Interlude: MEI

"Ugh... Li Mo, are you sure this is your world? Why does it feel so desolate... Is it another paranormal incident!?"

Shigure Kira shrank in Li Mo's arms, startled, and pointed at the devastated city. It seemed that there had been a heavy rain last night. The water washed away, and the potholes on the highway were filled with a large amount of rainwater, reflecting the broken and dilapidated city, as well as the inseparable couple.

The collapsed houses, the ruined streets, Nagazora City was as quiet as a deserted island, with no sign of life.

Li Mo pondered for a moment and still walked home according to the direction in his memory.

"There was just a big Honkai Eruption here, it's not a paranormal incident."

Li Mo stretched out his hand, and purple-black lines faintly appeared, but in the next moment, they were erased by an unknown rule.

The Third Honkai Eruption had broken out in Nagazora City, and it had just broken out not long ago. The concentration of Honkai Energy in the air was very high.

Li Mo secretly used "Usurp" to plunder the Honkai corrosion on Shigure Kira. As a price, he himself would bear double the Honkai corrosion, but there was not much difference between one time and two times. The Bizarre's healing ability would erase the negative effects brought by the Honkai corrosion under physical conditions.

"What do you mean it was just a big Honkai Eruption... A big Honkai Eruption is very scary, okay! I almost died in the Second Honkai Eruption." Shigure Kira puffed out her cheeks and accused Li Mo angrily.

"Sorry," Li Mo said coldly, his expression showing no apology.

But Shigure Kira knew that Li Mo was unable to show his emotions only because of the ghost.

"That's rare. I didn't expect you to apologize," Shigure Kira asked curiously.

She didn't care whether Li Mo apologized or not, but she cared more about why Li Mo would suddenly apologize. You know, Li Mo in his extremely rational state was too lazy to explain the reason to people.

If you don't do as he says? Then he'll do you in, it's that simple.

"I am not a god, and even a god cannot guarantee that his actions are correct in the eyes of everyone. An apology is just a superficial manifestation of self-awareness. It does not mean that I really know I was wrong."

"In many cases, an apology is just the weak apologizing to the strong, or the strong compromising and apologizing due to some insurmountable pressure. The truth of the matter and right and wrong are secondary."

Li Mo said calmly. He didn't know what kind of answer Shigure Kira wanted to hear, but she was his acknowledged wife. So, it was always right to say more.

An explanation was needed.

In terms of ethics and morality, a husband should care more about his wife. Li Mo was like a dull machine, analyzing, judging, and then making a choice.

Shigure Kira was confused and could only choose a topic she could understand to continue the conversation: "But you are the strong one, and I am the weak one. According to your logic, you shouldn't have to apologize. This is different from what you said just now."

Li Mo paused and replied casually, "I am a weak person in terms of feelings. I know this very well."

Shigure Kira: "..."

The topic was killed. Li Mo had killed the competition with one sentence.

Shigure Kira's heart was filled with mixed feelings. Li Mo in this state was too frank, revealing the essence of things nakedly, without any romantic embellishment.

A steel-willed straight man always throws a straight ball!

Fortunately... Shigure Kira had a faint smile on her lips, glad that Li Mo had met her, and not those other bad women. Otherwise, poor Li Tom-Mo Cat would definitely be played with by those bad women!

All things are one, and life and death are the same.

Shigure Kira had fully recovered. She held back from saying anything, enjoying Li Mo's embrace.

Quietly, even though there were only ruins around, the two of them walking in a post-apocalyptic world still felt full and warm.

"Hmph~"

Shigure Kira was confident that even if it was the end of the world, she could be fearless with Li Mo.

"Roar—!"

A Honkai beast rushed out from the ruins.

"Boom!"

The Honkai beast was kicked by Li Mo and became a pendant on a hundred-meter-tall building several kilometers away.

"Sizzle—!"

A few zombies poked their heads out from the alley.

"Crack."

The zombies and the alley behind them were frozen.

Li Mo walked slowly on the way home, suddenly stopped, and stood at the gate of Chiba Academy.

"I want to go in and have a look," Li Mo suggested.

