The Language of the Forest

In a way, Jell's worries were completely unfounded. No one saw them as a threat—no one even paid them any attention.

The Honkai beast, a giant wolf, had no interest in them whatsoever.

It sounded cruel, but it was the truth. Jell and her entire Snow Lotus squad were, at best, a minor distraction in this "hunting game"—insignificant pawns. Or perhaps, just like the vast city around them, they were merely part of the background.

The real players in this game remained hidden, carefully waiting for the perfect moment to extend a deadly invitation to their chosen prey. And their target, along with another party caught in the crossfire, shared the same mindset.

Given this, Jell's anxieties—and her squad's wariness—seemed naive. Laughable, even. Utterly pointless from the start.

Yet, all "meaning" in this world blossoms from the accumulation of countless "meaningless" moments.

At the very least, Jell's sudden request gave Otto a legitimate reason to stay. Otherwise, a "mere C-rank Valkyrie" like him could have been easily dismissed—sent back to Schicksal HQ for "obstructing official duties."

While Otto could have fabricated reasons—such as "Yuno wants revenge for her friend"—to justify his presence, doing so would seem too deliberate. It might displease the Snow Lotus squad and alert his "prey," assuming they were as cautious as he was.

Thus, being invited to join the investigation was the perfect opportunity. It allowed him to subtly and naturally place himself within his target's sights once more.

And then, the classic hunter and hunted switching roles scenario would unfold.

"Heh. Schicksal's Valkyries—whether at HQ or stationed around the world—their noble qualities always inspire admiration..." Otto clapped his hands together, feigning sincerity.

"Hmph, fine words. I wonder what those Valkyries who died with regrets over the past 500 years would think?" Void Archive, never one to miss a chance to mock Otto, sneered. This was one of its few remaining forms of resistance.

"Oh, and those poor souls you lured into your lab with all sorts of lies… Tsk tsk, how many of them ever walked out alive?"

Otto chuckled, unfazed. "Heh, while they lived, I never skimped on praise and compliments—whether publicly or privately. Void Archive, you've been with me for 500 years. Haven't you seen enough of that?"

"Besides, some sacrifices are inevitable for 'salvation.' Do I, a mere junior, need to explain this to you, Mr. Void Archive from the previous era?"

"..." Void Archive fell silent for a moment before scoffing, "Otto, you're truly sickeningly hypocritical."

"Heh, thank you for the compliment."

"...Humanity is a truly pathetic race to have someone like you as a leader."

...

Otto and Void Archive's "friendly exchanges" were always private—just as they had been for the past 500 years.

Meanwhile, in the outside world, "Yuno" had arrived at the ravaged site with Jell.

"Captain, you're back! Uh..."

The Valkyries on guard greeted their captain cheerfully—only to freeze in surprise at the sight of "Yuno" standing behind her.

"Don't worry. Everyone, this is Valkyrie Yuno."

Though introductions had already been made earlier, Jell reintroduced Yuno and explained the situation once more before concluding, "Until this incident is resolved, Valkyrie Yuno will be working with us. Please take care of our new teammate..."

Even if it was only temporary, Jell wanted her squad to get along.

"...Is that so? Was I being rude earlier when I was so nervous?"

"With Valkyrie Yuno's help, we'll definitely defeat that monster, right?"

The Valkyries, always disciplined, quickly accepted the situation. Anna's good friend—though intimidating—couldn't be that difficult to work with, right? They reassured themselves.

The scene before them resembled a void within the dense forest. Massive trees lay flattened, their broken stumps and trunks scattered across the ground. Jagged, ugly edges marked where they had been torn apart.

Purple-red stains, now dried, clung to the shattered wood and still-vibrant leaves—a silent testament to the carnage that had unfolded here.

"Yuno" glanced around, puzzled. "Why did you bring me here?"

"This is the 'clue' I mentioned." Jell gestured around the ravaged site. "See? No matter which direction you look, there are no tracks to follow. It's like it just appeared out of thin air."

She led "Yuno" through the preserved scene. "Anna told me about your special abilities—how they're connected to plants. So, I thought you might be able to find something hidden."

"I understand. Let me try."

"Yuno" nodded, took a step back, and closed her eyes.

A rustling sound filled the air as dozens of green vines—some thick, some thin—erupted from her back, arms, and feet. They spread rapidly, plunging into the ground and connecting with the surviving trees.

"Ah! What is this?!"

The nearby Valkyries gasped, startled by the eerie sight. Jell immediately shot them a glare, and they quickly covered their mouths, exchanging anxious glances.

"What's happening? Is she the monster we're looking for? Is she the one who injured Captain Anna?" one whispered, terror flashing in her eyes.

"Don't be silly! The Captain and Vice-Captain invited her. She's a teammate! …Right?" another muttered hesitantly.

"Is this... a Valkyrie? Why does she look so scary?" a third asked, voice laced with confusion.

Jell sighed. Anna had warned her about this, but witnessing it firsthand was still unsettling. She gestured for her squad to stay calm and waited.

