Honkai Impact: My Power Grows When Valkyries Fall For Me — Chapter 104

Chapter 104: Let’s Go Take a Shower

As they walked into the hotel lobby, the receptionist on duty glanced up. The clerk’s gaze lingered on Lucian for a fraction of a second before they looked back down at their desk, a mask of professional indifference sliding back into place.

Lucian’s steps were already feeling unsteady, his feet strangely disconnected from the plush carpet. He wasn’t faking it; he was genuinely lightheaded. Those few glasses of red wine, chased by a shot of potent vodka, had long since overwhelmed his tolerance. The world was spinning, the elegant lobby lights blurring into a dizzying carousel.

Kiana was practically hanging off his left arm, her pretty face etched with a deep and genuine worry.

“Lucian, are you okay…?”

“I feel… a little dizzy,” Lucian admitted, rubbing his temples as he fought to keep his voice even.

A slightly awkward smile touched Kiana’s lips. As embarrassed as she felt for him, seeing Lucian in this vulnerable state stirred a powerful urge to get closer. She subconsciously tightened her grip on his arm, pressing her entire body against his side. The sudden weight caused Lucian to stumble, and he instinctively turned his head.

“Kiana?”

“It’s nothing, nothing!” she chirped, shaking her head a little too quickly. A blush bloomed across her cheeks, impossible to conceal.

Mei walked on his other side. Her pace was as composed and graceful as ever, yet a subtle, almost imperceptible pressure radiated from her. Unlike Kiana’s overt clinginess, she merely hooked her fingertips into the hem of Lucian’s sleeve, a light but possessive touch.

As the only one who could truly be called an adult in this situation, she knew exactly where this evening was headed. It was only a matter of time before certain… scenes, not suitable for younger eyes, were bound to unfold. Her first priority, therefore, was to gently coax Kiana away. Then, she would have to deal with Bronya…

And why did Bronya need to be “dealt with”? One look was all it took. The girl’s eyes, normally so cool and dispassionate, were now glued to Lucian with an almost predatory focus.

Mei clicked her tongue softly, a silent thought crossing her mind. Bronya, the one who always acts so restrained, like a miniature adult… she’s actually the most dangerous of all.

From any angle, she couldn’t allow Bronya to get her way so easily. She rather enjoyed her current status as the only one who had truly ‘tasted’ him, and she intended to maintain that monopoly for a while longer.

The elevator arrived with a soft ding.

The four of them filed inside, one after another. The narrow, enclosed space was instantly thick with a charged ambiguity, heavy with the lingering scent of alcohol.

Kiana buried her face in the crook of Lucian’s shoulder, her warm breath ghosting over his skin. “…Your body is so hot,” she whispered. “Do you have a fever?”

“I just drank too much,” Lucian’s voice was a bit hoarse, carrying the lazy drawl of intoxication. “And you’re… too close.”

As if burned, Kiana immediately bounced half a step away. But then, a moment of realization seemed to dawn on her, and she pressed right back against him, this time hanging on with even more determination.

“I have to be close to take care of you!” she declared.

Watching this unfold, a faint, knowing curve appeared at the corner of Mei’s lips. She suddenly spoke, her voice as gentle and soothing as if she were coaxing a small child.

“Kiana, I’ll take care of Lucian in a little while. Why don’t you go back to your room first?”

The atmosphere in the elevator subtly froze.

Kiana looked up, her eyes narrowing at Mei with suspicion. “…Are you trying to get rid of me?” She wrapped both arms around Lucian’s left arm, clinging to him like a territorial octopus and glaring at Mei with eyes that screamed, I won’t let you steal him.

Mei simply tilted her head, a cascade of long, violet hair sliding over her shoulder. Her expression remained one of excessive gentleness. “What are you thinking, Kiana? I’m just worried that with Lucian having had so much to drink, there won’t be anyone to look after him.”

Her tone was the picture of innocence, yet her fingertips remained firmly hooked on Lucian’s sleeve.

Bronya, who had been leaning against the elevator wall in the corner, her grey eyes half-lidded, seemed to be calculating the distribution of power among them. She suddenly spoke, her voice a half-degree softer than usual, yet possessing an obvious clarity.

“Bronya can also take care of him.”

The words were few, but they landed like a depth charge in calm waters.

Kiana’s hackles rose instantly. “You! You clearly drank the most!”

“Bronya’s bio-chip can block the effects of alcohol,” Bronya stated calmly.

Sandwiched between the three girls, Lucian felt a fresh wave of dizziness assault him, his headache intensifying. Just as he was about to say something, the elevator chimed again, stopping on the third floor. The doors slid open with a quiet hiss.

