Starting today...
—I'm becoming a Sea King!
Upon hearing Leo Ash's inner words, the System immediately let out a cold laugh.
[Hehehe, you talk a big game, but—the fact that you're not taking any action right now is the best proof that you're still all talk!]
[And do you think this System didn't notice? From the moment you arrived at this beach, you've activated Mind Like Still Water and Sword Heart to suppress your restless heart.]
*Ah, you noticed that too.*
[Yeah, you underestimate this System a little. Noticing something like that is like breathing for this System... oh wait, this System doesn't need to breathe.]
[Let's put it another way. Noticing that is simpler than this System thinking of what wisecracks to make today.]
*I did underestimate you, but I see you don't get it.*
[This System indeed doesn't get why you're actively suppressing your desires.]
*On this beach right now, everyone except me is a beautiful girl.*
[Yeah, so?]
*I am, for all intents and purposes, a teenager with normal preferences.*
[Yeah, so?]
*Faced with everyone as they are now, if I don't suppress my inner desires...*
*My control stick will rise, and that would be inappropriate.*
[...]
[You've really changed a lot.]
*This is called complete relaxation.*
*Before, the enemies I had to guard against were Otto and the Honkai, but now...*
*Otto is strong, yes, but with the Blank Key and the Divine Key connected, I might not even lose to him in a one-on-one fight.*
*And with Su keeping things in check, even if Otto wanted to stir up trouble, he'd have to get through Su first. In this situation, if I keep my nerves on edge, I'm just scaring myself.*
[It's hard to imagine these words coming from you—where did that death-fearing Leo Ash go?!!]
*I'm still very much afraid of death. I've just focused all my sense of crisis on the Honkai and the potential prison break of Kevin.*
*I don't really understand Otto's mindset right now, but Su will stop him if he tries anything, and he and I are in a state where 'even if we lay our cards on the table, neither of us can guarantee a win.'*
*He's a madman, but in the face of his plan, this madman will temporarily compromise.*
*Since I know there's no immediate danger, why should I keep scaring myself with worry?*
*I want to live it up!*
*I want to be a Sea King!*
[Well said, but what does that have to do with suppressing your inner desires?]
*I see you really don't get it.*
*Although everyone's affection for me is quite high, if they saw my control stick standing at attention at a time like this, I can't predict what they'd think.*
*Image is very important. If everyone found out that I'm essentially a pervert...*
*Ha, my career as a Schicksal Knight would be over.*
*System, my mind is made up. You don't need to persuade me anymore.*
*From today onwards, I, Leo Ash, will begin executing my two-no principle and start my crystal palace plan.*
[Huh? Isn't the scumbag principle for humans a three-no principle? Why are you taking a cut?]
*No initiation, no refusal. That's enough. Being irresponsible would be going too far.*
[You've held onto your principles in a strangely specific place, Host.]
[But even though this System can feel that what you're saying now is sincere, this System still feels that the entertainment is about to begin!]
*You can worry about me tripping up from time to time, but you absolutely should not worry about me being completely defeated, okay?*
[Heh, then this System will wait and see, 'Cold, Handsome Man'.]
At that moment, Leo Ash, wearing his sunglasses, heard footsteps approaching and immediately looked towards the source of the sound.
"Leo Ash."
Anna, having mustered her courage, walked slowly up to Leo Ash, her body stiff, and asked him in a feigned casual tone.
"I heard from Senior Wraith before. She said that in order to train you into an outstanding agent, she and Senior Rita also taught you some other skills."
"This is my first time at the sea, and I don't know how to swim yet. Could you... be my swimming instructor?"
[Oho, contestant Anna has entered the race.]
*Alright, just watch quietly.*
[What are you afraid of? You've already achieved enlightenment. Just go for it boldly.]
*That's easy for you to say, but why is it that when I want to take Anna's hand, I feel...*
*Fu Hua, why are you staring at Anna and me?*
[Hehehe, it's starting, it's starting, it's starting.]
*System, I have a question.*
[Since you asked with such sincerity—]
*Actually, it's a casual question, not that serious.*
[Then no matter what, this System will graciously tell you—don't worry, she doesn't know you stole her first kiss.]
*That makes sense. If she knew, this libertine would have already had his face smashed in by her Edge of Taixu.*
[Hehehe, but even so, she's still walking over.]
*Hmph, laugh all you want.*
[No, no, now is not the time to laugh. After all...]
[—This is just the appetizer.]
...
At that moment, Fu Hua, who was looking at Leo Ash, truly felt that she had been getting more and more abnormal lately after feeling his gaze on her.
Originally, although she had planned to attend this event, she hadn't intended to participate much.
