Salt Snow Holy City
"So, the Captain is really still alive?"
Seele found it hard to believe. Although she could only stay on the ground reclaiming Earth during the final battle against Kevin, she clearly remembered Bronya-neechan returning dejected and lost.
And yet, Misteln and Prometheus No. 17 were saying he was alive, just a week after they had paid respects at his grave?
"Yes. I guarantee it with Misteln's mate selection rights."
Prometheus No. 17 stated flatly. "We just finished communicating. Considering the time difference, he should arrive very soon."
Misteln also nodded. "Although my mate selection rights are not in Prometheus's hands, similarly, I can guarantee with Prometheus's mate selection rights that he is indeed alive. However, after a year, he has undergone some small changes. I hope you won't be too alarmed when the time comes."
"Small changes?" Seele grew slightly worried.
Misteln reassured her, "Relax, it shouldn't affect his health. After all, when I sensed him through the rift, the Captain was still full of vitality."
"Still full of vitality? That guy really has great luck." The Herrscher of Sentience, communicating with Seele and the others from another world bubble, also remarked with considerable feeling.
But Dark Seele couldn't help but ponder, "...Just a few days ago, we were burning incense for him. When did he come back to life?"
"Probably sometime recently."
Prometheus said, "I checked his game records; he only logged into his account these past few days. Before that, there were no records of him logging in at all."
"Senpai! Senpai, he really didn't die!"
Even more shocked was Susannah, almost trembling with excitement. "That's wonderful! With Senpai on our side, aren't we invincible!"
"Eh, wait, wait,"
Kira Shigure was somewhat confused. "Although Bianka told me the Captain is very strong, invincible... surely not, right?"
"After all, the last one who claimed to be invincible is still sunbathing under the moon in the Iron Sand Nation."
Herrscher of Sentience: "I can still hear you, you know. If I wasn't bound by the rules of this world, going fifty-fifty with the Captain wouldn't be a problem!"
"The Captain's strength is formidable, but right now, more than his power, we need a practical plan."
Prometheus said, "We're currently clueless as to why the two worlds are being destroyed. Perhaps he can resolve our doubts."
"Um, may I ask a question?"
At this moment, the gray-haired girl beside them couldn't hold back anymore. "So this 'Captain'... is he the God of Earth you mentioned? He sounds somewhat omniscient and omnipotent."
"Not quite to that extent," Susannah said with adoration. "Vita, you're not from Earth, so it's normal not to know. But back home, he is undoubtedly the leading figure in the fight against the Honkai!"
"Not only is he beautiful and kind-hearted, but he's also willing to sacrifice the small self for the greater good, save countless lives, liberate lost souls! Turn Herrschers to our side! Save the world! He's also one of only four S-ranks in all of Schicksal personally appointed by Bishop Otto!"
"Of course, there are disparities even among S-ranks, and B-ranks aren't necessarily weak. For example, Kiana still hasn't passed the A-rank cultural exam."
"Oh, sounds like a very interesting friend indeed."
Vita couldn't help but feel curious. Setting aside the matter of dying and reviving, just the fact that everyone could quickly calm down even when facing an impending apocalypse indicated this person indeed had significant influence.
However, it didn't really matter much. After all, she had traversed countless worlds and witnessed the demise of many worlds throughout the long river of time.
And she had met quite a few people evaluated like the "Captain"—figures hailed as the Light of Humanity, World's Strongest, Number One Genius, and the like. None of them could resist Sa's laws.
Under such a premise, finding something interesting was her primary goal now.
As long as it could make her feel interested, bringing one more person along was also a good thing.
After all, under Sa's long "surveillance," this was pretty much her only remaining interest.
"Then when can we meet him?"
Vita smiled. "After hearing Susannah's explanation, I also want to meet this hero properly."
And Jun An didn't keep everyone waiting long. Soon, Jun An entered the Sea of Quanta through the gate opened by Misteln and successfully found the world bubble containing Salt Snow Holy City using the coordinates she left behind.
Just as Jun An emerged, he saw the group standing before him.
Seele, Kira Shigure, Susannah, Misteln, Prometheus, and an uninvited guest, Vita.
"Welcome to Salt Snow Holy City, Captain."
Misteln was the first to welcome Jun An, then watched with a slight smirk as everyone reacted with shock, especially Vita. She hadn't expected the hero in everyone's eyes to actually be a child.
Vita also glanced around, becoming even more puzzled when she realized she wasn't the only one shocked.
Seele was the first to break the awkward silence, saying, "Captain, you..."
Everyone else was about to speak, but Jun An interrupted them.
"Stop. I know what you're going to say."
Jun An explained helplessly, "After all, it's a resurrection after dying a year ago. There's bound to be a small price to pay, like growing up again or something."
