Honkai Impact: I, The Herrscher of Ice, Am Loved By Players

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"...Silence fell over Ana. Becoming a mother was something she had never considered, both in her previous life and now. She always leaned towards yuri preferences and still favored girls, making it inherently impossible for her.

However, Sirin's words hinted at another possibility.

Honestly, Ana didn't want to lie to Sirin. Additionally, she felt unworthy of being a mother figure, considering that beneath her seemingly gentle and elegant exterior, she harbored rebellious tendencies and a knack for causing mischief.

If this were just a game, she might have agreed, but it was reality.

"No, I can't be your mom, dear. Big Sister is just that - your elder sister."

Ana spoke with utmost seriousness. In truth, she understood that Sirin merely craved maternal love and security; she didn't genuinely want a mother figure. At her young age, many of her beliefs had not yet been properly shaped, which was a failure of the world itself.

As such, Ana felt it was her responsibility to guide and correct Sirin's misconceptions.

After all, Sirin would ultimately need to forge her own path in the future.

Ana herself was merely a projection visiting this world, unable to remain here indefinitely. On the other hand, Sirin had truly integrated into this realm, making her past life nothing more than a dream confined within illusions.

"Oh..." Sirin's voice carried a hint of disappointment.

"Don't worry, as you grow older, you'll meet many friends and find people who will cherish and love you. So there's no need to fret."

"Of course, until then, I'll do my best to protect you, okay?"

"Okay!"

Children are indeed children; a few reassuring words were enough to comfort and appease Sirin.

However, amidst Ana's heartfelt sentiments, there was also a sigh of concern. Sirin was no longer young; she was already around 15 years old, but her actual level of understanding and maturity resembled that of a ten-year-old.

It wasn't due to any intellectual limitations, purely because she had never received proper education. She had been wandering in darkness, lacking love and desperately needing both family and guidance.

But not now.

For now...she would obediently serve as Ana's dress-up doll. Conveniently, Ana had numerous adorable outfits with no one to wear them. As for herself, being past the age, she couldn't indulge in such attire anymore.

Sirin displayed remarkable docility during this process, allowing herself to be dressed up without resistance. Nevertheless, Ana could sense Sirin's joy whenever she wore something particularly lovely.

As for what outfit to choose for Sirin, Ana had decided long ago.

She opted for the iconic white skirt ensemble Sirin wore at Honkai Academy—it was simply adorable. Since they were heading to a comic convention, it felt perfectly fitting.

The outfit was hastily prepared overnight. Money truly makes everything possible—offering a thousand percent profit margin ensured everyone put their utmost effort into creating it.

"All right, let's go with this one."

After trying on multiple outfits, Ana finally produced the perfect dress.

Just one glance was enough for Sirin to fall in love with it, as if fate had destined her attire. Seeing Sirin's sparkling eyes before the mirror, Ana nodded approvingly.

Bending down, she embraced the little angel in her arms.

"Alright, alright, it's time to leave!"

Indeed, having a private jet proved essential. Between makeup and changing clothes, they spent over two hours getting ready. It was nearly 10 AM by the time they departed for the comic convention; without their jet, they would have missed the early excitement.

At this stage, the convention's foot traffic couldn't compare to future years. Although still sizable, many attendees started leaving around noon.

Thanks to the power of money, Ana and Sirin enjoyed VIP treatment from start to finish. A dedicated vehicle awaited them at the airfield—a custom-painted Durandal car, courtesy of the YouTuber who helped Ana earlier, now perfectly suited for their needs.

Worth noting is that the car had been dispatched a day prior, transported directly to Lin'an.

"Young Lady..."

Just as the bodyguard opened the car door to report, Ana swiftly climbed inside with Sirin in her arms, naturally taking the driver's seat herself.

"Miss Su..."

The bodyguard hurriedly tried to intervene; considering Young Lady Su Ana's esteemed status, it was customary for her bodyguards to drive. If she wished to enjoy driving, safety concerns dictated that it should be at specialized racing tracks.

After all, if this young lady were to hit someone or get into an accident within city limits, such outcomes would be undesirable for everyone involved. It wasn't merely about compensation...

"I've got this! Stop fussing, I can handle driving myself!"

Ana was well aware of these protocols but responded impatiently. Despite being a privileged young lady, she valued following rules and laws. Why own a luxurious sports car if not to personally enjoy driving it?