"Let's go together. Put me down. I can walk now."

Shigure Kira would naturally be happy if Li Mo could carry her home all the way, but since Li Mo had suddenly changed his mind and wanted to stroll around this school, there must be something he was concerned about.

She was not the kind of bad woman who would delay her man's business!

The two walked into Chiba Academy, with Li Mo walking in front.

The first place they reached was the 303 female dormitory.

The Bizarre aura had dissipated, but Li Mo walked in and out, over and over again.

This action aroused Shigure Kira's curiosity, "What's wrong, Li Mo? Is there a ghost here?"

Li Mo said faintly, "Maybe. There was indeed a Bizarre that polluted the environment here before, but it was cleared by Elysia. After we entered the student dormitory just now, I was observing the condition of each dormitory."

"Except for the one we are in now, the other dormitories are all damaged. Only this room is still the same as before, intact... and undamaged."

Li Mo's tone paused slightly.

Shigure Kira reacted, "Indeed... under the great Honkai, even if a building has not completely collapsed, the inside of the building should be the same as the corridor outside. The ceiling, walls, and so on have collapsed. The 303 dormitory is an exception. It's clean inside, not at all like a building affected by the great Honkai."

"So the Bizarre hasn't disappeared? It's still here?"

Li Mo shook his head, "I'm not sure. The Bizarre can't be killed. I also don't know the mechanism of Elysia's 'divinity' acting on the Bizarre. I only know it's very effective."

"From the current situation, I can't feel the Bizarre aura here, which means the Bizarre has indeed disappeared or fallen into silence."

"But from an objective point of view, it's impossible for this dormitory to be preserved so completely, so the influence of the Bizarre is still there."

"Let's leave here. I have already memorized the 303 dormitory at this stage."

With his photographic memory, Li Mo only needed to look at it once to remember the 303 dormitory at this time. He repeatedly went in and out just to test whether the rules still existed, and whether that Bizarre was still alive. After all, the rules of living and dead were in it.

After that, Li Mo took Shigure Kira and walked all over the ruined Chiba Academy. After memorizing its appearance, they continued to go home.

The way home was not long, but not short either. Dusk had arrived.

Under the afterglow of the setting sun, the shadows of the two were stretched very long. The dim Nagazora City seemed to have turned into a golden house, sparkling with molten gold light everywhere.

The desolate ruins were covered with a layer of gorgeous veil, just like the pure white headdress she had woven with her own hands that night.

Yes. Everything here was gradually heading towards destruction.

"Your hand is so cold," Shigure Kira held Li Mo's hand and couldn't help but sigh.

After feeling the coldness of his limbs, Shigure Kira held on even tighter, like a child in a pique, thinking that if she worked hard, she would be rewarded. She could warm his cold palm.

Li Mo wanted to pull his hand out, but he didn't expect Shigure Kira to pinch the back of his hand hard.

"If you dare to pull it out today, I'll use my mouth to pull you!" Shigure Kira pouted her pink lips and said seriously.

Unfortunately, she couldn't apply lipstick. There was only a healthy blood color on her lips, not bright, but still tempting.

"..."

Li Mo was unmoved, did not respond, and no longer struggled. To avoid Shigure Kira really kissing him.

Seeing this, Shigure Kira didn't know whether to be happy or sad. This idiot had no sense of romance now. He was like a hard piece of ice. Even if flames filled the surroundings, they couldn't melt it.

Shigure Kira didn't believe that if she always took the initiative, she couldn't melt this piece of ice, Li Mo.

The two walked side by side, walking far, far away under the watch of the setting sun. Because they had wasted too much time in Chiba Academy, it was already evening when Li Mo took Shigure Kira home.

Logically speaking, MEI would only wait during the day.

The best time to travel through the Bizarre cave was at seven o'clock in the morning. Even if they had paid a heavy price after being delayed for two or three hours, they would be home before noon. After all, from the Bizarre cave to the residence in Nagazora City was not far.

MEI had chosen the location very reasonably.

But the moment the door was opened, a beautiful figure stood quietly in front of the door, her smile like morning dew, her light purple eyes full of Li Mo's appearance. For some reason, Li Mo's heart suddenly jumped for a moment, and then fell into a dead silence.

