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

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"So, you're Raiden Mei, huh?"

Beside the barbecue grill, Kiana, Rozaliya, and Liliya formed a circle around a reserved-looking black-haired girl seated on a chair.

Raiden Mei arrived midway through the gathering with her father, Raiden Ryoma, who had escorted them there.

But Raiden Ryoma went off to catch up with Welt and the others, leaving his daughter alone to face the orphan girls by herself.

Despite her impeccable manners, her father's grave demeanor on their journey here, arriving at this unfamiliar place, and having no prior experience playing with peers of her own age—all these factors combined left her feeling extremely nervous. Confronted by three assertive girls, she was utterly at a loss.

"Listen up! I am one of the Three Heavenly Kings of the orphanage—Kiana!" Kiana stood directly in front of Raiden Mei, striking an exaggerated pose straight out of a tokusatsu drama, head held high with pride.

"And I am the second Heavenly King, Rozaliya!" On the right, Rozaliya mirrored the dramatic stance, beaming with boundless energy.

"The third is Liliya." On the left, Liliya struck a similar pose but lacked any noticeable expression, appearing more like someone dragged along for numbers rather than participating willingly.

The peculiar introduction from the trio made Raiden Mei flinch slightly, causing her to hastily respond in a fumble:

"I-I'm Raiden Mei. Greetings..."

"Listen up! Since you're here now, understand that we're the bosses around these parts! From now on, everything goes our way. Any good food or fun stuff better come to us first if you want to survive in this harsh place, got it?"

Kiana placed her hands on her hips and grinned proudly—though there was something inexplicably goofy about it.

Her two friends echoed her statement obediently.

Rozaliya: "Got it?"

Liliya: "...got it?"

Then Liliya suddenly turned to Kiana and said, "Wait, isn't Zeke the boss of the orphanage?"

"You listen to Zeke, and Zeke listens to me! Round it off, and all three of us are the bosses!" Kiana replied with impeccable logic, convincingly so.

Next, Rozaliya raised her hand to speak up again: "Hold on! Kiana, aren't you from outside the orphanage? Don't you have a dad?"

"Aiya! You know how useless my old man is. He's bedridden and can barely get up—it's like not having one at all. Besides, aren't we close pals? Why fuss over such trivial matters?"

"Yeah! Kiana's right—we're best friends forever!"

"That's right, besties for life—ah-ha-ha!"

Rozaliya and Kiana draped their arms around each other's shoulders, pulling Liliya along as well. Their enthusiastic giggles were accompanied by one reluctant, forced-sounding laugh.

Watching this scene unfold, Raiden Mei couldn't help but feel her gaze falter slightly.

Are they patients with mental disabilities? How pitiful...

Her timid eyes now held traces of sympathy.

Then, three small black spheres appeared above the trio's heads, laughing uproariously, before plummeting straight down.

"Thud! Thud! Thud!"

Following these painfully loud impacts, all three girls clutched their heads, crouching and groaning simultaneously.

"Ow!" x 3

"Don't pick on the new girl."

Zeke slowly approached from the side, flanked by expressionless Bronya on one end and Sin, whose smile seemed to make flowers bloom around her, on the other.

Next to them stood Seele, gracefully carrying refreshments.

"We're not picking on her; we were just saying hello!" Kiana protested, clutching her head defensively.

"Do you think I'm deaf? What do you mean 'head of the orphanage' and 'tribute'?"

"Just joking around, y'know?! Not serious!"

"I know that's why you're not hanging."

"Dictator! Tyrant! Unreasonable! Zeke is a big dummy, nyah~"

Zeke remained silent.

Then Kiana was hoisted up, a towel stuffed in her mouth so she could only mumble plaintively.

Zeke nodded at Bronya, who smiled faintly, a small whip appearing in her hand seemingly out of nowhere.

"Just a spanking should suffice."

"Understood, Bronya will make it unforgettable," she replied with a grin, her pink tongue licking her lips as if enveloped by boundless dark energy.

Kiana, suspended midair, struggled frantically in terror, but to no avail.

Crack! Crack! Crack!

"Mmmf!"

Zeke shifted his gaze toward the remaining two Heavenly Kings.

Rozaliya and Liliya hastily clung together, trembling fearfully without daring to speak.

