120. Finding a White-Haired JK Girl at Night
The whistling wind whipped at their ears as Xiling let his body fall freely under gravity. Looking at the gradually clearing city outline below, he complained, "Honestly, I'm used to it. Seriously, if none of us can fly, is this mission going to end from the start? Just crash to the ground and call it a day?"
"If you're not dead after falling from this height, then you're probably close to it." After saying that, the Tarnished stopped in mid-air, his body enveloped in gravity magic.
Kevin did the same thing.
Countless shimmering, intricate parts, as if drawn by an invisible magnet, poured out from the storage device at Lemuen's waist, rapidly assembling, meshing, and spinning in the air. In just a few breaths, a sleek, technologically advanced hoverboard took shape beneath her feet.
Xiling, on the other hand, simply stepped onto the scaffold created by his own magic.
The four hovered above Arc City, beneath them a vast, futuristic metropolis that shone brightly even in daylight. The steel forest of skyscrapers reflected the sunlight, the maglev train glided silently along its elevated tracks, and the streets below were bustling with traffic and pedestrians like ants.
Standing atop the levitation device, Lemuen turned her gaze to Xiling, who was hovering beside her.
"So, what should we do now?"
[Mission One: Meteoric Salvation.]
[Explore the impending crisis and avert it. The more you learn during this mission, the greater the rewards upon completion.]
If others were here, they might need to explore more slowly, but Xiling has a general understanding of the situation, giving him a god-like perspective.
Faced with Lemuen's question, Xiling smiled.
"We're not in a rush this time. We'll probably be here for quite a while, so first, we need to..." Under everyone's watchful eyes, Xiling snapped his fingers.
"Find a place to stay."
So, with ample funds exchanged from the chat group's shop, the four of them purchased a spacious apartment in Arc City that very day and moved in immediately.
—
One week later, at night.
Kevin and Xiling sat on chairs provided by a convenience store.
"Ugh, this exploration mission is really troublesome," Xiling said with a disdainful smirk. He had originally thought that relying on his knowledge of the story would allow him to complete the mission quickly, but after so long, his completion rate was only 11%. That 11% was obtained by directly entering the Arc City Medicine Center; Xiling had initially thought the mission would be easy.
"Don't people in this era know the terror of the Honkai? Why hasn't this city found the cause of the Honkai Attack and dealt with it?" Kevin asked, feeling doubtful about the situation.
They were here late at night because an Honkai Attack had just occurred in the northern region. They happened to be on the scene and quickly suppressed it.
"How would I know? Perhaps... they have their own plans?" Xiling shrugged.
"I hope so," Kevin said with some worry.
Xiling turned his head, looked at him, and smiled.
"Alright, we're here, so what are you worried about?"
"You're right." Upon hearing this, Kevin smiled and stood up.
"Let's get something to eat if you're hungry."
"Sure, what do you want?" Xiling looked at Kevin.
Kevin smiled but didn't say anything, turning and walking into the convenience store. A few minutes later, Xiling looked at the instant noodles in Kevin's hand in shock.
"Brother Kevin, are we out of money?"
"You should be grateful you have something to eat! What are you being picky about? It's the middle of the night. Where else can you find food besides a convenience store? Be content!" Kevin irritably placed the instant noodles on the table.
"I didn't say I was complaining!" Xiling chuckled and placed his own bowl in front of him.
"By the way, when did you say [I] was coming out?" While waiting, Kevin asked another question.
"Maybe you've already come out? I'm not really sure." Xiling awkwardly scratched his head.
Under Kevin's disapproving gaze, Xiling spoke as if explaining.
"Well, you'll see them eventually. Just think of it as giving yourself more time to mentally prepare! Think about what to say when you meet. You can't just draw your sword right away, can you? Besides, maybe the other person already knows your face."
"You're… right," Kevin sighed helplessly. Just then, the steam from the rim of the paper bowl subsided, releasing a pungent smell of artificial flavoring and grease.
"Alright, the noodles are ready. Eat." Kevin picked up his fork, preparing to lift the lid.
"Okay!" Xiling reached for his bowl.
Just as their fingertips were about to touch the rim of the instant noodle bowls, their movements froze in mid-air, as if a pause button had been pressed.
Almost simultaneously, they both turned their heads, their gazes fixed on the deep alleyway beside the convenience store, completely swallowed by the shadow of a huge billboard.
A surge of energy! Though faint and fleeting, it was like a firefly in the night to their keen senses—Honkai energy!
Heavy footsteps echoed from the alleyway the next second.
Pat-pat...pat-pat...pat...
It wasn't normal walking; it was more like someone dragging leaden legs, exhausting their last bit of strength, yet still moving forward instinctively.
