I'm in Morioh, just joined a chat group for cute girls.

This was the first time Raiden Mei had so openly revealed her helplessness and confusion in front of complete strangers.

【Devil Muscle Rin】: @WeatherForecast, what's going on here? You'd better give me a reasonable explanation, or don't blame me for being impolite.

[Weather Forecast]: There's nothing to worry about. Raiden Mei, your father left you a very substantial trust fund, enough to ensure you'll be financially secure for the rest of your life. Furthermore, this villa is registered in your name and won't be foreclosed on by the bank.

【Marin】: Hey, Gu Ye! Are you trying to comfort me? Is this about money?! The important thing is that Mei-senpai's father was wronged! Don't say things like that again, it's really infuriating!

[Weather Forecast]: Don't worry, listen to me, your father has been wronged.

The faint light from the phone screen was the only source of light in the villa at that moment. It shone on Raiden Mei's pale face like a distant lighthouse on a dark sea.

She seemed to have grasped at the last straw, her trembling fingertips tapping on the cold screen.

[Herrscher of Food]: Who is it? Who wronged Father? Gu Yejun, please tell me, what do I need to do to defeat him?

[Weather Forecast]: With your current abilities, it's impossible. Your opponent is a behemoth standing at the pinnacle of technology in this world, not someone an ordinary high school girl like you can challenge.

[Herrscher of Food]: I know swordsmanship. I have long since obtained the complete teachings of the Hokushin Itto-ryu style. My strength is not weak!

[Weather Report]: Simply knowing a few sword techniques isn't enough; you need power, the power to truly overturn the rules. Besides, you don't need to do anything right now.

[Weather Forecast]: In four years at most, your father will be exonerated, and his future status will be even higher than before.

[Herrscher of Food]: Is that so? That's wonderful.

The taut, almost snapping nerves finally relaxed after seeing those words.

Raiden Mei let out a long breath, leaning back against the soft sofa. Her heart, which had been hanging in suspense, finally settled down.

Compared to life imprisonment, spending only four or five years in jail is acceptable.

【Marin】: That's great! Mei-senpai! I knew it! Uncle is such a good person, how could he do anything bad!

【Marin】: Four years will pass by so quickly! Let's go together to welcome Uncle back!

[Devil Muscle Rin]: Gu Ye, can you finish your sentence in one go next time? Why do you have to keep people in suspense?

[Weather Forecast]: You guys are too impatient. I hadn't even finished speaking before you kept asking questions. How can you blame me for that?

[Devil Muscle Rin]: You bastard! You really know how to turn the tables!

[Weather Forecast]: I'm outta here, my biological clock is protesting. Goodnight everyone.

After saying that, the cloud icon called "Weather Forecast" went completely dark, and no matter how much Rin tapped the screen, there was no response.

The next morning, sunlight streamed through the gaps in the blinds, casting dappled shadows in the room.

Gu Ye doesn't even need an alarm clock; his biological clock precisely wakes him from his deep sleep.

He knew that a qualified otaku must have a strong physique that could support him to fight continuously for 72 hours.

Therefore, his morning routine of running and training followed by a hot bath is an unwavering ritual for him.

Today is Sunday, a sacred day.

He plans to complete the game he bought yesterday, "St. Slippery Girls' Academy: The Shameless Miracle Life in the Shame Club 2nd Generation," by collecting all the items and achieving all the accomplishments.

A morning slipped by quietly amidst the tapping of his fingers. When he had finished the first personal storyline of the game with satisfaction and was stretching back in his chair, he realized that the chat group interface had somehow appeared in front of him.

It's like a semi-transparent holographic pendant that can be dragged around at will, or it can be directly integrated into consciousness to communicate in the mind.

"Does that mean... I've been fully accepted?" Gu Ye muttered to himself. He had thought that as the only male intruder, he would eventually be corrected by the system or kicked out by the group members through a vote.

After all, this is a "chat group for anime girls," and he doesn't want to leave this promised land where he can directly communicate with anime girls so easily.

He turned his gaze to the chat interface, where Mei's avatar had just lit up.

Clearly, the series of events that happened yesterday were too much of a shock for a high school girl who had lived in a sheltered environment.

[The Herrscher of Food]: Everyone is ignoring me because of my father's imprisonment.

