Trapped in Honkai: Integrated Strategies [11]

Five minutes later.

"Something’s not right."

Lyra sat atop a building rooftop, deep in thought.

[Hmm? What's wrong?]

"My brain," Lyra replied blankly. "I just realized...I don't know the way?"

[?]

[Host, you marched ahead so confidently despite being lost? I assumed you had a plan!]

"Ahaha...having a plan and being directionally challenged aren’t mutually exclusive," Lyra muttered weakly. "So, system-san...please?"

[Alright, alright, can't say no to you.]

A holographic screen appeared automatically before Lyra’s eyes. This time, instead of the usual system interface, it gradually expanded into a detailed map of Nagazora City.

[Just a moment, host. I'll mark the areas with high Honkai energy concentrations and powerful entities for you.]

Several red indicators lit up on the map.

"What's that largest marker there? The Honkai energy concentration looks several times higher than the others."

[Hmm, let me see... Ah, that must be Chiba Academy. There are three powerful entities nearby as well.]

"Oh! It's the pseudo-Herrscher, Yuna!" Lyra exclaimed in realization. "If memory serves, Yae Sakura should also be somewhere near there."

[Correct. The other markers represent strong Honkai beasts. Just follow the route indicated to avoid them.]

"Speaking of that," Lyra tapped her chin thoughtfully, "what month is it right now?"

[It's July, host.]

"Huh?"

"Wait, it's already July?!" Lyra’s pupils trembled violently.

[Yes, but the Honkai energy around Chiba Academy hasn't decreased yet. Yuna's life signs are still active, so we haven't reached that point in the manga’s storyline yet.]

"Then I'd better hurry and check out the situation." Lyra stood up decisively. "I'll decide on my strategy for persuading Theresa based on how the plot has progressed."

And so, the girl swiftly headed toward her destination...

"Oh crap, system."

Lyra hid near the outskirts of Chiba Academy, gaze growing heavy. "Seems like I'm a bit late."

The academy had already become a paradise of thick vines and poisonous mist.

Not daring to venture closer, Lyra relied on the system’s scans while moving stealthily along the surrounding rooftops, observing the situation within the academy through a monocular telescope she'd picked up along the way.

Caterpillar.jpg

"There are obvious signs of battle within the academy, so Theresa's already been here once?"

[The best proof is probably that thing—the Oath of Judah.]

"Yeah, I noticed that too."

Lyra adjusted the monocular with one hand.

"The [Oath of Judah] is still planted in the sports field, which means Theresa must currently be with Yae Sakura."

"According to the manga, after Theresa failed her first solo attempt against Yuna, the [Oath of Judah] was left behind on the sports field. Theresa, poisoned, was saved by Yae Sakura."

"Later, Yae Sakura sacrificed herself, becoming a [Stigmata] to detoxify Theresa. Then Theresa went back for round two against Yuna, only to fail again."

"In the end, Yae Sakura had to control Theresa’s body to finally defeat Yuna."

[So, host, at what point do you intend to enter the plot? Should I locate Theresa now? Yae Sakura, being a pseudo-Herrscher, radiates intense Honkai energy. Finding their location would be easy.]

"No need. There's nothing I can do during this part. Approaching Theresa now would only make Yae Sakura suspicious."

"If I had enough [Originium Ingots], I could have tried using [Foldartals] like [Reproduce] or [Love] to rescue Theresa early and save Yae Sakura."

"But unfortunately, there are no 'ifs.'"

[Then, host, what’s your plan?]

"I do have an idea, but I’ll need your cooperation."

Lyra surveyed the layout of Chiba Academy thoughtfully.

[Relax. This system will definitely give its best to support the host.]

"In the manga, Theresa’s second confrontation with Yuna always happens at the same spot—the location of the [Oath of Judah]."

"No matter how the worldline changes, this detail remains fixed since Theresa inevitably has to retrieve her weapon first."

"I'm thinking...I'll play the role of a traveler from another world."

[Another-world traveler?]

"Right. The Honkai world has too many cunning foxes. There's no way an ordinary person like me could deceive them completely. So my plan has always been to tell the truth—but not the whole truth."

"I'll tell Theresa I’m a transmigrator from another world, which isn’t technically false. Even Otto wouldn't be able to find any record of me here."

"As Otto's granddaughter, Theresa surely knows about Quantum Sea and its bubble universes. She’ll naturally assume I’m from a bubble universe, rather than a typical novel-style transmigrator."

"This explanation should also work on Welt Yang. Even though Anti-Entropy has some knowledge about the Quantum Sea and might spot inconsistencies, they wouldn't leap to conclusions about transmigrators. At worst, they'd just think I'm hiding something."

"Tonight, I'll use my ability to quickly blitz near the [Oath of Judah]'s position. Before Yuna can react, you’ll pull me into the system space."

[Ah, I see now. A girl literally dropping from the sky.]

"Exactly. I'll reappear from the system space the next day, precisely when Theresa engages Yuna, and after a bit of hesitation, I'll choose to help Theresa."

"The risk here isn’t high. Theresa is the main fighter, and even if she can't handle it, there’s still Yae Sakura."

"As for Yuna's poison, it can be neutralized with my Honkai-energy constructs. Yuna’s powers as a newly awakened pseudo-Herrscher are extremely crude—her poison originates entirely from Honkai energy."

"In the original story, when facing Yae Sakura—someone vastly superior in manipulating Honkai—Yuna’s poison was essentially useless."

"So isolating her toxin will be simple. I just have to create a Honkai-energy barrier. It doesn't even need defensive strength; it only needs to isolate the external Honkai energy."

[That should indeed help gain some initial goodwill. But what about afterward, host? How will you explain your world-jumping ability?]

"No worries—I never intended to hide your existence." Lyra smiled wickedly. "System-san, don't you think you resemble a composite-type Divine Key?"

[…?]

"Once I'm inside the academy and gain enough resources, my strength will rapidly increase. At that point, your existence can't stay hidden."

"I can't exactly claim I'm naturally talented like Teri-teri."

"So I'll directly sell you out—you’re now the ultimate assist-type [Divine Key] created by our civilization."

[Huh? I've been demoted just like that?]

"As for my original world—think about Sami. Doesn't it look post-apocalyptic enough? And look at Seaborn; isn't that apocalyptic too? I don’t even need to explain clearly; I just have to convey it was tragic enough."

"Even my familiarity and affection towards Theresa and the others can be explained. If anyone asks—I knew their counterparts. If pressed further, I'll say those counterparts died tragically."

[…Reasonable. So, substitute comfort character, huh.]

"Heh heh. I haven't spent the past month just training. I've carefully planned out the scenarios ahead."

"For now, all that’s left is to wait for nightfall and raid Chiba Academy’s sports field. With my tested speed at the training grounds earlier, Yuna won’t have a chance to react."

"Armor cloaked, dagger in mouth—I'll raid the camp as if it's completely unguarded!"

[Getting fired up, aren't you?]

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This is a fan translation of 人在崩坏，但是集成战略启动 by 想做饭的饭之律者 All rights to the original work belong to the creator. Please support them by exploring their original work or sharing it with others if you can. Thank you for reading and supporting my efforts to bring this story to a wider audience!