In the midst of a scorched wasteland, a magnificent cherry blossom tree stood tall—nearly thirty meters high. It bloomed brilliantly amidst the ruins, symbolizing rebirth after destruction, breathtakingly beautiful.
And beneath that grand cherry blossom tree...
Jingle—jingle—
The sound of delicate bells echoed softly. The shrine maiden of the Reverse God held a divine bell in her hand, each chime resonating perfectly with her graceful dance steps—and with Elias' heartbeat.
Elias gazed at Sakura, utterly entranced by her kagura dance. At this moment, his mind was filled with nothing but her—his shrine maiden.
He then invoked his authority, letting a gentle breeze flow toward the fox-eared girl. The wind lifted the fallen petals, swirling them around her, accentuating her beauty with every flutter.
Ever since the Honkai had descended upon the world, every religion that worshipped gods had suffered heavy blows. From humanity's perspective, the Honkai itself was a god, and the Herrschers were its apostles.
But the Herrschers' acts of destruction made people realize one truth:
There truly was a god in this world—but that god did not love mankind.
And if a god neither loved humanity nor sought to protect it, even desiring its annihilation—then why should humanity worship such a being?
Humans had never lacked defiance. When it came to survival, even gods could be defied—there would always be those brave enough to raise their blades and strike down the divine.
But because of this, most shrines had long since fallen into ruin. The shrine maidens had lost their duties, their faith, and their homes.
Once, Sakura too had been a shrine maiden who served the gods.
But when the Honkai came, her parents were killed, her shrine was reduced to rubble, and the once-pure girl had no choice but to set aside her red-and-white robes. She took up a blade and a mask instead.
To keep herself and her only remaining sister alive, Sakura had stained her hands with blood and sin.
A shrine maiden was meant to remain pure. Sakura once believed that a miko like her—tainted by blood and guilt—could only meet a tragic end, doomed to fall into hell after death.
But then, she found salvation.
A white-haired boy reached down into her darkness and saved her from that hell.
From that moment on, Elias became her god.
The kagura dance was meant to honor the gods—but this time, Sakura danced more devoutly than ever before, for the god she now served, the boy she adored, was watching her.
(Elias... I hope you like this kagura.)
As the melody reached its end, Sakura spun gracefully, her wide sleeves fluttering in the air. The divine bell in her hand chimed brightly, its clear sound blending with the drifting rain of petals.
The scene was so beautiful that Elias was left utterly speechless.
Seeing his expression, the fox-eared maiden smiled with quiet satisfaction.
The shrine maiden of the Reverse God knew—
She had pleased her god.
...
"My dearest Sakura, you should've danced this for me long ago. Ah~ how many beautiful things have I missed? I feel like I've lost billions just by not seeing this sooner."
Beneath the towering cherry blossom tree, Elias pulled Sakura gently into his arms, nuzzling her cheek affectionately. The way he looked at her was like gazing at a precious, irreplaceable jewel.
"You're exaggerating, Elias... you're making me blush."
"Then... will you dance for me again sometime? I've completely fallen for your kagura. This feeling..."
Elias pressed a hand to his chest.
Normally, beautiful things would make his heart race. But as he watched Sakura's dance, he felt something entirely different—an overwhelming sense of calm and peace.
It wasn't that his heart hadn't stirred. Rather, her dance had washed away every burden in his soul.
The Herrscher of Corruption, the Herrscher of Finality, the Honkai itself...
All the pressure and responsibility vanished for a moment.
This fleeting peace was something he hadn't felt in so long. He felt so light, so serene, that his eyelids grew heavy. For once, even without Misteln's authority, he thought he might actually dream peacefully.
"As long as you wish to see it, I'll dance for you anytime—because... I am your shrine maiden now."
Sakura rested her head gently against his shoulder.
At the same time, Sakura thought of a certain fellow Flame-Chaser who also regarded Elias as a god—and couldn't help but feel she had already won by far.
(Aponia... a nun can only pray, but a shrine maiden can bring joy. You lose.)
Prayers only added to Elias' burdens.
But her kagura could make him smile.
Clearly, size wasn't everything—talent was the key!
As that thought crossed her mind, Sakura's fox ears twitched slightly, and the corners of her lips curved upward in quiet triumph.
(I can dance kagura too... though not as beautifully as Sis. I should practice more when we get back. How foolish of me to only bring my sister's shrine maiden outfit and forget my own!)
Rin watched Elias and Sakura with a tinge of envy.
She recalled the kagura her sister had just performed—it was far more breathtaking than any she remembered. Though Sakura hadn't danced in years, her movements were so refined, so mesmerizing, it was as if she had practiced in secret thousands of times.
Rin knew why. Her sister had danced with a radiant smile the entire time. She must have been thinking of her brother-in-law—that's why it was so beautiful!
Elias, meanwhile, watched with complete focus, not even noticing Rin's gaze from beside him.
(Am I... a bit of a third wheel right now? Maybe... just a little jealous of Sis.)
