Sacrificing Myself: Nine Transmigrations (Genshin Impact)

The two continued walking until the sky blushed red with sunset.

They stood at the edge of a cliff, watching the sun sink below the horizon, then lit a bonfire.

They'd had good luck today, managing to catch a wild boar. Elliot roasted it with great excitement.

"You were right."

"What!?"

Shenhe suddenly spoke, catching Elliot completely off guard.

"I did hide something from you about saving those people today."

"Uh... if what I said earlier made you uncomfortable, I'm sorry."

Elliot took a cautious step back, his tone serious and sincere.

"No, no, that's not it."

Seeing his reaction, Shenhe hurriedly waved her hand in denial. Her tone and expression were clearly different from her usual cold demeanor.

"Then why...?"

"When I was young, my father, trying to save my mother, sought out an evil book that claimed it could 'prolong life with life.' He intended to trade his own life for hers."

"But the evil book turned its attention to me. It claimed I was born under a cursed star—that my existence would only bring harm to those around me. So my father sacrificed me instead, leaving me in a cave filled with the remains of fallen Archons."

"In that hopeless place, all I had was a small knife to fend off the demonic remnants... until an Adeptus saved me."

Hearing this story—one he was already familiar with—Elliot knew Shenhe had come to trust him.

So he said, thoughtfully,

"When you saw those mortals facing monsters, it reminded you of yourself—alone and helpless, fighting off monsters as a child."

"You knew that fear and desperation. That's why you rushed to save them... just like the Adeptus once saved you, right?"

Shenhe was surprised by how quickly he'd made the connection.

She hadn't expected him to link her past to what happened that morning so effortlessly.

"Yes…"

She nodded quietly.

"You've been hiding your emotions, using a cold tone to push people away—because the Adeptus told you that your fate would harm those close to you."

"Even now, with the red cord binding your soul, you're still afraid of bringing misfortune to others."

"Just like how you once believed your mother's illness was your fault…"

Elliot slowly unraveled her mask, word by word.

Shenhe lowered her head, nodding faintly.

Then, a warm sensation wrapped around her.

Her eyes widened—Elliot had pulled her into a hug.

"You're not at fault. What could you have done wrong?"

"You were just a child. How could you have known anything? Your father treated you like a sacrifice and told you your fate was cursed."

"To hell with that cursed fate. Who says anyone's born to be alone?"

At that moment...

Shenhe's eyes turned red.

Tears welled up.

She had imagined this moment countless times—someone seeing through her, embracing her without fear of her fate.

She had fantasized about this unrealistic scene so many times… yet now, it was actually happening.

...Am I dreaming?

...Is someone really embracing me without fearing the curse of my fate?

...If this is a dream...

...It's okay… really, it's okay…

...If it's a dream, just let it last a little longer.

...So this is what a hug feels like?

...So warm.

...I want to stay like this... forever.

Feeling Shenhe tighten her grip, Elliot gently stroked her hair.

"You've held it in for so long. Let it out. From now on, don't carry it all alone…"

"Rely on me. I may not be that strong, but I'll send that cursed star straight to the King of Hell."

"It's okay now. I'm here."

That night...

The cold, white-haired witch vanished.

Shenhe's cries echoed through the mountains.

She clung to Elliot and cried for a long, long time, refusing to let go.

Only when she cried herself into exhaustion did she finally fall asleep.

As for the wild boar...

It had long since turned to charcoal.

"Don't go... don't go…"

Elliot carefully tried to pry her arms off him, but as if triggered by instinct, she pulled him even tighter.

"I…"

"…Forget it."

He gave up resisting and let her hug him.

But it was still too early to sleep, so he turned his attention to Shenhe.

Feeling the softness against him, Elliot felt a pressure building up in his nose.

"Nope…" He immediately refocused his thoughts elsewhere.

...

The next morning.

"Mm… mmm…" Shenhe let out a soft, oddly adorable sound and slowly opened her eyes.

The first thing she saw was Elliot's dazed face and his unmistakable panda eyes.

"You're finally awake…"

Yes.

Elliot hadn't slept a wink.

For many reasons—uneven ground, lack of space to turn—but mostly because of the incredibly beautiful woman lying so close beside him. Who knew what might happen if he let his guard down?

But most importantly…

He'd been holding in his pee the entire night!

His bladder was on the verge of bursting!

At that moment, Shenhe's eyes widened, and her entire face turned bright red.

Elliot wasted no time escaping her embrace, scrambling to his feet and bolting outside.

"Eh…?"

Watching him run off, Shenhe suddenly realized—

Last night really happened.

It wasn't a dream!

She instantly jumped up and gave chase.

"Don't leave! You said I could rely on you!!"

She sprinted after him.

"Don't come any closer! I have to pee!!!"

Elliot was panicking, his scalp tingling, his face pale from holding it in.

"…Oh." Shenhe finally stopped.

She watched as he disappeared behind a distant tree. With her sharp eyes, she even caught sight of a faint rainbow glimmering behind it.

Her face turned beet red.

"Oh no… What am I doing…"

Shenhe panicked like a cat on a hot roof. She wanted to disappear into the ground.

Pacing back and forth, cheeks flushed, she was nothing like the cold and aloof woman from before.

Now, she was more like a lovestruck girl—easily flustered, easily embarrassed.

Her coldness had always been a mask.

Now that the mask was off, this was the real Shenhe.

She knew she had finally found someone she could lean on for life.

Someone who dared to defy fate, curse the heavens, and even declare he'd drag that cursed fate to the underworld himself.

Just thinking about it made her blush and cover her face, giggling quietly.

And in her heart, she wondered—

How many people in this world have that kind of courage?

"What's got you smiling like that?" Elliot returned, smiling faintly despite the dark circles under his eyes.

"H-h-h-hus…" Shenhe stammered, her face red as an apple.

"What is it?" Elliot leaned closer.

Already flustered, Shenhe panicked even more when his face came too close.

"Good morning, husband!!"

She shouted suddenly, kissed him on the cheek, and ran off, face buried in her hands.

Elliot: "??????"