Vill-V had never considered herself the kind of protagonist who constantly stumbled into miraculous adventures. She did not even have some useless cheat-like system.
She knew very well that she was only an ordinary person. She could die. She could fail.
Honkai entrenched itself at the terminal branches of the Imaginary. The future branch of humanity had been severed, hope and tomorrow cut off at the root.
Precisely because of that, Vill-V had to wager every possibility to search for more possibilities—to break through Honkai's blockade.
And now, Wendy's existence had indeed provided Vill-V with more possibilities, just like at this very moment.
If Wendy had truly been completely eradicated, then the Wind Herrscher Core reduced to a dead object would have had no ability to help Vill-V break free from the stagnation of consciousness.
This was not merely a test. It was an empirical proof—proof that humanity possessed the possibility of a future.
Just as in the original storyline, when Vill-V had done the same to Kevin.
"In addition to Wendy, there was also an unknown existence that helped us."
"An unknown existence?" Id asked in confusion. What kind of existence could have helped them under those circumstances? Another Herrscher? Or the Cocoon of Finality?
"Mm. Although we entered the world's origin, we didn't consider the route. In other words, we got lost."
"You can think of the route as a ticket—and a round-trip ticket at that. One cannot be missing."
"That unknown existence guided us here."
"But, Id, you don't need to think about all that right now. Let's first take a look at where we are, shall we?"
Conductor realized she had let something slip and hurriedly diverted Id's attention.
Communication between personalities could be extremely fast. In truth, there was no need to use language as a medium in the mind. Memory itself served as the medium.
Although Id and Conductor had exchanged quite a bit, from the outside world it had only been about ten seconds.
"Project Bunny?" Id tried to call out to Project Bunny to ask about the situation outside, but as expected, the connection failed.
That also meant this was not the proper world.
Because the system of the Cosmic Juggernaut was undergoing renormalization, performing self-inspection and repairs, it could not provide Vill-V with much assistance for the time being.
Looks like I should implant a system directly into my consciousness in the future, so I won't have to worry about an external system going on strike. Vill-V thought.
"Fortunately, the Cosmic Juggernaut has not lost its functions. It can still exercise all spatial authorities."
"Mm, I guess I'll have to go out and see for myself. Within the authority radiation field of the Cosmic Juggernaut, it should be safe. Even if Finality Kevin showed up... well, Kevin the Ancestor is still a bit too much to handle. But a Judgment-class Honkai Beast would be no problem." As she spoke, Vill-V lightly pressed the button to open the carriage door, and the train door of the Cosmic Juggernaut slowly slid open.
The moment the door opened, Vill-V saw two familiar figures standing outside.
It was Tesla and Einstein. They were staring at Vill-V in astonishment, especially Dr. Tesla, whose hand trembled as she pointed at her.
"Hm? Mentor Tesla? Dr. Einstein?"
Bang!
Vill-V slammed the train door shut.
Mentor Tesla was more terrifying than a Judgment-class Honkai Beast...
Because Vill-V was guilty.
Oh no. Why does Mentor Tesla look so furious? Her tone over the comms already sounded normal again. Don't tell me she's still hung up on me not paying back the funding.
Does she really have to be so petty? It was just one year's laboratory budget.
She even chased me into the Sea of Quanta to collect the debt. Was it really necessary to storm the Sea of Quanta over that little bit of money?
It's been two years. The interest must be in the millions by now.
Mentor Tesla, once I have money, I'll definitely pay you back. Next time, for sure...
I'm not some kind of scumbag who scams and cheats people...
How can a swindler's business be called cheating?
...
Wait... they both seem kind of off?
Vill-V quietly pulled the door open a crack and secretly observed the two of them.
The Mentor Tesla and Dr. Einstein before her were very different from how she remembered them. Their figures appeared unusually petite.
But then again, she had not seen them in two years. Scientists growing younger as they aged was common knowledge... my foot!
Was it because of renormalization that her cognitive functions were malfunctioning?
Outside the train, Tesla and Einstein continued staring at Vill-V—who was hiding behind the crack in the door—with wary, peculiar expressions.
This uniquely styled locomotive had suddenly appeared out of nowhere, smashing through a fence and overturning a farm truck.
Tesla and Einstein had thought it was an enemy attack.
Instead... it was a girl dressed in holiday beachwear, babbling in some unknown language.
And why did this girl look even more frightened than they were?
Dr. Tesla thought to herself that she was not "Thénardier"—the infamous swindler and robber from Les Misérables.
Before they could speak, the blonde Valkyrie standing in front of them, dressed in a white Victorian knight uniform, spoke first.
"Is the locomotive that suddenly appeared behind you one of the Divine Keys?"
"You are the mastermind behind this crisis?"
The blonde Valkyrie spoke in words that sounded both unfamiliar and strangely familiar to Vill-V.
She seems to be speaking... English? My God, I haven't heard English since the day I was born in this life! Vill-V sighed inwardly.
Now that she knew it was English, that made things easier.
After wracking her brain and trying to recall the long-unused English knowledge buried in her memory, Vill-V understood what the other party was saying—
"Huh?"
Vill-V stood there dumbfounded, her expression growing even more bewildered. She had only just arrived. How had she suddenly become the mastermind behind some conspiracy?
She had not even figured out where this place was or what was happening.
"It seems not."
Seeing Vill-V's blank expression, the Valkyrie holding a black-and-white long spear relaxed slightly, loosening her grip on the shaft.
Avoiding battle would be best. She needed to focus her energy... on helping Dr. Schrödinger, whose body was being eroded by Honkai energy, stabilize her condition.
With a solemn expression, she introduced herself.
"I am a Valkyrie of Schicksal—Reanna Brigantia."