Honkai Impact 3rd, a simulator of lifelong regret!

“I will handle it. If you are willing to trust me, I will make sure that every one of you has a day with me, that you never have to share with anyone else, and that you never have to fight for my time and love. Each of you can have a unique day that belongs to you.”

"Black holes distort time, and the closer you get to them, the slower time becomes. As the Herrscher of the Stars, as long as I can become stronger, I will definitely be able to maintain this state permanently one day. Don't worry, it definitely won't take too long."

The boy felt the simulator's start screen, which seemed to remain unchanged and eternally existing in his mind. He stared intently at the girl so close to him, slowly moving his arm as if trying to imprint his actions into those eyes, before pressing it heavily against his chest.

"Please believe me."

"—Just once."

……

Even now, Jiang Cheng still hasn't learned how to treat others seriously, or how to express his true feelings and sincerity in ways other than his actions.

His calm tone never wavered, and even his act of reaffirming his vows was unchanged for decades, making one doubt the sincerity of the young man's words and promises. Yet, Wilvi vividly sensed the sadness and sincere gratitude slowly flowing from him—she recalled the dust-covered corners of the windows, the withered leaves in the lake, and the countless untouchable raindrops on the eaves.

This is how it was when she first met the boy. The girl, who felt inferior and thought she would never be loved, gave him a gift. At a birthday party attended by countless people, she chose to give him a gift by hand.

Why is it?

Why would someone dare to do something so arrogant?

Why do you dare to make yourself the only special one?

They only chatted briefly, and he only learned that some boys were being neglected. But at that time, they had only met once, and he knew nothing. All he could see was Alicia's sincerity.

Why would someone who hates themselves and doesn't want to believe themselves easily believe the one-sided story of someone they've just met or met?

do not know……

I really can't figure it out.

She later reflected on her thoughts at the time, but couldn't find the feeling she had at that moment. It wasn't until she let those people interfere with her relationship with the boy and it was exposed on her birthday that she realized the boy, who knew everything, was still willing to give her the heaviest promise.

Perhaps it was because the loneliness the boy softly uttered at that moment gave her the illusion that she could almost touch it.

He was pulled from the unattainable protagonist of the grand gathering into the human world, into the shadows, as if he were a lonely fellow human being just like himself.

yes……

There is absolutely nothing to doubt.

"I have always believed in you."

"It has never...never changed."

……

Even though he's clearly beyond redemption, the shameless harem-building man is unable to take care of all his lovers, which is disgusting.

Even if it's not a woodcutter's knife, and even if the female protagonists are truly beautiful and kind-hearted, their final fate will inevitably be one of loneliness, self-destruction, and low self-esteem.

Just like countless times before, I was caught off guard and lost forever. My only love died in front of me, and I even received blessings/curses for a better life.

The fairy even became wary, instinctively thinking about how to stop Wilvi's words without the boy noticing.

—I don't understand why Vilvi would say that?

—I don't understand why we need to be honest about this?

Couldn't they maintain the perfect illusion of harmony in the harem, where everyone is living a good life, and present it to the young man so that he can continue to be happy?

Until the final result was revealed in those dreamy pink and blue eyes, until it seemed that she had shattered this beautiful facade, that she had destroyed this happiness, that she had brought the paradise to an end, she received the boy's most sincere promise—making Jiang Cheng smile happily.

what……

what……

what……

So that’s it.

That's it!

So that’s it! !

No wonder you're the one who's best able to stay by a young person's side.

No wonder I could never replace you in the boy's heart, no matter how hard I tried.

—Alisia bit her lip tightly, her body suddenly felt as if all her strength had been drained away, even her bones became stiff, and she could only barely sit back in the chair, her pale face flowing down her otherwise bright and lovely cheeks.

false……

Error...

The world seemed to be coated with a layer of false pretense. Even the light of dawn shining through the window, after the aftershocks of the primordial chaos had disappeared, left behind silvery-white waves as bright as moonlight, which appeared hollow.

Because of the many mistakes I've made, I've started to instinctively avoid all problems.

That's ridiculous.

I want to maintain a superficial appearance of happiness, but I am completely unwilling and unable to face difficulties.

—You reap what you sow.

That person was the one who never truly understood the boy's heart from the beginning, and who had only ever forced his own ideas onto the boy, ignoring the troubles around him and acting like an ostrich.

