Regarding the conversation between Kiana and Rita, Luo Mo overheard a bit. He could easily assess what they were referring to: it was clearly about the "snap-snap" Herrscher's influence. Indeed, in every side story or event within the game, (Irene) Rita's appearance rate clearly surpassed most characters. What's more, she would immediately capture everyone's attention the moment she appeared.
It could be said that this Violet-haired older sister was an absolutely vital presence—guaranteeing audience retention. And this wasn't because of any exceptional combat power or special villain role, but because of her outstanding outfit. That exposed fair skin paired with deep rose-colored garments, that faint smile always dancing on her lips, the way her brows lifted and fell—all resembled a dangerous poppy flower. It pulled people in irresistibly, luring them to stare and explore her mystique.
And the "snap-snap" Herrscher? No objections from her.
Kiana wisely chose to drop the topic.
But still... every time Rita showed up, she really grabbed all the attention, didn't she!
....
"Ah... Kasumi, sigh~"
Kallen let out a gentle sigh, feeling some frustration inside.
It was rare to meet an old friend again—even if only through the game. And Otto only appeared fleetingly, his face shown in profile while issuing commands from the shadows—there was no real reunion. It seemed like in every version of the world, Otto clung to a kind of obsession with his own survival. Even if it meant toppling everything and hurting many innocent people—that unshakable obsession made Kallen's feelings even more complicated.
She didn't want to admit that such a mindset could have once been her own. That sort of unyielding, absolute conviction was not a philosophy she ever agreed with or could justify.
And yet... maybe time really can change a person's nature.
She would never have imagined that, five hundred years later, she herself would become a head priestess. Nor could she have imagined that her own death five hundred years earlier would have had such a massive impact on Otto.
She found it hard to deny that this version of "herself" might no longer be truly her.
....
Kasumi's eyes were calm and soft, but the tea in her hand trembled slightly—its surface rippling gently, like the stirrings in her heart. She tried her best to appear calm, but inside, she couldn't fully suppress the waves of emotion.
Recording the voice acting at that time had been one thing…
But now, watching it all again from beginning to end, was something else entirely.
Having died once, she no longer feared such things.
And yet… her heart wouldn't quite follow her will.
She was a copy, a substitute, a sacrifice made for a fox spirit, a cold emotional assassin who shouldn't even exist. She wasn't someone meant to live beneath the sun—and yet, she had something of value.
That value alone was what defined whether she deserved life or death.
From beginning to end, the two never made eye contact again. Even at the start, they barely spent any time together—and afterward, even less so. Kasumi didn't care about that light that was never hers. Kallen would never treat someone else as just a replacement, either.
The two of them never belonged to the same world.
Even if they met, there would be no intertwining paths—only distant, separate lines, slowly diverging further apart.
All that remained was the shadow of an old friend, and the time they once shared.
All that remained... was memory.
.....
Inside the Golden Courtyard
Many of the heroes paid attention to Kasumi's experience. While some were drawn to her because of her resemblance to Sakura, their interest and curiosity had clearly been stirred—more so than with the Bronie storyline.
Through this perspective, they could gain some understanding of what happened between Kallen and the Herrscher of Corruption. At the very least, it provided useful insight. And the will of those two, along with their fearless embrace of both life and death, and the obsession that spanned five centuries—moved the hearts of many.
Compared to the emotional interaction with Luo Mo, this setting was more subdued and resilient, offering more subtle reflection.
But it also lacked clarity—there were no dramatic voice lines, just some abstract spirit-like performances. It made the story harder to grasp and explain.
Mobius became particularly interested in the use of the Six Paths Seal, especially the final path—the Hungry Ghost Path, which could tear open space and summon a Ferryman.
Meanwhile, Vill·V found herself strangely fascinated by the concept of Ninjutsu Seals.
Was it possible... to teach her the Shadow Clone Technique?
She wanted to learn it!
Once everything had finished, the crowd dispersed. Everyone returned to their duties.
Only Elysia, Eden, Sakura, and Rin remained in the main hall.
"I didn't expect that girl who looks so similar to you to have gone through such experiences... it really makes one feel a bit of pity..."
Elysia's eyes shimmered with a hint of sadness.
She had always hoped to become close friends with that person.
But aside from a few brief encounters outside, the other person always seemed intent on avoiding her.
So there wasn't much she could do—they had probably met the fewest number of times out of everyone near the villa.
But... maybe she was like that with everyone?
That thought lifted Elysia's spirits a bit—but also left her feeling a little down.
Sigh, so it turns out she wasn't the special someone who could crack open that girl's cold shell!
