Night had fallen.
Silas stood alone outside, mulling over his own speculation from earlier that day.
If his guess was correct, then it meant that Mobius might indeed possess the potential to shatter that unseen shackle—perhaps even to develop something like a true Honkai suppressor.
"Silas, you seem burdened with a lot of thoughts?" Elysia appeared beside him with her ever-gentle smile.
"I've noticed it for a while now—you've looked troubled. Is it because of Dystopia?"
"She has to overcome this hurdle herself." Silas' tone was flat, but heavy.
"The world has never been purely black or white—least of all in a war against the Honkai. Sacrifice is unavoidable."
"But if that's all you say, you won't be able to convince her." Elysia shrugged, eyes sparkling.
"Silas, you should know this—humans are emotional. And a girl's heart is far more delicate than a boy's. Take me, for example—I can accept sacrifice. But facing it… when it's unavoidable? That's always the hardest part."
"I know." Silas looked at her.
"And in a sense, Dystopia is right. Perhaps Mobius can create a treatment for Honkai erosion. But… it's only a possibility."
Elysia chuckled.
"And it's precisely because of such possibilities that people continue to move forward, isn't it?"
Silas fell silent for a while, then lifted his gaze to the starry sky.
"…Like I told Dystopia—I hope I'm wrong. But sometimes, fate simply cannot be overturned."
Elysia tilted her head back to the heavens as well.
"If fate cannot be defied, if the destined end cannot be changed… then at the very least, we can decide the path we take toward it. We can choose our hearts along the way."
"Don't put it like that." Silas smiled faintly at her.
"I'm serious about saving you—all of you. After all, in the last life, I really did succeed in nudging destiny slightly off its tracks."
Elysia turned to him, her smile blossoming.
"Then I'll say it once more: I'm just as serious about saving you. Very, very serious~"
"I'll look forward to it," Silas replied softly.
"But leave Dystopia to me—I'll think of something. As for you, Silas… you should also reflect a little. After all, before you became a fallen angel, you were human first, weren't you? Anyway—this fairy has whispered enough secrets to her beloved for one night. Now it's time for girl talk~" Elysia playfully waved him off.
"Try your best with Kosma and Kevin as well, okay? See you tomorrow. For now, good night, Silas~"
Silas nodded gently.
"Good night, Elysia. See you tomorrow."
He watched her leave, lingering for a moment in thought.
Before I became a fallen angel, I was human first…? But haven't I always been human? At least, that's what I've always believed… even if I may not be completely normal.
After pondering without conclusion, he finally decided to return to the men's quarters. But just then, he spotted Su approaching.
"Su," Silas greeted.
Su nodded lightly.
"Silas, about those eroded by Honkai energy—I've already secured my teacher's approval. They can be transferred to the Fifth Research Institute for treatment and observation. So… about Mobius—"
"In the last life, didn't your teacher also fail to find anything?" Silas cut in, his eyes on Su.
"It'll be the same again. Su, even though you carry memories of the last life, after the Eighth Herrscher incident your focus was no longer on curing erosion, but on Project VALUKA. Mobius is different—she's remained in that field all along. So tell me—what's the best choice for humanity?"
Su exhaled, his tone calm yet conflicted.
"I know. Your decisions always place humanity's survival above all else. But as Dystopia said—we are people, not machines. Mobius' methods… are simply too extreme."
"But we have no choice," Silas countered.
"Placing them in Mobius' hands is the only path that even might lead to a cure."
"Then why do you oppose the Stigma Project?" Su asked, his gaze sharp.
"Silas—you reject sacrificing civilization itself to fight the Honkai. You reject redefining humanity through the Stigma Project. And yet—your actions, in this life and the last—are they not also a betrayal of your own ideals?"
Silas said nothing.
Su pressed on:
"If humanity only ever pursued profit, if every trace of emotion yielded to cold logic—could you accept such a humanity? Such a civilization?"
Silas sighed softly.
