----
In the Golden Courtyard
Silence dominated the atmosphere, becoming the main tone of this place. When the scarlet moon rose behind the city and the figure under the moonlight appeared, even the bold Flame-Chasers who had been chasing the story froze on the spot.
"Luna… I really didn't expect she would be the one in the end."
After a long while, Elysia finally gasped, her cute brows furrowed, her little face full of disbelief.
After all, who would've thought that the girl no one could save back then would return to the stage after such a long absence—a character from a regretful past event since the game's release—finally reappearing now in the factory's latest story, giving a feeling like several lifetimes had passed.
And to top it off, her first reappearance was as a major villain-level character.
Just like all the puppet masters behind the scenes, this development complicated everyone's emotions.
"Luna… What's she collecting all the Theresas for?"
Mobius frowned deeply, unable to make a clear guess. After all, they lacked sufficient intel.
And the way the other party toyed with the Theresa rhythm game in her hands… what exactly did it imply?
"So many different kinds of Theresa-onee-sans… Hmm, I feel like I haven't even drawn them all yet."
Griseo tapped the corner of her mouth with her finger, her calm eyes gazing at the screen—if you looked closely, there was a hint of pride and joy hidden in her expression.
After all, her own work was being seen by so many people… Even though she never thought much of it while drawing, with her increasing fame and frequent encounters with Valkyrie students, their respectful calls of "teacher" had caused her to lose a bit of her sense of self.
That's right—she was now in artist-teacher mode!
"How many have you drawn so far, Griseo? The whole sky is full of teachers—won't you give us a little spoiler? ♪~"
Elysia propped her cheeks in her hands with a smile, gazing at Griseo with sparkling eyes.
Faced with this version of Griseo, she could never resist teasing her a little. She was just… too cute!
Trying hard to act all grown-up and serious, hands on her hips with unconcealable pride, eyes filled with hope as she looked at her own characters… Yep, way more spirited than in the land of tranquility.
"Nope, Elysia-onee-chan,"
Griseo scrunched her nose slightly and firmly declined, "But of course, what you see isn't all of it."
"Oooh, doesn't that mean Luo Mo must be over the moon? Aha~ No wonder he wanted to make this into a story. He really likes this kind of thing, huh? Isn't this basically abusing his power for personal gain—getting little Griseo to draw tons and tons of Theresa outfits?"
"So sneaky! Griseo, you should design a few for me too, please? ♪~"
Elysia hugged Griseo, pulling her into her arms and rubbing her like a spoiled child. That soft little face even had a sweet scent—her absolute favorite.
The artist-teacher struggled a bit, but was quickly overpowered by the pink mischievous fairy.
-------
In the Library
Still lingering in old memories—the dusty old library.
This was once the secret headquarters of four people. Four who once dreamed of becoming outstanding Magical Girl.
"Sirin, aren't you ready yet? You've been staring at that book for ages~"
"Aiyaa, don't worry so much. With Vollerei-senpai and Broboli-senpai's compiled exam notes, tomorrow's test is a piece of cake."
Back then, Seele version was fully confident, doodling on a stack of flashcards; Sirin was buried in a mountain of books, quietly muttering dark magic theory.
"Idiot…"
She knew this was an illusion.
But she still couldn't help clenching her fists, lowering her head to look at the blurry letters in the dream-world book.
The dream had recreated this moment exactly—the time when everything had yet to happen.
If only she had tried harder back then, if only she had been strong enough, her seniors wouldn't have had to sacrifice themselves, and they wouldn't have faced such a tragic future.
She had so many things she wanted to tell her past self, but she couldn't.
Because this was only a dream—it couldn't change reality.
Her heart wavered slightly as she practiced, like she was reliving those innocent times, trying to avoid the inevitable disaster yet to come.
"Even this level of magic takes all my focus to control… I really am an idiot."
Suddenly, in the dream, Seele clearly smiled—an expression Sirin couldn't quite understand.
"It's all that Seele's fault for being so stubborn, insisting on chasing some Miracle Stone."
"This is all her fault!"
"Not true!"
Sirin raised her face, her gaze angry and defiant as she stared in the direction of the voice. How could it possibly all be Seele's fault? That's clearly, clearly…
No—this was her own memory space. There shouldn't be anyone else here.
