Honkai Impact: I, The Herrscher of Ice, Am Loved By Players

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"I understand, I understand!" Yuan exclaimed eagerly. Finding a suitable place for filming amidst such a large, official comic convention should be a breeze, right?

Unfortunately, dreams are beautiful, reality is harsh.

Before Yuan could locate an appropriate spot, Ana and Sirin were already surrounded by a crowd. Despite nearing noon, anyone who appreciated their accurate and appealing cosplay would willingly stay for photos, barring time constraints due to transportation issues.

Furthermore, most attendees at this hour tended to be outgoing socialites, making their presence quite noticeable.

"Mama!"

A girl dressed as Kiana, the Winter Princess, called out, approaching swiftly. The crowd parted, creating a path for her, eager to witness the unfolding scene—a spectacle always draws interest.

"Don't be mischievous, Kiana."

Ana chuckled gently, her tone carrying a hint of reproach.

Upon hearing Ana's voice, the cosplayer's eyes instantly lit up.

"Wow, your voice—it really is Cecilia! Big Sister, are you using a voice modulator or some device?"

"It can be whatever you wish it to be," Ana replied with a smile.

As the Kiana cosplayer approached, inexplicably, Sirin felt a sense of unease. She instinctively moved closer to Ana, almost asserting her presence possessively.

"Woah, is this Little Angel Sirin herself? You look incredibly accurate!" The casual cosplayer couldn't help but exclaim upon seeing Sirin. Indeed, compared to Ana's portrayal of Cecilia, Sirin's representation as Sirin was genuinely authentic—the real deal. It transcended mere accuracy since she was the original character.

"Big Sister, is this your daughter?"

"I'm sorry, but she's my younger sister," Ana responded somewhat helplessly. There was nothing she could do about it; despite her youthful appearance and faithful cosplay, standing next to Sirin made her seem quite like Sirin's mother.

It wasn't surprising that Yuan had initially thought so too, given how convincing they looked together.

"Wow, jealous here! I also want such a cute little sister."

The cosplayer gazed at Sirin with envy, her eyes filled with maternal affection. No one could resist Sirin's cuteness.

"Don't worry; you can go home and ask your parents to work harder," Ana chuckled softly, teasingly.

"Yes, you're right! As soon as I get home, I'll have them prepare for baby number two!" The girl's eyes lit up, enthusiastically responding. All Ana could do was smile gently and shake her head.

Judging by this young woman's attire, she likely came from a well-off family. Adding another sibling wouldn't be much of an issue. However, her parents might not anticipate their daughter supporting such ideas.

"Big Sister, Big Sister, can we take a photo together?"

Following the initial cosplayer, several others quickly approached, wanting photos with Ana. She didn't refuse anyone, as interacting with fans is part of attending comic conventions. This time, though, the roles were reversed - instead of collecting photos herself, people sought her out for pictures.

While posing for these snapshots, a large group of cosplayers suddenly emerged from afar, all dressed as Ram from "Re:Zero Starting Life in Another World." It was a parade of maid-Rams.

At the front of this queue stood a familiar figure.

Initially unaware of Ana's presence, he noticed her wave and, recalling the ad-wrapped car seen earlier in the parking lot, formed a bold idea.

"Wow, Eldest Sister Ana, how did you find time to attend the comic convention today? With that outfit, I almost didn't recognize you," Perspective Girl flatteringly remarked. Previously, when assisting with the ad-wrapped car project, the housekeeper had generously tipped him, further highlighting Ana's influence to him.

"Well, it's all for my little sister here."

As she spoke, Ana gently pulled Sirin forward.

"Come on, Sirin, say 'Uncle'."

"Uncle..."

"Woah, you're making me..."

Perspective Girl felt slightly awkward; having Eldest Sister Ana ask her younger sister to call him 'Uncle' was indeed hard to handle. However, if they weren't already acquainted, such a greeting wouldn't have been out of place.

Well, as long as our benefactor is happy.

"Hello there, Sirin! Ha ha—"

"I don't have much to give you, but how about experiencing the charm of our maid squad?"

With that, he gestured towards the maids behind him.

"Maidens, let's show this little sister your enchanting ways!"

"Don't go overboard though; my sister is shy. I needn't remind you of the consequences if she feels upset," Ana added with a smile.

Perspective Girl felt prickles down her spine. Serving the patron indeed requires finesse. The timid demeanor of this young girl did raise concerns, warranting extra caution.

