---
Theresa sat alone in the mansion, quietly going through the records.
This part of the story takes place after everything — after they all saw the ending in silence.
Luna, just as everyone had guessed, she wasn't introduced like a stereotypical villain.
Every word exchanged between her and the Captain —
she engraved them deeply into her heart.
It was those memories that had supported her throughout such a long journey, that made her so willing to offer her life without hesitation.
In that story, the roses and the mock Orange in the garden could never harmoniously coexist.
So, the rose made a decision:
It drew back its roots, folded its leaves, lowered its bloom — and voluntarily gave up its life.
In reality, roses are the same —
No matter the outcome, their final fate is to die under the moonlight.
And yet, she accepted it willingly.
"Luna…"
Kiana's voice was choked with emotion.
When she saw that girl — the one who first stood up, leaning on her spear —
she felt a strange sense of déjà vu.
Was she like Himeko? Or more like Mei?
She didn't know.
But all of them had something that gave meaning to their existence —
something even more important than life itself.
Love? Belief?
Perhaps there was no difference.
But they had all made it to the very end.
They were... determined people.
She couldn't quite describe the feeling.
"Ahh, that scene really pierced the heart."
"All those lines laid out like that — I nearly cried."
Bronie exhaled lightly, smiling in a way that didn't quite reach her eyes — touched by a feeling of weariness.
That kind of emotion...
So intense, so burning —
She couldn't help but feel envious.
Unfortunately, in her lifetime, her heart only longed for freedom.
"Idiot…"
Luna sobbed softly, tears streaming down her cheeks as she stared at her own part in the story.
She buried herself into Luo Mo's arms,
looking up at him, letting the tears fall.
"Idiot… idiot…"
It was unclear whether she was calling herself that — or the Captain in the script.
All she could feel was that those two could have clearly embraced each other, and yet were forced apart.
By the rules of this world, by countless incomprehensible constraints...
They couldn't be together.
Why?
Was that fair?
She had been imprisoned for so long before —
born into a small, confined room, cut off from everything, unable to see or touch the outside world.
Feeding on blood had become her main source of sustenance.
But she — she never wanted to harm anyone.
And then, someone showed her the world.
Someone was willing to stand by her side from beginning to end...
If she really was cursed, if one of them had to bear punishment —
then she would still choose to carry it all herself.
After all...
how could she bear to see a human being hurt?
She would never want to harm him — no matter what.
"You're the real idiot. idiot Luna."
Luo Mo gave a helpless smile.
His left hand gently wiped her tears, while his right arm pulled the small girl closer, as if afraid she might vanish — just like in the story.
Even though he hadn't personally experienced that moonlit scene, he couldn't help but immerse himself in it.
What if, like in the script, she really disappeared — never to return?
What if it was like the scene they had watched —
dying thousands of times, always at odds with the world?
Could he really do all that?
Luo Mo never believed in that possibility.
He was never someone who thought too little of himself — but this level of salvation seemed impossible for anyone to believe in.
Especially when both the method and the outcome were unknown —
and the only thing that remained was an unrelenting despair.
But then, as he held the girl's trembling hand, as she tried hard to suppress her shaking —
he realized he could never say the words "give up."
In that moment, he suddenly understood the Captain's actions in the story.
Maybe he didn't believe he could save them —
but even so, he wouldn't give up.
"...Mmm."
Beside them, Kongming was lost in thought,
watching the two embrace.
But no one around them found it strange —
because when the atmosphere and emotion were so overwhelming, not reacting would be the real oddity.
Still… could it be that… this was the reward for someone who cries easily? Then, should she also try to squeeze out an emotional outburst from her lungs?
Kongming fell into hesitation.
"So touching… Luna, this moment with the Captain— even I almost cried watching it."
The Herrscher of Sentience, unusually soft-spoken, took a deep breath, her eyes visibly misty.
"They didn't end up together in the end… it's like going against fate itself, right, old Timer?"
The Herrscher of Sentience wiped her eyes and looked toward the person next to her.
"Feelings truly can create miraculous strength."
Fu Hua wore a thoughtful expression, deeply moved.
"Sigh… But when one of us has to disappear, you never said things like that,"
the Herrscher of Sentience muttered quietly, curling her lips. She suddenly thought back to when she disappeared and instantly began feeling sad for herself.
She didn't even have someone who truly cared. Kiana had risked everything to save her class president— the class president!
----
Back in the game.
Luna, Kongming and all the Theresas had vanished.
Whatever Luna did, she and all the Theresas linked to her disappeared within that city.
