Honkai: Strijder

Chapter 25

Sin Mal had a dream.

In her dream, there were her parents lying in a pool of blood, foster parents covered in mouths of desire all over their bodies, and the angelic and pure Bronya.

Sin Mal stood in a gradually sinking black swamp and reached out her hand towards Bronya.

“Sorry... You’re a monster... not a human.”

Bronya said so and turned away, ignoring Sin Mal’s outstretched hand, gradually moving farther away.

“No... don’t go...”

“Ah!!”

Sin Mal woke up screaming, holding her head in her hands, and felt not the smooth strands of her usual hair, but a rough bandage.

“Where is this?”

Sin Mal held her head, trying to recall the events of yesterday.

Ah, I remember. Yesterday, I killed that hideous pair of greedy mouths and also took care of a disgusting fat pig—this is not a metaphor or an exaggeration; in Sin Mal’s eyes, her foster parents and the wealthy businessman who reached out to her looked just like that.

And then, she herself became engulfed in darkness, gathering the sins of humanity... God! Right, she also met God! God acknowledged that she is human!

“Ha... Ha... Hahaha...”

She suddenly burst into laughter, maniacal laughter.

...

“Sig, do you think she’s gone crazy?”

“Her mental state doesn’t seem very stable.”

“Do you think giving her cakes and ice cream would help?”

“...She’s a human, not a tuna.”

“Wha-! Are you calling me a fish again!?”

“I never named anyone specifically.”

...

Sin Mal turned her head, and there were two people facing each other at her bedside.

One of them is a silver-haired boy who appears beautiful and refined in her eyes.

The other is a mass of haunting black flames.

“You... me...”

Sin Mal tilted her head, trying to say something, but she didn’t know what to say. It has been a long time since she had a normal conversation with someone.

Then Kiana, taking the initiative, held her hand and enthusiastically said, “Hello! I’m Kiana Kaslana! You seem to be called Simbalah, right? It’s nice to meet you!”

“It’s Sin Mal.”

Sigurd corrected, not disappointed in Kiana’s memory—because he had long given up hope.

“Oh well, it doesn’t matter. I’ll remember after spending a few more days together! I don’t know what you’ve been through, but it doesn’t matter. I’ll protect you from now on!”

Kiana said in a carefree manner, wearing her usual bright smile—innocent and naive.

Sigurd remained noncommittal.

But Sin Mal ignored the chattering of the black flames and just looked at Sigurd with an infatuated gaze.

How could he be so indifferent after she was insulted like that? Did he also think I’m dirty and disgusting?

Kiana felt an uncontrollable sense of injustice and anger.

Then Sigurd placed his hand on her head and gently touched it.

“Stop it. You’re beautiful.”

Immediately, Kiana calmed down.

‘Sigurd complimented my looks again! Yay!’

Although the word “again” could be debated, her pent-up dissatisfaction and worries disappeared like a burst balloon in an instant.

“Hehe! Sig has good taste after all! Hehe~”

Kiana sat on Sigurd’s back, sticking her head out from his shoulder, pulling down her eyelid, and making a face at Sin Mal.

Sin Mal: “(▼へ▼メ)!”

Sin Mal gnashed her teeth in dissatisfaction, looked left and right, but couldn’t find a suitable weapon. So with a click, she forcibly tore off a steel pipe from the edge of the bed with her slender arm wrapped in bandages.

Then she pointed at Kiana and said to Sigurd, “Sigurd! This thing is dangerous. For your safety, it’s better for me to eliminate it first!”

“Hey! You want to start something?”

How could someone like Kiana ignore the newcomer word?

She immediately jumped off Sigurd’s back, casually pulled out another steel pipe from the side, weighed it in her hand, and then pointed it at Sin Mal as well.

“Simbalah, by the honor of the Kaslana family, I swear I will make you suffer!”

“My name is Sin Mal!”

Bang! Bang!

In the void, two invisible black and gilded mechanical arms appeared and delivered powerful punches to their heads.

The two girls clutched their heads in pain, and the steel pipes in their hands also fell to the ground, producing a crisp metallic sound.

As the war came to a halt, Sigurd also paused his unverifiable thoughts.

“Sin Mal, would you be interested in working for me? All expenses covered, excellent benefits, and I can arrange for you to meet Bronya. How about that?”

Sigurd extended his hand to Sin Mal, believing that mentioning Bronya would increase his chances of success.

“What about you?” Sin Mal countered.

Sigurd was taken aback for a moment.

Ah, right... It made sense. Sin Mal was so fixated on Bronya because she was the only normal human Sin Mal had encountered after her awakening. Now, Sigurd was the second one.

So, using seduction tactics... Well, it could work.

“You can meet me anytime too.”

“Then I’ll accept your offer... I like you, Sigurd!”

Sin Mal said so, opening her arms and embracing Sigurd, burying her head in his chest.

At that moment, Kiana rubbed her head and looked up, staring wide-eyed at the scene.

“Hey, I was here first-Ugh! Hey, you wicked woman, let go of Sig!”

At that moment, Kiana couldn’t quite describe her emotions. She just felt that she should naturally be the one by Sigurd’s side, and who was this weird person named Simbalah!?

Simultaneously, Kiana knew that she had encountered a lifelong rival.