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

"So, Boss, are you the one who let them out? Shouldn't you take responsibility for them? Boss~?"

Kiana bounced over to Luo Mo, her curiosity evident.

"…"

"Hiss~ Logically speaking, you're not wrong. But why does it sound so weird coming from you?"

Luo Mo thought for a while, then glanced at Kiana. Something about her words felt off.

Why did he suddenly seem like some kind of scumbag?

It was bad enough that they were all female Flame-Chasers. How was he supposed to "take responsibility" for Kalpas or Kevin?

This was how you treated your ancestors, Kiana?

Kiana… you're really killing me here—

"Uh… that's just where we hang out, okay? It's not some sealed prison or anything. We're not demons, why does it sound like we were released on parole or something?"

Elysia protested with a charming giggle, her tone defensive.

What did Kiana take her for?

"Isn't it, though?"

Kiana's curious gaze and innocent tone made no attempt to conceal the malice in her words.

It struck a nerve in Elysia's heart. Since when did she become synonymous with "demon"?

How much did Kiana dislike her, anyway?

Well… that just made her like Mei even more~

"...Of course not! We simply stayed there for a purpose, unwilling to interfere with the choices of the next civilization."

"Repeating our choices wouldn't necessarily lead to a better outcome, after all," Elysia clarified hurriedly, waving her hands to correct the impression.

How could she let anyone call the Elysian Realm a prison?

At worst, wasn't it still a sacred and solemn trial ground for the previous civilization, a place where they had once lived?

"But it did imprison us, preventing us from leaving."

Mobius interjected bluntly, showing no regard for Elysia's feelings as a companion.

"But in the end, we still got out, didn't we?"

Elysia sighed helplessly.

"So… why didn't you escape in the game, but you did here? Isn't this supposed to be the same world? Ahem—alright, alright, stop looking at me like that. I'm just curious about how the Boss managed it, okay? I'm not stupid…"

Kiana coughed twice, turned her head awkwardly, and scratched the back of her head.

"Because… he persuaded Sakura. Or perhaps convinced Kevin?"

"Because he showed us the stigmata?"

Two different answers, each offering a perspective.

(TL/C: I have to admit, Boss knows how to convince "persuaded" others for business)

"Persuaded?" Bronya chewed on the word, as if realizing something.

If there was any difference between Sakura here and the one in the game, it was that this one was gentler, more cheerful… and had a younger sister?

Ha—how familiar.

(TL/C: you too got persuaded by him, when he used your Seele as a bargain LoL)

-------------

Meanwhile, Su, one of the few genuinely kind people in the Elysian Realm, continued investigating the full picture of the incident.

He could sense the looming storm but couldn't pinpoint its direction.

Thus, he approached Klein, the nominal manager of the Elysian Realm and Mobius's assistant.

During the consciousness transfer experiment, however, she seemed to have… played a completely opposite role. Mobius wouldn't make such a mistake.

"I'm just an assistant in the Elysian Realm. I wouldn't show any bias toward Dr. Mobius… But, I've indeed had similar doubts," Klein began.

"If the Doctor had written assistance for her experiments into my behavioral programming… then the situation would've been entirely different. But she didn't. In fact, even after I helped Raiden Mei, she didn't express any dissatisfaction."

"...That's indeed surprising," Su nodded slightly, his mind racing with countless thoughts and questions.

So what exactly had Mobius designed in Klein's foundational logic back then?

Klein wasn't merely an assistant; she wasn't created solely to serve Mobius.

What kind of tasks had she been entrusted with?

The thought flickered through Su's mind, but it wasn't crucial to the current situation.

"This question has puzzled me for a long time. I even went to ask her directly, but she didn't answer."

Klein spoke quietly, her expression a mixture of confusion, unease at the unknown future, and perhaps… a hint of hope.

"After repeatedly reviewing the messages left in the Doctor's memory module, I've formed a vague idea."

"Maybe… from the very beginning, Dr. Mobius wanted me to be an observer."

Klein finally spoke softly, sharing her speculation. It might have been just an idea of the Doctor's.

But… how should an observer act?

She couldn't figure it out.

----------

"I didn't expect… Mobius to have such a gentle side," Kiana said in astonishment. She had always thought of Mobius as a mad scientist, the kind who was crazy, disregarded others' thoughts and feelings, and had no friends.

It turned out she had distinct attitudes toward different people.

This made Kiana suddenly realize that even a Flame-Chaser like Mobius had a normal human side.

