I, Herrscher Slayer

I, Herrscher Slayer Author: Happiness Against the Light

Synopsis:

"I knew it. My other half, you're special."

Amid the shattered ruins of Honkai, two Herrschers of the Void faced each other from afar in the sky. Reflected in the Queen's orange eyes was the figure of the Herrscher opposite her. As expected of her other half—he could even accomplish something like this.

"Huh? So am I your upper half or your lower half?"

The deep-purple eyes likewise reflected the other's figure. She was just Kiana, yet she dared to act so arrogantly? Watch him beat her into a bug!

A Boy at the Valkyrie Academy

At St. Freya Academy, in a special hospital room, a blond youth lay quietly asleep on the bed. If not for the ventilator beside him and the steady, regular readings on the ECG, he would have looked almost like a corpse. A white-haired girl sat beside his bed, her pristine long hair braided into two plaits that hung behind her. Though she was supposed to be keeping watch over him, what she was doing did not quite fit the role. Game sound effects echoed through the otherwise quiet room from time to time, all of them coming from the handheld console in her hands.

It couldn't be helped. Hohom Adventure was just too much fun.

"Ahhh! How did I lose again? It looked so easy when Bronya played it! Why is it so hard when I do it myself? This is so annoying!"

The game screen had turned blood-red. Having lost once again, the girl tossed away the console and fell backward onto the bed. The sleeping boy unwittingly provided her with a lap pillow. This girl truly was not suited for caregiving work. It was only because he was an unresponsive ICU patient; any slightly more normal patient would probably have kicked her right off the bed.

"I'm done, I'm done. It's time to change the IV, I think... Why hasn't he woken up yet? It's been so long. He should have awakened by now."

At least she had not completely forgotten her duties. Seeing that the IV bag above was about to run out, Kiana hurriedly grabbed another bag from the table and replaced it. After confirming that the drip was continuing, she listlessly leaned against the bedside and watched the sleeping youth. Mei had washed his hair yesterday. After sleeping for so long, his originally short blond hair had grown enough to slightly cover his ears. His pointed baby face and the tear mole at the corner of his eye made him resemble a little fox. If he had looked like this when they first met, Kiana definitely would have mistaken him for a girl. Tch, with such a harmless appearance, who could have imagined that he had been so formidable back then?

"Permanent Air-to-Air Missile... Such an amazing move. I want one too. When I become an S-rank Valkyrie someday, I'm definitely going to be like that."

Remembering what had happened, Kiana's eyes immediately lit up. In an instant, she was back on that battlefield. Whether it was Mei, Himeko, or the Suicide Squads and Honkai Beasts surrounding them, all had been defeated by missiles filling the sky. At that time, all Kiana could see was that figure spreading pink wings. To Kiana then, he had undoubtedly been an angel.

Then the angel snapped his wings and fell straight down. Because she had been too far away, Kiana could only watch helplessly as he crashed into a pile of rubble. That was how he had received all those injuries. But after bringing him here for examination, they discovered that the wounds on his body were secondary. The more serious issue was the injury inside his head.

His brain had suffered severe damage. The possibility of waking up was minuscule, and he would most likely remain in this vegetative state. That was the medical department's conclusion.

Neither Kiana, Mei, nor Bronya could accept that conclusion. Fortunately, Kiana still had a little influence with the principal of St. Freya Academy, and she had secured this hospital room for him so he could continue receiving treatment. But there was no help to be had for caregivers. Only she, Mei, and Bronya could take turns.

Who knew how the other two kept watch over him, but this was how Kiana did it: she played games beside the bed, and if she got sleepy, she climbed straight onto the bed and slept. The bed was large enough, anyway. It could fit two people just fine.

"Wake up already. I still haven't repaid you for saving me. You can't just die so easily. I swear in the name of the Kaslana family that I'll save you. Wake up soon... Shen Gonglin?"

Her blue eyes turned toward the clothes rack, where a tattered school uniform hung. The name tag had given them a rough idea of the boy's name, but they knew nothing beyond that. The style of the uniform could not help them identify his background either. Perhaps that angel-like armor contained more information?

But there was no way to investigate it now. That outfit had already been sealed away. Kiana had heard from her aunt that headquarters had sent people directly to take it away. This was the price they had paid for continued access to the medical facilities. Kiana could do nothing about it. She had only been at St. Freya Academy for a short time and had little standing.