The hallway lights were dim, casting a soft, warm glow over the thick carpet that muffled their footsteps.

No one moved. The four of them stood as if frozen by a pause button.

Finally, it was Lucian who broke the silence with a sigh. “…Let’s head out first.”

Like a shot, Kiana dragged him out of the elevator as if she were hauling a prized trophy. “Let’s go, let’s go! Back to your room first!”

Mei followed behind them, her pace elegant and unhurried.

Bronya was the last to exit, casting a somewhat resentful gaze at Mei and Kiana before she, too, followed the group.

The moment Lucian’s keycard beeped and unlocked the door, Kiana was the first to rush inside, making herself at home with a familiarity that suggested she’d been there a thousand times.

“Wow… your room is so big!” She hopped onto the edge of the bed, plopped down, and gave the mattress a few experimental pats. “And the bed is softer than mine, too!”

Lucian leaned against the doorframe, a vein pulsing at his temple. “Kiana, your shoes…”

Kiana promptly kicked off her sneakers, her bare feet kicking at the air as she rolled gleefully on the large bed.

Bronya and Mei followed him into the room, closing the door behind them. In the sudden silence, the click of the lock sounded exceptionally clear.

Bronya floated over to the window and pulled back one of the heavy curtains. The London nightscape rushed in—the Tower Bridge was a brilliant spectacle of lights, and the surface of the Thames glittered like a river of scattered diamonds.

“The view is nice,” she commented softly.

Lucian rubbed his temples and sank heavily onto the sofa. “Can you guys… just let me catch my breath first?”

The words had barely left his mouth when Kiana hopped off the bed and came over, sitting directly on his lap.

“No! I’m afraid if you fall asleep now, you won’t wake up!” She cupped his face with both hands, her expression one of grave seriousness as she inspected him. “Pupils aren’t dilated… stick out your tongue and let me see!”

Lucian was speechless. Resigned to his fate, he opened his mouth.

Kiana leaned in very close, her breath a faint, delicate scent. “Hmm… no obvious smell of booze, tongue coating is normal… shouldn’t be alcohol poisoning.” She delivered her conclusion with a perfectly straight face.

Meanwhile, Mei had already walked over to the water dispenser. She filled a glass and brought it to Lucian. “Drink some water first.” Her voice was gentle, yet it held a tone that left no room for refusal.

Lucian took the glass and tilted his head back, downing most of its contents in one go. The cool liquid did wonders to dilute the alcoholic haze in his mind. He let out a long breath, leaned back against the sofa cushions, and closed his eyes to rest for a moment.

The room fell silent, filled only with the low hum of the air conditioner and the faint, distant sound of traffic from the street below.

After about ten seconds, Kiana’s voice came again, soft and tentative. “Lucian… is your head still spinning?”

“…A bit better.”

“Then…” Her voice grew even smaller, a hopeful, testing quality to it. “Can I… kiss you?”

Lucian’s eyes fluttered open. He met Kiana’s bright, earnest gaze, which was filled with a mixture of nervousness and raw expectation. He remained silent for two long seconds, then slowly closed his eyes once more.

Kiana froze, stunned. Looking at Lucian’s closed eyes and the silent permission they offered, her heart began to hammer against her ribs. She cupped his face again, her own eyelashes trembling as she slowly, carefully, leaned in.

Their breaths intertwined. The space between them vanished.

Just an instant before their lips were about to touch—

A hand pressed lightly against the back of Kiana’s neck. With the casual ease of someone plucking a kitten by its scruff, Mei lifted her backward.

“Kiana.” Mei’s voice was still gentle, but it carried an irresistible force. “Let him finish his water first.”

Kiana was completely frozen, suspended in mid-air. She slowly turned her head to look at Mei, who still wore that perfect, gentle smile. But the look in her eyes was anything but gentle. It was the naked, undisguised gaze of someone declaring their sovereignty.

Kiana was speechless. She ground her teeth in frustration. What the heck… I was clearly first…

Her limbs flailed weakly as she dangled from Mei’s grip. “Mei! Put me down!” she protested, but Mei’s hand was like a vise of unshakable grace; there was no breaking free.

Maintaining her elegant smile, Mei gently placed Kiana on a nearby armchair, even taking a moment to smooth out a wrinkle in her clothes. “Be good. Sit properly here.”

Kiana sat fuming on the chair, her legs swinging back and forth as she stared daggers at Mei, as if trying to set her on fire with her gaze alone.

