Chapter 447

"You're sure he won't be able to say no, aren't you?"

Mei secretly rolled her eyes. After understanding Kosma's personality, Mei also felt some sympathy for this poor Flame-Chasers. He must have been bullied to death by Elysia. What a pitiful child.

"Oh dear, he's a kind-hearted child. Mei might get along well with him, right? After all, you both have horns, and your textures are quite similar."

Elysia said this with her hands on her hips, while Mei had already placed her hands on the hilt of her sword. Elysia brought this up again... Also, Kosma was indeed touched by her, huh? She really is a cancer in the Elysian Realm. I'm afraid that anyone with such abnormal behavior will not escape her clutches. She did it, and she even flaunted it so arrogantly. Does she really think that hitting people doesn't hurt?

"And the owner of this painting. An innocent, naive, and clueless little artist, as pure and simple as the canvas itself..."

Realizing that Mei might draw her sword if she continued teasing her, Elysia cleverly changed the subject. Innocent and naive, it turns out Elysia also knew Griseo's personality.

"Since you know this, don't teach her any more strange things."

"But Mei, what I taught her was all necessary knowledge. Grey Griseo ... her very existence has lit up hope for many people, and beyond her paintings lies that final area, the Deepest Place."

Holding Mei's hand, Elysia strode forward, and soon the two arrived at the highlight of their trip. The wide and magnificent square was very familiar to Mei; it was here that she fought Aponia before heading to Eternal Elysium.

"Look, this is our last stop."

Elysia generously showed it to Mei, and Mei shared her own insights.

"To be honest, I initially thought the Deepest Place would be a pitch-black prison. But after arriving here, I found that it's more like a sanctuary than a prison."

Looking around at everything, Mei recalled her original purpose for coming here. Aponia said she would kill her in ten days. Unwilling to accept such a "fate," she proved everything herself. It felt like a lifetime ago.

"Really? And the one who helped Mei get here was a noisy, flamboyant magician who loves his audience..."

Elysia happily mentioned Vill-V, as she liked everyone in the Flame-Chasers. However, when she mentioned Vill-V, Mei calmly interjected.

"No, it's engineer, magician, mechanic, occultist, chef, villain, and two other things."

Vill-V is no good person. When she asked Vilvi to send her to the Deepest Place, she said something about opening their hearts to each other, but in the end, it was just Vilvi. Mei still remembers this Mei.

"Wow! Mei remembers it so clearly, I'm a little envious. The ability to think in segments... Speaking of which, if I also split myself in two, would I become twice as perfect?"

Elysia said excitedly, and Mei couldn't help but imagine two Elysia personalities in her mind. To be honest, just imagining it made Mei feel uncomfortable. Elysia also noticed the change in Mei's Mei Flame-Chasers.

"Ah, you just imagined it, didn't you?"

"No."

Mei denied it decisively. Anyway, she didn't have Aponia's abilities. As long as she stubbornly refused to admit it, Elysia couldn't do anything about it, even though she had only imagined it.

"Okay, Mei, don't you feel the same way? This area really has her style, bright, holy, and radiating a healing light... The last Flame-Chasers Mei saw was also the most special, Aponia, who foresaw fate and was also imprisoned by fate."

Finally, she recounted the last Flame-Chasers she encountered. Her evaluation of Elysia was ambiguous, and Mei's attitude towards Aponia remained somewhat subtle. What Elysia said wasn't entirely wrong; it would have been better if Alicia had used healing methods to be more peaceful. Now, Mei had more or less understood Alicia's logic.

Time and again she tried to change her tragic fate, only to reap worse endings. To commit evil with good intentions—this was the most fitting description of Aponia, but Mei could sense her yearning, her devotion... and her unwavering conviction.

"Oh, so that's how Mei viewed Aponia. That's why she was the last one, and it had to be her, who hid the greatest secret of this Elysian Realm."

