6. Xia Ling: "That's Right, I Have a Child" / 7. Xia Ling: "Time to Send Out the Deserters"

Xia Ling looked at the system: "If I'm not mistaken, am I about to die?"

[Uh... sorry, host, it seems that's indeed the case.]

[Because of your background setting, the current storyline should be the part where Theresa fights Sirin alone. In the original storyline, Theresa lost an arm because of this, so the system probably thinks that with your current strength, participating in this kind of battle is a bit of a stretch.]

"Then couldn't you have set some strengths for me...?"

[Unfortunately, host, if you become any stronger, it might alert Sirin.]

"Never mind, it doesn't matter. It's just causing destruction. A-rank Valkyrie is strong enough. This is an A-rank Valkyrie from the Second Honkai Outbreak, on par with Rita."

Xia Ling sat down in front of the screen and began to concentrate on operating it.

Because it also uses a nested roguelike template, this system is basically the same as a normal roguelike game. The only difference is that most of the time you can't choose your own nodes, but you have to follow the main group.

[Unexpected Encounter]

After the battle with the Herrscher of the Void, you were severely injured, Theresa was also seriously wounded. However, being similar to Fusion Warrior, she could catalyze Honkai Energy for self-healing, so she gave all her medicine to you.

At this moment, the communication you hadn't received a response to for a long time was suddenly connected. Although you could only send messages one way, it was undoubtedly better than nothing.

You struggled to turn on the communication device. What message do you intend to send?

[I need help, come quick! (Restores 4 health points and restores mobility)]

[Have the enemy immediately rush to the Babylon Tower to provide support. (Restores 2 points of health; may change the course of the story.)]

"I remember Kiana came to find Theresa at this point in the original story, right? If I want to change the course of events, shouldn't I choose the opposite option?"

[Uh... Host, I don't know either. After all, strictly speaking, this data space is still under Sirin's control.]

"Okay, I'll give it a try and see."

In the scene, Xia Ling picks up the communicator and is about to speak when Theresa snatches it away. Although she only has one arm, Theresa's agility still surpasses that of the seriously injured Xia Ling.

"Please provide immediate support at the coordinates I have provided. Someone here is seriously injured! We have enough medicine, but I have lost some mobility and am unable to bandage the wounded. Valkyrie who receive this message, please proceed to my location immediately!"

Theresa, who has known you for a long time, immediately guessed your plan, snatched the communicator first, and requested backup for you.

A moment later, Kiana arrived successfully. After a brief struggle and some chaos, Theresa tentatively accepted Kiana's identity.

Kiana has treated your wounds, and you feel much better now. (Health restored by 4 points)

"Well..."

Xia Ling scratched her head. "Isn't this just like forcing someone to choose an option?"

[Ahem, it's like this. Even the Herrscher of the Void tries to make the situation in the data space conform to reality to achieve better results. The Xia Ling I created is based on your real-life relationship, so Theresa will choose to save your life first.]

"But I'm not exactly on the verge of death... So is it still Sirin making minor adjustments? Hmm, I'll have to be more careful this time."

"But if I get hurt, would Theresa be this sad? I really want to take a picture of her and take it back to cheer her up."

[My dear host, I suggest you avoid these kinds of maneuvers. The last one who ruined himself has now turned from dominant to submissive. Although you're already quite submissive, continuing like this might lead to a basement ending.]

"Can't you say something nice...?"

At this point, the control system has been locked, and the scene has entered a CG-like environment.

"Hey system, can we skip this CG?"

Unfortunately, the protagonist of this data space is Kiana, and obviously you can't skip over other people's lives.

Kiana's thoughtless self-proclaimed title of Kiana successfully aroused Theresa's suspicion, but after witnessing Kiana's use of the Kaslana family's gunfight technique, Theresa temporarily trusted Kiana again.

Under Theresa's guidance, Kiana began to treat Xia Ling's wounds, which were covered in blood. With the combined effects of the medicine and the repair fluid, Xia Ling's injuries recovered considerably, and she was able to move freely again. Theresa had also successfully restored her arm and walked over with the cross in her hand.

Chapter Six Xia Ling: Yes, I have a child.

"Xia Ling, how are you feeling? Are you alright now?" Theresa leaned closer and asked anxiously.

"I'm really fine... and don't underestimate my abilities."

"You clearly told me to stop the Second Herrscher! My physical abilities are so much better than yours, why did you have to take the attack for me!" Theresa's voice was very annoyed.

"Um... so what exactly is this place? Why are Sister Xia Ling and Theresa here?"

Kiana's words drew their attention to her.

"Oh right, I almost forgot about you. You still haven't explained clearly where you learned your gun-fu technique?"

Theresa looked puzzled. She knew most of the Kaslana family members, but she had never heard of such a person.

"Of course, my dad taught me!"

"Dad?"

"Sigfried Kaslana."

"Huh? Sigfried? But Kiana only one year old!"

With Theresa's exclamation, Kiana finally realized the problem.

The Theresa in front of me seems to be the Theresa from the Second Honkai Outbreak? Then who is this Sister Xia Ling? It can't be that Sister Xia Ling came during the Second Honkai Outbreak, right?

Before Kiana could even process her doubts, Theresa's words snapped Kiana out of her reverie.

"I understand now, you must be Sigfried's illegitimate daughter!"

"Eh!?" ×2

"Damn it! I knew Sigfried had a messy private life, but I never imagined he'd have such an old illegitimate daughter!"

"Oh, no wonder you call me Auntie."

At this moment, the option button reappeared on the screen.

[Unexpected Encounter]

Under Theresa's questioning, the mysterious white-haired girl finally revealed her identity. Upon learning this, Theresa, with her extraordinary wisdom, concluded that Kiana was Sigfried's illegitimate daughter.