Inside the Raiden family villa, the sun shone brightly, but it couldn't penetrate Raiden Mei's heart.

She looked at the names in her phone's contact list that she had once been very close to, those friends who were like sisters to her, and now they were all, as if they had agreed to be, dead silent.

Not a single message of greeting, not a single phone call of comfort.

On social media, those posts featuring close photos of her have also had their privacy settings quietly changed.

This was the first time Mei had witnessed so clearly the cruel side of this world called "reality".

The tea party that was supposed to be held at her house this afternoon was now empty except for her in the large living room.

The exquisite bone china tea set sat coldly on the table, next to a muffin she had baked herself, still emitting a fragrant aroma, but destined to be untouched.

Her beautiful illusions about real-life friendship shattered completely at that moment, turning into dust.

Huh? Why were the pictures downloaded?

Chapter 5 Mei: I can do anything!

[American Scythe]: It seems you live in a too comfortable environment. All I've experienced growing up is betrayal and fighting. How could I possibly grow up carefree in an ivory tower like you?

[Devil Muscle Rin]: It's better to see through those people's true colors sooner rather than later when they trick you in more important matters.

[American Scythe]: Little girl, I'll teach you the simplest and most understandable principle—never trust anyone. The only thing you can rely on is the weapon and strength in your own hands.

[Weather Forecast]: That's not entirely true; she still has paramecia to rely on.

[Herrscher of Food]: Gu Ye-jun, are you awake?

[Weather Forecast]: I woke up early this morning. I was playing a game and just finished pushing down a lane.

【The Herrscher of Food】: What does "paramecium" mean?

[Weather Forecast]: Your future partner, someone you can always entrust your back to.

【Marin】: But! But! The word "paramecium" doesn't sound like it's used to describe a smart person at all, does it?

[Weather Forecast]: She really does act like a single-celled idiot most of the time.

【Marin】: Huh?! How can an idiot like you expect people to believe you forever?! Gu Yejun, your words are so contradictory!

[Devil Muscle Rin]: Wait, an idiot, or a future partner? What kind of messed-up combination is this? Hey, Gu Ye, you'd better explain yourself, who exactly is this paramecium?

[American Scythe]: Ha, rely on an idiot? That's the funniest joke I've heard all year. Mei, if you really do that, you're not far from death. Only the weak place their hopes on others, especially on another even weaker person.

As Mei watched the discussion in the group chat suddenly become lively, the gloom in her heart caused by her friend's betrayal gradually dissipated.

[Herrscher of Food]: Gu Ye-jun, I... I don't want to keep waiting like this anymore.

【The Herrscher of Food】: Although you said that my father would be exonerated in four years, I don’t want to be able to just watch and not be able to help at all.

[Herrscher of Food]: You said I need power, so how can I become stronger? Also, um... Paramecium, where can I find her?

She clenched her fists, and a light rekindled in her eyes.

She decided that, starting today, she would increase her daily kendo training time by two hours.

[Devil Muscle Rin]: Oh? You've finally come to your senses, huh? That's starting to look more like it.

【Devil Muscle Rin】: Speaking of which, @WeatherForecast, where did you get all this information from? You seem to know everything about Mei.

[Weather Forecast]: There's nothing strange about it, because Raiden Mei is a character from a game in my world, and she happens to be my favorite character, the one I've invested the most emotion in, so naturally I know more about her.

Gu Ye made no attempt to hide anything and frankly typed the facts on the screen.

[Devil Muscle Rin]: I see, we're characters in your game world. That explanation makes sense.

[Herrscher of Food]: I am... a character from the game? Is that so?

Mei looked at the words on the screen, feeling a mix of emotions, but mostly a sense of relief.

【Marin】: Wait a minute! Why are you two so calm? We're just characters in someone else's story. Isn't this kind of thing terrifying? Are our emotions just pre-programmed?

[American Scythe]: What's the big deal? Let me ask you, are you a living, breathing person right now? Can you feel your own heartbeat and breathing?

【Marin】: Yes, of course I can!

【American Scythe】: Since you are a living, breathing person, it means that your destiny belongs only to yourself, and is not controlled by some damn script!

[Weather Forecast]: Amazing! I never expected that W, who usually acts like a crazy person who only knows how to play with bombs, could actually say something so philosophical.

