This apology echoed clearly in the laboratory, which was silent enough to hear a pin drop.
"I offer my deepest apologies for all the pain and suffering you endured fifty thousand years ago, indirectly caused by my Discipline..."
Aponia's voice remained steady, but the heaviness within it was clearly conveyed to everyone's heart. "I have never forgotten this sin, nor will I ever evade it."
Rin's eyes widened. Fifty thousand years ago? Discipline? Why was Sister Aponia apologizing to her? She couldn't understand what it meant at all.
"Aponia..." Elysia called out softly, her gaze complex.
The displeasure radiating from Kalpas grew more intense. "Apology?! Can a flimsy apology erase everything that happened?! Do you know that Rin at that time—"
"Kalpas." Sakura interrupted Kalpas. She looked at Aponia, who maintained her bowing posture. "I am already clear on what happened in the past."
"I cannot say you were wrong, but I also have no way to forgive you on Rin's behalf."
"Elder Sister, what are you all talking about?" Rin scratched her head, her eyes filled with clear ignorance. "What did Sister Aponia do? Why does she have to apologize to me?"
Everyone fell silent at Rin's question. For Rin, she indeed didn't know exactly what Aponia had done, but the others understood all too well.
Wasn't the treatment Rin received before her death a problem caused by Aponia's Discipline? Although everyone understood that Aponia was indeed at fault.
However, were they, who agreed to Aponia imposing the Discipline on everyone, completely without fault? Clearly, among those who agreed at the time, all of them had to bear a share of the responsibility for this matter.
This was the cruelest reality. Even if Rin wasn't aware, they had carried this heavy shackle for fifty thousand years.
Those of them who knew the truth could be said to have lived through these 50,000 years carrying regret.
Aponia straightened up. She looked at Sakura and said calmly, "I understand. I do not seek forgiveness, it is just that... I must speak this apology with my own mouth."
"Regardless of whether Rin knows, my fault already exists."
"To be honest, I still haven't figured out exactly what's going on?" Rin floated up somewhat unsteadily, and finally touched her own tail, a bit unaccustomed to it.
"But why do I have a tail?"
"I don't know." Little Corruption shook her head. "It's not my business. It's probably because your own subconscious thinks you should have fox ears and nine tails."
"Mm, does it have something to do with the other me?" Rin swayed her tail. After all, wasn't Higokumaru a nine-tailed fox? "Forget it, this issue isn't too important."
As Rin spoke, she floated over to Sakura's head and sat down. Feeling the weight on her head, Sakura adjusted her posture slightly so Rin could sit a bit straighter.
"Mm, but can someone explain to me why Sister Aponia wants to apologize to me? And also, why are there two Elder Sister Elysias?"
"Mm~" Elysia wore a smile on her face, pretending not to see Sakura's look of refusal, and gently lifted Rin down from Sakura's head.
"Explaining this is a bit troublesome~" Elysia's hands dishonestly stroked Rin's tail and ears, ignoring the unkind look coming from Sakura.
If Elysia were afraid, she wouldn't have stepped forward to hug Rin. Besides, it wasn't like she wouldn't return her later, right? Just a little petting, just petting~
"It's okay, I have plenty of time~" Rin rested her chin on her hand, enjoying Elysia's stroking. "Mm, by the way, how about explaining where I am first? And why I can still see Elder Sister?"
"Mm, I feel like my kind isn't very smart." Little Corruption looked at Rin and scratched her head. Noticing this question only now—isn't her reflex arc a bit too long?
"Alright, alright, shut up for now." Irene pulled Little Corruption over. "This is a matter for the Previous Era people, let's not get involved."
"Oh, oh." Little Corruption nodded and stood to the side with Irene, speaking no more. This was a matter of the Previous Era; having finished their task, they indeed shouldn't say much more.
"Mm, this place is the Elysian Realm." While continuing to stroke Rin, Elysia explained to Rin where she was currently. "That blue-purple me over there is my little sister."