"Considering your secondary roles, face the wall for fifteen minutes."

"Yes!" × 2

Next, Zeke looked at Raiden Mei, stroking his chin thoughtfully, his eyes scrutinizing her closely.

Raiden Mei: Sh-sh-shaking uncontrollably...

On the other side, amidst the adults' gathering...

Tesla and Einstein sat facing each other several meters apart, both bound to their chairs with ropes, silently staring at one another.

Welt was busy cleaning up their dirtied faces and clothes, tending to minor injuries—and even meticulously retouching the makeup of these two refined ladies, displaying exceptional skill and dexterity when manifesting cosmetic tools.

One can only wonder what experiences he must have had for his Herrscher Authority to be developed in such a manner.

Cocolia and Raiden Ryoma exchanged glances, feeling awkward.

One had kidnapped the other's daughter and used her as a test subject for implanting the Gem of Conquest.

The other acknowledged his own complicity; Cocolia merely took advantage of an opportunity that presented itself.

In any case, neither felt entirely comfortable.

After some time, having finished attending to Tesla and Einstein still locked in their standoff, Welt approached, visibly exhausted.

"Pfft!"

Cocolia swore she genuinely didn't want to offend such influential figures, but the sight before her was truly comical.

Welt's clothes were torn and disheveled, his hair a messy tangle, with various bruises on his face—including clear scratch marks left by Tesla.

The esteemed First Herrscher, Lord Alliance Leader of Anti-Entropy, long considered the greatest threat by the Valkyries of Schicksal—would anyone believe he could end up looking like this?

"...Don't laugh; I had no choice," Welt said helplessly, scratching his head.

He tried persistently to suppress both women without causing harm, but for some reason, as soon as he intervened, Tesla and Einstein seemed to reach an unspoken agreement, directing most of their attacks at him.

Welt dared not injure either scientist, so while he managed to restrain them eventually, enduring their struggles inevitably led to his own injuries.

Raiden Ryoma scratched his face, barely able to contain his amusement.

"It's been a while, Ryoma."

"...Yes, it has been quite some time, Lord Leader."

"Please call me Welt or Yang," Welt emphasized helplessly.

But Raiden Ryoma was stubbornly principled—friendship aside, he wholeheartedly believed in Welt's ideals and thus adhered strictly to the etiquette expected of a follower.

"I apologize on Eins' behalf for what happened with young Mei," Ryoma said gravely, his eyes flashing with regret and remorse.

Welt promptly punched him in the face.

Whack!

"I know, so consider this your lesson! First, you failed in your duty as a father. Second, you forgot our shared beliefs!"

Ryoma held his bruised cheek, smiling bitterly without any retort.

After landing the punch, Welt patted him on the shoulder.

"It's all in the past now; dwelling on it won't change anything. Fortunately, there's still room for redemption. Let's work together—not just for little Mei but also for our common ideals."

"Yes, Lord Leader!"

With business out of the way, the two men exchanged glances, grinned, and embraced each other warmly.

"It's been too long, Ryoma!" Welt exclaimed with genuine joy and delight.

"Indeed, Alliance Leader. I'm relieved to see you safe and sound."

Raiden Ryoma also relaxed his stern demeanor, smiling freely now.

"How have things been these past few years?"

"All well on my end. But it seems like there hasn't been much progress on your side..."

Raiden Ryoma glanced at Tesla and Einstein still locked in their standoff, giving Welt a mischievous grin.

Following his gaze, Welt tilted his head, puzzled. "What do you mean by 'progress'?"

"Oh, nothing specific. But I have faith in you—you're Welt, after all!"

"...I'm not sure what you're referring to, but thanks anyway."

"No problem. I happen to have some reference materials that might help. I'll send them over when we get back; take your time studying them. And remember, I'm eagerly awaiting that wedding invitation."

Wedding invitation?

Though confused, Welt didn't dwell on it. Soon, they were casually chatting arm-in-arm, discussing everything under the sun.

Cocolia rubbed her chin and glanced between Welt and the other two Anti-Entropy veterans locked in confrontation. A bolt of inspiration flashed through her mind.

"Could it be... Oh-ho, I think I've just stumbled upon another shortcut to advancement!"