Chapter 222
[Mei felt the conversation was heading in a strange direction and quickly changed the subject:
"You two seem very close. I often see you spending time together."
The little painter nodded cutely: "Mhm, Kosma likes girls under the age of ten."
Kosma: "..."
Little Griseo seemed to realize something and added:
"Sorry...I said it wrong."
"Girls under the age of twelve."
(TL/N : I CANNT BROO)
Mei stared at Kosma as if looking at a pervert, making Kosma extremely uncomfortable before he said: "Don't look at me like that. I like boys, too."]
[Stelle]: "I never expected this! Never! Kosma, you're actually that kind of person!"
[Stelle]: "Help! I'm only one year old! I'm within Kosma's hunting range too!!"
[Yunli]: "Regarding Kosma's behavior, we Xianzhou have a complete set of criminal laws. Come with me to the Shackling Prison first!"
[Pardofelis]: "Oh Kosma, my dear Kosma... I, Pardofelis, have roamed the Elysian Realm for fifty thousand years, yet there was still a day I misjudged someone. I never thought you were that kind of person!"
[Kosma]: "No, that's not what I meant..."
[Kosma]: "..."
[Kosma]: "...Forget it."
[After hearing his explanation, Mei's look became even more peculiar.
Realizing this, Kosma immediately explained,
"What I meant was... I enjoy spending time with children."
Seeming to feel this explanation also sounded wrong, Kosma fell silent again.
Mei responded with amused exasperation: "You... should probably stop explaining. I understand what you mean."
"But if you keep talking, even I might misunderstand."
"Still, it's hard to tell from your personality that you're actually good at getting along with children."]
[March 7th]: "Seems a bit like Raven - both appear cold on the surface but actually enjoy being with children~"
[Raven]:'What's wrong with that? Got a problem?'
[March 7th]: "It just doesn't seem like how a mercenary should be?"
[Raven]: "Looks like your chuunibyou is acting up. What did you imagine mercenaries to be like? Is the Stellaron Hunter in your imagination the same as the Stellaron Hunters you know? Same principle."
[Kiana]: "So that's it - you're a tsundere!"
[Stelle]: "Brilliant analysis!!"
[After conversing with Griseo for a while, Mei still hadn't gained any clues, so she found Sakura instead and learned some things about the Twilight Street from her.
For example, how Kalpas once worked as an orderly at a sanatorium there, but this sanatorium was run by Aponia, Kalpas's closest friend.
Aponia took in many patients corrupted by Honkai, but through strange twists of fate, ended up triggering a Honkai outbreak.
Later, Sakura went to investigate the Twilight Street, and through a series of coincidences, Aponia and Kalpas joined MOTH.
After hearing Sakura's story, Mei couldn't help but remark: "The Twilight Street... truly a place [overflowing with talent]."
"From what I know, at least three MANTISes are connected to it already."
"Perhaps this counts as... one of those unexpected things too."
Though she learned much about the Twilight Street's past from Sakura and heard many stories about Kalpas and Aponia, Mei still had no leads regarding the current mystery of the Deep End.
Returning to the hall without any clues, Elysia happily called out when she saw Mei approaching: "Ah, Mei, perfect timing! I was just about to look for you. Come help me with some [harmonizing]."
"Harmonizing?"
Mei was puzzled. Griseo made an expression strikingly similar to Elysia's and said: "Ah, big sister Mei... hi, did you miss me?"]
[Stelle]: "What's this 'overflowing with talent Twilight Street'~"
[Sparkle]: "Ah~ little gray-haired one, saying that makes our St. Freya Academy not convincing enough~"
[Sparkle]: "Ahem, as everyone knows, St. Freya, as a prestigious Herrscher academy, has always taken cultivating Herrschers as its mission since its founding. During Mei's year, it even achieved the proud accomplishment of four Herrschers in one class!"
[Theresa]: "I'll sue you for slander!!"
[HSR - Void Archives]: "Little Theresa, in a certain sense, I can acknowledge that Miss Sparkle isn't wrong."
[March 7th]: "Is no one paying attention to little Griseo? Griseo is almost turning into Elysia's copy!!"
[Stelle]: "Wahh, suddenly it feels like our child is being corrupted. You pink fairy better not lead our adorable little Griseo astray!"
["Well, this is what I told you about - the part that needs harmonizing."
"This... did you teach her?"
Now it was Elysia's turn to be surprised: "Could it be... Mei, you haven't noticed yet? Griseo's [special trait]."
Mei shook her head. After all, whenever she met Greysior, a Kosma would always spawn nearby. "Hmm, fair enough. But even so... Mei, you absolutely must strictly control the time you spend with Griseo~"
"If one day I hear Griseo say something like [Brush, submit to me]... no no, that would be far too strange."
Mei pondered: "From what you're saying, Griseo... is she easily influenced by others? Or... does she unconsciously mimic people?"
Elysia explained with a smile: "I'm afraid it's not as simple as just [influence] or [mimicry]."
"To use an analogy, you can think of Griseo as a clean sheet of paper."
"Though it still retains its own material and properties, if something accidentally stains it... it's no longer just a [blank sheet]."]
[Black Swan]: "So that's how it is..."
[March 7th]: "Then why does Griseo often stay with Kosma but doesn't turn out like him?"
[Stelle]:"Griseo-Mei: "Brush, submit to me!" "Roar, Kosma!"Grey-sia: "Let's do something fun ♪""You should accept this paint with gratitude ♪"
[Stelle]:'I want to meet the cute and adorable Griseo too!!'
[Silver Wolf]: "Give it up. I don't want to see cute Griseo digging through trash cans like you."
[Kosma]: "..."
[Kosma]: "...Stay away from Griseo!"
[Greysior]: "Kosma, you're right, but rules are meant to be broken!!"
[Kosma]: "!?"