Making Honkai Impact lll In A World Where Kallen Exists [Continuation]

In the Golden Courtyard

"…Heh, some things about Kosma never seem to change," adult Griseo remarked, arms crossed and chuckling softly.

Kosma remained silent, his gaze fleetingly drifting above Mei's head before settling momentarily in Kevin's direction. In some sense, the three of them shared a bond.

Their horns had all been touched by Elysia.

As for Kevin, that particular event had only occurred recently. In the end, even he couldn't resist Elysia's persuasion. When faced with her curiosity, nothing could escape her grasp—not even Kevin's horns.

Kosma, on the other hand, silently observed the older Griseo with complex emotions.

The journey he was supposed to embark on had been taken up by her instead—because of his own hesitation and selfish wishes. She was the one who had floated among the stars.

Thankfully, she had come through it all unscathed; otherwise, he wouldn't know how to face himself.

Though now, staying near the younger Griseo seemed to have earned him the title of a "loli enthusiast." Despite other choices, he had resolutely remained by her side. In a way, it was simply an affirmation of his preferences.

Yes, Kosma only liked girls under the age of 12…

Faintly, a line from the storyline echoed in his mind. "That's just my taste," it had said, resurfacing as an unwelcome reminder.

At that time… well, he didn't want to think about it anymore. Kosma's expression darkened slightly as he shook his head.

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As Mei continued her exploration, she encountered several Flame-Chasers.

Among them were Hua, Sakura, and Eden. Through her conversations with them, she gained a deeper understanding of Elysia.

But some of their descriptions were… odd.

In the garden, she stumbled upon Sakura, whose response left her in shock.

"Simple? Elysia?"

Mei stared at Sakura in astonishment, her expression tinged with disbelief. She never imagined such a word could be associated with Elysia.

No matter how she thought about it, Elysia and "simple" seemed like complete opposites.

(TL: yeah. I had the same thought too. But now, I really see Elysia as Simple.)

"I understand your confusion, Miss Mei," Sakura said calmly. "Her actions are always unpredictable, and her thoughts are equally elusive..."

"Her whimsical ideas have caused me more trouble than I can count. But one thing I am certain of, she has always treated everyone around her with sincerity."

Sakura rested her hand on the hilt of her blade and said to Mei indifferently.

It was clear she held great respect for the vice-leader.

Perhaps, in the beginning, there had been a moment of doubt about her, but everything that followed solidified their trust, Elysia was exactly as she appeared to be.

Although Mei found Sakura's words hard to believe, after considering Elysia's actions, she had to swallow her doubts.

Indeed, beneath the visage of that pink-haired fairy, everything seemed to become credible.

In her conversation with Eden, the golden songstress described her comrade this way,

"In our era, Herrschers seemed destined to stand against humanity, bringing calamity and suffering…

But Elysia was different. She wasn't our enemy, nor was she a threat to humanity. She was a warrior fighting for humanity and the one person capable of uniting the Flame-Chasers."

"She was also my irreplaceable friend."

Eden smiled warmly, holding a crimson wine glass filled with the glow of the setting sun. She took a small sip, as if savoring the sweet and intriguing memories she shared with her dear friend.

"And the Herrscher of the Thirteenth? That was more like… a wedding gown she prepared for herself."

Her red lips parted slightly as she spoke, looking at Mei with a gaze filled with admiration, yet she revealed no further details.

The finest wine should be enjoyed with the best of friends, and the deepest secrets must be shared by those directly involved.

Mei pondered Eden's words, trying to piece together their meaning. Herrschers… Was Elysia's difference from the others truly only in her relationship with humanity? Or was this the critical distinction?

Eden, however, excused herself, saying she needed to meet another old friend.

Since they were here, the long-buried secrets wouldn't remain hidden much longer.

She was going to ask that elusive friend—was the key still in place?

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[Eden and Sakura's praise for Elysia is so high!]

[A wedding gown? Is she marrying me? (Losing consciousness, starting to daydream.)]

[Exactly! She's just a wicked flirt—teasing everyone without taking responsibility!]

[Upstairs. Shut the fuge up. Are you one of the Snake factions!]

---

In the Golden Courtyard,

"Hmm… Griseo, what do you think?"

After some thought, Elysia decided to toss the question to the newly arrived Griseo, curious about her thoughts five thousand years into the future.

After all, little Griseo rarely spoke.

