The next day. Early morning.
In the research institute at Schicksal HQ, after confirming there were no issues with all the biological research data related to him, Dr. Magi finally closed his eyes in peace.
At the same time, the old man, who was already at death's door, suddenly sensed that someone had arrived.
Although he had no way of knowing the visitor's identity, Dr. Magi asked confidently.
"What is it, former Lord Bishop? Have you come to find me at this hour with a mission for me to complete?"
"Ah, no. I just came by to check on you."
Looking at the old man whose eyes were already closed, Leo Ash said calmly.
"Staying up all night isn't a good habit, Doctor."
"Hah... is that all you came to say?"
Hearing the concern in Leo Ash's voice, Magi's eyes snapped open.
"Someone as smart as you should know what I'm thinking, right?"
Faced with Magi's question, Leo Ash remained silent.
Even without using Herrscher Authority, he had a certain degree of judgment about Magi's psychological state.
But now, facing the old man, Leo Ash didn't speak, quietly waiting for Dr. Magi to continue.
"Hah, don't want to talk?... Forget it."
Magi, who had been sitting in his chair, stood up and looked at the computer in front of him.
"During the three years you were missing, I organized my life's research."
"Within my blood-soaked research, there is still some data and experimental results that can be left for other Schicksal scientists to use."
"You should know what I want to say and what I want to do. Tell me, dear Bishop Leo Ash..."
At this moment, an obvious exhaustion appeared on the old man's face.
"—I'm truly tired. Can I die now?"
"It really is just as I thought."
Staring at the old man, Leo Ash spoke, his expression unchanged.
"Back then, after the Fourth Eruption, I spent an hour persuading you. It seems I still failed to stop your self-destructive impulses."
"From then until now, you've only suppressed your self-destructive tendencies, not eliminated them."
"Yes, it is exactly as you say."
"But..."
After nodding slightly, Magi suddenly showed Leo Ash a ferocious expression he had never revealed before.
"—And what's wrong with that?"
"Because of my desires, a large number of Valkyries who shouldn't have died, died abruptly on the operating table."
"A man with blood on his hands should use his own blood to atone for his sins."
"Because of your persuasion back then, I kept this worthless life and dedicated myself to researching data related to the HSN serum."
"But now, you have personally ended the Honkai. With the HSN serum being useless—I am useless too, am I not?"
As if trying to get Leo Ash to approve his idea, Dr. Magi gripped Leo Ash's arms tightly, his tone pleading.
"I, who should have died long ago, should at least have the right to die now, shouldn't I?"
"Ah, about that..."
Looking at the old man's anguished expression, Leo Ash didn't answer Magi's question, but instead posed one of his own.
"Are you speaking to me now as the sinner, Magi, or as my old senior, Dr. Magi?"
"..."
After a second of silence, Magi answered Leo Ash.
"I am both the Schicksal scientist, Magi, and the blood-soaked butcher, Magi."
"Both are my identities. I have no need, nor the right, to escape either of them."
"Oh, is that so?"
Hearing Magi's answer, Leo Ash grabbed Magi's arms, moved them off his own, and his expression suddenly turned cold.
"But right now, I seem to be seeing the sinner, Magi, trying to escape responsibility for his crimes."
"I told you four years ago, if you choose death, it's not atonement. It's an escape from your responsibility."
"And now, four years later, I still believe that."
At this moment, Leo Ash looked at Magi, who was breaking out in a cold sweat, walked to his side, and said coldly.
"You're pursuing peace of mind, which is why you crave death, isn't it?"
"What a pity. As you are now, you have no right to obtain such happiness."
After activating the Authority of the Herrscher of Corruption, Leo Ash instantly corroded Dr. Magi's computer while simultaneously transferring a portion of the data Aaron had given him onto it.
"Everyone worked hard these past three years, but that doesn't mean there are no problems left in the world for us to solve."
"Schicksal, as an organization, nearly became a group that allowed the Honkai to develop unchecked, all thanks to Otto's foolish actions."
"Now that the Honkai has disappeared, there's still a lot of work to be done to make up for the monstrous things our punchable former, former Bishop did."
"This biotech data here can help other people in the world overcome their difficulties. So, before we solve the application problems for these technologies, I have to say this to you..."
"Live, Doctor."
"Why..."
Hearing Leo Ash's words, Dr. Magi collapsed to the ground, as if all the strength had been drained from his body.
"Why must you say something so cruel."
"Because, as I see it, isn't this what you've been craving?"
After helping Dr. Magi up from the floor, Leo Ash smiled at the old man.
