I, Herrscher Slayer

"This doesn't seem right. Let me help you. Two people working together will be faster. We can just whip up something simple."

Fu Hua shook her head. It just wasn't her style to go to someone's place and immediately fall asleep without doing anything. Not everyone was Shen Gonglin. Fu Hua wanted to help.

"No problem, cooking is a mandatory skill for a maid. I can handle it alone. If Lord Fu Hua wants to help, perhaps next time. You should go... Shen Gong, opening someone's bedroom without permission is not something a gentleman would do."

While talking to Fu Hua, Shen Gonglin had curiously pushed open Rita's bedroom door. The maid walked up helplessly and said this. She didn't mind for herself, but what if he opened Lady Bianca's room?

It felt like bringing a mischievous child home.

Chapter 109: Shen Gonglin's Serious Side

"Oh, sorry. I was just curious... I'm sorry."

What he did was indeed wrong. He subconsciously thought he was in Kiana's dorm at St. Freya. With them, he wouldn't have to worry about such things. Even in Theresa's office, Shen Gonglin felt relaxed and at ease. But this was different now. This was Rita's home, and he really shouldn't have done that.

Shen Gonglin obediently bowed his head to apologize to Rita. Seeing him in this state, both Rita and Fu Hua were surprised. They never expected Shen Gonglin to have such a side. They thought he would only act recklessly and willfully. But now, seeing him bow his head... Shen Gonglin must have received a good education in the past.

His flighty personality had always overshadowed it. When Rita thought about it, she could indeed feel a sense of nobility from Shen Gonglin. This was something that couldn't be cultivated later in life. It was like being from an ancient, prestigious family. Shen Gonglin's past identity was probably not ordinary.

"...It's alright. Would you like to tour my room? And Lord Fu Hua, would you like to rest?"

What she said earlier seemed a bit off. The atmosphere between them had been quite harmonious. Although she was always the one being tricked, Rita didn't dislike that kind of interaction. But now that Shen Gonglin was suddenly so polite, Rita felt unaccustomed to it. She opened her room door, intending to invite Shen Gonglin and Fu Hua in. However, Shen Gonglin, who had already realized his mistake, had no intention of making another one.

He was so embarrassed. He almost thought this was his own home.

"No, no. Rita, hurry up and cook. Then, let's see when this mission can end. Leaving Kiana alone outside is too worrying."

Shen Gonglin sat obediently on the sofa, feeling very embarrassed about his previous behavior. He was trying his best to make up for it. With this conscious effort to correct himself, some ingrained habits began to show. If it were before, Shen Gonglin would have already been lounging on the sofa. But now, he couldn't do that; he had to be a proper guest.

"I think Kiana might cry tears of gratitude if she heard you worrying about her like this... Rita, don't mind us. Go ahead and cook."

Fu Hua also sat on the sofa with Shen Gonglin. For some reason, Fu Hua didn't sit on the single sofa over there but sat with Shen Gonglin. She saw that her disciple indeed had many mysteries about him. She wondered if this trip to headquarters would help his memory. Fu Hua glanced at Shen Gonglin beside her and quietly placed her hand on his. This was probably a form of conditioned reflex, but it was okay; she was by his side.

"...Yes. Then, Lord Fu Hua, and Shen Gong, please wait."

Now Rita didn't know what to say. Looking at the two people sitting on the sofa, the slightly dejected maid could only return to the kitchen alone. She probably didn't do anything wrong... Shen Gonglin's reaction wasn't wrong either, but why did it feel off? It was as if something had changed, but how could it be changed back? Rita disliked this feeling very much.

"Do you want to come over to my place later? Although it's not as big as Rita's place, I have my own exclusive dormitory at headquarters. While we're at headquarters these days, you can stay at my place."

Fu Hua didn't say anything extra to Shen Gonglin. She spoke softly, her emerald green eyes looking at the well-behaved Shen Gonglin with a hint of strangeness. He had truly become well-behaved. Even his feet were tucked neatly into his slippers, not moving at all. Now Shen Gonglin could be called well-behaved, sensible, and obedient. He was finally consistent with his appearance. She didn't expect him to have this side. Probably no one besides herself and Rita knew about this side of him.

