Honkai Transformations - 51
--+--
Otto fell silent.
Aboard the Brilliant Covenant, a sea breeze swept past the two of them, tugging at their hair. Kallen stood perfectly still, her mind racing.
Otto was almost certainly trying to convince her to give something up. Or perhaps he held some sort of leverage—a sliver of hope that could save her life, but only through a path that would utterly betray everything "Kallen" believed in.
In that moment, Kallen's thoughts flashed to Rita waiting below. Then to Theresa. Her heart skipped a beat.
Otto, that madman... He wouldn't actually try to lay a hand on Theresa, would he? Did he intend to turn her into another Luna Kindred?
Kallen's expression hardened as the thought took root.
"Otto, that's enough!" she snapped, her voice sharp and trembling with indignation. "Enough! I won't have anyone else getting hurt or losing their lives because of me!"
"Kallen..."
"Otto."
Kallen didn't give him the chance to talk her around.
She stood tall before him, one hand pressed to her chest, her eyes blazing with resolve. "I don't know if I truly am Kallen Kaslana, but I won't run away from my fate either!"
Otto watched her, submerged in a long silence. In that instant, he felt as though a ghost of a slap had landed silently against his cheek. The sting was hauntingly real.
It was as if the slap Kallen had dealt him five hundred years ago had bridged the centuries to strike him once more.
Then, he smiled. It was a smile layered with relief, bitterness, and a faint, lingering trace of envy.
"You really are... her."
What does that mean? Kallen felt a chill crawl down her spine.
She had the sinking feeling that Otto was about to do something monumental. But as she braced herself, Otto simply turned away, gazing out at the vast expanse of the ocean beyond the deck.
"Kallen... whatever you decide, I will respect it."
"Huh?"
Kallen blinked, caught completely off guard. She had been mentally prepared for Otto to try and force her hand. To hear those words from him was the last thing she expected.
"Just... don't forget that there are people in this world who care about you."
Kallen immediately thought of Yae Sakura. Aside from Otto, Sakura was likely the person who cared for her most in this world. But in the end, she wasn't this world's Kallen.
Kallen looked at Otto, falling silent as a wave of complex emotions washed over her.
"Thank you... Otto," she replied. Her voice was calm and low, yet anchored by an unshakable certainty. "But enough is enough. No one else should suffer because of me or the blood in my veins. I'm... I'm tired. If death is my final destination... I'll meet it gladly."
"...I see."
Otto didn't turn back, nor did he say another word. Kallen turned and headed for the VTOL, and he made no move to stop her.
The aircraft took off, descending toward St. Freya Academy below. Once Kallen stepped out, the jet hummed back to life, heading back toward the Brilliant Covenant. Only Rita remained behind.
Rita approached Kallen and gave a slight, elegant bow—a gesture so perfectly poised it was impossible to find fault with.
"Lady Kallen, the Overseer has requested that for the next four days, I serve as your personal maid. I will be responsible for your daily needs, and should you require anything, I shall relay your requests to Lord Otto on your behalf."
Was Otto still hoping she'd change her mind? Or did he know all along she'd refuse him, and left Rita here as a precaution? Kallen's head was spinning.
Yet, she had a nagging suspicion that Otto truly wouldn't interfere with her choice. Even if she wasn't his Kallen, he seemed intent on granting her every wish.
"I... I don't need a maid," Kallen said softly, shaking her head.
"Understood. In that case, Lady Kallen, I shall reside within St. Freya for the time being. If you have any needs, please do not hesitate to call for me."
"..."
Theresa and the others hurried over just then.
"Kallen! What did Grandpa say to you? He didn't bully you, did he?" Theresa's face was a mask of anxiety as she grabbed Kallen's hands, looking her up and down for any sign of trouble.
Yae Sakura followed close behind, her eyes filled with a mix of tension and worry. Seeing them like this, Kallen felt a gentle warmth bloom in her chest.
What could happen...? Otto's theories were just that—theories. She wasn't the real Kallen of the Sanguine Nights. She might as well treat this as a beautiful misunderstanding.
Kallen offered a helpless smile and said softly, "It was nothing. We just... talked about the world I came from."
She tried her best to sound casual. Unfortunately, the Kaslana family seemed to have a genetic deficiency when it came to lying. Everyone could hear the slight tremor of "off-ness" in her voice.
"Grandpa called you up there just for that?" Theresa asked, her brow furrowed in suspicion.
"Yeah, just that," Kallen nodded, her gaze drifting involuntarily. "He also said... I should cherish the time I have here."
Theresa blinked, her eyes narrowing. She could tell something wasn't quite right, but she couldn't put her finger on it. Beside them, Himeko watched Kallen, a small frown playing on her lips.
She could see that Kallen's smile was forced. Still, she didn't push, assuming they had just touched on painful memories of the past—or perhaps the fact that Kallen would be leaving in a few days.
"Alright, alright, let's head back first," Himeko said, breaking the heavy silence. "Standing around here is exhausting enough as it is."
The group began to walk toward the dorms, the air filling with their chatter. Kallen listened to Kiana ramble about the day's training and how "awesome" she was for finally passing her makeup exams. Mei offered her usual gentle encouragement, Theresa chimed in with the occasional jab, and Bronya followed quietly in the rear.
This kind of life... it's actually quite nice.
Kallen felt her heart start to settle. Just then, she felt her hand being squeezed gently by Yae Sakura. It was incredibly warm—a warmth that made Kallen's heart flutter, making it hard to let go.
The "clueless" types really were the natural enemies of the "schemers." Kallen felt like Sakura had her completely figured out without even trying.
"Kallen," Sakura said softly.
"Hmm?"
"Is everything really alright?"
Kallen's pace faltered for a fraction of a second.
She turned to meet Sakura's eyes and saw the worry, the care, and a certain... sharp intuition, as if Sakura had sensed something hidden deep beneath the surface. Kallen's stomach did a nervous flip.
Please, don't go digging... I just want to disappear quietly in three days and transform into the next Valkyrie.
Kallen quickly forced another smile. "I'm fine. Really."
Sakura watched her, silent for several beats, before finally giving a small, slow nod.
"If you say so."
--+--
Honkai Transformations - 52
--+--
Evening, Valkyrie Dormitories.
"And that's victory number 121 for Bronya."
"Ugh, so annoying! How did I lose again!?"
Kiana and Bronya were locked in a heated gaming session in the living room, while Himeko was enjoying a rare moment of peace, savoring a glass of fine wine. Everyone was lost in their own little world.
Including Kallen.
"Sakura... tonight, I'd like to take a soak in the bath by myself for a while," Kallen said, looking at Sakura with a faint flush creeping onto her cheeks.
"Mm..."
Sakura's eyes flickered with a hint of uncertainty, but she nodded nonetheless.
"Alright. Just don't stay in too long, or you'll get dizzy."
Kallen let out a quiet sigh of relief. After all, she had a major operation planned for tonight.
As Sakura turned and headed down the hallway, Kallen watched her figure until it vanished around the corner. Only then did she allow herself to relax. She slipped into the bathroom and clicked the lock shut.
The bathtub was already brimming with steaming hot water. She could have easily shed her clothes, rinsed off, and succumbed to the comfort of a long soak.
"I really just want to forget everything and jump in," Kallen grumbled softly to herself. Instead, she pushed open the bathroom window.
Immediately, a sea breeze carrying a hint of salt wafted into the room.
"Time to move..."
After a cautious glance outside to ensure the coast was clear, Kallen hopped over the sill and landed lightly on the grass. Staying low, she began to creep stealthily toward the Research Department.
Back in the dorm, Fu Hua—who was sitting on the sofa sipping tea—stiffened for a split second. Her expression shifted, but she quickly went back to drinking her tea as if nothing had happened.
