Honkai: Fire Moth Herrschers

"Hah—wah wah wah woe…"

Early the next morning, Michael carried a pile of paper ledgers and reports to Mei, returning them.

"As swift as ever, Michael," Mei praised, making Michael blush. How could I not be fast… I barely looked at any of it!

Seeing Michael's slightly embarrassed expression, Mei smiled knowingly. She suddenly dropped her pen, leaning back in her chair, relaxed. Michael was unsure why she'd do that, unsure if he should go or stay.

Mei straightened again, rummaging through the mountain of documents. She pulled one out and handed it to Michael.

"Welt has been complaining to me for a while. He says the underground environment is too damp, and he can't get used to it. He wants to move back to the surface. What do you think?"

"His reasons for wanting to move back to the surface aren't out of vanity." Michael flipped through the documents, speaking. "Although I don't like him, I believe he never does anything without a reason. I think you've noticed it too. From a long time ago, he seems to be planning something, to the point that he has no interest in Fire Moth's internal power struggles."

Mei knew that. After all, Welt hadn't tried to hide it. Or perhaps it was his style. He simply didn't care if others knew. He wanted everyone to know he was pursuing something beyond earthly power.

But his restraint was perfect. Anyone could tell he had plans, but what exactly were they? No one knew.

"I infiltrated Welt's office several times with Vill-V, but we couldn't find any records on his computer. And, if I remember correctly, you have his schedule under surveillance, right? He basically goes between two locations. He has no opportunity to go anywhere else."

"So, your opinion is?"

"Let him go." Michael involuntarily raised his hand, trying to touch his nose. Stopping halfway, as if realizing something, he put his fingers in his mouth, biting them lightly, then quickly lowered his hand.

"Since he's hiding so well, let him do what he wants. He'll slip up eventually."

"Snap!" Mei snapped her fingers. "Great. Looks like we're on the same page again!"

"Yeah, if that's all... I'll be on my way."

"Please wait."

Michael turned, seeing Mei crossing her arms, as if hesitating.

After a moment, she asked, "Michael, about the Sea of Quanta… I know you've taken Welt and Hua in and out before, so… May I…"

Before Mei could finish, Michael rejected her.

"No… Mei, you should know. Sakura had a violent reaction when the Sea of Quanta opened in New Mallorca. Since I don't intend to take you to the Sea of Quanta, that means your body… wouldn't be accepted."

"Not accepted by the Sea of Quanta, but what if I forcefully entered it? What would happen?"

Mei knew the answer, but it was also a way of clinging to hope.

"You'll lose your own unitarity. Your body would be lost in the Sea of Quanta, and your consciousness would only be preserved under extremely lucky circumstances."

"Hmm… Is that so…" Mei sighed softly, not seeming disappointed.

When she looked up again, she was alone. Only then did she cover her face, looking at the mountain of documents on her desk with a helpless expression.

"Alright! Prometheus, let's start the day!"

Michael looked at the calendar under the clock. Three days had passed since the Vishnu incident. Three days weren't long, but for certain fatal possibilities, it was enough time for countless things to happen.

Michael locked himself in the office with the "Anti-Entropy Captain" sign. He leaned against the door, feeling the state of the World Bubble inside him.

"Good... Good…"

Also anchored to him, Michael's World Bubble wasn't on the same level as Durandal's later one. The latter had a relatively complete world and civilization. Michael's... The size was only a Brundin. The stability was obviously incomparable. This was why Michael needed to constantly reinforce the World Bubble's boundaries with his spatial powers.

The battle with Vishnu had affected the Sea of Quanta, so Michael had to pay attention. After all, a small "bubble" floating in the tide, no matter how anchored, could still break.

Luckily, that hadn't happened yet.

The World Bubble's structure was relatively intact, but Michael decided to go there himself. On the one hand, to confirm the people inside were still well. On the other hand... He had promised Seele he would visit her every week. He had missed the agreed-upon day because of his injuries. Seele must be worried sick.

He reappeared on the long bridge.

"Huh? The error's so big?" Michael turned, looking at a high-rise three hundred meters away. It was the place where Mei had watched him, Elysia, and the Sixth Herrscher fight. Also, the first anchor point Michael left in this World Bubble.

Because the time of leaving the anchor point was before the World Bubble reflected and anchored to him, the anchor point's position in space was absolute. He could use it to sense the World Bubble's small movements in the Sea of Quanta.

Michael had tried to teleport there, but the spatial rift opened on the bridge three hundred meters away.

The error wasn't small, but not too big either. It was completely acceptable. As the Sea of Quanta's tides calmed, it would return to its previous anchored position.

After thinking about it, Michael appeared in the basement.

"Michael-Oni-Chan!" Seele, sporting dark circles under her eyes, rushed into his arms.

"Uh… Seele, you…"

"Sigh…"

A chorus of sighs came from his ears.

