Chapter 102: Perhaps We Can Hitch a Ride
"Who are you?" Kevin crossed his arms, looking coldly at Irene, who was not far away. "State your purpose."
"Ay, ay, don't be so nervous, and don't be so aggressive." Irene waved her hand. "Sorry, I needed to come over in this form."
As Irene spoke, she cancelled her transformation, revealing her true appearance. It was at this moment that Kevin's gaze sharpened: "You are also a Herrscher?"
"Yes, I am the Herrscher of Death of the Current Era." Irene nodded, then raised her hand to release the imprints she had obtained: Su's imprint, Mobius's imprint, and Eden's imprint.
Upon seeing the imprints, the frown on Kevin's forehead relaxed slightly. He could recognize these auras, and he understood under what circumstances his friends would give these imprints to the young girl before him.
"It seems you have already been to the Realm, but you don't appear to be one of World Serpent's people?"
The traces of the imprints on Irene were very easy to recognize. Su's imprint was very fresh; it must have been given to Irene by the Su who was still alive. As for Mobius's and Eden's imprints, they must have been obtained within the Elysian Realm—or rather, they could only be obtained there.
"Mm, you could say I was guided to the Realm by Senior Su." Irene looked at Kevin. "But unfortunately, I'm not here to find you. Human society outside has not yet reached the point where Project Stigma is needed."
"Mm, it seems you are indeed Su's successor." Kevin nodded and did not say much more. Once he discovered that the other party was Su's successor, he understood that she likely hadn't come to release him.
"First, let me introduce myself." Irene looked at Kevin. "My name is Irene."
"Mm." Kevin nodded. He remained icy, his face showing no expression as he spoke coldly. "Kevin. That is all."
"Successor, since you are not here for me, state your purpose."
"Entrusted by a friend to help her find her beloved sister." Irene patted the head of Project Bunny beside her. "As for my situation, I can explain it to you later."
Kevin nodded, and after pondering Irene's words for a moment, he turned to look at a specific Bubble Universe. "If it is a blue-haired little girl, I know where she is."
"Oh, that is truly great." Irene also turned her head to look at that Bubble Universe. "Then, since that's the case, I'll head inside for a moment. I apologize, but having been entrusted by another, I must first complete the task I was given."
Irene maneuvered around Kevin and dived into the Bubble Universe. Kevin stood calmly in place, gazing at the Bubble Universe before him, even though the other party had no intention of taking him along when she left.
But it didn't matter. That girl would have to leave eventually. He could be certain that she hadn't arrived here through the labyrinth set up by that Herrscher of Reason.
Then, there was a high probability that while inheriting Su's imprint, she had also inherited the Cosmic Juggernaut. Finally, she must have used the Cosmic Juggernaut to open a hole elsewhere to enter the Sea of Quanta.
Since that was the case, after that girl named Irene picked up the child, she would likely leave very soon. He could simply hitch a ride.
This way, he wouldn't have to tangle with that Herrscher of Reason anymore. He needed to return to the Proper World as soon as possible to prepare for the implementation of Project Stigma. His body was also very weak; he urgently needed a replenishment of Honkai energy. His current state was insufficient.
Although he knew that girl had likely accepted Su's suggestion not to release him from the Sea of Quanta—as Su believed this world had not yet reached the degree where Project Stigma was necessary—Kevin naturally understood this reasoning. But... someone had to do it. That final plan that no one was willing to touch.
He knew very few people would be willing to support Project Stigma, including his companions. But it didn't matter. The worst plan was still a plan; the worst salvation was still salvation.
He would choose salvation as he always had, even if this method caused him to be labeled a villain by everyone.
He was prepared for any possible dissatisfaction and resistance. He would face all rebels and objectors in his best form.
If they failed, he would try his best not to take their lives, because resisting was what they needed to do. There was no wrong in it. If they succeeded, he would also gladly accept his own failure and look forward to seeing what degree they could achieve.
Because regardless of the result, it meant the world was saved, and humanity could defeat the Honkai. No matter what price had to be paid, this was his promise. His promise to everyone.
