Honkai Transformations - 91 - 100

Honkai Transformations - 91

--+--

“My body… I think I’m starting to hit my limit.”

That morning, as Hu Tao sat up in bed again, she rubbed her lower back with a faintly troubled expression.

She felt… incredibly drained.

Yae Sakura had been sneaking into her room at night for three days straight.

At first, Hu Tao had honestly found it rather pleasant—but after three consecutive nights of being kept up until dawn, she was completely worn out.

And today made it the sixth day. Last night, Yae Sakura had gone especially wild.

Hu Tao got out of bed, yawned widely, then picked up Higokumaru from her arms and placed her on the bed beside her.

Over the past few days, they had confirmed one thing.

Wherever Yae Sakura was, Higokumaru would also be there. The two were practically a single soul split in two—inseparable shadows of one another.

Once, in the middle of a rather intense moment between Hu Tao and Yae Sakura, Higokumaru had suddenly appeared right between them.

Hu Tao hadn’t minded at all—in fact, a part of her had even faintly looked forward to something interesting happening next, but Yae Sakura had been startled badly.

Fortunately, Higokumaru had been half-asleep and completely dazed at the time.

“Mm… I should wash up first.”

Slipping on her slippers, Hu Tao headed for the door.

The moment she opened it, a small head immediately popped out from the side.

“Hu Tao!”

“Wah!” Still a little groggy, Hu Tao was so startled she jolted awake instantly.

“What are you doing?! Seriously, you scared me.”

She patted her racing chest, then shot Theresa a mildly reproachful look.

“Sorry, sorry.” Theresa said quickly, a little flustered and embarrassed—but then she couldn’t hold back her excitement. “I’ve got good news!”

“Let me guess… the secret technique I gave you worked?”

Hu Tao looked at Theresa’s expression—practically bursting with excitement she couldn’t contain—and smiled faintly, warm and amused.

“Eh? How did you know?” Theresa blinked.

Seeing that adorable reaction, Hu Tao couldn’t resist reaching out and gently ruffling her head.

“If I didn’t know, I’d have to punish you.”

“Y-yes, yes—”

Hu Tao was starting to get a little addicted to those adorable shifts in Theresa’s expressions. Only after letting go did she continue softly, “Since the experiment succeeded, I can finally relax.”

Theresa looked at Hu Tao’s easy, relieved smile and felt a wave of gratitude well up in her chest.

“Thank you, Hu Tao.”

“I told you, no need to thank me.” Hu Tao waved it off generously, but her gaze drifted back to Theresa’s soft, pink cheeks—and she suddenly felt the urge to tease her again.

“If you really want to thank me… then how about granting me one little request?”

“Eh?” Theresa blinked, confused—and a little wary.

But then she seemed to remember how much Hu Tao had helped them, even providing techniques that extended the lifespan of all Schicksal Valkyries.

Thinking of that, Theresa nodded firmly. “Alright! Whatever it is, I’ll do my best to fulfill it as the Academy Head!”

“That’s good enough~”

Just as Hu Tao looked at Theresa, her excitement barely contained as she reached out again—

From down the hallway, Yae Sakura’s voice suddenly rang out.

“Hu Tao, Theresa, breakfast is ready.”

“Alright, got it, we’re coming~” Hu Tao called back with a smile, then immediately turned back to Theresa and pinched her cheek.

“Mm?”

Theresa looked at her in confusion and mild embarrassment.

Then Hu Tao began kneading her soft, baby-fat cheeks, squishing them back and forth, pulling them slightly to the side now and then.

“This texture… it’s incredible!”

Hu Tao’s eyes lit up as she molded Theresa’s face between her hands, genuinely impressed.

Yae Sakura glanced at the scene, said nothing, and quietly turned away.

Hu Tao knew exactly what she was thinking.

Something along the lines of: she’s definitely going to do something indecent to Theresa when no one’s looking…

And well—she wasn’t entirely wrong. But right now, Hu Tao simply didn’t have the energy for anything beyond this.

She was exhausted.

Yae Sakura had drained her completely.

As she thought about it, Hu Tao’s whole aura dimmed into a drained grayscale mood, her only remaining source of vitality being the act of squishing Theresa’s cheeks.

“Waa~ Auntie, can I try too?”

Kiana suddenly appeared from the side at some point, staring at Hu Tao kneading Theresa’s face with undisguised longing.

“Don’t… don’t even think about it!”

Theresa immediately broke free from Hu Tao’s hands and glared at Kiana, flustered and annoyed.

“Kiana—did you finish the homework I gave you yesterday?”

“Of course I did!” Kiana said proudly.

Theresa narrowed her eyes slightly.

“Oh? That’s impressive.”

Kiana had just begun to relax when Theresa’s expression turned dangerous.

“In that case, I’ll be checking it carefully~ If there are mistakes… you’ll copy it ten times!”

“No—no way!!”

Kiana bolted back to her room in an instant.

“Honestly…” Theresa sighed helplessly, then looked back at Hu Tao a little shyly. “Um… Hu Tao, if you still want to continue, I can—”

“No need, I’ve had my fill already~”

Hu Tao waved her off, resisting the urge to pinch Theresa again.

As she walked toward the bathroom, she muttered, “I’m hungry too… before I leave, I’m definitely going to eat a big meal!”

Theresa watched her back quietly, her lips parting slightly, a hint of disappointment in her expression.

Today was already the sixth day.

After tonight, Hu Tao would be leaving their world and returning to Teyvat.

Theresa felt a little reluctant. Hu Tao had helped them so much, yet they had nothing they could truly give in return.

And Hu Tao… was also the alternate-world counterpart of that idiot Kiana.

But…

In her world, Hu Tao had no family left anymore.

Theresa thought back to the way Hu Tao had spoken so casually about her parents and grandfather before, and a deep sadness settled in her heart.

--+--

Honkai Transformations - 92

--+--

Hu Tao walked into the bathroom, turned on the faucet, and gave her face a thorough wash.

Then she stared at her reflection in the mirror.

"Hmm... if only..." Hu Tao murmured softly, "If only I could just become whoever I wanted, whenever I wanted. Having to get to know everyone all over again every seven days... honestly, it feels a bit weird sometimes."

After finishing up, she turned and walked out of the bathroom.

In the living room, everyone was already seated around the dining table, which was piled high with a lavish spread of food.

Hu Tao had grown somewhat used to it by now. For nearly two months, she had been feasting like royalty alongside Mei and the others.

"Kiana, are you absolutely sure you're done with your homework~" Hu Tao teased, sitting down right next to her with a grin.

"Of course it's done," Kiana replied, a smug expression spreading across her face. "I happen to be ranked fourth in the entire grade now. Homework of this level is a total walk in the park for me!"

"Oh?"

Hearing this, Hu Tao raised an eyebrow in surprise.

"Who would've thought? You look a bit ditzy, but you're actually quite the scholar~"

"Hey! What do you mean I look ditzy!" Kiana pouted immediately, though the slight twitch at the corner of her lips gave her away. Hu Tao could tell she was actually pretty thrilled with the second half of that sentence.

Still, Hu Tao truly hadn't expected that her string of consecutive transformations would actually motivate Kiana to start hitting the books so hard.

Fourth in the entire grade?

She recalled that Fu Hua was first, Bronya was second, and Mei was third.

And now Kiana had managed to snag the fourth spot?

Was she finally learning to stop relying on an external brain?

"Hu Tao." Theresa sat across from her, cradling a glass of bitter melon juice. She gazed at Hu Tao, her eyes filled with reluctance. "Tonight..."

"Mmh~" Hu Tao picked up a juicy pork bun and stuffed it into her mouth. Chewing on it, she could practically picture Mei and Yae Sakura standing together, mixing the savory broth into the meat filling, their delicate hands kneading the fermented dough with practiced care~

Swallowing the bun, Hu Tao met Theresa’s bittersweet gaze with a bright, carefree smile. "Yep, I'm leaving tonight."

The atmosphere at the table instantly fell flat.

Kiana froze mid-sip, her soy milk forgotten. Beside her, Yae Sakura’s eyes dimmed. Bronya silently lowered her chopsticks and looked up at Hu Tao, while Mei’s expression grew deeply complicated.

"Oh, come on, don't look like that." Hu Tao picked up a side dish with her chopsticks, chewed on it a couple of times, and smiled gently at everyone. "It's not like I'm dying. I'm just going back home."

But the moment those words left her mouth, Yae Sakura involuntarily gripped her chopsticks tighter.

The realization struck a chord with everyone, and a shadow crossed their faces.

"But..." Theresa looked at Hu Tao, her eyes welling with tears. "Once you leave, we might never see you again."

"Maybe you will, maybe you won't~" Hu Tao looked at Theresa and offered a small smile.

For Hu Tao, she got to see them every single day. But for Mei and the rest of the girls, every seven days meant saying a permanent goodbye to someone who had left an indelible mark on their lives.

And just like with Raiden Ei or Seele before, they would be left waiting with bated breath, only to learn from the next traveler that the friend they missed had likely met a tragic end.

In fact, they already knew that one of them—Kallen—was dead.

"But no matter what," Hu Tao said, her voice softening as she looked around at them, "in case we really do never cross paths again~"

"Allow me to wish you a good morning... a good afternoon, and a good night~"

Her whimsical words didn't lift the heavy silence in the living room at all. If anything, they brought Kiana and the others to the brink of tears.

"Besides~"

Hu Tao looked at them, her smile turning incredibly bright and radiant. "We belong to completely different worlds anyway. To be able to cross paths and spend seven days together... we're already incredibly lucky~"

"So, we should be happy! If we constantly dwell on the parting and let ourselves get dragged down by sadness, sooner or later, those negative emotions will break you. If that happens, how will you find the strength to protect your world and enjoy the life ahead of you?"

Hearing this, Kiana and the others blinked in a daze. Looking at Hu Tao's earnest yet lighthearted smile, the gloom hanging over their hearts began to scatter.

After that, everyone kept Hu Tao talking for hours.

In the afternoon, they all went for a stroll along the beach in Sapphire City, only returning to the academy when night began to fall.

This time, however, Theresa didn't make Hu Tao go to the research department.

After so many consecutive experiments, they had failed to detect even a trace of how Hu Tao—or any of the previous visitors—arrived in this world, let alone how they vanished.

So, at this point... Theresa had given up.

"Hu Tao..."

Kiana sat beside her, her spirits visibly sinking. "After you leave... will you miss us?"

"Of course I will. But I won't cry." Hu Tao reached out, gently wiping away the stray tear at the corner of Kiana’s eye before ruffling her hair.

Kiana didn't fight back this time. She just pouted slightly, looking a bit disgruntled that Hu Tao was treating her like a child.

"In this world, separation is the norm, which is exactly why our meeting is the most precious thing of all," Hu Tao said, giving Kiana a warm, sincere smile. "Besides, we both have our own paths to walk and our own missions to carry out."

Listening to Hu Tao’s words, the girls wiped their eyes, the heavy sorrow gradually lifting from their hearts.

"Well, looks like time is just about up." Hu Tao checked the clock, stretched her arms, and turned her gaze toward Yae Sakura.

"..."

Yae Sakura met her gaze silently, a swirl of unexpressed emotions turning in her deep blue eyes.

"Man, if only I could take you back with me," Hu Tao said, a hint of genuine regret creeping into her tone. "Then you could be a consultant for the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor and I wouldn't have to worry about a single thing except drumming up new clients outdoors~"

"...I'll miss you, Hu Tao," Yae Sakura replied. She didn't say anything about wanting to go with her; she just spoke with a gentle, fierce sincerity.

"Big sis, where are you going?! Can't you take me with you?!" Higokumaru flew over, looking utterly heartbroken as she clung to Hu Tao's arm.

"Sorry about that, little Higokumaru. I can't bring anyone along to where I'm going this time." Hu Tao reached out and gently poked Higokumaru's soft, squishy cheek, her tone turning serious.

"But you have to stay here and take good care of Sakura for me, okay? After all, she's so naive. Without you around, she'd definitely get tricked by someone out there."

"Waaah~" Higokumaru sniffled, tears pooling in her eyes. But looking at Hu Tao’s warm, reassuring smile, she forced a determined nod. "Mm! Higokumaru will definitely take good care of big sis!"

"Good girl."

Only then did Hu Tao flash a delighted grin, linking pinkies with Higokumaru.

Now, her time was truly up.

In her heart, Hu Tao couldn't help but wonder who she would turn into next.

"Balance dictates the cosmos, and fate is ever fickle," Hu Tao said, her voice echoing with a final, cheerful ring as she looked at everyone. "Goodbye, everyone! Who knows, maybe we'll meet again in the future! Next time, Himeko, I'm coming to find you to make good on that promise of yours~"

"...Honestly, you're something else. But fine, deal."

Amidst the bewildered glances of the others, Himeko’s cheeks flushed slightly. But looking at Hu Tao, she nodded and let out a hearty laugh. "Alright~ I'll be waiting for you."

Perhaps influenced by Kiana and the rest, Himeko’s burning desire to find a good man had finally started to cool down. Instead, she was beginning to warm up to the kind of mindset Kiana and the others shared...

The next instant, Hu Tao’s voice vanished from their midst.

"She's gone..."

Kiana stared at the empty space beside her on the couch, where a faint trace of Hu Tao's warmth still lingered. After a moment of silence, her lips curled into a soft smile.

"Alright. Goodbye, Hu Tao."

"She’s right. We can't let ourselves stay miserable every time we part ways." Theresa pulled herself together, looking around at everyone with renewed determination.

"But we shouldn't forget them either. Instead... we must remember the bonds and friendship we shared with them. Then... we get stronger, defeat the Honkai, and protect everything we worked so hard to build together!"

"Mm."

Raiden Mei gave a firm nod and took a deep breath. Then her gaze fell back onto the sofa, a spark of curiosity flickering in her eyes.

"The only thing is... who will be the next person to come to our world?"

"Maybe it'll be another version of Auntie~" Kiana chuckled, teasing Theresa.

Theresa shot Kiana a sharp glare, but secretly, she couldn't help but feel a bit expectant. "I... I guess I wouldn't mind seeing what another version of me looks like."

With that, everyone settled down to wait, none of them daring to leave the room.

The last time the real Kiana had left their sight during her departure, Silver Wolf had pulled a massive prank on them. She had forced every single Valkyrie in the academy into a giant game of hide-and-seek, nearly causing the Hyperion to launch into full battle alert.

And then...

"Whoa!"

A small, adorable figure suddenly tumbled onto the sofa, looking around in utter bewilderment.

"Huh?!" The moment Theresa saw the figure, her eyes went wide with shock.

"Me?!"

"No way, it really is another version of Auntie!!" Kiana’s jaw dropped in disbelief.

Lucky you, huh? Talk about a stroke of luck!

Theresa—who had just been wondering what character she would turn into next—had a sudden premonition the moment she heard Kiana's words. She was definitely about to embody someone intimately connected to Theresa.

And right now, her identity was the biological daughter of Priest Otto and Kallen—the very Otto who had eloped with Kallen and fled Schicksal as a priest.

This was a character who, if Otto ever saw her, would probably strike him utterly speechless. He'd look back at his past and want to aggressively slap himself across the face.

"You guys! Who are you?!" Little Theresa looked at everyone, her face a mask of pure confusion. She frantically looked around, trying to figure out where she was, or perhaps looking for someone.

Then, her eyes locked onto the actual Theresa, who was currently staring back at her with her mouth wide open.

"Y-You?" Little Theresa’s eyes widened to the size of saucers, horror writ large across her face. "How... how do you look exactly like me?"

"...Calm, just calm down first." Seeing the panic on the little girl's face, Theresa quickly spoke up. "You've ended up in another world. This isn't the world you belong to!"

But noticing that her words only seemed to make Little Theresa even more frantic, Theresa hurriedly added, "But don't worry! In seven... no, six days, you'll be sent right back to your own world."

"...How... how is that even possible? You're lying to me, aren't you?" Little Theresa hopped off the couch, pacing around with an anxious, bewildered expression.

Then, her eyes landed on Bronya, and they instantly lit up.

"Bronya! Thank goodness, you're here too..."

"You... know Bronya?"

Bronya tilted her head slightly in confusion, but then she glanced over at Kiana. "But... you don't know Kiana, or Mei."

"And you don't know me either." Himeko frowned slightly, thoroughly surprised. Out of everyone in the dorm, she considered herself the one who had known Theresa the longest.

"No... Bronya wasn't wearing these clothes just now." Little Theresa stared helplessly at Bronya’s default armor.

"Mm. But Bronya... is still Bronya." Bronya floated up gently, drifting over to Little Theresa's side and softly taking her small hand. "Theresa... listen to Bronya. Don't be nervous. Just now... what the Principal said is true. Due to an anomaly, you have come to our world..."

"..."

Listening to Bronya's explanation, Little Theresa's expression shifted from confusion to shock, before settling into an intense wave of anxiety and worry.

"If... if Joachim and the others realize I'm gone, they're going to be worried sick..."

"Don't worry... Theresa. Tell us... what is the situation like in your world?" Bronya cupped Little Theresa's hands gently between her own, speaking in a soothing, quiet voice.

Hearing her gentle tone, Little Theresa swallowed her anxiety and began to explain where she came from.

And then...

Everyone listened as she revealed that in her world, her father was Otto, and her mother was Kallen.

"?!!"

Kiana’s face completely contorted, her eyes bulging out as if she had just heard the most absurd piece of fake news in human history!

Beside her, Theresa's expression was an absolute masterpiece.

Never in her wildest dreams did she think there would be a universe where she wasn't Kallen's clone, but instead the literal daughter of Kallen and her grandfather!!!

In an instant, the lingering gloom over Hu Tao's departure vanished, replaced by an electrifying wave of shock. Everyone was practically buzzing with excitement!

"Then... what about Kallen? How is she?" Theresa asked, her voice stuttering slightly.

"Father said... when I was two years old, Mama passed away because of her health." Little Theresa's voice dipped into a sad, quiet whisper.

"Oh... I'm sorry..." Theresa blinked, suddenly feeling terribly awkward and clumsy for asking.

Kiana’s eyes clouded with deep confusion as she muttered under her breath, "How can this keep happening? It feels like in every single world, Kallen always meets some kind of tragic end..."

Yae Sakura remained dead silent beside them.

Hearing Little Theresa’s story, she could already piece together what her own counterpart’s fate must have been in that world. Having killed her own sister with her own hands... she would have been utterly consumed by despair...

She would have either committed suicide or become a tool under her father's command—an emotionless killing machine...

But...

As she looked at Little Theresa, a sudden spark of light flashed in her eyes.

Little Theresa was Kallen's daughter?

All at once, the lingering sorrow in Yae Sakura's heart transformed into a faint, underlying... thrill.

"Later on, the priest established an orphanage to take in homeless children, and he became a proper man of the cloth," Little Theresa continued softly.

Her words caught everyone off guard yet again.

"Grandpa is a priest in another world?" Theresa asked, thoroughly stunned, while Bronya’s expression remained characteristically calm and collected.

"Theresa..." Bronya looked at Little Theresa, unable to stop herself from asking a deeply complex question. "Are you saying... in your world... the Overseer... no, the Father... he took in Bronya, and Joachim?"

"Mm!"

Little Theresa looked at Bronya and nodded vigorously, her hands squeezing Bronya's smaller hands tight. "Not just us... Seele is there too. She's always joined at the hip with you..."

"Seele?!"

