Honkai Impact 3rd: The Girl Who Chases the Flame

"I……"

Melutina glanced at Jepard, coughed twice,

"I saw him trip and fall because he stepped on his right foot while walking, cough cough... so I brought him here. It's nothing... a minor injury, just a superficial wound, cough cough, just a superficial wound."

"Oh... thank you."

Hiluva nodded, not understanding what was going on.

“I am Silva, Silva Landau.”

“Merutina Kar… cough cough, Merutina Linna.”

Melutina thought for a moment and gave half of her name.

"It's a pleasure to meet you, why don't you stay..."

"I have to go now!"

"Have a meal……"

Hiluva stared blankly at the gate that was swaying back and forth.

……

Chapter Sixteen: Living in the Present

“Strange, there are rumors all over Belloberg that several strangely dressed people have run away. Where did they go?”

While admiring the large statue in front of the square, Melutina casually scooped up some coins from the fountain.

There's no way around it; when you're under someone's roof, you have to bow your head.

"Hey sis, isn't this a bit unnecessary?"

Hiluva said with a wry smile,

"I can lend it to you."

"I don't have the money to pay back... Um, how is Xiao Jie Jie's injury?"

"Melutina asked awkwardly."

"You have the nerve to say that? I even helped you out when I saw you lost on the street, but when you woke up, you said you were the one who knocked him out."

Hiluva rolled her eyes.

"I was just acting expediently in an emergency. By the way, do so many Silver Mane Iron Guards usually die here?"

Melutina looked at the notices coming and going, most of which were mourning so-and-so.

"As the rift expands, the casualties will naturally become even more severe."

"How about I work for your brother? It'll be temporary, and I'll be paid daily."

Melutina said.

"Let my brother break the rules? That's harder than climbing to heaven..."

……

"Okay."

When it came time for dinner that evening, Jepard agreed without even thinking.

"Huh? Wait a minute, bro, are you out of your mind?"

Hiluva was stunned.

"This is to have her impersonate a Silvermane Iron Guard!"

"I don't want to break the rules, but I value the lives of my soldiers even more."

Jepard took a sip of soup.

"I can't just stand by and watch the casualties continue to increase, can I? At worst, I'll just go and get punished myself. If that reduces the casualties, then it's worth it."

"You...don't doubt my identity at all?"

Melutina ate a few mouthfuls of rice and said.

"You're one of those people who claimed to be outsiders, aren't you?"

Jepard said,

“They and Miss Bronya have all disappeared. I personally received them that day, but then the High Guardian suddenly changed his orders… But ultimately, this wasn’t directed at you. There are priorities, and right now the casualties in the Rift are too great, so I can only pretend I don’t know your identity for now.”

"I've heard that besides those living on the surface, there are also people living underground?"

"Melutina asked."

"Yes, they... You suspect your companions went underground?"

"Jepard asked."

“My companion is not someone who can be defeated by monsters of that level, so if he is not in Beloborg, he may have gone down below.”

When Melutina came down, she didn't see any fireworks, so Xing must be alright.

"Is that so? In any case, please let Miss Linnai and I go to the Rift to intercept the monsters tomorrow."

Jepard said,

"As for salary... it will come from my salary."

"Oh...is Little Jie Jie so rich?"

"That title..."

……

now

地下

"Miss Melutina...doesn't like being called Meltina?"

Xing asked in confusion.

“It’s not that I don’t like it… I heard from Uncle Yang that Aunt Mei used to have people call her that all the time, but she’s changed in recent years.”

March 7th said.

"Everyone has a past that they don't know about, so it's best not to delve into it."

"Dan Heng said."

"You're practically talking about yourself, Danheng."

"...I have the right to remain silent."

"You two have such a good relationship."

Seele, standing nearby, said with a hint of envy,

"Is this Melutina you're talking about really that important?"

"After all, she's the woman who took a Star Destroyer's main gun in the face."

March 7th remarked with a sigh.

"And it's said that Aunt Mei is a wanted criminal in the Immortal Ship, but I don't know if it's true."

"Star Destroyer main gun? What's that?"

"Seele asked."

"Hmm... it's about the size of a cannonball that's a third the size of the lower city."

I estimated it on March 7th.

"It could blow through the entire Belleburg in one go!"

"That's incredible! Is Aunt Mei some kind of monster? How could she withstand that?"

Seele was greatly surprised.

"There are still such large cannonballs outside in the sky."

Bronya exclaimed in surprise.

"Mercy is usually pretty much like us, but when she gets angry, she turns into a giant dragon! As big as Bellenberg!"

March 7th is indicated by gesturing with hands.

"It's not like they're exceptionally talented or capable."

Dan Heng complained,

"I heard from Uncle Yang that when Aunt Mei gets really angry, her hair turns white and everything around her turns into white foam, just like the end of the world."

"You all make it sound so amazing, I really want to see it for myself."

Bronya said.

"Um... there's no need for that. Aunt Mei would definitely be disappointed if she saw her."

March 7th rolled her eyes.

"What?"

Seele was a little confused.

"Because the Aunt May they were talking about is like a child who never grew up."

Xing smiled.

"However... no child can hide sadness with a smile."

……

夜晚

"I said, I've never seen anyone like you before."

Hiluva and Melutina sat facing each other on the bed.