There was no doubt —
the exhausted figure walking under the moonlight was Kallen.
Alongside her was her clone,
the one who had helped her escape the prison-like cage where her older sister had once been confined.
But the current situation had shifted completely.
Compared to before — when Kallen had hesitated over whether to eliminate Luna —
now, it was the younger sister who held the upper hand in their interactions.
She even controlled the direction of their movements — and, in effect, held the right to speak for both.
"Miss Luna only ever shows clear emotion when she's talking about that person.
Seems like she really cares, huh~"
Misteln mused as she watched the screen.
Compared to the dull mechanical duck next to her, she was at least slightly more expressive —
though she was still learning.
Whether it was "Kongming" or "Luna",
whether in-game or in reality,
they all took this particular story — and this person — very seriously.
"So... 'Kongming ' realized something,
and voluntarily came down from the ship just to walk into this mess?"
She gave Luo Mo a sideways glance.
He merely responded with a smile.
"Seems like our dear screenwriter has no intention of exposing it…
Is it because there's just too much tangled up in this storyline?"
Misteln smiled, her expression thick with curiosity.
"Looks like she's interested in you.
Better be careful of this kind of 'trouble.'"
Prometheus glanced at her companion before turning directly to Luo Mo.
"Trouble?
Why say it like it's a bad thing?
I happen to be very interested in you, too."
"Please refrain from calling me by names given to others. From a historical and cultural standpoint,
I find such forms of address quite disrespectful."
"And besides—
it's precisely because I've experienced what it means to have your 'interest'
that I can't stand by and watch someone else fall into the same trap.
Prometheus replied with a blend of mechanical tone and childlike voice —
a mix characteristic only to her.
....
In the Golden Courtyard.
"Eden,
if you still love me…
then stay with me until the end."
"What a powerful line ♪~"
The pink-haired girl stared seriously at the final scene and lines of Crimson Moon.
The shy, emotionally fragile words spoken by Luna had pierced straight into her heart.
It made her heart tremble.
Luna like this… was too hard to resist.
But it also reminded her of Eden.
In the Elysian Realm's storyline,
Eden truly had stayed with her to the very end.
"If Ellie wishes for it…
then of course I'm willing."
"Mhm! The real world has no blades.
So this time, it'll be forever, right ♪~"
Elysia hugged Eden tightly and rubbed against her affectionately.
Another golden line of dialogue well received.
---
Meanwhile...
Just as the conversation between the Captain and Irene wrapped up,
a sudden message cut them off.
It was about the location of the other Theresa —
successfully tracked down by Bronie's team.
They'd gotten a few leads from the Overseer Theresa,
but they weren't of much practical use.
All they knew was:
There was a partner with a face similar to Theresa's.
That partner had once plotted to harm her.
But that told them nothing about the current location of their target.
So they pinned their hopes on this new version of Theresa.
Unfortunately, things didn't go smoothly from the start.
Their encounter with Radiant Knight Theresa hadn't been easy,
and the direct textual confrontation was something new to them.
Clearly, this version of Theresa wasn't someone who obediently followed the rules.
She was in the middle of carrying out a secret mission,
infiltrating a heavily guarded research lab.
Who could have predicted that someone would suddenly appear in front of her?
And after just one interaction —
they were immediately plunged into a high-speed chase and intense combat.
---
Immersion Through Chaos
When entering a new, unfamiliar world —
what's the fastest way to blend in with the setting?
Falling into a chaotic pursuit might be the best shortcut,
especially when you're with others.
Causing a little "trouble" often leads to unexpected friendships —
a truth proven time and time again in countless games.
This time, they fled alongside Radiant Knight Theresa,
fighting off Honkai Beasts in the small town along the way.
Meanwhile, the Captain and the others also deliberately encouraged Sirin to use magic.
Over the next few days, they began to notice something about her:
She always stayed behind, afraid to step forward.
