What unfolded before them was a landscape of strange, almost surreal architecture.
Shattered stones and broken pillars spiraled upward around a tall spire, forming a tangled mesh that resembled a bird's nest.
As if declaring itself the center of the world.
This was architecture from the First Civilization Era.
Despite its bizarre appearance, it was once nothing more than a regular house — the kind of property anyone in that age could buy without even needing a loan.
"A new Flame-Chasers squad… made entirely of Herrschers? And Kevin is joining too— as the Herrscher of Ice!?"
Before Elysia could even process the fact that Nagami could freely traverse into world bubbles, a barrage of information detonated in her mind.
Her smile froze.
Her eyes widened.
Both arms, half raised in excitement, stiffened midair.
She stood there like a perfectly carved, life-sized ice sculpture.
Even among the Thirteen Flame-Chasers, Kevin becoming a Herrscher would be enough to cause an existential crisis.
Shock filled her flawless face as she stared blankly at Nagami, searching for even a trace of a joke.
But his calm, serious expression told her one thing—
He wasn't joking.
Elysia instinctively turned toward Kevin, hoping for an explanation from the source himself.
And to her utter disbelief, Kevin crossed his arms and gave a solemn, confirming nod.
"Wha—!"
Elysia shut her eyes, took a deep breath, and rubbed her forehead.
A long sigh escaped her lips. "Haaah… I must not have slept well last night. I'm seeing things. Can memory constructs even hallucinate?"
Her tone was joking, but the sharpness in her gaze said otherwise.
The playfulness was gone; she was deadly serious now.
Kevin, unshaken, replied in his steady, ice-cold voice.
"If one can retain their will and remain unaffected by the influence of the Honkai consciousness, then a Herrscher's power can be turned against the Honkai itself."
Elysia's brows lifted.
She turned to Nagami, curiosity gleaming in her blue eyes.
"To control that much power while staying yourself…? That's unbelievable."
Then, with her mood flipping in an instant, she grinned and playfully slapped Nagami's shoulder.
"Heehee~ Hey, Nagami ~~! How about letting me join your Flame-Chasers squad too? You said it yourself — I'm the vice leader of the Thirteen, and I'm beautiful, strong, pure, and oh-so-cute!
I'd definitely be way more fun than that icy Kevin, right? Can't I become a Herrscher too~?"
Her ocean-blue eyes sparkled like a child's full of wonder and excitement.
Nagami chuckled softly, his voice as calm and courteous as ever.
"If that's what you truly wish, as the captain of the new Flame-Chasers, I'd have no objection. Elysia-san is indeed extraordinary charming, kind, and pure. By all reasonable standards, I doubt anyone could refuse such a request."
His tone was flat, but the words carried an undeniable weight, as if they were a simple, immutable truth.
"Ahaha~ When you say it like that, even I get shy, you know?" Elysia teased, brushing a strand of pink hair behind her ear and twirling the ends around her finger.
"But~ I was only kidding. Don't take it so seriously, Nagami."
Her sweet, mischievous smile returned as she let out a mock sigh.
"Still, what a shame… I really would've loved to join."
Putting on the look of a heartbroken maiden, she clasped her hands behind her back and tilted her head innocently.
"The real Elysia would never waste her youth in this sunless place. I'm merely a fragment of her a memory that inherited her personality and experiences. How could I become a Herrscher? Hehe~"
The pink-haired girl swayed lightly as she stepped closer to Nagami, her lashes fluttering like butterfly wings.
And she had to admit Nagami, in his calm, composed state, looked every bit the refined gentleman.
Naturally, that only made him more tempting to tease.
"Nagami, you really are such a cute little—"
She didn't even get to finish.
Her words stopped abruptly, cut off as if someone had slammed a door on her voice.
Nagami's face still wore that gentle, sunlit smile, but his eyes—
Those dark, ink-like pupils were gone.
In their place shone twin violet hexagrams, swirling with starlight like an entire galaxy reflected within.
The moment his gaze met hers, Elysia felt her very essence laid bare — body, memory, soul, everything exposed under that infinite, cosmic light.
To any living being, the sensation would've been unbearable.
Yet Elysia kept her sweet smile, forcing her voice to remain light and calm.
"My, my… Nagami, your eyes are really something special."
Her fingers trembled slightly as she fought the instinct to avert her gaze.
Still smiling, she gracefully lifted one slender arm — and without a sound, her hand began to move slowly toward the pale, soft curve of her chest…
"Could this be one of those special eyes from manga — you know, the ones that shoot biu-biu lasers, or can see through things…?"
"That's right."
Nagami's answer came with that same flawless warmth and friendliness, his voice as gentle as ever.
He wasn't pretending that was just his natural sincerity shining through.
"They really can see through things," he added calmly.
His dark eyes gleamed as if admiring the world's most exquisite artwork.
With an earnest smile, he nodded and spoke with genuine conviction.
"Also, Elysia-san truly lives up to every word of her own description — a delicate beauty, as radiant as a blooming flower."
Elysia froze mid-motion, her attempt to cover herself stopping dead in its tracks.
Her expression stiffened visibly, until she stood completely motionless.
"Ah—w-wait! Waaaahhh—!"
A panicked squeal echoed through the strange space, the kind that would come from a frightened kitten.
Of course, it couldn't possibly have come from the elegant and charming Elysia, the vice-captain of the Thirteen Flame-Chasers.
So who was it from?
Everyone's gaze turned toward the source of the sound — a trembling Paimon, hiding behind Lumine, staring at Nagami in sheer terror.
"X-ray vision!? Why would anyone have such a pervy power!? Nagami, stop looking at Paimon! Lumine! Cover me, quick!"
Her pale little face turned beet red, and she curled her shoulders up, hugging herself defensively.
Even Nagami couldn't help the confused look that crossed his face, a giant question mark practically floating above his head.
'Was this little creature overreacting a bit?'
Seriously, who in their right mind would use a see-through ability to peek at… emergency rations?
No one. Absolutely no one.
"Paimon declares — from now on, your nickname is LSP!" she huffed, borrowing a phrase she'd learned from Lumine.
'Nagami was just too evil! Time to glare at him with all her might!'
"Okay, okay, Nagami's an LSP. Now can you please stop pulling my hair, Paimon?" Lumine coaxed her gently, prying the tiny hands off her braid.
Of course, Lumine wasn't actually calling him a "lewd" anything — not in that sense.
When it came to Nagami, "LSP" obviously stood for Lovely Special Person.
Paimon's outburst at least broke Elysia's flustered tension.
She took a deep breath to calm herself, though her pride was still a bit dented.
This was definitely her biggest "crash and burn" moment yet.
"I don't dislike naughty boys," she said with a teasing smile, "but that was way too sudden. Next time, make sure to pick the right setting first, okay?"
'So… does that mean she's fine if I look later?'
Nagami's expression didn't waver in the slightest — calm as still water, unbothered even by Elysia's flirtatious tone.
The real commentary, naturally, came from Lumine, whose thoughts mirrored Nagami's own.
Still, she had to admit — as expected of Miss Pink Fairy.
To be able to steer things back even after a disaster like that… no wonder she could lead the Thirteen Flame-Chasers. Truly impressive.
"I understand," Nagami nodded sincerely. "I'll be more careful next time."
"Next—next time!?"
Elysia's face froze again, her lips twitching in disbelief.
'Was this guy… a natural airhead!?'