I'm Not a Flame-Chaser

There may appear to be only four people in the room, but there are actually eight people in total.

Putting aside the still-unawakened bell, one of the feathers seemed to be provoking the brick, while the brick was cursing loudly, and the other feather remained completely calm.

"What's next?" Kiana asked, and everyone turned to look at her. She swallowed and glanced at Lin, saying, "There are two Herrscher of Reason, right? How do we deal with that?"

That's right, the feather is the "Herrscher of Reason" from the Previous Civilization, while the brick is the Herrscher of Reason from the current civilization. Since Fu Hua regained control of her body, the Herrscher of Reason, not wanting to share a body with her, turned her powers and consciousness into the Divine Key, which is this brick in front of us.

Lin felt that she and Vill-V might have something to talk about, at least in terms of aesthetics.

She is now unrestrained, unlike those Herrscher Core who were forced to become Divine Key. The Herrscher of Reason can completely control her abilities and actions, and if she wants to leave, they can't do anything about it.

"Let me manage Feather of Dust." She changed into her martial arts uniform and red-rimmed glasses from when she was still at the St. Freya Academy, exchanged a glance with Lin, and the two quickly communicated their opinions through their eyes.

Kiana observed this, and for some reason, she felt uneasy. The two communicated so seamlessly that they didn't even need to speak; perhaps it was due to their long-standing experience as comrades-in-arms...

"And this... let's leave it to Lin."

Fu Hua picked up a bright red brick that looked like a brick, with a sticker of the Herrscher of Reason giving a thumbs-up, which perfectly matched her arrogant personality.

"What are you assigning me to?! Are you assigning me to someone?!" At this moment, the brick in Fu Hua's hand swayed, then fell to the side and transformed into something that was only slightly different from Fu Hua's hair color. With a displeased expression, she said to the people in front of her, "Do you think I'm like that idiot over there, someone you want to boss around? Are you kidding me!"

"It's not driven by anything."

Wearing a mask, Lin calmly addressed the Herrscher of Reason was glaring at him, saying, "This is cooperation."

"Why should I cooperate with you?" The Herrscher of Reason asked again, hands in his pockets, clearly dissatisfied.

"..." Lin took a deep breath and looked directly into the eyes of the Herrscher of Reason. His serious gaze made her turn her gaze away, but she quickly realized the problem and turned back.

The man spoke to the girl in a gentle and sincere voice, "We can't win without you. You are the most crucial person. This is my request. You can leave anytime if you want, but I still hope you can help us."

"Huh? Me?" Even the Herrscher of Reason herself didn't expect Lin to evaluate her like that.

"Yes, you are the key to victory sent by God. Without you, we wouldn't have a chance of winning at all." Lin sighed deeply. "But no matter what, I respect your personal will."

"So I'm that important... No, I really am that important, haha, Lin, you really are the most reliable, what do they know..."

The trio, who knew nothing, silently left the room, leaving only the Herrscher of Reason laughing confidently and arrogantly.

Kiana awkwardly spoke to Fu Hua, who had put away her Feather of Dust, "Class President, um..."

"Lin was very popular with children." Fu Hua knew what Kiana wanted to say, and she said calmly beforehand, "Back then, all the girls younger than me I met liked him."

"..."

"So, Kiana is considered a child too, right?" Bronya added a timely sarcastic remark, which earned her a glare from Kiana.

But this feeling wasn't bad; it was as if she had returned to her school days, with Bronya and the Class President standing beside her, except...

There was no gloom in her eyes, only determination. Mei would come back sooner or later, and then they would find a way to stop the Honkai.

Whether the world wants it or not, she will shape it into the way she desires.

"It's almost time." Fu Hua turned to look at the door of the room.

Lin won't spend much time dealing with the children. Once Fu Hua's body ownership is returned, many conflicts won't be as acute as they seem.

Kiana nodded, then pushed open the door—

"..."

"..."

"..."

Lin, who was supporting himself on the table, turned his head to face the gazes of the three people, and then looked down at the Herrscher of Reason lying on the table, which was essentially being pressed down by him.

He calmly stood up and said to them, "I can explain."