Kevin calmed his emotions and stood quietly outside the Bubble Universe, waiting for Irene to take the girl away so he could quietly follow and hitch a ride.
*
"Sigh, this environment can't exactly be called good... I hope that child is okay." Irene looked around; the only area visible was filled with ruins.
[Sister Irene, why didn't you let me speak to Boss Kevin?] Pardo's somewhat strange voice rang out in Irene's mind.
[It's too early.] Irene soothed Pardo. [After we find the person, we will still have plenty of time to talk to Mr. Kevin. There are many things to say, and we can't finish saying them all at once. Let's find the person first.]
[Let's get to a safe place before talking. After all, our main goal for this trip is to find someone, isn't it?]
[Oh, that's true.] Pardo nodded. [But Boss Kevin has become so weak. I've never seen Boss Kevin this weak before.]
[Yeah, it feels like he's not even in the state he was in inside the Realm.] Little Corruption also nodded along. [Boss Kevin, how did the Honkai energy inside him drop to this level?]
[That, we'll have to ask Su.] Irene looked at Project Bunny beside her. Project Bunny kept pointing its hand forward.
"Looks like she's in that direction. Let's go, let's not make that child wait too long."
*
[Seele, wake up.] Another voice in Seele's mind woke the sleeping Seele. [Something is approaching us.]
"Ugh..." Seele rose from the bed, shook her little head which was still a bit dizzy, and immediately pulled a massive scythe out of the void beside her.
"Is it a Quantum Beast that got in?"
Although she didn't know why, logically speaking, the Sea of Quanta was very dangerous, yet she hadn't encountered many Quantum Beasts wandering in the Sea of Quanta.
However, since it had been such a long time, she had bumped into a few. Plus, sometimes those Bubble Universes on the verge of destruction would also have those wandering Quantum Beasts.
Over time, Seele had also learned how to fight. Of course, expecting her to have any combat method was thinking too much; she simply swung the scythe with brute force.
[Doesn't look like it... anyway, stop sleeping. Something is really coming towards us.]
"Then... then should we run?" Seele gripped the scythe in her hand tightly. Her somewhat cowardly personality meant that unless the enemy was right in her face, she didn't particularly want to fight.
[I don't think you can run. The opponent is very fast.]
Seele held the scythe, watching the window vigilantly. Looking at this stance, basically, if anything appeared in the window, its head would be fiercely pierced by the scythe.
But just then, an extremely familiar little head poked out from the windowsill. Seele looked at that little head: "It's you! Then where is Elder Sister Bronya?"
With just one glance, Seele recognized that the robotic head was the combat robot she had once given to Bronya to protect her.
That meant Elder Sister Bronya had come to find her.
"Ah, I'm sorry. The one who came to find you isn't your Elder Sister Bronya. It's Elder Sister Irene." Irene's figure sat silently on the windowsill like a ghost.
Subsequently, Irene saw Seele's eyes go dim in an instant. Irene sighed and looked at Seele with some helplessness: "Do you need to be so disappointed? I should say I'm lucky you didn't raise your scythe."
"That... um, Elder Sister Irene, were you sent by Cocolia Mama to find me?" Fortunately, after a brief moment of calming down, Seele understood some things.
This somewhat strange sister before her was a friendly force. Perhaps Cocolia Mama had finally researched something, so she sent a trustworthy person to bring her out.
"I wasn't sent by Cocolia either." Irene shook her head and pointed to Project Bunny beside her. "I was requested by your Elder Sister Bronya to come save you."
"Really?!"
"How else?" Irene patted Project Bunny. "She has never forgotten her promise to you. After learning that I had the ability to save you, she immediately commissioned me, wanting to rescue you."
"And Project Bunny is... well, she thought you might not trust me so quickly upon our first meeting, so she sent it to communicate with you. So, wandering young girl, you can go home now."
"Can you take me back right now?" Seele immediately leaned in front of Irene with some pleasant surprise. "Is Elder Sister Bronya still waiting for me?"
