"So we're just fast-forwarding straight to the defeat CG now?"
Bai Qian tilted his head. His gaze swept over the wrecked ruins and landed on the figure still trying to crawl up from the ground.
He snapped his fingers.
Samael's palm lowered. That hand gripped the Herrscher of Thunder by the armored back of her neck—like lifting an unruly kitten, or a drowned chick fished out of a mud pit—effortlessly hoisting her into the air before thumping her down onto the open ground in front of Bai Qian.
Dust billowed again. The Herrscher coughed twice, and before she could gather even a spark of lightning—
Several weapons were already shoved right into her face.
She straightened her back anyway.
"See that? Lady… hmm… Thunder Queen."
Bai Qian crouched so they were eye-level, wearing the kind of dazzling grin that made you want to punch him on reflex.
"This is what they call the power of love, friendship, and bonds!"
He spread his arms like he was presenting some grand universal truth, even though the "background cast" behind him were the same people who'd just finished a very enthusiastic group beatdown.
"I know you're not convinced. You're thinking: 'My stats are higher.' 'I have Authority.' 'These shameless outsiders don't respect martial virtue.' Right?"
The Herrscher gritted her teeth. The purple eyes that used to look down on everything now shimmered with humiliation.
She wanted to snap back—cheating, unfair, love-and-friendship-can't-feed-you—
…but there was a gun barrel aimed at her forehead, and Tallulah's sword was practically vibrating with anticipation.
"We're not exactly heroes," Bai Qian went on, "but we don't have a hobby of mistreating prisoners."
He stepped back and made room.
Standing behind him was the real Raiden Mei.
"All we're doing is helping you clear your head."
His tone turned casual, like he was mediating a petty argument between two friends.
"Now that we've beaten the water out of your brain, why not… talk it out?"
He watched the Herrscher's eyes widen in disbelief, and his mouth curled up slightly.
A club has to come with a carrot.
He still didn't know how many "selves" Mei actually had, but one thing was clear: letting them speak face-to-face was the best move.
"Stop pretending you're some world-ending demon king. Whether you came first or later—"
He pointed at her.
"You're still a part of Raiden Mei, aren't you?"
"And everything you've done—no matter how extreme, how twisted—"
"…was still you trying to make sure she gets a better life."
The Herrscher could only watch as Raiden Mei walked closer, internally screaming.
This is so embarrassing! I don't want to reconcile like this—surrounded by a bunch of people watching!
Kiana tried to squeeze forward, but Bai Qian held out an arm and blocked her.
He didn't even look at Kiana—just shook his head lightly.
Kiana froze, understood, and obediently stepped back.
"Wouldn't it be better to just erase her?" Melina tilted her head beside Bai Qian.
"We're short-handed," Bai Qian replied. "And if a peaceful solution exists, why go for bloodshed?"
"You hit her the hardest five minutes ago," Rin muttered.
Then Rin's expression sharpened.
"Once we made contact with Mei, Cocolia will definitely notice. It's only a matter of time before she comes. When we leave, what about Kiana?"
Bai Qian cleared his throat, suddenly shifting gears like he was pitching a startup.
"I'm planning to pull in a few more people for Kiana. When the timing's right, we'll hold a meeting for Otto—"
He coughed.
"I mean, we'll form a Second Schicksal. Anyway, I still have plans for the Herrscher."
"I get it," Tallulah said instantly. "So next comes the coup and the power grab."
She'd been taught by the Black Snake—she knew the basics of seizing power.
Not only knew it. Was good at it.
On the way to Mei's house earlier, she'd even spotted a bookstore shelf full of titles like Reading People, Social Tactics, Dark Psychology, Secrets of Human Nature…
…and beside them, a red-covered "Little Red Book" with star ratings.
She'd have to ask Kiana to help her buy those later.
Meanwhile, the conversation between Raiden Mei and the Herrscher had reached boiling point.
"Those people," the Herrscher snapped, staring straight at Mei, "the ones who shoved you down stairs, wrote filth on your desk, isolated you like trash…"
"I just wanted to crush them."
Her eyes were red at the corners—but she stubbornly refused to let tears fall.
"Grind those garbage humans, that fake Chiba Academy, everything that made you cry—into dust."
"Only then—only then could you—"
She didn't get to finish.
Raiden Mei crouched in front of her.
She didn't wipe the dust off the Herrscher's face. Didn't hug that hysterical version of herself.
She just met those eyes—eyes identical to hers, yet burning with a different flame—and said softly:
"I know."
The Herrscher froze. Her frenzy was like a fire doused by warm water—half-extinguished in an instant.
She stared at Mei, lips moving, wanting to argue—yet only a muffled hmph came out, stubborn and small.
"But," Mei continued.
She reached out and gently brushed her fingers through the Herrscher's hair, like stroking a puffed-up cat.
"Because I've seen that malice, I understand how rare their kindness is."
Her gaze flicked over the Herrscher's shoulder—briefly landing on Bai Qian and Kiana—then returned.
"…and how worth it it is to hold onto."
The Herrscher furrowed her brow, ready to retort kindness can't fill your stomach, when Mei leaned in closer.
Their faces were so close their breaths tangled.
"And more importantly—"
Mei lowered her voice so only the two of them could hear. The watery softness suddenly picked up a cold edge that made the Herrscher's skin crawl.
"You can't beat them either… can you?"
"And you don't want to experience that again, do you?"
Mei narrowed her eyes, smiling beautifully—a smile so gentle it felt more terrifying than hell.
"I—you—this…"
The Herrscher recoiled like she'd seen a ghost.
Wait, I'm you too! Since when do YOU have this side?!
Mei was supposed to be warm! The kind you could befriend and earn trust from! The kind who cooks (not perfectly, but sincerely)! The kind where if your affection level is high enough, and you trigger the right event at the right time in the right location, you get a special CG!
But this?
Why was it black inside?!
"I…"
She stammered for ages, then finally sagged, head drooping—making her broken horn look even more pitiful.
"…Fine! I get it! It's annoying! If you're putting it like THAT, I'm not so petty that I can't accept it!"
"Done talking?" Bai Qian walked over, and behind him came the whole pack—an intimidating sea of "friendly" faces.
All villains.
"Yeah. More or less," Mei answered sweetly, instantly returning to her polite, obedient demeanor as if she hadn't just psychologically executed her own dark side.
"Then," Bai Qian said, grinning, "since we're all friends now… how about you pay the friend fee?"
"Friend fee…" The Herrscher's expression darkened.
"You mean Herrscher power? Fine. When Mei needs it, I'll share the Gem's authority with her."
Bai Qian wagged a finger.
"Nope. Not that."
"Important, sure—but not what I mean."
He launched into a full conspiracy briefing like he'd been waiting for this moment his whole life.
"Once people notice Mei, Schicksal and Anti-Entropy will move. When the timing's right, we'll build an organization—then we'll start digging out their talent from under their noses."
"And you—"
He jabbed a thumb at the Herrscher like he was appointing her to a corporate role.
"You are the shovel."
The Herrscher blinked.
Before she could react, Bai Qian grabbed both her hands. His eyes shone like he'd just discovered a future superstar.
"Oto's and Cocolia's schemes are coming."
"Herrscher of Thunder—"
"For Raiden Mei's sake…"
"…become an idol."
He paused, then corrected himself mid-sentence like it was totally normal.
"—I mean, form a band with Kiana! No, no—become the songstress of the Honkai world!"
The Herrscher of Thunder stood there, hands trapped in his grip, brain completely short-circuited.
"…What?"
-------
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