Elysia smiled gently, then the girl lightly massaged her legs, having walked for quite a while.

"Ah... we've really come a long, long way. There are so many things worth remembering, but... it seems like we've reached the end. Mei, look, that door, it's right here. So, do you have the answer now?"

Having traversed the Deepest Place, the two returned to Elysia's mental space, also known as Eternal Elysium. The fairy girl smiled at Mei with her hands behind her back, as if to say, "It should feel good."

Chapter 163 Your Answers

"Speaking of which, even among the visitors, Mei is quite a special case. No one would expect a Herrscher to be friends with all the Flame-Chasers, so, Mei, what's your answer...?"

The fairy girl smiled, eagerly awaiting Mei's answer. She saw everything she wanted to show her. How would Mei respond?

"... Indeed, as you said, some of the people I've met here are hard to categorize as good people in the universal sense. Even those outside of them have their own motives, hide their secrets, and even have conflicts and clashes with each other. But... I can sense a shared belief, or rather... an obsession, in these people. It is the will to fight for something."

Elysia listened attentively, and after a moment of silence, Mei organized her thoughts and expressed what she wanted to say. This was what she saw in these Flame-Chasers.

"Perhaps this is the most precious gift that the end times have given to people."

Elysia whispered, "Mei's observation skills are indeed very sharp."

"I don't know if it's appropriate to say this... Most of the people I've met are still in the process of completion. But Flame-Chasers... most of them seem to have already reached completion. Time has left its mark, shaping them into what they are today. But more important than their completed state is... the process of their journey towards completion."

Although it sounded a bit convoluted, Mei understood that if it were Elysia, she would understand what Mei was trying to express. This was Mei's view of Flame-Chasers: whether they were heroes or not, it didn't change anything. These Flame-Chasers were not people who could be summarized by results or definitions. But it was precisely because they were difficult to summarize... that their stories were admirable.

"Mei, if Rin knew you'd become like this too... let me think, should I say the Riddler? He'd definitely bully you if he knew. But clever Elysia has already figured it out. Yes, the story recorded in the Elysian Realm is just this simple."

A gentle breeze stirred, ruffling Elysia's beautiful pink hair. The girl's smile remained unchanged; Mei really knew what she was doing.

"Flame-Chasers were just ordinary people with complex emotions and flaws, just like every ordinary human being at that time. They had their own selfish desires and were mostly not capable of great love. But they would also do some impulsive and remarkable things because of a moment of emotion or a whim. They were never perfect heroes; they were just the ones who appeared there at that time. And because of this, I believe that if it were someone else, they would have made similar choices, or even done better?"

"And this is the beauty of eternity, the true self I believe in."

At this point, Elysia's face lit up with a smile that Mei had never seen before. The smile was so warm and full of hope. At this moment, Mei understood that the Elysia in front of her truly loved the human who would make such a choice.

"At first, I thought the answer lay hidden in the dusty memories, so I kept searching and exploring, hoping to find the information I wanted from the slightest clues. Now it seems... that's true, but it's not just that. This place holds too much of the past that has nothing to do with the truth, and that's why... it didn't disappear into the dust along with the Previous Era."

The radiance of Elysia before her remained unchanged, just as it had been when they first met. Mei gazed at Elysia, wanting to remember her eternal presence.

"You are destined not to see all the stories, or even grasp a corner of the whole picture. The entirety of thirteen people's lives... is such a complex, yet beautiful thing."

"Yes, I know. The meaning lies in what I want to believe in during this process."

That will determine what you get when you reach the finish line.

"In the end, I couldn't escape your trap. After going through all this trouble... your purpose has never changed from the beginning."

"It would be a bit of an exaggeration to say it's for a purpose. As I've said before, the Elysian Realm still has practical significance, as it's part of the Mobius Stigmata Plan. However, what you've said is indeed my little wish. To remain steadfast... that's my commitment. I think Mei can now face my fate with equanimity."

