Honkai Impact: Grandma Pine Sparrow is still chasing me!

Chapter 328 Farewell, Leera

Neither the gods nor the two people in front of Qiong would react to the turmoil in Qiong's heart; the two were still whispering sweet nothings to each other (from Qiong's perspective).

"I was the one who dragged you to watch the sunrise, why are you apologizing!"

The obedient Reira scratched her head, like a shy child.

"But I want to cherish every single moment I spend with Hinadia..."

Hearing this, Qiong felt so embarrassed she could dig out a three-bedroom apartment. "God of Mars, I thought she was your girlfriend, but what's with this kind of admiration that makes you feel like a little kid who hasn't even started kindergarten can't be without his mom?"

She is simultaneously a god to be worshipped, a confidante, a mother, and a love interest.

However, while Sora felt awkward, the red-haired girl involved seemed completely oblivious. Soon, she demonstrated what a gentle, spring-like smile truly looked like, even radiating a holy light around her…

Wait, what's with this holy light effect? ​​You didn't even show any nipples!

"My dear Leera, I'm so glad you like me so much, but don't you want to make other friends?"

Under the blinding holy light that was almost impossible to look directly at (how much exposure compensation did this god use in post-production?), Leera nodded without hesitation. She really felt that she didn't need any other friends; she had Sinadia, and that was enough.

"But I don't want you to be trapped by me. You should have more friends."

Leiera moved her lips as if she wanted to say something, but Sheenadia gently patted Leiera's head, and she (probably) let out a soft hum of enjoyment, as if she were not yet a god.

"Why not try making friends? Like little Sera? Oh, and Leera, why not try chatting with little Sera? You two haven't really talked much."

Leiera lowered her head and looked away.

“I just… don’t know how to get along with Serapem.”

"Serapem? Little Serapem?"

When Qiong heard this name, he was taken aback. He had thought that Serapem was a girl from the same era as Bai Ji... So her real age was not much younger than that of Shen Xina?

The thought of this "little girl," who was older than Baiji, being carried in a princess carry by him, clinging to his arm, wanting him to wear a hat, and calling him "brother" made Qiong feel extremely uncomfortable.

Do you know Serapem?

You can tell from his voice that he's in a good mood.

"Um... I guess so?"

……

"For example, how about starting by changing how we address each other?"

After a moment's thought, Hinadia offered her suggestion.

"Little Sera is younger than you, so how about we start by calling her Sister Sera?"

Surprisingly, Reira, who was completely devoted to Hinadia, refused on the spot.

“I can’t do it…we’re not that close.”

Hinadia smiled helplessly.

"Oh dear, our Leera is too reserved! You should try to take that step. Maybe you and little Sera will get along well? You did too with Lithost, and with Nana... wait, did you do it with me too?"

"Who? That lunatic Lithost?"

This time, there was no divine answer to Qiong's question...

In front of him, Leiera, who had clearly been teased by Sinadia, waved her hands repeatedly in explanation.

“No! Sinadia is different… Only Sinadia is different—! Sinadia… is different from everyone else.”

As Hinadia listened to Leiera's explanation, her eyes were full of smiles, but she still pretended to be curious and gently pinched Leiera's cheek.

"Then why do you have to call me so formally? I've told you so many times, just call me Sheena."

"because……"

"because?"

The girl in black stopped all movement and stared intently at the red-haired, white-clad man in front of her.

"Because the name Hinadia... is so beautiful. It makes me feel safe when I hear it. It's the most sacred melody in the world... I don't want to omit it."

Qiong: ...

What follows is a long string of praises from Leera to Sinadia, which makes Sinadia blush with embarrassment. She laughs and refutes Leera, but the stubborn Leera doesn't change her mind in the slightest.

Girl, what can I say?

As things stand, although there are still many inexplicable aspects, Qiong has already outlined a general picture: Leiera knows he comes from the future, she is extremely attached to Sinadia, and Sinadia is already dead.

Alright, time to make a run for it.

Qiong glanced around for possible escape routes—there's an old saying in China, "Serving a ruler is like serving a tiger." This god seemed happy knowing Hinadia was coming, and even wept with joy at learning he came from the future, but this capricious god who disregarded human life…

What if I told her that Kiana (only in a distracted state) could travel through time? Wouldn't she capture me and threaten Kiana to go back to the past?