"If you truly intend to atone, then letting you die easily would actually be doing you a disservice."
"If you want to atone, an easy release is the wrong choice. You must carry this sin and let me squeeze your mind dry for the sake of all humanity, until the very end."
"I'm a member of the Apocalypse family, after all. You don't really think I'm fundamentally different from that monster Otto, do you?"
To be honest, although Magi knew full well that the young man in front of him was worlds apart from Otto in terms of basic human decency, and that what he'd just said was pure bullshit, he still saw a fleeting shadow of Otto in Leo Ash.
"Mhm, alright, I won't say any more. Doctor, you must remember to look at the data."
"Doctor, remember, you have a lot to do."
"You can't 'rest' after you're done with all this."
Watching the young man vanish before his eyes after saying this, Magi dazedly clicked on the new folder that had appeared on his computer and opened one of the files.
And then—the old man, who just moments ago seemed to be at death's door, suddenly had an incredibly sharp, intimidating light burst from his eyes.
Unlike those who had learned special techniques like using Dimensional Energy or True Manifestation Fusion, Dr. Magi was just an ordinary person who had undergone [Honkai Energy Resistance Modification Surgery].
He shouldn't have been able to give off such a feeling.
But after seeing these scientific technologies—which were outrageous, yet at the same time, feasible—Dr. Magi's researcher side instantly overwhelmed the cowardly emotions in his heart.
As a top talent in biological research of this era, Dr. Magi, who was flipping through the data, suddenly realized two things.
This data could truly bring about enormous change to the world, but the question was...
First, where on earth did Leo Ash get this data and technology?
Second—what exactly did he plan to do with this data?
Then, Dr. Magi instantly realized the first question wasn't the crucial one.
Where the technology came from really wasn't important. At least, in Dr. Magi's eyes, it wasn't.
Before his awakening, he was a researcher who prized practicality above all. People like him knew well that the source of technology didn't matter; whether it was useful and effective was the key.
The second question, however, made Magi feel things were getting interesting.
Although Schicksal was the strongest organization in the hidden world, and had already solved many problems created by ambitious people during the years Leo Ash held Finality at bay, it still hadn't extended its reach any further.
But many of Leo Ash's technologies were ones that could improve the lives of ordinary people. In this current era of recovery, this technology could truly save more lives.
*Hah, this kid's ambitions are immense...*
*He was right.*
*I can't rest yet.*
*I... no, many people owe him a huge debt of gratitude.*
*Since he still needs others to assist with this new plan of his, then I...*
*...I'll just hang on for a while longer.*
"Um, this..."
At this moment, Magi suddenly heard a voice he absolutely shouldn't have, coming from right behind him.
Behind Magi, a girl who shouldn't exist in this world was looking at his shocked expression with a helpless face, speaking to him with concern.
"I understand you're busy with work, Grandpa, but... I've been standing here for fifteen minutes, you know."
*Ah, I really am an old, senile fool.*
*Lin is already dead. She died five years ago because of my foolish actions.*
*Am I... so tired that I'm hallucinating?*
"Hey, don't treat me like a hallucination!"
Looking at her grandfather, who still hadn't grasped the situation, Lin rarely grabbed Magi's shoulders and shook him hard.
"I'm real! Don't just ignore me!"
"Ah, are hallucinations this realistic nowadays? Even the shaking..."
Magi, realizing he could no longer deceive himself, suddenly found his eyes blurring.
"Lin... I..."
Although he didn't know why his granddaughter was here, it no longer mattered to Magi.
To be able to see the granddaughter he had gotten killed one more time was, for Magi, the greatest redemption.
"Alright, alright, don't cry."
Embracing her grandfather, the girl who had been dead for five years, but who had regained her life for certain reasons, spoke softly to her relative.
"Grandpa, I'm back."
"This time, I'll keep a close eye on you, Grandpa, and I won't let you do anything reckless again."
...
Meanwhile. Somewhere in Schicksal HQ.
After leaving Dr. Magi's research institute, Leo Ash had already sent his hard-won 'creation' to Dr. Magi's side.
Back when he fought Otto... alright, calling that a fight was giving Otto too much credit.
After snatching control of the Theater of Domination from Otto's hands back then, Leo Ash had been working hard to stabilize the Theater, which was in constant danger of collapse.
And within the Theater, the consciousnesses of the dead had naturally not dissipated, thanks to its continued existence.
Of course, these consciousnesses weren't all good people. In fact, the malice within was practically spilling over into real space.
