To create Honkai Impact 3rd in a world where Kallen exists.

"Dr. Möbius, were you just trying to comfort me? Hmm?"

"..."

“No, I didn’t, you misheard. You looked really awful just now,” Mebius paused before speaking.

"Oh my, as expected, Möbius still cares about me. Being more honest and straightforward would make him even more adorable!"

Alicia's playful voice seemed like nothing more than a fleeting illusion.

But she really was sad just now!

Chapter 81 discusses how many people are sweetened by bell pepper curry.

But when we return to the game...

Mei returned from outside and had just reached Kiana's room when she heard her say that she still wanted to bear everything alone.

Her conversation with Einstein also filled her with despair about reality, and the raven's advice echoed in her mind—

"What do you plan to use to save her? Ideals? Hope? Or the feelings between people?"

"Didn't you want to save that girl? Heaven can't do it, and neither can defying the throne..."

"...But the World Serpent can."

"If you are interested, come back in two hours—the Lord of the World Serpent will be waiting for you there."

The other person's soft yet sharp words echoed in her ears, especially clear now that she was leaning against the wall, each word striking at her defenses.

If it were the old her, she wouldn't have believed the enemy;

If it were the old her, she wouldn't have fallen into such an obvious 'trap';

If it were the old her, she would have believed Kiana's promise.

...but she isn't anymore.

She was no longer the girl who only believed in the beautiful things in books; she had come to understand the harshness of reality.

Kiana only has two months left to live. Anti-Entropy can't save her now; everything the other person said is true...

She will die—

The thought, once it entered her mind, firmly occupied Mei's heart. She dared not imagine what would happen without Kiana.

But if she doesn't do something...

...

"World Serpent? Mebius, can we?" Alicia pondered for a long time, then gave up.

The decision was made to directly ask the person involved who knew the details best.

"Me? Who knows what methods Kevin might use? I have no idea,"

Möbius coldly replied, "Oh—even if I knew, I wouldn't tell you."

"Oh dear, my good Möbius, don't get upset over a little joke. That's not like you."

Alicia twirled her fingers and said without any discouragement.

"Like me? Don't talk like we're old friends, like you know me well. I don't even know you—"

Mebius didn't even look up, he just kept saying that.

Anyway, she wasn't really offending the other person; she was just ignoring them and giving them the cold shoulder.

Mebius felt extremely uncomfortable because his opponent was too unpredictable.

And, has she been eyeing me lately?

I knew from our time with the Firefly that her interests were always unpredictable, but I never expected her to be so interested in me today...

Speaking of which... could we take this opportunity to put the other person on the lab table?

As for what happens when they get to the top? Then they're completely at her mercy.

"No, Mebius, we've shared a bed, we're not that strangers," Alicia whispered in her ear.

A warm breath wafted from the tip of my nose to my ears, causing a slight itch, and carrying a faint fragrance—the scent of flowers and candy.

This caused Mebius's ears to turn slightly red, and he tried to use his hands to block the other person's intrusion.

...

"Hey, Kiana, look, Mei's about to be snatched away, and you're still standing there acting like a hero."

Kiana didn't understand why someone was always trying to steal her boyfriend.

Strange, why say "old"?

She shook her head, shaking off the strange, unknown thoughts in her mind, and gave Bronya a knowing smile, saying with complete trust,

"Mei won't go with them, right, Mei?"

But Mei didn't answer her. She stared at the screen silently and sighed.

...

Mei composed herself and, remembering that Kiana hadn't eaten anything since waking up, must be hungry, she immediately went to bring her a hot meal.

And for some reason, whether it was what the raven said or what she overheard in the corner,

She didn't show it on her face at all, and didn't tell anyone.

This isn't like her anymore.

But everyone changes, doesn't they?

"Well, I thought you must be hungry, so I made you something to eat."

Mei brought the food to Kiana.

"Oh!...It's curry made by Mei!" Kiana exclaimed happily, her smile as innocent as ever.

Kiana straightened up and began to wolf down her food, clutching her plate.

"Eat slowly, there's plenty of rice, don't choke."

Mei smiled gently; it seemed the other person's health wasn't as bad as she had imagined...

Before long, the entire plate of curry was devoured.

"I'm full!" came a cheerful, energetic voice.

"Four months have passed, and your appetite and eating habits haven't changed at all."

"It's been so long since I've tasted such a delightful and nostalgic flavor..."

"Phew—this refreshing taste, this just-right spiciness, Mei's cooking is definitely the best for me!"

Raiden Mei paused, pursed her lips, and still managed a forced smile:

"...I'm glad you like it. I was worried it might be too spicy."

"No, no! The spiciness is just right. I sweat while eating it, which is very comfortable. I like it very much."

"Okay, have some water, so you don't choke."

Kiana drank the water in the cup in one gulp and lay down contentedly.

"Yes, Kiana, you'll get better."

"You will...get better..."

Whoosh—

The flowing water brushed past Mei's fingertips, fell, shattered, and disappeared into a small whirlpool, emitting a low sob.

She dried the plate and was about to put it back in the cupboard when she accidentally bumped into a wooden bowl next to it. A few small items fell to the floor—leftover bell peppers from making curry.

"Fool..."

The clock ticked away; the two hours agreed upon with the ravens were almost up.

Tears streamed down her face. Her hands were empty, but she still wanted to pick something up.

"Sweet pepper curry...how could it possibly be spicy...?"

She walked out of the kitchen. The hallway was quiet; there was no one there, only the light from the infirmary flickering lonely at the end of the corridor.

She turned and walked away in the direction where there was no light.

...

This bell pepper curry is so sweet... so sweet... ugh, why is it so sweet? And why isn't it spicy?

[Who would have thought that I ordered takeout after seeing Xiaokong enjoying her meal? I just happened to order from this place, but the real tragedy was here. These bell peppers... I was crying while eating them. Why? It's so cruel. Why treat them like this?]

[Family, does anyone know how? I tried making a big pot of sweet pepper curry following the Valkyrie's Dining Table recipe... Maybe I should just take it to the street and sell it, I just can't eat it!]

How could bell pepper curry be spicy? Kiana's words now feel like a knife stabbing deep into Mei's heart.

Just as players were complaining that the knife was too sharp in the sweet pepper curry,

"Both of them carefully maintained their fragile relationship, and in the end,"

Bronya shook her head. Both of them in the game had suppressed the pain and suffering of the past few months, trying their best to leave a happy impression on each other.

Just like no one wants to show a vulnerable side in front of the person they care about most.

However, neither side kept anything from the other.

Kiana was already aware of the weariness in Mei's eyes, and Mei also saw the countdown to Kiana's life.

"Oh, well, even I make mistakes sometimes. Who would have thought that there are non-spicy chilies?"

Kiana scratched her head sheepishly, thinking that the so-called sweet peppers were just less spicy.

Clearly, the real-life Kiana is also a kitchen disaster due to a lack of kitchen knowledge.

"But, in that case, Kiana, you are indeed pushing Mei away from you."

Bronya's expression remained blank; she calmly analyzed the situation.

"So, Kiana, don't force yourself to say things you don't understand, just like when you lost your sense of taste and didn't want Mei to worry."