I, Herrscher Slayer: Elysia's Little Wish

Mei fell silent for a moment. After all, she and Raven were friends who got along well. Raven had her own reasons for coming to the Elysian Realm, so she couldn't just let her go like that. After all, Shen Gonglin. So she couldn't just let her disappear like that.

"So in order to find her, I'm planning to visit a friend to see if she knows anything. I'm sorry I can't accompany you for the time being. In the meantime, Mei, you can continue your investigation. Rin Shen Gonglin is here now, Mei Shen Gonglin's help, maybe we can find Natasha without my help."

Knowing Alicia's personality, Mei didn't say much after Elysia said those words. There were some things she didn't want to say, and even if she was forced, she wouldn't say them. Mei wasn't interested in the friend she wanted to visit, but she was right about one thing: it was better to find Raven in her own way than to sit here and wait.

So Mei turned around and pulled Shen Gonglin away. Elysian Realm wasn't so safe, with snakes and Elysia around. Mei only felt safe with Shen Gonglin by her side. She hadn't planned to let Shen Gonglin stay in the Elysian Realm any longer; she wanted to find the answers she wanted on her own. But whenever she tried to Shen Gonglin to go back, she would look very troubled, so Mei stopped saying anything more.

This kid must have offended someone on the Hyperion again, which is why he came here to seek refuge. I know Shen Gonglin's personality very well, so I'm really curious about who he offended this time.

"Let's go. It seems we need to investigate where that lost Raven went. Honestly, it said it wanted to slack off here, so why did it wander into the Elysian Realm the Dead for no reason? They're all such a worry."

Holding Shen Gonglin, Mei skillfully activated the device to explore the Elysian Realm. After a strange transformation, Shen Gonglin and Mei arrived at a familiar place: Elysian Realm, open it again.

Chapter Eight: Elysia's Little Wish

No matter how many times I come here, I am always amazed. Logically speaking, this should be the underground space of the World Serpent headquarters, but this feeling of endlessness... How big must the underground space be to extend like this? Could it be an immersion device for mental will? But this feeling is clearly physical, which is really hard to understand.

The World Serpent has managed to exist in the world for so long; it must have some tricks up its sleeve.

Shen Gonglin looked around the space with curiosity, while Mei had already begun her investigation. She had been here more than once or twice. She had named this Elysian Realm the "Shop Floor." Although the shopkeeper was not here, she could obtain a lot of supplies to continue exploring. And now, Mei had found some things here that shouldn't have been there.

"These arrow fletchings... were left by the Raven. She was definitely here. It looks like she left in this direction... Also, these things... are fluff balls? They look like cat hair, but why would there be a cat in a place like this?"

Mei, she could only shake her head. There were too few clues. Maybe she should go back and investigate. Perhaps Elysia had returned. Mei turned around to call Shen Gonglin to leave together, but she found Shen Gonglin rummaging through the deserted shop. What was she doing now?

"Mei, there are so many strange things here. Can I take some back as souvenirs? They all seem quite interesting... Hey, Mei, is that not allowed?"

Shen Gonglin was rummaging around in the strange shopping cart, while Mei sighed and pulled him back. Although the shop was always empty, Mei was still very ethical and didn't do anything reckless. Even if she wanted something, she would exchange it for what she got from the Elysian Realm. Rin Shen Gonglin's behavior of trying to empty the shop without saying a word... Mei's upbringing wouldn't allow her to do that.

"Let's be careful. There are no simple people in this Elysian Realm. It's best not to do anything that could easily cause trouble at a time like this. Let's go. The Raven's trail disappeared here. It seems like it really vanished in an instant. We need to go back and ask the others. During the time you were away, I also met several very strange people here."

After saying that, without giving Shen Gonglin a chance to hesitate, Mei turned around and left with Shen Gonglin Mei. Mei was quite familiar with this Elysian Realm, but it was precisely because of this familiarity that she knew there was so much more unknown in this place.

