Honkai Impact 3rd, a simulator of lifelong regret!

Now, it's time for the gifts.

[When you're a bit chubby, you try your best to squeeze yourself into this box, which isn't particularly big, but at least it won't be immediately noticeable.]

It's been a bit tough.

Perhaps it's because I'm a little overweight.

Or perhaps that perfect figure simply doesn't meet the limits of normal life.

[It wasn't until he used his authority and exerted considerable effort that he managed to squeeze himself inside in a way that made it impossible to tell what was inside from the outside.]

The good news is that the interior is fairly spacious, so you won't feel cramped and uncomfortable inside.

[Actually, it doesn't matter at all; it doesn't matter how uncomfortable, narrow-minded, or painful it is.]

Even if you feel extremely uncomfortable, you'll still force yourself in without hesitation, considering it punishment for your greed and shamelessness.

[Despite committing countless wrongdoings and even orchestrating the boy's demise, turning him from a boy into a monster instead of someone who should have been in eternal slumber, despite being able to be resurrected unharmed, she selfishly turned what should have been an ordinary boy into a puppet, a broken record, and your toy.]

Now that you've been forgiven, you should atone for your sins. The most important thing you should do is choose to change everything. Don't even think about taking another step forward; you shouldn't even exist in this state anymore.

But after all courage melted away in the boy's embrace, and light streamed uncontrollably through his fingers, everything changed irrevocably.

Perhaps it was the realization that Jiangcheng was still Jiangcheng, or perhaps it was the realization that unwavering ideals ultimately couldn't compare to the existing warmth and the embrace of youth.

[Now, greed has instead arisen in your heart.]

[Wanting to win the boy's love.]

[We want this paradise to last forever.]

Imagine how you could make this moment of happiness last forever.

You just want to be able to hug the boy when you're sad and in pain, and join hands to fight against those hateful emotions and despicable enemies.

If this is greed.

【That……】

Let you be a little greedy then.

No one in this world can stop you from doing what you want; you truly have no right to choose. But at the same time, everyone has the right to dissuade you.

—I was never human.

"I am the First Herrscher."

—I am the embodiment of evil.

【so……】

You don't need to abide by human rules, nor do you need to suppress yourself or hesitate because of them. If greed is wrong, then please feel free to commit that mistake and accumulate more sins.

[Anyway, the pain is already intense enough. Everything from the past has piled up, and the emotions of regret and sorrow, intertwined with guilt for failing to save Jiangcheng, have created something unimaginable.]

You can feel as if countless needles are piercing your skin and heart every moment, teasing your exposed nerves with feathers... The act of tickling brings only a mild pain, seemingly minor but never ceasing.

Perhaps this generation will only truly end when their nerves are roused to the breaking point, and their heart, riddled with holes, finally stops beating.

Yes, I've already stopped dancing, I'm already covered in filth, I'm already beyond filth, so why bother with idle thoughts, why waste time thinking?

Anyway, you're a complete sinner now, and you can never atone for the sins you committed as a child.

Why not let you get closer?

Atonement in a more direct and simpler way.

Jiangcheng is Jiangcheng, and it will always be Jiangcheng.

You've prepared everything; now you just need to wait for this final moment.

【look.】

We've arrived.

The birthday banquet bells rang again and again. The vast palace held only the two of you. The stained-glass windows, like crystal, were painted with stained glass, and under the deliberately guided light, all their beauty was projected onto the polished floor.

Driven by Honkai energy, the servants performed one ritual after another, selecting the most fitting and magnificent melody from the records of a young and tragically deceased music master named Eden. They gently placed the piece on a vinyl record from a century ago, its notes turning gracefully, classically, and slowly… The exquisite dishes were also gradually served as the music changed.

Although the exquisite food was neglected at this moment, it was never intended to be eaten in the first place.

For the first time, you're not dancing alone. You can finally stand at the top and do what you should have done decades ago: watch the young man extend his invitation.

"Want to come together...?"

"Jiangcheng?"

Even under the white gloves, her slender fingers with distinct knuckles were still visible. Alicia's expectant eyes, the light shimmering in her colored pupils, resembled those of a shy lover inviting their dance partner on stage.

At this moment, the eyes of the entire world seemed to be focused on the boy, as if countless people were waiting for this scene to unfold through the walls.

Of course it is...

"--Okay~?"

……

The air was filled with a faint fragrance, its source unknown—whether from nature or craftsmanship—giving it a dreamlike, ethereal quality.

Jiang Cheng and Alicia locked eyes, and in the spacious palace where only the two of them existed, they began their dance without any constraints.

