The Final Reincarnation

Kitchen.

Yae Sakura was carefully crushing the medicine with a wooden pestle.

Every morning, the Miko would wander through the mountains and forests in search of fresh medicinal herbs.

These are the medications Rin takes regularly, and the process of making them step by step according to the formula is actually not that complicated.

However, over the years, even ordinary people will inevitably experience occasional unhappiness and irritability.

But for the Miko maiden, the time spent making medicine for her sister brought her peace and tranquility.

It was a real feeling that I was actually doing something for her.

This sense of reality fills the emptiness in her heart, bringing the Miko a little comfort.

Yae Sakura listened to the sound of the herbs being crushed, a sudden look of disappointment flashed across her serene expression.

The Miko sighed.

Rin, she never got to see the cherry blossoms the following year...

Five hundred years.

Neither Hiyori nor his own self-discipline had ever existed.

So let the Miko indulge herself this last time in the cycle of reincarnation.

Even if that Yae Sakura no longer resembles Yae Sakura.

She just... wanted Rin to see the cherry blossoms next year.

Perhaps, only in this way can Yae Sakura confront a little more of that sin.

But the Miko knew that she would never forgive the powerless and weak Yae Sakura.

Such behavior is nothing more than self-consolation and meaningless self-satisfaction; what one gains is completely disproportionate to what one gives.

If outsiders find out, they'll only be labeled as fools.

The most ridiculous thing is that five hundred years passed in one cycle after another. Only this time did the Miko finally make up her mind to make a change.

You see, didn't you used to treat all of this as just a simple dream? So you didn't care about these remnants of history at all.

For the past five hundred years Yae Sakura has acted as an indifferent observer, which is natural, as only in this way could she have survived such a long period of time without collapsing.

But in the end, the Miko chose to indulge in it instead.

She abandoned everything and embraced a fleeting, illusory dream.

But perhaps... the things the Miko chooses to embrace aren't truly meaningless.

While finding self-satisfaction, she might also offer some form of redemption.

The medicine in the pot was slowly simmering over a low flame.

Yae Sakura looked at the cloth bag on the table, which was gradually seeping blood, her gaze icy.

Su Qing'an asked:

"What does Rin think the outside world is like?"

It was just casual conversation. But Yae Rin thought about it seriously for a long time, racking her brains before giving her an answer. She said:

"The outside world is vast and full of wonderful things."

The little girl drew a circle in the air with her finger, as if trying to illustrate its size, and continued:

"But it's also very dangerous. Dad said the outside world is chaotic. Even in Yae Village, hidden among green mountains and clear waters, you'll face terrifying Demonic Beast if you step out of the village."

"So he always told me from a young age that I wasn't healthy enough to go out, but actually I still kind of wanted to see the scenery outside."

"Isn't Rin being a little naughty?"

"My older sister is the village Miko. She's incredibly powerful, so once she said she knew Rin always wanted to go out."

The little girl's sickly face suddenly lit up with a different kind of radiance. As if recalling something happy, she smiled and said:

"Then she took me to see the cherry blossoms. I had a great time that day. I never knew cherry blossoms looked like that! They were so different from the ones in picture books and stories. They were really beautiful."

"But I actually knew."

Rin's words became somewhat somber and filled with self-reproach.

"It's not good to keep troubling my sister like this. She already works so hard every day finding medicinal herbs and brewing medicine for me, and she also has to be careful not to let Demonic Beast take me out. So I told my sister that she can take me to see the cherry blossoms next year if there's a chance."

"If I don't say it this way, my sister will keep forcing herself. Actually, I know that my sister doesn't like the training of Miko, doesn't like holding a sword, doesn't like killing. My sister also loves to see cherry blossoms, but she's too gentle, so gentle that she can't refuse these things called responsibilities or obligations."

"Rin doesn't really understand either, but that's how it's written in some books."

The two listened silently as the little girl recounted her story. Theresa couldn't help but purse her lips, thinking that this little girl, who had actually existed, had died in that torrential rain five hundred years ago.

A well-behaved and sensible girl like her shouldn't have ended up like this.

Unfortunately, reality is often disappointing.

The calamities of Honkai and human malice are both such things that never cease to occur.

Perhaps an individual's strength seems too insignificant in the face of these challenges.

However, the nun would never have thought that she was powerless to do anything.

Because if you think like that, isn't it practically the same as admitting defeat?

Looking at the real yet illusory girl before her, Theresa understood that giving up was not an option.

Theresa gently hugged the little girl, leaving her momentarily stunned. The fragrance emanating from the nun's hair and her warm kindness then left Yae Rin speechless.

This is the world closest to the manifestation of the Soul Essence. As the master of most of this world, Hiyori can almost clearly feel the nun's sorrow and grief.

Immediately, Theresa's words reached her ears:

"Rin really loves her older sister."

"What a good child."

Stupid nun.

You clearly know that I'm just an illusion.

Then why are you sad? You're too naive.

She's exactly like that Saintess who risked her life to seal herself away.

But strangely, Hiyori could also understand that they were different people.

Theresa and Kallen share similar will and goals, but they are different.

Kallen is Kallen.

Theresa is Theresa.

Their paths home will also be completely different.

"Yes, my sister is very important to me. No, she's the most important person to me. I want to be with my sister forever."

In her dual identities of Hiyori and Yae Rin, she spoke words that were as truthful as could be.

She really likes her older sister.

Even if it's just for Yae Sakura's sake, she really wants to admit defeat.

Unfortunately, it's impossible.

The fox spirit within me is laughing loudly.

[We'll be able to leave soon, we'll be able to leave soon.]

[The Miko wavered; the Spirit Blade was now tainted.]

I will destroy this civilization and kill all of humanity.

Her insatiable rage is the result of the malice that Hiyori suffered back then, the bitter fruit of humanity's own actions.

Hiyori could never forgive humanity. The despair and suffering she endured in life were like fuel that would never be extinguished. Even if she took countless lives, she would only laugh gleefully.

[Humans...]

The fox shadow's roar gradually subsided, the remaining echoes carrying a hatred as deep as an abyss.

This cycle is the final one.