With a shift in perspective, Shen Gonglin found himself back in the hall of the Elysian Realm. Before he could even regain his composure, a sweet voice rang out. Shen Gonglin and Mei stared speechlessly at Elysia, who was holding a megaphone. The girl had shouted loudly into the megaphone after seeing them return.

"Hey! Mei, you're back! The Mei who beat Mobius to a pulp is back... and Shen Gonglin, the hero who single-handedly fought three Flame-Chasers without being at a disadvantage, they're back too."

As if she were deliberately speaking to someone, Elysia emphasized these words through a megaphone, hoping that Miss Mobius could hear her, that Miss Mei, was back.

"... What are you doing? And what's that loudspeaker again...?"

Mei was slightly speechless. She could guess why Elysia did this, and it was precisely because she knew that she was speechless. In addition, she was also curious about the trumpet in Elysia's hand. This thing did not seem to be something that should appear in the Elysian Realm. Where did she get it?

"Oh, you mean this? I got this from Pardofelis. It uses three Crystal Flower, so it's durable, has clear sound quality, and the voice is super sweet. It's perfect for promoting our strong and cute Mei and Shen Gonglin. I think the others probably don't know that Shen Gonglin is here, so I thought I'd give it a shout-out. Look, it even has a recording function. Just press here to play it automatically... Oops, I pressed the wrong button."

Elysia excitedly showed off the functions of her new toy to the two of them, and before they knew it, she pressed something, and a recording started playing from the speaker.

Ah... I really want to touch her horns... I care so much, I care so much!

A sweet, familiar voice came from the speaker. Shen Gonglin and Mei looked at Elysia in silence. It was undoubtedly her voice. So she had been thinking about this all along, wanting to touch Mei's horns. Shen Gonglin could understand this, since she had wanted to touch them before too. Luckily, Mei let her have a chance, otherwise she would have been mortified.

"Ah... this, um... oh right, look, it also has a recording function. Just press here and it will play automatically..."

As if she had forgotten what had just happened, to ease the awkwardness, Elysia repeated what she had just said. Why did she have to say what was on her mind? But she was so concerned. Getting permission from Mei might be difficult, but if she started with Shen Gonglin, maybe she would have a chance.

With these thoughts in mind, Elysia pressed another button, and this time an unfamiliar voice came from the speaker. Who was it?

Hmm... how do you even use this stuff? Canned Food, you know? Never mind, I'll just leave it aside for now; maybe someone'll want it.

"Alright, let's get down to business. That voice... remember the friend I mentioned before? Her name is Pardofelis, the owner of the Elysian Realm Shop, the one you passed by. Pardofelis isn't very good at fighting, but her intelligence-gathering ability is the best among us. Although we don't know Natasha's whereabouts yet, she can definitely help you in finding her. She seems to be restocking the shop recently and should be back soon. If you happen to run into her, why not ask Pardofelis for help?"

After saying that, Elysia quickly slipped away. She had accidentally revealed her true feelings, and she was afraid that Mei would come after her. How did this loudspeaker work? How many recordings were on it? And that Pardofelis dared to sell her something nobody wanted for such a high price. She was so arrogant!

Chapter Nine: Luckily, it wasn't his friend.

"Pardofelis... if you happen to meet her, ask her. She should also be a Flame-Chasers, but... um?"

Mei obtained some fragmented information from the Riddler Elysia, who seemed to be unaware of Raven's whereabouts. Mei left with Shen Gonglin, the girl pondering the events along the way. There weren't many normal people in this Elysian Realm; almost everyone was a Riddler. Spending so much time with them made Mei feel a bit strange herself. Fortunately, Jingu Shen Gonglin came to find her, and Mei relaxed considerably after learning about their recent situation. Just then, an uncontrollable burst of laughter came from the other side. The two looked up and saw a tall man standing there, laughing wildly.

"Hmm... Mei, has he always been like this?"

