Chapter 55: Once Theresa’s Student, Now the Herrscher of Wind

Chapter 55: Once Theresa's Student, Now the Herrscher of Wind

 "So, in addition to CG cutscenes, this game also includes independently produced animated shorts… Quite the unexpected innovation."

 Otto quickly grasped the meaning behind Hokuto's words, even without having seen the so-called Cyberangel.

 He had to admit—it was a brilliant idea.

 Perhaps I should have Schicksal produce a few animated shorts for my own Kallen Fantasy…

 …No. That could wait.

 If there was ever free time for such things.

—

 While Otto was lost in thought, a precise, neatly formatted comment appeared in chat.

 『Hard Work Always Pays Off:』 "An animated short? What exactly is that? May I watch it?"

 『Hokuto:』 "You want to see it? Not right now. Let's finish two more chapters of the main story first, then we'll watch it together."

 『Hard Work Always Pays Off:』 "Two chapters? At your pace, that won't take long. Very well, I can wait."

 Durandal accepted without hesitation.

 The others in chat had no reason to object either.

 Otto was already intrigued by the idea, and Seele—

 Well, Seele was Seele.

 『my favorite sister Bronya:』 "A video all about Bronya?! I wanna see, I wanna see!"

 『Hokuto:』 "Alright, once we finish today's story chapters, we'll watch Cyberangel."

 With that settled, Hokuto refocused on the game.

—

 Mission Start – Chapter 4, Stage 5

 The scene opened with a transmission between Kiana and Mei.

 [Mei, wake up! Come on, wake up!]

 [Nn… Where… is this…? Kiana?]

 [Thank goodness! You're finally awake!]

 But as Mei regained consciousness, her gaze immediately landed on something behind Kiana—

 [Wait… Why is Bronya lying there?!]

 [Bronya… She protected you and was gravely injured. She's unconscious now.]

 […How could this happen…]

 As Kiana explained, a third voice suddenly cut in—

 [Damn it!]

 Cocolia's transmission was still active.

 She had been watching everything.

 And now that she had lost one of her greatest assets, the situation had completely spiraled out of her control.

 She reacted with unfiltered rage.

 Meanwhile, Himeko—calm and unshaken—sighed.

 [Even with all the advancements in science, you still can't control the human heart. Let's get out of here.]

 Theresa spoke next, assuming command.

 [Bronya's brain has sustained damage, but it's not beyond saving. If we take her back to St. Freya Academy and provide immediate treatment, she should have a chance at recovery.]

 A green comment slid across the screen—

 『Your Great Inventor:』 "Oh? A wise decision! This way, she can smoothly bring an Anti-Entropy defector into Schicksal's ranks."

 Tch. Hokuto held back a chuckle.

 As expected, Otto saw straight through it.

 But he wasn't wrong. Theresa's mercy today would shape the future of the story.

 Without her, Bronya…

 No, without her, Herrscher Bronya would never exist.

—

 [You think I'll just let you all walk out of here?!]

 Cocolia's voice—furious, unhinged.

 [Tch… Whatever. The Fourth Herrscher is still in my hands. I suppose I'll just accelerate the experiment.]

 Kiana snapped back to attention.

 [Wait! What are you planning to do to Wendy?!]

 Before she could get an answer, the dialogue cut off.

—

 Combat Mode – Begin

 Enemy waves spawned, pouring in from every direction.

 It didn't matter.

 Hokuto mowed them down effortlessly.

 But before the next wave could appear—

 『my favorite sister Bronya:』 "Umm… Wendy won't be in danger, right?"

 A hesitant, worried message in blue.

 Hokuto paused for a fraction of a second.

 Ah. Right. Even though she was jealous of Wendy before…

 Seele was still kind at heart.

 The thought of Wendy actually suffering clearly upset her.

 Hokuto sighed inwardly.

 If only this was a game where everyone got a happy ending…

 『Hokuto:』 "Ah… well… I need to focus on this stage first. But once we reach that part, you'll understand."

 It was the best he could offer without spoiling too much.

 Seele didn't press further.