"If things go smoothly, I should be able to take you back directly." Irene nodded. "Additionally, Miss Seele, my name is Irene. Please take care of me from now on."
"Mm, Elder Sister Irene." Seele immediately nodded, greeting Irene somewhat timidly. At this moment, the other [Seele] also spoke up in Seele's mind.
[How can you believe this strange woman so easily? What? Seeing that robot... oh wait, seeing that sister's robot, you can't even walk straight?]
[But that's Elder Sister Bronya's...] Seele replied somewhat timidly to the voice in her mind. The other Seele spoke as if resenting iron for not becoming steel.
[I'm saying you should have at least a little vigilance. The other party says two sentences and you just believe it.]
"But Other Me, you didn't object either." Seele shrank her neck. "And I feel like Elder Sister Irene is a good person."
[I didn't say this fellow is a bad person either.] The other Seele also sighed with some resignation. [Forget it, this person shouldn't have any malicious intent. But remind her that there is a terrifying monster out there.]
"Understood." Seele nodded obediently, then looked at Irene. "Um, Elder Sister Irene, there is a very terrifying monster outside. Is it really okay?"
"Don't worry, that isn't a monster." Irene nodded to Seele; she knew Seele must be talking about Kevin, who was outside. "Hold my hand. I'll take you out."
"Mm." Seele obediently held the hand Irene extended. Irene smoothly pulled her into her embrace, while Project Bunny skillfully wrapped its mechanical spine around Irene's hand.
"Eep!" Suddenly pulled into an embrace, Seele cried out shyly.
"Sorry. Anyway, hold on tight." After confirming everyone was holding on, Irene took out Pardo's card and transformed again. Entering a Bubble Universe was easy, but getting out wasn't.
Seele saw the sister before her suddenly change appearance. Although she was somewhat puzzled, she was too embarrassed to ask more. Then, she saw the brilliance of Quantization flash over Irene's body, taking her back into the Sea of Quanta.
*
Sitting within a space of golden light, Welt sat beside a golden cube, gazing calmly into the distance. It had been a while since he felt the labyrinth he set up being destroyed. Had that person given up?
No, impossible. He could sense an unparalleled determination from that man. It was absolutely impossible for him to give up just like that.
And based on their short period of skirmishing, he discovered that the opponent's body seemed to be in an abnormally depleted state, with almost no Honkai energy left.
If that weren't the case, he feared he would have been beaten down in a single encounter. In other words, the opponent was currently accumulating power, planning to break through in one go...
But just then, Welt suddenly felt someone intruding upon the edge of the labyrinth. And the movement was very fast, as if they had specifically found the labyrinth's weak point and intended to break through in one fell swoop.
"No way, coming over so quickly?" Welt immediately stood up and moved to the boundary. Looking at Irene who had just entered, Welt, who was originally vigilant, instantly paused his movements.
Irene let go of Seele and looked at Welt: "Mr. Welt, long time no see. I didn't expect to run into you here."
"No need for pleasantries." Welt waved his hand, looking at Irene with some confusion. "Why are you here? And who is this beside you?"
"Bronya's sister, Seele." Irene briefly introduced Seele. "The reason I came in was to save this child."
"However, I can only let myself move in and out freely; I can't carry people. I originally just wanted to let this child stay near the Proper World so it would be convenient once I found a method."
"Then you discovered the massive amount of Honkai energy here, as well as the aura of the Proper World, right?"
Welt nodded, automatically completing the information for Irene.
"You guessed correctly. One can indeed return to the Proper World from here. I can also help you send this child out."
This matter was nothing more than a lifting of a hand. After all, he had only blocked the Eye of the Deep with a massive number of Bubble Universes to prevent that person from entering.
As long as he wanted to let someone out, he could. The reason he couldn't go out himself was that without the supply of Honkai energy, he would gradually dissipate.
When that time came, he wouldn't be able to stop that person. Once that person got out and implemented the so-called Project Stigma, it would be terrible.
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