While Hokuto was talking with Elysia...
Something was happening at the miHoYo Studio as well.
Kiana Kaslana, Raiden Mei, Rita Rossweisse... even the usually diligent Durandal wasn't busy with anything at the moment.
Theresa found them in the work area.
"Theresa, what's wrong?" Durandal asked with a hint of curiosity on her face.
"I don't think we can just keep waiting like this!" Theresa was clearly agitated.
"What do you mean?" Durandal didn't quite understand.
Theresa glanced at her and then gently shook her head. "You barely have any story in Honkai Impact 3rd, so players only know you as 'Durandal is kinda strong and cool.' It's normal that you don't get how we feel."
Every time she thought about her widely circulated meme... Theresa's Wise Look.jpg...
It made her blood boil.
Only the heavens knew how it felt to casually browse a group chat and see three people using that meme.
And as for the fate she'd ended up with now—Theresa believed it was entirely the fault of the scriptwriters targeting her!!
She was an S-rank Valkyrie in the story! Academy Head of St. Freya! The wielder of Judah!
Theresa turned her gaze to Kiana and Mei, looking sincere: "Kiana, Mei, you two get how I feel, right?"
"We get it, sure," Mei nodded. "But... what are you planning? Just so you know, Hokuto has helped us a lot. If it's something too reckless, I won't support you."
"I feel the same way as Mei," Kiana chimed in beside her.
In fact, the others all nodded too, expressing agreement with Mei.
Theresa rolled her eyes. "What are you guys thinking? I'm not someone who bites the hand that feeds me, okay?"
She paused. "I just think... if we keep waiting for Hokuto to write us a highlight moment, who knows how long it'll take? We need to take initiative ourselves."
"But..." Kiana scratched her face, "Honestly, I don't think we have much room to intervene in the main story. Right now, I'm focused on developing side stories and events for Honkai Impact 3rd."
"Yes! That's it!"
Theresa jumped onto a chair, clearly prepared, and clapped Kiana's shoulders hard. "Forget the main story, let Hokuto mess with that. But in the side stories—we can rise up!"
"...Theresa, are you saying..." Kiana asked hesitantly.
"Hehe, I already came up with a great character setting. Kiana, could you write this character into the side story for me?"
Theresa hummed twice in pride, then excitedly started describing: "She's like the real me—wise and courageous, stepping up in the face of danger no matter the cost..."
After she rattled off a whole list of traits, Kiana raised her hand. "Um, I've got a question."
"Go ahead."
"I feel like this character of yours is just a reskinned Zhuge Liang. And also... it's nothing like how you actually are in real life."
Kiana rested her right hand under her chin and tilted her head in thought. Then she added:
"I think I remember Hokuto saying once that some people like to create protagonists who have all the good qualities they themselves lack."
"???"
Theresa froze, then widened her eyes and snapped back defiantly: "What do you mean 'all the good qualities I don't have'?! That character is exactly like the real me, okay?!"
"..." Everyone was silent.
A moment later...
"Let's look at it from another angle—Theresa's character idea is at least very interesting, isn't it?" Rita smiled, helping to smooth things over.
"Hmm..." Kiana nodded thoughtfully. "That's true."
But her face quickly showed a troubled expression. "The thing is, my new script doesn't really mesh with Theresa's character."
"You've already written a new script, Kiana? Can we see it?"
Everyone was curious about Kiana's new script—partly out of interest, partly to see how much she'd improved under Hokuto's guidance.
"Sure~ I'll go get it."
Kiana eagerly ran back to her desk, rummaged around, then returned with a thick stack of drafts.
She distributed them among the group.
"Chronicles of Honkai Kingdom?" Everyone in unison.
A rustling of pages followed.
After everyone finished reading—
Kiana looked at them expectantly: "Well? Well?"
"Hmm... a little nonsensical, but honestly quite good," Durandal gave a fair assessment. "Probably not suited for the main story, but as a fun event side story? Perfect. I think players will love it."
The others more or less agreed with that sentiment.
Only Theresa was deeply dissatisfied.
Getting sidelined in the main story was bad enough—but even in a side story she'd be tormented again?
You scriptwriters... do you even have a conscience?! Huh?! A conscience?!
"Calm down, calm down."
She took a deep breath and searched for the right words... then suddenly had an idea.
"Kiana! Are you really satisfied with writing something like this?"
"Ah?" Kiana blinked.
Theresa pressed on Kiana's shoulders again: "Don't you want to write something that makes people reflect—something like Hokuto would create?"
"Uhh..."
"I believe you have much more potential than this. Don't limit yourself!"
"Can I really...?"
"Of course you can!" Theresa said with utter conviction. "And I'll help you..."
Then she looked at the others. "If any of you have ideas, speak up! Let's write a script that even Hokuto will be blown away by!"
The girls exchanged glances—feeling a little tempted, actually.
Ever since Honkai Impact 3rd started, Hokuto had pretty much dictated every aspect of development.
Not that it was a bad thing—but every now and then, they wanted to really show what they could do.
To make Hokuto go, "Wow... you're amazing." That would be the best feeling ever.
"This idea sounds fun."
"I want to be a general in the side story."
"..."
As the girls continued their excited chatter—
Tap—tap—
Hokuto walked into the miHoYo studio with Elysia.
Seeing the gathered group of girls, he asked, "What are you all doing?"
"Hokuto?" Theresa jumped down from the chair. "It's nothing..."
She tried to brush it off, but the others had already started chattering away.
"Theresa said she can't count on you to give her any highlight moments."
"So we're planning to brainstorm and write a side story script together."
"It's time Honkai Impact 3rd got a new event anyway."
After hearing everything, Hokuto more or less understood the situation.
"I see," he said, looking down at Theresa. "So Theresa's planning to write herself a powerful character?"
"Hmph. Because you never intended to give me any highlight moments in the first place, right?" Theresa no longer trusted this 'Theresa-abusing' project lead.
"Ah~ Theresa, have you misunderstood me?"
Hokuto feigned sorrow. "I really did think about it. I even came up with a dramatic opening line for you."
'At the end of Honkai, who stands supreme? A glimpse of Judah—emptiness becomes the Way.' "How's that? Pretty epic, right?"
Theresa furrowed her brow in surprise. Had she really misunderstood?
At that moment, Kiana raised her hand.
"Hokuto, Hokuto, I have a question! What does that poem have to do with Theresa? You didn't even mention her name~~"
"..."
"Cough cough cough."