Omen

Originally, it would have been fine if he had just gone directly to Chiba Academy to pick up Ryoma's daughter, but with the current situation...

If he came in hard, the Valkyries, Divine Machines, and Anti-Entropy's Titans that Destiny had ambushed in Changkong City would not let him go.

Siegfried was not afraid of these enemies, but the problem was that their numbers were simply too great.

Once Siegfried's whereabouts were exposed, let alone picking up Ryoma's daughter, using a body that could not sustain prolonged combat, he would thank the heavens if he could make a smooth getaway.

Added to the fact that Siegfried's second daughter was currently in Changkong City, after just a brief consideration of Kiana's identity, even someone with a less-than-stellar brain like Siegfried knew what Otto wanted to do.

To put it bluntly, Siegfried left Kiana behind because he worried that a Siegfried who had 'slain Sirin' back then would trigger the Sirin personality within Kiana.

Yet right now, the Gem of Conquest was in Changkong City, even residing within Ryoma's daughter.

Should any mishap occur and Kiana came into contact with the Gem of Conquest, Siegfried had no way of guaranteeing whether Sirin would directly absorb the gem to strengthen herself, just as she had back then.

The current Siegfried no longer possessed that terrifying power; forget a Six-Core Sirin, if a Two-Core Sirin really popped out, Siegfried felt he would be completely done for.

Moreover, even if he could win against them, it was useless since he obviously couldn't actually cut down his own daughter with a sword...

Dammit, dammit all!

That scoundrel Otto must have already calculated this, which was why he hadn't taken me seriously at all.

As a result, I came to Changkong City, yet I cannot cause any serious changes to the situation?

Cecilia, I am truly useless.

Back then I couldn't protect Kiana well, and now, I can't even protect that child.

After losing you...

Perhaps I really can't do anything anymore.

Changkong City. Chiba Academy.

Inside Chiba Academy, Raiden Mei, who had always suffered from bullying, was humming a brisk tune quite rarely at this moment as she walked toward her locker.

Today, after seeing Lin Yu playing "Jenga" at the school gate, Raiden Mei had ultimately chosen to listen to Lin Yu's admonition.

And those clueless classmates, upon discovering that Lin Yu had suddenly skipped class, very decisively chose to come and trouble Raiden Mei.

After all, in their eyes, Raiden Mei was just a stinky little girl borrowing another's tiger power to intimidate people.

Without anyone to shelter her, Raiden Mei would definitely revert to being the same bullied person she was in the past.

However, they were wrong.

Raiden Mei hadn't acted against them in the past not because she couldn't, but because a gentle Raiden Mei didn't want to resort to brute force.

Today, however, Mei completely lost her patience, and relying on the classical martial arts she had studied, she easily disciplined these classmates.

Although she was later given a lecture because the teacher played favorites, such a matter no longer counted as a big deal to a relieved and cheerful Mei.

She felt that she had already changed.

And all of this was thanks to Lin Yu.

Classmate Lin Yu... Yes, I must be sure to thank him properly later.

Still, it's a bit strange.

After coming to school, Classmate Lin Yu suddenly skipped class.

And Kiana didn't come to school today either...

"Ah, are you also looking for Kiana?"

Hearing Raiden Mei's inquiry, Kiana's classmate said with a hint of curiosity.

"What a coincidence, that exchange student senior also came to ask about Kiana's whereabouts today, you know."

"Eh, Classmate Lin Yu too..."

Strange, although she knew that Classmate Lin Yu and Kiana also knew each other, but...

What business did they have that required them to go missing together at the same time?

Chapter 21: Omen

Yet, even though questions arose in Mei's heart at this moment, she did not take them to heart.

In truth, for Mei, the reality she had to face had not changed much.

Her father, Raiden Ryoma, was still eating prison food in a cell.

And the title of "criminal's daughter" that she bore as a result of the rumors spread by those people was something she had no way of shedding in the short term.

No, rather, after she directly took action against those bad guys today, her reputation at school in the future would probably only get worse.

If she hadn't undergone any change, the grim situation with her father and the malice radiating around her alone would probably be enough to crush the young girl's heart bit by bit.

Right now, however, she had companions by her side.

Kiana, who chose to stand by her side directly, regardless of what others whispered.

And Lin Yu, who directly took action to help her break free from her predicament without regard for the consequences.

At the mere thought of these two people, a good-spirited Mei hummed a brisk little tune as she walked over to her locker.

However, the moment she opened her locker, the smile on Mei's face gradually vanished.

The umbrella that Mei had originally placed inside her locker had now been vandalized beyond use.

