This Feels Like an NPC Giving Me a Quest…

"Alright, that's enough, you can get up." A woman with long burgundy hair and outdated-looking single-lens glasses gives the instruction in a relaxed tone. The whirring of the machine gradually stops, and the mechanical arms equipped with various instruments and probes slowly retract from around the "bed."

Yuno silently gets up and instinctively smooths her already neat clothes, trying to calm herself down a bit.

She really dislikes this feeling of "being studied." The cold probes from the various instruments make her feel insecure.

"The analysis results should be out soon, please wait a moment."

Anna, who had been waiting by the side, hears this and hurries over. She first gives Yuno a reassuring look, then approaches the woman who's meticulously filling out a form with a pen.

"Ms. Nagamitsu, how are the results?"

"Look, this is a research institute responsible for weapons and equipment development, not a medical bay. Next time you have a patient, please turn left at the door. This department doesn't handle medical cases."

Honestly, the misunderstandings Durandal brings aren't just limited to her name, Nagamitsu sighs inwardly.

"Hee hee, I know, Ms. Nagamitsu, but this is a special case..." Anna laughs awkwardly, offering the dessert she specially prepared. She knows she's causing trouble.

"...No thanks, it's too high in calories, I'll gain weight." People from the Schariac family are generally good cooks. Nagamitsu, afraid she won't be able to resist the temptation, refuses outright.

"I also know it's a special case, that's why I agreed to help. When this young lady first arrived at Schicksal HQ, Bianka brought her here for a full physical examination to help formulate a subsequent training plan. At that time, this young lady was still in a coma..."

Nagamitsu feels annoyed as she speaks. Do they really think this is a medical bay? Should I consider applying for double the salary?

"Just a moment, I'll find the previous test report. We can compare the data." She turns and pulls up a holographic screen, searching among the complex files.

"Ah? Really?" Anna turns incredulously to Yuno, who is sitting quietly at the edge of the "bed," head bowed in silence, and feels like she's done something foolish. "Why didn't you tell me, Yuno?"

If I'd known, I wouldn't have gotten up so early to make desserts. It was so tiring! Anna's tone is a bit resentful. Aren't we good friends? You just tricked me like that...

Yuno can't help but glance up at her pitiful expression and says, "You didn't give me a chance to speak."

Anna had pulled her from the training room and rushed her here, talking non-stop the entire time, either praising how amazing Nagamitsu was or how reliable this place was. Yuno simply couldn't find a chance to interrupt.

Anna admits defeat.

"Ah, found it. Here, take a look." Nagamitsu hands both the old and new reports to Yuno and Anna.

Anna carefully looks at each number on the report, while Yuno skips the basic data like age, height, weight, and body fat percentage, going straight to the data she cares about.

"Ms. Nagamitsu, why is this form different from the ones we usually see? Do Valkyries' physical examinations include a 'Cellular Fusion Index'? And shouldn't it be a 'Stigmata Compatibility Index,' why is it 'Assimilation Compatibility'?" As an excellent academic Valkyrie, Anna is very familiar with all kinds of paperwork, so her questions get straight to the point.

"These two special indicators are names I came up with myself because Ms. Yuno is different from typical Valkyries. She doesn't have implanted artificial Stigmata but has a large amount of Honkai beast genes. Though this also counts as body modification, the end goal is completely different, so of course, she needs customized service!"

Nagamitsu sees Yuno tense up. The words "Honkai beast" must have triggered her again. She smiles, adjusts her phrasing, and continues. "I found some similar records in the Schicksal database. It seems the Previous Era had a technique that fused human and Honkai beast genes to cultivate powerful warriors, known as 'Fusion Soldiers.'(MANTIS) Ms. Yuno's situation is quite similar."

Yuno's tense body relaxes slightly, and Nagamitsu secretly breathes a sigh of relief. She spreads her hands and says helplessly, "Unfortunately, fifty thousand years is too long. This technology has long been lost, otherwise it would have provided a lot of reference."

Nagamitsu is lying.

She actually discovered some anomalies in Theresa's physical data while searching the Schicksal database. Before she could examine it further, she received a communication from the Overseer himself.

Otto had inquired about many things in a friendly manner, but his words implied a warning: do not disclose any information related to the Japanese Branch to Yuno.

So, Nagamitsu wisely chose to keep quiet — these waters are deep, don't touch them.

Anna is unaware of this and only feels regret and pity.

