MGSFV?! Chapter 330: Kosma — "I Want to Be a Hero." / "You Already Are."
Back to the story.
Hua acknowledged that her plan… included Griseo.
Because in the current situation, there was no other choice.
From their god's-eye view, players couldn't argue with her decision either.
Even if they had been cursing out the Herrscher of Corruption earlier, they had to admit she was now virtually invincible within Elysian Realm.
Thus, the Flame-Chasers could only choose the lesser evil. And the players—understood that.
"Allow me to refuse."
Kosma interrupted without hesitation, offering his own plan: "If the goal is simply to buy time for the Herrscher of Thunder, then… there are other methods."
"Other methods?"
Hua was puzzled. "But you already said—even against the Herrscher of Corruption, you could only stall..."
"And once she realizes the delay will be prolonged, she may simply choose to 'delete' you."
She actually understood the Herrscher of Corruption surprisingly well.
Herrscher of Corruption, take note—even a fellow Flame-Chaser knows your next moves better than you do. And yet here you are, clinging to your hollow pretenses.
"If that happens, even stalling becomes meaningless."
Kosma shook his head. "You've misunderstood. Just now, I thought of a solution—one that might truly be... a win-win."
[A win-win? Is that even possible now?]
[If Kosma says there is, then I'll believe it. There's no reason for him to lie to Hua.]
[Every Flame-Chaser is carrying the weight now.]
Of course, when they said "every Flame-Chaser," players weren't exactly including Griseo in that. After all, Griseo had always been the one protected—withdrawn, and rarely proactive.
"Taking action" didn't seem like something associated with her.
And honestly—it wasn't.
But that didn't mean Griseo hadn't done anything, or that her role was minor in the story to come.
She simply did what she wanted to do. That alone… was enough to live up to the name Flame-Chaser.
Just like when she had chosen to carry out the Ark Project in Kosma's place.
…
Back on track.
Kosma explained that he had a win-win method in mind.
But he would need Hua's help.
"This method also requires the Eighth Divine Key. I need you... to 'deceive' someone."
"You mean the Herrscher of Corruption?"
Hua responded, perplexed, already preparing to say she might not be able to pull it off.
But when she saw Kosma's solemn expression…
She didn't finish that sentence.
Because…
She suddenly realized—Kosma didn't mean the Herrscher of Corruption.
He meant…
Who?
Players felt the same confusion.
But then, they saw Hua and Kosma walking toward Griseo.
At that point, how could they not understand who Kosma wanted Hua to deceive?
Class monitor... is this some kind of passive skill?
Why does everyone keep asking her to trick "the kid"?
Classic routine. Standard trope.
The players could only sigh.
—
In the story.
Griseo looked up as the two approached, blinking adorably. "Kosma, are the grown-up conversations… over?"
"Not yet," Kosma shook his head. "But this time, I want to ask for your help. I promised I'd tell you what I'm going to do."
"A bad person has appeared in Elysian Realm. We can only defeat her with your help."
His voice sounded like he was coaxing a child.
It brought with it a sense of déjà vu.
Griseo's pure-hearted response only deepened that feeling.
"A bad person? Do we need Mister Knight to help?"
"..."
Speaking of Mister Knight—
Originally, it might've been just a fun idea from the Honkai Impact 3rd devs. Knight protects the princess, that sort of thing. Hence Griseo's original attack animations.
But in this world…
Officially, Hokuto had claimed: Mister Knight was inspired by the manga Journey of the Paint Star, created by the famous artist Griseo.
In that story, a knight always protected a small painter.
So for fans who had read Journey of the Paint Star, the in-game homage was not only fitting—it was perfect fanservice.
Back to the scene.
Hearing Griseo's answer, Kosma paused, overwhelmed by a tinge of guilt.
After a moment—
"No need to trouble him, Griseo. You just need to paint as always. But… this time it will be a little different."
"Can you… paint according to my instructions, even if you don't use my 'colors'?"
"No, Kosma," Griseo answered unusually firmly. "Without colors… it'll look awful."
"It's okay. I… and Hua will both help you."
"Then… alright."
She hesitated, but eventually nodded.
The game screen transitioned.
A new CG appeared.
Griseo stood at her easel. Kosma sat across from her, closing his eyes.
A soft BGM began to play—(Elysia).
Even though this "painting" segment had just started, even though nothing had been said yet—
The tone, the expression, the atmosphere—already made people feel inexplicably sad.
"Kosma, what should I paint?"
"Start… with a picture of a boy."
"..."
Watching Griseo's brush touch the canvas, Hua's face showed a hint of something rare—unease.
