I Am Honkai

Chapter 902: This World Should Be Seen by Those Who Fought for a Beautiful World

"Doctor, Kiana... you’ve come together—is this an invitation to a Valkyrie unit gathering? Or perhaps an offering for some celebration?"

As the group—nominally under her jurisdiction, whether active-duty or former Valkyries—appeared outside Schönbrunn Palace and entered Alyssa’s side administrative office in the inner court, Alyssa lifted her head from the mountain of paperwork that rarely burdened her to this extent.

Well, she had volunteered to share the Queen’s burdens herself. And sure enough, Sebas had handed her the "burden."

"Don’t tell me the fiscal budget is in deficit again?"

Setting down a folder annotated with review comments such as [Royal Abyssal Succubus Song and Dance Troupe]—"Suspected of excessive indecency," "Revealing costumes unsuitable for refined venues," "Rectification required"—Alyssa muttered under her breath. Then she noticed that Kiana’s group, led by Dr. Mobius, were all looking at her with complicated and conflicted expressions full of expectation.

"You all... have a proposal that’s difficult to put into words?"

After a moment’s thought, Alyssa realized it wasn’t about funding. She stood up, twisting her neck that felt as stiff as though time had crawled by for days, then waved for them to sit as she spoke.

"Your Highness Alyssa."

Mobius raised her head and said solemnly, "If we wished to bring back companions who once fell on the eve of dawn, what price would we have to pay?"

"Bring back companions?"

Recalling the Queen’s earlier conversation with that white-haired elderly man who had recently joined the Empire—and the explanation the Queen had given her in passing—Alyssa muttered with an odd expression.

"This is about the 117th Fleet of the Demon Inquisitor Chapter, isn’t it?"

Indeed. Alyssa might look cute and somewhat airheaded compared to the intimidating, unapproachable high officials at the Empire’s center, but that depended on the situation. She wasn’t someone to be trifled with—unless one was acting spoiled in front of the Queen. When it came to serious matters, even if she occasionally seemed muddled, she was sharp enough to seize the core of the issue in an instant.

With her authority, accessing the recent developments of the Imperial Science Bureau was effortless. Mobius’ verification with Master Chief John-117, as well as John’s own report—everything was clear at a glance.

Resurrection from death.

The 117th Fleet of the Demon Inquisitor Chapter, once heavily decimated, had returned to the Empire at full strength.

The implication was obvious—within the domain of death eternally governed by the God-Empress, the benevolent and loving sovereign did not mind occasionally showing mercy to her subjects.

"Whether the target is guilty or innocent, dead or alive, a single individual or multiple," Alyssa said, placing one hand on her hip as she emphasized, "this is an unspoken rule. It will never be openly declared."

Mobius exchanged glances with Kiana and Fu Hua.

As expected—anyone who thought Princess Alyssa was easy to fool was courting death.

Do not be deceived by surface appearances.

Yes, she could be absentminded at times. Yes, she had a touch of natural airheadedness. But that was only in front of Selene.

Someone whose actions could swing one hundred and eighty degrees between saintly mercy and brutal tyranny—who could, without regard for gender or age or cost, accept and save the life of an entire world, yet also vent personal anger indiscriminately—whose decisions were often guided by her mood, and whose words and conduct sometimes imitated that of the Imperial Empress herself... was she truly easy to bully?

Issuing extermination orders in an adorable tone, enforcing decimation without a change in expression—on some level, that was far more terrifying than unrelenting ferocity from beginning to end.

"You’re quick," Alyssa said lightly. "Given your unit and your merits, go on. What are you Valkyries planning?"

"To revive my companions—our companions—those who once walked the wrong path of destiny." Emphasizing the word "wrong," Mobius turned her head slightly, her expression desolate.

She and Alyssa were not close, but what choice did she have? Go directly to Selene? Ahem... she would never admit that she lacked the courage.

Reversing life and death.

Altering fate with a snap of her fingers, manipulating the field of time at will—the power the Empress displayed, the way she wielded authority... it was dazzling beyond measure.

It had long surpassed the limits imagined by Mobius, by Kevin, by MOTH, by all their chaotic plans.

The more one understood, the greater the fear.

It was despair born of an absolute gap in power.

"Your comrades, Doctor? The Flame-Chasers of MOTH—those ’rebels’?"

Alyssa’s gaze moved up and down over Mobius. Then she looked at Fu Hua, who sighed quietly, and at Pardofelis, who gazed at her with hope. After a moment of contemplation, she said, "In principle, Her Majesty wouldn’t care..."

"Really?!"

Unable to suppress her excitement, Kiana stepped forward. "I know my request is greedy and overreaching, but... since it’s possible—since there’s hope—I can’t pretend not to care."

"Mama Cecilia, Aunt Himeko... and... my Benares."

Bang!

"Ah—your Benares?"

Leaning forward instinctively, Alyssa’s sky-blue pupils narrowed vertically in an instant. Compared to Selene’s imposing majesty and dominance, her face seemed layered with far more cute elements—but now her gaze turned sharp as a blade. Honkai energy erupted outward in a sudden wave of pressure.

Creak—

The furnishings within the hall trembled faintly.

"Bella Benares," Kiana said slowly, her dimmed eyes filled with painful memories.

Hum—

In the next instant, the pressure vanished.

"The one of my own kind?"

Alyssa recalled what the Queen had once mentioned, and the records she herself had seen—a Benares born alongside the Second Herrscher in the Valkyries’ homeworld.

Kiana nodded.

"They all fell on the eve of dawn. The wrong road caused them to wither in the very years when they should have bloomed... I was nothing but a sinner who deserved to die. And yet I, who survived only because of their grace, have risen to such a high position. Their end... shouldn’t have been like that."

Taking a deep breath, she stepped forward to the front of the group. Her eyes were gentle and sincere as she looked at Alyssa, placing a hand over her heart.

"If there is hope, then I will strive for it. So that they too can properly see the new order of Honkai—this beautiful world shaped by Imperial Sister’s love for all living things."

"Commander Alyssa, if this requires a price—if it requires advancing our merits—your subordinate is willing to give everything."

Durandal stepped forward and saluted.

"We fight for a beautiful world at the cost of everything. But if they cannot even look upon that beautiful world... I cannot forgive myself for peacefully enjoying it."

"You should be saying that to Her Majesty," Alyssa said, rubbing her forehead.

"Telling me... well, it still has some use. There’s only one Benares here—me. It’s a bit lonely. Bella... a Benares who died for loyalty, hm? Good! She didn’t disgrace the name."

As if thinking of something pleasant, Alyssa patted her chest cheerfully.

"Leave Bella Benares to me. As for the others, I’ll take you to see Her Majesty."

They had arrived.

Hearing this, Mobius exchanged a subtle glance with Fu Hua.

Using Kiana and Durandal as leverage to first secure Alyssa—the most approachable one, the one capable of whispering by the Empress’ pillow—this had been their final safeguard.

If even this failed, then there would be nothing more they could do.

Resurrection might be a trivial matter to Empress Selene—a mere flick of her fingers, a passing whim—but they had to come prepared, staking sufficient chips to ease their minds.

...

Within Schönbrunn Palace, in the inner court where Empress Selene rested and sought leisure.

"Your Majesty!!"

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