- Volume V: I Shall Reverse All Creation -
Coral Island is nearly 5000 kilometers away from ARC City. If they were to use the Herrscher of Void's powers, they could have teleported in just a few hours.
However, Ren and Kiana seemed to have a tacit understanding not to suggest such a method. Instead, they chose to travel like ordinary people, taking transportation for a not-so-long journey.
During their trip, all news related to the Honkai faded away from their world. The two of them, just like billions of ordinary people in this world, enjoyed a rare vacation that belonged only to them.
Several days later, their footprints once again landed on the soil of ARC City.
"This city has changed so quickly. I vaguely remember just a few months ago, this place was just an ordinary country road." Looking at the technological roads almost completely covered in automation, Kiana, returning to ARC City, was filled with emotion.
Although her last return to ARC City was only two weeks prior, at that time, her heart was preoccupied with the news of Ren's death. Even this rapidly changing city seemed like a ruined capital to her.
"Back when we first met, you saved me, but you fell into a slumber due to the Herrscher of the Void's corruption." Ren's gaze fell upon a deserted road. It was once the road connecting the suburbs of ARC City, but now it was overgrown with weeds.
He looked along the winding road until it disappeared from view. "I carried a sleeping girl on my back, walking along this road towards home. Looking back now, it feels like it was a very arduous journey."
"Are you saying I was fat?" Kiana raised an eyebrow, pretending to be annoyed.
"No, rather than fat, it's more like you were too light. You were as light as a leaf back then. I remember thinking, 'this girl probably hasn't eaten in a long time, she looks terribly gaunt.' "
"But you see, I was too weak back then, unable to carry you for very long. That's why the journey felt especially tiring."
The girl fell silent, then suddenly turned her head to gaze into Ren's eyes, speaking earnestly, "Don't worry, I'm not the same as I was back then. If you ever feel tired, I'll carry you on my back instead."
"...Mm." The girl's serious demeanor made Ren's heart skip a beat. He subtly averted his gaze and said jokingly, "No need to be so serious, I'm not so weak now that I need to be carried."
…
Amidst their casual conversation, their journey finally came to an end. The moment they stepped into the city limits, the technology of modern industry rushed towards them.
Once upon a time, rigid classes and order drew clear lines of division in this city. But now, under the power of technology, the gap between people has been greatly reduced, and everyone has something they can do.
"Welcome to ARC City. Please register your identity here, thank you."
The girl in charge of city registration was busy at the service hall counter. Noticing their arrival, she just glanced up, casually took the ID card Kiana handed over, and continued with her registration work, head down.
However, the moment she clearly saw the ID card, she couldn't help but widen her eyes. She abruptly raised her head, staring blankly at Kiana's face, frozen in shock.
"Huh? What's wrong?"
"Y-you're K… ah, no, City Master!" The girl was so excited that her voice trembled. She remembered that half a month ago, when she was still working as a hotel waitress, she had the honor of serving Kiana. It was then that she learned a shocking secret.
She thought that was the peak of her life, but she never expected that after being promoted to city registration staff, she would meet her idol again.
"City Master?" The strange title confused Kiana. She looked closely at the girl and then remembered that she was the front desk lady from before. "Oh, it's you. Long time no see."
"N-no, no, no, it's my honor to meet Lady Kiana again! I'm so sorry, I'm a bit too excited." The girl's hands were trembling. But at this moment, she suddenly felt a chill, and couldn't help but shudder.
She looked towards the direction of the chill and saw a gray-haired, gray-eyed boy standing beside Kiana. He wasn't looking at her, but she had a faint premonition that if she said another word, she might be in big trouble.
"Apologies, I will process your registration immediately." The girl suppressed her excitement and registered them as quickly as possible.
Respectfully returning the documents to Kiana, the girl breathed a sigh of relief. Thinking that she almost exposed Lady Kiana's information, she wished she could punch herself a few times.
"By the way, what did you mean by City Master just now?"
Hearing Kiana's question, the girl froze.
Fortunately, Ren, who couldn't bear to watch any longer, cleared his throat to help her out. If this continued, this girl might regret it for the rest of her life. "Kiana, let's go. We should go see your teacher first."
ARC City was the property Ren prepared for Kiana, but now was not the time to tell her. If it were revealed prematurely, it might trigger a series of unpredictable consequences.
After all, this city is the main base of The Obsidian Concord, and much of the information within it involves Ren's true identity. Now that the Honkai in this world has not yet been eliminated, it will inevitably affect Ren's future actions.
And Ren's original intention in preparing an entire city for Kiana was also as compensation for the hundred bucks he swindled from Kiana when they first met.
"Mm."
Himeko's place was still Ren's old home. However, the original suburbs have now been basically incorporated into the city's planning scope. But while other areas are developing rapidly, this place seems to have been frozen in time, still retaining its original appearance.
This was the starting point of their story, and Ren didn't want to easily destroy it.
As for Kiana's suggestion to meet Himeko, Ren didn't actually have much resistance. The only problem was that the story he told Kiana about obtaining the Gem of Haste from Himeko and the actual process of him saving Himeko were completely different versions. If they met, he was a little worried that Himeko would spill the beans.
After all, being too close to Kiana, Ren didn't dare to use his powers casually.
Sigh, this can only be considered the bitter fruit of Ren's own making. Who told him he wouldn't foresee having a day like this back then?
Just as he was thinking this, he suddenly noticed that Kiana's pace was slowing down. He looked at the girl and realized that Kiana had subconsciously clenched the hem of his clothes, and her movements had also become slightly unnaturally stiff.
Watching as they got closer and closer to Himeko's place, she was visibly becoming more and more nervous.
"Maybe…" Ren hesitated, planning to stop for a while. Although he didn't know why Kiana was feeling nervous, this state was clearly a bit abnormal.
"It's okay." He was only halfway through his sentence when Kiana rejected it. The girl shook her head, trying to calm herself, and then explained, "You're my friend, and Himeko is my most important teacher. Introducing you two to each other is my wish."
"It's just." A hint of confusion flashed in Kiana's eyes. "I don't know why, but I'm inexplicably nervous, as if after you two meet, our relationship will become…"
Because Siegfried chose to leave early, Kiana's family experience wasn't perfect, causing her to subconsciously feel the nervousness of a girl bringing her partner to meet her parents.
But in fact, her relationship with Ren wasn't as unfamiliar as a couple's. Their emotions were far purer than ordinary feelings between a man and a woman.
Couples get nervous meeting parents because they are afraid their families will oppose their relationship. But Kiana doesn't need to worry about her elder's opinions at all, because no matter what, it won't affect their relationship.
As for this nervousness, it's just a kind of illusion.
"Would you give up fighting the Honkai because of other people's opinions?" Ren asked softly, "Or rather, do you think our relationship would change because of other people's opinions?"
"Of course not."
"Exactly. In that case, why do you think our relationship would change because of your teacher? Besides, based on your understanding of your teacher, do you think she would object to your views?"
"..."
"Yes, she wouldn't." Ren gave a gentle smile and ruffled the silent girl's hair. "Your teacher and I are both the people closest to you. What are you worried about?"
"Besides, your teacher and I have met before, there's no need to consider unfamiliarity. In conclusion, your worries are completely unnecessary."
Ren's comfort was very effective. Kiana quickly recovered from her nervousness and relaxed a lot.
Following familiar paths, the two returned to the small house from the beginning. Using the key they brought with them, they opened the door, but what they saw wasn't the intellectual teacher Himeko, but a room full of empty wine bottles and two drunk women slumped on the sofa.
Kiana's face instantly darkened.