"But..."

"No 'buts'..."

As Ana spoke, she guided Sirin to fasten her seatbelt. Moments later, she tossed Sirin, who had just secured it, onto the backseat—"Kids shouldn't sit in the front passenger seat."

"Alright, buckle up, we're off now."

With the roar of the engine, the car surged forward.

The original driver, left with no choice, smiled helplessly, contacted the housekeeper, and then got into another vehicle nearby.

When the Young Lady sneaked out on her own, they generally didn't interfere, only ensuring that covert protection was arranged for her safety.

However, during official outings, bodyguards were required to accompany her closely. Otherwise, what justification would there be for their high salaries?

Ana was well aware of these arrangements.

Having someone leading the way ahead and guards following behind, this setup made it feel like a wedding procession convoy. Yet, they still wouldn't let her drive herself? How absurd!

And as for potential accidents or collisions, they were highly unlikely.

When a fleet of million-dollar luxury cars appears in your rearview mirror, most people would wisely choose to make way. After all, if involved in a scrape, the damages would be unaffordable.

Regarding insurance fraud, apologies, but unless the scammer truly wished for death, it wouldn't happen.

Both Richie and truck drivers were individuals whom scammers should never provoke, as they genuinely wouldn't hesitate to collide with them.

As Ana arrived at the sports center hosting the comic convention, she instantly drew numerous attention. At this moment, she was undoubtedly the most eye-catching presence there.

A top-tier ad-wrapped car paired with a flawless cosplayer—it was such high-quality that many people only dared to take photos from afar, fearing to approach too closely.

Everyone dreams of befriending wealthy women, but when faced with one in person, most often feel intimidated and reluctant to engage. Typically, gaining favor requires catching the interest of the affluent woman herself.

The cosplayer stepping out of this car exuded an aura clearly indicating she wasn't someone seeking sponsorship; rather, she appeared to be a genuine young heiress. Such attractive and truly rich women usually have countless suitors vying for their attention—how could ordinary individuals even stand a chance?

However, only a few noticed the ad-wrapped car, and most of these observers were leaving the convention to head home.

Ana casually parked her vehicle by the roadside. As soon as she stepped out, a black-suited bodyguard approached, saluted her, and took over to drive away—the need for self-parking didn't arise.

Her entire itinerary had been meticulously planned by the housekeeper.

If not for Ana's objection, the housekeeper would have considered investing in the comic convention organizers, or perhaps outright sponsoring smaller events.

Ultimately, Ana intervened to stop this excessively extravagant behavior. Since it was her last comic convention, she wanted to experience the authentic atmosphere.

As for when she might next have a chance to attend such an event through descent, who could say? With such long intervals between opportunities, organizing conventions would be impractical anyway.

It couldn't possibly... involve bidding at exorbitant prices just to select participants; that would be utterly absurd.

Although not as bustling or diverse with high-quality cosplayers as future years, the overall ambiance of this comic convention was indeed pleasant. The cosplay community also hadn't yet become as complex and chaotic.

However, since it wasn't MiHoYo's Creation Festival, the range of cosplays present was varied and eclectic. At this point in time, Kun, undoubtedly, held the highest popularity.

In the center of attention stood a dashing figure wearing overalls and holding a basketball, performing live for the audience. This was Tom, a well-known Bilibili UP主 (content creator) and one of the five top Kun enthusiasts.

Kun had achieved widespread recognition, transcending even the boundaries of anime fandom, ensuring there was no generational gap among attendees. At least, those coming to the comic convention were familiar with him.

This familiarity drew large crowds, including various passersby dressed in different cosplay outfits.

However, slightly disappointing was that anime-wise, characters from Sakura Anime dominated, which couldn't be helped given the state of domestic animation.

Ana gently pulled Sirin along as they quietly navigated through the crowd.

In her previous life, Ana had watched many videos by Tom-sensei but wasn't particularly impressed; naturally, she felt no desire for a photo with him.

On the other hand, Sirin seemed thoroughly entertained by his clownish dance moves.

The fact that the Herrscher of the Void appreciated Kun's dancing left Ana somewhat at a loss for words. Seeing Sirin so engaged, she didn't want to pull her away immediately, though it did test her restraint.

