Honkai: It’s broken, I have become the Herrscher of Corrosion?

When the will-o'-the-wisp fell into the illusion, the Herrscher of Consciousness was also surprised to see his old acquaintance.

"Xi'er, why did you die?"

"what?"

"Look, since I came to this world, I have only seen monsters like them. According to common sense, shouldn't this be the underworld, the netherworld, or the Yellow Springs?"

"…What nonsense are you talking about? So, are you dead yourself?"

"Haha, what a joke. Even if the sky collapses and the earth breaks apart, and the sea dries up and the rocks crumble, I can still live well. To put it in a way that you can easily understand - I have long "jumped out of the three realms and am no longer in the five elements". My name does not even appear in the Book of Life and Death, understand?"

"Oh, by the way, I almost forgot. After all, you are... the "Key of God".

"Bah, you are the Key of God... Hey, did you say that on purpose?"

"I don't know if it was intentional or not, but that's the way I can understand it."

Neither of them intended to indulge the other, and no one else around dared to stop the fight, so they started fighting as soon as they had a disagreement.

"Well, not bad! It's rare for you to have such strength at such a young age.

You can proudly tell others that you lasted thirty rounds against the strongest Herrscher of Knowledge... Never mind, I will specially allow you to say fifty rounds!

But...if you continue like this, you will have no chance of winning. Aren't you going to call out your helpers?"

"? Helper? What the hell are you talking about?"

"Hato, didn't she trick me into coming here?"

"Were you tricked here by that woman?"

"It's a long story, but... it's strange that you're more confused than me. You're *really* not related to that guy?"

"…The possibility that this is the underworld is greater than the possibility that I would help that woman!"

"I see. You guys have a feud too. Then the enemy of my enemy is my friend. I think you shouldn't be angry."

"Don't act like the matter is settled. I still have something to ask you. For example... what were you doing when I came here? Were you so idle that you played brainwashing games with ghosts?"

"Oh. What do you mean by brainwashing? Don't say it so harshly. I am just fulfilling their wishes!"

"...The legend that an omniscient and omnipotent sage will revive them?"

"Why, don't you think it would be better to believe me instead of believing this ridiculous fairy tale?"

The expected answer. The Herrscher of Knowledge indeed knew nothing about this world.

Just as Seele was thinking about what else the Herrscher of Knowledge's ability could be used for besides showing those stupid little movies...

In the Iron Country, a monster they had never seen before appeared...

The Holy City of Salt and Snow.

Xi'er, Susanna and Shigure Kira learned a lot of information about the sage from Vita, but they still knew nothing about the other Xi'er.

"Then...can we go directly to the Salt and Snow Tower to visit the Sage?"

"I'm afraid not. Although the Sage of the Tower rarely manages the affairs of the city, he attaches great importance to the "Tower" and has sent many... divine messengers to guard outside the tower, not allowing ordinary people to enter or leave."

Vita shrugged with an exaggerated expression.

"Well... this is normal. Almost everyone in the Holy City of Salt and Snow is her believer. If everyone asks to meet her, then the Sage of the Tower will be unable to do anything. However, in this case, we need to think carefully about how to avoid fighting with the other party and causing unnecessary conflicts before meeting this sage."

"Perhaps... there is a compromise? Since you can't meet the Sage himself, I can take you to see the messenger appointed by the Sage, and you can try to communicate with her. Maybe she can introduce us, so that we can meet the Sage of the Tower himself."

"That makes sense. But...how can we meet this messenger? He seems to be a powerful person who maintains the world order?"

"Haha...everyone just follow me."

Soon, everyone came to a house with a unique shape.

"One of the messengers lives here. She is a hermit. Unlike the others, she stays indoors almost all day long, just to write a book of poems that can explain the future of the holy city."

“… a metaphor for the future?”

"On this aspect, I'm afraid only she herself knows. But let me make it clear first, she has a strange temper and may not receive you. Even if she does, she may not take you to see the Sage of the Tower."

"No matter what the result is, we have to try it first."

Vita knocked on the door

"Excuse me, is anyone there?"

"…It is not time for preaching yet, please go back."

Shigure Kirara frowned. No matter how she listened, the voice sounded familiar.

"We just want to ask a few questions. It won't take up too much of your time."

"Didn't my messenger say enough during the sermon? Or are you not interested in preaching at all, and only came here because you had to ask for my help?"