She lay by the bedside, chattering nonstop. After being brutally beaten by the game, Kiana could only pass the time by talking to the person on the bed. Just then, the hospital room door was pushed open from outside. Kiana turned around and saw a girl with long black-purple hair enter. The moment she saw her, Kiana pounced on her. With a sugary cry of "Mei," she threw herself into the girl's arms like a fledgling returning to its nest. The black-purple-haired girl, Raiden Mei, was already used to this.

"Kiana, calm down. I'm here to take over."

Skillfully holding Kiana's head back with one hand, Raiden Mei turned aside and evaded Kiana's polar bear pounce. There was truly no dealing with this girl. She was always so energetic. Didn't she ever get tired?

"Huh, already? Whatever. Mei, come hug me. I haven't replenished my Mei energy for four or five hours."

Kiana still tried to scoot closer to Mei, but Raiden Mei would not let her succeed so easily. She did not mind being a little closer to Kiana, since they had entered this academy together. But this girl was far too clingy. Mei really could not handle it.

"What is Mei energy? I don't remember having something that strange on me. Hurry back and rest. I'll take over from here."

Kiana always liked saying strange things like that. Mei had already grown accustomed to the white-haired girl's behavior. After dealing with Kiana, she turned her attention to the youth in bed. He had not woken after being cared for this long, but even Kiana had not become impatient, much less Raiden Mei. Naturally good at taking care of people, Mei tucked in the youth's blankets. Judging from this, Kiana had definitely climbed onto the bed again. Honestly, she never learned.

Didn't she know that would affect the patient's rest?

"Huh, I don't want to go back. If I go back, I won't get to see Mei again. I want to stay here with Mei too... No, I mean, I want to keep watch."

They had only just met again, and Kiana did not want to separate so soon. There was nothing to do back home anyway, and there had been no classes lately. Here, she could be with Mei. If she went back, there would only be Bronya. That little girl did nothing except knock her down a peg, so it was better to stay here with Mei and him.

"...You really are something. Fine, but you have to be quiet. You're not allowed to disturb the patient's rest."

There was no helping it. Mei helplessly shook her head. If Kiana did not want to leave, then she did not want to leave. Staying here was no big deal.

A Boy's Legs Could Be Played With for a Year

"Relax, how could I possibly disturb a patient's rest? Mei, why don't you trust me at all? I'm great at taking care of people."

Having received permission, the white-haired girl happily sat back on the bed. She patted the blanket and bragged to Mei about her caregiving skills. Mei never trusted her, but she was obviously great at looking after people. She had never once forgotten to change his IV bag. Wasn't that impressive enough to earn praise? Even he had never said she was bad at it.

Though he could not say anything even if he wanted to.

"Kiana, get down right now! Is this how you take care of people when I'm not around? Never mind whether it affects the patient's rest—you're a girl. What does it look like for you to lie on the same bed as a boy? Get down."

So that was how she cared for him. Far more dependable than Kiana, Mei hurriedly pulled the idiot disturbing the patient's rest down from the bed. Kiana was so clumsy that Mei was afraid she would knock the needle crooked while sitting on the bed. Only after seeing the stable waveforms on the screen beside them did Mei finally breathe a sigh of relief. She shot Kiana a reproachful glare. Had letting her stay been a mistake?

Or perhaps Kiana should never have been involved at all. It would have been enough for just Bronya and her to take shifts... No, Bronya was still young. Having her attend class while taking care of someone would be too difficult. Mei could just do it alone.

"Huh, he's unconscious, so he doesn't know anyway. What does it matter...?"

Kiana pouted. The room was not large. If she did not sit on the bed, she could only sit on a chair. The bed was definitely more comfortable. Besides, it was so big. There was nothing wrong with two people lying on it.

"No means no. If you want to stay here, then listen to me properly."

Mei tried her best to maintain a stern, expressionless face as she stared at Kiana. She could not spoil this girl too much. If she let Kiana do whatever she wanted, she would definitely ruin things. Kiana had that strange sort of talent. As her best friend, Mei knew that better than anyone.

"...Oh, fine."

Kiana obediently lowered her head, declaring that she listened to Mei the best. Whatever Mei said went. Kiana was the very definition of obedient and well-behaved.

"Mm. You've already changed his medicine, right? Then help me wipe him down now. Bronya is too weak for this kind of work."

