Honkai Impact 3rd: The Girl Who Chases the Flame

Honkai Impact 3rd: The Girl Who Chases the Flame - Author: Nega Nebulus

Summary:

"Little white mouse, why did you come to my lab?!" (Excited)

"Because the pay is low, the wages are meager, the workload is heavy, and there have been scandals involving employee deaths and human experimentation." (Seriously)

"...Masochist?"

— "Infinite" Möbius

"Hi, are you the rumored problem rookie? I'm Alicia, the deputy leader of the Thirteen Heroes. What do you want to talk to me about?"

—Alicia, the “True Self”

“Those eyes are already dead. I don’t understand why you joined the Moth of Fire, but I can’t refuse Mei’s decision. You… are already trapped in a cage.”

——"Savior" Kevin

“Family, love, longing, desire... that guy had nothing, like a delicate doll, which made people feel irritated.”

— "Destroying" a Thousand Calamities

People call hell "the human world" and greed "hope." They always disdain silent anger, but are particularly fond of justifiable cruelty.

There is no hope in this world, just like a moth chasing a flame, only when it is burned itself does it realize where it has entered.

I am like a moth chasing a flame.

— Meltina, the "Purgatory"

Chapter One: Problem Children

Ten years later

Australian University of Metis

"Doctor, is it really possible that someone will join our lab...?"

Standing at the recruitment site of "Mébius Laboratory", Cang Xuan had a hesitant expression on his face.

Aside from their lab, all the other labs were surrounded by crowds, with students scrambling to get in, but their Möbius Lab was avoided like the plague by the students.

Of course, this doesn't mean that Dr. Möbius wasn't famous; quite the opposite...

She was so famous that, as a scientist who had always been at the forefront of scientific research, Möbius's name was known to everyone in the world.

but……

Her reputation was more infamous than renowned.

"Never go to the Möbius Labs!"

This statement has become a consensus among almost all universities.

"that……"

A faint sound rang out.

"That's why I said before, PhD, let's not come to universities to recruit people, it's too awkward..."

Cang Xuan pressed his forehead and looked at Möbius, who was looking around with great interest.

"Quiet down, that boy over there..."

Mebius saw a tall, handsome man in the distance and licked his lips.

"She'd be perfect as a test subject for this experiment..."

"Alas!!"

As if sensing something, the boy suddenly shivered and turned around to see the "legendary" Dr. Mebius giving him a very "bright" smile.

"Wa ...

Before Mebius could say anything, the boy stumbled and ran away as if he had seen a monstrous flood.

Upon seeing this scene, the crowd, who should have been surprised, reacted unusually calmly, with many showing sympathy and understanding.

"it's a pity."

Seeing this, Mebius looked away and shrugged.

"Doctor...you do have some self-awareness."

Cang Xuan's expression grew even more bitter.

"that……"

The voice that had been ignored at the beginning rang out again.

"kindness?"

Mebius paused for a moment, then looked down, only to have his view blocked by her chest. He instinctively took a half step back before he saw a petite girl standing there.

Black hair, black eyes, unusually fair skin, and a habitual rightward glance that gives off an inexplicable sense of distance.

"you are?"

Mebius bent down, looked into the girl's eyes, and asked.

"I am Melutina, a biologist..."

Melutina wasn't used to this kind of eye contact, but she didn't avoid it.

"I want to join the Möbius Laboratory."

"what?!"

Cang Xuan's eyes widened, and he trembled twice on the spot.

"Young man...you...you're still young, try to think more positively..."

"...Young lady, I only accept doctoral students~"

Ignoring Cangxuan's rambling remarks, Möbius surprisingly stated with "common sense" that he only accepts students with a certain academic foundation.

"I am."

Melutina handed over the documents she had been holding.

"Hmm... Let me see, Melutina, sixteen years old, a student of Professor XXX at XXXX University, has already obtained a doctoral degree, and has published papers including XXXXXX, XXXXX..."

After carefully reading Melutina's information, Möbius tilted his head in thought for a moment, then handed the information to Cang Xuan beside him and asked,

"Little mouse, why did you join my lab?"

After receiving the documents and confirming that they were correct, Cang Xuan gasped in shock.

Based on her resume and age, this girl is definitely a top student among top students, fully qualified to apply to any company or research institute in the world, but she actually wants to join... Möbius Lab?

"Because I heard that the treatment here is poor, the wages are low, the workload is heavy, and there have been scandals involving employee deaths and human experiments."

In response to Mebius's question, Melutina replied with a serious expression.

"...Masochist?"

Cang Xuan almost dropped the documents in his hand, and couldn't help but tremble. Do young people these days have such heavy tastes?

"The rumor about the employee's sudden death is false."

Mebius, however, didn't take it seriously and instead lazily offered explanations for the unimportant parts.

"It's alright, the rest are real, right? Then there's no problem, please let me join."

Melutina said calmly.

Her expression was so calm that if Cang Xuan hadn't known she was going to Dr. Möbius's lab, he would have assumed she had negotiated salary terms with some big company.

"Heh heh... Not to be rude, but my lab isn't exactly popular. With your qualifications, you could easily choose a better, more stable place."

Surprisingly, Möbius did not immediately accept the offer, but instead asked a question.

"...So you're aware of your responsibilities, Doctor. Then why do you still drag me to the school for fieldwork every year?"

Cang Xuan's eye twitched, and he asked.

"Let's see if there are any new lab rats... cough cough, experimental assistants."

The kind on the lab bench.

Mebius added in his mind.

"Regarding this issue..."

Melutina answered seriously.

"I'm sick."

"Yes, I can tell."

Mebius readily accepted this statement.

It's not that she's sick... Why would a perfectly good high-achieving student come here? She's not like Cangxuan or Danzhu, who are burdens.

Of course, Klein was a beautiful accident.

“If things are going very well, I’ll feel very restless and uncomfortable, so I think…”

Melutina thought for a moment and then said...

"I'm doing a little worse."

"..."

This child is indeed seriously ill; it's no wonder that decent people don't come here!

Cang Xuan felt a sense of agreement.

Is this a mental illness?

"I asked curiously," Mebius said.

"No... Although I have 'emotional deficit disorder,' it shouldn't be related to this."