Himeko, Setting Out on the Path of a Valkyrie

"Speaking of which... is this really the right thing to do? I think that child should know the truth? Joyce recorded everything that happened at the time, and you can show it to the child anytime if you need it."

Do you think we should show it to her?

"... I don't know."

"For us, there are only two choices—to let her see her father's depraved and pathetic state, or to describe to her a father who failed in his mission." Liu Bai was also somewhat melancholy. "I have chosen the latter now. Perhaps one day when the time is right, I will give her the video."

"I trust your decision." After a moment's thought, Reanna could only nod.

"Lady Reanna, the patient has woken up!" the doctor in charge of Himeko's care reported hurriedly.

"... I'll go take a look."

Liu Bai turned and entered the ward.

Himeko had already sat up from her sickbed.

"Good morning, Liu Bai."

Good morning, Himeko.

Liu Bai greeted him casually.

Would you like an apple?

"No... could you please get me a glass of water? I'm a little thirsty."

Himeko responded somewhat listlessly.

"Seriously... I'm in... a hospital? What happened?"

"You were unconscious while you were sleeping," Liu Bai replied while pouring water.

"... Ha, unconscious while sleeping? That's not a funny joke at all... Thanks."

Himeko took the water glass from Liu Bai's hand.

"Can't you tell a joke that's believable?"

"That's the truth, you've probably been unconscious for a day and a half."

Liu Bai started peeling the apple by himself.

"By the way, your father..."

"Dad?" Himeko had regained some energy after taking a sip of water, suddenly had a bad feeling.

"... Here, this was delivered to my mailbox yesterday."

Liu Bai took out a letter.

"What... what is this...?"

Himeko chuckled dryly as she opened the envelope.

"By the way, I think I had a nightmare before, I dreamt about my dad... How could that be?"

[To Himeko

By the time you read this letter, I will no longer be in this world, in whatever way.

Whether my actions were right or wrong is no longer important to me. I cannot turn back, because this is the path I chose.

But I won't impose my beliefs on you; you have a brighter future ahead of you.

Hold fast to your dreams and change the world into the way you want it to be.

I know you will do better than me.

[Leaves by an incompetent father]

"Hey... Liu Bai, is today April Fool's Day? Or have I actually been asleep for a year?" Himeko forced a smile that looked more like a grimace.

"... Would you like an apple?"

That's not what I'm asking!

"So you want me to be the villain and shatter your illusions?" Liu Bai said in a calm tone. "So, shall we have an apple?"

"... Sorry, I got a little excited."

Himeko clutched the letter tightly in her hand, trying hard not to cry.

"I had a dream before... I dreamt that my dad was in a sea of fire, and no matter how I called him, he wouldn't respond... When I finally managed to grab him, all that was left was a piece of his clothes."

"..."

Liu Bai was speechless.

"... I need to ask for leave to go home and sort through my father's belongings." Himeko took a few deep breaths and silently put away the letter in her hand. "Moreover, I want to follow in my father's footsteps."

"It's good that the daughter followed in her father's footsteps."

Liu Bai did not stop her. Himeko was much stronger than her father, and moreover, the most crucial part of the data had already been recovered by Anti-Entropy.

"Then... how about we eat the apple first?"

Chapter 184 Himeko, Embarking on the Path of the Valkyrie

(Damn, I suddenly realized that Himeko's age in the manga is inconsistent with the original design. The original design of Himeko's age is completely different from the current one, and it skips the Valkyrie Stormtrooper experience. However, when I was researching, the information was based on both versions. No wonder I always felt that the age was so confusing. It turns out that it is another retcon in the early days. I won't change it. I'll just go with mine.)

"I never expected to return to the Far East in this state."

Himeko appeared slightly more composed than before, stepped off the plane.

"Is this what they mean by 'things have changed, but people are no longer the same'?"

"Who knows?"

Liu Bai sighed softly beside Himeko.

"Speaking of which, who is that blonde lady who came to see you off before you boarded the plane?" Himeko suddenly remembered something and asked curiously.

