Mother Cocolia Was Actually Pretty Nice

"Damn it, that guy..."

Clenching her right fist, Cocolia slammed it hard against the tabletop, her voice filled with anger and disappointment.

"Mother Cocolia..."

Beside her, the silver-haired girl with twin tails had tears welling in her eyes. Her gaze was lost, and she could barely remain standing.

"Just now... that person just now, was... was Big Brother, right?"

"Why did he..."

Cocolia: "..."

Seeing the girl wavering beside her, Cocolia sighed softly and pulled her into her arms.

"That guy... I guess his brain problem acted up again..."

"But it's nothing serious. He just needs a beating."

"Hey, Bronya."

"When the time comes, you'll be the one to bring that bastard back!"

"Can you do it?"

"Yes!"

After hearing Cocolia's words, Bronya wiped the tears from the corners of her eyes. The uncertainty that had filled her gaze was replaced by determination.

"Bronya will definitely bring Big Brother back. Definitely!"

Gently pushing Cocolia away and emerging from her embrace, Bronya spoke in the firmest tone of her life.

"Sigh~"

Seeing that the girl had returned to normal, Cocolia sighed softly.

She looked at the information displayed on the screen, her expression dark and unreadable.

"Zhang Dawei..."

"What exactly... are you trying to do?"

"Phew~"

On the other side, Dong Moxuan had already pulled Mei along and hidden inside a one-story detached house.

He cautiously peeked out the window. Seeing that neither the Titan nor the silver-haired drill-wielding loli had followed them, he quietly relaxed.

"Mei, we're safe for now!"

"Jun Xuan..."

Seeing that the danger had temporarily passed, Mei finally asked the question she had wanted to ask from the beginning.

"The girl controlling the robots... is she someone you know?"

"You mean Cocolia?"

Things had already reached this point, so Dong Moxuan had no reason to hide it.

"That's right. I used to work under her."

"Just an ordinary superior-subordinate relationship?"

Mei's gaze was somewhat suspicious.

She was no fool like Paramecium. The exchange between Dong Moxuan and the woman named Cocolia just now had not felt like a conversation between ordinary superiors and subordinates at all. Rather...

"An ordinary superior-subordinate relationship. What else would it be?"

Mei: "..."

Rubbing her temples helplessly, Mei decided not to pursue the matter any further.

She lowered her head slightly, her voice extremely faint.

"Jun Xuan..."

"Hmm?"

"That woman, what she said..."

Mei raised her head, looking as if she wanted to speak but hesitated.

"Those things... the things about the Herrscher..."

"You mean that stuff?"

Before Mei could finish, Dong Moxuan placed his hand on her head.

"Relax. It was just Cocolia running her mouth! Herrschers aren't as exaggerated as she made them sound!"

Gently putting his arm around the girl, he guided her to the sofa.

"Don't worry, Mei. Even if something happens, just leave everything to me."

"Could it be..."

Dong Moxuan pressed his forehead against Mei's.

"Mei, don't you trust me?"

"No..."

Feeling Dong Moxuan's warm, moist breath, Mei's face instantly flushed.

"Mei doesn't not trust Jun Xuan..."

The purple-haired girl's gaze darted away.

"Then that settles it!"

Dong Moxuan straightened up and flashed a bright smile.

"It's almost noon already. I'll go make lunch first. As for you, Mei..."

Dong Moxuan gently rubbed the girl's head and said tenderly, "Don't overthink things. Get some proper rest here!"

With that, Dong Moxuan turned and walked toward the kitchen.

"Jun Xuan..."

Watching Dong Moxuan's back, Mei remained silent for a long while before slowly burying her head in her arms.

"It's not that I don't trust you. It's just... I don't trust myself!"

The will of Honkai had not been defeated by her. It had merely been suppressed for the time being.

"It" was like a venomous snake hiding in the shadows. The moment Mei revealed the slightest weakness, it would bare its fangs and seize control of her mind.

Just like when she had faced those Titans moments ago...

Only, she had held on that time.

But what about next time?

Her willpower had its limits, after all.

What was more, even if she could restrain herself, would Dong Moxuan really be safe?

Cocolia's actions had made Mei understand that, in the eyes of certain people, a "Herrscher" was not merely an envoy of destruction, but also an ideal experimental subject.

This time, she had been lucky enough to encounter Cocolia, Dong Moxuan's former superior, and the Titans had contained a backdoor Dong Moxuan had left behind.

But what about next time?

Mei did not believe that Cocolia was the only person coveting the "Herrscher" power within her.

With her half-baked Herrscher power, could she really protect Dong Moxuan from those people?

"That is the enemy of human civilization, the source of all calamity."

"That is the embodiment of ill omen, the harbinger of destruction!"

Recalling what Cocolia had said earlier, Mei seemed to faintly see Dong Moxuan walking toward his death while trying to protect her.

Just like the stuffed doll Dong Moxuan had given her before, reduced to a tattered ruin.

"What should I... do?"

The girl curled up on the sofa, looking fragile and helpless.

"Mei, lunch is ready!"

When Dong Moxuan returned to the living room, Mei had already recovered her composure.

Looking at the girl sitting on the sofa, he called out to her, "There isn't much food in the kitchen of this house, so I made two bowls of Tonkotsu Ramen. Go give it a try, Mei!"

The girl silently followed the boy to the dining table.

"I don't make ramen very often, so hurry and try it. See if it suits your taste."

"..."

Mei lowered her head without speaking, nor did she touch her chopsticks. The dining table fell into an unnervingly quiet silence.

"Mei..."

Dong Moxuan noticed that something was wrong.

"What's the matter? Are you feeling unwell?"

As he spoke, Dong Moxuan reached out, intending to touch Mei's forehead.

However...

Smack!

Mei slapped his hand away.

Dong Moxuan: "..."

The expression on Dong Moxuan's face froze. This was the first time Mei had rejected his affectionate touch.

"Sorry... sorry, Jun Xuan."

Seeing Dong Moxuan's expression, Mei, whose face had been cold, still couldn't help apologizing.

"No, it's nothing!"

Sitting back down, Dong Moxuan waved his hand magnanimously.

"Mei... what exactly is wrong?"

Dong Moxuan looked puzzled.

"Is there something you can't figure out?"

Mei: "..."

After remaining silent for a long time, Mei seemed to have finally made a decision. She took a deep breath.

"Jun Xuan, you..."

"You should still break up with Mei!"