Honkai Simulator: I'm Really not Seele!

For some reason, even when the brutally realistic failure and the undeniable cost came crashing down on him, Lunelle felt no overwhelming negativity or surprise.

After all, over these past three days of simulations, while gradually molding himself into Seele's perfect spouse through permanent talents, it was also clear that everything had been leading up to this very moment.

And now that the price had finally appeared...

The [Guaranteed Bottom Line] talent, which should have been triggered without issue at this moment, was stuck for the first time in so many simulations!

[Guaranteed Talent...]

It seemed that the simulator was truly heading in the worst possible direction, just as Lunelle had feared.

"Oh... fine, fine. Whatever. I'm about to be a corpse anyway. If you want to mess with me, go ahead."

Even with his eyes shut, Lunelle could already predict how this would play out.

A sudden and suspicious system error...

Then the system would unilaterally inform him that his [Guaranteed] talent had inexplicably malfunctioned and couldn't be activated.

No matter what, it was determined to make him completely abandon the idea of being a man!

Alright, alright, I get it!

But what if, just for once, your simulator actually triggered my guaranteed talent properly today?

I'm Lunelle!

Right here!

Right now…!

I won't be a man anymore!

Perhaps because he was fully aware that his second brother was about to be lost forever, Lunelle felt no psychological burden when he uttered such cruel words within his heart.

However, he never could have expected what happened next.

Because...

[Guaranteed talent triggered!]

[Settlement adjustments in progress!]

[Guaranteed settlement: The original penalty is nullified, and the host receives a guaranteed reward: a minor resistance to Honkai.]

Lunelle: "Ah???"

The moment he saw the system actually trigger his guaranteed talent, he stood frozen in shock.

Then, as his previous words replayed in his mind, he finally understood the humiliation of someone who loudly declared they'd eat their computer screen, only to have reality slap them in the face a second later.

"..."

"..."

"..."

"Uh… is it too late to take back what I just said?"

Lunelle remained silent for a long time in the simulation space. At the last moment, he wondered if acting cute could somehow salvage his last shred of male dignity.

However, Systema, the ever-indifferent simulator assistant, gave no response to his pitiful attempt at damage control.

The simulator simply continued as usual, displaying the most critical part of the simulation outcome.

[Since the host's simulation evaluation has reached an F rating, this run is now bound to the special permanent growth talent: [True Self].]

[True Self (Growable Talent/Blue/Permanent): A unique permanent talent acquired through guaranteed minimum compensation (gold).]

[The closer the host's physical and spiritual state aligns with his 'true self,' the faster this talent grows. As the talent advances, additional effects will be unlocked.]

[First Stage Effect of True Self: Allows the host to initially manifest the external appearance that perfectly matches the essence of his original soul consciousness.]

[Affected by the permanent reshaping effects of [True Self], the extreme mismatch between the host's consciousness and body has been partially corrected.]

[Honkai adaptability +10. Honkai adaptability physique conversion rate has evolved. Current rate: 1:1!]

"Huh? [True Self] talent? But there's no explicit mention of that issue anywhere…

It just says I'm now displaying the 'true self' that matches my original soul consciousness. Does that mean…"

Seeing the talent forced upon him due to his failed simulation, Lunelle read over its description multiple times, searching for any hidden pitfalls.

Could it be that my second brother is actually safe this time?

After carefully verifying that there was no direct mention of removing or altering his second brother, Lunelle, who had already given up all hope, felt an unexpected surge of joy!

According to the talent's description, it merely projected one's original soul consciousness onto their external form.

And in Lunelle's understanding, wasn't his original soul consciousness that of an ordinary man?

So, in his blissfully naive assumption…

Wouldn't this talent reverse the progress that had been forcing him to become more and more like Seele's ideal partner?

Wouldn't he finally return to being his ordinary, normal, manly self?

What truly overwhelmed Lunelle with excitement, however, was the change in his Honkai physique conversion rate.

From being utterly hopeless in Honkai adaptability—barely capable of scraping together a miserable 0.1 physical attribute after endless effort—he had suddenly leaped to a one-to-one conversion rate!

One to one!

A perfect balance!

Never in his wildest dreams did Lunelle imagine that he, who had been at the absolute bottom in terms of physique, would one day get such a miraculous turnaround!

Of course, it was still nowhere near Seele's ridiculous levels in the simulations…

But compared to his past self, struggling to accumulate even the tiniest fraction of Honkai adaptability, this sudden leap was enough to make him weep with joy!

For the first time since arriving in this world, Lunelle felt that the simulator wasn't so bad after all.

As the new talent settled into place, Lunelle's consciousness was promptly ejected back into his original body, which was teetering on the brink of death.

Perhaps because his body was on the verge of transforming into a mindless husk, the simulator—out of rare consideration—prompted him in advance to install the talent immediately.

Seeing no reason to refuse, Lunelle agreed without hesitation!

Then, as his consciousness re-entered his dying body…

All the fear and panic from before faded away.

After all, with the [True Self] talent now in place…

Lunelle could confidently declare that he was no longer the same person he had been before!

As expected, the effects of [True Self] immediately kicked in.

His physical state underwent a terrifying transformation in an instant.

The Honkai lines that had previously corroded his body were now forcefully held back by his newly bolstered physique and various permanent talents. The Honkai energy ravaging his body was compressed into a tightly sealed double-layered barrier.

Under the combined resistance of these abilities, the once ominous Honkai scars that had covered his skin rapidly receded, restoring his complexion to a pristine, flawless state.

Lunelle had successfully escaped the fate of complete and utter destruction.

However…

For some reason…

As he looked around, something felt…

Off.

Why did the world suddenly seem… taller?