"Big sister... could your address be any more rustic?"

Liu Bai was somewhat speechless.

He left quietly this time, concealing his achievements and fame—the only people who truly knew about his involvement were Joyce, Yang, and Reanna.

... By the way, why is it always Reanna?

The loyal knight princess is indeed useful.

"However, in terms of relationship, I would say we're friends."

"You've got quite a lot of friends."

Himeko couldn't help but sigh.

"But on the bright side, maybe Dad is currently haunting some beautiful woman... or even Mom's reincarnation? But if that's the case, shouldn't we call the police?"

Himeko's words were a way of finding joy amidst hardship.

"... Let's go pay our respects to Mom first, then handle Dad's funeral arrangements... By the way, are you really Guardian Spirit, or a harbinger of doom?"

"... I'm so sorry."

"No, it was just a casual remark, don't take it to heart." Himeko waved her hands repeatedly. "Although we haven't known each other for long, I know you're a good person... Uh, good ghost, sorry, I made an inappropriate joke."

"It's alright, if this makes things easier for you." Liu Bai didn't mind the little joke. "Let's go, you lead the way, and I'll also pay my respects while I'm at it."

Click...

After finishing the memorial service, Himeko used her key to open the door to her house.

"Cough cough... There's so much dust. Dad really hasn't cleaned the house since I left... No, I should say he probably hasn't even been home. Honestly."

Amidst the rising dust, Himeko helplessly covered her mouth and nose, complaining.

Himeko now seems completely ready to embark on a new life.

Although only Himeko herself knows her true thoughts.

"Wait a minute, I'll go find where Dad threw the mop."

"I'll lend a hand while I'm at it; the place is such a mess it's unbearable to look at."

Liu Bai, however, had sharp eyes and found the broom.

"Let's start with brooms, how about we each take one floor?"

"Okay, no problem."

Himeko nodded and then went upstairs on her own initiative—upstairs were mostly bedrooms, so Himeko naturally had to start sorting out her father's belongings from upstairs.

It is reasonable to allocate the downstairs living room to Liu Bai.

"But remember not to run too fast, lest you trigger teleportation."

"I know..."

Seriously, everything's gone in an instant.

Himeko, carrying a broom, walked upstairs with a face full of emotion.

"In just two or three days, it felt like I had gone through two or three years' worth of events. And before I could even process it all, I was suddenly facing the prospect of having to rely on the spirit I had just met."

As Himeko swept the floor, she recalled the places in her house that held her memories.

"A family photo... toys we played with as kids, models my dad made when he was in school... and a safe?"

Himeko suddenly noticed something she didn't recognize.

When was this safe built?

Himeko tentatively entered a password... and it opened.

"My dad always uses my birthday or my mom's birthday as his password, it's so unoriginal..."

Himeko shook her head sadly, then looked at the contents of the safe.

"So what are these? Work documents?"

Himeko frowned as she took the documents out of the safe.

"Schicksal... Honkai... Valkyrie... Wait, what is all this?" Himeko rubbed her temples. "Is this some kind of chuunibyou novel draft?"

No, that's not it.

Himeko's intuition told her that what seemed like a fantasy was very likely true.

My dad isn't so childish as to seriously stuff my cringeworthy novel draft into a safe.

This...

Ask Liu Bai.

This is the only person I can truly confide in now.

"Yes, it's true."

Liu Bai glanced at the document in front of him and nodded in agreement.

"A monster called Honkai is lurking in this world, constantly threatening it—it may sound like a shonen manga, but it's all true. Your father is a scholar who studies Honkai."

"Then Dad..."

"Researching Honkai inevitably leads to being corrupted by Honkai," Liu Bai said calmly.

"Is that so... fighting against the Honkai..."

Himeko thoughtfully touched the document in her hand.

"... I want to join Schicksal, just like you said, to follow in my father's footsteps, but I would rather become Valkyrie."

A fire ignited in Himeko's eyes.

"Liu Bai, you have a way, right?"

You asked me if an Anti-Entropy Leader has a way to join Schicksal?