The moment she heard Seele's name, Bronya reacted like a cat catching a whiff of catnip. Her eyes snapped wide open, flashing with sheer joy and excitement.

"Mm!"

Seeing her explosive reaction, Little Theresa nodded a bit helplessly, though she quickly grew puzzled. "Bronya... where is Seele? In your world... are you two not together?"

"..."

In a split second, the joy on Bronya's face froze solid, gradually fading into a deep, hollow sorrow.

"I-I'm sorry! Bronya!" Little Theresa immediately picked up on the fact that she had poked a painful sore spot and quickly apologized.

Hehe~

Inside her head, however, Little Theresa couldn't help but snicker with absolute delight.

Then, putting on a show of sudden realization, she looked at Bronya and asked with a look of pure distress, "Bronya, Seele... did something happen to her?"

"She... she's gone," Bronya said, her voice turning strained and grieving. "Bronya... can't find her."

"How did she go missing?" Little Theresa began to fuss anxiously, acting exactly like a worried older sister whose sibling had run off. In her urgency, she completely ignored the other people in the room.

"...Theresa, please don't ask any more."

"..."

Seeing Bronya gently shake her head as her expression sank further into sorrow, Little Theresa went quiet, hesitating for a moment before nodding softly. "I'm sorry... Bronya."

"It's fine..."

The living room fell into a quiet, heavy silence.

Everyone couldn't help but feel a bit overwhelmed. They realized that the world Little Theresa came from deviated far too drastically from their own.

But while they were wrapped in their thoughts, a gentle knock echoed from the front door.

"I'll get it!" Kiana bolted up immediately, walking toward the door while letting out a quiet sigh of relief. Finally, someone was here to break the suffocating tension.

However, when she swung the door open, Kiana was greeted by an elegant, beautiful figure standing on the threshold.

"Rita?"

"Good evening, Lady Kiana." Outside the door, Rita gave a slight bow. "May I ask if Lady Theresa is present? Lord Otto has instructed me to retrieve the latest research results from the development department."

"Uh... yeah, she's here... it's just..." Kiana’s body stiffened slightly. She flashed a terribly awkward, forced smile, completely unsure if she should actually let Rita inside right now.

"Kiana, let Rita in." Fortunately, Theresa’s voice echoed from behind her, allowing Kiana to breathe a sigh of relief as she stepped aside.

And then, Rita laid eyes on the scene in the living room.

"Two... Lady Theresas." Rita’s eyes widened slightly as a surprised smile graced her lips. Curiously, a suspicious blush crept onto her cheeks, though everyone else was too preoccupied to notice.

"As you can see, Rita."

Theresa let out a soft sigh, standing right beside Little Theresa. She met Rita’s gaze and spoke with a profoundly complicated expression, "The person who arrived in our world this time... is another me."

"..." Little Theresa stood awkwardly to the side, her hand still clasped in Bronya's.

By now, Bronya seemed to have made up her mind that Little Theresa was a child around her own age who had also grown up in an orphanage.

Even though the director of that orphanage wasn't Cocolia, Bronya instinctively stepped into her role as the "big sister" of the orphanage, doing her best to soothe the girl.

Oh boy~

But while Little Theresa looked visibly panicked on the outside, her inner self was practically throwing a victory party.

She hadn't forgotten for a second that Rita had an absolute weakness for cute little girls—especially Theresa. In the games and comics, Rita had shown a rather intense fixation on her more than once.

In fact, during one of the game's event storylines, Rita had even sneaked into Dr. Tesla's lab at the academy to pull off a rather wicked prank, leaving Tesla with a massive psychological trauma.

And that wasn't even the best part.

Given that her current identity was the literal daughter of Otto and Kallen from an alternate universe, Little Theresa could hardly fathom how utterly insane Otto would go the moment he found out.

She'd probably be seeing Otto in person very soon, wouldn't she? Little Theresa thought to herself, brimming with curiosity and anticipation.

"Her background... is a bit different from mine," Theresa said, her expression incredibly twisted as she stared at Rita. "Rita... I have a feeling Grandpa is going to fly over here in person any minute now."

"So, as for the research department's results... let's just wait and let Grandpa take them himself."

--+--

Honkai Transformations - 93

--+--

"The other Lady Theresa..." Rita inclined her head slightly toward Little Theresa, her elegant smile unchanging. Yet, the young girl was perceptive enough to notice a subtle, indescribable hint of amusement creeping into Rita's mood.

"In that case, Rita understands. I shall report this matter to the Overseer first."

"Yes, thank you for your trouble."

Theresa nodded.

As Rita turned to leave, Theresa also turned around and quickly walked over to the young girl, who looked visibly confused and flustered.

"Um..." For a moment, Theresa found herself at a loss for how to address this other version of herself. "You... just stay here for these seven days. You'll be able to go back in a week."

"Is there no other way to go back sooner?" Little Theresa looked up at her, an anxious look in her eyes.

Theresa could only shake her head helplessly, her expression tinged with apology. "I'm sorry... We don't know why you, or the others before you, ended up in our world... So... we have no way of sending you back ahead of schedule."

"Is that so..." Little Theresa lowered her head in disappointment, her eyes brimming with unease and worry. "If that's the case, Joachim, Bronya, and the others... they will definitely come looking for me. What if they run into danger... What if they cross paths with those monsters..."

"Monsters?" Theresa's brow furrowed, her expression instantly turning serious.

"Are you referring to Honkai beasts?" Bronya stepped forward, her gaze turning sharp and focused.

"Honkai beasts?" Little Theresa blinked, momentarily dazed. Then, a look of bittersweet remembrance crossed her face as she nodded. "Yes! Back then... the Father used to call them that."

At this, Theresa and Bronya couldn't help but exchange bewildered glances.

"Then! What about the Father?" Theresa couldn't resist asking. "The Father... wouldn't just let the children wander out everywhere looking for you, would he?"

"..."

But the moment Theresa said this, the light completely vanished from Little Theresa's eyes.

Seeing that expression, a heavy, sinking feeling gripped everyone in the room.

"The Father... has already passed away," Little Theresa said, her voice dropping to a low, sorrowful whisper.

Her words left Theresa’s mind completely blank.

"The other world's... Grandpa, has already passed away?"

"?"

Hearing Theresa call the Father "Grandpa," Little Theresa’s brain seemingly short-circuited. She stared back at her with a thoroughly bewildered expression.

"Grandpa?"

"..."

Off to the side, Kiana's mouth twitched.

She knew perfectly well that she shouldn't laugh in a situation like this, but the corners of her mouth were fighting a losing battle against gravity.

That was until Mei's hand quietly clamped down on her wrist and gave it a sharp, warning pinch.

"!!!"

"Why... why do you call the Father 'Grandpa'?" Little Theresa asked, swallowing her own urge to laugh as she stared at Theresa in sheer astonishment.

"Well..."

Theresa’s mouth twitched. She had absolutely no idea how to explain this.

"Theresa..."

At that moment, Yae Sakura stepped forward gracefully, breaking the deadlock. However, her utterance of the name "Theresa" caused both the big and small version to look over simultaneously.

"..." Little Theresa hesitated for a moment. She looked at Theresa, then at Yae Sakura, before finally speaking up. "You can... just call me Sister Theresa, or... Little Theresa."

"Alright..."

Yae Sakura nodded, her gaze fixed on Little Theresa. Her eyes were incredibly gentle, yet filled with a fragile caution, as if she were looking at a rare piece of delicate porcelain.

"Little Theresa, in our world... many things are very different from yours."

"..." Little Theresa's eyes flickered with a hint of confusion.

"For example... Kallen is not Theresa's mother in this world." Yae Sakura's words caused Little Theresa's eyes to widen in shock.

"Yes."

Theresa nodded softly, looking at her younger counterpart with a complicated expression. "In our world... Kallen passed away five hundred years ago."

"What?" Shock painted Little Theresa's face. She stared at Theresa and blurted out in utter disbelief, "Then! Doesn't that mean... you're already five hundred years old?!"

"I am not that old!!" Theresa’s composure completely shattered. Her face flushed a bright, furious red, and she looked ready to stomp her feet in frustration.

"Pfft, Hahahahahahaha!!!"

Kiana couldn't hold it in any longer and burst into a roaring fit of laughter right then and there.

"Kiana!" Theresa snapped her head around, a terrifyingly "sweet" smile plastered across her cute face as she ground her teeth.

"I'm—I'm sorry! Auntie! Haha! But I seriously couldn't help it!!"

"Our apologies... Principal." Raiden Mei helplessly grabbed Kiana by the hand and dragged her toward the bedroom.

In truth, Little Theresa was also reaching her breaking point.

Looking at Theresa’s flushed, utterly conflicted little face, she felt like she was just a second away from giggling out loud.

"I... I am actually... around the same age as you," Theresa said, completely abandoning her conscience as she stared at Little Theresa, deliberately omitting exactly where that similarity lay.

"..."

Standing nearby, Himeko’s lips twitched violently. But unlike the younger Kiana, she managed to stifle her amusement.

Theresa didn't dare steal a glance at Himeko. Guilt was practically written all over her face as she pressed on, "It's just that in our world... I am not... the daughter of Otto and Kallen."

"How is that possible?"

Little Theresa looked as though she were listening to a bizarre fairy tale.

"Then... who are you?"

"My true identity..." Theresa sighed, steeling herself to explain. "I am a clone created by Otto, using Kallen's DNA."

"A clone?"

"A clone is..."

By the time Theresa finished her explanation, Little Theresa’s face remained frozen in absolute, worldview-shattering shock.

Slowly, she looked at Theresa, and a touch of deep pity crept into her eyes. The initial panic, unfamiliarity, and subconscious resistance she felt completely melted away.

"The Father... actually did such things."

Little Theresa murmured under her breath, her gaze turning distant as if lost in thought.

"What's wrong, Little Theresa?" Bronya stepped forward, looking at her with genuine concern.

"It's nothing..." Looking at Bronya, Little Theresa instinctively felt a sense of familiarity and closeness. She shook her head gently, her expression a mix of disbelief and sudden realization.

"I just... never imagined that the Father from another world would do something like that. It sounds... so much like what Joachim's father did..."

"What?"

Theresa looked at her, thoroughly perplexed, dying to know what she meant.

But right then, the sound of two distinct footsteps echoed from the hallway outside the open door.

The moment Little Theresa caught the rhythm of those footsteps, her eyes lit up. Her breath caught in her throat, and her body began to tremble with sudden excitement.

"Little Theresa?" Theresa had already accepted the nickname.

But seeing her counterpart react so intensely left her completely baffled.

"It's... it's the Father..."

Little Theresa stared at the doorway, her eyes welling with tears. "I could never forget it... It's him. Every night, when the Father walked past our room to do his rounds, his footsteps sounded exactly like this..."

"Grandpa?"

Theresa looked toward the door.

Everyone in the living room instinctively turned their attention outside.

Even Kiana, who had been dragged into the bedroom by Mei, couldn't resist poking her head out to steal a cautious glance.

And then...

Otto’s silhouette appeared in the doorway.

Little Theresa stared at him, her eyes locking onto his vivid green gaze. Secretly, she couldn't help but complain in her head.

There was no way Otto could have dashed all the way here from the European headquarters in an instant.

Therefore, he must have hidden a Soulium avatar somewhere in the academy—no, definitely more than one—just so he could rush to the scene instantly whenever something like this happened.

"Father!!"

Her emotions completely overrode her logic. Little Theresa sprinted toward Otto, tears streaming down her face well before she even reached him.

Who would have thought!

That one day, I'd actually have to throw myself into Otto's arms!

The more Little Theresa thought about it, the more aggrieved she felt, and the harder her tears fell.

"Theresa..." Otto opened his arms and caught her, pulling the small girl into his embrace. As he looked down at her sobbing uncontrollably, her cries heavy with heartache and longing, he fell silent.

Then, his expression turned terrifyingly cold, his gaze sharpening into steel.

Having missed the prior conversation between the two Theresas, Otto mistakenly assumed that this Little Theresa had been horribly mistreated in her own world and that the other version of himself was likely dead.

But a moment later, his expression softened back into gentleness as he stroked her head.

"Don't cry... Little Theresa. Grandpa... no, I am right here..."

Theresa didn't approach them. She merely watched her alternate self weeping in Otto's arms, her heart a tangled mess of emotions.

She had never once considered the possibility of her grandpa dying.

Yet today, a version of herself had appeared in her dormitory to deliver the stark news that the other world's grandpa was gone.

A sudden, sharp pang of sorrow and lingering fear struck Theresa's heart.

Despite the massive rifts between her and Otto, she truly did not want him to die.

It took a long time before Little Theresa finally managed to catch her breath.

Otto continued to stroke her hair, looking gently into her tear-reddened eyes. "Theresa... tell me, what happened in your world?"

“Hiccup…”

Little Theresa let out a soft, tiny hiccup from crying so hard before she began to softly recount the entire story of Father Otto and Kallen.

As Otto listened to how Priest Otto and Kallen had fled from Schicksal headquarters, hidden away in Siberia, fell in love, and eventually married with the blessings of the local villagers...

His eyes widened slightly, a look of profound bewilderment and shock crossing his handsome features.

The corners of his lips even tilted up into a faint trace of a smile.

Little Theresa couldn't tell if he was genuinely happy to hear this, or if he was simply mocking himself.

Then, she mentioned that Priest Otto and Kallen were her actual father and mother.

In an instant, Little Theresa felt Otto’s hand freeze atop her head. His gaze transformed into one of absolute disbelief and raw complexity.

"My... child?"

Otto was entirely lost for words, as if a bombshell had detonated inside his mind.

He had never even dreamed of such a possibility.

He had assumed that Little Theresa was just another clone created by his counterpart after Kallen’s death, but what she said next sent a sudden, inexplicable rush of warmth and profound joy surging through his chest.

However, Little Theresa quickly added that Kallen had died.

The Kallen of that world had succumbed to Honkai corruption when Little Theresa was only two years old.

His expression darkened immediately.

She continued her tale, explaining how Father Otto had eventually passed away due to the same Honkai corruption.

She spoke of the orphanage, and how Joachim's father had tried to resurrect his own wife—starting with Honkai experiments on small animals, moving to vagrants, and eventually targeting the orphanage children.

Father Otto had ultimately killed Joachim's father, but after resolving their grievances, Joachim had taken up the mantle as the new Father of the orphanage.

Hearing this, Otto felt as though destiny itself were playing a cruel joke on him.

"I see..." Otto's expression had never been as gentle or as earnest as it was at this very moment.

"Theresa..." His voice was incredibly faint, as if speaking any louder would cause the entire scene before him to shatter like a fragile bubble.

"I will take good care of you..."

"Mhm..." Little Theresa nodded softly against his chest. When she looked up at him, a lingering trace of sorrow remained in her eyes, mixed with a profound sense of relief and quiet joy.

That look told Otto that her emotions were finally stabilizing.

She, too, had realized that he and Father Otto were ultimately not the same person.

Good...

This Little Theresa from the other world is much more mature than our Theresa...

Yet, it was precisely this maturity that made Otto's heart ache fiercely.

He couldn't begin to imagine how his daughter—the child of him and Kallen—had managed to survive in the perilous wilds of Siberia with nothing but the Void Archives to protect her.

What a sick joke!!

Otto's emotions flared with sudden agitation, though he quickly forced them back down.

Except...

At this point, Little Theresa really didn't want to be held by Otto anymore.

Furthermore, she wasn't in the mood to keep acting out this melodramatic, emotional scene. She much preferred the idea of being hugged by Yae Sakura, damn it!!

Oh well...

After a quick mental calculation, Little Theresa realized there was only one foolproof way to escape her current predicament.

And so...

Her body suddenly went limp, and her face turning pale, she collapsed right into Otto's arms.

"Theresa!!"

Before her consciousness completely severed its connection to her body, the last thing she heard was Otto's panicked voice.

--+--

Honkai Transformations - 94

--+--

When she woke up again, Theresa realized things had gone completely differently from what she’d hoped.

She’d imagined opening her eyes to find herself lying in Yae Sakura’s soft embrace, breathing in her scent, resting against her pillowy chest, but instead…

“Little Theresa…”

Otto sat beside her bed, never leaving her side, watching over her with a gentle, attentive gaze.

Seeing Otto like this was rare enough already, but damn it, Otto was a man!

Little Theresa was starting to regret going overboard with the acting.

“Father…” As she tried to sit up from the bed, Otto stopped her with a movement that was gentle, yet impossible to resist.

“Little Theresa… rest a little longer. Your body’s still very weak.” Otto looked at her seriously, his voice soft.

“Okay…”

Little Theresa nodded faintly, her eyes growing a little red again.

“Is she awake yet?”

At that moment, the hospital room door opened slightly, and Theresa’s little head peeked inside.

“Mm. She’s awake already.” Otto turned and gave Theresa a small nod.

“Let me see!”

Theresa hurried over to the bedside, her face full of worry.

“Thank goodness… Little Theresa, you finally woke up…”

“Sorry… for making everyone worry…”

Once Theresa arrived, Little Theresa immediately felt more at ease.

Being stuck alone in a room with Otto was seriously terrifying, okay?!

Still… where was everyone else?

Don’t tell me I’m going to spend the next few days alone with Otto?

The thought alone filled Little Theresa with resistance.

And the exhausted look on her face now, along with the expression of someone forcing herself to stay composed, made Theresa’s heart ache a little.

“Little Theresa, don’t think about so much right now. All you need to do is rest properly.” Theresa gently took her hand, speaking softly.

“Mm…”

Little Theresa nodded, though she still looked dispirited.

“Little Theresa…” Otto picked up an apple from the nearby table. A small golden knife appeared in his hand, and he carefully began peeling the skin away.

“Is that… the Void Archives?”

Seeing the golden knife in his hand, Little Theresa’s eyes widened slightly in surprise.

“Father…”

“Mm.” Otto nodded.

Truthfully, at that moment, he wanted even more to hear her call him “Father,” but unfortunately, Little Theresa already seemed used to addressing him that way.

(T/N: The word for Father(clerical) and Father(paternal) are said differently in Chinese but are the same word in English.)

“The Void Archives… the First Divine Key?” Theresa couldn’t help glancing over curiously as well.

“That’s right. It can imitate anything I fully understand.” Otto explained gently.

After speaking, he looked back at Little Theresa.

“In your world… did the other me ultimately entrust it to Joachim?”

“Mm…”

Whenever the topic shifted to her own world, Little Theresa’s expression dimmed a little. “Father used it the whole time to protect everyone in the church… even until the day he finally fell.”

Hearing that, Otto found himself unable to understand.

The other version of himself possessed the Void Archives too. Even after betraying Schicksal alongside Kallen, how could he possibly have lived such a poor, difficult life? And in the end, he even handed the Void Archives over to a child, even if that child truly was exceptional.

Otto’s emotions turned complicated.

“Alright, alright, let’s not talk about that for now.”

Seeing the mood growing heavy, Theresa quickly changed the subject.

“So, Little Theresa, we checked your condition earlier. Besides being malnourished, you were also emotionally overwhelmed and overworked… that’s why you suddenly fainted.”

So basically just like the future you, huh?

Little Theresa quietly thought to herself.

Still, her body really was pretty similar to Theresa’s later on.

Even though she was still just a child, she had to help Joachim take care of all the children in the orphanage. She’d even deliberately eat less so the others could have more.

For someone with Kaslana blood, that burden was simply too much.

That was why Little Theresa had collapsed so suddenly earlier.

“Here.”

Otto cut the peeled apple in half and handed one piece each to the two Theresas.

