Honkai Impact 3rd, a simulator of lifelong regret!

Although the cost of this single-risk framework is that if the girl has even the slightest problem, he will absolutely not be able to stay out of it; even a gentle breeze will carry the feeling of a torrent that could tear the heavens and the earth apart.

That doesn't matter, does it?

Who in the world can hurt Alicia?

Even if humanity were to be completely destroyed one day, that fairy-like, god-like girl would not be able to suffer the slightest harm.

These wonderful days could last forever, until the stars are shattered, given the Herrscher's seemingly endless life.

—If Alicia's acting were a little better.

—If my insight weren't so sharp.

He originally didn't intend to say much, nor did he intend to give himself much time to mourn; a life without emotion cannot mourn.

To allow the girl to experience beauty once more, to try to pretend that the boy is still whole, still alive, and still able to see the world with her—that's all that this incomplete body and posture can do.

Even if it's time to put an end to everything, even if it's time to end the ongoing pain, the farewell must be done quietly without the girl's knowledge.

Leave only perfect memories, smooth out past regrets as much as possible, so that Alicia can unknowingly end the relationship that would cause her endless pain but could not be hurt, and retain the minimum amount of sadness and regret.

But obviously.

The chance is gone now.

Although not many people know about the girl now, she has witnessed the entire process of preparing for her death.

There is no time left in this world.

Out of the corner of the boy's eye, he could see the palace gradually being 'submerged'—sticky, viscous... in short, a sea that had nothing to do with normal seawater had gradually seeped into this world.

He could sense that one wall in the distance had already collapsed, and then, like dominoes falling, they were all swallowed up.

The faint power that had accompanied his footsteps and lingered over a small patch of land had seeped into this place. Due to its own weakness and inability to suppress it, it reached a critical point and began to unleash its destructive power without restraint.

This transaction and the wish itself are both abnormal. How can someone who was resurrected as a Herrscher, who brought about the calamity, possibly bring happiness?

How could Alicia, who pursues perfection and flawlessness, possibly accept her lover being resurrected in an incomplete state, without even feelings remaining?

Perhaps the initial lie contained some of this element, using self-deception to force oneself to accept the flaws and imperfections of one's lover.

If Jiang Cheng had known this from the beginning, he would have committed suicide without hesitation to avoid bringing tragedy upon himself and to avoid leaving behind memories that would worry the girl. At least at that time, death would have been the simplest and easiest.

Because in the girl's eyes at that time, his resurrection was not successful at all, so there was no need for her to face the sadness of her own death again.

Unfortunately, the realization that one is not the one expected to be realized comes only after the lie has been exposed and the journey has already reached its halfway point.

this period.

A sudden departure will only make the girl more regretful.

No matter how elaborate the method of death, it will only make the girl hate the person who caused her death, hate herself for being powerless once again, and be left to live alone in this cruel world forever with regret.

The cruelty and despair are so great that there is no possibility of redemption, because Alicia can never be resurrected after she tries to die again.

and so……

He then decided to at least complete this trip.

At least it can make up for all the regrets that may have occurred in the past.

If you can't leave before you've built up your memories, then you can only leave after you've built up your memories and have no regrets.

Although both options seem equally bad now.

It's best if you never actually revived.

But Heaven and Hell only have the obligation to be chosen.

He had no choice.

The original intention was to make the last leg of the journey as happy and precious as possible for the girl, at least as a reward for her hard work over such a long period of time.

In the end...

Still, nothing can be done.

……

"Alicia."

Jiang Cheng softly called out the girl's name, his voice as serene as if across the sea. When he opened his eyes again, they were no longer as kind as before.

The deep blue pupils, now devoid of any pretense, were as cold as celestial bodies, mercilessly scrutinizing the world, even causing the girl who had raised her head to tremble involuntarily, her eyes welling up with tears.

"You actually..."

"You weren't really that looking forward to me, were you?"

……

For the first time, embarrassment appeared on her delicate and lovely face. The slight blush that rose from her jade-like skin to her swan-like neck was not from her eyes, which were fixed on her beloved. The girl's pupils trembled slightly without her noticing, and the dreamy pink edges shimmered with an inappropriate crystalline light.