[American Scythe]: No, I just want to say, if I knew which bastard author arranged my background, I would blow him and his house to smithereens! @WeatherForecast, you must know my identity, right? Hurry up and let me go to your world, I want to twist that author's head off and use it as a football!

[Weather Forecast]: Unfortunately, I've already died once. Those authors existed in my past life's world, and I can't find them now.

[American Scythe]: Tsk, that's such a pity.

【Marin】: That's right! Why think so much! The most important thing is to be yourself and live your life well! So, Gu Yejun, there shouldn't be any superpowered individuals in my world, right?

[Weather Forecast]: Don't worry, your world is absolutely safe. It's just an ordinary, everyday world, and there will absolutely be no supernatural phenomena. Even if something does happen, come find me.

【Marin】: Uh-oh—does that mean I'm the only ordinary person in this group? That feels a bit unfair!

The apartment was quiet. Raiden Mei held her phone, the light from the screen reflected in her pupils.

She took a deep breath and typed the line of text on the screen that contained all her anxiety and determination.

[Herrscher of Food]: Gu Ye-jun, I have some concerns. What exactly is this "Herrscher" you speak of? Why...did I become that kind of thing?

[Weather Forecast]: Herrschers can be understood as apostles of the catastrophic phenomenon of "Honkai," the embodiment and agent of Honkai energy. Each Herrscher possesses a power that rivals that of a god.

[Weather Forecast]: For example, you, the Herrscher of Thunder, your power is to control lightning. Not just simple discharge, but manipulation of electromagnetic force at the molecular level, with enough power to easily destroy a city.

【Marin】: Wow! Destroy a city! That sounds amazing! Just like a big boss in a game!

[Devil Muscle Rin]: Honkai energy? Authority? That's interesting. It sounds like a higher-dimensional energy system.

[Weather Forecast]: The birth of Herrschers is random. They usually occur in areas with extremely high Honkai energy concentration and are transformed from humans with extremely high Honkai energy adaptability.

[American Scythe]: Hmph, that sounds unreliable. An uncontrollable power is nothing but a shortcut to self-destruction. Mei, if you become that thing, the first thing you need to be careful of is not being devoured by your own power.

Raiden Mei, sitting in front of the screen, felt no fear upon seeing W's words; instead, she gripped her phone tightly.

【Rice Herald】: I understand.

【The Herrscher of Food】: If this is my destiny, then I will not run away from it.

[Herrscher of Food]: Gu Ye-jun, you're right, I need power. If becoming a Herrscher can give me the power to protect those I care about, and allow me to clear my father's name, then I'm willing to accept it all.

【Marin】：Mei-senpai……you're so cool!

[Devil Muscle Rin]: Good resolve. Since you've made up your mind, don't give up halfway.

Chapter 6 Mei: Finding a White Fluffy Ball

[Weather Forecast]: Don't get too excited. After the last Herrscher awakened, it caused the deaths of over 20 million people worldwide, with countless others injured. Herrschers have never been a symbol of good; their existence was solely for the purpose of destroying human civilization.

After the message was sent, the group chat interface fell into a brief silence. A few seconds later, three question marks popped up one after another.

【Marin】：?

[Devilish Muscular Rin]: ?

[American Scythe]: ? While I'm not great at math, I still understand what it means to have tens of millions of people piled together. Kid, are you dreaming?

[Devil Muscle Rin]: Hey, Gu Ye! This kind of joke is not funny at all! Do you know what power of this scale means? It's no longer the realm of magic, it's divine punishment!

[Marin]: Tens of millions? That's terrifying! Although the name "Herrscher of Thunder" sounds incredibly cool! But... this is just too much...

[Weather Forecast]: That's the truth. If Mei were to become a Herrscher now, then the entire population of Changkong City would probably not survive.

[The Herrscher of Food]: Never mind then, I don't want to become a Herrscher.

Mei's reply was brief and resolute, but a sense of powerlessness was evident between the lines.

[Weather Forecast]: You may not want it, but someone else does. The core of the Herrscher of Thunder has already been implanted within you, and as time goes by, it's a foregone conclusion that you will become a Herrscher.

[Herrscher of Food]: W-why? How come there's a Herrscher core inside me?

[Weather Forecast]: Your dad implanted it in you.

[Herrscher of Food]: Dad? How could that be? He's not that kind of person!

Mei retorted passionately, her words filled with defense of her father.