"We can conclude that beyond the world, time has its own laws as well. It does not degenerate into absolute chaos and disorder. More specifically…"
"There, the inversion of time is free, no different from any other spatial dimension."
"It follows some more fundamental laws on that basis, and like other dimensions, it is subject to various constraints of energy."
"And it is certain specific constraints among them that fix the direction of time in certain subspaces, allowing everything within them to progress from infinite recombination to finitude."
"We believe this is the very reason our real-number world can exist—"
"In other words, time being fixed in the forward direction is not an absolutely fundamental law; it is actually a consequence brought about by the existence of this world of ours."
Kiana, who had never been good at studying, listened seriously to the conversation between the two.
Then she asked: "Although I don't really understand, are you trying to say—that precisely because our world exists stably, no force can interfere with the flow of time?"
"Absolutely correct!" Nagamitsu affirmed her understanding, then continued: "But things are different on the Imaginary Tree, because an existence like that transcends the scope of worlds. You can think of it as…"
Nagamitsu glanced at the people around her.
Especially at Kiana, who had the lowest education level and understood the least about these things.
She thought for a moment about using a metaphor Kiana could understand.
Then she said: "…a server that records data. This server uses all sorts of mechanisms to generate countless game worlds, and you… are just a character in one of those worlds."
"Every action you take in the game at every moment is recorded as a save file on this server. You can view them, but you have no permission to modify them."
"You're used to this and think the data on the game server is something no one can change, but for the server itself, that's not the case."
"The game server called the Imaginary Tree can completely use a save file from any game at any point in time to generate a new, parallel world."
"Just like how operators of online games can split servers, merge servers, or open entirely new ones."
With this explanation, it wasn't just Kiana—
Even all the viewers watching this drama understood what she meant.
Tesla said directly: "This isn't any different from the theory of parallel worlds. That new you isn't the current you—just like this Mr. Otto we're seeing right now."
Nagamitsu said: "Indeed, in the general sense, that's how we understand parallel worlds. But Tesla-senpai, that refers to parallel worlds that already exist."
Tesla asked: "What are you trying to say?"
Nagamitsu said: "What I'm saying is, at the starting point of a parallel world—this special spacetime location—no 'other' exists yet; there is still only one."
"For the person experiencing this sole reality, whatever future they choose becomes the future they have."
"Perhaps such situations are happening every moment… It's just that from our subjective perspective, we can never perceive the change."
Kiana rubbed her head helplessly: "Sorry, I completely don't understand what you're saying anymore."
Nagamitsu realized there was still a normal person here and immediately switched to another explanation: "Mm, then let's keep using the game analogy…"
After her long-winded metaphor concluded,
Kiana summarized: "So what you're actually saying is… Otto plans to use some function of the Imaginary Tree to relive his own life all over again?"
Nagamitsu thought for a moment and said: "Perhaps 'reliving it once' isn't the most accurate way to put it—even the implication might be completely reversed… But for ease of understanding, let's go with that."
"After all, what really matters to everyone here is the motive—namely, the fact that Mr. Otto would never pass up an opportunity to return to the past."
Otto, standing to the side, suddenly understood: "Ah… so that's how it is. If he really had five hundred years… perhaps such a change really would happen to him."
Theresa quickly asked: "You… what change do you mean?"
Otto said: "If that person has lived for five hundred long years… then the obsession in his heart should be ten times, or even a hundred times greater than mine."
"I don't think that person would, like the me just now, start questioning his own actions because of some external information."
Tesla strongly agreed with this point: "Yes. There's no one in this world more stubborn and self-willed than him—ah, no, maybe that Kevin who's lived for over fifty thousand years could count as another."
"But you're right. I can't even imagine that person changing anything because of other people's words or actions."
Otto pondered and said: "—Then, what would stimulate him to make the choice to change the current situation must be some inherent will of his own."
"I consider myself not someone greedy for power. The direct reason I joined the righteous army opposing Schicksal was because they raised the banner of the Saint."
"…From a selfish perspective, perhaps I simply didn't want the name Kallen to experience any more failure."
Tesla was dumbfounded: "You—"
For this kind of reason, she almost started cursing.
Otto continued: "Everything I'm saying is the honest truth from the bottom of my heart. My motives may seem ridiculous or insignificant to you all…"
"But you should also understand that when Kallen died, the part of me that could be called 'myself' went with her."
