Making Honkai Impact lll In A World Where Kallen Exists [Continuation]

-----

Although the sudden shift to a cute and quirky tone seemed out of place, given that everyone in this realm was at least 50,000 years old, it wasn't entirely incomprehensible.

After all, the note was left by an adorable catgirl.

Anyone who knew her would recognize the writer immediately.

And yes, she would meow while talking. Like saying, "Mei-nee, I don't wanna die~" or something equally endearing.

She was so cute that one would feel an urge to hug her.

Such catgirls were incredibly rare. It just so happened that there was one in the Golden Courtyard next door. Perhaps she'd drop by someday.

Luo Mo thought to himself, his face thoughtful.

Sigh, what a pity. The last time she came was… well, the last time. I really want to touch her tail, it's so fluffy and soft, it's just irresistible.

Yet, Honkai Impact 3rd didn't seem to appreciate catgirls. While there were factions named after ducks and Elysia, there was no cat faction.

Why?

Because cats are mysterious. The moment they touch a "gate," they die.

------

"Phyllis? That name sounds familiar. Let me think… Meow, could it be that cat-eared girl?"

Kiana seemed more intrigued by the unseen Mantis mentioned in the video. The reason was simple, Sakura was already the one she felt most familiar with. After all, she had been there since the beginning...

Uh, on second thought, maybe she should take that back.

Perhaps the most familiar one now was Elysia. Despite meeting Sakura first, Elysia's enthusiasm and constant presence made her unforgettable.

With her vibrant personality, she always seemed to be around, making it impossible not to notice her.

Even though both Sakura and Elysia had pink hair and were fusion warriors, their personalities were worlds apart.

...

"Aiya, Kiana, haven't you figured it out yet? Phyllis should love introducing herself, it's her thing! You two seemed to have hit it off quite well," Elysia teased.

"Picture this: during a lazy afternoon spent skipping class, the warm sunlight gently falling on you, two equally stunning girls meet and become lifelong friends…"

"How about that for a storyline?"

Elysia folded her arms and grinned, her neat bangs perfectly framing her forehead as she nodded in satisfaction at the story she'd woven.

"Are you talking about me? Why does it feel like you have ulterior motives… wait, when did you see me skipping class?!"

Kiana looked at her in surprise. Had she been seen back then?

But now that it was mentioned, it jogged her memory...

The girl chasing after the cat was the same one who always tried to minimize her presence in the Golden Courtyard, timid, a little dejected, and longing for an ordinary life.

She wasn't the most vibrant person, but Mei didn't dislike her.

"That day... hmm? I think I was planning to find Mei," Elysia mused, lightly tapping her chin with her finger. Her head tilted back at a 45-degree angle, her gaze fixed on the ceiling. The white patterns were clearly visible, blending with the room's simple, cozy decorations, not as pretty as her pink, girlish room, though!

Her thoughts drifted back to that sunny afternoon and the task she'd planned to accomplish...

It had to be Mei.

It could only be Mei.

"You… were looking for me? But why?"

Mei unconsciously brushed her violet hair, a habitual gesture when she felt unsure. Faced with Elysia's straightforward answer, she didn't know how to respond.

"Why? If I had to give a reason…"

Elysia seemed troubled by the question. How could she explain it? There were countless reasons, but at its core, she genuinely felt that Mei resonated with her. This belief had been confirmed through the trials in the Elysian Realm.

She trusted Mei, trusted that she would reach the deepest part of the Realm and bring its secrets back into the light.

At this moment, as she looked at Mei's curious expression, her gaze was inevitably drawn upward, stopping on a pair of jet-black horns.

"...Hehe, because I feel a strong connection with you, Mei. We've always had so much to talk about, haven't we?"

Reluctantly, Elysia shifted her gaze back. She felt it wasn't the right time, not yet—to make her request.

"I don't think so. I definitely have more of a connection with Mei than you do!"

Kiana muttered softly from the side.

The white-haired Kaslana, ever-defiant!

As a member of the Kaslana family, she would never accept defeat… nor, ahem, a green hat. No way.

Kiana's fiery determination reignited.

---

"Hey, did you see that? I finally made it into the game!"

