Chapter 249

She reached out, nocked an arrow, and aimed it at Griseo.

"Alright then... Little Griseo, I'll take good care of you for him!"

The arrow hurtled towards Griseo, striking her defensive barrier; the violent impact caused the entire space to tremble violently.

Cosmo: "The Herrscher of Corruption!"

--Click.

The sound of a cup being crushed.

Cosmo's eyes burned with rage. Although he had been somewhat prepared and had a premonition of this situation, he still couldn't help but feel furious when he saw the Herrscher of Corruption attack Griseo.

Pardofelis: "The Herrscher of Corruption, this guy actually bullies Little Griseo?!"

Is there no justice left?! Is there no law left?!

If you're really that capable, go and challenge the Sister Vill-V to a duel, or confront Boss Kevin head-on. What kind of hero bullies Little Griseo?

Sue: "The instinct of Herrscher of Corruption is to erode data. The entire Previous Era Elysian Realm is nourishment for her, so naturally she won't let Griseo go."

Raiden Mei: "But whether or not it corrodes Griseo doesn't really matter, does it?"

After corrupting the Flame-Chasers, the Herrscher of Corruption will be able to obtain information about Flame-Chasers past and even recreate their abilities.

But for the current Herrscher of Corruption, Griseo's contribution is not important; at least compared to her power in the Previous Era Elysian Realm, it has no effect.

Sakura: "Yeah, the Herrscher of Corruption really went too far this time."

The Herrscher of Corruption need data from the Previous Era Elysian Realm to grow, Flame-Chasers do not want the proof of their existence to vanish. This is an irreconcilable conflict.

Therefore, neither Sakura nor the other Flame-Chasers felt much anger about dying at the hands of the Herrscher of Corruption.

It's simply a matter of being less skilled. The Flame-Chasers are meant to fight against the Honkai; death and sacrifice are just commonplace for them.

If they gain the upper hand, it will be the Herrscher of Corruption disappears.

But they didn't even spare Griseo; the Herrscher of Corruption really went too far, bullying Griseo right in front of them.

Haven't you noticed that Cosmo over there is almost Vishnu?

Kiana: "Next time I encounter Herrscher of Corruption, I'm definitely going to teach her a lesson!"

Himeko Murata: "Kiana, I've told you many times that Herrscher are extremely dangerous beings."

Raiden Mei: "But Teacher Himeko, we seem to be Herrscher all."

Mei scratched her head sheepishly.

This isn't the Previous Era anymore; everyone's a Herrscher now. So what if Herrscher of Corruption? Can they withstand a mob of Herrscher attacking them?

Bronya: "The Herrscher of Corruption only has an advantage in the Previous Era Elysian Realm. In reality, Bronya isn't afraid of her!"

Kevin: "..."

Really? I wonder if Current Era have nuclear weapons. If they do, then the Herrscher of Corruption will be in for a rough time.

Chapter 404 A Painting of Morning Light and Stars

Back then, they only managed to control the Herrscher of Corruption thanks to their advanced technology, Dr. Mei's personal intervention, and Sakura's interference with the Herrscher of Corruption's mental state.

Kevin is currently unsure about the Current Era computer systems and whether they can prevent viruses that Herrscher of Corruption.

Pardofelis: "Will the fight against the Herrscher of Corruption be streamed live? I want to watch."

Theresa: "Pardo, don't just watch! There's this 'Life Coin Trial Version, you can join in with us!"

Pardofelis: "No, my little body can't handle it."

Theresa: "It's alright, we'll just capture the Herrscher of Corruption and let you kick him a couple of times."

Even though nothing's really going on yet, the headmaster has already started plotting how to corrupt the Current Era's Herrscher of Corruption.

Who wouldn't love such a well-behaved child Griseo?

Cute girls are justice!

Pardofelis: "This..."

Normally, the cat wouldn't have hesitated, but after so much familiarity and the system's exposure, Pardofelis knew that the Current Era Herrscher seemed a bit weak.

The most obvious example is Wendy, the Herrscher of Wind, who was knocked down by a single punch from Titan Mech.

The shame can be felt from Oceania all the way to the Far East Branch.

If even the Herrscher of Corruption is this weak, then for Griseo's sake, Pardofelis might as well muster the courage to kick her and then run away.

Cosmo: "We can talk about the Herrscher of Corruption later. What I want to know now is, why did Griseo stay?"

He has already died twice in an attempt to delay the Herrscher of Corruption.

Therefore, Griseo has no need to waste her life for a short period of time.

Cosmo couldn't understand why, despite his efforts, he still ended up with this result.

Vill-V: "Calm down, Cosmo. Griseo stayed voluntarily, you know that, don't you?"

Yes, no one forced Griseo, and no one would force her.

When Griseo faced the attack from the Herrscher of Corruption, her face showed no surprise or panic. She had anticipated this situation and knew what would happen if she did this.

Now, Cosmo finally realized that the idea of sacrificing himself in place of Griseo was nothing but self-deception.

Cosmo had previously thought he had accepted the idea of choosing one of two evils, but in reality, he was just seeing things through a fog.

