"R-Retainer, Kaguya's gone insane."
When Chen Li returned from picking up the takeout he had just ordered at the community gate, he was greeted by an approaching Sirin.
"Ah, what's wrong?" Chen Li was taken aback. He was only gone for the time it took to grab some food...
"She said the clothes I'm wearing are too plain and insisted on changing me herself," Sirin said.
"She has a point..." Chen Li said after glancing down at Sirin's clothes.
Sirin was still wearing the same outfit she had on after deactivating her Herrscher armor in the Tower of Babylon—the clothes of a test subject. A simple garment and white bandages... and nothing else.
She didn't even have her thigh rings!
"But..."
"However, I've already bought you clothes from a clothing store," Chen Li said, placing the takeout he was holding into Sirin's hands.
You could buy anything via delivery these days, including clothes.
"Huh? Is the size right?" Sirin asked, uncertain.
"Don't worry, I specifically looked up your measurements online. They're absolutely accurate," Chen Li said with considerable confidence.
"..."
Sirin glanced at the clothes in the delivery bag, then looked up at Chen Li.
She raised a fist, punched him in the stomach, and then stormed off in a huff.
"Taking a girl who can only rely on you in this world out to buy clothes in person is a great way to grind affection. It's not too late for you to regret your decision," Kaguya Houraisan said, leaning against the staircase railing at some unknown point.
"I can't grind anymore. Any more and things could get complicated," Chen Li said, shaking his head. He wasn't stupid.
"I think things will get complicated even if you don't," Kaguya said.
Because it was already high enough.
"You can eat whatever you want, but you can't just say whatever you want."
"Fine, let's change the subject. After bringing Sirin back, have you contacted your other Queen? Is she behaving any differently than before?" Kaguya asked.
"I have. Nothing's out of the ordinary. She's still happily eating and drinking while watching Kiana suffer misfortune. I know what you're worried about. Sirin is able to remember me because I brought her to this world. Everyone else's memories of me were taken as the price for using [Myriad Phenomena Severance]," Chen Li said.
Chen Li had caused quite a stir during the Second Eruption, and what with the major acts of splicing time and creating a new world, his anchor in the Previous Era was not affected.
"But I remember you saying that although your causal anchor was erased, causing others to forget you, the facts of what happened wouldn't change, right?" Kaguya said.
"That's right," Chen Li nodded.
"Was your entire anchor from the Second Eruption wiped clean?" Kaguya asked again.
"A small part might have been left behind, because the stunts I pulled during the Second Eruption were indeed big enough. But it would have to be an extremely deep impression, and even then, that impression would only manifest subconsciously," Chen Li explained.
Splicing history, creating a parallel world, fooling an Otto from the future... each one was a top-tier stunt!
Chen Li had come dangerously close to successfully preserving the memory of his actions during the Second Eruption. That had genuinely spooked him. After all, he had been quite the bastard during that time. If those memories were retained, his positive reputation, his fine moral character, and all that would be utterly ruined.
Although... the Curio Forger didn't exactly have a great reputation in the Star Rail world right now either.
So, Welt might really have a subconscious feeling that some accursed Fictional Historian was constantly chasing him. And he might subconsciously feel that Homu mascots were not to be trifled with. But he wouldn't combine the two into the idea that a Fictional Historian in a Homu suit was not to be trifled with.
Chen Li estimated that several of the "experts" who survived the Second Eruption might develop a case of Homu-phobia. It was also possible that several might start liking Homus because they felt they were so formidable.
"Then I'm relieved," Kaguya nodded.
"What do you mean?"
"At the very end, because Sirin once again felt the warmth of Cecilia's embrace, she wanted to experience that warmth one more time, which led to her Herrscher core successfully integrating with test subject K-423. Have you ever considered what kind of lingering will she might have left in that Herrscher core when she died clutching onto you so tightly?"
"What kind of lingering will?"
"For example... a subconscious impression that all scumbags must die."
"Phew, you scared me. Good thing I'm not a scumbag," Chen Li sighed in relief.
Seeing the relieved Chen Li, Kaguya could only think that he was celebrating too early.
Sirin had indeed been brought back to his world by Chen Li, but her Herrscher core had not. The final obsession she had left in that core definitely had not been brought back.
So, based on that obsession that was left behind, and the fact that Sirin had been desperately clinging to Chen Li right before he removed her damaged Herrscher core and left it in that world...
Kaguya had a feeling there was going to be some great drama to watch.
Chen Li, you'd better not have any physical contact with the Queen of the Void or Kiana, or else...
However, Kaguya had no intention of warning Chen Li. In fact, she was looking forward to it.