“Thank you… Father.”

Little Theresa held the half apple carefully with both hands and cautiously took a bite.

The moment the sweet flavor spread across her tongue, she froze slightly before a look of joy and satisfaction appeared on her face.

“Little Theresa… were supplies really that scarce in your world?” Theresa asked quietly, unable to hide the concern in her voice.

“N-No.” Little Theresa immediately shook her head, her cheeks flushing faintly as she explained softly, “It’s just that in Siberia… getting fresh fruit is pretty difficult.”

“And there are so many children in the orphanage… sometimes several people had to share a single apple.”

“…”

Theresa fell silent again.

Otto let out a quiet sigh.

The outcome didn’t surprise him, but at the same time, he felt strangely helpless.

“Little Theresa…” Otto gazed at her intently, his eyes warm and focused. “For now, stay here and rest properly. Take care of your body. Don’t think about anything else.”

“Mm…”

Little Theresa nodded lightly, her eyes full of trust as she looked at him.

Even her body relaxed slightly, like she’d finally found someone she could rely on completely.

That only made the weight in Otto’s heart heavier, because Little Theresa resembled Kallen far too much. 

Perhaps in that other world, before he and Kallen died, they had passed the Kaslana family’s beliefs on to her.

Which meant…

If Little Theresa ever learned about the things he had done, and the things he was still planning to do—his daughter, the child born from him and Kallen, would come to hate him.

Just like her mother had.

“Rita.”

Otto turned toward the door and called softly.

A moment later, the door opened and Rita stepped into the room, bowing politely toward the three of them.

“Lord Otto, what are your orders?”

“From now on, you’ll be responsible for taking care of Little Theresa,” Otto said calmly.

The moment she heard that, Little Theresa perked right up internally.

Thank God!

As long as Otto wasn’t personally taking care of her, she could totally accept even Rita constantly hugging, kissing, and cuddling her!

Over the next half day, Little Theresa chatted endlessly with Otto about her world.

About the mother who had already passed away before she could even remember her.

About how Father Otto later established an orphanage, taking in homeless children, yet still had to watch some of them die in accidents and disasters.

And also…

The final words Father Otto had once told her.

[A person goes through three stages of growth in life.

The first is understanding right and wrong.

The second is understanding that some things are more complicated than simple right or wrong.

The third is after realizing some things have no clear right or wrong at all, you still choose to firmly do what you believe in, and take responsibility for it.]

And Father Otto’s final dying words:

[I have fought the good fight. I have finished the race. The faith you entrusted to me… I upheld it.]

Otto remained silent as he listened.

He already understood now—the Otto from that other world was fundamentally no different from himself. The only difference was that, on that day, when Kallen offered him a choice, they chose different paths.

One stayed within Schicksal.

The other escaped Schicksal together with Kallen.

No…

That’s not what I want.

Otto stayed silent.

What I want… is a future where Kallen survives.

That stubborn madness began rising within him once more.

“I understand now… Little Theresa.”

Otto gently stroked her forehead before standing up. “There are still things I need to handle. Around noon, we’ll have lunch together.”

“Mm…”

Little Theresa watched him leave the room with reluctant eyes before he left Rita and Theresa to care for her.

“Oh, right! After lunch, I’ll take you around the academy and show you everything!” Theresa hurriedly suggested, trying to lighten the mood now that Little Theresa had gone quiet again.

Little Theresa glanced at her before nodding lightly.

“Okay… thank you…”

Still, when she looked at Theresa, her expression became hesitant and conflicted, as though she didn’t know how to address her.

That immediately made Theresa nervous too.

At that moment, however, Rita—who had been quietly standing behind Theresa—met Little Theresa’s eyes over Theresa’s head.

Then she smiled faintly and mouthed two silent words:

“Big sis~”

“…Big Sis.”

The words slipped out instantly.

The moment she said it, Theresa’s face turned bright red.

Big Sis! She called me Big Sis!

Even though Little Theresa and Theresa looked completely identical, Theresa was already getting excited.

She had a little sister now!

No, wait… she’s another version of me!

But Theresa was still incredibly happy.

Rita reminded her loudly about something.

“Understood, Lady Theresa. Please don’t worry and leave it to me.”

Rita bowed politely toward Theresa’s departing figure before turning back toward Little Theresa with a warm smile.

“Lady Little Theresa, from now on, if you need anything at all, please tell Rita directly.”

“N-No need to be so formal…” Little Theresa hurriedly shook her head in embarrassment before looking at Rita gratefully.

“And… thank you for earlier.”

Theresa seriously just dumped me on Rita and ran off…

Little Theresa couldn’t help complaining internally.

She knew Rita had a serious weakness for adorable little girls, especially Kaslana ones. There was no way Rita would miss a chance to get close to her now.

“There’s no need to thank me, Lady Little Theresa. Relieving your worries is also part of Rita’s duty as your personal maid.” Rita bowed slightly again, her smile elegant and gentle as always.

Little Theresa’s eyes widened a little before she stammered shyly, “I-I don’t need a maid or anything. I can take care of myself.”

“Lady Little Theresa, this is Lord Otto’s order. It is also Rita’s responsibility.”

As she spoke, Rita stepped a little closer and bent slightly at the waist, her respectful expression carrying a hint of warmth.

“And besides… Rita is very happy to serve you.”

From Little Theresa’s angle, she could perfectly see the dazzlingly soft cleavage revealed beneath Rita’s collar, along with the deep valley between them.

Instantly, Little Theresa’s face turned scarlet, her gaze flickering in panic.

She hurriedly turned away, completely forgetting about the whole maid issue as she squeaked in embarrassment,

“I-I get it! D-Do whatever makes you happy!”

“Mm~ Lady Little Theresa, being able to serve you makes Rita very happy.”

Seeing Little Theresa’s flustered reaction, amusement and delight filled Rita’s wine-red eyes.

Lady Little Theresa really is adorable.

Like a tiny porcelain doll.

At this point, Little Theresa already knew her embarrassed reaction had definitely caught Rita’s attention.

After that little accidental fanservice moment, there would probably be an endless stream of teasing waiting for her afterward.

Yes!!!

“Um…”

After being embarrassed for a while, Little Theresa turned back toward Rita, her expression curious yet uncertain. In a soft, childish voice filled with confusion, she asked:

“Rita… can you tell me what your world is like?”

“Of course, Lady Little Theresa.”

Rita stood beside the bed and gently began telling her the story of this world.

When Little Theresa learned that Otto had already lived for over five hundred years, shock filled her face, but after hearing it was only possible thanks to technology from the Previous Era, she calmed down a little internally.

Still, when the conversation turned toward Theresa, Little Theresa pretended to ask curiously why Otto had chosen to clone Kallen—

Rita suddenly fell silent.

“Is… is it something you can’t answer?”

Little Theresa looked at Rita, her eyes full of earnest curiosity.

Rita watched her thoughtful, serious expression for a moment before finally nodding lightly.

“Very well, Lady Little Theresa…”

Just as she was about to explain some things regarding Theresa—

The door suddenly slammed open.

“I’m back!”

--+--

Honkai Transformations - 95

--+--

“Big Sis?” A flicker of panic crossed Little Theresa’s face, but Theresa herself—arms full of stuff—didn’t notice as she walked in.

Rita straightened slightly and stepped aside to make room for her.

Then Theresa dumped everything she was carrying into a pile beside the bed.

“These are…?” Little Theresa stared wide-eyed at the mountain of snacks covered in Homu designs, manga volumes, plushies, and even Homu body pillows.

And yet, she had to admit it.

Just looking at them made her feel irresistibly tempted.

“These are my absolute favorite treasures!” Theresa let out a long breath after setting everything down, then looked at Little Theresa with sparkling anticipation.

“Look at this!”

She handed over a limited-edition Homu figure she’d once waited in line for hours to buy back in Sapphire City.

The moment Little Theresa instinctively reached out to take it, a faint blush spread across her cheeks. Her sapphire-blue eyes widened with shock and delight.

“So cute…”

“Right? Right?!” Theresa nodded furiously, looking even happier.

At that moment, she felt even more excited than when she’d first bought the figure herself.

“And this too!”

Theresa picked up several out-of-print manga volumes that couldn’t be found anywhere anymore, eagerly flipping them open and shoving them in front of Little Theresa.

Then, while Little Theresa stared in fascinated amazement, Theresa enthusiastically began explaining the plot and recommending her favorite parts.

Rita stood quietly off to the side, but as she watched the two tiny Theresas sitting together on the bed, she couldn’t help smiling fondly, as though she were looking at the very thing she’d spent her whole life searching for.

By noon, Little Theresa, Theresa, and Otto had finished lunch together.

“Grandpa! I’m taking her out for a walk!” Theresa immediately wanted to drag Little Theresa out to play, leaving Otto with a helpless smile.

“Theresa… don’t you want to spend a little more time with your grandfather too?”

“Ugh…”

Theresa hesitated.

“Big Sis… Father… why don’t we all go together?” Little Theresa spoke up like an angel descending from heaven, instantly offering a solution that made both Theresa and Otto light up.

“Sure, I’m fine with that.” Theresa nodded lightly.

Otto nodded as well, his gaze toward the two girls filled with affection.

“But first, let’s get you changed.” Theresa glanced seriously at Little Theresa’s hospital gown.

At that moment, Rita stepped forward from the side, carrying a set of clothes identical to Theresa’s nun outfit.

“Lord Otto, Lady Theresa, please allow Rita to help Little Theresa change.”

Help me get dressed?

A tiny thrill stirred in Little Theresa’s heart.

Even if Rita was technically just doing her job, Little Theresa was certain Rita was secretly hoping Otto and Theresa would agree, and honestly… she was looking forward to it too.

Still, she had to at least pretend to resist a little.

“N-no, it’s okay! I can dress myself!” Little Theresa hurriedly waved both hands, cheeks reddening in embarrassment.

“No, Little Theresa. You’re still weak right now.” Otto smiled gently and stroked her head tenderly.

“Let Rita help you.”

“…Okay.”

Under Otto’s gentle touch, Little Theresa finally nodded obediently.

Hey, Otto’s the one who said it!

So nobody can blame me for enjoying this later.

“Then we’ll wait outside!” Theresa hopped cheerfully off the bed and left the room together with Otto.

“…Mm.”

Little Theresa sat quietly on the bed, watching as the door slowly closed behind them.

Then Rita approached her.

“Lady Theresa, please allow Rita to help you change.”

Rita gently placed the clothes beside the bed, her crimson eyes soft with warmth, respect… and unmistakable affection.

“Okay…” Little Theresa nodded lightly, her clear blue eyes fixed quietly on Rita.

As she lifted the blanket, preparing to take off the hospital gown herself, Rita’s hand had already reached over.

“Allow Rita.” Her voice was soft and soothing, like she was comforting a child.

Her fingers hooked around the gown’s buttons, deftly undoing the first one and revealing a glimpse of pale skin beneath.

Little Theresa instantly flushed bright red.

“Please don’t be shy, Lady Theresa.” Rita continued calmly unfastening the buttons while gently explaining, “Helping you dress is one of Rita’s duties as your maid. Besides… when you fainted earlier, after Lord Otto and Lady Theresa brought you to the hospital, Rita was the one who changed your clothes then as well.”

“R-really?” Little Theresa’s voice trembled with embarrassment, her expression equal parts confusion, innocence, and helplessness.

How thoughtful of you. You even prepared the perfect excuse for me.

Whether Rita’s actions actually fit proper maid etiquette or not, Little Theresa didn’t know. But that certainly wasn’t going to stop her from fully enjoying herself.

And if Rita had already taken care of her once while she was unconscious… didn’t that kind of count already?

While Little Theresa’s thoughts wandered, her flustered and innocent expression became overwhelmingly adorable in Rita’s eyes.

Rita carefully undid every remaining button as though savoring an exquisite dessert.

The moment the gown fully opened, it slipped from Little Theresa’s shoulders and pooled around her waist, exposing her soft, snow-pale upper body.

“Please raise your arms, Lady Theresa,” Rita said softly, her tone elegant and perfectly composed.

Little Theresa hesitated before obediently lifting her arms.

Rita gently removed the gown and picked up a simple white undergarment with no unnecessary frills.

She moved behind Little Theresa and pressed the fabric lightly against her skin.

The cool touch made Little Theresa instinctively tense.

“Is it too tight, Lady Theresa?”

Rita’s warm breath brushed near her ear as she spoke, making Little Theresa hurriedly shake her head, but the movement was too sudden.

The back of her head accidentally brushed against something soft behind her.

She froze instantly.

Rita smiled faintly at her reaction, amusement flickering in her wine-red eyes.

How adorable…

At that moment, both Little Theresa and Rita found themselves thinking the exact same thing.

Because of Little Theresa’s sudden movement, part of the fabric had folded awkwardly instead of lying flat.

Rita noticed immediately.

She stepped back around to the front before Little Theresa could react, slipping a finger beneath the edge of the fabric to straighten it properly.

“Ah—!”

Little Theresa shivered violently, a tiny sound escaping her throat before she clamped her mouth shut in embarrassment.

Her eyes widened with helpless panic, and yet, she still didn’t stop Rita—almost as if she had no idea what to do anymore and simply gave up resisting altogether.

“Please stay still, Lady Theresa.”

Rita’s voice remained calm as her fingers carefully smoothed the fabric flat.

When she finished, Little Theresa’s skin had already turned faintly pink, her breathing light and uneven.

Every so often, the tiniest hum slipped unconsciously from her nose, though she herself seemed completely unaware of how strange she looked.

“All done, Lady Theresa~” Rita smiled with quiet satisfaction.

Only then did she unfold the nun’s dress and carefully help Little Theresa into it.

The outfit fit perfectly.

The fabric was soft and delicate, carrying a faint fragrance, and looked brand new.

“Next…”

After dressing her, Rita picked up a pair of white stockings.

Little Theresa lowered her gaze slightly.

“Please lift your foot, Lady Theresa.”

Rita knelt beside her, gently taking Little Theresa’s small foot into her hand before sliding the stockings carefully upward.

Her movements were slow and meticulous, fingertips brushing lightly along Little Theresa’s calf as she adjusted the fabric.

Each touch made Little Theresa tremble ever so slightly.

“Done.”

Rita finally stood back with visible satisfaction, admiring her handiwork.

Little Theresa slowly rose to her feet as well, now wearing small white dress shoes that made her look unbelievably adorable.

“Lady Theresa.”

Rita wheeled a full-length mirror over in front of her.

Little Theresa stared at her reflection, cheeks still flushed.

“D-does it look good?” she asked shyly, glancing toward Rita with uncertain eyes—and a faint trace of dependence she didn’t even seem aware of yet.

Rita immediately noticed the subtle shift in attitude and smiled brightly.

“It looks wonderful, Lady Theresa. You look absolutely beautiful in it.”

“Mm! Thank you.”

Only then did Little Theresa finally relax and smile with relief.

Rita walked to the door and opened it.

“Little Theresa!” Theresa was the first to rush inside, circling around her excitedly while admiring the matching nun outfit.

“Wow~ You look amazing like this!”

“Mhm!” Pulled along by Theresa while listening to the endless compliments, Little Theresa couldn’t help smiling happily.

Otto stood quietly at the doorway, gazing at the two nearly identical Theresas gathered together.

To him, there had scarcely been a happier moment in the past five hundred years. Though perhaps because he’d barely rested since yesterday, Otto felt a faint heaviness settle in his neck.

Rita stood off to one side, smiling gently as she watched the scene unfold.

“All right, let’s head out.”

After a burst of playful chatter, Little Theresa followed beside Theresa and Otto as they walked outside.

Leaving the hospital behind, they passed through peaceful wooded paths, elegant academy buildings, and broad sports fields filled with equipment.

Little Theresa slowed slightly, awe and longing flickering across her face.

“What’s wrong, Little Theresa?” Theresa asked with concern. “Are you feeling sick?”

Little Theresa hurriedly shook her head.

“No, Big Sis…”

That single “Big Sis” made Theresa melt all over again.

“I’m just… a little jealous.” Little Theresa looked out over the vast, beautiful academy grounds and spoke softly.

“If everyone at the orphanage could come here too… that would be wonderful.”

“They definitely will someday, as long as—” Theresa started to speak, only to remember that the Otto of Little Theresa’s world was already dead.

And when she thought about Cecilia, she realized she didn’t even know whether that world still had one.

Otto silently listened nearby, brows faintly furrowed.

In that other world, Schicksal was likely already under the control of his brother’s descendants.

They would never welcome Little Theresa. To them, she would only be the bloodline of a sinner, and with the Kaslana family so diminished, there would be nobody capable of protecting her.

So in that world…

Little Theresa and the others had no one to rely on. All they could do was wait for Joachim to grow up and fully master the Void Archives.

Otto silently pondered this, complicated emotions flickering deep within his green eyes.

“Being able to come here… to spend seven days with Big Sis and Father… I’m already really happy.” Little Theresa turned toward Theresa with a gentle, sincere smile.

Her maturity only made Theresa’s chest ache more painfully.

“Big Sis! Father! I want to see over there!” Little Theresa pointed excitedly toward the fountain plaza in the distance.

“Sure! Let me tell you something…” Theresa immediately dragged her toward it, completely ignoring Otto behind them.

As they walked, Theresa proudly rambled on about the fountain plaza’s history and how she’d carefully saved up money to build it.

She even declared that she planned to expand the academy someday with an entire Homu-themed amusement park.

Little Theresa listened with shining eyes, filled with admiration and excitement.

Otto smiled faintly at the conversation.

Without saying a word, he quietly took out his phone and instructed Amber to allocate additional funding to St. Freya Academy, along with dispatching a full Schicksal engineering team to the Far East Branch.

While they were strolling through the plaza, Little Theresa suddenly noticed a group approaching from the other side.

“Mei! Kiana!”

Theresa waved enthusiastically from afar.

Little Theresa curiously looked over as well—and immediately locked eyes with Yae Sakura in the crowd.

The moment Sakura saw Little Theresa, her gaze softened at once.

“Auntie!” Kiana ran over happily, greeting Theresa before hesitating awkwardly when she looked at Little Theresa.

“L-little Auntie?”

“Hm?” Little Theresa blinked at her, clearly unaccustomed to the title, but still nodded politely.

“Hello… Kiana.”

However, the moment Sakura approached, Otto’s gaze immediately settled on her.

She lifted her head and met his eyes directly. Though both of them wore smiles, Little Theresa could keenly sense something invisible growing sharper between them.

“Hello, everyone.”

Otto finally looked away from Sakura and smiled pleasantly at the group.

“I’m Theresa’s grandfather… and in Little Theresa’s world, Little Theresa’s biological and legal father as well.”

“…”

Sakura fell silent, her breathing hitching slightly.

Meanwhile, Otto’s smile deepened ever so slightly.

“H-hi.” Kiana looked uncertainly at Otto before whispering toward Mei, “Mei… what am I supposed to call him?”

Mei suddenly found herself completely at a loss.

Fortunately, Little Theresa walked over to Bronya at that moment, surprise lighting up her face as though she’d found something familiar.

“Bronya.”

Without hesitation, she reached out and held Bronya’s hand.

Though Bronya seemed a little unused to it, she instinctively regarded Little Theresa as someone similar to the children from the orphanage.

So she allowed it.

“Bronya.” Little Theresa carefully studied her face, almost as though confirming something important.

Then she smiled brightly.

“You really do seem happy here.”