She never trusted her own power,
never even tried to use magic to solve problems.
It became obvious that deep inside,
she was afraid...
"If I don't do anything,
then I can't mess up."
That was the quiet belief she carried within her.
But it was wrong.
Sometimes, doing nothing was the surest path to failure.
Though Sirin didn't look timid when standing among the four of them,
her avoidance showed that she was actually the one keeping the world at arm's length.
They cheered her on, praised her, even goaded her at times...
They were trying —
trying to help Sirin gain confidence.
To make her stand tall and no longer be afraid of her magic.
That… might have been the biggest reward of this journey so far.
As for the two Theresas…
no one really cared much about how alike they looked.
Or maybe,
they had both been ambushed before —
with faint scars still visible on their necks.
At the time, that discovery hadn't seemed strange.
They'd simply assumed it was a coincidence.
----
In Theresa's villa.
"Ah... I feel like the outfits of the Overseer Theresa and the Radiant Knight Theresa really look exactly the same. Come to think of it, isn't it really just because of budget issues that they didn't bother designing new outfits? I don't believe for a second that in both worlds, Theresa just happens to be wearing those exact same two sets of clothes."
"Still the same old nun outfit and Valkyrie armor. I want to see some new clothes already."
Kiana rested her chin in her hands on the table, complaining with a weary tone in her voice. Her round, fair face peeked out slightly from between her arms.
As for why she was so focused on the outfits, Luo Mo suspected that it was because she was too embarrassed to say she was tired of looking at that same familiar face.
"Huh? Boss, what did you just say?"
She looked around warily but didn't sense any hostility. Then she went back to her lazy posture, arms supporting her head.
"You misheard, okay? I didn't say anything. Also, why don't you go ask that question to Su Lu instead?"
"...Sigh."
Kiana let out a deep sigh, one that Luo Mo didn't really understand.
"Suddenly I feel like Miss Su Lu has it too rough. No matter what the issue is, she always ends up handling it. Boss, where's that fighting spirit you had when you first started this company? What made you fall this low?"
Kiana raised her voice with conviction, then glanced to the side at him to Luna — and at Irene, who had already gone to bed.
Beauty trap. Yep, really effective.
At some point, even her own will had eroded with time.
"...Kiana, even though we're a game company, our goal is to fight against Honkai. Of course I'm constantly thinking about how to do that! For example, Su the screenwriter and I wear ourselves out mentally every day planning things out."
Luo Mo felt a little embarrassed. Even his old worker Kiana couldn't stand it anymore?
Was he slacking too much?
Or was it... Kiana couldn't stand Su Lu anymore?
But clearly, Su's influence wasn't that strong — actually, it was quite weak.
"If you had used another name as an example, I might've believed you. But Su's already been praised as a master of 'wellness' writing."
Kongming cut in without mercy from the side.
Kiana might not visit often, but Theresa's room was right next door.
She had heard all kinds of grand tales and gossip about the place, and could probably chat about any of them. Not to mention, inside was one of her more sociable friends who constantly spammed product ads.
"As for that hero, their age isn't a problem for now, but what you just said..."
Kongming flicked her fan with a fwish, then stopped speaking — but the implication was clear.
"...Weren't we just talking about the Sirin script? Don't drag me into this. And Sirin, seriously — she's supposed to be a magical girl, and yet sometimes she doesn't even use magic."
Luo Mo hurriedly tried to change the subject.
"I actually think it's really unrealistic that Sirin's portrayed as a top student in the story. As for hiding away from things... Well, the second sister might be a bit cold and proud, but it's true she prefers staying inside and not going out."
Kiana spoke in a low tone.
Although she later learned that Sirin had her own reasons for being reclusive, Kiana herself didn't dislike that kind of lifestyle.
And maybe... that explains something, too?
...
Back in the game,
The group had returned to the dock and were sorting through the aftermath.