It didn't take long for Kallen to reach the perimeter of the Research Department.
The building was still ablaze with lights. Through the windows lining the corridor, she could see researchers buzzing about their work. Kallen watched them for a moment before slipping inside.
She snatched a stray lab coat off a desk to throw over her shoulders—a makeshift disguise to hide her most recognizable features—and began making her way toward the deepest sector of the facility.
After all...
Kallen wasn't like the original Kallen. She wasn't foolish enough to put on a simple masquerade mask and a flashy outfit and expect people not to recognize her.
Within seven or eight minutes, she reached the laboratory where her blood samples were stored.
Lady Luck was on her side tonight; the lab was completely empty.
Kallen let out a shaky breath. "This is it. If I destroy all these samples, I won't have to worry about Theresa and the others finding out that I'm destined to die the moment I go back."
Just as she was about to step into the lab, something caught her eye. Her heart skipped a beat as a familiar figure appeared around a nearby corner.
Rita!
The moment she spotted that elegant silhouette, Kallen lunged into the laboratory and pressed herself against the wall, exhaling sharply.
That was close... way too close.
Wiping the sweat from her forehead, Kallen felt a pang of confusion. Rita... why is she here?
There was no way Theresa would have given Rita full clearance to the Research Department on her very first day. Especially not after Schicksal headquarters had sent infiltrators just a few days ago to steal a vial of her blood.
Thinking about it made Kallen's face darken.
It was obvious. Rita was either tailing her, or she was here to steal more blood samples!
What a terrifying woman...
Deciding she might as well go all the way, Kallen approached the cryogenic storage unit. She pulled out a hairpin she'd swiped from the bathroom—she wasn't even sure whose it was—and made quick work of the lock.
She scanned the labels rapidly until she found the vials containing her blood.
"Purple-red..."
Looking at the dark, shimmering fluid inside the glass, Kallen went silent for a few seconds, an expression of pure disgust crossing her face.
These samples were crawling with countless strains of bacterial Honkai beasts. Even though they were dead, just thinking about it made her skin crawl.
How should she get rid of them?
She looked toward the lab sink but immediately killed that thought. Who knew what kind of disaster throwing this stuff down the drain would cause in a world governed by such weird logic.
"I'll just use this..."
The wings of her Sündenjäger Valkyrie armor manifested behind her. Using the lowest possible energy output, she vaporized the vials, physically erasing the samples from existence.
"Phew..."
With the deed done, a sudden, inexplicable sense of relief washed over her.
"Now I don't have to worry about Theresa and the girls looking like the sky is falling one day."
Kallen allowed herself a satisfied smile.
While she enjoyed the idea of one day turning into a character from Genshin Impact and teasing Kiana by telling her that Raiden Ei's personality had been suppressed by the Shogun puppet, she had no desire to see Sakura's face if she found out Kallen was walking toward certain death.
That would be way too cruel. Even more heartless than that time she brought a "family photo" to camp the bridge in a game.
"Time to go, time to go."
Relaxed now, she turned to leave. But the moment she reached the lab door, she froze.
Rita was standing there, waiting.
Her wine-red eyes watched Kallen silently, an elegant, charming smile playing on her lips.
Kallen's entire body tensed. Her expression turned sour in an instant, though she tried to act like someone who hadn't realized they were being followed until they were caught red-handed.
What did Rita want? Did Kallen just destroy her mission objective? Was she going to fail her task? Or was she planning to expose her?
As Kallen's mind raced through a dozen worst-case scenarios, Rita simply gave a slight, graceful bow and turned to walk away.
She hadn't uttered a single word.
Kallen stood frozen on the spot, her mind a chaotic mess. What the hell is she playing at?
But now wasn't the time for questions. As soon as Rita was gone, Kallen quickly scrubbed any trace of her presence and fled the Research Department.
She bolted back to the dorms and jumped straight into the shower to wash away the night.
"Hah..."
Standing under the spray, Kallen's brain was still spinning. What was Rita doing? There was an 80% chance she'd already reported everything to Otto. But what would Otto do with that information?
After a long bout of frustrated thinking, she decided to stop dwelling on it. She sank into the bath for a quick soak, then dried herself off.
--+--
Meanwhile, on the other side of the base.
Rita had returned to her temporary quarters and pulled out her communicator.
"Lord Overseer," Rita said, bowing slightly to the virtual projection of Otto Apocalypse. "Lady Kallen destroyed her blood samples tonight."
Otto, who had already returned to Schicksal HQ, remained silent for several seconds. His gaze drifted to the laboratory surveillance footage Rita had sent over.
He watched the recording of the girl "sneaking" around, clearly convinced that her clumsy disguise made her invisible. A soft laugh escaped him, his smile tinged with a deep, aching nostalgia.
He thought back five hundred years, to the days when he had donned a dress just to provide cover for Kallen's antics.
Kallen really hadn't changed at all.
"Let her be."
Rita nodded slightly. "Understood, Lord Overseer."
However, a trace of doubt lingered in her eyes. Otto caught the confusion and offered a gentle explanation.
"No one can stop what Kallen wants to do. Kallen Kaslana... has always been that way."
"Rita understands."
Otto nodded. After a heavy silence, he spoke again, his voice soft. "Rita... for these next four days, watch over her. Do not interfere. Just... watch her closely."
"Yes, Lord Overseer."
After the call ended, Otto sat in the silence of his office. Only after a long time had passed did he let out a slow, heavy sigh.
--+--
Honkai Transformations - 53
--+--
After nightfall.
Kallen lay in bed, clad in nothing but a thin, gossamer nightgown. Yae Sakura lay beside her, one arm draped firmly around her waist, their bodies pressed close together.
"Goodnight... Kallen."
"Goodnight..."
Kallen's face flushed a soft crimson. She felt a twinge of bashful annoyance, yet she was at a loss for how to tell Sakura to stop absentmindedly rubbing her hand against her lower abdomen.
A little higher or a little lower would be fine!
Being touched like this was pure torture.
"Kallen..." Before drifting off, Sakura pulled her closer, burying her face in the white strands of Kallen's hair. "You smell so sweet..."
Could you please stop teasing me...
Kallen pressed her legs tightly together, a silent wail echoing in her mind.
In the few days she had lived with Sakura, she hadn't managed to get a single "taste of the meat," so to speak. She had already given up on waiting for Sakura to realize what was happening and finally make a move.
Kallen sighed inwardly. She decided she had to take the initiative tomorrow.
Maybe she'd "accidentally" click on a spicy website while on her phone, or flip through some girl-on-girl manga while Sakura was watching. Just something to open Sakura's eyes a little.
Lost in those thoughts, Kallen eventually closed her eyes, her consciousness sinking into the depths of sleep.
Inside the bedroom, as both women drifted into their dreams...
Another consciousness, dripping with malice and spite, watched them intently.
"Curse them... damn them... why? Why do they get to live such a happy life..."
Higokumaru roared with bitter resentment within the soul space.
At this moment, Higokumaru hated Kallen with every fiber of her being. Kallen had been dead for five hundred years, yet out of nowhere, this Kallen from another world had appeared!
Sakura's heart had been growing hollow, lonely, and cold, despite having the clone Theresa by her side. But the moment she knew a Kallen was back, she had found her spirit again.
Now, Higokumaru had no idea when she would ever get the chance to twist Sakura's mind again.
How could she not be furious? How could she not hate her?
Her consciousness bellowed in rage, but soon, a thought struck her.
Kallen would be leaving this world in a few days.
Thinking of this, Higokumaru didn't hesitate. She dove straight into Sakura's dreamscape and began to weave her webs of manipulation.