After three deaths, his heart had almost stopped beating, and it would only beat a few times after a long time.

"Welcome home, Li Mo."

"Yes," Li Mo answered as usual.

MEI handed over a glass cup filled with sugary cola. There was a layer of cold air on it, as if it had just been taken out of the refrigerator. This was Li Mo's favorite drink in his normal state. In his first death state, he liked to drink it in one gulp.

Feeling the pain and discomfort of the cold cola stimulating his throat, he constantly reminded himself to pay attention to the boundary between life and death.

"This mission doesn't seem to be so smooth this time."

"No, not just this time. It's always so thrilling every time, but... it's good to be back safely."

Li Mo took the cola and drank it all. But... he didn't show any emotion, his face was gloomy.

He had feelings, but he couldn't give any reaction, or rather, reactions were redundant in his perception and instinct. Although he could feel that a lot of sugar had been added, it was MEI's deliberate act. The freezing effect was very good, extremely stimulating to the throat.

MEI just glanced at it and didn't say much about it. She turned to talk about the current situation in the native world.

"A month has passed in the native world. Not surprisingly, you won't see Elysia and Hua for the next year. Because they are busy dealing with the revived Bizarre."

"This is the best choice. At the same time, the Bizarre is spreading. Conventional methods have lost their effect. If it is not dealt with, the destruction of this world is only a matter of time. However, due to the integrity problem, Elysia and Hua are enough."

"If we don't do this, the pollution will spread from the Earth to the solar system, then to the Milky Way, and finally envelop the entire universe, eroding every timeline, every law of the universe..."

"「Fu Li」 will be the first to die, and then launch a holy war against other conceptual bodies."

Li Mo: "Fu Li?"

MEI: "It's nothing, just an insignificant name, not worth your attention."

Li Mo: "Do Elysia and Hua need my cooperation? I'm currently in a state of three deaths and have one more chance to restart."

MEI: "No need. You dealing with these just-revived Bizarre is not as simple and violent as them. You can make the other party fall silent just by catching them. However, for some paranormal incidents with deeper influence, and ghosts that must complete rituals, you still have to deal with them, such as the ghost in St. Freya Academy."

"It's the ghost you ran into in the alley a month ago, the one that disguised itself as me and lay on you to tempt you."

As she spoke, MEI deliberately looked at Shigure Kira, then smiled wryly and shook her head slightly, her expression quite helpless.

Shigure Kira's brows furrowed slightly. This feeling... it was as if she was showing off her charm!

The ghost's disguise was definitely based on the target's XP. In the eyes of some death row inmates, it would be a loli. In the eyes of a Cao Cao, it would be another person sleeping by the side of the bed...

Damn it, she was just given a taste of her own medicine as soon as she entered the door.

Shigure Kira was extremely resentful and stared straight at Li Mo, seeming to be demanding an explanation. She made an ambiguous grunt, "Ngh..."

Li Mo turned his head to avoid looking at Shigure Kira. He didn't quite understand why Shigure Kira would do this. What MEI said was an objective fact, very reasonable. It was just out of intuition that he thought he should give her the cold shoulder.

"That ghost is finally willing to expose itself," Li Mo said.

MEI continued Li Mo's words, "Yes. By the way, Kiana Kaslana and Raiden MEI have already transferred from Chiba Academy to St. Freya Academy in this world. In the Third Honkai Eruption, they met another Russian girl named Bronya Zaychik."

"Raiden MEI erupted as the Third Herrscher. Of course, this was the work of her father and the radical faction of Anti-Entropy, but that's not important."

"Currently, the three of them are living well. The Herrscher personality has been suppressed. Murata Himeko has taken the three of them to St. Freya Academy."

"It's just a pity that the Third Honkai Eruption turned this city into a desolate ruin, and the number of people who survived in the entire city is very small."

"Fortunately, these things were all within expectations. I had prepared in advance, and it was easy to protect a house. Even Honkai Energy cannot easily invade. Of course, if you have any ideas, we can also move to other cities."

