Chapter 58: "Theater of Domination, So where the new member?"

When Cecilia and Sirin intend to return to start the second round of psychological war, K-423, who trapped Will of Honkai in her stigmata space, becomes very troubled.

Many things that had been in her mind had been completely answered.

Even though [K-423] said that the Will of Honkai wasn't her enemy. K-423 is still on alert for her.

Yes, the current her is not her enemy.

But, she wasn't a friend either.

Their relationship is like that of an acquaintance who has a very problematic multiple personality. You can talk casually with her, but you have to be careful if one day she suddenly changes personality and suddenly stabs you very viciously.

For now, K-423 believed everything this [K-423] in front of her was told.

".... When are you leaving?"

"[Waiting for the completion of the assessment.]"

"What do you mean?"

Silently froze in place. [K-423] tilted her head to the side, and looking at her with a stiff gaze.

"[You're still in doubt, the assessment isn't over yet.]"

"What are you doing!?!!"

The atmosphere suddenly changed very quickly.

With white colored chains that suddenly appeared on the ground, and wrapped around her body very fast. K-423, who just wanted to run, was immediately stuck in place.

Her reaction was too slow.

She had fallen into a trap.

"[This is not a trap, just a bit of enticement.]"

"Stop reading my mind!"

K-423 shouted angrily.

"I thought we were friends, what do you want to do to me!?"

"[Very simple, like I said just now, eliminating contradictions.]"

[K-423] replied calmly.

"[To you, the contradictory nature within your heart isn't a problem. As long as you hide it deep enough, then everything will be fine.]"

"[But, in our opinion, because of that thought that makes you so weak.]"

"[Why do you think I can always read your minds even though you have formed such a thick memory wall? The contradictions in your heart give me such a wide gap of access.]"

"[Not only can I use it. But Cocoon of Finality can too.]"

[K-423] looked into K-423's eyes quietly.

"[Just like your current condition. If Cecilia forces you a bit, then you will definitely forgive Sirin right now even though you know it was wrong.]"

"[Meaning, with that inherent contradiction of yours, you could just switch over to the side of the honkai at any time.]"

"[Humans don't need additional enemies anymore. This leaves me with a choice as to whether I should replace you, or leave you alone after the assessment is over.]"

"[The result, even though it's only half done, you're already leaning towards elimination.]"

[K-423] presented the facts in a cold tone.

"B-But you can't kill me!"

"[Yes, in your stigmata space, you cannot be killed. But, don't forget that I also have all the memories that are in your head.]"

"[Do you think you can endure the torture of 4587363201 deaths? You are not Kiana, and you don't have the conditions to do that. Also your willpower isn't as strong as you think.]"

"[In the most probable analysis. Having you give up on the human side, and return to idea of stigmata like the Hare, is the most advantageous option.]"

"[Relax, you won't get hurt.]"

K-423 was stunned on the spot.

"Isn't that the same as dying?!"

In the main storyline, Senior Hare tries her best to find a way to kill herself because of a strong sense of guilt.

However, as the idea of crystallization of the stigmata could affect space, of course senior Hare would not be able to die normally.

Thus, with the advice of the Gray Serpent, a very virtuous friend, Senior Hare performed a [transcription] on it herself.

As a result, Misteln Schariac was dead, and left an existence named "Hare" that was born from the ashes of her corpse.

Someone who has the exact same power, memory, and knowledge as herself. But, they are also very different from an ideological point of view.

If you want to summarize what is different from the two of them. Her previous self was a stigmata that possessed a human heart, and the other side was an existence of stigmata that possessed a god's perspective.

"{Human heart? That's interesting, so I want to research it and observe it.}"

Those were the words senior Hare would most likely say upon seeing her past self.

Seniors deserve to be called seniors.

However....

"I don't want to die! Damn don't cheat because I'm not good at philosophy! This is same to dying!"

Death in conceptual form.

After all, this is the world of honkai. The meaning of death has too many branches that are very difficult for normal humans to understand because a bunch of crazy people who are very physicists.

At least according to K-423, if she were to become an existence nearly identical to the senior Hare, it would be tantamount to death to herself.

"[The growth of humans and stigmata is very different. I don't understand why you who are also idea stigmata choose to grow slowly like normal humans.]"

"[Attachments cause contradictions. If we eliminate them, then a perfect version of you will be born.]"

"[The perfect version that will replace the flawed version.]"

Hearing [K-423] very forthright judgment. K-423 felt like she had fallen into an icy abyss, and she was trying to break free from the chains that wrapped around her body.

"Let me go!"

Using all of her abilities, and the things she can control within her stigmata space. K-423 finds that the stigmata space, which almost exactly match the her body, do not move in the slightest.

It felt like getting an anesthetic injection. It's there, but you can't feel it.

K-423 starts to sweat cold.

She was frightened.

She, had underestimated the power of the Will of Honkai too much.

Had she had the power to beat her from the start?

All the precautions she had put up so far turned out to be just a joke full of nonsense.

"[Don't be afraid, like I said before, the assessment isn't over yet.]"

[K-423] comforted K-423 who was about to cry in fear.

"[As long as you eliminate the contradictions in your heart, then I will allow what you want you to leave.]"

