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"I have nothing more to say to you. If you have any self-awareness, it would be best if you committed suicide upon your return."
Yama words were filled with overbearing arrogance, yet her expression remained serene, as if she were stating something perfectly natural.
"...And what about you? Who are you, really? Abaddon Yama-Rakshasaâa compound name. The Old Serpent who tempted Adam and Eve to eat the forbidden fruit, and the Great Red Dragon, the incarnation of Satan. Which one are you?"
"Whichever you prefer. I can be anyone." Yama crossed her arms and let out a contemptuous snort. "A name is merely a symbol. If you wish, you may call me by cruder terms: executioner, monster, lowly woman, murderer... but regardless, it will not change the fact that I will kill you."
"No... my point is, will I know you in the future?"
"..."
Yama level of knowledge about him could be explained by her mastery of observation across countless parallel worlds, but her goal seemed from the start to be changing the catastrophe caused by him. That meant that in his Proper World, such a 'Yama' must also exist.
In a rare moment, Yama narrowed her eyes, revealing a peculiar expression. She gave him a deep, meaningful look. "Know me... if that day ever comes, you will know me..."
Lin stopped pushing Yama to tell him about the future. He couldn't demand hope from someone who had already exhausted almost every possibilityâmoreover, she had explicitly told him she was an enemy.
No, it was already a warning.
Lin left the room first. Yama remained inside, staring expressionlessly at the open door.
Struggle all you want.
No matter how many times it took, she would not waver.
...
Abnormal? It was beyond abnormal.
Lin had originally thought the only "abnormal" parts of this Bubble Universe were his parents and the Councilman. But the moment he pushed open the door, a bizarre, kaleidoscopic landscape surged into his eyes.
Honkai Beasts were roaming freely. A relatively small Chariot-class beast sauntered past the front door, while many bird-like Gallant-class beasts flew across the sky like migratory birds.
Despite this hair-raising scene, none of the pedestrians felt it was strange.
They were accustomed to it, even... stroking the Honkai Beasts like they were greeting kittens or puppies. Upon closer inspection, many people were walking smaller Honkai Beasts on leashes like pets.
Was this the "more abstract weirdness" Yama spoke of?
Humans and Honkai Beasts living in peaceâit looked like a picture of serenity.
Lin seemed to understand why his parents could survive and be friends with the Councilman in this Bubble Universe.
Because in this world, there was no "Honkai" disaster. Honkai Beasts were more like a special kind of animal. Without a disaster threatening humanity, there was naturally no need to create experimental subjects to fight the Honkai.
Fire-Moth, therefore, did not need to exist.
"What's wrong? Surprised?"
The Councilman had approached him at some unknown point, crouching beside him. He took a long, greedy drag of a cigarette, and after savoring the smoke in his lungs, he flicked the ash and asked Lin.
"...Surprised."
"Because it's different from your world?"
"..."
This sharp turn in the conversation made Lin silently clench his fists.
"I have a fairly clear understanding of what kind of person my nephew with the same name as me is." The Councilman smiled casually, a hint of ambiguous meaning surfacing in his grin. "At the end of the day, he's a child. What kind of expression and gaze would a child have? Certainly not as cold as yours."
Even the Councilman in this Bubble Universeâjust two casual sentences from him made Lin skin crawl.
Furthermore, the Councilman had a habit of reading novels, so he certainly understood tropes like "soul transmigration." That was likely why his mind bridged the gap so quickly.
"Don't worry about it. I just want to know, is my nephew still alive? Will you leave?" There was a hidden edge of danger in the Councilman's tone. Even if he wasn't a high-ranking official of Fire-Moth here, he was by no means an ordinary middle-aged man.
"...I am looking for a way."
"Interesting."
The Councilman chuckled as if nothing had happened. He was wary of this unknown person and worried whether his nephew's life was held in this "transmigrator's" hands.
"What is your name?"
"Lin."
"...I meant your own name."
"My own name is Lin."
Clearly, the surprise in the Councilman's eyes was laid bare.
"Now that is quite a coincidence, isn't it?"
Lin didn't explain anything to him. He wasn't the man Lin knew, and Lin didn't want to treat him as that man.
Suddenly, Lin spotted a bizarre object standing in the center of the city.
A clock tower so tall it pierced the clouds, clearly visible even from this distance.
A massive second hand swung upon it, marking the passage of time.
"What is that?"
"What?" The Councilman, who had been deep in thought, looked up and followed Lin gaze with confusion.
"That clock."
"What clock?"
The Councilman looked genuinely bewildered. Lin noticed that in the reflection of the Councilman's pupils, there was no sign of that massive clock tower.
Only he... could see it?
No.
If, as Yama said, the resurrection of the dead and changed relationships weren't considered strange, and the omnipresent Honkai Beasts treated as pets meant nothing, then perhaps those were simply common sense in this Bubble Universe.
In that case, was the "phenomenon" that did not fit the common sense of the inhabitantsâthat clockâthe most abstract and strange part?
He turned and walked back into the house; he had to inform Yama.
The Councilman, meanwhile, frowned in thought. Recalling Lin bizarre behavior just now, a strange feeling welled up in his heart.
He stopped paying attention to Lin and Yama. Instead, avoiding Lin parents inside, he crept toward Old Ma's study...
...
"A clock... reminding us of something related to time?"
Yama gazed serenely at the towering clock tower. Something that could essentially be a landmark, yet the local inhabitants knew nothing of it and couldn't even see itâthat spoke to its special nature.
"Who did it?"
"Who knows? Bizarre people and things are not rare in the Sea of Quanta. If there is one Observer like me, there will be others." Yama informed him flatly. "But aside from me, all other Observers possessing a Second Divine Key... are Su."
"Su?"
Perhaps having said too much, Yama did not continue the topic. A light flashed in her eyes, but it was quickly extinguished.