Shen Gonglin raised her hand and pointed at the man over there with a complicated look in her eyes. This guy was blocking the middle of the road and laughing wildly, which was really something that could not be ignored. Shen Gonglin remembered him. Back when she fought three Flame-Chasers alone, he was one of them. Now he was laughing like this. Was he stupid because he was beaten back then?

"I don't know either... Did something happen? You don't seem like the type to start a conversation with laughter."

Mei shook her head. This man was a little abnormal. Mei originally wanted to take Shen Gonglin around, but now she couldn't miss any place where she could gather information. So Mei could only talk to the man who was laughing wildly. Mei remembered when he, Kevin and Hua beat up Shen Gonglin together, and she even helped Shen Gonglin get revenge.

"Hahaha... Come here, Herrscher, and... you too!"

The maniacal laughter stopped, and he turned to look at them. Although he was wearing a mask, it didn't really block their vision. He pointed at Mei and Shen Gonglin rudely. Although he wanted to fight Shen Gonglin again, there was something much more exciting waiting for him.

"I think I've already told you, my name is Raiden Mei."

Protecting Shen Gonglin behind her, Mei stepped forward and looked at Chakravartin. This person's attitude was different from usual... he seemed very happy. Had something happened to make him happy?

"It's too complicated, I don't want to remember it. It doesn't matter what your name is, as long as I know it's calling you. So, come here, I have something to say to you. Lightning... Herrscher, and you, too... Herrscher."

As expected of Chakravartin, each of these Thirteen Flame-Chasers has an extremely unique personality. Mei has come to understand them during her time in the Elysian Realm, so she can only feel helpless about Chakravartin's reaction. It's normal to remember other people's names, right? Mei strongly suspects that he remembers them but just doesn't want to call them by name. She doesn't care about herself, but why can't Shen Gonglin remember them?

Shen Gonglin thinks the name Mei sounds really nice, so nice that she even wants to change her own name to Jingu someday. Mei, it sounds really good.

"It's Raiden Mei. What do you want to say to me?"

Changing the name to Mei was something she could only think about in her heart; it was still a bit too embarrassing to say it out loud. So Mei corrected Chakravartin's statement and came to Chakravartin side to look at this irritable older brother. She also wanted to know why Chakravartin was in this mood today.

"It doesn't matter. Haven't you always wanted to see the dark side of the Flame-Chasers? You'll get your wish soon enough..."

Seeing Mei and Shen Gonglin approaching, Chakravartin really wanted to fight Shen Gonglin again. The Herrscher techniques Rin used when he fought her before were endless. But now, realizing that his friend was about to appear, Chakravartin suppressed his impulse. This time, he would let him go.

"The dark side... If I remember correctly, you never wanted to talk about that place before, why this time..."

Upon hearing Chakravartin's words about the dark side of the Flame-Chasers, Mei frowned. Not all of the thirteen heroes could provide positive feedback. Mei had already witnessed Mobius's Mei. But what was this dark side of the Flame-Chasers that Chakravartin was referring to?

"Hahaha... That darkness may be worthless, but at least there... was a friend of mine there. Now that she's left, the thought of us meeting again makes every nerve in my body tremble with excitement. Herrscher, you have friends like that too, right? Hmm?"

They're all riddle-solving geniuses. Mei Shen Gonglin no clue about it. And it's quite surprising that the word "friend" came from Chakravartin's mouth. Does this guy even have friends? But Mei always feels that the friends Chakravartin talks about are not quite the same as the friends she understands. Does this guy really know the meaning of friendship?

Why does Chakravartin always give Mei the feeling that he's sharpening a knife?

"... You still have friends? To be honest, this is really unbelievable."

Mei spoke these words without any hesitation, and even Shen Gonglin Mei took notice of this sharp-tongued girl. It seems that Mei has really gone astray. Back in St. Freya, Mei was always a well-behaved girl. But since joining World Serpent, this girl has learned to be sarcastic and sharp-tongued. It seems that it's time to persuade Mei to come back. Staying in World Serpent is really scary.