The feeling of interlocking fingertips and holding them tightly, with all twenty fingers connected, gives the illusion that the world is in your hands at this moment.

At least the girl's seemingly unyielding stance, the strength that even the Herrscher's body could feel slightly uncomfortable with, and the burning expression in her heart, all indicated that she was indeed embracing her one and only, her own world.

Jiang Cheng, who had never studied dance and had no memory of it, felt awkward for the first time. She could only let herself be led by Alicia, making one gorgeous dance move after another, her skirt spreading out as she spun, occasionally blocking the lights.

They can still hold hands and rotate with each other, but occasionally the girl will do a high kick and long jump, leaving the boy standing there dumbfounded.

An unprecedented experience, a somewhat dreamlike banquet...

Velvi doesn't like dancing.

At previous birthday parties, neither of the two people who were equally ostracized would be chosen to dance.

This is the only skill that is completely meaningless and useless from beginning to end, so there is no interest in learning or exploring it.

This was the first time Jiangcheng had discovered that even his past self, who was a scientist, had things he couldn't do.

At least……

This should make up for the regret.

Holding hands, they twirled gently. Jiang Cheng gazed into the colors within those pink eyes. His brief movements slowed under his keen observation, revealing a clear sense of doting, deep love, utter infatuation, and entrustment...

These are the emotions that a complete person, without any flaws, should possess, and also the emotions that an incomplete individual cannot bear.

Let's continue...

Bathed in the warm glow of the banquet lights, the atmosphere was inviting, and the boundless energy meant that the dance could only end with the next chime of the bell.

……

"clang--"

The classic bronze bell, with its stained glass reflecting extravagant patterns, elegantly heralds the birthday banquet to have reached its final prelude.

After personally presenting gifts to the hosts, enjoying a mountain of cake, and dancing to music in the center, the grand event, meant to make up for all regrets, came to a perfect close.

The luxury and exquisiteness far surpass what it once was; even the combined efforts of countless fans and supporters cannot compare to the blessings of everyone in this paradise.

The banquet was anything but perfunctory; the luxurious palace belonged only to the two of them, requiring no one else's participation or any unnecessary third wheel. Although everything here was not entirely Alicia's doing, it was indeed the reward of their pilgrimage so far, a beautiful gift from others.

With another chance given by Jiangcheng, the regret of not being able to personally deliver the gift was made up for, and the mistake of not paying close attention to him was corrected... Now, there is nothing left to do except for the final step.

After saying goodbye to the boy and leaving with a pre-planned excuse, Alicia secretly prepared a surprise to announce the end of everything. As the perfect ending, everything was ready; all she had to do was reveal everything.

Yes.

Now is the time.

Now is the chance to make amends.

No need for further thought, just be bold and do it.

In order to be able to live happily with the one I love again.

……

As the birthday banquet progressed, gazing into the boy's tender eyes, she felt her past wounds and regrets healed, and even her withered and decaying heart seemed to be reborn.

It was as if even the slightest sense of anticipation was building up layer by layer, like a kite with its wings pierced soaring into the sky once again in the face of a hurricane. Inevitably, it was propelled upwards by the force that propelled it straight into the sky, gradually climbing to a point that the person named Alicia could not bear.

Even in the past, I had never felt this way before, yet I still dared to face the cruelty of life once again after knowing everything.

So what if it's a broken kite?

As long as you go with the wind, you can also fly into the sky.

If you can climb to the highest point in the sky, there will never be a chance of falling.

That was the last chance for the fairy of paradise.

and so……

Don't be confused.

Jiangcheng, here I come.

Alicia, who had packed herself into a gift box, directed winged musical notes to pull the huge box, which slowly flew over the long carpet, which resembled a church, and followed the candlelight on both sides into the birthday banquet hall.

Jiang Cheng stood there, his right hand behind his back, gently holding a white napkin, with smears of sweet cream still on his lips.

The night dress, adorned with silver threads, fit snugly and gracefully, resembling the dome itself. It appeared dark and cold, yet it would shimmer with starlight in the midnight hour.

Shedding the armor that symbolized the Herrscher, even the gravitational celestial bodies that often surrounded her disappeared, leaving only the deep night stars that formed the backdrop of the sky. In the softest and weakest form, she stepped on the floor of the room, as if strolling through a fairy tale among the stars.

Only those deep blue starry eyes seemed to still be waiting for something, anticipating something.

Are you satisfied with this birthday party?

"Did you do everything in your power to erase all regrets?"