The 'rabble' represented by Cocolia's consciousness very much hoped to seize control of the Theater and cause a major incident.
Unfortunately for them, in the hands of Leo Ash, who was already appallingly-strong at the time, they couldn't make a single ripple.
After Leo Ash discovered the actions of these consciousnesses, he didn't hesitate to annihilate this rabble that was preparing to stir up trouble.
With that, Cocolia truly had no chance of winning a 'resurrection match.'
As for the remaining people, Leo Ash had communicated with them.
Some felt they were truly tired and didn't want to exist any longer. Leo Ash allowed their consciousnesses to dissipate completely.
Some had unfulfilled wishes. Leo Ash would judge the good or evil of their intentions and the nature of their wishes to decide whether to help them.
Of course, besides these groups, there were also some rather special consciousnesses.
Most of these consciousnesses were special individuals formed from the condensed, lingering wills of fighters who had died battling the Honkai. While not identical to their original selves, they were largely similar.
Although the battle with the Honkai was over, Leo Ash had some ideas and needed more helpers. So, over the past few years, while battling the Cocoon of Finality for real, Leo Ash had also formed a general plan.
After he completely mastered the Cocoon of Finality using True Manifestation Fusion and erased some of its underlying mechanisms, Leo Ash could use Dimensional Energy to wield the various Herrscher Authorities just like a normal Herrscher.
And the Lin who had just appeared before Magi was a product of him using the Herrscher of Death's Power of Creation to create a physical body, into which he then inserted the girl's consciousness.
Perhaps for some, having a dead relative resurrect before them wouldn't be a good thing.
But for Magi, being able to see Lin one more time was, perhaps, a blessing.
As for the words Leo Ash spoke to Magi, while not entirely true, they weren't entirely false either.
Dr. Magi was, in a sense, Leo Ash's life-saving benefactor. But at the same time, he was also a dyed-in-the-wool butcher.
The blood on his hands and the sins he shouldered would not disappear just because of the old man's [Remorse].
This was a point that both Magi and Leo Ash understood clearly.
The old man craved atonement, but his heart also craved Serenity.
So, for the sake of the great help he had once provided, Leo Ash could only choose to let him continue to atone, while also granting him a measure of spiritual comfort.
Of course, Leo Ash, who knew he was no saint, had to admit he also had the thought of, 'Aiya, rather than let this old geezer die, I might as well trick him into continuing to work for me.'
But he didn't think this was a bad idea.
Atonement, atonement... what kind of atonement is dying?
Living on, using one's broken body to help others—it can't wash away a sinner's crimes, but it's surely a hundred times better than just tilting one's head and dying.
If Otto had also been a man capable of remorse, Leo Ash might have...
*No, on second thought, I'm an Avenger.*
*The reason I didn't move against Magi is because not only is he not my enemy, he also did me a great favor.*
*If it were Otto, even if he felt remorse, I still would have killed him without mercy.*
*Besides, Otto and Magi are fundamentally different.*
*Magi committed wrongful acts in the past, and after the pain landed on him personally, he at least had a sudden awakening.*
*Of course, his actions after that awakening were too bizarre, but he did, at least, want to do some good after he woke up.*
*The problem is, Otto committed wrongful acts in the past, and even after feeling the pain himself, he had absolutely no intention of awakening.*
*He knew damn well that what he was doing was wrong. He was even certain that if Kallen knew what he'd done, she would definitely be angry.*
*And after saying all that bullshit, Otto turned right around and continued to stir up trouble.*
*Otto knew his actions wouldn't be accepted by his dead fiancée, but he still chose to sprint down the wrong path, nearly bringing down the entire front line of humanity.*
*This kind of paranoid person, living in his own world—not even Kallen could pull him back.*
*Faced with an Otto like that, who could say they could easily reform him, make him turn over a new leaf, and serve humanity again to make up for his past mistakes?*
*As expected, a dead Otto is the only good Otto.*
*And now...*
After arriving at a room, Leo Ash, for a change, didn't teleport directly inside, but instead knocked politely on the door.
"A-Xu, are you in?"
"Ah, even if I said I wasn't, it would be useless, right?"
Opening the door, Void Archives, who had already adapted to his new body, spoke to Leo Ash with a helpless look.
"Boss, after your return, don't you think you should rest for a few days?"
"Oh? Do I look like I haven't been resting?"
Looking at Leo Ash, who didn't seem tired at all, Void Archives hesitated for a second—then nodded decisively.
"I don't have any proof, but based on my understanding of you, you definitely haven't rested!"
