"Mhm, really looking forward to it."
Elysia and Eden discussed and recapped the previous storyline together, then continued progressing the plot.
After watching Kosma's social-death-tier scene, everyone had their own reactions.
For example, Elysia deliberately teased Kosma until he nearly couldn't resist fleeing the scene.
Usually quiet, even he was forced to say, "...Can we change the subject?"
Surprisingly, it was Aponia—who had just been at odds with Kosma—who showed some understanding and volunteered to print a memory from the past to shift the awkward topic.
Though she didn't let everyone see it.
The reason was... "Kids shouldn't see this file."
Players immediately flooded the stream with bullet comments like:
[I'm an adult, let me see]
[I'm not a kid]
[The 12+ rating is holding Honkai back]...
Of course, as a wholesome, sunny, and positively-themed game,
Content that "kids shouldn't see" would never appear in-game no matter what.
So, in the story, Aponia casually made an excuse and left the Garden with Griseo and Kosma.
Watching them go, Mei and Elysia chatted as they returned to the Records Room.
Now that the typewriter had been repaired, Elysia planned to continue showing Mei her memories.
The next segment took place right after the [Sixth Eruption] in the Previous Era.
The Herrscher of Death showed signs of human consciousness at the moment of its demise.
But that was only an illusion. Herrschers in the Previous Era couldn't [return to being human].
Humanity paid a heavy price because of it.
Players already knew this story—it had been mentioned in Kevin's Reminiscences.
[Herrschers in the Previous Era couldn't "become human"? Wasn't this a theory from Honkai scholars ages ago?]
[It really was. I think it was mentioned during "Inheritance."]
[??? That early? And no one took out the prophet back then? (doge)]
[How are you so sure you could beat her though? (manual funny emoji)]
[Does no one care why the Herrschers differ between eras?]
As the audience continued discussing—
Elysia's new memory unfolded.
Griseo was chatting with Elysia at the base of the Flame-Chasers.
They barely spoke a few lines before a whole row of question marks flew over players' heads.
"Big sis Elysia," Griseo called sweetly.
Elysia corrected her: "Nope, call me [Little Sis Elysia]~"
Griseo was confused. "Why?"
"Because..."
Elysia smiled brightly as she explained to little Griseo: "If everyone hears you call me that, they'll all be shocked!"
"They'll wonder why. Maybe you saw something they didn't?"
"The looks on their faces would be so funny, don't you think?"
Even though in-game Elysia was referring to the characters, the players all felt like she was talking about them.
Because when they heard Griseo call her [Little Sis Elysia], they had the exact same thoughts.
[???]
[So that's why. I thought there was a deeper reason...]
[Damn, I got played.]
[Feels like the writers at MiHoYo are toying with me.]
...
After coaxing Griseo into calling her "little sister," Elysia brought up Mobius.
"Oh, and remember to call her [Grandma Mobius]."
Griseo tilted her head. "Grandma... won't Auntie Mobius be mad?"
"Aiya, Griseo still doesn't get it."
Elysia crossed her arms with a devilish smirk. "Between the two, [Auntie] is actually way more painful for a girl to hear, you know? But it's fine, you'll understand one day. You can always change it then."
Upon hearing that, the players' expressions went from "???" to "!!"
So it turns out...
All of Griseo's bizarre naming habits were Elysia's fault.
Now that the truth was out—
They couldn't help but feel it was a little ridiculous...
But then again...
Considering it was Elysia, it also made complete sense.
In the story—
Elysia continued her corrupting influence on the child.
Kevin suddenly passed by with his usual expressionless face.
This immediately caught Elysia's attention.
"Oooh... look who's back?"
But Kevin ignored her completely and walked off with a gloomy aura.
As if that would stop Elysia.
Of course not.
She also knew Kevin was still brooding over the incident with the Seventh Herrscher and had even seen a therapist about it (not Su—he hadn't joined the Flame-Chasers yet).
So she decided to take the initiative and catch up with Kevin.
Elysia waved goodbye to Griseo and followed him.
Just past the door—
Kevin was staring out the window, lost in thought, radiating cold air.
