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

Beneath the orphanage, in the laboratory, a girl's body slowly passed through a long row of scanning machines.

Zeke and Einstein sat side by side at the control panel. After performing a series of dazzling coordinated operations, Zeke printed out a paper report.

"How is Mei's health?"

Raiden Ryoma leaned forward, barely maintaining his stern expression but involuntarily furrowing his brow.

Zeke gave him a mild glance before opening the report.

"Hmm, there seem to be some issues."

"What?!"

"Her body fat percentage is unusually low. Has she been dieting recently? No offense, but she's still a kid—no curves or assets yet, and she hasn't finished growing taller. Why would she try to lose weight now? Can't she understand the importance of long-term health and development over short-term slimness? And honestly, what's appealing about being stick-thin?"

Zeke glanced at Raiden Mei.

The bashful girl, clad only in her thin white robe, inadvertently looked down. Through the loose fabric, it was clear that her budding curves were already taking shape—quite visibly fuller than those of the children back at the orphanage, despite what she might think—and covered her face with both hands, ears reddening.

Raiden Ryoma clearly choked on his own words for a moment before gritting his teeth and snapping, "Is that really what I asked?!"

"She's generally healthy overall. The Gem of Conquest has been behaving itself, although it does cause elevated intensity and activity levels of Honkai Energy within her body. Still, there shouldn't be any immediate issues."

"That's good... Why couldn't you just tell me that straight out?!"

"I saw how anxious you were, so I thought I'd lighten the mood with a little joke. It's true, though. As her guardian, you should pay more attention to her diet during this growth phase. Take my daughter here as an example; she eats everything, which keeps her very healthy."

Zeke gestured toward Kiana with his chin, where she sat slouched over the chair's backrest, facing away from everyone else, posture completely unrefined.

Kiana froze, startled.

Noticing she'd been caught, Kiana hastily turned her chair around and sat up straight, crossing her legs and gently placing her hands on her thighs with a polite, toothless smile—she had just received a spanking moments ago, so it was best to behave for now and save the mischief for tomorrow.

Zeke snorted, though whether out of satisfaction or as another tally mark against her remained unclear.

Raiden Ryoma managed a strained smile toward Kiana. He recognized Siegfried too; although they hadn't met often, their friendship ran deep enough that he considered him more than just a good acquaintance. Naturally, he wanted to show kindness to his friend's child.

Then, he turned to Zeke and Einstein.

"So, there won't be any immediate issues for Mei, correct?"

Zeke didn't answer directly but instead addressed Einstein.

"Dr. Ein, were you responsible for designing the implantation experiment protocol?"

"...Mostly."

"No wonder it worked so well. The carrier's exceptional nature is only part of the equation; your meticulous planning must have played a significant role. Otherwise, pacifying a Herrscher Core wouldn't be such an easy feat. Rest assured, Raiden Ryoma, she'll be fine."

Ryoma let out a sigh of relief.

Zeke walked past him to approach the timid Raiden Mei.

"Raiden Mei, do you understand what's happening here?"

"I...am I sick?"

"More or less, but it was intentional. To put it simply, someone inserted something extremely dangerous into your body, hoping you could harness its power and fight for humanity. Your father and that pretty lady over there were also part of the scheme behind the scenes. If you're angry, feel free to scold or even hit them; I doubt they'd dare resist."

Zeke gestured towards Raiden Ryoma and Dr. Ein with blunt words that left both speechless.

Raiden Mei looked at her father, noticing him lower his head, unable to meet her gaze. Then she turned to Einstein, who appeared more composed, calmly meeting her eyes. As Zeke had suggested, she indeed owed Raiden Mei an explanation.

Taking a deep breath, the innocent girl quickly found excuses for both of them. Looking up, she softly said,

"It's...it's okay. I trust that Dad wouldn't harm me intentionally."

"Mei..." Moved, Raiden Ryoma raised his head, ready to express his paternal sentiments, only to hear Zeke scoff dismissively.

"Hmph! He may have had good intentions, probably hoping you'd be able to protect yourself against future dangers or something like that. But don't overestimate adults; sometimes they can be quite unreliable. Take that ill-mannered white-haired girl, for example—her dad tossed his own child onto the streets as if she were just another vagrant."

Kiana hastily corrected her posture, which had once again slipped without her noticing, blinking innocently.

Raiden Ryoma flushed slightly at Zeke's remark. Was it really fair to lump him with Siegfried, that colossal piece of garbage? Yet he found himself unable to retort.

Zeke continued, addressing Raiden Mei: "Furthermore, you haven't fully grasped the gravity of the situation. Once you understand, I suspect you might feel angry. In any case, from now on, this will be your home. Dr. Ein and I will oversee your treatment, or perhaps guide you in mastering this power..."

"Wait! This isn't what we agreed upon! Herrscher powers are far too dangerous. How could you let a child attempt such control?" Welt, who had been observing silently, stepped forward, his face clearly expressing disapproval.

Zeke shot him a sidelong glance.

"Mastering the gemstone is part of the treatment process. Attempting to remove it would be even riskier if she could perfectly control it. Besides, you were younger than her when you first acquired your Herrscher Core. Don't underestimate the potential of the next generation, Welt."

How dare Yang Wo dismiss the future Lightning Queen so casually? No one here understood Raiden Mei's capabilities better than Zeke.

"That's not what I meant... Eins, is what Zeke said true?" Welt turned to Dr. Einstein for confirmation.

Einstein nodded.

As Zeke had explained, removing the Herrscher Core was unprecedented research, posing an even greater challenge than implantation. If Raiden Mei could master the core and become akin to Welt, keeping it within her would indeed be far safer than extraction.

Moreover, with two prior experiences cultivating Herrschers—Einstein herself and Welt as a direct participant—they had ample knowledge to draw upon.

"I understand your concerns, but why don't we let the person most affected decide?"

All eyes shifted towards Raiden Mei.

She looked bewildered, confusion written across her face.

"Raiden Mei, this world is far from safe. To put it bluntly, humanity faces an ever-looming terrifying threat. One misstep could lead to the collapse of civilization and our species' extinction. Now, you have the opportunity to harness immense power that might sway the outcome, but it carries significant risks. Even with our full support, there's still danger to your life, possibly even warping your consciousness and turning you into a monster."

"You have two choices: First, abandon this path. No one will blame you; we'll still strive to safely extract that power. However, as I mentioned, it remains equally perilous. Second, summon all your courage and determination to face unimaginable pain and torment, overcome it, master it, and fight for humanity's future."

"Make your choice. But don't rush. Feel free to discuss it with your father or Welt. Take days, weeks, or even months if needed. I'm not in a hurry, but ensure your decision is firm and irreversible."

As Zeke finished speaking, he closed the inspection report he had been reviewing throughout their conversation.

He then tossed the report onto the table.

"All right, that's enough here. Next person, please."

Zeke clapped his hands, and Bronya, who had been waiting patiently, wheeled over her chair.

On the wheelchair sat a bewildered yet anxious black-haired girl, her hands tightly gripping its armrests. Amidst her fearful expression, there was also a hint of resignation, as if she had given up on resisting.

Zeke instinctively patted Wendy's head, causing her to lift her dazed gaze. Then, addressing the still perplexed Raiden Mei, he said firmly:

"Step down."

With a casual wave of his hand and an impassive face, Zeke seemed almost dismissive, as if urging her away.

Raiden Mei silently descended from the examination bed—this was the first time the ever-admired Young Lady Mei, who commanded everyone's attention, felt rejected by someone her own age, and moreover, a boy.

In any case, it left her quite unsettled.