Honkai, But a Spirit Simulator

Liu Bai shook his head, snapped back to reality, and without hesitation selected the Guardian Spirit skill from the five options presented before him.

[S-Rank evaluation detected, final result confirmed]

[Spirit: Liu Bai]

[Skills: Haunt lv.1, Persuade lv2, Guardian Spirit lv1]

[Current Host: Rita Rossweisse (Compatibility: 0%, Current Host), Aponia (Compatibility: 120%, Abnormal Status, Cannot Select)]

[Remaining Simulation Attempts Today: 0]

[Note: When reuniting with simulated characters in reality, you will automatically receive a compatibility bonus.]

[Note: Simulation attempts are restored once per day, cannot be accumulated, and additional simulation attempts can be obtained through compatibility.]

Reuniting with Aponia in reality was only a matter of time. The only thing that concerned him was that abnormal status... Did Aponia ultimately merge with Elysium Ever After?

Chapter 4: Neither Scientific nor Honkai

Liu Bai only pondered about Aponia for a moment before setting it aside. He would have plenty of simulation opportunities in the future, so there was no need to rush.

Then, Liu Bai shifted his attention from the System Panel to Rita, who was holding a thermometer in her mouth.

"?"

What kind of getup was that?

Liu Bai subconsciously glanced at the clock and then at the large 0 in the Remaining Simulation Attempts section of the System Panel.

That's right, only a minute had passed since the simulation began, not a day. How did Rita end up with a thermometer in her mouth?

(It's happening again.) Rita looked up at the white ceiling.

The feeling of unease had only disappeared for a minute before returning.

Anyone else might simply ignore it, but for Rita, an S-Rank Valkyrie and assassin... it was like having needles on her back.

Rita silently took the thermometer out of her mouth, wiped it clean, and put it back in the drawer. As for the temperature reading... forget it.

Come on, she was a dignified S-Rank Valkyrie, how could she possibly catch a cold and have a fever so easily?

Liu Bai watched Rita's series of actions and couldn't help but twitch his lips. Could Rita's actions be because of him?

Without the subtle connection between Spirit and host, even a Fusion Warrior of Sakura's level wouldn't be able to detect him. But once that subtle connection existed...

Perfect, he could test whether he could communicate with Rita using the "Guardian Spirit" skill.

"Ahem, Miss Rita, hello?"

Rita took a book from the bookshelf, sat in a chair, and began to read, completely unaware of Liu Bai's call.

"..."

It seemed this skill wasn't so easy to use after all?

Liu Bai floated to Rita's side and peered at the book in her hand.

Gardening? He couldn't understand this kind of book at all.

At the same time, Rita paused as she turned the page, and couldn't help but fall into thought.

Why did she suddenly feel like she couldn't understand this book?

"Hmph..." Rita exhaled and continued to turn the page with a calm expression. "Does Mr. Ghost not like gardening books?"

"?"

It was Liu Bai's turn to question.

Telepathy? Was this the so-called "subtle mental communication"?

But it didn't seem very accurate.

Luckily, Liu Bai had three skill points in his possession. He decided to allocate one to Haunt, which was necessary for his movement, and the remaining two to Guardian Spirit.

[Guardian Spirit lv3: You can negate one fatal attack per day for your host, and you can communicate with your host. Non-hosts will not hear your voice.]

"It's not that I don't like them, I just don't understand them."

Liu Bai said calmly beside Rita. The moment he spoke, Rita's body visibly tensed up.

Looking at Rita's state, Liu Bai finally understood what it meant to be "ready to strike at any moment."

"..."

After a brief silence, Rita reached out and rubbed her temples.

Was she hallucinating just now?

She really just asked that question casually!

She never expected anyone to answer her!

Although the head of Destiny was still called "Bishop," everyone knew that this was a materialistic era where technology reigned supreme. Gods were something you could believe in, but that was it.

But... what just happened?

Rita felt a headache coming on.

"Rita, would you like a cup of tea?"

The black tea in the teapot was still warm. Liu Bai saw that Rita seemed very nervous, so he poured her a cup.

"Thank you... hmm?"

Rita took the tea and thanked him, but then suddenly realized something was off.

Rita looked at the top-quality black tea she had brewed herself, her expression complex.

Should I drink this tea...?

"Would you like sugar?" Liu Bai asked considerately.

"..."

Hearing Liu Bai's second question, Rita was completely speechless.

If it had only happened once or twice, she could have convinced herself it was a hallucination, but this question—would she brew herself tea that didn't suit her taste?

It was an insult!

Even if she developed a split personality one day, she would never ask such a question!

Rita took a deep breath. Although she had been mentally prepared and even suspected something, when the moment actually arrived—it was still unacceptable!