In her own mind, she was only attending so as not to seem too unsociable.
But just yesterday, Fu Hua had inexplicably found herself in the shopping district and, in a daze, had picked out a swimsuit that wasn't too revealing but suited her well.
And after putting on the swimsuit today, she actually felt a tiny bit... excited?
*What a strange feeling.*
*Ever since my body recovered, I feel like I haven't been myself.*
*If my Sword Heart hadn't shattered...*
*No, this has nothing to do with my Sword Heart. It's just that my temperament has become a bit more impatient recently.*
*But why, at the moment Anna said that, did I feel... dissatisfied in my heart?*
*The main purpose of everyone coming to the beach was to let Leo Ash relax, and Anna's action is clearly beneficial for his mental state.*
*So what's with the thought that just popped into my head: 'How dare this little bitch make a move on my disciple?'*
*And...*
"Eh, Classmate Fu Hua?"
Just as Anna finished speaking, she saw Fu Hua walk up to her and Leo Ash in a few quick steps, gazing at them with a serious expression.
"Is... is something wrong?"
...You might not believe this, but I'd also like to ask what's wrong with me right now.
*I don't understand what I'm doing.*
*Anna clearly has feelings for Leo Ash, and he hasn't rejected her.*
*Mutual affection between a man and a woman is a normal phenomenon, and the more mentally strained a person is, the more they need comfort from a loved one.*
*If Anna can become Leo Ash's lover, then...*
*—Why the hell would I give Leo Ash to this bunch of little bitches—wait, why am I having such a strange thought?*
Once she realized such an incomprehensible thought had emerged in her mind, Fu Hua felt that she had to leave Leo Ash's presence immediately.
But now, having inexplicably walked up to them and interrupted their conversation, the etiquette-conscious Fu Hua felt she had to give them some sort of explanation.
"Um, Classmate Anna, I think—men and women should keep a respectful distance. If you want someone to teach you how to swim, I can help you."
After quickly saying this, Fu Hua grabbed Anna's hand and left Leo Ash's side without looking back.
"Eh, wait, I—"
Completely confused, Anna looked back at Leo Ash as if for help.
But faced with his 'master,' Leo Ash could only take off his sunglasses and shake his head helplessly at Anna, dashing her hopes for assistance.
[She's jealous! She's jealous! She's jealous!]
*No, no, Fu Hua doesn't have those kinds of feelings for me, right? If you don't believe me, pull up the character profile...*
The next moment, looking at the numbers on the template, Leo Ash froze on the spot.
[Name: Fu Hua (Hua)]
[Identity: One of the Thirteen Flame-Chasers of the Previous Era, Shenzhou's Immortal Red Kite, Schicksal's A-rank Valkyrie, your master.]
[Current Affection: 55+25]
[Note: Hehehe, hehehe, hehehehehe.]
*Why isn't it a direct number this time, and what's with that note at the end?!*
[Take a guess.]
*So, when she glared at me just now, the resentment I felt wasn't my imagination???*
*Are you sure my cover hasn't been blown?*
[I'm sure. If it were, this System wouldn't be laughing so subtly.]
*This is terrifying. What on earth happened?*
[Aren't you trying to be a Sea King? Are you backing down because of a mere 55+25 affection rating?]
*No, no, the key point is that this affection increase is completely random, isn't it?*
As for now, the other four people on the field, seeing Anna's premature start get 'justly shut down,' had different thoughts.
To Kiana and Mei, who knew nothing about that kiss, Fu Hua's action was 'Well done, Class Rep!'
To Yuna and Bronya, who knew about that scene, their thoughts were 'Ah, Class Rep is jealous after all.'
But no matter what everyone was thinking, both Kiana and Mei now realized—the one who jumped the gun is gone. The opportunity has arrived!
At that moment, Mei and Kiana seemed to have a telepathic connection as they looked at each other from a distance.
*Mei, I know exactly what you're thinking.*
*Kiana, so you're planning to do the same thing as me.*
*You are undoubtedly my dearest friend.*
*You are definitely my important friend.*
*But, today...*
*—I'm sorry!*
*Senior/Leo Ash, I won't give him up to you!*
At this moment, although the two who looked at each other still felt no hostility towards their friend, they were certain that a sense of rivalry had definitely sparked between them.
At that instant, they both took a step forward.
No, not only that, but their steps were even inexplicably synchronized.
Leo Ash, having noticed the two of them approaching, felt...
*I am using Heart Skandha, right?*
[That's right.]
*I am using Mind Like Still Water, right?*
[That's right.]
*So, I shouldn't be panicking, right?*
[Sodayo, what's there to panic about?]
