Sugar Sweetened Halfway

Outside the Soul Steel Prison, a guard post.

The boy spoke softly to the girls who were staring blankly at him:

"After you sign this confidentiality agreement, you can return to your residence in Sydney for the time being. Give me your answer in a week."

Carole mumbled in a daze:

"Teacher Su, is Seele really still Seele?"

Su Qing'an was stunned. After a moment of silence, he recalled the little girl who had pouted and said she didn't want to eat green peppers, and softly replied:

"Seele... still Seele."

"But the fact that she is the Sixth Herrscher remains beyond doubt."

"Your Honkai Energy proficiency is excellent, so even if a berserk mode occurs, I am confident in ensuring your safety."

They all understood the meaning of that statement. If Seele Fulei had abandoned Honkai Honkai-given personality and used human consciousness to control the Herrscher body, then it would be normal for her not to be able to perfectly control her power.

This means that even if the other party is still the same little girl, the risks are still very high, while their excellent Honkai Energy resistance means that as long as the berserk mode is maintained within the premise of Honkai Energy out of control, they will not face any life-threatening danger.

Lin Xinchán, on the other hand, was completely different. Although the berserk state itself was a non-existent event that only existed on paper, if it happened, it would at least shorten her lifespan by more than half, and she might even be forced to have Artificial Stigmata transplanted in order to continue to live.

Therefore, not only did Su Qing'an understand the other party's choice, but the others present also did not question it after realizing that the other party had received the news first and made the choice to leave.

The reason is simple.

If even those closest to Seele Fulei hesitated, then it's perfectly normal for Lin Xinchán to refuse.

Rather, as a soldier Moth to Fire, the fact that she ultimately didn't show genuine hatred demonstrates that Fulei's personal style still managed to carve out a glimmer of light within the concept of Herrscher Seele.

Fu Hua was grateful for the other party's reaction, as it proved that Seele's time spent with Lin Xinchán was not entirely meaningless.

But I cannot make the same choice.

Seele is still Seele; Fu Hua, who never witnessed it firsthand, shouldn't have been able to confirm this reality.

However, the girl's trust in Su Qing'an and her inner willingness to lean towards this conclusion led her to accept this answer.

Fu Hua still remembers the girl's cautious gaze when she hid behind Su Qing'an and looked at her, and she can hardly forget the way the girl hugged her and called her "sister" with such trust.

She thought that perhaps Xin Chan could choose to have nothing to do with it anymore, and it wouldn't matter if Qiluo and Pepper did the same.

But I can't do it myself.

Seele Fulei's past is nothing but an untraceable, unspeakable darkness.

For that girl who was used to curling up on the sofa and staring blankly at the TV, there were very few corners left to accommodate her. Even though she clearly had very few things left in this world, the Honkai still wanted to take away that only place to stay.

If I were to do as He wishes, I would one day feel regret.

Carole and Shiyu Qiluo, standing to the side, did not Fu Hua's unwavering resolve.

The two were not very familiar with Seele when they were in Canghai City. Their impressions of each other were gradually built up over the six months after the Great Honkai.

Should I consider her a younger sister? Or a friend?

It's a bit hard to explain, but describing it as close and important is also fine.

Now, this emotion faces ingrained preconceived notions, accumulated knowledge, terrifying concepts, and unknown risks.

Thinking rationally, the pros and cons of meeting Seele are almost completely unbalanced.

All that can be gained is the little girl's joy and happiness, but what must be paid is breaking through the invisible framework set by worldly conventions and enduring the torment of overcoming the many shackles in one's heart.

The reason they can still hesitate and have room for serious conflict is the result of the convergence of Himeko's unconscious influence as captain and a fact she once stated.

Himeko's view of Herrscher seems to differ from that of normal humans; her strong willpower allows her to still possess the capacity for rational thought.

Hatred and blood, war and fire.

These crucial factors, which were enough to numb her senses, seemed to actually make the woman more willing to see the world from other perspectives.

Late one night a few months ago, shortly after a mission ended, they gazed at Himeko's increasingly beautiful profile in the flickering light of the campfire. That woman, defying the discipline of soldiers, sipped her drink, looked at the starry sky, and casually chatted with them about endless topics.

[What do you think Herrscher is? Normally, you'd only come to think of them as devils, monsters, or perhaps Honkai Apostle. But for some reason, ever since I witnessed the remains of Herrscher, I've felt that the so-called monsters aren't so far-fetched after all.]

[Life? Yes, that's a more fitting description. Upon seeing her slender limbs and pure white dress, one might have a fleeting thought that she was almost human.]

[These words might be hard for others to understand, but if it were you... you might have a deeper understanding.]

The woman's lips parted slightly in the firelight, the upward curve of which carried an inexplicable meaning in contrast to the heaviness that flashed in her Amber eyes.

