It Doesn't Hurt

Suddenly attacking and killing—well, killing a Herrscher—wasn't a problem for Lee. She was always prepared for a Herrscher encounter.

But for ordinary people, witnessing a seemingly human being get butchered was traumatic. Lee had shielded Rin, but the other restaurant patrons had seen everything, and were terrified. Lee silenced them, but being unable to control their bodies only amplified their fear.

Lee hadn't ordered them to stay, so they fled, emptying the once-lively restaurant in seconds.

Poor restaurant owner. No one will dare come here after this…

"Rin, sit here for a while, okay?"

Lee led the closed-eyed Rin to a seat where she couldn't see the body or the blood, then calmly contacted Fire Moth HQ. "Su, there's been a Herrscher in the Japan."

"What?!" Chairs and tables clattered on the other end of the communicator. Soon, Su's anxious voice came through. "There was no Honkai energy warning! What happened? What's the situation?"

"It's fine. I've already killed the Herrscher." Lee said casually. "But she was incredibly weak, despite having a Herrscher core. Weaker than the First Herrscher… probably just a bit stronger than an Templar-class Honkai beast. The body is still here. I'll wait for the cleanup crew. It was… a public incident, so there might be some… negative publicity."

Though the Fire Moth and the Honkai were now common knowledge, negative publicity and consequences from fighting the Honkai were always an issue. But killing a Herrscher in public for the first time was… different.

"Understood. I'll dispatch additional MANTIS . We'll manage the publicity… it shouldn't be a problem…" Su hesitated. "Lee… whatever happens, prioritize your own safety…"

Attacking the Herrscher immediately was the best way to minimize civilian casualties, but the worst for the attacker's safety.

But given Lee's personality, Su knew he couldn't persuade her. Lee's response was as expected.

"Don't worry, Su, I know what I'm doing." Lee smiled, then hung up.

"Big Sister Lee… was that person… a Herrscher?"

A timid voice came from behind her. Lee turned to see Rin, her eyes open, staring at the scene, her face pale.

"You shouldn't eavesdrop."

"I… I'm sorry…" Rin shrunk back. "I was just… worried."

The existence of Herrschers, like the Honkai, was common knowledge. The Seventh and Ninth Herrschers, who destroyed entire continents, couldn't be hidden. Herrschers had become terrifying figures, capable of silencing crying children.

Lee knew exactly what Rin was worried about.

"Don't worry, Rin. This Herrscher was strong, but your sister Sakura is stronger. The Herrscher can't hurt her."

"For now, let's wait here." Lee picked up a towel from a nearby table, calmly wiping the blood from her hands, then tossed it aside, covering the Herrscher's distorted head. "Though there's no sign of a Honkai outbreak, to be safe, I'll wait for the cleanup crew to arrive, then I'll personally escort you home."

"I see…" Though frightened, Rin's gaze kept drifting towards the Herrscher's body. "Is that person really a Herrscher? They look just like an ordinary person…"

"Yes. Herrschers look no different from humans. Perhaps it's to deceive us." Lee looked at a teacup, nonchalant. "But they're all arrogant. They see humans as insects. They wouldn't bother pretending. This one… maybe she was too weak to be arrogant?"

"Then… how did you recognize her, Big Sister Lee?"

"…" Lee didn't answer, instead looking at Rin, who instinctively lowered her head, avoiding Lee's gaze.

Though she didn't say it, Rin clearly doubted her—the Herrscher looked like a perfectly normal waiter, even politely offering to refill their tea.

Her affection level isn't high enough yet. It's only been a day, I can't blame her.

Lee sighed, dipping her pinky finger into the tea the Herrscher had poured. Soon, to Rin's horror, Lee's skin began to smoke, layers of flesh dissolving.

"I'm not sure why, but this one had abilities similar to the Sixth Herrscher, and poisoned the tea she poured."

Lee picked up a small knife, unflinchingly slicing away the corrupted flesh. "If she hadn't done that, I might not have noticed her."

But why would the Herrscher do this? Did she really think she could poison me?

Considering the public's reaction, and now Rin's, Lee had a terrifying thought…

"W-wait! What are you doing, Big Sister Lee?!"

Rin was visibly panicked, not only because of the terrifyingly poisonous tea, but also because of Lee's actions. She frantically stopped Lee, rummaging through her small bag. "I… I think I have medicine…"

"It's fine, it'll heal quickly—or rather, regenerate?" Lee calmly looked at her pinky, now reduced to bare bone. It looked gruesome, but it would be fully restored in a few minutes.

This wasn't the old "Fast Regeneration" trait, but a mechanism of her new, artificial Herrscher body. The regrown flesh wasn't traditional flesh and blood, but a hybrid material, combined with Soulium… She wasn't sure how it worked, but it was the result of the combined expertise of humanity's top three scientists. It was, in short, very impressive.

"But it still hurts!"

"…It doesn't." Lee shook her head gently.

"It hasn't hurt… in a long time."