I've already said this isn't a life simulator!

click-

Wielding a blade as thin as ice, it stirs up gusts of wind and snow, freezing the seawater and creating a stretch of ice where one can stand.

After slaying the Honkai Beast that broke through the ice, leaving its remaining body on the ice surface, the cherry-colored beast-eared girl habitually brandished her sword before sheathing it.

"Quickly, pack your things up, it's about to sink!"

Behind them, countless fire-chasing moths were busy on the ice, trying their best to salvage the remaining data and debris.

The destruction and sinking of the Mu Continent dealt a heavy blow to humanity. While industrial capacity could be restored elsewhere, the original scientific research achievements were too difficult to salvage. Too much data sank into the sea, and even more was directly swallowed and torn apart by that "black sun." People could only barely piece together everything from the remaining fragments.

Since then, a shadow has fallen over the entire human society... but even so, they must take action to prevent the situation from getting worse.

But all of that was too far off for Sakura, and not something she should be thinking about.

"........."

Sakura gazed at the frozen ice and listened to the distant sound of the waves, remaining silent for a long time.

Her slender ears repeatedly tried to droop in accordance with her mood, but she forcibly stopped them, keeping them straight as usual. Her cherry-colored hair swayed gently in the cold wind, carrying a faint floral fragrance.

She gripped the blade at her waist tightly, taking several steps, wanting to leave, wanting to search for that aura on the sea, but in the end, she did not leave. Her hand holding the blade hung on the hilt as if it had lost all strength, and the aura emanating from her body became fragile in an instant, like a cherry blossom about to wither in the cold wind.

click-

The Honkai Beast hidden beneath the ice seized the moment when her aura weakened, smashed through the ice, and attacked her.

But what awaited it was nothing more than a fleeting glimpse of icy blue.

thump.

Silently repeating the actions of sheathing and wielding her sword, Sakura silently fulfilled her duty as the remains of the Honkai Beast lay on the ice, waiting for others to come forward, seal them away, and take them away.

After a while, the soldiers behind her informed her that the surrounding wreckage had been salvaged and that they should leave.

"it is good."

Sakura nodded and watched them board the aircraft. Only when the aircraft was obscured by clouds did she look away—she did not leave with the group.

She slowly drew her sword, the wind and snow enveloping her, freezing the sea surface. She walked on the ice, slaying the Honkai Beasts that kept breaking through the ice, as she headed towards the next designated location.

Even now that she is all alone, the calm expression on her face has not changed, and the beast ears on her head have not moved.

Upon arriving at the next location, the mission process of "slaying Honkai Beasts, protecting personnel, and waiting for the salvage operation to end" was repeated. This process continued until everything was over, until the Moth of Fire informed her that it was time to go back.

Is it over yet?

It was only then that Sakura realized, somewhat dazed, that she had been on the sea for seven days straight.

For seven days, she fought tirelessly, maintained the ice surface, and repeated the task of "guarding the salvage personnel." Apart from eating, she barely rested.

However, none of them could sense any familiar presence in the sea, and their companions could not send any corresponding messages.

"........."

Sakura stood on the ice for a long time without moving. Even though the soldiers on the aircraft behind her urged her repeatedly, she seemed not to hear them. She even took stiff steps forward, as if she was going to continue to the next mission location.

"cherry."

Alicia grabbed Sakura, forcibly stopping her movements.

"Should we go back now?"

Seeing Sakura turn to look at her, Alicia spoke softly.

"...Ah, is it over? Alicia."

Sakura seemed to only come to her senses at this moment, and said with a slight apology.

"Sorry, I got a little distracted."

He turned around and walked slowly toward the aircraft, as if he were lingering and waiting for something.

But even after she boarded the aircraft and it soared into the sky and leaped into the clouds, the "miracle" she had envisioned did not happen.

"........."

Sakura slowly withdrew her gaze from the sea surface, ignoring the ice that had been shattered into fragments by the Honkai Beasts.

Back at the base, Sakura ran into Kevin, who had also returned, and stopped in her tracks.

"........."

She looked at Kevin, waiting for his answer.

Kevin, however, shook his head slightly in silence, his lowered eyelids revealing deep weariness—like Sakura, he had persisted on the sea for seven consecutive days, but had also gained nothing.

Next, Kevin will also face accountability from the Moth of Fire.

His spine was unusually straight, and he no longer possessed the aura of a warrior... as if something was pressing down on him, heavy and unyielding.

"........."

Sakura simply nodded silently in response, and then continued walking towards home.

But her steps seemed even heavier and more weary.

Standing at her front door, she adjusted her expression slightly and gave a smile, but it looked a little stiff because she was too tired. She patted her face to make her expression look more natural before pushing the door open and going inside.

First, she washed herself up, then absentmindedly prepared dinner. She and Rin ate dinner in silence. Late at night, she also sent Rin to her own room under the pretext that "a grown-up girl should sleep alone."

Click.

She went into her room, closed the door, and was finally all alone.

The beast ears on its head lost their support and drooped limply, and its hands also hung limply at its sides.

She moved her feet little by little, struggling to reach her bedside, and then collapsed onto the bed, exhausted.

She tilted her head slightly, using the soft pillow to wipe away the tears that involuntarily welled up in her eyes. She slowly raised her hand and gently pressed the cherry blossom pendant that she had never taken off. Her fingertips rubbed it lightly, and she hesitated for a long time before turning it on.

The bell was still next door, and she was afraid she would burst into tears.

"You're still here, right?"

She whispered softly.

An accumulated weariness surged up and overwhelmed her.

Chapter 40 Friendly Honkai Beasts?

You wake up to find yourself surrounded by the pitch-black depths of the sea and the constant flow of water around you.

