"Really? With Otto's villain setup, theoretically, it should take dozens of chapters before he dies, right?"
Even Miss Pink Elf♪ wouldn't feel sorry for Otto Apocalypse.
At least not yet.
Elysia simply analyzed from a logical perspective: "You killed Otto off this early… Is it because you're afraid players will get too angry, so you're trying to calm them down ahead of time?"
Hokuto only responded with a mysterious smile.
Elysia had no choice but to continue reading the script.
She quickly reached the end of the First World's plot and met a new character—Seele.
She also noticed something unusual: Seele didn't seem to be like Himeko and the others, but more like Bronya—an outsider.
Later, Bronya's confession to Seele confirmed Elysia's suspicions.
"Bronya and Seele embraced tightly, memories of their time together flashing through their minds. The warmth from the other seeped into their hearts…"
"Hokuto, so you're capable of writing emotionally touching lines too."
Elysia was slightly moved by the sweetness of the plot.
So sweet it felt unreal.
Was this really written by Hokuto?
She admitted she had some PTSD.
"Honkai Impact 3rd's narrative core has always been full of hope."
Flip—flip—
Elysia continued turning the pages.
She saw Bronya entering the Second World and becoming an orphan at Freya Orphanage alongside Seele.
Most crucially—Otto existed in this world.
She immediately tensed up.
Judging by the previous plot, if Otto appeared, nothing good would happen.
But as the story progressed, she realized things weren't as she imagined.
The Otto of this world—a priest—was actually a good man.
He even...
Used Judgment of Shamash to save others, ultimately dying from Honkai corruption.
"This is… Otto?"
If it were yesterday, Elysia would never have believed she'd feel sadness over Otto's impending death.
Her fingers brushed over the script.
Otto left his final words to Bronya and the others.
"A person goes through three stages of growth in life."
"First, understanding right and wrong."
"Second, realizing that some things aren't just black and white."
"Third, even after understanding that some things have no right or wrong, choosing to do what you believe in—and taking responsibility for it."
"..."
"If the Otto from the main world were like this priest, the world would be at peace, right?" Elysia sighed.
Hokuto calmly replied, "No. As long as the Honkai exists, there can be no world peace."
"You really don't know how to make conversation~~"
"But thankfully, in our world, there is no Honkai. Everyone can live normal, peaceful lives~~"
"True." He nodded.
This is a world where Kiana, Mei... Elysia, Kevin... all live happily, without sorrow.
Elysia quickly bounced back and resumed reading the script.
Though it was heart-wrenching, it was honestly a great story.
Even though she knew miHoYo would never stop with the pain, she still couldn't help but want to see what came next.
In the Third World, Bronya met Kiana and Mei.
They were on the battlefield of the Second Eruption.
But after defeating the 2nd Herrscher, Welt Yang suddenly betrayed humanity, absorbed the Core of the Void, and killed Mei.
With all her comrades dead, Bronya was infected by the Honkai, but remained conscious.
Meanwhile, Welt destroyed Schicksal, tried to recruit Bronya, failed, and was ultimately dragged into a pseudo black hole released by Star of Eden in a mutual annihilation, unlocking the Third World.
Now one step from the Core of Reason, Seele appeared—except it was Veliona who had taken over her body.
The constant twists in the plot completely hooked Elysia.
She flipped through the script page by page, fully engrossed.
Until she saw Bronya finally defeat Veliona and, upon hearing her tsundere line, smiled warmly:
"I don't want to go back there for even a second… But Seele said she'd wait for you."
"Geez, I can't argue with her…"
"Veliona dotes on Seele so much~~" Elysia had a full-on doting-aunt smile.
Just then, noise erupted nearby.
"What kind of weird line is this? I'm not reading it!!"
"Seele, don't shout like that..." a soft girl's voice tried to calm things down.
"I'm going home! Hmph! You guys figure out someone else to read these lines!"
"But…"
"But what?"
Seele softly replied, "I really like this line. It's not weird, is it?"
"...ugh, seriously."
"Seele" had already stood up, but now she sat back down again, clearly annoyed: "Whatever. It's just a game script anyway."
The bickering between Seele and "Seele" made Elysia glance over again, her smile deepening.
After a while, she returned to the script.
Next should be Bronya and Seele's happy ending, right?
Hmm… Would Hokuto write something that simple?
Elysia had just started speculating about what would happen when unease suddenly struck her.
Sure enough, after a few sweet lines, the story took a sharp turn.
"A monstrous hand rose from the abyss. A black tide surged forth and swallowed Seele. Bronya tried to rush in to save her but could only watch helplessly as the tide consumed her..."
"Her eyes were as blue as the ocean—just like Bronya remembered..."
"Seele… believes in you, Sister Bronya…"
Most importantly—this was where the script ended.
A cliffhanger.
Elysia felt itchy all over, like ants crawling under her skin. She had to know what came next.
Would Seele be okay? What about Bronya?
"Hokuto~~"
"I haven't written the next part yet. This is where we insert an animated short."
"An animated short?" Elysia's expression shifted, recalling painful memories. "Don't tell me Bronya's going to sacrifice herself like Himeko?"
"No, it's more like Queen's Arrival."
"Well, that's a relief…"
She let out a breath of relief—but the thought of not getting to see the short right away soured her mood.
If she had known, she wouldn't have peeked ahead in the script.
"Hokuto~~"
"I really can't do anything."
"Please~~ it really matters to me~~"
"What doesn't exist simply doesn't exist."
"Ugh..." the fairy girl groaned in defeat.
Since she was already here and had read the script, Elysia quickly adjusted and decided to observe everyone's dubbing session.
Time passed. Dusk approached.
A satisfied Elysia left the studio and ran into Fu Hua, who was about to clock out.
"Hey~ Hua, have you seen Mei? I was thinking of asking her to hang out tonight. You should come too."
"They?" Fu Hua replied, "Mei went to the night market with Kiana."
"..."
"Oh~ so Mei and Kiana are together~"
Elysia twirled a strand of pink hair.
"Then let's do it next time."
Fu Hua, of course, didn't realize her casual remark nearly broke Elysia.
Elysia wouldn't show it either.
She simply smiled and held Fu Hua back from leaving: "Hua, you wouldn't let me go alone, right?"
"Eden will probably come find you," Fu Hua answered honestly.
"Geez, must you spell it out? I actually wanted to be with you, Hua~~"
"Uh, I understand."
"Hehe~~ Hua's the best~~ As thanks, let me teach you another cool pose!"
The two walked off together.
Just like that, another simple yet fulfilling day came to an end.
Simple, because things like this happened at miHoYo all the time. It was basically routine.
Fulfilling, because even if it was routine, for everyone at miHoYo, it was always meaningful.
That's why they felt like so many fun things happened today—because they really did.
If it were just working hard on games day in and day out…
That would be too ordinary.
Not the vibe of the Honkai Impact 3rd cast.