I Am Honkai

A few minutes earlier.

Buzz—!

On the vast western frontier of human territory, in an open plain, a sudden flash of purple light stirred waves in the atmosphere, carrying a faint trace of ozone. A peculiar group, dressed entirely out of place against the medieval backdrop of this world, appeared out of thin air.

"General Esdeath, is there anything else you wish to instruct us—"

Still maintaining the gesture of an extended hand, Durandal's polite smile froze as she spoke mid-sentence.

By the time she came to her senses, she and her team were already standing in the middle of a boundless plain.

"...Damn."

A moment ago, they were in a steel and concrete outpost, conversing with Esdeath. But in the blink of an eye, the intricate metal ceiling had been replaced by a clear blue sky.

"Lady Durandal, it appears the trial has begun."

Rita, still in her prim and proper rose maid uniform, looked composed—though her drowsy half-lidded eyes betrayed the fact that she hadn't rested well.

"Yawn—Esdeath really is too much. Dragging us out here so early without breakfast and tossing us in without a word."

Rubbing her sleepy eyes, Senti stretched lazily. "This immortal hasn't even had proper rest yet..."

"Hmph!"

Fu Hua snorted coldly. Though she too hadn't rested well, she had no intention of joining Senti in mutual complaints. "Last night, just who was it that caused such a ruckus even after lights out?"

Under the sharp glare of her gleaming red-rimmed glasses, Senti guiltily averted her eyes, whistling nonchalantly toward the sky.

"Eh, who knows..."

Fu Hua sighed, adjusted her glasses, and said with an expressionless face, "Who was it last night who, after lights out, insisted on dragging me into playing Monopoly because they couldn't accept losing? And after that, decided to pick on Pado to find a sense of accomplishment... sigh."

At that, Fu Hua could only spread her hands helplessly and shake her head.

Pardofelis, of all people?

Despite her lack of strength—being regarded as a mascot alongside Griseo in MOTH—her luck was universally acknowledged by the Flame-Chasers.

Playing a game of luck like Monopoly against her, hoping to regain one's pride... well...

If it makes you happy, I guess.

Honestly, Fu Hua was glad that Senti had a personality so distinct from hers, full of life and energy. But dealing with her boundless enthusiasm felt like trying to keep up with a hyperactive husky tearing through a house.

Fu Hua suspected that if she stayed with Senti too long, it might turn into an endurance test.

Wait... why does this feel like I'm turning into her overprotective mother? Am I thinking too much like an old woman? Fu Hua mused.

No, no. Senti—this reckless, naive troublemaker—must not be encouraged.

She doesn't handle praise well.

Watching Fu Hua's pitying gaze settle on her with a silent sigh, Senti suddenly felt an inexplicable sense of grievance.

"What kind of look is that...?"

"What kind of look?" Fu Hua shot back, adjusting her glasses. "Should I start listing off all the weird things you did in your sleep last night?"

Fu Hua began counting on her fingers. "First, you stole my pillow and hugged it like a lifeline; then you buried your face into your own pillow; you kicked the blanket off the bed five times throughout the night..."

"...Urk."

Each revelation chipped away at Senti's bravado bit by bit, her stance shrinking noticeably with each statement.

"And not to mention," Fu Hua continued mercilessly, "rolling around all over the bed, drooling so much that you soaked the sheets. Should I continue counting?"

"I was wrong!" Senti lunged forward, grabbing Fu Hua's hand mid-count with a flushed face.

"Really, after spending an entire night in the dormitory, I never realized you had so many bad sleeping habits, Senti."

Fu Hua chuckled, "This couldn't have come from me, meaning these habits are uniquely yours. Hmm, quite fitting."

Back at the Imperial Palace Annex in the capital, the living conditions there couldn't compare to the barracks of the No. 5 Trial World forward base. Unless specifically requested to share rooms, everyone was assigned a luxurious suite akin to a palace, be it Japanese, Shenzhou-style, or European.

Naturally, with Senti's thin skin and love for appearances, she would never ask to share a room with Fu Hua. As for Fu Hua suggesting it herself? That was even more unlikely.

