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

"...If only Skadi could come ashore with me~ Hmm... But you should belong to the [ocean], you'd be safer here."

Xi Wang could naturally sense Skadi's subtle actions. He smiled slightly, spoke softly, and then shook his head, trying to dispel the greedy thought.

【………】

Skadi remained silent, as if she hadn't heard.

"Phew... Fine~ Let me sing you one more song, my [blood relative], after all, this is one of the few things I can do and can be proud of~?"

My gaze lingered on the clear blue sky, and the gentle singing flowed and drifted slowly.

???~

His voice was visibly tired, yet it remained as gentle as ever... just like it was now.

It took him a lot of effort to break free from his "memories," and his impressions of many of his companions changed as a result... such as Alicia and Kevin.

Although in theory all of this should still be in a state of "not having happened", sure enough, it will still have some impact.

As Xi Wang sorted through her memories, she increasingly understood why "her past self" made that choice. Rather, it was remarkable that she could persevere until the very end and hypnotize herself until the very end before finally exploding, which even gave people a sense of... cowardice.

Hmm...maybe I can do it myself? Haha...oh no, that was originally "me"...ah, this is so embarrassing.

But... this time will be different, this time, it will definitely be different—Xi Wang believed this.

At this moment, he was like a drop of water unwilling to dissolve into the ocean. Although he did not dissolve into the sea because of love and persistence, once he came into contact with it, once the process began, the final outcome was already unavoidable.

He will eventually become a [Herrscher].

However... at this moment, he did not dissolve into the seawater, was not completely swallowed, and did not truly... become a [Herrscher].

Xi Wang believed there must be some other reason behind this.

Just like in the "memory," "that version of myself" had already met all the conditions to become a [Herrscher], and my emotions were on the verge of collapse. I didn't need to wait for the incident with Sakura and Rin to happen, but... I still became a [Herrscher] after that incident, and became... the [Final Herrscher].

His eyelids were slightly lowered as he pondered the suspicious details.

Even when he was a "priest," it was the same. Judging from that experience, it seemed that he would become a "Herrscher" after accepting the [Ocean]...

With a slight movement of her fingertips, she manipulated the surrounding seawater, turning it into delicate streams that gradually outlined the shape of a cherry blossom in the air, and then into the shape of a maple leaf. Then, as if inspired, she used the water streams to draw them in mid-air... that is, the shapes of cherry blossoms and Eden.

Ah... I almost forgot, besides music, he also has considerable talent in various other artistic fields!

Now it seems that's not the case. I don't seem to have directly become a Herrscher. Just like "before," I'm only at the stage of "suspected Herrscher." It seems that besides accepting the Ocean, there must be some special conditions... Is it the Bell incident? Or is it... the appearance of the Twelfth Herrscher? No.

Withdrawing her hand, she looked at the images of Eden and Sakura that she had drawn, nodded in satisfaction, and then gently waved her hand, causing the water to change and redraw Alicia's image.

Alicia is also a Herrscher... and earlier than everyone else, so the order of all Herrschers needs to be moved back one place. Rin is the thirteenth Herrscher, so... I'm the fourteenth? That Herrscher destined to destroy the world? Heh... I didn't expect it to match my previous guess~

Xi Wang lowered her hand, gently stroking Skadi's body, feeling the seawater and gentle breeze that occasionally brushed past her, and smiled helplessly.

It seems what they said back then was really true... that defeating me would save everyone...

???~

The song still echoed, drifting away on the wind, but it carried a touch of sadness, as fleeting and hazy as a dream, quickly returning to its previous gentle tone.

Should I try committing suicide? Maybe that would solve a huge problem... Hmm... No, no, there are still several events to deal with. I need to resolve them all first, and...

Xi Wang gently placed his hand on his chest. In the icy seawater, only his palm was warm, and only his chest was burning hot, as if a faint "fire" was burning inside.

"Leaving without saying goodbye is really too much, and... how can I not give it a try? There are still so many things to do~ Ah... is it here?"

Xiwang climbed off Skadi's back and looked in a certain direction on the horizon... The sea breeze had already brought them their message.

"But... it's actually you who found me first? What a pity... I still prefer that Eden and Sakura were the first people I saw."

Xi Wang muttered to himself with a sense of helplessness.

"And... that weapon was completed, even later than before... Heh~ As expected, I can still change some things~"

"嘤——"

[Scent! Danger! Fire! Disgusting! Blood relatives!]

"Alright, alright, it's okay, Skadi... This time it's different, that weapon won't be pointed at me."

After calming Skadi down once more, Xi Wang took the initiative to step onto the sea from Skadi's back... Strangely enough, he did not sink into the sea, but stood on the surface of the sea. The surrounding seawater stopped rippling and quickly became calm, like a mirror reflecting the clear sky.

