Kevin's near trial by Merra in the Three Halls Tribunal.
Hokuto heard about it later but wasn't too surprised.
The people of Honkai Impact 3rd often caused strange disturbances for reasons outsiders could never guess or imagine.
A few days later.
MiHoYo studio, lunch break.
Kiana and the others crowded shoulder to shoulder, heads pressed together, whispering conspiratorially.
"Elysia came again today?" Bronya glanced toward Hokuto's office.
"Yeah, she's here to push for updates again." Mei nodded.
"Seems like this chapter cliffhanger really got Elysia anxious." Bronya pursed her lips.
"Actually, it's not just Elysia. I think Theresa's been quite anxious too lately… she really wants Honkai Impact 3rd to update soon." Kiana suddenly chimed in.
"I already know what happens next. Why would I be anxious?" Theresa's expression shifted slightly, but she quickly retorted.
She knew that she'd be saved by Durandal.
But beyond that, she had no idea what was coming.
"But…"
Kiana pondered, then replied, "Aunt Theresa, haven't you recently gotten yourself a new meme again, so… I've seen you muttering several times…"
She raised her pitch slightly.
"You don't really care about Theresa! You just want to meme!"
Theresa: "..."
"Pfft~~ So that's why. Theresa freefall, huh? No wonder she wants the game to update faster."
Everyone at MiHoYo understood immediately.
If that was the reason, it was perfectly reasonable for Theresa to want the update soon.
Seeing everyone's reaction, Theresa crossed her arms and rolled her eyes in resignation.
"Am I wrong? They only want to meme!"
"Actually, this is all the players' 'adoration' for Theresa. See, they always say Theresa is the cutest in the world." Someone tried to comfort her with a smile.
"Mhm, yeah, their 'adoration' is just spamming my stickers in every chat group."
Theresa responded perfunctorily, then seemed to recall something and got a little indignant.
"Do you know how it feels to go from three out of ten groups using my stickers to nine out of ten?"
"You don't know. You only know… Theresa flying kick, Judah Launcher, freefall…"
Everyone: "..."
"Aunt Theresa, you sure know a lot about these memes. I didn't realize you had so many." Kiana was genuinely surprised.
Theresa: "..."
Theresa fell silent instantly. Everyone's faces wore an indescribably awkward expression.
MiHoYo became unusually quiet.
After a while.
"Speaking of which, Elysia seems to be staying in Hokuto's office much longer this time. The previous times, she always left looking rather defeated."
Someone tried to ease the awkward atmosphere by changing the subject.
"Right~~ Why hasn't Elysia come out yet?"
"Oh, speaking of that! I happened to… pass by there earlier and heard some strange noises."
"Strange noises? What strange noises?"
"Well… stuff like 'I'm not ready yet, stop, don't, please stop…' and so on."
"Wah~~ Oh~~" *n
As the conversation went on.
They exchanged glances.
No one knew who took the first step, or perhaps it was simultaneous, but they all tiptoed toward Hokuto's office.
...
A little earlier.
Hokuto's office.
Click—
The door creaked open slightly, and a fluffy pink head peeked in.
"Hokuto, are you busy right now?"
"If you're busy, I can come back later."
"I wouldn't want to disturb your work."
"But it's lunchtime, so you should take a good break and not overwork yourself."
"..."
"...I'm free right now." Hokuto replied.
"That's good."
Hearing Hokuto's answer, Elysia entered the office relieved.
Before she could speak again, Hokuto asked directly.
"You're here to push for updates again?"
"Of course."
Elysia nodded briskly, "Elysia's gentle reminder♪ it's time to update~~"
"Elysia, I know you're anxious, but don't be. This isn't something that can be rushed." Hokuto said with slight helplessness.
"Who told you to cliffhang at such a critical moment!"
Elysia crossed her arms and retorted with full justification, "Anyone would be anxious!"
"I understand." Hokuto said sincerely, fully empathizing.
"You understand, yet you still cliffhang?" Elysia questioned.
"You don't understand." Hokuto shook his head earnestly again.
Elysia: "..."
"Hokuto~ you're really asking for a beating when you talk like this~~" She couldn't hold back anymore, "I'm tempted to give you a couple of punches."
"I'm just telling the tru—"
Hokuto probably realized that finishing that sentence would only dig himself deeper, so he stopped midway.
After thinking for a moment, he decided to change the topic.
"The next main story update will be ready in a few days. Speaking of which, Bronya and the others recently used their free time to finally polish up the in-game co-op minigame we've been working on. Interested in trying it out?"
"In-game co-op minigame? What's that?"
"Come, I'll send you the package."
After a while.
Elysia launched the updated beta version of Honkai Impact 3rd on her phone and noticed a new arcade icon on the bridge interface.
She tapped it, navigated through a few menus, and landed on a character selection screen labeled 'Jumping Dressing Room.'
"Pink Blooming Flower♪? Green Twisting Snake? What's this…?"
"This is called Honkai Beans. I plan to release it after the Elysian Realm chapter ends, around Lunar New Year."
"The Elysian Realm is ending before Lunar New Year?"
Elysia's attention immediately shifted to the Elysian Realm chapter's conclusion.
"That's the plan."
Hokuto nodded, then added, "But the end of the Elysian Realm chapter doesn't mean the end of the Realm itself. In fact, the Realm's content is just beginning."
"There's still plenty of… cough, plenty of story to come."
Elysia didn't catch Hokuto's slip, only becoming more curious about the upcoming content.
"Sigh~~ The continuation of Klorosthen's story already has me hooked, and now you're dangling the Realm's bait in front of me. I just want to skip forward a few months now."
"Even if you did skip ahead, you wouldn't see the full version of the Realm chapter."
"Why?"
"Because without you, the Realm chapter can't be made."
Hokuto's voice softened, "It's a story that 'begins and ends with you.'"
"Wow~! That sounds so epic!"
"So… you need to be ready, Elysia."
"Of course~♪"
Elysia was still brimming with excitement.