In Honkai, but Integrated Strategies Activated

Inside the system space at this moment.

"Perfect, I knew it. The more experienced someone is, the more they'll trust their own knowledge and judgment."

Xia Ling excitedly waved her hand and said smugly to the system, "See? Just like I said, Theresa will make up a whole backstory for me based on her understanding of the Sea of Quantum and World Bubbles. Look at that apologetic look in her eyes."

[Boss Xia Ling is so fun.]

[But are you going to make yourself half-dead and throw yourself in front of her, making her regret it for life?]

Xia Ling looked at the system with an indescribable expression, "You say I'm fun, but you understand pretty well too, don't you?"

"But there's no need. It would be too deliberate that way. In this situation, all I need to do is go out, explain things clearly to Theresa, and then claim I'm homeless. Getting a position at St. Freya will be a piece of cake."

"The only problem is trying to avoid Otto's attention... Unlike people from Anti-Entropy, Otto's research into the Sea of Trees is not something I can bluff my way through."

[But as you come into contact with the Big Three, it's inevitable that you'll enter Otto's sight, isn't it? What's more, at this point in time, Fu Hua is still Otto's informant.]

"Well... I only have some initial ideas. How to proceed will depend on which operative my first character card will be once I enter the academy."

Chapter 14: Found a Homeless Girl

As time passed, the Honkai Energy forcibly attached by Yunna began to dissipate, and the rampaging vines gradually weakened.

During this time, Theresa came out of Judas' Vow to check a few times, while Xia Ling observed the situation on the sports field from within the system space.

Finally, after more than an hour, the vines on the sports field stopped spreading and attacking wildly. Instead, they collapsed limply on the ground as if they had lost their support.

"It looks like the Honkai Energy remaining on these vines has finally dissipated."

[Is the host going out now?]

"Yes, it's time to wake Theresa up."

With a shift in scenery before her eyes, Xia Ling was teleported by the system to the sports field of Chiyu Academy.

"Wow, this place went from a noble academy to a nature reserve."

Xia Ling poked the fallen vines on the ground. The vines didn't react, and even the poison attached to them had disappeared.

"As expected, the poison that could take down Theresa couldn't possibly be inherent to the vines. In the end, it was just Yunna's own Honkai Energy characteristics, merely transmitted through attachment to the vines."

"With Yunna dead, it naturally all dissipated."

Looking around, Xia Ling easily found Judas' Vow standing tall on the sports field.

This shining golden cross had not been affected by the vine rampage at all. It was new, bright, and stood as before.

Xia Ling raised her hand and knocked on the cross's outer shell, "Theresa, stop sleeping, it's time to get up."

A mechanical sound immediately came from inside the cross, followed by the cross opening, and Theresa emerged from it.

"You're okay? That's great." Seeing Xia Ling safe and sound, and even having the energy to come and call her, Theresa felt relieved.

As the principal of St. Freya Academy, she could immediately sense that the girl had a tendency towards self-destruction. Combined with her guesses about the girl's situation, she had been worried that something might happen to her.

If Xia Ling knew what Theresa was thinking at that moment, she would probably feel very wronged. Self-destructive tendencies, taking life lightly – wasn't it just a side effect of dying too many times in the system?

"Have these vines lost their activity?"

Immediately after, Theresa saw the scene on the sports field, which resembled a primeval forest.

"Yes, that's right. I tried them just now. The poison attached to these vines has also disappeared, so there won't be any problems if we leave them alone."

"You tried them yourself?!" Theresa's face instantly broke out in a cold sweat, and she immediately reprimanded her, "What were you thinking? That poison of hers is something even I wouldn't dare to touch carelessly!"

"Don't worry, I'm fine with this kind of thing." Facing Theresa's scolding, Xia Ling just shook her head expressionlessly, "You must have many questions too. Let's find a place to talk slowly."

Saying that, Xia Ling started walking on her own.