"Last night will probably be our most comfortable for a while. Alright, it's time to set out. Based on the information we have, this world contains goblins—it's a medieval fantasy world."

Flicking her long ponytail, Kiana showed no signs of fatigue; in fact, she looked refreshed. It was clear she had slept well last night.

Speaking of fantasy, it was time to consult an expert.

"Bronya, do you have any—uh?" Raiden Mei called out, only to pause mid-sentence.

"Ugh... my gaming console... it was a limited edition collectible." Bronya murmured with lifeless eyes.

"Mei, apologies, Bronya is still upset about General Esdeath borrowing her console and not returning it..."

"Alright, I get it." Mei covered her face, sighing. "Even at her age, Bronya is still the same old gaming addict."

"Hah, didn't Bronya seem all too eager to lend it yesterday? Why the sudden change of heart overnight?"

Kiana teased, propping her chin on her hand as she leaned in close.

"So, who's going to tell us the first step?" Durandal, knowing this was their last moment of peace before the trial, didn't rush them but instead surveyed their surroundings.

The morning sun slowly rose, casting gentle golden hues over the group, while a stream meandered through the rolling hills nearby.

In the immediate vicinity stood towering trees, estimated to be over a hundred years old, their verdant branches stretching wide. Their chaotic, unchecked growth bore no signs of human trimming.

In the distance, a dense forest covered the landscape, stretching for over ten kilometers without a sign of human habitation. Only a simple wooden bridge and a slightly reinforced dirt path hinted at potential human activity.

Even within the environmentally-conscious Schicksal headquarters, such pristine morning light had become a rarity.

"If no one has any objections... then I'll proceed with my own plan."

It was all Esdeath's fault for not providing any details about the trial. What exactly did she expect them to do?

Sigh, one step at a time. Once the trial officially begins, they won't have the luxury of being so relaxed.

With this in mind, Durandal gazed into the dense forest ahead. From her experience, there was no better solution than action—deep within those trees, she could sense numerous lifeforms.

And given Esdeath's hints, this world would contain many 'powerful' monsters. Handling them like Honkai Beasts? Well, that meant extermination.

Just then, a cheerful, crisp female voice rang out, "Leave it to me!"

"Li Sushang?"

"My little disciple?"

Hugging her beloved feline companion, Li Sushang cleared her throat. "Fantasy adventures are just like Shenzhou's martial world! Follow me—step one, find a living person. Step two, locate an inn with music."

When Li Sushang was a child, she loved watching operas. In her youthful inexperience, she often borrowed the ingenious strategies of martial arts masters from the storytellers' tales to solve the difficulties she encountered. Even as she grew older, the influence of those childhood memories never completely faded.

However, as it turned out, Li Sushang's method wasn't entirely off the mark. The world of adventurers indeed shared many similarities with the martial world of Shenzhou, and wasn't an adventurers' guild essentially an inn that served drinks, provided food, and offered lodging?

"Is it really that simple? Meow~" Pardofelis, though being firmly petted, did not resist.

After spending the entire night together, the two "single dogs" who had no partners—Li Sushang and Pardofelis—had grown much closer. What else could they do? Everyone else was paired up, leaving them as the odd ones out.

What could they do but stick together for warmth?

Before long, the two had become practically inseparable. Li Sushang was responsible for petting, while Pardofelis enjoyed being petted. And yes, Li Sushang, who had been praised since childhood as a "natural sword embryo," had exceptional petting skills.

"Of course..." With that, Li Sushang gently let go of Pardofelis, and in a flash, disappeared without a trace. "Chi Yuan Shizhu, just wait for my good news!"

...

Rewinding back to the present, on the smooth horizon along the solid dirt road, Li Sushang dashed swiftly ahead, and her eyes immediately caught sight of the armored man standing in the middle of the road.

"Hey! Fellow Dao—uh, brother, please wait a moment."

The man retracted his step and looked toward the voice.

Whoosh!

A gust of wind scraped against his scarred armor with a sharp screech. The man, instinctively wary, was about to draw his blade, but the next moment, a delicate figure landed lightly in front of him.

Despite her powerful descent, the ground beneath remained completely untouched.

