I, Herrscher Slayer

"Phew... that candy apple vendor ran way too fast. I couldn't catch him at all. I'm so tired and hungry... Huh, Shen Gonglin, why do you have food? Where did you get the money?"

Kiana trudged back dejectedly and flopped onto the bench like a couch potato. The girl ate a lot and was highly active, so she was hungry now too. Whenever she got hungry, her internal foraging system automatically kicked in. Sniffing the air, Kiana caught the scent of the hamburger beside Shen Gonglin. There were even bread crumbs at the corner of his mouth. What was going on? All the mission funds were with her, so where had Shen Gonglin gotten money?

"Don't worry about where it came from. Here, Kiana, this is for you."

Shen Gonglin liked food, but he did not eat much. After finishing Himeko's hamburger, he was full. Kiana had happened to return, and wasting food was bad, so he gave it to her.

...She was touched. Shen Gonglin's actions left Kiana silent for a moment. Just earlier, she had been thinking that if she bought a candy apple, she would not let Shen Gonglin have any—at most, she would let him lick the stick. But now, she had failed to buy one and was instead benefiting from him. Was she being too narrow-minded?

"Oh, right, Kiana. There's something I need to tell you. Be really careful in this city. I ran into a somewhat perverted woman just now. She said she'd give me a bite of her hamburger if I called her big sis. Then she even said something about calling her darling... Tsk, tsk, pretty scary. If you run into her, remember to stay far away. She ran off that way in the end."

Kiana began eating, and Shen Gonglin suddenly remembered the matter. He felt that he needed to warn her. That girl looked foolish, unlike himself, who was so smart. Calling someone big sis was no big deal, but if she met some other pervert, that would be terrifying. Since he had come out with her, he had to look after her a little.

Hearing that, Kiana froze with a huge bite of hamburger in her mouth. She pounded her chest hard before managing to swallow the food. Looking at the hamburger in her hand, then at the plastic bag beside Shen Gonglin, she suddenly understood where the hamburger had come from. One bite for every time he called her that—how many times had Shen Gonglin called her big sis to get so much food?

So she had overestimated him after all. This guy had no moral integrity whatsoever. She did not want to eat anymore. Once she thought about how Shen Gonglin had earned this hamburger, Kiana lost all appetite. She was the young lady of the Kaslana family. Surely she did not need to rely on him selling himself just to eat, did she?

"You knew she was a pervert, and you still talked to her? Remember this: if you encounter someone like that again, stay far away from them immediately. Don't make me worry about everything for you!"

Kiana stuffed the half-eaten hamburger into the plastic bag, grabbed Shen Gonglin's hand, and rose from the bench. There were such terrifying perverts in this city? It seemed she needed to pay more attention to Shen Gonglin. This time, it had only been something like calling someone big sis. What if next time it became the kind where they paid him for letting them touch him? This guy was dumb, spacey, and greedy for money. He would definitely be fooled. Since she had brought him out, she needed to take good care of him.

"Oh, I got it... But Kiana, where are we going now?"

Shen Gonglin nodded. Seeing Kiana simply drag him forward, he curiously asked. What were they supposed to do now?

"Isn't it obvious? We're getting a room."

Kiana answered as though it were perfectly natural, while Shen Gonglin fell silent. So it was not just this city that had perverts. There was one right beside him too. What kind of outrageous thing was that to say?

Chapter 60: No Danger at All

Looking at the elegantly decorated hotel before him, then at the white-haired beauty beside him, Shen Gonglin swallowed hard. He was not surprised by how refined the hotel was. His mind was entirely occupied by the prospect of getting a room with Kiana. That dumb girl had not explained herself clearly, leaving him agonizing the entire way over how he should refuse her. Only just now had Shen Gonglin figured it out. When Kiana said getting a room, she only meant getting a room in the literal sense. This silly deer had no idea how ambiguous her words sounded. She had made Shen Gonglin misunderstand.

"What's with that look? This is the best hotel I could find nearby. Or would you rather stay in those little inns? They look totally sketchy. Their hygiene standards might not even be up to par."

