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

"Although it happens often, I still want to remind you, Kosmo."

"Communication in the general sense is through language, not facial expressions."

Mei said earnestly.

"I just..." The dark green-haired boy wanted to explain, but his thoughts piled up in his heart, and in the end, he remained silent, unable to utter a word, and replied, "...Never mind."

"..."

Mei was about to leave. After all, regardless of how much information the other party knew, he had inherited Kevin's consistent silence.

She still wasn't good at communicating with the other person unless Paddo arrived or she understood the book the other person had given her.

"...Wait a minute, were you also affected by Alicia?"

Mei was somewhat surprised, but she did stop and look at the other person. The other person's gaze...slowly rose, pausing rather subtly at a perfect angle—there was nothing there, except...

"……you also?"

"It's inevitable. Don't worry too much about it; everyone goes through it."

Kosmo rubbed his forehead, sighed, and looked utterly exhausted.

In that instant, Mei suddenly understood what Kosmo wanted to say. Even without understanding the book, it was just the empathy of two people in the same boat.

...

"...Hehe, Kosmo is still the only one who hasn't changed."

Big Grey crossed her arms and chuckled.

Chapter 69 Curiosity Kills the Cat

Kosmo remained silent, his gaze briefly sweeping over Mei's horn and then towards the direction of the memory entity Kevin. In a sense, the three of them belonged to the same kind.

Their horns had all been touched by Alicia.

In reality, Kevin was touched on the horn not long ago. He seemed to have finally succumbed to Alicia's persuasion. When Alicia is interested in something, nothing can escape her grasp.

Even Kevin's horns are no exception.

Kosmo had always watched Gretchen grow up in silence, and his feelings for her were more complicated.

It was a journey that should have been his, but in the end, due to cowardice and selfish desires, Gretchen was sent adrift among the stars.

Fortunately, the other party was unharmed, otherwise he wouldn't know how to face himself.

Although the fact that he was still by Gretchen's side earned him the title of a lolicon, the fact that he remained steadfastly by Gretchen's side despite having a choice is, in a way, an affirmation of his love for her.

That's right, Kosmo only likes girls under the age of 12...

The words he had heard during the storyline echoed in his ears.

Back then... never mind, he didn't want to recall that scene anymore. Kosmo's expression was somewhat unpleasant, and he simply shook his head.

...

Mei, continuing her exploration, also encountered many heroes.

Through conversations with people like Hua, Ying, and Eden, her impression of Alicia was further enriched.

But some of their descriptions seemed so strange...

In the garden, she encountered Sakura, whose answer deeply shocked her.

"Innocent? Alicia?"

Mei stared at Sakura in astonishment, a strange expression on her face. She had never imagined that this word would be used to describe Alicia.

In any case, the other party should be completely unrelated to simple words.

“I understand what you mean, Miss Mei. Her actions are always unpredictable, and her thoughts are unfathomable…”

"Her whimsical ideas caused me a lot of trouble. But one thing I'm sure of is that she has always been sincere to everyone around her."

Sakura, holding the hilt of her sword, said this to Mei in a calm tone.

It's clear that she has great faith in this deputy leader.

Perhaps the initial encounter with the other party made them doubt for a moment, but everything that happened afterward made them convinced that Alicia had indeed always acted as she had.

Although Mei found Sakura's words hard to believe, after considering Sakura's many actions, she had no choice but to swallow her doubts.

Indeed, everything became believable under the face of this pink fairy lady.

In Eden's conversation, this is how she described her comrade-in-arms:

"In our time, Herrschers seemed to be born as enemies of humanity, bringing calamity and suffering..."

“But Ellie is not like that. She is not our enemy, nor is she a threat to humanity. She is a warrior who fights for humanity, and the only one who gathers heroes.”

"He is also my irreplaceable friend."

She smiled gently, holding a red wine glass filled with the reflection of the setting sun, and took a small sip.

It's like savoring the sweet memories of your best friend, so delightful and unforgettable.

"And the Thirteenth Herald, that's more like... a wedding dress she prepared for herself."

