Mei apologized to Dr. Tesla for bringing Honkai beasts onto the ship.
Dr. Lobster, who was sharp-tongued but soft-hearted, couldn't bring herself to keep blaming Mei after seeing her like that.
She took Mei to speak with Dr. Einstein.
It turned out Anti-Entropy had decided to transfer Kiana to another base.
Because the Herrscher Core was still continuously eroding Kiana's body, and Anti-Entropy currently had no method to help alleviate it, they could only rely on Kiana herself to sever ties with Sirin.
Mobius felt like she had something to say about that—but after thinking about it, she held her tongue. Saying the same thing twice wasn't interesting.
Mei learned of the worst-case outcome. Feeling gloomy, she went out for some air, only to run into Sora, who later brought her to the Nest.
After a series of events, Raven "secretly" informed Mei of a message—
World Serpent had a way to save Kiana!
If Mei wanted to save Kiana, she'd have to make a deal with World Serpent.
These words deeply unsettled Mei.
She remembered clearly what happened in Arc City.
In her heart, World Serpent was even more dangerous than Schicksal.
But... World Serpent had a way to save Kiana...
A method that Anti-Entropy did not have.
With a heavy heart, Mei returned to the Helios.
The perspective shifts.
In Helios's infirmary, Einstein and Tesla discussed Kiana's physical condition in detail with her.
From their conversation, it was clear that Kiana had long known her body was failing.
But she didn't want Mei to worry, so she never told her.
What Kiana didn't know was that Mei now actually already knew about it.
She just didn't want to worry Kiana, so she hadn't said anything.
Both of them were hiding the truth—but both did it out of care for each other.
This kind of plot made players recall the warmth between Kiana and Mei just a moment ago.
Realizing that the smile back then was just a forced front, this hidden pain stabbed straight into the players' hearts.
miHoYo writers! Can you be human for once!?
…
Then came more conversation between Kiana and the two doctors—making players feel even sorrier for Kiana.
Kiana wanted to resolve the abnormal surge of Honkai energy in Nagazora and stop the impending disaster.
That alone wasn't a problem—but her method was… to absorb all the Honkai energy into her own body.
This would undoubtedly worsen her already severe condition.
In her words, she knew her days were numbered—but she still wanted to do whatever she could.
Just like Ms. Himeko once did.
She didn't want to let Ms. Himeko down.
She also hoped Anti-Entropy wouldn't let the people from St. Freya see her again until the Second Herrscher issue was resolved.
She was afraid she'd lose control again and hurt them once more.
And at that moment, as Kiana resolved to sacrifice herself to save the world—resolving to distance herself from everyone at St. Freya—
Just outside the door—
Mei, who had already returned, heard everything.
She stood in the dark, clenched her fists, and silently shed tears—
…
[No more knives! The child's already been stabbed senseless!]
[I'm panicking. If it's already this painful now, what's coming next?]
[Same here. My curry delivery just arrived—I hope food can heal my broken soul.]
[Sigh~~ I'll get some curry too. At least curry still holds some warmth.]
The audience tried to turn sorrow into appetite.
Attempting to use the heat of food to warm their hearts.
Elysia, still enthusiastic, continued recommending her favorite instant curry flavors to the stream.
Mobius clicked into the next scene.
The opening of this segment was narrated by Otto.
He was explaining what "Honkai" was.
Imaginary Tree, Sea of Quanta.
Each branch was a world...
This kind of lore had never appeared in any past game.
Players were astonished—and looked forward to how the story would unfold.
And so, the transaction between World Serpent and Schicksal officially formed.
Otto and Kevin agreed to meet in three days in Nagazora to trade the beacon of the 2nd Divine Key.
Because opening the gate to the Imaginary Tree required a massive amount of Honkai energy.
And right now, Kiana and the others just so happened to be in Nagazora.
[??? NMD, it's you again!]
[Damn Otto, can you act like a decent person for once?! Shut up already!]
[Kevin, wreck him!! Please!! Damn Otto!!]
…
The scene shifts back to Mei and Kiana's interaction.
They acted as if nothing had happened.
Kiana looked lively and healthy. Mei, too, seemed like the gentle "chef wife" from before...
She made a dish of sweet pepper curry for Kiana.
Kiana's eyes sparkled the moment she saw it. She eagerly took the curry and started eating happily.
As she ate, she praised it nonstop—especially the perfect level of spiciness.
[Wait a sec! Wait a sec! The sweet pepper curry I ordered isn't spicy at all?!]
A comment floated by, instantly freezing the stream's atmosphere.
After a while—
[Do you all remember Chapter 14, when Jackal tortured Kiana and she didn't feel any pain? As far as I know, spiciness is a form of pain.]
[In other words… paramecium might no longer feel pain? …I actually thanked the writers for going easy, but turns out they set me up for this!!]
[Good job, miHoYo writers!! (tears) (tears)]
Then came the final blow from the game.
The screen changed to Mei alone, returning to the kitchen.
Ssssshh—
Water flowed continuously.
Mei bowed her head, silently washing the dishes.
Water slid past her fingertips, dropped, shattered, disappeared into a small whirlpool.
The kitchen was eerily quiet.
Until a choking sob broke the silence.
"Idiot…"
Mei's tears fell like broken pearls onto the plate.
"Sweet pepper curry… how could it possibly be spicy…"
At that moment—
Many viewers who were eating curry while watching the stream froze.
They were still holding their spoons, their mouths still stuffed with curry.
That warmth seemed to seep deep into their hearts—
But in reality, it pierced them like countless invisible blades, cutting them beyond recognition.
They couldn't swallow that bite of curry.
Their whole bodies ached, and the tears wouldn't stop.
They just wanted to enjoy some curry—why did they have to get stabbed too?! Are you people even human!?