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

Chapter 68…You Too (20/24)

In the hall,

"Hmm...is it some kind of paradise deep within the Land of the Dead...Alicia's paradise? Wow, that's amazing."

Gretchen, who was standing, exclaimed in admiration, and clapped her hands to cheer people up.

"Hmph, yeah, she's really something, a Herrscher... See, I knew I wasn't wrong from the start, a traitor~"

Mebius glanced sideways at Alicia and snorted.

He turned and went back to the sofa, where he sat down.

"Being a Herrscher doesn't necessarily mean you're wrong, Doctor. You're thinking too strangely!"

"Oh, so that means Alicia's powers are about to be revealed? Along with the ultimate secret of Paradise and all that?" Kiana's eyes lit up.

She thought the story would continue for a long, long time, but did she misunderstand her boss this time?

In that case... he doesn't deserve an apology!

I made her cry so many times.

“Of course,” Alicia proudly put her hands on her hips, glanced quickly at Luo Mo, and said quickly, “I won’t drag things out like someone else. Of course, I will tell you all the causes and consequences, if… everything goes smoothly.”

"smoothly?"

Kiana was somewhat puzzled, but thought optimistically—

What could possibly happen in a paradise?

Does that mean you won't reveal everything easily?

"Is that so? Luo Mo hid it even more carefully than I expected? Perhaps, calling it a surprise wouldn't be wrong."

Alicia chuckled softly, a glint of light in her eyes.

Like all beautiful fairy tales, she built a huge paradise in her heart, a paradise filled with everything she imagined.

If it's Mei, she'd be happy to let the other person explore her mind.

...

Mei clearly couldn't fully believe Alicia's explanation.

Although the other party's motives were probably good, as she read a lot of information and documents about Ying Jie and spent time with them along the way, she was shocked to find that perhaps the person she understood the least was the girl who first appeared in front of her.

—She is the girl who accompanied her through thick and thin, protecting her as she overcame all kinds of dangers.

She knew nothing about Alicia.

"You can't say you know nothing... We've shared a lot of secrets with each other."

"And... why the Thirteenth Herrscher? Haven't you considered other possibilities, like aliens, fairies from another world, or... a beautiful girl who just happened to pass by?"

Alicia's face was close to Mei's, her eyebrows furrowed cutely, and her eyes drifted upwards, as if she was indeed trying her best to think from Mei's perspective.

And her answer... was quite characteristic of Alicia.

"As far as I can recall, the Thirteenth Herald did not leave any specific records related to him in the previous civilization."

"A Herrscher, yet he left no records... I don't know what caused this, but I can't help but think—"

"If it's Alicia, then it doesn't seem so strange."

Mei looked up, her eyelashes fluttering slightly, and answered earnestly as she looked down at Alicia, who was a head shorter than her.

This was also a question she had never understood: if Alicia was a Herrscher, why was there absolutely no information about her? If she wasn't a Herrscher... well, now she herself had admitted it.

Then there is nothing more to say.

"Oh... so that's how you've always seen me?~"

Alicia was slightly surprised. Some things didn't seem so strange when they happened to her... Was she being said to be special?

That's such a subtle compliment!

Then she accepted it with gratitude.

"However, even so, well... the atmosphere is just right. Although Mei has a lot of questions, it's easy for a third party to interfere when we talk about this in the square~ Mei doesn't want to be interrupted again, right?"

Mei nodded slightly. She also remembered some unpleasant things that happened in Paradise. Some conversations were always interrupted by unexpected events and forced to stop.

“Right, right,” Alicia echoed, pulling Mei’s sleeve and running to a higher place. “Come on, I’ll slowly tell you everything about Alicia, and... everything about the Thirteenth Herrscher.”

They walked side by side through the maze-like garden and the square with its spraying fountains.

The hidden path beneath the stone gate brought them a delightful surprise, and the sudden change in perspective gave them a refreshing experience. The fragrance of flowers and the fluttering butterflies filled the air, and the gently drooping branches softly brushed against their hair…

"Even so, the thought of revealing everything about myself to Mei makes my heart flutter a little."

Alicia smiled secretly, revealing her feelings.

She and Mei spent a long time together, sharing many stories, beautiful memories, and even encounters with monsters.

Although the Honkai Beasts inside aren't immune to attacking her... Alicia also said that this was a scene that had never happened before, and it shouldn't be happening so frequently.