"Okay... So, Class Monitor, does this mean we're living together? I didn't expect you to want to live with me so much. To be honest, this is my first time. I'm a little nervous. Let me ask first, Class Monitor, you only have one bed there, right?"

Shen Gonglin's eyes lit up. Fu Hua's suggestion was good. To be honest, apart from her somewhat flat chest, everything else about the Class Monitor was fine. Shen Gonglin's current goal was to explore every part of Fu Hua. After all, he was her disciple. Isn't it normal for a disciple to worry about their master's physical condition? Besides, living with Fu Hua would be more convenient than having Rita around.

Moreover, last time he only tasted a little of Fu Hua's blood, and Shen Gonglin wanted to taste more.

"Yes, there is indeed only one bed. But don't get any ideas. You sleep on the bed, and I'll sleep on the sofa. We can go after we eat. It hasn't been lived in for a long time, and it needs to be cleaned. So, to prepare for the cleaning later, Shen Gong... don't move around. Let me rest."

Interrupting her unruly disciple's drifting thoughts in advance, Fu Hua gave Shen Gonglin a sideways glance. Just hearing him say those two sentences, she knew what the idiot was thinking. She didn't know why she had made such a suggestion. Was it because she hadn't rested well yesterday and had neurasthenia? Attributing her behavior to a whim, Fu Hua opened her mouth and yawned slightly. She didn't have Rita's skill of being energetic after a few hours of sleep. It was okay to relax a little now.

She relaxed her body and leaned towards Shen Gonglin. Then Fu Hua felt something was wrong. She had only intended to rest her head on Shen Gonglin's shoulder, but she didn't expect him to instinctively dodge. What was going on? She had let him stay at her place, and she had given him knee pillows so many times. What was wrong with letting him lean on her now?

"Uh, Class Monitor, if you're tired, can you lean over there? I still want to play some games."

Shaking the phone in his hand, Shen Gonglin had somehow gotten Fu Hua's phone. He was surprised that Fu Hua had games on her phone. This was a stark contrast to the Class Monitor's usual image. Such a Class Monitor was so cute.

However, no matter how cute she was, she couldn't interfere with Shen Gonglin playing games. All his game consoles were with Kiana. Now his hands were itching.

"No! Don't you know who made me like this? Sit there obediently!"

Fu Hua was unusually angry. This time, she wouldn't lean on Shen Gonglin anymore. That wouldn't calm her anger. She held Shen Gonglin down, preventing him from dodging, and rested her head on his lap. Usually, she provided him with knee pillows. Now, letting him let her sleep for a bit was normal, right?

Chapter 110: Traces on the Clothes

This, how could Fu Hua do this? How could he play games now? If he couldn't play games, what should Shen Gonglin do? He couldn't play Fu Hua, could he? She didn't seem as fun as a game. Did the Class Monitor also have such a willful side? Was he the only reliable one left?

Fu Hua's rare willfulness, with her lying on his lap, made it impossible for Shen Gonglin to play on his phone. Helplessly, Shen Gonglin had to put his phone aside. Sigh, it couldn't be helped, he was too kind. If he didn't plan to stay at Fu Hua's dorm overnight later, Shen Gonglin would have pushed her off right then and there. It couldn't be helped; he could only give Fu Hua a little treat now.

...What should I do? Why did I do this on impulse? Now... it's so awkward.

Shen Gonglin felt uneasy, and Fu Hua, lying on his lap, felt even more so. Although she had lain on Shen Gonglin's lap out of anger, Fu Hua now regretted it. Such a posture shouldn't appear on her. Should she get up? But if she got up now, it felt like she would lose. But if she didn't get up... Fu Hua felt her face getting a little hot. This was so awkward. It was fine for her to give Shen Gonglin knee pillows, as it could be considered preferential treatment from a master to a disciple. But forcing Shen Gonglin to give her knee pillows, wasn't that her taking advantage of him using her status as a master?