"Hmph, you think I'm a freak... a beast? Aponia wouldn't mind. She's the same kind of person as me, no, she's crazier and more twisted than me. If I'm a freak, then she's an anomaly. Otherwise, who would make the Deepest Place their home?"

Chakravartin didn't react much to Mei's words. He was completely absorbed in meeting his "old friend" and didn't need to waste time talking to unimportant people. From his words, Mei also caught a name that caught her attention.

"Aponia ...I've heard that name before, a powerful psycho-sensory Flame-Chaser, right?"

He extracted the name from the various bits and pieces of information he had gathered. It was a heroic Flame-Chasers had not yet appeared before him. It seemed that Chakravartin and this Flame-Chaser had quite a connection, otherwise this hot-tempered guy would not have reacted this way.

"Yes, that's right, the psychopathic type, a disgusting type. That's why I had to wait so long, but this is the only thing... I'm willing to be patient."

As he was talking, this hot-tempered guy burst into laughter again. This is probably an illness; it needs treatment.

Chapter Ten

After a while, Chakravartin's maniacal laughter ended, and from his mouth, Shen Gonglin and Mei heard a string of words spoken through gritted teeth. Such words did not sound like the reaction that friends should have.

"One day, I will tear her apart, piece by piece... those hands that everyone envies, I will throw them into the blood of Aponia, and watch them be completely stained a dirty red!"

Hearing Chakravartin's words, which were filled with gritted teeth yet also a sense of satisfaction, both Shen Gonglin and Mei fell silent. This reaction was unexpected by both of them. It seemed that this person was indeed not mentally sound. Was this something friends should do? Shen Gonglin and Mei exchanged a glance. They knew that they were the ones who were normal, and that the one who was not normal was Chakravartin.

"... You just said she's your friend?"

After a moment of silence, Mei asked the question: Had she and Shen Gonglin misheard? Chakravartin not said "friends" but "enemies"?

Or is it the kind of enemy who caused the loss of a wife or the murder of a father?

"Yes, what's wrong?"

Chakravartin readily admitted his relationship with Aponia; is there any question about that? Why would this Herrscher emphasize it specifically?

"... It's nothing, just checking first. Although I've been here for a while now, and you've had dealings with Shen Gonglin before, Chakravartin... you've never considered either of us as friends, have you?"

"This is a very important question, "Mei asked seriously. If this is the kind of relationship that Chakravartin considers a friend, then she needs to confirm her and Shen Gonglin's situation.

"You can think about it when you're dreaming, but at other times..."

Although she hadn't finished speaking, Chakravartin's attitude put Mei at ease. She had redefined the concept of friendship with him, and it seemed she had escaped a disaster. If she were to be targeted by such a madman, Mei felt that she would lose her appetite. It seemed that she wouldn't get any information she wanted from Chakravartin. In this state, it was better for her and Shen Gonglin to stay away from Chakravartin.

"It's okay, I was just asking, and... I'm glad you said that."

He pulled Shen Gonglin away from Chakravartin. Although he didn't get any news about Raven from him, he found two more pieces of information. Dealing with these riddle-makers, he could only rely on himself to analyze the situation. Aponia, and the Deepest Place, these were things that were also of concern.

"Mei, are all these people here? Not to mention Elysia, there's the Mobius I met before, and that drunkard Eden, and now there's this Chakravartin who wants to soak his friend in blood. It seems like there aren't many normal people here. It's really quite scary."

Finally, the wild laughter stopped. Shen Gonglin didn't even want to fight this mentally unstable person. He hadn't said a word earlier because he wanted to keep his presence to himself. It would be terrible if he accidentally became friends with this guy. Mei had been dealing with these kinds of people all this time. I really felt sorry for her.