A white-haired man leaning against the wall, who had been silent for a long time, blocked the way.

“Alice, I respect your choice. But you should have informed us beforehand.”

His words, as always, were brief and vague, full of the flavor of a riddle.

This also meant that Alicia would have to part ways with Mei temporarily.

"Don't worry, Mei, I'll make Kevin feel better and then I'll come find you soon."

She smiled and waved to Mei, then pushed Kevin away and disappeared into the lush foliage.

At this moment, the answer to the truth seems to be not far away from Mei.

But the future cannot be predicted by anyone.

...

In the Golden Courtyard, in the main hall,

"That's strange. Why does Mei say she knows nothing about me? She clearly knows so many of my little secrets."

Alicia rubbed her cheek with her fingers in frustration, looking at Mei with a depressed expression, as if she were looking at a heartless woman who had abandoned her ex, who had wantonly rejected her feelings.

"...In fact, you didn't tell me what's really important. At least not in this moment in the video."

Mei sighed, witnessing her own helplessness in talking to Alicia on the screen, and how Alicia always managed to find the most fitting words to break down her defenses, leaving her no choice but to accept Alicia's honest opinions.

"Hey, no way, didn't Mei read my Paradise Files carefully? There are so many conversations."

"Moreover, putting all that aside, Mei also knows what I like most, and my true identity... You know, there are quite a few people in Yingjie who know this."

Alicia spoke softly, twirling a strand of hair between her fingers, calmly and gently wrapping it around, as if she wanted to change to a hairstyle with slightly curled ends.

"My favorite thing..." Mei hesitated for a moment, unsure of what she meant.

Until… she saw the other person's gaze move upwards, towards her head…? It shouldn't be that…

Mei's face darkened, and she closed her eyes and remained silent for a moment.

Herrscher of Thunder's powers haven't been fully reclaimed, and the image of having only one horn still exists. However, she actually prefers to appear with two horns lately, at least then she can say she enjoys role-playing.

But, as expected of the other party, their favorite character is Kakeru.

"Hmm... I really didn't know that Sister Alicia was actually a Herrscher. That's amazing. No wonder I could never see the color in her heart."

Big Gretchen, standing to the side, looked as if she had just realized something.

"That's irrelevant. Gretchen can see my color clearly."

Mei sighed, then turned her gaze to the grown-up Gretchen with curiosity.

"Hmm... Mei-neechan's color is a beautiful purple." She said with a smile.

Mei thought to herself, "It seems that the other person has become much more talkative since growing up."

"Gresch, what about me? What about me?"

“It’s the orange-red of flames,” little Gretchen whispered.

"A hint of... um, purple? Doesn't quite seem like it... purplish-black? That's strange too." This was Gretchen's answer. She frowned at him, seemingly unable to refute a certain color within it.

Chaotic and without light, yet encompassing everything.

"Hmm—?" Little Gresh glanced over, her gaze lingering on Kiana for a long time before she pursed her lips. "Kiana-neechan's color has changed~"

"Oh, the color of the flames! I love it!"

Kiana said with a smile, and she had experienced firsthand the colors that Gretsch had mentioned that she couldn't see clearly these past few days.

Her strength has improved a lot, but she can't explain what that power is exactly, and her authority has also become much stronger.

It was as if she was experiencing her older sister's words for the first time. That day, she held dumbbells, sweat dripping down her face, and turned her head in surprise, asking, "Strength? Isn't strength something that can be improved simply by working hard to train?"

Okay, she now acknowledges the value of that statement.

Is it really true?

But compared to the four people she fought in the last scene, she knew she was still far from being there. Reaching them was still not enough; what they had to overcome was the end.

...

While Alicia was discussing something with Kevin, Mei still had a lot of questions she wanted to ask, but after receiving Alicia's affirmative reply, she didn't need to rush.

Since the other party said that all the answers are hidden here, why don't she go and find them first?

I'll also check if there's any news from the other heroes. Kevin's presence here probably means that the other heroes will also appear.

Then she figured out the way out of the maze, but the maze itself was not intended to trap outsiders; it served more as a childlike decoration.

Upon reaching the high platform, she saw Kosmo overlooking the garden.

The other person, separated by the railing, gazed quietly at the magnificent garden, a view he had longed for but never possessed, bathed in the glow of the setting sun.

Tranquil and eternal, it is a beautiful paradise.

He also saw Mei, and their eyes met, creating an awkward moment.

"..."