"So, to be honest, to be selfish—"
"I have never stopped wanting to return to the past, to those days when Kallen was still alive, to the time when I still had a self."
"I think… that person is probably even more so."
After hearing these words,
everyone present fell silent.
Theresa: "…"
Durandal: "…"
Kiana: "…"
The viewers watching the Honkai Impact 3rd drama were in exactly the same state.
At Fire Moth Interstellar Entertainment Company, in the break room.
Kalpas pointed at Otto on the screen and questioned: "Is this thing really Otto? That Schicksal Archbishop, that evil-doer Otto? Looking like this? He's basically… basically just a… a… simp!"
He didn't even know what word to use to describe it.
Even Himeko was surprised: "Director Hessian, did you get the character setting wrong? Is this really Otto? I can't accept this."
SAKURA also chimed in: "Just for one woman, he makes it the guiding principle of five hundred years of action and becomes an evil bastard? That's way too far-fetched, isn't it?"
But Eden had a different view: "Isn't this very romantic? A love that spans five hundred years."
Kiana looked disgusted: "Romantic? Otto? Those two things don't go together at all!"
Mobius also said: "Hessian, you can't just collapse the character design because the audience is pressuring you too hard. That's a huge taboo."
Even Li Sushang, who had just joined, was holding her phone and saying: "Exactly! Now all the fans in the group are completely confused too. They're saying this isn't Otto—Otto would never be this kind of pure-hearted boy."
Mei looked disgusted: "Pure-hearted boy? Ew…"
Hessian only said calmly: "Just keep watching."
Helplessly,
everyone couldn't get any answers from the director.
They could only continue watching.
Sure enough.
On the TV, Tesla was also speechless: "…You… don't you have a life of your own? The future Archbishop of Schicksal, a figure who has continuously influenced the fate of the world for five hundred years—and yet you're just a walking shadow, a pitiful puppet?"
Otto said calmly: "…You seem quite surprised. I suppose that's because you live in an environment open enough that you've forgotten how rare and fragile free will truly is."
"You must understand—for ordinary mortals like me—"
"We always arrogantly busy ourselves on the stage, creating endless noise, yet the meaning in our lives is pitifully scarce."
"Tomorrow, and tomorrow, and tomorrow… one day creeps after another across my inorganic face…"
"…until now, until the last second of time, until they all become yesterday."
Durandal recognized the passage: "You seem very familiar with Shakespeare's works, Mr. Otto from another world."
Otto nodded: "Yes. Both Kallen and I once met her in person."
Durandal said: "When I was twelve, I also encountered a Shakespeare from another world. She was a captain and taught me many things during our journey."
"It was she who allowed me to look at the people and things around me with more independent eyes, and to decide my every action with a more fact-based attitude."
Otto said: "She helped you shape your own values."
Durandal nodded: "Exactly. That's why I hope to use her topic as an opportunity to get all of us moving forward with our feet firmly on the ground… Everyone, it is the lost Herrscher core that has brought us to this position of full cooperation."
"There is no doubt that almost everyone here is worried that this cooperation will be completely messed up by someone who doesn't play by the rules."
"But what I want to say is—"
"Precisely because that person doesn't like to play by the rules, we should cooperate even more fully and resolve the problem cleanly and decisively before he intervenes in the whole affair."
Theresa also agreed: "Indeed, as Durandal said, the fundamental purpose of our cooperation is to eliminate the dangerous effects brought by Honkai."
"So, enough of sitting around and philosophizing. Let me repeat once again the action plan we've already decided on…"
She carefully restated the plan in detail.
"Everyone, time waits for no one. Let's get moving!"
They first headed to St. 1491 Square.
With the Otto from another world walking around, Theresa and the others protected him while Tesla collected data.
The entire process went very smoothly.
Tesla said: "Good—now the data collected around here is sufficiently reliable. There are still two more destinations left. Let's keep up this efficiency and keep moving!"
Just as Tesla confidently declared their advance, someone's communicator rang with a series of untimely notification sounds.
…And for some reason, Tesla felt a chill run down her spine.
It was Durandal's communicator.
After a brief exchange, she switched it to the public channel.
"It's Amber. The Bishop ordered her to relay the message to us."
Theresa was a bit puzzled. Given Otto's usual style, why go through all this roundabout trouble?
