Honkai Impact: My Power Grows When Valkyries Fall For Me — Chapter 43

Chapter 43: For the Three of Us, Living Well Together is What Matters Most

Morning light struggled to pierce the thick, oppressive clouds, casting a gloomy illumination over the ruins of Changkong City.

Kiana, nestled against Lucian’s chest, had fallen asleep at some point during the long night. Her breathing was now steady and deep, a peaceful rhythm in the quiet devastation.

Lucian, however, was wide awake. He had taken it upon himself to keep watch.

By the faint, gray light, he gazed at the tranquil sleeping face of the girl in his arms.

Everything that had transpired yesterday felt like a chaotic, feverish dream.

Mei’s Herrscher awakening, the city’s cataclysmic destruction, Kiana’s tearful questioning… and that fiercely possessive kiss, a claim staked with teeth and passion.

It had all happened in a single day, leaving him with a deep sense of unreality, as if he were merely an observer in his own life.

Lucian raised a hand, his fingertips tracing the faint outline of the bite mark on the side of his neck. The sharp pain beneath the skin had long since faded, but the distinct imprint remained, a visible brand.

Recalling Kiana’s words from last night—her declaration of ownership—an inexplicable nervousness coiled in his stomach.

He didn’t know if he was truly prepared for this.

Becoming a scumbag, a two-timer, had never been his intention. At least, that’s what he told himself.

But when emotions became so hopelessly entangled, when the branching paths of the future lay before him, when he had to admit that he held genuine feelings for more than one person…

Escape no longer seemed like a viable option.

The sound of footsteps, light and hesitant, reached him from behind. Even so, Lucian noticed them immediately.

“Mei? How did you rest?” he asked, not needing to turn around.

Since Bronya was still hovering in the air, the only other person it could be was Mei.

“…It was alright.”

Mei’s voice was a little hoarse. She walked over, stopping a few steps away from Lucian. The weak morning light outlined her slender silhouette, her deep purple hair somewhat disheveled and cascading over her shoulders.

She hugged her arms, her gaze falling on the sleeping Kiana before quickly shifting away, as if she couldn’t bear to look for too long.

“Kiana… is she okay?” Mei’s voice was soft, laced with a hint of barely perceptible tension.

Lucian looked down at the girl in his arms, a gentle curve unconsciously forming at the corner of his mouth.

“Yeah,” he murmured. “She’s sleeping soundly.”

“Her emotions were all over the place last night. It took a lot out of her.”

Mei gave a soft hum of acknowledgement. Her gaze briefly lingered on the dark mark on Lucian’s neck before she swiftly averted her eyes again, a faint blush dusting her cheeks.

She seemed to be hesitating, her fingers unconsciously twisting the hem of her shirt.

“Lucian… last night, I think I vaguely heard you two talking.”

“Yes,” he sighed. “It’s a long story. I’ll tell you everything, slowly.”

At that very same moment, in St. Freya Academy, a world away.

Theresa Apocalypse sat in her office, her brow furrowed as she stared at the terminal before her.

The screen displayed satellite imagery of Changkong City. Most of the urban sprawl was shrouded in a swirling, purple miasma of Honkai energy. A data panel to the side showed terrifyingly high Honkai energy readings that made her stomach clench.

“Can’t get through…”

Looking at her phone screen, which once again displayed the message ‘Recipient Unavailable,’ Theresa let out a weary sigh. She had tried calling Lucian’s number three times, and each attempt had met the same result—a dead end.

“The Honkai energy interference in Changkong City is too strong…” she muttered to herself. She placed the phone on the desk and rubbed her temples, trying to stave off a headache.

Just then, the office door was pushed open. Himeko walked in, bringing with her the chill of the early morning air.

“Theresa, the Hyperion is ready,” she announced, her voice crisp and professional. “When do we depart for the rescue mission?”

Theresa looked up at Himeko, who was already clad in her crimson Valkyrie battlesuit.

“We depart immediately.”

