Chapter 3: Pink Devil, Healing the Heart in Three Sentences

Bronie infiltrated the Elysian Realm as an intruder and a hacker, swiftly circumventing its welcoming protocol. However, upon learning that Bronie had risked entry for the sake of her friend, Elysis realized that this adorable intruder might not be so nefarious after all.

At least she exhibited her own principles and intentions. "By the way, who is your friend?"

As they strolled through the corridor, they reached a resplendent golden hall. It was remarkable to find such grandeur within a space smaller than a kilometer, encircled by high-tech contraptions.

"Her name is Natasha Cioara, a girl who appears to be in her twenties. She often dons a black hood and appears melancholic, though she possesses wit in her speech. I'm here solely to confirm her safety. Please, do not disclose my presence to her, or else I may resort to coding viruses, it might not cause real inconvenience, but it is enough to disrupt the peace of the Elysian Realm."

Bronie stressed the imperative of maintaining her anonymity to Cioara, given their recent acquaintance. Revealing her deceit would incur the wrath of the World Serpent and its elite mercenaries.

"Deception isn't the ideal approach to interpersonal interactions. Honesty is my creed, but given your charm, I'll acquiesce to your condition.~"

"So, is she within the Elysian Realm?"

"If she were as charming as you suggest, I would have surely remembered her. However, a girl in a black hood... hmm, there does seem to be such an individual, but she maintains a secluded demeanor, making her difficult to approach from afar. Could it be her?"

"I'm uncertain."

"Then allow me to escort you to her, but you must stay abit futher away though~." Elysia grasped Bronie's hand and set off briskly.

In a secluded corner of the golden courtyard, an information room and lounge area awaited, where a shadowy figure rested on a sofa with closed eyes. Beside her, an elegant lady poured herself a drink. "That's her."

"~Wow. I didn't expect the cute girl you described to be her. Usually, I see her cloaked in that somber hood, making it difficult to approach her. It seems that i hastily judged her based on appearances alone~!"

Elysia reminisced, her eyes shimmering with nostalgia.

Seeing Cioara present eased Bronie's apprehension, despite her weariness. "As long as she is safe and sound, and if my understanding is correct, this is the World Serpent's venue for cultivating successors, correct? How fares her progress in the trials?"

"Trials? You can also say that. It seems you're not entirely uninformed. However, the outcomes of the trials lack a standardized criterion, though I've heard that the successor has already been approved by Kevin! Despite minor discord with Kalpas, everything proceeds smoothly!"

At this juncture, Elysia realized that mentioning Kalpas might unsettle Bronie. She swiftly diverted the conversation,

"Forget about Kalpas for now. You'll form your opinion of him in due time. For now, let's keep it under wraps, but in my mind, Kalpas is just rather shy~!"

A sunny and cheerful boy, right?

Bronie acknowledged, albeit feigning ignorance. Steering the conversation away, she divulged,

"Cioara is a survivor of the Second Eruption. When disaster struck, her brother sacrificed himself to save her, imparting the words 'Live on' before parting."

"Those are heavy last words..." Elysia listened carefully.

"Yes, those parting words linger like a haunting spell in her entire life. She harbors deep resentment toward Honkai, yet her requitement to 'live on' contradicts her quest for vengeance. Perhaps stemming from her poor childhood, she has set herself the goal of amassing wealth to buy an island."

"To buy an island? For what purpose?"

"Truthfully, she herself remains uncertain. However, an antagonist once said, 'Living is the pursuit of peace of mind. Power, wealth, all stem from discontent in the external realm.' While I don't entirely agree, there's an element of truth to it."

"A serious problem indeed. In the Previous Era, many faced similar dilemmas, yet they lacked the luxury of healing their inner wounds and relied upon their leaders." Elysia, having encountered such psychological states countless times, understood that such wounds required love and time to mend. Nonetheless, she was but a memory body, capable of only limited interventions.

Fortunately, Bronie's disclosures shed light on the underlying issue, and Elysia knew where the remedy lay.

So its time to show Elysia's well deserved social ability! It will only take three sentences from her to cure Miss Cioara's heart!

"So, could you assist me with a request?"

"Hmm?"

Elysia's expression betrayed bewilderment. What was Bronie planning?

"In addition to being a hacker, I aspire to become a game developer. Games, as the a new Form of artwork, offer a medium for disseminating beautiful ideas. I've crafted a game with the aim of conveying hope and love to her."

"Wow. That's amazing indeed! A game, you say? Such endeavors encompass music, art, intricate narratives, and meticulous coding. Only seamlessly melding these facets can yield a remarkable game. Did you truly undertake all of this?"

"Though time-consuming, this game is undeniably my creation." Bronie's chest swelled with pride at the praise, projecting a laptop and inserting a USB drive containing the game.

"Though a simple pixel game, I'm confident that with an upgraded game engine, I can create even more engaging gaming experiences!"

"Let's see... Undertale, hm?" Elysia managed to open the game, albeit with some clumsiness in operating the computer. Just as she prepared to explore the game, Bronie obscured the screen. "Playing further may risk spoilers. I trust you'll permit Cioara to experience it first!"

