Honkai Impact 3rd: The Girl Who Chases the Flame

Melutina lowered her head, folded the rag, and picked up the broom beside her.

"...You've changed a bit."

It seemed only now that things had come to this that he truly looked at Melutina. He paused slightly upon seeing her exquisite attire, then a bitter expression appeared on his face.

"If Vanessa could see you now, she might feel a little better."

These words made Melutina's hand tremble slightly, though she quickly stopped, but François, whose eyes were fixed on her, noticed it.

"...Tsk."

The girl, who had always rejected everything from the outside world, began to waver and feel guilty towards her only friend, even doing something that seemed like something an ordinary person would do.

François was not unmoved by this; he deeply understood the importance of his fiancée to the girl.

How ironic that the only person who shared Vanessa's memories was the very person who killed her.

"If you find a new life, then live it on your own. Don't come looking for me. Living an upright life is what she wants most."

François stood up and snatched the broom from her hand.

To Melutina's surprise, the room was cleaned spotlessly.

"Also, stop sending me money. The Honkai survivors receive government subsidies, and if I'm willing, they'll provide me with a job."

François said coldly.

"……I……"

"Don't get me wrong, I just can't stand to see you do well. You'd better live with that guilt for the rest of your life, I won't give you a chance to atone for your sins."

François half-forced Melutina out the door, then slammed it shut.

"Don't come again, you stupid woman!"

Melutina was left standing helplessly at the door.

"……team leader?"

However, a questioning voice came from the side.

"...Adam?"

Melutina turned her head stiffly.

"You were... kicked out?"

Adam raised an eyebrow.

"........."

…………

Ten minutes later

"My aunt lives here."

Not wanting to leave his captain standing at the door, Adam suppressed a laugh and invited Melutina in for tea.

"Her family used to live in Australia... well, she lost her family and was taken care of by Moth of Fire, and was assigned to an apartment here."

"……Yeah."

Melutina lowered her head, unsure how to deal with this awkward situation.

"Is that the captain's boyfriend living over there?"

Adam recalled the words he had just heard: "Don't come again, you stupid woman."

"No...that's my friend's husband."

Melutina pursed her lips and then offered an explanation.

"My friend...died in Australia while trying to save me."

"...So that's how it is. No wonder, this is the first time I've ever seen a captain like this."

She always had a domineering demeanor when facing them, which surprised Adam that Melutina had such a side to her.

A clumsy, bewildered, and confused nature, much like her age.

"Don't tell Lixue and the others... otherwise..."

However, before Adam could finish speaking, a gun flashing with purple light was pressed against his head, successfully freezing his expression.

"I'll shoot you."

Melutina said with a serious expression.

"……Yes."

Adam's lips twitched, and he spoke honestly.

"Adam, what made you become a Fusion Warrior?"

Seeing that he agreed, Melutina put the Divine Key back into her waistband.

"Me? Actually, there's no particular reason."

Adam scratched his cheek, revealing a troubled yet carefree expression.

"It's just that... there's nowhere else to go."

………………

P.S. A completely worthless piece of information—the name Melutina comes from the Norse goddess Meltina (ーεー).

Special Episode: The Black Dragon and the Flower

Nordic

You said... there are gods on the snow-capped mountains?

Shiyu Kira asked incredulously.

"Of course, we all saw it. That enormous body, that boundless power—that is none other than Nidhogg, the black dragon god of Norse legend!"

The old woman, who looked to be about seventy years old, said tremblingly.

"God, please bless us!"

The villagers who were with her all clasped their hands together, as if praying to heaven.

…………

"Captain, what do you think?"

Shiyu Qiluo shrugged, looking helpless.

"In Scandinavia, there seem to be two interpretations. One is that the black dragon is considered a monster, believed to have once devoured the World Tree and was an evil spirit that would destroy the world."

However, another version says that the black dragon is the guardian deity of Norse mythology, listening to the wishes of its people and helping them overcome the harsh winter and ferocious beasts.

Cecilia got out of the car and said.

"Completely opposite... Does that dragon on the mountain really exist?"

Salome crossed her arms and said calmly.

"There are many eyewitness testimonies, and they seem to be true. However, since it is a huge creature, it is more likely to be a Honkai Beast."

Cheng Lixue, holding the Xuanyuan Sword Ruoshui, said...

"This time, the Snow Wolf Squad dispatched four members, including the S-rank Valkyrie Cecilia. This is because His Holiness the Bishop suspects that this might be an Emperor-level, or even Judgment-level, Honkai Beast."

"Could it be the legendary Judgment-class? It actually regards Honkai Beasts as gods..."

Shigure Kira felt that the people in the village had gone completely mad.

"Let's go, we need to deal with it quickly before it causes any disaster."

Cecilia gripped the Black Abyss White Flower tightly and sped off into the depths of the snow-capped mountains.

Cheng Lixue and the other two followed closely behind. With their speed as A-rank or higher Valkyries, it only took them a short while to enter the depths of the continuous snow-capped mountains.

"Huh? Wait, this...this is vine?!"

Shigure Kira felt her feet being entangled, looked down, and suddenly let out a strange cry.

"Quick! Jump to a higher place!"

Cecilia noticed the vines on her feet, paused for a moment, and then felt her physical energy draining away. She quickly shouted, used the Black Abyss White Flower to cut the vines, and flew upwards.

"Waaaaah! Lixue, help me!"

"Alright, stay put!"

With a helpless expression, Cheng Lixue used Ruoshui to cut the vines, then leaped to a higher place while holding Shiyu Qiluo.

"Is this a living...forest?"

On the other side, Salome, already in the air, stared at the thick vines spreading across the snow-capped mountains. Even she, who was used to seeing all kinds of Honkai Beasts, was dumbfounded.

"It's not a forest, it's trees... huge trees, those vines are tree roots."

Cecilia observed the strange phenomenon before her with a solemn expression.

"Don't tell me this thing is the legendary World Tree..."

Shiyu Kira's lips trembled a few times.

"It seems to be it."

Cheng Lixue nodded, as if she had thought of something.

"So, the Black Dragon really is a hero... After all, this World Tree is undoubtedly a so-called Judgment-level Honkai Beast."

"I don't know if Black Dragon is a hero, but obviously we can't let this guy continue to grow stronger."

Salome frowned.

"But……"

“You all step back… This time I might have to handle it myself.”

Cecilia gripped the Black Abyss White Flower tightly.