---
"Is it really a situation where only one of the two can be chosen? Ugh... Really now, it's just a metaphor after all. Even though I don't actually understand much about those two plants, I got what Rita was implying."
"Try to become stronger, Luo Mo. That way, you can avoid all of this,"
The Herrscher of Sentience placed a hand on Luo Mo's shoulder, her eyes blinking as she smiled warmly like sunlight.
She didn't understand why the world had to be full of so much complicated nonsense. If it were up to her, she'd say the reason was simply a lack of power. If they were strong enough, either Luna could directly snatched back the captain, or the captain could just drag Luna home and give her a good spanking. Wouldn't that solve everything?
Well… her suggestion probably shouldn't be taken literally, but the general idea was more or less that.
"Getting stronger isn't like flipping a cheat switch. You can't just turn it on and be done with it..."
Luo Mo subtly shifted away, putting some distance between himself and her increasingly intense grip, muttering in frustration.
Her suggestion was so vague and generalized that it didn't offer anything remotely useful.
"Sigh… She looked so lonely in there. But I still don't get it. Why can't she face things together with Human? They clearly love each other, yet not a word is spoken between them."
Luna tapped her cheek and spoke thoughtfully.
She didn't really understand that version of herself from the story. At her current stage, if something interesting happened during the day and she couldn't share it with Human, she'd probably toss and turn all night unable to sleep.
Even though she had voiced all of the other girl's lines before, she still didn't understand her.
Maybe… maybe that other version of her already realized that things wouldn't end well?
But before the truth comes to light, no one can really say who's right.
"...Well, at least you're not as stubborn as you were in there. Back then, you wouldn't listen to anyone at all."
Bronie furrowed her brows, giving a wry smile.
"Ahhh, sometimes I feel like I'm just watching the captain and his harem in the middle of a soap opera. Is that just me?"
Bronie crossed her arms and threw out a provocative topic.
"That scene clearly belonged to Miss Luna's timeline, whereas your part would've been during the Heavenly Dome City arc."
Irene gently responded with a chuckle.
"No no no, don't lump me in with them! That guy might be kinda interesting, but I still prefer the thrill of adventure "
Bronie quickly waved her hands with a defeated expression. Her joke had indeed gone too far, or she wouldn't have been so quickly countered by Irene.
"...I'm actually really curious what Sirin would say. Adding a Magical Girl into the team? That's seriously Cool."
Delta calmly stroked her chin, but the spark of excitement was already lit in her eyes.
If something called "magical miracles" truly existed, could it help awaken her little sister?
Even if the chances were slim, wasn't "magic" always about making the impossible possible?
While the others were stuck deep in discussion, they were all leaning more toward researching Honkai Energy... and maybe also their own bodies. Of course, there was no way she'd let that so-called "doctor" run wild with experiments.
As for Sirin... she looked like someone easy to manipulate.
"Uh... why are you all looking at me? Let's just leave these things to fate. If we meet her again someday, so be it. Right now, the top priority is still defeating Honkai."
Luo Mo gave a bitter laugh.
He had already asked the system, but it hadn't responded at all.
As for anything related to Magical Sirin, it looked like that branch of the story was on hold—probably locked behind system permissions.
And to gain full access to the system... he'd likely have to defeat Honkai first.
"Ah? Is it finally my turn to appear? Kallen... a different version of myself from another world."
Kallen, the Overseer, lifted her head slightly, looking at the screen.
She quietly watched her own image appear in front of everyone, her expression tinted with a faint unfamiliarity.
-----
The Captain and his team successfully entered the fortress, but they did not arrive to Luna as scheduled. Instead, in the grand hall ahead, someone had been silently waiting for them—Kallen, who had been secretly helping them all along.
She looked at the Captain with a helpless yet calm gaze, not blaming him for his recent reckless actions. Instead, she informed him of everything she knew about what had happened to Luna.
She had once obeyed the command of a girl who used to be her younger sister, traveling through various worlds to secretly collect all the Ether Anchor.
Her goal had been to kill her sister, and with all her strength, save everything related to Theresa.
And yet, even when facing her sister directly, she couldn't bring herself to deliver the final blow.
Instead, she clung to a faint hope that someone else might come along with the power to change things...
Maybe, as Luna once said, her older sister was simply too hesitant.
But what she forgot was that such hesitation only appeared when it came to people she truly cared about—only in situations that had something to do with Luna.
When she pulled her sister out of the cage toward freedom, she didn't hesitate, nor did she regret it.
The eternal struggle and pain had condensed into the hidden tears of a girl's heart.
She had already committed many sins, and her hands were powerless to make up for them.