"So that's how it is."
Seele immediately accepted the reality, wiping away tears happily. "Then Captain, welcome back."
Dark Seele also spoke with her usual tsundere attitude, "You brat, why didn't you tell anyone you came back? Making us worry for nothing."
"Not many people knew I came back in the first place, and it's being kept secret from everyone. Don't tell anyone easily."
After clearing things up, Jun An also greeted them, "Also, the two Seeles, Little Senti, Misteln, Prometheus No. 17, and Susannah, I'm back."
"Senpai! It really is you!"
Susannah immediately rushed over, hugged Jun An's waist, and started crying. "That's wonderful! I thought you were really gone! I knew swearing to Finality would work!"
"Don't cry first,"
Jun An helped Susannah up, asking curiously, "Swear? What did you swear?"
"If Senpai could come back alive, then the ten million euros Senpai owes me don't need to be repaid."
Susannah said while wiping her tears. "Although it's all the pocket money I've saved up over the years, as long as Senpai could be revived, this money is nothing."
"Err..."
Jun An instantly felt several gazes land on him.
The Herrscher of Sentience asked even more bluntly, "Captain, I remember you're not the type to spend money lavishly. Usually, you just play games and whale heavily on skins. Where did you spend so much money?"
"This was all necessary investment for fighting the Honkai. Remember when you beat me half to death? The medical bills cost quite a lot."
Jun An started counting on his fingers. "Besides that, there are the Hyperion's repair fees, rebuilding Senba Academy in Nagazora City that Mei destroyed, paying salaries to my subordinates, upgrading the Hyperion..."
"Anyway, I'll pay back this money."
Jun An's current net worth was only about a billion yen or so. Converting that, even after fighting Herrschers diligently for several years, it was barely enough to cover her pocket money 'saved up' over a dozen years.
The thought of becoming penniless again instantly drained his motivation.
"Ah, Senpai helped me so many times and used my money to do so many things beneficial to fighting the Honkai, so it's okay if you don't pay it back."
Susannah didn't really care much about the money. "Besides, Senpai is already back. If I went back on my word and made Senpai leave again, that would be terrible."
"I'll pay it back when we return."
Jun An reiterated his stance, then reminded her, "Alright, now's not the time to talk about this. Tell me, how far has the situation developed?"
Jun An looked around. The view was excellent, like standing atop a high mountain. This should be the Sage's Tower.
"Hmm, looking at this place, are you planning to fight the Tower Sage?"
"No, the Tower Sage has already been defeated."
Seele explained, "Seele and I have now become the Sages of the Tower."
"..."
Jun An glanced at Misteln. "So what's the problem now?"
"This world is about to be destroyed, but we can't find the reason." Misteln stated truthfully.
"You motherf..."
Jun An quickly calmed himself, gritting his teeth. "Continue telling me your current situation."
Misteln, still with an unperturbed expression, began giving Jun An the preamble.
Basically, Misteln came to Salt Snow Holy City to retrieve aberrant Stigmata. To help Aberrant Stigmata No. 14 and No. 15, who had become the Tower Sages of Salt Snow Holy City, find successors so they could willingly return to the Stigma Space, she abducted Seele and the Herrscher of Sentience.
Susannah's arrival here was just an accident.
Anyway, after some trouble, they did manage to make the two Seeles the Tower Sages, but it still didn't resolve the world's crisis. Instead, they learned about the impending fusion and destruction of the two world bubbles.
And because the Tower Sages couldn't leave the tower for too long without feeling unwell, Seele couldn't just run away either.
Therefore, the best solution now was to save this world on the brink of destruction, then find a way for Seele to relinquish her identity as Tower Sage, allowing both Salt Snow Holy City and the Iron Sand Nation to operate normally.
But the biggest problem they currently faced was not knowing why the two worlds were merging, nor how to stop the process.
Or rather, with their current abilities, they couldn't stop the fusion of the two worlds.
"Okay, understood."
Jun An nodded, roughly grasping the current stage of development. It hadn't changed much from the story.
"So, to summarize, Misteln, you made this huge mess, and then dumped it on my head at the worst possible moment, right?"
"What's wrong with you!"
While Jun An and Misteln were arguing, the observant Seele noticed Vita's stiff expression.
"Vita, what's wrong? You don't look well."
"Ah, mm, n-nothing!"
Vita quickly explained, "I just didn't expect the hero you were talking about would be such a cute child."
"Don't worry, Vita," Seele said. "No matter what, the Captain is a very reliable person. He can definitely help us save Salt Snow Holy City."
"Mm." Vita nodded, but her heart was still far from calm.
She had realized it from the moment Jun An stepped foot here: her connection with Sa was severed!