As soon as Elysia finished speaking, she was met with Rin's stare. "Sister Elysia is trying to fool people again. I'm not so dense that I can't discover her identity. It's just, how long have I been asleep?!"
As an existence from the same root and source, Rin had discovered that Little Corruption's identity was another Herrscher of Corruption the moment she looked over. What she found strange was just how long she had been in a coma.
And why did that Little Corruption look so honest, and exactly like Sister Elysia?
As for the Elysian Realm, there were a few who often told interesting stories, including things about the Elysian Realm. She knew very well that her real sister was dead.
She could also understand that she herself had actually died in reality. The current her and the Sister in the Elysian Realm could basically count as echoes of the past.
In this regard, it was six of one and half a dozen of the other, so Rin had no objections. Being able to continue being with her sister was enough; as for other things, it was hard to ask for more.
"Mm, explaining this part is a bit complicated." Elysia looked at Irene. "Mm, anyway, just treat it as Miss Irene's special ability."
"You can ask her about the rest if you have time."
"Oh." Rin nodded obediently. "Then, why exactly did Sister Aponia want to apologize to me? Is it... related to my death?"
As Rin's words fell, everyone around suddenly stopped talking. Rin just had a face full of sincerity; this wasn't hard to guess. Rin wasn't a stupid child.
She actually didn't have much deep contact with Aponia; she only knew her because of her sister. Furthermore, she didn't think there was anything between her and Aponia that would require Aponia to come specifically to apologize.
So, since it wasn't because she was angry, it must be something about after she died, or the death itself, that required Aponia to apologize to her.
"Yes." Aponia nodded. "Your death, and everything you encountered before your death, the unfair treatment, it all became like that because of me."
Subsequently, Aponia told Rin about the Discipline she imposed, how the content of the Discipline was radicalized by everyone, eventually leading to Rin's death, and even the reason why Rin suffered such treatment upon dying.
After listening, Rin fell into silence. Her gaze looking at Aponia fluctuated slightly. After a good while, Rin finally sighed.
"So that's how it is." Rin said softly, her voice landing in the silent laboratory like a feather. She floated in the air, her nine tails swaying gently and unconsciously.
Aponia looked at Rin calmly. She was prepared for Rin to make any move. Whatever she did, Aponia would accept it.
Even if Rin wanted revenge on her, it would be the same. Mm, in Aponia's vision, those clear eyes of Rin held no anger or resentment, but rather a kind of... understanding calm.
"So, it wasn't you who hurt me with your own hands, Sister Aponia, right?" Rin looked at Aponia, her tone surprisingly calm.
"It was that Discipline. It made everyone who was afraid of me and didn't understand me at that time make the worst choice."
Aponia remained silent and nodded. To her ears, this phrasing of "not with your own hands" sounded more like shirking responsibility, which she did not want to admit.
Even if others asked her to do it, and everyone agreed, it was still the Discipline she personally imposed on everyone. She would not flee from this sin.
But Rin smiled at Aponia, floated out of Elysia's hands, and floated in front of Aponia. "I understand, Sister Aponia. Thank you for telling me. And thank you for your apology."
Hearing Rin's words, the others hadn't reacted yet, but Kalpas's brows twitched slightly under his mask. He seemed to want to say something, but was stopped by a look from Sakura.
After stopping Kalpas, Sakura just watched her sister quietly, her eyes complex. Beneath that complexity, there was also a trace of heartache that was hard to detect.
"Rin, you..." Aponia looked at Rin, also somewhat surprised. "Why?"
"Because, hating someone is very tiring." Rin's tone was lighthearted, as if speaking of the simplest thing. "Besides, Sister Aponia looks even sadder than me."
"If I kept being angry, or cried and said I would absolutely never forgive you, Sister Aponia would continue to be this sad, right? Elder Sister, you would also keep worrying."
Then Rin looked at Kalpas: "And Brother Kalpas would definitely be even angrier, and might go smash things again. And I feel it's enough."