Fu Hua was struggling, but Shen Gonglin reached out and covered her head. Bored, he could only play with Fu Hua, gently massaging her head with his fingers. Fu Hua, who had been very tense, opened her mouth but finally said nothing. Shen Gonglin's massage skills were good. Fu Hua felt much more relaxed. She decided to take it as a break, giving herself a holiday. She had been so tired last night; it was normal to rest.

Thus, Fu Hua slowly closed her eyes and relaxed her body. Shen Gonglin massaged her head while stroking her hair. To be honest, Fu Hua was quite fun to play with, more fun than petting a cat. Like Kiana, she didn't shed.

In the kitchen, a pair of purplish-red eyes stared intently at the scene. Rita saw everything that happened on the sofa. Because of what happened earlier, the maid couldn't concentrate on cooking. The scene in the living room made her expression change. Lord Fu Hua was like this too. It seemed Shen Gonglin's relationship with her was indeed good. Rita had felt this way on the ship. Fu Hua not only carried Shen Gonglin on her back but also provided him with knee pillows. Although she had also given Shen Gonglin knee pillows, these two things were clearly not comparable. Most importantly, Shen Gonglin was now giving Lord Fu Hua knee pillows...

She wouldn't think about it anymore. She should focus on cooking. Her task now was to eliminate the gap that was accidentally created earlier. Rita had to let Shen Gonglin know that she didn't consider him an outsider.

"Kiana, how tall is that Shen Gonglin, anyway?"

On the battlefield where Honkai Beasts had raged earlier, many rescue tents had been set up on the destroyed city. The task of clearing the Honkai Beasts and rescuing was completed. Valkyries like them, who were combat-oriented, were no longer needed here. Wuliangta Himeko, finally free, chased after Kiana, asking for all sorts of information she was interested in. She hadn't had time to ask before, but now she finally had the chance. This girl Kiana had been acting with Shen Gonglin, and she was the one who picked Shen Gonglin up and brought him to St. Freya. Asking her would be accurate.

"Hmm... I remember he's taller than Bronya, and almost as tall as me... Auntie Himeko, why are you asking this? Haven't you met Shen Gonglin too? Besides, I've already answered this question several times!"

Kiana puffed out her cheeks, comparing Shen Gonglin's height to Bronya's in her mind. Although they were similar in age, Shen Gonglin was slightly taller than Bronya. In any case, he wasn't taller than her. Speaking of which, Kiana was very curious. Himeko had been pestering her with questions about Shen Gonglin since earlier. Hadn't they met before?

Yes, Kiana now knew that Himeko was the one who found Shen Gonglin's body back then. However, this innocent girl didn't think much of it. She just thought it was a misunderstanding. Because of this, she felt a little apologetic towards Himeko, so she told Himeko everything she asked. However, she only asked the same few questions, and Kiana was almost out of patience.

"If you call me Auntie again, I'll hit you... I'm just bored, I'm just asking casually. Mei, what do you think? What does Shen Gonglin like to eat?"

Himeko scratched her cheek and looked away, changing the subject. She couldn't say that she was currently collecting all sorts of information about Shen Gonglin to create a guide. Even when Kiana called her Auntie, Himeko didn't immediately scold the girl, which showed how invested Himeko was in this matter. If it weren't for the mission requirements, she would have wanted to reunite with Shen Gonglin. It wasn't that she had fallen in love with him directly, but Himeko just found him pleasing to the eye and wanted to understand him.

"Him... he probably likes steamed dumplings and small cakes. Shen Gong does seem to like small and tender foods. He wouldn't like things that are too old... Kiana, what's on your clothes? It smells a bit strange. Where did you get it?"

Mei smiled and responded to Himeko's words. For some reason, looking at Mei's small face and hearing her words, Himeko felt strange. Mei's words seemed to have a hidden meaning, but Himeko couldn't figure out what Mei was trying to say. She liked to eat small and tender foods, which suited his appearance. She made a mental note.

