Honkai: Man(Sludge) From Future

Noldrei didn't leave Academy City.

After Tesla restored the light, Bronya led the security team into action.

This time, she mobilized Anti-Entropy's mech forces.

And Noldrei went to find an "old friend."

"This is everything on the Holy Mother Cult."

Siegfried Kaslana tossed the items in his hand to Noldrei. He had been complaining about this job for a long time.

"I owe you for this one. Only someone like you has the knack for disappearing for so long without being found."

Siegfried bared his teeth. "See for yourself. I still need to stop the chaos in the city. These bastards show no mercy; they're completely cold-blooded political animals. Sooner or later, I'll make them pay for their sins."

"Calm down. Your legal statutes don't have any specific articles for these people."

Noldrei looked down at the small notebook in his hands. He needed to understand just how deep the conflict between these people ran.

[...As the Holy Mother Cult develops, I can feel more and more people watching me...]

[...Some of them are from the local government, some from Schicksal and Anti-Entropy, and some I don't recognize. They could be from the underworld, or just people with unclear intentions...]

[...But it doesn't matter. From that day on, I knew what I had to do. We are the sacrificial offerings, meant to show people the true nature of the conflict they are in...]

[...No morals, no laws, no one will judge me for anything...]

[He is watching me.]

Watching what? I've never even looked at you.

Noldrei was exasperated. He did intend to escalate human conflict, but he never planned to have someone with such a poor sense of self be the one to do it.

It was like needing someone to farm the land, but sending an embroiderer instead.

Noldrei had no interest in the members of the Holy Mother Cult. Their level of organization was completely insufficient to handle these matters.

That was why, after learning about the cult, Noldrei had secretly sent Siegfried to disappear and deal with it.

He continued to read through the contents. Much of it was inconsistent.

There was even a lot of confused thinking.

Sometimes calm, sometimes fanatical, but most of it followed one main direction.

That was to interpret the "power" Noldrei spoke of to all members of the cult.

These members...

They were all deluded by the reverse effects of the Stigma battlesuits.

He's a genius.

Kiana thought of the drawbacks of the Stigma battlesuit and tried to save people with her limited knowledge.

Otto discovered the military applications of the Stigma battlesuit and personally cultivated an outstanding joint student council president.

Tesla saw the limitations of the Stigma battlesuit and combined it with machinery to create the current Hachiman Hikigaya.

Cocolia found an opportunity for a breakthrough in the Stigma battlesuit and merged the Stigma with herself.

But this Shin Nakamura person used the drawbacks of the Stigma battlesuit to recruit followers.

What a talent...

Noldrei felt a surge of admiration for the primitive human. He had never expected that a casual action of his would change the developmental path of such a talented individual.

The changes brought by the Stigma battlesuit weren't just an excellent force against the Honkai; they had also created new ways to control people.

[...Hachiman Hikigaya, he probably doesn't realize he's being targeted...]

[...He is a weak and hesitant person, yet he has a good mentality of being lonely but unshakable. He longs for genuine human connection but is afraid to take the first step due to numerous failures...]

[...He is a sacrificial offering like I used to be, a suitable target to be used...]

[...Unfortunately, the Holy Mother Cult is gradually slipping out of my control...]

[...This kid is from the security team. He's kind, weak, and obedient—all excellent qualities...]

[...I haven't been feeling well lately. More and more members are disobeying. I must use someone to draw them out and deal with them...]

...

The records ended there, because shortly after, Shin Nakamura was killed.

Noldrei now understood the cause of Shin's death.

Someone had their eyes on the Holy Mother Cult organization he controlled.

When Shin Nakamura tried to use Hachiman Hikigaya, he hadn't expected the snake lurking in the shadows to be watching him, wanting to seize his followers to cause trouble for Academy City.

Clearly, killing Shin was to ensure these people no longer had a leader to command them.

No leader, no guidance—just let these cultists run wild.

Noldrei had to admit, the person behind this had some skill.

His original intention was indeed to fish, but his main goal was to fish for Herrschers. Who would have thought he'd hook such a big snake?

My fishing skills are too excellent. I just wonder what new kind of pain this death will bring. I still need to find an outlet to channel this, so these people know which direction to develop next.

Like all changes in history, there had never been a bloodless struggle.

When it came to humanity's own interests, even Noldrei's words were useless.

He was just a guide who created new interests. To achieve a truly reasonable distribution, everyone had to fight it out first.

Can the increase in Honkai Energy from these two Herrschers trigger the birth of the next Herrscher? How many SELENE engines will be needed to offset the harm from the leaked Honkai Energy?

With the corrosion of this Honkai Energy, I think...

No one will refuse body modification anymore, right?

Just like... the world after a nuclear war.

Noldrei closed his eyes, seemingly recalling a history long past.

---||---

Ana stared silently at Shiina Mahiru, crushed in a pool of blood.

She was a good girl. She never picked fights with anyone, let alone bullied them.

Even when she was isolated at school, she never had any feelings of resentment or jealousy. When they lived together, Ana was often comforted by her.

Even when she couldn't be consoled, Shiina Mahiru would quietly stay by her side.

Unconsciously, Ana had grown accustomed to this ordinary life.

In just a few short months, she had gotten used to having this friend.

But...

The telltale glowing lines of Honkai sickness appeared on the girl's arm.

The preservation organs couldn't resist the Honkai radiation. This had been made clear long ago.

Why is this happening? Could it be... could it be true, just as Professor Magi said? Is this Academy City just a cage where everyone is an experiment for the Honkai?

But what does that have to do with her?

What does it have to do with my friend?

Why did this have to happen to her?

Her parents have already abandoned her. Is the whole world going to abandon her too?

Is this... all my fault...?

---||---

[WARNING! WARNING! WARNING! WARNING! WARNING! WARNING!]

[WARNING! WARNING! WARNING! WARNING! WARNING! WARNING! WARNING! WARNING! WARNING!]

[WARNING! WARNING! WARNING! WARNING! WARNING! WARNING! WARNING! WARNING! WARNING! WARNING! WARNING! WARNING!]

Hachiman Hikigaya's arm was flashing frantically. A familiar number began to skyrocket.

HW (Houkai-Watt), the unit of measurement for Honkai Energy.

He vigorously rubbed his arm, trying to wipe the string of numbers away.

Hachiman was completely bewildered. He shouted in a panic:

"Bro! No! Don't do this! Don't do this!! Go back! Go back!"