Shen Gonglin's sidelong glance puzzled Kiana. She thought the place she had found was quite good. It was far better than those dimly lit little inns. Since she was spending mission funds, Kiana was especially generous. When traveling, how could she possibly make herself suffer? Of course, she would rest wherever felt comfortable.

"If I had the choice, I'd rather stay in those little inns. At least the big sister at the entrance looked pretty nice. Though that was entirely because of makeup."

Shen Gonglin had actually been curious about the inn they had passed earlier. If Kiana had not grabbed him by the collar, he might really have gone inside. It felt like the gateway to a new world. Women truly were obstacles on the path to becoming stronger. If Kiana had not stopped him, he would absolutely have entered that new world already.

"You idiot, behave yourself. Whether we're out on a mission or just traveling, if conditions allow it, we should always stay somewhere proper like this. You're not allowed to go to those weird places. Places like that are very... very strange. Anyway, just follow me obediently."

Kiana's face reddened slightly. She might be a little foolish, but what had she not seen when she had wandered around outside before? Even if she had not seen it, she had heard about it. This was not something she should explain too much to Shen Gonglin. Kiana forcefully changed the subject, grabbed his hand, and headed toward the hotel counter. She could not let Shen Gonglin be led astray.

"Hello, please book us two deluxe rooms."

The girl's clear, lovely voice snapped the daydreaming receptionist back to her senses. The receptionist pulled her eyes away from the television. She felt a little embarrassed about zoning out at work, and when she saw Kiana's beautiful face, even as a woman herself, she could not help staring blankly for a moment. This girl really was gorgeous. But why would a young woman like her come to a hotel at this hour and book two rooms?

As she was wondering, the receptionist's gaze shifted to Shen Gonglin. Oh, he was probably her younger brother or something. These siblings were both more delicate-looking than the other. As for why she assumed they were siblings, first, Shen Gonglin looked younger than Kiana. Second, Kiana held his wrist as casually as if she were carrying a plastic bag. If they were a couple, the boy would usually be holding the girl's hand. Like this, they were either siblings or friends.

"Two deluxe rooms, correct? ...I'm sorry, but there's only one deluxe room left. The only rooms remaining are standard doubles."

After checking the computer, the receptionist lowered her head apologetically to Kiana. There really was only one deluxe room left. It was not like she was trying to help them along. Why would she play matchmaker for people who were not even a couple? There simply were no vacant rooms.

"Huh? Then what do we do... Shen Gonglin, what do you think?"

Kiana was troubled by this too. How could there only be one left? It was not that she was so spoiled that she would only stay in a deluxe room. The problem was that if there was one deluxe room, then one of them would have to stay in a standard room. If they both stayed in standard rooms, that would be fine, but if one got to enjoy the deluxe room, the other would definitely feel unfairly treated. She was the leader of this mission, so she ought to have the deluxe room, right?

Sharing sweetness came first; sharing hardship came second.

"Then I'll take the deluxe room. Kiana, sleep well tonight. Don't go wandering into other people's rooms."

Who knew Shen Gonglin would not hold back at all? Kiana had expected him to be polite, so she could reluctantly go along with it and take the room. Instead, this guy was not being courteous in the slightest. Why did he look so justified? She was a girl. What was wrong with letting a girl stay somewhere nicer?

"Why should you get the deluxe room? You listen to my arrangements on this trip. You get the standard room, and the deluxe room is mine!"

Kiana refused to give an inch. Wasn't life all about fighting for this one breath of pride? She could not bow her head to Shen Gonglin. She had a feeling that if she gave in this time, she would have to give in many more times afterward. That would not do. In front of Shen Gonglin, she always had to protect her own interests.

Thus, Shen Gonglin and Kiana began squabbling by the counter. The receptionist watched the two people who seemed on the verge of fighting with hesitation. They definitely were not a couple. They felt more like sworn enemies. Arguing until their faces were red and their necks thick over one room—were they both children?

"Um, how about this? Why don't you two stay in one room? Then you can both have the deluxe room."

The receptionist suggested it tentatively. Her commission might be a little lower that way, but if they kept arguing, they would never finish. What were they fighting for? They could just stay in one room together. The deluxe rooms all had large beds, more than enough for the two of them.

