Another Conflict

"Assistant, today's food isn't as good as usual. If you're not feeling well, you can ask Hundred Flavors for help, you know?"

"...It's nothing. I really am a little out of sorts today." Hearing Vill-V's concerned words, Yoshikage Kira declined her offer to help and ate with his right hand.

I didn't expect a Herrscher's damage to linger for this long. As he thought this, Yoshikage Kira glanced at his left hand.

Three days had already passed. Aside from repairing the surface cracks at first, his left hand still had no strength.

Right. If it could damage the bomb cart, then it damaged me internally.

He felt somewhat irritated, but Yoshikage Kira hid it well, at least in front of Vill-V and Pardo.

But for someone who sought the unchanging peace of an ordinary life, even the slightest change could not be concealed.

"I'm full. I'm going upstairs to sleep."

"Chiyou, remember to wash the dishes."

"...Tch. Got it."

Yoshikage Kira turned back to look at Chiyou in surprise. He had not expected him to agree so readily.

"Tch, what the fuck are you looking at?!"

There it was. Yoshikage Kira nodded in satisfaction and headed toward his room.

Entering the room, Yoshikage Kira picked up the photo frame and prepared to take out the arrow hidden in its inner layer.

"...Father, stop hiding in the photograph all the time."

"Aiya, isn't it safer for me to hide in the photo? Heh, after getting a Stand, I can just absorb Honkai Energy every day. I don't even need to eat."

"You really do see things clearly. You've practically become a plant. Go to sleep early if there's nothing else."

"You should rest early too, Kira. You've looked rather haggard lately. Take care of yourself."

"Mm, I know."

Upon hearing Yoshikage Kira's answer, the little old man vanished from the photograph, leaving only the childhood Yoshikage Kira and Pardo behind.

Fate was vague and mysterious, yet Yoshikage Kira sensed the aura of fate from the arrow.

"If I'm not mistaken, then answer me. Answer humanity's despair." Yoshikage Kira stared at the arrow and muttered to himself.

The arrow seemed to respond, piercing directly into Yoshikage Kira's wrist and entering his body through his left arm.

Feeling the power within his body and the sensation of his left hand being restored, even Yoshikage Kira could not help feeling pleased.

Then, let's start exercising.

Meanwhile, everyone except Yoshikage Kira and Chiyou, who was washing the dishes, remained seated at the dining table.

"What a despicable thing to do, Elysia."

"..."

"Why aren't you saying anything? Weren't you quite eloquent when you asked Yoshikage Kira for help?"

Faced with Vill-V's accusation, Elysia remained silent.

"Vill-V, there's no need to be so harsh..." Pardo said weakly.

"No need? Once there's a first time, there'll be countless times. This time, Yoshikage Kira injured his hand. What about next time? What if he..."

Vill-V did not finish her sentence, nor did she want to.

"In short, don't let me find out that you're asking Yoshikage Kira to do anything again in the name of protecting humanity."

"You won't want to know the consequences."

With that, Vill-V left the dining table.

"Uh, I'll go talk to Vill-V." Saying that, Pardo also left the table.

"Vill-V?"

"Pardo? What is it?"

"Uh... which Vill-V are you?"

"You can call me... 'Ultimate Evil.'"

"What, arguing again?"

"First Yoshikage Kira and Elysia, then Vill-V and Elysia. Hahaha, you two pairs really are..."

"Boring beyond belief."

"I won't be washing dishes again." With that, Chiyou left as well.

Mei rubbed her forehead and sighed.

"Then let's hold the meeting ourselves."

Although Elysia's request allowed you to resolve the Herrscher of Restraint ahead of time,

a large number of Fusion Warriors still perished, while some could no longer participate in battle due to impaired bodily functions. Fewer than a hundred Fusion Warriors remained capable of fighting.

Although this was far better than the original situation, where only thirteen remained, humanity had still inevitably fallen into despair.

To maintain humanity's resolve to fight the Honkai, Mei proposed at the dining table that Apponia use her Commandments to ensure humanity could continue resisting the Honkai.

Afterward, Dr. Mei successively proposed the Stigmata Project, the Chimerical Project, and the Everlasting Sands Project based on the current situation.

"Is there anything else to add?"

"No."

At the enormous dining table, only Mei and Mobius's voices could be heard.

"Everyone, I know what you're all thinking, but please pull yourselves together."

"Though I don't want to say it, the truth is that humanity's hopes can only rest on us."

"You are humanity's strongest fighters. Don't let your emotions affect you, all right?"

"I won't say anything more. Take care of yourselves."

"Elysia, sleep with me tonight."

"...Mm."

Looks like it's my turn to comfort Elysia. This really is... Elysia smiled helplessly and led Elysia into her room.

Yoshikage Kira knew nothing of what had happened at the dining table.

A disciplined person had already gone to bed early.