Kaguya had always been aware of her own beauty. To prevent a situation where [Chen Li makes a move on me, I don't refuse, and it thus interferes with the speed at which I play games], she was quite happy to see a few more beautiful girls around Chen Li.
Again, if you go after them, you can't come after me.
"Right, you left the Herrscher core in the Honkai world. Doesn't that mean the current Sirin is just a weakling?" Kaguya suddenly thought of this.
"Not exactly. Fiction Value can not only fabricate a state of life, it can also fabricate abilities. Although Sirin left her somewhat damaged Herrscher core in the Honkai world, I fabricated a new one for her that she once possessed," Chen Li said.
The [Fictional Historian] Miracle Card allowed a person to once again possess something they used to have. It was an incredibly convenient ability.
"The Fictional Historian is simply amazing," Chen Li couldn't help but say.
"Emmm... I don't think the Fictional Historian himself would think so," Kaguya retorted.
Fictional Historian: How come I didn't know I was this powerful?
Just ask yourself, is your version of a Fictional Historian even a proper one? What kind of Fictional Historian can fabricate a real parallel world? And based on Gallagher's performance, a Fictional Historian can collect characteristics from different people, construct a virtual character from them, and grant themselves a corresponding status in the current world. It's completely different from what you do!
"Wait, I just realized something..." A flash of inspiration struck Kaguya.
"What is it?"
"What if you use Fiction Value to fabricate six Herrscher cores for Sirin, then we take the cores out of her, and then you fabricate another six for her... Doesn't that mean we can mass-produce Herrscher cores in the future?" Kaguya suddenly had a plan!
"Holy shit, you're a goddamn genius!"
"So? What do you think?"
"Theoretically, it's possible."
Things fabricated using Fiction Value could become completely real and wouldn't disappear just because they were separated from someone. But this would be considered a "buyout." Of course, if you were tight on funds, you could also choose to "rent" instead of buying out.
In fact, the Herrscher of Death core on Sirin was one Chen Li had "rented." Because "buying" was really expensive.
"Really? Then I want the Herrscher of Reason core!"
"But are you paying the Fiction Value?"
"Er, I was thinking, for something like Fiction Value, can't we just trick some people?"
"It's not that simple. The Fiction Value gained from tricking people is very low, maybe not even enough to cover one month's rent for a Herrscher of Death core. You have to deceive the world itself. Luckily, I actually have an opportunity to deceive the world..." Chen Li said.
After all, in the eyes of the common people in the Star Rail world, Genius Society Member #85, the Curio Forger, still had no concrete image...
Chen Li's gaze fell upon the [Golden Homu King] costume he had put away.
"So how many Herrscher cores did you fabricate for Sirin?"
"Two. One Herrscher of the Void core so she can use her powers normally, and one Herrscher of Death core to keep her safe. If I gave her too many, I'm worried she'd get arrogant again. Don't get any ideas about her cores, because you wouldn't be able to use them even if you had them."
Not just anyone could use a Herrscher core. Insufficient Honkai energy resistance would be fatal.
Although... for someone like Kaguya, "resistance" was probably something she could gain by dying a few more times.
"I have one more question."
"Why do you have so many questions?"
"The last one. That is... do the Herrscher cores you fabricated have any Entries on them?"
"..." Chen Li froze.
"Don't tell me you haven't looked into that at all?"
"...Sirin, let me see your Herrscher core!"
Chen Li suddenly felt that Kaguya's Herrscher core mass-production plan might not be so bad after all.
"Heh." Seeing Chen Li rush out in a hurry, Kaguya chuckled aloud.
See? If you want to accomplish something but can't persuade Chen Li, just tell him it might have precious Entries on it. He'll charge in himself.
"Wait, Retainer, don't come in yet, I haven't finished changing..."
Bang!
Chen Li left quickly, and he returned just as quickly.
With a piece of clothing covering his face, Chen Li was sent flying back towards Kaguya, where he executed a 360-degree spin and landed gracefully.
"Yo, you're back quick." Kaguya chuckled again.
"A mistake, it was a mistake..." Chen Li said, pulling the clothes off his face and clearing his throat.
Immediately after, the Benares doll strutted forward with an air of complete arrogance, walked up to Chen Li, took the clothes from his hand, and trotted back into Sirin's room.
"So, what were the results?"
"Didn't get a clear look. I'll get a closer look later."
Chen Li felt he had been wronged. It wasn't like he did it on purpose. Besides, it wasn't as if he hadn't seen Sirin changing before. Just as he said, during those few days in the dreamscape, Sirin really hadn't treated him like an outsider.
Or perhaps, she just hadn't treated him as a person.
---o---