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

"...So, that's why you did those things? Why you made Kevin do those things?"

"No, not at all~ The main purpose is to help you juniors successfully overcome the Honkai. On this point, we are all in complete agreement~"

Alicia smiled softly.

"After all, it's all for humanity... On this point, we... must not waver."

"........."

Raiden Mei remained silent... She always felt that Alicia was very disappointed when she said those words, as if she had mentioned something sad.

"But...?"

But soon, Alicia's tone returned to its usual lightheartedness.

"It's okay if we achieve some small goals along the way, right?"

"……Um."

Raiden Mei nodded and said nothing more.

"Mei-neechan... Alicia-neechan..."

However, at that moment, Gretchen's voice came from the side.

"...What's wrong, Greta?"

Alicia looked at the girl who was rushing over, a bright smile on her face, and said softly.

"Gresch is a big girl now, huh? Still so flustered... Hmm... But Gresch is kind of cute like this~?"

"Brother Xiwang's painting... is gone."

"……What did you say?"

Alicia was stunned.

--------

"How confident are you, Mebius, Vervier?"

“Kevin, we can’t give you a precise answer on this point… You know, our research on his [song] is still very superficial.”

"And didn't Su tell you? Xi Wang is already dead."

"But you don't think so."

"So? You're planning to support us?"

"........."

"Alright, Kevin, instead of worrying about this, let's think about how to deal with that hidden Herrscher... You know, the guinea pigs said that when they dealt with the Thousand Herrschers, although they did dispose of 1000 puppets, they only recovered 999 cores, so... you understand, right?"

“I know I won’t let that happen again.”

"No, no, no, you don't understand what I mean... With the abilities that [Herrscher] has shown so far, if it really wants to hide, we probably won't be able to find it easily. But... what if we can get it to come out on its own?"

"You know, it only has a [core] that's currently hidden somewhere, so it probably desperately needs a [body] right now, right? So... I think it would be very interested in a strong enough body."

"You're planning to..."

"That's right~"

"........."

"I understand. Have you told Eden and Sakura about this?"

"We have no objection."

"...Sakura? What are you doing here?"

“Rin noticed something was wrong, so she asked me to tell you… Also, Eden said that his painting is missing.”

"[The drawing]...and the bell...damn it!"

--------

"【Blood relative】Look, I received a gift from a new 【Herrscher】!"

"........."

"Hmm... although it seems like this originally belonged to me."

Xi Wang touched the chaotic "clump," unfolded it, and revealed the "painting" preserved within.

It was the painting Gretchen gave him.

"...[Blood relatives], is it really... worth it?"

Skadi said slowly.

"Of course~"

"You really like humans that much, [blood relatives]?"

"Yes~"

"........."

"Alright, alright~ Don't be so angry. It's just a newborn child that can't control its power yet... As its senior, I naturally have to help, don't I?"

Xi Wang smiled, put down the painting, and looked at the scenery as she spoke.

"But...it's harming [blood relatives]."

Skadi watched as the chaotic icons gradually spread across Xi Wang's body, and slowly said... "It should now be called Chloe..." All Chloe left for Xi Wang was still harm, and what Chloe left on Xi Wang was still constantly being "replicated."

Even if it's unintentional, it still hurts blood relatives.

"It's alright, after all... I won't really die here, will I?"

"........."

"I'm just a thought, aren't I?"

"........."

"[Blood relative], you know I'm not [here], so... it's okay."

Xi Wang smiled easily, took a few light steps back, and then... her figure spun slightly, bringing with it a silk-like glow.

"Alright~ Now, all you need to do is focus your attention on me... Of course~ you'll have to deal with me properly afterwards, okay?"

"........."

Please, [blood relatives]~

"……it is good."

I like you the most~

"So……"

???~

A gentle singing voice rises, bringing with it a tender melody and vibrant notes.

Night slowly descends from the horizon, draping this place in a veil of darkness. Countless stars twinkle, and beneath them, lush green grass spreads quietly, while flowers grow and bloom in abundance.

...All the scenery gradually overlapped with what was depicted in the painting.

Skadi responded in unison, gently stirring up the azure water and white waves, enveloping him and separating him from everything around him.

The jumbled icons on his body... are getting more and more numerous.

In the end, Xiwang looked in a certain direction... There, Eden was the only spectator, silently watching everything.

?~

Xi Wang smiled at her and waved slightly.

【goodbye】

That's what he said.

Eden chuckled softly and waved slightly in response.

【goodbye】

This is how she responded.

?~

Xi Wang smiled happily, but in the end... his figure, along with the distorted icons, turned into foam in the water.

Skadi gradually stopped singing.

"........."

Looking back, it glanced in the direction of Eden, then turned around, bringing with it the azure water, and leaped into the "land" like a fish entering the sea, transforming into the shape of an orca, and quickly swam away.

Since her blood relative is gone, she naturally doesn't need to stay here any longer.

And... she also had to find it, find Chloe.

Those who harm their blood relatives must pay the price.

Even if it's unintentional, it's still unacceptable.

The hunt has begun.

…………

"Goodbye...?"

Eden, still standing there, silently pondered those words, then smiled.

"Yes, we... will see each other again soon."

She firmly believed it.

--------

Hmph~ Hmph~

Chloe seemed very happy.

She not only heard a song sung especially for her by her senior, but also received her blessing and even a name from her senior... What could be better than these happy things coming together?