[Lumine]: "I really misjudged Kevin—he actually killed his own comrade. That's ruthless."
[Nahida]: "Given his tone, it's clear he doesn't care about that."
[Paimon]: "Ahhhhh!"
[Kamisato Ayaka]: "Just a while ago, I thought Kevin was a good person…"
[Venti]: "He's too cold to be a true friend, but at least it's understandable."
As emotions flared, more voices in the chat condemned Kevin—some even started questioning Lin Hao, wondering if he would do the same.
Narukami Shrine
Yae Miko glanced at the chat, then turned to Lin Hao: "Don't you have anything to say?"
Lin Hao replied calmly: "They're free to discuss. But… they don't know what Honkai truly is."
Yae Miko stepped closer, wanting more explanation.
Just then, the sky-screen shifted again—drawing everyone's attention. The scene was another of Kevin's memories.
Inside the Base Corridor
Elysia was teasing a young Griseo.
Elysia: "No, no—you must call me 'Sister Elysia.'"
Griseo (confused): "Why?"
Elysia (grinning): "Because if you say that, everyone will be shocked! They'll wonder, 'Did she see something we couldn't?' Their expressions would be priceless!"
Griseo nodded obediently: "I see… Sister Elysia."
Elysia: "And remember to call her 'Grandma Mobius'~"
Griseo (blinking): "Won't Aunt Mobius be angry?"
Elysia: "Oh, Griseo still doesn't understand. But one day, you will—and by then, it'll be too late to change your words."
Innocent Griseo believed her: "Okay… I always feel Aunt Mobius is so pitiful. She's been so busy lately she can't even eat."
Elysia: "Must be an urgent project. How do you know?"
Griseo: "Mom wants to go to Dad's place and can't stay in the lab anymore, so she's introducing Aunt Mobius to a new assistant. I heard them talk about the handover—it sounded like… a transformation surgery?"
Elysia dragged out an "Oh~"—and spotted Kevin walking by.
Elysia: "Ah, look who's back!"
Kevin entered his room and closed the door.
Griseo (whispering): "Uncle Kevin didn't seem to hear us… and his face was so dark."
Elysia (patting her head): "We just defeated the Seventh Herrscher (the Herrscher of Fire). He might not have recovered yet. Dr. Mei advised him to see a psychiatrist—he must've come back from that."
"I'll talk to him. Can you be alone for a while, Griseo?"
After settling Griseo, Elysia went to Kevin's room.
The temperature dropped sharply as she entered.
Elysia: "…Brr, it's cold."
Kevin had known she was nearby; he'd overheard her conversation with Griseo—but he wasn't in the mood.
Elysia (teasing): "Going for the cold, handsome loner route, huh? Ignoring me like that—I'd think you hated me. How sad."
Kevin (muttering): "Sorry…"
Elysia approached him: "I heard about the Fusion Warrior Project. That was too much—and you didn't even tell me."
Kevin fell silent.
To defeat the Herrscher of Fire, he had undergone the Fusion Warrior Project—fusing with the DNA of the Emperor-class Honkai Beast Parvati, granting him ice and snow powers. But it left his body irreparably damaged; his body temperature now permanently stayed at minus 30°C. Anyone near him would get frostbite—which also meant he could never hold Mei again.
Elysia (leaning closer): "Keeping this 'good thing' to yourself—are you secretly trying to surpass me in the Fire Moth ranks?"
Kevin (voice deep): "…Thank you for comforting me. But… I want to be alone for a while."
Elysia (softly): "…Oh~"
Kevin (apologetic): "I'm sorry…"
Elysia: "You've said 'sorry' twice now. That's not like you."
Kevin: "…Mei said the same thing."
"But whenever I close my eyes, I see Himeko… She's just standing there, smiling, reaching out her hand—as if we were back at that night's gala. You were there, Mei was there…"
"Do you know? The expression on her face when I swung that sword… It was exactly like the Sixth Herrscher's."
Elysia: "…"
She knew all too well—the Sixth Herrscher was another shadow haunting Kevin.
Kevin (noticing her silence): "…Sorry, I shouldn't have brought it up."
Elysia (shaking her head): "It's okay. Actually, I'm a bit happy—after all, you have me in your dreams every night. Maybe… you really do need some time alone. I won't disturb you."
She turned to leave—but Kevin stopped her.
Kevin: "Elysia… I'm scared of that dream… but even more scared… of waking up from it."
Elysia (reassuring): "Don't worry, Kevin. You just… haven't found the right doctor yet."
The memory faded.
Kevin leaned back on his throne, his gaze drifting toward the tunnel entrance behind him.
Teyvat's Silence
The entire continent fell quiet.
Moments ago, everyone had been condemning Kevin's ruthlessness. Now, the broadcast had shown this painful recollection. Even Nahida, who had complained the most, remained speechless—no longer typing in the chat.
She finally muttered aloud: "Kevin… what are you doing all day? Haunted by memories?"
She couldn't understand—it was just a Herrscher Gem. Why did this man have so many burdens?
And worse, every time she voiced a judgment, the system immediately countered with another memory, making her feel like a clown.
She stared at her own chat messages and cringed.
[Venti]: "So… he didn't kill Himeko out of malice—he was forced to."
[Zhongli]: "The weight of such choices… even gods would crumble."
[Nahida]: "…I take back what I said. Kevin isn't heartless—he's just broken."