Someone Even Himiko Can't Afford to Mess With

"...So that means there's a chance you'll stay with me forever, right, Teacher Liu?"

Impossible.

Without needing Liu Bai to answer, Hua realized that.

...So she was just being willful. Just making unreasonable demands.

"Maybe. Who can say for sure what the future holds?"

"Mm...I suppose so."

Teacher Liu was indulging her willfulness.

"Teacher Liu... if you leave, will I still be able to protect Father and Carole?"

"...Your fists." After a moment of silence, Liu Bai spoke softly. "I told you before: Honkai cannot be bargained with, nor does it pity any life. It is cold and merciless. Determination alone cannot change anything. How much you can protect depends on how hard your fists are."

"So... strength?"

"No. Strength is merely a means, not the goal—surely, as a martial artist, you understand that better than I do." Seeing Hua's confusion, Liu Bai continued.

Hua's family teachings were the typical teachings of a "hero."

"Tsk, thinking about it, that really is a cliché thing to say."

Liu Bai gave another somewhat self-deprecating smile.

"Hua, you are not a cowardly girl. On the contrary, you have a strong sense of justice and are mature beyond your years. At your age, you already understand that 'every commoner bears responsibility for the rise and fall of the nation'—in that regard, you are far better than me. Honestly, I'm rather lazy and fond of comfort."

"Teacher Liu... I... I may not be mature."

Hua sat in the chair, hugging her legs and curling herself into a ball.

"Whenever I imagine Father and Carole dying to Honkai, I... I'm not like you, Teacher Liu..."

"They aren't dead yet. Don't curse them."

Liu Bai gently patted Hua's shoulder.

He completely understood Hua's vulnerability.

"Besides, your teacher isn't leaving yet... How about this? Make a promise with me."

"A promise?" Hua raised her head in confusion.

"That's right, a promise."

Liu Bai pulled Hua into an embrace.

"Even if your teacher has to leave someday, it will only be temporary... the really, really temporary kind of temporary."

His future simulations were still far from over... There were still ten of the Thirteen Flame-Chasers left. There would always be a chance to meet again.

"Mm..."

"How about this? After I leave, you can temporarily—temporarily—protect their safety."

"...Temporarily?"

"—Carry them forward, hold on until I return, and then leave the rest to me." Liu Bai spoke firmly.

"..."

After Liu Bai finished speaking, Hua fell silent for a moment, then revealed a faint smile.

"Teacher Liu... hasn't nothing changed at all?"

Clearly, nothing had changed, yet... she unexpectedly felt at ease.

How cunning...

"Ahahaha~ I thought I could fool you, but you saw through it."

"Then, pinky promise."

Hua held out her slightly curled little finger toward Liu Bai.

Fu Hua Compatibility +20%

"Come to think of it, Teacher Liu, have you wanted to help other people like this before?"

Having recovered a little of her spirit, Hua seemed to recall something.

"Hm? Why do you ask?"

"Before... the first time we encountered a Death Soldier, you muttered something like, 'Damn it, if Reanna or Rita were here, they'd take out Death Soldiers like this with one slash.'"

Had he said that?

Liu Bai thought about it... It seemed... he really had?

"I can't believe you still remembered that..."

"Um..."

Hua's face reddened slightly.

Why did this unexpectedly feel like she was checking up on him?

"Although I can't tell you too many details, I can give you a rough description of their traits... Mm, let's start with Reanna... But I should mention that I was never her guardian spirit."

Someone Even Himiko Couldn't Afford to Offend

"So Teacher Liu, you've had experiences like that too..."

After hearing Liu Bai's embellished version of the story, Hua wore a thoughtful expression.

"Teacher Liu... do you hope I can become a 'watcher' like Miss Reanna?"

"That depends on your own choice."

Hearing Liu Bai's answer, Hua gave a bitter smile.

Perhaps... she really did want to become that kind of "watcher."

"...I understand, Teacher Liu. I won't disappoint your expectations."

Hua had finally returned to her usual state of mind.

"Honestly, don't always carry other people's expectations on your back." Liu Bai sighed. Hua's personality really was...

"Um... Teacher Liu, can you take your hand away now?"

Having recovered her composure, Hua felt the touch of Liu Bai's arm and her face grew a little hot—when they made that promise, Liu Bai had wrapped an arm around her shoulders to comfort her.

"Well... men and women should keep their distance."

Though if this continued, it... wouldn't really matter...

But Hua's thin skin and a young girl's sense of shame ultimately kept her from voicing the latter half of that sentence.

Fu Hua Compatibility +10%

The Third Honkai Eruption destroyed many cities across more than half of East Asia, including Canghai City. Yet like gold being washed from sand by great waves, outstanding figures such as Mei, Kevin, Su, and Hua began stepping onto the stage of their era.

