I, Herrscher Slayer

"It wouldn't be right. Let me help you; the two of us will be faster. We can just make something simple."

Fu Hua shook her head. Going to someone else's place and sleeping first without doing anything was not appropriate. Not everyone was Shen Gonglin, and she wanted to help too.

"It's fine. Cooking is a required skill for maids; I can handle it alone. If Lady Fu Hua wants to help, then next time. You should go first... Shen Gonglin, opening someone else's bedroom without permission is not something a gentleman should do."

While speaking with Fu Hua, Shen Gonglin curiously pushed open Rita's bedroom door. The maid walked over helplessly and said this. She herself did not mind, but what if he opened Lady Bianca's bedroom?

It really felt like bringing a naughty child into her home.

Shen Gonglin's Serious Side

"Oh, sorry. I was just curious... Sorry."

What he had done did seem inappropriate. He had subconsciously assumed he was in Kiana and the others' dorm at St. Freya. When he was with them, he truly never had to worry about things like that. Even in Theresa's office, Shen Gonglin had always felt relaxed and at ease. But this place was different. This was Rita's home, and he really should not have done that.

He obediently lowered his head and apologized to Rita. Seeing Shen Gonglin like this, both Rita and Fu Hua were astonished. They had not expected him to have such a side to him. They had thought Shen Gonglin only knew how to be willful and reckless, but the sight of him bowing his head... Shen Gonglin must have received a good education in the past.

It had always been concealed by his flighty personality. Once Rita considered it from that angle, she could indeed sense a certain nobility in Shen Gonglin. It was not something that could be cultivated later in life, like the aura of a great family with an ancient lineage. Shen Gonglin's former identity was probably far from ordinary.

"...It's all right. Would you like to look around my room? And Lady Fu Hua, would you like to rest for a while?"

What she had just said seemed rather ill-advised. The atmosphere between them had been quite harmonious before. Though she had constantly been the one getting tricked, Rita had not disliked their interactions. Yet Shen Gonglin suddenly becoming so polite made her uncomfortable instead. She opened the bedroom door to invite Shen Gonglin and Fu Hua inside, but now that Shen Gonglin had realized his behavior was improper, how could he possibly continue making mistakes?

That was so embarrassing. I almost thought this was my own home.

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

He obediently sat on the sofa. Feeling deeply embarrassed by his behavior just now, Shen Gonglin now wanted to make up for it as much as possible. Once he deliberately corrected himself, certain habits ingrained in his bones surfaced. In the past, Shen Gonglin would definitely have sprawled out on the sofa already. But he could not do that now. He had to behave properly as a guest.

"I think if Kiana heard you worrying about her like that, she might be moved to tears... Rita, don't mind us. Go cook without worry."

Fu Hua sat down beside Shen Gonglin as well. For some reason, she did not sit on the single sofa across from them, instead sitting beside Shen Gonglin. Her disciple truly had some mysteries surrounding him. She wondered whether this trip to headquarters would help his memories. Fu Hua glanced at Shen Gonglin beside her, then quietly covered his hand with hers. This probably counted as a stress response of some kind. But it was all right. She was beside him.

"...Yes. Then, Lady Fu Hua and Shen Gonglin, please wait a moment."

Now Rita did not know what to say either. Looking at the two seated on the sofa, the slightly dejected maid could only return to the kitchen alone. She had not done anything wrong... Shen Gonglin's reaction was not wrong either. But why did it feel so strange? It was as though something had changed. Yet how could it change back? Rita did not like this feeling at all.

"Do you want to go to my place later? It's not as big as Rita's, but I have my own private dormitory here at headquarters. While we're at headquarters these next few days, stay with me."

Without saying anything unnecessary to Shen Gonglin, Fu Hua spoke softly. Her green eyes looked somewhat strange as she watched Shen Gonglin sit there so properly. He really had become obedient all over. Even his feet were tucked inside his slippers, staying still like a well-behaved child. Only now could Shen Gonglin be called obedient, sensible, and compliant. Now he completely matched his appearance. Fu Hua had not expected him to be like this. Aside from herself and Rita, probably no one knew he had such a side.