“Mm.” Bronya’s silver-gray eyes softened. “Bronya has many friends here. Mei-onee-sama, Kiana, Himeko-sensei, Sakura-nee, and the Principal.”

“That’s good.” Little Theresa smiled softly. “If everyone at the orphanage knew, they’d definitely be happy too…” But her voice gradually grew quieter.

“In another world, Bronya also has Seele, you, and everyone else from the orphanage beside her.” Bronya looked at Little Theresa seriously.

“So Bronya believes… she must be very happy too.”

“Mm!”

Little Theresa’s face immediately brightened again.

Nearby, Otto glanced at the time before speaking gently.

“Little Theresa.”

“Hm? Father?”

“I need to leave for a while to handle some matters.” Otto stepped over and brushed the windblown strands of hair away from her face before continuing, “I’ll be back tonight. And… you and Theresa should head home early. Grandpa will cook something delicious for dinner.”

“Okay!” Little Theresa’s eyes instantly lit up.

She’d always been curious about what Otto’s cooking tasted like.

After all, she’d heard Theresa possessed a magical power.

Namely: if you put ingredients into the fridge and take a nap, somehow delicious food would magically appear on the dining table afterward.

“Mm.” Otto nodded and turned toward Theresa. “I’m leaving Little Theresa in your care. Make sure you both come back early for dinner tonight.”

“Yeah, yeah.” Theresa nodded, though clearly reluctant.

Before leaving, Otto’s gaze swept briefly across Kiana, Mei, and Fu Hua without lingering for even a moment.

Only when his eyes landed on Sakura did he pause slightly.

Sakura calmly returned his gaze.

A faint curve appeared at the corner of Otto’s lips.

It wasn’t mockery nor provocation.

It felt more like… a declaration.

Then he turned and left.

“Big Sis…” Higokumaru tugged lightly at Sakura’s sleeve, watching Otto depart. “That priest feels kinda scary.”

Meanwhile, Little Theresa continued wandering the fountain plaza together with Theresa and the others, laughing and chatting happily.

Not too far behind the group, Rita followed at a measured distance, her attention lingering almost entirely on Theresa and Little Theresa.

--+--

Honkai Transformations - 96

--+--

“Big Sis…”

After chatting with Theresa and the others in the fountain plaza about the world they lived in, and spending a long time admiring the flowers and greenery around the square, Little Theresa finally looked up at them with a serious, focused, curious expression.

“Hm?” Theresa had assumed the girl wanted to hear one of her old stories again—maybe the one about how she once fought through a crowd of hundreds just to snag a collector’s edition Homu magazine.

But instead, Little Theresa quietly asked something that completely blindsided her.

“In this world… why didn’t Father and Mom end up together?”

A trace of sadness flickered through her eyes. Earlier, Theresa and the others had already told her that Kallen had died five hundred years ago, and that Theresa herself was Kallen’s clone.

So now she looked like a child trying to piece together the history of a broken world.

Woohoo~

Little Theresa was secretly cackling inside.

She could barely wait to see Yae Sakura step up and start fighting Otto for custody rights over her.

And if Sakura won tomorrow—even better!

That way, after sampling Otto’s cooking, she could go enjoy the deluxe marshmallow treatment afterward.

Her question instantly froze Theresa in place, leaving her staring helplessly back at the child.

Kiana had just been about to scoop up a handful of water to splash Bronya, but even she stopped mid-motion. Everyone’s attention turned toward Little Theresa and Theresa herself.

At that moment, Sakura pressed her lips together softly, determination flickering in her sapphire eyes.

“They…” Theresa’s voice turned strained, hesitant.

“…Is it something you can’t talk about?” Little Theresa asked gently, looking understanding as she nodded lightly. Then she forced out a smile, trying—and failing—to hide the disappointment tucked away in the corner of her expression.

“It’s okay… you don’t have to say it… I was just a little curious.”

That painfully obvious attempt to hide her sadness made Theresa let out a soft sigh.

“It’s alright, Little Theresa.”

Theresa’s gaze firmed.

Then she began recounting everything they had learned from that archive world Kiana once stumbled into while trying to make up for her exams.

Little Theresa listened quietly, her eyes slowly widening in shock.

“How could that happen…? Father didn’t leave Schicksal with Mom?”

“Mhm…” Theresa nodded stiffly, helplessness in her eyes.

“That’s the difference between our worlds. In your world, Grandpa escaped Schicksal together with Kallen. In ours… he didn’t.” As she said it, even Theresa herself looked dazed.

“If…” she murmured softly, almost to herself, “if Grandpa had gone with Kallen… then maybe I would’ve… been their…”

She didn’t finish the sentence, but everyone knew exactly what she meant.

Sakura fell silent immediately, an indescribably complicated look surfacing in her eyes.

Little Theresa’s attention snapped right to her.

She was seriously looking forward to whatever expression Sakura would make later, but before anyone else could speak, Rita’s calm, composed voice rang out.

“But if that had happened… perhaps even more people would have died to the Honkai.”

Oh?

Little Theresa looked over curiously.

Rita stepped forward gracefully into the center of the group.

“Lady Little Theresa, please forgive Rita for speaking out of turn.”

She gave the child a slight bow before turning toward the others with a faint smile in her wine-red eyes.

“In Lady Little Theresa’s world, Father and Lady Kallen left Schicksal together, and Lady Little Theresa herself grew up in an orphanage. We know very little about that world.”

She paused.

“But what about this world? If the Overseer had also left with Lady Kallen back then…”

Rita’s expression turned grave.

“What would have become of Schicksal?”

“I… I don’t know…” Kiana admitted, looking lost. “If Schicksal didn’t exist… would I even have met Aunt Theresa? Or Himeko-sensei and Fu Hua?”

You probably wouldn’t have met Mei either.

Little Theresa silently snarked to herself.

After all, she knew perfectly well that Raiden Mei’s ancestor—Hokushin Mei—had once been a complete sword demon before meeting Yae Sakura and Kallen.

Without them, that woman probably would’ve died challenging some powerful enemy, instead of eventually finding peace, settling down, and starting a family.

“Exactly.” Rita smiled faintly. “Without the Overseer, Schicksal would never have become what it is today.”

Silence settled over the group.

Even Fu Hua said nothing.

“Without the Overseer, Schicksal would have fractured five hundred years ago. The descendants of the Overseer’s elder brother would have inherited the position, while Schicksal itself was already drowning in internal and external crises. Those opposed to him would never have submitted. Civil conflict would have consumed most of Schicksal’s strength. Research into the Honkai would have stagnated…”

Rita spoke slowly, one word at a time.

Nobody interrupted.

Little Theresa stared at her with confusion and uncertainty in her eyes.

Finally, Rita looked back down at her, voice gentle but serious. “And at that point… Headmistress Theresa might have become Little Theresa… while Lady Little Theresa… perhaps would have become Headmistress Theresa.”

“—!” Kiana rubbed at the goosebumps on her arms immediately.

“S-Stop saying stuff like that! You’re making me feel like maybe we’ve all been swapping places over and over in some endless reincarnation loop!”

“…How strange,” Fu Hua murmured softly, her expression complicated.

There were many of Otto’s decisions she despised, but even she had to admit—this world could not exist without Overseer Otto.

Little Theresa lowered her head, sadness filling her eyes, as though mourning the tragedy between this world’s Otto and Kallen.

“Little Theresa…” Theresa looked at her with aching tenderness.

To her, Little Theresa was just a child the same age as Bronya, and yet this tiny girl already carried herself with the same maturity and steadiness Theresa herself had now.

That thought hurt more than she could bear.

“I’m okay, big sis.” Little Theresa shook her head. Her bright blue eyes remained serious. “Can you tell me what happened to Father and Mom after that? I… want to know more.”

“Of course!” Theresa nodded quickly, about to continue—but Yae Sakura stepped forward.

She looked at Little Theresa, gently stroking her head.

“Then… let me tell Kallen’s story instead.”

“Huh?” Confusion flashed across Little Theresa’s face, but she still nodded obediently.

“…Okay.”

That soft, sweet, unbearably well-behaved look made Sakura’s eyes fill with affection.

“After Kallen escaped from Schicksal…” Sakura began recounting the story Kallen once told her—how she fled to the Far East carrying the demon sealed inside the box while Schicksal hunted her relentlessly.

Sakura did not hide the bloodstained sins of her past.

She spoke calmly, though sorrow still lingered deep in her eyes.

She told Little Theresa everything.

How Kallen saved her.

How the two of them slowly grew closer.

How they eventually became lovers.

Every last detail.

“Eh?!!!”

By the end of it, Little Theresa’s eyes were wide with utter shock.

“In… in this world… you’re Mom’s lover?”

“…Yes.”

The moment Little Theresa said that, Sakura could no longer hold back the sorrow and tenderness swelling in her heart.

She crouched down and pulled the child tightly into her arms, tears spilling from the corners of her eyes.

“So… Little Theresa… by coming to this world, you showed me another version of Kallen’s story… I’m truly grateful to you…”

She hugged the girl tightly.

Meanwhile, Little Theresa’s stunned face was promptly buried straight into Sakura’s unbelievably plush chest.

Hah~

That heavenly scent.

Little Theresa took a deep, disbelieving breath before slowly exhaling.

“So… that’s how it is.”

She looked uncertainly at Sakura after the woman loosened her embrace slightly, gazing at her with gentle affection.

The two stared at each other in silence for a long time.

Then Little Theresa finally spoke in a tiny voice filled with indescribable pressure and hesitation.

“…Mom?”

“PFFT—!”

“Cough! Cough cough!!”

Everyone who had been immersed in bittersweet memories instantly exploded into violent coughing fits at hearing that title.

“M-Mom?!” Theresa’s eyes nearly popped out of her skull.

“Hah—!” Kiana burst out laughing before Mei immediately clamped a hand over her mouth with all her strength.

Kiana struggled wildly while Mei desperately stopped her from making a sound.

Fu Hua fell into a long, speechless silence.

Himeko turned away from the group entirely, shoulders shaking nonstop.

“…Mm.”

But the thing that really shattered everyone’s composure was Sakura herself.

The instant she heard Little Theresa call her that, tears still in her eyes, she immediately pulled the child right back into her chest again.

“Mmph!”

This time it was even tighter than before.

Little Theresa genuinely felt like the marshmallows were trying to suffocate her alive.

All she had to do was part her lips the tiniest bit…

…and soft warmth practically slid right into her mouth.

“Is… is this okay?!”

Theresa trembled slightly, staring at the scene in total shock and confusion.

“Hah… mmph!”

After one final muffled whine, Kiana’s body suddenly went limp straight into Mei’s arms.

“Kiana?! Kiana!”

The entire scene dissolved into chaos.

After being smothered against Sakura’s chest for a while longer, Little Theresa’s legs finally gave out too.

“Little Theresa?! Little Theresa!!”

A while later, consciousness slowly returned to her.

As she emerged from that blissful suffocation, she realized she was now lying inside the Valkyrie dorms.

“Little Theresa…”

Yae Sakura sat beside her without leaving for even a second, using her own thighs as a pillow so the child could rest comfortably against her lap on the bed.

“…Mo… Mom?”

Little Theresa took full advantage of the moment, happily stacking up extra family photo points for herself to atone for all the gremlin behavior she’d pulled earlier.

“Mhm!” Sakura looked at her with overwhelming tenderness and affection, as though Little Theresa truly were the child born from her love with Kallen.

“Where am I…?” Little Theresa asked, pushing herself up slightly while glancing around in confusion.

“My bedroom,” Sakura answered seriously.

“I see…”

Little Theresa looked a little flustered before nodding softly.

“Th… thank you, Mom.”

“…Mm.”

Sakura barely restrained herself from hugging the girl all over again, though the desire was practically written across her entire face.

Honestly, Little Theresa found that a little disappointing. She really wanted to try experiencing that passive smothering feeling properly with this tiny body.

“Wah! Little Theresa’s awake!”

At that moment, Higokumaru’s tiny head popped in through the doorway, shouting excitedly.

Immediately afterward, hurried footsteps echoed down the hallway.

Soon everyone crowded into the room.

“Little Theresa!” Theresa rushed to the bedside first, looking both relieved and worried. “Thank goodness—you finally woke up…”

“Mhm… sorry for making everyone worry.”

Little Theresa nodded gently.

Her tiny, innocent, unbelievably well-behaved appearance made everyone’s hearts soften instantly.

“I’m sorry… Little Theresa. I got a little… too emotional earlier…”

As Sakura apologized guiltily, Little Theresa simply shook her head and smiled with pure, angelic softness.

“It’s okay… Mom. I’m fine.”

“…Mm.”

Sakura was extremely pleased with that form of address.

Then Little Theresa noticed the alarm clock on the bedside table.

“Almost five already?” she murmured instinctively. “I should head back to Father’s place… he said he was making dinner tonight…”

The moment Otto was mentioned, the curve of Sakura’s lips visibly flattened, and most of the warmth in her eyes vanished instantly.

“Mmm…”

Theresa checked the time, hesitated, then nodded.

“Yeah… we should probably head back too…”

Even if she didn’t particularly want to return Little Theresa to Otto, she could tell how much the girl cared about him.

There wasn’t much she could do.

“Alright.” Sakura reluctantly let go.

“Then we’ll be going now, Mom.”

Little Theresa was already saying it naturally.

Around them, though, every time she called Sakura “Mom,” Kiana and the others looked like they were seconds away from losing it again.

“I’ll walk you out.”

The instant Sakura offered, Kiana immediately jumped in.

“Me too!”

“…Idiot Kiana.”

Bronya sighed helplessly at the visibly excited Kiana, who clearly wanted to keep following the drama.

And so…

The group heading back to Theresa’s residence grew crowded once more.

Little Theresa walked with them through St. Freya Academy’s shaded forest paths, lined with lush green trees. Occasionally they passed a few Valkyries out for a stroll.

Every single one of them froze in shock upon seeing two Theresas together, rubbing their eyes repeatedly before staring like they’d seen a ghost.

Thankfully, nobody came over to ask questions.

Otherwise the trip would’ve become a nightmare.

Still…

Just as Little Theresa was wondering how to use Sakura escorting her home to provoke Otto a bit—she suddenly spotted a familiar figure ahead on the path.

Welt!!!

The instant she saw him, intense delight surged through her heart.

She already knew exactly what she wanted to do next.

The very next moment—Little Theresa stopped walking and stared directly at the approaching Welt.

“Hm? What’s wrong, little auntie?” Kiana stopped too, looking confused.

What little auntie?! What is this, a sitcom?!

Little Theresa somehow held herself together.

Her bright blue eyes widened with excitement and curiosity as she locked eyes with the puzzled Welt.

“What is it, Little Theresa?” Sakura gently patted her head, though her gaze toward Welt carried clear caution.

After all, in one world, the man ahead of them had been the First Herrscher.

And…

He had killed another world’s Theresa and the others.

“It’s Joachim!”

Little Theresa happily called out before hurrying through the crowd to him.

Meanwhile, Welt had already stiffened completely at hearing that name, shock and confusion flashing across his face.

Bet you didn’t expect me to dox you on sight!!

Little Theresa cackled internally while staring into his brown eyes.

“T-Theresa?” Welt looked between the two Theresas and immediately pieced together what was going on.

Another visitor from another world, but no matter how much he tried, he could not understand how this Little Theresa had instantly exposed his identity.

“Joachim… so this world’s version of you has already grown up this much.”

Little Theresa looked at him with eyes shining even brighter than when she’d met Bronya earlier—second only to the expression she wore around Otto.

“…What?” Welt looked utterly baffled, like an innocent passerby caught in the wrong scene.

“Huh?”

Little Theresa tilted her head in confusion.

“…Your name isn’t Joachim?”

“My name is Welt Yang,” he answered solemnly with a nod.

Still, under Rita’s meaningful gaze from the crowd, he couldn’t shake the feeling of knives pressing against his back.

“How could that be…” Disappointment flashed across Little Theresa’s face.

“You’ve probably mistaken me for someone else.”

Welt was deeply curious how she knew the alternate version of him—after all, very few people in this world even knew the name Joachim.

“If there’s nothing else, I’ll be going now.”

With that, he started walking away.

Little Theresa simply stood there, looking hurt and lost, like an abandoned animal, watching his back disappear around the corner.

She was absolutely certain—Everyone’s curiosity about Welt had just skyrocketed!!!

And hehehe…

Once Otto saw how much she cared about Welt, he was definitely going to lose his mind too.

Just imagining it made her want to roll around on the floor in excitement.

“Little Theresa… you know him?” Bronya tilted her head slightly, suspicion already surfacing in her eyes.

After all—

First, True Kiana had revealed that Welt from another world was the First Herrscher, and now Little Theresa seemed incredibly close to the alternate-world Welt… or rather, Joachim.

So was it possible that their own Welt wasn’t ordinary either?

“Mhm.”

Little Theresa nodded softly, reluctantly pulling her gaze back from where Welt had disappeared.

“I wouldn’t mistake him… that’s definitely Joachim. But… he doesn’t seem to use that name anymore. And… he’s grown up so much.”

“…Are you sure?” Mei asked gently, still confused. “A lot of people change as they grow older. Maybe he only looks similar?”

“Nope.”

Little Theresa immediately shook her head like a rattling drum.

Then a warm smile appeared on her face.

“He’s definitely Joachim. I’d never mistake him. Besides…”

She paused slightly, her expression turning nostalgic and tender.

Everyone recognized that smile instantly.

It was the same smile Mei wore when looking at Kiana.

The same smile Bronya wore when seeing Seele.

The same smile Sakura once wore for Kallen.

In an instant, everyone’s hearts dropped straight into the abyss.

Especially Sakura.

She glanced briefly toward the direction Welt had vanished, a dark crimson gleam flashing through her blue eyes for just a moment.

Meanwhile Theresa visibly shuddered, horror dawning across her face as goosebumps spread over her skin.

“Whoa…” Kiana blurted out in amazement—only to immediately feel the icy aura radiating off Mei behind her.

“When Joachim gets nervous, his whole body stiffens too.”

Little Theresa smiled gently, showing absolutely no concern whatsoever for Welt’s future survival.

“Even after growing up in this world… he’s still exactly the same.”

--+--

Honkai Transformations - 97

--+--

"That—that smile Auntie just had..." Kiana whispered, gently nudging Mei. Her expression was a mix of sheer disbelief and inner turmoil. "Do you think... do you think she actually likes that Joachim guy she mentioned?"

"...Don't say another word, Kiana," Mei replied. She had accepted reality, but her face still carried a profound, complicated look, as if she had just caught wind of some horrifying scandal.

In her mind, Little Theresa was currently only around eleven or twelve years old, while their own Principal Theresa was decades older than her...

She didn't know if Little Theresa would ever grow up in the future, but the current image of the principal was already deeply seared into her brain.

What if Little Theresa never grew up?

Then...

Mr. Welt and Little Theresa...

Mei's throat bobbed as she swallowed hard, unable to stop a shudder of pure disgust from washing over her face.

And she clearly wasn't the only one around who had connected the dots.

Sakura stared in the direction where Welt had vanished. The dark red glow in her eyes had faded, but her fingers had tightened into a white-knuckled grip.

"Little Theresa..."

"Hmm?"

"Do you... like Joachim?"

Little Theresa’s face flushed bright red instantly, and she vigorously shook her head. "No! Not at all!"

But her blushing cheeks and desperate denial only made everyone more absolutely certain of their suspicion.

My dearest Welt, I hope this finds you well. I hope you love the present I sent you~

Little Theresa was roaring with laughter on the inside.

