Chapter 187: I am by your side, my [blood relative]

{Wow~ I saw it, that Honkai creature is such a cute girl!}

{Is the aesthetic of Honkai Beast so good? The hair is so beautiful, just like the waves, I really want to touch it...}

{Can you guys hold back a bit? That's an Honkai creature!}

{What's the big deal? You are still a Herrscher, Ms. Himeko.}

{...This should be different.}

{Who cares? Anyway, nothing will happen to us, so just have fun~ We are all joking anyway.}

"Okay, keep quiet."

Nozomi's voice echoed, interrupting their playful words.

{The "doctor" has spoken ~ Everyone, please behave yourself ~}

{Come on, come on, "Doctor", complete the task quickly and take us home!}

{You really want to cheerlead, right? Yeah... I'll come too!}

{Can you guys be serious...}

"Hiss… huh…"

Nozomi frowned and adjusted his breath... Ever since these guys got [liberated], they have been running wildly in the direction of the Lazy people.

With the idea that "the Honkai won't affect me anyway", they are having a lot of fun and their words become more and more outrageous, which made Nozomi more distressed.

"Is it difficult?"

The team members nearby noticed that Nozomi suddenly began to adjust his breathing, even frowned, and looked very distressed, so they asked hurriedly.

After all, this is the first time that the "Fire Moth" has encountered a humanoid non-"Herrscher" Honkai creature, so it is normal for Nozomi to find it difficult or a headache.

"No, it's okay."

Nozomi responded calmly.

He couldn't explain his current situation to anyone who was still alive... He had tried before, and the result was that others only misunderstood him more.

So instead of adding to the misunderstanding, it is better not to say anything... But this is still very troublesome. Nozomi is caught between two worlds. On one side is their discussion full of playfulness and laughter, and on the other side is a serious combat discussion. It is really troublesome to find the words he needs to respond to in the chaotic and noisy words.

'...Forget it, let's not worry about it anymore.'

'We have arrived at the target location, now prepare for battle.'

Nozomi calmed himself down and then jumped off the aircraft.

{Wuhu! The familiar high-altitude landing without a parachute!}

{This is not good for the heart... Oh no, I don't have a heart now, so it's okay, Wuhu!}

"Honestly, be quiet, or I'm going to get mad."

Nozomi's voice became subtle and familiar... well, very familiar to Mobius and Vill-V.

{Uh… sorry.}

After realizing that Nozomi was really a little angry, [they] quickly apologized and then shut up obediently.

"sigh..."

Nozomi breathed a sigh of relief, and then... adjusted the "box" behind him, input commands, and transformed it into the appearance of a "cannon".

The glow of energy shone, and then... BOOM!

?

She seemed to have noticed something, looked up in the direction of Nozomi, and then... she didn't move, nor did she defend herself, she just stayed where she was.

The attack from the "Box" landed right in front of her, missing her by a hair's breadth.

{Easy positioning!}

{No, this is not out of place, right?}

{"Doctor": This is not good. This prediction is too early... This is not right. How could a "doctor" make such a low-level mistake?}

{It's impossible that the "doctor" has taken a fancy to her, right? After all, she is so beautiful... Don't you think so, "doctor"?}

{..."doctor"?}

[They] were unable to hear Nozomi's response until he landed on the ground with the "box", making a loud noise and raising dust that obscured his vision.

And she... just looked silently at the direction where Nozomi fell, without moving at all, as if she was waiting for something, as if she was confirming something.

Tick-tock——

The rain falls quietly.

{Hey, why is it raining? According to the prediction of the Fire Moth, it shouldn't rain here, right?}

{Although I don't know what happened, I can definitely blame it on Honkai!}

{Yes! It's all Honkai's fault!}

[Their] noisy words surrounded his ears.

But Nozomi remained silent.

The rain fell on him, but could not wet his clothes, nor even his hair or skin.

This is understandable. Nozomi's body is basically at the nano level because of the "Originium" and "Soulium", and the clothes on his body are also part of his body. It is normal that the rain cannot wet them.

But because of this, the rain became even more anxious... It could no longer touch its beloved [child], and could no longer communicate with its beloved [child].

