Putting Past Experiences to Good Use

"Hate?! Lee, what are you talking about? Of course not!!"

Kevin never expected to hear those words from Lee. He'd anticipated comfort, maybe even blame for his indecisiveness, but never this.

"If I could have stopped it, you wouldn't have needed to become a MANTIS ." Lee's voice was so soft that even Kevin, with his enhanced senses, had to strain to hear. "If I were more useful, you wouldn't have to bear this… this awful feeling…"

Kevin was stunned.

He'd assumed that Lee, with her decisive nature against the Honkai, wouldn't be tormented by these things, but she not only felt the same pain, but also tried to shoulder the burden of fighting the Herrschers alone?

"So, if you hate me, Kevin… I understand."

"Lee, this has nothing to do with you. How could I hate you?!" Kevin's sharp eyes noticed Lee's trembling fingers.

He wanted to embrace her, but his icy touch would only hurt her… He hated this side effect of the surgery more than anything right now.

What good was being the strongest, defeating Herrschers, if he couldn't even comfort the one he loved?

[Energy +50,000]

"You've always been my motivation, so… please don't blame yourself."

Kevin was usually eloquent, but around Lee, he always struggled to find the right words.

His concern seemed to lift Lee's spirits. She smiled tearfully. "Sorry, I was supposed to be your therapist, but you're the one comforting me…"

Lee opened her small handbag, pulling out a box and handing it to Kevin.

"I asked VV to make this extendable fork. It has a heating function… With this, you should be able to eat warm food."

"Thank you, Lee. This is really—?!" Kevin, relieved, reached for the box, then froze, his eyes widening as Lee suddenly dropped it and embraced him.

[Energy +100,000]

"Let go, Lee! You'll get frostbite!!!"

Shock, gratitude… After being ostracized and treated like a monster, Kevin couldn't articulate his feelings—but he knew that he had to push Lee away to prevent her from getting hurt.

But Lee wasn't about to let go.

Opportunity! This is my chance!

When someone was lonely and isolated, unable to be touched by others, what could be more comforting than an embrace from their loved one? Especially when that loved one knew they would get hurt, yet still did it.

Shoko was a master of the affection-through-hug technique, and Lee was going to put that knowledge to good use!

She held on tight, even as frost began to form on her eyelashes. Kevin could even hear her murmur,

"It's… really cold…"

"Lee, that's enough!"

Though reluctant to use force against Lee, Kevin had no choice. He quickly pushed her away.

Lee, a mere human, was no match for Kevin, the strongest MANTIS . She landed back on the bench.

But even in that brief moment, Kevin noticed frostbite forming on Lee's skin where she had touched him.

"What are you doing, Lee?! I'm taking you to the medical bay—"

"It's fine, Kevin. I'll go myself…"

Lee stood up, forcing a smile. "I heard you've been avoiding everyone because of the surgery's side effects. I wanted to tell you that you can always trust and rely on me… I knew you wouldn't agree if I just told you, so I… surprised you. Sorry."

"You'll get hurt! You're not as strong as you used to—"

Kevin stopped abruptly, but it was too late. "Lee, I mean…"

"It's alright, Kevin… You're right." Lee's expression faltered, then she shook her head sadly. "I… won't do that again."

"I'm sorry, Kevin… For everything… I'm so sorry."

Lee left, injured, but refusing Kevin's help.

As Kevin watched her go, a sense of unease settled over him—as if Lee hadn't come to help him, but to seek his help.

And he had messed it up again.

[Energy +30,000]

Excellent, another 130,000 energy~

Walking to the hospital, Lee checked her energy balance, delighted.

It wasn't just the energy, but also the smooth execution of her plan.

Useless to Mei, treated like a fragile doll by Elysia, deemed useless by Mobius, even Kevin worried she'd get hurt… Her attempt to kill the Seventh Herrscher failed, and because of the MANTIS surgery she'd suggested, Kevin had to undergo that dangerous procedure in her place. Even her offer to be a test subject was rejected because she was too weak.

It was perfectly reasonable for someone as mentally unstable as Lee to snap, right? All she needed was a catalyst… then, she would use any means necessary to become stronger—wait, any means necessary? Isn't that what Kallen did?

Whatever, I'm going to be an artificial Herrscher! The Herrscher of Flames' core is needed for Kevin's weapon, Judgment of Shamash. I'll just use the next one.

But sometimes, things happened faster than expected. Before Lee could even create a catalyst for her "breakdown", the perfect opportunity presented itself.

"Pardo…?"

In the Fire Moth dormitory, Lee stared at the disheveled little girl, her eyes wide with disbelief. "What are you doing here? And… looking like this?"

The little cat-eared girl was undoubtedly Pardofelis, whom Lee had taken in at the Twilight Street. But the Twilight Street was so far from Fire Moth HQ. How did she get here?

"Lee! Big Sis Lee!!!"

Seeing the person she'd been searching for, Pardofelis burst into tears, rushing into Lee's arms.

"Big Sis Lee, I finally found you!… Everyone… everyone's gone… the orphanage… it's gone…!"