What kind of suggestion was that? He was a boy. What would it look like for him to share a room with Kiana? Had this receptionist misunderstood something? Anyway, Shen Gonglin felt that it was highly inappropriate. Kiana would surely disagree too, right?

"Huh, right! We can just share one room. Seriously, why didn't I think of such a great solution?"

But Kiana's reaction caught Shen Gonglin completely off guard. The girl slapped her palm and suddenly understood. Right, there was that option. Since she and Shen Gonglin could not stop arguing, they could simply stay in one room. That was truly sharing both sweetness and hardship.

"W-Wait, Kiana. Don't you think there's something wrong with that? I'm a boy. Doesn't it bother you to share a room with me? Don't you think it's a little strange?"

Seeing the receptionist already preparing to book the room, Shen Gonglin hurriedly spoke up. Why were both of them acting as though this were completely normal? What was going on?

It made him seem like the strange one.

Strange?

Kiana and the receptionist looked at Shen Gonglin in confusion. Before long, they understood what he meant, and strange smiles appeared on both their faces at the same time.

"It's fine, it's fine. It might be a little strange with other men, but with you, there's absolutely no need to worry."

Kiana patted Shen Gonglin on the shoulder. She and the receptionist spoke in unison. Shen Gonglin's eyebrow twitched violently. What did that mean? Did he really look that harmless?

Want to bet I could make you question your entire life with one slap?

Chapter 61: Because He Was Immature, He Was Dangerous

"Wow, the room is pretty nice. It's totally worth the price. A soft, fluffy bed—I missed you so much~"

After opening the door and entering the room, Kiana immediately spotted the large bed in the suite. She happily ran over and threw herself onto it. Beyond the massive floor-to-ceiling window lay a beautiful night view. Kiana felt that the room suited her taste perfectly. It was far more luxurious than the dorms at St. Freya Academy. Going out was all about enjoying yourself.

Heh. Watching Kiana roll around on the bed, Shen Gonglin let out a cold laugh. Unlike the cheerful Kiana, he felt that he had suffered a severe psychological wound. What Kiana and the receptionist had said earlier had deeply hurt him. What did they mean, there being absolutely no problem if it was him? Did he look that harmless?

That could not be right. It was not as though Kiana had never been dealt with by him. Why would they both think that?

Resting his chin in his hand, Shen Gonglin sank into thought. The only conclusion he could reach was that both of them had something wrong with their heads. A boy and a girl staying alone in the same room while traveling was absolutely dangerous. Absolutely!

"What are you standing there spacing out for? Come over and watch some TV. I'll shower first, then you can go after me. We've been walking all day, and I'm exhausted."

After rolling around on the bed to vent her excitement about being away from home, Kiana thought that with Mei absent, she could watch television as late as she wanted tonight. Sharing a room with Shen Gonglin also made her a little excited. But once that excitement passed, Kiana noticed that something was wrong with Shen Gonglin. This was supposed to be a fun, happy trip, so why did he look so gloomy?

"Kiana, don't rush off to shower yet. I want to ask you something."

Unable to figure it out no matter how hard he thought, Shen Gonglin grabbed Kiana's arm and pulled her back onto the bed. He took off his shoes, sat cross-legged on the bed, and looked solemn. Kiana, meanwhile, flopped carelessly onto the soft mattress. That unguarded appearance made Shen Gonglin feel even worse. It was like she did not take him seriously at all. That was not how she should treat him.

"Hm? What do you want to ask? Go ahead. Leave it to me."

Kiana patted her chest. Shen Gonglin hesitated for a long time before finally speaking. Pointing at his own face, he asked in confusion.

"Kiana, does my face really look that harmless? Don't I have even a little bit of intimidation? Do you people even see me as a man?"

Yes, that was exactly what he wanted to ask. Shen Gonglin had wanted to ask ever since arriving at the hotel. Kiana had shown no reluctance whatsoever toward sharing a room with him, and the receptionist had been the same. It was as though they believed he would never do anything inappropriate. That kind of trust did feel nice, but Shen Gonglin still felt as if people were questioning his masculinity. Did they really think he could not do anything particularly terrifying?