 With that, Hokuto cleared the rest of the enemies, pushing forward to the next area.

—

 A new transmission appeared.

 [Please… let me speak with Bronya.]

 A familiar voice.

 Kiana's head snapped up immediately.

 [Wendy?! How are you contacting us? Where are you?! We're coming to get you!]

 But before she could finish, Wendy cut her off.

 [I already know.]

 There was no hesitation in her voice—only urgency.

 She needed to speak with Bronya.

 But—

 [I'm sorry. Bronya is badly injured and unconscious. If you have something to say, I can relay it to her.]

 Theresa broke the news gently.

 Even so, Wendy wasn't upset.

 [Back in New Zealand… Bronya only attacked me because she was being controlled. I want her to know… I understand that now.]

 [I don't blame her. I never will. But… I suppose we won't get another chance to meet.]

 Transmission ended.

 The screen faded back into combat mode.

 But the air in the chat had shifted—heavier than before.

 『Hard Work Always Pays Off:』 "…Those words weren't explicit, but… I could feel the weight of despair and resignation behind them."

 The neatly typed comment breathed a little life back into the chat.

 Hokuto glanced at the sender.

 Durandal.

 『Your Great Inventor:』 "Indeed. But let's not dwell on that. Continue the mission."

 Hokuto nodded to himself—time to move on.

—

 As the mission progressed, the game transitioned to a new scene.

 The setting shifted to a bridge inside ME Corp's mech factory.

 And then—another transmission.

 A familiar voice greeted Theresa.

 [It's been a long time, Theresa-sensei.]

 [Hmm… We haven't spoken since you were transferred to the Oceania branch.]

 Receiving Wendy's transmission, Theresa didn't ask why she was calling.

 Instead, she spoke calmly, as though she were simply catching up with an old student.

 [There's something I want to confirm… But…]

 [Yes. You're right. I was the one who recommended you for the Gem of Desire implantation experiment.]

 Before Wendy could even finish her question, Theresa answered first.

 A green comment slid across the screen—

 『Your Great Inventor:』 "Oh? She already knew what the girl was going to ask? Not bad. Looks like our dear Theresa has gotten smarter over the years."

 Hokuto glanced at the text and couldn't help but smirk.

 If Otto wasn't conscious of his public image, he'd probably be grinning like a proud grandfather right now.

 Like a doting elder watching his clumsy granddaughter finally take her first real steps.

—

 […Because you were my most outstanding student.]

 [So it really was you?]

 With the answer confirmed, Wendy's tone noticeably lightened.

 Perhaps, during all those years she spent in a wheelchair, she had constantly wondered.

 Why was she chosen?

 Why was she the one to bear this burden?

 [There's no point in apologizing now. To protect more people, sacrifices must be made. That's the cross I bear.]

 『my favorite sister Bronya:』 "…That seems really unfair to Wendy."

 A blue message floated by, filled with sorrow.

 Of course. Seele was still young.

 She wasn't like Otto, who could weigh sacrifices and outcomes with cold logic.

 Her first instinct was to think about Wendy's suffering.

 『Hokuto:』 "You're right. It is unfair."

 『Hokuto:』 "But… was there really any other way?"

 If you want to blame someone… blame the one who created this cruel world.

 Damn you, Mihoyo!

 Damn you, Honkai!

—

 『my favorite sister Bronya:』 "o(╥﹏╥)o"

 After dropping a teary emoji, Seele fell silent.

 She's probably wiping her eyes right now…

 And then—

 [Because you were always like this, Sensei. Pretending to be indifferent on the surface, but carrying everything alone.]

 Wendy wasn't angry.

 She wasn't bitter.

 She simply spoke softly—as if she had already accepted her fate.

 [So… let me thank you, one last time. For everything you've taught me.]

 Transmission ended.

—

 Combat Mode – Begin

 Hokuto focused back on the game, slicing through enemy after enemy.

 Compared to previous stages, the opponents here were noticeably stronger.

 As the last of the small fry fell, the screen flickered red—

 A danger alert.

 Boss incoming.

 A massive creature materialized, standing far taller and bulkier than the rest.