Rin, too, was a young shrine maiden. Watching the two beside her, her eyes shimmered with admiration.
(When we get home, I'll practice too. If Sis ever gets too busy to dance for Brother-in-law, I can be the substitute!)
...
Yaaawn~ x2
Elias and Rin yawned at the same time.
The former was exhausted—ever since the end drew near, he had been like a student preparing for final exams, burdened by constant pressure and sleepless nights... the only rest he got was through long, intimate nights with Sakura until dawn.
As for Rin—she hadn't been sleeping well either. Every night, she stayed up outside their bedroom door, secretly eavesdropping. Her dark circles proved it.
"Sakura, let me borrow your lap for a bit."
"Sis, me too~"
"Uh... alright, alright."
Sakura couldn't help but laugh softly as she straightened her posture, letting both Elias and Rin rest their heads on her thighs.
"Ah~ so comfy." x2
Both Elias and Rin sighed in contentment.
Sakura's lap was the perfect pillow—soft yet firm—and her white thigh-high socks added a silky touch. They could both faintly smell her natural scent, delicate and faintly floral, like cherry blossoms.
(Hmm... this feels even better than Mei's lap pillow. Compared to Ely's... well, different styles, both top-tier.)
Though Miss Pink Elf had exquisite, shapely legs that were soft and supple, Sakura's were more toned yet still comfortable—a perfect balance. Another top-tier lap, without question.
Sleepiness began to overtake him.
Elias had always been fond of midday naps. Back when he first arrived in this era, he would nap every afternoon on Raiden Mei's lap.
Of course, there was always a certain little stowaway taking half the space—but since she was absurdly adorable, Elias had graciously allowed it.
Later, in the Previous Era, his favorite napping spot became Ely's lap—though sometimes it was reversed, with him serving as her pillow.
But after joining Fire Moth, such peaceful moments had become rare.
Now, resting on Sakura's lap, he felt nostalgic and at ease—as if everything had returned to where it began.
And just then, a gentle song began to flow through the air.
"The cherry blossom droplets that have blossomed in the night sky,
Disappear with you.
Even the full moon unable to see tomorrow is shrouded in this world.
Scattering flowers quietly have,
A sorrowful yet gentle dream,
An unloved flower; a sealed dream."
As the miko's song (Double Cherry Blossom) drifted through the air, Elias and Rin felt their minds relax, every worry dissolving. Within moments, both had drifted into a deep, peaceful sleep.
Sakura gazed down at the boy and girl resting on her lap, her eyes filled with infinite tenderness.
These were the two most important people in her life. Sakura gently raised her hands and brushed them over the heads of Elias and Rin.
Snow-white hair like silk, and cherry-colored hair like her own—both hues she adored deeply.
"I wish this moment could last forever."
She whispered unconsciously, leaning her back against the great cherry blossom tree behind her. Her thoughts drifted softly toward dreams of the future.
Sakura's wish was simple: to live peacefully together with these two forever. Just the three of them, leading an ordinary, happy life, free from pain and suffering.
Maybe someday, she could even rebuild their family shrine. If that happened, wearing her shrine maiden outfit every day would seem perfectly natural—and she could dance kagura for Elias anytime he wished.
The thought alone filled her heart with yearning.
She, too, was starting to feel drowsy.
But she couldn't bring herself to close her eyes—not even for a moment.
Because the sight of the white-haired boy and pink-haired girl resting peacefully on her lap... their unguarded sleeping faces... she could never get tired of looking at them. She wanted time to stop here, forever.
Still, she found herself something to do. Every so often, petals drifting down from the cherry tree would land on Elias and Rin's faces, and Sakura would patiently brush them away, over and over again.
But that peace didn't last long.
!!!
Suddenly, an immense surge of Honkai energy erupted nearby!
It wasn't the birth of a high-tier Honkai Beast—
Nor was it leaking from herself or Elias.
It was emanating from Rin's body!
"Sakura, the Herrscher of Corruption has arrived."
Elias, who had been sleeping soundly moments before, snapped his eyes open. The tension in his body returned instantly—once again, the white-haired boy became the Flame-Chaser who bore the name of [Deliverance].
Sakura looked on helplessly, her hands trembling as she clenched them tight.
"Elias... I'll leave it to you."
"Yeah. Don't worry—Rin won't become a Herrscher as long as I'm here."
He glanced at the still-sleeping pink-haired girl, completely unaware that the Herrscher had already descended upon her. Carefully, he began examining her condition.
After half a minute, Elias let out a quiet sigh of relief and even smiled slightly.
Just like the original timeline, Rin had indeed become the vessel of the Herrscher of Corruption, her body brimming with immense Honkai energy.
But she hadn't actually transformed into a Herrscher yet.
In the Previous Era, the birth of the Herrscher of Corruption required one condition: the death of the vessel.
In the original timeline, Fire Moth soldiers—driven mad by fear and hatred toward the Honkai—had brutally killed Rin upon discovering she had become the Herrscher's host. Only then did the Herrscher fully awaken.
