Chapter 43 - 42: From Shock to Acceptance, Is There More to Sampo?

The mission from a few chapters ago is now over, and the results are in: The first 50 chapters of the Honkai Impact novel are now up! Find it here: Honkai Simulator: Start with Confessing to The Herrscher of Finality *** Please support me on Patreon, where you can read a bunch of extra chapters, not just for this novel, but for all the novels I'm translating. I upload at least 2 times daily for each novel. Patreon.com/ThatGreatStuff ****** "In the Far North, I witnessed firsthand the struggle between the previous Great Guardian and an indescribable force. In her final moments, she shared with me her greatest regret..." "...It was the blockade that had separated the Upper and Underworld for over a decade. As time passed, she began to recognize the grave consequences of her decision... Though filled with guilt, there was no turning back." "Thus, on her deathbed, she left behind a request... When the influence of the Stellaron dissipates, she hoped Belobog could be whole once more. She wished for the people of both districts to collectively embrace dawn together." Inside the train, everyone watched Little Gui's live stream. Initially, upon realizing they were witnessing scenes from the future, reactions ranged from solemn to shocked, even incredulous. However, as the narrative unfolded, their tense hearts gradually relaxed. After all, this was just a game, after all. It wasn't going to suddenly transform into a monster and devour them whole. With relentless exposure, March 7th seemed somewhat desensitized, even grabbing a plate of fruits and pastries. She sat on the sofa, engrossed in Bronya's speech. Stelle joined her, indulging freely in the snacks alongside March 7th. Since they couldn't do anything about this game, might as well lean fully into it and enjoy the ride! And surprisingly—watching themselves from a third-person perspective was quite entertaining! The duo made up their minds: Once they had the chance, they would catch up on every missed moment of the storyline without skipping a beat! In the square before Qlipoth Fort, amidst the witnessing crowd, Bronya's speech neared its conclusion. "I firmly believe that through our collective efforts, our world—the one Trailblazers call Jarilo-VI—will surely return to the embrace of the stars once more." "However, until we achieve this goal, please allow me, humbly, to lead us forward..." "As Bronya Rand, the nineteenth Protector of Belobog, I hereby swear—" Amidst the cheering and jubilation of the people, her address concluded perfectly. March 7th and Stelle spontaneously burst into applause. "You have to admit, Bronya delivered an impressive speech!" "Yes, she even mentioned us! Our struggles on Jarilo-VI weren't in vain!" "I've decided—I'm determined to summon both Seele and Bronya for my team!" "Let's hope my budget is sufficient..." As they chatted and watched, the next sequence unfolded with a light-hearted tone, focusing mainly on March 7th taking photos and strolling around town. Soon enough, March exclaimed that she was tired and wanted to return to the Gode Hotel for a good night's sleep. Seeing this hotel appear in the scene made Stelle's cheeks flush slightly. She silently prayed that the developers wouldn't introduce any unexpected twists here again. If this continued, her carefully crafted image as the cool and suave Milky Way Bat would be utterly ruined—turning her into just another meme character! The moment she selected the option "Go to Bed," the screen suddenly went dark. A line of small text appeared: [The Creation Engine, Cocolia, the illusory cosmic realm, and Preservation's gaze—scenes from that climactic battle flash intermittently, ultimately piecing together fragmented memories akin to grainy film.] [The final frame freezes at the instant before the Stellaron dissipates with Cocolia. In that brief moment, it seems as though an unfamiliar voice whispers close to your ear... but then fades away...] [Attempting to rewind to the previous memory, you find the filmstrip in your hand abruptly cut off, leaving a clean edge without any trace.] "Then, once again, you hear the woman's voice..." "At the end of your journey, all the riddles that have troubled you will be unraveled." The live stream fell silent for several seconds. Then came Little Gui Zi's startled exclamation. "That... That sounds like Kafka's voice!" March 7th nudged Stelle, her expression filled with curiosity and fascination. "Hey, tell me, what exactly is your relationship with Kafka?" Stelle opened her mouth but had no answer herself. Tentatively, she suggested, "Mother?" "Pfft..." March 7th suddenly sprayed soda from her mouth. "You're calling Kafka 'Mom'?" "No, not really..." "How about 'K-Mom'?" "Don't say it! Actually, that nickname seems quite fitting for her." "In that case, I'm your big sister, and Himeko would be your adoptive mother..." Seeing March 7th veering further off-topic, Himeko gently cleared her throat, signaling there was no need to continue. At that moment, another image appeared on the screen—completely unexpected by everyone! It was someone who should have already exited the story—a character seemingly responsible for comic relief yet pivotal at crucial moments. It was Sampo! Facing an old-fashioned television set, he seemed to be talking to himself: "—Yes, it truly was a close call back then! But thanks to my quick thinking, hey, I realized there's no need for me to play the protagonist role, right? Being The Masked Jester suits us just fine." "Turns out, this Astral Express crew is even more entertaining than I thought! You're enjoying it too? Really? Ha ha ha, what a masterpiece indeed." "...No, no, I'm not ready to leave here yet. What about Epsilon? What fun can one find in such a decadent place? 'The greater the joy that elevates human dignity, the higher its value'—now that's interesting!" "All right, cheers. Give my regards to the folks at the tavern, and don't forget to tell them—to stay tuned for Old Sambor's next act! Now, it's time for my curtain call." With his conversation seemingly concluded, Sampo departed with a smile. March 7th watched, utterly dumbfounded, before suddenly snapping back to reality. "Quick! Open the chat to see what others are saying!" Just like March 7th and her friends, the barrage of comments expressed complete surprise at the unexpected turn of events. "???" "What is Sampo doing?!" "At the end of the story, even old Sambor gets a role?" "He's not from this planet?" "I'm genuinely shocked! I never expected Sampo to have another hidden identity!" "This guy is definitely more than meets the eye!" "I had a feeling something was off about him earlier; some main storyline options hinted at it too!" "Could he be affiliated with the company?" "Is Sampo somehow connected to the Stellaron Hunters?" Amidst various speculations about Sampo's identity, Sampo suddenly reappeared on the screen, despite having left earlier. He bowed slightly towards the viewers. "This story is dedicated to you, dear audience—did it bring you even a hint of pleasure?" "If you say no, ah, Sampo would be truly heartbroken."