After picking up the memory drive, Leo Ash immediately used the Authority of the Herrscher of Corruption to 'corrode' it.
During these three years, although he had used True Manifestation Fusion to transform the Cocoon of Finality into Castlevania and converted the massive amount of Honkai Energy within it into Dimensional Energy, this didn't mean that the things the Cocoon originally possessed had completely disappeared.
After changing the type of energy, Leo could still, in accordance with the Cocoon's original underlying logic, distribute the Authorities of the thirteen Herrschers to the corresponding people.
As the person distributing the power, he could naturally use these Authorities with ease.
After 'corroding' the memory drive with the Power of Corruption and reading the data inside, Leo, who had used the ability of the Herrscher of Reason to understand some of the technology, truly felt...
—*Wow, this is a massive haul.*
He didn't know what kind of cheat the new friend in front of him had obtained, but the technology he was giving him now clearly included some things from the entertainment works of their original world.
If this technology could be put to good use, Leo felt that the people of this world could definitely live even happier lives.
"Hmm, this method..."
Sensing the energy fluctuations from Leo, Aaron watched the slight change in Leo's expression and already guessed what he was doing.
At that moment when he had nearly blown up Finality with one punch, Aaron had ultimately used the Power of Domination to dominate the Cocoon of Finality.
After he returned to the Honkai world, as the true master of the Cocoon of Finality, Aaron could actually use various Authorities at will, just like Leo.
It was just that the others seemed to need the Cocoon's power to work overtime more, so he maintained the state he was in before he returned and didn't reclaim the permissions they had received from the Cocoon.
As for where this technology and data came from, that involved another matter.
His system was quite powerful, and the cheats it provided were very effective.
In his world, one of his comrades had obtained an ability from the *Full Metal Panic!* worldview, the special skill [Whispered].
The possessor of this skill could obtain black technology knowledge from a special domain called the [Omni-sphere].
Under the right conditions, a Whispered could even develop creations that modern scientific theory couldn't.
Of course, that wasn't the main point. The point was, this [Whispered] was a version improved by his system, and the Omni-sphere it connected to was the system's database. Therefore, the black technology within that domain wasn't limited to the *Full Metal Panic!* worldview; it was a super-improved skill where you got whatever you drew.
Before his soul disappeared, his comrade had used the technology obtained from this skill, combined with a cheat device called the Cyclone Generator, to transform the Sky Father into a super robot named [Tian].
And during the several years he was missing, his comrade, who had obtained a large amount of black technology from the Omni-sphere, not only used this tech to create more powerful super robots but also applied some of the technology that could be used in the surface world to non-combat areas like post-disaster reconstruction and improving humanity's standard of living.
Before taking action today, Aaron, having successfully 'persuaded' her, had naturally also gotten his hands on this technology that could make other worlds better.
After selecting some of the technology, Aaron had sealed it in two memory drives.
One was a normal version with only the technology, while the other was a special version that Aaron would only hand over if he confirmed the other party was trustworthy *and* a transmigrator.
Meanwhile, Leo, who had received the special version, finished looking through all the technology and data, took a deep breath, and said to Aaron.
"...Thank you for your gift."
"I just have one question: how did you get your hands on this installer called [Star Rail 2.2]?"
"Ah, about that."
Hearing the other party ask the question he expected, Aaron said very calmly.
"I have a way to return to the world we both came from. So, during this time, I went back for a trip, spent a few days and some money, and had people over there help me collect enough data."
"I've got the latest full installers for Guns Girl Z, Honkai Impact 3rd, Honkai: Star Rail, and Genshin Impact."
"Not just that, I also got some detailed analysis videos and deep-dive lore excavation articles."
"We're both guys trying to make a living in similar worlds. I figured you could probably use this information too."
Glancing at a folder full of videos, Leo felt that he was going to be busy recently.
Although he might not have the chance to go to those worlds, in this day and age...
The Honkai had suddenly accelerated just because of a single 'descender' like him. Who knew what kind of bullshit might happen in the future.
It was better to be prepared. Learning more about this, playing the games a few more times... it might be useful in the future.
*I have to say, this brother really gave me a super-sized gift.*
"But I have one question."
After wrapping the memory drive in Dimensional Energy and carefully putting it away, Leo looked at Aaron with some confusion.
"Aren't you worried that I'll use this data and technology for evil?"
"How to put it..."
Looking at Leo, who had proactively asked this question, Aaron said very frankly.
"In the past few hours, I've investigated the situation in this world."
"Although the Third Eruption broke out, the problem wasn't that severe."
"The subsequent Eruptions were all forcibly interrupted, then Otto disappeared, Cocolia disappeared, and although Kevin isn't dead, the Stigmata Project wasn't launched either."
"Your course of action and my course of action are more or less the same. In some respects, they're completely identical."
"Also, in some of the details, you handled things even better here than I did over there—those bastards playing politics were basically all hypnotized by your people. Heh, I didn't think about those details back then."
"For you to choose to face the Cocoon of Finality alone, you're either a complete madman or an idiot who disregards his own safety for the sake of others."
Aaron pointed lightly at his own head and said confidently.
"I'm a wielder of Magnetic Field Rotation. People like me, what we trust most is our gut instinct."
"And my gut tells me you're not a bad person. Since my intuition is on point, and the intelligence also matches my assumptions, I feel there's no need to be suspicious."
