After briefly showcasing her power, Imhotep narrowed her eyes, claimed the room's only sofa, and picked up a nearby newspaper, reading it with keen interest. Kiana sidled up to her, a thought striking her.
"So... why didn't you keep your original name? This new one is kind of a mouthful."
"Because that is a divine name. As a human, I cannot use it... or rather, I must not use it. By relinquishing that name, I relinquish its authority and its glory... and naturally, I am no longer bound by its influence."
Imhotep offered a gentle smile, her gaze shifting from the newspaper back to Kiana.
"So... the 'Snow' of today is completely split into two parts? You, Imhotep the human, and Snow the god?"
"Correct."
"But why do that? If you were a god..."
Kiana's expression turned to one of utter confusion.
"Have you forgotten, Kiana Kaslana? The body is constantly undergoing deification. Even by continuously dividing the Authority and bestowing it upon 'my' friends, supplemented by that Divine Spear representing eternity, it merely delays the inevitable end."
"The God has written enough of this world. Now, it is time for the world to write of the God—"
-
"So you just went all in and split yourself in two?"
"Correct."
"Then what about Snow, the God?"
"She naturally slumbers in the deepest part of the Imaginary Tree, awaiting the arrival of the Day of Judgment—"
"Then... are you, the person standing before me now, still the same Snow I knew before?" Kiana asked, cautiously studying Imhotep.
"I am, and I am not. It depends on how you choose to see me. But to me... you are perhaps new friends I have just met."
"'I' gave all my original emotions and obsessions to that God, to serve as her shackles and a part of her final directive. Bound by these shackles, She will first complete the final directive of her 'human' self—'change history to ensure the continued existence of Kallen Kaslana'—before executing her 'God' directive: to become the Examiner of this civilization."
"And you have already gathered all the elements needed to pass 'my' examination. Moreover, 'I' left a gift for you in the depths of the Sea of Quanta..."
"A gift?" Kiana's eyes lit up with curiosity.
"To be precise, it's a gift for Bronya Zaychik—a fragment of the God's most important Authority: the Authority of Truth. After all, in a sense, it seems Miss Bronya's originally reserved driver's license has been revoked, hasn't it?"
"Mr. Joyce won't be handing out Herrscher Cores so casually anymore... Welt Yang's health is a double-edged sword, made by the Core, broken by the Core..."
Curled up on the sofa, Miss Imhotep wiggled her bare feet, then seemed to remember something and turned to Kiana.
"Ah, I almost got sidetracked... About myself—having given all my emotions, obsessions, and aspirations to the Lord of the Divine Throne, I naturally only received memories stripped of any emotional or personal coloring. Hmm... it feels like watching a movie in the third person?"
"So, I know I know you, and I know we're close, but that's all it is—just knowledge. Maybe I should start grinding your affection levels again?"
"Or you could grind mine instead?" Imhotep tilted her head, looking curiously at the white-haired knight before her. "Hmm... how should I go about it...?"
"Hey, hey, this isn't a gal game! Deliberately grinding affection won't work!" Kiana immediately interrupted Imhotep, who seemed to be seriously contemplating how to rebuild everyone's affection levels.
"How about this, Kiana? Go buy a hundred strawberry shortcakes."
"One cake adds 1 affection point... Hmm... I mean, I'm hungry."
-
"So you are Snow, right? Right?!"
Watching Imhotep lick the cake with relish, Kiana sensed something was off.
"...You can interpret it that way if you insist. I was just grinding affection to see your reaction—after all... memories can never be completely severed from emotions."
Imhotep popped the strawberry cake into her mouth, a look of pure satisfaction on her face, and waved her hand dismissively.
"So you went on that long-winded speech just to trick me into buying you strawberry shortcakes?"
Kiana glared at the carefree girl, then glanced at her own empty wallet. A sinking feeling told her she'd been played by an Apocalypse again.
"Hmm... The ups and downs, struggles, and hardships a person endures are all trials that temper them. One day, she will reap abundant rewards."
Is that a roundabout way of admitting it?! My wallet! I haven't even bought myself dessert in months!!!
Kiana's inner voice roared in fury.
Imhotep nodded matter-of-factly, then added, "Besides... you look so easy to trick, little white kitten... It's been months, and it seems you haven't washed your hair or looked in a mirror at all..."
"—The cat ear headband that 'I' from the Hermes secretly brought for you... you're still wearing it?"
"Huh?!"
"Explain yourself! What do you mean you gave me a cat ear headband months ago?!"
"Aha—!"
Seeing Kiana lunge at her like a starving beast, ready to fold her in half, the Apocalypse family's little troublemaker clutched her strawberry shortcake and gracefully slipped out the window.
"You think... you can escape?!"
"Ah—those lost in fantasy mistake daydreams for reality, fervent and blind; those who defend madness slaughter without hesitation, demonic and extreme!!!"
"Even your persona spouts cryptic nonsense! You really are a chuuni, aren't you?!"
Watching the white-haired girl vanish into the distance, Kiana leaped out the same window, ignoring the stunned gazes of the just-returned Benares and the two Sirins.
The furious current Herrscher of Flamescion and Herrscher of the Void completely forgot her Herrscher status, vaulting out the window in hot pursuit.
"Apocalypse chuuni, hand over that strawberry cake!!!"
-
"Who did Sister Kiana run into...?"
"Bella, that white-haired jerk stole my lines!!!"
Little Sirin stared blankly at Bella, while Doll Sirin bared her teeth, glaring at the empty window and the curtains fluttering wildly in the wind.
"I don't know... Anyway, we should probably start improving our living conditions... After all, according to Lady Kiana, we'll be staying here for quite some time... Also, Your Majesty, aren't you two technically the same person? So it wouldn't really count as stealing lines, would it?"
"I don't care! She stole my lines!" Doll Sirin shrieked.