Where's My Blade!?

"But if it really works... it's not unacceptable."

Kiana's former willfulness has been largely worn away.

"However, I doubt that Teacher Liu will have the time to spare."

Fu Hua didn't have high hopes for this kind of thing.

Among Liu Bai's current hosts, only she, Aponia, and Durandal possess that kind of unassuming personality.

Hmm... Durandal were five years back, she might still have this idea of "competing".

Now... I don't know if she's become more oblivious or more mature, but at least for now, Bianka doesn't seem to be thinking anything.

"Hmm... he's really busy." Kiana casually remarked.

"The level of civilization is very high, no less than that of Previous Era times."

Mei walked through Sky Dome City wearing a white lab coat—an outfit that, while somewhat conspicuous, didn't attract much attention.

"Moreover, compared to Previous Era, the control over the Honkai in this era is much better..."

So far, no panic related to the Honkai has been observed on the faces of the public.

The first two collapses of the Previous Era were relatively minor, but the Third Honkai Eruption directly affected most of East Asia, followed by actions such as burning down an entire continent and even sinking the land.

In this situation, it's practically impossible to keep it a secret.

The scene before her eyes brought her a sense of peace she had longed for.

(Could it be that the Honkai hasn't fully erupted yet in this era?)

Lacking information, Mei subconsciously guessed.

"Mei——!"

Just as Mei was about to continue gathering intelligence, an excited shout suddenly came from behind her.

"?"

Mei's pronunciation is the same as that of Mei, so Mei subconsciously turned her head away.

(Could it be someone they know?)

Aside from the people she arranged, Mei didn't actually know how many people chose to move forward when the Previous Era ended—every Flame-Chasers chose their own path, and even Mei couldn't comment on their choices.

After all, their goal had failed, and there was no reason for them to continue supporting each other. It would not be surprising if some of them chose to quietly end their lives.

However, when Mei turned around, she found that the person who called her was not an acquaintance, but a white-haired girl she had never seen before.

"Mei——!"

The other person excitedly pounced on them.

Bang--!

"W-Why did you dodge?" Kiana, who was lying face down on the ground, looked confused and aggrieved. "It's me! Kiana!"

"Um..." Mei thought the other person might have mistaken her for someone else. "Although I don't know what's going on, I'm sorry, Miss Kiana, I already have a lover."

Chapter 136 Where's my knife!?

Although it sounds a bit strange to use this statement on a stranger, it's just... intuition.

Although she didn't know the relationship between the little girl in front of her and Mei, whom she was Mei about, Mei's intuition told her that she must be right.

—Although Mei isn't a beast, relying on intuition is often the best option when things are completely unclear.

"... Huh?"

Kiana stared blankly at "Mei" in front of her, her face filled with disbelief.

"Um... Mei, what did you say?"

Kiana's face showed an expression that seemed to say, "Could you please say that again?"

"Hmm... Miss Kiana, I think you may have mistaken me for someone else."

Looking at the expression on the other person's face, Mei felt that her intuition might not be wrong.

"Although my name is indeed Mei, I don't think I know you."

I feel like I'm explaining something really complicated...

"Huh? Impossible! Absolutely impossible! Mei, Mei actually fell in love with someone else!?"

However, the little girl in front of her seemed not to listen to her explanation at all, and instead bent forward in disbelief.

Kiana recalled the example her class monitor Fu Hua had used to explain why Rita had lost her temper.

(Kiana, for example, if, I mean if, one day you suddenly see Mei feeding a boy you don't recognize at all, and the two of them are sitting very close together, with Mei practically leaning on him...)

No way!

"Who is he? I'm going to shoot him!"

"..." This child has completely lost all rationality.

Mei pushed up her glasses.

She suddenly felt that this little girl's personality was somewhat like Kevin's when he was young.

Then, the next moment, Mei felt her consciousness waver. When she looked again, she found herself in a training ground.

At the same time, there was another person between her and the little girl named Kiana in front of her.

"... Very nice hair color, senior sister, where did you get it dyed?"

Mei's calm tone carried a hint of teasing.

"Stop teasing me, Dr. Mei." Looking at Mei's slightly upturned lips, Fu Hua was somewhat helpless. "This was probably part of your plan, wasn't it?"

As time went by, the two of them eventually went their separate ways.

"Although it was indeed in my plan, calculations and actual observation are two completely different things."

Mei looked at her senior sister and noticed that the changes, apart from her chest, were quite significant.