"But that's only toward Klein. For her, Mobius is always willing to make compromises. Klein might be the eternal 'white moonlight' in Mobius's heart," Luo Mo quipped with a smile. And yes, he used "white moonlight" on purpose. So what?

"…It feels like your wording is very inappropriate. Klein is my only supporter, so of course, I'd show her some favoritism," Mobius coldly responded, glancing at Luo Mo.

"And besides, I wouldn't compromise for anyone. Sooner or later… you'll end up on my lab table."

"Sure, if you can offer me an enticing reward after we defeat Honkai," Luo Mo replied casually, waving it off. After all, defeating Honkai seemed like a far-off matter.

And honestly… once they'd defeated Honkai, would there even be a need to research him?

"By the way… in this matter, neither I nor anyone else, her included—showed favoritism."

"Be it her creations, myself, Klein, or even Gray Serpent… she imposed no restrictions. Her very pursuit of infinite life made her reject the idea of setting unnecessary constraints."

Mobius frowned as she added this clarification.

Even though she didn't like acknowledging certain truths, stubbornly clinging to a mistaken notion wasn't her style.

"Sigh—"

A certain pink-haired fairy lowered her head, tears almost brimming in her eyes. "When will I ever hold that kind of place in Mobius's heart~?"

"If only Dr. Mobius could treat me like that," Elysia murmured wistfully.

"…"

Mobius pressed her hand to her forehead, rubbing it slightly, and took a deep breath.

She had to admit… Elysia had really changed.

At least in the past, or back in the Elysian Realm, Alicia hadn't been so over-the-top with her dramatic displays. It always reminded Mobius of a certain someone… someone who must have been a terrible influence on her.

Luo Mo, with his innocent expression, glanced back and forth between Elysia and Mobius. Looks like the serpent still wasn't good at dealing with Elysia … But why was Mobius glaring at him?

What did that have to do with him, a mere observer?

Absolutely nothing!

Luo Mo silently thought, nodding firmly to himself in agreement.

(TL: @%^# You Luo Mo, you made Elysia LIE for the first time! And F*** you Author WHY!!!)

-----------

Meanwhile, Su approached Kevin, hoping his old friend would exercise caution. After all, Kevin was the leader of the Flame-Chasers.

After listening to Su's full account…

"Consciousness transfer… I see. So that's Mobius's plan."

Kevin listened quietly, taking in everything Su said. Yet his expression remained unchanged, as if he had known all along. He maintained the calm composure of a leader from beginning to end.

"...You don't seem surprised?" Su asked in mild astonishment.

Kevin shook his head.

It wasn't that he had known the details; rather, he had always been aware Mobius was preparing something. He just hadn't questioned what it was.

Back then, their focus was entirely on fighting Honkai. Nothing was more important than that.

And besides… Mobius would never betray them. Her goal had always been Honkai.

"But using visitors as vessels to revive her own consciousness and interfere with the reality beyond the Elysian Realm… such dangerous actions pose a threat to the new era," Su argued.

"She won't succeed," Kevin stated coldly.

There was no doubt in his tone, as if the matter was beyond question.

"What?"

"Didn't you notice, Su…"

Kevin paused and looked at his meditative friend. Su's closed eyes trembled, as though about to open.

"She's desperate to prove the possibility of her theory because she has known from the very beginning—"

"That it's absolutely impossible."

Kevin's cold words carried a weight that seemed to pierce deeper truths.

"…"

Su remained silent.

(TL/N: Explain, because some of you won't understand. Mobius trying to prove that Elysia's death was correct. So she is doing some shits to prove that. If Mei was defeated, then that means Elysia's sacrifice for the new era was a lie)

---------

[Why is it impossible? Can someone explain?]

[Kevin… definitely knows more than Su. But why doesn't he seem as cold as the 'outside' Kevin?]

[Wait, what? Su… is he about to open his eyes?!!]

"Su sure likes to worry about unnecessary things. Instead of wasting energy on this, why not focus on improving your own strength? Being suppressed by a weak scientist like me… doesn't look great, does it?"

"Of course, I mean nothing else by that. Just stating the facts."

Mobius chuckled softly, though her tone carried a chill.

After all, this person had smeared her reputation in front of others on multiple occasions.

Not that her reputation needed it, people already understood how dangerous she was. But that didn't mean she appreciated others spreading those opinions.

"Weak scientist... tch, don't bring up what happened back then! It's so embarrassing. Why were you so weak back then, Old Timer?"

The Herrscher of Sentience complained indignantly, shooting a glare at Fu Hua. But soon, her gaze shifted back to Mobius, her expression growing more peculiar.

