Honkai Impact: The Dream Keeper

2006年8月23日00∶14∶47——

"I remember the agreed meeting time was 12 o'clock sharp, so what time is it now?" Himeko asked.

"Tch... Do we have to start all over again? It's like a cycle of reincarnation..."

"This is so troublesome... It's like a damn cycle of reincarnation. Don't let me find out who's messing with me, or I'll kill your whole family..." Long Qiao muttered.

"Hey! What are you muttering to yourself?" Himeko asked.

Their conversation afterwards was exactly the same as the first time. This time, Ryuu Takumi went to the left and Himeko went to the right. Ryuu Takumi stared at Himeko's back, his CPU running non-stop...

"No... If we consider this world as a game... then my first experience had a terrible ending, and I entered a cycle of reincarnation... So if this time it's two people traveling together... will a new storyline emerge?"

"Hey! Wait a minute."

"What's wrong? Oh, are you afraid to walk alone at night? I never knew you had such a cute side~ Ah, there's nothing I can do about it, so I'll accompany you this one time... But, only tonight~"

Seeing Long Qiao's increasingly dark expression, Ji Zi wisely shut her mouth and then walked to the left on her own, with Long Qiao following behind her.

Long Qiao walked behind Himeko and onto the left-hand path...

"How do we break this deadlock? The system said that this world has the Dragon Knight Fantasy Book, two swords, and the Gochard Driver... Is the key to breaking this deadlock to get these?" Long Qiao muttered to himself as he pondered.

Just as the two reached the next corner, they saw a weak figure lying on the ground.

"Hey! What's wrong?!" Himeko asked.

"Just like the first time..."

"Haah...haah..."

The moment Long Qiao saw the figure, her fists clenched tightly, and her aura grew increasingly agitated... Long Qiao walked forward expressionlessly, bent down and hugged the panting figure, stroking the girl's hair. Long Qiao's expression grew increasingly grim.

"Quick... Ah... Go..." the girl reminded Long Qiao to leave her.

"Quickly... get... away... from here..."

Seeing the girl's reaction was the same as the first time he had experienced it, Long Qiao originally wanted the girl to drink his blood, but Ji Zi grabbed him by the back of the neck and threw him away.

"Holy crap! That's some serious strength?!"

After Long Qiao leaped up from the ground, he saw Theresa kneeling on top of Himeko, with Theresa's teeth deeply embedded in Himeko's hand.

"Himeko!"

"Don't come any closer! Go away!"

Seeing the scene before him, Long Qiao couldn't help but unleash his killing intent. In just an instant, the two of them were separated.

"Bastard... bastard... bastard!!!"

Long Qiao cursed under her breath, her eyes bloodshot, when a black and gold sword descended from the sky and landed in front of her.

"This is... the Dark Sword Moonlit?"

Although Long Qiao had doubts, she still drew her sword and pointed it at the two of them.

Long Qiao's murderous aura suddenly erupted, stunning both Theresa and Himeko. After Theresa's eyes regained their clarity, she leaped away.

"sorry……"

Hearing the sounds drifting through the air, Long Qiao couldn't help but sigh. He then went to Ji Zi's side, cradled the unconscious Ji Zi's head with one hand, and placed two fingers gently on Ji Zi's philtrum. Feeling her warm breath, Long Qiao's anxious heart calmed down.

"It's good that you're still alive..."

Long Qiao glanced in the direction Theresa had gone and shook his head. Then he carried Himeko back to his residence. By the time Long Qiao returned to Himeko's place, it was already getting light.

"Theresa... I must save you this time..."

After giving Himeko a quick treatment, Long Qiao sat down at his desk and fell asleep.

When Long Qiao woke up again, it was already late at night the next day...

When Long Qiao regained consciousness, he found the room empty, and Ji Zi was not there either.

Long Qiao stretched and then saw the photo frame on the table, but her eyes were drawn to it.

"Long hair, is that Himeko from her school days? Strange, why is the other half torn? There seems to be writing on it, let me see."

Next to the picture frame is a rocket model and a withdrawal certificate from Caltech.

"W, e?... What does this mean? I've suffered because I didn't go to school... There seem to be other letters too? Never mind, Lu Ziyang, you son of a bitch! He embezzled all my money, making me miss out on any schooling!"

Lu Ziyang: Ah! Who's thinking about me?

"Wait a minute! Is this the time for gossip?" Long Qiao patted her face and got up to walk towards the door, but stopped when she grasped the doorknob.

Through the door, he could vaguely hear two people talking in hushed tones outside. One of them was Himeko. Long Qiao's gossipy heart ignited, and he instantly became one with the door to listen.

"Gossip is still the best."

“It’s cruel, but that’s reality,” one of them said.

“…Give me a little more time,” Himeko said.

"This is indeed difficult for you, but..."

The heavy atmosphere outside the door made Long Qiao hesitate for a moment, unsure whether to rush out.

"Ugh, this is so annoying!"

While Long Qiao was listening attentively, she accidentally turned the handle.

"Hmm? You're awake?" Himeko asked.

"Yes, obviously, is your body alright?" Long Qiao asked in return.

"Of course, it was just a bite."

“Okay… that’s enough for today, but by tomorrow night…” a white-haired girl walked over and said, but Long Qiao was not calm.

"Kallen?! In that case, I actually witnessed the second part of the story..."

“Okay… I’ll contact you,” Himeko said to Kallen.

After receiving Himeko's reply, Kallen nodded slightly to Ryuu Takumi, then turned and left.

"She is……"

Although Long Qiao knew about Karen, he pretended not to know and asked Himeko.

“…Don’t worry about it, he’s just an old friend,” Himeko said.

Himeko's words seemed to be deliberately concealing something. Although Long Qiao had doubts, he chose to keep them to himself. He didn't know if there was something wrong with Long Qiao's intuition, because he found that Himeko in front of him was missing something that was the most crucial element that constituted the existence of "Himeko".

"It's probably just my imagination..."

Instead, feelings of depression, gloom, and preoccupation arise.

“Although it seems like there’s nothing seriously wrong, after what happened, let’s rest for the night,” Long Qiao suddenly said.

"That's right, it's a rare opportunity. How about you buy me a drink?"

"Do you believe I'll slap you twice?"