It wasn't until one day later that the unspoken meaning of this seemingly random conversation was suddenly revealed.

Their friend, the girl named Satou Yunona, did not die from Honkai invasion or being hunted by Honkai Beast.

That familiar, gentle yet cunning girl who loved to play tricks died as the Third Herrscher.

The news, after a long period of silence, no longer evoked much sadness or grief. My mind went blank except for a subtle shift in my understanding of the Herrscher.

Therefore, the events currently unfolding act as a buffer for these individuals.

However... it's still very difficult to accept it easily.

Su Qing'an said softly:

"I know it's difficult for anyone to continue contacting them given this reality, so you can consider it yourselves over this week."

"Also, here are some videos of Seele at home right now."

"Even if you can't accept meeting her, seeing her as she always has been should be some consolation for you."

Carole watched the video the boy sent her in silence.

If Seele is truly still Seele, then my current hesitation and entanglement might become a double-edged sword that hurts her.

She was both relieved that the other person was away and terrified of the despair that the Herrscher represented.

The little girl in the video, quietly picking vegetables with long eyelashes, seemed on the verge of being devoured by an even greater demon and transformed into a monster in a world of depravity.

At that time, her innate power and mission to destroy civilization will lead her to plunder the happiness and hope of even more people.

This potential danger and possibility is an indelible shadow, and a hurdle that is difficult to overcome.

Having witnessed the power of the Herrscher and the calamities they bring, attempting to associate with them is like a human deliberately walking towards a live volcano that could erupt at any moment; every step is like treading on scorching steps into hell, moving further and further away from the human world.

How many people in this world are willing to face a tsunami that can be easily avoided?

This is what it means to force someone to do something they can't.

Shiyu Qiluo nodded quietly. Even with the reality of an acquaintance becoming Herrscher as a buffer, the concept of Herrscher was not completely demonized in her mind.

However, just like Lin Xinchán's thoughts, their subconscious attitude towards the Herrscher has long been cultivated into the same attitude in the same environment, and that higher level of acceptance is not enough to draw conclusions in the short term.

She said softly:

"Teacher Su, we'll think about it carefully."

The girl's blue-green eyes were lowered, her expression calm yet tinged with sadness.

"This shouldn't just be a matter of our personal wishes; it also involves consideration for Seele herself. She... must be very sad, given her nature of being someone who hates to cause trouble for others."

"So..."

Shiyu Qiluo, then whispered:

Anyway, thank you.

She took Carole's hand and politely said goodbye to the distraught girl, choosing to leave for the time being.

Beneath the distant sky, a pitch-black armed helicopter, tearing through the azure backdrop, slowly came to rest on the helipad.

Fu Hua's fingertips twitched, but she chose not to stop them. She watched the two figures step into the cabin, speechless for a moment.

Su Qing'an thought for a moment and said:

"Not being directly rejected is a good thing."

She responded:

"Yes, whatever choice Qiluo and Pepper make, I won't blame them."

"But my concern is that if they choose to refuse, and then feel guilty about it, we might not be able to get along as usual for a long time."

Su Qing'an remained silent for a while. When he first spoke about these things, he only considered the issue of the right to know, without considering the chain reaction that this news would bring about and the many bad consequences.

Even though he has grown since coming into this world, he has not had many opportunities to hone his basic interpersonal skills and analytical abilities, which has led to his inexperience and lack of thoroughness in these areas.

Perhaps telling them separately, rather than all three of them at once, is the least likely approach to cause any subsequent problems.

The reason I spoke to Lin Xinchán alone was that she faced the greatest risks and had the most marginal relationship with Seele.

But now that I think about it... maybe not informing them at all would have been a better choice.

The reason given for directly addressing the three women was simply that they had a good relationship, and it would be more convenient to say so directly. However, in retrospect, this approach was indeed inappropriate.

Fu Hua glanced at the boy's expression. Although it seemed as indifferent as usual, she could strangely sense an aura of despondency emanating from him.

She's kind of cute.

The little girl thought for a moment, then, under Su Qing'an's questioning gaze, she couldn't help but pat his head. Then she withdrew her hand and said seriously:

"No one is perfect. You're already incredibly capable in every sense of the word. Having some flaws is actually a strength."

"And they all want to know."

"While a white lie might be better in this situation, it's precisely because people have so little left to hold onto that they care so much about what has become of it."

"You see, there are always novels where people spend a long time searching for seemingly meaningless truths because they are obsessed with the unknown cause of death of someone important."

"The result may be important, but there are always people who can't simply accept the result, especially since... this result is false."

Although she understood that the other party had subtly shifted the concept, seemingly harboring the prejudice that beauty is in the eye of the beholder, and even bringing up the comparison between fiction and reality, Su Qing'an, as a human being with normal emotional intelligence, naturally wouldn't say anything tactless to refute them.