 [Honkai Queen]

 A monstrous being, capable of firing laser beams and summoning piercing ground spikes.

 It looked powerful.

 …Too bad it was just a mid-game boss.

 One ice tornado from Herrscher Bronya and it was frozen solid.

 Hokuto ran it over with a motorcycle.

 Instant death.

—

 [Kiana.]

 [Wendy!]

 A new transmission played.

 [I don't have much time. There's something I need to tell you. Please… remember this.]

 Wendy's voice was urgent—as if this were her final message.

 [A few days ago… the Honkai energy inside the Gem of Desire let me walk again.]

 [I thought… maybe those same energies could help Bronya recover as well… If—if you ever obtain the Gem of Desire… please…]

 [Wendy?! Wendy! The transmission cut off…!]

 The sudden silence was deafening.

 Her voice was gone.

 In reality, Hokuto already knew the truth.

 That wasn't a live transmission.

 Wendy had been dead long before it even played.

 It was just a recording.

—

 『my favorite sister Bronya:』 "Wendy… will she be okay…?"

 A familiar blue comment.

 Hokuto sighed quietly.

 He didn't need to look at the name to know who it was.

 Seele…

 She had been jealous of Wendy before.

 But now…

 She was genuinely worried about her.

 『Hokuto:』 "...Let's keep going. You'll see soon enough."

 He clicked into Stage 4-6—

 The final confrontation with Cocolia.

—

 [Hi~ Did you all enjoy the little 'gift' I sent?]

 Cocolia's voice oozed amusement.

 [Gift…? You mean Wendy's message?]

 Mei was the first to react.

 [That's right! Shouldn't you be grateful for my generosity? I made sure Wendy's final words reached her beloved Bronya.]

 [Final… words…?]

 Kiana's breath caught in her throat.

 [Oops. Did I forget to mention? I already killed the Fourth Herrscher.]

 [Wh-what?!]

 [How could this be?!]

 Cocolia smirked coldly, savoring their horror.

 [I've already extracted her Honkai Core—the Gem of Desire.]

 [Even if you took it, you wouldn't be able to use it!]

 Theresa immediately rebuked her.

 [Hmph. That's only because Schicksal's technology is inferior.]

 A green comment appeared in chat—

 『Your Great Inventor:』 "Pfft… Hahaha—!"

 『Your Great Inventor:』 "Ah… Forgive me, that joke was just too funny."

 Hokuto choked back a laugh.

 Oh, Otto was loving this.

 After all… if Schicksal's technology was 'inferior,' then what did that say about its Overseer?

—

 [I've already developed the technology to use the Gem of Desire inside a mechanical unit. But really, I should be thanking Schicksal for making it so easy to obtain~]

 [You lunatic! You murdered an innocent girl just to get a power source?!]

 Kiana's rage erupted as she condemned Cocolia's utter lack of humanity.

 It was rare to see Kiana so genuinely furious—

 That alone spoke volumes about just how unforgivable Cocolia's actions were.

 『my favorite sister Bronya:』 "Wendy… so she really… Uuuuuu…!"

 A blue comment drifted across the screen, trembling with grief.

 Seele had always idolized her adoptive mother.

 But now—

 She couldn't believe what she was seeing.

 Cocolia, the woman she had always trusted… had killed a girl… just for a gemstone.

—

 『Your Great Inventor:』 "Honestly? I saw this coming the moment she started transmitting that message."

 A green text slid across the screen—Otto's casual remark.

 Wendy was nothing more than a disposable pawn in Cocolia's eyes.

 Anyone with basic foresight could tell—there was no way she would have survived.

 That last message?

 It was obviously a farewell.

—

 『Hard Work Always Pays Off:』 "I… find it difficult to accept. I only hope she didn't suffer too much in her final moments."

 Durandal's formal and restrained comment followed soon after.

 Despite being a hardened warrior, she still felt sorrow for Wendy's cruel fate.

 But just as her message faded—

 Cocolia's voice returned.

 [Oh please, revenge against Schicksal was her dying wish. I merely helped her achieve it. Not only that, I even let her say a final goodbye to her beloved Bronya—such a pity that message won't reach her.]