You feel as if you are bound to some entity, and being carried by it as it rapidly swims through the deep sea.

[This should be a Honkai Beast that belongs only to the "ocean," because it is bound by water.]

[You tried to manipulate the seawater to break free from your restraints, but the moment you did, the Honkai Beast that was carrying you stopped, as if it had sensed your movements.]

Your body tensed instantly, preparing for battle, your fingers instinctively clenching into a knife-like shape... Hmm? Your hands?

[You were momentarily surprised that half of your body had actually recovered... No, no, no, this couldn't be explained by the "self-healing ability of a fusion warrior," could it?]

[But considering Möbius's ability to even "come back to life," and the fact that you are in the ocean, full of water, it seems not impossible that you could eventually recover? Moreover, you haven't been negatively affected by "Gabriel's" genes, and you still retain your consciousness and human body, even though you can breathe underwater and move under the immense pressure of the deep sea...]

[The combat suit is completely gone, but you can solve this minor, slightly embarrassing problem by covering your entire body with the azure "water" you created.]

Although something feels off, it's a good thing overall, after all... you did survive.

[You are alive and conscious, and that is enough.]

[As for the present situation, after discovering that you had awakened, the seawater that had been binding you slowly began to recede, and in an instant you chose to move away from the Honkai Beast and manipulated the water flow to attack it.]

After several attempts to attack it, you found it ineffective. The water would be reversed and controlled by it when you got close, then disperse and turn into ordinary seawater. So you gave up this useless behavior and instead relied on your sense of water to figure out what it looked like.

Judging from its shape, it should be a "fish-shaped" Honkai Beast, with only two colors on its body, one on its abdomen and one on its back, and two patches on either side of its head that are the same color as its abdomen. Moreover, the difference between the two colors is very large... Hmm?

Suddenly, you recall the corresponding marine creature from your memory... Isn't that an orca?

Moreover, as a Honkai Beast... it has largely retained its original form as an orca, with almost no other abnormalities except for its increased size.

[Oh wait... orcas shouldn't live in the dark depths of the ocean, so this is still a bit unusual.]

[Furthermore, it had the remains of a Honkai Beast in its mouth... What's this? Honkai Beast infighting? It doesn't seem like it... And there are signs of gnawing on the remains, as if it was its food... Do Honkai Beasts in the ocean still need to follow the food chain to hunt?]

Just as you sensed it through the water flow, it was also sensing you through the water flow. After realizing that you neither immediately fled nor continued to attack, it let out a soft, clear chirp, sounding somewhat like a whistle.

[However, its sudden action still makes you tense up instantly. After all, the ocean is a forbidden zone, and the Honkai Beasts here are not only numerous but also dangerous... The Honkai Beasts that climbed ashore back then left many people with psychological trauma. How many Honkai Beasts are there in the depths of the ocean... It's really hard to imagine.]

However, you didn't attack it again, but instead adopted a wary posture because you sensed the friendly sentiment it was conveying.

[Thinking about it carefully, it makes sense. Back then, you were treated as one of the "same kind" by the Honkai Beast, and it didn't even attack you. Moreover, even if it wanted to attack you, it could have just bitten you to death while you were unconscious, without having to wait until you woke up now.]

[…What is this? I was saved by a Honkai Beast? Was it because it was mistaken for a "comrade"?]

[You glanced at the Honkai Beast remains it was carrying in its mouth and refuted this viewpoint.]

[“Eek—” Perhaps because it hadn’t reacted to you for a long time, it swam around you halfway, emitting a clear chirp, conveying a sense of inquiry and concern.]

[You ignored it; you're currently pondering how to deal with it... Logically speaking, as a Fusion Warrior encountering a Honkai Beast, you should attack it without hesitation, eliminating it for the reasons of "destroying the Honkai" and "human civilization"... Isn't that the obvious thing to do?]

[But you don't really want to kill it right now... Partly because you're too weak, probably because you were trying to "restore half of your body" earlier, and the other thing also has the ability to control water, so it's hard to say who would win if you actually fought it.]

On the other hand... given the current situation, it's possible it saved you. Even if it didn't, it certainly showed you kindness, and you can't do anything about something that helped you.

Your expression shifted several times; you seemed ready to attack, but hesitated... Finally, you sighed and gave up.

[Rather than dealing with the Honkai Beasts, your priority now is to survive and return to them... I don't know how much time has passed, I hope you haven't worried them too much.]

As for it... just this once, only this once... hmm?

Just as you were thinking about what to do next, you noticed it cautiously approaching you. You moved away slightly, and it seemed startled by your movement, quickly stopping, letting out a soft cry, and flicking its massive tail fin twice, conveying an apologetic expression.

Then, it threw out the remains of the Honkai Beast from its mouth, manipulated the seawater, and gently pushed it in front of you.

[...You don't quite understand what it means]

Seeing that you didn't move, it manipulated the seawater again, cutting off a small piece of the Honkai Beast's remains, then rolled it back to its mouth and swallowed it whole, seemingly indicating what the remains were for. Afterward, it swam around you, radiating anticipation, as if hoping you would accept this "food."

It doesn't seem worried that you won't be aware of its actions... which is understandable, since you both have the ability to manipulate seawater, and relying on your sense of water, you can easily "see" each other's movements.

It seems it sees you as one of its own kind? Or perhaps... some kind of friendly entity?

[Because you always felt that the way it threw this Honkai Beast wreckage to you...it felt a bit like "feeding a small animal"...there's no particular reason, you just had this feeling.]

You were speechless for a moment, then turned and manipulated the seawater, moving it towards the surface... As for the remains, what was he going to do with them? Was he really going to eat them?