In this world, there exists a multiverse entity rooted in the Sea of Quanta, known as the Imaginary Tree.
Time flows along the trunk of the Imaginary Tree, branching out into infinite worlds, much like a crown.
Each branch nurtures a world. Most of these worlds are Imaginary Spaces, but occasionally, Real Number Spaces teeming with life will be born.
Drawing its power from civilization, the Imaginary Tree is in a constant battle with the Sea of Quanta it is rooted in, seeking to devour it completely.
The Sea of Quanta, likewise, seeks to dissolve the Imaginary Tree.
In this competition, the Imaginary Tree, in order to consolidate its power, gave birth to a mechanism for filtering and correcting the developmental direction of its branches.
That mechanism is the Honkai.
The Honkai exists as a backdrop to the world, born alongside civilization. The more human civilization develops, the stronger the will of the Honkai becomes.
As a subordinate of the Imaginary Tree, these Honkai Consciousnesses—each civilization corresponding to its own, meaning there are a great many—are given the mission of testing civilizations.
To curb the continued development of these civilizations, the Honkai Consciousness created the "Herrschers."
And to ensure that Herrschers, who are born from humanity, are willing to act as its enforcers, the Honkai Consciousness often floods their minds with negative emotions, causing them to darken or develop second personalities.
As the Second Herrscher, Sirin was no exception.
She has two personalities.
The human personality—Paramecium.
The Herrscher personality—Pufferfish.
---o---
"Are you asking about my other self?"
Miss Paramecium, who hadn't felt the presence of her other self for a long time, furrowed her delicate brows slightly.
"She... hasn't woken up yet."
After saying this, Miss Paramecium's gaze toward a certain someone became rather complicated.
Because of the repeated beatdowns she had suffered from Fenghuang Down and Jizo Mitama, her second personality—the Pufferfish personality—had long been in a state of stupor, never once waking up.
Hasn't woken up?
Li Zihan narrowed his eyes.
Really?
If he remembered correctly, back in the world of Campione!, Sirin the Herrscher had clearly made an appearance due to the Paramecium's emotional turmoil when he kissed Kuro.
Although at that time, the Paramecium had been cuckolded right in front of her eyes, causing her emotions to go a little wild.
But the key point was, if she could be awakened by emotional fluctuations, it proved that she had already begun to regain her self-awareness.
At that moment, the boy who had used Bites the Dust narrowed his eyes.
In the time that followed, he had slaughtered a batch of gods and then fought his way through the entirety of FGO 1.0.
For her to have not returned to normal after such a long time... something was definitely not right.
---o---
"Well, I guess it can't be helped then."
The boy, who had probably figured a few things out, stood up from behind his desk and stretched.
"Since she's not around, we'll talk about that matter in a few days."
"What matter?"
Feeling as if that person had something important to say, Sirin frowned. She hesitated for a moment before taking a step toward him and grabbing his arm.
"It was about discussing where we should get married and how we'll build our family."
The boy, whose real intention had been to discuss the Second Eruption, turned his head to gaze into the girl's one blue and one gold eye, his expression utterly serious.
"E-Eh—"
As if startled, a captivating blush spread across Miss Sirin's face, and she let out a cry of surprise.
"Is it strange?" the boy asked, looking at the girl who had always been so attached to him as if he were seeing something unbelievable. "The preparations for the wedding with Mei are already underway. It's time to start preparing for our wedding too, isn't it?"
"A-Ah Li, wh-what are you talking about!"
Miss Paramecium, who had previously been thinking about just letting this scumbag off the hook and freeloading at his and Mei's house in the future, began to stammer.
"We met, got to know each other, and fell in love. The next step is to walk down the aisle, get married, and have children, right?"
The boy, whose common sense had always been different from that of ordinary people, spoke with unprecedented seriousness.
"Though, it sounds quite scummy to say this."
"But I still want to say it. What I want isn't just a girl's youth and love, but also the warmth and tranquility of life after marriage."
The boy walked naturally to the girl's side and spoke his true feelings to his lover.
"Someone once said that love is when you feel a pleasant night is all too short, while I long for a distant future with you."
"I don't know who said that, but when I'm holding you, I've prolonged the time more than a few times. So, have you ever felt that 'the night is fleeting'?"
The boy chuckled softly, questioning his lover.
His words caused the girl's heart to accelerate to its absolute limit.
As if bathed in the glow of a sunset, the girl's fair and delicate face turned almost completely red.
"Wh-Who would feel that the night is fleeting!"
"How could I possibly have that kind of feeling?"
The girl, whose every heartbeat was heard by the boy, stomped her foot, looking a little flustered and exasperated.
"Ah Li, you just prolong the time because you want to try more tricks!"
"While it's a happy thing to make a girl let out sweet, melodious cries for me, being held by her and watched with a look of loving attachment is also wonderful."
"That sense of security, that simple and peaceful happiness... it's truly beautiful."
The boy's smile grew more roguish as he looked at the girl who belonged to him, yet the light in his eyes grew softer.
"I imagine you're quite happy when I'm holding you in my arms, too."
The girl's gaze drifted away. Compared to having her body meticulously explored, to being completely possessed, to the feeling of her life becoming whole, she actually preferred the sense of security that came from cuddling with her lover afterward.
She loved that feeling.
She loved it very much. Every time it ended, she wished that moment could last forever.
"See? Isn't the answer already obvious?" said the boy, who had already read everything he needed to know from the girl's face.
"I love you, and you love me. Is it so strange that I want to make a vow to spend the rest of my life with you?"
"..."
"You bastard, Ah Li! How many girls have you said that to? Why are you so damn smooth?!"
As if throwing a tantrum, the girl pounded her fists against the bastard's chest.
"Who knows about that kind of thing."
A roguish smile, typical of a playboy, appeared on the boy's face.
Despite that, his eyes were filled with sincerity.
"Then let this be the vow. I swear upon my soul, and I will carve it all upon my 'Principle'."
"From this day forward, if you do not leave, I will not forsake you."
Author's Note:
PS: Trying to write some slick lines.