Li Mo rejected that approach, "The Bizarre cave is near Nagazora City. It's not a wise choice to leave here."

"The development of the matter is as I guessed. When Kira and I came back, we saw that the surroundings were all in ruins and had already guessed this situation."

The trio still went on that path. The fate of the native world had not been changed.

MEI: "Let's get back to the topic. The ghost in St. Freya Academy has not caused any substantial damage to reality, but if we continue to let it go, the pollution will deepen and affect the students in the academy."

"I have predicted the time, about half a month. So you need to leave for St. Freya Academy tomorrow. I have already arranged a very suitable identity for you with that Schicksal Overseer: inspector. From the academy head to the Valkyrie students, they will all be respectful to you. Your authority is very high."

"On the surface, you can go to any place in St. Freya Academy as an inspector, and do anything at any time. With the order from that Schicksal Overseer, so you don't have to worry about the procedures."

"Your main task is to deal with the fantasy ghost hidden in the academy. As for the inspection task, you can do it as you please. Remember, don't waste too much energy and time on insignificant people."

"Use your absolute reason to suppress those feelings that shouldn't be there."

With that, MEI glanced at Shigure Kira again and introduced herself, "My name is MEI. You can also call me MEI, or Doctor. I don't care what others call me."

Seeing Li Mo being so docile when talking to MEI, Shigure Kira immediately recognized that the boss of the house was this intellectual woman in a purple professional suit.

Looking her up and down, Shigure Kira compared herself with MEI to see who was better.

A white checkered shirt with a black hip-hugging skirt. The places that should be thin were thin, and the places that should be fat were not lacking at all. Her figure was perfectly displayed by her clothes.

Her long hair fell to her waist, and she was 1.7 meters tall. She was clearly at home but was still wearing a professional suit...

In the end, Shigure Kira came to a conclusion—just looking at this woman's posture, she was terrifyingly strong!

In front of her, she seemed to have become a little sister!

Shigure Kira took a deep breath, preparing to give herself a perfect self-introduction to show her temperament, "My name is..."

The next second, MEI interrupted without hesitation and recited Shigure Kira's life information:

"Shigure Kira, originally an A-rank Valkyrie of Schicksal, a member of the Snow Wolf squad, nicknamed 'Floating Prominence.' Later, she was promoted to an S-rank Valkyrie through her own efforts. Her dream is to become an idol, and her ID on all platforms is: Kira Star. She has a large number of fans. She has many songs with ai-adjusted vocals, which are sought after by fans. Her personality is straightforward, a hot-blooded idiot. Her IQ barely passes the passing line, but her perseverance is very high, with the never-give-up spirit unique to idiots. The object of her admiration is the captain of the Snow Wolf squad, Cecilia Schariac. Her comrades-in-arms are: Shub-Niggurath, Cheng Lixue, Salome Jokanaan, Patrick Highsmith..."

MEI told all of Shigure Kira's information bit by bit, not even sparing her dark history. In fact, if MEI hadn't mentioned some things, Shigure Kira herself would have almost forgotten about them.

The most terrifying thing was that MEI did not look at any electronic products when she was reciting her detailed information. For a small character like her, MEI would definitely not waste too much energy to remember.

So MEI had just listened to Li Mo's description, or had seen the information from other places, and remembered it at once. Not only did she remember, but she remembered it very clearly...

Wait, are you guys normal people? Li Mo has a photographic memory and can casually pull out any memory he wants, that's fine, but how can even the most normal-looking one be so perverted?

You guys are so perverted, you make me, a single person, feel out of place?! I'm an S-rank Valkyrie, you know?

Shigure Kira was stunned. She originally thought that with her identity as an S-rank Valkyrie, her strength would not be high, but at least she would not be at a disadvantage in terms of aura.

Not to mention Elysia and Hua, who MEI said were faster than Li Mo in dealing with the Bizarre. Just MEI herself made Shigure Kira feel a lot of pressure.

After talking for about two minutes, MEI seemed unwilling to continue with this boring matter. Her purpose had been achieved.

"No need to explain your identity and origin. Li Mo told me when he came back before, but now it seems that you two have a good relationship. You must have experienced a lot in the haunted house world, right?"

