I Am Honkai

Splash—!

Waves crashed against the reefs.

A beautiful white-haired woman sat on the coastal rocks, legs crossed, gazing into the distance.

The joys and sorrows, the hardships and struggles faced by the medieval civilization confined within the 5th Trial World under the Imperial Military Affairs Department (Goblin Slayer), were not something the Imperial government truly felt.

After all, these sufferings were not brought by the Empire. They were merely the entertainment bestowed by that world's so-called 'gods.'

According to the current strategy set by the Empire's internal affairs officers and judges, they would not interfere with the independent development of this medieval fantasy civilization. Their role was limited to periodic observation, talent selection, and deploying elite forces for trials.

No matter how one looked at it, the blame for these tribulations could not be placed on the Imperial government.

If one insisted on nitpicking, the only fault would be that the Empire had been too merciful, choosing not to deploy its army to directly conquer this world.

Selene was unaware of the emotional impact that goblins had left on Kiana and her companions. It was her vacation time, and unless absolutely necessary, she had cut off her surveillance of them. The intelligence being monitored would now experience a delay before reaching her information processing center.

Ooh—ooh—

Above the sea, numerous black, white, and gray seagulls circled the sky, occasionally folding their wings to dive into the water. When they emerged again, their sharp beaks often held small fish struggling in vain.

The distant seawater, under the radiant sunlight, shimmered like countless fish scales spread across the surface. It was a vast expanse of white, where the boundary between sky and ocean blurred into one.

Hmm, a rather ordinary view. After all, the ocean was just that—nothing new after seeing it countless times. Yet, at this moment, it brought Selene a peculiar sense of rebellion, akin to 'skipping school.'

This feeling of ditching her 'homework' was somewhat exhilarating.

"Sebas, my apologies, but I've slipped away. Someone will have to temporarily take my place."

Wearing a white fur coat made from high-quality pelts, Selene stood up and lifted her gaze toward the endless sky, as if she could see Sebas in the Imperial capital's Schönbrunn Palace, burning the midnight oil, diligently writing reports.

The slightly chilly, damp sea breeze, carrying a faint salty scent, caressed every inch of Selene's hair, cheeks, and body.

Gulp—sizzle.

In this tranquil environment, sipping through a straw, Selene noticed that her milk tea was nearly finished. Without a second thought, she casually discarded the cup.

Such behavior was indeed uncivilized and irresponsible. Kids, don't—oh, wait. She used her abilities to disintegrate it down to its molecular structure. That should be fine.

Just then—

"Queen! Quick, taste this! Alyssa specially grilled some Sea King meat steaks—!"

The voice of a certain little rascal was so loud that, infused with excitement, it carried traces of Honkai energy. It was akin to thunder, shaking Selene so much that she instinctively shuddered.

A flock of seabirds resting on the reef scattered in panic. Some seagulls, suffering from the extreme fright, even suffered sudden cardiac arrest and dropped straight into the sea with a 'plop.'

Turning towards the sound, she saw a hidden paradise built within the crevices of the sea cliffs, a place constructed into the mountain. White marble stairs led upward, flanked by grand halls, temples, and sculptures of exquisite craftsmanship.

Seeing Alyssa excitedly waving her little head out, Selene frowned, "You brat! Didn't I say you're not allowed to use Honkai energy when sightseeing in other worlds?"

With a flick of her authority, she tore open the space beside her, reaching through the dimensional gap to pinch Alyssa's cheek.

Stepping over the rocks and through the spatial rift, Selene instantly arrived at the cliffside resort.

"But, Queen, didn't you use it just now? And besides, spatial authority is also—ow!" Alyssa, holding a pair of tongs for flipping the meat, protested tearfully.

"Hmph!" Selene flicked Alyssa's forehead again and proudly declared, "You and I—are not the same."

Even when in the wrong, her stance remained firm.

Feeling slightly aggrieved, Alyssa muttered an "Oh…," but as the crackling of burning charcoal continued, she quickly tossed her frustration aside. She eagerly cut a large piece of the grilled Sea King steak and proudly held it up like a treasure.

"Your Majesty, come taste this! This is a grilling technique taught to me by that chef named Nakamura... Using rib meat from the mid-spine section of a kilometer Danger Beast, grilled over peachwood charcoal to enhance the flavor..."

In the pure white porcelain plate, rendered fat slowly pooled in the center, while the golden-brown ribs released an irresistible aroma, greatly whetting the appetite.

