~Outside~
The core had already sunk into Adam's body. It merged with him in an instant.
The space around him warped and distorted. Azure light rippling outward like a pulse from a dying star.
From the imaginary pathway connection made by the Cocoon that connected to the core, a raging torrent of energy came pouring forth like a flood, swirling wildly around them.
And in the middle of that storm-
The silver-haired boy remained motionless, like a frozen statue.
His silver hair drifted in the pressure. His head angled slightly upward, eyes unfocused, lips parted as if suspended between breaths.
Zhap
"Adam!"
A burst of lightning broke through the distortion.
Mei appeared with sparks trailing from her heels, worry written all over her face.
"Are you…okay?"
She seized his hand, frowning as she looked at his body up and down with concern etched in her face
…
As a Herrscher, she is very sensitive to Honkai Energy.
And although the exploding energy was quickly absorbed and disappeared, she still sensed it
As soon as she sensed such high amounts of honkai energy, she immediately stopped explaining what happened to Kiana, Fu Hua, and Himeko, and rushed here to this place in a hurry-
Only to see Adam in the center of all this
…
"What… happened here?"
Particles drifted around him like sparks off cooling metal. The sheer concentration of Honkai energy made her blood run cold.
Because, as a Herrscher, she….knows what's happening right now. As much as she wanted to deny it, this guess has already become fact
[Ohohoh….I didn't expect my consort to make his move so quickly!]
'Y-you—stop talking like that!'
Hearing Raiden's words echo in her mind, her cheeks flushed.
She's getting second-hand embarrassment from these words! Why is her other self so chuuni!?
[....You're the same, but anyway!]
Raiden's dry remark did not help.
Her face darkened, however, Raiden continued as if she hadn't noticed:
[Why look so horrified? We're Herrschers too. Adam becoming like us is not a bad thing.]
'Umm….'
Mei hesitated before realising that, yes
It was actually nothing to be worried about. She trusted Adam enough to know that becoming a Herrscher would be no problem for him
It's just that….Education at St. Freya Academy made her wary of Herrschers….
[.....]
Of course, she wasn't wary of her other self! It's just that…Herrschers might not be able to maintain their own will- that's why she is so worried about Adam!
"Mhm…Right." She breathed a sigh of relief, refocusing back on the silver-haired boy. "Adam, do you need rest?"
[Heh, there's nothing to worry about. This guy is-]
Just as she was about to internally nod at her other self's words-
Cold, robotic, emotionless golden eyes met her concerned indigo ones
"!!!!"
The purple-haired girl froze.
[???????????????????]
Her body stiffened, eyes widening in terror.
'Adam' just tilted his head at her, as if puzzled by her reaction.
"....."
Being stared at by these emotionless golden eyes, Mei was-
[Calm down]
'.....'
[I think I know what's going on. Give me control of your body for a second.]
Wordlessly, she did just that.
The purple-haired girl's eyes lit up in a crimson light, her expression changing into a calm indifference-
"Hey, you."
She stared at 'his' face coldly with narrowed purplish-scarlet eyes
"Where is Adam?"
Though her gaze was ice cold and arrogant, her tone of voice held neither of these.
Despite not talking to Adam himself, it was still his body- and Raiden couldn't bring herself to be her normal emo Herrscher self
"Imaginary space."
'He' replied instantly with only two words and without any change in 'his' expression
'See, coward? Nothing to worry about.'
[....You're right.]
'I'm always right.'
[I will question you later about this…'being'. But for now, please give me my body back!]
'Tch, fine'
…..
"Uhm…."
Back in control of her own body, Mei instinctively looked away from the cold golden eyes.
…Being stared at like that by a being using Adam's body made her very uncomfortable
"W-when will he come back?"
She barely managed to stutter out and ask
"In a short while, individual Mei. Master is currently convening with the entity known as 'Cocoon'."
This time, 'Adam' spoke for longer- even though 'his' voice was still indifferent and without any emotional ups and downs
"What…..Do you mean?"
Cocoon?
That….sounded dangerous.
[It is dangerous.]
'Then I should-'
[Stop coward]
"No! What do you mean 'stop', Raiden? He might be in danger-!"
[And you think you can help?]