She could already picture it: there was a very high chance Yae Sakura would go sneak up on Welt and jump him with a club in the middle of the night!

And Rita would absolutely report everything that just happened to Otto!

She couldn't even begin to imagine how beautiful the chaos would be!

Meanwhile, the adult Theresa’s expression was quite a sight. It shifted from shock to utter confusion, her deep blue eyes filled with profound bewilderment and sheer rejection.

"Let's go. The Father... is still waiting for you."

Yae Sakura gently patted Little Theresa’s head. She suddenly felt that the fact that Otto was Little Theresa’s father wasn't all that bothersome or unacceptable anymore.

"Okay." Little Theresa nodded, letting Yae Sakura take her hand as the group continued forward.

The atmosphere in the group now was entirely different from before. Himeko glanced at Theresa from time to time, her eyes full of teasing banter, while Kiana didn't dare utter a syllable because Mei kept shooting her stern warnings.

They finally arrived outside Theresa’s residence—a quiet, secluded two-story villa nestled within the academy grounds.

"You're back?" Otto stood outside the open door, looking as if he had long anticipated exactly when they would return. He was wearing an apron, holding a spatula in his hand, and watching Little Theresa and Theresa with a gentle, loving smile on his handsome face.

"Father!"

Little Theresa immediately let go of Yae Sakura's hand, trotted over to Otto, and looked up at him with a radiant smile. "I'm home!"

So cheesy...

Little Theresa sighed silently in her heart. If possible, next time she hoped to reincarnate as a Valkyrie who either had a completely normal relationship with Otto or didn't know him at all.

Looking into Little Theresa’s sparkling eyes, Otto gently reached out and tucked a few strands of hair blown stray by the wind behind her ear. "Did you have fun?"

"Yes!" Little Theresa nodded vigorously, her smile growing even more joyful.

She could hardly wait for Otto to find out what had just happened!

"Good." Otto gave a soft nod. Then, his gaze shifted toward the crowd, his emerald eyes locking onto Yae Sakura, who was watching him calmly. The smile on his face naturally took on the smug composure of a victor.

"Miss Yae Sakura, and everyone from St. Freya Academy, thank you for bringing Little Theresa back."

Yae Sakura didn't speak. Instead, she looked down at Little Theresa, a rare tenderness softening her serene face. "Little Theresa, I'll be going now."

"Okay! Goodbye, Mom!" Little Theresa turned around and waved her little hand at Yae Sakura.

Otto's smile instantly froze on his face. The spatula slipped from his grip, hitting the ground with a sharp clatter.

Hahahahaha—!!!

First strike on Otto, complete!

Pretending to be confused, Little Theresa bent down to pick up the spatula and looked up at Otto with a bewildered expression.

Otto was just standing there like a statue, his eyes wide and his mouth slightly open, looking completely dumbfounded.

"Father? What's wrong?" Little Theresa blinked at him, her face the absolute picture of innocence and confusion.

Otto didn't answer. He just stared at Yae Sakura.

Yae Sakura looked back at him, her clear blue eyes as calm as ever, but the corners of her mouth curled up.

There was no mockery, no provocation—just a subtle sense of pure satisfaction and quiet triumph.

Then, she turned and walked away.

At that moment, Little Theresa felt like she could actually hear the faint sound of Otto's heart shattering into tiny pieces.

"Well, we'll take our leave as well." Himeko and the others hurriedly turned around and beat a hasty retreat.

"Huh? Wait..."

Theresa felt her scalp go numb. She reached a hand out, wishing they would wait up; she didn't want to be left behind either, but in the end, only Little Theresa, Otto, and Theresa remained.

Even Rita had silently slipped away into the shadows.

"Father." Little Theresa tugged at Otto's apron, looking deeply concerned. "What's wrong?"

Don't break down just yet~

I still have so much more to tell you~

Little Theresa suppressed her laughter, amusement bubbling inside her.

Otto finally snapped out of it. He looked down at Little Theresa’s innocent, puzzled little face, took a deep breath, and then took another. "It's nothing... Come inside. Wash your hands and get ready for dinner."

"Okay!"

After Little Theresa followed Theresa inside, Otto went into the kitchen to serve the food. While washing her hands, Little Theresa looked at Theresa with curiosity. "Big sis, is Father a good cook?"

"..."

Faced with Little Theresa’s question, Theresa hesitated for a moment before speaking softly, "He is. He's a very good cook."

But then, looking at Little Theresa, she couldn't help but feel a bit puzzled.

"Little Theresa... in your world, is Grandpa a bad cook?"

"No." Little Theresa quickly shook her head, a trace of nostalgia surfacing on her small face. "He's amazing. It's just... it's been a very long time since I last ate a meal cooked by Father, so my memory of it was getting a bit blurry..."

The light in Theresa’s eyes dimmed slightly. Watching the happy smile on Little Theresa’s face, a pang of deep sorrow twisted her heart.

After giving Theresa a tiny emotional stab, Little Theresa enthusiastically went over to the dining table with her and sat down.

The table was already laden with a sumptuous feast.

There was everything from fried chicken drumsticks and cream of mushroom soup to grilled fish, veggie salads divided into bitter melon and non-bitter melon versions, and a massive plate of pudding.

The moment Little Theresa spotted that plate of pudding, her eyes lit up.

"Look at all that pudding!"

"Yes."

Otto sat down opposite Little Theresa, a warm smile spreading across his face. "Everything you love to eat."

Little Theresa couldn't wait any longer. She scooped up a large spoonful with her spoon and shoved it into her mouth.

The instant burst of sweetness, smoothness, and tenderness that literally melted on her tongue made Little Theresa narrow her eyes in pure bliss, a euphoric smile spreading across her face.

"So delicious!"

Seeing her reaction, Otto smiled and picked up his chopsticks, placing a chicken drumstick into both her bowl and Theresa’s.

"Eat up."

"Mm-hmm!"

Little Theresa smiled radiantly.

Theresa, however, looked a bit hesitant, as if... she wasn't quite used to Otto being this tender and warm toward her. After all, a rift had formed between them after the Second Honkai War.

However, after taking a few bites, Otto ultimately couldn't hold it in anymore.

He set his chopsticks down and looked at Little Theresa, a probing look entering his eyes. "Little Theresa."

"Hmm?" Little Theresa looked up from her bowl, the corners of her mouth still smudged with savory juices from the chicken drumstick. "What is it, Father?"

"Just now... why did you call Yae Sakura 'Mom'?"

As he asked this, Otto's smile remained perfectly gentle, but Theresa felt such a violent wave of secondhand embarrassment and awkwardness that her toes began to curl inside her slippers.

Little Theresa blinked, swallowed the chicken meat in her mouth, wiped her lips, and put on a shy, hesitant expression.

"Because... in this world, she seems to be Mom's lover."

Otto's fingers tightened slightly.

Little Theresa heard the sound of his heart shattering yet again. She could swear Otto actually lost a bit of his physical color, looking as if he were turning to stone.

"..." Little Theresa opened her mouth but said nothing.

She didn't need to say it; Otto had already figured it out.

Yae Sakura had most likely told Little Theresa herself, and everyone else around them—including Theresa—had just gone along with it.

At that moment, Otto completely lost all color, turning into a dull gray statue that practically radiated heartbreak.

Sitting right next to him, Theresa buried her face in her cream of mushroom soup, her shoulders shaking violently.

She was holding back her laughter, and she was dangerously close to breaking.

"I see..." Otto finally spoke. His voice still carried a gentle, smiling tone, but it was trembling ever so slightly. "You like her a lot?"

"Mm..." Little Theresa nodded softly, her cheeks turning slightly pink. "She's very gentle. But, I still like Father more."

Hearing those words, a genuinely happy smile finally broke across Otto's face.

It was as if he had just won a crucial round against Yae Sakura.

That is the very first time I've ever spoken against my own conscience.

Little Theresa couldn't help but marvel at herself in her mind.

But just then, Theresa looked up at Little Theresa, her eyes full of curiosity. "Little Theresa, how... how did the orphanage manage to keep running in your world?"

Little Theresa paused to think, a surge of excitement brewing inside her.

Theresa's question had finally handed her the perfect opportunity to deliver the ultimate critical hit to Otto!

"It's all because Joachim is amazing," Little Theresa said, a gentle, tender smile gracing her lips.

But the moment those first words left her mouth, the smile that had just reappeared on Otto's face instantly froze.

"He always managed to think of things that Bronya and I completely missed. He handled almost all the negotiations with the outside world, too. He was like a dependable big brother to everyone at the orphanage. After Father left, he became so mature and reliable..."

Snap.

The fork in Otto's hand let out a faint, brittle snapping sound.

"He's a really fast learner, too. It was incredibly tough at the beginning; he had to wake up before dawn every day and went to sleep so late at night. Later on, when Bronya and Seele grew up and could help out, things got a lot better."

Theresa looked at Little Theresa’s gentle, brilliant smile, her own expression freezing up again.

Meanwhile, Otto stared at the slight curve of Little Theresa’s lips and the natural, unshielded joy in her eyes whenever she brought up Joachim. His heart sank lower and lower.

"Did he spend a lot of time with you?" Otto asked, his voice deceptively calm.

"Yes!" Little Theresa nodded. "He made time to be with me every single day."

"..."

"Because Father had left, he knew I was the one hurting the most. So sometimes he would tell me stories, and sometimes he would teach me how to read. He was always there for me... He also told me that I was the person Father worried about the most, and reminded me to eat well, sleep well, and grow up healthy so that Father could rest easy on the other side."

Otto fell completely silent. He stared at Little Theresa for a long time, his jaw clenched tight.

He didn't feel a single shred of the maturity or reliability Little Theresa was describing. All he saw was a filthy pig trying to steal the precious cabbage he had raised!

"And he knows carpentry, too!" Little Theresa’s eyes sparkled as she smiled, lost in the memories.

"A lot of the furniture in the church was getting broken because it was so old. He would go fix them. Sometimes, even if he didn't know how to fix something one day, he'd suddenly know exactly how to do it the very next morning."

Because he used my Void Archives!!!

Otto's hands balled into tight fists.

He could already vividly picture it: Joachim studying away inside the database of the Void Archives late at night, just so he could show off everything he learned in front of Little Theresa the next day.

For a brief moment, veins practically throbbed on Otto's forehead.

"He... treats you very well," Otto said, forcing a smile. It was still incredibly gentle and serene.

But Little Theresa could already feel the underlying vibe beneath that smile—the heavy, suffocating pressure that precedes a violent thunderstorm.

My dearest Welt, I hope this finds you well. The second present I prepared for you is already on its way. I do hope you enjoy it. — Theresa Apocalypse.

After finishing dinner, Little Theresa proactively cleared the table and washed the dishes.

By then, Otto was sitting on the sofa. Rita materialized from the hallway like a ghost, placing a cup of freshly brewed tea right in front of him.

"Lord Overseer."

Otto, who had been resting with his eyes closed, opened them and looked at her. "What happened?"

Rita bowed slightly, keeping her voice incredibly low to ensure Little Theresa wouldn't overhear from the kitchen.

"On her way back, Lady Little Theresa ran into Welt. She called him... Joachim, and confirmed that Welt is indeed the grown-up Joachim."

Otto's fingers froze.

The fact that Little Theresa hadn't mentioned a single word about this to him was exactly what made him the most anxious.

Because he was absolutely certain that Little Theresa would go looking for Welt sooner or later.

The moment that thought crossed his mind, Otto could barely suppress the murderous intent rising within him.

"And?" he pressed, holding back his bloodlust.

"When Lady Little Theresa saw Welt..." Rita carefully chose her words before continuing, "...her expression was remarkably tender."

Otto's fingers dug deep into the armrest of the sofa.

Crack.

Faint fractures spider-webbed across the wooden armrest.

He couldn't help but close his eyes. The room became dead silent, save for the clinking of dishes and the sound of running water from the kitchen, mingled with the occasional laughter of the two Theresas.

"Rita."

"Yes, my Lord."

"Do you think... that Joachim guy is worthy of Little Theresa?"

Rita didn't say a word. She merely stood there, elegant and respectful.

Otto didn't press her for an answer. The corners of his mouth simply hitched up slightly, an unshielded fury flashing deep within his emerald eyes.

"Heh."

A short while later.

Otto left Theresa’s cottage. Although Little Theresa seemed quite reluctant to see him go, she still obediently nodded and said goodbye after Otto claimed he had some matters to attend to.

Welt is absolutely doomed~

Little Theresa thought, absolute glee washing over her heart.

The only slight disappointment was that she wouldn't be able to witness the upcoming disaster with her own eyes.

Rita stayed behind. She would be residing at Theresa’s house until the day Little Theresa departed.

After watching TV with Little Theresa for a while, Theresa let out a tired yawn and got to her feet, heading toward the bathroom.

“Little Theresa, I’m gonna take a shower and head to bed first. Don’t stay up too late after you finish watching TV, okay~?”

“Okay.”

Little Theresa nodded lightly, watching Theresa disappear upstairs.

Not long after, the sound of rushing water drifted from the upstairs bathroom, muffled behind the door.

What a shame.

Little Theresa kind of wanted to shower with her, but she couldn’t think of a good excuse.

Sigh...

Just then, Rita’s voice floated out from the hallway. She was still wearing that Umbral Rose maid dress.

Her long legs were wrapped tightly in black lace, pale skin faintly visible beneath the fabric.

Woo~

Now this was getting interesting.

Little Theresa turned her head and watched Rita sit down beside her. When that full, peach-like backside sank into the couch cushion, the sofa dipped ever so slightly, making her curves look even softer and rounder.

“Lady Little Theresa, aren’t you going to bed yet?”

“In a bit.” Little Theresa hugged the pillow a little tighter. Her tiny face slowly flushed pink, a shy expression creeping across it.

Rita said nothing more. She simply sat beside her quietly and watched the television together.

After another ten or so minutes, Little Theresa couldn’t hold back a yawn either. She turned toward Rita.

“Rita... I’m going to sleep first. Here.”

She handed the TV remote to Rita, but after Little Theresa had only taken a few steps toward her room, Rita turned the television off as well.

Looks like she’s just as impatient as I am~

Little Theresa thought happily to herself.

Rita followed behind her at an unhurried pace, neither too close nor too far.

“Rita, did you need something else?”

Standing in her doorway, one hand on the doorknob as she pushed it open slightly, Little Theresa looked back at Rita with a faint blush on her cheeks, her eyes flickering nervously.

Looking at such an adorable Little Theresa, Rita’s wine-red eyes glimmered softly beneath the hallway lights. Mysterious. Beautiful. Dangerous.

“Lady Little Theresa, the clothes you wore today should be washed.”

“Oh...” Little Theresa glanced down at her nun outfit. “After I shower... I’ll give them to you.”

“There’s no need to trouble yourself.”

Rita reached out and gently pushed the door wider open, stepping into the room before Little Theresa could react.

“Lady Little Theresa, you’ve been walking around all day. You must be tired. Allow Rita to help you.”

Little Theresa’s face grew redder and redder, even the tips of her ears turning rosy, as though she already understood what was about to happen.

And Rita’s smile became visibly more pleased.

“...Okay.”

Little Theresa lowered her head slightly, fingers twisting nervously at the hem of her skirt as she answered in an almost inaudible voice.

Rita was completely different from Yae Sakura. Compared to Sakura’s absent-minded innocence and straightforward nature, Rita was gentler, quieter, more restrained.

Her pace was always slow and measured, like a cat circling its prey. Not in any rush to pounce. Not eager to act immediately.

Rita slowly stepped behind Little Theresa, her hands gliding lightly over her shoulders with elegant, tender movements.

Little Theresa stood there obediently, almost like a doll.

And by the end...

Every piece of clothing on Little Theresa had been removed, replaced with soft sleepwear instead. Her entire body was flushed red before Rita finally stopped, looking satisfied.

Still, when Little Theresa later went to take her shower, Rita didn’t follow her inside.

That left Little Theresa feeling a little disappointed.

Rita was still too conservative.

If she’d offered to help her bathe, there was no way she would’ve refused!

Honestly.

So...

After finishing her shower, Little Theresa deliberately left traces of moisture on her skin instead of drying herself completely. Then she slipped into her pajamas and returned to the bedroom.

Rita was still there waiting for her.

The moment Rita noticed the faint sheen of water still clinging to Little Theresa’s skin, the corners of her lips curled upward ever so slightly.

“Lady Little Theresa... it seems you didn’t dry yourself properly. Allow Rita to help you finish.”

“...Mm.”

Little Theresa kept her head lowered, face burning red.

She looked like a girl secretly in love—already fond of Rita, yet too embarrassed to admit it aloud. So instead, she intentionally left little openings behind just to draw Rita’s attention and create more chances to stay close to her.

Rita fetched a towel and folded it neatly into a small square. After loosening Little Theresa’s pajamas, she gently and carefully wiped away the dampness left behind from the bath.

Little Theresa squeezed her eyes shut in embarrassment.

Rita let out a soft laugh.

She knew Theresa cared deeply about her now. But there was still a thin veil between them, neither willing to be the first to tear it away and speak openly about their feelings.

As time passed, Little Theresa’s skin grew hotter and redder. Every now and then, she shyly glanced up at Rita before hurriedly looking away again.

That bashful look of a girl in love—unable to confess to the person she liked—was unbearably charming.

Though unfortunately, Little Theresa wasn’t exactly a young girl anymore. Going by the age of the form she’d transformed into, she was already in her forties or fifties.

And even without the transformation~

She was still an adult now~

Only after more than ten minutes did Rita finally set the towel aside. Smiling softly, she gathered Little Theresa gently into her arms and carried her toward the bed.

“Lady Little Theresa... Rita has finished drying you off. Tonight, please have sweet dreams~”

“Huh?”

Little Theresa blinked in confusion as Rita laid her down on the bed, her crimson cheeks still burning with restrained embarrassment.

But then Rita quietly excused herself, left the room, and gently closed the door behind her.

I... I just got hit with the cold shoulder?

In the stillness of the night, Little Theresa’s thoughts became a complete tangled mess.

--+--

Honkai Transformations - 98

--+--

"Morning."

The next morning, Theresa sat down next to Little Theresa. She rubbed her eyes and let out a yawn before looking at the little girl with a touch of confusion. Little Theresa was already fully dressed and practically beaming with energy.

"Do you usually... get up this early?" Theresa asked softly.

"Mhm." Little Theresa gave a gentle nod and smiled. "Usually around this time, everyone back home is about to wake up for breakfast. So I like to get up a bit earlier to help the others get everything ready for everyone. Besides... this is actually considered sleeping in for me."

"Sleeping in?"

Theresa checked the time.

It was 7:50 AM...

How on earth was this considered late?

"Wow, you really have it rough..." Theresa had been feeling a bit drowsy, but that completely woke her up.

She couldn't even begin to imagine what it was like to wake up early just to cook breakfast for a whole group. After all, Theresa was the granddaughter of the Schicksal Overseer. She had only ever cooked once or twice, and that was just for Kiana.

"Breakfast is ready." Right on cue, Otto walked out of the kitchen carrying the freshly made food and set it down on the dining table.

Watching him, Little Theresa found it hard to believe that Otto could actually exude such domestic, house-husband energy.

"Little Theresa," Otto said, turning his gaze toward her. His eyes held a rare tenderness. "Did you sleep well last night?"

Not at all. I was totally left hanging.

Little Theresa let out a silent sigh in her head.

