Chapter 101: The Method of Leaving with Higokumaru

Far East, Shinono Hachimura...

"Sis, Serenade and the others have been gone for over two months. When will they return?" Yae Rin squatted by the door, cradling a Honkai Beast in her arms, her voice filled with anticipation.

"You've asked over a hundred times already. A round trip from the Far East to Europe takes months. It can't be that fast." Yae Sakura paused her rice ball-making, looking at her sister with exasperation.

After Serenade and Kallen left, Yae Rin had been asking this question daily.

"That long... Ugh..."

Yae Rin's face immediately twisted into a sour expression, clearly unhappy.

"It's not that bad. Rin, go find something to do. Serenade and the others will be back soon."

"But... Higokumaru went with them."

Having said this, Yae Rin hung her head. She had hoped to win over Higokumaru, planning to surprise Serenade and the others when they returned.

Little did anyone know, Higokumaru the fox had followed them.

"Let's find something else to do then."

"What should we do?" Yae Rin looked up at Yae Sakura.

"Hmm... The late-season plums in the village are ripe. Why don't you go pick some plums, Rin?" Yae Sakura suggested after a moment's thought.

"Okay! I'll go pick plums."

With that, Yae Rin stood up, Honkai Beasts in her arms, and walked out of the shrine.

Yae Rin arrived at the village's plum orchard. These were trees planted by Yae Sakura and the others, and despite being only their first year, they already bore abundant fruit.

These were late-season plums, just beginning to ripen at this time of year.

Looking at the fruit hanging from the branches, Yae Rin hesitated. I can't reach them...

Should I climb the tree?

But then she spotted insects on the tree and took several steps back. Those are terrifying caterpillars!

I could find a stick to knock them down, but that might damage the fruit.

Just then, Yae Rin looked down at the Honkai Beast in her arms.

"Wait! Wawa... I'll leave the plum-picking task to you. Go on! Bring down all the plums from the tree."

Yae Rin lifted the Advancing Rank Honkai Beast and threw it upward. The beast soared through the air.

The Honkai Beast glanced at Yae Rin, paused briefly, as if understanding her command.

It then began plucking plums from the tree one by one.

With the help of a flying Honkai Beast, Yae Rin quickly filled her basket with plums.

"All right, Mosquito, you've done well. Let's head back."

After praising the Honkai Beast, Yae Rin prepared to return to the Shrine with her pet.

Just as Yae Rin left the plum grove, she suddenly stopped in her tracks, recognizing two familiar figures and a fox ahead.

"Serenade-nee... Serenade-nee, you're back!"

Yae Rin rushed over to Serenade, her face lighting up as she looked up at the older girl.

"Rin? We're back... Did you come to pick fruits?" Serenade looked down at the excited Yae Rin. Though they hadn't seen each other for over two months, the girl's familiar presence felt unchanged.

Noticing the plums in Yae Rin's basket, Serenade wondered how such fruits could still be available in this season.

"Yes, Serenade-nee! And Kallen-nee, try these plums too. They're sweet and sour - really delicious!"

Yae Rin eagerly lifted her basket toward the two women.

"Mm."

Serenade and Kallen accepted the offered fruits without hesitation.

"The flavor is indeed good." Serenade took a bite, finding the fruit as enjoyable as described.

"Mm-hmm." Kallen agreed.

"Heh heh..." Yae Rin smiled, but then froze as she felt something tugging at her skirt.

Looking down, she saw a little fox pulling on her dress.

Higokumaru noticed Yae Rin's gaze and immediately said, "What about mine? I want to taste it too."

"Here you go..."

"Sis, Sis! Look who's back!"

Yae Rin and Serenade's trio returned to the Shrine. Yae Rin immediately dashed excitedly toward Yae Sakura's location.

"What's wrong? Rin."

When Yae Sakura emerged upon hearing the voice, she immediately saw Serenade and Kallen... ah, and Higokumaru too.

