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

A salty sea breeze blew gently in and then quietly left, carrying the two singers' song into the distance.

Oh——

Suddenly, Xi Wang seemed to hear a clear cry coming from the depths of the ocean, as if it were calling to him, as if it were responding to his song.

"Well?"

Xi Wang stopped in his tracks, gazing at the azure sea and the horizon where the sea met the sky.

In the blur, one could seem to see a vague figure, a huge shape with alternating black and white colors.

That was a size beyond that of ordinary marine creatures; it could almost be identified as the form of a Honkai Beast.

Even so, a voice in Xi Wang's heart told him—that was Skadi.

It was a feeling like blood relatives, like an instinct... Even though they had never met before, they could still sense each other.

In the hazy light, I could sense the emotions emanating from the seawater—a clear concern, a clear joy…like a mother welcoming a child she hadn’t seen in a long time.

"Xi Wang?"

Eden's puzzled voice came from beside him.

"What's wrong?"

“I think I just saw Skadi... somewhere on the horizon.”

Xi Wang said somewhat confusedly... Was it his imagination? He felt that the sea breeze was carrying something strange... not a physical object, but something else... something more subtle.

It seemed to be some kind of language, some kind of ballad.

"……Really?"

"Um……"

Hearing Eden's surprised words, Xi Wang nodded somewhat absentmindedly and responded softly.

"And... I always feel like... something in the sea is talking to me..."

"Xi Wang... Xi Wang?"

The white waves had quietly reached their feet, wetting their shoes.

"Very light...like a lullaby...gentle...like an embrace..."

Xi Wang murmured softly, her body swaying, which was worrying.

"But... we can't get close."

Shaking her head to try and avoid getting too caught up in that gentle tenderness, she looked at Eden, who was starting to panic from nervousness, and gently took her hand to calm herself down. With her help, she slowly left the beach, which was wet with seawater, and returned to the road.

"........."

Under Eden's constant care and inquiries, Xi Wang remained silent the whole way, only holding her hand tightly as they moved little by little toward the vehicle, sat inside, and closed the door to shut out the damp sea breeze.

"Home... Eden... Let's go home..."

Xi Wang said softly.

“Tell ‘Moth of Fire’… there might be a problem here…”

"Okay...okay! Xiwang, don't scare me..."

"It's nothing...it's nothing...I'm just taking a short nap...just...a little...sleep..."

Her chin kept nodding lightly until she could no longer hold on, then she closed her eyes and let the darkness obscure her vision.

Like sinking into a dark, deep sea.

In a blur, I could almost feel a gentle breath enveloping me, softly, like a mother's embrace.

Like gentle water enveloping itself.

…………

………………

I... it feels like I had a dream.

I dreamt that the church was stained with sin, and that the police, who should have been helping people, colluded with that filthy priest, pushing me into that dark abyss.

I dreamt that I was dragged into a dark room, enduring pain and torment, letting my blood flow... The remaining light faded and thinned amidst the innocent laughter of children.

I dreamt of that pale pink glimmer of light that peeked through the cracks... that glimmer of light that I held tightly in my palm, carefully protecting it in my arms, as if it were just a figment of my imagination.

I also dreamt that Father Henry and that lovely pink-haired girl came to me together, filled with guilt and worry... They promised to take me away from that pain and help me escape the darkness.

But in the end... I could only walk to Enrique's grave with my blood-stained hands, look at his tombstone, and remain silent.

I didn't leave; instead, I became more and more entangled.

More and more blood stained his hands, and he became more and more skilled at inflicting harm... Whether he was guilty or not was irrelevant; he only needed to follow orders to "cleanse" the wounds.

Gradually, I met another girl with pink hair... I remember her as Sakura.

As if by some deliberate arrangement, she and I became companions, partners, walking in the darkness, taking lives with the blades in our hands, letting blood stain us.

I dreamt of Sakura, her timid and flustered appearance. When she invited me, her flustered manner and her attempts to make conversation were actually quite endearing.

I dreamt of her at the top of the Ferris wheel, amidst a beautiful view, where I spoke my words to her, and she gently leaned against me, easing the sadness of being "rejected"... But in the end, I still invited her, as a "return gift" with a "date".

Ah... I remember that concert. I sat right next to Kevin at that concert, and my unique entrance left a deep impression on him. I also sang several songs with Eden for the audience.

But here, I am by Sakura's side, listening to the song of Eden with her.

