"You've all gone too far. Can't you see Chen Li is having a hard time?"
Just as the situation was about to spiral completely out of control, a cool, commanding voice cut in.
Raiden Ei strode over, a trace of barely perceptible impatience in her violet eyes.
Looking at Chen Li, who was tightly surrounded and wore an utterly lifeless expression, she did not waste a word. She simply stepped in and forcibly pulled the Archons and Hydro Archons surrounding him away, one by one.
"Hey? My hand..." Istaroth was dragged away.
"Ei, be gentler..." Naberius was ruthlessly shoved aside as well.
Meanwhile, Raiden Makoto merely stood quietly to one side beneath an exquisite purple paper umbrella. Watching her younger sister act as though she were guarding her food, she wore a gentle smile that seemed to see through everything.
Under Raiden Ei's unreasonable "martial suppression," everyone who had been overwhelmed with emotion was finally driven away by force, and Chen Li was at last able to breathe Natlan's fresh air again.
"Sorry... I really was too excited just now." Ronova smoothed her slightly disheveled silver hair. A delayed blush finally surfaced on her fair cheeks as she softly apologized.
"I'm sorry too." Istaroth spread her hands, then added righteously, "But like Ronova said, I was merely focusing on confronting my fear."
Ronova abruptly turned her head and shot Istaroth a vicious glare.
Why was this bastard so shamelessly dumping the blame for her own emotional outburst onto someone else?
Naberius, meanwhile, remained as composed as ever. Holding Furina by the collar in one hand and the still-flailing Furina in the other, she lowered her head slightly toward Chen Li and apologized like a dutiful elder. "Sorry, my two granddaughters caused you trouble."
Dangling in midair, Furina's face was filled