The Real Cheat in Honkai Is Alicia!

To prevent certain things from happening, Gwen continued:

"So, for now, we can only treat Bronya as a suspicious person who might become a friend in the future."

"Mm, I understand."

Raiden Mei nodded, a thoughtful look appearing on her face—

Had Gwen's future sight shown him any scenes involving her?

What kind of relationship did her future self have with him?

Before long, Raiden Mei's thoughts drifted away, forcing the second consciousness in her mind to continue serving as the snarky commentator:

"Instead of thinking about what to name your children, why don't you first think about how to properly master the power inside your body?"

At the same time, a conversation was also taking place in Gwen's mind.

However, compared to Raiden Mei, whose every thought was laid bare before her shadow-like second consciousness, things were much more harmonious on Gwen's side, since he could control his thoughts quite well—

"As for future sight, Gwen, did you see any scenes involving me?"

Having carefully concealed her intense interest in Raiden Mei, Alicia asked eagerly.

"Uh...

Like I said, my future sight is unstable. I can only see fragments of scenes without knowing where they take place..."

Gwen spoke as though he were trying to muddle his way through it...

"Hm?

So you did see something?

Tell me..."

Alicia, seemingly oblivious, pressed on excitedly.

"Are you sure?"

Gwen, who had long prepared a little gift for Alicia, asked.

"Mm-hm, of course."

Alicia answered firmly.

"Then I'll say it...

In what seemed to be a bar, a little girl with long green hair said—

Alicia, you've gained weight~"

Gwen said it in a tone of, "I didn't want to say it, but you made me."

"That's fake!"

Alicia immediately declared with absolute certainty:

"It has to be fake!"

Her violent emotional fluctuations even gave Gwen the fierce impression of, "Say another word and I'll bite you!" Though she was still adorable, of course...

Afterward, Gwen explained Bronya's situation to Amber through the Schicksal terminal and received Amber's response that she would send someone to investigate and handle it.

When Gwen asked about Kiana's condition, the answer he received was, "She is still asleep, but her life is not in danger."

After feeding the soon-to-arrive takeout to Bronya, the two of them found themselves with nothing to do for the moment.

"Come on, Mei. Let's go to the residential district."

Glancing at the time and discovering that it was already four in the afternoon, Gwen had no intention of staying in the laboratory any longer and called Raiden Mei over, ready to slip out.

"The residential district? Are we buying something?"

Raiden Mei, who had previously been told about the general layout of Schicksal Headquarters, asked in confusion.

"Of course. We're buying you some everyday necessities, like clothes."

Gwen smiled.

"You brought practically nothing when you came here. Relying only on what Rita bought yesterday is nowhere near enough."

"Mm!"

Raiden Mei, who had been wondering how to invite Gwen to go shopping with her after work, nodded vigorously in the face of this unexpected delight, a blissful smile blooming across her pretty face.

Mei's Dinner

"How do you think this outfit looks?"

"It's very pretty. The white stockings really suit Mei's pure temperament, and Mei has beautiful legs too."

"What about this one?"

"Mm... It looks a little too mature and doesn't really match Mei's age.

But we can buy it first and wear it in a few years."

"Won't it be too small in a few years?"

"Mei is still at the age where she's growing."

"Isn't that even better...

Ahem, I mean, you could buy it first and have another one remade in the same style later..."

"Why do I always get the feeling that you have a lot of experience committing crimes, Alicia...?"

"What do you mean, experience committing crimes?"

Alicia immediately denied it flatly:

"I'm discovering beauty through an appreciative gaze!"

Although talking with Alicia in his head felt a bit like chatting with an online friend about lewd pictures, thanks to her prompts, Gwen was able to swiftly offer suitable praise every time Raiden Mei changed into a new outfit, leaving the girl delighted—

Though she was only a teenage girl, Mei had already grown far beyond the stage of a budding lotus. She could pull off the vast majority of clothes, and the many different styles left Gwen dazzled.

Without Alicia's guidance in his head, Gwen probably would have been limited to saying things like "Looks good" and "Very nice."

It wouldn't have affected the girl's good mood, but it still would have been somewhat lacking.

In the end, it was not until evening that Gwen, laden with bags of all sizes, returned home with Raiden Mei—to Mei's house next door.

A single day had been enough for the house Otto had arranged for Raiden Mei to be cleaned up and made ready for her to move in with just her luggage.

