An Expected Ending... My Ass!

Kiana was utterly confused. While studying, she had accidentally tapped an unfamiliar interface, then somehow ended up in this medieval city, unable to contact Bronya.

The key was that she had just run into a white-haired, blue-eyed girl named Kallen. Kallen seemed to have committed some sort of crime, and a group of people had come to arrest her. As a Kaslana warrior, Kiana naturally chose to help her, because she believed Kallen was not a bad person.

Then she had been knocked unconscious by an old man, and now she was locked in the cell next to Kallen's.

This was the price of failing to show off. (Funny.)

Xing was also utterly confused. He had originally wanted to tag along for a side quest, bringing Yae Sakura here to meet Kallen's memory construct and raise their affection level while he was at it. But now... the girl looked at the two heavy lumps of humanity on her chest and felt like she was on the verge of a mental breakdown.

When he had turned into Kallen before, he had not retained her memories. Now that she was properly experiencing what "transforming" felt like, she had never missed her original body so badly.

"Xing, are you okay?" The Miko poked her cheek, taking the opportunity to cop a feel. Ah, Kallen's scent~

"What is going on? Why did I turn into this?" Xing pinched her waist. It felt pretty nice.

"Where are we? I sensed you were in danger, so I came out. Weren't we just at St. Freya Academy?" The Miko, who had been disconnected for a while, looked somewhat confused.

"This is a world of data. I'll explain it when we get back, and teach you a little about the modern world while I'm at it. But first... someone's coming!"

Hearing footsteps drawing closer, the two vaulted over the two-meter-high wall beside them.

"Are you sure it's here?"

"Absolutely. Two people fell in here just now."

"Who are you trying to fool? There isn't even a bird feather here, and anyone falling from that height would have been smashed to death. What a waste of my time. Fall back!" Hey, didn't you see that huge scrape on the wall right next to you?

A large group gradually moved away. From the other side of the wall, Yae Sakura asked, "Who were they?"

"Probably Schicksal soldiers." Xing carefully examined the place they had jumped into. It seemed to be a backyard, with several robes hanging from a clothesline.

"Schicksal soldiers? Have I been exposed?" The Miko's expression instantly turned frightened. It was not herself she worried about, but the possibility of dragging the other girl into it.

"Come on, this isn't reality. Put this on. It'll be troublesome if anyone sees you like that." Without giving her a choice, the girl draped a black robe over her, while she herself put on a white one.

"Isn't it wrong to just take other people's things?" Though the Miko was from ancient times, her values were quite sound.

"Don't sweat the details. Besides, if you go out looking like that, they'll burn you as a witch." Xing pointed at her fox ears.

"Alright."

Meanwhile, Bronya, who had successfully hacked her way in, disguised herself as Kiana's mother and got her out of prison. Wait, were the guards blind or stupid? How could they mistake such a tiny loli for the mother of that huge white-haired ball of fluff?

Kiana learned from Bronya about Kallen's identity and the truth of this space, then decided to save Kallen. Even if this place was merely an endlessly looping space, even if everyone here was just a puppet with prearranged lines and actions, the Saintess should not live under someone else's strings.

Thus, the two prepared to hijack the execution ground... no, to break into the execution ground.

"Strange, why can't I find Xing? It clearly says he entered." Bronya tilted her head, her fingers rapidly swiping across the virtual screen. "Hijacking the execution ground requires weapons. There aren't many usable ones... hmm?" The loli blinked as a familiar item appeared in the list:

Kouyou's Holy Attire, Kallen Kaslana-exclusive armor.
Note: Only Kallen Kaslana can equip it.

Instant pass.

Elsewhere, Xing got a newspaper from a paperboy. Unable to read English, the Miko blinked and looked to the girl for help.

"Sakura, let's go." Xing tossed aside the newspaper and grabbed the Miko's hand.

"Huh? Where are we going? What did that paper say?" The Miko looked adorably blank.

"An utterly absurd farce, the beginning of a tragedy, and the birth of a... fool. We're going to retrieve something that belongs to her. If this space is restored accurately enough, it should be here."

Just like in Yae Village, fragmented images flashed through her mind, piecing together a memory. Endless battles, powerful immortals, a corrupt organization, a purple phantom thief, a mysterious box...

The girl irritably patted her head. Why did she have Kallen's memories? The stigmata belonged to Kallen, sure, but where had these memories come from? And then there was her—layer upon layer of mysteries lay before her.

