Still Got Lost

No, it's not just about strength. The strangeness doesn't just refer to strength, but also to an indescribable... eeriness.

"Acheron, a mere swordsman."

"So you are the Miss Acheron that Sister Seele mentioned?"

Mei thought for a moment, then her expression immediately showed understanding.

"I belong to Anti-Entropy, Raiden Mei."

Although she appeared calm on the surface, Mei was actually sweating profusely inside.

The other person's gaze was fixed intently on her.

Being stared at by that piercing gaze...

Zzzzz—

Acheron pressed his thumb against the guard of the longsword, revealing an ominous wisp of blood-red blade.

"!"

The overwhelming sense of crisis made Raiden Mei almost instinctively create distance, assume a fighting stance, and grip the hilt of the katana at her waist.

"..."

Acheron remained in the position of holding the hilt of the sword, continuing to watch Raiden Mei.

The sight of the girl before him, still clad in armor, filled Acheron with a sense of absurdity.

Yes, it is a sense of absurdity, an indescribable absurdity.

You could even say that there's a sense of absurdity about this world.

"Wait, wait! Mei- neechan! Acheron- neechan!"

The tense atmosphere left Seele completely bewildered, and she hurriedly tried to stop the two of them.

Why did you two start fighting just because you greeted each other?!

"We can talk things out! There's no need to fight."

"I want to know why too!" Raiden Mei shouted in her heart.

She didn't want to fight this guy who was so "inhuman"!

"... It's nothing, it was my rudeness."

Acheron lowered his hand, and the blood-red blade, now unsupported, was sheathed by gravity.

Raiden Mei... or so?

She is not herself.

Yes, it's absurd, but the other person isn't her.

She was not the other party either.

Raiden Mei is Raiden Mei, Acheron is Acheron.

They have a fatal difference.

"I was a little tempted, please forgive me."

"... That's really something, I'm very grateful for your high regard."

Seeing that Acheron had stopped moving, Raiden Mei also released the hilt of her sword and breathed a sigh of relief.

Is it a case of being eager to hunt?

I think you're sick!

... Well, what's even more absurd is that she can understand this reason.

However, such high regard is still somewhat overwhelming.

Nerve...

Raiden Mei thought to herself, but on the surface she still showed an understanding expression.

Just woke up

Ugh, my sleep schedule has been so messed up lately...

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Chapter 159 Still Lost

"So, what books is Miss Acheron planning to buy at Yae Publishing House this time?"

Although she secretly cursed Acheron as a lunatic, Mei, as a "young lady from a prestigious family," still put on a good show.

Well, more importantly, Mei is really curious why someone like Acheron would come back to Yae Publishing House, a place so different from her art style.

No matter what, it's too incongruous for Acheron Quan to be here.

"... Are there any books on male physiology?"

"...?"

Wait a minute, what is this woman saying?

What do you mean by "a book about male physiology"? Mei tried hard to keep her face straight so as not to show any impoliteness.

Well, no matter how you look at it, this statement is too strange.

It's practically like saying "I'm a pervert".

Is this guy really alright?

But... well, you can actually understand what a pervert is like.

Mei could even understand what the other person meant.

"So, it's just a book with a bit of 'H' in it..." Mei stroked her chin. "If that's the case, I'd still recommend it."

Mei thought for a moment and picked out some borderline novels and comics for Acheron from the bookshelf—after all, Yae Publishing House is still a regular bookstore, and some parts won't go too far.

"Ah, speaking of which, Miss Acheron, why did you buy this kind of book?"

After Mei finished her recommendation, she asked a question out of curiosity.

After all, such a powerful person... couldn't possibly buy these borderline books simply because they're feeling empty, lonely, or cold, right?

... Although it's not entirely impossible.

Mei also knew that sometimes a strong person's strength had nothing to do with their integrity.

"Want to learn more about men?"

"Huh?" Seele asked, sounding slightly confused.

Should they misunderstand this answer, or should they try to understand it?

"Ah... you mean Liu Bai?" Seele asked tentatively, her tone carrying a hint of gossip.

"..." Acheron stared at Seele with indifferent eyes.

Well, in the end, Seele was defeated. Gossiping about this aspect does seem a bit complicated.

In particular, Acheron's attitude is not so welcoming of gossip.

Mei overheard the whole thing.

Liu Bai... She knew about this person, but she had never actually met him, so she didn't have a real understanding of him.

On the other hand, it is estimated that the two sides will meet soon.

After all, it seems that the other party was the one who initiated things on the side of the Herrscher of Dominion.

As an alien, having gathered reliable allies including Inazuma, he can be considered a very important target for recruitment.

"Speaking of which... Mei."

"Yes, I'm here."

Are you also from the Far East?

"Yes."

Mei nodded.

Although Acheron felt that Mei and she were fatally different... there were also undeniable similarities!

It is precisely because they are too similar in some aspects that we need to find differences. If they were truly different at a glance, there would be no such thing as a "fatal difference".

So, despite what she thought, Acheron actually cared a lot about Mei and wanted to learn more about her.

"Do you have any connection with Raiden Makoto and the others?"

"Um... although the names sound related and they look similar, they're actually not related."

Mei showed a slightly troubled expression.

"It's probably a coincidence? If we trace my family lineage back, we're actually a branch of the 'Beichen' clan—although Beichen has long since declined."

While it's true that the name might have some connection to lightning, it's hard to say for sure.

At least she herself didn't intend to ride on Raiden Shogun's coattails—although the two were quite familiar with each other personally.

After all, Mei any unforeseen circumstances, Mei, as the young lady of ME Corp, will become the person in charge of Anti-Entropy Far East.

Acheron nodded indifferently—in fact, he couldn't be bothered to understand at all.

"Would you like to come with me to see Liu Bai?"

"Huh?" Mei was taken aback.

Why did things suddenly shift to this direction?

"I feel you two will get along very well."

"Your way of putting it is too subtle," Mei said with a polite smile.

How am I supposed to respond when you suddenly say something like that?

"Let's wait a few more days. The forces in the Sky Dome Zone may have a meeting in a few days. There's no need to have a private meeting now."

Acheron nodded indifferently.

Have you ever been in a relationship?

"..."

Are you an elder from somewhere?

"No, Miss Acheron, is there something you need?"

"Just asking."

Acheron looked away.

If given a choice, Acheron would still like to learn from "himself".

Her current state... is perhaps that of being in love?

"Well then, I'll take my leave now."

Acheron didn't even glance at the novels and comics that Mei had picked out for him, and took them all away in one go.

Although he once wanted to draw his sword, Acheron still trusted his other self.

Goodbye, Mei.

Goodbye, Miss Acheron.

"... It seems like Sister Acheron is talking a lot today."

Seele looked thoughtful.

In her memory, Acheron was the kind of aloof swordsman who couldn't be bothered with anyone else.

"I would rather she talked less."

Mei looked completely bewildered.

Although there were no conflicts, I always felt like someone was picking on me.