Seeing that Kiana was being obedient, Mei nodded and pulled back the patient's blanket. From how practiced she looked, it was obvious this was not her first time doing it. She might have been embarrassed before, but no matter how embarrassing something was, doing it that many times made it nothing. As they had said before, St. Freya Academy only provided medical treatment. Matters like this could only be handled by the three of them. That was also why Mei had kept Kiana around. Doing it alone just felt strange.

"Ah, time for this guy to take advantage of us again. I need to write this down in my little notebook."

Working with Mei, Kiana helped the unconscious youth sit up. Carefully avoiding the needle, she removed his hospital gown. A strong lavender scent rushed into her nose. Like a complete pervert, Kiana took a deep breath. Of course, it was not his natural body scent at all; it came entirely from the gown Mei had washed. Still, perhaps the scent had soaked into him. He seemed to smell a little like it too.

Luckily Mei had not noticed, or she would probably think Kiana was a pervert. Kiana secretly stuck out her pink tongue, then fully removed the hospital gown without touching the needle. She was obviously being so careful, so why did people still call her a big, clumsy oaf?

The young lady of the Kaslana family did not understand why.

"What do you mean, taking advantage? Strictly speaking, we're the ones taking advantage of him... No, that isn't right either."

Mei picked up a clean towel while Kiana held the patient up against the crook of her arm. Mei gently began wiping his back. The care the three girls gave him... aside from Kiana, could be called meticulous. They wiped him down every day. Only then could he sleep comfortably, and only then would he wake up, right?

"He's the one taking advantage of us. Making my adorable Mei do this for him... Every day, I feel like my hair is getting greener. Why can't Bronya or I do it? There's no need for Mei to help him."

Kiana was indignant. She felt as though she were watching her own wife serve another man. What a loss. No, she had to take advantage of this guy too.

"I already said Bronya isn't strong enough. This kind of work is exhausting for her. And if it's you... I don't trust you. So I have to do it. Kiana, don't just stand there watching. You handle his legs."

Changing positions, Mei sat at the head of the bed and let the patient lean against her chest. With both hands freed, she started on his neck and chest. Looking at Kiana, who had puffed out her cheeks like a frog, Mei found it amusing. Instead of wasting time sulking, why not come help? What was she thinking?

"I can do that."

Kiana piled the blankets at the foot of the bed, then deftly pulled down his pants. Naturally, she left the final barrier in place. Mei's face immediately reddened at Kiana's movements. This girl was becoming increasingly skilled at taking off other people's pants. Back when Mei had first asked her to help, Kiana had taken everything off... Forget it. There was no need to mention it. That incident was in the past; it should be allowed to vanish into the dust.

"Mei, are you sure this guy is really a boy? How can a boy have legs like these? I feel like I could play with these legs for a whole year."

Taking another towel, Kiana diligently wiped the legs in her arms. He was not very tall, but his legs were truly straight and long. There was not a scar on them, and they were fair as jade—honestly even prettier than Mei's legs. But why did such legs have to grow on a boy? What a waste. No wonder his lap pillow was so comfortable.

"Don't talk like a pervert! Kiana, remember that you're a girl. What do you mean, play with them for a year? Listen to yourself. Do you still sound like a normal girl? Let go. I'm not letting you help anymore. I'll take over."

Her willow-like brows shot up as Mei sternly lectured Kiana. Ordering Kiana to switch places with her, Mei moved to the foot of the bed while Kiana held the patient by the shoulders. Playing with legs for a year... Mei did not have that kind of thought herself, did she? Honestly.

Maybe a little.

Awakening

Mei was a girl with a conscience—and not a small one at that. Asking her to lie with her eyes open was simply too much. Only upon seeing them up close did she realize Kiana had not been lying. Those legs really could be played with for a year. If he put on black stockings like hers...

No, no. He was a genuine boy. That would not do.

"Mei, what are you spacing out for? Should I do it instead? You're acting kind of strange."

The innocent Kiana had not thought as much as Mei. She was merely curious why Mei was spacing out. Kiana's side was nearly finished, but Mei had not even started. Was she too tired from class? Honestly, the Valkyrie courses at St. Freya Academy were exhausting, but Mei would definitely have no problem with them. So what was the reason?

"Mm... Hm? What... It's nothing. I just got distracted for a moment. Kiana, pay attention. Don't half-ass it."