Especially Teriri—she still lay in the medical room like a sleeping beauty, quiet and still since that dangerous night. In the past few days, the healthy blush on her face had faded even more, leaving her looking paler and more like someone gravely ill.
Sirin stood frozen, staring at the red Miracle Core Stone in her hand, lost in thought.
The evil seed… a never-ending nightmare cycle…
It might be the only breakthrough. Right now, when their energy was at its lowest, this was also the best opportunity to destroy it.
Possibly, the consciousness of senior Vollerei was still trapped inside.
How could she…?
There was no way she could bring herself to do it.
And yet…
No matter how focused or serious she was, no matter how deeply she tried to pour her feelings and intentions into the gemstone, that brilliantly glowing core never changed, not even slightly.
"Looks like you're planning to keep being stubborn, huh, coward."
Suddenly, the color before her eyes shifted. A white light swept downward, and the hospital room was replaced by an entirely different hue.
Standing before her now was someone she once believed to be dead—Senior Vollerei.
"Why…? Senior? No, you're not the senior… What are you doing here?"
For a moment, delight flashed in Sirin's eyes, but was quickly shattered by realization. The cold, hard truth struck her:
This wasn't the senior she missed.
This was that other consciousness within her—
The one who mocked her, cursed her, and even tried to steal her body.
She immediately gathered her emotions and raised her guard, staring defensively.
"Aww, Sirin, deep down you're just terrified they're never coming back, aren't you? Vollerei, Teriri, even Broboli—
But whose fault is all this?
It's yours, coward.
Just a pathetic little coward crying in the corner. Haha."
"You know you'll never be able to solve the Miracle Core Stone problem. You can't save them either."
Sirin couldn't take it anymore. She threw a punch at the figure before her.
But the woman just shrugged lazily, letting the fist pass straight through her chest.
With a mocking smile, she said:
"You really want me to disappear?
But from a strength standpoint, shouldn't it be you who vanishes, Sirin?"
And then—
The illusion shattered.
Sirin opened her eyes again, back aboard the ship.
She took a deep breath.
That other consciousness within her still deeply disturbed her heart.
Among the four Magical Girls, perhaps the most useless one had never been clumsy Teriri…
It was her—Sirin.
She was the one who dragged down the seniors alongside Lili.
She was the one who failed to choose to face it with her.
So now… it was her turn.
Her turn to bear the responsibility that was rightfully hers.
At the same time, Bronie had discovered something new on Teriri's body.
Or rather, she had noticed it long ago but was only now connecting it to similar events in the previous two worlds.
That's right—Teriri had a wound as well.
On her neck.
"Enough, Bronie…"
"You went on and on preaching to Sirin this whole time, and now the one who can't face the truth is you? What a lousy joke."
"You can't run from this.
When the moment comes, you have to make a choice."
Bronie narrowed her eyes.
She understood the inner conflict.
But just like they once told Sirin—there's no escaping this.
The wound was two small bite marks, as if something sharp and tiny had pierced her neck.
It looked like…
the mark of a vampire.
The Captain's mind went blank.
In the instant he saw the wound on Teriri's neck, he froze completely.
He might have already suspected it,
But now, complicated feelings surged inside him.
---
Meanwhile, in Theresa's villa
"Did… I bite her?"
Luna nervously bit her finger, then looked down at the saliva-soaked thumb. She fell silent.
Those were definitely bite marks—
But she thought they were just from Theresa getting injured while escaping…
Yet none of the "Theresas" captured had scratches—
They had all been bitten.
Only… she didn't use her mouth, right?
Oh no.
So embarrassing…
Her cheeks turned red. She bashfully averted her eyes, Then quickly snuck a peek at the screen—
Her gaze possibly brushed past Theresa and Irene.
If it really happened…
To save humanity…
Did she have to… also bite those two?
"The evidence points straight at Luna. Even if the Captain doesn't want to admit it, there's no way around it."
Kallen sighed helplessly.