"Yae Sakura~"
Within the dream, Sakura was lucid. She saw Higokumaru appear upon the slopes of Mt. Yae, and her expression turned icy.
"What are you doing here?"
"I'm here to tell you some good news~" Higokumaru's distorted voice carried a hint of hateful glee. "Don't you know? That Kallen... the one in your arms... if she returns to her own world, she will die!"
"Nonsense."
Sakura's gaze grew even colder, a murderous glint flashing in her sapphire eyes.
"I'm not lying~"
Higokumaru's form solidified before Sakura—a distorted, dark-red silhouette of a giant fox, just like in the scrolls.
"Her body died long ago. It was the Otto of another world who used my power to resurrect her. But the medium used for that resurrection is already dead. And so... her life has reached its end~"
Everything Higokumaru said was a lie, fabricated on the spot just to shake Sakura's resolve.
But by a stroke of pure luck, she had actually hit the mark.
If Kallen had heard this, she would have broken into a cold sweat and looked for a way to silence this "prophet" immediately.
"She can stay alive here, but if she goes back... the very moment she crosses between worlds will be the moment of her death~"
As she listened, Sakura's hand tightened around the hilt of Sakura Blossom.
"You're lying to me..."
"Why would I lie to you~?" Higokumaru laughed. She didn't care about the consequences of her words. All she wanted was to fracture Sakura's peace of mind.
"I'm just being kind enough to tell you. You waited five hundred years for her, and finally, she's back. And the result? She still has to leave. She still has to die~"
Higokumaru's voice was as soft as a serpent's hiss, carrying an indescribable sense of twisted pleasure.
"Once again, you're going to lose the person you care about most~"
"Enough!"
A blood-red, ominous light flared from Sakura Blossom as Sakura swung the blade in a violent arc.
Higokumaru's figure dissipated instantly.
But as Sakura stood atop the mountain, the light in her blue eyes flickered unsteadily. Deep within her pupils, a faint crimson hue began to spread.
"It's not enough~"
Though her form had been cut down, Higokumaru's voice returned, even more enchanting. She could feel the violent tremors in Sakura's heart. She intended to keep whispering her poison until the dream ended.
However...
At that moment, Sakura suddenly felt a faint, indistinct ripple.
Higokumaru's voice cut short.
Her crimson eyes blinked in confusion as she began to sense the origin of this vibration.
And then...
Higokumaru felt it.
From outside Sakura's body, within the body of that Kallen... came a signal from the remains of the microbe-type Honkai Beasts.
Those dead Honkai microbes... were actually responding to her will!
"Interesting..."
Higokumaru muttered to herself, her voice trembling with excitement.
Only now did she realize that since Kallen had been resurrected using her power, the things inside Kallen's body were in resonance with her!
"Think it over... Yae Sakura. If you want to keep her here, you can come find me anytime~"
Higokumaru didn't bother trying to tempt Sakura further. She left behind a sentence designed to stick in Sakura's throat like a thorn and vanished from the dreamscape.
She wanted to go and figure out exactly what kind of "fun" changes this connection could bring her.
The nightmare dissolved.
"Sakura... Sakura?"
At dawn, Sakura snapped her eyes open.
She saw Kallen beside her, already awake, watching her with a face full of worry.
"Sakura, you're awake? You seemed to be having a nightmare..." Kallen said, her expression troubled.
Just moments ago, Sakura had been talking in her sleep, begging someone not to leave and crying out Kallen's name.
With no other choice, Kallen had tried to wake her.
"Kallen..." The moment Sakura woke, she reached out and pulled Kallen into a desperate embrace.
"Huh?" After a stunned moment, Kallen blinked, then sighed and gently patted Sakura's back, soothing her as if she were a child.
"It's okay, it's okay. It was just a dream."
Sakura didn't say a word. She was still replaying Higokumaru's words in her head.
She hugged Kallen even tighter, burying her face in the crook of her neck.
Deep within Sakura's body.
Higokumaru wore a sinister smile. "Kallen... those things inside you... just what are they, I wonder?..."
--+--
Honkai Transformations - 54
--+--
"Lilies in Bloom... The Secret Between Girls... My 365 Days with My Senior..."
Standing in the corner of the St. Freya Academy library, Kallen's hands trembled slightly.
Finally! She found it!!
To help Yae Sakura "open her eyes to a new world," she had rushed into the library first thing in the morning and spent the entire morning buried in books!!
And at last—she'd found the girl-love novels!!
Kallen glanced around like a thief, then carefully pulled one out at random and flipped it open.
The very first page was an illustration!
Two girls embracing, their clothes half-undone. The scene was both beautifully drawn and boldly direct. Kallen stared for a moment, then suddenly felt her face heat up—and before she knew it, she was practically drooling.
"Whoa…"
The contents were detailed, the writing was daring, and even the positions were described with almost absurd precision.
There were even illustrations sprinkled throughout!
"How does the St. Freya library… even have something this bold!?"
Kallen's eyes slowly went unfocused, her face flushing red all the way from her forehead down to her neck.
She looked like a ripe, overripe apple. At that moment, a figure quietly approached from behind her.
But Kallen didn't notice at all—she was completely absorbed in the scandalous little book in her hands, until that figure finally stopped right behind her.
"I didn't expect even Lady Kallen to be interested in books like this."
A smiling voice sounded right by her ear.
Kallen stiffened instantly.
Oh no!
She got too absorbed in reading!!
She snapped her head around—and met a pair of wine-red eyes.
Rita!
Why is it always her!? She's like a ghost!!
Rita Rossweisse was standing right behind her, so close their bodies were almost touching. Her eyes were full of amusement, and her lips carried that elegant, charming, slightly teasing smile.
"R-Rita!?"
Kallen's hand trembled so hard she nearly dropped the book.
"Indeed it is I." Rita gave a slight bow, as if apologizing for startling her—but her gaze never once left Kallen's flushed face.
"You were so absorbed just now that I didn't even have the heart to interrupt you."
Kallen shifted her hands slightly, trying to hide the book behind her back—but Rita's eyes had already landed on the page.
She had just turned to an illustration.
Two girls intertwined in an intimate embrace.
It was completely, unmistakably exposed between them.
I'm doomed!
Kallen cried inwardly.
She'd only wanted to "broaden Yae Sakura's horizons," but somehow, the first person to catch her reading something like this… was Rita!
"I see…"
Rita chuckled softly. "Secrets Between Girls. That book is indeed quite… educational."
Wait—how do you even know the title?!
Kallen's mind went blank for a moment.
A storm of thoughts immediately followed.
She instantly thought of Rita and Durandal…
"I-I was just flipping through it…" Kallen swallowed nervously, trying to suppress her embarrassment.
"Is that so?" Rita tilted her head slightly, her beautiful face wearing an ambiguous smile.
"However, Lady Kallen, your eyes were glued to the illustrations just now—and~ You were even drooling."
"!?"
Kallen reflexively raised a hand to wipe her mouth.
Sure enough… there was a faint trace of moisture.
Ugh!
At this point, there was only one option left!
Kallen took a deep breath, her eyes sharpening with determination. Then she clapped her hands together, bowed deeply, and lowered her head.
Rita smiled faintly, amusement glinting in her wine-red eyes.
"Please rest assured, Lady Kallen. I will not tell a third person about this."
"…Phew."
Kallen immediately relaxed, letting out a relieved, grateful smile.
But Rita blinked once—and something mischievous quietly surfaced in her expression as she watched Kallen's soft, relieved smile.
"However—"
Just that one word.
Kallen froze again instantly.
In that moment, Rita felt a small spark of satisfaction at her reaction.