Even though you know Sigfried isn't the person Theresa describes, you still have a choice. So, how will you answer Theresa?

[Speak the truth and try to Sigfried's name. (Gain Sigfried's favor)]

[Adding fuel to the fire, I'm here to have some fun today! (Gaining Theresa's favorability)]

[Playing with fire... actually... Kiana is my child. (This may change the course of the story)]

"This is it, this is it!"

Xia Ling looked at the third option and exclaimed excitedly, "This is the kind of hilarious option that I need to intensely enhance my understanding!"

Without hesitation, Xia Ling chose the third option.

"That... Theresa ..."

Xia Ling lowered her voice and tugged at Theresa's sleeve.

"Hmm? What's wrong, Xia Ling?"

"Um...actually..." Xia Ling's face flushed slightly. "Kiana ...is actually my child."

"Huh?" ×2

"Pfft—" A certain archbishop in front of the screen spat out a mouthful of red wine.

"Wait, Xia Ling, what did you say? You're joking, right?"

"Theresa, how could I joke about something like this with you?"

Theresa rushed towards Xia Ling with a speed Xia Ling had never seen before. "Don't lie to me, Xia Ling! What do you mean by 'your child'? You've been with me the whole time! If you had a child, how could I not know...?"

While Theresa was still in shock and uttering incoherent sentences, Kiana's brain was racing, utilizing all of the Kiana Kaslana family's limited intelligence.

"Wait, wait... Sister Xia Ling probably didn't participate in the Second Honkai Outbreak, because she's very interested in that history. It's probably not a lie that she said she came from the World Bubble."

"Then why would Sister Xia Ling say such a thing... Could it be... that she, like me, entered this data space from the outside?"

Kiana's spirits lifted; she felt she had grasped the crux of the matter.

"Yes, that's right. Sister Xia Ling sleeps with Theresa every day. Maybe Theresa sneaked out tonight and woke Sister Xia Ling up, so she followed her to find out what was going on, and then they both entered this data space..."

Kiana thought about it more and more and it seemed reasonable, so she continued to think along these lines.

"Then why did Sister Xia Ling refer to herself as my mother... Oh right, Sister Xia Ling knows Theresa here, so she must have managed to get an identity. She could tell at a glance that I also came from outside, so she deliberately said that to give me a plausible identity..."

Kiana understood everything completely!

"Wait, Xia Ling, you shouldn't have a child..."

"That's right!" Kiana suddenly stood up and declared in a resounding voice, "I am Sister Xia Ling's daughter!"

With a thud, Theresa could no longer get up.

"Hey Auntie, what's wrong? Don't faint suddenly! Do you need me to get you an oxygen tank...?"

After a long while, Theresa slowly woke up. Her first words upon opening her eyes were, "Something's not right!"

Kiana quickly replied, "Yes, yes."

Theresa sat up abruptly. "No, no, I'm not old enough!"

"You're so old now. Xia Ling was only a few years old when you were born. How could you possibly have a child?"

"Pfft—" Xia Ling, who was standing to the side, finally couldn't hold back her laughter and burst out laughing.

"Okay, Theresa, you've finally realized something's wrong."

"Actually, Kiana was only looked after by me for a while. Didn't you hear her call me Sister Xia Ling? What kind of biological daughter calls her mother 'sister'?"

As for her biological parents...

"My stinky old man abandoned me four years ago, and I came here to find him!"

"As for Sister Xia Ling, she takes care of me every day and cooks for me. It's not a problem for her to call me 'Mom,' right?"

Kiana continued Xia Ling's words.

"Yes, that's right, that's it."

"Ah..." Theresa finally breathed a sigh of relief, "So that's how it is... You should have said so sooner..."

"No, you were definitely teasing me on purpose!"

"I wasn't lying..."

At this moment, within the system space.

"My God, this is just like me!" After watching the cutscene, Xia Ling was extremely satisfied with her appearance in the data space.

[After all, this data is collected based on the host's daily behavior. The host might as well reflect on why Xia Ling treats data with such disdain.]

"Isn't this point of interest great? And look, the effect is outstanding." Xia Ling pointed to Kiana on the screen. "Kiana is now firmly convinced that this is the data space, so my existence is an anchor point for her."

"As long as she thinks of me from behind, she will remember that this is a virtual world, and Sirin's plan will fail. Otto will have to spend more Honkai Energy to forcibly stimulate the Herrscher Core and awaken Sirin."

Chapter Seven Xia Ling: It's Time for Deserters to Leave

After Xia Ling and Kiana offered their explanations, Theresa finally believed the backstory Kiana had fabricated for her.

"Poor child. Don't worry, I will definitely help you get justice!"

"However, it's dangerous here, and Xia Ling needs further treatment. Let me take you away from here first."

"Once this mission is over, I'll arrest Sigfried and give him a good talking to!"

"Yeah, that's right. I'll have to settle accounts with my old man then!" Kiana clenched her fists.

Seeing the heartwarming scene of filial piety before her, Xia Ling, watching from outside the screen, couldn't help but smile.

Then, Theresa demonstrated her excellent guiding skills.

Under Xia Ling's watchful eye, Theresa led Xia Ling and Kiana through two battle nodes, and another one was an emergency operation.

After losing 3 health points and watching several miniature combat animations, the three-person team finally arrived at a non-combat node again.

[Safe Corner]

[You, Kiana, and Theresa's makeshift combat team have finally reached the temporary command post. Here, you have safely resupplyed and rested, and you have also met Sigfried.]

[Now, in order to eliminate the Second Herrscher before Cecilia arrives, Sigfried and Theresa have decided to split up, and you and Kiana have been given several choices.]

[Follow Theresa's advice and stay put to rest. (Xia Ling leaves the team, and Kiana joins Theresa's team.)]