"Ladies, remember, we're all big sisters here. Be gentle; our little princess gets easily overwhelmed by strangers. Understood?"

"Understood—"

The girls responded unanimously. Although they were technically on duty now, seeing Sirin excited them greatly. If not for work obligations, they would have already rushed to take photos with her.

With the young master's encouragement, they naturally seized this opportunity.

Sirin looked at these elder sisters before her, feeling both intrigued and slightly intimidated due to the crowd size.

She raised her head, cautiously glancing at Ana.

"Go ahead, play with your big sisters for a bit. I'll wait here nearby and just do some business for a little while, okay?" Ana gently suggested.

Sirin nodded and carefully approached the maid sisters, while Ana watched quietly. This was a crucial step that Sirin needed to take.

Only by stepping out could she truly connect with this world and bid farewell to the troubles of her past life. As it turned out, Sirin handled it remarkably well.

"Alright, Otaku-sensei, it's time for our session." Ana reminded Yuan, who seemed momentarily dazed beside her.

Yuan quickly snapped back to reality. Today, he felt an indescribable sense of happiness. Normally, comic conventions didn't offer such a plethora of photogenic cosplayers perfect for creating videos, but today was surprisingly abundant.

Additionally, from Perspective Girl's comments, he gleaned some information about the identity of the woman next to him.

As someone who frequently attended comic conventions, Yuan had his own sources of information. For instance, he heard that a beautiful and wealthy big sister was visiting today, evidenced by her eye-catching Lamborghini ad-wrapped car.

Most astonishingly, even in the parking lot, security guards were stationed around the vehicle, with other luxury cars nearby. Some people even spotted guards emerging from those high-end vehicles.

What incredible opulence! If only I could live off such wealth... Well, let's be real; I know my limitations - I have no advantages whatsoever to attract someone like her. It's not as if she's Hakuyouki.

Now, for her to calmly cooperate with me in this endeavor is truly a blessing. She could've easily ignored me, so I'm genuinely grateful... I'd almost cry with relief...

Unaware of Yuan's dramatic thoughts, Ana simply acted out of personal interest, wanting to try it just because. There were no ulterior motives behind her actions.

In the Honkai World, she was also a Young Lady, albeit not quite like Cecilia. But ultimately, didn't she become a Valkyrie fighting for the people?

It must be noted that when it comes to posing professionally, Otaku-sensei undoubtedly excelled, while Ana was entirely inexperienced.

In her daily life, Ana prioritized simplicity and efficiency in her actions; aesthetics were not usually at the forefront of her considerations. However, battles between Herrschers and Valkyries inherently possessed a captivating beauty.

If asked to deliberately strike poses, she would simply admit, "I'm not very good at it."

On the other hand, Otaku-sensei could effortlessly demonstrate those alluring stances, leaving Ana feeling somewhat overwhelmed by his grace.

From her mischief-loving mindset, what she truly desired at that moment was to embarrass Otaku-sensei right there, capturing his various demonstrations on video and uploading them online. It might even have a chance to shake up the rankings unexpectedly.

Notably, the bodyguards amidst the crowd quickly caught onto her intentions and sprang into action. In fact, they didn't even need deep insight to understand what the Young Lady was thinking; Otaku-sensei's movements and their absurdity were quite evident.

Despite their professional training, these bodyguards couldn't help but feel inclined to chuckle upon witnessing Yuan's antics, yet they had to suppress their laughter. Smiling openly risked immediate dismissal—a rule strictly enforced for practical reasons rather than heartlessness.

While people often joked about it, the successful assassination of Sakura Country's seemingly content Prime Minister highlighted the bodyguards' failure in their duty. Regardless of how many wished him dead, reality cannot be ignored.

Due to Young Lady Ana's mischief, their business didn't run smoothly.

From her distant vantage point, Perspective Girl observed as well. Naturally, she could tell that Ana was somewhat teasing Yuan, but she remained silent.

Keeping the benefactor happy is paramount. Besides, let others bear the brunt; one should avoid personal harm. Watching Yuan endure this torment actually brought her a sense of schadenfreude, and upon closer consideration, it indeed made for quite an entertaining spectacle.

This captivated Perspective Girl so much that she even neglected her usual tasks with the little sisters, fully engrossed in watching Yuan's performance.

It truly seems only men can understand each other; when they get provocative, women often take a backseat.