The rain... was getting heavier and heavier, and almost in the blink of an eye, it changed from a drizzle to a heavy downpour.

The emotions contained in the rain gradually changed from anxiety, panic, and worry to anger and resentment.

Because it knows that only humans can cause all this.

Only humans can make her "child" so willing.

Therefore, it conveys this emotion to him, hoping that she can pass it on.

"Be patient, Mother."

She said this, and then raised her scarlet eyes and looked at Nozomi and... [them] around Nozomi.

Although she couldn't see [them] directly, she could feel that there were other people around Nozomi.

{Just now... did she glance at us?}

{No way? Even the Herrscher before didn't notice us... By the way, Doctor, can you say something? I'm so scared when you do this.}

"Don't make noise."

Nozomi frowned, his lips did not move, but his voice was clearly heard by them.

Nozomi now focused his attention on the increasingly heavy rain in the sky and on the girl in front of him.

He could feel the violent emotions coming from the rain, but it was vague, and... he wanted to respond to the rain, but words could not convey it.

'Is it because of my own peculiarities?' Nozomi had some guesses. After all, he could no longer be exposed to rain at this time.

And... she, the one in front of him, seemed very familiar, as if there was some deep connection between her and himself, but at this moment this connection became very weak.

'That's… strange.'

"…[Blood relatives]."

Finally, she spoke.

"You still remember me... right, [Blood Relative]?"

There was a hint of nervousness and worry in her voice, like a little pet that had finally found its former home, it was really pitiful to see.

{Wait… what did she say? Why did she call "doctor"?}

{[Blood relatives]... Seriously?}

They were also surprised by this.

"......"

Nozomi frowned and closed his eyes, seeming to be lost in thought.

"[Blood relative]?"

There was a hint of grievance and fear in her voice... This was something she had never encountered before. Every time before, her [blood relative] would recognize her, and there would be no obstruction no matter what. The connection between them had never dissipated, but [this time]...

[Blood relative] couldn't even accept the rain, and the connection between them became weak so that even if she walked onto land, she couldn't find him directly.

It was not until he came in front of her that she could barely rely on that faint connection and that familiar face to realize that the person in front of her was him, her [blood relative].

"sigh..."

Nozomi sighed helplessly, put the "box" on his back, and walked slowly towards her.

And she... did not move, but just watched Nozomi approach silently, with a little hope and expectation in her eyes.

{Uh... suddenly I feel like it's okay for her not to be conquered... right?}

{As an Honkai creature, it should be conquered. This is the mission of "Fire Moth".}

{Ah yes, yes, everything is for humanity, so Honkai must be eliminated... But she can be communicated with, right? Maybe she is friendly?}

{Have you forgotten? 'I' High-level Honkai creatures can disguise themselves and even have a certain degree of intelligence and thinking.}

{...Sorry, Ms. Himeko, I forgot.}

{But that should belong to the Herrscher, right? She shouldn't count... so... uh...}

{"Doctor," can you please say something? Just give us a little response. You're making us nervous...}

{But if the "doctor" really makes a decision, it seems that we can't change anything, right?}

{Yes... We don't have the power to change anything... We are just "parasites" attached to the "doctor".}

[Their] discussion was still ringing in her ears, and Nozomi had already walked in front of her.

Reach out and touch her.

Clack——

It is the sound of crystals spreading.

Tick-tock——

The rain suddenly fell harder, but it also revealed a hint of helplessness... It didn't know what its "child" meant.

"[Blood Relatives]…"

She whispered.

She lowered her head and looked at the crystals that were spreading from her wrists... She did not resist, nor would she resist.

"Do you want to treat me in this way... the same way you treat them?"

She raised her head and looked towards Nozomi's side... there, she could feel some invisible presence.

"Do you want me to end up like this?"

She looked up and met Nozomi's gaze.

The one in front of her was her [blood relative].

"If you think so... I can accept it."

She lowered her eyes slightly, ready to accept the outcome given to her by her [blood relatives].

She had already given everything to her [blood relatives], and she had already merged with her [blood relatives]... For this, she was willing to give up everything, as it was in the past, is now, and will be in the future...

Nothing is more important than blood ties, nothing.

"Don't worry, [Skadi]."

His voice is as gentle as water.

