The Infinite Journey of a Certain Flame

"I don't understand what you mean..."

After a long and intermittent journey, Kiana finally returned to her residence.

She handed Aqua over to Megumin and the female knight Darkness, then turned around and waved to Kazuma, who was yawning and came out to greet her:

"Captain, and you two, goodbye."

"what?"

Megumin and Darkness both said in unison that they didn't understand what Kiana meant by goodbye.

However, just as the two were about to ask a question, Kazuma, who had been somewhat dazed, suddenly clapped his hands.

"Oh! Goodbye!"

Huihui and Darkness found his decisiveness somewhat unbelievable.

"Hey! Kazuma, what exactly are you...?"

"Alright, alright, stop talking nonsense and carry this idiot inside."

Kazuma, unusually, crossed his arms and struck a serious pose, adopting the demeanor of a team leader.

Seeing this, the two hesitated for a moment, but finally nodded helplessly.

He helped Akya into the house.

"Phew, let's have a drink sometime."

After seeing the two women off, Kazuma turned around and said the following to Kiana.

"After all, I'm the captain, not just a temporary member."

"Hehe, it's a pity I don't like drinking. Goodbye."

After Kiana finished speaking, she waved to Kazuma, Megumin who had her back to her, and Darkness.

Then he turned and disappeared into the vast darkness...

It's hard to believe that that carefree, irresponsible man could actually be of even the slightest use.

"Me too. I thought he would ask the same question, but... he seems to have a lot of opinions."

While dealing with the system, Kiana headed towards Wiz's shop.

But mid-flight, the system revealed its hand.

[Host, do you insist on going back to see them?]

"Correct."

"Alright then, but you have to promise me one thing."

"You... finally agreed? That's great! Uh, but what are the conditions?"

Amidst the howling wind, the system revealed its conditions.

Kiana was immediately displeased by this strange request.

"You want me to hide my identity? Why! I don't want to!"

Then there's nothing I can do.

"You're absolutely unreasonable!"

"Hey, don't be stubborn, host. You're different from them now."

After the system finished speaking, it fell silent, clearly indicating that this was an ultimatum.

If they agree, they'll probably make corresponding concessions, right?

It has to be said, this is truly a difficult decision to make...

"If I hide my identity, I can see Mei and the others, but if I hide my identity, what am I going back for... um! But I really want to go back..."

With these worries in mind, Kiana flew swiftly through the night sky and soon arrived at Wiz's shop.

Right now, the shop is decorated with cute ornaments, creating a thriving scene.

Seeing this, Kiana scratched the back of her head, beginning to wonder whether it was run by a high-ranking officer of the Demon King's army or by that reclusive great magician...

The reason for this change ultimately stems from this cadre...

I recently hired an amazing assistant.

"Ta-da! Welcome—it's you? Wiz, welcome."

Having already undergone physical reconstruction, Barnier, dressed in an apron and acting as if nothing had happened, closed the shop door without a word upon seeing the visitor.

Clearly, although he and Kiana put on a great show of deception, he did not want to have any further interaction with her.

This is somewhat upsetting!

Without much hesitation, Kiana kicked open the shop door and then had a friendly discussion with the two Demon King's officers inside.

After the negotiations ended, Barner, sporting a large bag on his head, knelt on the ground, muttering to himself in bewilderment:

"Why do I have to do this again..."

"Phew, long time no see Barnier, and Wiz too."

Wiz, who was watching from behind a cabinet, was so frightened that he trembled all over.

"Uh...it wasn't actually that long..."

"Hehe, it's been a long time for me. Whew, I just came here to say goodbye to you two. See you later."

Kiana waved her hand after speaking, and then mentally agreed to the system's request.

After venting her anger on the seemingly invincible demon Barnell, she felt that the system must have its reasons.

Perhaps it has something to do with fate?

In short, it's time to go back and see Mei and the others.

"I wonder how everyone is doing these days, I hope they're all alright..."

With these doubts in mind, Kiana, under the watchful eyes of two demon army officers...

Disappeared...

Why is everyone different now? (Post-Honkai Odyssey): Chapter 1 Bronya? Why have you grown so big?!

The journey from one world to another is fleeting, without any passageways or tunnels; it is merely a single instant.

In the blink of an eye, the journey across the world came to an end.

Kiana sat up from the dilapidated wooden plank, looking around with a puzzled expression. The scene around her felt strangely unfamiliar; the world she remembered shouldn't be like this.

"Strange, I thought it would appear on the battlefield."

She slowly stood up from the ground, then shook her groggy head, her consciousness gradually becoming clearer.

Even as her consciousness gradually cleared, Kiana realized a rather serious problem.

That means... I still don't have any memories of the past.

It was precisely because of this gap that she could say she had no feeling or memory of the scene before her.

Why am I here?

What are the system's true intentions?

All these questions left Kiana at a loss for what to do.

She slowly turned her head and looked at the still water surface. At this moment, the fish in the water were frozen in a strange way.

Clearly, the journey around the world has not yet begun at this moment.

Everything is still in a state of stillness; in short, time has not yet flowed.

"After being transferred to the destination, we didn't even start immediately? It seems that returning to my own world is indeed different... But what?"

Kiana looked around and felt bored because the place was deserted. She wished she could ask someone for directions or find out what was going on.

But now that you're back, why not ask for too much?

Thinking of this, Kiana kicked her legs, then looked around and began to communicate with the system in her mind.

"System, why did you put me here?"

[Host, do you not like it here?]

Not good? Uh... it's not so bad, it's quite safe, it's just that this place is not my final destination.

Kiana pondered for a moment and began to consider the system's good intentions.

Could it be that the system deliberately chose this location? Or did it assume this place was safe, which is why it chose this location as its initial location?

In short, before starting your trip...

[As is customary, make a wish, host.]

As expected, the system proactively mentioned...

Having realized this, Kiana began to ponder her wish.

You know, ever since I got the Staff of Miracles, I've caused quite a few troubles because of this treasure, although it did work in some cases.

However, the uncertainties that lead to these desires ultimately result in far too many variables.

Kiana still doesn't understand why the system asked her to make a wish.

Perhaps this actually means that it is not able to fully control itself?

In short...

Kiana pondered and racked her brains, and finally a hypothesis emerged in her mind.

Can I ask a trustworthy travel companion to join me on the trip?

"I make a wish, System, reveal yourself!"

[...Don't make wishes, you idiot! I don't have a physical form, so no matter how much you want it, it's impossible for me to do it!]

Unusually, the system panicked when faced with its own suggestion.