As for how hard-working Griseo managed to support her whole household by going to work—let's put that aside for now.
Coming from the original world of the Elysian Realm, Mei found herself deeply lost in confusion about who she was and where she had come from, caught up in the perplexity of it all.
But the one she was most curious about right now was the person in front of her—Luo Mo.
If he were just an ordinary student from St. Freya, it would make sense that she might not recognize him—there were so many people at the academy, no one could possibly remember everyone. But if she added the condition that he was a male student… then she could clearly give her answer:
Absolutely no such person exists.
"Even so," Mei said after some hesitation, glancing at the other version of herself who looked rather 'aggressive,' "we still can't fully answer this question for now. But the boss here did help us fight against Honkai… and for a price far lower than we expected."
No one understands oneself better than another version of "oneself."
During her time in World Serpent and the Elysian Realm, she had learned to empathize—to think from the perspective of others. She knew very well that she had taken on a shell of coldness and maturity as a means of self-protection.
The armor she wore on the outside was meant to shield the heart inside that had already been shattered. And though it was slowly healing, she knew it would never return to how it once was.
That's what people call growing up.
"Honkai… a lower price than expected…"
The original Kiana and Mei fell silent for a moment.
No one knew better than them the steep prices their world had paid.
"So… this is a parallel world?" original Theresa asked curiously, her eyes wandering all over the place.
"This kind where… most events are the same, but then suddenly one or two things change direction entirely?"
She looked around, full of curiosity toward this academy that was both familiar and unfamiliar—especially the large building standing nearby, the Golden Courtyard.
There was no such thing next to her home!
As for people with familiar names showing up—she had read some theories about this kind of thing: things like ending up in another world, meeting people who looked just like you, and having all sorts of mysterious adventures.
(Of course, she'd never admit she saw it all in Homu's Grand Adventure...)
And besides, the Homu manga here had way more updates. She could even take them home!
This was amazing!
With that, after finishing her duties as principal, she could keep reading the latest manga updates.
This version of St. Freya Academy… was seriously rich.
She couldn't help but feel a little jealous.
Why was it that back when she was head of the academy, everything was always so tight?
The weight of financial shortages had always been on her young shoulders back then—so unfair!
"Parallel world? That theory is valid," Luo Mo replied calmly. "It's something proposed in your world's future.
But right now, what this actually is… should probably be called—Otto's created world?
The one you all… just recently said goodbye to?"
He smiled subtly as he spoke.
For Kiana and the others who had just fought Otto not long ago, this was undoubtedly a startling revelation.
Even though they had mentally prepared for surprises, they still couldn't suppress their shock at this moment.
Kiana and Durandal instinctively recalled the scenes from that time.
Theresa's mouth dropped open, and her eyes widened instantly in disbelief. She stammered:
"Grandpa? You mean… Grandpa came here after that?!"
Luo Mo lifted his head and thought for a moment before nodding.
Within the cracks between two worlds, you could say he had been here, more or less.
Especially since Kallen existed here… and Otto didn't—this was already solid enough proof.
"Then he…" Theresa blurted out, then froze on the spot.
She couldn't help but take a deep breath and clench her small fists.
"Did he… Did he finally get what he wanted?"
She asked this in a calm tone, with the demeanor of someone who had grown up.
She… kind of missed her grandpa.
Even though he had done many things wrong—even if he had played the role of the villain who caused her and many others such suffering…
It didn't change the fact that she missed the times they had spent together in the past.
Even now, she couldn't clearly say what kind of feelings she had toward him.
She had once looked up to him as a role model… yet also resented the sins he committed.
At the moment she asked that question, countless memories flashed through her mind.
But in the end, she still couldn't say for sure—
Did she want to see him again… or not.
So, she simply asked what the outcome had been.
When Luo Mo gently nodded, Theresa—though she didn't quite understand why—felt a weight lift from her heart.
She couldn't quite accept the idea that time in this world had been pushed back five hundred years.
But the thought that her grandfather's five-hundred-year plan had entirely failed… still gave her a twinge of sadness.
Though she was biased, she didn't want either extreme—complete failure or perfect success.
Maybe… this outcome was already the best one.
"..."
Kiana lowered her head and looked at her palm.
Her five slender, jade-like fingers stayed in her gaze, and for a moment, her expression seemed dazed.
He… succeeded.
That damn Otto…
She didn't want to talk about it anymore.
She didn't want to offer blessings.
But knowing that he would never return—and had quietly made such a major impact in some lonely, desolate place—
It was probably for the best.
"Although it might feel a bit strange to view this from the perspective of a game," Luo Mo continued, "compared to what you all actually experienced, there's no harm in watching this highly viewed short film."
"There were a few words—his final words, really—that he meant for you. Words from the bottom of his heart," he added, looking directly at original Theresa with a smile.
If they had never met, it wouldn't matter.
But since they had, then those clips—especially for someone personally involved—needed to be seen.
The version of Theresa from this side, who hadn't gone through all of that herself, would be missing something important without seeing them.
So, Luo Mo gently activated the ending segment of the Twilight Chapter and the short film Apocalypse - As It Is.
If anyone here was new to it, he didn't mind replaying it again.
Besides, this was a perfect moment to spring an emotional trap.