So soft, as if it would be covered by the noisy sound of rain at any time.

But... it was still captured by her and heard by her.

?!

Skadi raised her head and looked at him again, with astonishment and surprise in her eyes.

"I'm with you."

He smiled and spoke softly.

"I will protect you."

He said so.

"My... [blood relative]."

He promised so.

"...Um!"

She... Skadi, nodded with joy, closed her eyes contentedly, and let the crystal wrap and swallow her.

Finally, her body was shattered, dissipated, and buried by the rain, leaving only the dark blue sword and the conch-like short staff.

When Skadi opened her eyes again, she could see [their] figures and hear [their] words.

{Gua ...}

{It's over! This place is about to be invaded by Honkai!}

{The "doctor" was bewitched by the beautiful girl with white hair and red eyes who is Honkai Beast... Yeah!!! I don't want that kind of thing!!!}

{Sweaty brothers!}

The level of noise made Skadi frown.

"Be quiet, Skadi won't hurt you."

Nozomi's voice echoed in his ears. Unlike the harsh tone he used to speak to [them] in the past, this time his tone was very gentle, and anyone could hear the difference in it.

{"Doctor"... Have you really fallen in love with this Honkai creature? Have you really betrayed humanity?}

{Weren't you shouting happily just now? Why are you so nervous now?}

{I didn't expect the "doctor" to accept her?!}

"The [Blood Kin] said... be quiet!"

Skadi frowned and shouted, emitting a dangerous aura that almost instantly shocked the scene... It was not a pleasant feeling to be targeted by a predator.

"Since the [Blood Kin] are willing to accept you... then I will not harm you."

Skadi said so.

{Hiss... huh? That's not right. Why are your words so clear?}

But soon, someone expressed doubts.

{Maybe it's because she's an Honkai creature...}

Someone answered this way.

At the same time, although Skadi assured them that she would not hurt them, they still subconsciously kept their distance from Skadi.

Therefore, when Skadi got close to Nozomi, [they] also moved away from Nozomi and stayed in a relatively marginal position... In this way, Skadi and Nozomi got a small "world for two".

"I will stay with you."

Skadi watched Nozomi pick up her sword and staff, and watched him carefully put them into the "box". She smiled, walked forward, and stretched out her hand carefully, and hugged his arm.

"I will protect you."

She whispered this softly.

"My [blood relative]."

She promised so.

"Um."

Nozomi nodded slightly and responded to her.

Carrying the "box" on his back again and contacting the supporting troops, Nozomi led her and [them] and walked slowly towards the designated location.

Tick-tock

The rain... is still falling.

But at this moment it did not seem violent; the drizzle was mixed with a gentle breeze.

the rain, It finally feel relieved.

Its [children]... have never changed.

They are... [connected by blood].

......

"Are you sure you want to do this..."

At this time in the "Spiral Workshop", Vill-V was holding a container, looking at the "immortal flower" given to her by Nozomi inside, muttering to herself.

"If I really do this, I will probably die..."

"But... if I don't do this, I won't be able to see the scene in Nozomi's eyes..."

Vill-V hesitated, raised her head, and looked at herself in the mirror.

"Really... do this?"

"Is [Death]... really a [relief]?"

"There's no turning back..."

"......

Vill-V looked at her own constantly changing expressions in the mirror, and finally... closed her eyes and readjusted her breathing.

When she opened her eyes again, the look in the mirror was calm, yet still a little evasive. Her fingertips subconsciously stroked the container in her hand, wanting to touch the "immortal flower" inside, as if this could give her some strength.

"...Yes, it's decided."

In such a moment, she made a decision in her heart.

She... was willing to believe Nozomi and believe what he called "liberation."

So for this reason... she wants to touch his world and witness everything in her eyes. Only in this way can she understand him better and get closer to him.

Open the container and take out the "immortal flower". Under the light, the petals made of metal reflect gorgeous colors.

She cut open her palm, and then... placed the "Immortal Flower" on the wound, and then... injected Honkai energy and "Originium" reagent into her body.

Clack——

It is the sound of crystals growing and spreading.

Snap——

There was the sound of crystals breaking and falling to the ground.

In the end, only deathly silence remained in this strange "spiral workshop".