"Oh?"
Seeing Void Archives speak so bluntly, Leo Ash asked with interest.
"That confident?"
"Mhm. Because as everyone knows, you're a tryhard."
"I don't believe that the Leo Ash who out-tryharded the Honkai itself would spend three years with the Cocoon of Finality and suddenly change into a lazy dog."
...
*Wait, do these people and Divine Keys have some deep misunderstanding about me?*
*Am I really that much of a tryhard?*
Seeing Leo Ash fall silent, Void Archives spoke even more helplessly.
"Anyway, I'm mentally prepared. Boss, just give me my orders."
"Starting today—who are we 'knifing' first?!"
"Come on, all this fighting and killing is boring."
Placing a memory drive containing data and plans in front of Void Archives, Leo Ash smiled.
"As the [Herrscher of Reason Born to Help Humanity], left behind by the Seniors of the Previous Era, you can continue to function normally using Dimensional Energy even after Honkai Energy has disappeared."
"The Honkai may be gone, but we still have a lot to do, so..."
"—Since you all think I'm such a tryhard, I'll just have to viciously drag everyone into working overtime with me."
"Yes, sir!"
[Memory!]
After inserting the memory drive into the special interface on the neck of his Soulium Body, Void Archives even heard a strange mechanical sound.
Then, after spending a few seconds reading the plan at the very beginning, Void Archives fell silent for two seconds, then looked at the smiling Leo Ash with a blank expression.
"Boss, I have to take back what I said earlier."
"Other people tryhard and become a dog, at best. You... you're tryharding at the level of Fenrir."
"Going this big on the second day after the war ended..."
"Just tell me if you'll do it or not."
"Forget it. Do I even have a choice?"
After copying the data into his body, Void Archives gave Leo Ash a military salute.
"Private Void Archives, guarantees completion of the mission!"
"Mhm, then I'll be counting on you for this work in the future, A-Xu."
Watching Leo Ash's retreating figure, Void Archives couldn't help but feel...
...maybe those days being locked up by Otto weren't so bad after all.
He was freer now, but he was also much, much busier than before.
This kind of life feels so strange.
I'm a Divine Key. A weapon and a database.
Is this really appropriate?
Why does he get to be a tryhard, and I have to be a tryhard right along with him?! (╯‵□′)╯︵┻━┻
...
In a certain room, Kevin, having already intensely questioned Vita, had chosen to hand over the follow-up conversation to Su.
On the second day after Leo Ash's return, Kevin thought back on the recent past and couldn't help but feel...
*No, it really still feels like a dream.*
*The Cocoon of Finality was just... dealt with by Leo Ash, just like that. No matter how I think about it, it feels... too easy.*
*We had even prepared several emergency contingency plans, and now none of them are needed.*
*This is all just too easy. So easy that it makes me think I must be dreaming.*
"You don't need to think that way."
Leo Ash, who had just arrived in Kevin's room, spoke to him calmly.
"The Stigmata Project no longer needs to be executed. We humans... don't need to 'dream' anymore."
"Yes. It is just as you say."
Facing Leo Ash, who had come to his room, Kevin said.
"Leo Ash, I owe you my thanks."
"Thank you for everything you've done for humanity."
"Hah, no need for that."
Casually using the Herrscher of Reason's ability to create a white plastic chair, Leo Ash sat down in front of Kevin, his expression relaxed.
"I was just fighting for myself and the people around me. The greater good of humanity... a kid in his twenties like me definitely doesn't get that stuff."
"...Perhaps."
"By the way."
Looking at Kevin, Leo Ash suddenly asked.
"Do you want to go check out other World Bubbles? In those bubbles, there might be..."
"There's no need."
Kevin, who already knew what Leo Ash was about to say, let out a deep breath. His eyes were profound, as if he had seen through everything.
"I've long known that traces of Mei exist in other World Bubbles."
"But... while they may be Mei, they are not *her*."
"...You have a point."
Having received his answer, Leo Ash handed Kevin a memory drive, just as he had before.
"You don't seem like the type to stay idle, so I'll leave some future matters in your hands."
"If there's nothing else, I'll take off. I won't disturb your sentimental moment."
"...Hah. Really."
Kevin, his expression now relaxed, picked up the memory drive, plugged it into a computer, and began to look at the files.
After reading just one page, Kevin, who only had a high school education, basically understood.
Leo Ash talked about resigning, but in reality, he was still protecting the world in his own way.
During these past few years, Welt had mentioned "visitors from beyond" to Kevin and Su.
