I've already said this isn't a life simulator!

The two fell rapidly, but after reaching a certain boundary, the sound of the wind rushing past their ears turned into a muffled sound of falling water. Their falling speed gradually slowed down, and they finally landed steadily on the ground.

A dim and damp feeling instantly washed over Raiden Mei, making her feel as if she had entered a cave submerged by the ocean... However, Raiden Mei was already used to this and simply followed Alicia forward silently.

"Hmph~ Hmph~?"

Alicia hummed a cheerful tune, her steps light and quick... she seemed very happy.

But soon, Raiden Mei noticed something unusual... She didn't know when it started, but every time Alicia hummed a tune, several translucent bubbles would appear, as if she were already in water.

“…Aili…hmm?!”

Just as Raiden Mei was about to ask a question, she discovered that bubbles were appearing in her mouth as she spoke, as if she had unknowingly stepped into "water"... But there was clearly no water around, only a little dampness.

"Ah, Mei, you noticed too, didn't you~"

Alicia smiled and turned around to say.

"This is already Wang's territory~ Here you can imagine yourself as being [in the seawater]~ So~"

Alicia lightly touched the ground with her toes and "swam" into the air right in front of Raiden Mei.

"Even something like this is possible! Give it a try!"

"........."

Out of curiosity, Raiden Mei lightly touched the ground with her toes and tried to "swim" into the air in this waterless place... Surprisingly, it wasn't difficult at all, and she did it very easily. But the moment she started "swimming," Raiden Mei felt a strange fear that made her hair stand on end, as if she was being watched by something extremely terrifying, which made her subconsciously adopt a defensive posture.

"Ah, don't worry, Wang is just observing your new friend. He's a little shy, but once you get to know him, he's very easy to get along with!"

"........."

To be honest, Raiden Mei was a little incredulous. After all, the gaze fixed on her was too terrifying and too abnormal... This gaze, like that of a "predator" wanting to physically devour her, made her feel really uncomfortable.

“…Alicia, you shouldn’t have brought her here.”

After a while, from deeper within, a strangely viscous sound slowly flowed out and entered the ears of the two. Looking up, they could see a pair of golden, starlight-like pupils staring at them. Realizing this, Raiden Mei prepared for battle.

The inexplicable malice and anger emanating from the surroundings constantly reminded her that it was a terrifying thing.

"Don't say that! Mei is a very special and adorable girl~ You'll definitely like her~"

But Alicia seemed oblivious to all of this, simply smiling as she swam forward to his side, circled him a few times, then patted him on the shoulder and said...

"Please don't be like that~ Or are you shy?"

"……Ugh."

A helpless sigh was heard, and the dim surroundings were gradually illuminated by a faint blue light, giving it a unique beauty reminiscent of the deep sea.

Looking up, one can see a man beside Alicia dressed in "hunter's clothes," carrying a strange, slender, dark greatsword. His short, white hair, like waves, is particularly eye-catching.

But what caught Raiden Mei's attention even more were his unfocused, star-like golden pupils... This deathly gaze startled Raiden Mei.

“Alishia, I should have said it before, don’t bring outsiders here. I don’t welcome them, and I don’t like them… and they won’t like me either.”

"If they come to me, they will only be hunted, and then resist and fear entering the Paradise of the Past again... As for my mark, it's not really necessary, is it?"

"Don't say that~ Mei is a very special person~"

Alicia doesn't seem to have any intention of giving up.

“I know she is a [Herrscher].

Xi Wang squinted and looked indifferently at the girl.

"same as me."

"...?!"

Raiden Mei was genuinely surprised this time. There was actually a Herrscher in the [Paradise of the Past]? And a [Heroic One] at that?

"Oh yeah~ That's right~ So if it's Mei, she'd definitely have a lot to talk about with you, right? And if it's her, she might even be able to withstand your [Mark]?"

"........."

"Please, just for my sake, give her a chance, okay?"

"...You only have one chance."

"Great! I knew you liked me the most!"

Alicia excitedly stepped forward and hugged Xiwang, affectionately nuzzling his face, which surprised Raiden Mei... Although Alicia showed "like" to everyone, it seemed that only this person in front of her could be so affectionate towards the opposite sex?

Could there be some strange relationship between these two? — Raiden Mei couldn't help but think to herself.

"Ah, don't tell Sakura about what just happened~ Although Sakura probably won't be jealous, it's still... let's keep it a little secret~"

"???"

Hearing Alicia's slightly mischievous words, Raiden Mei's eyes twitched... Was there some strange element of a romantic drama in this? Like a love triangle or two-timing?