Putting aside the fact that it would prolong the journey home, just consider this: Kiana said not to mess around in the distant past. Otherwise, wouldn't she have to save everyone from Cecilia to Himeko?

Oh wait, although it wasn't explicitly stated, it seems that in Kiana's story, Himeko is safely serving as the headmistress...

Oh right, Feather of the Fallen! The quill that Kiana gave me! Kiana said it could be used as long as the Stigmata were activated! But there seems to be another problem: he doesn't know how to use Feather of the Fallen! Kiana hasn't taught him yet…

Should we take a gamble? Qiong hesitated.

She once said, "I am with this star, and I will always, always watch over you." She once said, "I am a gentle firefly, but I was already dazzling enough, powerful enough when she left!" She said my light would shine upon the stars, and all things in the world would sing my praises—but I am not a worthy god! Without her, I can do nothing! She should be leading Luo Xing, leading me and you all—

Okay, plans changed, let's gamble!

For some reason, Sora felt an overwhelming sense of gravity emanating from Leera. Even though she was neither the Herrscher of Reason nor the Herrscher of Geo, and Sora couldn't even see her true form, her words alone brought him a strange sense of oppression—if he had to make a comparison, she had already vaguely surpassed Vayte, who wielded the pseudo-Eden Star...

If this mama's boy is showing this to him and still saying this much, then his next sentence will be, "I need your power to save the sun of our Luo Xing."

I can't stay here any longer, I have to run! There's a proverb about knowledge: curiosity killed Akiwi! The more he knows, the more the older woman's emotions will build up. Even if he politely refuses, he'll probably still get beaten half to death.

Thinking of this, Qiong's mind stirred, his gray hair turned white, and a quill pen appeared out of thin air in his hand.

"Yu Duchen, unleash your power!"

Not knowing how to use the Divine Key, Qiong's intuition told him to use his power of thought or as a wishing machine! Qiong closed his eyes and thought about how to get away from the god who had gone mad. Suddenly, the surrounding scene and people began to distort and change - Leiera was stained with the color of the Dream Seeker's Entropy and wore glasses, while the holy Sinadia became the Firepower Girl King in his memory.

What did you do?

The scene shifts to a celebration of unknown origin. Hinadia and Entropy are surrounded by the Seven Sorcerers (excluding Lithost), their heads adorned with flower wreaths…

No, he wasn't trying to make the scene look better; he was trying to escape!

[Are you showing me the future you expect—no, that's not right, are you afraid? You want to leave? You want to run away!]

"Damn, can you read minds?!"

Having her thoughts read, Qiong couldn't help but curse.

[Because you're afraid... why are you running away? I just want to ask you for a favor! For me, for Luo Xing, and for Xina Diya!]

Leiera's initially joyful voice was instantly filled with astonishment, doubt, and anger. In her logic, Sinadia was the epitome of all that was good in the world: Sinadia brought fire, Sinadia brought sunshine, Sinadia brought the light of faith, Sinadia was hope, and compared to Sinadia, even Luo Xing seemed less important.

And now, the person who has the chance to bring back Sinadia is actually subconsciously trying to refuse? Even if the success rate is infinitesimally small, she will try as long as there is even the slightest possibility!

Roar--!

He heard a shout from behind, and Qiong turned around abruptly to see a dark shadow flying towards him.

"Oh no! Using the strong to help the weak! Rules are meant to—uh!"

He instinctively pulled out his Flame Spear to block and used his baseball bat to maximize its light to deal with the shadow, but before Qiong could light up his baseball bat, the dark shadow nimbly bypassed the Flame Spear and suddenly plunged into his open chest.

It didn't hurt, but it was terrifying. Qiong frantically tore at his collar, seeing the dark shadow seeping into his pores. The visible yet intangible shadow wriggled and spread beneath his skin in ways Qiong couldn't comprehend…

【Huh? You're really surprising, you actually managed to—】

"Who dares to try and steal my man?!"

With a sharp shout, a small white snake suddenly appeared from behind Qiong's neck. The little white snake instantly transformed into human form. Her eyes were sharp, and with a swift movement of her long staff, the untouchable black shadow was dispersed by a third.