Suddenly, Li Mo said, "MEI, I haven't told you about the haunted house yet."

MEI explained calmly, "I sent Hua and Elysia to support you. They told me."

Li Mo: "Okay."

MEI changed the subject and faced Shigure Kira, "Take this opportunity, you two should be together and feel the warmth of the weak huddling together. You need it, and the current Li Mo also needs it."

"I actually don't recommend Li Mo taking an ordinary person to deal with the ghost in St. Freya Academy, because of the special nature of that ghost. The best situation is for Li Mo to deal with it alone."

"But since you even have the courage to die for him, then the special nature of this ghost is insignificant for you two."

Speaking of this, Shigure Kira showed a confused expression. Her CPU had already burned out. Laughing to death, she couldn't turn, she couldn't turn at all. What was she saying? What was she saying? What was she saying?

She didn't understand, she didn't understand at all.

Li Mo quickly realized that MEI was talking about the characteristics of that ghost.

"..."

That unbearable memory quickly flooded his mind—

"Li Mo... you're finally back, I miss you so much..."

"Turn around and look at me, okay?"

A weak panting sound lingered in his ear. The plump white rabbits pressed against Li Mo's back. Her teeth bit his ear, and she licked it with her tongue, occasionally breathing out hot air. A numbing sensation instantly spread throughout his body.

"..."

"It's emotions. That ghost can only attack when the target's emotions change drastically, for example—fear and excitement," Li Mo said truthfully. He remembered it very clearly.

"So there's no need to clear the accumulated deaths on my body for now. I need to maintain this state to deal with the Bizarre. I can't stay at home for too long."

Li Mo took a step back and retreated outside the door.

MEI: "Don't worry, this mission is very simple for you. You can treat this mission as a small long holiday. After being tired for so long, you should really relax..."

Li Mo: "Kira, you go into the room first. By the way, my room is the first one on the left of the corridor. Don't casually enter other rooms."

"MEI, I have one more thing to ask you. Let's talk outside."

MEI: "Okay."

MEI wore big white rabbit slippers and followed behind Li Mo. The two walked downstairs side by side.

They came to a blind spot in the house, a dilapidated shop, and then the two of them looked back at the same time to confirm that Shigure Kira was not following them.

They stopped in tacit agreement. MEI sat down on a relatively clean chair in the shop.

Li Mo tried to turn on the lights, but the circuit was damaged and he couldn't. Just as he stretched out his hand, MEI called out to him.

"Alright, it's fine without the lights on. You don't have to go through the trouble of using 'Usurp.' Even if the price will fade over time, you will still feel pain."

"Okay."

Li Mo stopped the idea of using "Usurp" and returned to MEI's side. He told her everything that had happened in the haunted house world, without any concealment. Because the clues were interconnected, if even a little was missed, it could affect the analysis later. Including the dozen years he had spent with Shigure Kira.

"About Bizarre Kiana, there is still Kiana's residual consciousness in Bizarre Kiana. Is there a way to separate Bizarre Kiana's consciousness from Kiana's..."

In the darkness, Li Mo's words were dull, and every word was very clear. After a short period of thought, MEI stated her opinion truthfully:

"It's very difficult. It's not an exaggeration to say it's impossible. For example, the weak living consciousness you felt in Bizarre Kiana in the Soul-Ferrying Passage was also completed under the separation rule of another ghost, Seele Vollerei."

"To do this, two conditions must be met. One, a ghost has a certain special corresponding rule, such as Seele Vollerei's separation rule; two, that ghost's integrity is higher than Bizarre Kiana's, or at least equal."

"You've dealt with so many paranormal incidents. Except for that woman, Irene Adler, have you ever seen any other ghost that can satisfy both points at the same time?"

"Not to mention whether there is a ghost that satisfies both points at the same time, even if there is, can you find it? Can you control it? Will it act according to your thoughts?"

"A ghost with an integrity greater than or equal to Bizarre Kiana's is an uncontrollable time bomb in itself. It's difficult to even deal with, let alone control."