 [Liar!]

 "SHUT UP!"

 Kiana wasn't the only one who yelled.

 Another furious blue comment burst onto the screen—

 Seele was just as outraged as Kiana.

 How dare she try to justify this?!

—

 [Kiana, look out!]

 [I can't believe it… she actually got something this massive to activate.]

 Theresa's voice rang out, and the screen panned up—

 The gigantic mech in the background began to move.

 [Farewell~ Why don't you have a little fun with my newest masterpiece? Oh, and by the way—its name is MSR-7: Godfather.]

 [Be good test subjects and gather plenty of combat data for me, alright?]

 With that, the game transitioned into a cutscene.

—

 Boss Fight – Godfather Awakens

 The screen darkened, and a cinematic played.

 The massive mech, which had previously been an immobile background prop, suddenly clenched its fists—

 Slamming them down onto the bridge.

 Its deep roar echoed, sending shockwaves rippling through the air.

 No mere machine should be able to make a sound like that…

 As the cutscene ended, the battle finally began.

—

 It looked intimidating.

 …Too bad it wasn't remotely strong enough to be an actual threat.

 Hokuto pressed one button.

 Herrscher Bronya's weapon skill blasted its fist.

 Half its health vanished instantly.

 Hokuto picked up an energy pack, charged his ultimate—

 Motorcycle. Right to the face.

 Instant kill.

—

 『Your Great Inventor:』 "…This is her 'greatest creation'? The culmination of her research into the Gem of Desire?"

 『Your Great Inventor:』 "How… underwhelming. Clearly, she has no idea what that gemstone is truly capable of."

 Otto's mocking words drifted across the chat as the screen faded to black—

 Signaling the end of Chapter 4.

—

 Cutscene – The Aftermath

 Godfather collapsed, engulfed in flames.

 The narration continued:

 [After a grueling battle, Anti-Entropy's massive war machine was finally defeated. Kiana and the others took this chance to flee the ME Corp headquarters.]

 The scene changed—

 Saint Freya Academy's medical ward.

 Bronya lay unconscious on a hospital bed, hooked up to a ventilator, while two doctors stood nearby, checking her vitals.

 Kiana and Mei stood outside, peering anxiously through the window.

 [Although they managed to rescue Mei, they lost Wendy… and Bronya remained in a coma. Even Saint Freya's medical technology was unable to heal her. In order to save Bronya, Theresa decided to seek help within Saint Freya Academy's central chapel.]

 The scene shifted again—

 A sacred hall, deep within the academy grounds.

 Three glowing red crests hovered before Theresa—

 The crest of the Apocalypse family.

 The crest of the Kaslana knights.

 The crest of the Shaniat saintesses.

 [Beneath this chapel lay Schicksal's most advanced biological research facility. Even its existence was kept secret from the academy's headmistress.]

 The narration faded away.

 Chapter complete.

—

 『Hokuto:』 "Alright, that's the end of Chapter 4! Since I have some extra time today, I'll go ahead and start Chapter 5 as well."

 『my favorite sister Bronya:』 "Chapter 5? Oh! That's the part where Headmistress saves Bronya, right? I wanna see it!"

 Hokuto smirked slightly.

 Sorry, Seele.

 Chapter 5 is all about Kiana.

 Bronya?

 She gets saved by Fu Hua.

 But before he could say anything—

 『Your Great Inventor:』 "And yet… you haven't started Chapter 5. You're preparing for something first, aren't you?"

 『Hokuto:』 "Yeah, I'm doing some pulls before moving on. I wanna complete my Welt set."

 Hokuto checked his crystal stash—

 Plenty to work with.

 Welt set? Should be easy.

 『Hokuto:』 "You guys just sit back and watch my god-tier luck at work."

 Click—one ten-pull.

 Skip animation.

 Results appear.

 [Otto Apocalypse (Middle)]

 Silence.

 Hokuto stared at the garbage roll.

 『Hokuto:』 *"Hey, dear viewer—could you, uh… refrain from speaking for a while?"*

End of Chapter 55