But...

"Speaking of which, isn't this the interior of Feather of the Wind? What's going on here?"

Mei's expression froze.

"Huh? Wait, what's going on?" Kiana, who had been feeling down and bent over, finally realized something was wrong from their conversation. "What are you two talking about?"

"Where should I begin... Although I can certainly be called Mei, the more common way to address me is Mei."

Mei pushed up her glasses. "In other words, I'm not the Mei you know. You've mistaken me for someone else."

Many aspects of modern civilization's culture originated from Previous Era; apart from a complete overhaul of the writing system, language has not changed significantly.

Incidentally, the writing system of the Previous Era was unified and universal. Perhaps in order to sever ties with the Previous Era, the pioneers of the Previous Era did not allow the current civilization to inherit its Previous Era system.

"Uh... you've mistaken me for someone else?"

Kiana then began to carefully observe the "Mei" in front of her.

"Indeed... Mei doesn't wear a white coat or glasses... and you seem a little fatter than Mei."

"... The last point is unnecessary."

"Ahem, Mei is a warrior after all, so she gets a lot of exercise, while Dr. Mei is a researcher, so it's understandable that she doesn't get enough exercise."

Sensing that the atmosphere seemed a bit off, Fu Hua quickly stepped in to smooth things over.

However, while trying to smooth things over, Fu Hua also subconsciously glanced at Mei.

Using the word "fat" is somewhat inappropriate. It should be said that Mei appears more plump than Mei because she exercises less—of course, age may also play a role.

In terms of age, Mei is also a bit older than Mei —after all, the war between the Previous Era and the Honkai has been going on for almost ten years.

"Senior sister, please tone down that look in your eyes."

"Uh, sorry."

Fu Hua silently looked away.

"Never mind, it's nothing." Mei glanced at her senior sister... Well, considering she's her senior sister, she'll let it go.

"... Mei, wasn't your gaze just now quite rude?"

Fu Hua was quite perceptive to this subtle malice.

"Let's get back to the main topic. Since Dr. Mei, you've awakened, let me explain the current situation of this civilization."

Fu Hua briefly explained to Mei the current situation of civilization and their current predicament.

"...oh?"

Mei looked at Kiana beside her with a hint of surprise.

"W-What are you doing?" Mei's inquisitive gaze made Kiana shrink back.

"Kiana, have you ever considered sacrificing yourself for humanity?"

"No!"

Kiana's instincts led her to immediately refuse.

"Are you trying to dissect me like that?!"

This girl is definitely not Mei! My own Mei would never treat me like this!

"So even a fool's intuition can't be underestimated?" Mei nodded. Although she asked that, she wasn't necessarily insisting on an autopsy; she was more interested in other parts of the body. "By the way, you said the Doctor was here too?"

"Well, but Teacher Liu has been busy with other things lately, so we may not be able to meet for the time being."

"That's alright, the doctor will always come back anyway."

Mei pushed up her glasses, showing no hurry at all. "Since the World Serpent left behind by Mobius happens to be in this city, I'll stay here for the time being."

"I think Gray Serpent would welcome you... But speaking of which, what happened to Dr. Mobius in the end?"

"I didn't realize I'd lost that part of my memory—it seems you haven't either?"

"... More or less."

With Fu Hua's melodious sigh, Mei and Kiana's consciousness returned to reality.

"Please lead the way, Miss Kiana."

"Knew..."

Kiana felt a little awkward looking at Mei's face, but she could still distinguish between what was important and what was not.

"Honestly, what you guys are saying is really incomprehensible... Are there many people like you and the class monitor?"

"Which aspect? Do you mean the doctorate or the status?"

"Hmm... of course it's about identity. I know quite a few people who know that class monitor teacher."

Hmm... Rita, Fu Hua, Durandal.

Kiana felt that she knew three people, which was quite a lot.

"Oh... you know quite a few?" Mei narrowed her eyes.

"W-What's wrong?"

Kiana's naive intuition told her something was wrong.

"No, it's nothing, please take me there." Mei gave Kiana a very kind smile.

"... What's going on these past few days? Are these old fogies having a meeting?"

The Jackal twitched the corner of his mouth.

"First it was that senior colleague, then it was the legendary Dr. Mei..."

"Jackal, watch your words—this situation should have been within Dr. Mei's expectations."

The Gray Serpent reappeared, "It must be the appearance of that great one that allowed Dr. Mei to be reborn."