There was no need for Gwen to help with putting away her personal belongings and such. Mei could handle it herself that night.

It was worth mentioning that, given Raiden Mei's identity as a Herrscher, her residence had undergone special modifications—

A direct passage had been set up between it and Gwen's home next door. As soon as the Honkai Energy concentration rose beyond a certain level, the door lock would automatically open, allowing Gwen to rush over immediately.

Naturally, Raiden Mei had been consulted about this modification and had agreed to it.

After putting down the clothes, daily necessities, and other things they had bought for Mei, Gwen and Mei carried the ingredients over to his house—

"After this, I'll be busy studying and training, so I may not have time to cook. I'd like to make one more meal for Mr. Gwen while I still can.

And Ms. Elizabeth next door—as you said, there may be things I need to ask her about later. Please invite her over tonight as well."

With that, Raiden Mei entered Gwen's kitchen—

Kitchen, submit to me!

Of course, that line existed only in Gwen's imagination.

"Wow, Mei really has the air of a virtuous wife and mother, doesn't she~?"

In Gwen's mind, Alicia made no attempt to hide her admiration for Mei.

"I don't deny that."

Gwen quite agreed:

"At the very least, when I don't feel like cooking, I won't be stuck slurping instant noodles."

"Hm?

I seem to have thought of someone?"

Alicia Alert.JPG

"It's not me, I didn't, don't talk nonsense."

Joking casually with Alicia, Gwen entered the kitchen to help as well—

Though his skills were only at the level of ordinary home cooking, they were about on par with Mei's current ability, so helping out was no problem.

For a time, the young man and young woman bustled about in the kitchen, filling it with the warmth of everyday life and making a certain Pink Fairy Lady smile without end...

"Then I won't hold back!"

More than an hour later, Choukai, whom Gwen had summoned with a single call, sat at the dining table. Looking at the steaming dishes spread before her, she rubbed her hands together with a cheerful smile:

"Come to think of it, it's been a long time since I last had a dinner that came out of a home kitchen. It really brings back memories."

"If you wanted to, I think you could have this every day."

Glancing at his boss, who worked nine to five every day and absolutely refused to work overtime unless something unusual happened, Gwen kindly reminded her.

"Do you need me to treat you to a Stargazy Pie?"

Choukai indicated that there were no dishes from her hometown worth making herself.

"Then try the Eastern cuisine Mei and I made."

Suddenly realizing that not every British person was Rita, Gwen smiled and did not pursue the matter further.

"Mm... I've decided. Mei, your job at the institute will be to serve as my personal chef."

After dinner, Choukai gently rubbed her slightly rounded belly with a blissful expression, utterly devoid of the dignity a director ought to have.

Although Gwen and Mei's cooking was merely average, it was more than satisfying for Choukai, who had pulled an all-nighter and eaten only two energy bars during the day.

"I don't recall there being a position like that at the institute."

Gwen teased casually.

"It's fine. We'll just deduct the salary from your share."

Choukai said nonchalantly:

"As long as we don't ask for too much funding, Miss Amber won't interfere."

"Listen to yourself. Does that sound human?"

"What do you mean?"

"Do you hear the kind of thing you're saying? Is that even human speech?"

"Ehehe!"

Though she was already a mature older woman, the playful tongue-out expression made by this beauty still in her prime was just as pleasing to the eye.

"Alright, Gwen, stop bickering with Ms. Elizabeth."

Though she was only a teenage girl, Mei somehow carried the air of a family matriarch. With a gentle smile, she spoke up and prepared to rise and clear the dishes from the table.

"Did you hear that, Director Choukai? Stop being so mischievous."

As Gwen stood and began clearing the table with Mei, he did not forget to continue his "earnest instruction" toward Choukai.

"Fine, I won't be mischievous. I'll obediently be an old woman abandoned by the times..."

Sitting up straight, Choukai sighed, looking pitiful and helpless.

"It's your young people's era now. An old fossil like me can only be slapped to death on the beach..."

"Remember to pay us."

"No!"

The lonely, helpless old woman instantly perked up...

Although they had chatted a great deal over dinner, allowing Choukai and Mei to quickly become familiar with each other.

Choukai disliked discussing serious matters while eating, so Gwen had not brought up Mei's arrangements. Only after dinner did he ask whether Choukai could spare some time to give Mei some guidance—

Whether what Mei said about Dr. Mei could come true depended on this.