"You made this?" Somewhat incredulous, Selene gestured with a hand, summoning a knife and fork from the dining table several meters away. She cut off a small piece, brought it to her mouth, and began chewing.

Under Alyssa's expectant gaze, Selene's eyebrows twitched slightly. She raised her head in rare surprise. "This is actually quite good—rich in flavor, perfectly tender yet firm, melting instantly upon entering the throat."

"Yes!" Hearing Selene's praise, Alyssa immediately jumped three feet high.

"Or perhaps the exceptional quality of the Sea King meat itself has covered up the flaws in your grilling technique?" The next moment, Selene's follow-up remark made Alyssa's face fall.

"Huh?!"

"Your Majesty, you're bullying me!"

"Then how about a competition?"

Tucking a few strands of her slightly disheveled, snow-white silver hair behind her ear, Selene took up the challenge herself. From the ingredients brought by the hotel manager, she picked out a whole leg and sliced off an entire lamb leg.

"Using high-end ingredients is too easy—no challenge at all. Let's go with something more homely. We'll compete by grilling lamb instead." With a smack, she slapped the lamb leg onto the cutting board.

"Although I have absolutely no experience in cooking, nor have I ever used a kitchen knife, it only makes sense that my dish should taste better than little Alyssa's." Selene employed a rather shallow taunt.

However, she wasn't lying. She truly had no cooking skills whatsoever. Did boiling rice, making instant noodles, or following a basic tomato and egg stir-fry recipe (theoretically) count?

From childhood to now, let alone using a kitchen knife, she had barely stepped foot in a kitchen. She was skilled in killing people, but using a blade to precisely butcher livestock? That was something she had never done before.

"Ughh—! Alyssa is not happy now!"

Bullseye. Alyssa took the bait.

"Fine, let's compete! I'll grill lamb too!"

Snapping off another lamb leg, Alyssa stole a few glances at Selene's preparation, then suddenly giggled mischievously. "Ehehe, Your Majesty, don't tell me… you don't even know how to remove the gamey smell of lamb?"

The peachwood charcoal burned quietly, heating the grill. As the iron plate reached the right temperature, Selene, who was brushing olive oil onto it, remained unfazed.

"How could that be? You little brat, just watch."

But in reality, Selene was secretly invoking the Herrscher of Reason's authority, remotely infiltrating this sightseeing world's planetary internet. She frantically searched for recipes and guides on grilling lamb.

A last-minute cramming session.

Appropriate grilling times for lamb, the top ten dipping sauces for roasted lamb, quick methods for removing gamey odors... In short, Selene downloaded everything into her brain at once.

"Hehe, Your Majesty, shall we invite some judges?"

"I don't care. If you want to, then go ahead. Someone, bring in the planetary governor, high-ranking judges from the planetary tribunal, and the Imperial garrison commanders."

Victory was assured. It was time to teach Alyssa a lesson about the dangers of society.

Selene didn't even need to say anything—she was certain that, even without any hints, those officials would know exactly which dish to favor.

Besides, while she may not be a seasoned cook, after this emergency 'crash course,' she was at least at a beginner's level. It wasn't like she was serving poison!

Those people who made nightmarish 'dark cuisine,' dishes so lethal they granted poison resistance, or outright blew up kitchens—how could they even be compared to her?

"Oh, by the way, how many times do I have to tell you—stop calling me 'Your Majesty.' We're traveling incognito, a dragon among fish. Just call me 'sister' or something."

"Oh...."

"Also, at tomorrow's Moon Banquet Festival, don't cause any trouble. I want to feast for three straight days."

"Oh...."

"And one more thing...."

...

Just as Selene was enjoying her vacation, spending a 'honeymoon' with Alyssa.

On the other side, in the 5th Trial World under the Imperial Military Affairs Department, within the human kingdom's western frontier, at a temporary camp set up on a ranch, the atmosphere was grim and heavy.

Indeed, defeating the goblin 'army' led by the Goblin King without any casualties was something to be celebrated. But when faced with the hollow, numb expressions of the rescued survivors, who could truly rejoice?

Not long ago, one of the survivors had taken her own life after stomping and tearing at the Goblin King's skull. No one knew where she had found the strength, but despite her frail state, she had managed to crush part of his skull beneath her foot.

Then, laughing wildly, she collapsed straight to the ground.

As she fell, her tear-stained eyes—now long dry—remained fixed on the two moons hanging in the sky.

