NOVEL NEXT WORLD Chapter 57: A High-Risk Occupation. Being a Younger Sister
The experimental report undoubtedly revealed the source and composition of the opponent's power. Emotional factors were what made her unique in combat.
What she relied on was the emotional strength gained from her experiences—painful, yet powerful.
The scene returned to the journey of the heroic demon-slayer. As Delta sarcastically summarized, it seemed more like a dull hero's game. Along the way, they met various companions,
A spirit of the springs who loved instant noodles, (Void Herrscher)
A disguised armed puppet pretending to be a great sage,
Durandal, a forest elf,
And Fu Hua, a human warrior.
They had all appeared in the previous battle against the Demon King and contributed to Bronya's journey as a hero.
But as the saying goes, those who slay dragons risk becoming one. The previous hero had now become the Demon King.
Why had Delta chosen to join this lengthy journey?
She was here on a mission, but the method of accomplishing it was up to her. Why, then, had she chosen this somewhat fragile girl?
Watching her press forward through the wind and snow, Delta found herself disillusioned with the typical hero's tale. But... was it for her sister?
She smirked briefly before returning to her usual cold demeanor.
"Not bad... Let's keep going. Hopefully, this journey will yield a result I'm satisfied with."
Both for her... and for herself.
--
Before the eerie, dark castle of the Demon King,
On the throne sat a figure she recognized: a girl with spiral twin-tails, a frail silhouette, and a strained expression as if enduring immense suffering.
The familiar yet unfamiliar Demon King, Seele, was no longer the sister she once knew.
The timid hero had grown courageous and strong along the way, but looking at the person she now faced, she felt the absurdity of fate. Her eyes dimmed as realization struck.
Her greatest enemy was the person she had been searching for all along, the one closest to her.
"Bronya... Sister... why?"
She stammered, disbelief in her eyes.
So it wasn't that the Demon King had taken her sister, it was her sister who had become the Demon King, wasn't it?
-----------
At the company, in the recording booth:
"Tch, what a villain..."
"So they made Seele's sister go dark? Is this just some cruel setup to see Seele's devastated expression? How twisted."
Bronya raised an eyebrow, turning silently to Luo Mo to complain.
Her blank face betrayed disdain, as if silently asking, "Is bullying little girls fun for you?"
Clearly, her own heart wasn't much bigger. After calling someone "useless" earlier, she was still being held accountable.
Luo Mo, unfazed by the look from the "duck," had similar thoughts and didn't take her glare seriously.
"No, it's just the classic 'younger sister saving her older sister' storyline. I wonder if that sister feels any guilt, though."
"Tch—no wonder Bronya doesn't have much voice work in this. So Bronya's just a background character, huh?"
"Why not see how the Vodka Girl performs? This time, the story clearly focuses on Delta, meaning... everyone else is just background."
"Or... do you want to be like the spirit of the springs?"
"...No thanks," Bronya shook her head firmly after a pause. "Sirin would explode. What's the saying? 'A lifetime of Honkai, and all anyone remembers is 'Ah, the spring spirit.'"
"Honestly, she's probably perfect for the role. Don't look at me, Bronya—I'm not laughing."
"Hehe."
Luo Mo chuckled softly, teasing Bronya's stern face and the corners of her mouth that were trying not to lift.
"...Sister, don't smile so much... Or do you want to see a dark Seele? Stop taking on such dangerous roles next time."
Seele boldly pinched Bronya's cheeks, her face flushed as she playfully scolded her.
------------
Delta's gaze softened, showing a tenderness unseen throughout the entire journey.
She addressed her twitching tail as if greeting it casually, paying no mind to appearances. If this were a crowded area, talking to her tail would certainly earn her some strange looks, even accusations of madness...
But the tail responded to her. It swayed, splashing water onto her skin.
"It's okay. Don't force yourself. You don't need to accept the way I look now."
"You can hate me... no, you will hate the current me."
The tail gently rested in her hand, as if to comfort her.
"Are you asking me? I can't say I like or dislike it."
"From that day on, I... had no other choice, didn't I?"
"I know what kind of path I'm walking... a path you would definitely try to stop me from taking. But I have to..."
The tail dove back into the water, splashing droplets upward as if expressing dissatisfaction. A soft "glug glug" sound rippled through the bath.
Delta stared blankly at the ceiling, lost in thought.
--------------
[Delta had a younger sister too... She used to have a clingy little sister, just like Rosalia!]