Seeing that Himeko hadn't grasped the meaning behind her words, Mei shook her head and drove away the mischievous thought in her mind, focusing on washing clothes. Since there was nothing else to do, the girl's innate desire to take care of people resurfaced. Kiana's clothes were dirty, so Mei had her take them off so she could wash them. But what were these marks on the clothes? They smelled quite strange.

"Not at all... You're asking about this spot? I, I don't know where I got it. Just try washing it, Mei. If it doesn't come clean, just throw it away."

Leaning closer to Mei and seeing the stain she pointed to, Kiana's expression turned a little strange. If she remembered correctly, this should have been left by Shen Gonglin. That guy actually got all over her, what a bastard!

"How can you just throw it away? I'll wash it clean, Kiana. You can't just waste things."

"...Oh, Mei, as long as you're happy."

Watching the girl diligently wash the clothes, Kiana scratched her cheek. The truth... she'd better not reveal it.

Chapter 111: Low Blood Pressure Drool Monster

It feels like it's been a long... a very long time since I've slept so comfortably and peacefully.

In the darkness, Fu Hua's consciousness slowly cleared. The deep sleep had greatly replenished her spirit. The scent of food wafted from the kitchen, and she felt as if she were sleeping under the shade of a tree in autumn, with a babbling stream nearby. Such a peaceful environment made Fu Hua reluctant to wake up. She remembered falling asleep on Shen Gonglin's lap. Although it was a bit embarrassing, Fu Hua felt like she wanted to stay in bed a little longer.

Drip.

The sound of running water seemed to echo in her heart. Fu Hua was incredibly serene at this moment, as if her entire heart had quieted down. Her memories had many gaps, and for a long time, Fu Hua had a sense of inexplicable anxiety. But now, she felt completely relaxed, more peaceful than when she cultivated Mindful Essence. Was all of this brought about by Shen Gonglin?

Was she still dreaming?

Drip.

Another sound of water, and this time Fu Hua frowned slightly. This dream was too realistic. It felt as if water was actually dripping onto her forehead, cool and refreshing, the sensation very real.

Drip.

What was going on? It really felt like water was dripping on her.

Reluctantly, Fu Hua opened her eyes. Unlike some people, she didn't suffer from low blood pressure symptoms. As soon as Fu Hua woke up, she saw the sleeping little face in front of her. Shen Gonglin looked like an angel when he slept, with his delicate eyebrows and a face so small it could be covered by one hand, and cherry-red lips. He truly looked like a girl. If his hair were a little longer, he would definitely be like a princess from a fairy tale.

Too bad this was only when he was asleep. When he woke up, he would instantly transform into a demon of this world.

Looking at Shen Gonglin's sleeping face above, Fu Hua forgot what she was about to do. While giving Fu Hua a lap pillow, Shen Gonglin had fallen asleep out of boredom. But sleeping like this, with his head bowed, was not only bad for his neck but also prone to drooling...

Wait, drool!

She instantly understood something. At that moment, a drop of saliva dripped from Shen Gonglin's mouth onto Fu Hua's face. The usually serene expression of the class monitor instantly became somewhat distorted. What babbling stream? This was clearly Shen Gonglin, that bastard, drooling in his sleep. It was one thing for him to drool, but why did it all end up on her head? Her face was covered in Shen Gonglin's bodily fluids!

Fu Hua could no longer sleep. She immediately sat up straight, moving off Shen Gonglin's lap. Her head bumped directly into Shen Gonglin's nose bridge. Shen Gonglin, who was in a deep sleep, was instantly woken up in pain. He vaguely opened his eyes. Was the person in front of him the class monitor... Why was her expression so bad? Wasn't she just sleeping? Was she having a nightmare?

"Get up, don't block me."

Pushing Shen Gonglin away, Fu Hua quickly walked towards the bathroom. How much fluid did Shen Gonglin have? She felt like her entire head was covered in his drool. What kind of delicious dream was he having? Did he mistake her head for some delicious dish?

"Uh... Oh."