Not waiting for K-423 to prepare her heart. [K-423] immediately spoke.

"[Back to the original topic, why did you reject all the names given by Cecilia?]"

This question again...

"[Please answer immediately. And as an added warning, lying won't help your current state.]"

Like a question machine that gives questions in a cold tone. K-423 felt intimidated, and she lowered her head in fear.

"I can't..."

"[Why?]"

".... Because I'm not her biological child."

Silent for a long time, K-423 finally gave her reasons while bowing her head deeply.

"Don't you think it's too hypocritical to take advantage since you've already seen the plot in the future? If I hadn't entered the illusionary world at that time, then all this I got would never have existed."

"[....So you wish for selfless love?]"

"Shouldn't parents be like that? She loves me because I want. I made it, I don't want this thing!"

"[How contradictory.]"

An ugly smile appeared on K-423's face.

"I know... I should be able to become a core member of the Theater of Domination by now..."

Her tone got smaller and smaller.

If contradiction is an extension of confusion, then from start to finish, K-423's heart was filled with much confusion.

Sometimes, she really envies Kiana.

Being stupid, and innocent, without thinking about the risks or opinions of others.

She also wanted to be free just like her.

But with the memory of a bleak future in her mind, and a sense of responsibility. She couldn't keep playing dumb.

Conscience, and herself did not allow that to happen.

This is the curse of knowledge.

"[Next question, do you consider Kiana, and Siegfried as your family?]"

"Yes.... maybe."

"[You doubt the definition of family.]"

"Yes..."

K-423 answered weakly.

"[...You humans deserve to be members of the Theater of Domination.]"

"...."

It is over.

Like tangled threads. Don't know where it starts and ends. K-423 knows her fate now.

Her heart was completely filled with contradictions.

"[Final question before judgment. Do you consider Cecilia your family?]"

Biting her lower lip tightly, K-423 wondered what kind of nonsense the [K-423] in front of her was referring to at this moment.

"[You can say anything. After all, these will probably be your last words as a human.]"

Remembering what she and Cecilia had been doing all along, K-423 took a deep breath, and she screamed.

After all, the end is only death.

"She's not my mom but I want her to be my mother!"

"Travelling time is just my wish, in the first place, this is just a journey full of my own selfishness!"

"I want Kiana to be happy, but I also want to be happy! Someone! At least I want someone who can accept me as I am!"

"I... I...."

K-423's eyes became teary.

She didn't expect that her bad side would be exposed here.

By herself.

"I just... Want someone... Who I can trust..."

"I just... I just want a house..."

K-423 was sobbing.

A home that can provide a sense of security. A home, where someone can welcome you home without any worries.

Someone she can trust.

Does she have it?

Seeing [K-423] who was walking closer to her, and seeing her eyes grow colder after hearing the revelation of her heart. K-423 finally couldn't take it anymore.

Her mental defenses were broken.

"I DON'T WANT TO DIE! SAVE ME MAMA CECILIA!!!!!"

With a roar mixed with frustration, fear, and a tinge of hope. K-423 screamed desperately.

Everyone is afraid of death.

So did she.

"CLICK!!!"

With a very loud sound of broken glass. The space stigmata around her started to crack like a glass cup, and the wall of the space stigmata instantly shattered like a fragile glass.

The dividing wall between the stigmata space and the illusionary space, finally shattered.

"My Princess!!!"

"Mama..."

K-423 opened her eyes wide.

Her little wish came true.

Seeing that Cecilia directly attacked the Will of Honkai, and the Will of Honkai was instantly smashed into pieces like broken glass. K-423, who was dumbfounded, only realized when Cecilia was already embracing her.

The terror was gone, replaced by a feeling of warm comfort. K-423, who almost met the angel of death, couldn't cry.

"Mom... I'm scared...."

"I am very scared..."

K-423 was trying her best not to make her body tremble too much. But the tears that fell from her face, betrayed her.

"Don't be afraid my princess, everything will be fine. Mama is here."

"Remember our secret magic..."

"Ich liebe dich..."

"Ich liebe dich~"

....

Like a calming spell. K-423's terrified heart began to slowly subside.

Coupled with Cecilia's secure embrace, her eyes were finally not blocked by her tears anymore.

"[I told you, I'm not your enemy.]"

Standing behind Sirin, and smiling, like none of this was her doing. [K-423] held up a gray crystal in her hand, and she said:

"[Contradiction successfully dispelled.]"

"[Side note, all of our session of conversation that they had witnessed earlier. Would you like to accept my final gift? Think of this as compensation for the cost of mental damage from Prometheus.]"

"You bastard..."

As expected by her own impersonator.

How dare she plot herself, and set the theater for this play on purpose?

You truly deserve to become a core member of the Theater of Domination!

They should invite you!

In Cecilia's warm embrace. K-423 who has found someone she can trust, and also got rid of all the contradictions in her heart, doesn't know whether she should be happy or sad because of this.

The most troublesome thing for every human being is to be honest with yourself.

And sometimes, it just takes a little bit of courage to break through completely.

Does she really have a family now?

"Thank You..."

"Mama."

Maybe... Being a little stupid is a good thing too.