Chapter 220
[Just as Mei was at her wit's end, a certain cat-like girl crept up to her side:
"I heard from Elysia-nee that you still want to go to the Depths, right?"
"Yes, I have reasons that make it absolutely necessary."
"Mhm, mhm, then I think... you'll definitely need someone like me, who knows the Elysian Realm extremely well and speaks so pleasantly, to be your guide!"
"Weren't you unwilling before?"
The cat girl waved her hand: "That was then, this is now. Who knew back then whether A-Mo had left or not."
"If I stood on your side and he found out... both Can and I would be in deep trouble!"
"Aren't you afraid of running into him this time?"
"It's fine, this time I'll take you another way."
"You might not know this, but the Elysian Realm actually has many hidden paths that nobody uses. But for me and Can, they're essential routes for every supply run."
"Then... why don't you just take me directly to the Depths? It can't be that only there lacks these so-called 'hidden paths' of yours, right?"
"Uh... well... how should I put it... If it's just A-Mo getting angry, at worst we'd just be in deep trouble."
"But if I take you to the Depths and Jie-nii and Nia-nee find out... then I'll really be torn apart into [Pardo] and [Felis]..."] (TL/N : Go/Jo.)
[Kiana]: "I thought Pardo was being brave, but it turns out she just wants to avoid Kosma and the others."
[Aventurine]: "Willing to take small risks for profit - I appreciate you even more now, Pardo."
[March 7th]: "But now, hasn't what Pardo plans to do already been discovered by the Flame-Chasers?"
[Pardofelis]: "Run fast, Can!! We can't really become [Pardo] and [Felis] and [Can] and [Can]!!"
[Stelle]: "Mastery of the Elysian Realm's geography - that explains how Pardo previously got into Kalpas's wardrobe and Su's vegetable garden. So that means... Pardo's 'supply runs' are actually from other people's hands!!"
[Afraid of really being torn in two, Pardo could only take Mei through the studio, though this service also came with a fee. But since Mei was personally certified by Elysia as a trustworthy client, Pardo just had Mei sign her bill.
Seeing Pardo mention Elysia, Mei suddenly had a bad premonition and asked Pardo: "Just to be safe, let me confirm something. Elysia... what did she tell you?"
"It's about you agreeing to let her touch your horns, what about it? She's been broadcasting it everywhere with a megaphone."
"Elysia...!!"
Setting aside how Mei was heating up with embarrassment, Pardo led Mei through various areas, experienced many battles, and arrived at little Griseo's studio. This time, no Kosma spawned beside Griseo. In the studio, a little girl sat on a high stool, carefully adding color to the huge scroll before her. "Hi, little Griseo, long time no see!"
"...Pardo-nee. And... who?"
Communicating with Griseo went surprisingly smoothly for Mei, though if you didn't have some serious issues, could you even be a Flame-Chaser? While chatting with Mei, she became completely absorbed in her painting. Just as they were about to seize the chance to slip away, Kosma spawned.]
[Silver Wolf]: "Pardo already set up the flag earlier, so meeting Kosma now is perfectly reasonable!!"
[Theresa]: "So Griseo is such a young child... Did such a young child have to go to battle in the Previous Era too..."
[Kiana]: "Aunt Theresa, actually you look more like a child, don't you?"
[Tesla]: "Damn Honkai!!"
[Fu Xuan]: "It seems Griseo's ability is to see the 'colors' on others and summon her own paintings?"
[Pardofelis]: "See? Our little Griseo is amazing, right?"
["A-A-A-A-Mo—! H-Hi there, out for a walk too?"
Kosma: "..."
Mei: "Hello, Kosma."
Kosma: "..."
Seeing they'd fallen into the vortex of silence again, Mei said to Pardo: "Pardo, help me out."
Only then did Pardo remember she had this particular skill: "Ah... right, almost forgot..."
Clearing her throat, Pardo did her best to imitate Kosma's voice as she translated: "Raiden Mei...? Why is she here... oh, it's Pardo."
Mei looked shocked at Pardo's seemingly accurate translation, thinking to herself (That book Elysia wrote... could it actually be useful?)
"It's fine, Kosma, she's a color I like."
[...I can't really say anything in front of Griseo, so I'll turn a blind eye for now. But...]
"Come with me to the hall, Kosma. I think... I've had some new inspiration."
"So I want to go back once. Kosma come with me."
[Griseo... she would actually say that? What exactly happened just now...]
Kosma stared straight at Mei, his internal monologue flashing by so rapidly that Pardo didn't know how to translate it all. Afterward, Griseo gave her [Stars] Sigil to Mei and went to the hall with Kosma.]
[Elysia]: "See, see? My book really is useful ♪"
[Qingque]: "Pardo-brand translator - worth having!"
[Kiana]: "It's exactly as Pardo said - because he thinks too much in his mind, he ends up not knowing what to say and just says nothing at all."
[March 7th]: "Stelle, don't you feel like Griseo and Kosma's combination seems familiar?"
[Stelle]: "You mean Clara and Svarog? Or Jing Yuan and the Lightning Lord?"
[Yanqing]: "Why bring the General into this? How are they similar?"
[Stelle]: "Jing Yuan: Help me, Lord Lightning! Lightning Lord: 'Get away from Jing Yuan!!'"
[Stelle]: "Pretty accurate, right?"
[Fu Xuan]: "Rather amusing."
[Jing Yuan]: "Fu Xuan, you really... ah."
[By the time Kosma and Griseo had left, the door to the Depths had also disappeared. No matter how Pardo searched, she couldn't find it. Then Pardo understood - their every move was under Aponia's surveillance at all times.
Mei returned empty-handed once again and came to the hall. ... "Oh, I see. You like jellyfish, right?"
"Mhm, like the flying ones."
"Flying jellyfish, that's quite something. Oh my, look who's back?"
"...What are you doing?"
Raven answered flatly: "Just chatting casually, killing time."
"...You're really good at handling children."
"Not exactly. That one over there - I can't handle him at all."
"...See? What did I tell you?"
"..."
"Kosma, don't be angry."]
[Honkai: Star Rail·Seele]: "No matter which world's Natasha it is, she's always so good with children."
[Kong]: "Teacher Natasha is the best teacher in the world... except for her cooking."
[Raven]: "Alright little Kong, after a while longer, we'll move to a big island villa with the other children!"
--
So tired. Analog Electronics Technology, Linear Algebra, Probability Theory - three mountains weighing on my head. I'll try to keep updates stable.