Kiana's voice snapped Mei out of her daze. At that moment, faint electric sparks flickered between Mei's fingers. Without either Valkyrie trainee noticing, the current traveled from Mei's fingertips into the skin of the person lying in the bed. Suddenly sensing something, Mei looked toward Shen Gonglin, who was leaning against Kiana. Had she imagined it? She felt as though his eyelids had twitched just now. It had probably been an illusion... right?

Mei leaned closer to the unconscious boy, but she did not see any sign that he was about to wake up. So it really had been her imagination.

"I know, I know. Why doesn't Mei trust me? ...Mei, what do you think is going on? We've been taking such good care of him, but he's still lying in bed and can't get hard. When is he going to wake up? I have so, so many things I want to ask him."

Kiana tossed the towel aside and complained to Mei while dressing him. But the words that came out of her mouth instantly made the refined young lady's face turn crimson. Couldn't get hard in bed... Mei secretly glanced at Kiana. This girl was so innocent that she had no idea what she was saying. Should Mei correct her? But if she explained it, not only would she be embarrassed, Kiana would be too. Or should she pretend she had not heard it...

Why had Mei understood it in the first place? That was so dumb. Mei wanted to be as innocent as Kiana. If she understood, did that not prove she was a bad girl? No, no, she was definitely a good girl too. This was merely knowledge that girls her age ought to have. It was Kiana who was abnormal for not caring. It had nothing to do with Mei!

"As long as we keep taking good care of him, he'll wake up someday. Then we can ask him anything we want. Or are you getting a little impatient, Kiana?"

Trying her best to clear the messy thoughts from her mind, Mei covered the boy with his blanket and sat on the edge of the bed. Kiana did not get down. The white-haired girl sat on the other side and yawned. After playing games for so long today, she was a little sleepy. It was already dusk outside. Another day had passed, yet this guy had still not woken up. What a shame.

"No, I want him to wake up soon too, but why won't he wake up...? Mei, I'm a little sleepy. I want to sleep for a while. Wake me when you get sleepy, and we'll switch shifts."

Like a child, Kiana seemed to run out of power as she spoke. Like a large white cat, she lowered herself, nudged around until she found a suitable spot, and fell asleep. Her movements were so skilled and quick that Mei had no chance to stop her. Seeing this, Mei could only helplessly shake her head. She truly did not know how this girl normally kept watch.

Had she come here just to sleep alongside him?

Fine. Since Kiana was asleep, Mei would handle what remained.

She did not wake Kiana. In truth, Mei bore considerable responsibility for Kiana turning out like this. She spoiled her far too much. As Kiana's breathing gradually calmed, Mei quietly busied herself around the room. She changed the flowers, drew the curtains, and cleaned up the things Kiana had messed up on the table... These were her duties. These were the only things she could do.

After finishing all that, Mei sat beside Shen Gonglin's bed as well. As Kiana had said, the soft bed was more comfortable than the chair. Now that Kiana was asleep and she had no one to talk to, Mei picked up a book and began reading in the twilight. She did not turn on the light. Even though the boy had been unconscious all this time, she feared that turning on the lights might affect him. Rest well, then wake up soon.

What was going on? Had he... had he fallen asleep?

A point of light seemed to flash amid the chaos, and consciousness slowly returned to his body. Perhaps not consciousness—instinct was a better word. Night had begun to fall, and Mei beside the bed had unknowingly drifted off as well. At that moment, the youth who had been unconscious on the bed slowly began to move. His body was controlled by instinct. Mei beside him drew him in like a light in the darkness—or rather, the Electromagnetic Force within her body drew him in.

As though guided by something, purple lightning surfaced across the sleeping Mei's body. Threads of current traveled from her body into the unconscious youth's hand. His dormant power was finally activated, and as the electricity replenished him, he finally awoke after sleeping for several months. His eyes opened, deep-purple pupils gleaming in the night. It was as if he had been starving for months. He had finally awakened. After all those months of accumulation, he could finally awaken.

Now that he was awake, he no longer needed to rely on instinct to absorb Electromagnetic Force. His purple eyes locked directly onto the girl lying beside the bed. Reaching out, he grabbed her wrist and pulled her onto the bed. As their skin touched, the electromagnetic attraction abruptly intensified. He needed this stuff!

"Mm, ngh... Kiana, what are you... Huh?"

