A Person in Izumo, Making Honkai Great Again

"Forget arms dealers or anything like that."

She felt that organizing logistics and medical support would be perfect for Kiana, requiring no adventuring and allowing her to save others.

"Okay! Let's do as Mei suggested!"

Changing "selling" to "renting" was indeed more suitable for the current situation. Kiana browsed through the one and two-star equipment, selecting a few items to offer for sale.

If these couldn't stabilize the situation, she would sell more powerful equipment from outside; that would surely stabilize it.

Besides equipment, there were also Stigmata.

Because the Honkai Energy Concentration had reached a new high, the Honkai had given her another gift, pushing her Herrscher transformation progress to a new peak.

This also allowed her to unlock new things.

The qualification to purchase Stigmata.

At first glance, all the Stigmata were grayed out, and they were all familiar ones.

For example, 'Starlight Dream'.

This was a Stigmata belonging to the Honkai Impact 2 Sirin.

...She meant the game character.

All Stigmata were in a non-purchasable state, and obtaining them was simple: just pay one million Honkai Crystals.

Thinking that Sirin still owed her five hundred thousand, Kiana felt that one million per Stigmata wasn't expensive, and might even be a bit low.

There were only about a dozen Stigmata in total, and they all had a "limit 1/1" mark below them.

However, Kiana studied them and discovered that the Stigmata shop also had a discreetly useful feature.

--Customization.

That's right, custom Stigmata!

But using the customization feature once required ten million Honkai Crystals as activation fuel.

With that price, she could buy fully starred equipment; why would she need Stigmata?

Moreover, ten million Crystals was just the base price. To get various effects, she would have to add various materials herself.

Kiana looked at the different material slots and found that abstract things like 'Memory' and 'Belief' were also required.

You can't afford it when you need it. You don't need it when you can afford it.

Useless.

Kiana sharply judged it in her heart.

"Finally, I'm back!"

Returning to the shrine, Kiana couldn't be bothered to research the Stigmata functions she couldn't afford anymore and stretched luxuriously.

She had only been out for a short while.

Yet, she had the illusion of having been away for a very, very long time.

"Tired?"

"No, no, I just feel like so many things have happened these past two days."

She had resolved to press the button that could potentially destroy the world, followed by the lightning disaster caused by Takemikazuchi, and fighting Oni Gods one after another.

She had even rescued a Sirin in Imaginary Space.

Takemikazuchi had truly fallen into Changkong City and showed signs of being transformed into a Honkai creature, frightening her into quickly telling Sirin and Mei to deal with it.

She had only activated the system three days ago, but it felt like three months had passed.

"Yeah."

Mei placed the Resonating Blade on the table, looking at the sword that had changed due to Takemikazuchi's power.

She vaguely recalled the 'Narukami' enshrined in the shrine.

She also remembered the peaceful daily life she and Kiana had before 'Narukami' was taken away.

The events they had experienced together over a few months together were not as exciting or memorable as these past two or three days.

Closing her eyes, her mind was filled with the events of these past few days and the things Kiana had said to her.

"It does feel like a long time has passed, but the dark clouds have now disappeared," Mei said. "So, get some good rest. There are other things waiting for us afterward."

Even if not for Kiana.

For the Resonating Blade before her, for others, or for her father... if he were still here, he would probably come, right?

Chapter 54: Return to Peace

"Where is Takemikazuchi? And the Resonating Blade?"

"There was an unexpected sudden situation. As for the Resonating Blade..." Sirin paused for a moment and said, "It was taken by its owner."

"Are you kidding me? Wasn't the Resonating Blade just forged? Who's the owner?"

"I'm not that bored," Sirin rolled her eyes and explained Raiden Mei's situation without reservation. Facing the disbelieving gazes of the others, she said, "That's how it is. That girl is the destined master of the Resonating Blade, and her compatibility with it is probably on par with the first true Imperial Blade master."

The comrades who rushed to deliver the blade were stunned. Holding the Narukami, which was brought from afar, one of them asked, "Then what about this unfinished product?!"

"Just give it back to her," Sirin said dismissively. "Her shrine has been worshipping it for hundreds of years anyway. Give it to her, and she can keep worshipping it if she wants."

"How can we do that!"

Someone immediately objected. The unfinished Imperial Blade was the pinnacle of Izumo's technology. Even if the Resonating Blade wasn't forged using the unfinished product due to an error, this unfinished piece was still excellent material.

