"I won't go into the exact principles. The blade itself used the same technology as the vibrating knives you used before, but I added some new tech. With proper handling, you can use its internal freezing capability. This time, I took inspiration from Far Eastern katana designs. It's better suited for slashing and more durable."
Obviously, this blade was meant for Lin, or it would not have been shown to him separately.
A new technological weapon...
"You think that's the end?" Delta gave a mysterious smile. From a hidden corner of the cargo bay, he pulled out another sheathed katana, its hilt almost identical in appearance to Plasma Shadow Show. "Lin, you've been enjoying close-quarters combat lately, so I thought I'd equip you with a few more melee weapons. How about calling them the Seven Swords Armament?"
"..."
Setting aside the name's overwhelming sense of déjà vu, Lin carefully examined the new blade. Delta considerately tossed it directly to him, letting him inspect it himself.
Lin pondered for a moment, gripping the sheath in one hand and the hilt in the other before drawing the blade.
"Shing."
A sky-blue blade sprang from the tip of the matte metal components extending from the hilt, tiny bolts of lightning flickering unstably within it.
For some reason, the moment Lin saw that sky-blue blade, he thought of the Third Herrscher, who had reached out both hands to him in the rain.
Her final smile surfaced in his mind, making Lin tighten his grip around the hilt.
"I made this blade based on the principles behind the Third Herrscher's shield. It's still a little unstable. The hilt generates a powerful electromagnetic field to protect the user. For a guy like you, who tends to fight so hard that all his equipment gets wrecked, it should be pretty useful."
Delta smiled as he watched Lin gaze intently at the blade. "This blade doesn't have a name yet. You can name it."
"...Let's call it Raikiri." After staring at it for a long while, thoughts swirling through his mind, Lin sheathed the blade and handed it back to Delta.
"Raikiri? Good name."
Excitedly, Delta took Raikiri back and placed it beside Plasma Shadow Show, intending to mount them when he redesigned Lin's armor later.
Watching him, Lin asked, "Why do you treat me so favorably?"
It was a question Lin had held for a long time. In the past, he had constantly been sent on missions and had never had time to think about many things. Now that he finally had time to quiet down, it was time to deal with those questions.
"Favorably?" Delta froze for a moment, then covered his chin in thought. "Hmm... That involves a lot of factors. Your physique and information-processing ability, your identity, our friendship..."
"..." He probably would not get anything useful even if he listened.
"But most importantly, it's probably because you're simply a 'human.'" Delta laughed heartily.
"..."
"Not everyone, but most of us in research have rather poor Honkai Energy Adaptability and resistance. That includes me, of course."
Delta gave a helpless, somewhat regretful smile. "I originally wanted to go to the front lines and fight alongside the soldiers too, but everyone told me I could do more in the Research and Development Department than on the battlefield."
Limited to non-combat roles by his own conditions?
"So when a kid like you appeared—someone with terrible Honkai Energy compatibility, yet absurdly capable in a fight—we cowards in the Research and Development Department were all ecstatic. It was like seeing ourselves able to fight. You're the embodiment of our ideals..."
"You showed us humanity's potential, so we forge armor worthy of you. It's that simple."
Delta patted Lin on the shoulder, gave him a thumbs-up, and said words Lin would remember for the rest of his life:
"You're my hope, Lin."
Never Forgotten
"Squad Seven has been wiped out. There is now a vacancy in Fire Moth's team structure, and combat personnel from headquarters will be reassigned."
"Designation MSA-079, Lin. In view of your achievements and abilities, which far exceed the standards of an ordinary private, you have been specially promoted to captain following evaluation and will serve as the leader of Squad Seven."
It was a promotion of more than three ranks. Not even martyrs received such treatment. He had also been directly appointed squad leader, setting a precedent for Fire Moth. After all, combat squad leaders were usually field-grade officers or above. There had never been a captain before.
Compared with his haggard state half a month ago, Lin, seated in a wheelchair, looked far more spirited now. With his back to the notification officer, he sat in the somewhat somber room as the faint glow of the names on the wall shone across the bandages on his face.
Perhaps his withdrawn nature had long since become common knowledge. The notification officer was not surprised by Lin's silence. He took out a solemn box and held it out beside Lin. This was the most important purpose of his visit.
"This is your new Fire Moth insignia. Please accept it."
