In any case, Kosma wasn't wrong.
Among the Flame-Chasers, trust in one another was beginning to deteriorate.
As the host, Eden stepped forward and made a decision—
Everyone would temporarily split up, protect what was important to them, and wait for news from Su's side.
The audience immediately began spamming comments:
[Well damn, splitting up again, huh? Classic horror story logic: split up, someone dies.]
[Eden, snap out of it!]
[I don't think this is a wise move.]
Mei, too, shared the same doubts as the viewers.
"Splitting up? But… wouldn't that make it easier for the enemy to pick us off one by one?"
Eden explained—
First, none of the Flame-Chasers were ordinary. They each had their own thoughts. Forcing them to move together would only create friction and hinder more than help.
More importantly, if even the most unique—Elysia—and the strongest—Kevin—could be silently eliminated…
Then even gathering the rest together might not stand a chance against the true culprit.
Not only was Mei persuaded, but players felt convinced as well.
Yeah… that kind of made sense.
And so, the group agreed to split up and investigate separately.
That's when Pardofelis suddenly voiced her desire to follow Eden.
Though weak and lacking power, she still wanted to do what little she could to help, even just a little.
[I feel like the cat's definitely a good person.]
["What bad thoughts could Little Cat possibly have?"]
[Hahaha, Little Cat is just too cute.]
Pardofelis's actions always seemed to strike a chord.
How to put it...
She's timid and powerless—compared to calling her a Flame-Chaser, she's more like an ordinary person with good luck.
But none of the Flame-Chasers felt as real, as grounded, as the Little Cat.
So while players might not fully understand Kevin's resolve or the others' choices...
They could empathize with Pardofelis almost instantly.
Because she was the one in the Realm closest to them.
[Pardofelis only wants to do what she can, even if what she does is insignificant.]
Back on track.
Despite her wish to follow Eden, Eden thought about it and still refused.
She pointed out that the mastermind might be eliminating people in order of their Flame-Chaser rank.
As for why it was "first Elysia, then Kevin"?
Probably because Elysia used to be Number 1.
Mm... though technically, she still is?
Anyway, Eden turned down Pardofelis and pulled Mei aside to ask for a favor.
She wanted Mei to find Vill-V and inform her of the current situation.
Though realistically, Vill-V didn't need Mei to notify her. Being a 100% participation-rate main DPS, how could she possibly not be prepared?
Mei agreed to find Vill-V, but before leaving, she asked Eden why she had stepped up to be the [host] this time.
"Is that so? Indeed... it doesn't match the image I usually give off, does it?"
"Miss Mei... even I can act [out of character] sometimes."
Eden reached toward the distance, golden light blooming from her fingertips—
The game cut to a CG of a golden crystal flower, radiating dazzling brilliance.
A slightly melancholic BGM began playing.
But today's players had already been through plenty of [storms and waves]; a mere BGM shift wasn't enough to shake them.
"It's a beautiful flower, isn't it? Just like [her]."
"I always keep it with me. It reminds me of her face, her smile... her love for everyone."
Eden's voice grew heavy with remembrance.
Truly fitting of an internationally acclaimed diva.
She didn't need to force her tone—just the subtle grief in her voice was enough to stir something deep in the players' hearts.
Turning their faces from "whatever" to "乆乆乆乆".
MiHoYo's voice actors really are the devil's assistants!!
"And now, just as I was about to be swallowed whole by the grief of [losing her again]… this light once more pointed the way."
"It told me—go stand in the spotlight, and hold everyone together, just as she once did."
"Otherwise, everything she left behind… will fade away."
At that moment, everyone could feel it.
Eden's feelings for Elysia, her grief at losing her.
[Is this the start of honoring Elysia's memory, inheriting her spirit? It reminds me of Teacher Himeko and Kiana.]
[Is this a dual-blade emotional arc? Writer, you heartless fiend, stop the pain!]
[Elysia's not dead! Elysia's not dead! Elysia's not dead! (I'm not listening I'm not listening)]
"No wonder..."
Elysia murmured to herself, too softly for others to hear.
"Eden came back from a recording session once in a weird mood—she must've voiced this scene."
Many people probably assumed Eden's emotion in this scene was acting, but not her. If Eden ever disappeared—even in-game—she'd be devastated. So she could truly relate.
Of course, she had 'comforted' Eden back then~~
In her own way.
Eden, you're just too soft and squishy~~
Cough cough.
...
Back in the story.
Mei, like the players, was moved by Eden's emotions.
"Eden..."
The gentle whisper reached Eden's ears, snapping her back to reality.
"Sorry, did I confuse you? Just think of it as... [an excuse] for my unusual behavior."
"I've never doubted you. It's just that crystal flower... I feel like I've seen it before. Is it something every Flame-Chaser carries?"
Their conversation drifted to the [crystal flower].
Eden revealed a bit—
Not all Flame-Chasers carried Elysia's crystal flower. Only a few kept the secret.
Mei also told Eden that Aponia had passed her purple crystal flower on to Griseo.
After that, Mei asked one final question.
"Eden, do you believe there's no [traitor] among the Flame-Chasers?"
A question many players cared about.
But Eden didn't give a clear answer.
Instead, she posed a hypothetical.
"I never said that. And Miss Mei, don't be swayed by the atmosphere around you. You must form your own judgment."
"For example... what if I were the [traitor]? What if I, the one telling you all this, were actually the one trying to hide everything?"
"What if I had been seduced by the wine of the so-called [New Generation], desperate to leave this place—and used everyone else to do so... would you still follow what I said?"
This wasn't just made-up. The idea had already been foreshadowed earlier.
Back when Raven gave Eden a glass of wine, Eden told Mei—
[Just a glass of wine, and yet I can't put it down no matter what…]
[It tempts me, makes me want another sip… to yearn just a bit more… for the 'taste' only the new world offers.]
Some fans had analyzed that moment after the Mobius "body takeover" arc.
Perhaps Eden's real self had no such thoughts—but her memory self… might've grown curious about the new world.
And once that curiosity was born...
Eden's hypothetical might actually be a possible future.
Her memory self might try to leave the Elysian Realm and head toward the [New Era], just like Mobius.
[Why does it feel like Eden suddenly seems a little sus?]
[Impossible! Absolutely not! Eden's already on the Hyperion. If she's a villain, who'd use her after this?!]
[Of course I'd still use her. I'm a loyal Eden fan. And don't forget about the Queen.]
["Her voice still lingers, her smile remains."]
[Loyalty that's not absolute is absolute disloyalty!!!]
...
In the stream chat, Eden's fans stood firm.
And Mei, having gone through the entire Elysian Realm arc, naturally knew Eden's hypothetical wasn't baseless.
Yet she still answered: "No. I don't believe you're that kind of person—this is the [judgment] I've made from being by your side. And I trust it."
Eden smiled at her response and thanked Mei for her trust.
Then she quietly left to go deeper into the realm.
Thus ended their conversation. Eden temporarily exited the stage.
Next, Mei prepared to head to the tower and ask Vill-V for information.
But when she arrived, all she found was a note Vill-V had left.
Mei read it aloud: "To my beloved audience, the Great Magician awaits you at the amusement park—just on the other side of the tower."
...Let's be honest. Mei didn't have to read that "oh" out loud, right?
"Amusement park?"
With growing curiosity, Mei passed through the tower and arrived at a new section of the Elysian Realm—the amusement park.
This place would definitely be incredibly important.
Because here, many stories were about to unfold.
So many unforgettable, romantic, beautiful stories...
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