This blade could become a formidable ghost-slaying weapon capable of defeating a top-tier Oni God.

"Then we'll take it back for Headquarters to decide."

No one objected to this suggestion.

How this blade should be handled really required discussion among the people at Headquarters.

If they had known it would end up like this, they wouldn't have taken the Narukami to the battlefield. They should have just left it here!

"Um, where is Raiden Mei?"

Finally, someone asked Sirin why the master of the Resonating Blade wasn't seen nearby.

"I didn't give her the Resonating Blade," Sirin said calmly. "She killed it with her own hands using some broken sword."

Immediately, some people didn't believe it. After all, they had rushed from the battlefield and personally witnessed the might of Takemikazuchi.

"How is that possible?"

How could an ordinary person kill Takemikazuchi with an ordinary sword?

Even if it were possible, it would have been with Sirin's help.

Sirin boldly presented evidence: "She could wield the power of lightning without the Resonating Blade. And if people in the past could do it, is it strange that someone can do it now?"

Strange?

That was impossible!

Wait, it wasn't entirely impossible. If it was really as Sirin said, and Takemikazuchi was suppressed by Sirin...

"Then where is she?"

"She left," Sirin said, crossing her arms. "She wields an offensive Resonating Blade, and I can't beat her."

The reinforcements exchanged confused glances.

They didn't know what Sirin meant.

They were just asking about the person.

Why did Sirin say she couldn't beat her?

Had they fought?

Until someone spoke up: "Could it be that the master of the Resonating Blade refuses to fulfill her duty of using the Imperial Blade?"

"I never said that," Sirin continued. "She just doesn't want to work with us. Yae Sakura, at Raiden Ryoma's request, took a blade from a shrine without any explanation and injured her friend. It's no wonder she wouldn't have a good attitude towards you."

Sirin didn't want too many people to disturb Raiden Mei and Kiana at the shrine. She planned to use this time to let Headquarters research the Honkai that Kiana feared.

As for her fabricating things about Raiden Mei?

She figured Raiden Mei would definitely not refuse. She was essentially fighting for Raiden Mei's freedom to disobey orders.

What?

There was such a thing before?!

Some people's expressions changed. The losses they suffered while hunting Takemikazuchi were far less than anticipated.

This was originally a great event.

It was even a historical event worthy of widespread celebration and encouragement.

Before they could even celebrate, now there was an issue where the master of the Resonating Blade had opinions about the Blade Masters and was unwilling to join them?

Signs of internal conflict just as things were looking up?

"Then what should we do?"

"Go back and report to Headquarters," Sirin said. "This has nothing to do with us. We only need to focus on defeating ghosts; everything else is for Headquarters to consider."

Those who didn't know what to do, upon hearing Sirin's laissez-faire attitude, also gave up thinking.

After all, their thoughts didn't matter; they couldn't change Raiden Mei, nor could they change Headquarters' decision.

"That's true!"

Relying on her prestige as the master of an Imperial Blade, Sirin easily gained the trust of the others. She led them to clear the surrounding area again, and after a period of rest, they contacted Headquarters and returned.

At the shrine.

Mei had taken the Resonating Blade, which was crucial for defeating ghosts. She knew that the people fighting ghosts would definitely come looking for her.

So, she braced herself and waited at the shrine.

for them to visit.

But this wait lasted for three days.

For three consecutive days, it was calm and uneventful. The residents of the underground shelter even moved back to the surface, making the quiet city lively once again.

Takemikazuchi was killed, the most terrifying disaster had passed, and the sun would rise as usual the next day.

As long as the world wasn't destroyed, people still had to work to earn money to support their families and themselves.

Except for some companies that had collapsed due to the aftermath of the battle, many other safe places had resumed operations, and office workers were active again.

"Is this the third day?"

It was a new day. Kiana watched Mei practice new sword techniques, her tone uncertain.

The calm and uneventful days for the past few days made Kiana, who had been dealing with one incident after another, unaccustomed to it.

Mainly, she was fully prepared, but Sirin hadn't made any moves.

Was it because the things she gave weren't tempting enough, or was the Resonating Blade not important?

Was their efficiency so low?

The Resonating Blade!

Aren't you guys going to come and talk?

Unbelievable!

Kiana didn't know that the people who wanted to come had their attention diverted by Sirin, focusing instead on the newly detected substance.

"Today is the third day."

Mei sheathed her sword, unsatisfied with her previous move, and decided to rethink it.

"Are you bored, Kiana?"