To create Honkai Impact 3rd in a world where Kallen exists.

Vervi said seriously, "I'll tell you everything."

"Now, only you can do this: open a passage to the outside world so that this strike can be effective in the most critical place."

She spoke earnestly, this time without the exaggerated tone she used to have.

Pado, still stammering and acting furtively, took two steps back, wanting to get away from this place of trouble.

She indicated that she didn't understand any of this, so perhaps... she should try asking someone else?

As he spoke, he moved a few more steps, preparing to repeat the same trick as before.

Unexpectedly...

"Okay, goodbye."

Wilvi nodded to her and said goodbye with a smile.

It was as if she wasn't the one who was anxious just moments ago.

"Ah—?" Pado's steps faltered involuntarily.

This completely unobstructed attitude made her stop and glance at the other person again.

Yet he still maintained a calm expression.

Vilvi spread her hands, frankly stating that the only purpose of her back door was to keep Pado conscious; everything else, including whether the plan succeeded, was irrelevant to her, and she couldn't force anyone to do anything about it.

"You don't need to do what you're supposed to do, just do what you want to do."

She spoke with a meaningful look in her eyes, watching Pado retreat further and further away.

Paddo paused for a moment, as if she had heard what the other person said, but still left without looking back.

For someone who longs for an ordinary life, becoming a hero seems incredibly far away... yet it's closer than she ever imagined.

This girl named Padofelis doesn't seem to be the kind of person who has any sense of purpose.

...

In the Golden Courtyard

"Go do what you want to do... Next time, wouldn't it be better if you explained things more clearly, Sister Velvi?"

Pado couldn't help but mutter a low rebuke.

Now, it's themselves who are suffering.

"So, Little Paddo is actually the final piece of the Velvet Plan? That's unexpected... But I believe in Paddo, you know~"

"Padoo..."

Alicia deliberately dragged out the last syllable, and said in a sweet voice, "But she's a very helpful and kind person."

"Hey, Sister Aili, don't put pressure on me... Being a hero is so hard."

Pado sighed helplessly, feeling that she was simply not cut out for that kind of thing.

I wonder who tricked her into going to her death... Could it be that she really decided to die on her own?

Different from the self in paradise.

Now, after checking some information... no, she didn't even need to check, just looking at the information others had investigated, she saw herself in the list of those facing the end, along with the words "died in battle."

She was a little dazed, but also secretly relieved.

At least she can still be companions with the heroes, right? She... isn't as shameful as I imagined.

When doing voice acting, her feelings became even more complicated. Did she make the same choice in the past and in the parallel future?

die……

There were opportunities for survival all around, yet it was as if they only saw that one path.

“There’s no need to force yourself to be a hero. Just like Vilvi said, do what you want to do.”

Kevin murmured those two words, words he used to say all the time in his youth. They weren't familiar, yet they still felt foreign.

He...failed to fulfill his promise, neither becoming a hero to one man nor saving the world.

"Do what you want to do..."

Pado hesitated, then drew out her words and whispered, "I just want to sunbathe and do some shopping... It doesn't sound like Yingjie at all..."

Alicia smiled for a moment, looking at Paddo's conflicted expression.

Of course, soon it was Paddo's turn to make her look conflicted.

...

What a weirdo.

As the journey grew ever longer, Pado thought to herself.

If only she had ignored him from the start, she sighed inwardly, but her steps were so heavy that she could hardly move, as if her usual lightness had inexplicably vanished.

Her pupils were unfocused as she walked aimlessly, as long as she wasn't heading towards that place, that door.

Besides... besides... she did make some contributions, didn't she?

She helped Su Ge find Boss Kevin!

"Really... why do we have to risk our lives like this?"

"Isn't it nice to live in this illusion? We... are just data after all."

She couldn't help but mutter complaints to herself, her bitterness and fear clearly visible on her face.

The question of life and death was placed before her. She was just an ordinary person who had always wanted a peaceful and stable life.

Everything here is exactly as she imagined, just like in the paradise she had been to before... If she were alone, would anyone choose between a carefree life and a painful death?

She was torn apart by a difficult choice, which tormented her greatly.

No one forced her, no one took her place... At this moment, she wished someone would just hold her down and take her away, even if it was done by force!

But... life and death, companions and herself, appeared on opposite ends of the scale, leaving her to choose.

"But……"

"Everything here is perfect... so why... do I still feel resentful?"

Paddy muttered to herself, clenching her fists, feeling every drop of blood in her body trembling.

She had similar feelings in the past when she stood in front of her comrades' tombstones with gifts.

Unfounded claims can take a long time to dissipate.

"..."

She remained silent for a long time, her eyes gradually becoming sorrowful yet resolute. "Alright... alright, since only I can do it..."

Just this once! The last time!

She gritted her teeth, never imagining that one day she would actually experience the kind of scenario she always saw in stories.

She never wanted to make that kind of sacrifice.

Just like... just like... how can you lose money in business? She couldn't find a suitable analogy.

But she still ran quickly toward the key point, much faster than when she was fleeing.

"Use the Thousand Realms One Vehicle technique to guide them, then immediately escape!"

Pado thought to herself, using her abilities to create space and guide Kevin and the others on their way.

Then, he lightened his grip and quickly prepared to escape.

She had seen Kevin's attacks before; even a slight touch would turn Pado into a charred Pado.

But before she could run a few steps, the black hole that had been stretched open quickly contracted back into place.

The scale is too large to sustain itself.

She was stunned and collapsed to the ground.

"...I don't care, I don't care."

"The life I want is so simple... all I need is sunshine to bask in and a nap to take..."

"Just for this kind of life, do I have to work myself to the bone again and again?"

She asked herself honestly, and she wasn't greedy.

An ordinary person doesn't necessarily have to go through hardships and obstacles to get what they want, right?

If that passage is maintained at the scene, at the inevitable point of attack... the outcome is obvious.

She was most afraid of dying.

She imagined herself in reality; given her fear of death and her good fortune, as long as she didn't deliberately seek death, she would surely have survived...

In the end, there's no way we'd need her to fight back, right?

Her chances of surviving are still quite high.

So... in real life, she must have made the same decision...

Pado's escape never stopped.

"But...but..."

Why did her attempts to escape fail to get her out of the vortex, instead causing her to return to the passageway?

Pado pursed her lips, looking at the familiar passage not far away, and gave herself a reason, asking and answering her own question.

"But... since we're just mortals... it's understandable that we might make a foolish mistake once in a while..."

"Sister Aili, I never do business at a loss."

"You...you absolutely must come back."

She stretched out one of her hands, which was still trembling in her vision, but the path that was about to disappear finally stopped its gradual dimming.

"I know... if it weren't for good luck, I would never have been chosen by you to be one of them..."

"It's impossible... for me to stay here with everyone."

"So... Sister Ellie... at least, I can't let you regret the decision you made back then."