"You actually got it right. I didn't expect your luck to be so good, Class Monitor," Kiana remarked.
She thought back to her own first question, which she had gotten wrong.
"Er..."
Fu Hua was also a bit surprised. She had already been prepared to lose a year of her life, but she hadn't expected to actually guess correctly.
Could it be... that my luck is finally turning around?
She never thought that she, a gacha player with famously bad luck, would one day successfully smuggle herself into the land of the lucky.
Fu Hua looked at the materials box in her hand and was suddenly struck with a bold idea.
Should I... try to open it?
Ever since she pulled nothing but consolation prizes in one hundred consecutive lottery draws at the arcade, Fu Hua had given up all hope in something as ethereal as luck.
But now...
Fu Hua hesitated for a moment before abandoning the idea.
After all, the fear of lottery draws, accumulated over a long time, made her genuinely terrified to step into that world that did not belong to her.
If she opened it in front of everyone and got the worst possible reward, where would she hide her face?
"Principal, you should take this." Fu Hua handed the materials box to Theresa.
The box itself wasn't large, only about fifty centimeters in diameter, and it had a Homu's face printed on the outside.
"For me?"
"Mhm, it's not of much use to me anyway."
"Hehe, then I won't be polite. This materials box is a godsend for St. Freya."
Theresa accepted it with a beaming smile. St. Freya was in desperate need of materials right now. With materials came resources, and with resources, anything was possible.
---o---
Just then, a familiar screen flickered to life in the Q&A space.
Everyone quickly focused their attention on it.
The background of the image was a ship high up in the sky. Just like last time, the main characters in the scene were Fu Hua and Otto.
But unlike last time, Fu Hua was collapsed on the ground, seemingly having suffered a severe injury, while Otto stood before her.
Then, they heard Otto speak.
"Ah... how pathetic you look, old friend. The last time I saw you this badly injured was five hundred years ago on Taixuan Mountain, wasn't it?"
"Never mind. Let me heal you first. Consider it a celebration for the successful conclusion of the first phase of the experiment."
Fu Hua struggled to lift her head, her eyes filled with confusion and rage as she looked at Otto.
"Why... why did you let the Second Herrscher go? Don't you know her target is..."
"Theresa. I know."
Otto said calmly, his expression unchanging, as if the name he had just spoken belonged to a complete stranger.
Watching this scene, the Theresa outside the screen couldn't help but feel a chill creep into her heart.
She thought of the doting Otto who usually spoiled her and let her act like a child, then looked at his cold and ruthless demeanor in the image. Theresa couldn't understand which one was the real Otto.
"I imagine it won't be long before they are caught, right? There will be no one to interfere this time. Their battle will continue until the very last moment."
"What did you say...?" Fu Hua stared at Otto in disbelief.
"Oh, right. I haven't told you yet. K-423 is not dead. In fact, I need her to live."
"...?"
"Right now, two consciousnesses reside in that body. One is K-423, whom you all call 'Kiana.' The other is Sirin, the Herrscher of the Void."
"After absorbing the Gem of Serenity, the Gem of Conquest, and a large amount of high-purity Honkai energy, Sirin's consciousness began to awaken and successfully took over K-423's body, ultimately leading to the reawakening of the Herrscher of the Void."
"But, that is not the ending I desire."
"K-423's consciousness has not disappeared. She has merely fallen into a deep sleep due to Sirin's awakening. So, if we reverse the situation, what would happen if K-423's consciousness were to overcome Sirin's?"
"The answer is, a human possessing the power of a Herrscher will be born!"
"This has already been proven by the Third and Fourth Herrschers."
"After all, controlling a human is much simpler than controlling a Herrscher, wouldn't you agree?"
"Of course, it will be no easy task for K-423's consciousness to defeat Sirin's, but it is not impossible."
Hearing this, Fu Hua's eyes widened. She spoke in a trembling voice.
"Could it be..."
"That's right. Emotion. Emotion can create miracles."
"In the two years K-423 has been at St. Freya, the feelings between them have long since forged an unbreakable 'bond.' These memories, filled with happiness and warmth, will be K-423's greatest strength. She will tear apart the heart of a Herrscher that knows nothing of love."
"They... they will be killed...! Do you not care at all whether Theresa and the others live or die?!" Fu Hua roared.
"I understand. The disparity in their combat strength is obvious."
"But it is precisely for that reason. When people are in desperate situations, they often shine their brightest."
"According to my calculations... when a sacrifice occurs, K-423 will reclaim this body."
"I believe in Theresa. I believe in her students. To kill a Herrscher with love—this is a great feat that only they can accomplish."
"Bastard!"
Watching this, the people outside the screen exploded. Kiana gritted her teeth, wishing she could land a couple of punches on the Otto in the image!
She finally understood why she would become a Herrscher in the future. It was all that bastard Otto's doing!
And because of him, Teacher Himeko would die to save her!
"Grandfather..."
Theresa clenched her fists, her whole body trembling. She had never imagined that the grandfather who had always doted on her could be so ruthless in reality.
So it's true. In his eyes, I am nothing but a toy, a replica he can create at will, someone to play house with when the mood strikes.
Grandfather, since you are unjust, do not blame me for being unrighteous.
Goodbye, Grandfather. And... goodbye, my cowardice.
"..."
He's insane.
This man is completely insane.
Inside and outside the screen, both Fu Huas had the same thought.
"Haha... Hahahaha..."
The Fu Hua in the image suddenly began to laugh, a laugh filled with self-mockery and irony.
She laughed at herself for actually believing Otto's lies, for betraying everyone at St. Freya, only to receive such an outcome.
"My friend, I now officially ask you. Because your actions have exceeded my control, I have chosen to tell you everything."
"Even so, will you still oppose me? Will you still try to stop me?"