She paused, her expression turning serious. “But Himeko, remember: the primary objective of this mission is rescue, not combat. If you encounter the Third Herrscher, you are to retreat immediately.”

“Of course I know that…” Himeko looked at Theresa and nodded gravely. “But if we do run into a Herrscher, it’s practically impossible to disengage without a fight.”

“I know,” Theresa conceded. “So try to avoid combat if you can.”

She sighed, then hopped off her oversized chair. Her short legs carried her to the corner of the room where she picked up the golden cross that stood taller than she was.

“I’m coming with you.”

She securely strapped the Oath of Judah to her back, its heavy chains swaying slightly with the movement.

“Understood. I’ll go make the final preparations.” Himeko nodded once, then turned and left the office without another word.

Theresa watched her go, and the office fell silent once more.

She walked to the window, gazing at the faintly visible purple cloud layer staining the distant sky—the direction of Changkong City.

Her small hand unconsciously moved to her chest, where, tucked inside a pocket in her habit, lay a photograph.

It was a photo of her and Cecilia. But in the picture, there was also a man.

He had black hair and a pair of indifferent, piercing purple eyes.

That was Lucian.

But it wasn’t the Lucian she knew now. This was a more mature version, his eyes completely devoid of the youthful naivety she was used to.

Her fingertip hovered over the face in the photo, but she stopped just short of touching it. For a fleeting instant, Theresa’s eyes softened, a flicker of a long-buried emotion, before she regained her usual calm composure.

She returned the photo to her pocket, gently pressing on it as if that thin piece of paper could grant her the strength she so desperately needed.

The perspective returns to Lucian, who now found himself in a quiet standoff between Kiana and Mei.

While he had been explaining the events of the previous night to Mei, Kiana had woken up.

She remained leaning against Lucian’s chest, but her bright blue eyes were wide open, fixed motionlessly on Mei.

The atmosphere had become somewhat delicate.

Mei felt a prickle of unease under Kiana’s intense stare and was about to say something, but Kiana sat up from Lucian’s embrace first.

“Alright, alright, you two.”

Kiana yawned and stretched, her movements so natural and unbothered that it was as if the previous tense atmosphere had never existed.

“Mei, you too. Lucian, you too. Exchanging glances first thing in the morning…” she said, her tone light.

“You’re completely disregarding the feelings of your official girlfriend, you know.”

Kiana’s voice held a hint of playful reproach, but the smile in her eyes as she looked at Mei was genuine. She deliberately emphasized the words “official girlfriend,” as if she were testing Mei’s reaction.

Mei’s cheeks flushed a lovely shade of pink. She lowered her head, her fingers once again twisting the hem of her clothes in a nervous gesture.

“Kiana, I…”

“It’s fine, it’s fine, I know,” Kiana waved her hand dismissively, flashing a carefree smile that could chase away any gloom.

“If it’s Mei, it’s okay.”

The air seemed to freeze for an instant.

Mei’s head snapped up, her violet eyes wide with disbelief as she stared at Kiana.

Lucian was also stunned, completely blindsided. He had never expected Kiana to say something so… accepting.

“K-Kiana, what did you just say…?” Mei’s voice trembled slightly.

But Kiana simply stood up and walked over to Mei. She clasped her hands behind her back, leaned forward slightly, and repeated herself with unwavering clarity.

“I said, if it’s Mei, I can accept it.”

“After all,” she continued, ticking off the reasons on her fingers, “Mei is so good, so gentle, and she cooks so well…”

As she spoke, Kiana turned her gaze back to Lucian, a mischievous glint in her eyes.

“If the three of us were together, wouldn’t that be pretty good, too?”

Kiana said it so simply, looking from a stunned Mei to an equally bewildered Lucian.

Lucian’s expression was a mixture of surprise and utter confusion. He was still trying to figure out how to handle his complicated relationship with Mei, and now Kiana had proactively thrown open a door he hadn’t even known existed.

And as for Mei…

Her face was flushed crimson all the way to the tips of her ears, standing there completely at a loss for words.