"You were able to stir this world up for the better, and you *did* get the job done when you had the ability. In that case, as someone from the same hometown, if conditions allow, I'll naturally choose to help you out."
"But, more than that question, I'm curious..."
"—Don't you want to go back to our original world and take a look?"
*Return to my original world... huh?*
The moment this thought appeared in his mind, Leo just smiled and shook his head, giving his refusal.
"I don't know what you're thinking, Aaron, but everything in that world... it's not that important to me anymore."
"I've gained a second life in this world. After meeting my comrades, my lovers, and my companions, everything from the past has nothing to do with me anymore."
"Besides, in the original world, I didn't have parents or other relatives, and I barely had any friends. If a dead man like me suddenly appeared in front of a few friends I wasn't even that close to, it would only cause trouble for them, right?"
"I see..."
Seeing the look of relief on Leo's face, Aaron nodded slightly.
"Then I respect your decision."
"It's getting late, let's call it a day. After all..."
"—You and I both still have a lot to do, don't we?"
"Yeah, we sure do."
After standing up, Aaron took out a communicator and placed it on the table.
"It just so happens that I came to this world and met someone I feel I can trust, so I'll have to trouble you to help me test this device."
"Just send a message to this device, and the person holding the other one will receive the complete message, even across dimensions—that's what my 'comrade' told me."
"Contact me directly if you need anything. As long as it's within my power, I'll come and help."
"Ah, likewise—if you need help, be sure to let me know."
After putting away the device, Leo watched the energy fluctuations appearing around the other man and suddenly felt a slight reluctance to part.
Although he knew it wasn't difficult for the other to come to this world, parting with a friend he clicked with—and who had given him a huge gift right after meeting—still made him feel a faint sense of melancholy.
"Hmm, what are you supposed to say when parting? Let me think..."
After a moment's thought, Aaron, activating his dimensional connection system, suddenly began to hum a song Leo had heard before.
"It's been a long day without you, my friend—"
And hearing this lyric, Leo very smoothly continued the song.
"And I'll tell you all about it when I see you again."
Discovering that the other person actually got the reference, Aaron, before disappearing, sang the next line.
"We've come a long way from where we began."
And watching the other's figure gradually fade, Leo sang the next line.
"Oh, I'll tell you all about it when I see you again."
As he sang this line, Leo watched Aaron, who was waving frantically, completely disappear from before his eyes.
And staring at the energy fragments left behind by his departure, Leo shook his head with a smile and walked out of the cafe.
"Playing that BGM himself as he leaves... he really knows how to be dramatic."
He wasn't worried that someone as strong as Aaron would suddenly get taken down by something out of nowhere.
But seriously, on his first day back, he suddenly made a friend he could trust, and received so many gifts from that friend...
*That woman was right. When two happy things overlap, that joy really can bring me even more happiness.*
But, no matter what, after solving the biggest problem today, the problems left over are all small ones.
With this technology, many problems, even some conflicts that would have given everyone a headache, will disappear because there's enough technology to solve resource issues.
Still, even with the technology, turning it into reality isn't an easy task.
In the time to come, everyone is going to be busy.
But right now, I think I'll stop thinking about these things for a while.
Although only three years have passed in time, for me, who covered the Cocoon of Finality with Phantasmagoria, the time flow slowed down a lot during the True Manifestation Fusion process.
I haven't had a proper rest in a very long time, so...
—*At least for today, I should just relax and not think about work.*
...
Schicksal HQ
Bronya, back in her room at Schicksal HQ, was already preparing to continue the work she hadn't finished today.
After Leo Ash chose to solve that problem by himself, the Honkai all over the world lost its activity thanks to his efforts.
After the great war, Bronya choosing to open a game company and start making games—that obviously didn't happen.
The war was over, and the Cocoon of Finality was temporarily suppressed by Leo, but in everyone's eyes, the danger was not over.
Precisely because of this, in the following years, Bronya, while hiding the fact that Cocolia was dead, tried to find ways to use her own power to handle more troublesome matters.
After all, even to this day, she had not forgotten that she had once listened to Cocolia's words and done things that were almost irreversible.
Her mother was gone, and precisely because of that...
*—In Mother's absence, I must do more good deeds to atone for the sins we bear.*
However, Bronya, carrying this thought, embarrassingly discovered today that her heart... seemed to be in a bit of a mess.
She soon realized the reason for her chaotic thoughts.
Leo Ash was back.
Bronya, who had begun to miss him at some unknown point, felt a little empty inside when she saw Leo leave the assembly hall and chase after Kiana.
Although the two of them already had a daughter, and they had long since done everything a married couple should do, but now...
After imagining some scenarios in her mind, Bronya still felt an inappropriate... sourness? ...welling up in her heart.
"Ugh, I've clearly grown up a lot, but..."
"—Big Brother Leo, that idiot!"
Finding it impossible to calm her heart, Bronya, in a rare move, put down the work in her hands.
After her emotional circuits were repaired, Bronya realized that perhaps having broken emotional circuits wasn't a bad thing sometimes.
*If my emotional circuits hadn't been repaired, maybe I wouldn't be feeling so miserable right now.*
"Ah, I am indeed an idiot, but..."
"—For you to greet me with those words right after I came back... that actually makes me a little sad, Bronya."
....