She parted her red lips slightly and spoke, looking at Mei with an expression full of admiration, but revealing no more information.

The finest wine is meant to be shared with the best of friends; and the deepest secrets are meant to be revealed by those involved.

Mei looked at Eden with a hint of understanding, pondering the strange things he had said. A Herrscher… is the difference between other Herrschers and Alicia merely their relationship with humans? Or is that precisely the most crucial difference?

Eden, however, took the initiative to say goodbye, explaining that she was going to see another friend.

Now that we've come this far, the long-buried secrets must be about to be revealed.

She was going to ask her friend who was hiding if the key was still there.

Eden and Sakura both have such high opinions of Alicia!

[Wedding dress? Is she going to marry me? (Disorientation, starts generating electricity)]

[That's right, she's just a simple-minded bad woman, she only flirts, she doesn't take responsibility!]

Golden Courtyard

"Hmm... Gretchen, what do you think?"

After a moment's hesitation, Alicia chose to pose the question to Gretchen, who was new to the area, wanting to hear her thoughts from 50,000 years in the future.

Why is it that little Greta never speaks?

As for Luo Mo's opinion... well, to be frank, she wasn't comfortable with it.

Whether it's belittling or excessive praise, she feels a little embarrassed. The other person's words always surprise her and bring her wonderful surprises.

But she didn't want any of those.

She wanted to see Gretchen's comments.

"Hmm, what are you looking at?" Little Greta raised her eyes blankly, looking up at the other person with confusion.

Paint dripped onto the canvas unintentionally, and pure white was immediately tinged with a light blue, like the colors of a blurred sky.

"They're all right, aren't they? Alicia's words are just like that. No matter what she says or does, it always gives off a feeling that—'As expected of Alicia.' It's amazing, but I like it a lot."

Big Gretchen answered seriously, and she also saw her somewhat adorable younger self in her eyes, and waved with a smile.

As for the other person's answer... well, she wasn't surprised.

If it were her younger self, she really wouldn't know how to answer, how to say it... She seemed to see her companion who had always been with her, her gray-haired self, Marvin.

It was the long time she spent with me during my travels.

This allowed her to relax in that small boat.

As for herself in paradise, she didn't try to control the other person's thoughts. She let the other person do as they pleased and enjoy their own life.

"As expected of Alicia? Hmm... that's a very good compliment. Do you all like my memory world?"

She said so.

Luo Mo nodded emphatically, and was about to speak when Alicia reached out and stopped him, covering his mouth with one hand and grinding her teeth tauntingly in his ear.

—Quite prescient.

"Mmm (This is the Kingdom of Heaven of my beloved Lord, where I can go after death and attain eternal life)"

"Oh, oh, oh, the boss said Alicia's inner world is so beautiful, it's exactly the same as Alicia's appearance!"

Pado did a great job translating.

...

The encounter with Velvi was clearly not satisfied with the space where Alicia had hidden herself. In her words, Alicia had created a surprise that surpassed all of Alicia's previous magic.

This was something she, as a great magician, absolutely could not tolerate.

How can we let someone else steal our thunder?

All eyes were on Alicia; wouldn't she lose face?

Despite the other party's enthusiastic recommendation of her items, Mei politely declined Kevin's Armored Model 4, a round robot. Undeterred, and considering Mei's apparent carrying difficulties, she enthusiastically recommended a card system, from which Mei sensed the influence of Tianhui.

Mei ultimately recommended it to Kosmo as a favor, thinking he might find it interesting.

When Mei saw Pado again, she felt like she didn't recognize her.

Although it takes three days to recognize someone, one should look at them with new eyes.

But Mei never imagined that when she saw Padre again, she would have transformed into a mimic with its limbs exposed.

That's strange. Do cats have this kind of evolutionary ability?

Mei didn't understand, but she was deeply shocked.

"N-nothing's gone, Mei-nee, you're so mean!"

Pado looked at Mei, who was whispering beside her, and her face flushed red. Ignoring the fact that her waist and buttocks were trapped in the box, she struggled violently.

Even timid cats have pride!