Elysia tapped her head and made a mischievous face. Now that she knew so much, she believed that Mei was ready.

"I hope so, but... I'm a little surprised. You, who have never liked to lie, still told a small lie about your Herrscher identity. The Thirteenth Herrscher... you didn't need to hide it from me for so long."

Mei said that, Elysia was slightly taken aback. Then the smile on the girl's face gradually faded, and she turned to look into the distance. What Mei said was indeed true.

"Oh. That's true. Maybe... I really did tell a huge lie, the only lie I've ever told in my life. After all... I can be scared too. If Mei and Shen Gonglin knew I was the Thirteenth Herrscher, maybe... they wouldn't greet me with smiles like before? Would you doubt me? Would you... distance yourself from me? Am I... quite disappointing?"

For the first time, Mei saw such "negative" emotions in Elysia. So she also worried about such things. Mei was about to speak when she felt a familiar energy fluctuation, so she remained silent. Sometimes, it would be more effective for him to say it than for her to say it herself.

A golden halo unfolded, and Shen Gonglin stepped out. Mei had been contacting Shen Gonglin since returning to Eternal Elysium; this girl had finally had her fill of fun and was back.

"It's quite disappointing that you think that way. Is being Herrscher so powerful? I know several Herrschers, and I beat them all down. When you called yourself the vice leader of the Flame-Chasers, I didn't pay any attention to you. Similarly, Thirteenth Herrscher won't make me treat you any differently. Even if you become Herrscher... so what? Mei is Herrscher too, or in a way, I am Herrscher as well."

The Herrscher of the Void, the Herrscher of Reason, the Herrscher of Thunder, the Herrscher of Consciousness... These Herrscher Core spun around Shen Gonglin. Could it be that she thinks being Herrscher is really that awesome?

Is that answer enough?

Herrscher of Thunder, the Raiden Mei, stepped forward. "Elysia, are you the kind of person who would worry about something like this?"

Chapter 164 She Feels Secretly Enjoying It

Mei really knows how to flirt! She could never say something like that herself. It's only because of her gender that Mei's abilities are limited; otherwise... Shen Gonglin felt she might not have a chance. Glancing at Mei, Shen Gonglin was inwardly speechless. Although she always thought of herself as the male protagonist, she was completely inept at this kind of talkativeness. Speaking of which, it was quite embarrassing that she, as the male protagonist, couldn't be a smooth talker. If it were Mei ...

Just imagine, if Mei didn't exist in this world, she'd probably be living the male lead's life, and Kiana would likely fall for her too.

"Hmm... that's enough."

Elysia smiled. This girl, who was always thought to have ulterior motives, had perhaps been doing everything she said and did in front of Mei all for the sake of this one answer, and now Mei had given her the response she wanted.

In the distant past, on that night when she wore a pure white dress and wore her once-in-a-lifetime new makeup, did she get the answer she wanted?

The matter remains unknown, but just then, a voice carrying a mechanical electric current suddenly came out from behind Elysia. Upon hearing this voice, both Shen Gonglin and Mei's expressions changed instantly.

Even if... you become Herrscher... even if you become Herrscher... isn't Mei still Herrscher... is that answer enough...?

The familiar voice drew Shen Gonglin and Mei's attention to Elysia. The melancholy atmosphere from before gradually dissipated. They recognized the voice instantly. Looking at Elysia, their eyes were filled with a pure and sweet smile in the setting sun. Light streamed down her fair skin, illuminating Elysia delicate features... The light swirled around her soft body, and in the hazy light, something was faintly visible behind her...

That's... a loudspeaker?

"Ta-da! It also has a recording function!"

Elysia grabbed the megaphone and pressed the switch. Shen Gonglin and Mei's voices came through again. The girl hugged the megaphone with a look of ecstasy on her face, but Shen Gonglin and Mei on the other end were a little dumbfounded. Shen Gonglin had thought it was pretty cool when he said those things earlier, but now, hearing it, he only felt a lot of shame.

