Chapter 204
[After Elysia obtained the gem from Eden, she excitedly showed it off to Mei: "See? Isn't it adorable? When she gets drunk, she loves chatting with you about these things and giving out gifts."
Mei remained silent, looking at Elysia with eyes that said "you scumbag."
"Don't look at me like that!
I'll properly return it to her later."
"Though she usually doesn't want it back anyway."]
[Star]: "Returning gems given by a sugar mommy? That's an insult to her financial power! An insult!!"
[March 7th]: 'What Elysia and Eden have is called friendly banter between friends. If you did that, you'd be a straight-up scammer!'
[Honkai: Star Rail·Seele]: "So, did Mei learn from Elysia and try to extort gems from Eden too?"
[Raiden Mei]: "I'm not that kind of person, and I believe my future self isn't either."
[Mei explored the hall for a while longer, then saw Elysia sitting on the sofa with her eyes closed, seemingly doing something. "What are you doing with your eyes closed?"
My, how did this happen? I didn't even notice you coming."
"Sorry about that. Even though your radiance shines as brightly as mine, I shouldn't have made such a mistake."
"...Of course you can't see with your eyes closed."
"Exactly, I can't see anything. That's why I'm even more curious—how does he manage to do it?"
Seeing Mei about to leave, Elysia quickly grabbed her hand and introduced her to another Flame-Chaser—[Bodhi]·Su.]
[Silver Wolf]: "From this description, it seems Mei is about to meet another riddler."
[March 7th]: "There are only thirteen Flame-Chasers in the Elysian Realm, yet all the ones appearing so far are riddlers. Seems like there are even more here than in Penacony."
[Stelle]: "Playing Werewolf here would be way more intense than in Penacony."
[Time flowed silently like countless kalpas passing. On the ancient bodhi tree, another leaf gently fell. Su lay quietly beneath the tree, eyes closed, a withered bodhi leaf floating in his hand. "Welcome, visitor. Raiden Mei, I have foreseen your arrival."
"...You know my name?"
Su replied: "In this [Elysian Realm], all things exist through perception. From the moment you set foot in this realm, you became part of that [perception]."
After conversing for a while longer, Su didn't give any difficult tests and simply bestowed his Sigil upon Mei. "All phenomena are impermanent, merely the turning of cause and effect. The birth and death of an instant are but illusory bubbles."
"Come, step into this [Immeasurable Light]. This is—the Signet of [Bodhi]."]
[March 7th]: "Su's words are so profound, I can barely understand them."
[Stelle]: "High EQ: speaks profoundly. Low EQ: this guy doesn't speak human language!"
[Elysia]: "After all, Su is the most enlightened among us. His words always carry deep philosophy, but I'm still more curious about how he actually manages to see♪"
[Qingque]: "Could it be that Su, like Kalpas, has 'keeping eyes closed' written into his fundamental settings?"
[Pardofelis]: "Not exactly. Su actually does open his eyes sometimes, but when that happens, it's definitely because something extremely shocking or terrifying has occurred."
[Returning to the hall, as usual, Elysia had been waiting there for some time. The first thing she asked Mei about was Su's current state. After hearing Mei's explanation, Elysia still found it incredible: "So he really could recognize you?
While keeping his eyes closed?"
Mei remained speechless at Elysia's peculiar focus. "My, I'm just curious. During your conversation, did he address you by name?"
"Aside from our first meeting, he usually just calls me 'visitor'."
Elysia pondered thoughtfully: "Oh~ So he does the same with you too?"
"What's wrong?"
"Nothing, I was just thinking... oh, I get it now!"
Elysia excitedly shared her speculation with Mei: "He keeps his eyes closed all the time... maybe he actually doesn't know who he's talking to?"
"Because he's afraid of calling someone by the wrong name and feeling awkward, that's why he calls everyone 'visitor'... yes, that must be it!"
"...Hmm, but that doesn't seem quite right either?"
"I really want to know... how exactly does Su do it... Could this be his ability as a MANTIS?"
That day, Elysia showed an expression of torment that Mei had never seen before.]
[Elysia]: "So curious, so curious! Now I'm starting to feel tormented too♪"
[Black Swan]: "Mr. Su's behavior should be similar to that of a 'Memokeeper.' The Elysian Realm is a world of memories, and visitors project their consciousness and memories into it. As a psychic-type MANTIS, it's normal for Su to be able to sense outsiders."
[Stelle]: "Is this the mutual appreciation between mystics?"
[Silver Wolf]: "Let's be scientific—this is called mutual appreciation between riddlers!"
[After this, Mei began interacting with the Flame-Chasers she knew throughout the realm. From Sakura, Mei learned that the existence of this [Elysian Realm] wasn't simple. Then from Kalpas, she learned about the existence of the Binding tragedy. Unable to get answers from Kalpas, Mei turned to Kevin for information about the Herrscher of Binding. But Kevin also seemed unwilling to discuss this past event. However, under Mei's persistent questioning, Kevin revealed a bit of information—that the method the Previous Era used against the Binding was something Raiden Mei completely lacked the ability to accomplish.]
[Pardofelis]: "No way!! Mei-jie, what kind of questions are you asking Brother Kalpas and Boss Kevin!?"
[Raiden Mei]: "...About how the Previous Era defeated the Herrscher of Binding. Is there something wrong with that question?"
[Sakura]: "There's nothing inherently wrong with the question itself. It's just that during the battle against the Herrscher of Binding, MOTH suffered too heavy losses, making everyone reluctant to talk about it. I don't want to either."
[Stelle]: "There's a certain beauty in reopening old wounds right in front of the victims. Mei truly has admirable courage!"
[Later, Mei learned from Sakura about the existence of the Previous Era's Serpent organization, and then from various sources discovered the origins of this hall, truly experiencing what "Eden's ridiculously wealthy" meant!
From Elysia, she learned how the Thirteen Flame-Chasers were ranked, and then from Kalpas learned that the dark side of MOTH still existed within the realm. Finally, Sakura warned Mei—not to trust Dr. Mobius too much.]
[Kiana]: "It's like an adventure—Mei has learned so many things in the Elysian Realm."
[Silver Wolf]: "Feels like playing a game and constantly unlocking character routes."
[March 7th]: "Be careful of Mobius. I get the feeling that among the Flame-Chasers of the Previous Era, Mobius and Kalpas probably didn't have the best reputation within the organization."
[Theresa]: "Since this so-called dark side exists within the realm, and not all thirteen Flame-Chasers have appeared yet, could the remaining ones be part of this dark side?"
[Pardofelis]: "I'm definitely not part of the dark side!"