"Did something happen to the original world? Seele has been waiting here all day," Elysia said.

"Yeah, there was a bit of a problem," Michael answered the Elysia in the World Bubble, putting down Seele, who was clinging to him like an octopus.

He opened his mouth several times, but didn't know what to say. In the end, he only managed, "Sorry, Seele. I worried you."

"It's okay! I know Michael-Oni-Chan is busy!" Seele obediently sat back in her seat.

Compared to before, her face was much thinner, making her bright blue eyes seem even more profound.

"Let's go! Let's prepare lunch for the two of them!" Elysia dragged Mei away, leaving time and space for the siblings.

Michael affectionately stroked Seele's head, as always, messing up her hair without realizing it.

He didn't speak. Seele didn't speak either. She just sat there, waiting for him to speak.

"…Seele…"

"Yeah, I'm here!"

"…Seele, do you want any toys? Or something to eat? Or, do you want to watch a recording of Eden's opera? I was in a rush and didn't bring anything. I'll make it up to you next time!"

Michael tried to make his tone as light as possible, but hearing his words, the light in Seele's eyes dimmed visibly.

189 days and 9 hours. That was how long she had been in the World Bubble.

Although Michael visited her every week, bringing her some small amount of happiness… the day to return to the original world hadn't come.

"Michael, when can I go back… and be with everyone?"

Elysia and Mei were good to her, very good, but... But Michael wasn't here. She lightly swung her legs, but kept the thought to herself. She still believed that Michael had a reason for keeping her here. She just needed to wait.

Michael looked at the silent girl, forcing a smile. Now that he confirmed the World Bubble was still in good condition and that Seele was still there, he didn't want to stay any longer. He was too afraid. If Seele begged him to take her, he would be unable to resist.

"Well… I'll get going."

"Okay."

After saying that syllable, Seele suddenly wrinkled her nose. Her vision blurred.

A teardrop escaped, falling straight to the ground, leaving a shallow mark.

Will Michael see it? Will he?

Seele looked up with hope, but all she saw were tiny particles floating in the air. Nothing else.

"Clack… clack… clack…"

She couldn't tell if it was the sound of her teeth clenching or her fists clenching.

"Liar... Liar! Big fat liar!" In a daze, she seemed to see the teardrop pierce the indestructible armor plate when it fell…

She suddenly broke down, collapsing to the ground, hitting the tear-stained armor plate with her fists over and over.

The necklace Aponia gave her swayed around her neck, making a rattling sound. The sound grew louder and louder, until the one swinging her fists suddenly realized it wasn't the necklace. It was…

Water.

"Oh, that's right! I forgot to remind Michael!" Elysia, holding an oddly colored lunch box, stopped.

"What is it?"

"The mental stabilizing drug Sue prescribed to Seele was supposed to run out yesterday. I should have told Michael to bring more over."

"Hmm… It's okay, it's not too late to say it now," Mei said, holding a lunchbox with a more complex scent. The door opened automatically.

"Huh?"

"Eh?! Aaaaaaagh! So angry! They just up and left without saying goodbye to us!"

The room was completely empty.

Compared to Elysia's annoyance, Mei's expression gradually turned grim. She put down the lunchboxes, walking around the room several times.

"Something's not right, Elysia…"

"What's wrong?"

"Michael and Seele didn't leave any words. If they left normally, would they have left without saying goodbye? And, if Seele left with Michael, shouldn't he have frozen the World Bubble's movement again?"

"You mean Seele disappeared again after Michael left? That's impossible! Michael reinforced this World Bubble. There's no way…"

Before she could finish, the whole space started shaking, like a ship struggling in a tsunami.

"What's going on?!"

"Didn't I tell you before!" Mei pushed a chair into a safe corner, sitting down.

"I don't know what's happening in the Sea of Quanta, but there have been major fluctuations lately. The previous ones were minor, you and Seele might not have noticed. This should be the last and biggest one. Seele must have used this opportunity..."

Elysia's expression grew serious. "So, she really left? Then… If Seele returned to the original world… doesn't that mean…"

Mei took a deep breath, her eyes filled with pity and despair. "Yeah… that's what it means… Hmph! Convergence… We need to find a way to contact the original world… Fortunately, I'm not completely unprepared for this—Prometheus."

"I'm here, Doctor."

"When will the Second Divine Key be repaired?"

"Estimated three hours."

"The Second Divine Key? Isn't that…" Mei nodded at Elysia's shocked face.

"That's right. Our Second Divine Key only works in the World Bubble in theory. Because of the spatial power Michael left in the World Bubble, we can connect to the outside world on a small scale. Through the passage he opened."

"And then? Leave through it?"

"That's impossible, of course. All we're doing is opening a passage. We'll need some luck. Quantum entanglement. Hopefully, we in the original world will sense this and prepare or give a warning."