Honkai: Man(Sludge) From Future

Shirogane Miyuki couldn't believe his friend was just gone.

'Who would do this to him? Is being a Security Trainee really that dangerous?'

Thinking of this, he couldn't help but sigh again.

He remembered suggesting they join a research institute back then, thinking it would be a safe job. But things didn't turn out as planned, and Hikigaya Hachiman was assigned to the Security Patrol.

Fortunately, there were no overly detailed experiment classes right now. Otherwise, in his current mental state, Shirogane Miyuki probably wouldn't be able to complete such tasks.

'Maybe I should go out for a change of scenery... No, it's too dangerous to go out now. I should probably just stay in the research institute's duty room for the time being.'

Shirogane Miyuki didn't think he could dodge an assassin's bullet. Besides, he had never really tried the Stigma Battlesuit. They had them in the research institute, but few people used themselves as test subjects.

Perhaps it was because of their profession, but most researchers were resistant to experimenting on themselves. It could also be because they were insiders. These researchers knew better than anyone else that the success rate of an experiment was built on countless failures. You never knew which would come first: success, or the death of the test subject.

Shirogane Miyuki naturally inherited this way of thinking.

'Sorry, my bro. I'll visit your grave after this blows over.'

He wasn't sure if he could even sleep in his current state.

After lying in the duty room for half the day, Shirogane Miyuki couldn't close his eyes for the life of him.

As soon as he lay down and closed his eyes, he would see Hikigaya Hachiman being shot. His mind flashed with countless ways his good friend could have died.

This was his current situation. It forced him to get dressed and get up.

The research institute at night had an eerie feeling. A sudden urge to pee forced Shirogane Miyuki to take care of his business first.

The duty room didn't have its own bathroom. There was just one person who stayed here to open and close the gates and check if the key experiment areas were completely sealed.

Shirogane Miyuki walked down the hallway, holding the duty room's flashlight, carefully observing his surroundings.

'This is bad, this is bad. Why does the research institute feel even scarier at night? I don't get it. This place is so secure, why do they still need someone on duty? Don't tell me someone is actually causing trouble in a place with this much surveillance?'

Shirogane Miyuki's heart pounded. He didn't want to die like his good friend.

'Right, he has a sister. He always seemed so happy when he talked about her, not like my sister who's always throwing tantrums. If his sister finds out her brother passed away, she must be so sad...'

His mood sank even lower at the thought.

Just as Shirogane Miyuki was checking, a familiar figure suddenly appeared in front of him. The sudden, silent appearance made him jump.

"Pro... Professor Yang?"

After getting a clear look at the person, Shirogane Miyuki finally let out a sigh of relief.

Welt Yang pushed up his glasses and said calmly, "You shouldn't stay in the research institute at a time like this. Academy City is not... calm right now, especially for ordinary students like you."

"Professor Yang, do you know something? I mean, I saw today's Security Patrol announcement. A normal student can't be killed by a bullet, which means that bullet was different from a normal one."

Shirogane Miyuki also knew that the students here had the best protection in the world. Not just normal bullets, even a dump truck couldn't kill these students who had protective implants.

"A Honkai radiation bullet. It's a bullet enhanced with the effect of Honkai fission radiation. This thing can quickly erode a person's body. Even with a Stigma Battlesuit, it's difficult to resist the Honkai's erosion. Unless you can reach the fourth stage, but even then, it would only just be enough to save your life."

Welt Yang sighed, worried about the students and ordinary people of Academy City.

Shirogane Miyuki frowned and asked, "Can't even Academy City's research capabilities develop a serum?"

"There is a serum, but the bullet was specially made. Dr. Tesla once used herself as a test subject. The serum's effect is indeed good. But it requires enough Honkai-corrupted humans to extract antibodies. The production efficiency is just too low..."

"And to change this situation, you need enough Honkai ICHOR Factors, which are all inside Honkai Beasts. A serum is a very slow-acting solution, not to mention that the Honkai radiation bullet was specifically designed for its purpose. Its radiation speed is very fast. A normal serum can only resist Honkai erosion, but that's only under normal conditions. Honkai Energy radiation can't be solved by simply injecting a serum."

Shirogane Miyuki fell silent. "Professor Yang, do you think it's appropriate for me to visit my friend now?" he asked.

Lord Welt thought for a moment and said, "I don't recommend you go now. Besides... his parents and family should have arrived by now. It's not a particularly suitable time to go. How about this... you can walk with me for a while. I, as your senior, can give you a way to... console yourself when facing the loss of a friend or relative."

Shirogane Miyuki nodded. He didn't let his emotions control him, nor did he throw a tantrum like, "I have to go."

Since Hikigaya Hachiman's family was already there, it really wasn't appropriate for him, a friend of only six months, to go now.

"You're right. There must be a lot of arrangements to handle. There might even be conflicts over news compensation and such. I wonder if my friend's insurance has been bought."

Shirogane Miyuki thought that if he could leave a little more money for his friend's family, he should.

Lord Welt hesitated for a moment but ultimately didn't mention that Hikigaya Hachiman wasn't completely dead. He stammered, "I remember he should have death insurance. I was wondering at the time why a job like the Security Patrol would need death insurance."

Bronya had indeed insured everyone, but she never expected someone to get shot and GG'd so soon after getting it. Anyone who didn't know better would think it was an attempt at insurance fraud.

"Life is unpredictable. I'll go buy him some flowers tomorrow. By the way, what kind of flowers should I get? Or should I just buy some of those plastic black and white funeral wreaths?"

Shirogane Miyuki shook his head with a sigh. "I never thought I'd be sending a funeral wreath to a friend."

Lord Welt's hands were trembling.

'Should I tell him the real situation or not?' Old Welt was at a loss.