The ocean always loves him.

"Hmph~ Are you sure you don't want to leave? If you continue, you'll be in great danger... You might even be [punished], which is not what I want to see, [blood relative]."

【don't want! 】

Skadi anxiously flicked her tail fin twice, causing the calm seawater to ripple again.

Skadi! Blood relative! Protect her!

"...Yes, I will protect you, my [blood relative]."

[No! Blood relatives! No! Skadi! Protect her!]

"Hehe~ I know... um, I know."

He reached out and stroked Skadi again, trying to soothe its anxious, sullen mood.

Although Xiwang knew what it was trying to express, just as it wanted to protect him from harm, Xiwang also didn't want it to get hurt.

He... didn't want to "punish" his own "blood relatives" again.

"...Come down, it's safe down there, there are no Honkai Beasts."

He turned his head and shouted to the group of people who were still high in the sky, vigilantly scanning the surrounding sea. His voice was carried to their ears by the wind.

After a brief pause, a cold figure descended with a touch of heat, and in an instant, a large area of ​​the sea was frozen, forming an area where everyone could stand.

After confirming that the surrounding environment was safe, Kevin contacted the other members via communications to lower the aircraft's altitude. Only then did he look at Xiwang with a complex and wary gaze.

"You... are still Xi Wang, right?"

Kevin looked at the calm, mirror-like sea beneath Xiwang's feet, then at the Honkai Beasts that were swimming around him, and asked warily.

"That's me, otherwise... I wouldn't have used my singing to tell you my location, would I?"

"...Yes, I believe you."

“That’s a surprise. I thought you’d ask more questions, Kevin.”

"I...don't want to be your enemy..."

Kevin gripped his weapon tightly, the crimson greatsword, the sword that seemed to be made entirely of flames.

"So... please step aside, it... is a Honkai Beast, and it needs to be [slayed]."

Kevin adjusted his posture slightly, preparing for battle... He had already noticed that the Honkai Beast beside Xi Wang was constantly radiating hostility, clear disgust, and vigilance towards him, as if it might attack him at any moment.

Moreover... more importantly... Kevin noticed the close relationship between Xi Wang and this Honkai Beast, and he had a vague sense of unease... Therefore, he had to "slay" and eliminate it before more people saw it.

Only in this way can we prevent others from knowing that Xiwang... already has a [Companion Honkai Beast].

As long as others don't know, there's still room for discussion...

but……

"........."

Kevin pursed his lips.

Was what I did really right? Was I... trying to conceal the existence of a [Herrscher]? Was doing this... really the right thing to do?

Kevin didn't know that he just didn't want to be enemies with Xiwang, he just didn't want Xiwang to be judged as a [Herrscher], otherwise... all his past "achievements" would vanish like smoke... Kevin didn't want to see that scene.

"Okay~"

Xi Wang's tone remained light and cheerful, and her answer was exactly as Kevin had expected... She did not refuse.

“But Skadi must leave as well.”

"……what?"

Kevin was momentarily taken aback.

"Skadi, that's its name~ Isn't it nice?"

Xi Wang shook her head happily, her long hair, now completely white, swaying with it.

“Skadi is a good girl, she’s my blood relative, so… you can’t hurt her, okay? I’ll go back with you, after all, my home is there too, and Eden and Sakura are there, but… Skadi has to leave, okay?”

"...Do you know what you're saying, Xiwang?"

Kevin was momentarily dazed... He didn't understand what Xi Wang was talking about... [Blood relatives]? And Honkai Beasts? Seriously? And wasn't this statement indirectly proving that he had already...

"Are you kidding me, Xiwang?"

"I didn't, I'm very serious."

Xiwang stroked Skadi again to soothe its anxious heart... It was really worried that the sword would be pointed at Xiwang again, and it didn't want its blood relative to suffer the ravages of flames again.

"........."

Kevin fell silent, unsure whether to advance or retreat.

He didn't know what to do.

"Kevin?"

"........."

"Do you think... I am a [human], or a [Herrscher]?"

"........."

Kevin didn't know, and he didn't dare to answer.

The facts before our eyes all signify that Xi Wang is a [Herrscher], and even the aircraft can detect the wavelength on him that is similar to that of a [Herrscher].

However, he didn't want to believe it; he resisted accepting the fact.

But... he was also acutely aware of what his responsibilities were.

A strong conflict arose between one's own beautiful expectations and the cold, cruel reality.

Kevin wants to believe that Xiwang is human, but the realities of life make it difficult for him to do so.

Kevin wants to accept that Xiwang is a [Herrscher], but his past makes it difficult for him to do so.

Moreover, the most troublesome point is... if Xi Wang is a [human], then why is he so close to that Honkai Beast? And how do you explain the wavelength on him that is similar to that of a [Herrscher]?