Under Xiling and Kevin's watchful eyes, a slender figure staggered out of the alleyway, exposed to the edge of the convenience store's pale light.
It was a white-haired girl.
Her head was bowed, her posture extremely awkward—her right hand pressed tightly against her left arm near her shoulder, as if enduring immense pain. With each step, her thin shoulder swayed unnaturally, as if it would fall apart at any moment.
She seemed completely oblivious to the two people sitting on the chair a few meters away, or perhaps her senses and mind were too exhausted to process any further information.
However, she quickly stopped. A unique scent in the air wafted into her nostrils. The girl, who had been composed, lifted her head and looked at Xiling and Kevin sitting in the convenience store—or more precisely, focused on the two steaming bowls of instant noodles in their hands.
The girl's throat bobbed very slightly, her chapped lips moving silently.
"Instant noodles..." Her eyes were unfocused, as if recalling something.
"It's been so long... since I had them..."
Just as she was immersed in that brief and illusory warm memory, the enticing aroma in her memory seemed to grow clearer and more real...even overshadowing the burning pain in her body!
At that moment, a gentle voice, with a slightly familiar tone, rang out unexpectedly beside her ear:
"Oh, are you hungry? Want some?"
The girl shuddered, jolted awake from the mire of her thoughts!
What came into her view was a young man with similarly white hair. He had silently moved to within a few steps of her, holding a bowl of instant noodles, which he offered slightly forward. His face wore a…gentle and serene smile; his eyes held no of the usual wariness or pity, only a pure, casual feeling, like someone casually offering food to a neighbor who hadn't eaten.
The girl's reason screamed a warning: Lower your head! Refuse! Leave! Don't approach anyone! And don't accept anyone's kindness! She was in grave danger!
At this moment, a certain will within her kept whispering in her ear: she should leave.
However, her body betrayed her reason.
Her gaze couldn't leave the steaming bowl of noodles, and what made her waver even more was the inexplicable aura of peace emanating from him.
That feeling…was strange; it was as if, under that sense of security, even her consciousness had quieted down.
Before her reason could process it, she nodded uncontrollably.
Her gaze couldn't leave the steaming bowl of noodles, and what truly stirred her was the inexplicable, comforting aura emanating from the other person.
That feeling…it was strange, as if that sense of security had even calmed her own mind.
As if possessed, before her reason could process it, she nodded uncontrollably.
"…Thank…you…"
"Thank you…for your trouble."
Inside the convenience store, under the bright lights.
Watching the white-haired girl devouring instant noodles, Xiling recognized her immediately: Kiana Kaslana, the protagonist of this world.
"Eat slowly, eat slowly, don't rush." Kevin took two more bowls of instant noodles from the convenience store and placed them on the table, reminding her.
"I guess you'll have to buy some more," Xiling said to Kevin.
Kevin agreed, so he turned and went back into the convenience store.
Kiana devoured her instant noodles, completely oblivious to their scalding heat. She hadn't eaten anything hot in a long time since that incident. She'd heard Kevin's words, but she just couldn't stop. It wasn't that the food was particularly delicious; her sense of food had faded. But with each bite, a nostalgic flavor returned to her, and she even had a fleeting illusion that her body, ravaged by Honkai energy... was slowly repairing itself.
But... was it really just an illusion caused by the instant noodles?
The answer was no.
It wasn't the instant noodles that gave Kiana this feeling; it was Xiling's constant use of magic to repair her body.
Xiling watched Kiana with a smile. Kiana ate more and more slowly. Her nerves, tense from hunger and pain, relaxed unconsciously. The warmth spreading from her stomach to her limbs was so real, an unprecedented sense of security enveloping her like warm water.
When Kevin emerged from the convenience store, the sight before him made him pause, slightly taken aback.
The instant noodles on the counter were empty. Kiana, meanwhile, lay slumped over the plastic counter, her face turned to the side, fast asleep.
Her disheveled white hair was spread out, and her face, which still bore a trace of pain even in her sleep, now strangely radiated a long-lost tranquility.
Xiling watched Kevin emerge, smiling and shrugging.
Kevin shook his head helplessly.
Ignoring the scrutiny of that broken spiritual will.
Xiling stood up, picked up the girl, and carried her on his back. He truly hadn't expected that the incident he and Kevin had dealt with might be the beginning of the girl's awakening.
—
In her daze, Kiana's heavy eyelids opened a crack, revealing a completely unfamiliar, pure white ceiling.
She blinked in confusion, her mind blank. Only the unfamiliar ceiling lingered in her vision. After a long while, her body belatedly felt the soft mattress beneath her and the sun-drenched, clean blanket enveloping her.