"Wow! It's Cecilia!" Before they could leave, a voice suddenly sounded next to Ana. The tone seemed earnest and friendly, belonging to a slightly chubby photographer holding professional equipment.

Ana recognized him well - he was another renowned Bilibili UP, known as Big Yuan-sensei. A seasoned otaku, he frequently attended comic conventions, clearly driven by genuine passion.

"Hello, Big Yuan-sensei," Ana greeted warmly, subtly adjusting her voice to mimic Cecilia closely. Mimicking accents is not difficult for a Valkyrie.

Furthermore, voice imitation was one of the skills Ana had mastered in her previous life. As for why she acquired it... let's just leave that unsaid.

"Wow, Big Sis, your voice is spot-on! Can I take a few... no, maybe even a full set of photos?" Big Yuan exclaimed excitedly. Being a seasoned veteran in the anime community, having attended numerous comic conventions, he had seen many cosplayers who closely resembled their characters. However, finding someone like Ana, who meticulously researched and perfectly embodied her cosplay, was truly rare.

Her voice, figure, appearance, and this exquisite cosplay outfit were all top-notch.

Before Ana could respond, Sirin suddenly looked curiously at Big Yuan, tugging on Ana's sleeve and asked, "Big Sis Ana, who's this weird uncle...?"

"Creepy Uncle..." Big Yuan froze, his smile turning somewhat forced. Although he acknowledged being eccentric, with more expertise in posing than most female cosplayers, hearing such a cute little girl call him a creepy uncle...

Undeniably, anyone would feel uncomfortable in that situation, yet there was no way to refute it - children speak without filters.

But swiftly, Big Yuan's eyes lit up again.

"Is this young lady your sister?" He eagerly glanced at Ana.

Yuan looked pleadingly at Ana.

"Well, what else would you expect? Do I look old enough to be her father?" Ana smiled, but there was a hint of menace beneath it. What kind of gaze is that? Regardless of whether she resembled Sirin or not, Ana was young and beautiful, widely adored by players. In this world, she was also a well-groomed Young Lady who took care of herself meticulously.

"No, no, no, just asking, just asking!" Feeling the murderous intent from Ana's eyes, Yuan shuddered, hastily waving his hands.

"Your little sister..."

"I'm older than you."

This time, Ana emphasized her seniority, which, although true, highlighted that she was merely a college freshman in this world.

"Yes, yes, yes, dear auntie." Yuan decided to fully concede, opting for "auntie" instead of "big sister." Calling her "little sister" felt impossible due to Ana's commanding presence and demeanor—it simply...

It's similar to why Kafka is called Mommy Kafka; it's not solely because of her relationship with the protagonist. Otherwise, Fu Xuan on the immortal ship could have been referred to as Aunt Fu too.

"This creepy uncle is actually a photographer," Ana explained, "He can take stunning photos of you, showcasing your beauty to many people, turning them into your followers and fans."

Realizing that Sirin might not fully grasp the concept of a photographer, Ana explained further.

"So... this Creepy Uncle can bring many more family members like Bella?" Sirin blinked and asked curiously.

This analogy...

"Somewhat, yes. Essentially, it will help more people know you and appreciate you. However, whether they become your true friends or family is something you'll need to discern yourself," Ana replied gently.

Sirin would eventually have to face this reality. With her appearance in the world, she inevitably had to bear the corresponding consequences. Although their family could care for her throughout her life, Ana still hoped that Sirin could experience a normal lifetime, which she deserved.

"Yes, then I want to be photographed!" After a moment's hesitation, Sirin mustered up her courage. Most importantly, she could tell that the "Creepy Uncle" before her wasn't a bad person.

This was one of Sirin's abilities, which she hadn't shared with Ana. Sirin could distinctly discern if someone meant well or harbored ill intentions towards her. In her perception, Ana exhibited a motherly love towards her.

Of course, Ana would simply describe it as familial affection. Clearly, Sirin couldn't yet distinguish between different types of caring bonds.

"All right, since she accepts, that's enough."

Ana lifted her head and glanced around subtly; originally, everyone's attention was on Tom-sensei, but at some point, it shifted towards them.

"However, we need to find a slightly quieter spot since this is still a business venture."

As she spoke, Ana gently pulled Sirin closer to herself.

"Moreover, my little sister here gets quite shy around strangers."