Sirin suddenly realized something and looked toward the figure that had appeared with Seele's appearance. Her eyes widened, and before she could react, a sense of recognition flashed in her mind.
It was her…
It was… another "her."
A Sirin completely opposite in personality—cold, mocking, and smiling faintly.
------
In the living room, Cecilia sat inside.
"…Magical Girl Sirin?"
Behind the purple-haired girl, Cecilia let out a soft chuckle as she helped tidy up the other's long hair, teasing lightly,
"Looks like even if your figure doesn't appear in the main storyline, you're still pretty popular in the event content, huh~"
"Ugh… That's not really me…"
The purple-haired girl blushed, lowering her head shyly, murmuring in a small voice.
She looked down at her two index fingers, twisting them together nervously. She still hadn't gotten used to being portrayed as a Magical Girl in the game — it made her feel a bit awkward and unsure of what to say.
Especially in front of her mom!
"Honestly, I actually think there's never been a version of Sirin that resembles you more than this one. And in the end, she even becomes one of the protagonists."
"As for me? Sigh… I haven't even made it into a single event story."
Cecilia's tone carried a hint of melancholy, her hand still stroking Sirin's hair gently, like petting a kitten that wouldn't puff up.
"That's not true! Mama, it's just because it's been too long. Besides, that guy wouldn't dare treat you badly anyway,"
Sirin said indignantly, straightening her back and letting out a cold snort, having been successfully persuaded — or pressured — by Cecilia into agreeing.
"Aiya, so now even Sirin thinks I'm old, huh? Look, even Kiana goes next door without coming to see me anymore~"
Cecilia spoke even more despondently, sounding like a lonely widow resigned to the cruelty of time — but a glint of mischief flickered in her eyes.
But in truth, was there any actual relationship between the two of them? Not really.
Upon hearing that, Sirin stood up, a bit guilty. She knew full well — this was mostly her own issue.
"It's my— ahem —Bella! Bella didn't want to go over there. There are too many powerful people over there. She's scared of danger…
Um, Mama, next time I'll convince her. Let's go together, okay?"
Sirin looked sincerely at Cecilia as she spoke.
Meanwhile, Bella had a giant question mark hanging above her head but didn't dare reveal it — obediently standing to the side.
A huge pot had just been dumped onto the dragon's head.
"Haha, alright then — let's look forward to next time.
Speaking of which, that Magical Girl in the game really does resemble you, but her consciousness inside is more like a Herrscher. Kiana defeats her in the real world, and you have to defeat her in the game too. Would you say that's some sort of 'fate' between sisters?"
Cecilia chuckled softly, her hands never stopping as she continued gently stroking Sirin's hair, as if brushing away her worries and anxieties.
Of course, she understood why Sirin didn't want to go next door.
It was fine when there were only one or two people — but once there were more, she feared that someone would "accidentally" bring up the mistakes she had made in the past. She feared she wouldn't be able to lift her head in front of others, feared being faced with everyone's judgment…
Especially if they brought up her script — even more so then.
And not long ago, the news of the second Honkai survivor, Shigure Kira, had resurfaced — stirring up painful memories in Sirin.
When a child is afraid, their first instinct is to run or cover their ears and pretend not to hear — like the Sirin who refused to join others in the Demon King's fortress. Avoidance meant not making mistakes.
She was afraid of being wrong, so she avoided the painful truths.
But that wasn't necessarily wrong. Expecting everyone to act like heroes and face danger right from the start — now that was the real issue.
Expectations and demands that are too high from the beginning are the problem.
What she really needed was patient guidance — and time.
"Defeat her. Yes, I'll defeat her. This time, I'm the female protagonist of the game. There's no problem—I'll definitely save the Headmistress."
A spark of fighting spirit flared in Sirin's heart. The shyness on her face faded slightly, and the light returned to her eyes.
"Haha, I knew Sirin was the best. I wonder how Theresa is reacting right now... being classmates with several of her own students in the storyline. That must be such a strange experience~ I should ask her about it sometime."
Cecilia pictured the scene in her mind and couldn't help but let out a silvery laugh, light and melodious like chimes.
"Aiya, even Shigure Kira has some news now—guess that's not too bad."
"I... I'll apologize to her," Sirin said.
