Honkai Diary: Start With Picking Up A White-Haired Treasure

From the day they first met, Kiana instinctively felt incompatible with Sin.

Coincidentally, Sin shared the same sentiment.

Later that night, outside Zeke's room...

Kiana and Sin, each clutching their pillows, locked eyes, sparks seemingly flying between them.

"What do you want, Sinbara?"

"Just to sleep with Zeke tonight. Also, it's Sin Mal, you stupid paramecium!"

"Huh? Do you even know what 'paramecium' means, brat?!"

"I do: a simple single-celled organism, used to describe foolish yet resilient idiots." Sin sneered contemptuously, lifting her chin slightly with an air of defiance.

Kiana gritted her teeth, veins popping on her forehead.

"Listen up, squirt, your injuries have healed already. Now there's nothing stopping me from giving you what you deserve!"

"That suits me just fine! Bring it!" With a swift motion, Sin produced a metal pipe.

Who knows where she managed to hide it while wearing pajamas—was it inside her pillow? Wouldn't that make sleeping uncomfortable?

Gripping the blunt weapon, the corners of Sin's lips curved upward involuntarily, forming an incredibly confident (though crossed out "Herrscher of Cognition") grin, exuding pure villainous vibes.

Kiana was unarmed.

But Sin wasn't afraid.

"Rrrrip!"

Kiana tore through the pillow, sending feathers flying everywhere like a display of her fierce strength and mercilessness.

The tension between them crackled with electricity, teetering on the brink of eruption.

Suddenly, Kiana's eyes rolled back, her body trembling uncontrollably. After a series of muffled groans, she collapsed at the door with a thud.

Sin was startled.

Although Kiana appeared to her as a twisted mass of black flames, Sin could still discern what happened to Kiana in some form.

Crouching down, Sin cautiously prodded Kiana with the steel pipe. A sudden jolt made her hand go numb, causing the pipe to clang onto the floor.

"Was that...electricity?" Sin reflexively withdrew her hand, muttering to herself.

With hair standing on end, face charred, and smoke rising from her mouth, Kiana shakily extended her arm and whispered, "It's...Zeke..."

At that moment, the nearby redwood door slowly creaked open.

"Creeeeeeeak."

Bathed in the light from within, Zeke emerged, reaching out to grasp a floating feather.

This pillow had been meticulously crafted by his own hands for Kiana.

From the selection of materials like feathers and fabrics to the refinement of height, fluffiness, and durability, down to the shape, scent, and stitching patterns on both sides—every aspect was meticulously designed. It aimed to provide better sleep quality even for restless sleepers like Kiana, reducing strain on her neck and spine.

Zeke recalled how just days ago, upon receiving the pillow, Kiana had looked genuinely touched. She repeatedly swore, hand over heart, that she would cherish it in the name of Kaslana.

Zeke released the feather, letting it gently drift to the floor.

He thought Kiana finally understood the value of appreciating others' sentiments, only for this to happen? Really?

Zeke slowly turned his gaze towards Kiana, whose legs were still twitching spasmodically. Without saying a word, Sin felt a chill emanating from him.

"Waaaah! I'm sorry, I'm sorry!"

As if the electric shock never happened, Kiana swiftly switched to a full prostrate apology, trembling on the ground—but truthfully, she didn't fully grasp why Zeke was angry.

"The pillow, I made it with my own hands," Zeke calmly clarified.

Punishing without teaching is unjust; disciplining her wasn't the goal. The aim was for her to learn from the consequences, understand the principles involved, and grow as a person.

Kneeling, Kiana shrank back, her face contorting into an exaggerated expression of despair as she silently screamed,

'DOOMED!'

"Firstly, disregarding someone's heartfelt gesture is despicable behavior. Secondly, breaking promises easily after making them shows both dishonesty and unreliability. Thirdly, carelessly damaging everyday items is wasteful and irrational... That's enough for now. Get some rest and remember my words."

Pop!

A rubber bullet struck the back of Kiana's head, instantly leaving a large lump beneath her hair. With her bottom still sticking up, she passed out on the spot.

Zeke blew on the gun barrel, then gently patted Sin's head with his other hand.

"Don't engage in conflicts with your companions lightly; it's not good."

"...I refuse to be friends with this kind of person."

"In the foreseeable future, you'll learn and grow together, and eventually fight side by side. You will become companions. Try adapting to each other, even if it feels forced at first. Now, go back to your room and get some sleep."

"All right..."

Sin watched blankly as Zeke retreated to his room and closed the door behind him.

She had anticipated some form of punishment, but it never came.