"Okay, back to the topic. Ms. Yuno's 'Assimilation Compatibility' index is steadily increasing, from the initial 93.41% to 95.88%. This number indicates that you and that unknown 'Honkai beast' are indeed a match made in heaven, getting along extremely well, with almost no rejection."

"Ooh..." Anna understands somewhat, then points to the other data with some concern. "Then, what about the Cellular Fusion Index? And this one seems quite low..."

"Ah, this one is the key point, 68.14%, 0.67 percentage points lower than the initial test. This trend, although slow, is very dangerous." Nagamitsu's smile disappears, her expression turning serious. "Because the 'Fusion Index,' if you look at the data in reverse, is the 'Being Fused Index.' Ms. Yuno, do you understand what this trend implies?"

It means I'll eventually become a true monster. Yuno's heart turns cold.

Fear, anger, sadness, these long-suppressed negative emotions surge up at her vulnerable moment, causing her buried desire for destruction to explode, her energy rapidly rising.

"Alert! Alert! Alert!" Urgent alarms blare through the lab. Researchers from various labs rush out, complaining about the lack of advance notice for the drill, but they all understand the source of the threat upon seeing Yuno and flee.

"Yuno, calm down! There will be a way!" Anna pulls Nagamitsu quickly away from the vines spreading on the floor, shouting anxiously.

"What am I doing?" Anna's voice makes Yuno pause. Does someone care about me?

"Don't give up..." A familiar yet strange voice suddenly echoes in her mind, reverberating like an echo in a valley. The voice is incredibly gentle, filled with sincere blessings, like a clear spring, calming the turbulent fire in her heart.

The alarm is deactivated, and the vines quickly retract.

Yuno raises her head, her emerald green eyes locking onto Nagamitsu, who stands there unafraid, a playful expression on her face. Yuno asks earnestly, "What should I do?"

.........

"Aaah, this math is too hard, what should I do?!" Lyle, who's been left alone to take the test, wails, hoping his sincere gaze will evoke someone's sympathy.

"Hmph, why didn't you think about today when you threw away your homework?"

You brat, messing around all day instead of studying properly. Serves you right! Lin Wei sneers, feeling no sympathy.

"I didn't throw it away, resources are precious!" Lyle defends himself loudly, his voice getting smaller and his expression becoming sheepish, "I just... tore out a few pages... that's all."

He feels wronged. So unlucky, how did he happen to find it?

"Smack!" Lin Wei lightly raps him on the head with the rolled-up test paper. You still feel wronged, do you?

"Considering your unsatisfactory performance, I won't give you this." Lin Wei takes a large sniper scope out of his bag and dangles it in front of Lyle.

This is the real deal, which Lin Wei dismantled from a real firearm in the ruins of the police station!

Unlike the lingering cheap feel of toy models, the hard and distinct color of the engineering plastic immediately attracts the little boy's full attention, his eyes fixed on it longingly.

"Want it?" Lin Wei gives a devilish smile, and Lyle nods vigorously.

"Then do your test properly!" Lin Wei puts on a stern face and glares at him. "After you're finished, give it to Little Sora to check. We'll talk after you get a passing grade."

He then strolls away, muttering, "Your math is so bad and you still want to be a sniper? Can you calculate lead? Can you calculate wind speed, wind direction, and bullet drop? If you fire a shot, tch tch tch... The scene is too beautiful to imagine."

He leaves Lyle alone in the room, dumbfounded.

…

Time flies, and March arrives. Lin Wei has been living in this small shelter for a month.

It should be the time when the weather gradually warms up, but due to Nagazora City's unique climate, it's still cold and gloomy, with no sign of improvement, filled with a "keep out" vibe.

Lin Wei observes the children gathered here. They don't seem to find life here difficult.

On the one hand, having experienced true horror, they are mature and content.

On the other hand, these children know that Raven is working hard, preparing to take them to a better new home, to welcome a new life, and to bid farewell to this land filled with pain and nightmares.

Looking at these innocent eyes filled with hope, Lin Wei can only sigh, rub their heads, and offer a small blessing.

Children are innocent.

Lin Wei walks onto the platform again, stands by the wall, and looks in a certain direction, his mind filled with tangled thoughts, unable to calm down.

He often comes here, does this, looks in this direction, and thinks about the same thing.

"Brother Lin Wei, you're here again!"

A soft, gentle girl's voice comes from behind, interrupting Lin Wei's complex thoughts. He turns around with a smile on his face, "Little Sora, are you here to admire the view too?"

"Um, no... I... I have something to ask you for help..." Little Sora seems a little embarrassed, nervously fiddling with the corner of her clothes.