"Hmm... There are a few normal people, I'll talk to you about it properly when I have time. We need to find Raven now, we can't abandon her... Go ask Klein, she's always in charge of maintaining Elysian Realm, she often works overtime, maybe she has news about Raven."

Mei Shen Gonglin became curious again. Who was Klein? Judging from Mei's description, she seemed like a reliable person. However, after following Mei to the information room, Shen Gonglin's attention was instantly drawn to it. He ran over and grabbed the small figure standing on the table. What is this thing? It looks so small and cute!

Her green hair and loose clothes made it impossible for her to even take her hands out of her pockets. They looked about the same height as a person's calves, and behind her... was that a tail? Seeing this adorable creature, Shen Gonglin's eyes lit up. It was even cuter than the artificial intelligence system on the Hyperion.

"Ugh, this hurts so much... Raiden Mei, help me! Klein is working overtime and can't be disturbed..."

Caught in Shen Gonglin's grasp, the little creature could only turn to Mei for help. Unable to bear watching her suffer at Shen Gonglin, Mei quickly stepped forward and rescued Klein. Only then did Shen Gonglin realize that the creature in front of her was the Elysian Realm Maintainer. This thing looks so strange, I feel like taking it home to raise.

"I'm sorry, Klein, he was just a little excited... I don't need to introduce you two, Klein. I saw you working earlier, and you looked so worried. Did you run into some problem?"

Klein definitely knew Shen Gonglin's identity, so there was no need to elaborate on this matter. Mei asked the question directly. Klein was much easier to deal with than those riddle-makers; she could just ask her directly.

"There is indeed a problem... Why can't we detect the signal from that unknown area anymore? And the path setup of the Elysian Realm ... is also a bit strange. Raven hasn't returned either... I don't know where the problem is. Raiden Mei, you've come back just in time. I need your assistance with some investigations related to the Elysian Realm. Don't worry, it's a very simple task... With your efficiency, you can probably finish it in three hours. If you bring Shen Gonglin along, it should be able to finish in four hours."

Upon seeing Mei, Klein breathed a sigh of relief. Unlike the others in the Elysian Realm, Raiden Mei was someone who could help and get things done. It was too difficult for her to handle so much work by herself, and even working overtime didn't help much. She desperately needed someone's help.

"Wait a minute, I heard you mention Raven earlier. Is she assisting you with your investigation?"

Finally, Mei heard some information about Raven and interrupted Klein. The poor little guy was like a corporate slave; no matter when you saw her, she always seemed to be working overtime. Although she felt sorry for her, getting news about Raven was more important right now.

"Yes, that's right. She was very enthusiastic and offered to help me with the work. I was very touched and agreed. However, I never expected that those mistakes would be related to the Deepest Place. It was as if... a part of it had detached from the Deepest Place."

Speaking of Raven, Klein gave a very positive evaluation, which was truly touching. Finally, someone was helping her with overtime work; how could she not be moved?

Chapter Eleven: Overtime Workers

That guy would actually help someone else work overtime? Mei remembered that Raven was here because Gray Serpent wanted her to take her out, saying she'd come into contact with things she shouldn't have. But that girl's innate laziness kicked in; not only did she not want to do it, she chose to stay in the Elysian Realm and slack off. For a Raven like that to think about helping someone else work overtime—is there some kind of conspiracy? And, this the Deepest Place ...

"The Deepest Place you spoke of... I remember, it was the name of a prison facility, belonging to the Flame-Chasers."

Shen Gonglin might not know much about these things, but Mei had been exploring Elysian Realm during this time, so when she asked Klein, she was also explaining to Shen Gonglin. They still knew too little about the World Serpent. Now that Otto had disappeared, whether temporarily or permanently, the only enemy standing in their way was the World Serpent, so she wanted Shen Gonglin to learn more about it.