"Sis Serenade, Sis Kallen, you're back..."

Yae Sakura looked at the two women before her, her face immediately lighting up with a smile.

"Sakura... you haven't neglected your swordsmanship while I was away, have you?"

"Of course not..." Yae Sakura replied with conviction.

"That's good. We'll have a match later."

"Yes, Sis Serenade."

Time flew by like the wind. Before they knew it, three months had dwindled to mere days. Throughout this period, Serenade and Kallen maintained their usual tranquil life at the Shrine.

The Valkyrie squad captured from Shinano had long since been released by Serenade. After all, Schicksal's ownership had changed hands.

The arrest warrant for Kallen had been rescinded by Bishop Otto, the current leader.

Kallen herself had resolved to retire in the Far East, vowing never to return to Schicksal unless Otto crossed some unforgivable line—such as following in his father's footsteps.

Though "retirement" seemed an odd term for someone like Kallen and Yae Sakura, who had already achieved eternal life.

Unchanging beauty, endless lifespan...

Serenade gazed at her friend list... In this world, she felt no regrets regarding her companions.

Yae Sakura, Yae Rin, Hokushin Mei, Kallen, Higokumaru...

All the important people were in her friend list. Even if they parted now, there would still be chances to meet again.

-

On the last day, Serenade prepared to leave quietly alone without notifying them. A single letter would suffice.

After all, though it might be a long time before she could see them again, for Yae Sakura and the others, when she summoned them for battle, she would only be gone for a few days.

"Hey, are you leaving this place?"

Though Serenade hadn't told anyone, a little creature had noticed her movements.

A little fox.

"Yes, because I have to leave... But I can promise you, I will definitely come back." Perhaps that time would be five hundred years later.

Though the time was a bit long...

"Can you take me with you? You promised me before. If I become your little fox, you'll always make Fried Tofu for me. You won't break your promise, will you?"

Higokumaru jumped onto Serenade's body, staring at her earnestly.

"This..."

Serenade froze... not knowing how to respond.

Because she couldn't take living beings with her.

"You're not going back on your word, are you?" Higokumaru couldn't help but stare at Serenade with a serious expression.

"..."

"There is one way, but I don't know if you're willing?" After a moment of silence, Serenade thought of a solution - a way to leave with Higokumaru.

"What way?" Higokumaru looked at Serenade, puzzled.

Instead of answering, Serenade found a black box.

"You... would you give up your resistance and become a divine key? I can't take living beings, but weapons... should be fine.

If you don't want to, then forget it..."

"A divine key..."

Higokumaru immediately looked at Serenade with suspicion.

"You don't want to? That's understandable... then forget it!"

Seeing Higokumaru's reaction, Serenade thought... How could anyone voluntarily become a divine key like that?

"I didn't say I didn't want to, but... you must promise... you won't... abandon me."

The little fox Higokumaru suddenly approached Serenade, her large eyes staring intently at the girl.

"I promise. And besides, how could I abandon a divine key?"

"Remember your words... Don't abandon me, no matter what."

Because I can't bear that loneliness again...

As Higokumaru voluntarily surrendered her resistance, the Herrscher Core began transforming into a divine key according to the previous generation's protocol set by Dr. Mei within the black box in Serenade's hand.

Both the little fox and the black box vanished simultaneously.

What reappeared was a sword Serenade knew all too well—Jizo Mitama.

"Another divine key... Don't worry! I won't abandon you."

Though she already possessed one Jizo Mitama, wouldn't having two Herrscher of Corruption be even better?

This world's rewards were truly bountiful...

Two divine keys in her possession now...

Serenade stored the transformed Jizo Mitama from Higokumaru into her inventory.

Seeing the sword safely stored, Serenade felt completely at ease.

If it could be placed in the inventory, that meant she could take it with her.

"Leave now! Head to the next world..."

Honkai World... Until we meet again...

Volume 4 END

(Guesses on next world/character?)