"…Su, Enlightened of Bodhi—are you trying to use sophistry to sway me?"
Three or four lines, and Su expected to turn his heart? Did he take him for that naïve?
In truth, Silas didn't care what became of the Previous Era's civilization. He held no particular hope for its people. All he wished for was to save the thirteen Flame-Chasers, to save the other twelve fallen angels. For that, there was nothing he would not cast aside.
Su froze, then let out a faint, wry smile as he shook his head.
"Sophistry? No, Silas… this is my honest belief. Human civilization isn't built on logic and profit alone. The arts, born of human emotion, are just as indispensable a part of civilization."
Silas gazed at him, quietly waiting for him to continue.
Su lifted his eyes toward the stars.
"As you said, in the last life, toward the latter half of our struggle against the Honkai, I devoted most of my energy to Project VALUKA. But do you know? I observed countless worlds. I even saw a female version of myself, I saw countless worlds' endings. Even Elysia—she existed in them all, her choices always the same. And yet… never once did I see a trace of you."
Silas folded his arms. He, too, had long wondered why Su—who executed the VALUKA Project—had never sought him out, or why Su seemed oblivious to his abnormality in this world. So Su had noticed, after all.
"At first," Su continued, "I thought perhaps in that world you simply hadn't been saved by Elysia. But as I observed more and more worlds, my doubts grew, until they became fear. I found traces of Lilith, traces of Sariel, traces of every one of the twelve fallen angels but you. Always, only you were missing."
Su turned to look directly into Silas' eyes, his expression solemn.
"When I realized this, I wavered. I didn't know what kind of existence you truly were. You founded the Thirteen Fallen Angels, you fought on the frontlines for humanity, and yet… you are the only one of your kind across countless worlds. That uniqueness frightened me. You know it, Silas—humans have always feared the unknown. Especially those who know too much."
"I thought you didn't care about this," Silas said quietly.
"But you're right. Maybe… I really am the only one across all those worlds. And it's precisely because of that, that I can become the one variable. In countless worlds, Kevin is always humanity's strongest champion, its guardian, its hope. But only one Kevin isn't enough, is it? So then—I'll do it. I'll be the second Kevin."
Su held Silas' gaze, staring into those onyx eyes. He was silent for a long, long time before finally speaking:
"I believe in you, Silas. You've already proven with your actions—and with a reality none of us could bear—that you can do it. So I want you to let go of that crushing burden from the last life. Yet I have no reference, no certainty. I can't predict what choices you'll make. The unknown… it will always be frightening."
Silas met his eyes but said nothing.
"You've always protected humanity as a whole," Su went on, "but have you realized? You've been drifting further and further from what it means to be human. Silas—you are my friend, Kevin's friend, one of the Fourteen Flame-Chasers, an irreplaceable comrade. That's why I want to reach out to you. I want to prove to everyone that you are human—that you share the same human heart as the rest of us."
Silas: "..."
Su… do you realize that if you said things like this while being a girl, Vill-V would have already lost her mind by now?
Rubbing his forehead in exasperation, Silas finally said,
"So even if it means giving up the most obvious hope, you'd rather entrust the cure for Honkai erosion to a future that's all but certain to fail?"
Su let out a helpless smile.
"If that's how you see it, then I…"
"I'll tell Mobius to temper her methods." Silas stepped closer, eyes sharp on Su—before softening into a wry smile.
"Honestly… you people leave me with no choice."
Su blinked, taken aback—then it hit him. Anyone else trying to change Mobius' methods would have no chance. Not even Elysia. But Silas… Silas held a special meaning to Mobius. If anyone could do it, it was him.
"If you want to keep standing there stunned, suit yourself." Silas turned and began walking back.
"I still plan on grabbing Kevin and having a talk with Kosma."
Su exhaled, relief easing into his usual gentle smile.
"Then count me in as well."
________________________________________
15+ advanced chapters available on Pat/NoobyIdiotka