Then again, with Kasumi's kind of past experience, it's no wonder she kept everyone at arm's length. She was even colder than Sakura
"So what should I say? It's like seeing... another version of you, Sakura ?"
Elysia tilted her head slightly and smiled teasingly.
"Hmm, Sakura, have you really never considered trying on a shrine maiden outfit? That one kimono that flashed on screen for a moment during the cutscene—it actually looked pretty nice, didn't it?"
She withdrew the finger resting on her chin and gave a very fake-smiley grin toward the long-eared girl beside her.
In the story, Kasumi 's figure had overlapped a little with Sakura's, didn't it?
Wouldn't that make things even more fun~?
As for costumes—well, her opinion alone wouldn't be enough to make it happen.
But didn't she have a little helper on her side?
Didn't expect this, did you, Sakura ? Rin's already been recruited by me!
"Yes, yes, big sis! I also want to see you wearing the shrine maiden outfit!
Ah—though it doesn't have to be that one. Any costume Elysia picks for you would look great!"
Rin, next to them, responded with excitement.
Her eyes even darted upward now and then, sneaking glances full of subtle pleading, trying to silently pressure the long-eared pink-haired girl.
Sakura gave a helpless smile.
She lifted her head for a moment to give Elysia a sharp glare, then pursed her lips unhappily to make her attitude clear.
But the next second, she softened her expression like flipping a switch, reached out to gently brush Rin's hair, and said softly:
"Rin, behave a bit better...
That's the form of another 'big sister'—it wouldn't be appropriate if someone else saw it."
She spoke with such extreme gentleness that no one would've guessed her former profession had been that of a killer.
"Then, then..."
Rin bit her index finger, a mischievous glint in her eye. She tugged at Sakura's sleeve and asked:
"If it's another outfit instead... can we give that a try?"
Faced with such a cute little sister, Sakura was momentarily possessed by some spirit and gave a reluctant nod—reluctant, but not refusing.
They'd just gone shopping for clothes a few days ago, and she'd already tried on a few things—so it didn't seem like a big deal.
"Great! Then big sis will wear a different outfit each day! Let's see... from Monday to Sunday, there are seven days—but in the game, you've only got five outfits! Even if we ask Eden to tailor some new ones, there still wouldn't be enough! So..."
"How about trying out that wedding dress outfit that Yae Sakura never got to wear? That one doesn't technically represent her~"
Rin's true motives began to show as she innocently suggested this explanation.
If someone only looked at her appearance, they might really get fooled.
Sakura fell silent, gazing at the mischievous little sister in front of her with growing headache.
Where on earth did she even learn these tricks?
The next second:
"Big siiis~ Have mercy~!"
Sakura pinched Rin's ear gently with two fingers and gave it a little twist, making Rin cry out in playful pain as she flailed, begging for forgiveness.
She knew she'd been too impatient this time—next time, she should let sister Ellie take her time scheming if she wanted the plan to succeed.
As for that wedding dress—well, it wasn't like she actually wanted her big sister to get married or anything~
It was just that, back when she thought she was going to die, she had caught a glimpse of her big sister looking absolutely stunning in a beautiful outfit—something that seemed fitting for a major life event.
Naturally, that led her thoughts toward... a wedding.
She had already imagined what Sakura would look like wearing a pure white bridal gown—like a dream spun from gossamer threads. A fantasy image that had stuck in her mind.
And when that costume had appeared during one of Kiana's dreams in the game—Rin's long-lost wish suddenly reignited, and there was no stopping it.
After all, no game model could compare to seeing it in real life!
And besides...
She really, Really wanted to see big sis in a wedding dress.
That always-cool and aloof big sister... wearing that silky bridal gown...
Hehehe...
Even with her ear still aching, Rin's lips curled into a smug little grin, and she let out a soft, mischievous giggle.
"Rin... don't be like this. Please go back to your usual self..."
Sakura sighed. She suspected Rin might need some kind of discipline or restrictions—but maybe a gentle, gradual guidance approach like Elysia's would work better.
She looked at Rin with fond exasperation, a wave of affection rising in her chest.
This had clearly been a question she shouldn't have hesitated about—but now... she felt a small flicker of uncertainty.
"Big sis... come on, please? This is my last request.
I just want to see you looking absolutely beautiful every day!"
With lines borrowed from some old play, Rin landed her final blow.
Her eyes sparkled brightly as she looked up at her hesitating big sister—her heart filled with anticipation, the tension stretching tighter and tighter.
Aiii, fine!
"Alright! This is it—this is the moment where everything could be decided!"