Leaving things half-baked like that is seriously the worst feeling.

"Yes," she replied, dipping her head slightly. "I slept very comfortably..."

But with the way she looked so lost in thought, anyone could tell she hadn't actually slept well at all.

Neither Otto nor Theresa pressed the matter, though. They both assumed she was just worried about everyone back at the orphanage.

After finishing breakfast, Little Theresa followed Otto and Theresa back to the Valkyrie Hospital for one final physical checkup.

However, once they were at the hospital, Little Theresa spotted a figure that was entirely unexpected, yet somehow completely predictable.

"Ouch..."

"Hang in there, Professor Welt. The wound is all patched up now."

"Right."

Little Theresa caught sight of Welt getting his dressings changed in the surgical clinic. His face was a total canvas of black and blue, looking as though he had been brutally beaten to a pulp the night before.

Pfft!

The moment she saw Welt, Little Theresa almost burst out laughing.

"Hm?" Welt noticed the three figures standing outside the clinic. He froze for a second, his gaze quickly scanning past Big and Little Theresa before locking eyes with Otto.

"Heh." Otto stared back at Welt, the corners of his mouth curving slightly into his usual gentle smile, though his eyes were brimming with pure amusement.

"..." Welt kept his mouth shut, merely glaring back at Otto.

But right at that moment...

"Joachim! What happened to you?!" Little Theresa bounced right out. With a look of deep worry and anxiety plastered across her face, she rushed into the clinic.

She stood in front of Welt, looking completely at a loss as she stared at his face, which looked like it had been deliberately swollen into a pig's snout.

"Wait..." Welt managed to raise a hand, but Little Theresa’s soft little palm was already resting against his cheek.

"..."

The smile vanished from Otto’s face. His handsome features darkened into an unprecedented, icy expression as he glared at Welt.

"Who did this to you? Tell me, and I'll go teach them a lesson for you!" Little Theresa said furiously, dropping her hand after gently touching the bruises on Welt's face.

"..."

Welt didn't say a word. He simply looked over the top of Little Theresa’s head, his gaze landing squarely on Otto.

He hadn't forgotten that among the people who had worn masks covering the upper halves of their faces and smashed through his window to beat him up last night, one of them had the exact same build as Otto.

"Is Professor Welt injured?"

Otto slowly stepped into the room, watching Little Theresa as she protectively stood in front of Welt, looking anxious and outraged.

Outside the clinic, Theresa raised a hand and slapped it over her face.

"Oh dear... It seems St. Freya Academy has a few security issues to look into," Otto said smoothly, a warm smile gracing his face as he spoke to Welt.

"..."

Welt remained dead silent.

"But don't you worry, Little Theresa," Otto said, standing beside her and speaking with gentle earnestness. "I will increase the Academy's funding specifically to tighten security measures."

As he spoke, Otto looked back at Welt, his smile growing even warmer and more radiant.

"However, considering the injuries Professor Welt has sustained, I will allocate a compensation fund to cover your medical expenses and damages."

"Is that so?" Welt finally spoke up, his voice low and flat. "Then thank you very much."

"Don't mention it, haha."

Otto let out a couple of soft chuckles, then looked down at the deeply worried Little Theresa. He continued softly, "Little Theresa, let us head out first. We shouldn't disrupt the doctor while they are treating Professor Welt."

"...But..."

Little Theresa hesitated, clearly reluctant to leave.

This only made the look Otto was giving Welt grow increasingly dangerous. It wasn't until Welt himself looked like he was about to snap under the pressure that Little Theresa finally took her leave, looking back three times with every step she took.

He's so done.

Little Theresa’s cheeks were practically aching from trying so hard to hold in her laughter. She wanted nothing more than to throw her head back and roar.

She had honestly never expected that Yae Sakura or Otto would literally go straight to Welt's house that very night just to jump him.

This was absolute gold~

Afterward, Little Theresa followed Otto and Theresa through a quick physical checkup at the hospital. Before they left, she even sneaked back to the surgical clinic to look for Welt, wearing that same worried expression.

As it turned out, Welt had already fled the hospital early.

"Alright, let's head over to Kiana and the girls!" Theresa looked at Little Theresa, the corners of her mouth twitching upward in an expression of pure, impatient excitement.

"Mhm."

Just as Little Theresa nodded, Otto walked over, gently stroking her head. "I won't be joining you, Little Theresa, Theresa. When evening comes, I'll come pick you up so we can have dinner together."

"Okay!"

Little Theresa nodded, looking a bit sad to see him go. Her display of dependence and attachment brought a small smile to Otto's face.

But then, the memory of the expression she had just given Welt flashed through his mind. His smile stiffened, instantly turning into a cold smirk.

"We're off then!" By now, Theresa had already taken Little Theresa’s hand, leading her toward the dorms.

"Goodbye, Father."

"Yes, goodbye, Little Theresa."

As Little Theresa walked along the tree-lined path with Theresa, she asked with a touch of curiosity, "Big sister... are there thieves or robbers in the Academy?"

"Huh? No, of course not. Why do you ask?" Theresa turned her head, looking utterly bewildered.

This was St. Freya Academy, the headquarters of Schicksal's Far East Branch! What kind of thief or robber would be brave enough to break into a place like this?

"Then why was Joachim beaten up like that?" Little Theresa’s brow furrowed slightly, her face the picture of absolute confusion.

"Ah... well, about that..."

Theresa’s gaze darted around awkwardly. A strained smile broke across her face as she murmured, "The... the security around here can be a bit lax at times, I suppose..."

"Oh..."

Little Theresa nodded, looking somewhat downcast.

Theresa felt completely helpless. She couldn't exactly tell Little Theresa that Welt had most likely been beaten to a pulp by her own grandfather because of her, could she?

--+--

Before long, they arrived at the Valkyrie dorms.

The front door was wide open, and even before they reached the threshold, they could hear the lively chatter echoing from inside.

As the two of them pushed the door open and walked in, they immediately saw everyone sitting around the living room, watching TV, playing video games, and chatting away.

"Principal!" Kiana sat up straight the moment she saw the two Theresas, waving at them excitedly.

Yae Sakura, meanwhile, instantly singled out Little Theresa from the pair. After all, even though the two Theresas were dressed identically, their demeanor and presence were entirely different.

"Have you seen the doctor?" Yae Sakura walked over, asking softly with a gentle gaze fixed on Little Theresa.

"Mhm!" Little Theresa looked up at Yae Sakura, a bright smile blossoming on her face. "The checkup is all done! The doctor said my body is recovering beautifully. From now on, I just need to maintain a balanced diet."

"I see."

Yae Sakura gently reached out and pulled Little Theresa into a soft embrace.

Little Theresa didn't resist, though her face flushed a faint shade of pink.

"Sakura really adores Little Theresa, doesn't she?" Kiana couldn't help but whisper as she watched the scene.

Hearing this, Bronya shook her head, looking at Kiana as if she were looking at a complete idiot. "Idiot Kiana. That is because... Little Theresa is Kallen's child, and Sister Sakura is Kallen's lover..."

"I—I knew that, obviously!"

A moment later, Little Theresa was sitting right next to Yae Sakura, watching TV with everyone.

But Kiana just had to gleefully share the gossip she had caught wind of this morning.

"Hey, did you guys hear? Professor Welt, the guy we ran into yesterday? Apparently, a thief broke into his place last night, and the thief even beat him up!"

"..."

The entire dorm went dead silent.

Everyone silently stared at Kiana, who was grinning from ear to ear, looking completely oblivious as she savored the juicy gossip.

"Sigh..." Theresa couldn't help but raise a hand to cover her face, letting out a heavy, burdened sigh.

"Huh? What's wrong?"

Sensing the sudden shift in the atmosphere, Kiana looked around in confusion, wondering why no one was jumping onto the topic. Then, her eyes fell upon Little Theresa, who looked incredibly worried, and a sudden bolt of realization struck her brain like lightning.

“!”

In an instant, Kiana understood exactly what was going on. Her eyes instinctively darted to Yae Sakura, who was sitting right next to Little Theresa.

Yet, Yae Sakura’s expression remained perfectly gentle and serene. Just like any other day, you couldn't read a single thing off her face.

"..."

Kiana couldn't help but shudder from head to toe.

Right... why on earth would Welt get beaten up by a thief? How strange~

Little Theresa kept up her worried facade while laughing historically on the inside.

However, she didn't plan on letting it slide just like that. After putting Welt through the wringer again this morning, she figured Otto would probably play the part of the 'thief' again tonight.

As for Yae Sakura... she probably wouldn't make another move.

"Um..." Little Theresa spoke up, her brow furrowing slightly to convey a deeply anxious expression. "Could I borrow your kitchen? And... some ingredients?"

"Little Theresa, are you hungry?" Yae Sakura looked down at her, a serious look entering her eyes. "Let me cook something for you."

"No, no."

Little Theresa shook her head earnestly and said softly, "I want to... make some soup to bring to Joachim..."

Aside from Little Theresa, a piercing chill instantly swept over everyone else's skin.

The gentle, earnest look in Yae Sakura’s eyes froze for a fraction of a second before she gave a soft smile.

But before she could say anything, Little Theresa continued, "Because back at the orphanage, whenever the children got hurt or sick... they needed to drink some soup to help them get better faster."

"...I see. Alright, let me help you."

Yae Sakura gave a gentle nod, then followed Little Theresa into the kitchen.

The two of them began selecting ingredients, one big and one small standing before the stove, preparing a nutritious, healing soup.

Back in the living room, the rest of the group looked at each other in sheer panic.

"I—I have a bad feeling about this..." Kiana’s face stiffened, looking at the kitchen with lingering dread as she lowered her voice. "Do you think... Professor Welt might actually end up hospitalized?"

"M-Maybe."

Theresa swallowed hard.

She didn't even dare to imagine what would happen once her grandfather found out that Little Theresa’s very first time cooking in this world—and the reason she wanted to cook at all—was to make soup so Welt would recover faster...

I'm so sorry, Welt.

Theresa silently balled her hands into fists, deciding to play dumb for the time being.

Before long, the soup was finished. And then...

In the faculty apartments, Welt stared blankly at Little Theresa, who was standing at his front door looking at him with bright, excited eyes.

Beside her stood the other 'thief' from last night—the one who had only covered the lower half of her face and sported a pair of fox ears when she came to jump him. He fell into a deep, existential silence.

--+--

That very night...

When Little Theresa returned with Theresa, Otto went quiet for a moment after hearing Rita mention the incident. Then, a cold smirk crept onto his face.

By the next day, Little Theresa got exactly what she wanted: news that Welt had 'accidentally' fallen from his balcony last night and broken an arm.

On the third day—which was Little Theresa’s fourth day at Saint Freya Academy—she had barely settled into the Valkyrie dorms before Kiana walked in with a bizarre expression.

Kiana informed everyone that because Welt's arm was broken, he had to go out to buy breakfast this morning, only to be struck down by a passing cyclist.

To make matters worse, the cyclist had fled the scene, though eyewitnesses claimed the perpetrator had a striking head of blonde hair.

By the final day...

Little Theresa learned from Himeko and the others that due to a spectacular string of unfortunate events, Welt had taken an extended medical leave and had been transferred to the central hospital in Sapphire City.

My bad, Welt.

Sitting in the living room, the corners of Little Theresa’s mouth curled into an amused smile.

Over the past few days, Welt had practically suffered a new disaster every single day. The sheer variety of his bad luck was mind-boggling; the poor guy was practically choking on his own spit at this point.

What a shame my transformation is going to wear off today, though.

Little Theresa sighed quietly in her heart, her expression turning incredibly melancholic.

Over the past few days, Rita hadn't laid a finger on her at all. Every single night, she just left her completely hanging.

Sigh... Rita's moral compass seriously needs to be dialed down a bit.

Just as Little Theresa let out another sigh, the sound of footsteps echoed from the hallway, approaching her direction.

"Theresa."

Otto walked over silently. He looked down at Little Theresa, his expression as gentle and earnest as always. It seemed he didn't harbor a shred of the reluctance or sorrow one might expect, given that Little Theresa was bound to 'leave' this world today.

"Father!"

Little Theresa turned to look at Otto, a spark of joy lighting up her eyes, though it quickly dimmed.

"Father... I have to leave tonight... don't I?"

"Mhm..." The tenderness in Otto's eyes flickered slightly.

He walked over and sat down beside her, a serious look entering his eyes as he spoke in a warm, soothing tone. "Little Theresa, you could also choose not to leave. You can stay here with me, Theresa, and the others, and live your life here."

What does he mean?

Little Theresa’s mind went blank for a second.

Did Otto actually have a way to make her current transformation permanent?

No way! That absolutely won't do! If I'm stuck looking like this forever, wouldn't I be missing out on a ton of fun?!

"Can I really?" Even so, Little Theresa looked up at Otto, a glimmer of hope rising in her eyes before it quickly faded away. "No... everyone at the orphanage is still waiting for me. I... I have to go back and take care of them."

"But just like them, you are only a child yourself, Little Theresa," Otto said, his voice remaining gentle. "Besides... with Joachim and the Void Archives in his possession, those children won't face any trouble."

"But they'll worry about me and search the whole world to find me," Little Theresa said, shaking her head softly with a gaze full of warmth and concern. "And besides..."

Little Theresa looked up at Otto, a bright, earnest smile breaking across her face. "And besides... Father already has a version of me right here by his side. I'll get to taste the food Father cooks and spend time with him before he passes away in this world too. I'm already... more than satisfied."

"..."

Otto's gaze flickered. Looking at Little Theresa—whose smile was just as radiant as the girl who had climbed over his wall into that small courtyard back then—the tenderness in the depths of his eyes softened into a helpless smile.

He raised a hand, gently stroking Little Theresa’s head.

"Is that so... I understand."

"I'm sorry... Father." As he stroked her head, Little Theresa’s eyes turned a faint shade of red. "I... I heard from Kiana before. She said that after Siegfried vanished, she started wandering the entire world... just trying to find him..."

"I don't want everyone at the orphanage to go through that too."

"..."

Hearing this story, Otto—who knew exactly why things had turned out that way, and who had practically orchestrated the entire sequence of events himself—fell into a long silence.

Only after a long while did he speak softly, "Little Theresa... you are a good child. I am... very proud of you..."

"Mhm!"

Hearing those words, Little Theresa’s smile finally turned bright and happy again.

But as she smiled, her expression gradually quieted down. She sat silently beside Otto, watching the TV with him as if soaking in these final moments of companionship before their parting.

When afternoon came around.

Little Theresa went out with Otto and Theresa to enjoy a stroll around Sapphire City. It was just the three of them; even Rita and Yae Sakura weren't brought along.

It wasn't until the entire sky had been painted a vibrant orange-red by the setting sun that the three of them finally prepared to head back to Saint Freya Academy.

"Little Theresa..."

Otto was currently cradling an armful of Homu plushies and manga that they had just bought from a Homu-themed store. He looked down at Little Theresa, speaking with a gentle gaze, "Take a look and see which one you like."

"Wow..."

Standing to the side, Theresa couldn't help but gasp as she stared at the plushies and figures in Otto's arms—nearly all of which were limited or collector's editions.

Little Theresa, however, felt a bit helpless as she watched this scene.

While she did genuinely adore Homu right now, looking at Otto’s incredibly tender, expectant face made it a bit hard to get worked up over them.

If it were Big Theresa, she would have thrown herself forward without a second thought, scooping up all of Theresa’s Homu stuff into her own arms.

However...

A mischievous idea sprouted in Little Theresa’s mind.

It was already the last few hours of her final day... Why not leave Otto with a few more parting gifts that he would absolutely never be able to forget?

With those thoughts in mind, Little Theresa stepped forward. She looked at Otto, who was waiting with a tender, expectant smile as if wondering which one she would pick, and slowly closed the distance between them.

Just when Theresa and Otto assumed she was about to pick out a few favorites from the pile, Little Theresa didn't hesitate.

She gently pushed the merchandise aside, opened her arms, and squeezed right into Otto's embrace. She wrapped her arms tightly around him, burying her head against his chest.

"..."

The smile on Otto's face froze. His eyes widened slightly in sheer bewilderment as he felt the warm, gentle embrace of Little Theresa holding onto him.

An indescribable surge of joy and fulfillment welled up from deep within his heart. He couldn't help but let out a soft, contented laugh. Slowly, he brought his arms together, wrapping Little Theresa in a tight embrace.

This was his and Kallen's child...

When faced with all the things she loved, she had still chosen to embrace him first without a single shred of hesitation...

"Grandpa..." Theresa hesitated for a moment before slowly walking over as well.

Without a second thought, Otto opened one arm and pulled her into the embrace as well.

For a fleeting second, Otto felt that perhaps it wouldn't be so bad if time simply stopped forever right at this very moment.

But the thought vanished as quickly as it had come.

As darkness began to blanket the sky, the three of them made their way back to Saint Freya Academy.

The moment they returned to their quarters, Yae Sakura and the others were already waiting by the door. Because they knew Little Theresa was leaving tonight.

"Mom..."

Little Theresa sat beside Yae Sakura, looking up at her with eyes full of reluctance.

"Little Theresa..." Much like Otto, Yae Sakura was filled with a deep sense of sorrow. In this moment, she wished more than anyone that Little Theresa wouldn't have to leave.

But she also knew there was absolutely nothing they could do.

To this day, they still had no idea why so many people from other worlds kept appearing in theirs, only to vanish into thin air without leaving a single trace of energy behind.

"Little Theresa..."

Otto, looking every bit the part of a father now, kept his gaze fixed on Little Theresa. His emerald eyes held a gentle and serene look as he spoke softly, "Thank you for coming to this world. Thank you for letting me know that in another world... another version of me and Kallen... shared a beautiful bond."

"Father..."

Little Theresa sniffled, her eyes growing red and misty.

Around them, even though everyone had grown somewhat accustomed to departures, they couldn't help but look downcast.

"Don't cry, Theresa," Otto said, changing how he addressed her in these final moments. "Once you return to your world, remember to keep warm... be careful not to catch a cold. And... stay close to Bronya and Seele. They are very bright girls."

What about Joachim, then?

Little Theresa almost cracked a smile.

But her time was finally up.

In those final seconds, Little Theresa looked up at Otto, her voice soft but clear as she uttered her final words: "Goodbye... Dad."

Otto froze right where he stood. His hand instinctively reached out, wanting to gently stroke Little Theresa’s head one last time.

But his hand only met empty air.

The lingering warmth left in the palm of his hand vanished at a staggering speed, fading away as though it had never existed in the first place.

"..."

Otto lowered his gaze in silence. He stared at the sofa, which was now empty save for the pile of Homu merchandise left behind. Slowly, he let his hand fall back to his side.

An indescribable void bloomed within his chest.

"Little Theresa... my daughter..."

--+--

Honkai Transformations - 99

--+--

After Little Theresa vanished, the slightly depressed sofa cushion began to spring back, looking just as if someone had only moments ago stood up from it.

Theresa watched Otto from the side, taking in his silence and the faint shadow that cast over his profile. She parted her lips, wanting to say something, but the words simply wouldn't come.

"Sakura?" Mei called out softly, gazing at Yae Sakura with concern.

Sakura shook her head gently, her expression serene. "I'm fine."

"Grandpa?"

Theresa called out to Otto in a small voice. Otto silently turned his head and met her eyes, before that handsome face of his put on another warm, gentle smile.

"I'm fine, Theresa. Don't worry."

"Okay..."

Seeing his gentle smile, Theresa gave a soft nod, her heart settling down a bit.