[Wow, another heartbreak! Is the tail the key?]
[Honkai Impact 3rd's most dangerous role, being a younger sister.]
This striking similarity between characters, set against the backdrop of vastly different lives in alternate worlds, stirred many emotions. Their personalities resonated with the audience, while their suffering evoked sympathy.
Because viewers had witnessed the tragic separation between Delta and her sister, Rosalia and Liliya's cheerful interactions now felt even more precious.
"Delta... your tail..."
Theresa hesitated, her gaze lingering briefly on Delta's tail.
"Heh."
Delta tried to press her tail down with her hand, but it deftly evaded her grasp, swaying in the air.
With arms crossed and a resigned yet indulgent expression, she watched the tail with a hint of exasperation.
Anyone paying attention could tell from the video that Delta's tail had a consciousness of its own. This fact, combined with the cryptic words spoken by her sister during a past experiment, confirmed a tragic truth,
Delta's terminally ill, incurable younger sister had chosen to merge herself with Delta's body. In a desperate bid to save at least one of them, they carved out a slim chance of survival from what seemed like certain death for both.
If the scene ended there, it would undoubtedly be a heart-wrenching tragedy.
But the tail, with its consciousness, hinted at a glimmer of hope.
"...So there's still a chance for salvation? How should I address you? Miss Tail? Or... Delta's little sister?"
Elysia chuckled softly, already planning to consult Mobius. Though she knew Mobius had likely started brainstorming solutions already.
The tail drooped in apparent disappointment, sulking for a moment before turning away, refusing to acknowledge her.
"Hmph..."
Delta stroked her tail, casting it a reproachful glance.
"How amusing. So this is your story? No wonder I always felt your tail moved out of sync with you during fights, sometimes even pushing me around. I thought you just had poor control."
Unnoticed, Bronie leaned casually against the doorframe, holding a bottle of soda and shaking it lightly, a faint smile playing on her lips.
"Aren't you afraid of sudden death?"
Delta squinted at her, clearly displeased.
The tail also drooped, as if its consciousness had faded. Delta gave it a sideways glance but paid no further attention.
"Afraid? What a joke. Why would I fear something like sudden death? But you... would you like me to come up with a solution for you?"
"...What solution could you possibly offer? I'd sooner rely on that woman."
Delta raised a hand and pointed in Irene's direction, her tone laced with mockery. "At least she's more reliable than you."
--
"What can we conclude from this situation?"
Luo Mo mused aloud, his tone reflective. "Sisterly bonds sure are dangerous. No wonder it's considered a high-risk role!"
"Huh?"
Seele looked anxious, covering her mouth and glancing at him.
Could this really be the reason? Should she...
Seele fiddled nervously with her fingers, deep in thought.
"Boss, stop misleading people. If you put it that way, then no straight relationships in Honkai Impact 3rd have good outcomes either. So, Boss, be careful."
(TL: Cough! Cough!.... that hit me so Hard. Ugh, my chest.)
Bronya set down her communicator, glanced at Seele, and analyzed Luo Mo's comment with a deadpan expression.
"...Tch." He looked slightly disheartened.
If only the world were full of girls like Seele, it would be wonderful.
----
On board, a big plane was racing toward their next battlefield...
Kiana's initial excitement had long passed. Now, her attention was divided between her surroundings and a mobile game on her screen. She still hadn't finished her Superstring Dimension calculations.
As a responsible Valkyrie, she remained alert during missions, avoiding distractions like games. But honestly... this mission was just too boring!
Enemies skulked in the shadows, retreating at the first sign of a fight.
Even a desperate struggle culminating in a burst of cosmic power, turning the tide of despair, would have been preferable to this.
Instead, there were endless waves of foes, scattered and evasive, coupled with misleading intel. The Herrscher's aura was so faint it was almost imperceptible. Was this really a Herrscher?
Despite occasionally obtaining cores through sheer luck, the missions mostly felt like endless map exploration and puzzle-solving—an exhausting grind she detested.
The most frustrating part wasn't even that. The incident had drawn widespread attention, involving a significant number of people, and controlling the narrative completely was proving challenging. While there were no immediate signs of major consequences, the impending clash with the Herrscher of Dominance was certain to be a daunting problem.
"Bronya just said she's ready to come over and help anytime. You turned her down without hesitation…" Mei glanced over briefly, before quietly honing her control over her Herrscher powers.