"Mm, save it for when the time comes. Honestly, compared to an apology, what Shigure probably lacks more... is an audience. If little Sirin could make her concert completely sold out, I guarantee she'll forgive you."
"Huh? — Ah."
Upon hearing what the other liked, Sirin grew more confident. Winning favor—that, she was good at.
"Mm~"
Cecilia squinted her eyes into a smile as she watched Sirin's determined expression, already full of anticipation in her heart.
------
Back in the game
Sirin awoke from the dream, the one where she faced another version of "herself."
Pushing open the hatch door, the view outside clearly resembled the bridge of a command center.
High-tech styled equipment and metallic white doors, with a white corridor leading to the living quarters.
After that recent mission, they had returned to the battleship.
They had brought back Delta, Sirin, and the still-sleeping Seele. As for Kasumi, she seemed to still be on another mission, continuing to explore the original world.
This whole incident was a tangled mess—Demon Lords, Magical Girls, dream fragments, and in the end, the mysterious disappearance of the "Star Gazer."
There was also the newly confirmed information: that within the dream fragments, there existed someone who had previously encountered the Captain—Luna.
The Miracle Core had been recovered and brought back, but unfortunately, it was useless.
It had been the key item Delta and Kasumi needed to retrieve, and while it looked intact, its energy had been entirely drained—only an empty shell remained.
To make it worse, it somehow seemed to be linked to the Demon Lord. Nothing made sense.
But before diving into this complicated mess, there was one question they had to face first — a choice.
"Should we continue searching for that 'Miss Luna' or start looking for the missing Miss Kongming?
How would you like to proceed?"
Irene stood beside him, smiling calmly. She maintained her usual mystery and elegance as she waited quietly for an answer.
But the question she raised... wasn't easy to answer.
How should he choose?
Even though the players could see the entire situation clearly, and both choices ultimately pointed toward the same goal, within the ship's crew, this decision represented two distinct directions.
Each would lead to a different set of clues and priorities.
And for those two — Luna and Star Gazer — the choice between them carried emotional weight, obvious to everyone even without it being said aloud.
----
A cold sweat formed on Luo Mo's forehead.
With both of them staring at him, their gazes intersecting, his hand hovered over the controls, hesitant to make a move.
This wasn't just a simple in-game choice anymore.
This was a real-life decision… of who he'd end up giving the cold shoulder to in a silent war of favoritism.
Women are illogical creatures—Luo Mo knew this all too well.
If only Theresa were one of the choices, he could've used her as a scapegoat.
Let her take the blame, and the heat wouldn't fall on him…
Luo Mo sighed deeply, glancing sideways, hoping Kiana would lend a hand.
"Choose. Now. Guest. First. Pick."
Kongming enunciated each word slowly, gently spinning the fan in her hand.
Her tone was calm and patient, but her narrowed eyes clearly glanced toward Kiana.
Kiana immediately shook her head, a big, clear signal: You're on your own.
"Human, choose quickly. It's just a game."
The soft voice of Luna urged as well, her tone carrying a trace of hopeful anticipation.
Luo Mo sank into deep thought.
How did it come to this?
Theresa had been so angry, she shoved full control of operations into his hands.
In that moment, he'd completely forgotten there would be a decision point like this right after.
If it were anyone else, there would be no problem.
But if he was the one who made the decision...
He felt as if a mountain had been placed on his hands—just the weight of this decision made him inhale sharply.
Why did this always fall on him?
It was all Theresa's fault!
From the sidelines, Theresa's mouth curled into a pleased smirk. All the humiliation she had endured earlier had now vanished like smoke—she was far more interested in watching how he would handle this decision.
Under everyone's gazes—some curious, some gleeful, some expectant—no matter how many times Luo Mo swallowed nervously, he finally had to choose.
The cursor gently moved upward—toward "Search for Luna."
Luo Mo secretly glanced at the Kongming's expression—cool and composed, seemingly not angry at all.
Surely someone as intelligent and rational as her wouldn't care about something so trivial… right?
Meanwhile, Luna looked utterly delighted—her joy practically glowing on her face.
With a heart full of cold resolve, Luo Mo confirmed the choice.
On screen, the Captain's internal monologue began:
"I once promised her on a rooftop that I'd take her to an amusement park.