"Yes, Mei, you're right... And it also exists in the Elysian Realm. I know what you're thinking, Raiden Mei, but I suggest you don't do that. The Deepest Place ... it's special and doesn't help with the inheritance of the imprint. So, don't touch it, never. Just let it exist there."

Klein's doll-like face was quite serious as she gave this advice, while Shen Gonglin was a little bothered by it. This kind of advice... was like putting a button in front of you and telling you not to press it. If you don't want me to touch it, just tell me why! Everyone is like a riddle teller, acting as if it's best if you don't know. Don't you know that's torturous? That's why Shen Gonglin doesn't like riddle tellers. Isn't it better to speak plainly?

When I have the chance in the future, I must capture this Klein and tie her to Ai-chan. I need to let that artificial intelligence teach her how to speak vernacular Chinese.

"Is that so? But according to you, Raven is very likely there right now."

Although Klein had already warned Mei, it was clear that Mei's thoughts were the same as Shen Gonglin's. There was obviously some secret hidden in the darkest place, and she had come to the Elysian Realm to explore this secret. So, such a place was indeed very attractive to her. Simply put, now that you've mentioned it, I want to go even more.

"No, that's not the case. Although we can't contact Raven yet, it's certain that she's still within the regular area of the Elysian Realm. But if you want to know her more specific location... I'm sorry, I can't offer any effective help."

The tiny, doll-like girl lowered her head, seemingly frustrated at not being able to help. This gesture made Mei shake her head. Although she'd been quite sharp-tongued lately, Mei only criticized those who deserved it. As for this little one...

"It's alright, Klein. You've already helped me a lot. At least I know where to look for her now."

From Mei's words, Shen Gonglin knew what she wanted to do. Mei had indeed changed. She used to be very obedient and well-behaved, but now she had become calm and decisive, only doing what she thought she should do and not caring about what others said. Was it really because of the personality change that occurred after merging with the Herrscher of Thunder? I miss the soft and Mei from before.

I wonder if I'll ever have the chance to see her again... Speaking of which, it seems that Mei can still make Shen Gonglin see glimpses of her past self at certain times, such as when she's taking a bath, or... well, you know.

"Hmm... Is that so? Okay, then... these tasks that require your assistance..."

Klein was a little troubled by Mei's attitude, but she knew she couldn't stop her. What Klein cared about now was the work that made her work overtime. The little girl hesitated and raised her head. Should she still help her work overtime?

"If it's on my way, I'll help you look into it."

Mei had gotten a lot of useful information from her, and she couldn't bring herself to just take the information and leave. Seeing Klein's reaction, Mei could only nod. The little girl immediately looked happy. Finally, someone was helping her with overtime! She really wanted to go to a place Mei there was no overtime and no work... That kind of place must be heaven.

"Mei, is the workload in the Elysian Realm very heavy? Looking at that little one, she seems to be on the verge of being scrapped."

Mei led Shen Gonglin away to continue their investigation in the Elysian Realm. This time they had a target: the so-called depths of the Elysian Realm. Klein Shen Gonglin looked back at Klein, who had become busy again, and couldn't help but gasp. She was really busy.

"Hmm... If everyone is willing to do a little, it's not that much. But as you can see, Elysia is an Elysian Realm Girl, and I feel like she's interested not only in me, but also in other female Flame-Chasers. You saw Chakravartin, I feel like he's not right in the head. Eden is a drunkard who drinks all day long. As for Hua... who was the Class President before, do you think she's suitable for this kind of work? As for Mobius and Su, and the others... In short, I don't think any of them are doing any real work. So the maintenance of the Elysian Realm is basically all done by Klein."

After briefly explaining to Shen Gonglin what these useless people in the Elysian Realm do on a daily basis, Shen Gonglin's lips twitched, feeling that she didn't have much to say. She really felt sorry for that little guy.

"Speaking of workload... Rin, you're Bishop of Schicksal now, though I still find it a little hard to believe... But how are you? Since becoming a bishop, have you had more things to deal with?"