As for letting Luo Mo evaluate her? No way—she couldn't trust him.

No matter if he criticized her or overly praised her, it would make her feel embarrassed. His words always managed to exceed her expectations and bring delightful surprises, but that wasn't what she wanted right now.

She wanted to hear Griseo's thoughts.

"Huh? About what?" Little Griseo raised her head in confusion, looking at Elysia with puzzled eyes.

Some paint unintentionally dripped onto the canvas, staining the pure white with a faint blue, like the colors of a sky slowly blending together.

"What they said is probably true, right? Sister Elysia is the kind of person who, no matter what she says or does, makes you think, 'This is exactly what only Elysia could do.' It's strange, but I like it a lot."

Adult Griseo answered earnestly. She smiled as she saw her younger self waving at her somewhat absentmindedly.

Her response didn't surprise her.

If it were her younger self, she wouldn't know how to answer either. How could she describe it? She seemed to see the gray version of herself, Marvin, always accompanying her like a companion on her travels.

He was the one who gave her peace during those long journeys in her small boat.

As for her counterpart in the Elysian Realm, she didn't interfere with her thoughts. She let her live her own life and taste what belonged to her.

"'Exactly what only Elysia could do,' huh? That's a wonderful evaluation. Does everyone like the world of my memories as well?" Elysia remarked.

Luo Mo nodded enthusiastically and was just about to speak when Elysia quickly covered his mouth, leaning in to whisper a warning in his ear, grinding her teeth playfully.

She was one step ahead.

"Mmph mmph! (This is the paradise of my dear master, a place where eternal life awaits after death.)"

"Oh, the boss says Elysia's inner world is so beautiful, just like her outer self!" Padma interpreted expertly.

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When Mei encountered Vill-V, it was clear the master magician wasn't pleased with Elysia's hidden space. According to Vill-V, this was the greatest trick anyone had ever pulled, far surpassing any of her own.

As a great magician, she couldn't tolerate someone else stealing the spotlight.

All eyes were on Elysia, and Vill-V felt like she had lost face.

Faced with her enthusiastic promotion of her merchandise—including a weaponized Kevin Model Four, a chubby robot, Mei politely declined. Vill-V didn't give up, instead recommending a card-based system that carried an air of ingenuity.

In the end, Mei kindly suggested that Pardo might find it interesting instead.

When Mei next saw Pardo, she almost didn't recognize her.

After just a few days, Pardi had transformed into a treasure chest monster, with her limbs exposed.

How odd. Could cats evolve like this?

Mei didn't understand but was thoroughly stunned.

"Th-That's not true, Mei-sis! You're so mean!"

Pardo blushed furiously as she watched Mei whispering to herself nearby. Ignoring the fact that her waist and hips were stuck in the treasure chest, she struggled violently.

Even timid cats have their pride!

"But I still don't get it—why would anyone get stuck in a treasure chest..."

"Isn't it the duty of an adventurer to open any treasure chest they see? And once it's open, isn't it only natural to climb inside for a closer inspection?"

Pardo's face turned crimson as she desperately tried to defend herself.

Mei struggled to suppress her laughter, watching Pardo flail helplessly inside the gold-trimmed chest. It perfectly matched her stereotypical image of a greedy cat.

Still, getting stuck inside a treasure chest and turning into a treasure chest monster... Wouldn't that be a laughingstock among the Flame-Chasers?

"Perfectly aligned with your trap. 'Curiosity killed the cat,' huh? I'll remember that one."

Mei drew her blade, the cold steel reflecting the violet hue of her eyes.

"Mei-sis, stop watching and help me... Ahhh—why are you unsheathing your sword?! I wasn't planning to visit you tonight..."

With one flash, the chest was split in two.

Pardo cautiously covered her eyes and only dared to open them after a long pause. Quickly, she ran her hands over her body to ensure nothing was missing.

She had been absolutely terrified!

When she looked up, she met Mei's amused gaze.

"Just now... Did you say something about tonight? Stocking up on supplies?" Mei asked, gently running her fingers along the polished hilt of her blade and glancing at Pardo with a contemplative expression.

"No, no, no! Mei-sis, you misheard!" Pardo waved her hands frantically, insisting it was all a misunderstanding.

------------

"Uh… Normally, something like this wouldn't happen to me, right? Who gets stuck inside a treasure chest?" Pardo scratched her cheek as she looked up at the ceiling in protest.