"Maybe-"
[No. If that Cocoon refers to the one I think…..Haha, Adam is, in his own words, 'cooked'.]
"Eh!? Then at least I have to-!"
[Useless and worthless. Your authority as a Herrscher is a mere projection of 'it'. You think you can muster any resistance?]
Mei clenched her fist, her lips trembling.
She couldn't understand.
[....You think I don't also want to do something? Be like those magical girls saving the day, or be like those empresses who save the peasant from an enemy and take him as their consort?]
The purple-haired girl froze, and, despite the seriousness of the situation….She couldn't help but blush again
That….was oddly specific
[You have finally calmed down!]
'.....'
[You're so annoying, coward. Why do you tweak every time he gets in danger!?]
'....'
The expression on the purple-haired girl's face paused
'Uhm….Aren't you the same?!'
[That's completely different!]
'How is it any different?'
[Because I just don't want my property to get hurt!]
'You-!'
…
..
.
After arguing with Raiden for some time, Mei finally noticed a change in Adam.
…Of course, she wasn't staring at him all the time!
[Heh]
It's just that, after becoming a Herrscher, her perception has become stronger!
[....]
….
The silver-haired boy's eyes snapped back to focus, color changing to an animated blue that made her breathe a sigh of relief
"Hm?"
Adam noticed the purple-haired girl standing beside him and clutching onto his hand instantly
"Mei?"
He raised an eyebrow at her, but he wasn't truly surprised.
…..
The only people that could possibly sense his 'awakening' were Mei, Olivia, and…..Sirin….
Olivia was warned beforehand, and Sirin….well, this illiterate little girl was still half asleep
So it didn't really surprise him that Mei came to him out of concern.
In truth….Though he was preparing for this day, he wasn't sure that he would become the Herrscher of Reason now
He expected Welt to at least ponder for one day before finally giving him the core- not 30 minutes
…..
"You're okay!"
The valkyrie in training tightened her grip, exhaling a sigh of relief once again
….
Even though Raiden repeatedly comforted her and assured her that Adam won't do anything reckless….She was still worried.
[Come on! Have some confidence in our husband! He can't die that easily!]
'S-stop that!'
…..
Seeing Mei's shy expression and flushed cheeks, the silver-haired boy's lips twitched
…It wasn't hard to guess that Raiden said something that the virtuous and thin-skinned Mei couldn't handle
"Please get some meters away from me."
"Eh?"
Mei flinched as Adam put his hand on her shoulder and gently pushed her away
"I need to handle….the overflow."
Around him, there were still particles
Because-
As an actual Herrscher that hasn't devoured his own core with Gluttony, Adam can directly link his core to the imaginary space, freely drawing upon its boundless supply of Honkai energy.
Now-
All around him, a torrent of pinkish-crimson glowing particles twisted and revolved,
The tangible energy wrapped itself around his body, dancing and sparkling.
"Is this the rumored transformation?"
Knowing exactly what was coming next, Adam couldn't help but exclaim in suppressed excitement
"Oh….?"
Seeing what was happening, Mei obediently took a few additional steps back by herself, putting a distance of several meters between.
"....."
The purple-haired girl clasped her hands together, staring at his figure with shining eyes.
-Yes, the exclusive attire of a Herrscher was beginning to take shape!
Particles of blue light flowed along his body, changing his clothes wherever they passed
A long, deep-blue coat settled over his frame, its texture like reinforced velvet mixed with starlight.
Black and white geometric patterns curled across the back, forming a sprawling fractal crest that pulsed with blue light
Silver clasps ran down the front, each etched with tiny circuit-like lines that glowed when touched by any slight honkai energy
Underneath, a fitted obsidian shirt formed, marked with faint blue runes that flickered continuously
His pants shifted into sleek, reinforced black material with subtle blue seams glowing at the edges.
Boots were new as well: dark, sharply shaped, metallic accents along the sides like miniature stabilizers.
As the last wave of particles settled, a translucent mantle of blue light floated behind him—silent and weightless, shaped like illusory wings.
(Image here)
The storm faded.
Adam opened his eyes- faint golden gears slowly revolving and turning around his iris
-The Herrscher of Reason has been born.
...
..
.