Lady Kallen… really is entertaining.
Unlike Rita's amusement, Kallen's mind was now completely scrambled.
"However what…?" she asked cautiously.
"Lady Kallen." Rita leaned down slightly, her lips almost brushing Kallen's ear.
"When you were reading just now, you looked like a child trying to sneak a piece of candy—but too afraid to take it. You weren't really reading it for the content, were you?"
"You were thinking… whether you and Lady Yae Sakura could become like the people in these stories. Am I correct?"
Kallen didn't answer, but her earlobes had turned a translucent red, and her gaze darted away in flustered denial.
She was completely exposed.
Every word was right.
But why was Rita saying it out loud like this!?
And then—
Her heart suddenly started pounding violently in her chest.
A strange, almost electric thrill rose up inside her.
"I suppose my guess was correct," Rita said with a small, wicked smile.
"Lady Kallen, if I may be blunt—you don't actually need books like this."
Kallen, still flustered, looked as though she had been drawn in, her eyes now more focused despite her embarrassment.
"Lady Kallen, would you like to learn?"
Rita straightened up, looking down at her with a meaningful smile.
"L-learn what?"
"How to make Lady Yae Sakura… take the initiative."
Rita said it as calmly as if she were discussing what to have for dinner.
"I may not be particularly skilled, but I do have some experience in this area."
Kallen's brain short-circuited.
Rita… wants to teach her how to flirt with Yae Sakura?
What kind of development is this!?
But Kallen quickly snapped back to reality.
This was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity!
Whether it was getting closer to Yae Sakura—or enjoying whatever "benefits" Rita might offer…
"You… you're willing to teach me?" she grabbed Rita's hand immediately, her face lighting up with pure excitement.
"Please! Teach me, Rita!"
"Mm~ of course, leave it to me."
Rita looked at Kallen, her smile deepening.
"And… seeing Lady Kallen so adorable like this, I almost want to help you a little more myself~"
--+--
Honkai Transformations - 55
--+--
A moment later.
Inside Rita's temporary residence—a detached two-story villa located within the grounds of Schicksal's St. Freya Academy.
"Lady Kallen, please wait here for a moment."
After gesturing for Kallen to sit, Rita turned and walked toward her room.
"I need to go…prepare some teaching materials~"
Here it comes!
A lewd development?!
Kallen's mind was already overflowing with inappropriate imagery. She didn't exactly mind if something… interesting happened with Rita.
In fact, the more she thought about it, the more excited she became~
Seated on the sofa, her heart pounding like thunder, Kallen soon saw Rita return—carrying her "teaching materials."
And when Kallen saw what was in Rita's hands, her eyes instantly widened.
Those were…?!
Lingerie!!!
Black lace… sheer translucent fabric… and thin, delicate straps!
From vibrant crimson, to elegant dark purple, all the way to mysterious black!
Just looking at them was enough to send Kallen's imagination into overdrive.
"This… t-this is…?"
Still, she forced herself to act shy and flustered, as though she didn't know what to do.
"Teaching materials~"
Rita replied matter-of-factly, watching Kallen's expression with satisfied amusement. She then placed the items down beside her.
"Lady Kallen~ if you want Lady Yae Sakura to take the initiative, first you must learn… how to properly express your own charm~"
That was… absolutely right!
Kallen wanted nothing more than to nod vigorously in agreement. But right now, what she really wanted was to see Rita wearing them.
After all, Rita herself was already alluring and dangerously elegant, yet still clung to that final thread of maid-like restraint.
At that moment, Rita picked up a black lace set and unfolded it in front of Kallen.
The sheer fabric was almost completely transparent. Only a few small lace patches—barely opaque, yet still teasingly revealing what lay behind—covered the essential areas.
It was the kind of design that, paradoxically, was even more provocative than full transparency.
"For example, this one~"
Rita looked at Kallen with a gentle, playful smile.
"What do you think Lady Yae Sakura would do if she saw you wearing this?"
Kallen's face turned so red it looked like it might start dripping blood.
"L-Lady Kallen, please try it on."
Rita's voice was elegant and smooth, carrying not a trace of improper intent—but that only made Kallen even more flustered.
Wear it directly?!
Isn't this map a little too short and straightforward?!
"I-I…" Kallen waved her hands frantically, shaking her head as well.
"T-this… this isn't appropriate!"
Her voice was soft and fragile, her face flushed scarlet. She looked just like a startled fawn—completely harmless, completely flustered.
But inside…
I want to see it, I want to see it, I really want to see it!!
If anything, why don't you wear it first and show me?!
Kallen maintained her shy expression, while internally she was practically howling.
Rita, seeing her stubborn yet embarrassed reaction, only deepened her smile.
She let out a soft sigh, her tone indulgent.
"How adorable, Lady Kallen."
Then she stood up, picking up a set of vivid red lingerie and gently unfolding it in her hands.
"Then… to help you relax a little, how about Rita demonstrates first?"
Kallen's eyes widened slightly.
Was her wish coming true?
Rita was actually going to wear it?
Could it be…
Does she like me?
The thought flashed through Kallen's mind, but it was quickly extinguished.
Impossible.
First, Rita preferred lolis.
Second, Rita liked Durandal.
Right now… she was probably just teasing her. Like a big sister in certain illustrated books, amusing herself by teasing a cute little boy.
That's actually… great!!!
Even though her thoughts were chaotic, Kallen still kept up her shy and shocked expression.
"Is… is that okay?"
"What's not okay about it?"
Rita tilted her head, smiling gently yet teasingly. "As a teacher, demonstrating personally is the most responsible approach, wouldn't you agree?"
She never even acknowledged anything inappropriate about it—clearly intending to dissolve Kallen's hesitation entirely.
But Kallen nearly laughed out loud.
Rita was basically handing her a perfect moment on a silver platter…
She's such a good person!
Kallen never expected she would gain so much today. Still, thinking of Yae Sakura—who might currently be in the dorm, carefully thinking about what to cook for her lunch—Kallen felt a faint twinge of guilt.
Sorry, Sakura!
I'm sneaking out to cheat a little!
"Then… g-go ahead and demonstrate…" Kallen lowered her head, ears burning red, her voice barely audible.
"I-I'll watch…"
Rita smiled—an expression of subtle triumph.
She was looking forward to what kind of interesting expression Kallen would make next, and whether she might actually "open up" under her guidance.
It was one of her personal little pleasures.
And also…
Part of her plan.
She turned around, facing away from Kallen, and began unfastening her maid uniform.
"…?"
"Lady Kallen, is something wrong?"
"…N-no, nothing…"
"Mm."
Rita continued unbuttoning—first one, then two, then three.
Kallen's eyes grew wider and wider, her face more and more flustered, like a deer about to bolt at any second.
Through the reflection of porcelain objects in the living room, Rita observed Kallen's reaction and couldn't help but smile more and more brightly.
As her maid uniform slipped from her pale shoulders, revealing a stretch of smooth, snow-white back—Rita slowly turned around.
The front view revealed a black lace set wrapping around her full curves, nearly spilling out. Her slender waist had not a trace of excess fat.
And further downward…
Kallen suddenly felt a rush in her nose.
"Lady Kallen?"
Rita's voice carried a teasing smile.
"Where are you looking?"
Kallen snapped back to reality, her face still completely red.
Rita really was too skilled at this…
"I-I wasn't…"
Her voice was barely louder than a whisper.
She was certain of one thing—Rita clearly enjoyed seeing her like this. So all she had to do was keep up the act~
Rita looked at Kallen's fully flustered expression—so overwhelmed she almost seemed ready to spiral into dizziness—and let out a soft laugh.