I... dreamt that I fell into the sea and was rescued by a huge orca Honkai Beast. We became friends and swam and hunted together in the sea... and I named it—[Skadi].

But in the end, in order to return to their side, in order to return to land, I...ate it.

Heartbroken...so heartbroken...even though it was voluntary, the sadness that had been building up inside felt like it was about to burst out of my throat.

I... dreamt of Sakura's gradually cooling body in my arms, her life slowly fading away, like falling cherry blossoms, gradually, gently, and silently leaving me.

And I, I couldn't do anything.

I can only feel the faint mark left by Sakura on the corner of her mouth, searching for a burial place that can fulfill her last wishes, and finally... carefully protecting my last remaining, fleeting, imagined candlelight.

But the pale pink candlelight... dimmed and went out on its own in the end, and even... "betrayed" me.

Everything... is for the sake of humanity.

For the first time, I felt an incredibly clear aversion, even hatred, towards this sentence and this word.

So I abandoned the identity I loathed and threw myself into the devastating chaos that everyone hated, starting the "hunt," summoning rain, attracting giant waves, and drowning everything.

Even at the very end, I never stopped "hunting," just as the rain never stopped...

Ultimately, the sea... will engulf everything.

…………

………………

"Ahem..."

I was jolted awake from my dream, a strange sense of dread lingering in my mind. I felt both heat and cold on my body, and when I checked myself, I found that I was soaked in cold sweat.

"Woo..."

The memories from the dream remained in her mind, and a multitude of thoughts squeezed her nerves. A sharp pain shot through her, causing Xi Wang to let out a cry of pain.

But soon, as if to protect herself, the memories in the dream began to fade rapidly, and the pain in her brain also began to subside quickly... In the end, a gentle, watery feeling came from her heart, carrying comfort and apology, as if her mother was gently apologizing.

"This is really worrying, little guinea pig~"

Mebius’s seductive words rang out from the side.

"How were you? Did you sleep well? Hmm... but judging from your appearance, you must have had a nightmare... Do you need me to comfort you? Like, give you a hug or something?"

"Sakura... Eden... Where are they?"

"...Oh? You care about them that much...I'm right in front of you, wouldn't it be better to look at me a little more, you guinea pig?"

Mebius lightly traced her fingertips across her lips, speaking half-jokingly, but soon she noticed the somewhat anxious and flustered expression on Xi Wang's face, shook her head, and stopped teasing him, simply gesturing to the side with her chin.

"Alright, don't worry, they're more worried about you than anyone else... Look, they're here now..."

Before Mebius could finish speaking, Xi Wang jumped off the bed and ran towards the person in a few strides.

"Xi Wang? You're alright? No, wait... don't be so nervous..."

"Eden, Cherry Blossom..."

Ignoring their conversation, Xi Wang carefully examined them, then gently touched their bodies, as if worried that they were just fleeting phantoms... Finally, he suddenly opened his arms and embraced them.

"Xi Wang?!"

"It's alright...it's good that you're alright..."

He murmured softly... Even though the memories in the dream were fading rapidly, he still retained some impressions... That's why he was so worried.

But...it's okay...it's okay...this time, they're here with me.

"You are all by my side..."

He spoke softly, a single, glistening tear rolling down his cheek, before collapsing back into a deep sleep as if utterly exhausted.

Chapter 43 Love Like Rain Stopping (4627)

"Doctor, what's Xiwang's condition...?"

"Just as we guessed, his songs can influence Honkai energy to some extent, and vice versa. Honkai energy can also influence his songs to some extent, and thus influence him... just like now."

Mebius pulled up Xi Wang's medical examination report and said slowly.

"Although there are no signs of Honkai corruption on his body, a faint Honkai energy reaction can be detected on him... You said before that when Xiwang was at the beach, he heard something in the sea talking to him?"

“Yes, Xiwang said that the sound was like a ballad, coming from the sea… but I didn’t hear it.”

Eden nodded and said.

"That must be it... Something in the sea reacted to his song, responded to him, and then influenced him in turn... Tsk, this guy really doesn't appreciate his [special]."

Mebius frowned, but finally spoke.

“From now on, reduce… no, forbid him from going near the beach. It wouldn't be good if he came into contact with that thing again. Right now, ‘Fire Moth’ doesn't have the energy to deal with the ocean, so this is the only way for now… Mei, has your little follower sent any news?”