just reminded me."
"?"
"I mean, you don't know kendo, do you?"
"Of course."
Although she felt Leo's words were a bit strange, facing this eerie situation, she still responded quickly.
"Then the problem is a bit big, because I don't know kendo either."
As an ordinary person from the 21st century, if asked to name some kendo schools, Leo might be able to bullshit a few sentences... like Hiten Mitsurugi-ryū, Niten Ichi-ryū, Tennen Rishin-ryū, and the like.
But asking him to use them would be completely making things difficult for him.
Even the most basic swing... no, even just holding the sword, he might not be able to do well.
Fortunately—
"Although I don't know it, I have tried it out."
As the daughter of a scientist, MEI's social status was naturally not low; she could be considered a young lady of a noble house.
Therefore, normally speaking, she would have to dabble in things like kendo or kyudo.
It's just that she wasn't interested in anything other than studying, and she showed outstanding talent in quantum mechanics, even attracting Mobius's gaze, which allowed her to skip practicing extra coursework.
Otherwise, normally speaking, she would at least have to master tea ceremony and flower arrangement; these are skills a noble young lady must master.
"Then you'll have to be careful later. If it really doesn't work, just swap me in to play for you."
Although somewhat worried about MEI, Leo could only choose to believe right now.
—First believe, then believe again!
And at this moment—
"What is... this?"
Looking at the yellow humanoid rabbit that suddenly appeared in front of her, MEI's feeling was very strange.
This thing couldn't be described as very good-looking, but it was comical and interesting enough.
After looking at it more, she actually felt it was somewhat cute.
Although the teeth looked very sharp, perhaps because it didn't have long claws, it gave off a feeling of not being very aggressive.
And more critically, this yellow humanoid rabbit was out of place with the surrounding eerie dojo, radiating warm goodwill like a sun.
Almost instinctively, MEI understood she couldn't let the other party leave, otherwise, terrifying things would happen in this cold dojo.
Only... what should I do?
But before she could figure it out, the yellow humanoid rabbit started moving, as if... teaching me kendo?
Although the other party didn't speak, she instinctively understood what the other party was doing.
Her body even moved instinctively ahead of her brain.
"Hah!"
"Hah!"
"Hah!"
"..."
Even though she was just mimicking the other party's way of swinging the sword a few times, she had the feeling that knowledge was starting to grow in her brain—kendo knowledge she had never dabbled much in.
As if... she knew these things all along!
And just then—
"Wake up quickly!"
Seeing MEI's abnormality, Leo hurriedly shouted, "You are MEI!"
"You are the greatest scientist of the future!"
"You do not belong here!"
"You must maintain your self, or you will be left here forever!"
At this moment, he finally saw the danger here.
This yellow rabbit doll... that is, the Homu Sword Sage, looked harmless to humans and animals, but it was incredibly insidious!
If he weren't a bystander, but learning the sword like MEI, he would definitely have lost a life here.
—Is it thought assimilation again? You've really got some nerve! Haji-Tong!
Having thought about this before, he couldn't help but rejoice that he was still by MEI's side. If MEI faced this thing alone, she wouldn't be able to break free at all.
After all, leaving aside that MEI's [Energy] was inferior to his, just speaking of the other party's identity... Raiden Mei's Parallel Time-Space Isotope!
Presumably, if it were MEI, she would be assimilated faster than him.
"Nngh!"
After hearing Leo's reminder, MEI suddenly woke up with a start.
At this moment, a large amount of cold sweat had already seeped out of her back. She understood she was just one step away from being replaced by someone else.
—This Honkai Domain is truly terrifying!
After experiencing this, she put away the laxity produced by easily passing the school area earlier. She dared not underestimate this place anymore, her whole person becoming serious like a taut string.
Only—
"Let me handle this level."
Leo understood that MEI's current state was unsustainable. After all, for MEI to perfectly replicate the Homu Sword Sage's kendo moves while maintaining her self, the consumption was simply too great.
More critically, they couldn't determine how long the Homu Sword Sage would teach.
So, he had to apply to switch in!
"Okay..."
Feeling that her body and mind were exhausted, MEI didn't act brave. She agreed to Leo's suggestion and completely relaxed her mind.
The next moment, Leo took over the match!
"?"
Feeling that ■■■■'s movements couldn't keep up, the Homu Sword Sage's posture and movements obviously became fierce.
Moreover, although his figure was constantly detaching in the current scene, as if not on the same layer, the pressure it gave was even greater.
Only—
"Father... I want to rest for a bit~"
Blinking his eyes incredibly coquettishly at the Homu Sword Sage, Leo acted like a spoiled child toward the other party.
The next moment, the Homu Sword Sage's fierce transformation stopped, and immediately became incredibly kind and amiable, even having special effects of small flowers constantly blooming around his body.
—The person inside the Homu Sword Sage is Raiden Mei's father!
At times like this, only a man understands a man best!
________________________________________
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