Kiana?!

Qiong wanted to say something, but he couldn't speak anymore—somehow, it seemed like someone grabbed the back of his neck and lifted him up... How to put it, it was almost as if his whole body had become a burden hanging on his neck?

"Qiong, don't move! I'm taking you away!"

No, he's mine—

Kiana roared, and the world around Sora spun around, with tiny black dots appearing at the edges of her vision, like a broken old movie...

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Thunder rumbled and torrential rain poured down.

Ruimu was hit by a once-in-a-century torrential rain. But strangely, the rain cleared up briefly in the middle of the downpour, before returning to the level of a once-in-a-century torrential rain.

In other places, this might be explained as an extremely strong thunderstorm, but this is the highest city on Luo Xing, Rui Mu, which is blessed by the gods. This can only be explained as the gods being angry.

The abode of the gods, atop the Ruimu Tower.

"Lithost, aren't you going to give me an explanation?"

The knight of the gods turned his back to the one he was supposed to serve, because this time, he really crashed... and the Star Dragon, who had crashed with him and died, started to "play dead" again.

Thankfully, it's not a big problem. As long as he hangs up quickly, everything will be alright.

With that thought, Lithost turned to face the god directly—time was running out, let him look at this face one more time.

"The innocent will remain innocent, and the guilty will remain guilty. Leiera, I have nothing to hide from you."

"Nothing is being hidden?"

Leiera's voice was icy, filled with boundless rage.

"Then what's wrong with him? Why did you and Nahra stop me from contacting him?"

Litost took a deep breath and began to prepare to lie through his teeth.

“Leira, he came from the future and knew about Sinadia, and I only just found out too. For me, being a knight who guards the gods is my duty…”

"Did you ask me before making the decision to exclude Hinadia from the trial on your own?"

Reira clenched her fists in anger, which Lithost could only look away from to distract himself.

"So many years have passed, you really don't need to..."

"enough!"

Leiera's anger intensified, and she exuded a powerful aura.

“I’ve had enough of your lecturing, Lithost! You know what that could mean for me and for Sinadia. Bring him to me alive and kicking as soon as possible, or I can’t guarantee what will happen next.”

Following Sinadia's movements, Leiera squinted her eyes and rested her chin on her hand.

"For example... 'Shadows become curses, calamities descend upon the world'? Wouldn't the image of a demon, capable of instilling fear, suit me better than a god revered by all?"

Lithost frowned.

“Leira, this isn’t funny.”

"I'm not joking. When you were dealing with my out-of-control 'Shadow Butler,' didn't you imagine this possibility countless times? Oh no, you even used them to lure others into participating in that Ten Arts War."

Lera's bloodshot eyes looked with amusement at Lithost, whose brow was furrowed and who was still injured. If she could, she wouldn't like to threaten him like this, but this time...

This is a matter of hope for Hinadia...

"I understand. I will finish the Ten Arts War as soon as possible and bring him to you as the victor."

Reira frowned, but considering Lithost's rigidity, she agreed.

"Okay, as soon as possible. I don't know how long I can wait."

"If you just make the rain stop, I think it will be fine by tomorrow. By the way, why don't you do it yourself? You haven't forgotten how—"

Before Lithost could finish speaking, he was rudely interrupted by Leiera.

"You think I didn't want to?! A damn snake is blocking my way, and it even blocked the mark I left behind!"

"Your mark has been blocked?"

Now it was Lithost's turn to be surprised. This wasn't something that could be done with ordinary magic; it would take him a great deal of effort to achieve it... But if it was a snake...

"Can she turn into a human and use a long staff?"

"You know him?"

……

Looking back at the tower in the pouring rain, Lithost patted his pocket and a slight smile appeared on his face—at this moment, the target that Pine Sparrow wanted to steal, Sinadia's pendant, the Ring of the Zodiac, was lying in his pocket—he originally wanted to do a few more things, but since it was brought forward to tomorrow, there was no need for so much foreplay.

Tomorrow, things will definitely get better.

Farewell, little Leiera. May you lead Loth towards the future, and not follow the wrong path our home planet took...

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Today's session was a bit too long... I was planning to cut it down and switch to smaller, more frequent sessions yesterday... It seems that will be a bit difficult.