Speaking of which… Mobius should also be skilled at testing bricks, right?

Wait, no—what bricks? That's so ungrateful!

"Back then, Hua was still inexperienced~ She was much greener, you know? It couldn't be helped. Otherwise, how would she go on to carry out the later plans?"

Elysia chimed in with a nod, smiling warmly.

"So… what exactly happened?"

Mei asked curiously, glancing between Mobius, Fu Hua, and the Herrscher of Sentience.

"It seems… Mobius managed to defeat Su and Fu Hua in a combined attack? She single-handedly overwhelmed two Flame-Chasers. That's really impressive, isn't it?"

Elysia clapped lightly, as if praising a child, which only made Mobius look even more uncomfortable.

"Don't bring it up, don't bring it up. That really was a 'past too painful to recall!'"

The Herrscher of Sentience yelled, covering her head with her hands in exaggerated shame.

Fu Hua quietly observed, puzzled by why the Herrscher of Sentience seemed more agitated than she herself was.

Wasn't it was her own incident?

"…Hmph. Good. I don't want to talk about it either," Mobius murmured.

Klein's death… She had already anticipated it and understood why they hadn't wanted her to know.

Su wasn't that kind of person, and neither was Hua.

So who was the killer?

A Herrscher?

Ridiculous.

----

In the World Serpent Base

"So this… is the future of the Elysian Realm? Mobius… she's always wanted to leave, hasn't she?"

Kevin said calmly, gazing at the fragment of the iceberg revealed in the images.

A trace of nostalgia flickered in his otherwise cold expression before vanishing. For him, it was merely one possible path forward, a road he would not take again.

Nor would the others.

Raiden Mei would no longer enter the Elysian Realm. But Elysia might meet that girl, so much like Mei, yet retaining the heart of a human Herrscher.

No, perhaps Elysia would see even more.

The seeds sown in the previous era had now borne abundant fruit.

[Unintelligible data corruption: System interruptions and time displacement noted.]

It was no longer the past. Time flowed forward; people came and went. They would follow the predestined path, and the world would move toward its rightful course.

Tomorrow promised vibrant new colors, and he, too, could not remain stagnant.

Should he continue with the Stigmata Plan?

From what Yae Sakura shared, the theoretical and practical aspects of the Stigmata Plan had been completely refined. And the little one he had brought back from the Moon… Well, let's just call them "the little one."

It seemed they were getting along fine?

But that Mei wasn't the real MEI. Bubble universes always collapsed in an instant. At the peak of energy fluctuation, they reached their limits. Even Schicksal had sent inquiries.

He hadn't chosen to save her because she had asked him not to.

Yet now, fragments of her words echoed in his mind—like a sigh.

"Kevin, when will you ever consider yourself?"

Eyes brimming with both despair and hope, knowing nothing could change but pressing forward anyway…

But she was already gone.

He felt no further waves of emotion.

Within the Sea of Quanta, he had glimpsed countless bubble universes, some strikingly similar to their own. But without exception, they all failed to escape Honkai. None escaped failure.

--

In the shadowy depths of the World Serpent Base,

"So, My Lord… about the Stigmata Plan?"

From the darkness emerged a figure holding an umbrella, their eyes faintly glowing red.

The figure bowed slightly in respect.

The time Klein had spent in the Elysian Realm had prompted Gray Serpent to reflect. Mobius had never imposed limits on her creations, consistent with her usual philosophy.

Yet… he always knew he wasn't the perfect creation. And he had long imagined what Mobius's ideal creation would be like.

He had envisioned countless possibilities: the automaton Klein, the buried Herrscher of Corruption virus, or…

Never once did he imagine it would be another version of himself.

Fine. He admitted defeat, and willingly so.

"It's only to be used as a last resort… I made a promise to them."

Kevin stared coldly at the stage below. His steady gaze pierced the darkness. Light glinted briefly off the hem of his coat before vanishing again.

"Recently, the small-scale destruction incidents in the world have been identified. Schicksal may already know more than we do."

"Oh?"

"The Herrscher of a Thousand People "Dominance" … has descended!"

Gray Serpent wasted no words, directly delivering his findings.

"...I see," Kevin replied indifferently.

"However, the Theater of Domination and the Herrscher of Earth, who should have appeared…"

"Yes, I will investigate immediately," Gray Serpent responded.

Taking a step back, his figure once again dissolved into the shadows, disappearing entirely.

He understood his master's intention.

All Kevin needed was a single coordinate. Nothing more.

And that, for now, was enough.