I've already said this isn't a life simulator!

Unfortunately, Rin's life also came to an end at this moment; her pupils dilated, and she lost consciousness.

[But the people around them ignored them. They brought out firewood and planks that they had prepared beforehand, poured flammable oil on them, prepared lighters, and retreated far away. Before leaving, they didn't forget to stab the girl's body twice with bayonets.]

As they lit the fire, they cheered, they cheered, their expressions contorted with rage yet tinged with ecstatic joy, as if they had single-handedly defeated a "Herrscher," as if they had slain a "monster" that had ravaged humanity, as if this would rid them of their fear.

Then, their expressions froze at that moment.

Their actions unleashed the true "Twelfth Herrscher," whose terrifying virus instantly eroded their lives and also took control of everything around them.

Flames suddenly ignited around you, preventing the virus from infecting you, and the "Herrscher" quickly left upon seeing this... Rather than fighting you here, she chose to kill others; this was her "mission."

At that very moment, Sakura arrived late, her blade almost instantly pressed against your neck. She commanded you, she threatened you, not to hurt Rin, she was going to take Rin away.

But you can't respond to her.

【! ! ! 】

At that moment, Sakura also witnessed the scene inside the room. The horrific sight made her lose the strength to hold the knife. She simply knelt on the ground in a daze, staring blankly at Rin's mangled body.

【“…………”】

Finally, you took action, your heavy steps slowly, step by step, toward the girl's body.

"Enough! Stop pushing her forward! Isn't tormenting Rin enough?!" Sakura shouted, her voice filled with resentment and hatred.

In her view, you orchestrated all of this, you caused all of this, because you said you would come to "punish Bell" in three days. She also wanted to take Bell away in advance, but she was delayed on the first day, imprisoned on the second day, and restrained by Kevin and Hua on the third day, which finally led to this situation.

She rushed here so anxiously just to take Rin away; at the very least, she wanted to stand in front of Rin.

In her view, your method is nothing more than burning them with flames, causing them to die in the flames. If she and Ling were to embrace each other and perish together in the flames, she would accept it.

[She had no idea that you would allow someone to torture Rin like this... It's utterly incomprehensible!]

"Stop!"—Hate drove her to stand up again, the cold blade aimed at the back of your neck, its purpose to sever your throat.

[But before the cherry blossoms could even get close, they were engulfed by flames. The hands holding the sword felt a distorted burning sensation, and the beloved sword they usually used was destroyed by the raging flames.]

[The short journey felt incredibly long. She tried her best to stop you, but with the blade burning and her body tormented by the burning sensation, Sakura could only collapse helplessly to the ground.]

Actually, she can still fight.

Actually, she can still stand up.

However, her spirit had already shattered and vanished the moment she saw Ling's corpse.

However, she suddenly remembered something that everyone in the Fire Moths acknowledged—if you want to do something, no one can stop you, except "He".

She could only beg you to stop desecrating Ling's body, and plead for a little mercy.

[But...you simply came to the girl bound to the cross, carefully wiped the blood from her face, freed her from the cross of sin, held her, and gently, slowly knelt down in a clean place.]

You set the sword at your waist aside, and no longer clutched the pendant at your chest. You simply held her gently in your arms, whispering words that Sakura couldn't understand.

[The flames quietly rise, enveloping the girl's body, but you remain indifferent; you simply hold her corpse, repeating the soothing eulogy over and over again.]

This time, the flames weren't fierce, but rather bright and warm, like the warm sun of spring or a bonfire on a snowy night.

You gently stroked the girl's back, as if she were merely asleep, as if she were not yet dead.

[“…………”—Sakura opened her mouth, but the words choked in her throat.]

She saw it; amidst the burning flames, the tears streaming down your face.

She heard it; in the eulogy, there was a mixture of apology and remorse.

She recalled what she had learned from you on Dusk Street when she first met you there.

You... are definitely not the kind of person who would torture and kill others like this.

[You... will administer punishment only by burning with fire, never by blades or anything else.]

At that moment, looking around at the people whose faces still bore twisted, maniacal smiles, Sakura seemed to understand something.

She guessed it; none of this was orchestrated by you.

But... she will never forgive you because of this.

She stood up unsteadily, looking at the fading body in your arms, and spoke in a daze.

"Father, tell me, is someone like you truly a messenger of God? Or is it that the God you speak of doesn't love us?"—she whispered.

"Or perhaps... the god you speak of is nothing more than an entity that harbors malice towards us, like the Honkai." — She said this.

"Father, tell me, can someone like you go to Heaven? Can you enter the Garden of Eden you speak of?" she suddenly asked, then paused, before continuing with a hint of sarcasm, "Someone who only allows tragedy to happen, yet does nothing, and even unintentionally contributes to its formation? Someone who doesn't understand human nature? A puppet who only knows how to obey orders? That's truly... laughable."

