Honkai Impact 3rd, a simulator of lifelong regret!

They clearly hate all of this, yet when it is fully revealed, they are unwilling to bear the inevitable disaster and consequences that will follow.

The contradictory and complex nature of humanity, and the incomprehensible human heart, constitute almost all the thoughts and ideas deep within the boy's heart at this moment.

The life called human life is something that has been difficult to describe in words from the very beginning. No matter how exquisite the writing or how delicate the psychological description, it is impossible to fully analyze everything about a person.

Every impulse, every second, is merely one aspect of the long journey of life, one that can be replaced or rewritten at any moment.

Many people are prejudiced and believe that the world is gray.

They are paranoid and believe that there is absolutely no justice or evil.

They are paranoid in believing that everything can be described by one's stance.

This essence also stems from inner complexity and contradictions, from the constant affirmation and negation of everything that may arise at any moment.

Pure humans do exist.

People who remain consistent do exist.

But that purity is so rare, it's like searching for starlight in the endless radiance of sunlight.

That kind of determination and decisiveness doesn't belong to normal, ordinary people; most people spend their lives in a state of contradiction and uncertainty.

At least Jiang Cheng only considered himself an ordinary person, a mortal who couldn't even bring himself to hurt any young girl.

Whether it's Velvi or Alicia.

Regardless of the extent to which words and emotions have been brewing.

When faced with the reality of love, one might want to embrace this genuine affection while suppressing all other emotions and acting with absolute coldness.

—I can't do it.

Many people in the world have their seemingly indestructible armor crumble instantly once they are cared for or loved by others.

As long as someone is looking at you with trusting eyes, you won't detect the slightest hesitation in those eyes that may already be misty with tears.

To deny this concern and care is fundamentally impossible.

This is the most fundamental difference between ordinary people and mortals.

This is also the fundamental reason why Ying Jie is not a hero.

Only the most ruthless, heartless, and utterly ruthless madmen are often the ones who can truly be called heroes, rather than the valiant and heroic.

Only when one can choose to arrive at a destination can one easily make the cruelest and most advantageous choice for oneself, and kill countless lives without hesitation.

He could do anything, no matter how cruel or wicked; kindness was merely a negative trait to him, a tool to be used for mere posturing.

Even close friends and brothers can be killed out of suspicion, or because of the mere possibility of harming or threatening him, plunging him into utter hell.

Compared to such ruthless 'heroes' who can rise to the stage of the times, Jiang Cheng would rather be an ordinary person, an unsuccessful hero.

There's nothing left to overthink now.

The only thing to do now is to find Ellie as soon as possible.

If this drags on and the situation continues to escalate, it might lead to an outcome that no one wants to see.

……

You still can't find it.

Alicia seemed to have completely vanished from this town; she didn't exist on the streets, in the park, among the vendors, in the fountain, or in any alleyway.

No matter where you go, no matter where you are, you can't see any trace of the girl, you can't find that pink figure.

[Only at this moment, only on this day, did the girl disappear, vanishing from your world without a word.]

Strangely enough, even when faced with something you'd never encountered in your past life, you didn't feel anything unusual deep down.

It seems that in times of crisis, it's normal for Alicia to be absent; if she were to appear, it would be strange.

[Something is hard to understand.]

Why would you think that way?

Since it's not in a small town, the only possible places are probably just a few.

Option 1: This isn't anything urgent or pressing. You can stay home and wait for Alicia to return.

[Option Two: Perhaps the girl is currently somewhere in town that she wouldn't normally go. There's never been a rule in this world that the master of Paradise can't go anywhere in their own world.]

[Option 3: You can no longer tolerate this doubt, caused by someone else, and stop it from lingering and sprouting. Since you can't find the girl in town, the back mountain might be where Alicia is. The ash forest there is where you and Alicia first met.]

……

Today is the last day of the year. I wonder who you all are spending it with?

I feel like my concept of time has become much more blurred since the year of the pandemic. It feels like five years have been stolen away in just a few days, while in my memory it seems like only a few short months have passed.

Let me repeat the group name again. I feel like a lot of people have been asking about it, but it wasn't very obvious when I put it in the launch message.

There are two groups in total. One is called "Vilvie is the best in the world": 940764470.

The other one is Alicia is the best in the world: 317202547.