"But… hehe, too bad. It seems I haven't fully appeared yet…"

Pardofelis's cheerful tone dipped as she spoke. Wait, had she truly "appeared," or hadn't she?

Absentmindedly, her small hands stroked a can, feeling its soft, warm fur. And… was it heavier than before?

She reached out with both hands, holding the can up for inspection, her expression serious as she nodded.

Wow, had this cat been sneaking extra meals? How did it get so heavy?

Even in a place full of delicious food, this was too much!

"Meow—"

A short, sharp meow interrupted her thoughts. The can stared at its 'owner' in mild irritation, why was it being held up in the air?

With a soft plop, it broke free from Pardofelis's grasp, leaping onto the couch and curling up in a cozy spot to continue lounging.

"Ugh—can… your temper, ah… ah-choo!"

Pardofelis's sneezed loudly, rubbing her nose in embarrassment.

"Why are you in such a rush, little Pardo? Did you inhale too much dust?"

Vill-V quipped, her arms crossed as she sat quietly on the couch nearby.

Without a proper audience, even the great magician's enthusiasm for performance waned. Those two… tch.

"N-No, Vil-V…"

Pardo waved her hands hurriedly but sneezed again. "It must be someone plotting against me. You have to protect me!"

"Your claim… are you sure about it?"

Vill-V gave her a curious look, surprised at Pardo's apparent ability to predict danger.

"Of course! Someone must be trying to harm me. Otherwise, why would I have these symptoms? I've always been lucky, even getting sick must be a way to avoid greater misfortune."

Pardo glanced around cautiously, but nothing seemed out of the ordinary. Her unease gradually faded, though she still felt a faint sense of dread when looking toward the door.

Could the enemy come from there?

She didn't understand, but with so many people around, who would dare attack here? Surely they wouldn't target her specifically… right?

------

This exploration ended without Mei encountering another Mantis.

The journey concluded peacefully, but it provided Mei with a deeper understanding of the Elysian Realm.

In the hall, the pink fairy waited patiently, a joyful smile on her face as she welcomed Mei back.

In this mysterious space, countless details awaited discovery.

The memory-laden space seemed to shift subtly with Mei's presence.

In Elysia's hand, a gleaming silver badge of the MOTHs Chasing Fire began to take shape. Supposedly, it was the first and only one of its kind.

According to Elysia, there was even a golden commemorative edition for the 25th anniversary. Unfortunately, no one ever obtained it, the MOTHs didn't survive that long.

That badge was one of the items that connected her to her companions, and now, she offered it to Mei.

In the following days, Mei spent more time exploring the hall rather than delving deeper into the Realm.

Unlike Elysia's initial guidance, Mei preferred to seek answers with her own eyes.

Now, she stood before an unusual room, the Intelligence Room.

"Casually barging into someone else's room is rather rude, you know."

Elysia's sudden appearance startled Mei, though she should have expected it by now.

No matter where she went in the Elysian Realm, she would always encounter Elysia, as if their paths were destined to intertwine.

"Sorry, I didn't know this was your room… It's labeled as the Intelligence Room."

Mei reasonably expressed her confusion.

"Just kidding!"

To her surprise, Elysia merely giggled mischievously, leaning forward slightly with an increasingly adorable expression.

"Even if it were my room, it wouldn't matter. Do we need to be so formal between us? Come, let me give you a tour."

"…"

Mei could only remain silent.

------

[Kiana in Anti-Entropy. Elysia: Mei~ There's something amazing in my room. Want to come and see?]

[The more I watch, the more I love Mei and Elysia's banter. Mei is becoming so assertive! I can't imagine how things will go when she meets Kiana again!]

[Sorry Kiana, but it looks like your Mei is being taken away~]

"Wow, you… Mei wouldn't want to go to your room!"

Kiana was horrified, watching the playful interaction between the two on the screen. She was consumed by a sense of crisis. What exactly was that woman up to?!

"Hmph!"

Elysia snorted softly.

"Stop inviting people to your room, seriously. Girls shouldn't be so casual about these things."

Kiana tried her best to give a heartfelt warning, attempting to steer things back on track.

"Oh dear, even if you say that… not many people have been to my room. Mei is an exception because I really like her."

Elysia chuckled, countering Kiana's objections.

"Speaking of badges… Elysia, do you know what this reminds me of?"