Amber's voice came through: "Good day, Lady Theresa, Lady Durandal, and everyone on the Hyperion. This is Amber, the private secretary of the Schicksal Bishop."
"His Excellency the Bishop said that he and Lady Rita have already located the Herrscher of Domination core at St. 537 Church; he hopes I can convey this information to you all."
Tesla was shocked: "—What did you say?"
Durandal was also surprised: "Rita? Didn't she go to World Serpent on a mission? And the Bishop said he was sorting out the aftermath of his resignation… Was that just a cover?"
Amber said: "His Excellency the Bishop only said that he and Lady Rita have already located the Herrscher of Domination core at St. 537 Church."
"As for how His Excellency the Bishop quickly located the Herrscher core, and why Lady Rita is also there—please forgive me, but I cannot directly inquire about the related reasons."
"…"
Tesla complained discontentedly: "…What is this? Are we getting played by that old geezer again?"
Amber said: "No. His Excellency the Bishop said that as long as everyone goes to St. 537 Church together, he can assist the Hyperion side in obtaining this Herrscher core."
"Everyone?" Theresa asked urgently: "Amber, who exactly does he intend to have present?"
Amber said: "It is you, Lady Theresa, Lady Durandal, Miss Kiana, and—the other Mr. Otto you discovered."
Otto was a little surprised: "Me?"
Amber nodded: "Yes. His Excellency the Bishop believes that your presence is indispensable for completely obtaining the Herrscher of Domination core."
Damn it!
Theresa hadn't expected this Otto to be exposed too.
But with so many people around, there was no way to avoid it.
She looked at Theresa: "Theresa, what do you think? Although St. 537 Church was originally one of our exploration targets… who knows what tricks that Otto guy is playing this time."
Theresa said: "But to solve the problem in front of us, we have no choice but to go."
"The good news is, since Amber says Grandpa and Rita have already locked onto the Herrscher core's location, we don't need to send the entire group."
"Amber—please tell Grandpa that Theresa will head to St. 537 Church on her own to provide support."
"Since he has a way to lock onto the Herrscher core's location, why would he still need to target Kiana?"
"…"
A moment later, Amber said: "The Bishop says the Herrscher of Flamescion may be absent, but he emphasizes that under these circumstances, the assistance of the other Mr. Otto is absolutely essential."
Otto beside them said: "No problem. Although I cannot make up for anything on behalf of the Bishop you speak of… if it is something within my power, I consider it my duty."
Theresa looked at him: "Thank you. Unlike my grandfather, you truly are a responsible good person."
Durandal asked: "Amber—is there anything else His Excellency the Bishop needs now? Of course I will go with Theresa-senpai."
"…"
Clearly after asking the other party, Amber replied: "He said no. In that lord's view, other factors are not decisive."
"Alright then."
Theresa looked at Kiana: "In that case… for safety reasons, I'm sorry, but I'll have to ask the remaining two to return to the Hyperion and stand by—especially you, Kiana. I don't want you taking any risks in front of that man."
Kiana said: "I understand, Principal. I'll stay in the rear to protect everyone."
"…Thank you."
Theresa didn't delay any longer: "Then, Durandal, and Mr. Otto—we'll set off."
St. 537 Church wasn't too far from the square.
The three of them took just over ten minutes to arrive in front of the church.
Otto was instantly drawn to the statue in front of the church: "That is…"
Theresa said: "Hm? Ah, that's a statue of Saint Kallen. Grandpa once said these things should preserve their historical appearance, so they might look quite weathered."
Otto said: "…Hm. So in this place, a statue has replaced the gallows? It's just a pity that the Saint herself will not come back to life because of people's commemoration."
"Gallows?!" Theresa was startled.
Durandal said: "It is said that this was the very place where Kallen Kaslana was executed by hanging back then."
Otto said: "Yes. The Saint who was betrayed by everyone once willingly used her own death to enlighten the ignorant masses."
"The night before the execution, I met with her once. She was not a fool…"
"Only… when a person truly wants to change this world, they come to realize just how small their own power is."
"In the days after her second arrest, she despaired."
"She rejected all plans to break her out, wholeheartedly seeking death."
"She even deliberately made radical statements from the judgment seat so that she would be sentenced to the most extreme of extreme punishments."
"Perhaps in her view… that was her final act of resistance against this unfair and unreasonable world…"