Although those contingency plans had been targeted at Leo Ash, they could also be converted into plans against "visitors from beyond" at any time.
*But now, the plans Leo Ash gave me explicitly mention things that not even Welt knows about.*
*Well... so be it.*
*Since he has this resolve, helping him out one more time isn't a big deal.*
*The battle with the Honkai has indeed ended.*
*But our battle... continues.*
After delivering the plans to the respective people, Leo Ash gave the final one to Welt, who was still being forced to work overtime by Tesla. Then, he went alone to the rooftop of Senba High School.
Looking down from above, as a light breeze blew past, Leo Ash felt his heart enter a state of serenity.
Actually, there was another reason why he wanted to stabilize the Theater of Domination.
When he realized the Theater of Domination could collect the consciousnesses of even ordinary people, Leo Ash had an idea.
*Dad and Mom only died a little over two years ago. If their consciousnesses were in there...*
*The possibility was absolutely not zero.*
With this thought, Leo Ash searched tirelessly among the consciousnesses for his parents, only to be disappointed in the end.
His parents were, after all, just ordinary people, and the consciousnesses of ordinary people dissipate with terrifying speed and probability.
*A miracle didn't happen...*
*Dad, Mom, I'm sorry. Your son was useless. I couldn't bring you back the lives you shouldn't have lost.*
*But it's because of that, that I want to make this world a better place, with fewer tragedies.*
*From the moment I got these plans, this data, and this technology from Aaron, I knew he must have prepared all this long ago.*
*He's helping people in other worlds as much as he can. It's the action of a fool, but a fool worthy of admiration.*
*But... I don't have the spare capacity to solve other worlds' problems like he does.*
*Although the Honkai phenomenon has completely vanished from this world, tragedies are still happening.*
*Wherever there are people, there will be conflict. And humans in conflict will inevitably create more tragedy.*
*In the past, I didn't have enough power, so naturally, I didn't think about these things.*
*But it's different now.*
*I have enough power to stir the world into a better shape, and I have the technology Aaron gave me.*
*If I have the power to make the world a better place, then...*
*—At least until the world's countless tragedies become pitifully few, I really shouldn't rest.*
*Just by sacrificing my personal time, I can make the world a better place.*
*In this world, is there a better bargain than that?*
*This path might be difficult, it might bring me a lot of trouble, but...*
*—Heh, I even endured the fight for control with the Cocoon of Finality. Compared to that, this stuff is no big deal.*
*Dad and Mom are gone, but that's exactly why I want there to be fewer people who suffer tragedies like I did.*
*But speaking of which, after the System left, I've been so busy I never tried...*
As the thought emerged, Leo Ash suddenly found he could still call up that somewhat-useful-but-not-entirely-useful system panel, just like in the past.
And the moment the system panel popped up, Leo Ash saw a message.
[To my not-so-adorable Host, Leo Ash:]
[Although this System has already left your body, the underlying mechanism this System left behind has been continuously running a check.]
[And now, according to the judgment of this mechanism, you have successfully achieved victory.]
[So now, congratulations, and—it's time for a lottery pull, Host.]
[According to this System's judgment mechanism, as long as you meet the 'clear conditions' for a world, you will receive a special lottery ticket.]
[This is the last lottery pull. As for the future... heh, this System is too lazy to say anything sentimental. Live well, my friend.]
[Your faithful friend,]
[The Randomly-Cobbled Together Narrator System]
...
"Thanks a lot, System."
After taking out that [Game Clear Lottery Ticket] and using it, Leo Ash saw a golden ticket, glowing with a deep red light, flutter down in front of him.
[Special Equipment - Star Rail Special Pass]
[Item Description—An item to travel to a new world. Upon use, it allows the user to move to a new world and appear in a safe area.]
[PS: Whether or not it's 'safe' is subject to this System's final interpretation.]
"Hah, I really don't know what to say about this item."
Looking at the ticket, Leo Ash put it away. Of course, he couldn't use it on himself right now.
Although the ticket didn't explicitly state which new world it led to, looking at the familiar item, Leo Ash felt he already knew the answer.
The world wouldn't stop turning just because one person was missing. But, if he could make the world a better place, he should definitely finish his work here first before deciding whether to act.
But then again, it was already bright and early.
"Hello, world."
After saying these words softly, Leo Ash leaned against the rooftop wall and peacefully closed his eyes.
He had said he would work for the good of the world, but before this massive project began...
*—Let me just close my eyes and take a long-overdue nap.*
.