After exiting the dreamscape, everyone looked at each other in confusion, unable to understand what kind of transformation had just occurred.
Clearly, something was off.
In theory, the dream should have been centered around Vollerei, even if it was some kind of "special exception" dream... Yet there were many people appearing who clearly didn't belong to her narrative.
At this point, the investigation of clues came to a halt.
Three branching paths shimmered faintly before them, like wild beasts ready to pounce at any moment.
Ultimately, the group decided to split up and explore the paths simultaneously.
At this point, the only hope of uncovering any clues might lie in the so-called Wise Man's Stone.
But while Teriri was exploring one of the paths with Bronie, they had just been talking about Sirin when—suddenly—everything fell into complete silence. In an instant of darkness, the light from the lantern in Teriri's hand flickered out completely. Her body felt as if it had entered an entirely different world, and her heartbeat involuntarily sped up.
They had agreed beforehand to act cautiously and retreat if anything abnormal happened—but now, that kind of coordination was impossible.
Yet, she had made another promise.
One she had prepared for before arriving—she had mustered her courage for this.
Even if her legs were trembling, she wouldn't choose to retreat or run away again.
If this was the fate of a magical girl—then so be it. Burn it.
She would ignite hope for her companions with the warmth of her own life.
Holding tight to her resolve, she stepped into the deeper, darker unknown.
-----
Inside Theresa's villa.
After seeing these dreamscapes and the sudden anomalies, the previously cheerful atmosphere turned heavy.
"Tch, look at you—what are you even protecting. It's a shame Teriri still trusted you that much."
Delta sneered as she pushed Bronie aside, her eyes cold with ridicule.
In the in-game scenario, Teriri had specifically chosen to team up with Brownie, while the others had split into two separate groups.
"Come on, how was I supposed to expect something like that? Who could've predicted what the enemy would pull?"
Bronie rolled her eyes and raised her hands in exasperation.
This wasn't about whether she was reliable or not—it had nothing to do with her!
"It's obvious this was a trap aimed at Special Teriri. A bunch of Theresas showing up in Vollerei's dreamscape... that's already weird as hell."
Kallen frowned slightly and made a decision.
Lately, she hadn't paid much attention to the storyline. Most of her time had been spent talking with Cecilia and the other Flame-Chasers, preparing for the next Herrscher's arrival.
For example, dealing with the issue of large-scale destructive weapon systems controlled via networks—that had to be reworked. She proposed restrictions on harmful AI functions to mitigate risk.
Given the clear targeting pattern in this case, she had already gathered suggestions and implemented them accordingly.
As for Cecilia... she had apparently reconnected with someone they once thought missing from the squad.
More precisely—after meeting the Bunny Valkyrie, she had "accidentally" contacted someone else.
It was Shigure Kira, who had mysteriously disappeared during the second Honkai battlefield.
Unfortunately, this was just an incidental communication—they hadn't actually met again yet.
Kallen wasn't sure whether the Bunny Valkyrie had done something sneaky or if it truly had been a coincidence.
Either way, it wasn't necessarily a bad thing.
"Ahem—so! The mastermind behind the scenes has finally revealed themselves, and the truth is..."
Kiana intentionally dragged out her words, catching everyone's attention.
"Big. Aunt. Theresa! That's right! It was all one big self-directed, self-acted show by Aunt Theresa! That's what all the detectives say."
She stood triumphantly, hands on her hips, looking extremely pleased with herself.
She had been learning a lot lately and realized that the final boss usually turns out to be the person you'd least expect. And who gets overlooked the most? The victim themselves, of course.
Thus, the new theory: the victim is guilty.
If Miss Morse had to shoulder the blame, then Kiana figured it was only right to give herself a top detective role for seeing through it.
And whoever helped commit the crime with her—well, time to clear their name!
No one really paid Kiana's wild theory any attention, though Luo Mo exhaled deeply and fell into contemplation.
So the question was: how should Theresa be defined?
If all Theresas were of the same "type," then Kiana's deduction... was strangely accurate?
After all, they all had the same face.
Leave it to Kiana—surviving off pure luck and still getting the answer.
"What does this scene show us? Clearly, that you should never split up! But in horror films, splitting up is always rule number one! If they hadn't split up, Teriri might not have even known something was wrong!"
Luo Mo nodded seriously and delivered his insight.
He completely agreed.
Why waste your team advantage when you have capable people? He was seriously worried just watching it!
"Don't dodge the question, boss—was I right or not? You know I haven't even watched the full story. Even the Sirin voice acting was done by my second sister!"
Kiana pouted and gave a resentful glance at the group ignoring her. Then she looked at Luo Mo, who knew everything.
"Well... I guess you could say you're sort of right?"
Luo Mo scratched his chin, hesitating for a moment before giving a deliberately vague answer.
How could he explain it? It's like a fish swimming through a stream, crossing rivers, and finally finding its very own bicycle—something oddly correct in an unexpected way.
Not entirely right... but definitely not wrong.
"...Huh?"
Those who understood the plot—or didn't—were all stunned.