"... Elysia!"

Mei hadn't even spoken yet; given her personality, she'd probably just say some harsh words at most. But Shen Gonglin was different. Before, when she teased Mei, Shen Gonglin had always been happy to see it happen, but now that she was being teased herself, he couldn't hold back anymore. The thought of saying such shameful things and having Elysia record it made Shen Gonglin furious. He yelled and pounced on her, pushing Elysia to the ground before she could dodge.

As everyone knows, Shen Gonglin really will resort to violence if she gets angry.

"Give it to me! Give it to me now! Or I'll beat you up!"

Pressing Elysia to the ground, Shen Gonglin completely disregarded the impact of the girl's gorgeous clothes rubbing against the ground. He reached out to snatch Elysia's megaphone; such a shameful thing shouldn't exist and had to be deleted.

"No! No way! This is my precious treasure. You can hit me if you want, but I'm not giving it to you... Hit my butt, it's got thick flesh there."

Elysia fully demonstrated what it means to be fearless. The girl clung tightly to the megaphone, curled up on the ground, and refused to cooperate. Her attitude was incredibly uncooperative. She slightly hunched her waist, making her pert little bottom even more prominent. Go ahead and hit me if you want. Anyway, I will never hand over the megaphone. This is something I want to listen to on repeat.

Spanking? Mei frowned upon hearing this. She wanted to see Elysia get a beating from Shen Gonglin, but the way she described it was a bit too intimate. She couldn't just stand by and watch. If anyone was going to be spanked, it would be herself, not Elysia.

"Alright, Shen Gonglin, let her go... Don't bite her ear, I feel like she's secretly enjoying it."

Unable to bear it any longer, Mei separated Shen Gonglin and Elysia. Jingu Shen Gonglin was currently biting Elysia's ear and wouldn't let go. Mei felt that if she didn't intervene, things would start to get weird. At least, the Mei on Elysia's face seemed a bit off to Mei. She couldn't just stand by and watch things continue like this.

"Phew... Such a warm welcome, my heart can hardly take it... Alright, alright, Shen Gonglin, stop fooling around. After all, you're leaving after you get your answers, and I want to leave behind some memories of you too."

Elysia clutched the megaphone tightly, but her gaze was fixed on the distance. On the sea, a misty island came into view. To prevent Shen Gonglin from continuing to think about her megaphone, Elysia had to change the subject.

"However, things seem a bit strange. I should have been prepared, so why is it still shrouded in mist?"

Elysia looked over there, puzzled. She really couldn't understand why the fog hadn't dissipated, even though she had made all the necessary preparations.

"That island... was it the final destination?"

Having calmed Shen Gonglin, Mei's tolerance had been cultivated, perhaps due to being teased and pranked too many times. The girl then turned her gaze to the place where Elysia was looking. She had noticed that misty island before, and now, hearing Elysia say this, she realized that it was the end of her journey.

"Yes, everything Mei wants to know about that banquet is kept there. I'm also very curious about what exactly happened."

After straightening her slightly disheveled clothes, Elysia regained her composure and returned to her usual energetic self. The girl touched her lips as she looked at the island, genuinely curious about what had happened.

"Hmm? So you don't know either?"

Mei frowned slightly. It wasn't that she suspected Elysia was deceiving her, but wasn't this Elysia's mental space? How could there be things that Alicia herself didn't know?

"Hey, Mei, have you forgotten? I'm just a memory. I only know what I want to do, but I don't know what actually happens. I also don't know how I performed, or what everyone will think of me. But judging from their reactions, the outcome should be good, right?"

Chapter 165 The Male Lead's Script

Elysia thought for a moment, then tapped her hand. That must be it; otherwise, Elysia wouldn't exist in the Elysian Realm...

