All of a sudden.
The Herrscher of Heavenly Punishment seemed to have been struck by a random thought.
She turned her gaze slowly towards Sesha.
"?" Miss Sesha tilted her head with a clueless, almost adorably dumbfounded look.
"..." The Herrscher's eye twitched slightly. She was growing impatient, frantically signaling Sesha with her eyes.
'Weren't you usually the clever one?'
'Why choose now of all times to act like a complete fool?'
'Huh?'
"!" It seemed to finally dawn on Miss Sesha.
Then, under the Herrscher's expectant gaze, she called out to Elysia.
"Hmm?" Elysia looked up at her.
Sesha, wagging an imaginary tail like an eager puppy, spoke in an overly sweet tone, "My master says she'd rather die than surrender to you."
"???" The Herrscher was stunned.
'You're the one who's been locked up here with me all this time!'
'Shouldn't you be the one who understands me best…?'
'You're my Honkai Beast companion, for crying out loud! Was that… was that really what I meant?'
"Alright then… I understand," Elysia replied, not entirely surprised but clearly a little troubled. Even a hint of disappointment showed on her face, so genuine it was almost heartbreaking.
The Herrscher bit back her words and shot Sesha a fierce glare.
"!" Sesha immediately understood.
"I misspoke just now."
She corrected herself.
The Herrscher's expression remained neutral, but hope flickered within her once more.
'Yes, yes! Just give me an excuse… any excuse, and I'll agree.'
"My master says that since you've been so kind, spending time with us and bringing us delicious food, she knows you have a mission. If you fail to persuade us to surrender, you'll be disappointed."
"So… as a compromise!"
"Please take me with you!"
"..."
Miss Sesha declared this with passionate conviction, as if she were about to bravely face her execution.
The Herrscher's anxiously hanging heart finally sank—and died.
Elysia looked surprised.
Sesha continued, "I will become my master's eyes and experience the outside world on her behalf. Even if my master hasn't surrendered, since she and I share one heart and one body, my surrender is equivalent to hers."
"Miss Elysia… please, don't be sad, okay?" She gazed pleadingly at Elysia.
That look was enough to melt anyone's heart.
How could Elysia possibly refuse?
She was, of course, delighted.
"Mhm, mhm! No problem at all!"
Elysia grabbed Sesha's hands, holding them warmly in her own.
But she didn't forget about the Herrscher either. She turned immediately toward the heartbroken girl and said with a radiant, flower-like smile, "Even if you leave this place, you won't be forced to do anything."
"If I had to put it into words… let's work together, you and I, to help the Herrscher of Heavenly Punishment enjoy more delicious food and experience more fun things…"
"So even staying here… won't feel so lonely."
"How does that sound?"
"..."
"Yes!" Sesha agreed eagerly, like an excited child.
The Herrscher of Heavenly Punishment was just… tired.
All feeling of love had drained away.
She'd mustered her courage—if only her foolish little snake had played along just a little, given her an excuse, she could have saved face for the Honkai while also escaping this miserable confinement…
Why did it have to turn out like this?
She couldn't understand it.
Elysia's approach had actually been quite simple.
Bring all kinds of delicious food, stubbornly insist she try it, just a taste.
Bring video games, manga, figurines, novels… so even stuck here, she could kill time without feeling too bored.
If Elysia had come with a clear agenda, the Herrscher wouldn't have struggled so much.
Even knowing Elysia was here to persuade her to surrender…
But in their actual interactions, it was clear that wasn't Elysia's main focus.
She genuinely seemed to like her, was willing to be sincere, to think about her needs and feelings—she really came just to spend time with her. That was what had slowly softened the Herrscher's heart.
If nothing else, just a glance around made it obvious.
The prison Kiana had prepared for the Herrscher of Heavenly Punishment was already lavish, almost like a presidential suite.
It didn't even feel like a prison, more like a private room.
And then!
This private room was filled with novels, manga, video games, and figurines.
Even the snacks she hadn't finished yet were carefully stored away by the Herrscher.
As for the empty wrappers? She'd kept them all, neatly preserved.
She didn't even really know why herself. But if Miss Sesha so much as touched them, she'd bristle instantly.
Elysia was happy to see the Herrscher treasuring the gifts she'd brought.
Truly, it made her glad.
But she never used it as an opportunity to tease her.
Because, she was thoughtful.
Sensitive and perceptive.
She could tell the Herrscher was easy to handle.
But for this natural-born Herrscher, this kindred spirit, she had endless patience.
She felt more tenderness toward her, and didn't want to treat her carelessly.
Yes.
It was true that Elysia loved girls.
But that didn't mean she didn't respect them.
She was sincere with every girl.
From the very beginning, when Kiana asked Elysia to interrogate the Herrscher of Heavenly Punishment, she didn't have any ulterior motives. Whether the Herrscher surrendered or not wasn't really her concern.
And Elysia, likewise, wasn't particularly insistent.
In her view, for someone with a personality as blank-slate as the Herrscher of Heavenly Punishment, what she needed most was companionship.
Whether she wanted to leave or not, Elysia would be happy to keep her company.
If she was willing to go out, Elysia would gladly show her more fun things.
But if not… that was fine too.
Truth be told, Elysia also had a slightly mischievous side.
Did you think she didn't get it? Oh, she understood perfectly.
It was just that the Herrscher of Heavenly Punishment was a tsundere through and through—why did she have to take after Mobius of all people?
Even Miss Sesha knew better—to say what she liked, do what she wanted.
A straight shot was always more effective than stubborn denial.
Anyway, for the Herrscher of Heavenly Punishment, being here wasn't really like imprisonment.
Whether she left or not didn't make much difference.
In fact, the way things were now, if she left, she might just feel lost and insecure.
Maybe it was better to stay here, holding on to a dream. To make leaving a goal for the future.
Wouldn't that be better?
Elysia stayed with the Herrscher of Heavenly Punishment until very late.
Then she got up and prepared to leave.
Sesha's mouth opened slightly, arm stretching out like Er Kang's iconic reach, wanting to say something—but it was too late.
'I… I haven't gotten on the bus yet!'
Then suddenly, she shuddered, a cold chill running down her spine, her scalp tingling with dread.
It was as if some terrifying demon had set its sights on her.
Trembling, she turned around.
And there was the Herrscher of Heavenly Punishment, smiling kindly.
She realized the problem instantly.
'Heh… can we talk this over?'
"What do you think?" The Herrscher's smile grew even sweeter.
Cracking her knuckles, the divine halo shimmered into view behind her.
--+--
T/N: While I am an inexperienced Translator, I have a Patreon! While it may seem empty as of now, webnovel will get 3 Chapters Every Day, and advanced chapters will be uploaded on Patreon.
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