That girl—what in the world was she doing, creating such a scandalous mess?
She clearly was… back then…
"There are some things one can only realize on their own. You have to shoulder your own responsibility.
Saying nice things is easy—
Making the choice, that's where it hurts."
Delta spoke calmly.
She had been silent for a while, and her face didn't look great.
She rarely offered commentary,
But this time, she added her own understanding.
The three "Theresas" all had the same kind of wound.
It was clear the perpetrator had a purpose, a plan.
If she had infiltrated as a disruptor, she had to prepare for the worst.
Just as Bronie said—
Some things need to be decided early.
Like whether they'd side with Luna … or Irene.
Of course, this was just hypothetical.
She wouldn't outright say such a grim choice existed.
But people who make no choice and run away—
They're the weakest.
All the way here, they had helped Sirin reclaim her magical power and resolve.
Now, it was his turn to be prepared.
After all, they and Luna…
could very well become enemies.
"Right, I totally didn't expect Cioara to show up and mess things up.
It ruined everything in an instant…
Thankfully, I managed to escape from that world in time.
Once I was out of there, there was no reason to hesitate anymore."
"Ah—so you do know shame."
Delta replied coldly, unimpressed.
"You—! No wonder you're so strict with La Tasa Rhiya, but you go easy on Lilia.
Aren't you being a little unfair?"
Bronie raised an eyebrow and teased with a playful grin.
Delta didn't respond.
But the angle Bronie had chosen—
not too harsh, not too soft—
had clearly struck a nerve...
----
Only the last one remained—Theresa. Idol Theresa, who also happened to be the same Bronie from Heavenly Dome, had come here while waiting for her Delta teammates to finish gathering clues. The girls also arrived at this location to investigate. Bronie clearly didn't want to get too close—if she was spotted again, she might get dragged off to a tavern to wash dishes. She even used drinking as an excuse, or at least that's what she said.
However, with Bronie supplying intel, getting close to Theresa became much easier and less risky.
This time, their conversation once again confirmed a fact: she had once encountered danger. Inside her wrist, she also bore a small scar—exactly the same type as the ones seen on the others.
Suddenly, the Miracle Gem in Sirin's hand emitted a strange glow. Sirin had a bad premonition. She decided to return to the original location—New Arc Moon District.
Sure enough, something had changed.
After the Miracle Gem was taken away, the magical creatures inside the castle, seemingly drawn by light, suddenly went berserk. Losing the gem's attraction, they collectively charged toward the residential area.
The uproar was massive—like a reenactment of the Demon King War from several years ago.
The inner city's protective barrier had been activated, and it was difficult for even them to enter.
Their original plan to return to Teriri's location also fell apart. In that moment, the group lost their target.
Only Sirin remained silent, her eyes flickering with internal struggle.
The Magical Girl was about to use the Miracle Gem to become the Demon King.
Right now, the Miracle Gem had fallen into a bizarre balance—locked in a tug-of-war between Teriri, and the consciousnesses of the two senior Vollerei.
But Teriri's current state clearly couldn't maintain the struggle for long.
She would either become the Demon King...
Or she would be replaced—by the only current Magical Girl left, Sirin, who would become the new Demon King.
This impossible choice weighed heavily on the lonely yet stubborn girl.
Either watch Teriri die...
Or let her live on, carrying the despair of survival.
But really, there had never been just two options.
Finally, her voice, muffled and hesitant, gave her answer:
"You said... destroying this gem could end this repeating cycle...
I've never been good at making choices. I always mess things up anyway.
So maybe... it's better to just give up from the start."
"If even the senior Vollerei couldn't save her...
Then maybe it's better to destroy it, and let me be the one to end this all."
In that moment, the girl made her decision.
Maybe she would become the Demon King.
Maybe Teriri would awaken.
But the endless nightmare cycle of Magical Girl—she would shatter it, no matter what.
The lonely and stubborn girl no longer ran from her responsibility.