Even though the Captain didn't know exactly what she had done, now he understood why she had done it.
It was… for him.
The Captain walked away in a daze, descending the silent steps of the city. Sirin, Bronie, and Irene hurried over with concern, asking about the final result.
He told them the painful truth — in the end, he failed to save the Luna.
It had only been a farewell. There was nothing he could do.
...
Grief rolled in like a deep, vast sea. After Luna's disappeared before his eyes, the sorrow rippled out. While there was no danger of drowning, it still enveloped him deeply in that sea.
Guilt. Regret…
All kinds of emotions tormented his soul.
But he couldn't let himself drown in them. No matter how painful it was now, he had to save Luna. There had to be a way to fix things.
Especially since this time, both Kongming and Teriri, and even Bronie who knew the Celestial Idol Theresa — they all vanished too.
No one wanted or could accept this ending.
They needed a breakthrough.
Moreover, he always felt like Kongming didn't just do nothing. She was so smart — she must've seen it coming in advance.
His last glimmer of hope fell onto Irene.
He hoped she could give a new, definite answer.
At this moment, Irene honestly admitted that she had been following the orders of the Ferryman, passing along intel to him along the way. That was why, in the very last moment before Luna vanished, the Ferryman was able to appear just in time to retrieve the Ether Anchor.
As for the Ferryman's true goal, Irene hesitated slightly before parting her red lips to explain:
He wanted to burn the Ether Anchor to open a rift in the world — to rewrite the foundation of stability and eternity.
Everyone knew — the Quantum Sea world branches were gradually withering away, eventually dissolving like sea foam. And his goal… was to rewrite that very rule, using the many cores of different worlds to accomplish this great task.
Irene lowered her gaze, her eyes resting on the Captain's face.
Everything now — only the true helmsman could decide the course.
Whether it meant opposing the Ferryman, or simply leaving things be and ignoring what Lua entrusted them with — it wasn't for anyone else here to decide.
It had to be him.
Only him.
"..."
The Captain remained silent.
He remembered an old companion — she always carried the gentle scent of osmanthus blossoms, always calmly standing by his side.
"You once told me: no matter how perilous the road ahead, I will always stay by your side. So today, please… fulfill your promise."
He took a deep breath, raised his head, and no longer hesitated:
"Let's… go to that place where she might have been. See if she left anything behind…
No—she must have left a clue."
He believed in her — just as she had believed in him.
And sure enough, in the room where she had been imprisoned, they found writings left behind by her.
"The Theresa Registry…"
Messy notes filled the pages, recording various versions of Theresa and brief introductions about them.
This was the final thing Kongming left behind.
----
In the Golden Courtyard.
"The Theresa Registry…? What a magical thing! Doctor, buy it for me!"
Elysia reached out with one small hand, blurting the request out with her usual energy.
"…Elysia, please stop shouting nonsense everywhere. And would you kindly refer to me with my full name, properly?"
Mobius was momentarily stunned, then clenched her teeth and narrowed her eyes in irritation.
Was she becoming a second version of that Mr Assassin guy?
"Ah, aren't you just envious of the Captain's deep feelings? 'No matter how dangerous the road ahead, I'll always be by your side' ♪ … When will someone say something like that to me, huh?
Doctor~?"
She tapped her cheek in mock sadness, a teasing sparkle in her eyes. Her tone was lighthearted, but she was practically calling names directly — not that Mobius cared anymore.
"Also, I really want a book that records all the addresses of every Theresa~
Maybe I could even call them sometime, you know~ ♪"
She sighed deeply, clearly disappointed.
"In that case, I suppose you'll have to attend the Magical Girl Academy for a while. Maybe with enough magic, you can manifest that illusion of yours," Mobius said coldly, raising a brow with arms crossed.
"Eh? How'd you know I'm interested in that place too? Who knows — I might even pick up a cute little Sirin~"
"If you do that, big sister Sirin will definitely get upset... Hmm…
Just thinking of the face she'd make,"
Griseo tilted her head and whispered.
"Hmm… What if I got a cute little Griseo instead?"
Elysia asked playfully, with a mischievous smile.
"One little Griseo is already enough!.The rest — let the grown-up me tell you all about it!"
Griseo's cowlick popped up as she stood proudly, hands on her hips.
Clearly, the grown-up Griseo hadn't come to visit today either…
----
Back to the records left behind by Kongming — they were used to analyze her intentions.
The Captain gradually understood why she made those arrangements.
His eyes lit up with hope — like a man who had found new light in the depths of despair.
"If once isn't enough… then I'll try ten times.