Shen Gonglin was perfectly capable of causing a life to be made.

"Huh? What kind of question is that? Of course I see you as a boy. Though if you wore girls' clothes, you'd definitely be cute too."

Kiana rolled over on the bed, then lay there with her head tilted back as she looked at Shen Gonglin. What kind of question was that? Kiana knew Shen Gonglin's destructive power better than anyone. She could not even count how many times he had taken advantage of her over the past few days. Even on the plane today, he had not spared her... Wait, if he was like that, why did she not feel scared at all?

Once Shen Gonglin raised the issue, Kiana also felt that something was off. Her chest had nearly been squeezed swollen by Shen Gonglin today, so why was she still sharing a room with him? She did have a girl's modesty, but for some reason, this had all seemed perfectly natural. If Shen Gonglin had not suddenly brought it up, she would not have paid it any attention. The question was suspicious. Kiana sat upright, resting her chin on her hand as she thought hard. Why was that?

"...That last part was unnecessary!"

Shen Gonglin slapped the bed in protest. If she wanted to talk, she should just talk properly. Why did this girl have to bring that up again? Tomorrow, he would definitely make Kiana buy him some clothes. He was still wearing her clothes, and they were not cute at all!

"I get it! Shen Gonglin, it really is because of how you look. You don't look mature at all. You look completely like a harmless little kid, so people get the illusion that nothing could possibly happen and that you're totally safe."

After thinking deeply, Kiana arrived at her conclusion. She abruptly slapped the bed and identified the key issue. That was it. That was the reason. Shen Gonglin was young, and his face looked even more childish. Deep purple eyes, fair skin, bright eyes, and neat teeth—one look told people he was not a bad person. Even Kiana, who knew exactly what he was like, would occasionally forget because of that face. Let alone people who did not know what Shen Gonglin had done. That had to be why they instinctively believed he would never do anything inappropriate.

Kiana's words woke Shen Gonglin from his dream. He stared at her in shock. How had such a precise conclusion come from Kiana's mouth? Could her usual silly-deer act all be a disguise? No way. A problem he himself could not figure out had actually been solved by this girl.

Didn't that make him look even stupider than her?

"Hehe, so, Shen Gonglin, if you want to change that, you need to grow up and become mature as soon as possible."

Kiana patted Shen Gonglin on the shoulder, humming a tune as she walked into the bathroom. The feeling of knocking Shen Gonglin down a peg made her feel so good she could barely contain herself. He was just an immature little brat. She was much more mature than him.

"So it really bruised... That idiot. He looks so harmless, but he really hits hard."

After closing the bathroom door, Kiana turned on the water heater and took off her clothes. Looking at the finger marks on the pale skin of her chest, she felt a pang of distress. Shen Gonglin's innocent, harmless appearance was completely fake. The marks on her chest were ironclad proof. It was just unfortunate that she could not let anyone else see them. Hopefully, a hot bath would make them fade quickly. Otherwise, every time she saw them, she would feel like she had gotten the short end of the stick.

Stepping into the bathtub, Kiana sat in the water and blew bubbles while Shen Gonglin's question continued to trouble her. Why was she not resistant at all to sharing a room with him? It was one thing for that receptionist not to understand Shen Gonglin, but she knew his behavior all too well. Not just what happened on the plane, but what had happened before at St. Freya Academy too. So why was this happening?

Why did she not care at all despite him taking advantage of her so many times... No, she did care a tiny bit... Just, just a little.

Chapter 62: Reliving Old Dreams

Was it because she was not mature enough?

Shen Gonglin suddenly understood. What Kiana said did make sense. If he had a mature aura and looked dangerous, then neither she nor that receptionist would have reacted that way. Shen Gonglin turned to look at the mirror, but the moment he saw his reflection, he was at a loss again. Even if he knew that, it was hard to change. He reached out and touched his face. No matter how he looked at it, this face did not resemble that of a bad person capable of doing bad things. It was far too deceptive. Changing through appearance alone would be difficult. In that case, he could only change through his actions.

