Xin Yu remained where he was for a long while before he felt his strength return. He knew his previous dream was too distant—to make it so there were no more partings in this world meant he had to completely overcome the concept of death itself.
But if humanity truly had no concept of death, would that really be a good thing?
Xin Yu didn't know. He felt his original dream was too shallow and childish, like a kid who just blurts out whatever pops into their head.
But now, he had found a more concrete dream: to resolve the disaster known as the Honkai in this world, or perhaps in even more worlds.
Perhaps even without the Honkai, people would still die from natural disasters, human-caused calamities, wars, and riots...
But the greatest immediate danger was the Honkai. As long as the Honkai was defeated, humanity could continue to advance.
The Honkai had become a tangible enemy.
That's great. I've found my most important goal in this world. I've found a goal I can give my life for.
Xin Yu felt a slight sense of satisfaction within the emptiness of his heart. This was the fulfillment that came from finding meaning in life, from finding a purpose for which one could die.
In this world, he once again had someone who loved him, and someone he loved.
Mobius, those companions you liked, that friend your future self mentioned most often named Elysia, and the many others you couldn't let go of—they won't die. They are just waiting in the distant past for me to change things.
Even if you lose me, even in a future where I don't exist, you will surely be able to live well and happily.
After all, I am someone who shouldn't exist in the first place.
Xin Yu re-materialized the long blade and slew the Honkai Beasts and Deadmasks that had gathered at some point. Then, he began to walk slowly through the city. He was going to clear out the remaining Honkai Beasts and Deadmasks.
Partly for training, partly for any ordinary people who might still exist in this city, and partly to liberate the pitiful souls still trapped within these monstrous bodies.
From Xin Yu's perspective, he could see that when those monsters died, when their bodies turned to dust and scattered, translucent, shapeless souls slowly floated out from those forms. They shed their heavy shackles and drifted towards the high heavens. Was that paradise? Perhaps. But Xin Yu knew it definitely wasn't a place for him.
Xin Yu began to wander aimlessly through the city like a vagrant. He no longer adhered to the rule of three meals a day, no longer spoke, and the smile he often wore when talking to people was gone from his face. He just calmly swung his blade, calmly slaying those monsters. When there were no monsters, he simply carried the blade, walking like a wandering spirit.
Only when some more distinct souls bowed, nodded, or smiled at Xin Yu would the smile he showed to others reappear on his face.
Xin Yu didn't know how long he walked, only remembering the ceaseless rotation of the sun and moon. At first, he remembered a day or two passing, until later, he completely lost track of time.
...
St. Freya High School. A full month had passed since their escape from Longkong City.
During this month, Bronya had undergone surgery to remove the chip in her brain and was currently recuperating. However, Bronya now always wore a cross pendant around her neck, never taking it off, not even when bathing.
Theresa even thought Bronya was like her and one day prepared to take her to church for service, only to find out it was a memento from her friend.
However, when Theresa saw the cross pendant, she couldn't help but feel it looked somewhat familiar. It was a very plain, gray cross pendant, almost like something bought from a street stall, yet why did it give her such an inexplicable sense of familiarity? Theresa couldn't figure it out.
Ever since Raiden Mei woke up, she had been in a state of melancholy. Even when she smiled, it was a very forced one.
It wasn't just because that person had died for her, but also because Raiden Mei clearly recognized that everyone in Longkong City had died because of her. Even though Bronya had said it was all deliberately arranged by a woman named Cocolia, and that even her father's imprisonment was Cocolia's fault. But what she did, she did. This was an undeniable fact.
No matter what others said, as a kind, moral, and healthy young woman, Raiden Mei's guilt always lingered.
Kiana had also lost her usual vitality and the enthusiasm with which she constantly clung to Raiden Mei. She couldn't help but remember that youth, smiling and lamenting that no embrace belonged to him, then dissipating into dust before her eyes.
Every time Kiana recalled how she had completely disregarded the other person's physical condition, completely ignored how much effort he had put in, and focused entirely on herself, on Raiden Mei at that moment...
She really wanted to slap herself.
As a member of the Kaslana family, she actually needed a youth who was already on borrowed time to risk his life to help her fulfill her selfish desires. In the end, she hadn't even managed to say "thank you" before watching him die in front of her, not even leaving a corpse behind!
How disgusting. How could I be so disgusting?
Especially when Kiana heard from Bronya that he had just lost his home, and that even the only apprentice he knew in this world had been killed by his own hand.
She remembered a sentence Xin Yu had said.
"Stray dogs don't need tombstones; just run until you rot."
These words, which she hadn't clearly heard before, were now completely recalled.
Xin Yu must have been very sad then, very much in pain. And at that moment, she had handed him a perfect reason to die.
To die for one's friends, to die saving others—what a selfless, what a worthy cause of death.
Does this count as me handing him the knife?
Theresa looked at the three in her office with a severe headache. For the past month, none of them had shown much of a smile. One was expressionless, one often wore a bitter smile, and the other looked listless all day, frequently spacing out.
Especially her own niece. A few days ago, Kiana had even wanted to erect a tombstone for the friend who died saving them.
"Kiana, I know you've been very upset about this, but the school's cemetery is for Valkyries. Outsiders can't be buried there. Even if you want to alleviate your guilt this way, you could have discussed it with me. I could have found a special place for you. Why did you go and dig it yourself with a shovel!"
"Sigh! For this whole month, you've all been acting so guilty and miserable. I don't think the youth who died to save you would want you to stay like this."
Theresa sighed, unable to stop herself from recalling the past. She advised, "Back then, I personally saw off many friends, including one of my very best. What you've experienced, I've experienced too, perhaps even more guilt-inducing and painful than yours. But life must go on. Those who have died cannot be resurrected. We must accept this reality, carry their hopes, carry their wishes, and continue to move forward."
"Only by living well ourselves can we ensure that their lives were not lost in vain."
"...I understand, Great Aunt. I will study hard and become the strongest Valkyrie. We will definitely defeat the Honkai!"
Standing in the Principal's office, Kiana Kaslana made her vow in a firm tone.