"Halt. Outsiders are not permitted to enter the Kaslana residence." Before they realized it, they had reached their destination.

"Kaslana? Are you worthy of that name?" A nameless rage burned in her heart. "Kaslana is the people's shield, Schicksal's knight, a hero who fights every evil force to the end. Yet you watched as an innocent girl was executed by ignorant fools?"

She was mad. Really mad. Furious beyond belief. Perhaps the Kaslana Family had not helped Kallen because of political interests or some other reason, or perhaps they had long since been wholly corrupted by Schicksal. But Xing only wanted to hit someone right now. Even knowing that the people before her were merely programmed NPCs, she could not control her fists.

The girl tore off her robe. "Give me back my weapon."

"Y-you're Kallen? Shouldn't you be at the execution ground right now? Hurry, call someone to take her down!" The guards at the entrance were shocked, but before they could fully react, a heavy punch smashed into their foreheads.

"Heh, I knew it would turn out like this. Perfect. This body feels incredibly strong. Let me see what it can do." Xing cracked her knuckles. Behind her, Yae Sakura said, "...(What happened to sneaking in secretly like we agreed?)"

"Sakura, don't take yours off yet, and don't make a move. Today, I'm cleaning house for the Kaslana Family!" Like an arrow, the girl charged straight into the residence. The Miko helplessly followed after her. "That punch just now was so much like Kallen's."

There were a great many enemies, but Xing was not afraid in the slightest. She was using Kallen's template now, after all. Besides, if things went south, didn't she still have Yae Sakura behind her?

The Gunslinger Arts she had learned from Kiana were now brought into full play. Fists, feet, knees, elbows—her entire body seemed to have become a weapon as enemies fell one after another before the white figure.

"Whew, that felt amazing. It makes me as happy as putting on brand-new underwear on the first day of the New Year." Xing let out a long breath and walked through the crowd groaning all over the ground. "Sakura, let's go!"

Following the route in her memories, the two arrived at a storeroom. A large lock hung from its door, looking exceptionally sturdy.

Whoosh— The Miko slowly sheathed her blade and pushed open the door. A golden cross stood prominently before them.

"Judah?" the Miko said in delighted surprise.

Xing placed her hand on the cross, but after touching it once, she shook her head in disappointment. "Let's go."

"We're not taking Judah?"

"It's only an empty shell."

Kallen Kaslana stood on the gallows, allowing the executioners on either side to place the noose around her neck.

She was not despairing, but numb—not numb to the decaying Schicksal, but to this endlessly repeating world. She knew she was merely a virtual personality, knew that everything here had been created by someone to satisfy their selfish desires. But this time, she had encountered a girl who had stumbled in by accident. Her name seemed to be Kiana. She was a good kid.

With that thought, she closed her eyes and waited for the next cycle. An explosion sounded in the distance, causing a disturbance. Kallen abruptly opened her eyes. This had never happened before!

"Mm, Bronya is causing a commotion. It's time for yours truly to make an entrance." Kiana was about to rush out when a voice made her whole body stiffen.

"The Saintess gave everything for the people, yet all she received in return were cold shackles and chains. Is such a world worth protecting, Kallen Kaslana?"

Kallen's eyes widened. Before her stood a girl identical to her in appearance, attire, and voice. "Y-you are?"

"Your successor." Xing said no more and headed straight for the gallows. The people on the platform tried to stop her, only to be rebuked by an old man.

"I don't know who you are, but please take her and leave. I've already found a ship at the docks." Arthur, Kallen's teacher, said.

"When did you get the mistaken impression that I needed your help?" A disdainful curve rose at Xing's lips.

The black-robed Miko knocked out the executioner from behind, then happily carried off the utterly bewildered Kallen.

Arthur: "..."

Kiana's brain could barely process what was happening. A suddenly appearing Kallen had brought a black-robed person to rescue Kallen, who had nearly been executed. What was going on?

"Mission accomplished. Hiss, did I forget something?" Xing scratched his head.

"My beloved Kallen... Can someone tell me what happened?" Otto in this space stared blankly at the scene before him.

"Damn it, I forgot this guy released all the Honkai Beasts Schicksal had locked up!"

Yae Sakura took Kallen to a safe place before setting her down.

"Who exactly are you?" Kallen asked, still shaken.

At those words, Yae Sakura removed her robe, and the Nun froze.