She didn't rush to change into the red lingerie. Instead, she simply stood there in front of Kallen, leaning forward slightly.
"Lady Kallen thinks… what about Rita's figure?"
Kallen very much wanted to nod immediately and bury her face right into those overwhelming curves that were practically right in front of her.
But… she couldn't.
She absolutely couldn't scare Rita away.
She had to understand the difference between a full meal… and a never-ending feast.
--+--
Honkai Transformations - 56
--+--
"V-very… very good…"
Kallen's voice was still as faint as a mosquito's hum.
Rita let out a soft laugh at her words, a smile blooming across her face—satisfied, delighted, with a hint of cunning mischief, like a little fox that had just successfully stolen a treat.
She straightened up.
Unhurriedly, she slipped on that vivid crimson piece of lingerie.
Every movement was so graceful, so composed, it looked less like dressing and more like an art performance unfolding before an audience.
Kallen watched without blinking as the red sheer fabric pressed against Rita's fair, delicate skin, the crucial areas obscured yet tantalizingly visible beneath the semi-transparency.
And somehow, that only made it more alluring.
After putting it on, Rita looked at Kallen with a smile. "Lady Kallen, what do you think of this one?"
Kallen opened her mouth, trying to say something—but her brain had already short-circuited.
Then…
She nodded furiously!
So this was the legendary Victoria's Secret lingerie show!!
She had never understood what was so interesting about it before, so she had never once bothered to watch it, but now, Kallen felt as if she had never truly understood what it meant to be alive.
Seeing her reaction, Rita's smile widened even more.
She stepped closer and sat down beside Kallen, their bodies nearly pressed together.
"Then, it's Lady Kallen's turn next."
Kallen stiffened instantly, then slowly turned her head. "…I-I have to too?"
"Of course." Rita lifted a black set of lingerie and held it out in front of her. "Didn't Lady Kallen want to learn? Didn't you want to wear it for Lady Yae Sakura? Just watching isn't enough, is it?"
She said it as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
Kallen felt like she had been tricked, and yet, she didn't feel even the slightest bit like she was at a disadvantage.
Still, staring at the black lingerie—the lace, the sheer fabric, the delicate straps…
She couldn't help but take a deep breath, her mind already beginning to imagine what she would look like wearing it.
"…Okay."
Rita smiled in delight at her answer.
Then, just as Kallen was about to stand up, Rita reached out her hand. "Then~ let Rita help you."
"Huh?!"
"Lady Kallen, the first time wearing something like this requires technique. After all, you wouldn't want to end up all flustered at night, putting things on wrong and showing up in front of Lady Yae Sakura like that, would you~?"
Good grief!
And just like that, Kallen let Rita help her change.
It had to be said—Rita's hands were incredibly skillful. Kallen simply stood there, and piece by piece, her clothes were quickly removed.
Before dressing her in the new set, Rita's gaze briefly swept over Kallen's body.
"Lady Kallen really does have a wonderful figure… Now, raise your arms~"
After finishing the dressing, Rita stepped back and looked at her with satisfaction in her eyes.
Kallen glanced down at herself.
This outfit was far too daring.
The black lace was nearly transparent, her fair skin faintly visible beneath it, even her curves subtly outlined through the sheer fabric…
Almost instantly, her skin began to flush red from embarrassment.
Yet in her heart, she couldn't help but cheer.
It looked amazing!
Rita's guidance had essentially opened the door to a whole new world for her.
"Lady Kallen," Rita said softly, watching her, "you're truly beautiful right now. Lady Yae Sakura will definitely be very satisfied when she sees you."
"R-really…" Kallen's voice was barely audible, but her heart was beating like a drum.
Seeing her shy yet stubborn expression, Rita's smile deepened.
"Lady Kallen, now, please try turning slowly~"
Kallen blinked. "Turn?"
"Mhm~" Rita nodded, her wine-red eyes serious. "To make Lady Yae Sakura fall for you, just standing there isn't enough. You need to move, and every motion should be filled with charm~"
Is that really true?
Kallen felt like Rita was slowly luring her into something.
It was practically indistinguishable from scenes in those adult manga.
But… she liked it.
She took a deep breath, then slowly turned. The black sheer fabric swayed gently with her movement, outlining the curves of her waist in a teasing, fleeting silhouette.
"Good, slower…yes, just like that~"
Rita's voice guided her through each motion, but apparently, that still wasn't enough for her.
"Lady Kallen, allow Rita to give you hands-on guidance~"
Rita pressed herself against Kallen from behind. Kallen could distinctly feel the soft curves of Rita's body through the thin layers of fabric.
Rita's hand gently touched her waist.
"Now, please continue following Rita's instructions~"
As she spoke, Rita corrected Kallen's posture with one hand, while the other slowly traced circles along her waist… gradually sliding toward her lower abdomen.
Through the lace, her fingertips lightly brushed against the skin beneath in a lingering, teasing motion.
Kallen's breathing instantly grew unsteady. "Ri-Rita…"
"Shh…" Rita smiled softly, her breath brushing against Kallen's earlobe. "Focus, Lady Kallen~"
At the same time, her other hand reached around from behind, resting lightly on Kallen's shoulder before sliding downward along her collarbone…
Until her fingers slipped between Kallen's, gently interlocking with her hand.
At this point, Kallen's mind had completely descended into chaos.
This didn't feel like teaching anymore at all.
It was clearly seduction.
In the middle of her confusion, a strange thought suddenly surfaced.
Rita…
Could she be a Kaslana fan?
From Durandal… to Theresa…
And now… her?!
Kallen could clearly feel Rita pressed against her back, those soft curves resting through the thin layers of fabric.
"And here~"
After interlacing their fingers, Rita released her hand again and moved around to the front of Kallen.
Her fingertip traced along her collarbone, slowly sliding downward.
Across the collarbone… over her chest… stopping at—
The soft swell beneath the lace.
"Here~"
Rita's voice was gentle. Her fingertip lightly brushed the edge of the lace.
"When you stand in front of Lady Yae Sakura wearing something like this… having this area just barely visible, rather than fully exposed… will make her even more captivated."
"Lady Kallen… have you learned it yet?"
--+--
Honkai Transformations - 57
--+--
Night.
In the Valkyrie dorms, in Kallen and Sakura's room.
She was thinking about a very profound question.
What exactly is "lewdness"?
Is it a hormonal impulse, a surge of dopamine, a disguised expression of biological reproduction instincts under the guise of civilization?
Put simply—it's nothing more than a chemical reaction in the human body.
The contact during the day with Rita, the sensation of fingertips brushing against skin, those faint breaths, those almost imperceptibly intimate touches.
Looking back now… it all really wasn't anything worth overthinking.
The body is just a shell.
Desire is only a fleeting madness.
Only an interesting soul truly matters.
At this moment, Kallen's heart was like still water—clear, calm, and transparent.
Infinite heavens above.
Just then, the door was gently pushed open. Sakura walked in wearing a yukata, her long pink hair still carrying traces of dampness. Her body carried a faint, lingering fragrance of maidenhood that even bath products couldn't conceal.
"Kallen, what are you thinking about?" Sakura walked to the bedside. Seeing Kallen's almost saintly expression, she couldn't help but feel a little dazed.
"Thinking… about the meaning of life."
Kallen turned to look at her, pure joy flickering in her eyes. "Sakura… I was just thinking, meeting you, and everyone else… it really is such a wonderful thing."
"Kallen…"
Sakura blinked, then smiled gently. She slowly removed her yukata.
Then, right in front of Kallen, she began changing into her sleepwear. That snow-white, soft fullness was revealed before Kallen's eyes, shimmering faintly under the warm light.
With every small movement, they swayed slightly like ripe fruit—before being covered by loose pink sleepwear.