"..." Lin glanced at the insignia in the box. It differed greatly from the one he had received upon joining the organization. The craftsmanship and details were much better. It was probably certification for squad leaders.
It was just an identification badge and a box to hold things. Why make it so fancy?
Lin did not ask that aloud. He merely gave a faint "Mm," accepted the insignia, and casually slipped it into his pocket.
"Then, the handover work concerning Squad Seven will be handled through communications afterward—"
"I understand."
Lin raised a hand to stop the notification officer from continuing. He turned his head and made a shushing gesture.
"...Very well. Then I won't disturb your mourning. Headquarters is holding a ball today to celebrate the completion of the Third Honkai War's follow-up operations. I believe everyone would like to see Mr. Lin attend."
"I won't go."
"..."
Lin did not offer any further explanation. He folded his hands over his legs and ignored the notification officer.
A flash of disgust and disdain crossed the notification officer's face, but he quickly concealed it. After saluting Lin, he left.
The place returned to silence.
Lin raised his head and looked over every name on the wall, carving them into his heart. At last, his gaze stopped on several newly added names.
This was Fire Moth's "cemetery."
If a Fire Moth member died in the line of duty and their body was recovered, it would be sent back to their hometown for burial. Their name, however, would remain here for their comrades to look upon.
Lin silently stared at the unfamiliar names of Squad Seven, as though gazing up at stars in the night sky.
After more than a month, the cleanup work was finally complete. This drawn-out battle against Honkai had ultimately ended in humanity's victory. Since ancient times, humanity's custom had been to celebrate victory in battle with fine wine, song, and dance.
"C-Captain, isn't this outfit a little too revealing? It doesn't seem appropriate..."
"Haha, my adorable Little Soul, have a little confidence in yourself. You're so cute, of course you should show yourself off more. Don't be like Lin, hiding his face all day."
The red-haired woman in an evening gown draped an arm over the girl's shoulder from behind. Standing before the mirror, she examined her and was thoroughly pleased with the white dress accented with blue.
As expected of her taste. It suited Soul perfectly.
"Cute, huh..." Soul's eyes drifted toward Himiko's considerable "assets," and she let out a troubled sigh. "But Captain is so mature and sexy. I feel like I can't compare at all."
Himiko's figure was voluptuous, and her gown had a low neckline and high slit designed to accentuate it. Standing beside Soul, she really did make the girl look like an undeveloped child.
Was it really still too early for her to attend a ball like this? If only Team Member Lin were here. At least seeing his iceberg-like back would keep her from getting nervous.
As Himiko helped Soul arrange her hair, she turned to the gray-haired girl standing silently nearby. "What about you, Hua? Lin isn't going. Why not attend with us?"
"I..." Hua shook her head in panic, lowering her gaze to her toes. "I'll pass. The captain probably wouldn't like me attending this kind of gathering."
"Oh, what do you take Lin for? He's not that possessive. And you were only just informed that you'd be joining his squad, right? Hehe, are you already so concerned about his feelings?"
"N-No, it's not that. I, um, um..." Hua was not very articulate. Faced with Himiko's teasing gaze, the overly innocent student girl did not know how to respond.
For nearly the past month, Hua had been undergoing recruit training at headquarters. The rest of her time had been spent with Squad Five's members.
As she understood it, Fire Moth had just endured such a brutal battle, yet it could not wait to hold a ball. The previous heavy atmosphere had been swept away. Even the staff passing through the corridors had switched from discussing work to gossip.
Lin probably hated this sort of thing. He was such a heavy person, after all.
"Oh~ I get it. You're wondering whether Lin dislikes holding a ball after a battle?"
Himiko chuckled and rubbed Hua's head.
Why was this child's mind so pure?
"Lin doesn't actually hate this sort of thing. He understands that people need to wash away their grief, and he hopes others can step out from the shadows of losing friends and comrades."
Himiko spoke earnestly. She was the oldest here and had the most experience, so she saw things most clearly. The other two were rookies who had only recently stepped onto the battlefield. They also both held a reverence for Lin that bordered on admiration. Their focus was mostly on his actions rather than on him as a person, which inevitably skewed their view of him.
"But he himself doesn't want to forget his sorrow." Himiko smiled helplessly. "Should I call him mature, or childish?"
He simply did not want the dead to be forgotten, so he let himself sink into negative emotions.
