Herrscher of Ice

While you and Pardo enjoyed some pleasant time alone together, Vill-V was hard at work developing the third Divine Key—the Key of Retribution, Seven Thunders of Retribution.

At the beginning of the year you turned twenty, Flame Chasers detected an intense Honkai Energy Fluctuation.

The Fifth Herrscher—the Herrscher of Ice—had descended, and the location was the village where Chiyou lived.

Because your squad had the most combat experience, it was appointed the First Combat Squad to gather intelligence on the Herrscher and, if conditions allowed, kill her.

Due to his outstanding performance in the battle against the Fourth Herrscher, Kevin was appointed vice-captain.

He chose to head alone to the Fifth Herrscher's location to fight, thereby reducing the squad's casualties.

Yet after passing through the snow-covered streets, he saw no sign of the Herrscher of Ice.

Instead, he saw a massive crater, as though it had been struck by a meteor. The air was filled with cold and the smell of burning, proof that a fierce battle had taken place here.

The Herrscher Core at the center of the crater told a single fact—the Herrscher of Ice had already been destroyed.

Everyone processed this fact and reported the intelligence to their superiors.

Watching their performance, you knew that the Herrscher of Ice had encountered Chiyou the moment she descended. The newborn Herrscher, not yet given time to develop, had been instantly killed by Chiyou.

Afterward, with his village destroyed, Chiyou began wandering. He eventually made his way to Twilight Town, where Apponia, the owner of the Twilight Town sanatorium, took him in and made him a porter there.

You chose to stand by and watch, but Flame Chasers did not see it that way. The organization ordered you and Pardo, both natives of Twilight Town, to investigate further and find the mysterious person who had killed the Herrscher. The others would first escort the Herrscher Core back to Flame Chasers.

Your personality was such that you would never resist over such a trivial matter, so you agreed and followed the trail all the way to your and Pardo's hometown—Twilight Town.

You knew who the mysterious person was, but you had no intention of bringing Apponia and Chiyou into Flame Chasers just yet.

So you returned home first to retrieve the things you had left there.

"Ah, it really hasn't changed at all after all these years. This brings back memories!" Pardo followed Yoshikage Kira into the house, looking over the familiar rooms with emotion.

If I hadn't met the boss, I probably wouldn't be living this comfortably now, would I? As memories of the past rose to the surface, Pardo could not help thinking fondly of Yoshikage Kira again.

"Stay here. Don't go anywhere. I'm going to get something." Seeing Pardo's nostalgic expression behind him, Yoshikage Kira reminded her before heading to his room.

"Found it." He dismantled the picture frame, and the arrow fell out. Feeling its texture in his hand, Yoshikage Kira told himself that it was not yet time.

He still could not awaken it.

He slipped the arrow into an inner pocket, making sure it would not pierce his clothes, then left the room and called Pardo to leave.

But they still had to put on a show for the mission; they could not return so early. So Yoshikage Kira and Pardo wandered around Twilight Town.

But after driving off the Sixth Wave of people who came up to rob them, Yoshikage Kira deeply realized that strolling around Twilight Town was an utterly foolish decision.

"Huh? How did we end up here? Boss, let me tell you, there's a nun in there who really loves lecturing people!"

Hearing Pardo's words, Yoshikage Kira looked ahead and discovered that he had somehow arrived in front of Apponia's sanatorium.

But Yoshikage Kira did not want to invite unnecessary trouble, so he quickened his pace and left.

"Hey, Boss, wait for me!" Seeing Yoshikage Kira speed away, Pardo hurried after him.

Inside the sanatorium, Apponia watched Yoshikage Kira leave, a confused expression appearing on her face.

Why can't I see that person's fate?

After wandering around for a day, the two returned to Flame Chasers.

Just as you expected, Flame Chasers had not expected you to bring back any useful information, so you left after making a brief report.

Back in his room, Yoshikage Kira put the arrow away and straightened his clothes in front of the mirror.

"Boss, we're here to mooch a meal again!"

Hearing the familiar voice, Yoshikage Kira answered:

"Coming."