"How could you be so cruel to such a charming girl!"

"Order must prevail, wouldn't you agree?"

"Well, perhaps... I'll forgive you! But will you merely observe from a distance?"

"I'm sorry, the trust between her and me is not as high as you think. A direct encounter would shatter our fragile relationship built on deception. I prefer not to jeopardize that connection so easily."

"I understand. Bronie, the voyager across world bubbles, do you regard her as someone you once knew?"

"Though their experiences diverge, their personalities and appearances mirror each other. She raised me, so this is just psychological compensation for me. Yet deep down, I know they arent the same person."

Bronie lowered her hood, concealing a hint of guilt. Her attitude toward Cioara were complicated. Despite reminding herself of their differences, Cioara's every action stirred memories of the one who raised her in Cyber Arc City.

It's does'nt matter if your nice to her right?

Wouldn't be nice to get to know each other again?

This time, it was her turn to extend a helping hand.

"As long as you're clear about this, it's fine. A fresh encounter can be a wonderful thing, so don't be so sad, and don't be so hesitant.~"

She's really a stubborn yet strong-willed child. It seems her intuition was right. Her arrival wont bring any harm to the Elysian Realm. For the Elysian Realm, she was just a slightly special guest.

Of course, if Bronie was interested in Signets, Elysia wouldn't mind sharing her .

"Then, please assist me in livestreaming so I can witness her reactions."

"May I share this game with others?"

"Certainly. The more individuals who experience my creation, the happier i am. However, I insist that Cioara be the first one to experience in this game."

"I promise to fulfill this task!" With a playful salute, Elysia accepted the laptop and departed for the lounge.

As Bronie continued her observation, a diminutive humanoid robot approached her from behind. With verdant tresses, a black eye patch, and a white lab coat reminiscent of a researcher, the robot introduced itself, "Greetings, new visitor. I am Klein, an ELF entrusted with maintaining the Elysian Realm. Elysis tasked me with broadcasting the footage for you. Please, follow me."

"What does maintenance in the Elysian Realm typically entail?" Bronie inquired as they traversed with delicate steps toward an operational panel.

"Clearing redundant data, irrelevant memories, and information on cognitive destruction... Not that you would comprehend any of this." Klein hastened to the control panel, inputting commands. Soon, a first-person perspective from Elysia's viewpoint materialized before Bronie.

"Hello there, my beloved Eden." Truly deserving of the moniker "Pink Devil" of the Elysian Realm!

Elysia seamlessly integrated herself into their interaction, showering sincere compliments.

Cioara, still veiled in her hood, regarded Elysia with astonishment, evidently caught off guard by her sudden appearance.

"Greetings, Elysia. What brings you here today? Is it because of the successor?"

Since the successor arrived, Eden and she had yet to interact. However, a brief altercation had occurred between Cioara and Mobius.

Cioara had rejected Mobius' gift, prompting Eden to intervene and defuse the tension. Upon returning to the lounge for respite, Elysia appeared.

"The successor... Yes, it's the successor. Eden, oh Eden, you never informed me the new successor was such a charming girl. I've remained concealed in the shadows for so long, fearful of approaching. Who would have imagined she possessed such beauty."

"Um... Hello? Are you complimenting me?" Cioara, wary of this new Flame Chaser's sudden appearance, hoped for a gentler encounter than with Mobius or Kalpas.

"Naturally! How could someone as charming as you hide their appearance? You nearly deprived me of this delightful sight." As Elysia spoke, she produced a laptop and placed it before Cioara.

"Here, a gift for you."

"What's this?"

"A gift~ You'll understand once you experience it. Relax, it's harmless!"

"Now that you mention it, I'm starting to feel uneasy..."

Eden observed silently as Elysia's actions unfolded. Giving gifts was something Elysia would do, but giving out a laptop, which didn't seem girly at all, clearly didn't match Elysia's style.

"Elysia, is there something..."

"Shh~ Come, take a look. I've heard it's a new form of art!"

"A new form of artistic expression? How Intriguing..."

"Thus, I'll share it with everyone in the Elysian Realm! Let them experience the wonder of a gift infused with girlish sentiment. It's truly extraordinary!"

With that declaration, Elysia conjured a panel and duplicated the USB drive, tossing it directly into the panel. A prompt swiftly materialized.

[Group sending successful]

"So, what exactly is this?"

Cioara queried, navigating the laptop with adeptness characteristic of mercenaries, whose intelligence often proved invaluable. Though the laptop in front of her is commonly found in the Current Era, its functionality was identical to contemporary models.

"Indeed. Open it first. This is called Undertale, and this is a game controller. Designed with ergonomics in mind, it appears considerable effort was invested in its creation. Let's not trample upon the heartfelt gift of a girl, shall we~?"

"Is this a trial?" Cioara, bewildered by the sudden switch to gaming, held the controller with confusion.

Elysia smirked enigmatically.

"Indeed, this is part of the trial."