"...Brr, chilly," Elysia teased.
"You going for the [cold, handsome guy] vibe now? Is that why you're ignoring me? So sad~ I thought you hated me."
Some players had... odd thoughts at this point.
Given that Kevin had already undergone hyper adaptation surgery,
In a sense, yeah—cold food was the only thing he could eat...
Yikes, that joke was cold.
The players cringed at themselves and quickly pulled their minds back to the plot.
Despite Elysia's attempts to liven the mood, Kevin remained gloomy—no sign of cheering up.
"Thanks for comforting me, but... I just want to be alone for a while. Sorry."
"That's the second time you've said [sorry]. That word doesn't suit you."
Kevin lowered his head. The BGM changed to a melancholic tune.
"Mei said the same. But every time I close my eyes, I see Himeko... she's standing there, smiling, reaching out to me. Like that night at the ball... You were there. Mei was there too..."
"Did you know? When I swung my sword at her, she had the same expression... just like the Sixth Herrscher."
Himeko... the one who brought Hua into the Flame-Chasers. Once Hua's captain. Ultimately killed by Kevin's own hand.
Players who had just laughed at their own bad jokes were now silent.
Some even sighed.
Always killing teammates... no wonder Kevin was so withdrawn.
They finally understood why Kevin had become so unhinged.
In fact, calling him "unhinged" was unfair—he seemed surprisingly normal under the circumstances.
In the game, even Elysia fell quiet.
Kevin's voice was steeped in sorrow: "Sorry... I shouldn't have brought that up."
"It's okay... maybe... you really do need some time alone. I won't bother you anymore."
Elysia finished comforting him and turned to leave.
Kevin couldn't help but speak again: "Elysia... I'm afraid of that dream... but even more afraid... of waking up from it..."
Elysia responded gently as always: "Don't worry, Kevin. You just... haven't met a good [doctor] yet~"
[And then Su shows up—but I bet Kevin would rather he didn't.]
[No wonder Kevin was so cold to Su when he joined.]
[Nothing but knives here.]
[No matter the cost, humanity will defeat the Honkai!]
[That got heavy fast... we were just laughing earlier... the Previous Era memories are so painful. Miss Elf, can we go back to the current Elysian Realm plot now?]
...
Elysia said nothing and tapped the screen again.
The story continued.
Elysia sought out Mobius. Citing that she didn't want to fall behind Kevin, she underwent hyper adaptation surgery and became the second MANTIS in the Flame-Chasers.
That record ended there.
After watching that, even Mei sighed, finally understanding how Kevin had changed from a cheerful boy into an emotional iceberg.
Elysia, however, had her own take.
"Back then, he had a serious psychological disorder. He even tried to distance himself from his companions."
"But I always thought that wasn't his problem—it was his therapist's fault. He could've come to me, you know?"
Something about her tone made players imagine Otto saying:
"Even if he has no therapist left, he still has me."
"If he had, then maybe he wouldn't have been the first MANTIS."
But Elysia only seemed to care about who got to be the "first."
So yeah, when it came to Kevin, Elysia had a weird competitive streak.
"But, if Mei thinks this was a tragic story, you'd be totally wrong~"
Hearing that, players perked up. Could this mean sugar?
Yes—there was sugar.
But as always with Honkai, the sugar came with shards of glass.
Elysia showed Mei a photo from Kevin's birthday party.
From left to right: Dystopia, Kosma, Mei, Kevin, Char, Elysia, Sakura—seven of them, each giving Kevin a gift and celebrating warmly.
[It's sugar! Sweet sweet sweet!]
[So sweet, nothing sweeter than Honkai!]
At first, everyone enjoyed the sweetness.
But soon someone pointed out:
[You're celebrating too soon—think about it. Aside from Kevin, everyone in that photo is dead.]
[What was that about the Thousandth Herrscher again?]
[From candy to knife in one comment. You guys stab harder than the writers.]
[What turned you all into this...?]
They hadn't even been stabbed by the devs—just by fellow players.
Yeah...
After years of Honkai plotlines, they had really "grown up" (distorted face).
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