"So the feasibility of this matter is almost zero. If it's not necessary, I personally would definitely not invest too much energy and thought in such an almost impossible thing."

Li Mo: "I see. Thank you for telling me this."

MEI: "There's no need to say thank you between us."

"Li Mo."

Li Mo: "I'm here."

MEI: "As long as you're alive, I'll help you realize your wish, but the premise is that you have to be alive..."

"Don't always act on impulse. Impulsiveness and blindness will only bury yourself."

"The you now, the lives you carry are no longer just one. If you die, many people will die with you, including the Shigure Kira you brought back."

"Think carefully before making a fatal choice. Don't be so impulsive anymore. Your luck is good, but you won't always be so lucky."

Li Mo was stunned on the spot. He quickly reacted. MEI had agreed. Even if it was such a difficult thing, she would do her best to help. Even if there was only a slim chance, with MEI's help, it might really be possible.

"I will. Is there anything else?" Li Mo after three deaths still answered lukewarmly, without a hint of emotion. Although he felt that he should be happy about this.

MEI was used to this coldness and didn't feel anything.

She adjusted the black peeled paint of her glasses frame, and her tone changed from serious to cheerful.

"Then how about I tell a joke?" MEI said with a smile.

Li Mo nodded, "Of course you can."

MEI pretended to think for a while:

"If you become a completely irrational cripple, I will accept you without reservation. But if, I mean if..."

"If I lose my genius intellect, lose my leadership ability, and can't even take care of myself, and become a complete cripple, what will you do?"

"Accept? Or abandon?"

MEI did not meet Li Mo's gaze. She lowered her head, and her white fingers quickly swiped on the phone screen.

Li Mo answered without thinking, "Accept. You are my companion. I will not abandon you."

MEI chuckled lightly and turned off her phone to make the room darker. In this way, her expression would not be exposed to the light. But this was more of a psychological comfort. For Li Mo in a state of three deaths, darkness was no longer a factor that could block his vision.

"I'd rather hear the latter answer... alright, I'm going back to rest. I'll prepare some things for you here, and I'll give them to you when you leave. As for yourself, you can stroll outside, or stay in the living room."

"Your room, Pardofelis's room, and Elysia's own room are all filled with the aura of 'divinity.' It will eliminate the accumulated deaths on your body. It's best not to get close to maintain your rationality," MEI reminded.

To this, Li Mo was not surprised. Elysia liked to wander around everywhere. Except for MEI's room, which was locked most of the time, and Elysia couldn't get in, she had slept in all the other rooms.

The living room was an exception. Elysia rarely stayed there, and there was only a trace of a goddess's aura. In a state of three deaths, that wisp of "divinity" was not obvious.

"I'll just walk around outside. I'll be home at seven in the morning and go to other cities to buy some dishes," Li Mo said calmly, and then left directly.

He didn't feel tired.

The pollution deepened, and his sense of time also decreased. After wandering outside for a night, it seemed that only a short while had passed for him.

Ghosts are unconscious and cannot feel the passage of time. In this way, he seemed to have become an alternative, incomplete ghost.

MEI stood at the shop door and stared at Li Mo for a long time. It was only after his figure disappeared on the other side of the city that she slowly looked up at the moon, which was a bit too bright.

"Li Mo..."

"Abandoning me would be a better choice..."

MEI stretched out her hand, her light purple eyes glowing with a scarlet luster. Her gaze fell on her snow-white arm. From the back of her hand to her shoulder, a faint red line floated incongruously. This was also the reason why she wore a professional suit—to cover her body.

In fact, she could have eliminated the ghost in St. Freya Academy long ago, but she didn't do it.

Dealing with the Bizarre was not MEI's primary goal.

"I hope that ghost can let you have fun. I can't raise a second ghost that can bring a death threat but can't kill people."

MEI murmured to the empty street.

"I know too much. The more I know, the more He casts His gaze."

"I hope in the coming days, I can finish the funeral arrangements early."

MEI took out some unknown drugs from her pocket and quickly stuffed them into her mouth and swallowed them raw. The heavy dark circles under her eyes deepened, but her sluggish spirit was much better.