Rin swayed her tail, her tone carrying a clarity born of enduring hardships: "I've already died once. The matter with Higokumaru is also in the past."
"Being able to see Elder Sister again now, and being with everyone, I'm already very happy. Why let the unhappiness of the past continue to torture oneself?"
If it were back in that time, she indeed might have been very angry, but 50,000 years had passed. Rin had had a very long time to think.
Many things had long since turned to dust over the 50,000 years. As for the people who killed her back then, she had already completed her revenge long ago.
The final riot also made everyone else pay the price, a tragic price, to the point that everything they were once familiar with had become void.
Sister Aponia had also been tortured by this guilt for these 50,000 years. 50,000 years, that was too long. Long enough to reach the point of not wanting to care anymore.
Moreover, Rin had also figured it out during these 50,000 years. The source of all tragedies might involve human error, but in the final analysis, the source was all the Honkai.
Including now, it was the same. Regardless of whether something went wrong with Sister Aponia's ability, the cause of all this was ultimately the Honkai.
If not for the Honkai, she wouldn't have become a Herrscher. If not for the Honkai, people wouldn't have been pushed to that extent. If not for the Honkai, the world wouldn't have become like that.
Since that was the case, infighting and such were truly too unnecessary. So let this matter pass; this was good for everyone.
Aponia looked deeply at Rin. The air around them fell into silence. The silent atmosphere caused two small heads to poke out from the laboratory door, peeking at the situation inside.
After remaining silent for a very long time, Aponia looked at Rin: "...Thank you."
Seeing the atmosphere soften, Elysia immediately laughed, breaking the heavy mood:
"Oh my, our little Rin is indeed the kindest, cutest child in the world!"
"Today is the great day of Rin's awakening, we should be happy!"
As Elysia spoke, she pulled Rin into her arms again, nuzzled her cheek, and took the opportunity to stroke that fluffy tail once more.
Then, she gently returned Rin to Sakura. Sakura held Rin tightly in her arms, stroking her constantly. Rin must have suffered a lot during these 50,000 years; she had to find a way to make it up to Rin properly.
"Hmph, suit yourselves." Kalpas, seeing the situation, couldn't say much more. He could only cross his arms and hmph coldly, but the violent aura around him had indeed dissipated quite a bit.
And seeing that there was no business for him here now, he prepared to turn and leave. While turning, Kalpas glanced at Aponia, but said nothing more, considering it a tacit acceptance of this result.
Mobius yawned, seeming to have lost interest in this emotional drama. Anyway, a certain little fellow had been saved, so she should go research something else.
"Since the problem is solved, can unrelated personnel leave my laboratory? Klein, record the data."
"Understood." Klein nodded and walked to the computer on the side to start getting busy.
After arranging Klein, Mobius turned her gaze to Nuwa and Fuxi, who were poking their heads out at the door, and said in a faint tone: "Nuwa, Fuxi, is your work done?"
Nuwa and Fuxi, having been named, immediately shrank their necks. Not daring to say a single word, they immediately returned to their original workstations and resumed being busy. Mm, at least they looked like they were busy.
Little Corruption quietly pulled Irene's sleeve and whispered, "Miss Irene, is this matter considered resolved? Should we also get going?"
"It looks like it's resolved. Mm, finally got this matter settled, though it wasn't the method I thought of." Irene smiled, feeling relieved in her heart.
Being able to resolve it peacefully like this was naturally for the best. Otherwise, if a fight broke out, Irene would have a headache too. Fortunately, Rin herself had long since come to terms with this matter.
Thinking this, Irene walked towards the outside. But just as Irene made a move, Mobius's leisurely voice came from behind.
"Where are you planning to go? Rin's matter is resolved, so I have time to fully tutor you now. Do you still want to rest?"
Hearing Mobius's voice, Irene took a deep breath, turned her head back with a smile on her face: "Of course not, Dr. Mobius."
"Where shall we continue from?"
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