The "Rebirth" of the Sky: Chapter Fifty-Nine - Fifty Thousand Years Later

"So she was planning to let you experience how to use the Divine Key, and just as you were about to pick it up, she turned back into human form, saying it would be faster to explain it to you in person?"

"Yes."

Kiana smiled.

Her smile was so radiant that even the midday sun couldn't outshine it.

Was kissing me on the lips a mistake back then?

"..."

"Pushing me onto the bed and making me take off my clothes was also a mistake?"

"..."

Lin was speechless.

"Feel sorry."

He sincerely apologized.

"Kiana, the Doctor and the others want us to return to base and rest. We'll be adjusting our condition at the Anti-Entropy Salt Lake Base for now," Bronya said, poking her head out at Kiana. "The Headmistress wants to communicate with you. Go to the cabin quickly."

"Okay, I'll go right away."

After Kiana finished speaking, she turned to Lin, who seemed somewhat guilty, and sighed, saying, "I know you mean well, and I also know that our relationship... isn't actually suitable."

They weren't lovers, nor did they seem like lovers. Kiana knew that if she opened her mouth, she could definitely get Lin to agree to her request, but... it was too strange.

That's really strange.

Lin was indifferent to everything. He was very gentle with Kiana and apologized for what had just happened, but Kiana could sense that Lin didn't have much affection for her in that way.

She just wanted to, so he did it.

Kiana actually hoped that Lin could have said something to defend himself... even just one more lie would have been fine.

Kiana left. She and Theresa hadn't seen each other for a long time, and they had a lot to talk about. After Kiana left, a gray-haired girl with two diamond-shaped hairpins walked into the room. She went straight to Lin and said in a mechanical tone, "Thank you for your help in the Quantum Sea, but Bronya is warning you, don't you dare betray Kiana, or don't blame me for being impolite."

"...I see."

"I don't need your promises, I need your actions."

After Bronya finished speaking seriously, she left the room. Lin exhaled, sat down in a chair, and a thoughtful glint flashed in his eyes.

"You're still pretty much the same as before." Fu Hua appeared at the doorway at some point. She smiled serenely at Lin Yi, then leaned against the door and spoke to him like this, "You're completely clueless about interpersonal relationships and how to handle distance."

"... Kiana?"

Fu Hua chuckled noncommittally.

The room, empty except for the two of them, seemed rather spacious. The voice of the gray-silver-haired girl was ethereal and calm. "After so many years, to see someone exactly the same as before, Lin, do you know how I feel?"

"Is it not real?"

"Yes, it feels like our civilization and era haven't left us yet."

In fact, this incident Herrscher of Reason was less a crisis caused by the awakening of a new Herrscher and more a farce. In the end, everyone was safe and sound, including a certain former Herrscher of Reason who was unwilling to be left out.

Almost no Previous Civilization could end so perfectly... except for the Eighth Honkai War. Coincidentally, the Honkai triggered by the Herrscher of Reason in the Previous Civilization also ended with zero deaths, with only Lin being seriously injured and on the verge of death.

"What are your plans after this? Will you stay with Anti-Entropy?" Fu Hua asked.

"Um."

"To accompany Kiana?"

"Um."

Fu Hua was fully aware of the development of their relationship. Although she had no memory of it in Sky City, she had witnessed the entire process of their interactions and couldn't help but marvel at how Lin maintained an unchanging attitude in many things.

"..."

After that, a long silence fell over the room. The Hyperion sailed steadily through the clouds, and the slight hum of its mechanical structure could be heard softly from the walls.

"Ask whatever you want," Lin said calmly.

He knew that Fu Hua must have questions about him.

"... What did you do at the very end, fifty thousand years ago?"

Fu Hua slowly looked into Lin's eyes beneath the mask, her tone so calm that it surprised even herself.

At that time, she was on the verge of collapse, but 50,000 years later, she was able to stand face to face with the perpetrator as if nothing had happened.

Time has changed her; she is now "Fu Hua," not "Hua."

"You were already dead back then, we all confirmed your death," Fu Hua said with certainty. "Was the body fake? Or are you saying that the current you is fake?"