In that instant, the sacred light in Kallen's eyes collapsed completely.
What was I just thinking?!
Chemical reactions?!
A shell?!
A soul?!
All nonsense!!!
Her gaze locked desperately onto the softness beneath Sakura's pink fabric, the image from just moments ago burning itself into her mind.
Snow-white.
Full.
Soft.
Kallen's breathing grew rapid.
Her face felt hot. Her body, too, began to heat up.
All the desire she had been drained of during the day with Rita—now surged back like a breaking dam, threatening to overflow once again.
After changing, Sakura lifted the corner of the blanket and slipped in. As always, she reached out and gently wrapped her arms around Kallen's waist, pressing close with familiar ease.
Those soft, ample curves, hidden beneath thin sleepwear, lightly pressed against Kallen's arm, enveloping it completely.
Warm. Soft. With a faint elasticity.
Kallen's body stiffened, her previously serene expression suddenly freezing in place.
She didn't know why—though she was clearly here with Sakura, her mind kept replaying what had happened during the day with Rita, during those "lessons"…
"Kallen…"
Sakura held her, drawing her into her embrace.
But as her fingertips brushed Kallen's skin, Kallen's mind instinctively recalled the sensation of Rita's fingers gliding across her body.
When Sakura's breath brushed her neck, Kallen instead thought of the faint, ticklish warmth of Rita's breath near her ear.
Even now, as Sakura looked at her with gentle focus, Kallen couldn't stop thinking about Rita's wine-red eyes—how they had looked at her with such heat and seriousness.
And then…
Those two sets of lace lingerie.
Compared to them, what she and Sakura were wearing now felt completely inferior.
"Kallen?" Sakura noticed her oddness and lifted her head slightly, concern in her voice. "What's wrong?"
"Nothing. Nothing at all."
Kallen forced out a smile, then turned slightly away, lying on her side with her back to Sakura. "I'm just… a bit tired today. Let's sleep early, Sakura."
"Mm…"
Though Sakura still looked puzzled, she didn't press further. Instead, she rested her face against Kallen's shoulder, gently nuzzling her twice.
"Then let's sleep early."
However, her hand continued to lightly trace Kallen's waist, her fingertips brushing over sensitive skin through thin fabric, again and again.
It was their nightly little game—and Sakura could tell Kallen usually enjoyed it.
But tonight… Kallen's reactions were faint.
That made Sakura pause slightly.
"Kallen… you feel a little different today."
Damn…
She can even notice that?
Kallen's heart tightened—but at the same time, a strange, taboo thrill rose within her.
"Different how?"
Sakura didn't answer. She just lifted her head, meeting Kallen's turned gaze with confused, worried eyes.
"Are you… hiding something from me?"
"No…" Kallen shook her head. "How could I possibly hide anything from you…"
Because I never intended to tell you about it at all, so it doesn't even count as hiding.
Kallen felt completely at ease.
And more than that…
She didn't regret it at all. In fact… she even wanted more.
After all…
Rita was just teaching her…
Still, Kallen realized she couldn't neglect Sakura either.
"Hey, Sakura."
"Mm?"
"Tonight… I don't want things to be like usual anymore."
Sakura looked at her, confusion flickering in her eyes.
"…What do you mean?"
Kallen didn't answer. She simply turned over, reaching out to gently stroke Sakura's face.
Her fingertips traced across her forehead, then down her nose, lingering at the edge of those soft pink lips.
Then, feeling that warmth and softness, Kallen leaned in slightly.
"Mmh?"
Sakura's breathing instantly grew uneven. Kallen was different tonight—she was almost greedily taking in everything about Sakura.
And Sakura didn't resist. Her hands trembled slightly as they wrapped around Kallen's neck, pulling her closer.
But right there…
Kallen's movements suddenly stopped. She stared at Sakura's flushed expression—completely unaware of what was happening.
Yet once again, Rita's wine-red eyes flashed through her mind, and the fire in her chest burned even more intensely.
After they separated slightly, Sakura looked at Kallen. Though her eyes were still hazy with emotion, she murmured softly: "Kallen… the way you're looking at me… feels like you're looking at someone else?"
Kallen's heart skipped a beat.
"No…"
"Mm…"
She's way too perceptive…
Kallen was genuinely shocked.
At that moment, a faint voice echoed in Sakura's mind: "Yae Sakura… you're going to lose her again…"
Shut up…
--+--
Honkai Transformations - 58
--+--
Today marks the sixth day.
Kallen sat on the sofa, her mind drifting elsewhere as she played video games with Theresa. On the TV screen, the characters were locked in a fierce battle, the buttons on their controllers clicking and clacking under their rapid taps.
To be honest, Kallen was starting to feel a bit sentimental.
Just yesterday, her relationships with Rita and Sakura had been on the verge of breaking past that final boundary. It was so close to reaching those "fan-favorite" moments—and Kallen wouldn't have minded at all, whether she ended up as the one on top or the one underneath.
Except...
Tomorrow, she'd have to transform into a new Valkyrie again.
The relationship progress would reset to zero, and she'd have to start everything from scratch!
At that thought, a wave of grief washed over Kallen. Her thumb slipped for just a fraction of a second.
"Yeah! I won!" Theresa let out an excited cheer.
"Ah... I lost..." Kallen held the controller, letting out a regretful sigh.
"Kallen."
Sakura walked over just then, carrying tea, and handed a cup to her.
"Thank you."
"Mhm." Sakura nodded, sitting down beside her and gently leaning her head against Kallen's shoulder. "You seemed like you had something on your mind today?"
"Ah..." Kallen blinked, startled. "It's nothing. I just... I was thinking about how nice this life really is."
As her words trailed off, everyone else in the dorm—each busy with their own tasks—suddenly paused.
Today was the sixth day.
Once tonight passed, Kallen would be leaving.
All at once, the room grew heavy with complicated emotions. Sakura's brilliant blue eyes, in particular, couldn't help but tremble slightly.
"If you like it... then stay," Sakura said, her voice heavy with sincerity.
How am I supposed to stay?
For some reason, Kallen felt a sudden chill run down her spine. She vaguely recalled a certain timeline where a version of Kallen was turned into a doll just so Sakura could keep her by her side.
Thinking of that, Kallen couldn't help but swallow hard.
I can't let myself end up in a "School Days" style bad ending...
Kallen didn't say a word. She simply reached out, wrapped her arm around Sakura's waist, and sat with her in silence.
Nearby, the eyes of Theresa, Kiana, and Bronya dimmed as well. They were all thinking about the characters Kallen had transformed into previously. They just didn't realize that all those people were actually Kallen.
If they ever found out... Kallen felt like she'd truly be toast.
Knock, knock...
The sound of a gentle rap at the door broke the silence.
"I'll get it," Mei said, standing up and heading for the entrance.
Kallen looked toward the door with curiosity, only to see Rita...
"Pardon the intrusion." Rita stood at the threshold, giving a slight, graceful bow to everyone inside. "I have been ordered to deliver my greetings to you all."
Kallen's heart stiffened as she took in Rita's elegant posture. Her mind immediately flashed back to yesterday's events.
"Come in and have a seat," Theresa offered. Rita stepped inside, standing in the center of the living room with a perfectly poised smile directed at Kallen.
"Lady Kallen, might we have a word in private? The Overseer has a few messages he wishes for me to convey to you."
"...Alright."
Kallen's brow furrowed as she shifted into a more serious headspace. What else did Otto want with her? Most likely, he was still trying to convince her to accept his plan and stop her from heading back to her death.
Kallen felt a pang of helplessness. If only she were like the Herrscher of Domination and could create clones of herself. Then, several of her could surround one Valkyrie at a time...