"Sure... Then, Class President, does this count as living together? I never thought you wanted to live with me so badly. To be honest, it's my first time, so I'm a little nervous. Let me ask first—there's only one bed at your place, right?"

Shen Gonglin's eyes lit up. Fu Hua's suggestion was not bad. Honestly, aside from Class President's somewhat flat chest, everything else about her was fine. Shen Gonglin's current goal was to explore every part of Fu Hua's body. After all, he was her disciple. Was it not perfectly normal for a disciple to be concerned about his master's physical condition? Besides, living with Fu Hua would be much more convenient than having Rita there too.

And last time, he had only tasted a tiny bit of Fu Hua's blood. Shen Gonglin wanted another taste.

"Yes, there is only one bed. But don't think too much about it. You sleep in the bed, and I'll sleep on the sofa. We'll go after eating. No one has lived there for quite some time, so it will need cleaning first. So, for the sake of cleaning later, Shen Gonglin... don't move around. Let me rest for a while."

Cutting off a certain rebellious disciple's increasingly wayward thoughts in advance, Fu Hua shot Shen Gonglin a glare. Just hearing those two sentences was enough for her to know what this idiot was thinking. She did not know why she had suggested this in the first place. Could it be that she had not rested well last night and was suffering from neurasthenia? Attributing her behavior to a whim, Fu Hua opened her mouth and gave a small yawn. She did not have Rita's ability to stay energetic after only a few hours of sleep. It would be fine to relax a little now, right?

She relaxed and leaned toward Shen Gonglin beside her, but then Fu Hua realized something was wrong. She had clearly only wanted to lean against Shen Gonglin's shoulder and rest for a while, yet he instinctively avoided her. What was going on? She was already letting him stay at her place, and she had given him lap pillows so many times. What was wrong with letting her lean on him once?

"Uh, Class President, if you're sleepy, could you lean over there? I still want to play some games."

He waved the phone in his hand. At some point, Shen Gonglin had swiped Fu Hua's phone. He had never expected there to be games on Fu Hua's phone. It was such a stark contrast to Class President's usual image. This side of her was so cute.

But no matter how cute she was, she could not interfere with Shen Gonglin playing games. His game console and everything else were all with Kiana. His hands were itching now.

"No! Don't you know who put me in this state? Sit still and behave!"

Fu Hua rarely got angry. This time, she did not lean against Shen Gonglin anymore. That was no longer enough to calm her anger. Holding Shen Gonglin down so he could not dodge, Fu Hua laid her head on his lap. Usually, she was the one offering him a lap pillow. Now she was letting him give her one. That was perfectly normal, right?

Marks on Her Clothes

How could Fu Hua do this? How was he supposed to play now? If he could not play games, what was Shen Gonglin supposed to do? He could not exactly play with Fu Hua. No matter how he looked at it, she was not as fun as games. How did Class President have such a willful side too? Could it be that he was the only reliable one left now?

Fu Hua's rare willfulness left her lying on his lap, making it impossible for Shen Gonglin to use his phone. Helpless, Shen Gonglin could only set it aside. Sigh, who told him to be so warm-hearted? If he had not been planning to stay overnight in Fu Hua's dorm later, Shen Gonglin would have tossed her off immediately. No choice. He could only give Fu Hua a little sweetness for now.

...What should I do? How did I do something like this on impulse? This is... so embarrassing.

Shen Gonglin felt awkward, but Fu Hua, lying on his lap, felt even more awkward. She had lain on Shen Gonglin's lap while holding back her anger, but now Fu Hua regretted it. This posture truly should not appear on her. Should she get up? But if she got up now, it felt as if she would lose. Yet if she did not get up... Fu Hua felt as though her face was burning slightly. It was so embarrassing. When she gave Shen Gonglin a lap pillow, she could call it preferential treatment from a master to her disciple. But forcing Shen Gonglin to give her one—was she taking advantage of him by relying on her status as his master?