Did Kiana's absurd theory actually produce results?
Even Kallen was stunned. She looked at the two who had just nodded at each other... and felt like she was dreaming.
Although the story might involve her, and Luo Mo had invited her to participate, this time he hadn't insisted—so she just handled her own affairs.
After all, it was just an event story. It probably had little connection to the core world-building.
"No way. How did it turn into... this doesn't make sense!"
Bronie looked like she was having a mental breakdown, her face contorted.
She didn't reveal the truth. Partly because of a confidentiality agreement with the company, and partly because—after analyzing Kiana's words carefully—she realized there might be something to it.
----
Everyone exited the tunnel and was immediately greeted by a surprising sight—Special Seele, who had previously gone missing, now appeared in the grand hall. Beside her stood a trembling purple-haired girl clenching her fists tightly.
Her shoulders shook, unable to contain the sorrow that overwhelmed her. Tears welled up in her eyes as she looked at the white-haired girl lying unconscious on the ground.
It was, of course, Sirin.
In the end, she couldn't rest easy. Even though they'd argued before, Special Seele was still her companion.
The girl lying on the ground—Special Seele—was slowly shedding the glittering fragments of dream matter from her body. In her hand, she still clutched the miraculous gemstone. Despite Sirin pouring out all her power, she had clearly failed to pull Seele out from the dream on her own.
Meanwhile, tensions rose again among the others present. For Kasumi and Delta, the gemstone represented the mission's core—the turning point of this world. As long as they secured it, the task would be considered complete.
Irene and Bronie, however, weren't about to let them act freely. But Irene suddenly seemed to realize something. Instead of getting caught up in the escalating conflict, she urged Bronie to contact Kongming's side instead.
The Demon King… Special Seele… The dreamscape… idols, bishops, knights—and then that final moment when someone reached out a hand and pulled away…
If there was a hidden third party, and the so-called "Demon King" was never truly the original threat, and his true target had always been Special Seele—then was abducting her the beginning of something… or the end?
And somewhere, unknown to all, in a far-off corner...
A crimson moon slowly rose above the clouds. The fire pillar's orange glow shone ominously in the dark, only to be blown away in the next gust of wind.
Small fingers slid across a dim tablet screen, stopping precisely on the portraits of Special Seele and Kongming. It was a simple "Theresa Tile Tap Game." But under her manipulation, every icon featuring Theresa's face was wiped out.
Only the dark backdrop of the castle under night remained.
"Hehe~"
At that moment, the hidden girl smirked—a smile that evoked a strange sense of familiarity.
Though her face was not shown, everyone present seemed to recall that slender figure from under the moonlight.
So much time had passed… and now she reappeared—seemingly on the enemy's side.
That vampiric girl dancing under the moonlight—what had become of her now?
Was she… still okay?
----
[Luna! It's Luna! She's still alive!]
[That time… I couldn't save her no matter how many times I died. So now, no matter how many tries it takes—I will never give up on Kongming again!]
[This is Theresa's Tap Game, right? Are you all seriously treating the Headmistress like some kind of toy!]
----
Back at Theresa mansion…
Everyone finally understood why even those who had grasped the situation still reacted so strangely earlier.
Because the one pulling the strings—was Luna.
Everything now became clear: whether Kongming or Special Seele, both were already within her grasp. The so-called conflict between the Demon King and the Magical Girl had only ever been a cover.
Or rather, the one leading them to the Demon King from the shadows… had never been the real Demon King.
It had always been Luna.
"But… I still don't understand," Kiana said hesitantly, her face full of doubt. "How did Luna become like this? Back then, she clearly…"
She couldn't understand how that delicate figure had suddenly become an antagonist—and even seemed to be targeting every Theresa.
If all the Theresas represented one concept, and Luna was once part of that… no wonder the boss had nodded in troubled silence earlier.
Everything was just getting weirder.
"People change," Luo Mo said softly, stroking Luna's hair by his hand. "After all, none of us knows how long she stayed behind during that midsummer night…"
Fortunately, she didn't wait too long.
"No… I still can't believe she'd become like this." Kiana's eyes widened in denial.
"Heh… Honestly, I don't really believe it either," Luo Mo replied with a self-deprecating smile.
"Time can change many people… but there are always some who won't."
So if Luna had changed—it wasn't just time.
The one thing that could truly change her… had always been her own humanity.
That summer night's wind had finally blown to the present.
And the gears of fate that bound Luo Mo and her… had started to turn.
"I want to file a complaint."
A voice full of quiet fury came from the side. Luo Mo looked down and found himself staring into a pair of sharp, glaring eyes.
"This is a violation of St. Freya's Headmistress portrait rights! I specifically updated school rules banning anyone from turning my portrait into a tap game!"
"This has crossed into cursed territory! Bad kids… must be severely punished!"
Theresa's righteous authority exploded in full force.
Whether or not the newly proposed school rule could actually be enforced, Luo Mo didn't know.
But at that moment, the usually blue-eyed headmaster had opened her eyes, now red—making everyone around feel a bit uneasy, and leaving the group completely speechless.