Now that would be a thrill!
She stood up and followed Rita toward the hallway.
"Kallen." Sakura rose, watching Kallen with a hint of nervousness.
"It's okay, Sakura." Kallen turned back and flashed her a smile—confident and reassuring.
That look managed to lower Sakura's guard. Kallen then followed Rita into the bedroom she shared with Sakura.
This is where the spicy plot should happen! Kallen felt a strange surge of excitement. But she quickly suppressed those eccentric thoughts. She wasn't a total deviant! Well, okay, maybe a little, but still...
Once the door clicked shut, Rita turned to face her.
"Lady Kallen..."
"..."
Being alone in a room with Rita felt surprisingly high-pressure, especially with that faint, unreadable smile playing on Rita's lips.
"What did Otto want you to tell me?" Kallen asked, keeping her face stoic and serious.
"There is no rush..."
What do you mean "no rush"?! Kallen nearly broke character.
"Before that, I have a few personal words I would like to share with you, Lady Kallen."
Rita took a step closer, standing face-to-face with her. Kallen could catch the faint, delicate scent of Rita's perfume.
"W-what words?" she asked softly. Kallen could smell a "fan-service" moment coming a mile away.
"Lady Kallen," Rita smiled elegantly, her hand rising to rest a finger against Kallen's collarbone before tracing it downward. "I find it... such a pity."
"A pity for what?"
"A pity that... I haven't had the chance to teach you many things yet..." Rita's fingers moved toward the buttons on Kallen's shirt.
"Rita... we shouldn't..." Kallen tried to maintain her last shred of resolve. She had already guessed Rita's objective.
"We shouldn't what?" Rita chuckled softly.
She pulled her hand back slightly and continued in a low voice, "Lady Kallen, please stay. If you stay here, you can live on. You can be with Lady Sakura... and with me. With everyone."
As she spoke, she gently undid the first button.
"Could you really bear to leave Lady Sakura behind?"
Kallen fell silent. The stray thoughts in her head vanished. As expected, Rita was tempting her. And she was likely doing this for Otto's sake—probably without him even knowing.
If Kallen remembered correctly, in the main story, Rita stayed by Otto's side only to fulfill her own sense of justice and for Durandal's sake. Mostly for Durandal. By staying, Kallen might keep Otto from descending into total madness, making the world a safer place for Durandal.
She hadn't expected Rita to go this far for them. It was almost enviable.
A bit of a mischievous urge rose in Kallen's chest. She almost wanted to hit Rita with the classic "Rita, you wouldn't want..." line. But she couldn't.
"Lady Kallen..." Rita continued, her hand moving to the second button. "After you go back, what will happen to Lady Sakura? She will wait for you forever... waiting for someone who will never return."
She's right...
Rita's words cut deep into Kallen's heart. Her brow tightened as she realized that, in her quest for fun, she might have put everyone through too much emotional turmoil.
Maybe... things needed to change in the future?
But she couldn't bear to leave any of them behind. What was she supposed to do?
Kallen couldn't help but feel an ever-growing desire for the powers of the Herrscher of Domination.
--+--
Honkai Transformations - 59
--+--
"Did Otto tell you to say that?"
Kallen lifted her hand, catching the one currently working on her third button. Her expression was a messy tangle of emotions as she gazed at Rita.
"He didn't." Rita looked back at her, her gaze unwavering and sincere. "Lady Kallen... everything I just said came from my own heart."
"Is that so..."
Kallen let out a soft laugh, one tinged with a certain sense of helplessness.
She looked at Rita, a flicker of sorrow crossing her eyes. "Rita, I know Otto better than you do. I know all too well that whenever he sets his mind on something, someone inevitably ends up paying the price for his ambitions."
And if... if it were truly as simple as me nodding my head to stay in this world, Otto wouldn't have bothered asking for my opinion in the first place.
"Indeed, Lady Kallen. You understand Lord Otto perfectly." Rita gave a small, graceful nod.
By now, the respectful and elegant smile had returned to her face. Kallen let go of her hand, and Rita immediately went back to work, meticulously doing up Kallen's buttons one by one.
Throughout the process, Kallen simply watched her with a complicated gaze.
"You needn't look at me like that, Lady Kallen," Rita said, her smile both polished and earnest. "While it's true that I acted this way because I wanted you to make a choice that favors me..."
"I truly do cherish our time alone together~"
I enjoyed it too.
Kallen kept that thought buried deep in her heart; she wouldn't dare say it out loud.
"Rita..."
Kallen let out a long, heavy sigh. Just as she was about to speak, Rita shook her head gently.
"You don't have to give me an answer now, Lady Kallen. Lord Otto will be arriving shortly. He will present you with another choice."
Another choice?
Kallen fell into thought. She didn't believe for a second that Otto had some magical alternative that would let her stay.
For one, she was actually looking forward to seeing who her next "character" would be—which Valkyrie she'd form a bond with next, and who she might get a little "closer" to.
Secondly...
It wasn't like she had actually been transported to another world in the traditional sense.
Wait...
Transported...
A spark of realization flashed through Kallen's mind. It suddenly hit her—she knew exactly what tool Otto was planning to use to make her stay.
The Cosmic Juggernaut!
Only that Divine Key possessed such a terrifying capability.
"Lady Kallen." Rita had finished smoothing out the lingering traces of their earlier encounter on their clothes. She gave a slight, polite bow, her eyes reflecting a hint of complexity.
"Whatever you decide, I will respect your choice. Now, I shall take my leave."
With that, Rita turned and walked out the door.
"Rita..."
Just before the door closed, Kallen couldn't help but call out to her.
"Yes, Lady Kallen? Is there something else you require?" Rita turned back, her expression serious.
"...Nothing."
"..."
Until the very moment Rita left, Kallen couldn't bring herself to ask if that "fan service" from earlier could continue.
But the words stayed stuck in her throat.
God, I'm such a creep, Kallen lamented internally.
"Alright, now isn't the time for this." Kallen slapped her cheeks, trying her best to snap out of it.
She took a deep breath before heading back into the living room. Less than ten minutes later, a transport craft touched down on the St. Freya landing pad. This time, the Brilliant Covenant hadn't followed.
Standing by the helipad, Kallen watched as Otto Apocalypse stepped out of the craft alone. Her gaze shifted, darkening with conflict.
"Kallen."
Otto walked up to her. They stood face-to-face, locked in a heavy silence for several seconds before Otto finally spoke.
"Kallen, one last time. I'm asking you one last time. I have a way for you to stay."
Kallen watched him and asked softly, "How?"
"The Cosmic Juggernaut." Otto's eyes were intensely focused. "I can use it to find a way to anchor you to this world. It might even be able to interfere with that unknown force trying to take you away."
"Just give me time. If you're willing, I can make it so you stay here forever—with Yae Sakura, and with everyone else."
Kallen looked at him, her eyes brimming with a profound sense of weary resignation.
"And Otto... what is the price?"
At those words, the determined expression on Otto's face stiffened for a split second.
"What are the consequences of unleashing the Cosmic Juggernaut's power?"
Kallen pressed on, her eyes searching his. "What will it do to this world?"
Otto remained silent.
That silence was an answer in itself; his "solution" would clearly lead to something catastrophic.
"What will the Cosmic Juggernaut draw in?" A flash of disappointment appeared in Kallen's eyes. "More terrifying enemies? Or Honkai beasts?"
"Both are possible..."
Under her scrutiny, a trace of deep helplessness finally leaked into Otto's emerald eyes.
"The power of the Cosmic Juggernaut is too immense... releasing its Zeroth Power will cause tremors in the Sea of Quanta. Quantum Shadows will invade our world. But Schicksal is capable of handling that."