Lin Wei smiles and ruffles her hair, "Tell me, what is it?"

A week ago, seeing that he got along well with the children and had gradually adapted to the wasteland life in Nagazora City, Raven asked him to look after the children in the shelter for a few days while she went out to do something, and then left in a hurry.

Therefore, it's perfectly natural for these children to ask him for help.

Encouraged by Lin Wei, Little Sora voices her request. "Brother Lin Wei, I think you were right. The children in the shelter also need to learn cultural knowledge, after all, they'll eventually have to return to human society and start their lives anew... But, some of the younger siblings in the 'Nest' are older, and some are too young. The teaching materials we've collected aren't suitable for them..."

"I think this isn't good. The younger children are playing, while the older ones are studying. It's not fair, and in the long run, there might be conflicts... So, I want to ask you, Brother Lin Wei, to go with me to a further place and see if we can find more suitable materials, even some storybooks would be good..."

Little Sora feels that her request is a bit presumptuous, her voice apologetic. "I should have told Teacher about this, but she's already done so much for us, I feel bad about troubling her further... After thinking about it, I had to come to Brother Lin Wei for help..."

Her logic is sound, her reasons are sufficient, and her emotions are sincere.

But listening to Little Sora's hesitant request, Lin Wei still feels something is off — why does this feel like an NPC giving me a quest?

"Brother Lin Wei, what are you looking at?" Little Sora finds it strange that Lin Wei is looking around.

"Ah, nothing." Lin Wei dismisses the strange thought of receiving the "Mei and Seele treatment."

"Little Sora is such a thoughtful child," Lin Wei praises her with a sigh, and ruffles the slightly embarrassed girl's hair again. "How about this, let's divide the work. You're the older sister, so stay and take care of the younger siblings. I'm a boy, I'm strong and fast, so I'll go out and find the things you need and bring them back."

"Then... okay." Little Sora wanted to argue, but considering that Lin Wei came back with Raven, she nods. "Then, I'll trouble you, Brother Lin Wei. Please be careful on the way, I'll be waiting for you in the Nest."

After comforting the girl and sending her back to the shelter, Lin Wei sets off "with a mission."

Standing high above, overlooking the city, Lin Wei plans his route. He's not familiar with this city he "lived" in.

He first looks towards the direction he'd been staring at before. There's a tall twin tower building, a landmark of Nagazora City standing in the distance, faintly visible in the thin fog.

It has a name: ME Corp.

Lin Wei glances at it again, sneers, and rules out that route.

Then, he'll head towards another landmark of Nagazora — the Nagazora Wall, searching along the way. If he collects enough, he'll return. If he reaches the wall and still doesn't have enough, he'll continue towards the third landmark — Chiba Academy.

With a plan in mind, Lin Wei memorizes his current location, drawing a "three-point positioning" map in his mind, and a "three-point line" route map based on it, to prevent getting lost.

Downstairs, he sets off.

Lin Wei hesitates by the wall, then gives up on the efficient travel method Fu Hua showed him, and chooses to take the stairs instead.

Safety first, can't be reckless!

Lin Wei cautions himself timidly, Can't compare with those daredevils used to licking blood from the edge of their blades!

Downstairs, he searches along the dilapidated road.

The elementary school is easy to find; just head towards any residential area, and it's easy to find the associated school.

After picking and choosing some well-preserved textbooks, then sweeping up some stationery and storybooks from the small shop outside the school, Lin Wei hoists the overflowing bag and continues towards his next target, looking for a middle school.

Lin Wei's training over the past month has been quite effective. Yae Sakura has also replaced SAKURA and Hua in the Elysian Realm, acting as his training coach.

Well, quite a strict one.

Therefore, the journey is quite peaceful. He can easily deal with lone Zombies, manage with single, small Honkai beasts with some effort, and with groups of Zombies and Honkai beasts, the Divine Key makes it even easier.

Just like that, walking, stopping, searching, fighting, and walking again.

The sun begins to set, and because of the thick clouds, it gets dark quickly in Nagazora City.

Looking at the cart piled high with teaching materials, books, and toys, Lin Wei decides to return.

Any later and the children would probably be worried.

Having made up his mind, Lin Wei looks up at the locations of ME Corp and Nagazora Wall, determines his direction, and prepares to return.

"Wait."

The sudden cool voice in his mind makes Lin Wei stop and prepare for battle.

"Be careful, there are enemies nearby..."

Yae Sakura warns him.