Honkai Star Rail: I must live a peaceful life

"May I ask why you've come to find me?"

It was a good question. What other reason could someone have for seeking you out after disabling all the defensive measures around you while you were alone, with their presence concealed? They probably needed to borrow something—yet Kolo still asked this obvious question.

After all, since the other party hadn't attacked immediately, there must be room for dialogue. Whatever the ultimate reason might be, knowing more was always better than knowing nothing.

Even if they didn't respond, at least he'd bought himself one more sentence worth of life, hadn't he?

Although the above thought might sound like something from a comedy sketch, this old man was seriously putting this seemingly ridiculous idea into practice.

Like that classic line that low-level antagonists inevitably serve up when faced with assassination: "Whatever they're paying you, I'll double it." In the old man's view, this wasn't just fantasy.

It was just that those who got assassinated were too crude in their methods.

Those who only needed money were the easiest to deal with. Kolo would even proactively offer them free assistance in exchange for a potential friendship—the museum, this grand ritual of life preservation, was established partly thanks to such help.

Besides them, Kolo had also encountered those who acted on grand principles of justice. Mentioning money to such people would only have the opposite effect of increasing their aggression, so honest communication became necessary.

Fortunately, justice usually walked hand in hand with passion and loud voices. Kolo could easily discern which of his wrongs had been caught from their accusations. Then he could begin his tried-and-true combination:

"Killing me won't necessarily achieve what you want." — "If I'm alive, I can help you achieve these things." — "I promise not to seek revenge, and personally, I admire you."

The core remained unchanged. As long as the conversation could be guided in this direction, the safety issue was half-solved, and there might even be a chance to turn an enemy into a friend. Because Kolo would invariably dedicate himself wholeheartedly to solving their problems.

...Only to completely abandon any oversight afterward.

Kolo would never provide any guidance or interference, but that was enough. Machines would wear down and rust, jewels would gather dust, growing trees would wither and rot, and the protected lambs would age with time and fall to the ground, ready for slaughter.

He only needed to drive away the vultures and hyenas that came at the scent, and he could enjoy this feast with dignity. Like that ancient story—the fine jade and swift horses given away would eventually be reclaimed, the jade unchanged while the horse aged.

Although the current visitor fit neither of these types, Kolo still wanted to attempt communication. Communication meant interference, interference meant opportunity. As long as he could achieve his goals, nothing was off-limits—whether it required sincerity, humility, respect, or even servile flattery.

The strong deserved respect because they could physically eliminate negative attitudes. Life was essentially a complex game of constant weighing and choosing, and Kolo had simply chosen life.

So he had to inquire about that reason.

Even if the answer was just that they felt like cutting someone down, Kolo would still try to find a way to survive.

But this time's response seemed to present certain problems.

"Can you find a reason convincing enough for me not to kill you?" Ralph asked thus. The target had been recommended by Jessica, and upon arrival, he found the target indeed killable. However, if they could find a reason of sufficient weight, he wouldn't mind withdrawing his blade today.

"You don't have a necessary reason to kill me, do you?" Kolo's cloudy eyes showed signs of contemplation.

But Ralph merely announced calmly, "That reason isn't enough."

"If I die, the entire museum will detonate in sympathy. Even with your speed, you won't escape," Kolo continued.

Then he watched as pure, holy light spread like ripples, attaching to every corner of the museum. The ritual nodes and circuits were forcibly revealed, then simultaneously cut by chaotically dancing light blades.

Ralph maintained his calm, scrutinizing attitude. "That reason isn't enough."

The old man fell silent for a moment. If the other party had a clear reason for wanting to kill him, regardless of what it was, he could have prescribed the right medicine. However, finding a reason to stay alive proved incredibly difficult.

"Let me think, let me think..." He furrowed his brows, repeating meaningless words in a low voice, trying to buy more time.

"The last train departs at five in the afternoon," Ralph said naturally and calmly, as if the other's life was less important than catching the last train.

Kolo grew more anxious, sweat seeping from his black-and-white mixed temples, trickling down into the wrinkles on his face following gravity's pull. There was still considerable time until the final deadline, at least enough for finding a reason, yet this deadline was visibly approaching, so close that the sun wouldn't have time to completely set.

Unknown moral inclination, unknown identity and stance, even unknown reason for wanting to kill him—the only requirement was finding a reason to stay alive.

It was like something out of a story. Despite such a critical moment, Kolo's thoughts uncontrollably flew in irrelevant directions.

A reason to live—essentially, it's about connections to the world, isn't it? Like safety ropes and anchors. But looking back on his life, from seizing opportunities to build from nothing in his youth, to repeatedly taking risks for profit in his young adulthood, to his prime years of commanding respect and influence, until now becoming the kind of decrepit old man he most despised in his youth.

He actually couldn't find any reason why it had to be him.

He had no family; his only bloodline didn't even know of their connection. The enterprise he founded had grown so massive it could progress forward and crush most obstacles without needing a helmsman. The "friendships" with those extraordinary individuals would be inherited by those below him after his death.

Thinking carefully, he realized how insignificant his existence was. Like flowers fallen on brocade—even if blown away by the wind, there wouldn't be much impact.

No one would even care about his death.

For a moment, Kolo felt a sort of enlightenment, and even the approaching death no longer seemed as heavy and terrifying as before.

Just as he was about to give up himself, a twisted and cheerful voice came from above.

"Heh hah haha, white-robed fellow, if I were you, I wouldn't try to kill him."

End of Chapter