Zeke didn't impose any discipline on her; even his demeanor remained unchanged—neither cold nor affectionate, just indifferent with a sense of distance.

Sin clutched her pillow tightly—it was a high-quality item from a furniture store, soft and smooth, yet entirely different from the one Kiana possessed, handmade by Zeke himself.

Zeke wasn't angry with Sin, nor did he intend to lecture or punish her, but this fact didn't bring any joy.

It highlighted the stark difference between herself and Kiana.

This distinction left Sin feeling disheartened.

Holding her pillow, she glared defiantly at the unconscious creature on the floor before reluctantly obeying and leaving, dejected.

"My apologies for the commotion outside; it must seem rather unbecoming to you, Mr. Otto."

Inside the room, Zeke returned to his desk and placed Kiana's specially crafted pistol on it while expressing regret to the blond man on the computer screen.

"No worries, caring for someone so single-minded can indeed be both frustrating and helpless. I understand well," Otto replied nostalgically as he swirled his wine glass.

"Your insights on the autonomous defense system have been immensely enlightening; thank you for your generous guidance."

"You're welcome. Do you have any further questions?"

"Not at present. I need some time to implement and digest your advice... However, aside from discussing scientific matters, there was something else you wished to inquire about during this late-night call, wasn't there?"

"Vera Crowe has passed the critical phase but remains unconscious. It will take several months to eliminate the remaining Honkai Energy. How about it? Would you like to see her?" Otto responded with a smile.

Zeke shook his head.

"No need. I trust you, Mr. Otto."

'With Vera already under your control, what choice do I have but to express my trust?' Zeke sighed inwardly, yet felt somewhat relieved. He believed in Otto's capabilities and recognized that, at least currently, Otto had no reason to deceive him regarding Vera's condition—it would serve no purpose.

Zeke sighed inwardly but felt somewhat relieved nonetheless. He trusted Otto's expertise and believed that, at least for now, there was no reason for him to deceive Zeke about Vera's condition.

"The name 'Vera'... along with her equally ordinary aptitude, brings back memories," Otto suddenly remarked.

Zeke's eyes flickered as he calmly responded, "Otto-Vera, isn't it? The ancient Valkyrie—she was considered your foster daughter?"

Otto stared intently at the screen before breaking into a smile.

"As expected, you know more about me than most people do. How did you manage that? My thoughts regarding Vera... many things have no physical or digital records; they exist only in my mind. So how did you learn of them? Through some groundbreaking technology from another era? Or perhaps, like you hinted earlier, you've had a remarkable experience yourself, allowing not only access to privileged information but also transforming your abilities and character fundamentally within a short span?"

Typically, when someone uncovered secrets Otto wished to keep hidden, his first instinct would be to silence them permanently.

However, Zeke was unique; his knowledge delved too deeply, hinting at some mysterious and unknown element—a novelty and curiosity Otto hadn't experienced in a long time.

Unraveling this mystery would undoubtedly yield unexpected rewards.

Moreover, possessing insights that allowed him to engage with Otto on equal footing, Zeke even proposed the possibility of resurrection—an intriguing prospect indeed.

It seemed as though every word from Zeke precisely struck Otto's interests, compelling him more towards exploring Zeke's potential rather than resorting to brutal elimination.

As Otto's intrigue intensified, Zeke's lips curved slightly upward, responding enigmatically:

"Perhaps I once traversed through space-time, witnessing your relatively lengthy life experiences?"

"I don't believe you."

"Why not?"

"Put yourself in my shoes. If I had such an experience, I'd strive to stay as far away from Otto Apocalypse as possible. Ideally, never entering his line of sight again." Otto confidently explained his perspective.

This remark made Zeke raise an eyebrow, and he responded:

"Your self-awareness is truly commendable."

"My thanks, but your courage impresses me as well... So, heading to Siberia, let me see—was it Cocolia? You aim to gain Anti-Entropy's support through her? What is your objective?"

"As you can observe, I am indeed a scientific genius. However, even geniuses require ample resources for growth," Zeke explained.

"Why not join Schicksal then? Compared to us, what Anti-Entropy could offer you would be mere peanuts." Otto spoke with intrigue, fully aware of Zeke's intentions.

And Zeke knew that Otto understood his motives all too well.

After a moment of silent standoff, Zeke sighed and said:

"Aren't you supposed to be highly self-aware?"

His self-awareness should have told him that without aligning with Anti-Entropy, Zeke wouldn't feel secure enough to even communicate with Otto remotely, let alone approach him openly.

The admiration was genuine, yet so was the apprehension.

Otto was a formidable mastermind, perhaps even an exceptional madman, but certainly not someone benevolent.