Mei, however, had already turned back to Lucian. She picked up the forgotten glass of water and sat down beside him, her body naturally leaning in a little closer.

“Drink a little more?”

Lucian looked from the glass held to his lips to Mei’s face, now just inches from his own. He took the cup and managed two more sips.

Just then, Bronya walked over from the window. “Lucian.” She came to his side, her voice retaining its usual flat tone, and reached out to gently massage his temples. “This will make you feel more comfortable.”

The pressure was perfect, the positioning precise. Lucian subconsciously relaxed, a soft sigh escaping his lips.

From her armchair, Kiana’s eyes went wide. “Bronya! Since when did you learn how to give massages?!”

“Just now,” Bronya replied, her answer concise and powerful. Her hands, however, never stopped their soothing work.

Mei watched from the side, the corners of her lips curving into a subtle smile. She suddenly reached out, her hand lightly covering the back of Bronya’s. “Bronya, let me do it.”

Bronya’s movements paused. She looked up, her grey eyes meeting Mei’s violet ones. The two of them stared at each other, and for a moment, it seemed as if invisible sparks were crackling in the air between them.

That was all the opening Kiana needed. She shot up from her chair, rushed over in a few quick steps, and dove straight into Lucian’s arms, forcefully wedging herself between Mei and Bronya.

“You two are too much! I was clearly the first one!”

The impact sent Lucian’s head knocking against the back of the sofa, and he felt his temples begin to throb all over again. “Actually,” he managed, “I feel much better…”

As soon as the words left his mouth, the three girls froze simultaneously.

Kiana’s arms, still wrapped around Lucian’s waist, went rigid.

Mei’s fingers, which had been covering Bronya’s hand, tightened for a split second before she let go, nonchalantly withdrawing her hand.

Bronya’s fingertips, resting on Lucian’s temples, paused before slowly dropping away.

Lucian found himself locked by three intense gazes at once, and a sudden chill ran down his spine. He took a deep breath, trying to regain some semblance of control.

“It’s getting late,” he said, his voice pleading. “Why don’t you all… go back to your own rooms first?”

The moment he spoke, the three gazes sharpened, becoming even more piercing.

Kiana was the first to explode. “No way! I haven’t even gotten to kiss you yet!” She immediately clapped a hand over her mouth, her face turning the color of a cooked shrimp.

Mei let out a low, soft chuckle laced with mischief. “Kiana just said… she hasn’t gotten to kiss him yet?” She dragged out the last word, turning to look at Lucian with a teasing glint in her eyes.

Having been on the receiving end of that look many times, Lucian knew exactly what it meant. That was the look Mei got right before she wanted to devour him whole.

A vein throbbed in his temple. He was now seriously beginning to suspect that the vodka he’d had earlier was laced with some kind of intelligence-lowering debuff.

At that moment, Bronya spoke up, her voice at least two degrees softer than usual. “Bronya hasn’t either.”

As she spoke, she leaned forward. Her silver-grey hair fell to cover half her face, revealing a single grey eye that seemed shrouded in a light mist. Her gaze was clean and direct—so clean it felt impossible to refuse.

Lucian was at a complete loss. He had a sinking feeling that he might not make it out of this night with his sanity intact.

Just as the atmosphere was about to spiral completely out of control, Mei suddenly stood up. She elegantly smoothed her skirt, then leaned down and blew a soft, warm breath directly into Lucian’s ear.

“Let’s go,” she whispered, her voice a silken thread of sound. “Take a shower.”

Her words were quiet, but they were like a lit fuse.

Kiana shot to her feet. “Mei, you—!”

Mei didn’t answer Kiana’s accusation directly. She simply turned her body slightly to face her, the corners of her lips curling into an extremely shallow, yet incredibly aggressive, arc.

“Lucian is covered in the smell of alcohol and sweat. It’s sticky and very uncomfortable.” She spoke as if stating the most obvious fact in the world. “I just want to help him get clean, that’s all.”

Her justification was so natural, so reasonable, that it left Kiana fuming, her chest heaving with indignation. Even the tips of her silver-white hair seemed to tremble with rage.

“You… you’re clearly doing this on purpose! You want to take advantage while we’re not around…”

Before she could finish, Mei interrupted her again, her voice even softer than before. “Kiana. Didn’t you want to kiss him just now, too?”

Kiana’s face was so red it looked like it might actually start dripping blood. She could only point a trembling finger at Mei, unable to form a coherent sentence.

Then, Bronya moved.

She silently walked to Lucian’s side. Her slender fingers lightly gripped the hem of his sleeve as she stated, in her perfectly flat voice:

“Bronya wants to wash together too.”