"You..." Theresa opened her mouth, wanting to say something, but in the end, she said nothing and silently followed.

More than ten minutes later, led by Xia Ling, the two arrived at a familiar rooftop.

That's right, it was the Origin Highlands. Unfortunately, there were no wormholes or the Finality Crater yet (just kidding).

"Is this considered a pilgrimage?" Xia Ling asked herself.

[I think the host should wait until this place becomes its complete form before coming.]

"It's fine, it doesn't matter. System, remember to take some photos."

[Huh? What is the host going to do?]

"After Mei's domestic violence, I can use these photos to tease her."

[Alright, alright. I hope the host won't end up like Black Swan, confidently teasing Mei and then becoming Jail Goose.]

[Getting into the groove, aren't we.jpg]

"Here it is..."

Xia Ling walked to the rooftop railing and looked back at Theresa.

"Do you want to ask first, or should I?"

"How about one question each? I'll ask you first." Theresa pressed her throbbing temples. "After all, I'm the person in charge of this area, so investigating suspicious individuals should be part of my job."

"Anything is fine, I don't really have any questions anyway," Xia Ling shrugged.

"Then, first, who are you, and why did you appear while I was fighting with Yunna?"

"My name is Xia Ling," Xia Ling answered without hesitation. "As for my identity... a transmigrator, a wanderer, a fugitive, you can interpret it however you like."

"As for why I appeared there... I'm not entirely sure myself, because I didn't intentionally set a landing point when I arrived in this world. I guess it's probably because the Honkai Energy concentration is higher where you were fighting."

"Then it's my turn. Are you Theresa? Although I know that similar people often exist in different worlds, I still hope to get confirmation from you personally."

"I am. My name is Theresa Apocalypse. Do you... know me?"

"I do know you, or rather, I might not know you... I just wanted to confirm if I helped the wrong person just now. Since you are Theresa, then it doesn't matter."

It seems she had a good relationship with the Theresa from her original world... Theresa pursed her lips. She wanted to comfort Xia Ling but didn't know how to start.

Finally, Theresa let out a soft sigh and continued, "How did you come to our world? The commotion when you teleported over was so huge, but why does your strength seem so... weak?"

"Because I'm bound to something very powerful. Hmm... it might be similar in nature to your cross. It's something rare for an entire civilization."

"It can take me through the barriers between worlds, but the effect is very unstable. After using it this time, it might be a long time before it recovers."

"As for my strength... it's not a big problem. It should recover quite a bit after some time."

The system is indeed something rare for an entire civilization, and it did bring me across worlds... As for my strength, I'll just say this is my original strength after I promote myself to Elite 2.

Coming from some other world or World Bubble, and that world might not be doing well. Severely injured but can recover, with some ability to travel through the Sea of Quantum... In Theresa's mind, Xia Ling's image gradually took shape.

"Okay, now it's your turn to ask."

"I don't have anything to ask. If it's possible, just tell me about the situation in your world," Xia Ling said indifferently.

"If you still have anything you want to ask, feel free to do so."

"Hmm... Where are you planning to go next?"

"I don't have anywhere to go. I'll just find a place where I won't starve."

"Eh? Aren't you planning to go home? Your arrival in our world seems to have been an accident, right?"

Theresa looked at Xia Ling, feeling a bit nervous. Although this question might also be a sensitive topic, as the head of the Far East Branch, she had to be responsible for the entire Far East region.

Finding out the next move of this visitor from another world was a necessary task for her.

"Home..." Xia Ling showed a somewhat lonely expression. "I... might not have a home anymore."

Chapter Fifteen: Theresa: I Really Deserve to Die

Theresa fell silent.

She felt like she wouldn't be able to sleep tonight.

"Um, you mean you don't have anywhere to go right now?"

"...No."

"I can also hide back in the space where I avoided the vines before. In there, I can see scenery similar to home, but... there's no one there."

Theresa's sense of guilt deepened. If she were to leave the girl alone here, she felt like she would slap herself awake in the middle of the night even if she managed to fall asleep.