"You never know," Luo Mo said quietly. "Even the strongest people can fall victim to psychological tricks. Who's to say you wouldn't climb inside voluntarily?"

"Still, I wouldn't be unable to get out..."

"Maybe… Pardo, do you need to cut back on more than just Can food?"

Luo Mo's subtle suggestion earned him a pitiful, teary-eyed gaze from Pardo. She sniffled but said nothing in response.

------------

Time proved that Elysia and Kevin's discussion was fairly lengthy.

Mei had encountered nearly half of the Flame-Chasers, engaging in conversations and exploring alongside them before spotting Elysia waiting in the distance.

She stood in a small pavilion, with pink mist enveloping the distant islands and towers and houses nearby.

The pink-haired girl, who had been waiting for some time, greeted Mei with a warm smile.

"How's everything on Kevin's side?"

"Don't worry, it's all sorted. No one will bother us now. What about you? Have you met anyone else?"

"I met a few. The Flame-Chasers seem... to be enjoying themselves, more or less."

Mei replied, "What can I say? It's exactly what I'd expect from your memory space."

This time, her compliment was genuine, and Elysia's smile grew even brighter, her eyes sparkling.

"Then... Mei, you must be eager as well. Come on, let's talk as we walk."

Elysia eagerly took Mei's hand, leading her toward a cluster of buildings.

"We're headed somewhere special next."

They walked along narrow paths and encountered some of the Realm's creatures, but fortunately, this time there were no trials. Mei didn't have to face them alone.

Eventually, they arrived at the special place Elysia had mentioned.

The room was vast, quiet, and almost empty. At first glance, it resembled a library, with shelves neatly lined with books on either side.

The redwood furniture carried an aged, timeworn elegance, exuding a sense of wisdom. A red carpet spread across the floor to welcome guests, and sunlight streamed through the windows, filling the room with warmth.

However, what stood out the most was a machine on the table in the center of the room.

"For now, let's call this the Elysian Realm Archives. Isn't it a simple and straightforward name?"

Elysia dusted off the table, revealing the machine—a typewriter.

But given the significance of this place, it was clear this machine wasn't ordinary.

Elysia explained that the archives stored within the Realm were created by this machine. Rather than being written by someone, the memories of the Flame-Chasers were transcribed into text by the device, ensuring an objective and impartial account of the facts.

"In other words, the documents and information produced here are absolutely fair and reliable. I went through a lot of trouble to bring it here~"

Elysia wagged her finger to catch Mei's attention, subtly seeking praise for her efforts.

"So... How does it work?"

Mei ignored Elysia's playful tone and asked about what truly interested her.

"Well, that's where another friend comes in. Ta-da! It's your turn to shine."

To Mei's surprise, Elysia pulled out a doll. It had long pink hair, an angelic halo above its head, two pairs of small wings, and wore a white dress while holding a magic wand.

If anything, its face strongly resembled Elysia's.

"It looks just like you…"

"Isn't it adorable? Of course, it's modeled after me! It has my beauty and intelligence in equal measure!"

"I originally made thirteen of these, but unfortunately, only Eden and Aponia kept theirs."

"Still, this administrator hasn't moved at all since earlier. Is it okay?" Mei asked, slightly concerned.

"Because Mei didn't say the activation phrase, did she?~"

"Activation phrase?"

Mei was confused. Did this really require an activation phrase?

Elysia, however, had already prepared a slip of paper and handed it to her, making a playful sound as she looked at Mei. "Hmm-hmm?~"

"...Can I refuse?"

"Well, that depends on you, Mei. After all... we've come this far, and the truth is just one step away."

Elysia said regretfully.

"….."

Mei took a deep breath, closed her eyes, then opened them suddenly, making a firm decision.

"D-dearest... Elys... Elysia…"

"…Why isn't anything happening?"

"Maybe it's because you spoke too softly, Mei. Even I could barely hear it~ You'll have to try again, won't you?~"

Elysia beamed with a bright smile, looking at Mei's face expectantly.

"D-E-A-R-E-S-T E-L-Y-S-I-A!"

Mei gritted her teeth, almost spitting out each syllable one by one.

"Oh my?~"

Elysia let out a little giggle, as though her long-planned scheme had finally succeeded.

Fortunately, this time, Mei wasn't disappointed. The doll resembling Elysia began to power up, its program activating.