"Get some rest early, Theresa." At this point, Otto had absolutely no interest in lingering any longer. He rose to his feet, preparing to take his leave.

He didn't care in the slightest who was going to show up next.

Yet in the very next instant, another figure materialized on the freshly vacated sofa.

"Oh?"

A mature woman sat upon the cushions. She was beautifully dressed, carrying an air of gentle elegance. Long red hair draped over her back with a few stray locks cascading over her chest. In her hand, she held a cup that was still steaming hot, and a brown suitcase rested by her feet.

"Wait... Himeko?" Kiana's jaw dropped as she stared at the beautiful, mature woman in front of her. Her mouth hung so wide open it nearly hit the floor.

"Himeko-sensei!"

Mei's eyes widened in utter disbelief as she stared at the woman on the sofa.

Amidst the crowd, Murata Himeko—who hadn't uttered a single word this entire time—also widened her eyes in sheer astonishment.

Completely lost and shocked, she watched the figure sitting on the couch, who was currently setting down her coffee cup and looking up to meet their eyes with a hint of confusion...

It was another version of herself.

"Could someone... explain to me what exactly just happened?" Himeko asked in a soft, gentle, and steady voice, holding her teacup as her golden eyes swept across everyone present.

I actually turned into Himeko?

Fascinating...

Looks like Welt just can't escape being targeted by me again~

Himeko thought to herself with quiet amusement.

Her gaze quickly locked onto Otto, a touch of perplexity filtering into her eyes.

"Was this your doing? Void Archives."

"Hmm?"

Otto, who initially had zero interest in Himeko, now stared back at her. A thoughtful look crossed his emerald eyes.

Then, Otto let out a soft chuckle. "No... I'm afraid you have the wrong person, Miss Himeko... I am not Void Archives."

He addressed her directly by that name, yet Himeko's expression didn't change in the slightest.

She merely watched him in silence. After a brief furrow of her brow, she turned her head to scan her surroundings, her gaze quickly landing on Murata Himeko.

"Myself from another world, huh? And..." Himeko's gaze shifted to Bronya, her golden eyes twinkling with curiosity. "The Silver Wolf of another world."

"You—you know the other Bronya?" The moment Bronya heard the name "Silver Wolf," the calm composure on her face completely shattered, replaced by a sudden wave of agitation.

Himeko nodded, a gentle warmth surfacing in her eyes as she looked at Bronya. "Yes. She's a very interesting and adorable girl. Just like you."

"Then do you know how she's doing right now?" Bronya couldn't help but take a swift step forward, looking up at Himeko with desperate urgency.

"She... I'm sorry, I don't know much about her recent circumstances."

Himeko shook her head slightly, but seeing Bronya's anxious expression, she added softly, "However, the last time I heard any news about her, it was on the Interastral Peace Guide broadcast. One of her smart-module friends had hacked into the television station."

"As for now..."

Himeko pondered for a moment, a slight smile gracing her lips. "She is likely out there in the cosmos, chasing after the existence of Stellarons alongside her companions."

"Stellarons?"

Hearing the word Stellaron again, Bronya instantly realized that after Silver Wolf returned to their universe last time, she must have started searching the cosmos for Belobog.

"You know Silver Wolf... and you know about Stellarons too?"

Himeko let out a quiet sigh of relief as she looked at Bronya and the others. "That's a relief. I was starting to think... I had stumbled into some unknown civilization that hadn't even been discovered by the Interastral Peace Corporation yet."

The moment those words left her mouth, the expressions on Kiana and the others instantly froze.

"Uh... well..." Theresa couldn't help but twiddle her thumbs, offering an embarrassed laugh. "We... actually haven't been discovered by that Interastral Peace Corporation you mentioned..."

"What?"

Himeko froze slightly.

Looking at the awkward smiles on Theresa and the others, a look of sheer absurdity and bewilderment flashed through her golden eyes. In her mind, however, she was practically smirking.

There's no way the Solar System gets discovered by space civilizations before passing the tests.

Well, except for the Sky People, of course.

"Then... how exactly do you know Silver Wolf?" Himeko looked at Theresa, her tone laced with a hint of confusion. "Furthermore, you all don't seem particularly surprised by my arrival either. Would you mind telling me why that is?"

Her golden eyes swept across everyone's faces.

At that moment, Otto let out a soft chuckle and stepped forward to offer an explanation.

"Himeko, as for this matter... Silver Wolf has already come to a conclusion. Your arrival is likely due to some cosmic Curio, allowing you to briefly cross over from an unknown universe into our world.

But there is no need to worry. After seven days, you will return to your own world and continue your journey."

"A cosmic Curio?" Hearing Otto's explanation, Himeko's elegant brows furrowed slightly before quickly smoothing out.

She then looked toward Bronya, a touch of curiosity creeping into her tone. "If it's a Curio... then I suppose it's not all that surprising. So... is that how you all met Silver Wolf as well?"

"Yes."

Bronya gave a quiet nod, though her eyes remained fixated on Himeko, practically burning with an intense urge to find answers.

Noticing the look in her eyes, a flash of tenderness crossed Himeko's expression. "I take it you still want to know more about Silver Wolf. She matters a great deal to all of you, doesn't she?"

"Yes." Bronya nodded, staring at Himeko before blurting out, "Himeko... can Bronya address you that way?"

"Of course, feel free." Himeko nodded gently, and Bronya immediately pressed on with her questions.

"Bronya wants to know... why does Silver Wolf travel around chasing Stellarons? She told us before that Stellarons are extremely dangerous entities."

"Yes, Stellarons are known to cosmic civilizations as the Cancer of All Worlds," Himeko explained softly, her tone remaining warm, unhurried, and calm.

"In the cosmos... every civilization avoids their presence like the plague. Especially since the presence of a Stellaron attracts the Antimatter Legion under the Aeon of Destruction.

Faced with the unspoken confusion behind Bronya's gaze, Himeko gently shook her head. "As for why Silver Wolf and her companions chase after Stellarons? I'm afraid I don't know.”

“They call themselves the Stellaron Hunters and possess some method to seal or suppress Stellarons, but I have never witnessed it with my own eyes."

"Stellaron Hunters..."

Bronya murmured the name under her breath, the light in her eyes flickering unsteadily as an expression of worry crept over her features.

She couldn't help but push further. "Then Himeko, do you know if there is someone named Seele among the Stellaron Hunters?"

"No, there isn't." Himeko shook her head gently. "At least as far as I know, the Stellaron Hunters have four core members, and none of them go by the name Seele."

"Is that so..." Within Bronya's heart, a sudden, heavy blanket of unease cast its shadow.

Sorry about that, Bronya~

Looking at the uneasy and downcast Bronya, Himeko felt a slight twinge of secret amusement in her mind.

It wasn't that she actively wanted to break Bronya's heart, but the universe was just too vast. Every time she transformed into a new character, she couldn't exactly claim she knew the previous characters and understood absolutely everything about them~

That would just be stretching plausibility way too far.

"Could you tell me a bit about how you all met Silver Wolf?" At this point, Himeko looked at everyone, the corners of her lips turning up slightly as she feigned curiosity.

Deep down, a plan was already beginning to take shape in her mind.

"Of course, Miss Himeko." Otto nodded slightly. Yet as he looked at her, a genuinely sharp glint of a smile entered his emerald eyes.

"But by the same token, I am also quite curious to know... how exactly do you happen to know Void Archives?"

"Hm."

Himeko nodded. As the two locked eyes, an inexplicably heavy and oppressive atmosphere began to diffuse throughout the living room.

Following that, Bronya began to recount everything regarding Silver Wolf.

When she mentioned how Silver Wolf had pulled a massive prank on everyone the moment she arrived, Himeko offered a slight smile, noting that this was indeed Silver Wolf's typical style out in the galaxy, given that she viewed the universe as one giant online game.

Later, Bronya explained that Silver Wolf had promised them that once she returned, she would search the cosmos for a planet named Jarilo-VI.

Because on that planet, there was someone Bronya cared deeply about.

"Jarilo?" Hearing the planet's name, Himeko's brows quirked upward.

"You know of this planet too?"

Bronya looked at Himeko, her eyes brimming with an anxious desperation for answers.

"Yes." Himeko nodded gently, but the gaze she directed at Bronya held a touch of apology. "Regrettably, I only came across information regarding Jarilo within the Data Bank back on the Express.”

“But that was from thousands of years ago. Back then, Jarilo was still a lush, vibrant planet teeming with life. However… From what you're saying... has Jarilo also fallen victim to a Stellaron...?"

Himeko sighed softly and fell silent.

The light in Bronya's eyes dimmed completely.

Thousands of years ago... lush and vibrant?

According to what Seele had told them, Jarilo was currently buried under a permanent blizzard. The information provided by Himeko didn't align with that at all.

"Well then, Miss Himeko."

At this point, Otto fixed his gaze on Himeko, his voice gentle and carrying an amused tone. "Next... it should be time to answer my question.” 

“I am quite intrigued… Does there truly exist someone in the cosmos who shares my exact appearance—someone who even made you mistake me for him at first glance... Void Archives?"

"Yes."

Himeko looked at Otto and nodded softly, a hint of reminiscence drifting into her golden eyes. "When I first began charting my path across the starry skies, I encountered a spaceship on the verge of crashing. And inside that ship, there were two individuals. One was Void Archives, and the other was Welt Yang."

The moment that second name left her lips, the corners of Otto's mouth ticked upward, a flash of deep intrigue reflecting in his eyes.

"Welt Yang..."

"Isn't that the history teacher's name?" Kiana murmured, looking completely dazed.

"Oh?"

Himeko looked toward Kiana, her eyes widening slightly before she let out a soft laugh. "Does your world have a counterpart of Welt as well? It seems... these seven days might not be so boring after all."

Dear Welt Yang~ Hope this finds you well. The third pit I've dug for you is officially set up, just waiting for you to jump in. — Himeko.

She was certain that Otto's brain was already working in overdrive.

And she trusted that the words she just spoke would make Otto realize that the appearance of Void Archives and Welt meant they hailed from a parallel universe altogether.

"Since you are acquainted with both Welt and Void Archives," Otto spoke up with a smile, maintaining his gaze on Himeko as he continued his soft interrogation, "could you tell me if they ever spoke to you about their past?"

"They rarely spoke of their pasts." Himeko shook her head gently. However, as she looked at Otto now, a look of profound interest filled her eyes as she sized him up from head to toe.

"But, during their casual banter, I did happen to hear them mention a specific individual together."

"Oh?" Otto chuckled softly. "Let me guess. The person they spoke of must surely be yours truly."

"Precisely. Otto Apocalypse."

Himeko looked at Otto, a trace of nostalgia surfacing in her eyes. "Though I am rather surprised that you share the exact same appearance as Void Archives, down to the very demeanor and air you carry. Furthermore... it seems you all are also acquainted with an entity named Void Archives?"

"Yes, I am indeed acquainted with Void Archives. However, you got one detail wrong."

"What would that be?"

"It is not that I look exactly like Void Archives. Rather... Void Archives looks exactly like me." Otto looked at Himeko, a faint smirk playing on his lips.

The atmosphere of the conversation between the two was remarkably harmonious and fluid, almost like two long-lost friends catching up over a blazing fire.

It left Kiana and the others standing on the sidelines, completely unable to find a window to chime in.

"Is that so." A touch of confusion flickered through Himeko's eyes, but she didn't push the matter further.

"Could you tell me... when they spoke of me, did they happen to mention how I was doing?"

Otto asked Himeko, his voice tender yet entirely serious.

"They never brought it up directly." Himeko shook her head, though her gaze grew serious as well. "However... from the fragments of their conversations, I gathered that in their world, the other you is likely no longer among the living."

The moment those words were uttered, Theresa's eyes shot wide open. Driven by a knee-jerk reaction, she blurted out in panic, "How is that possible! Grandpa... how could he possibly die?"

"Do not worry." Himeko turned to Theresa, her gaze softening. "That is what occurred in another world. On your planet... perhaps things won't turn out that way."

Otto didn't say a word, nor did he press any further.

He seemed to have already extracted the answer he desired; continuing the inquiry would be meaningless.

"Miss Himeko." Otto looked at her, his voice serious yet layered with a gentle smile. "Thank you for the information. As the local host, I welcome you to enjoy your time here over these seven days. Schicksal will provide you with anything you might require during your stay."

"Mm, thank you."

Himeko's demeanor was entirely relaxed, completely devoid of the alienation or anxiety one might expect from arriving in an entirely different world. Her natural poise made it seem as though she had merely come here for a vacation.

Then again...

Himeko sighed softly in her mind.

Looks like this transformation won't let me get all close and intimate with the Valkyries either. In fact, it's pretty much impossible to do that with anyone.

The only one who has any remote connection to me is Fu Hua, and she's a total mute block of wood.

Oh well... I'll just treat this period as a time of abstinence.

Though...

Himeko suddenly fell into deep thought.

Since when did I start believing that transforming into a character meant I had to get all lovey-dovey with the Valkyries... How bizarre.

"Himeko." At that moment, Theresa stepped forward. Taking a deep breath, she looked at Himeko and spoke softly, "For these seven days... why don't you stay at our St. Freya Academy first? We will take care of all your food and lodging."

"Mm, then I'll be in your care." Himeko nodded gently. Her gaze then shifted to Murata Himeko, her eyes carrying a hint of genuine curiosity.

"Besides... I would love to learn more about your story as well."

"No problem." Murata Himeko let out a bold, refreshing smile, her eyes equally brimming with curiosity as she stared back at Himeko.

"I am quite interested in you too."

Well, of course~

Himeko recalled the lore of the game.

She remembered reading somewhere that the appearance of Himeko from Star Rail was actually the idealized version of herself that Murata Himeko from Honkai Impact 3rd had dreamed of becoming before everything went down south.

It was the person she would have ultimately become had she never experienced those tragedies.

Tragically, however, Murata Himeko had ultimately ended up becoming a Valkyrie.

"Then... Grandpa, we'll be taking Himeko back with us now?" Theresa looked at Otto with a bit of trepidation. She was terrified that Otto would suddenly demand Himeko accompany him back to Schicksal Headquarters.

If that happened, they might lose out on a massive opportunity to gather information about the people they cared about.

"Mm, I shall head back to Schicksal Headquarters shortly as well." Seeing Theresa's nervous state, Otto let out a soft chuckle.

He rose and began walking toward the door. Yet at the very end, his gaze drifted past the spot where Little Theresa had been sitting moments prior. A heavy, indescribable emotion surfaced within his emerald eyes.

Looks like the shock I delivered to Otto wasn't small at all.

Himeko watched Otto leave, a playful thought dancing in her mind.

Should I find a way down the line... say, when Welt drops into the Sea of Quanta and Bronya goes off to farm those Bubble Universes, to casually drop a hint to her...?

To let her know that those Bubble Universes—the real Kiana and Little Theresa she encountered before—had their worlds destroyed long ago?

That's precisely why they turned into mere bubbles drifting in the Sea of Quanta, destined to pop into nothingness, only to be captured by Welt to serve as instances for her trials...

--+--

Honkai Transformations - 100

--+--

Deep into the night.

The two Himekos walked shoulder-to-shoulder along the tree-lined path, accompanied by the rest of the girls from the Valkyrie dorms.

Walking along this path now, Himeko felt a wave of emotion wash over her.

She was constantly shifting into different roles, walking back and forth along this very path with everyone. It was safe to say that in the future, every corner of St. Freya Academy would be flooded with memories of her and the girls.

And whenever they glanced at any random spot, they would instantly recall whatever experience one of her past personas had gone through right there.

And then, she would find a way to break the news of those personas' "deaths" to them. Hehehe...

The more she thought about it, the more Himeko couldn't help but chuckle with sheer delight.

"That case in your hand..." At that moment, Murata Himeko looked at the suitcase in Himeko's hand with curiosity, asking softly, "It looks a bit old. Does it hold some special meaning for you?"

"Yeah, it kind of clashes with your whole style."

Kiana nodded along in agreement.

Hearing their words, Himeko looked down at the suitcase in her hand. She lifted it slightly, her fingers brushing against its worn edges, before she smiled and said softly:

"It's been with me for many years. Ever since the day I finished repairing the train and stepped into the starry sky, it has been by my side."

"Repairing a train... So that means, what's inside is..."

"They're my tools." Himeko smiled, a gentle light shining in her eyes. "Tools for maintaining the train—wrenches, screwdrivers, and other things needed for repairs. Besides those... there are a few other items."

"Other items?"

"Mm." Himeko's gaze softened even more as she looked at everyone. "My coffee grinder... or you could say, my weapon. I carry it with me wherever I go."

"You don't like alcohol, but you like coffee?" Hearing this, Kiana's eyes widened in sheer amazement.

"Not exactly." Himeko shook her head gently, her soft gaze resting on Kiana. "It's just that compared to alcohol, I have a much stronger interest in coffee."

With that, seeing Kiana's deeply curious expression, she smiled again. "How about tomorrow, I brew a cup of coffee for all of you myself? It's getting late now, and you all probably need to get some sleep soon."

"Deal!" Kiana nodded vigorously without a second thought, an excited grin spreading across her face. "Coffee brewed by the Himeko from another world—I definitely have to taste what that's like!"

However, a somewhat complicated look surfaced in Yae Sakura's eyes at that moment.

She couldn't help but recall the first time she had met Raiden Ei, and the dish Ei had cooked back then.

To this day, that meal left her with a lingering sense of dread—a vivid feeling that if she drank it, her very life might come to an end right then and there.

But...

She looked at Himeko, taking in her elegant and gentle demeanor, which looked as though she had stepped straight out of a painting. Her heart eased a little.

This Miss Himeko... looked like she would be quite skilled in the kitchen.

Come tomorrow, I'll have to taste Miss Himeko's coffee-brewing skills too.

Meanwhile, Himeko was absolutely delighted.

They finally fell for it!!!

She couldn't wait for tomorrow to hurry up so she could personally brew a fresh batch of coffee for Kiana and the others.

They would surely be moved to tears~

Soon, Himeko followed everyone back to the dorms.

Stepping into the living room, Himeko scanned the interior decor as if it were her first time there, a soft, warm smile appearing in her eyes.

"The environment here... gives off a real sense of peace."

"Of course it does." After changing her shoes, Kiana walked into the house, her expression filled with pride. "We all decorated this place together. Even a five-star hotel couldn't be as comfortable as this."

"Mm, I agree." Himeko looked at Kiana, smiling faintly. "Every piece of decoration here is just right. It might not be luxurious, but it gives me a wonderful, refreshing feeling."

Hearing Himeko praise the dorm's decorations like that, everyone's fondness for her shot up like a rocket.

Afterward, Himeko walked into the room they had prepared for her.

It was the very same room she had stayed in when she previously transformed into Hu Tao.

However, just as she set her suitcase down, there was a gentle knock on the door.

"Come in, it's unlocked."

Murata Himeko pushed the door open and walked in, cradling a few bottles of vodka in her arms. In her crossed hands, she also held two glass tumblers.

"Care for a drink together?" Murata Himeko walked into the room, flashing Himeko a bright, dashing smile.

"I'd love to."

Himeko didn't refuse, nodding with her usual gentleness.

However, recalling Murata Himeko's old habit of unknowingly shedding her clothes after drinking and cuddling up to sleep, Himeko couldn't help but feel a flicker of anticipation.

Perhaps...

This transformation might still bring some unexpected pleasant surprises?