Shen Gonglin, still groggy, nodded blankly. Although his body had woken up, his consciousness was still in a daze. Shen Gonglin touched his head, completely clueless. Just then, Rita walked out of the kitchen, holding exquisite dishes. Seeing Fu Hua rush into the bathroom, Rita tilted her head curiously. Had something happened while she wasn't looking?

"Shen Gong, what's wrong with Madam Fu Hua? Why is she running so fast?"

Placing the carefully prepared dishes on the table, Rita glanced at Shen Gonglin cautiously. Shen Gonglin's somewhat polite and distant attitude before still bothered her. She hoped this meal would help that strange feeling disappear quickly.

"N-no, I don't know... Rita, give me a hug."

Shen Gonglin's unfocused purple eyes looked at Rita, his pupils completely unfocused, indicating that he was acting purely on subconsciousness. He said whatever came to his mind. Seeing the beautiful figure in the maid outfit in front of him, Shen Gonglin happily opened his arms. He really wanted a hug.

What was he saying!

Confirming she hadn't misheard, Rita's eyes widened as she looked at Shen Gonglin with his arms open. Her purplish-red pupils were filled with disbelief. What was going on? Why would Shen Gonglin suddenly make such a request? Wasn't he just being polite and courteous a moment ago? This state... was he not fully awake yet?

As expected of a professional maid, the super observant Rita immediately noticed Shen Gonglin's abnormal state. This was likely a symptom of waking up with low blood pressure, similar to how alcohol loosens the tongue. In this state, Shen Gonglin said whatever he thought. And by saying this...

Did it mean he didn't really see her as an outsider?

Thinking of this, Rita immediately felt relieved. She had been wondering how to get Shen Gonglin back to his usual state, but she didn't expect him to speak his true feelings after just one nap. Tsk, so Shen Gonglin was a tsundere after all. Really, even cuteness has its limits. Shen Gonglin was so cute, she didn't know what to do with herself, a girl who liked cute things!

She had no resistance to cute things at all. Normally, Shen Gonglin's cuteness was comparable to Madam Theresa's. At this level, Shen Gonglin's cuteness was almost off the charts!

Since he had requested it, as a maid, fulfilling his request was part of her duty. After all, her goal in life was to be a perfect maid. Therefore, agreeing to his request was perfectly normal.

"Alright, I will comply with your command. However, after fulfilling it, please eat your meal properly."

Glancing silently towards the bathroom, ensuring Fu Hua wouldn't come out anytime soon, Rita stepped forward and slightly bent down to hug Shen Gonglin, who was asking for a hug on the sofa. Finally, she could legitimately enjoy this feeling. It was like a little girl hugging her beloved stuffed toy, and Rita hugged Shen Gonglin tightly.

This feeling wasn't bad.

Shen Gonglin was also satisfied with the maid's warm embrace. But as time passed, the clarity in Shen Gonglin's eyes gradually returned. Looking at the fragrant and soft maid hugging him, Shen Gonglin's eyes became increasingly strange.

"Uh... Actually, you're also a perverted maid who takes advantage of people when they're asleep, aren't you?"

Chapter 112: Fu Hua. Overwhelmed

At the dining table, the three sat quietly in their chairs without touching their chopsticks. Fu Hua wiped the water droplets from her hair, looking confused. This was how things were when she came out after washing her face. Shen Gonglin was relatively normal, but Rita had a flushed face, looking dazed and wronged. Did something happen between Shen Gonglin and Rita while she was washing her face? She felt like something was a bit off.

"Let's start eating. Rita prepared this meal so meticulously; it would be a shame if it got cold."

Finally, Fu Hua broke the silence. Whether it was an illusion or not, she felt Rita cast a grateful glance at her as soon as she spoke. The maid was worried about how to resolve the situation, and she was grateful for Madam Fu Hua's presence, otherwise, Rita felt she would have been mortified to death.

