【"Maybe... that Anaxa left it using 'alchemy,' wanting to tell us what to do?" Mimi guessed.】

【Trianne lowered her head and thought for a moment, then said, "Trianne doesn't think so. Because when Trianne picked it up, she didn't see anything... and looking at the golden thread, that aura seemed to be running all over the place!"】

【"...Lady Trianne, where is the position of that aura now?"】

【"Um..." Trianne closed her eyes and sensed it for a bit. "It seems... to be in a slightly higher place, not far ahead of us."】

【Castorice lowered her head, sinking into deep thought: "Calypso... what exactly are you hiding?"】

【The three of them continued forward. When the path passed through a cave, it was blocked by a twisted mass of giant tree vines. Countless golden butterflies perched on the vines; from a distance, it looked as if the giant tree was draped in a golden raiment.】

【"Unbelievable. Is it to resist the Black Tide, or..."】

【Tribbie curiously looked at those golden butterflies in the air: "What exactly are these 'Gentleman's Butterflies'? Are they powerful gatekeeping monsters?"】

【"No, how should I put it... they are more like a safeguard for the Titan Spark. These butterflies are transformed from Mnestia's remaining divine sense, tasked with the duty of guarding the spark. It is said that only by proving one's heart contains 'pure selfless love' can one pass the butterflies' trial, awaken the giant tree to clear the path, and have an audience with Celsis."】

【Tribbie was stunned for a moment: "Then... how do we prove it?"】

【Mimi was the first to fly out: "Is it enough to just say 'I love you' to the Nautilus? Mimi is very good at that!"】

【Castorice lowered her head in guilt: "Sorry, I don't know either... after all, this is a secret among secrets known to only a very few people in the entire Arbor Court, or even in Amphoreus. More importantly—Lady Trianne, has the golden thread produced any reaction to the surroundings?"】

【Tribbie shook her head: "No. Whatever that thing is, it seems to be even further ahead, and higher up."】

——

Honkai Impact 3rd.

"Pure selfless love?" Eden gently swirled the wine glass in her hand. Through the curved wall of the glass, her gaze fell tenderly on the pink-haired young girl wearing a Mimi hat opposite her, and a knowing smile played on her lips.

"If we're talking about 'pure' and'selfless,' I think there might be a most suitable candidate right here." Eden smiled at her, "Don't you agree? Elysia?"

The named young girl first froze for a moment, then cupped her face in her hands. Although she tried hard to put on a bashful look, there was no expression of shyness on her face at all.

"Oh my, Eden, if you praise me like that, I'll get embarrassed♪" Elysia winked playfully. "But... since Eden said so, I'll admit it openly! After all, a girl as cute, kind, and full of love as me was indeed born for 'love'~"

"But even so, Elysia can't go into the Celestial Screen to help them overcome the difficulties," Pardo muttered softly. "Do Castorice and Star have 'pure selfless love'? It feels like anyone who can meet that condition isn't an ordinary person..."

"Indeed, if you ask me for the candidate in the Celestial Screen closest to that answer, there is only one person..."

"Sunday."

Mobius took up the conversation indifferently. "That man's'selflessness' is obvious to all; his 'love' is closer to the lofty concept of 'God's love for the world.' Although that guy is incredibly controlling, he is indeed outrageously pure."

"Surely Mnestia would allow that kind of 'love' full of control and devotion? After all, who could refuse a 'god' willing to sacrifice himself for you?"

——

【"Maybe we can try... will the dissipating butterflies react to the 'Oath of the Golden Branch'? If it truly is a token from myth, it should have an effect."】

【At Castorice's suggestion, Star took a petal from the lotus and presented it with both hands.】

【The butterflies remained motionless.】

【Star, based on her own understanding of the general standards of human society, believed that competitiveness is an instinct of life—the butterflies should be no exception—and plundering common prey would surely awaken this primal instinct hidden deep in their genes.】

【Star put on an extremely provocative expression while munch munching the flower petal.】

【Castorice: "...?"】

【Castorice didn't understand, but she was deeply impressed.】

【Regrettably, the butterflies did not accept her duel invitation, so she had to give up. Castorice also recited the previous prayer again, but it was still ineffective.】

【Just as the two were at a loss, Tribbie's cry for help suddenly came from outside the tree hollow. The two rushed out and followed the sound to a closed, dark room.】

【On a platform below the room, Mimi was surrounded by two hungry Strange Beasts. She had flown onto a large piece of amber, which was constantly emitting high heat and roasting her.】

【Using Oronis's Miracle Orb, the three of them quickly reached the platform below and dispatched the Strange Beasts. After successfully rescuing Mimi, Castorice's gaze was firmly caught by that giant piece of amber.】

【"It's good that everyone is okay. Back to the point, this amber is...?"】

【"...It's the residue of Mnestia's spark."】

【Calypso suddenly appeared behind them and walked slowly beneath the amber. "As long as you gather the remaining embers before you with the Oath of the Golden Branch and offer them to the Divine Butterfly, you can proceed to the throne of the canopy."】

【Tribbie was startled by her: "Waaah... where did you pop out from?!"】

【"You've finally appeared... Your Excellency Calypso."】

【"Mm... it has been some time since we last met. That battle just now was thoroughly satisfying, and my heart is truly delighted... It seems I can indeed rely on you all to reclaim my true body."】

——

God's Blessing on This Wonderful World!

"Reclaim her true body...?" Kazuma frowned, not quite understanding the meaning of those words for a moment. "...Could it be that she didn't voluntarily separate her soul like Anaxa did?"

"Heh heh heh... Kazuma, your understanding of Amphoreus is still insufficient."

Megumin spoke in an aria-like tone, thumping the staff in her hand heavily on the ground.

"That woman... Calypso, she didn't do it voluntarily. My eyes have long since seen through everything!" Megumin raised her hand and pointed toward the Celestial Screen, as if the prologue of an epic was unfolding there. "She is the 'Forbidden Shadow of Amphoreus'! Surely, during the Black Tide crisis, she used her own body to seal the indescribable evil thing within the Black Tide, or to save Anaxa, she turned her body into a vessel... and was forced to become a wandering spirit roaming the world!"