"Of course not."

"Why is this person's words so harsh? Vita...please move aside, I'll talk to her."

"it is good."

Although the hermit could not see the scene outside through the closed wooden door, Shigure Kirara still put on the sweet smile that an idol should have, and stored some respect in her throat in advance.

"Oh, you are wrong! It is precisely because we have listened to the sermons of the messenger that we have developed a strong interest in the Sage of the Tower that we came to visit you."

"...Oh? It seems I misunderstood you."

"Yes. And you see, it's inconvenient to talk through a door. It's okay if the voice can't be heard clearly, but if we accidentally misinterpret the true meaning of the sage in the high tower, then we will be in vain... Isn't it a pity?"

"It doesn't matter. As long as you are sincere, even a thousand mountains of salt cannot stop us from believing in each other."

The conversation reached a deadlock again, and Shigure Kirara had no choice but to give in:

"Then... we'll just stand outside the door. So, are you willing to share more with us about the Sage of the Tower and the Holy City of Salt and Snow?"

"Of course, my friend. But before that, let me read your hearts."

Shigure Kirara was confused.

"If I'm not mistaken, except for the first visitor...the other three, including you, are not "locals."

"Uh...how did you..."

"That's inconvenient to tell you. How about, starting with you, are you three willing to give me your hearts one by one?"

At this point, Shiyu Qiluo could not refuse and had to agree to her request. Since Shiyu Qiluo threw out her answer, the hermit began her long silence. However, the so-called reading of the heart may have started long ago during the former's uneasy waiting.

(…Ten minutes have passed, why hasn’t she spoken yet? And even though there’s a door between us, why do I still feel like I’m being scrutinized…)

"Regrets arise from yearnings; disgust arises from resemblances. Contradictions linger in your heart like salt in water. It can be seen that you have done something that is not bound by reason or human nature. Moreover, you refuse to acknowledge the negativity of this matter and attribute it to others."

"The long time has not eased your concern, but has made your disgust even worse. "Next time we meet, I will make him experience everything I have experienced again." Although you are not familiar with the other party, you still act with this idea in mind until now. "

Susanna's eyes widened.

"Senior Qi, Qiluo, what the Hermit said... shouldn't be true, right?"

Shigure Kira swallowed her saliva:

"Some are quite accurate, but some are just..."

“It’s not important whether it’s accurate or not. What’s most important is the connection between our beliefs in this process.

"...You are right."

"Only when the mind is at peace, the water will become clear. That's all I have to say."

"Thank you, thank you for your suggestion. I will consider it carefully."

"So, second visitor, are you ready?"

"Ah, so soon? Master Hermit, I, I, I...what should I do?"

"Please stand in front of the door like the previous visitor did."

"Ok!"

"Hmm... Unlike the previous visitor, you have a straight mind, without any twists and turns. This allows you to face setbacks calmly, and you can also stand up quickly from setbacks and face the future positively.

Whether in life or at work, you always have a diligent heart and take every task seriously, which has earned you a lot of praise. Although you are not yet able to calmly deal with things you are not good at, you firmly believe that as long as you are willing to work hard, there is nothing you can't do. "

Susanna danced with excitement.

"Wow... so accurate! Mom and Dad don't understand me as well as you do!"

"Haha, it's not that they don't understand... maybe they just don't know how to express it. In the near future, you will realize your long-cherished wish and become a daughter that they are proud of."

"Thank...thank you, Hermit! I will keep working hard!"

"The last... and most unique visitor. After listening for so long, you seem to have a lot to say."

Xier calmed down:

"Yeah. But since you can read their minds... I'm sure you can do the same for me."

"Of course. In you, I see anxiety about the future, dissatisfaction with the current situation, confusion about my body, and a dazzling desire... You are eager to find your treasure that was lost on the other side.

Therefore, no matter what, you want to win the favor of me, the person who is most likely to know where it is, so that I can tell you all the information about the afterlife. It is true that you are a persistent person, but not pure - at least, not pure enough to be qualified to know everything.

so……"

Before the hermit could finish his words, an angry Shigure Kirara suddenly interrupted:

"I was wondering why this voice sounded so familiar... I was wondering why I was so petty just now that I only targeted one person and deliberately exaggerated everything I did to that person."

"From now on, the so-called [Hermit] is you, Misterlin!"