After awakening, the Herrscher of Corruption, driven by resentment, invaded Fire Moth's central base and launched Honkai nuclear warheads at humanity's last three remaining cities—erasing the future of the Previous Era entirely.
(Strange... I thought the Honkai might change its patterns a little by now. After all, the Herrscher of Earth, Dominance, and Binding all diverged from the script because of my interference... but this one hasn't changed at all?)
Elias pondered for a moment, but no clear answer came to mind. So, he set the thought aside and began preparations.
He retrieved the Divine Keys [Fenghuang Down] and [Oath of Judah], then opened a spatial gate to find Mei—who was still busy transporting resources to the World Bubble. After a quick exchange, he retrieved the Gem of the Void and embedded it into the upgraded Divine Key—[Hand of the Void].
Finally, he opened the black containment box Vill-V had prepared, isolating the surrounding area into an offline field, completely cut off from all network connections.
"Alright... preparations complete. Hand Rin to me."
"Mm. Please... take care of her."
Elias gently lifted Rin into his arms, pressing the Hand of the Void—now embedded with the Gem of the Void—toward the girl's chest.
(As expected... the Herrscher Core has already manifested.)
Thanks to Vill-V's modifications, the second-generation [Hand of the Void] had been enhanced specifically for Core extraction—its efficiency at pulling out Herrscher Cores was unmatched.
Of course, the sensation of having one's Core "dug out" was... uniquely unpleasant.
Rin jolted awake instantly.
And then—
"S-sis! Brother Eli! What in the world are you doing?!"
Rin's eyes flew open. She had been peacefully asleep, only to feel something suddenly reach into her chest—when she opened her eyes, she saw her brother-in-law digging into her heart!
For some reason, the scene reminded her of an anime she'd once seen—but unlike that, her chest wasn't big enough to pull out a three-meter sword!
"Don't worry, Rin. It'll be over soon."
"Be good, Rin. Just leave everything to Elias."
"???"
Seeing her sister holding her hands tightly to keep her from struggling, Rin was utterly confused and had no idea what was going on.
But she wasn't stupid—she caught on quickly.
There were only a few things in this world that could make Elias and Sakura wear such grave expressions. And among those, only one answer fit.
The Honkai.
And although Rin didn't know the full extent of her sister's and Elias' power, she knew that a mere Honkai Beast wouldn't be enough to make them look this serious.
That meant there was only one possibility left.
"S-sis, Brother Eli... I'm not... turning into a Herrscher, am I?"
Rin's throat tightened as her voice trembled.
"Mm. Rin, you're the final boss."
Elias nodded solemnly, his hand still working inside her Imaginary Space, searching for the Herrscher Core.
"I—I fell asleep, and now I wake up as the final boss?! Nooo~ Brother Eli, help! I don't wanna be a Herrscher!"
Anyone from the Previous Era knew what a Herrscher represented.
Humanity's enemy. God's apostle. The destroyer of civilizations—and the villain destined to be defeated by the Savior.
Rin's eyes filled with tears. She was already trembling and close to crying.
(Is this a nightmare?! Am I being punished for secretly keeping Brother Eli's artbook... or for having those kinds of thoughts about him? That's too cruel, even for karma!)
(Uuu... it's over, it's over! Brother Eli's hand is literally inside my chest! At least let me clear my browser history before you kill me!)
"Brother Eli—uh, no, I mean, Big Brother Elias."
After a moment of panic, Rin took a deep breath, her voice shaking but resolute as she looked at him with shining eyes.
"Hm? What is it?"
"I like you—the same way Sis does."
"!!!" x2
Both Elias and Sakura's eyes widened in shock.
Elias nearly stopped his Core extraction midway, while Sakura's whole body stiffened—her fox ears standing bolt upright.
"A-anyway, I'm about to die soon, so if I don't say it now, I'll never get the chance. I just... don't want to leave with regrets."
Rin gave a faint, bitter smile. Since Fire Moth hadn't released information about Seele or Himeko to the public, the world still believed that all Herrschers were dead.
And because Sakura had done her job keeping the truth secret, Rin had no idea that she could still be saved.
"Rin... I never expected you to—"
"I just fell for him at first sight, that's all. Don't worry, Sis. Other than that one time I kissed Brother Eli when I was drunk... and occasionally imagining things in my head... I haven't done anything else."
"..."
Sakura's expression instantly darkened, her hand unconsciously resting on the hilt of Frozen Naraka.
"Ehehe~ I mean, I'm about to die anyway, so don't be mad, okay? Oh, and sorry, but I also... kinda hid a few of Brother Eli's doujins under my bed. Could you two maybe... burn them for me later?"
"..."
Elias' face darkened as well.
Just then, he finally located the Herrscher Core.
"Being your little sister, Sis, has been the luckiest thing in my life. And falling for you, Brother Eli... I don't regret it either. Uuu... if there's a next life, I hope I can meet you both again!"
Rin forced out a trembling smile, completely unaware of the chaos her confession had unleashed.