Do not……

no……

No, no ...

I never hated you!

I absolutely never didn't have any expectations for you!!

From the moment I was born, I have been longing for you, longing for Jiang...

My brain was buzzing, reason was echoing, and thoughts were constantly swirling back and forth. In an instant, the untimely chaos robbed me of all rationality.

Even the boy seemed to have forgotten that he was on the verge of death, and the lip he subconsciously bit was just to refute her, until Alicia vaguely realized that those eyes were incredibly close to her, and could even reflect her own face.

"—When you were with me, you were clearly sad."

"—Because I am not the perfect person you remember."

“You don’t need to be so sad. I’m not completely Jiang Cheng, haven’t you realized that? So why are you still sad?”

……

The sound is stuck.

It was as if a swan's neck had been tightly gripped, about to snap her delicate voice, and the pitiful, gentle sob was abruptly cut off.

My thinking is also stuck.

Even the untimely chaos seemed to be shattered by a sudden, massive hammer, leaving behind only dust that could not even be called fragments.

yes……

Have I never truly ever disliked someone?

Have I never felt dissatisfied with this imperfection?

Some things forgotten deep in memory, instinctive fears and abandoned memories, are stirred up by the boy's cold words and unconsciously rush back to his heart.

Wasn't the reason why he wanted to sacrifice himself and make up for the true nature of the boy because he couldn't accept or admit that the person in front of him who only knew how to repeat a grade and forgive himself was the complete Jiang Cheng?

If one can truly accept everything calmly, and truly has no regrets about Jiang Cheng's selfish actions, then there is no question of sacrifice, and this journey would not even happen. One would simply apologize and return to the small town with the boy, leaving the lies and the past behind, and live a peaceful and happy life.

Even now, we can seemingly stay together comfortably.

Even now, we can travel together seemingly peacefully.

Isn't it because she realized that she had no choice, that she had no power to choose at all beneath Jiang Cheng's gentle smile?

No matter how much willpower or awareness one has, no matter how long one tosses and turns in bed, even in a warm embrace, one can lose everything in an instant.

All courage and will... the already shattered heart could not support any decent resistance, and light leaked uncontrollably through the gaps between its fingers.

However, throughout this journey, Alicia chose to deceive herself each time, forgetting herself and concealing everything in her heart, as if this way she wouldn't have to face the cruel reality or endure the hardships.

But no matter how sturdy and durable the protective shield is, it will eventually have a lifespan, and no matter how tough the mountain rocks are, they will be riddled with holes under the erosion of the wind.

A dream is always a dream, and falsehood is always falsehood. The world will not stop turning just because we bury our heads in the sand like ostriches.

just now.

It’s time to wake up from the dream.

The girl instantly collapsed, her whole body trembling. Even the energy to repair her wounds became weak and powerless. She slumped limply against the boy's chest, the false light in her pupils shattered, and she was faced with the cold reality once again.

miserable.

sorrow.

Pitiful.

This pitiful and delicate appearance makes anyone in the world feel sad; the flower is wrinkled and crushed in the instant it encounters wind and rain.

……

Are you that sad?

Even after being singled out, are you still sad?

It seems that the trip wasn't just about deceiving ourselves.

and so……

Did this method of diverting the girl's grief by pointing out the truth, and making her realize her long-held beliefs, ultimately fail?

Compared to my disability, and compared to the emotions hidden in my heart being stirred up, is it still harder for Alicia to accept witnessing me leave again?

A complete life is indeed very complex.

I still can't understand this contradiction and dilemma.

Hateful yet inseparable, saddened by its existence, and saddened by its departure; whatever the outcome, it will only bring negativity.

A fairy-like girl is truly an existence that completely surpasses humans.

Even a normal person, even someone as perfect as me, would probably find it difficult to keep up with this lively, sensitive, and delicate inner world, and to follow every move.

Jiang Cheng sighed deeply, his eyes lowered, as if he was saddened by yet another wrong guess. He pulled the girl's hand away from his body, and the power of the Herrscher of the Stars bloomed from his fingertips.

"I'm sorry, I hurt you again. I should have promised you that I would always stay by your side, but I broke my promise again."