Lin's life was not a blank sheet of paper, but he forced himself to become one, allowing the deaths and emotions of others to scribble all over it. Gradually, less and less of what belonged to Lin himself remained.
One day, Lin would be crushed by the sorrow accumulating inside him. And the reason that day came would most likely be the departure of someone close to him.
"Then let's go find Team Member Lin."
"Hmm?"
Soul's delicate face took on a determined expression. Clenching her little fists, she looked at the surprised Himiko.
As a rookie who had joined less than two months ago, she had fought alongside Himiko to defeat the resurrected Sessha. In only one month, she had learned things from Lin that she had never learned before.
They had not known each other long, but Soul had developed complicated feelings for this person who was always so cold, feelings that bordered on admiration.
Even if it was only wishful thinking on her part, she wanted the sensitivity Lin had shown with a gentleness she had never seen before to remain intact that day—not merely as a soldier fighting Honkai, but as an ordinary person named Lin.
"You've grown up, Little Soul." Himiko stretched lazily and smiled. "All right. Since you're both so worried, let's go find him. And Soul, from today onward, he's the captain of Squad Seven. Don't call him Team Member Lin anymore."
"Th-Then what should I call him?"
"Be more direct. How about Lin?"
"T-That's... too intimate..."
"Hehe."
Under Himiko's almost blatant gaze, Soul's face rapidly heated up. The small amount of determination she had just gathered instantly vanished without a trace.
Heartbeat Memories
"Just as I thought, he's here."
The peace of the "cemetery" was broken. Lin opened his lightly snoring eyes, like a dim lamp lighting up in the night.
Three girls filed in through the entrance. Their scattered footsteps instantly made the place feel lively, and all of them crowded around Lin at once.
Seeing the faintly glowing names on the wall, Hua respectfully lowered her head and softened her voice. "Were these all soldiers who died in battle? Sorry for disturbing them..."
"You're only this much of an ice cube because you hide in places with such heavy yin energy all day." Himiko reached around from behind Lin and kneaded his cheeks with both hands, grinning wickedly. "You didn't even come see the outfit I picked for Little Soul at today's ball. What? Now that you're a captain, you look down on me?"
"Captain, keep your voice down." Soul was overwhelmed by embarrassment and tried her best to stop Himiko from disturbing the heroes' rest. Still, she stole a glance at Lin's eyes from the corner of her vision. When she found that he had no interest in even looking at her, she could not help feeling disappointed.
But that was Team Member Lin.
She quickly comforted herself and pulled herself together.
"What are you afraid of? Half the names here are old acquaintances of mine. Hmph, would they dare have a problem with me?"
Lin sighed. Looks like there would be no peace today after all.
"What is it? The ball is about to start. Why did you come looking for me?" After taking off his helmet, Lin's voice was much gentler. He turned his wheelchair around and asked the three of them.
"Well, these two can't stand seeing a certain aloof boy suffer through loneliness. They passed up a whole crowd of handsome men at the ball just to come find a reclusive guy who hides his face all day." Himiko pursed her lips and laughed in a flippant tone.
Lin shifted his gaze toward the two standing farther back.
Lin's gaze was cold enough to freeze a thermometer, and anyone would feel nervous under it.
They were somewhat afraid that Lin would coldly tell them they were unnecessary. Lin rarely cursed, but when his rare sarcasm left his mouth, every word was devastatingly sharp.
But Lin did not do that. Just as Himiko understood, he could empathize with others. It was only his few words that made him seem almost inhumanly distant.
He nodded gently. "It's fine. You don't need to worry about me."
"No, Team Member Lin, it's bad for your health if you keep being so depressed. You only just got out of the Repair Pod." Soul's short hair trembled as she pressed her lips together and stepped forward to persuade him.
Lin wanted to say that he was not depressed, and that he had left the Repair Pod nearly half a month ago. But before he could speak, Hua added in agreement.
"That's right. Martial artists also speak of one's state of mind. If you immerse yourself in negative emotions all day, your injuries will heal more slowly. That won't help you return to the battlefield at all."
"..."
Lin hesitated when he heard that his injuries might heal more slowly. Soul quietly gave Hua a thumbs-up.
Hua, good job!
After considering it again and again, he nodded. "All right. I'll go to the ball."
"Huh?" Soul froze.
Lin gave her a puzzled look.
"N-Nothing."
She had only wanted to keep Lin company and talk with him. She had not expected him to take the initiative to go to the ball.