*Right, what am I panicking about? All I have to do now is shout 'you are all my wings' at them...*
*Forget it, shouting that would definitely get me beaten up.*
*This isn't some third-rate harem novel. Shouting 'I want a harem' at two beautiful girls would, ninety-nine percent of the time, result in a severe beating.*
[See, this System knew it. You had no idea what to do in this situation.]
[Sigh, your integrity value is still too high. If it were someone else, they would just reject one, get together with the other, and then secretly meet up with the first one at night to solve the problem.]
[Since you're planning to start a harem, I suggest you lower your integrity value to freezing point first.]
*...That's hard.*
[Yeah, this System knows it's hard for you.]
[If you were truly a person with no integrity, where would this System find its entertainment?]
"Senior."
"Leo Ash."
Just as the two of them walked up to Leo Ash and were about to speak at the same time, seeing his calm expression...
At that very moment...
"Oh my, Leo, have you all started playing already?"
A voice suddenly interrupted their actions.
Not far away, Rita and Durandal, who had arrived at some point, were looking at the group with different expressions on their faces.
Durandal didn't understand the situation, so she just glanced at Leo Ash with some confusion.
As for Rita...
"Sister Rita, are you finally awake?"
The moment he saw Rita, Leo Ash breathed a sigh of relief in every sense of the word.
*Great, Sister Rita arrived at the perfect time. As long as she interrupts this conversation, then...*
*Hmm, wait, who is this child?*
At that moment, seeing the white-haired girl Durandal was holding hands with, Leo Ash frowned slightly.
He suddenly remembered a dream he had in the past.
In that dream, Leo Ash saw a girl with dark green eyes and short white hair appear on the beach and then...
"Papa!"
—Just like that, she hugged him while yelling 'Papa'????
*Wait, hold on, what is this situation?!*
*And—why am I flying backwards?!*
At that moment, Fu Hua, who was holding Anna's hand, and Anna, who was being held by Fu Hua, both turned their heads in disbelief towards Leo Ash's location after hearing that word.
Leo Ash had been hugged by the white-haired child and sent flying.
At this moment, not just Leo Ash, Fu Hua, and Anna, but also Yuna and Bronya watching from the sidelines, Kiana and Mei who had already charged up to Leo Ash, and Rita and Durandal who had brought the child here, were all completely dumbfounded by the scene.
This child...
Called Senior...
Papa?????
Having been sent flying by the child, Leo Ash climbed up from the sand and looked at the smiling child, feeling a little confused.
*System! Come out! Explain what's going on!*
[This System refuses!]
[This scene, this scene... this System has been waiting for a long time!]
[Hahahahahaha, Leo Ash, how do you feel, how do you feel now!]
*No, wait, what I feel is...*
*This child has such monstrous strength, and with the white hair, she must be a Kaslana.*
*Right, she must be a K-series clone created by Otto.*
*But why is she calling me Papa?*
"Um, Papa..."
Looking at Leo Ash's calm face, the girl suddenly asked with a hint of unease.
"Did... did I make you unhappy?"
*Ah, if I say 'little one, I'm not your papa'... the problem is, I really am not her dad. Even if it ruins the mood, it's the truth.*
*But if I say it, she'll be sad—hey, what about my own feelings?*
[That's right, what about your own feelings? You want to be the good guy and also have your own feelings. Do you really think you can have it both ways?]
At this moment, Rita, who had walked over to Leo Ash at top speed, looked at the child and the still-confused Leo Ash, and asked him with a smile.
"Leo, could you please explain what's going on?"
"Sister..."
Turning his head stiffly towards Rita, Leo Ash said awkwardly.
"If I said I don't know what's going on either, would you believe me?"
"Senior."
Kiana, who had followed Rita to Leo Ash's side, was about to say something, but...
"Mama!"
Before she could finish her sentence, she was sent flying by the child.
*This child is so strong—no wait, that's not the point!*
*She called me Mama and Senior Papa—what on earth is going on???*
"Ah, there's another Mama here too!"
Seeing Yuna in the distance entering spectator mode, the child suddenly waved at her and said with a happy smile.
"Mama, I'm over here!"
"Wait a minute???"
Yuna, who had already settled into watching the show, had no idea how this child was connected to her.
Moreover, the moment the child called out to her, in her heart...
—she actually felt an incredibly strange sense of closeness.
At this moment, although the crowd didn't know what was happening, the way they looked at Yuna, Kiana, and Leo Ash was clearly different.
So, when exactly did this happen?
Leo Ash has a child—what on earth is going on (╯‵□′)╯︵┻━┻
...