A sense of unreality gripped her.
She slowly sat up and looked around. It was a rather exquisite and cozy room. Morning light streamed in through the clean French windows, casting golden dappled patterns on the floor, and a refreshing scent filled the air.
"Where...am I?" she murmured. She instinctively clutched her soft, clearly women's, clean pajamas. Fragments of memory, like pebbles thrown into a lake, began to ripple chaotically.
Arc City...honkai attack...intense battle...exhaustion...dragging her aching body into a dark alley... at the alley entrance...the aroma of instant noodles...and then...and then...two figures? A white-haired man offering her instant noodles...
What happened next? A chaotic blank! It was as if her memory had been abruptly severed. She only remembered the warm aroma of food and a… strange, comforting feeling?
Wait! Her clothes!
Kiana abruptly looked down, her fingers gripping the hem of her pajamas tightly. A surge of panic and some unpleasant associations instantly rushed to her mind, sending a chill down her spine. However, just as this chill was about to spread—
"Your cooking isn't even as good as mine!"
"No! You're way better than me!"
Kiana's breath caught in her throat. It was the voice of those two men from last night! The white-haired man who handed her the instant noodles, and the owner of the other voice!
A strong sense of vigilance and a vague, inexplicable sense of security intertwined and tugged at her heart. She almost silently slid off the bed. Beside the bed lay a pair of perfectly fitting, brand-new soft-soled slippers. She hesitated for a moment, then slipped on them, her steps as light as a cat's, and quietly opened the heavy door a crack.
The living room scene came into view as the gap widened.
Xiling pointed at a dish and shouted, "At least in terms of appearance, I've already won half the battle!"
Kevin retorted, arms crossed, "But your taste is still far inferior to mine!"
The debate about the limits of culinary skill was reaching its climax. Kiana, captivated by the argument, momentarily forgot where she was. Just then, a gentle female voice softly sounded beside her:
"Awake?"
"Ah!?" Kiana's heart skipped a beat at the sudden voice. She hurriedly turned her head and saw a gentle-looking older woman with long pink hair standing by the door, smiling at her with pure kindness and concern.
Lemuen watched the girl's startled reaction, her smile softening.
"Don't be afraid," she said, her voice gentler.
"Um... if I said we're not bad people, would you believe me?" Lemuen winked playfully at Kiana, trying to ease her tension with a lighthearted joke.
"I helped you change your clothes, I hope you don't mind," she added naturally, her tone open and caring.
Kiana's cheeks flushed slightly, and she instinctively lowered her head, her voice barely a whisper, "No... I don't mind."
She truly didn't mind; in fact, she felt a sense of... being well taken care of? The feeling was both familiar and strange.
Just then, another person emerged from the kitchen, the Tarnished placing a plate of food on the table with each hand, then looking disdainfully at the two dishes Kevin and Xiling had prepared.
"I'm telling you two... maybe you shouldn't go into the kitchen next time. It feels... like a disservice to the food."
If it were anything else, Xiling and Kevin would definitely argue, but when it comes to cooking, they're undeniably not as excellent as the Tarnished.
Just then, Xiling seemed to notice Kiana was awake, smiling, and waving at her: "Yo! Is Sleeping Beauty awake? How was your sleep?"
Faced with such a casual, natural greeting, Kiana was momentarily speechless. She had absolutely no idea how to respond to this completely unguarded kindness.
Just then, Kevin also waved to her.
"Come and eat."
"No..." Kiana almost reflexively wanted to refuse. Leave! She couldn't drag these kind people down with her! Thank them, and leave immediately! That was the only thought in her mind.
However, a hand gently grasped her slightly cool wrist.
"You haven't washed up yet, right?" Lemuen's voice was still gentle.
"Come with me, the washroom is this way."
As if possessed, or rather, faced with that gentleness, Kiana offered almost no effective resistance and was led to the washroom by Lemuen.
A brand-new toothbrush, toothpaste squeezed out, water at the perfect temperature… Lemuen meticulously prepared everything, handing it to Kiana.
Kiana was in a dazed, passive state throughout, like a finely programmed doll, mechanically brushing her teeth in front of the mirror, the warm water pattering on her face with a distinct sensation.
The white-haired girl in the mirror had an inescapable weariness and a hint of confusion in her eyes.
"What am I doing…" Kiana silently questioned her reflection. I should leave immediately! Immediately! Anyone who comes near me will only meet with misfortune! Mei…Teacher Himeko…Bronya…Aunt Theresa…it's all because…because of me…
A wave of immense pain and self-reproach washed over her like an icy tide, instantly drowning out any remaining warmth. She clenched her fists, her nails digging almost into her palms—she had to go!
