Higanbana's true identity is actually a human from the previous civilization era. Because it was detected that she might be the Twelfth Herrscher, she was captured by an organization that resisted Honkai.
Although she had never done anything wrong, and had never wanted to harm anyone, she was killed by the common people who feared the Herrscher's power.
However... they didn't realize that Higanbana's power would only manifest after her death; as the Herrscher of Corruption, she could corrupt anything, be it living creatures or machines.
Because of humanity's distrust and fear, Higanbana began to resent humans. From the start, she had been tricked into the experimental facility by humans.
They lied to me! They don't want to let me go back! They all say I'm a monster, they only hope I die quickly!
She wasn't a monster, she was human. She hadn't done anything, so why kill her? She hated, hated these humans who killed her, hated all this unfairness.
She would make all the humans who hurt her die, she would make this world pay the price for her death!
Since you treat me as a monster, then I will become a monster as you wish, and destroy this world!
Later, she was sealed in a Honkai Box, trapped inside for tens of thousands of years, until someone with a similar fate opened the box and allowed her to escape.
Her anger, her resentment, could finally be unleashed upon this world once more.
It's just... once the anger, resentment, and hatred in her heart vanished, Higanbana was left with only immense grievance.
She still remembered the words spoken by those who shot her, she still remembered what those guys said before they fired.
"Even if you haven't done anything, you are a Herrscher. For the sake of this world, you must die. For the continuation of humanity, you must die."
Why? Why do I have to die? Is it just because of the so-called Herrscher identity? Could it be... that a Herrscher is destined to harm humans?
No one gave her an answer, and no one could give her an answer.
Now, standing before her was the deity she had been searching for. She wanted to know from the deity's mouth if she, as a Herrscher, was truly as evil as those people claimed.
"No... you are not wrong, Higanbana. From beginning to end, you have never done anything wrong."
Without Inaba Tsukiyo noticing, her eyes turned golden, and even her aura changed at that moment.
She gently embraced Higanbana. This embrace reminded her of her older sister's embrace. Although she could no longer recall her sister's appearance, this warm embrace gradually calmed her down.
"Even if everyone in this world thinks you are evil, in my eyes, you are an innocent girl. You... are not wrong, Higanbana."
Why can't Herrschers get along with humans? Why must Herrschers die?
The Second Herrscher born in this civilization era was created because of humans, and the reason she wanted to eliminate humanity was because of the harm she suffered from Schicksal.
Higanbana was the same; if humans hadn't harmed her, she wouldn't have died. Even if she had awakened her Herrscher abilities upon dying in the future, she wouldn't have used them against humans.
Higanbana gradually calmed down under Inaba Tsukiyo's soothing.
Though still tear-streaked, her smile returned, and her emotional knot was untied.
Holding Inaba Tsukiyo's hand, Higanbana came before Yae Sakura. With Inaba Tsukiyo's comfort, Higanbana approached Yae Sakura, and with an apologetic expression, she lowered her head.
"I... I'm sorry, Big Sister. I hurt many people before, and I did something very terrible to you, Big Sister."
"Heh... it's been five hundred years, I've long since stopped dwelling on it."
Yae Sakura smiled, reaching out to pat Higanbana's small head.
She understood what Higanbana meant by 'terrible things,' but those things were in the past. After learning about Higanbana's past, she had somewhat come to terms with it.
Theresa quietly watched the interaction between Yae Sakura and Higanbana, especially observing Higanbana after she transformed into her current state.
Before Inaba Tsukiyo arrived, Higanbana had been constantly creating various dreams, trying to make Yae Sakura's mind collapse.
But after her evil side was torn away, Higanbana wasn't so evil after all, instead making people somewhat sympathize with her plight.
However... what Theresa was more concerned about was Inaba Tsukiyo's situation. Although she was a bit far away, she keenly heard Higanbana's address for Inaba Tsukiyo.
Lord Deity... what does that mean? Why would Higanbana call Inaba Tsukiyo 'Lord Deity'?
What exactly is Inaba Tsukiyo's identity?
The veil over Inaba Tsukiyo's identity grew thicker; she found herself increasingly unable to discern Inaba Tsukiyo's true nature.
Since Higanbana wasn't planning to kill Theresa and Yae Sakura or seize Theresa's body, Theresa's consciousness should have been able to return.
But... Higanbana didn't let them leave immediately. One should know that this Stigmata Space was not that simple.
"Actually... in the distant past, because of me, a divine key was sealed within this Stigmata Space."
"What? A divine key? Sealed in this Stigmata Space?"
What is a divine key? It is a weapon created using the power of a Herrscher.
The xuanyuan sword, the oath of judah, the Black Abyss White Flower, and the Judgement of Thunder—these are all divine keys. And now, there's another divine key in this place?
"Mm... yes. I remember someone once wanted to forge me into a divine key, but I resisted, so the divine key was never completed and has been sealed here ever since. And the place where it's sealed is right there!"
Higanbana pointed to the tallest building in Yae Village, the one called the Tenshukaku.
"That divine key is there. Big Sister, if you can get that divine key, you can use its power to project your consciousness into the real world. This is all I can do for you."
"Project consciousness into the real world? Can a divine key even do something like that?"
Theresa exclaimed in surprise. This divine key could actually do such a thing?
"Yes, although Big Sister has become a Stigmata, only by using the power of the divine key can she return to the real world and be revived! Hehe~ Isn't that amazing?"
Higanbana suddenly transformed to the size of a small kitten, fluttering around Yae Sakura, speaking while observing Inaba Tsukiyo's expression.
"Return... to the real world... eh?"
Yae Sakura looked at Theresa, then at Inaba Tsukiyo.
Logically speaking, she no longer had any reason to return to the real world.
After all, five hundred years had passed; both the people she loved and the people she hated were gone. This illusionary landscape of Yae Village was the only place that felt familiar to her.
But... she decided to return to reality this time, because she realized she wasn't without any lingering attachments in the real world.
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