Mobius's eyes glinted with a hint of hostility as she looked at Elysia from the side.

"It reminds me of how, as one of the original members of Fire MOTHs, I wasn't even awarded a 25th-anniversary pure gold badge ahead of time. What a shame."

Elysia sighed repeatedly, lamenting the situation.

"…Tch, you better be kidding."

Mobius let out a cold snort but ultimately ignored her. Pointing out Elysia's antics at this point was pointless, especially since she'd somehow obtained her badge with such a ridiculous excuse.

Even if Mobius didn't particularly care about such things, it wasn't a justification for Elysia's mischief.

-------

In the game, Mei couldn't help but grow curious about the "First" that Elysia frequently mentioned.

Did the thirteen Herrschers really have an official ranking?

If so, what determined those ranks?

And… where exactly did Elysia rank among them?

"The second spot, naturally. I'm in second place, usually regarded as the vice-leader. By the way, Mei, I'm so happy you're interested in me."

Elysia's eyes sparkled with a mixture of mirth and pride as she informed Mei of her position, the one directly below Kevin. She was the other leader of the Flame-Chasers.

"As for rankings, you don't need to pay them too much mind, because…"

She blinked playfully and laughed. "The rankings are decided by me. Of course, I did consult everyone's opinions."

Mei fell silent, seemingly pondering Elysia's response.

Elysia's answers were always like this, each one seemed like an honest truth, yet also came across as harmless jokes. It was impossible to discern whether she was serious.

"And… what about that place? You mentioned something called the Assembly Hall before. I thought it was just something unique to your side, but now it seems like the differences between our two civilizations aren't so vast after all."

"What is it, really?"

Mei pointed to a spot under the warm lighting, a leather sofa with a painting hanging on the wall above it, giving the space an artistic touch. Shadows cast by the shelves stretched into areas where light couldn't reach, exuding a sense of coziness.

Nearby, a small bar counter displayed vintage wines. The spotless chairs hinted that people often stopped by for a drink, filling the space with a lively atmosphere.

"For a conference room, isn't this place a little too homey?"

As always, Mei's observations struck straight to the point.

"That's my idea," Elysia replied cheerfully. "I made a few adjustments to help everyone relax a little.

"After all, work isn't everything. Sometimes, we need to gather and have some lighthearted conversations."

Elysia's response was earnest. She believed such changes were necessary, even if some of her companions didn't agree. Yet, after the renovations were complete, they often stopped by, which made everything worth it for her.

"Oh, and I think it was behind this wall… There should be a hidden sound system and a luxurious vanity. I wonder if they're still functional."

Elysia tapped on the wall thoughtfully as she reminisced, but to her disappointment, she couldn't find anything hidden.

"Sounds like it was all someone's 'idea.'"

Mei's tone carried a faint chill, almost cutting. She had pieced it together, these were all Elysia's personal whims.

"Shh, let's leave it at that," Elysia whispered, putting a finger to her lips and blinking adorably. Her crisp voice continued, "Anyway, for future visitors like you, this is a great place to rest.

"Whether you want to take a break or see me, you're always welcome here."

For some reason, her smile deepened.

She also mentioned something in the Elysian Realm resembling fiery glass stones.

Each Mantis had their own untold story or message for future generations, stored in items called Memory Vessels. Activating them required special mediums.

"Oh, by the way, make sure to put the first gift into the second bottle on the left-hand side, the prettiest one."

Before leaving, Elysia didn't forget to remind Mei of this important detail.

As for what Elysia praised as the "prettiest," the implication seemed self-evident.

Mei glanced at the second bottle, a flawless Memory Vessel. Strangely enough, she wasn't surprised by this at all.

-----

[Elysia never forgets to praise herself]

[I love the playful banter between Elysia and Mei… Damn, but I still deeply adore Kiana!]

[Kiana, don't cry… Green is also very beautiful!]

[It seems like this is a scene from one of the old footprints, so it really was Elysia all along!]

For Kiana, it was the same old story: watching Mei and Elysia's banter was more unbearable than death.

It felt like Mei's heart was about to be stolen! What to do? Online now, very urgent.

Oh, wait—it's the Mei in the game.

But still, no!

Kiana declared that she would never accept it.