Chapter 50: Black Seele Says, "Translate That for Me—What’s a Paramecium?!"

Chapter 50: Black Seele Says, "Translate That for Me—What's a Paramecium?!"

 The single question mark floating across the screen left the entire chat in an awkward silence…

 Seele covered her mouth, too confused to reply.

 As for Durandal…

 She wasn't the type to indulge in gossip, let alone about her own superior officer.

 So, she remained silent as well.

 After a few moments, Hokuto cleared his throat.

 『Hokuto:』 "Ahem. Please don't misunderstand. I just think you seem to have a rather special attachment to Theresa."

 His words accurately described Otto's complex feelings toward Theresa.

 『Your Great Inventor:』 "Yes, I do like Theresa very much. Because in her, I see… the shadow of someone else."

 A calm, straightforward answer.

 But Hokuto knew—

 He was talking about Kallen.

 Because the thing Otto saw in Theresa was that same dazzling Kaslana justice.

 『Hokuto:』 "I see. Well, I hope you can meet that person again."

 Without waiting for a response, Hokuto moved on.

—

 The new mission loaded.

 The communication screen showed Theresa and Himeko.

 [Any progress?]

 [No, not yet. The ME Corp building is a fortress. Every entrance is heavily guarded. As expected of Anti-Entropy's HQ.]

 『my favorite sister Bronya:』 "Listening to Himeko, it sounds like this infiltration is really difficult."

 『my favorite sister Bronya:』 "Will they have to turn back?"

 『Hokuto:』 "That's impossible. Knowing Kiana, she'd never give up—she'd keep going even if she was the only one left."

 Seele read his response and clutched her chest, feeling more and more conflicted.

 Kiana and the others are about to fight Anti-Entropy…

 But… I'm kind of part of Anti-Entropy, aren't I?

 Even though this is just a game, it feels so real…

 But Anti-Entropy took Wendy and Mei. That's wrong, isn't it?

 But if I support Kiana and Theresa, does that mean I'm… betraying Anti-Entropy…?

 Ugh! This is too complicated!!

 Caught between loyalty and conscience, Seele clutched her head in distress.

 And at that moment—

 A voice whispered in her mind.

 "If you don't want to face it, then let me do it for you~"

 Seele's vision faded into darkness.

 Another 'Seele' opened her eyes.

 『Embrace your power, Seele:』 "Heh. Hello, everyone~"

 "I can't remember your names, but oh well."

 "Let's get along from now on, okay~?"

 A red, domineering text bubble slid across the screen.

 Hokuto froze.

 A deep crimson hue, starkly contrasting the innocent blue from before.

 The other viewers immediately frowned.

 Hokuto quickly checked the chat list—

 There was a new viewer.

 『Embrace your power, Seele』

 …Oh, great.

 The other Seele's here now.

 『Hokuto:』 "System."

 [What is it?]

 『Hokuto:』 "So… usernames can just directly display someone's identity?"

 [For Seele, the 'other Seele' is a separate Seele. Not the same Seele.]

 Hokuto paused.

 And then…

 Oh. Ohhhh.

 Wait a minute.

 So the system counts separate personalities as separate viewers…?

 『Hokuto:』 "Wait, does that mean even split personalities count as individual viewers?"

 [Yes.]

 Hokuto's mind flashed with terrifying images—

 Herrscher of the Void… Herrscher of Thunder… Vill-V… Hell, even the Herrscher of Dominance—

 Wouldn't this place turn into a chaotic mess?!

 …Wait.

 If Herrscher of Dominance joins… wouldn't they start trying to turn the whole stream into their personal domain?

 Yeah, let's not.

 『Hokuto:』 "Everyone, let's welcome our new viewer. I'm your host, 'Sky-Splitting Janitor.' Right now, we're streaming Honkai Impact 3rd's fourth chapter."

 Hokuto tried to be polite.

 And then immediately regretted it.

 『Embrace your power, Seele:』 "Sky-Splitting Janitor?"

 『Hokuto:』 "…Yes?"

 『Embrace your power, Seele:』 "Weird name."

 Critical hit.

 『Hokuto:』 "Ahaha…"

 He forced a laugh, feeling mentally exhausted.

 Yep. Definitely Seele's repressed emotions given form…

 Doesn't hold back at all, huh?

 Well, at least this is just a stream. No one's getting stabbed.

 『Hokuto:』 "Anyway, welcome to the stream. Let's get back to the story."

—

 The game continued.

 Theresa began explaining the current situation.

 [Afterward, Cocolia seized control of ME Corp. But she's a radical, an extremist—hence the constant conflicts with us.]

 [This latest mess is her doing too!]

 Theresa laid out the mastermind on a silver platter.

 Meanwhile, Kiana was still catching up.

 [Cocolia…? That name sounds familiar…]

 『Embrace your power, Seele:』 "Seriously? That name's come up so many times, and you still haven't figured it out?"

 A blood-red text bubble.

 Hokuto immediately fired back—

 『Hokuto:』 "Correction. Not an idiot—she's a Paramecium."

 『Embrace your power, Seele:』 "…Excuse me? Translate that for me—what the hell is a 'Paramecium'?"

 End of Chapter 50