With your help, Hua managed to escape Canghai City, which had become a paradise for Honkai, with her friends. At a Moth Chasers to Fire garrison point, she successfully reunited with the Fifth Squad led by Himiko.

After your guidance, Hua reaffirmed her resolve after a brief period of confusion.

...?

Wait, System, hold on. Isn't that wording a little wrong?

It was a goal! Not resolve!

Yet the system ignored Liu Bai's complaint entirely.

The next day, Hua, having reaffirmed her resolve, returned to the battlefield of Canghai City.

This time, it was no minor skirmish like their previous escape.

As an elite squad of Moth Chasers to Fire, the Fifth Squad had dedicated armed forces supporting them.

All kinds of powerful anti-Honkai weapons developed by Moth Chasers to Fire were deployed in this battle.

"Study carefully and watch closely. Group combat and individual combat are two different things. Don't always charge ahead. Keep an eye on your teammates at all times."

"I understand, Teacher Liu."

As an official member of the Fifth Squad, Hua naturally received the appropriate anti-Honkai weaponry. Fortunately, because of Hua's father, Moth Chasers to Fire had begun supplying gauntlet-type weapons as well.

However, the technological level of these gauntlets... was far inferior to Hua's previous Fist Blade Type III.

Their only advantage was probably that they had been modified to fight Honkai, allowing them to deal more effective damage to Honkai creatures.

Another reason Liu Bai told Hua not to rush ahead was that he wanted to study the construction of Moth Chasers to Fire's current anti-Honkai weapons—especially the large-scale ones.

Thanks to the valiant efforts of Hua and the other soldiers, the Fifth Squad quickly rescued most of the survivors from the city's ruins. Even so, there was still a long way to go before Canghai City could be fully reclaimed.

However, you might not live to see Canghai City reclaimed—the Third Honkai Eruption had inflicted devastating damage upon more than half of East Asia. Fewer than one in a thousand survived, leaving the entire region largely worthless.

You and Hua learned of Moth Chasers to Fire's arrangements for the survivors of the Third Honkai Eruption.

They would be sent to Australia for proper resettlement. Meanwhile, Carole, who had survived the Honkai disaster in Canghai City, finally moved Himiko after submitting several applications and became a reserve fighter in the Fifth Squad. However, as a reserve fighter, Carole would still relocate to Australia with the survivors and train there.

"Whew... I'm leaving." Carole leaned against the railing, looking wistfully at her friend.

Behind her was a temporary pier. Docked there was a massive ship carrying the survivors rescued from Canghai City.

...The survivors of an entire city could actually fit aboard just one ship. In the past, no one would have dared imagine such a thing.

"Mm. Have a safe journey."

"..."

Hearing Hua's blunt reply, Carole tugged at the corner of her mouth.

"Although I've always known you aren't good with words, Hua... couldn't you say something nicer at a time like this? Even if you were just humoring me."

"Uh... sorry. It's just that I think Australia should be very safe, and Carole, you adapt to new environments far better than I do. You probably don't need me to remind you of anything. If I had to say something... train hard?"

Having undergone the true tempering of the battlefield, Hua was now more steady and reserved.

And what she said left Carole unable to argue.

"...That's true. If you were the one going to Australia, I might actually be pretty worried." Carole nodded toward the massive ship behind her, then put on a smile. "Hehe, it may sound arrogant, but maybe when I come back after finishing my training, I'll be able to protect you."

"...Mm-hmm."

"Hey! What's with that perfunctory look on your face, Hua?!"

"Nothing. I just think that if it's you, Carole... I'm looking forward to it."

Looking at the still-sunny girl before her, Hua felt that perhaps she had seen Carole as too fragile.

She... was moving forward in her own way as well.

"Heh! Then just wait and see, Hua! Maybe by the time I come back, I'll already be the deputy captain of the Fifth Squad. Then you'll have to follow my orders!"

"You little brat whose feathers haven't even grown in yet wants to be my deputy captain?"

Himiko, dressed in military uniform, had somehow come over from nearby and mercilessly smacked the back of Carole's head.

"Scram, scram, scram! Get on the ship already!"

Himiko kicked Carole, who was still dawdling.

Over these past days, Himiko had also developed quite a bit of fondness for this energetic, sunny girl.

Who wouldn't like someone capable of bringing hope to the squad members?

"M-Maybe I'm a genius!" Carole still refused to admit defeat.

"If you're a genius, pigs will climb trees!"

Himiko stretched out a leg, pretending she was about to kick Carole again. Seeing that, Carole immediately turned into a quail, shrank her neck, and scampered aboard the ship.

"Anyway! Hua, don't get promoted too quickly! You have to wait for me!"

Perhaps she herself was merely an ordinary girl with annoyingly boundless energy, but she believed that her friend would absolutely become the brightest, brightest, brightest star of this era!

After seeing Carole and the survivors of Canghai City off, the war did not end.