Why did Shen Gonglin always wake up when he shouldn't be awake? Besides, he was the one who asked for a hug. Why was he looking at her like she was a pervert? She was just following his instructions. When Shen Gonglin was groggy and half-asleep, he was like a tsundere little angel, but as soon as he woke up, only the "tsun" remained. Where did the "dere" go, that tenderness that could melt people's hearts?

Where did the cute, cuddly Shen Gonglin from before go? The Shen Gonglin who was now looking at her with wary eyes wasn't the real Shen Gonglin!

"Yes, I am very confident in this meal. Shen Gong, try this. This is my masterpiece."

She tried her best to ignore his gaze, which felt like he was looking at a pervert. This was better than his usual polite demeanor, at least. Rita used her chopsticks to place the meticulously prepared dish onto Shen Gonglin's plate. I'm not some perverted maid, all of this is voluntary and initiated by myself.

"Mmm... Class Monitor, thank you for taking care of me on this journey. You eat first. Based on the smell, it should be quite good."

His eyes remained wary as Shen Gonglin offered the food from his own bowl to Fu Hua. The unsuspecting Fu Hua was immediately flattered. What's gotten into Shen Gonglin? Why is he suddenly so considerate, so human-like? Not only did he give me his lap to rest my head on, but now he's proactively serving me food. This filial piety is making my nose sting.

It seemed that him drooling all over her head earlier was just an unintentional mistake. Given Shen Gonglin's current behavior, she should forgive him. Speaking of which, Shen Gonglin had done so many outrageous things to her – pushing her face-first into the ground in the bathroom, inexplicably stealing her first kiss, and now this... Fu Hua had always chosen to forgive him. Now, it seemed her efforts were finally paying off.

You ungrateful disciple, you've finally done something decent.

"Thank you... It's really delicious. As expected of Rita. Shen Gonglin, you try some too. Rita's cooking skills are truly impeccable."

She savored the dish Shen Gonglin had given her. After enduring the passage of long years, Fu Hua rarely focused on the taste of the food itself anymore. Rita's cooking was indeed very good, but Fu Hua was now primarily tasting the human element within the dish... not that human element.

It seems the Class Monitor is fine. This perverted maid probably didn't drug the food. I can eat with peace of mind now.

Carefully observing Fu Hua's reaction and confirming she showed no abnormalities, Shen Gonglin finally relaxed. He was extremely vigilant right now. If this maid could make advances on him while he was asleep, what else was she capable of? Even drugging the food wasn't impossible. Mei had told him that as a boy, he needed to protect himself when he was out. Since the Class Monitor had already eaten, he should be fine if he ate now.

This ungrateful disciple is treating his innocent teacher as a guinea pig for her food. If Fu Hua knew her disciple thought of her this way, she'd probably happily deliver Inch Strength. Sky Splitter to Shen Gonglin.

He took a bite of the dish Fu Hua had eaten earlier. The moment the food entered his mouth, Shen Gonglin couldn't help but reveal a satisfied expression. It was indeed good, comparable to the cream stew Mei had made for him before. It seemed this maid actually had some skills. For this dish, Shen Gonglin would give it an eight out of ten. If it glowed, it might even reach nine. As for a ten-point dish... he was saving that for himself.

Every time he saw a kitchen, he felt a restless urge. Shen Gonglin had reason to suspect that before he lost his memory, he was a world-renowned master chef. Perhaps anyone who ate his cooking would have their clothes explode off.

"How does it taste?"

Rita looked at Shen Gonglin expectantly. She could tell from his expression, but as a maid, she wanted to hear it from him directly, just to satisfy her competitive spirit. Her cleaning and cooking skills were the best indicators of a maid's basic competence, and Rita really wanted Shen Gonglin's affirmation.

"Hmm, it's passable. It's just the texture of the beef..."

Shen Gonglin pretended to critique, while Rita nodded along, taking his words to heart. So the flavor was a bit too strong? It seems Shen Gonglin prefers a lighter taste. I should reduce the amount of salt and black pepper next time, perhaps adding some almond flour would be even better. Precision in every seasoning, down to the gram – that was the perfection Rita strived for.