"Is that all?"
Kallen asked quietly.
This time, Otto fell silent for a long moment. Finally, he spoke. "I don't understand why you appeared in this world, why you're set to vanish tomorrow, or what force is causing it."
"Therefore, I will forcibly lock down this entire space."
"Which means Quantum Shadows will pour into St. Freya Academy incessantly. This place will become a battlefield," Kallen said softly. Otto didn't deny it.
"For you, I am willing to pay that price," Otto said, looking at her with a complicated intensity.
Kallen's voice was calm, but unyielding. "Well, I am not. I won't have more people dying because of me. The people here are innocent; they shouldn't have to pay with their lives for mine."
She took a deep breath.
To be honest, if she weren't a "player" from another world, she might have actually been moved by Otto's resolve.
Too bad Otto wasn't a girl.
"Besides, the disaster in that other world hasn't ended yet. Just because I go back doesn't mean I'll definitely die."
Otto listened to her and fell into a long silence.
Then, he flashed a smile that was a mix of resignation, relief, and a touch of heartbreak.
It was a look so complex it could have been mapped out on a pie chart.
"You really are... her."
Hearing Otto say that again, Kallen almost lost her composure. She thought back to the chaos she'd gotten into yesterday with Rita and Yae Sakura.
If Otto ever found out about that...
He'd probably turn Rita into mincemeat.
The real Kallen would never have done any of that.
--+--
Honkai Transformations - 60
--+--
"At the very least..." Otto looked at Kallen, his voice dropping to a soft, lingering murmur, "let me be the one to see you off."
Hearing that Otto didn't plan to interfere with her 'departure' allowed Kallen to let out a small breath of relief. Still, the idea of Otto personally escorting her out...
She couldn't help but feel a flicker of dry humor at the irony. If she kept up these transformations and her cover was ever blown, Otto might actually be the one to personally 'send her away' in a much more literal sense.
"Alright."
After a brief, heavy silence, Kallen gave a slight nod.
Otto smiled again, but this time, the expression was tinged with a deeper, more profound sorrow.
For the rest of the day, Otto stayed.
He wasn't there as the Overseer of Schicksal, nor as the madman who had spent five centuries plotting to bring Kallen back to life. He was just there as a friend.
He joined Kallen and the rest of the St. Freya crew as they headed into Sapphire City for a trip to Homu Amusement Park.
Kallen dragged Sakura onto the roller coaster while the others scattered into the seats behind them. Once the ride lurched into motion, screams pierced the clouds.
Afterward, she led the group to the shooting gallery; by the time they left, everyone was clutching an assortment of oversized Homu plushies.
They drifted into a cold drink shop next, losing themselves in idle chatter that spanned every topic under the sun.
Finally...
Kallen and Sakura boarded the Ferris wheel. From that giant, rotating ring, the entirety of Sapphire City unfolded beneath them.
"It's beautiful..." Kallen whispered, her eyes fixed on the city below, which seemed to shimmer like gold under the sunlight.
"Kallen..." Sakura turned to her. A shadow of grief flickered in her deep blue eyes. "If only I could have stayed by your side like this for the past five hundred years."
Kallen fell silent, the words catching in her throat. After a moment of thought, she simply reached out and pulled Sakura into a tight embrace. Sakura didn't say another word; she just held her back, the two of them anchored to each other as the world turned.
They sat in quiet stillness until the wheel completed its rotation.
Evening fell.
The group gathered for dinner at the finest restaurant along the Sapphire City coast. Otto had booked the entire venue; the only people in the vast dining room were the girls from the Valkyrie dorms, along with Otto and Rita.
"Whoa! Look at all this food!" Kiana was her usual bubbly self, full of energy as she shoveled food into her mouth.
Kallen wasn't far behind. The two white-haired girls huddled together, devouring the delicacies on the table like a pair of starving whirlwinds.
Mei and Sakura watched them with indulgent, gentle smiles. Occasionally, their eyes met, sharing a quiet, kindred spark of amusement.
Nearby, Theresa and Himeko clinked their glasses—though both were filled with fruit juice. They were the only ones whose eyes occasionally betrayed a flicker of complicated emotions.
Otto sat at the head of the table, watching the scene play out. Deep within those emerald eyes, something unreadable stirred.
To him, this moment felt like a dream.
But the tragedy of dreams... is that you always have to wake up.
By all accounts, Kallen should have already headed to St. Freya Academy, donned that specialized suit, and stepped onto that strange machine to await her disappearance.
But Otto wouldn't allow it.
He had treated the world like a chessboard for five hundred years, moving pieces at his whim. And right now, he refused to let a piece named Kallen Kaslana simply vanish from the board—even if this Kallen wasn't his Kallen.
After dinner, Kallen stood on the beach. She squinted her eyes in pure contentment, feeling the sand fill the gaps between her toes as the tide lapped rhythmically against her feet.
"Kallen..." Sakura stood beside her, her voice trembling ever so slightly.
"Sakura..."
Kallen turned to face her, her blue eyes still dancing with that lively, spirited light.
"Can't you... stay?"
"..."
Kallen was silent for a moment. She wondered briefly if Rita or Otto had told Sakura that Schicksal had a way to make her stay. But she quickly dismissed the thought; Otto had accepted her choice, and Rita... Rita had no reason left to do such a thing.
It was more likely that Sakura had simply sensed something. After all, Otto had been seeking her out far too frequently lately.
"I'm sorry, Sakura." Kallen's gaze softened, but a firm resolve took root behind it. "I have duties I haven't finished... and I won't let the people of this world pay a price in blood just so I can stay."
"..."
Sakura looked at her, her eyes welling with sadness.
"Sakura."
Kallen didn't hesitate. She pulled the other woman into her arms, their silhouettes intertwining under the silver glow of the moon.
In the distance, Kiana watched the scene, her expression going a bit blank. Raiden Mei's gaze flickered with complexity for a moment before she reached out, covered Kiana's eyes, and gently pulled her away.
Only Otto remained, watching the embrace in a silence that felt eternal.
A while later, Kallen asked for a moment alone with Otto. Yae Sakura didn't protest; she simply stood up and walked away into the shadows.
"Kallen..."
The two of them stood on the shore, the silence stretching between them. Otto's posture was uncharacteristically relaxed, a soft, genuine smile touching his handsome features.
But Kallen's next words made that smile vanish instantly.
"Otto, there's something... I want to ask of you."
"Yes?"
"When I go back... don't tell them I'm going to die."
Otto stared at her, his emerald eyes swirling with deep conflict and a grief that bordered on helplessness.
"I don't want them to worry." Kallen felt like a total heartbreaker in that moment.
She felt like a character in a drama, making selfish demands of the second male lead—the one who gives everything—just for the sake of the protagonist.
The irony was, the feeling was strangely exhilarating.
"So... please."
Otto looked at her, remaining silent for a long time. Kallen knew exactly what she was asking: she was forcing Otto to be the only one to carry the burden of her death all over again.
"Alright."
Otto gave a faint, slow nod.
Kallen smiled. "Thank you."
But after the gratitude, another silence fell.
"And... I'm sorry."
"You don't need to apologize to me, Kallen."
"No... I know what I'm doing. Making you carry this truth alone, making you pretend you know nothing while the others smile as they see me off, even though you know I'm walking to my death..."
Kallen took a deep breath, her eyes filled with a mix of resignation and sorrow. "I'm sorry, Otto. I know my decision is cruel. But... I'm sorry."
Otto stared at her, stunned by her apology. It took a long moment before he finally started to laugh.
"Kallen..."
"Yes?"
"You really are just like her."
--+--