Cosmo: "... Griseo, do you really want to become a hero?"

Griseo: "I don't know."

Little Griseo shook her head. Heroes and such philosophical topics, which even adults couldn't explain clearly, were still too far removed from her.

Vill-V: "Cosmo, Little Griseo doesn't lie."

Cosmo: "I know, why are you saying this?"

Vill-V: "What I mean is, is it possible that what she meant by 'can't leave' has a simpler meaning?"

Unable to leave and unwilling to leave.

Although they differ by only a few words and sound similar, a closer examination reveals that they are two completely different things.

Cosmo: "You mean?!"

In that instant, Cosmo suddenly understood something.

Perhaps he had already guessed it, but he just didn't want to admit it.

When Griseo said she couldn't leave, she really meant she couldn't leave this place. It wasn't that she was brave enough to confront the Herrscher of Corruption; she was just like the canary in the painting, unable to leave her cage.

In the scene, the Herrscher of Corruption suddenly widened her eyes; she understood what Griseo meant by "unable to leave."

She put down her weapon and walked step by step toward Griseo.

It wasn't until the moment she actually came into contact with it that the Herrscher of Corruption confirmed her answer.

But that's precisely why the Herrscher of Corruption can't understand why Griseo doesn't have the same ability as the Cosmo, who can completely plunder Griseo's data with just a little corruption.

"Griseo, you..."

The Herrscher of Corruption reached out and used her Corruption ability on Griseo.

As expected, she gained nothing—no data, no knowledge of growth—it was as if she had only corrupted a painting, a useless, lifeless object.

"You actually included yourself in that painting?!"

It took the Herrscher of Corruption a long time to accept this answer.

"Of course there should be another person in that painting," Cosmo said, head bowed. "Since everyone says I'm a blank canvas, then Cosmo shouldn't mind using myself as the canvas, right?"

"..."

The Herrscher of Corruption's furious expression distorted her beautiful face.

She wasted an abundance of time on a completely useless painting!

They obtained no data related to Flame-Chasers's Memory Body, and even Griseo's power in the painting was personally obliterated by the Herrscher of Corruption during the battle just now.

The Herrscher of Corruption was incredibly annoyed, but still maintained Elysia's demeanor, softly asking Griseo, "And what about you, Griseo?"

"Just like Cosmo, of course."

"Griseo, now that you've drawn him, is what happens after that your own decision?"

The Herrscher of Corruption couldn't understand. "Just to prevent me from continuing the pursuit, you're willing to waste your own life?!"

How long can Griseo stop her?

Brief, almost negligible in the vast time available to the Herrscher of Corruption.

Yet she still appeared before him. The Herrscher of Corruption didn't know whose arrangement this was, nor could he understand the meaning behind her actions.

"Pursue? What does that mean?"

Griseo shook her head, unable to understand what the Herrscher of Corruption was saying.

She didn't know what the Herrscher of Corruption was talking about, or even what had happened in the Previous Era Elysian Realm.

Griseo explained earnestly, "Cosmo, though he never says it, is most afraid of being alone. I just don't want him to be alone in the painting too."

Cosmo was afraid of being alone, so Griseo included herself in that painting.

A picture of Morning Light and Stars intertwined.

"You...!!!"

In an instant, the power of the Herrscher of Corruption erupted from her anger, almost breaking through her disguise as Elysia.

Griseo's painting also vanished completely under such force.

"Ridiculous, you guys!!"

Before this, the reasons others gave for self-sacrifice seemed absurd enough to her.

And now, for such absurd reasons, Griseo so easily gives up her life.

For someone who cherishes life and considers survival her sole creed, how could she not be furious?

The Herrscher of Corruption stood alone in the ruins, looking in the direction Raiden Mei had left, and remained there for a long time.

The video ends here.

Chapter 405 Who brought the painting to the Herrscher of Corruption?

Pardofelis: "Little Griseo, how could you..."

Not only the Herrscher of Corruption, but even they were somewhat unable to figure out Griseo's thoughts.

Because he was afraid that Cosmo would be lonely, he included himself in the painting so that Cosmo wouldn't be all alone.

It's a beautiful and touching story, but the feeling is completely different when it happens to someone you know or someone you know well.

Griseo has always been the one being taken care of, while Cosmo is more like an older brother but acts as a father figure.

Besides painting, Griseo needs someone to take care of her in every aspect, and Cosmo is willing to do so.

The fact that Griseo would make such a decision is truly shocking, as if we've only just met Griseo.

By painting herself into the picture, Griseo, as the one wielding the brush, certainly understood what that meant.

Griseo: "Did I... do something wrong?"

Elysia: "No, Griseo did a great job. As for whether you made a mistake... do you think you made a mistake?"

Griseo: "I don't know."

She didn't want Cosmo to be alone, Cosmo was very afraid of being alone.

But seeing everyone's serious expressions, Little Griseo didn't know if it was right for her not to listen to Cosmo.

Now even Cosmo is angry.

Cosmo: "Griseo, do you really know what doing this means?"

Griseo: "It means... I will disappear, and then stay with Cosmo in the painting forever."