"Do you remember me, Kallen?" The Miko's voice was filled with gentleness, along with a trace of fear and anticipation.

"You're Sakura? H-how is that possible? You shouldn't be here." Kallen's eyes widened.

"I'm here, Kallen. Truly, right here in front of you." The Miko took her hand, their fingers interlocking.

A flicker of delight crossed the Nun's eyes, but it soon turned into dejection. "I'm not the real Kallen Kaslana. I'm only a virtual personality."

"I know." The Miko answered calmly. Xing had briefly explained it to her on the way.

"I see... Sakura, how have you been... lately?"

"I've been doing well. After being released from the seal, I met a child. He carries your bloodline, and in some ways, he resembles you too. I'm very happy when I'm with him. (Playing games, eating snacks, and reading manga.)"

"Then I'm relieved. Oh, right. I—I mean, Kallen has always wanted to say something to you. Those words have been buried in her memories for a full five hundred years. They are—"

Red Feathers gathered into a pair of unusually shaped dual pistols. Mortal Tribulation Difficult to Cross was bound to consciousness, so it could be used in this space as well. Switching it to lightning mode, Xing began waging guerrilla warfare amid the rampaging Honkai Beasts.

On the other side, Bronya met up with Kiana. After learning the situation, she was stunned for a second before quickly reacting, her fingers rapidly swiping across the virtual screen.

"Bang!" Xing kicked the Honkai Beast's white shell, his little face twisting slightly. This Honkai Beast's hide was really tough. Just then, blue motes of light formed a bracelet around his left hand.

"Kouyou's Holy Attire has finished loading. Please enter the activation command." The two stared at each other. Could it be that painfully cringey chuuni line?

"An armor bracelet?" Xing was somewhat surprised. As he hesitated over whether to use it, he spotted a little girl in the distance facing a Honkai Beast's claws. She was trembling in terror, too frightened to move. Gritting his teeth, he said, "I'm going all in—Magical Armor POWER ON!"

The girl ran forward with all her might, determined to save the child, as Kouyou's Holy Attire rapidly equipped itself onto her body.

"I activate an Equip Spell from my hand! Magic Armor, activate! Equip it to Kallen Oath on my field! The rebellious Saintess shall bring forth an unknown fate; in the name of fantasy, I shall uphold my justice! Kallen Kaslana—Kouyou's Holy Attire, special summon!"

Like a whirlwind, she arrived before the girl almost instantly. Her right leg lashed out, and the enormous Honkai Beast flew like a kite with its string cut, tracing a perfect arc through the air.

"You don't need to be afraid anymore, because I'm here." Perhaps because of Kiana and Kallen's influence, even knowing that these people were virtual, she still instinctively wanted to save them.

The Abyssal Bow of Hel appeared in her hand, and she casually summoned Erludnil in turret mode. The warrior charged into the Honkai Beast horde once more. Blue beams burst from her dual pistols and blasted through a large group of enemies. Xing wielded Erludnil like Judah and smashed it straight into the Honkai Beasts' faces. Afterwards, she switched it to gatling mode, and the Floating Cannons on both sides automatically launched. The squad-level firepower was fully on display.

"Crack." Cracks appeared in the sky. "This world is about to forcibly reboot. We need to leave." Bronya transmitted exit commands into the screen.

"What about Sister Kallen? And Xing? We still haven't found him. We don't even know where he went." Kiana was extremely anxious.

"She is only a virtual personality and cannot leave this world. As for Xing, the display clearly shows that he is nearby, yet we haven't been able to find him. Still, I can forcibly extract him as well. Get ready. Three, two, one—extract!"

Xing groggily opened his eyes, removed the HOMU headpiece, stretched his joints, and rose from his chair. "Whew, my original body still feels better."

Kiana, who had awakened beside him, grabbed him by the back of the neck. "Where the hell did you go just now?! Bronya and I have been looking for you forever!"

"Went and became a Saintess." Xing yawned. "It's getting late. If there's nothing else, I'm heading home to sleep."

"What? Explain yourself before you leave, bastard!"

On the way back, Yae Sakura's voice sounded by his ear. "Thank you."

"Hearing you say that makes everything I did worth it."

Otto sat leisurely behind his desk, watching the footage playing on the computer with great interest. On the screen, Xing, clad in Kouyou's Holy Attire, was slaughtering enemies left and right.

"I only wanted to see who had messed up my backyard, but I never expected to find such an unexpected prize."