Fu Hua's gaze intensified, her sharp eyes piercing deep into Lin's eyes. She clenched her fists, her fair and delicate knuckles cracking slightly.

Traitor.

Fu Hua didn't want to use that word to describe Lin. No one knew better than her everything Lin had experienced in the Previous Civilization. He loved humanity, and that had never changed. But his actions were an extreme evil that Fu Hua could not ignore.

He released Bell, took away the Herrscher of Reason, and ultimately caused the extinction of all humanity except for those inside the Firemoth main base, severing the spider silk in the final moments of the dying Previous Civilization.

Even though destruction seems inevitable now, that's not a reason for him to side with the Honkai.

"Neither."

Lin's answer made Fu Hua frown. The black-haired man stood in front of the window, seemingly unaware that she had clenched her fists.

"I returned to the Moth of Fire because I have to give you an explanation. I also have to give an explanation to those who are still alive."

So when the remaining humans of the Fire Moth were torturing and killing him, Lin did not resist.

"Hua, do you still remember what Aponia often said about 'destiny'?" Lin's voice was deep and powerful as he looked out the window at the misty haze, his Adam's apple bobbing.

"Everyone's fate has been predetermined."

Jiu lowered his head and hid himself in the crowd. A group of armed men surrounded them to maintain order. The delinquent students next to him whispered to him, "By the way, what's your name? My name is Ito Kyō. I'm sorry about what happened before. Thank you for saving me."

"... Nine."

Jiu didn't really want to talk to him. These people in front of her looked like a regular army, but Jiu could see that they were communicating subtly and searching the crowd, so it was definitely not that simple.

They must be destined for Schicksal.

Rita was aware of his existence and most likely reported it to the Schicksal Headquarters immediately after leaving the rift. Moreover, only Schicksal currently has the capability to directly send personnel disguised as regular troops to investigate.

Should we take action? But killing everyone here would definitely attract attention, making it difficult to escape.

Get away from them.

Rita should still present the image of Prismatic Eyes to Schicksal. As long as he acts a little more normally, he will be fine.

Thinking this, he walked forward with the crowd. They were just searching while dispersing the crowd; they probably wouldn't...

"Hey you over there, wait a minute."

"..."

Jiu stopped and looked coldly to the side. A woman with a cold face from the search team pointed at him. "That's right, it's you. Come here for a moment."

The "Rebirth" of the Sky: Chapter Sixty – "Knowledge" and Seeking Truth!

Jiu subtly observed the armed men around him. They seemed indifferent to what was happening, but their gun barrels were intentionally or unintentionally sweeping over him.

It's impossible that he's already been exposed, otherwise he wouldn't be being questioned right now, but surrounded by a bunch of Valkyrie and mechs.

"Is there something wrong?" Jiu asked the woman who had called out to him, feigning ignorance of what had happened.

Unlike Lin, he has a much richer range of expressions than that expressionless man. However, he experiences even fewer emotional fluctuations than Lin, so almost all of his expressions are a facade.

"Don't be nervous, I just wanted to ask if you stayed in the alarm zone for a while?" Perhaps speaking according to the questioning method taught in the manual, the other person's tone was as flat as death. Although he said not to be nervous, he kept staring into Jiu's eyes. "I saw another person in the surveillance footage. Where is he?"

As expected, it was captured on surveillance footage.

Jiu didn't panic. Just as he was about to say something, a voice came from the side. "I'm here."

Ito Kyō stood slightly nervously to the side. He glanced at Kyuu and said to the sharp-eyed woman, "We got a little lost, so..."

"What is your relationship?" the woman interrupted Ito Kyō, then shifted her gaze to Ito Kyō's eyes.

The terrifying pressure traveled from his vision to his brain, and Ito Kyō swallowed hard. "T-classmate."

"Classmate?"

The woman raised an eyebrow. "Why are you wearing your school uniform while he isn't?"

This girl is quite perceptive; she noticed the problem just from Ito Kyō's body language. Kyu stepped forward, slightly blocking her view, and calmly replied, "There's no rule that everyone has to wear a school uniform, is there?"

"That's true." The woman didn't delve into the details; she continued, "Did you see anything there? Think carefully before you answer."