She had chestnut brown hair styled into twin tails, a delicate and pure face with ruby-red pupils, and blue ribbons tying her braids, reminiscent of fine porcelain. Her bright, intelligent eyes exuded charm.

Though her attire was unfamiliar, it was clear she was no ordinary traveler—she was someone of wealth or noble birth.

"Excuse me, could you tell me how to get to the nearest town?" Li Sushang inquired politely while observing the man raising his sword. She waved her hand dismissively. "Ah, I mean no harm, I have no ill intentions."

"…I know." The man sheathed his short sword and answered calmly, his tone devoid of emotion. "If you want to reach the nearest town, follow me. It's not far, about an hour's walk along this road."

He understands me! Thank goodness, no language barriers.

Li Sushang silently praised the Empire's magical technology.

Before they were teleported from the Imperial Army's forward base, this was the only thing Esdeath had given them—an enchantment called the "Universal Language Imprint."

The exact mechanics were unclear, but it was said to originate from a conquered fantasy world. Its function was simple: by encoding pre-analyzed language data into the spell, it allowed the recipient to comprehend and communicate fluently with the world's common tongue.

"Oh, thank you." Li Sushang nodded, untied the purse from her waist, and took out a small gold ingot, handing it over. "This is a token of appreciation."

"Aren't you afraid I might deceive you?" The man didn't accept it and instead asked.

Li Sushang tilted her head in confusion, showing an innocent expression. "My intuition tells me you're a good person."

More importantly, she had already memorized his scent—if he dared to deceive her, she would strike him down without hesitation. Of course, she didn't say this aloud.

Internally, Li Sushang remained on high alert, subtly activating the muscles throughout her body. In a foreign world, away from familiar faces, one could never be too cautious. The harsh trials of her childhood had taught her a profound lesson.

"I see." The man nodded without further questioning and declined her offer. "This is too generous a reward for such a small favor."

Though he knew that accepting the gold ingot would greatly ease his financial burdens and aid in his efforts to seek reinforcements, his conscience wouldn't allow him to take it.

"Ah? Oh, let me introduce myself. I'm Li Sushang. What's your name? I shall repay this favor in the future..."

"Goblin Slayer."

Without another word, he resumed walking, leaving Li Sushang standing there, bewildered by the wind. "What a strange man."

Is she a noble lady with remarkable skills yet unfamiliar with the ways of the world? the man thought. Adventuring isn't suitable for her; she should return to her castle, to her parents...

That was his assessment. However, he chose not to offer advice—after all, it was their own family affair, not something for an outsider to interfere with.

Right now, the most important thing was to seek reinforcements. Her abilities were undoubtedly strong, but as a noblewoman, she wouldn't be someone he could simply recruit.

"Congratulations, Miss Li Sushang. It seems you've made progress."

At that moment, the crisp tapping of high heels against the ground echoed across the open plains, standing out against the gentle breeze. The sound caused the man called "Goblin Slayer" to turn his head.

The source of the voice was a girl as alluring as her tone—shoulder-length ash-golden hair with uneven bangs covering her left eye, while the exposed wine-red pupil shimmered with a soul-stirring brilliance.

A maid... No mistake, she's definitely nobility.

However, what struck him as odd was that this entire group was composed of women—all delicate beauties, their figures graceful and charming. There were no visible signs of rigorous training on their bodies.

As for mages or clerics, they lacked even the most basic staff or symbols of their trade.

Rather than battle-hardened adventurers venturing forth after years of training, they appeared more like noble ladies on a sightseeing trip.

"Good disciple, who's he?" Senti tiptoed to press Li Sushang down to her level and whispered.

"A strange man who calls himself 'Goblin Slayer.' But so far, I'd say he has a sense of 'chivalry' and seems to be a good person. He said he'd take us to the town."

Thus, an unusual sight unfolded—a man clad in worn, inexpensive armor walked at the forefront, while a large group of delicate women trailed five steps behind him in silence, their wary eyes scanning the surroundings.

"We're here." As they approached the town's entrance, the man stopped, drawing the curious gazes and murmurs of the gathered townspeople.

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