Moreover, Hua's unusual chattiness is... quite adorable.

So the boy patted her head under her questioning gaze.

--I accidentally got it back.

He countered with a question:

"Isn't Hua scared? I originally thought I needed to let you calm down a bit before you could gradually accept the current situation."

Fu Hua paused for a moment, then asked:

Will Seele hurt me?

Su Qing'an answered honestly:

"No, Seele is still Seele, she would never choose to hurt you."

"I have severed the link between her and the Honkai Consciousness, so the possibility of her going berserk because of her is almost zero."

"The other possible damage is at most due to the accidental loss of Honkai Energy caused by subconscious resistance, but this poses no danger to your Honkai Energy, which has been modified and sublimated three times by the Void Sword Qi."

She countered with:

"Then why should I be afraid?"

Su Qing'an said:

"Because these seemingly safe conditions are all based on my own words, and besides, the very meaning of the Herrscher is enough to make people hesitate."

The girl's slender, delicate hand grasped the boy's large palm. She glanced away from him, her fair face already warm, but she tightened her grip on his fingers, the cool touch of their skin turning hot with each rub.

She blinked and said softly:

"You said that's Seele."

"If Su Qing'an is certain that Seele is still Seele, and is willing to let me see her, then I have no reason to refuse."

This answer was both unexpected and perfectly logical.

Su Qing'an felt the knuckles of his fingers being gently twisted, and gazed at the girl's pink lips with a deep look in his eyes.

He asked softly:

"Because you believe?"

Fu Hua pursed her lips, gesturing for the boy to bend down.

Immediately, her soft, delicate hair brushed against his cheek, and she whispered in his ear in a barely audible voice:

"Because... you can't bear to part with it."

"Huh?!"

That was a gasp of surprise, as her trembling lips were suddenly silenced.

Then, all that remained were the cute whimpers of a small animal.

Fu Hua's attempt to flirt backfired spectacularly.

The price was—being kissed.

On the other hand, the romantic comedy atmosphere can barely dilute the heavy tone of the tragedy, but Shiyu Qiluo and Carole can only return to their bleak life trajectory.

Neither of them was surprised by Fu Hua's choice.

During the six months that Su Qing'an was asleep and her father was terminally ill, Seele perfectly fulfilled her role as a family member.

For Fu Hua, the place assigned to her by the Moth to Fire could be called home because that little girl was always there waiting for her.

Seeing her curled up in bed like a cat, peacefully sleeping with the blanket pulled up, in the dim light of her home, I felt a strange sense of happiness.

This was also true for Carole and Shiyu Qiluo. During their downtime from missions, they would occasionally share photos they had secretly taken of Seele. In these years of silence, whispers, and laughter, these photos served as signposts that pulled them out of the killing and war, providing them with brief moments of peace and mental respite.

Seele was like a lighthouse on a dark sea, and also like proof that they had once lived in that city.

These things were true for all of them, but perhaps they were even more profound for Fu Hua.

But one thing is certain: they didn't want Seele Fulei to suffer any hardship.

Fu Hua was right about one thing: in such an era, people have very few things left to keep around them.

Those considered truly precious are extremely rare.

These girls, having lost all their loved ones, rely on each other for survival in this increasingly hopeless world. In such circumstances, how could they not cherish one another...?

Seele Fulei became the Sixth Herrscher.

The news struck Carole like a thunderbolt. She was in a daze the whole way, and it was only by being led by the hand by Shiyu Qiluo that she arrived at her newly assigned residence.

The two did not exchange words and went to separate rooms after entering the residence.

Carole curled up in the corner of the bed, holding the terminal and repeatedly playing the video sent by Su Qing'an, her gaze fixed on it as if she were locked on it.

After a long while, she grabbed a corner of the blanket and covered her face, which was already soaked with tears.

The girl whispered:

"Thank goodness, he's not dead..."

Seele is not dead.

Even though she became Herrscher, she is not truly dead.

After repeatedly confirming the information, she cautiously accepted it, as if she were repeatedly looking at a lottery ticket that looked like a winning number, feeling both joy and fear that one of the numbers might not match and cause everything to fall apart.

Carole cried weakly, sadly, and through gritted teeth, whispering:

"Honkai, Honkai, Honkai..."

The complex emotions conveyed in her gradually hoarse, tearful voice were so varied that even she herself could hardly discern them.

Shiyu Qiluo was playing the guitar very seriously. Her slender and beautiful fingertips plucked out clumsy notes, but they were much better than they had been six months ago.

After a long while, she gazed at the setting sun outside the window and murmured softly:

"It sounds awful."

The tear on her cheek fell to the ground, splashing into tiny arcs of light in the fading sunlight...