There was no way such a large movement would not wake the sleeping girl. Mei initially thought Kiana was messing around again, but when she opened her eyes, she met an unfamiliar pair of purple pupils. Mei suddenly came to her senses. What was going on? Why was this person pinning her to the bed by her wrist? And this person...

Wasn't he supposed to be unconscious? How had he suddenly woken up?

You're Still Smiling at Me!

In the darkness, two pairs of purple eyes met. It took Mei a long while to react. He had finally awakened. After caring for him for so long, her efforts had finally paid off. But why was the situation like this? He had grabbed her wrist and pinned her to the bed, and all Mei could see in those deep-purple eyes was wariness. Right, he must be afraid. Waking up in an unfamiliar environment and doing something extreme was understandable. As long as she explained things properly, he should understand.

"Calm down. I don't mean you any harm..."

Mei instinctively twisted her wrist, trying to break free from his hold, but that movement agitated the blond youth further. As if by instinct, the current he had absorbed from her earlier flowed back into her body in another form. Even the God of Thunder could be shocked by electricity, much less the girl beneath him. He should have recovered to Lv2 now. Taking care of a person should be... Wait, what did Lv2 mean?

The question in his mind did not slow his movements in the slightest. The current entered Mei's body, and she immediately let out a muffled groan. It had been a long time since she had felt the sensation of being shocked. Why would electricity work on her? Had he done this?

"Mmph, it's so noisy... Mei, why are you making such a fuss instead of sleeping... Huh? Huhhh?"

The bed was only so large, and their movements were so vigorous that they finally woke Kiana, who had been sleeping beside them. The white-haired girl frowned and opened her eyes, but what she saw left her unable to react. The blond youth, who should have still been unconscious, was currently pressing Mei beneath him. Electricity flickered over both of them. Kiana had no idea what was happening. Was she still asleep?

"Be quiet!"

It was his first time speaking after so long. Though his voice was slightly hoarse, it was still pleasant to hear. Before Kiana could say anything else, the blond youth used his free hand to seize her by the neck. The two girls were pinned to the bed on his left and right. He had awakened only to find himself lying with these two unfamiliar girls. What exactly was going on?

"Don't say another word. I ask, you answer. Understand?"

He slightly reduced the current in his hands and glared fiercely at the two girls below him. However, that fierceness might have existed only in his own mind. Neither Mei nor Kiana was frightened by him. He simply did not have the face of a villain. Though he was trying hard to put on an intimidating act, to them he only looked cutely fierce. There was nothing scary about him at all. It was truly difficult to take him seriously.

He already did not look fierce, and after sleeping for so long, his hair had grown to nearly cover his ears. In Kiana and Mei's eyes, he looked entirely like a sulking girl. It was better not to provoke him for now. The two girls lying on the bed exchanged a glance and understood each other's thoughts. He was like a startled bird right now. They needed to take it slow.

"Mm. Ask whatever you want. We don't mean you any harm."

Her resistance to lightning was extremely strong, and the pain from earlier had already completely faded. Mei relaxed her body and gave Shen Gonglin a friendly smile. This girl was naturally approachable. Things like tricking people into things... no, negotiating—leaving them to her was a sure thing.

"Did I tell you to smile? Don't smile. Be serious."

To her surprise, Mei's smile only made the blond youth more wary. Could this girl be an idiot? She could still smile in a situation like this? If it were him, he would definitely seize control in return. The prettier a girl was, the more she knew how to deceive people. He had nearly been fooled by the smile on her face. Good thing he had realized in time. Was she trying to deceive him with that friendly appearance?

"Uh..."

Mei's expression immediately froze. Was she wrong even to smile? At St. Freya Academy, everyone liked her smile. It was supposed to be very approachable, right? But why had it failed this time? With him saying that, Lady Mei felt incredibly awkward.

"Pfft... Hahaha."

Kiana could not hold back her laughter. It was rare to see Mei at a loss. For some reason, Kiana did not take her best friend's side this time. She simply found it amusing. If only she had recorded Mei's expression just now on her phone. So Mei could make such an awkward face too. Her smile had been so cute, too.

"Did I tell you to laugh?"

A fierce glint appeared in his purple eyes as his gaze shifted to Kiana. Did these two girls not understand the situation? Did they not believe he would be ruthless? His thoughts were a complete mess, and he desperately needed answers to a whole pile of questions. Could they not cooperate a little?