In that instant of overwhelming resolve, a previously overlooked detail flashed into her mind!
Her body! Her body! And that voice!
From the moment she awoke, all her attention had been diverted by the unfamiliar surroundings and the kind people, to the point that she had completely ignored…the Honkai energy eroding her body, and the voice that had been calling to her constantly—all gone!
The girl in the mirror, her blue pupils dilated in shock, filled with bewilderment and a huge question mark.
"What…is…what's going on?!"
This enormous mystery temporarily suppressed the urge to escape, and Kiana finished washing up.
When she walked unsteadily out of the bathroom, everyone was already seated at the dining table in the living room, yet no one had touched their chopsticks. Because there was a clearly empty seat next to the table, with clean bowls and chopsticks on it—obviously, it was for her.
"All done? Perfect timing! Come and eat!" Xiling immediately greeted her warmly.
"Come on, you can be the judge! Let's see if my charcoal-grilled pork is more creative, or Kevin's Starry Night Pie is better?"
Kiana's steps stopped a few steps away from the table. Looking at the empty seat, at the encouraging and gentle smiles from everyone, she felt a sense of helplessness and hesitation again. Stay? Faced with all this unfamiliarity? Faced with her body's strange recovery? Should she ask? How should she ask?
Just then, Xiling got up from his seat, walked around the table, came behind Kiana, gently placed her hands on her shoulders, and with a gentle, natural force, pushed her to the empty seat and gently pressed her down to sit.
"Alright, alright, why think about so much nonsense during mealtime?" Xiling's tone was as relaxed as if coaxing a child. He casually took Kiana's bowl, filled it with white rice, and then, without hesitation, scooped up a large spoonful of grilled pork, placing it on top of the rice.
"Try it! This is my... well, a masterpiece!"
A pungent aroma of burnt, salty, spicy, and some strange spices wafted over.
Kiana looked at the bowl of food in front of her, then glanced at Xiling's expectant eyes, and at the encouraging gazes of the Tarnished, Kevin, and Lemuen...
The words of refusal stuck in her throat.
A long-forgotten, bittersweet feeling of being treated like an ordinary person welled up in her nose. She picked up a small piece of meat coated in dark sauce with her chopsticks, mixed it with a little rice, and hesitantly put it in her mouth.
The moment her tongue touched the food—
Salty! Incredibly salty! A sudden, intensely spicy sensation exploded within her!
This should have been a disastrous taste experience.
However, Kiana's body froze! Not because it tasted bad, but because—
Taste!
She tasted it! Salty! Spicy! Even a burnt taste!
Since her body was severely corrupted by Honkai energy, she had forgotten what taste felt like!
A surge of heat rushed from her heart to her eyes, and tears streamed down her face, splashing into the rice bowl in front of her.
This sudden outburst of tears froze the atmosphere at the table.
Kevin was the first to react, looking at Xiling in shock, "It can't be that your cooking is so bad it makes someone cry, right?"
"Hey, hey, hey! What food in this world is so bad it makes someone cry?!" Xiling immediately retorted, pointing at Kiana's tears, trying to argue, "These are clearly tears of emotion! The highest praise for my cooking! Right...right?" Xiling's voice trailed off at the end, a hint of uncertainty creeping into her voice as she watched Kiana's silent tears fall.
Just then, Kiana finally found her voice. She choked back tears, her voice thick with nasal congestion, and almost instinctively, honestly uttered her judgment:
"...So...so awful..."
Silence.
The next second—
"Pfft..." The Tarnished couldn't help but cover his mouth, and Lemuen also couldn't help but chuckle, turning her face away, her shoulders trembling slightly. Kevin laughed, clutching his stomach, and gave Xiling a thumbs-up.
"Genius, I lost."
Xiling, however, was thunderstruck. Her finger trembled as she pointed at Kiana, her face filled with disbelief.
"You...you tasteless jerk! Dare...dare you say it out loud?!"
This time, everyone burst into laughter.
Kiana's tears were still flowing, a salty taste sliding down her cheeks.
Yes, it really tasted awful...bitterly salty, pungently spicy, with a lingering burnt flavor...
But...
This was also the first time she had truly eaten anything since losing everything.
Looking at Lemuen handing her a tissue, looking at the Tarnished emptying her bowl and refilling it with rice, looking at Xiling trying to force his food onto Kevin, looking at Kevin desperately resisting Xiling...
A smile bloomed on Kiana's face at that moment.
Even though she might leave this place soon, she truly felt happy at this moment.
—
—