Vill-V bent slightly, reaching out to take it, but Planck suddenly waved her hand and withdrew the Herrscher Core.
"Heehee, don't be so impatient. This is just a handover ceremony for now. Actually giving you the Herrscher Core... that will have to wait until we return to our world."
In response to Planck's little prank, Vill-V puffed out her cheeks. She loved ceremonies too, but the torturous rehearsals beforehand... those were far less lovable.
Turning her head, she pulled open the fuel panel of the Cosmic Juggernaut and confirmed that the energy gauge above was charging normally.
Climbing into the pilot's seat, Vill-V gripped the control lever of the Cosmic Juggernaut. After finishing her checks, she said to Planck, "The coordinates are calibrated. After another half hour of Honkai energy replenishment, we can initiate dimensional collapse."
"I'm ready."
"But what about you? Don't you want to say goodbye to them? Unlike me, alone in this world, you are also this world's Planck."
"There's no need. The Planck of this world will return the moment I leave—if everything in your plan proceeds smoothly."
That "moment" referred only to this world. From the perspective of the intrinsic world's timeline, it might be far in the future—when time in this world began to flow once more.
"And I... within the Imaginary Singularity, will become the bridge between you and Imaginary Space, between you and the Cocoon of Finality. I will become your lie and open the path for you."
"To ensure that I do not fall under Honkai's control again after returning, I must sleep."
Planck had not truly escaped Honkai's control. The reason she could regain her consciousness now was largely because this timeline already possessed the green passage opened by Elysia.
Once they returned to the original timeline, that green passage would no longer exist. Planck would inevitably fall under Honkai's control once more.
By using herself as a bridge, Planck was effectively exploiting a loophole—riding this world's green passage back into the intrinsic world.
Though she would not become Origin as Elysia had, ensuring Vill-V's safety alone would be no problem.
In truth, none of this had been Planck's original plan. It had been devised by Conductor. But it was still Planck's choice.
That was why Vill-V had thanked her earlier. Even knowing everything, Planck was still willing to assist Vill-V's plan.
"...I call this the Wallfacer Project, Professor Planck."
"I promise that if the Wallfacer Project succeeds, I will come to Imaginary Space and awaken you, Sleeping Beauty."
"Haha, Imaginary Space isn't exactly a pleasant place... But if you really do come, then I'll be sure to give you a proper reception."
Vill-V's eyes trembled slightly. "Hopefully not in the form of the Herrscher of Reason."
"Of course. If you children work so hard to reach Imaginary Space... how could I not try my best as well?" Planck's tone was optimistic. In truth, however, no one had ever managed to overcome a Herrscher's consciousness with human will alone.
This sleep of Planck's might very well be eternal.
Although Vill-V did have a way to awaken her in advance, if Planck were to awaken as a Herrscher, the first victim would undoubtedly be Vill-V herself—the one holding the Herrscher Core of Reason.
At that time, Vill-V might not even have time to react before her body was seized.
She had no intention of becoming one of the three hundred thousand lost souls.
In other words, Vill-V was bearing enormous risk as well.
Both Vill-V and Planck understood perfectly the dangers of this plan.
To take such risks and pay such a price for a world that did not truly exist—was it worth it?
Vill-V thought it was not. Planck thought so as well.
And yet, they would still do it.
Vill-V said, "Father Otto Apocalypse once said that a person experiences three stages of growth in life."
"The first is understanding right and wrong.
"The second is understanding that some things are not simply right or wrong.
"The third is, after understanding that some things have neither right nor wrong, still choosing firmly to do what one believes in—and bearing the responsibility for it."
"Hahaha, this Father you speak of happens to share the same name as I do." Otto's hearty laughter rang out.
He had removed his bishop's robes and instead wore a priest's long coat and cassock. In his hands, he held a book—the guarantee Vill-V had given him, a beacon.
"So, you're leaving now, my friends?"
"Rest assured. The Herrscher of Reason of this world—Welt—and Void Archives have been kept at Schicksal Headquarters according to your plan. They will not interfere with Planck's use of her authority."
"..."
"No, no, I'm not here to stop you. Ladies, since there is still some time, how about listening to my story?"
"In the endless river of time, Otto Apocalypse was once illuminated by a pair of gentle eyes. She was my faith, my pursuit, and the pain from which I could never escape."
"The Otto Apocalypse of old believed himself to be insignificant. The only thing he could do was dedicate his life as that person's knight, protecting her."
"But it was precisely that inferiority and helplessness that turned into recklessness—and led me to kill her."
"I do not deny that I am a sinner. But in this world... who is not?"
"We are all driven by selfish desires and longings. I merely chose to face mine honestly rather than run from them."
"Humanity excels at weaving lies to live in peace. I too was once a fool shrouded in lies—until I could no longer deceive myself."
"..."
"Yes, yes, that is not my reason for helping you. I have lived nearly five hundred years. I know far more than you imagine."
"In the history of our world, there was only the Saint of Schicksal—Kallen. And the Kallen of my memories never truly existed here. In this fragment of time, perhaps there is only the present, without past or future. My Kallen is but a tree without roots."
"Hahaha, ladies, there is no need to look at me with such eyes. In future history textbooks, Otto Apocalypse will be recorded as a selfish villain, a heinous criminal. To sympathize with a villain invites criticism."
"To regard me as a tragic figure is equally insulting. Only the vulgar would reduce a grand and turbulent life to a single epitaph of 'tragic.'"
"In truth, I have succeeded more than any of them. They simply refuse to admit it. I am prepared—whether for life or death, I will accept it. Others merely wander in confusion until they wither away."
"If one must summarize, then perhaps Otto Apocalypse was simply a fool who spent his life committing mistakes and trying to atone for them."
"..."
"Time's up? Very well. That is my story. And the price I require is but a single sentence. It is time for the curtain to fall. Surely you will not be stingy now?"
"..."
"Hahaha, that's enough!"
"Safe travels, my friends."
"That world is God's grave."
"It has lost its humanity, nurtures evil, erects walls, and obstructs the truth."
"But I hope you will believe one thing—there are, in the end, more kind-hearted people than ruthless ones."
"May you never bear a notorious name like Otto Apocalypse, you fool of the Previous Era."