Fu Hua was struggling with herself when Shen Gonglin reached out and covered her head with his hand. So bored that he could only play with Fu Hua, his fingers gently massaged her head. Fu Hua, who had been tense all along, opened her mouth but ultimately said nothing. Shen Gonglin was quite skilled at massages. Fu Hua felt herself relax considerably all at once. She would just take it as giving herself a break. She had been so tired last night; resting for a while was perfectly normal.

Just like that, Fu Hua slowly closed her eyes and relaxed her body. Shen Gonglin massaged her while smoothing her hair. Strictly speaking, Fu Hua was rather fun to play with. More fun than petting a cat. Like Kiana, she did not shed.

In the kitchen, a pair of violet-red eyes stared intently in this direction. Rita saw everything happening on the sofa. Because of what had happened earlier, the maid had already been unable to focus on cooking. Then this scene in the living room made her expression change further. So Lady Fu Hua could act like this too. Shen Gonglin really was close to her. Rita had felt this way aboard the ship. Fu Hua not only carried Shen Gonglin on her back, but also gave him lap pillows. Though Rita had given Shen Gonglin lap pillows too, those two things were clearly not comparable. More importantly, Shen Gonglin was now the one giving Lady Fu Hua a lap pillow...

Stop thinking about it. Focus on cooking. My task now is to erase the distance I accidentally created earlier. I have to let Shen Gonglin know that I don't consider him an outsider.

"Kiana, that Shen Gonglin... how tall was he again?"

On the battlefield where Honkai Beasts had raged earlier, many relief tents had been set up across the ruined city. The tasks of clearing Honkai Beasts and conducting rescues were complete, and there was no further need for combat Valkyries like them. Finally free, Murata Himeko chased after Kiana, asking all kinds of information she was interested in. She had not had time to ask before, but now she had finally found the chance. Kiana had been acting with Shen Gonglin the whole time, and she was even the one who had picked Shen Gonglin up and brought him back to St. Freya. Asking her could not be wrong.

"Um... I remember he was taller than Bronya, almost up to here on me... Auntie Himeko, why are you asking about that? Haven't you met Shen Gonglin too? And I've already answered that question several times, haven't I?"

Kiana touched her cheek as she compared Shen Gonglin and Bronya's heights in her mind. Though the two were around the same age, Shen Gonglin was just a little taller than Bronya. In any case, he was not taller than Kiana. Come to think of it, Kiana was curious. Himeko had been persistently asking about Shen Gonglin ever since earlier. Had the two of them not already met before?

Yes, Kiana now knew that Himeko had been the one who found Shen Gonglin's body back then. But the innocent girl had not thought much of it. She only believed it had been a misunderstanding. She even felt a little embarrassed toward Himeko over it, so she answered all of Himeko's questions without holding anything back. But Himeko kept asking the same few questions, and Kiana was nearly out of patience.

"If you call me Auntie one more time, I'll hit you... Isn't this boring? I'm just asking casually. Mei, what do you think? What does Shen Gonglin like to eat?"

Himeko scratched her cheek and changed the subject. She could hardly say that she was collecting every bit of information about Shen Gonglin in order to compile it into a guide. Himeko did not even immediately scold Kiana for calling her Auntie, which showed just how much she cared about this matter. If not for the mission requirements, she would have wanted to reunite with Shen Gonglin right now. It was not that she liked him at first sight or anything. Himeko simply found him pleasing to the eye and wanted to know more about him.

"Him... He probably likes things like soup dumplings and little cakes. Shen Gonglin really seems to prefer foods that are small and tender. He would not like tough, overcooked things... Kiana, what is this on your clothes? It smells kind of strange. Where did you rub against something?"

Mei smiled as she answered Himeko. For some reason, when Himeko looked at Mei's little face and heard her words, she felt something strange. Mei seemed to be implying something, but Himeko could not figure out what she meant. He liked foods that were small and tender? That did fit his appearance quite well. She should write that down.