"As I continue to gather more and more of the Ether, A-872's strength is also growing.
What's more, it seems like there's another unfathomable darkness behind her...
Even knowing all this, are you still willing to help me?"
The girl's eyes glistened with tears. She clasped her hands to her chest, and within her sapphire-blue eyes flickered regret, worry, and a faint hope.
"I know."
—There was no other answer, nor could there be one.
"I'm already used to betting everything on a faint and uncertain possibility. I've staked my entire future on it."
The Captain said calmly, even though his body at that moment was so weak that even walking was difficult. Still, he had never once hesitated in his resolve to save her.
He was often called an idiot—an unbelievably stubborn person, someone who cared about others more than he did himself.
But it was exactly because of this that so many people were willing to walk alongside him.
He had risked his life and future more times than he could count.
Kallen felt moved. She was surprised by how this man operated in ways so unlike a normal person.
And deep within her heart, a deafening voice echoed—
If anyone could pull Luna out of the abyss, it might be him.
...
After that, everything began progressing more smoothly.
Under Kallen's guidance—familiar with the structure of the fortress—they searched for the place where Theresa was being held. In the thick and almost ink-black shadows of that place, where a girl's long-held yearning still lingered, they discovered many rooms where different versions of Theresa were imprisoned.
Surprisingly, the conditions weren't as bad as expected.
They even found many Theresas dressed in peculiar outfits—Academy Detective, Heavenly Dome Idol, Head Priestess, Knight, Academy Principal...
Perhaps this was the happiest kind of Theresa gathering imaginable?
So many beautiful clothes, one after another, were worn by various Theresa variants.
What was more surprising was that these alternate versions of Theresa didn't seem to harbor much resentment toward Luna—instead, there was more sympathy than hatred.
"That little girl is just pretending to act like a schemer. Deep down, she doesn't have a cruel bone in her body."
"Hmm... she really didn't do much. Just locked us up and didn't even come back to check on us."
—These sentiments were echoed by many of the Theresas.
Yet despite searching through every room, they couldn't find Luna herself.
Worse still, their presence triggered a disturbance among the guards, forcing them into a chaotic escape.
----
Back in Theresa's villa.
"...So, does that mean I also count as a tiger trapped in the snare it made?"
Kallen sighed and gave a bitter smile.
Even though she had predicted this outcome, she couldn't fully agree with the choices made by another "version" of herself.
She had once given up many things for the sake of Luna's freedom.
She had loved her like a younger sister, and now she was reaping the bitter consequences of that.
"Grandma, don't overthink it. You wouldn't really act like that in real life. And besides, that was just you spoiling Luna too much. You felt sorry for her past life in captivity, so you went a bit overboard trying to make it up to her. That's all."
Theresa did her best to gather comforting words.
This was also the perfect time to show how much she cared about her grandmother!
"So, what the Principal means is, from now on we need to be stricter with Luna and not dote on her too much?"
Luo Mo held back a laugh and nodded seriously as if giving an analysis.
"I didn't say that!"
Theresa reflexively objected.
She hadn't experienced being spoiled like that herself, nor did she act willfully because of it...
Well, maybe being a little mischievous didn't count.
"But back then, Luna was still you, Principal. Even if your identities are different now, you two are still the closest people to each other."
Bronie chimed in, helping to clarify things.
That's why Luna couldn't really bring herself to harm her own self, right?
Seeing the meaningful look in her grandmother's eyes as she stared at her—still deep in thought, nodding as though she were planning something important about the future—Theresa's little mouth opened slightly in confusion.
"Why is it that I don't get to enjoy anything, but I still have to take on responsibilities that haven't even happened yet!?"
Spending her days at St. Freya slacking off and sneaking naps, Theresa, who had definitely suffered through things!. felt indignant.
"It's not just because of what everyone else said, Theresa. You do need to step up your training a little more.
And with the matters involving Schicksal, you need to start taking the reins gradually. St. Freya was created as an excuse for Cecilia—wasn't that what you always said?
Now it's almost time for things to return to their original path."
Kallen let out a soft sigh, her voice weary.
She had a feeling that after the end of Honkai, Schicksal would really need to be handed over to the next generation.
And from her own perspective—she was simply tired.
Five hundred years was a long time.
She wasn't someone who clung to power.
When Honkai ended, even if nothing unexpected happened, she already knew it was time to rest a bit.
"Aah—!!"
Theresa gasped loudly.
This was the first time her grandmother had said something so shocking in front of so many people.
"Hey—don't say stuff like that in front of everyone!"
Bronie joked, pretending she hadn't heard a thing.
"Mom... Auntie?"
Kiana's eyes widened.
