Kiana cleared her mind and continued with the story.
Vill-V's conversation with Mei was finally, barely back on track.
As for the chaos in the Elysian Realm, Vill-V explained that it was caused by her use of a Realm-specialized weapon—Model 92, specifically built for countering Kevin.
Upon hearing "Kevin Countermeasure Armament," everyone couldn't help but think: Kevin must find Vill-V's naming sense very humorous, right?
Kiana even said it aloud: "Is Vill-V in the Realm just the kind of comic relief character meant to liven things up?"
Most people who heard that line didn't think much of it—except Hokuto, who knew the later plot and was left speechless.
Comic relief? Liven things up?
A comic relief who offed a certain Pardofelis to spice things up?
While Hokuto silently grumbled in his heart, Elysia heard Kiana's question and after thinking for a moment, answered:
"The real Vill-V is definitely great at keeping the mood fun. I just don't know if the in-game Vill-V is the same."
She paused, then added, "But… it seems like they're pretty similar?"
"Pretty similar?"
"Mhm. Loves magic shows, creating 'surprises'… even the performance style is astonishingly alike. It may look dangerous, but it's always zero casualties."
Kiana: "..."
Zero casualties in a magic act—isn't that supposed to be the default?
Why bring that up like it's some amazing achievement?
Kiana fell silent for a moment.
A few bullet comments floated by in the stream.
[Try again next time and aim for improvement.]
[...]
[Mr. Magician said: please don't ever call me again.]
...
Kiana didn't continue discussing Vill-V with Elysia.
She figured if she kept watching the story, she'd eventually find out what kind of person Vill-V really was.
After the conversation about "Model 92," Vill-V presented her grand finale.
"Well then, ladies… ah, seems there are no gentlemen. Open your eyes wide, for the climax of today's performance… is about to begin!"
"Twist [meaning], subvert [reason], forge fantasy with [reality], and cast miracles from the [unknown]."
"The curtain rises—hear the cheers as gears mesh; behold the spiraling contradiction of the [Helix]!"
With a festive speech very much in Vill-V's style, she handed over the [Helix] Signet to Mei.
Though she appeared to be bestowing a Signet, she had tampered with it—planning to perform a new type of grand magic trick: reviving the "living."
As a result, Mei passed out immediately after receiving the Signet.
But before Vill-V could "resurrect" her, Aponia intervened and woke Mei up.
To ensure the prophecy's fulfillment, she wouldn't allow Mei's life to end prematurely.
Perhaps that very act gave Mei the inspiration for what would happen next—"roll over here."
When Mei awoke, she realized she'd nearly been buried by Pardofelis, who thought she was dead.
As Kiana pushed the story to that point, her hands hesitated.
Normally, this would be the time to get a proper medical examination...
And the Elysian Realm had quite a few doctors.
Mobius… um, let's not. Taking Mei to Mobius would probably result in a full autopsy before anyone even realized the cause of death was… the autopsy.
Su… uh, he never opens his eyes. Could he really diagnose anyone like that?
Who else…
After a round of thinking, she shook her head slightly.
There really wasn't a single reliable doctor in the Realm. What if a contagious disease broke out?
Well, memory constructs probably don't get sick anyway.
She was overthinking.
...
After waking up, Mei resumed her investigation into Aponia.
This persistent determination made Elysia comment during the stream:
"To think Aponia could haunt Mei this much… I'm honestly a little jealous."
As the investigation continued, Mei learned from Sakura that Aponia had once run a sanatorium in Twilight Street, housing patients infected with Honkai disease—but unintentionally triggered an outbreak.
All the patients were killed by Sakura, who had come to eliminate the infection.
That event led Aponia and Kalpas to become Flame-Chasers.
Counting Pardofelis, there were now three Flame-Chasers who hailed from Twilight Street.
Mei couldn't help but sigh, "Twilight Street… really is a place of 'endless talent,' huh."
[The world is big, yet Twilight Street alone produced three Flame-Chasers. Definitely a talent hotbed.]
[Twilight Street: where talent thrives. Sanatorium: where tigers and dragons hide. Flame-Chasers: the folk are simple and sincere.]
[This reminds me—how does St. Freya Academy compare? Four Herrschers in one school versus three from Twilight Street?]
[In terms of numbers: 4 vs 3. I vote for the Eastern Magic Cavern.]
[In combat strength alone, Twilight Street might win? I vote Twilight Street.]
Although the topic was drifting wildly…
It happened to be one Elysia found quite fun, and she excitedly joined the discussion.
But when someone asked which side she would vote for, she predictably hesitated.
She liked the Twilight Street gang, but she also liked the St. Freya gang.
"I think everyone would allow someone as cute as me—like a flower—to cast two votes from a 'maiden's heart,' right~~"
"That's such a typically greedy Elysia answer," Hokuto quipped.
"Greedy? I mean, every cute girl is a unique treasure. Missing even one would make me regret it for a long, long time."
"..."
At that moment, Kiana also glanced at the stream chat.
If she had to vote, it'd definitely be for the Eastern Magic Cav—no no no, the audience got her all mixed up.
Of course she'd vote for St. Freya Academy.
The Flame-Chasers are strong, but they've already peaked.
Kiana and the others? They still have a future ahead.
Who knows, maybe some super transformation is waiting for them.
Right?
...
After a while, the atmosphere in the stream cooled slightly.
Kiana returned her focus to progressing the story.
After finishing her talk with Sakura, Mei planned to continue probing other Flame-Chasers about Aponia.
But she hadn't gone far before spotting Elysia and Griseo together.
Curiosity drove her to approach.
Elysia was saying to Griseo, "Ah, perhaps… I've been spending too much time with you."
Griseo: "Mm."
Elysia: "Looks like I should leave soon~ If this goes on, someone might get upset."
Just then, she noticed Mei approaching and called out:
"Ah, Mei, you're just in time! I was just about to go find you. Come help me 'mediate' a bit."
"Mediation?"
A trace of confusion flashed across Mei's face.
The players also paid close attention, curious about what was going to happen next.
Before Elysia could explain, Griseo greeted Mei.
And the way she greeted her was… very familiar.
So familiar that it shocked and stunned the players.
"Ah, Mei-oneechan… hi, did you miss me?"
Mei: "...?"
Players: "...?"
Did they hear that right?
Griseo just spoke in Elysia's tone and used her favorite phrase?
"Why is Griseo suddenly acting like Elysia?"
[Feels like the kid just got corrupted.]
[I spat water all over my keyboard.]
[Elysia, don't corrupt the children!!]
Mei's thoughts probably aligned with the audience—she looked at Elysia with a weird expression.
Seeing this, Elysia quickly explained the reason.
This was Griseo's "special trait." She was like a blank canvas—while she had her own material and texture, she was easily influenced by others' colors, thus mimicking them.
After the explanation, Elysia even seriously warned Mei:
"Mei, you must strictly control your time with Griseo~ If one day she starts saying something like 'Paintbrush, submit to me'... no no no, that'd be way too weird."
[Shouldn't it be "I can't draw anything"?]
[Roar, Kosma.]
[Too weird. Way too weird. I've decided to hear it again… no, ten times: 'Paintbrush, submit to me'? Hahaha.]
Despite Elysia's repeated warnings, Griseo still ended up saying it herself:
"Paintbrush, submit to me."
Should we call it unfortunate?
Or just say—well done, MiHoYo.
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