Could this "Ying Jie" in front of me be a "scumbag"?

"Then I'll be leaving now~ Hehe~ Mei, good luck~ Nozomi's test is very strict~"

As Alicia spoke, she quickly "swam" away, disappearing without a trace.

"…………"x2

After losing Alicia as a middleman, the two present had nothing to say to each other and remained silent, while casually observing each other... or rather, Raiden Mei was unilaterally observing Nozomi.

"You were just thinking some very rude things, weren't you, [Herrscher]?"

Suddenly, Xi Wang spoke first, but the topic was a bit strange.

"For example, the relationship between me, Alicia, and Sakura."

"...I was just a little curious."

Raiden Mei was a little embarrassed, but she readily admitted it.

"After all, judging from the behavior of the other [Heroes]... they don't seem to want to mention you, but you seem to have a good relationship with them."

"Not bad? Ha... Where did you get that conclusion?"

Xi Wang chuckled softly, his tone slightly sarcastic... Whether it was Raiden Mei's imagination or not, after Alicia left, he seemed to have changed, becoming somewhat... crazy, as if he had lost some kind of restraint.

“How could my relationship with them be ‘good’? It should be ‘hostile’... No, apart from Alicia, Sakura and Gretchen, everyone else is my ‘prey’.”

"It sounds like you're a Hunter? But why... in Heroes, is your title Revelation?"

"Ha...you'll find out the reason, but not here."

Xi Wang's voice turned cold in an instant.

"Also, didn't anyone else tell you that I don't like the nickname 'Yingjie'?"

Xi Wang turned to look at her, and at the same time released the dark greatsword in his arms. Azure water began to appear, carrying the greatsword as it swirled in the air.

The surroundings are getting increasingly damp...

"Or do you think that a [Herrscher], someone who killed six [Heroes]... can be called a [Hero] like them?"

? !

Raiden Mei was taken aback.

"Alright, [Herrscher]."

Xi Wang's voice was completely calm, as still as water.

"Since I promised Alicia I would give you one chance to be tested, then you only have this one chance. Cherish it. If you are ready, then speak."

"...May I ask first, what is the [assessment]?"

Raiden Mei felt it again, that feeling of being watched by a predator... She involuntarily gripped the hilt of her knife.

"It's very simple, just survive, that's all."

"It sounds no different from Qian Jie's... If it's just a fight, I'm willing to go."

"A thousand tribulations? Ha..."

Xi Wang chuckled softly again.

“You need to understand one thing, [Herrscher], this is not a battle, it is merely a [hunt], my [hunt] against you, and all you have to do is try your best to survive, nothing more.”

"Is that so? It seems I'm your new [prey]... Be careful not to get hurt by the [prey] instead."

Raiden Mei was already used to Xi Wang's strange personality... Anyway, all the [Herrschers] were weird, and Raiden Mei wanted to see what the difference was between the two generations of [Herrschers], and what it was like to be able to kill six [Herrschers].

"Well... I'm ready. Let's begin your hunt... *pfft*"

However, before she could finish speaking, a mouthful of blood mixed with azure water gushed from Raiden Mei's mouth, and then her entire body split open, with countless tiny azure water blades surging out from her body and cutting her apart.

Before Raiden Mei lost consciousness, all she could see was a blue, shark-like creature opening its mouth to bite her...

The hunt is over.

When Raiden Mei returned to reality, she seemed somewhat bewildered, still experiencing the phantom pain of being cut from the inside by water and devoured by sharks.

[Upon re-entering "Paradise of the Past," you will encounter Alicia, who is waiting for you, and receive her comfort. After being led by Alicia into "Deep Ocean" once again, you will receive the affirmation of Dawn and unlock the "Revelation" imprint.]

————【Event: A Glimpse of the Ocean (Choose Sakura)】————

"Would you like to visit? Sure, I'll take you."

Upon hearing Raiden Mei's request, Sakura nodded knowingly.

"However, please wait for me a moment before we depart..."

Sakura left for a short while, and when she returned, she had a small cherry blossom-colored bag in her hand, which was filled with a lot of wrapped candies.

"This is?"

"Ah, since we haven't seen each other for a while, I thought I'd prepare some gifts... Don't worry about it, it's just a way for Nozomi and me to communicate."

"It seems you have a good relationship with him."

"Well... in some ways, that's true."

Sakura smiled and nodded.

"Oh my gosh! Let me see what I've found!"

Alicia's cheerful voice came from the side.

"Did Sakura prepare candy again? Are you going to visit her, right~"