Her lips carried a smile—one of vengeance fulfilled, of release, of satisfaction, perhaps even… happiness?! The greatest sorrow is a heart turned to ash. Standing before her, Durandal heard her words clearly. She had thanked her, then slowly closed her eyes.

"No! She survived with such difficulty, she was already saved…!"

Crouching beside the woman, the Priestess bit her lip hard.

"Merciful Earth Mother, please, with Your divine hand, ease this soul's suffering…"

Drawing her tin staff back to her chest, she pressed a hand over the survivor's heart and began to chant, pleading for a miracle from her deity.

"Heal!"

If magic casters altered the world's rules, manipulating the laws of reality, then Heal was undoubtedly a miracle born from the power of the gods.

Though the gods of this world were now absent, long since consumed as nourishment for a certain being, their faith and power, ingrained within this world, remained unchanged.

The Priestess' hands, receiving this soul-consuming prayer (in the original work, she could use her miracles three to four times a day), transferred the radiance of the miracle to the woman's body, enveloping her in a faint glow.

Yet, as the light flickered out like bursting bubbles, though the torn flesh slowly began to mend—

The woman's condition did not improve. Her lips continued to part, coughing up foam mixed with shredded organ tissue and blood.

"Heal can only treat external wounds. Her heart has already been destroyed—she can't be saved."

Goblin Slayer stepped forward and spoke flatly.

"I'm very sorry."

Durandal said with regret, "If [Black Abyss White Flower] was still in my possession, or if an Imperial field medic, pharmacist, or military doctor were here, she wouldn't have died… We departed in a hurry and didn't bring standard military medical kits."

"Again… this happens again…"

At that moment, the woman's body, which had been convulsing, finally went still.

The Priestess knelt beside the limp corpse, lowering her pale face in silence.

"Find a place on this plain and bury her."

Closing the woman's eyes for her, Goblin Slayer turned and began clearing away the larger pieces of scattered wood from the ground.

As for why she would be buried here, everyone understood—she had been a trophy of the Goblin King. Her parents, husband, family, and village had likely long since been destroyed.

"The smell of blood… what happened?"

Walking out of the warehouse, Kiana stopped in her tracks when she saw the corpse of the woman in front of the Priestess. She remained silent until Rita regretfully shook her head.

"I see…"

However, Kiana didn't linger. Instead, she approached the Priestess.

"Miss Priestess, may we have a talk?"

Her voice was slightly hoarse, yet clear.

"Oh… alright."

"Brother, you come too."

Kiana turned her head.

"Alright." Goblin Slayer nodded with his usual calm demeanor.

Beside them, the High Elf Archer's ears perked up instantly. "Can I join?"

"You can."

Inside the warehouse, they sat around a simple wooden square table.

The naturally shy Priestess blushed as she took a seat beside Goblin Slayer. Her thin frame made a light sound as she pressed against the chair.

Placing her tin staff on her lap, she clasped it with both hands, curling her body slightly. She seemed quite nervous.

Retracting her gaze, Kiana focused on the man whom both Li Sushang and Senti had called a 'good man.'

"What do you plan to do with the survivors?"

"Send them to the temple."

After a brief pause, Goblin Slayer answered in his usual stiff manner.

"Neither the town nor the Adventurers' Guild will support so many unproductive people, especially those with possible sensory impairments who cannot work."

"Sensory impairments?"

"Yes. After prolonged captivity by goblins, their vision and sense of smell may suffer damage," Goblin Slayer added. "Especially their sense of smell."

"Due to the filth and darkness of goblin nests, most humans lose their sense of smell within days of being captured."

Hearing this, Kiana understood. Recalling the overwhelming stench of decomposing corpses and excrement within goblin lairs, she realized how such an environment would be an unbearable torment for any normal human's olfactory senses.

"It's not just that, is it? Even if they manage to overcome their fears and return to human society, their past experiences… even if unspoken, won't they be gossiped about behind their backs by certain loose-tongued individuals?"

"Yes."

Not only because of the trauma they had suffered but also because their survival had, in some cases, indirectly led to even greater tragedies…

"A vicious cycle…"

Kiana nodded, took a deep breath, then shifted her gaze to the frail, golden-haired girl before her.

"You're a priestess, correct?"

"Can you explain to us in detail about the god you serve, your temple, and the situation there?"

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

40 Advanced Chapters Available on Patreon: 

Patreon.com/DaoOfHeaven