Some parts that couldn't be passed and had to be modified were also included, although sometimes I felt that some of the problems were really hard to understand.

I've been suffering from a recurring cold and chills lately, so my condition has been really bad, and my writing has been much less polished than before. I'm truly sorry. The upcoming storyline is a major one, and I'll try my best to write it well. It's a major event, comparable to the birthday party, the death of Velvi, and the farewell to Alicia.

Wishing you a Happy New Year!

There are pictures here, which can be viewed after the updated version

109. Alicia, how much more have you been hiding from me?

what……

Hope is shattered.

Jiang Cheng gently gritted his teeth, his eyes, which had been a deep, star-like hue, now reflected the past and memories etched deep within his mind—memories that could be described simply as the very beginning.

That was the first choice made after entering the simulator, the first action required as presented in the tutorial for beginners.

Just like before my eyes, there was almost no difference. The places I was going to were the same three places: home, town, and the woods behind the mountain.

The only change is that back then there were truly different possibilities, while now what lies before us is a dead end where three choices are actually called a consensus.

At that time, choosing to stay at home, choosing to stay in the small town, or choosing to go to the ash forest in the back mountain would have led to completely different possibilities.

The first one became withdrawn, the second became lively and cheerful, and the third was able to find Alicia, the girl who should have gone to the orphanage, and become the first person she met instead of the most diligent lady.

Differences in personality can determine the future trajectory; there is a saying that personality is the embodiment of a person's destiny.

Perhaps choosing the first two options would also allow you to see Alicia, but seeing her in the orphanage would never compare to the first person who reached out their hand.

Even without the fledgling effect, even if this so-called first place is just a meaningless title, the honor of bringing the girl into the world is enough.

At least she was the first to reach out, extending an invitation to Alicia, to the daughter of the god who fell from the stars and moon.

As for now, looking at the three options above, it seems that only the descriptions have changed, but in reality, they are still in different locations, and the same choices as before.

—A complete dead end.

Why……

Why can I see you at any other time? You are like a petal that may fall, or a gentle breeze that may blow at any moment, always accompanied by a fragrance, weaving through all of my life.

But why is it that you can never find it, only at the most crucial moment?

……

what……

what……

There is no need to think any further, no need to make any more choices.

My fingers drooped down gently for the first time, dangling on the edge of the toilet. The water dripping from the faucet that wasn't turned off properly seemed to still be splashing with a touch of coolness.

The gentle tapping of the ceramic floor reflects the luxurious nature of this elite school, where even the restrooms are designed and decorated to an extravagant degree.

The ceiling only has incandescent lights and no skylights, which avoids inconvenience when the weather is bad and also isolates it from the world.

It is neither tall nor wide; you can see the whole thing at a glance. It's not even as big as the well that the frog in the well has, at least... you can see the real sky.

What would the sky look like at the end of the school day if there were no ceiling to block it, and if there were only cold, emotionless lights?

The breathtakingly beautiful clouds transform into countless shapes, or the twinkling stars hang in the sky, as if lit up with thousands of lamps... No matter which scene it is, it can empty your mind and slow down your thoughts.

--No.

—None of them.

Jiangcheng didn't give up because he had experienced too much, or because he didn't want to make any choices, believing that any choice was meaningless.

Simply because of these three completely different branches, which seem to be the same as the first options presented after entering the simulation.

In essence...

There was simply no choice at all.

The emotions had reached an unbearable level; the pent-up emotions that had been brewing and being suppressed were completely ignited by Aponia.

It's like a pile of gunpowder laid out together. It might not seem like a problem under normal circumstances, but if it encounters even the slightest spark, this unbearable emotion will destroy the surface disguise.

Options one and two are essentially the same thing: giving up. This is no different from choosing to kneel down and pray for divine intervention when faced with a lit bomb.

Even praying for a miracle is no different; at least it's no less likely than the possibility of Alicia suddenly returning to resolve everything.

Because I have never received any help from Alicia at any crucial, needed, or necessary moment, nor have I received the slightest assistance from that girl.

Jiang Cheng had unconsciously and instinctively etched the thought that he absolutely could not rely on a young girl.

Since we don't want to give up, don't want to let things escalate, and don't want this world, even if it's fake, which is still worthy of being called happiness, to fall into ruin once again.