"If... if you don't mind," Theresa looked at Xia Ling, "you can come to my academy and take on a position."

Xia Ling seemed tempted but still pursed her lips and shook her head. "I don't even know the basic knowledge of your world. I can't cause you any more trouble."

"That's not a problem! Common sense can be learned very quickly!" Theresa enthusiastically promoted her academy. "Our academy has good facilities, and the students are very friendly. You can live in the big villa with me, and your salary... your salary will be paid normally too."

Hearing Theresa's last sentence, Xia Ling almost burst out laughing.

"But... will it really not cause you trouble? If you're worried about my survival skills, you don't need to be. My wilderness survival skills are very strong."

Especially in snowy environments, Xia Ling added silently in her heart.

"..."

Who would feel reassured hearing that! Theresa roared inwardly. However, what she said out loud was completely different from what she was thinking.

"It's fine, it's fine. My niece is also staying with me recently. She skips class and sleeps every day. Even if you just help me keep an eye on her, it would be a great help!"

Hmm? Get close to Kiana? And be able to discipline Kiana severely? This condition struck Xia Ling, a devoted Kiana fan, like a bolt from the blue.

"Alright... then if there's anything you need my help with, just ask anytime." Xia Ling pondered for a moment. "And... never mind, we'll talk about that later."

[Host, why are you also becoming a cryptic person?]

"No, I was planning to give her a Collapse Paradigm or a Cipher Plate to save her life later, but it's hard to explain now, so I'll keep it a surprise."

Xia Ling replied in her heart, "After all, there might not be a reasonable excuse for me to get involved in some situations, but it's different for Theresa."

"You agreed? That's great!" Theresa's eyes lit up. "Then you can come back to the academy with me on the transport plane later. I'll introduce you to Himeko then."

"Himeko?"

"Yes, she's an older single aunt. She's my right-hand woman here in the Far East."

Ol- old single... You really dare to say that...

"System, did you record that sentence?"

[Don't worry, Host, I know you well enough. I've been ready for a long time.]

Xia Ling started trying to hold back her laughter again.

Fortunately, her persona at the moment was that of an emotionally detached young girl, so it wouldn't be a problem even if she didn't talk much.

"Right, while we have this time, let me give you some basic information about this world."

After Theresa called for the transport plane, she began chatting with Xia Ling with great interest. "You can also tell me about the differences in your world. Maybe you won't have to relearn a lot of things."

[Wow, Host, didn't you say Theresa wasn't very smart? She's testing you.]

"I just said she wasn't smart, but she's almost at the age of knowing destiny, okay? Life experience is a big factor." Xia Ling complained in her mind.

"Besides, this kind of probing is necessary. People tend to believe the conclusions they come to themselves, and the things she's testing me on are easy for me because I really am from another world."

"Do children in your world only sleep six hours a day? That's too terrifying... St. Freya only has six hours of classes a day."

"There's no other way... the environment is different. After all, we don't have physical education classes like St. Freya."

"But your math seems pretty good. Maybe you could tutor Kiana?"

"I'd be happy to help. I might even need to borrow your history classes, as the differences in history are quite significant."

"Exactly, exactly. That's not a problem. I didn't expect Tesla and Einstein in your world to be men. That's really... a shame there are no photos. Otherwise, I'd really like to see them."

As the two were chatting happily, a buzzing sound came from the sky. In the distance, a small black transport plane slowly landed on the playground of Chiyu Academy. Immediately after, a red figure jumped off the plane.

"Good heavens, Theresa, did you bring Black Abyss White Flower here? Or are you planning to become a gardener?"

Seeing the vines all over the playground, Himeko's mouth twitched.

"This has nothing to do with me. It's all the Pseudo-Herrscher's doing. If this Herrscher were willing to dedicate themselves to environmental protection, they might become globally famous very soon."

Theresa, with Xia Ling, slowly walked over from a distance.