"Uh… Can we watch it?" Theresa's eyes widened, sparkling with anticipation.
She was very curious about this so-called "game" that had such a deep connection to their world.
"Of course," Luo Mo replied affirmatively.
Nearby, the sleeper known as the Dreamer (Su) slowly opened her eyes.
The white-haired boy (Kebin) bathed in sunlight turned his head as well, his gaze deep and thoughtful.
"Well then, let's begin~ Even if Otto wasn't a good guy, everyone's always curious about a villain's final words and how he wraps up his story, right? ♪"
Elysia chimed in cheerfully, giggling behind her hand where no one could see.
Now that this was a world after victory over the Honkai, finding three people who didn't understand Honkai was nearly impossible.
At first, for fear of inciting mass panic and unforeseen consequences, the true nature of Honkai Impact 3rd was not announced to the public.
But after certain events occurred, it simply couldn't be hidden anymore.
Everyone knew about the Honkai.
Everyone knew about the game that had saved them.
So now, finding someone completely unaware was nearly impossible.
Elysia, the pink-haired fairy, was extremely delighted to see this reaction.
Even the Elysia who understood Mei quite well could feel that something was off, but she couldn't quite put it into words.
She could only watch quietly.
And once again, she was certain of what she felt in her heart:
This Elysia… had absolutely changed.
----
"Once in a while, you should eat some fruits and vegetables that aren't bitter melon," a voice said.
"…You always stay up late. Your body really should be getting more balanced nutrition," another added.
----
She watched her grandfather slowly walking forward in a crimson desert, each step weak but steady, always heading toward a fixed destination.
That frail and exhausted figure—Theresa had never seen him like this before.
Her heart felt a mix of pain and sorrow.
He clearly knew everything.
And yet he had left behind instructions for her to wash away his stains using the very robe she had sewn for his role as Archbishop...
Why?
Why didn't he clean up his own mess?
Didn't he also understand that all those plans… were just stains?
Why… why did he still act like it didn't matter?
Her heart wanted to ask him—all the words she had long held back.
But before they could leave her lips, a name interrupted her thoughts:
Kallen Kaslana.
Her grandfather had never hidden his goals from her—it's just that no one believed them. No one believed that this man, who had sat in the highest seat of Schicksal for five hundred years, would make such an "unwise" decision.
Theresa could barely hold back her tears. Big, heavy droplets rolled down her cheeks. She tried to wipe them away, but no matter what, her reddened eyes couldn't stop the emotions welling up in her heart.
She felt as if she could see him again—saw him gently patting her head, smiling, just like the colors in her memories. Maybe... he really had to die. In the end, with no one left to witness it, he rambled on and entrusted so many heartfelt things.
"My old friends—Red Immortal, and the Herrscher of Reason... They're truly good people. Let them help you walk your own path."
"...Ah."
Original Fu Hua looked a little uncomfortable. That man… did he truly see everything and keep it all inside? Perhaps he wasn't a fool at all. And those "good people"… When he acted, did he really never weigh the consequences? But even if he didn't, he was still a piece that advanced on the chessboard.
She shook her head. She didn't want to continue pondering the meaning behind that man's actions. Just as he said, let history be the judge.
At least, in terms of results, compared to the previous era of civilization, the price paid for restraint this time wasn't as tragic.
"The Herrscher of Reason... did he mean Teacher Welt?"
Bronya asked hesitantly.
Of course, she shouldn't have immediately thought it referred to herself. It didn't make sense to put herself alongside Red Immortal. That fleeting rebellious thought made Bronya glance back at the days gone by.
---
"I'm back... Kallen."
In the end, beneath that radiant beam of light, he gripped his greatsword and fell like a meteor from the sky, never to be found again.
Then, time—frozen—began to move once more. A new timeline was born, one just for her.
He declared to the world, made a promise:
This time, she will not die.
And thus began that man's life.
How long would it take to find his true self again?
His answer:
Five hundred years.
This… was perhaps the most selfish thing a person could do.
Even those who had directly faced him at the end couldn't help but admit: that final line on the flawed page was indeed sincere.
Compared to what Mei once promised, compared to the world—you are more important.
Otto truly placed both the world and her on equal footing—and then, chose her over the world.
---
After watching this short film, Luo Mo was once again stirred after a long time. That distant, buried memory returned vividly to his mind. After all, he had completed it together with Su Lu and the others.
Theresa was still wiping her tears. Even though she tried her best to maintain the dignity of a school principal, her trembling shoulders betrayed her.
"...Grandpa, Grandpa… you.
"This… I…"
She was still emotional, unable to speak properly, tears flowing nonstop from her small eyes.
She had been doing fine, but once his name came up, once bitter memories surfaced, she couldn't hold it in anymore.
The recovered memories made her recall it all.
Yes, the things her grandfather did were certainly hard for her to accept. But the past wasn't all bad—there had been warmth too, real warmth that she'd felt with all her heart.
Besides… he's dead now.
No one said she had to forgive, but as his only living relative, there was nothing wrong with her reminiscing a little.
Theresa let herself be immersed in her sorrow.
Elysia, on the other hand, was already used to this. At least, within this lounge…
Hmm. Wait—
Now that she thought about it…
Wasn't all of this just a little strange?