Honkai Impact 3rd: The Girl Who Chases the Flame

Melutina didn't seem surprised; she simply said something, then paused for a moment before adding...

"Kevin's prestige can bring everyone together? It's Alicia, isn't it?"

"...Well, that's not wrong either."

Chapter Three: The Dating

"Life is a pilgrimage of accumulating pain. Have you heard that saying?"

"I remember it was a famous line from some work, right? I liked it a lot when I was a student."

"..."

Melutina rested her chin on her hand, looking at the few remaining pieces on the chessboard. After a moment, she threw down a piece to indicate that she had conceded defeat.

"Actually, I think that human history is a microcosm of an apocalypse."

Vervi shakes the white piece in her hand.

"In fact, there has never been lasting peace in human history. In a person's lifetime, there will inevitably be conflict in the world. Even if the person does not participate personally, his era is not peaceful."

"...Those who feel at ease because it doesn't concern them are not guilty. They have the right to enjoy peace."

Melutina said.

"So, people who happen to be born in war-torn countries just have to accept their bad luck?"

Velvi shrugged.

“My dear junior... Melutina, you can’t escape it. No matter what kind of sin it is, it will eventually reveal its true nature... because sin itself is the explanation of humanity.”

"Is this the conclusion you reached after investigating the Eleventh Herrscher?"

Melutina tightened her grip on the black piece slightly.

"Agnes said that God is humanity's interpretation of itself. That's absolutely true... She's not a good person. In fact, she's at least the most villainous Herrscher we know so far."

Vervi put down the chess piece, walked over to Melutina, and cupped her face in her hands.

"A girl... one day, she suddenly realized that her name was fake. In that instant, she lost not only her name, but also herself."

A name is a symbol of existence, the best way to understand oneself. Yes, just like I am Vervi and you are Melutina.

Names can be repeated, but only if they exist. The Eleventh Herrscher is different; she is a substitute for another [Agnes]. In fact, one could say she never existed in the first place.

This is the contradiction that makes her a Herrscher, this is the principle behind her becoming a villain. Unable to find anything unique, she chose the unity of humanity.

"Life transcends death...and then all beings are equal."

"Melutina said softly."

"To see death as salvation, and to devalue life as a shallow and empty existence. Humanity is merely a collection of desires, and complete disappearance is where all beauty lies."

Velvi hugged Melutina from behind, pressing her face against hers.

"That is her sin... but we all know that this is humanity's original sin. Rather than saying that our comrade died at her hands this time, it is more accurate to say that what we have been fighting against all along is humanity's original sin itself."

"Are you here today to discuss philosophy with me?"

Melutina said without moving.

"Philosophy is not actually that profound; it's just that people don't want to know its essence, which is why it's disliked."

Vervi released her, her hands behind her back.

"Actually, if we take a step back, what's the difference between you and me and the Herrscher?"

"This is what Dr. Mei was thinking, isn't it? Honkai is also part of civilization, so she's passionate about... defining it."

"So I actually prefer Möbius... Oh, don't let Möbius know that."

"...Whether that person knows or not makes no difference, does it?"

Melutina sighed.

"Want to go shopping tomorrow, senior?"

"Oh, I don't have anything planned for tomorrow... Hey, what's this? Is this some kind of unannounced topic-changing tactic unique to the biology department?"

"Vilvie said instinctively."

"That's called a science student's brilliant plot twist. But it's actually a way of belittling science students' lack of emotional intelligence and communication skills..."

Melutina shook her head.

"I have a movie I'm really interested in tomorrow."

"One second we were discussing the human world and life and death, and the next second we're on a movie channel? Okay, okay, junior, are people still making movies these days?"

Wilvi shrugged helplessly.

"I'm interested precisely because it exists."

Melutina scrolled through the messages on her phone.

"My bows have been almost all stolen by Pado, so I need to go to the street to buy some more."

"So, who would you like to go shopping with, Great Demon..."

"Please do it, Senior Conductor."

"Then I'm relieved. It seems I have a legitimate reason to keep the Great Magician from being online tomorrow."

Vilvi laughed, put on her hat, and left.

……

The next day

"Humans are really tough creatures."

"I totally agree, senior."

Melutina casually answered while flipping through the hats in the shop.

Vilvi watched the crowd coming and going, marveling at it.

Even in this apocalyptic world, after each disaster, humanity always continues this recreational activity with hope.

Even though the higher-ups at Moth Chaser felt that the chances of defeating the Honkai were slim, they still maintained a high degree of optimism.

"Ladies...you're from the Moth Chaser, aren't you?"

The shop owner was a greasy middle-aged man. He knew he wasn't popular with young women, so he didn't approach them when they entered the shop.

"Huh? How did the shop owner know?"

"If I were you, I wouldn't ask such an obvious question."

Melutina chose a brown hat and was casually dangling it in her hand.

"The senior's attire has far surpassed the level of being unique."

"I specifically wore my own clothes when I came out."

"If that outfit wasn't hip-hop style."

Melutina rolled her eyes; the colors on Vilvie's clothes alone numbered at least ten.

In contrast, Melutina was only wearing a black sweater, jeans, and a baseball cap.

Although she was a beautiful woman, she looked no different from any other passerby on the street.

"Boss, check please."

"No need to settle the bill, no one around here will accept money from the Fire Moth."

The boss lit a cigarette and waved his hand.

"I thought we should be seen as a bunch of lunatics by the public. When did we start getting this kind of treatment?"

"Vilvie scratched her head and asked."

"No one will deny your guilt, but no one will deny your sacrifice."

The boss just sighed.

"Let him be crazy, as long as we can see tomorrow's sun... who cares what the Savior looks like?"

"That's true, you're quite optimistic, uncle."

Melutina actually quite admired this half-lying-down-flat-chest style of "taking life lightly".

"Having lived this long, I've always earned more than young people."

The boss grinned.

"See that, junior? This is what the world looks like now."

As she stepped out of the shop, Velvet checked out the nearby restaurants.

"Should we call it strength or weakness?"

Melutina shook her head.

"I'm more concerned about what to eat today than the end of the world tomorrow... This Padovalisi-like thought process is actually surprisingly reassuring."

Vilvi pointed to the upscale restaurant in the distance,

"How about we go there?"

"If I can't find a girlfriend, does that mean I have to go to fancy restaurants with my junior? Oh well, I guess I'll just have to reluctantly fulfill my senior's wish."

“...Junior, you’re getting more and more cunning as you get older.”

Chapter Four: An Encounter

"Wow, I never expected to share a table with people in a high-end restaurant. What a novel experience."

"Senior, please continue, Kevin is about to cry."

In a corner of the restaurant, the men around looked at the man in the corner with great envy.

While everyone else had one man and one woman at their table, his table had one man and two women, all of whom were exceptionally beautiful.