Then, suddenly—

"How can this be?"

"Yuno" abruptly retracted her vines, her eyes flickering open in shock.

"Did my ability... fail?"

Symbiotic with plant-type Honkai beasts, she possessed the unique ability to communicate with plants.

Plants weren't unaware of the world around them. They sensed gravity, driving their roots downward. They reached toward sunlight and rain, adjusting their leaves and branches. They even detected subtle moisture differences in the soil, seeking out water sources.

Lacking nerves and brains, plants relied purely on instinct—on a genetic code built for survival. This code, an organic system of primal information exchange, was measured in bits. This was the "language" of plants.

Yuno could understand this language—the "information" and "memories" stored within plant cells. Sometimes, she could even make small requests, like coaxing a potted flower to bloom a few hours early. A rare joy for the often lonely Yuno.

But Yuno's abilities weren't "Yuno's" abilities.

She tried accessing the plants' memories as she remembered—but all she found was a blank void.

"Yuno" should have felt lost and uneasy. Yet, as a simulated personality, Otto subtly intervened, restoring her composure.

"It seems our little girl has quite a few secrets to uncover!" Otto mused, intrigued.

"...Is that so?"

Jell felt both disappointed and relieved. Pushing aside her mixed emotions, she forced a smile and patted "Yuno's" shoulder.

"It was just a thought. Don't take it to heart."

"I won't…" "Yuno" shook her head. "Is there anything else to investigate?"

Jell shook her head. "No, let's head back."

She turned to her squad—only to find them huddled together, hesitant to approach.

"..." Jell was speechless.

"Captain Jell, perhaps I should work alone…" "Yuno" offered, considerate. "I usually work alone at HQ."

"Heh, nonsense! I'm not like those people at HQ!" Jell laughed, then shouted to her squad, "Let's go! Back to base! If you don't want to fly, you can walk back! It's not far!"

"Ahh… No!"

The thought of trekking through the mosquito-infested jungle sent shivers down their spines. Reluctantly, they squeezed in with "Yuno."

Before boarding, "Yuno" paused, taking one last look at the scene—imprinting it in her memory.

Then, without another word, she stepped onto the helicopter with Jell.

Within his consciousness, Otto retrieved the scene from "Yuno's" memory, projecting it as if he were standing there himself. In this near-perfect data space, he paced, scrutinizing every detail.

Just because "Yuno" failed to find clues didn't mean he couldn't.

"Hmm..."

Otto walked in circles, his path gradually tightening until he stopped at one spot, lost in thought. With a flick of his hand, he projected an image of the giant cat Honkai beast standing where he stood.

Staring at the beast, he slowly backed away, his brow furrowing.

"Huh?"

"What is it now?" Void Archive chimed in, ever eager to mock.

"Heh, a rather interesting discovery."

Otto smirked and waved his hand. The fallen trees reattached to their stumps, rising upright, restoring the dense forest. "Now, allow me to present you with a spectacle."

He zoomed out his perspective, overlooking the forest like a god.

The simulated Honkai beast stomped through the undergrowth, roaring as it lunged at the trees. Massive trunks snapped like twigs, crushed beneath its weight.

But something was off.

"...No." Otto frowned. The destruction was too uniform, too controlled—nothing like the chaotic aftermath in the real image.

He refocused. "In reality, the undergrowth was untouched, and the trees in that direction were intact." His eyes narrowed. "The Honkai beast wasn't always that size."

Standing beside the undisturbed undergrowth in the real image, Otto muttered to himself, then initiated another simulation.

This time, he shrunk the Honkai beast, gradually decreasing its size—again and again—testing, adjusting, never quite satisfied.

Still too large. Too much disturbance. The balance was wrong.

Again. And again.

Finally, he reduced it to the size of a mere house cat.

Now, it made sense. At that size, the undergrowth could have concealed it perfectly. He placed the miniature Honkai beast within the simulation, watching as it crouched, facing the forest.

Otto raised his perspective slightly, analyzing.

This was more plausible.

For confirmation, he superimposed "Yuno's" memory over his simulation. The details aligned. The undergrowth in both images remained untouched.

A slow, satisfied smile curled Otto's lips.

"You're trying to find clues this way?" Void Archive scoffed. "Do you really think a beast's rampage will reveal anything meaningful?"

"Not necessarily, Void Archive!"

Otto returned to his previous spot, his back to the undergrowth. A smirk played on his lips.

"Don't you think that if it was that small, in this position… the whole scene takes on a different flavor?"

"Oh?" Void Archive's curiosity piqued.

Otto didn't answer immediately. Instead, he stood there, silent. Letting the realization settle.

Then, time resumed.

He turned—just as the "kitten" leaped from the undergrowth, its small form twisting mid-air. In a flash, it expanded—ballooning into its colossal size—lunging at him like a falling mountain.

But Otto didn't flinch.

He simply smiled.

"...A predator's hunting ground in the forest."