Honkai Impact 3rd: The Girl Who Chases the Flame

"What's wrong?"

Ryusuke asked.

"...The residual Honkai energy is not normal."

Melutina reached out and touched the wall.

"It seems... to be more than just Emperor level."

"More than just Emperor-level?!"

Ryusuke shuddered.

"Why are you here? Isn't this some kind of remote area?"

"Honkai Beasts are attracted by strong Honkai energy, probably because the big ones from other regions have been drawn here."

Melutina withdrew her hand, her expression slightly changing as she looked at the remaining Honkai energy in the dust on it.

"...Could it be Vishnu? Joachim, did something happen between your sister and you during your escape?"

"Huh? No, even if you ask that... it seems, it seems she was attacked by a Honkai Beast, and my sister was injured."

Joachim paused for a moment, then scratched his head and said.

"What? Attacked by a Honkai Beast... After being injured by a Honkai Beast, are there any problems with the wound?"

Melutina sensed something was amiss.

"Huh? No, nothing... What could be the problem?"

Joachim was stunned.

"...Generally speaking, humans attacked by Honkai Beasts will become suicide soldiers."

Melutina said earnestly.

"There are only two possibilities that this hasn't happened. First, your sister's Honkai energy resistance is far beyond that of ordinary people. Second, the mutation in her body has already occurred, but you just haven't noticed it."

"...What does that mean?"

Naturally, Joachim could not accept this response.

"The reason Vishnu was attracted here is likely because there is a zombie here with a large amount of Honkai energy. Vishnu can gain power by devouring others. It came here... to devour that zombie individual with a large amount of Honkai energy to complete its evolution."

Melutina tried to avoid words that would directly provoke Joachim.

"...Is the rescue pointless?"

Ryusuke understood, and he turned his head to speak.

"Well... we have no reason to save a suicide soldier."

Melutina reached out and placed her hand on Joachim's shoulder.

“You must come back with me now. Your sister is dead. The most important thing now is that you need to survive.”

"Stop joking!"

Joachim struggled frantically.

"You're lying to me! You're just making this up because you're afraid of that Honkai Beast! You're just scared. My sister is fine, she won't..."

"Rumble..."

Just as Joachim was cursing, a distant roar startled them all.

"It has already begun."

Melutina's eyes turned into vertical pupils, and she saw a gigantic Honkai Beast in the distance.

"You need to talk to me now... What are you doing? Mr. Ryusuke, do you know what you're doing?"

Joachim rushed out the moment he heard the sound, but Melutina, who was trying to reach out and grab him, was stopped by the man next to her.

Of course, Melutina could easily shake off the man and chase after him, but before that, she needed a reason.

"My daughter is the same way..."

Ryusuke said with a determined yet desperate look in his eyes,

"Please give them one last chance to see each other! Whether that girl is a monster or not."

Chapter Eighteen: Whose Epitaph?

"Do you regret it...?"

Melutina silently watched Joachim, who had been pierced through in the distance. He seemed to be trying to protect the demon warriors behind him, but he was pierced through from behind.

"Both sides are choices."

Melutina blocked Vishnu's attack and pulled the child, who was already fatally wounded, away.

"And every choice has meaning."

(Adapted from Jujutsu Kaisen by Natsuyuki)

"Roar...roar..."

"Ryusuke, take him away. This guy is more than just Emperor-level, and more than just Judgment-level..."

Melutina looked at the boy who was not yet an adult, but surprisingly, she did not show much emotion.

"..."

"...Is this your choice?"

Melutina watched silently as the man approached the demon warriors, but she did not stop him.

Why?

They remained indifferent twice, leaving lives that could have been saved.

That's why...

"Even if we save them, all that awaits us is an impending doom filled with regret."

Melutina didn't think she had done anything wrong; in fact, she knew how things would end for the two of them, no matter the outcome.

Save the girl, then await the solace of death.

He failed to save the girl, chose to live a life of ignominy, and then faced a death filled with regret.

He failed to save the girl and died there, facing a sad but regretful end.

In reality, this is just an ordinary person in this apocalyptic world...

"This is a happy ending, for both you and Mr. Ryusuke."

Knowing that his own daughter Himiko had a half-baked adopted daughter who stayed at the Flame Chaser as a fusion warrior would not bring him any comfort.

The death of his daughter, who had been turned into a monster, which he had never been able to witness, is now Joachim's fate, the answer he prayed for but never received.

However, even if he has a clear conscience, he still has to pay the price for his choice.

This was their decision.

And Melutina...

Everyone knows better than anyone that ordinary people in this world simply cannot hope to live a good life.

However, humans, civilization, and people are different.

Let this guilt and remorse be left to the living, Melutina.

"If I had known this would be my life, would I have chosen to die in the winter when I was six?"

Melutina, seeing Vishnu already on the verge of death, plunged her black lance into Vishnu's head.

"I still cling to this vague hope, barely surviving, and pursuing a future I know nothing about."

"I don't understand, Alicia."

"I don't understand."

The deceased's lack of regret is merely a shackle left for the living.

Only the regrets of the deceased become the epitaph of their successors.

Melutina, however, did not experience any remorse.

The person walking in front of her...

I have always been selfless and without regret.

……

"...Why do you look so gloomy after going out?"

Alicia greeted Melutina with a beaming smile... who had a sour face.

Two people died.

Melutina said.

"...Huh?"

Alicia is completely bewildered.

"A little boy searching for his sister, and Himiko's father."

Melutina's words were concise and to the point.

"..."

Alicia was speechless.

"Alice... won't leave me an epitaph, will she?"

What are you... saying?

Alicia was dumbfounded.

"Nino's first book didn't sell very well. But it's a very good book."

Melutina went behind the bar, took out a bottle of ale, and poured it into a glass.