What was a mature person supposed to do, anyway? In a situation where he was alone in a room with a girl and she was taking a bath... Shen Gonglin understood. This was what he should do.

"Kiana, open the door."

Walking up to the bathroom, Shen Gonglin tugged the handle. Hadn't this girl said he was immature and completely nonthreatening? If so, why had she locked the door? Was she saying one thing but meaning another? Shen Gonglin knocked on the door again and again. Since he had made a decision, he had to put it into action. It was obvious what a mature man would do in this situation. According to the books, Kiana's behavior should mean she was inviting him.

"Glub, glub... Pwah! Shen Gonglin, what is it?"

Kiana, soaking in the bathtub, was startled by Shen Gonglin's sudden voice. After choking on a mouthful of bathwater, she looked toward the door in confusion. What was going on? Did Shen Gonglin have something urgent to say? Did he have to interrupt her right now? Did he not know she was thinking about something important?

"Just open the door. I want to come in."

Shen Gonglin made that request as though it were completely justified. Kiana had said she wanted him to become mature, so now she had to help him. There was no other opportunity, so he could only start with her. Wasn't the mark of maturity being able to freely enter a bathroom where a member of the opposite sex was present?

Fu Hua did it, so she was very mature... Though physically, she was still rather inexperienced, Fu Hua truly was mature.

"...You want me to open the door and let you in while I'm taking a bath? Shen Gonglin, how could you possibly think I'd do something that brain-dead? Do you really think I'm stupid to that extent?"

As if stunned by Shen Gonglin's utterly justified tone, Kiana in the bathroom was silent for a long time before speaking again. The girl stared at the door in disbelief, as though she wanted to see Shen Gonglin's expression through the wooden panel. What was going on inside that guy's head? Did he think she would actually open it? How had he arrived at that conclusion? Kiana could not understand it at all.

"Oh, you're bathing? Then I won't trouble you. I'll just go in myself."

Any lock was as good as useless before Shen Gonglin. Since Kiana was busy, he would just do it himself. Gripping the handle and applying a little force, the lock somehow came open. Shen Gonglin pushed the door wide open and strode inside. The moment he entered, he saw Kiana amid the rising steam. The girl stared blankly at him from the doorway. He had actually come in!

So this was how Fu Hua had felt when she barged into his bathroom that time. It did not seem like such a big deal. Could behavior like this really make someone mature? Shen Gonglin rested his chin in his hand and thought seriously. He did not feel like he had grown at all. Had he gotten something wrong?

"Kiana, do you think I look any more mature now... Ow! What are you doing? Talk things out properly... Don't hit me!"

If he did not understand, he had to ask. Shen Gonglin took two steps forward and asked Kiana. That movement snapped the frozen Kiana out of it. Her fair face instantly turned bright red, scorching heat spreading from her cheeks throughout her body. Shen Gonglin still dared to come closer!

From where he stood now, he probably could not see much. But if he came closer, she would be completely exposed. Kiana grabbed the rubber duck from the water and threw it at Shen Gonglin. Skilled in long-range throwing, she hit him squarely in the head. Then came the shower gel, soap, towel... In short, everything Kiana could reach was hurled at him. At first, it was fine. A rubber duck and a towel did not have much destructive power. But when Kiana lifted the cabinet from the corner, Shen Gonglin finally panicked. The price of maturity was too high, wasn't it?

If that was what it took, then he would rather stay immature for now.

He turned to run, but Shen Gonglin panicked and ran straight into the doorframe with his head. Under Kiana's dumbfounded gaze, he swayed for a moment before collapsing in the bathroom doorway. What was that supposed to be? Had he really knocked himself unconscious?

She was utterly speechless. And he wanted to be mature? Did Shen Gonglin have anything at all to do with that word? After hesitating for a while, Kiana wrapped herself in a bath towel and climbed out of the tub. This guy was really ruthless toward himself. He had not held back at all with that impact. No normal person could understand what was going through his head. Fine, she had to clean up this mess herself.