Seeing that Himeko had not caught the meaning in her words, Mei shook her head and drove the somewhat mischievous thought from her mind, focusing on washing the clothes. Since there was nothing to do right now, the girl's nature of liking to care for others emerged again. Kiana's clothes were filthy, so she had told the idiot to take them off so Mei could wash them clean. But what had left these marks on the clothes? They smelled quite strange.

"Where, where... You mean here? I-I don't know where I rubbed against something. Anyway, Mei, just try washing it. If it won't come clean, just throw it away."

Kiana leaned closer to Mei. When she saw the stain Mei pointed at, her expression immediately grew strange. If she remembered correctly, Shen Gonglin had left that. That bastard had gotten it all over her. What a jerk!

"How can you just throw it away? It'll come clean after I wash it. Kiana, you can't waste things so casually."

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

Watching the girl diligently wash the clothes, Kiana scratched her cheek. As for the truth... she had better not say it.

The Low-Blood-Pressure Drooling Monster

It felt like it had been a very, very long time since I slept this comfortably and peacefully.

In the darkness, Fu Hua's consciousness slowly awakened. The deep sleep had greatly replenished her spirit. The scent of food drifted from the kitchen into her nose, while she felt as if she were sleeping beneath the shade of a tree after autumn, beside a babbling stream. Such a tranquil environment made Fu Hua not want to wake up at all. She remembered falling asleep on Shen Gonglin's lap, right? Though it was a little embarrassing, Fu Hua wanted to linger in bed for just a little longer.

Drip.

A sound of flowing water seemed to echo in her heart. Fu Hua was incomparably peaceful at this moment, as if her whole heart had gone still. There were many gaps in her memories, and for a long time, Fu Hua had carried an inexplicable anxiety. Yet now, she felt her entire body relax. It was even more peaceful than when cultivating Mindful Essence. Had Shen Gonglin brought all of this to her?

Am I still dreaming?

Drip.

Another drop sounded, and this time Fu Hua gently furrowed her brows. This dream was too realistic. It felt as though water had already dripped onto her forehead. Cool and cold, the sensation was very real.

Drip.

What was going on? It seemed that water really was dripping on her.

Very reluctantly, Fu Hua opened her eyes. Unlike certain people, she did not suffer from low blood pressure after waking. The instant Fu Hua regained consciousness, she saw the sleeping little face before her. Shen Gonglin looked like an angel when asleep. Those fine eyebrows, that small face seemingly coverable with one hand, those cherry-red lips—he truly looked like a girl. If his hair were a little longer, he would absolutely look like a princess from a fairy tale.

Unfortunately, that was only when he slept. Once awake, he instantly became a devil of this mortal world.

Looking at Shen Gonglin's sleeping face above her, Fu Hua forgot what she had wanted to do just now. Shen Gonglin had become too bored while giving Fu Hua a lap pillow and fallen asleep as well. But sitting as he was, he could only sleep with his head hanging down. This idiot—if he wanted to sleep, could he not have just woken her up? This posture would not only hurt his cervical spine, but also make him prone to drooling...

Wait, drool!

She instantly realized something, and just then, a drop of saliva fell from Shen Gonglin's mouth onto Fu Hua's face. Class President's peaceful expression immediately cracked. What babbling stream? This was clearly Shen Gonglin's drool while he slept! It would have been one thing if he drooled, but why had he drooled all over her head? Her face was covered in this guy Shen Gonglin's fluids!

Fu Hua could not sleep anymore. She immediately straightened up and sat up from Shen Gonglin's lap, her head smacking directly into his nose bridge. The sleeping Shen Gonglin was instantly awakened by the pain. He opened his eyes groggily. Was the person before him Class President...? Why did she look so upset? Had she not been sleeping just now? Did she have a nightmare?

"Get up. Don't block me."

Pushing Shen Gonglin aside, Fu Hua hurried into the bathroom. How much water did Shen Gonglin have? It felt as though his drool covered her entire head. Had he dreamed of eating something delicious? Did he really think her head was some sort of tasty dish?

"Uh... okay."

