Honkai: Strijder
Chapter 452: Pitiful Family
"Theresa will be safe… right?"
The tea and conversation had gone on for a while. During a brief pause, Himeko—who had remained silent the entire time—finally spoke. This mature, elegant woman, usually so skilled at presenting her beauty, could no longer hide the anxiety and weariness on her face.
Theresa, who had been quietly watching her, reached out and took Himeko's hand.
"I thought you were going to stay silent the whole time to show your dissatisfaction with me, Himeko."
"I'm not dissatisfied."
Himeko lowered her head, gripping Theresa's small hand tightly. The redness in her eyes deepened, and tears began to well up uncontrollably.
"I understand all those grand ideals about saving the world! But how am I supposed to accept this… watching my closest friend walk down such a path right in front of me?!"
"Himeko, don't be like this. I'm truly grateful for your tolerance over the years. You're the best teacher at St. Freya, and a friend I'm proud of—no matter what happens, I'll always remember that."
"Theresa…"
Tears finally spilled from Himeko's eyes, sliding down her smooth cheeks. Unable to hold back her worry and reluctance any longer, she pulled Theresa tightly into her arms.
(·)(°Д°;)(·)
Softness and suffocation… are not mutually exclusive.
Theresa didn't have time to be moved for long before she began to feel herself suffocating in Himeko's ample embrace—followed shortly by what felt like a call from heaven.
Theresa: "Mmmgh—!"
Realizing something was wrong as Theresa struggled desperately, Himeko quickly let go.
"Ha… ha… ha…"
Theresa gasped for breath, her face flushed red—not just from the pressure, but also from the relief of narrowly escaping disaster.
"That was close—I almost went to see Cecilia before the experiment even started…"
"Pfft! Sorry—I almost forgot my own size."
"Oh, come on. Aren't you like this every time? Can you at least try to remember, Himeko?!"
"I will next time, I swear!"
Himeko smiled through her tears—a breathtakingly beautiful expression, like pear blossoms in the rain.
The two exchanged a smile, understanding each other's resolve.
Himeko no longer resisted Theresa's choice. All that remained was to silently offer her blessing.
Theresa glanced sideways at Sigurd, Otto, and Amber—who all seemed to have ignored the previous scene—then pouted slightly before grasping Himeko's hand again.
"There's one more thing you must promise me."
"…Alright."
"Promise me—if I lose control, you must not appear on my battlefield."
"Theresa, you…"
Himeko's emotions, which had just settled, stirred again. Her heart felt as if it were being tightly squeezed at the mere thought of such a possibility.
But Theresa showed no sign of joking or compromise. She looked straight into Himeko's eyes with unwavering determination, as if seeing through her thoughts.
"Himeko, I admit, if the worst happens, and you're there to see me off, I would be happy. But for you, that would be far too cruel and dangerous! Grandpa and Sigurd will make thorough preparations. You stay at St. Freya and wait for me. Don't take risks because of me. Promise me, okay?"
"I…"
"Promise me, Himeko! I know you very well, and you know me too. If something happens to you because of me, I wouldn't be able to rest in peace even in death…"
"Don't say things like that! You'll be fine! You still have so many things to do, and I'll be waiting for you. So you better come back properly, you idiot Theresa!"
Himeko shouted emotionally. As her final word fell, she suddenly leaned forward—
Bang!
—and headbutted Theresa square on the forehead.
"Hiss! That hurts!!!"
The one crying out in pain wasn't Theresa. She merely rubbed her forehead, feeling only a slight sensation.
One should never underestimate Theresa, who carried both Kaslana and Vishnu genes. Her body only seemed fragile compared to Herrschers and fusion warriors—against an ordinary Valkyrie like Himeko, her durability was overwhelming.
Meanwhile, Himeko clutched her now reddened and swelling forehead, tears welling up again from the pain.
"Pfft!"
Theresa covered her mouth, unable to hold back a laugh.
"Theresa!!"
"Yes, yes, I'm right here."
Under Himeko's accusing gaze, Theresa had no choice but to soften her expression. She reached out and gently stroked Himeko's forehead, showing her concern.
After the two had an honest and open exchange, the tea gathering came to an end. At the same time, Sigurd set aside his last trace of hesitation and entrusted the entire experiment to Otto.
A few days later, as agreed, Sigurd led the group aboard a spacecraft bound for the Star Ring.
At the same time, Otto and Theresa met aboard a massive warship deep in the ocean.
…
"Little Theresa, are you nervous?"
"A little, I guess. I mean, becoming an artificial Herrscher sounds pretty surreal… I never imagined that one day I, the principal of St. Freya Academy, would become a Herrscher. It sounds almost ridiculous. But back then, I nearly pushed Wendy into an irredeemable abyss… maybe this is some kind of retribution?"
"Little Theresa, that wasn't your fault. It was my psychological manipulation and deliberate indulgence that allowed the Gem experiment to succeed. If anything, it was Grandpa's fault."
"I know your debts are too many to count, Grandpa. Adding this one to your name wouldn't be wrong. But whether intentional or not, I did push that child forward. I've always wanted to make it up to her, but never had the chance. Thinking about it now, it's a pity… Grandpa, if you ever get the chance, make it up to her for me as well. It hasn't been easy for that child to grow to where she is today."
Theresa sighed and looked up at Otto beside her, speaking earnestly.
He was a family member she could neither fully love nor completely hate.
Her unusual origins had given rise to equally complicated emotions. She wanted to smash Judah into Otto's ever-smiling face—yet at this moment, as he held her hand, she genuinely felt warmth and reassurance.
"Sigh…"
Theresa let out another long sigh, filled with helplessness toward this absurd fate.
Otto gently patted her head, his green eyes filled with affection and tenderness. As if seeing through all her thoughts, he comforted her softly:
"Little Theresa, I've committed many unforgivable sins in this life, bearing grudges that can never be repaid. But those things have nothing to do with you. You… just need to keep that beautiful heart of yours and continue forward—healthy and happy."
"…"
Theresa lowered her gaze, blinking away the moisture in her eyes. Then, as if nothing had happened, she said:
"Grandpa, you're really annoying. I can never tell when you're lying and when you're being sincere."
That was a lie.
In truth, Theresa knew that Otto's seemingly casual words of comfort were sincere.
But she couldn't allow herself to be too moved—nor could she forgive everything Otto had done in the past.
To be family, yet end up like this—only able to reach a brief compromise, never truly able to coexist—what a tragic thing it was.
"Would you like a glass of your grandpa's special bitter melon juice, my adorable granddaughter?"
Before entering the laboratory, Otto squeezed Theresa's hand lightly, smiling as usual.
Theresa looked up at him, her eyes shimmering with tears. After a long moment, she broke into a bright smile.
"…Yes! I want two cups!"
"As you wish, my little Theresa."
Otto smiled and gently wiped away the tears at the corners of her eyes.
If only time could linger just a little longer in this moment…
Holding that same thought, grandfather and granddaughter stepped forward together, descending beneath the deck.