While this wasn't a particularly troublesome matter for Mei, it still managed to sour her mood a little.

In the past, the malice of those people only remained on a verbal level.

Even when they surrounded her at the school gate this morning, Mei could tell that these people had no intention of getting physical; they merely wanted to make her lose face in front of the entire school.

It wasn't because they still had a baseline.

Having committed school bullying, how could these people possibly still have a baseline?

The reason they hadn't resorted to physical actions was purely out of fear of being disciplined by the school teachers if they went too far.

Yet right now...

Listening to the snickering coming from nearby, Mei, with a face as cold as frost, glared back at the classmates who had long since hidden nearby, and directly chose to leave.

Previously, those people wanted to make a move on Mei, so they chose a deserted place.

Precisely because of this reason, Mei dared to let loose and beat them up without worrying about others discovering the matter.

Right now, however, near the lockers, there were not only these individuals but also other classmates who didn't know the detailed situation.

Furthermore, current Mei had no evidence to prove that these things were done by them.

Evidence? Is there any necessity for such a thing?

Mhm, what's that sound?

Just take direct action; you are an apostle chosen by the deities, and you simply have no need to abide by worldly conventions.

Listening to these provocative words at this moment, Mei immediately panicked and looked around.

Go kill, Raiden Mei.

These vulgar things simply aren't qualified to stay alive in your presence... No, everything in this world is our enemy!

After sweeping her gaze across the surroundings, Raiden Mei confirmed that this voice had not come from the people around her.

Could it be that I've been too tired lately, which is why I'm experiencing auditory hallucinations?

Auditory hallucinations? It seems you are not yet ready to accept the Power of God.

Heh, never mind, then let these stinky bugs live a few more days.

Who... on earth are you!

Unfortunately, however, the challenge Raiden Mei issued in her heart did not receive a response from the other party.

The other party acted as if they didn't exist at all, making no further sound.

"As expected, have I just been too tired lately?"

With such thoughts, Mei walked toward the school gate and let out a soft breath.

Subsequently, looking at the gray sky, Mei immediately quickened her pace to leave the school.

Is it going to rain soon?

There's a spare umbrella at home, so I should just hurry home.

Ever since dad was framed and imprisoned, the funds I have on hand have become less and less.

Right now... I should save whatever I can.

Having already left the school, Mei looked at the commercial street ahead, then looked at the sky that was about to rain, and took out her wallet in a somewhat troubled manner.

As expected, I should still buy another umbrella.

However, right at this very moment...

"Yahoo!!!!"

Accompanied by the roar of a motorcycle engine echoing from behind Mei, the wallet in her hand was suddenly snatched away directly by a high school girl riding the motorcycle.

Had she been on guard, Mei, who was proficient in classical martial arts, naturally wouldn't have had her wallet snatched away so easily by someone else.

Yet drive-by snatching was all about catching someone off guard.

Looking at that immensely arrogant robber, Mei, who had only been stunned for a split second, was already stepping up to give chase.

However, Mei, who was still just an ordinary girl, had no way of catching up to a motorcycle traveling at seventy yards.

"You...! Jerk!"

No matter how good Mei's upbringing was, after encountering this chain of unlucky events that ruined her mood, she couldn't help but start cursing.

Still, looking at the heavy exhaust fumes left behind by the motorcycle, Mei had to accept an awkward reality.

Her wallet, along with the bank card inside it, were now completely gone.

Rationality speaking, these two matters were not big deals for ordinary people.

However, the majority of people have never been rational creatures, but rather emotional ones.

Having just sensed a new glimmer of hope in life, only to encounter this sort of thing immediately after.

For an ordinary high school girl, this was enough to ruin her mood for the day.

Right at this moment, raindrops suddenly began to fall from the sky.

Her umbrella was broken, and lacking the money to buy one, Mei looked at the sudden downpour scattered across the air, suddenly feeling that her heart was deeply exhausted.

Did I... do something wrong?

I clearly didn't do anything wrong; why must I encounter these terrible things?

With such thoughts, Mei walked in a terrible mood to a corner where she could shelter slightly from the rain, desperately curling her body up.

Dad...

What on earth has happened to you?

Right now...

I really feel so tired.

At the same time. ME Company

Cocolia, watching inside ME Company as Mei's mood turned immensely dejected on the monitor, nodded with satisfaction.

"Mhm, it seems the distance to that day shouldn't be far now."

Ever since she sent Raiden Ryoma into prison, Cocolia had constantly been laying out her plans.

She was well aware that a thing like malice had always existed within the hearts of humanity.