A hundred. A thousand. Ten thousand…
I'll keep trying — even if it takes forever."
Yes.
He had long been used to the pain of failure. That was all the more reason not to give up now.
The disappearance of Luna wasn't a true end.
Their faint connection told him that much.
And if her goal was to open a dimensional rift —
Then that place where Luna is… must be there.
Though the distance was vast and unreachable, his body began to recover and rise again with renewed purpose.
They discussed and debated for a long time — ultimately coming up with a plan.
While far from perfect, it was a start.
It was a crude fusion of everyone's powers —
rough around the edges and full of flaws at every handoff.
But…
How would they know unless they tried?
The Captain had a lingering connection to Luna.
Even if it was faint, once Theresa became a unified entity, he now shared a link with all Theresas.
Kongming had left behind a wealth of intelligence, nearly every clue involving the Theresas.
Sirin had dream magic — she'd once achieved miracles.
Rita could anchor and pull visions from dreams into reality.
And Bronie had the power to reconstruct from projections.
Undoubtedly, this plan was patchwork at best.
It was a hastily cobbled-together fantasy — and had little to do with resurrection.
But still…
If they didn't try, how would they ever know whether or not a miracle could happen?
The Captain reviewed Kongming's information over and over again. Among the many Theresas, there were those they had met — and those they never did. But as the thoughts flowed through the link, they began to solidify into reality, forming vivid dreamscapes one by one.
Sirin hummed softly, summoning a cluster of fireflies. The tiny white lights gathered into the shape of a magical star-shaped orb, gently landing in her palm.
The glowing sphere burst into a brilliant white light, and wave after wave of memories related to Theresa streamed into everyone's hearts.
Irene stabilized the visions, ensuring nothing was lost.
Every one of them played a vital role in the process.
And as the light images gradually became clearer — that adorable girl in the sky-blue dress was formed.
They had succeeded.
They revived the first Theresa by reconstructing her from the clues in the data.
One by one, Theresas awoke — and each was sent back to her respective world.
But near the very end…
There was one who could not be revived.
Because nothing was left.
Only a name remained in Kongming's records.
Even when they tried to write her back into her own world — the ink would not form.
She wasn't returning.
Her own world no longer welcomed her.
In other words…
She no longer belonged anywhere.
And perhaps that very fact had long filled her with shame.
"...Ah," Bronie chuckled softly, breaking the heavy silence.
"Seems like our lady Kongming wasn't entirely thorough with her calculations.
At the very least, somewhere else — she'd already forged even deeper bonds.
Compared to her original world, maybe she belongs to that one more."
The Captain took a deep breath and nodded.
One by one, fragments of memories with her replayed in his mind —
her face, her gentleness, every word she ever spoke.
If every other Theresa could be revived —
then there was no reason the one most connected to him wouldn't come back.
Suddenly, a blinding white light shimmered in the air — and slowly, a graceful silhouette took form in midair.
She wore a soft blue long gown in palace style, strands of white hair pinned back with a delicate jade hairpin, eyes gently closed, and a feather fan in her hand.
Kongming… had returned.
He caught her gently before she could fall, holding her tightly in his arms.
Gradually, her expression brightened. Her gaze locked only on the Captain, as she wrapped her arms tightly around his neck.
Their eyes met.
And with a voice trembling with emotion, she said:
"I knew you would…"
Save me.
She had wagered everything on this — on him.
"Uhm… Hello, lady Kongming?
We're all still here, you know,"
Bronie teased with a sly smile.
Everyone nearby was staring without blinking.
From Sirin's perspective, the whole "dream veil" had already dissolved into clear reality.
Kongming's ears immediately flushed red — and half her cheek turned crimson too.
But she still replied, flustered but defiant:
"S-So what if I did…?
Just don't speak up so suddenly next time."
Though her voice was steady, her hands still held tightly onto the Captain —
until, finally, she slowly stepped back, daring to face everyone's playful smirks.
---
In Theresa's villa
"You big dummy… Mr Assassin… Dummy…"
Kongming's eyes filled with tears as she dove into Luo Mo's arms, not even giving Luna's a chance to resist.
She held him tightly.
The gentle scent of osmanthus immediately filled the air — along with her soft, warm body.
At the moment of Kongming's reappearance, it was as if she deliberately copied the form she disliked the most — as though trying to become the version he might hate…
But in truth, perhaps… that was the version of herself she was most afraid he loved.
Luna, who'd been pushed aside, looked surprised.
Tears still clung halfway to her cheeks, lips parted in a quiet: "Hah?"