However, judging from Yuan's reactions, he was well aware that Ana was amusing herself at his expense. Yet, he continued to play along diligently—a testament perhaps to a genuinely dedicated photographer, willing to endure humiliation for capturing great footage.

Upon reflection, it makes sense.

The client doesn't need your final product, nor do they require your traffic or exposure. If they wished, they could effortlessly become top-tier influencers themselves. So, what entitles you to expect their cooperation?

This is simply the price Yuan must pay, fair and reasonable. He gains nothing tangible yet receives increased visibility.

As for any potential embarrassment... without Ana, would he refrain from these demonstrations? Clearly not.

They continued working tirelessly until midday.

Being a professional cosplayer turned out to be incredibly demanding, making Ana realize that if this job required daily commitment, it might even be more exhausting than being a Valkyrie.

As a Valkyrie, aside from battling Honkai Beasts, most of their time was relatively leisurely. Especially after becoming an A-rank Valkyrie, when stationed away, days often consisted of routine training followed by downtime and relaxation.

In contrast, a professional cosplayer's schedule is relentless, requiring appearances at various comic conventions, travel, and constant video shoots. If given a choice, Ana would undoubtedly prefer her role as a Valkyrie.

"Otaku-sensei, you've been hard at work."

After the shoot concluded, Ana smiled warmly and waved over one of her affordable bodyguards carrying an elegant gift box. Ah, it contained lunch - a private chef's meal delivered from Shanghai.

"Let's have some lunch."

"Haha, thank you very much," Yuan replied with a goofy grin, not hesitating to accept the food box from the guard. The meal was abundant, tailored mostly to Ana's taste.

Despite this, Yuan enjoyed it thoroughly.

Seriously, unless someone had strict dietary restrictions, meals of such high quality were rarely accessible. Who wouldn't prefer this over a mere 15-yuan boxed lunch?

"Well then, may our paths cross again."

Waving goodbye, Ana turned to leave. Due to the extended delay, the maid group had already dispersed, not exiting the venue but finding places to rest instead.

Sirin was also with them, so Ana needed to find her.

Shortly after, Ana located Sirin in the break room. At that moment, Sirin was surrounded by several elder sisters, engaged in laughter and conversation. Although Sirin didn't speak much, she wore a smile, clearly enjoying the atmosphere.

"Sirin!"

Ana gently called out, having changed into casual clothes herself. Despite the high-quality cosplay attire, only those who've experienced it know how truly uncomfortable it can be.

The most unbearable parts were the wig and colored contact lenses.

Colored contacts often felt irritating, while wearing a wig gave a constant sensation as if something was scratching your scalp. It wasn't even the worst; dealing with sharp hairpins and various small accessories could be downright painful.

Then there's the makeup, which frequently required touch-ups. Otherwise, heavy reliance on post-editing became necessary, emphasizing the importance of a good base look.

Naturally, Ana couldn't endure such discomfort indefinitely and quickly changed out of her costume once her duties were done.

"Big Sister!"

Hearing Ana's call, Sirin looked up and waved enthusiastically towards her.

"Thank you for taking care of Sirin," Ana expressed gratitude to the two cosplayers nearby while gently patting Sirin's head. "How was it? Did you have fun playing with these big sisters?"

"Yes, Sirin had lots of fun! Thank you, Big Sister!"

The two cosplayers were momentarily stunned; they hadn't expected the real-life Cecilia cosplayer to look like this—she... she wasn't just naturally beautiful anymore.

"Ana... Are you really Ana?" One of the girls suddenly realized something and exclaimed excitedly.

"Mm-hmm, if you mean the Ana from the Creation Festival, then yes, that would be me."

"Wow! Can we get a photo together and your autograph? I'm a huge fan!" The pair nearly jumped with excitement, as seeing their favorite game character come to life before them was truly thrilling. Even without filters, Ana's natural beauty surpassed her online images!

"Certainly." With a smile, Ana posed for photos and signed autographs for the two fans. Finally, amidst their reluctant gazes, she departed with Sirin.

As time passed, Ana's presence was nearing its end.

Looking at Sirin beside her with lingering concern and reluctance, Ana raised her hand to gently pat Sirin's head once more.

"Remember me, Sirin."

Sirin tilted her head, gazing at Ana with some confusion. However, Ana remained silent; her true battle was about to begin.

Feeling that there hasn't been enough focus on real-life events lately, well, it's just part of the transition phase after all.