[Just as ridiculous as she is]

[“…………”—You remained silent]

But her words were like blades, cutting into your heart bit by bit, shattering your faith in "Him" into pieces.

[Father Sakura spoke again, "After this, burn me as well."]

Her voice carried a sense of resolve and sorrow.

"If possible... help me... erect two tombstones for us under the cherry blossom trees in my hometown."

Upon hearing these words, you felt a sudden tightness in your chest, and a surge of immense panic and sorrow welled up within you.

But before you could respond, Sakura's voice came again.

"If you don't say anything, I'll take that as a yes"—with that, she turned and hurried away... To her, whether you agree or not is irrelevant.

[I'm...indifferent to everything anymore.]

She only wanted to find Rin, whether as her "older sister" or as a "Firemoth Warrior."

【………】

The "Battle to Exterminate the Twelfth Herrscher" has ended. Victory was achieved at the cost of humanity's three remaining cities, one "Fusion Warrior," and the lives of a number of soldiers.

Now, what do they have left?

Based on calculations, there are at least two more Herrschers. What gives them the confidence to fight back?

People had long lost the will to resist, and their disgust for you had reached its peak. Even though May eventually admitted that she had failed in her oversight, and even though Thousand Calamities ultimately confirmed that Aponia's "commandments" were also involved, everyone knew that you were the "trigger," and everyone believed that you were the root cause.

Confused and lost, people today are just like you, wandering at the crossroads called "fate," even though you all know that the final outcome will be the same.

Finally, someone stepped forward.

Since people believe it's difficult to fight the final two Herrschers, would they be willing to give it a shot if only one remained?

The answer is... yes.

After all, there's only one left! If we succeed, then there is... "hope."

So, she stepped forward.

Therefore, Alicia launched a "war of subjugation," and the target was... herself.

Before anyone discovered or questioned her, she proactively revealed her identity as a "Herrscher" and launched a "punishment campaign" called "The Banquet."

She presented each person present with a beautiful crystal flower.

She expressed her love for everyone.

Finally, she chose you as her "executioner."

--------

Strolling on the open terrace, the beautiful young girl walked with a cheerful gait, her steps seemingly effortless, lightly tapping to the beat of an unnamed melody she hummed. Her long pink hair swayed gently behind her, and her beautiful eyes held an unfading smile.

"Tonight is so beautiful! The sky is so clear, you can see so many stars!"

She opened her arms as if to embrace the entire beautiful starry night, but then seemed to realize that she couldn't do it. So she put her hands behind her back, turned around with light steps, and looked at him with a smile against the backdrop of the starry night, asking him a question.

"Father, tell me... if someone like me exists... can I go to Heaven? Can I enter the legendary Garden of Eden?"

Then, she asked herself a question and answered it herself.

"I think it definitely will be~ After all, I'm so cute~?"

Alicia watched as Xiwang slowly drew the unsharpened broken sword, watching the patterns engraved on the blade emit a faint, fiery light, and watching him tightly grip the scorching hot cross pendant, as if he wanted to press it into his flesh.

"Xiwang, don't worry~"

This time, Alicia changed how she addressed him, calling him by his name with a smile and speaking softly.

"After all... this is necessary, it's essential, and it's what everyone expects~ [Eliminating the Herrschers, fighting against the Honkai] and all that... these are things everyone has been working hard on~ so... I can't fall behind~?"

"........."

Xi Wang looked at her gorgeous white dress without saying a word.

"Hmm~ I feel Xiwang's gaze again after so long~ And for so long... How about it? Pretty, right~ But don't be captivated by me now~ I'm not some kind of tempting witch... But thinking about it, that might not be so bad?"

Her tone remained relaxed, and she even seemed interested in joking.

You have yet to respond to this.

"...Sigh, Xiwang has changed so much...Indeed, the price you paid to change that place was far too high."

Seeing that he did not respond, Alicia could only sigh helplessly, her eyes filled with pity and regret as she looked at you. She had heard about your past from Aponia, knew how kind you had been, and knew how you had changed Twilight Street, turning it into a "Garden of Eden" in the hearts of some.

And she... also vaguely guessed the "price" that Xiwang had paid through Aponia's few words.

Unfortunately, everything Xiwang had given and everything he had created was ultimately destroyed. Twilight Street disappeared completely, whether it existed as a "Land of Chaos" or as a "Garden of Eden"... it ceased to exist after that incident.

"Xi Wang... don't worry."

Alicia was still smiling, but her smile was no longer bright; it had become gentle and tender.

"Your feelings and emotions... are still known to someone, such as... me."

She gently placed her hand on her chest and spoke softly.

"But... please don't show me mercy because of this. After all... I also have my 'duties' to fulfill, something I must do, and something only I can do..."

"so……"

Alicia closed her eyes slightly, adjusted her breathing, and then revealed her usual bright smile.

“Father, I… am guilty.”

"........."

Xi Wang remained silent.