After all, an elementary school student imagining a falling fan while staring at the ceiling and a real fan falling down and causing a bloody massacre are two different things.

Rita had felt something was strange before, but it was just paranoid speculation. Now that Liu Bai had spoken, it was like the fan had actually fallen.

As a not-so-materialistic materialist, Rita felt she needed to take a moment.

Fortunately, Rita's mental fortitude was strong, and she recovered after only a few deep breaths.

Thinking about it carefully, Rita even felt it wasn't such a bad thing.

If that feeling of being watched had continued, even if Rita considered herself mentally resilient, she probably would have had to check into a sanatorium after a year—even torturing prisoners wasn't this bad.

Now that they had communicated, although... well, although Rita felt her worldview needed to be rebuilt, that feeling of being watched was gone.

Of course, the main thing was that Rita hadn't sensed any hostility in those few words.

No, not only was there no hostility, but it could even be said to be... very gentlemanly?

[Rita's Compatibility +2%]

Aponia's compatibility had increased by 5%, 5%, or even 15% at a time. But for Rita, the initial increase was only 2%... well, for someone like Rita, who was amiable on the outside but shrewd on the inside, it was good that it hadn't decreased.

"Mr. Spirit, if you don't mind, would you be willing to have an open and honest conversation with me?"

After realizing that the other party wasn't the "vengeful ghost" she had imagined, Rita relaxed a lot and regained her usual composure.

"For example, why you appeared by my side."

No malice was good, but most people couldn't accept having a ghost by their side, right?

To be honest, huntsman spiders are beneficial insects, but that doesn't stop most people from panicking when they see them.

"Of course."

Liu Bai seemed very easy to talk to. After all, it had been a long time since he had used his mouth to communicate with someone.

"Well... first, about me, Rita, have you heard of a Spirit?"

"...So, you're my Spirit, or rather, my Guardian Spirit?"

Rita was wondering if she had transmigrated. This kind of thing was neither scientific nor Honkai!

"That's right."

Liu Bai, who had enjoyed talking, subconsciously wanted to pick up the tea, but then remembered that he couldn't drink anything and reluctantly put it down.

However, compared to Liu Bai, who had enjoyed talking, Rita looked at the teacup that had floated up and then down, and only one thought remained in her mind.

—Does Bishop Otto know how to exorcise demons?

Chapter 5: The Simulation Location Is the Womb?

"...Just confirming one last time, everything that's happening isn't a hallucination, right?"

Rita took a sip of black tea, a rare look of helplessness on her face.

Although it was a question, Rita was absolutely certain that everything in front of her wasn't a hallucination.

"Escaping reality isn't a good habit, Rita."

"I don't think ghosts are something that should exist in reality."

Rita sighed, holding her forehead.

"In that case, Mr. Spirit, let's make a deal."

"Make a deal? Hmm, tell me about it."

"First, Mr. Spirit, you are not allowed to enter private places such as when I am bathing, sleeping, or changing clothes. If you have any perverted hobbies... well, I can find you some old clothes or those discs that men like."

Rita said half-jokingly—although such words were too unladylike for a lady.

"I would never do such a thing! I am a gentleman! Even though I'm a ghost, you can't insult me like that!"

Liu Bai was instantly enraged.

"It's a deal!"

"... " Rita, who was just about to apologize and offer the real terms, choked.

... Shouldn't the normal process be that you refuse, I apologize, then I give the real offer, and finally, we strike a deal?

"... Are all men like this?" Rita took a sip of her black tea and asked the air wistfully.

"Miss Rita, generalizations are not advisable. I really am a gentleman."

... For the sake of her personal privacy, she should probably ask Otto if he knows how to exorcise spirits.

Even with a three-chapter agreement, Rita didn't feel safe.

Did she perhaps take things too far?

The composed and elegant maid suddenly felt a little flustered. If it really came down to it... the clothes... although a little embarrassing, it wasn't entirely impossible. The old clothes could be put to good use.

But the discs... if others found out that she secretly bought those kinds of discs, then her life as an S-Rank Valkyrie of Destiny and the vice-captain of the Unfading Blade would be over, wouldn't it?

Who told her to propose those conditions? Is this what they call shooting herself in the foot?

Fortunately, she could immediately tell that he was joking—although that joke put a little pressure on Rita.

After a brief adjustment (headache), Rita continued, "Second, please do not haunt the irrelevant people around us. Do not grope me while I am working. Of course, if you are offering assistance, I would be grateful. In return, I will conceal your existence, Mr. Ghost."

"So, it's okay to grope you outside of work hours?" Liu Bai asked curiously.

Are all ghosts' focus points this strange? Isn't the main point the concealment?

"... It's not okay at any time. As a gentleman, doing that to a lady is very rude."