Kiana sighed. She nudged Shen Gonglin on the floor with her foot, and after confirming that he had truly lost consciousness, the girl helplessly helped him up. There was only her here, after all. He was truly a failure as a pervert. Had he done something so brainless just to seem a little more dangerous?

To be honest, that behavior did make Shen Gonglin seem slightly more dangerous. Kiana admitted that she had underestimated him before. There was a tiny bit of danger in sharing a room with him.

But that tiny bit of danger... could be ignored.

Looking at the idiot who had knocked himself unconscious, Kiana tossed Shen Gonglin onto the soft bed. Then the girl pounced on top of him herself. Unconscious Shen Gonglin really was cuter. Why talk about maturity? Wouldn't it be better if things just stayed like this? Back when Shen Gonglin was unconscious, Kiana often took care of him like this, only to end up lying on the bed herself. Now that he was awake, he only bullied her. This time, Kiana had finally gotten her chance. It was time to relive how things used to feel!

Do not think that only girls were at risk when a boy and girl stayed together. Through her actions, Kiana told everyone that boys needed to be careful too. The young lady of the Kaslana family turned on the television, leaned comfortably against Shen Gonglin, and began watching. This was what enjoyment felt like. Back when Shen Gonglin was unconscious, this was how she had taken care of him. Now, this counted as reliving old dreams, right?

Chapter 63: Nightlife

Who knew how much time had passed before Shen Gonglin, lying on the bed, finally frowned and slowly opened his eyes. He stared blankly at the ceiling above him. In the flickering light of the television, merely looking at the ceiling made him think of an entire horror movie. An unfamiliar ceiling... Where was this? Who was he again?

After spacing out for quite a while, Shen Gonglin finally shook off the low blood pressure of waking up. He tried to sit up, but the heavy weight pressing down on him made even that simple motion impossible. Shen Gonglin looked down, and in the faint light from the television, he made out the white-haired figure sleeping on his stomach. What was this...? Kiana.

The young lady of the Kaslana family slept very peacefully. Kiana had fallen asleep while lying on Shen Gonglin and watching television. Shen Gonglin's soft stomach was the best pillow imaginable to her. No wonder he had woken up in the middle of the night. With someone that heavy resting her head on your stomach, of course you would not sleep comfortably. He had no idea how couples managed to sleep embraced all night long. But perhaps it was because he and Kiana were not a couple that he could not understand that feeling.

After struggling to push Kiana's head aside, Shen Gonglin sat up and recalled what had happened earlier. He remembered going to the bathroom to prove that he was dangerous, then somehow passing out for no reason. Looking at things now, Kiana must have dragged him onto the bed after finishing her bath... The bathroom really was a dangerous place. Anyone with bad intentions who tried to break in would definitely suffer. Fu Hua had barged into his bathroom last time and ended up face-first on the floor. Now he had barged into Kiana's bathroom and mysteriously passed out. How miserable.

Come to think of it, Kiana still did not take him seriously. She had casually lain beside him like this. Did she still think he posed no danger?

Realizing that, Shen Gonglin became gloomy again. It seemed this was a long road ahead. One day, he would make these ignorant women understand that even he could be dangerous!

Thinking viciously, Shen Gonglin felt much better. Then he turned his wicked gaze toward Kiana. He would let this girl see just how beastly he could be. She had delivered herself right to his door, after all. Who told her to book only one room? This was called karma.

He rolled over and supported himself above Kiana, but when the moment actually came, Shen Gonglin's expression became complicated. This girl slept sprawled out like a starfish, with none of the grace a girl ought to have. She even snored in her sleep. Other than her face and figure, she hardly seemed like a girl at all. Wouldn't doing this make him seem desperate?

Shen Gonglin was just nitpicking. The faint little sounds she made had become snoring in his mouth. Kiana was usually quite quiet when she slept. She was only like this because of her sleeping position.

Shen Gonglin looked at the sleeping Kiana with a complicated expression. How could someone possibly feel desire toward a monkey? It felt like he would lose if he made a move on Kiana in her current state. Besides, if he moved, she would definitely wake up. Then he would have to bear the label of scum who preyed on a sleeping girl. Shen Gonglin wanted to become mature, but he did not want to become a pervert.