At that instant, she felt a surge of confidence. Whether she would succeed or fail… it all depended on this one move.
Sakura had hesitated repeatedly, but under Rin's pitiful gaze, she finally closed her eyes and nodded helplessly, indicating her agreement.
How could she say no when her little sister asked her like that?
"Then when Eden makes the clothes, remember to add an extra set in a small size,"
Sakura said coolly, her voice tinged with a subtle smile as she swept her gaze toward Rin.
"If Rin's the one who chooses, then whatever she wears, I'll wear the same—how's that sound?"
In a certain way, she also wanted to see her little sister like that.
If this was Rin's final dream, then perhaps... it was also something Sakura herself had quietly longed for over the past 50,000 years.
What would Rin look like in that outfit?
Would she be just as stunning?
Would she like it?
Every time she saw Eden casually sketching outfit designs, Sakura had these thoughts too.
She would often gaze at the new clothes longingly for a while—so much so that Eden once assumed she had a personal interest in pretty clothes.
Maybe now… she'd finally get a chance to indulge that hidden wish?
After all—Rin had already suggested it.
Even the usually-cold expression on Sakura's face now held a trace of anticipation.
She glanced at Rin's excited and gleeful look, and the corners of her lips lifted just a bit in amusement.
Eden, who had been smiling the entire time, silently watched this little theatrical moment between the two sisters.
The heartfelt exchange and subtle games between them made her laugh so much that she nearly trembled—but she didn't say a word to ruin the moment.
----
After enjoying the Stroy involving Bronie and Kasumi, daily life returned to its usual rhythm.
In the training room, Kiana, Mei, and Bronya were adjusting to their new Stigmata.
Theresa had also thrown herself into mastering her new powers—starting with the most basic level: control.
At this point, the once-ceremonial title of "Head of St. Freya" now held real weight.
After all, only a Herrscher can defeat a Herrscher—and now, Theresa had become a true, literal Herrscher supervisor.
Even Su Lu couldn't help but gain some respect.
"Damn! What kind of school is this, where even the principal turns into a Herrscher?!"
Su Lu spoke bluntly and with genuine awe, clearly impressed by the academy's accomplishments—and also by the incredible achievement of its principal.
At the same time, her words carried a hidden blessing for the academy's future.
That was how Luo Mo interpreted her reaction.
He was also closely watching how Mei and the other two were training after receiving their Stigmata.
According to insider info from Bronya, their condition was excellent.
Though she also felt like she was being "fed dog food" (overloaded with other people's sweet moments), she wasn't sure if that was a real issue or just her imagination.
What was also worth mentioning was the arrival of two new exchange students from World Serpent—
Misteln and Prometheus—
who had come for a visit and a bit of sightseeing.
As for that... Luo Mo was highly suspicious.
Was there anything left of World Serpent anymore?
Probably just Kevin, that lonely bachelor...
Well, whatever the case—everyone seemed to have a bright future ahead.
The next stage of the story was already taking shape.
-----
"So what's the deal, boss?"
Back at the company, Kiana leaned on the desk with both hands and stared down Luo Mo.
"I haven't seen the main characters of Honkai Impact 3 show up in ages! Don't tell me you've forgotten about me!"
As a member of the internal dev team, it wasn't like she could complain to someone else.
"Of course not," he said. "We're continuing with that dark Theresa (Luna) arc. You know, I really—"
"Yeah, yeah, you 'love her deeply.' Not even ghosts would believe that one!"
Kiana gave him a hard glare, arms crossed, clearly unimpressed.
She looked like she was scolding him from a position of authority—though the desk between them took away some of her intimidation factor.
Unless she was wearing those Herrscher of Thunder high heels, that is...
She had to admit—
when that phrase first popped up, she actually found it a bit amusing and cute.
But over time... it started to feel seriously off.
What kind of "deep love" even looks like that?
She saw through it now—her boss just loved making creepy jokes at Luna's expense...
Like some kind of child!
Wait—could it be?
Did he treat Luna like a child because he realized she actually was one?!
Tch—no way!
Though... that kind of twisted logic?
Only the boss could pull that off.
Anyway, weird thoughts aside—now that he said it, the fate of dark Luna was pretty much sealed.
Honestly, Kiana kind of looked forward to it.
"Alright then, I'll wait.
But boss—you better not go overboard with Luna.
Things like this need... moderation."
Kiana twitched her nose, playing the part of someone who's easy to talk to,
like she was giving her boss some friendly "professional advice."
But the amusement in her eyes?
Impossible to hide.
Luo Mo had no idea what was going on, but he still nodded, took a sip of tea, and motioned for her to go.