Honkai Archives: Old, Short, but Gold

"Hmm, pleasant and varied natural environment, rich flora and fauna, tourism resources scoring amazingly high even by +3 era standards... It's a truly peaceful garden world."

"There is a slightly unstable, hidden energy source, but it's a minor issue. The humans of this world should be able to handle it pretty easily."

Adjusting his clothes, he boiled water for tea.

Having completed his mandatory morning tea ritual, Yuhao strolled out the door, his pet bird perched on his shoulder.

He'd been in this world for several years now.

From the initial instant adaptation to the later acquisition of businesses and real estate... well, that wasn't important.

After smoothly integrating into the world's economic and social systems, Yuhao settled into a monotonous daily routine.

Like today, for example.

Nothing on the agenda. Tea, playing with his bird, appraising antiques.

And maybe a trip to the pleasure district to enjoy some music. [refers to entertainment districts/brothels in ancient China.]

That was Yuhao's plan for the day.

But a small, unexpected event occurred after he left his house.

"Hi~ Nice to meet you!～♪"

"I'm Elysia! Starting today, we're neighbors!～♪"

A new neighbor had moved in next door to Yuhao's courtyard. A very enthusiastic young woman.

She had flowing pink hair and heterochromatic eyes—blue-green with a hint of pink. Fair skin, shapely thighs.

Her personality and demeanor only enhanced her already perfect appearance.

Yuhao felt a strange sense of familiarity, as if he had met her a long, long time ago.

"Hello, Miss Elysia."

"I am Yuhao. It's a pleasure to be your neighbor."

Holding his birdcage, Yuhao observed Elysia briefly, then nodded slightly, expressing just the right amount of respect. His voice had a comforting magnetism.

Elysia couldn't help but think that her new neighbor was indeed as unique as everyone said.

Before moving in, she'd heard about the unusual man who lived here.

He had the air of a poet, a recluse, a hidden genius unbound by convention.

In the past, Elysia would have definitely struck up a conversation.

But now, she had more important things to do.

Like…simulations!

[Thanks to your efforts, humanity realized the danger of the Honkai soon after its emergence. However, due to conflicts of interest, power struggles, and other such influences, the "Fire Moth," an organization specifically created to combat the Honkai, fell under the control of politicians who weren't even conservative, let alone proactive.]

[These politicians knew nothing about warfare or development, only using the Fire Moth as a tool for personal gain and suppressing those who recognized the Honkai's threat and wanted to use the Fire Moth's resources to fight it. As a result, the Fire Moth never truly prepared for the Honkai.]

[The First Eruption, the Second Eruption, the Third Eruption... The repeated large-scale Honkai outbreaks finally forced the Fire Moth's leaders to take action and organize resistance.]

[But it was too late. The Fire Moth's prolonged inaction and internal power struggles resulted in extremely poor mobilization capabilities, and there were no other official Honkai-fighting organizations at the time. In the subsequent, even more severe Eruptions, humanity suffered heavy losses.]

"Hundreds of millions died from the Honkai's erosion, human industrial facilities were severely damaged, and habitable land drastically decreased."

[Finally, during the Eighth Eruption, the Eighth Herrscher, along with the still-active Seventh and Sixth Herrschers, destroyed humanity's last city. Humanity perished.]

[You survived thanks to your combat abilities, which were roughly equal to a Herrscher's. However, after witnessing the deaths of your friends and loved ones, you suffered a mental breakdown.]

[Finally, amidst the ruins of human civilization, unable to bear the endless loneliness, you chose to end your own life.]

[Simulation complete.]

The above described Elysia's previous simulation.

Some time ago, Elysia discovered she possessed a remarkable ability.

This ability allowed her to see the future of humanity, experiencing it firsthand from her own perspective.

She was ecstatic when she first gained this power.

She happily believed she could now see the bright future of humanity.

But the first simulation hit her like a truck, leaving her in tears.

The beautiful future she envisioned didn't exist.

Not only was the world she loved destroyed by a disaster called "Honkai," but her friends also perished one by one.

In the end, all of humanity was wiped out by the Honkai.

All beauty vanished like smoke.

She refused to believe it, running second, third, and more simulations.

But the outcomes were all similar.

Humanity was either destroyed by the Honkai, or in the process of being destroyed, her cherished world and friends would still disappear.

This confirmed the Honkai's terror, and she started actively trying to combat it in her simulations.

But just like the simulation she just ran.

Even with her active intervention, the future remained unchanged.

The timing of humanity's destruction was merely delayed.

So, faced with saving the world, making friends was trivial.

After all, nothing could be more important than the simulations.

Yuhao seemed interesting, but he definitely couldn't compare to the simulations.

Through the simulations, she could find a way to save humanity, but that wasn't possible in reality… It wasn't like she could just save the world by making friends with her neighbors, right?

"No, it must be my approach that's wrong."

"Hmph, hmph hmph~ There's nothing that can stump Elysia!～♪"

Cheering herself up, Elysia puffed out her pink cheeks. After greeting her new neighbor, she was ready to return home and start her umpteenth simulation.

"Mr. Yuhao, it seems you're heading out. I won't keep you then. I'll be going now!～♪"

"I'll visit again when I have time!～♪"

"It would be my honor. Miss Elysia, if you wish, you may visit every afternoon. I will prepare fine tea and pastries for you."

Watching Elysia hurry away, Yuhao took another sip of his tea.

Young people, so energetic and impulsive, full of youthful vigor.

Wonderful.

"Nothing on the agenda today… off to the pleasure district."

Carrying his birdcage, Yuhao changed his mind.

Bird watching with other enthusiasts could wait. He would go to the pleasure district now.

Not for any particular reason.

Just for some enjoyment, a feast for the eyes and ears.