"What exactly happened? Where was the Herrscher? Where did that huge Herrscher go?!" Elysia said in disbelief.
"What was that power?! Who exactly are you?!" Looking at the man before her again, she realized he was nothing like the ordinary person he usually appeared to be.
That was right. Elysia recalled the time she had spent with Yoshikage Kira. She had never seen panic, fear, or any similar expression on the face of the man before her.
He had always been this calm.
Even when facing a Herrscher.
Though she believed Yoshikage Kira was probably a good person, power capable of instantly killing a Herrscher was still chilling.
Faced with Elysia's questioning, Yoshikage Kira answered calmly:
"What this power is doesn't matter. What matters is..."
Yoshikage Kira walked over to Elysia and lowered his head to look at her.
"Miss Elysia, you wouldn't want anyone else to know that you're a Herrscher, would you?"
Yoshikage Kira's body blocked the neon lights, and his shadow enveloped Elysia.
All she could see were Yoshikage Kira's calm eyes. All she could hear were those icy words. It was a secret she had long buried, one she had never wanted to face.
The words of denial she wanted to say were forced back down by Yoshikage Kira's calm gaze. Elysia had just tried to stand, but her legs seemed to lose their strength again.
Seeing Elysia sitting on the ground with her head lowered, Yoshikage Kira crouched down and held her face in both hands.
"Look at me," Yoshikage Kira said seriously.
Elysia shuddered, then focused her gaze on the man before her.
"I, Yoshikage Kira, have always had one greatest goal: to pursue a peaceful life. I believe that a life as still and peaceful as a plant is the most wonderful kind of life."
"I do not obsess over victory or defeat, dwell on troubles, or make enemies that keep me awake at night."
"But Honkai has blocked my path to a peaceful life."
"So I have to act and put an end to it."
"But I do not want to expose myself to the public eye."
"So, Elysia, whenever I deal with a Herrscher in the future, I will give you the credit. In return, you will cover for me."
"Do you understand?"
After hearing Yoshikage Kira's words, Elysia nodded blankly.
"But..."
"You'll find out later," Yoshikage Kira interrupted Elysia.
"Then, about me being a Herrscher..."
"I'll keep it secret."
Under your coercion, Elysia agreed to your request.
After the Honkai incident in Canghai City, Hua, Kevin, Mei, and the others joined the Flame Chasers.
Elysia handed the Herrscher Core you left behind over to the Flame Chasers.
After another "solo" Herrscher subjugation, Elysia's prestige within the Flame Chasers reached its peak, but this also caused dissatisfaction among some of the higher-ups.
At the same time, they raised their assessment of Vill-V's importance by another level.
No one discovered your existence throughout the entire incident, and you were very satisfied with that.
Thus, the Third Honkai Eruption caused by the Herrscher of Thunder came to an end.
"Considering your relationship with Vill-V, the organization has decided to send you to bring her back from the island."
"Understood." Yoshikage Kira nodded in reply.
"Is that my assistant? Wait a moment."
Shouldn't it be 'expert'? Watching Vill-V carefully assemble the components in her hands, Yoshikage Kira did not interrupt her.
"Finished."
"Wah! Assistant, you finally came to see me! You have no idea how bored I've been every day. My magnificent magic could only be performed for monkeys every single day!" said the Magician personality.
Watching Vill-V run up to him to complain, Yoshikage Kira smiled helplessly. "All right. The organization has decided to bring you to the base to work. Pack your things."
"Really? Why so suddenly?"
"I get it. You showed them my equipment, didn't you? I knew it—why else would you ask Elysia for a set of equipment, Assistant?"
Seeing Vill-V convince herself, Yoshikage Kira did not deny it.
"Let's go with that."
Come to think of it, have Vill-V and Pardo not met yet? Yoshikage Kira thought as he helped Vill-V pack.
Before you continue