[★ Feat Achieved! Get Raiden Mei's contact number!]
[You gained x1 Random Silver Ticket!]
Despite seeing someone who clearly wasn't her father come and pick her up in a black sedan, I wasn't relieved just yet. It was too early for that. Unless I was able to show solid proof that Raiden Ryoma had been falsely framed by a third party, precautions were still necessary.
I hadn't forgotten that most Herrschers share one thing in common during their awakening: an extreme emotional breakdown, and in some rare cases, a deep-seated hatred for the world. These vulnerable people become the perfect vessels for the Honkai to take advantage of.
Sirin was the best example of that.
{Who was that? A distant relative?}
It only took a few seconds for her reply to come in. I let out a sigh when I read her message.
{Yes. It was my father's distant cousin. I had met them during family gatherings before.}
When I learned her father's assets were frozen, I had been worried she wouldn't even have a roof over her head. I had even considered bringing her home with me without thinking about the significance of such an action.
Thankfully, I didn't have to step in.
Looking at the fleeting scenery while sitting in the backseat of the bus, I immediately decided to use the silver ticket I had just gained without a second thought.
What was the point of saving them when I could hit big and become Saitama? Of course, the chances were low, but it wasn't zero.
[Rolling the Random Silver Gacha.]
[Drunk Driver]
|Trash Trait|
"It's the drunk crashers that give drunk drivers a bad name." The more inebriated you are, the more skilled you are at driving and operating vehicles.
...I am never driving any vehicle under the influence in the near future.
Joking aside, I knew it was labeled a trash trait, and the name was self-explanatory. However, why did the description seem to heavily imply I needed to be insanely drunk if I wanted to be the Street God? Was it mocking me?
If I were to get my driver's license in a couple of years, would this trait ruin my chances? No wonder it's a trash trait! What an absolute jinx!
I guess my goddess luck had gone dormant once again. It wasn't surprising, considering my last few rolls had been nothing but banger after banger.
Before long, the bus arrived at my stop, so I got off and took a slow walk toward my home. I looked down at my phone at a recent message from Mei saying she was about to take a bath.
That's right, I had been messaging her ever since we exchanged contacts. It wasn't just because I wanted to know her better beyond the knowledge from the game.
I also hoped this back-and-forth would keep her mind from straying down the wrong path. I had seen what depression does to people close to me, so I didn't want the same thing to happen to her.
From the texts I was getting from her, it didn't seem like she was on the path of no return just yet. That didn't change the fact that the news had hit her hard, especially since she had just lost her mother a few years ago too. Right now, it wouldn't be surprising if she felt like she was all alone in this world.
If keeping her company could stop Mei from descending into the abyss, then it was all worth it.
I also knew this kind of thing happened for a reason. What if Mei wasn't the exact cause of the outbreak, and my intervention ended up resulting in someone else taking her spot?
That would be the worst-case scenario.
Raiden Mei IS the Herrscher of Thunder. In the near future, that destiny will lead her to become a support pillar for Kiana as she embraces the Cocoon of Finality as the Herrscher of Origin.
If she didn't become the Herrscher she was meant to be, what would happen to the Elysian Realm?
Before I knew it, I had stepped inside the house and locked the door behind me. After taking a quick shower to freshen my mind and soul, I finally checked my phone again while sitting on the edge of my bed, drying my wet hair with one hand.
{I'm going to bed early today. You should too, it's good for your health. Good night, Haru-san. And... thank you.}
{Good night, Mei. And no need for thanks. I'm just doing what a friend should do, annoying you every day until you simply grow bored of me. Ah, but I also accept online payments if that's your preference.}
The corners of my lips curled up as I reread my message before tapping send. Why, yes. I do have a sense of humor. Thank you very much.
{...Where do I unsubscribe from this service? I'm starting to regret my decision to become your friend.}
A chuckle escaped my mouth when I read her witty reply. As a veteran keyboard warrior from the Tiger Country, how could I admit defeat here?
{Too late, Ma'am. It states here that you have signed an agreement to be my eternal friend, and... gasp. What do I see here? The punishment for breaking the contract is...}
I hit send, stood up, and hung the wet towel I had used to dry my hair over the hook on the door. Just then, I heard a notification chime from my flip phone.
{Is what? Finish your sentence! Wait a minute, is this your way of holding my sleep hostage? Also, I don't remember signing any contract. You will have to speak to my lawyer. FYI, forged documents are illegal, you know? I will sue you to kingdom come.}
My counterattack was simple.
{Nerd.}
Sometimes, my genius is almost frightening.
[★ Feat Achieved! Triggered Raiden Mei Through Banter!]
[You gained x1 Random Silver Ticket!]
...Do I have to watch my back tomorrow? But it's Mei, after all. She isn't the type to hold a grudge, right? Right?