The half-asleep Shen Gonglin nodded blankly. Though his body was awake, his mind was still muddled. Shen Gonglin touched his head without understanding anything. Just then, Rita came out of the kitchen as well. The maid carried exquisite dishes in her hands. Watching Fu Hua rush into the bathroom, Rita tilted her head curiously. Had something happened while she was unaware?

"Shen Gonglin, what happened to Lady Fu Hua? Why is she in such a hurry?"

Placing the carefully prepared dishes on the table, Rita cautiously glanced at Shen Gonglin. His somewhat polite and distant attitude earlier still weighed heavily on her mind. Hopefully, this meal would make that strange feeling disappear quickly.

"I-I don't know... Rita, hug me."

Shen Gonglin's vacant violet eyes turned toward Rita. His unfocused pupils showed that he was currently acting entirely on instinct. He said whatever came to mind. Looking at the beautiful figure in a maid outfit before him, Shen Gonglin grinned and spread his arms. He really wanted a hug.

What was he saying?!

Confirming that she had heard correctly, Rita immediately widened her eyes at Shen Gonglin's outstretched arms. Her violet-red pupils were filled with disbelief. What was going on? Why had Shen Gonglin suddenly made such a request? Had he not looked so polite and reserved just now? This state... was he still not awake?

As expected of a professional maid, Rita's powers of observation were extraordinary. She immediately noticed Shen Gonglin's abnormal condition. This was likely a symptom of low blood pressure upon waking. Similar to speaking the truth while drunk, Shen Gonglin would say whatever he thought in this state. And if he said this...

That meant he had not truly begun treating her as an outsider?

At that thought, Rita immediately felt relieved. She had been wondering how to restore Shen Gonglin to his previous state, but after one nap, he had unexpectedly spoken honestly. Heh, so Shen Gonglin was a tsundere. Really, there had to be limits to how adorable someone could be. Shen Gonglin was so cute—what was a girl like her, who loved cute things, supposed to do?

She had absolutely no resistance to cute things. Usually, Shen Gonglin was already about as cute as Lady Theresa. But Shen Gonglin at this level of cuteness was practically about to exceed the limit!

Since he had made the request, then as a maid, fulfilling others' requests was part of her duty. After all, her life goal was to become the perfect maid. So, agreeing to his request was perfectly normal.

"Certainly. I shall follow your command. But after I satisfy your request, please eat properly."

She silently glanced toward the bathroom, making sure Fu Hua would not come out anytime soon. Rita stepped forward, bent slightly, and hugged Shen Gonglin, who was sitting on the sofa asking for a hug. At last, she could enjoy this feeling openly and properly. Like a little girl hugging her beloved plush toy, Rita held Shen Gonglin tightly.

This feeling was not bad.

Shen Gonglin was equally satisfied by the maid's warm embrace. But as time passed, light gradually returned to his eyes. Looking at the soft, fragrant maid hugging him, Shen Gonglin's gaze became increasingly strange.

"Uh... So you're actually a perverted maid who takes advantage of people whenever they're asleep, huh?"

Fu Hua Was Flattered

At the dining table, the three sat quietly in their chairs without touching their chopsticks. Fu Hua wiped the droplets of water from her hair, looking very confused. This was what she found after coming out from washing her face. Shen Gonglin seemed fairly normal, but Rita was blushing, looking both dazed and aggrieved. Had something happened between Shen Gonglin and Rita while she was washing her face? It all felt rather abnormal.

"Let's eat. Rita prepared this meal so carefully; it would be a shame if it got cold."

In the end, Fu Hua broke the deadlock. Perhaps it was an illusion, but the moment she spoke, she felt Rita cast her a grateful look. The maid had been worrying about how to resolve this situation, and thankfully Lady Fu Hua was present. Otherwise, Rita felt she would have died of embarrassment.

Why did Shen Gonglin always wake up when he should not? Besides, he was the one who asked for a hug! So why was he looking at her like she was some kind of pervert? She had merely followed his instructions. Shen Gonglin was like a tsundere little angel when he was sleepy and muddled, but once he woke up, only the tsun remained. Where had the dere gone? Where had that sweetness gone, the sweetness that could soften someone's heart?