I once stood with her at the top of a tower and agreed we'd meet again, no matter what."
"She said vampires live long lives precisely for this—to wait.
So she would keep waiting and waiting, no matter how long, until that reunion day came."
"Across time, across space... I will find her. I will keep that promise."
He spoke with such conviction and passion—it was almost moving.
But Luo Mo didn't want him to say so much. Every extra word was just gasoline to the fire...
And sure enough—
"Ha.... Of course. A man who always honors his promises, huh?
So every other promise, you remember perfectly.
Such a sharp memory."
Kongming expression turned cold and sharp, her words dripping with sarcasm.
She didn't even bother calling him "Mr Assassin" this time—just Captain.
She cared about the choice—not just because Luo Mo was the one controlling it, but because in the game, it was the Captain making the decision.
Which meant, in a way, it mirrored real life.
That's why she was upset.
"Oho~ now the real drama begins,"
Bronie whispered gleefully, clearly enjoying the chaos.
"Hmph—say all the sweet words you want now. When it's my turn, I really want to hear what excuse you'll give me!"
"....."
Her overwhelming presence silenced everyone.
No one dared to argue.
Luna narrowed her eyes into crescent moons, a wide smile on her face from beginning to end.
Someone was getting flustered—but it wasn't her.
She'd never felt happier.
She had won—at least in this moment, a minor victory in their ongoing silent rivalry.
Luo Mo dared not say anything.
Obediently, he proceeded with the next part of the scenario.
Now came the choice for Kongming...
"I've wandered through darkness again and again, repeating tragedies of the past...
Until I finally found a chance to change it all—to bring her to a possible future."
"She is a foreign existence in this world, and Hyperion is the only place she belongs.
No matter what the reason... I must not let her fall into danger again."
"After struggling so hard to win this future... I won't let it end like this."
These words, too, were full of feeling.
But they came too late—no one took them seriously.
Kongming slowly closed her eyes and sighed deeply.
She let out a cold "Hmph" in Luo Mo's direction—quiet, but full of dissatisfaction.
This wasn't over.
Still, despite that, she was somewhat satisfied.
The lines about rescuing her, about what he gave up for her—they softened her anger a little.
But she was still mad.
Of course, she was rational.
She understood Luo Mo's thought process clearly, even while he was making the choice.
But so what?
Understanding doesn't mean agreeing.
She bit her lip and glanced toward Luna, who was still smiling smugly—with even a tiny fang showing.
That fang, cute in others' eyes, now felt like pure mockery.
Luo Mo rubbed his nose in silence.
Anything he said now would only make things worse. He'd have to find a way to comfort her later—alone.
Between the three of them, the tension was stifling.
But to everyone else present —it was pure entertainment.
Theresa, the instigator, barely held back her laughter.
If it weren't for Kongming's sour face, she probably would've burst out laughing.
Rare were the moments when Luo Mo looked so utterly miserable.
He'd dug the hole himself and jumped right in.
A simple two-choice decision... had turned into a minefield of emotional chaos.
"Well then, Miss Kongming, don't be mad anymore. There's still more to get mad about later~"
Bronie chuckled, throwing more fuel on the fire.
And to be fair, she wasn't wrong.
Now that Luna had her moment, it was clear the story was only getting messier.
Luo Mo stared at her with wide eyes.
Seriously?! Even more chaos?!
"Hmph, I'm not angry. And stop trying to stir up trouble,"
Kongming huffed coldly.
Was she mad or not...?
Well, everyone present wasn't blind.
They could see it clear as day.
"Yes yes yes, whatever you say. But look—you're not even the one who got hit the hardest.
Just look—someone didn't even get a turn to be chosen!"
It was Bronie again, grinning slyly as she spoke.
Sure enough, in the story...
---
Sirin exploded in frustration—like a puffed-up kitten, trembling with helpless fury and despair.
"What about Seele, huh?! You told me I could save her! Where is she?!"
The long-eared pink-haired girl still lay quietly in bed, like a sleeping beauty in her dream.
----
"Ay—?"
Theresa's smile froze.
She tilted her head, confused.
Right—where was she?
Sure, the two missing people far away were important.
But the one closest, right here, unconscious and still unrescued—
She didn't even get a chance to be chosen?!
"Huh?!"
(T/C: I vote for Irene)