The voice actor for Otto.
Su Luo hadn't actually decided on one.
"Rita, you want me to voice Otto?"
Su Luo recalled the Herrscher of Sentience's complaints about Otto in 'Wings of Rebirth.'
The Herrscher of Sentience had once griped that Otto was like the scriptwriter—whatever he said, went; everything was part of his plan anyway.
Please no, Su Luo really wasn't interested in this kind of meta-joking.
"The boss is unwilling?"
"I just feel it's not quite suitable," Su Luo said honestly. He wasn't some Kallen zealot.
"As Rita sees it, no one is more suitable than you."
Rita pressed her legs together, her hands folded neatly on her lap. It was as if she were deliberately flattering him, yet also as if she were serious.
It made it hard to discern her thoughts.
"If you were our Lord Bishop, I would have absolutely no objections."
"Or perhaps, are you averse to Otto Apocalypse being a villain in Honkai Impact 3rd?"
She tilted her head slightly, looking at Su Luo. Her wine-red eyes seemed to ripple with waves, exuding a sense of depth.
"That's not it," Su Luo shook his head.
Although Otto was the kind of villain that, upon his death, would make people want to confirm if he was truly, thoroughly dead—and if not, personally deliver the final blow.
But he was also a man for whom people would willingly offer flowers at his grave after his passing.
He wouldn't be liked by everyone, but he wouldn't be despised either.
"In that case, what is Boss still hesitating about?"
Rita paused, then used Su Luo's own words against him. "Just as you said earlier, Honkai Impact 3rd belongs to everyone at miHoYo. Everyone would also hope that you can leave your mark in Honkai Impact 3rd."
"That's right, Su Luo. Why are you so resistant? Is it because becoming a game character, and voicing a game character, is a bad thing?" Durandal also asked from the side.
"...Of course not. Alright, I'll give it a try."
To avoid arousing Durandal's suspicion, Su Luo had no choice but to lead by example.
Regarding Durandal joining miHoYo, only Kiana was a bit surprised.
The others all warmly welcomed Kiana's sister.
Su Luo had Himeko show Durandal around and get her acquainted with the work, while he himself returned to his office to continue striving for the creation of Honkai Impact 3rd.
Until the multicolored neon lights flickered outside the window.
Su Luo, who had been busy until now, left his office and came out to the pitch-dark office area.
Well, not entirely pitch-dark.
The light at Kiana's workstation was still on.
A girl was chewing on the end of her pen, hunched over her desk, writing furiously.
A thick stack of drafts was piled beside her, and the floor beneath her feet was littered with crumpled paper balls. From time to time, she would vigorously ruffle her hair, turning it into a bird's nest.
"Kiana?"
Su Luo reached out and picked up the stack of drafts. On them were various segments of plot text.
Undoubtedly, Kiana was working hard in secret.
He raised an eyebrow slightly.
Actually, Su Luo had always felt that Kiana—who hadn't experienced the Final Lesson, hadn't gone through the love-hate relationship with Mei, and still had all her friends by her side—
Should have luckily retained that green, flighty personality.
Yes, luckily. After all, he had always felt that an overly mature Kiana had endured far too much.
So, being a bit green wasn't a bad thing.
However, looking at it now, it seemed he had been too presumptive.
Kiana, having grown up normally in a normal world, though flighty, also possessed a mature side.
"Boss?" Kiana noticed the movement beside her and looked up.
"Just call me Su Luo."
"Su Luo? Hey, I think that's better too. 'Boss, Boss' feels a bit distant."
"Not heading home so late, still writing scripts here?"
Su Luo held the drafts and teased with a lighthearted smile, "The studio has no money right now, so I can't give you any overtime pay."
Kiana, however, belatedly looked out the window. "Huh? It's already this late?"
"Never mind, let's not talk about that first."
She shook her head and pointed at the drafts in Su Luo's hand. "I've thought about it carefully. You've taken charge of the main storyline, so I can't really help there. But games always need side story events, right? I can help write the side stories!"
Su Luo looked at Kiana a few more times, surprised. "Is this your own idea?"
"Of course. Is there a problem?"
"...No, no problem at all."
He read through them seriously. "You wrote a script about a virtual character invading reality this time?"
"Mhm, what do you think?"
"It's quite interesting. However, I think instead of writing about an invasion of reality, it would be better to write about Honkai Impact 3rd characters invading miHoYo, especially adding a plot where all the game characters team up to beat up the scriptwriter."
"Why?" Kiana's eyes widened in innocent confusion, not quite understanding.
Su Luo, with a confident smile, said:
"Kiana, believe me. After the game launches and the plot gradually updates, this kind of event will definitely be very popular with the players."
"Hmm...?"
Kiana, still puzzled, left the studio with Su Luo. During this time, Su Luo also used Battle Through the Heavens as an example to share many writing tips with Kiana.
For instance, building anticipation, how to grasp the reader's emotions.
Although Battle Through the Heavens was considered a simple web novel in the public eye, something simpler and more direct was better for learning.
Even if he talked to Kiana about Lord of the Mysteries or other books, she might not be able to understand the main plot structures of those books well at her current stage.
They continued until they reached the outside of the office building, where they parted ways.
It was late, and there were hardly any pedestrians on the road.
A cold wind blew.
"Hiss, a bit cold." Kiana rubbed her arms.
Tap, tap~~
A white and orange interwoven jacket was draped over her shoulders.
"Mei?"
"Were you with Su Luo just now?"
"Mhm, mhm, let me tell you, Su Luo is amazing. He taught me so much new knowledge."
"..."
Mei looked at the excited Kiana, her initially somewhat strange gaze turning into one of helpless affection.
"Alright, alright, let's go home. I'll make you something delicious."
"Mei is the best~~"
Kiana threw her arms around Mei in a hug.
...
...
After experiencing the initial arrival and discovery that miHoYo was full of Valkyries, Durandal's interview, and a few other events.
Life settled into tranquility.
In the blink of an eye, four months passed.
Thanks to the extremely detailed data provided by the system.
By the time September arrived, Honkai Impact 3rd had been produced.
On the day of the game's public beta launch.
Mei: [I'll have to trouble you again this time.]
Elysia: [It's no problem at all! I'll definitely help Mei. Besides, I've seen the promotional CG, and Honkai Impact 3rd looks like it will be very interesting.]
On Pilipili, there was a virtual streamer named Elysia, who had millions of fans.
Her avatar was a stunningly beautiful, pink-haired elven lady who seemed to embody all the beauty in the world.
She attracted audiences with her optimistic, cheerful, innocent, and pure personality, as well as her wonderfully bizarre stream content.
At six in the evening, Miss Pink Elf♪ started her stream right on time.
Pink fluorescence appeared in the stream room, along with a gentle voice.
"From between the canopy of heaven and the stars and moon."
The fluorescence converged in the center of the stream room, forming a pink crystal.
"Upon the withered and barren, love's myriad flower-shadows bloom."
The pink crystal shattered, scattering into countless petals, as the graceful elven lady floated amidst the rain of flowers.
"The maiden as bashful as a flower, Elysia—that's me!"
"Does everyone like my opening lines this time?"