Did she just hear what she thought she heard?
Would she become the daughter of the next Principal?!
Then wouldn't she basically be royalty!?
"..."
Luna pursed her lips and furrowed her brow, glancing toward Kallen.
Was Kallen really planning to tie Luo Mo to this world?
But honestly, Theresa and Luo Mo's relationship hadn't really reached that level yet...
Hopefully, she was just overthinking it?
That said, this world did seem very safe.
She herself had no strong desire to wander anymore—at most, she just missed Rita occasionally.
From that perspective, maybe it really was necessary for Theresa and Luo Mo to continue interacting.
Kallen didn't say anything more.
Or maybe she'd already said enough.
She wasn't going to push further.
Theresa, too, needed to come to understand the weight of the responsibility that would fall on her shoulders.
---
In the game.
After surviving countless dangers and encountering a powerful Honkai beast whose fate was tied to Kallen—a creature they could neither destroy nor truly fight—the group never gave up on their companions or considered turning back.
But when they finally reached the final path that led to Luna, they were stopped in their tracks by a familiar figure.
That shadowy figure darted effortlessly through the dark forest, easily dodging their attacks.
The hem of her coat fluttered, carried by a breeze scented faintly with flowers.
"Who...?"
"Rosemary? What are you doing here...?"
Bronie, always carefree, couldn't hide the flicker of surprise in her eyes.
The others also stood stunned, staring blankly at the figure in black standing before them — someone who had once been their companion throughout this entire journey, now standing in opposition.
The atmosphere instantly quieted.
Both sides stared at each other in silence.
But that graceful figure stood her ground firmly in front of them.
"...Everyone. I have something to tell you—
You've come far enough."
Under their puzzled and even angry gazes, Irene no longer carried her usual playful demeanor.
She gripped her violet scythe tightly, assuming a battle stance before them all.
Her red lips parted slightly, her eyes locked onto the captain's — unwavering.
"Irene, you're going to stand in our way too?"
"Captain, this is the first and only time I will go against your actions. From the moment I left that city, this was the choice I believed in the most."
Thus began the first real confrontation between them — a battle that ended only after the captain successfully persuaded Irene.
The firm determination Irene showed revealed how serious the situation with Luna had become.
She even went so far as to admit she had ulterior motives from the beginning — willingly staining her name just to stand against the captain.
Yet in the end, she was moved by the captain's words.
She was willing to take the gamble.
No matter what, they had now reached the final stage.
And in this moment, the captain decided to personally confront the enemy.
After all, setting emotions aside, Luna had now absorbed far too many powers and anomalies — her strength had reached overwhelming levels.
If there was even a chance of persuading her and avoiding a fight, then it was the best option.
"I just... I just wanted to see you... one more time... Luna…"
No matter what emotions had come before — when he stepped into that final moment — what he carried most was hope.
From the first time he met her, until now, he had waited so long...
Only now did he finally meet her again.
"…"
"You really are patient, huh."
On the rooftop platform, the full red moon became a backdrop.
The clouds above were slowly tinted red pink, and not even the pitch-black night could hide the figure of the white-haired girl standing before him.
There she stood, Luna, wearing a pure white wedding dress — waiting for him.
Yet this time, there was no smile on her face — only a calm, cold expression.
"Human... do you really love this fortress so much?"
"All the little things you hold dear — whether I like them or not — somehow, they all seem tied to you."
"Even my sister... she distanced herself from me because of you."
"All of them followed you and left me behind."
She had made herself isolated — abandoned by her friends.
"So now... why have you come to find me?"
She tilted her head, smiling faintly as she asked.
It was the kind of smile that once reached out to you tenderly under the moonlight — but today, it held no sweetness.
"'Amazing, amazing you are!'
Isn't that what you want to hear?"
"…"
"I said what I wanted. So why haven't you left yet?"
Again and again in her heart, she wished for him to leave.
Yet when he didn't, when he remained unmoved — a part of her secretly rejoiced.
How strange...
Clearly, she should be happy if he walked away.
And yet…
"Because... you still haven't told me—
the real reason why you did all this."
"Hm? You mean why I captured Theresa and the others? That's easy—"
"I hate them.
They look just like me...
But they're so much luckier.
So much freer."
"I want the things they take for granted.
I face trials they'll never understand."
"There's even one of them who... who's with you…"
"…"
She stopped herself.
A cold wind blew, sobering her emotions.
Just like that detective from the academy had once said —
she was only a little girl pretending to be a grand schemer.
A jealous little girl.
Jealousy stirred her heart, threw her into chaos.
Because, above all else, more than anything…
She just wanted to be with him.