……

This is similar to accidentally breaking a plate. Some people will be scolded by their family members, while others will only receive care and reassurance immediately, checking whether they were frightened or whether the broken pieces cut them.

People who grow up being beaten and scolded and have never had any sense of security may even feel jealous when they see others receiving such love and care.

Why?

Why should I be the one getting beaten up?

Why should you be the one receiving attention?

I endured so much pain and paid such a high price back then, so why can you be loved like a princess in a fairy tale?

This may explain why villains in many novels become enraged when they see others living happy lives, and even take action to shatter their happiness.

This is a feeling of resentment, a sense of unfairness that comes from having personally experienced pain while witnessing others enjoy the happiness they dream of without having to suffer.

But if such a thing happened to you, making up for a regret you'd never had before would be like a gentle breeze trying to heal the wound.

what……

Again.

A boy never likes only one person.

Alicia simply chuckled as she watched the dreamlike scene unfold. "I'm reading a fairy tale now, so please allow me to watch it like a child."

……

……

……

The ending was not as satisfactory as hoped. No matter how nice the words were, it could not be denied that Jiang Cheng was not capable of giving three people the love they needed. Perhaps he had to bear heavy pressure just to satisfy one person, and even had to spend his whole life to make up for it.

But difficulties are not a reason not to do anything, nor an excuse to let things fester and watch them get worse—even though the boy never imagined he would say such things one day, not even three days ago.

The process of an ordinary person becoming extraordinary may be the process of taking on rights and obligations.

Only a life that has been restrained can truly be called human.

The boy thought he would hate responsibility, hate heavy burdens, and hate the weight of emotions that would easily cost him his entire life.

Because that would take away freedom from life, prevent people from doing what they like, and force them to consider other factors in everything they do. Even life itself would not belong solely to one's own individual.

However, the moment he saw Virvi, Alicia, and Raiden Mei, all his previous insistence turned into mere stubbornness.

Ultimately, life cannot exist in isolation. Any solitary person is simply someone who has been hurt too deeply by the world and cannot find a place to belong.

If someone truly gives love and embraces unconditionally, and affirms you no matter what happens, then even the most aloof and indifferent person will find it impossible to deny any words of separation.

A person who can be so heartless is no longer human. They have lost empathy, warmth, and a heart, and have nothing to do with humanity.

Unfortunately, the boy was an ordinary person, extremely well-behaved even among humans, and this was something that power could not change.

Now it's time to complete the first stage.

They beat Vilvi severely.

Do not……

The fact that he wanted to feel it only meant that he, as a lover, was inadequate, so the boy wouldn't cause any harm; he would only try to fill the void.

She wasn't arrogant enough to think she could solve everything on her own. This was just a resupply before the simulation, a way to soothe her playful heart while also comforting herself. She was actively creating anchor points to take root. As long as she locked her heart tightly enough and had enough lifelines to grasp, she could withstand even the simulated torrent of time.

— We're getting ready for the first step.

……

268. No...did you promise me?

The boy sat on a golden velvet bed, the thin blanket exuding an elegant fragrance and printed with a network pattern like gears.

I don't know what kind of creature's fur it was, but it was so soft that it felt like it was massaging the soles of my feet even through my socks.

The room is huge.

The crystal chandelier jingled and shimmered with a purplish-red hue.

The chairs and tables are made of rosewood and gold thread, and the dye used to stain the blue cushions is quite valuable. The silver candlesticks are filled with oil and wax mixed with incense.

Diamond combs, peacock fans, ivory tables, and luxurious bedding embroidered with lace...

It was undoubtedly a very luxurious room.

Anyone would be unhappy living here.

Especially not far away, on the other side of the bed, you can clearly feel the slight weight being pressed down, the direction in which the silk sheets sink in.

—It's Vilvi.

The genius girl changed into a silk nightgown. It wasn't as hazy as the light gauze nightgown, but it still seemed to reveal her fair skin. Her perfect curves were outlined perfectly, and when you looked closely, the color of the silk even seemed to cover her skin with a layer of gold.

Her face, devoid of any makeup, possessed a natural, captivating charm. After being praised countless times by the young man, her humble, downcast eyes transformed into confident, raised ones, making her appear as flamboyant as a great magician in a fleeting moment.