Clearly, splitting into smaller groups for exploration was necessary this time. Especially with the Herrschers, their greatest concern was that the Herrscher of Dominance might attempt to seize their powers.
"Ugh, the problem is we can't even find the enemy," Kiana grumbled, tossing aside a scanner.
The red dots on the device blinked on and off erratically. If not for that peculiar discovery of a doll earlier, she would have suspected it was fake.
But this Herrscher of Dominance, whose core energy fluctuations only revealed fragments of their movements…
What a headache.
---
A week later, Kiana, Mei, and the others finally returned to St. Freya. The Herrscher of Dominance remained completely out of sight, never making a move.
Still, they had incidentally resolved several underlying issues, uncovered numerous Herrscher Cores, and even during moments when they engaged individually, the enemy maintained their eerie silence, showing extraordinary patience.
Unable to catch so much as a trace, their efforts felt futile.
Most concerning was that they had nothing to show for it, no leads, no progress. It was as if the enemy had cemented a strategy of never acting until the decisive moment. This troubled Kallen and the high command greatly. Was the enemy planning to deliver a critical blow at just the right time?
This approach was entirely different from the proactive attacks one might expect from a game.
And it was far more nerve-wracking.
---
Over the past week, little of significance had visibly changed.
Public opinion about Valkyries had shifted, however. As the imminent collapse loomed closer, the Valkyries' efforts, done under the banner of Schicksal—had won over public sentiment, garnering considerable goodwill.
While the plans of Schicksal were one thing, the actions of World Serpent had also been forced into a temporary halt.
"Phew…"
Kevin frowned, gazing at the console that was nearly pinpointing the last locations of interest. Yet, just as the net was closing, the enemy had gone dormant…
Was it because he had destroyed too many dolls or used too many cores for the search?
Regardless, this Flame-Chaser paused, expressionless as he returned to the World Serpent base.
The Herrscher of Dominance, who controlled a theater of domination, might have even reduced the difficulty of their schemes.
Ultimately, it didn't matter.
(TL/C: damn, the Herrschers of Dominance are so pussycat than the previous era.)
---
Meanwhile, Delta's recent days had been unusually comfortable. The same couldn't be said for two young girls undergoing her training. The first ten minutes usually passed without incident, but soon after, their wails began echoing.
Being trained by someone as relentless as Delta… well, it was a nightmare. For Lilia, there was perhaps some leeway, but for that self-proclaimed older sister… she was in real trouble.
"Delta-sis, can we talk this over? We have class today, so maybe…"
"No. But you can train while attending class. It won't disrupt your progress."
Delta's unyielding response left Rosalia trembling as she stared at her in horror.
That was Day 1.
---
"Phew… I can't anymore, Delta-sis! Shouldn't we have rest periods?" Rosalia groaned, propping herself up on her knees, her face contorted with exhaustion.
"Do you want to experience the pain of losing your sister?"
"No! Lilia and I are inseparable!"
"Idiot… Sister…"
The pink-haired girl rekindled her resolve for training, fiery determination sparking in her eyes as she dashed forward with renewed vigor. Delta nodded in approval.
That was Day 3.
---
"Ah! No! I refuse to train anymore… Ahhh—Lilia, why don't you just sacrifice yourself so I can grow stronger and avoid this?"
"…Sister, that's not what you said before. You really are… an idiot."
This was Rosalia on Day 9.
...
Nearby, Luo Mo watched with great interest, seated on a small stool. After all, Rosalia's mischievous antics often resulted in him being dragged into chaos. Seeing her subdued was unexpectedly satisfying.
Now, watching her consider "killing her sister to achieve enlightenment"? Well… it was amusing, to say the least.
Seeing a troublemaker get what they deserved was as satisfying as witnessing Elysia being moved to tears, it filled him with glee.
(TL/C:... How DARE YOU! I hope you get scammed by the system again.)
"Tch. Looks like you still need to train harder."
Delta remained expressionless as she added more weights to Rosalia, encouraging her perfunctorily, "Keep it up. Just one more hour, and you can have dinner."
"Go, Rosalia, Lilia! You're the best!" Luo Mo couldn't help but cheer them on.
"Ahhh! Then can you spare me some of your milk tea? And why do you even have popcorn?!"
Rosalia gritted her teeth, indignant. Normally, she and Lilia would be the ones watching Valkyries suffer through training. Now that the tables had turned, it seemed that karma had finally caught up with her.