Before long, the two were sitting by the desk in the room. The vodka had been opened, and the rich, boozy aroma drifted through the space, mingled with the alluring, subtle fragrance unique to a mature woman.

The blend of these two scents made Himeko feel faintly intoxicated even before she took a sip.

"Here."

"Thank you."

Himeko accepted the glass handed over by Murata Himeko. After taking a sip, a faint flush immediately bloomed on her fair cheeks.

Murata Himeko, however, downed her drink with an entirely unfazed expression.

"It seems you don't drink very often." Seeing Himeko like this, Murata Himeko couldn't help but chuckle.

"Indeed, I rarely drink alcohol."

Himeko nodded, looking down with a hint of curiosity at the liquid she was swirling, watching it catch the light and cast a liquid-gold shimmer inside the glass.

"This drink... though not as mellow and full-bodied as most liquors in the cosmos, is surprisingly fierce, and the flavor is quite unique."

Hearing her praise, Murata Himeko's smile brightened even more.

Yet, as she gazed at Himeko's gentle and beautiful face, she fell silent for a brief moment before asking softly, "Could you tell me... a bit about yourself?"

"Oh?"

Himeko turned her head to look at Murata Himeko, meeting her gaze, and then offered a gentle smile. "Of course. But would you like to hear from before I stepped into the starry sky, or after?"

"Before."

Murata Himeko answered without a moment's hesitation.

"Alright." Himeko nodded gently, a nostalgic look entering her eyes. Then, under Murata Himeko's focused gaze, she began to softly recount her past.

The past Himeko spoke of was largely identical to Murata Himeko's own.

Even though it wasn't on Earth, and there weren't the same countries, and the geographical names and local customs differed...

The trajectories of their early lives were remarkably similar. Because of their fathers, both had viewed becoming a scientist as their ultimate life goal.

The only difference was that Murata Himeko had lost her father before she could become a scientist, causing her life to veer down a different path.

Himeko, on the other hand, had already become a scientist when she encountered the stranded Astral Express in her hometown.

After spending several years repairing it, she sailed out into the sea of stars.

Murata Himeko listened to her story, drinking as she listened. As a flush began to rise on her cheeks, her expression softened into one of pure, heartfelt joy and contentment.

Seeing this expression on her face, Himeko was slightly stunned for a moment, and then she couldn't help but smile warmly.

Being with Murata Himeko like this made Himeko feel... even more comfortable than the moment right before she entered a state of absolute clarity after getting intimate with the Valkyries.

It was practically a spiritual spa.

"And that is my story," Himeko said, her voice tender as she kept her eyes on Murata Himeko.

By now, Murata Himeko's face had flushed completely red.

"It sounds... perfect." A complex look surfaced in Murata Himeko's eyes. Even though she had consumed a lot of alcohol, there wasn't a hint of drunkenness in her gaze.

"Now, let me hear your story too." Himeko spoke softly, her eyes holding Murata Himeko with a gentle, earnest attention.

This caused the walls around Murata Himeko's heart to loosen slightly. Looking at Himeko's gentle face—which was almost identical to the future self she had imagined back in her teenage years—a wave of emotion surged within her.

After letting out a helpless laugh, she began to share her own story.

What she told was essentially consistent with her background profile and the information from the chronicles.

Himeko remained an attentive, quiet listener, taking in the other woman's tale—from her youth, when she suddenly learned of her father's death, to becoming a Valkyrie, choosing to engrave an artificial Stigma onto her back despite lacking the proper compatibility.

In the end, after making the trip to the Sea of Quanta, all she brought back were two ancient predecessors—and the hollow feeling of having gotten her hopes up for nothing.

Then, just when she thought she still couldn’t escape the fate of dying from Honkai corruption, Hu Tao’s arrival gave her the faintest thread of hope to keep living.

As Himeko listened to the story, she occasionally lifted her glass for a quiet sip.

A flood of emotions stirred inside her.

Her constant transformations really had changed a lot of things.

At the very least, when Himeko finished talking about how her body could now hold out for much longer, the smile on her face was completely genuine.

And after hearing all of it, Murata Himeko had finally been completely overtaken by the alcohol. She had barely finished speaking before her eyes closed and her body slumped over, unable to fight the drunkenness any longer.

“Looks like you’ve been carrying all of this in your heart for a very long time too,” Himeko sighed softly.

She reached out and pulled Murata Himeko into her arms before she could fall.

Then, with another helpless sigh, she stood up, carried her over to the bed, and gently laid her down.

“Tonight... just sleep well in my room.”

A little while later, Himeko herself climbed into bed and closed her eyes, ready to sleep.

Truthfully, part of her had been looking forward to whether Murata Himeko would end up like before—getting drunk, half-conscious, stripping off her clothes, and clinging to her.

But now that she looked over, Murata Himeko sleeping beside her looked almost like a young girl, her cheeks carrying a sweet, satisfied expression.

Only now and then, she murmured the word “Dad” in her sleep.

It was the first time Himeko had ever seen Murata Himeko like this.

In the end, she could only close her eyes with a helpless smile and drift off to sleep peacefully.

But the next morning, just as dawn was breaking, Himeko opened her eyes and immediately felt something heavy—and incredibly soft—pressed against her.

Looking down, she saw that the clothes she had left Murata Himeko in yesterday, down to only her underwear, had completely vanished.

Murata Himeko was now hugging her completely naked.

Just as expected...

Himeko’s gaze slowly lowered.

Several soft, snowy curves were squished tightly together, her elbow buried deep between them, while their pale legs tangled together beneath the blanket.

Mm...

This really wasn’t bad at all.

Himeko’s mood instantly brightened.

“Wake up. Come on, wake up.”

Still, staying true to the role she was trying to maintain, she gently called out to Murata Himeko.

“Mmm...”

After a few sleepy, confused whimpers, Murata Himeko sluggishly raised a hand to her head and slowly opened her eyes.

“W-What’s going on...?” she yawned, her gaze wandering around the room.

Then her eyes met Himeko’s warm, gentle stare.

Murata Himeko froze instantly.

Seeing her own face first thing in the morning completely short-circuited her brain.

“It’s time to get up. It’s already getting late,” Himeko said softly, suppressing her laughter as she looked at her tenderly.

Only then did Murata Himeko’s thoughts gradually clear, and the memories of last night came crashing back.

Now, facing the Himeko before her—gentle, mature, practically glowing with maternal warmth—her cheeks turned bright red in an instant.

“S-Sorry!!”

Murata Himeko shot upright out of bed and immediately began scrambling around in flustered panic, desperately searching for her clothes.

“They’re on the nightstand to your left.”

Watching her frantic fumbling, Himeko chuckled and pointed it out.

Murata Himeko stiffened before quickly turning around to get dressed, but when she looked through the neatly folded clothes, she couldn’t find her underwear.

Until—

Himeko reached beneath the blanket beside her, pulled out a black lace bra, and held it out toward her.

“Your underwear’s here.”

At that moment, Murata Himeko genuinely felt that it might have been better if she’d simply drunk herself unconscious forever the night before.

A little later, both Himekos had finally gotten fully dressed.

Murata Himeko took a deep breath before quietly apologizing again.

“Sorry... I got drunk last night and fell asleep, and then... I...”

She couldn’t continue.

The embarrassment and helplessness were too overwhelming.

Murata Himeko had never imagined there would come a day when she’d expose such a disastrous sleeping habit in front of another version of herself.

“It’s fine.”

Himeko shook her head, looking at her seriously before smiling gently.

“I don’t mind. Besides, we’re the same person anyway—just from different worlds.”

Only then did Murata Himeko finally relax a little and turn toward the door.

But as she reached it, Himeko softly added behind her:

“If you ever want to come drink with me again, you’re welcome anytime.”

Murata Himeko’s hand paused slightly on the doorknob.

She turned back to look at Himeko, meeting those warm eyes and that elegant, beautiful appearance—the very image she used to dream about becoming when she was younger.

Something deep in her heart stirred.

“Okay.”

A little while later, Himeko was already sitting neatly in the living room.

Mei and Sakura were in the open kitchen making breakfast.

At that moment, a drone flew out from Himeko’s bedroom. Mounted on it was a gigantic monomolecular saw, while another mechanical arm carried a can of coffee.

The Himeko and Yae Sakura in the kitchen immediately became alert, until Himeko gently called out to them:

“Mei, Sakura, would you like some coffee?”

She turned toward them with a soft smile.

“A cup of coffee in the morning really helps with the rest of the day.”

Hearing that, Mei hesitated for a moment under Himeko’s warm gaze before finally nodding.

She wasn’t actually that interested in coffee.

Though if it was brewed by the Himeko from the other world, she might have been a little interested.

As for Yae Sakura, she nodded immediately without hesitation.

“Then I’ll leave it to you.”

"Alright."

Himeko offered a gentle smile. The drone then began operating a monomolecular saw, quickly grinding the coffee beans she had taken from the canister into powder.

This crude method made Raiden Mei's brow twitch slightly, a faint sense of foreboding rising in her heart.

But next, Himeko actually began brewing the coffee.

"Mei, Mei! What's for breakfast today?"

Just as Mei wanted to observe closely how Himeko planned to brew the coffee, an energetic Kiana bounded out from the hallway after washing up, drawing Mei's attention away.

Meanwhile, Himeko began crafting her "artisanal" coffee.

She did not filter out the coffee grounds. Instead, she poured a massive, incredibly dense amount of coffee powder into each of the neatly arranged cups, and then began brewing them in her own unique way.

Yae Sakura watched this scene with a hint of bewilderment; she knew nothing about how to brew coffee.

Ever since she emerged from her seal, she had never tasted it.

However, she also noticed that the aroma beginning to permeate the air seemed a bit too concentrated.

As time passed, everyone filtered into the kitchen one after another, gathering around the dining table ready for breakfast.

And in front of each person sat a cup of incredibly dark, intensely aromatic coffee.

"The smell... is so strong." Kiana looked curiously at the pitch-black coffee in front of her, a hint of resistance crossing her exquisite, pretty face.

"Mm..."

Mei hesitantly used a spoon to gently stir the coffee in her cup.

The thick, viscous texture of the liquid... gave her quite a bit of pause.

"The aroma actually seems pretty good!"

Theresa, however, lit up. Sniffing the scent, she immediately perked up.

"Mm, everyone should try some. My skills are reasonably decent." Himeko nodded with a satisfied smile, picking up her coffee cup and taking a gentle sip.

It brought an intense, burning sting, as if molten lava were flowing through her mouth. Hard granules of varying sizes rubbed against the tender inner walls of her oral cavity, scraping their way down.

What followed was an incredibly harsh, overwhelming taste—reminiscent of someone violently scraping their fingernails across a blackboard—that rushed straight to the brain and lingered persistently.

"Ah."

Himeko's cheeks flushed slightly as she let out an incredibly satisfied, soft chuckle.

Seeing this, the others hesitantly lifted their cups and drank.

The next instant...

Pfft!!!

Cough, cough, cough!!!

Blegh!!

The kitchen was instantly filled with the chaotic sounds of violent coughing and gagging.

"Oh? You don't like it?" Himeko looked at them with a hint of confusion, then sighed softly, a trace of melancholy coloring her face.

Only Theresa, having taken a sip, looked at everyone in utter bewilderment.

"What's wrong? Isn't it really good?"

A short while later—after everyone except Himeko and Theresa had spent over ten minutes brushing their teeth and rinsing their mouths—they looked at Himeko, lingering dread in their eyes.

"Hi... Himeko." Kiana looked at her, swallowing hard. The usually fearless girl actually showed a rare trace of fear in her eyes.

"The coffee you brewed..."

"Mm... perhaps it really doesn't suit your palates." Holding her coffee, Himeko sat poised and elegant on the sofa, looking at everyone as she took another helpless, gentle sip.

Then, she showed another look of deep satisfaction.

This display left everyone feeling completely helpless.

Only Theresa remained perfectly fine, genuinely believing that the coffee Himeko brewed tasted quite good.

Everyone besides Theresa had already made a firm resolve at this very moment.

That was to never drink another single drop of Himeko's coffee ever again!!!

"Kiana..."

At this time, Murata Himeko took another sip of water, washing down the flavor that still hadn't completely dissipated from her mouth. Only then did she look at Kiana, the expression on her dashing face turning serious:

"In a little while, the Valkyrie rank exams will begin. You, Mei, and Bronya need to work hard during this period."

Huh?

The Valkyrie rank exams?

Hearing Murata Himeko's words, a slight sense of confusion and a touch of heaviness rose within Himeko.

Has the plot already reached this stage?

But... something also seemed a bit off.

Sipping her coffee, Himeko quietly listened to Kiana and the others' confident replies while pondering in her mind.

According to the plot in the manga, the Mystery of the Stigmata arc should have already passed by now.

So the next to begin should be the Anti-Entropy Invasion arc.

Though she didn't know if Cocolia would still send a clone of Welt Joyce to try and abduct Mei—especially after Anti-Entropy had suffered consecutive losses and Sin Mal had been captured by her twice.

And then he would get bare-foot stepped on the face by the Third Herrscher.

Man, she was so jealous...

Wait, no, her mind was wandering.

At this moment, Theresa also looked at Kiana and the girls, a proud and smug smile appearing on her cute little face: "Kiana, Mei, Bronya, I've actually prepared some gifts for you over the past few days."

"What kind of gifts?" Kiana looked over curiously.

"Hmph, I can't tell you yet." Theresa smiled triumphantly. "Just look forward to it and study hard these next few days. But this Principal guarantees you'll absolutely love them!"

Listening to Theresa, Himeko thought about it for a moment and instantly recalled the exclusive Valkyrie battlesuits for Kiana and the others in the game.

White Comet, Crimson Impulse, and Yamabuki Armor.

One Mecha, one Biologic, and one Psychic type.

The gifts Theresa mentioned had to be those.

So according to the plot...

No, in the original plot, only Kiana got the White Comet battlesuit first, and her home turf was raided by the Joyce clone during her training.

But now, all three of them were going to receive their battlesuits at the same time.

In that case...

Himeko couldn't help but feel a sudden pang of pity for the Joyce clone who might come to attack later, because when the main trio wore those three battlesuits in the game, they could directly go toe-to-toe with the Fourth Herrscher, Wendy.

If Anti-Entropy hadn't pulled a sneak attack, Wendy might have been taken down by them directly.

And a mere Joyce clone stood absolutely no chance against the main trio.

Furthermore...

Himeko took a small sip of coffee, feeling her body grow relaxed and agile with the intake of caffeine, a slight smirk playing at the corner of her lips.

Back when she had transformed into Silver Wolf, she had farmed a whole bunch of Soulium weapons for Kiana and the girls.

Even though they were all Xuanyuan Swords, as Soulium weapons, if Kiana and the girls could resonate their willpower with them...

Those Xuanyuan Swords would automatically alter their forms to become their signature weapons.

While they wouldn't be as powerful as the genuine Xuanyuan Sword with its six different elemental attack modes, it would still be more than enough to give the Joyce clone a run for his money.

"Exams, is it?" Looking at the fired-up Kiana and the girls, Himeko spoke with a light smile: "Since you have exams coming up... would you like me to tailor a proper training regimen for you?"

"Even though I'm not combat personnel, I do have quite a bit of experience when it comes to analyzing test data and designing regimens."

"Not... combat personnel?"

Hearing Himeko's words, Mei thought back to that massive monomolecular saw from earlier and couldn't help but offer a strained smile.

"Sure!" But Kiana agreed immediately, her eyes burning with excitement.

Bronya also gave a gentle nod, her gaze fixed firmly on Himeko as she said, "Then... sorry to trouble you, Sister Himeko. Bronya wishes to become stronger!"

"Mm."

Looking at them, Himeko nodded, a trace of seriousness surfacing in her golden eyes. "During the seven days I am here, I will do my best to enhance your practical combat capabilities. However... I'd like to know what kind of training equipment you have available here?"

"We have it!"

Theresa nodded vigorously, unable to contain her eagerness. "My exclusive training room! It can use data simulations to manifest all kinds of formidable enemies from the user's mind!"

"Oh?" Hearing this, a glimmer flashed through Himeko's eyes, and a wave of excitement welled up in her heart.

She remembered back when she used to clear the Memorial Arena, being tormented by those bosses with increasingly absurd stats, while she only had outdated team compositions from before the newer Valkyries were released.

That kind of torment was something she really wanted Kiana and the girls to experience for themselves!

And now, as Himeko, the information in her memories went far beyond just the bosses from the old Memorial Arena.

Thinking of this, Himeko asked Theresa without hesitation, "Could you take me to see it?"

"Of course!"

Theresa nodded happily, hopping off the sofa to lead the way.

She couldn't help but think that with a Himeko from another world helping to train Kiana and the girls, their strength would definitely skyrocket!

Perhaps...

They might even resonate with those few Soulium weapons left behind by Silver Wolf.

The crowd then followed Theresa and Himeko out in a bustling group, heading toward Theresa's exclusive simulation training room.

Along the way, they took in the beautiful scenery of St. Freya Academy.

Except this time, Himeko and the others happened to cross paths with the same few Valkyries they had encountered a few days ago.

Last time, Himeko had been a mini-Theresa. The sight of two mini-Theresas walking together had made those Valkyries' eyes pop out, thinking the Principal had a clone sister.

And now, seeing two Himekos, those Valkyries froze dead in their tracks, rubbing their eyes repeatedly, beginning to question reality itself.

Walking past them, Himeko couldn't help but find it amusing.

"It seems you haven't told the rest of the academy about a visitor from another world arriving every seven days?"

"Mm." Theresa hurried along beside her, her short legs paddling rapidly.

Because Himeko and Mei had very long legs while Theresa was tiny, for every single step Himeko and the others took, Theresa had to take three quick steps to keep up.

"After all, this kind of thing is a bit too mind-boggling and could cause unnecessary trouble." Theresa explained softly, a helpless look in her eyes. "So, we decided not to tell anyone else."

"Then is it alright if they see me?" Himeko inquired out of curiosity.

After all, she had never attended a single day of classes at the academy; she spent her days either lounging in the dorms or darting around to various places.

So she had no idea what the Valkyries in the classrooms thought.

"Of course it's fine." Theresa shook her head, her tone serious. "If they see you... they'll talk, but it will be confined within St. Freya Academy. Ai-chan will prevent any information about you from leaking to other branches.”

“Besides..."

Besides, Headquarters and Anti-Entropy already knew, so keeping it a secret didn't really matter anymore.

Himeko had already guessed what she was going to say next.

After a four to five-minute walk, they arrived at the simulation training room.

Himeko followed Theresa and the others straight into the control room. Looking at the instruments that would have completely baffled her in the past, but which she could now understand with just a glance, she smiled.

Alright then~

Kiana, you girls are in for a world of pain~

Recalling the Doomsday Beast from her memories, as well as other boss-level creatures and the Titan legions from older versions that could defeat a Valkyrie in a single punch, Himeko felt increasingly delighted and expectant.

"Theresa, may I check these devices to familiarize myself with their functions?"

Himeko turned her head to look at Theresa beside her, asking softly.

"Of course." Theresa nodded directly, her expression quite serious. "Please, feel free to use them."

Despite saying that, her heart felt a bit anxious.

After all, these machines were incredibly expensive. Even if just one broke, it would cause her a great deal of financial pain.

Himeko, however, shared none of these concerns.

She began to operate the instruments, her heart growing more and more joyful.

At that moment, Kiana and the girls inexplicably felt a sudden chill wash over them, leaving them completely bewildered.

--+--