The three of them strolled along together. Elysia said she wanted to investigate the cause of the fog, but no matter how you looked at Shen Gonglin, she seemed to be just wandering around. But even if she was just wandering around, it was quite an interesting one. Putting everything else aside, the scenery in Elysia's mental world was much better than other places.

"However, there is indeed a little regret."

With her hands behind her back, Elysia suddenly blurted out a sentence, "Regret?" Why did she say that? Mei looked at Elysia, wondering what she meant by that.

"Yes, it's a bit of a shame. Although I've always insisted that the Thirteen Flame-Chasers are a team, when I think about it carefully, it seems like we've never fought side by side as a group of thirteen. If Mei would do me the honor of playing the villain and fulfilling my little wish, I would be super happy."

As she spoke, Elysia looked at Mei with great anticipation. It was clear from her eyes that she truly intended to do so. However, Mei ruthlessly rejected the girl's request. With her own strength, dealing with even one Flame-Chasers was already a struggle; imagine if thirteen of them attacked together...

Is Elysia planning to kill me and take my place?

"I refuse. Besides, why me? This role... Shen Gonglin is more suitable."

Mei refused without hesitation, and at the same time she looked at Shen Gonglin. Shen Gonglin was indeed much more suitable than herself. He was more powerful than her, and he had always been at odds with Chakravartin and Kevin. If he were the villain, he should be able to get the Thirteen Flame-Chasers to take action together.

"Hmph, stingy... Of course, I can't let Rin be the villain. If he is the villain, I'm afraid I won't be able to resist joining in, and others too... I'm not so sure about Hua, she's a decent girl, but as for Sakura, maybe she'll join Rin's side with me. I've always felt that Sakura is very good to Rin, even letting him touch her ears. That would develop into an infighting among the Thirteen Flame-Chasers, I don't believe it."

Elysia spoke with reason and evidence, and Mei actually felt that what she said was indeed true, and things might really develop as Elysia said.

Let's hope this doesn't actually happen.

"By the way, Mei, there's one more thing I've always wanted to ask you. What's your opinion on us memory entities... the data reproduction from our past lives, the so-called virtual existence?"

Suddenly this question was raised, Elysia stopped in her tracks. This question was also very important. She wanted to know how Mei viewed everything in the Elysian Realm, since they were not truly existing at the moment.

"What do you think?"

I didn't understand what Elysia meant at first, but that's okay, the girl is right here, she'll explain.

"Whether they are martyrs who sacrificed themselves early or pioneers who lived into the future... they are ultimately unrelated to us, real beings. We who remain here are merely a part of the past, a shadow left behind. We can only stay here, unable to touch the reality you live in, nor can we accompany you into the future... perhaps? When you leave here and return to your normal, real lives... you also know very well that everything that happened here is just a story. A virtual story."

At this point, Elysia's eyes became somewhat melancholy again. Although she didn't want to admit it, everything that happened in the Elysian Realm should just be a story, a memory, for them.

"Perhaps it won't be long before you forget these things, forget these words, forget... our existence. You will meet people better than me, or perhaps you already have. Although I don't believe there are people better than me in the world, but... you will ultimately have your own lives to live and embrace your own tomorrow. In that case, will our emotions, our thoughts, our will, our actions... still have any meaning?"

Elysia spoke at length, and this time even Shen Gonglin listened attentively. He could sense that the girl was expecting a response, but she also seemed afraid of the answer. How exactly should he say it... Damn it, why wasn't he the kind of eloquent male protagonist?

Shen Gonglin reached out and tugged at Mei's hand, and Mei, understanding his meaning, took his hand in return. She knew what Shen Gonglin wanted to say, and she would say it for him.

"What do we mean to you, to anyone...?"

Having stated her question, Elysia looked up at Shen Gonglin and Mei. As expected, they did not give a direct answer. Presumably, the question was also difficult for them. Elysia smiled and continued speaking to herself.