Where had that soft, adorable Shen Gonglin begging for a hug gone? This Shen Gonglin watching her with wary eyes was not the real Shen Gonglin at all!

"Yes, I'm quite confident in this meal. Shen Gonglin, try this. It's one of my specialties."

Doing her best to ignore the way he looked at her as though she were a pervert, this was still better, right? At least it was much better than his earlier overly polite behavior. Rita used her chopsticks to place a carefully prepared dish into Shen Gonglin's bowl. She truly was not some perverted maid. Everything that had happened had been voluntary and initiated by him.

"Mm... Class President, eat this. You took care of me the entire way, so you should eat first. It smells pretty good."

The wariness in his eyes did not fade. Shen Gonglin transferred the food in his bowl to Fu Hua, and the unaware Fu Hua was immediately flattered. What was going on with Shen Gonglin? Why had he suddenly become so considerate, so much like a decent human being? Not only had he given her a lap pillow, he was now proactively serving her food. This display of respect for his master made Fu Hua's nose sting slightly.

It seemed that drooling all over her head earlier had truly been an unintentional mistake. Considering how Shen Gonglin was acting now, she should forgive him. Come to think of it, Shen Gonglin had done so many excessive things to her. Whether it was shoving her face-first to the ground in the bathroom, pushing her down, or inexplicably stealing her first kiss, and now this time too... Fu Hua had always chosen to forgive him. Now, it seemed that her painstaking efforts had finally been rewarded.

Rebellious disciple, you finally did something decent.

"Thank you... It really is delicious. As expected of Rita. Shen Gonglin, you should try it too. Rita's skill with cooking is truly beyond reproach."

Fu Hua placed the food Shen Gonglin had given her into her mouth and savored it carefully. After the passage of so many years, Fu Hua rarely cared much about the taste of food itself. Rita's cooking was indeed delicious, but what Fu Hua was savoring now was the human flavor in the dish... not that kind of human flavor.

So Class President was fine. This perverted maid probably had not drugged the food. He could eat without worry.

Shen Gonglin carefully observed Fu Hua's reaction, and only after confirming she showed no abnormalities did he relax. He was especially vigilant right now. If this maid could touch him however she pleased while he slept, what else could she not do? It was not impossible for her to drug the food either. Mei had said that boys needed to protect themselves when outside. Now that Class President had eaten it first, it should be fine for him to eat too.

This rebellious disciple was treating his innocent master like a test subject for the dishes. If Fu Hua knew that this was how her disciple viewed her, she would probably happily give Shen Gonglin an Inch Strength. Sky Splitter.

Shen Gonglin took a bite of the dish Fu Hua had eaten earlier. The instant it entered his mouth, he revealed a satisfied expression. It really was good. It felt comparable to the cream stew Mei had made for him before. It seemed this maid had some real skill after all. Shen Gonglin could easily give this dish an eight out of ten. If it glowed, it could probably reach nine. As for a ten-point dish... Shen Gonglin was saving that score for himself.

Every time he saw a kitchen, he felt an urge stirring inside him. Shen Gonglin had reason to suspect that before losing his memory, he had been a world-famous chef. Maybe people's clothes would explode after eating his cooking.

"How does it taste?"

Rita looked at Shen Gonglin expectantly. In truth, she could tell from his expression, but the maid wanted to hear him say it personally. She would consider it satisfying the competitive spirit of a maid. Cleaning and cooking skill best reflected a maid's basic qualities, and Rita truly wanted Shen Gonglin's approval.

"Mm, it's passable. It's just that this beef feels..."

Shen Gonglin put on an act as he critiqued the dish, while Rita kept nodding and taking every word to heart. So the flavor was slightly too strong? It seemed Shen Gonglin preferred lighter tastes. In the future, she should reduce the grams of salt and black pepper slightly. Perhaps adding some almond flour would make it even better. Measuring every seasoning down to the gram—this was the perfection Rita demanded.