She stared closely at the movement of the brush, as if every stroke might trigger disaster.
Then, Kosma spoke.
"He… must have been small and thin. But like all boys, he dreamed of becoming a hero."
He said it was a story—but wasn't it more of a confession?
[...Scriptwriter, please stop. I really can't take this.]
[This CG looks like the knight saying goodbye to the princess. My emotions are already spiraling.]
[Scriptwriter: The blade's already at your neck. No one escapes.]
While players in another dimension fell apart—
Kosma continued, fully immersed in his memories.
"At eight, he was already trying to right wrongs, trying to get closer to his ideal."
Griseo suddenly interrupted, "Wait, Kosma. How do I paint that?"
"Uh…" Kosma thought for a moment. "How about—gathering evidence alone and destroying the bad guys' schemes?"
"..."
Okay, now that's straight out of a comic.
That's so Kosma.
The man was basically Dark Night☆Hero.jpg.
But Griseo shook her head, using her professional artist logic to correct him.
"That doesn't feel visual at all."
"Hmm… It should be… someone in a skintight suit, running across rooftops under moonlight…"
Kallen would definitely be familiar with that image. She's done it herself.
Kosma chuckled at Griseo's take.
"Alright, we'll go with your version."
Then, after a brief pause, he continued his story for Griseo's illustration.
It wasn't just to help her draw—it was also his way of making peace with himself.
Of course… he had regrets.
"And during this journey, he always hoped to achieve a win-win outcome—and for a while, he did."
"Until… a companion, one who was both mentor and friend, fell into despair."
"...Companion? What should he look like?" Griseo asked, pausing her drawing.
Kosma's tone darkened. "Maybe… like a father."
A clear double meaning.
Whether Griseo understood was uncertain. She simply replied:
"Like a dad? Okay."
Almost broke us right there.
Knowing Ato's fate, knowing what the previous era had endured—how can one not feel overwhelmed?
That… is the power of words.
Just a calm recollection from Kosma and a few innocent questions from Griseo…
And we already couldn't continue reading.
But Kosma had to continue telling this story.
"At that moment, faced with an unbeatable enemy, to save more lives—his companion had no choice but to sacrifice himself."
"To everyone else, that choice was 'rational and correct.'"
Everyone except that boy.
That's why Kosma rejected sacrifice, even if he knew it could be the optimal path.
Ato's death had left him with a shadow.
So…
Kosma said with self-mockery: "That boy… he was immature. Too soft."
"But the reason I'm telling you this is because I want the boy in your painting to be different."
"Can you paint him… as someone who can calmly accept reality? Someone more mature?"
Stronger. Braver. Selfless. Composed. More like… a hero.
That was who Kosma wished to become. Who he saw as unreachable.
"I want him not to see others' decisions as 'lesser evils.'"
He exhaled.
"He wouldn't be like me—so stubborn. He'd understand that if the one making the decision believes it's worth it… then choosing the lesser evil is just another form of achieving the greater good."
"And the only reason he couldn't accept it—was because he couldn't accept a version of himself who could face that reality."
"Selfish people… are awful, right? Don't paint him like that, okay?"
Griseo nodded. "Mm. Selfish people are the worst. Not like Kosma at all."
Yeah.
Selfish people are awful.
But those who think they're selfish—who carry that guilt—
They're not selfish at all.
That… is the mindset of a hero.
"Is that so? Then… can you paint what I just described?"
"I don't know. But I'll try."
"If not, it's fine. He was a selfish person anyway. Maybe… it's only natural if he can't change."
Kosma looked at Hua behind Griseo.
"Then, Hua… I'll leave the rest to you."
"..."
Hua sighed.
And silently revealed the truth behind Kosma's request—
Why he asked her to "deceive" Griseo, and what this "win-win" really meant.
Kosma had asked her to fool Griseo's senses—
So she'd use all of his data to draw the ideal version of him.
Because he no longer had time to overcome his own "demons," he chose this shortcut.
In doing so—
He wouldn't die. He'd continue to exist in another form.
And more importantly, he'd still serve as a countermeasure against the Herrscher of Corruption.
That—was the win-win.
Just like he'd said—
If the person making the choice believes it's the right path, then "lesser evil"… becomes "greater good."
For that… he chose to deceive Griseo.
…
Hua came back from her thoughts.
The painting was finished.
Kosma's dark "color" faded—stroke by stroke—into the pigment.
And the owner of that color… was nowhere to be found.
Players: …
So Kosma never truly overcame his inner demons?
They couldn't accept it.
The boy who most wanted to become a hero… never got to be the hero he dreamed of.
How could they be okay with this ending?
Their hearts ached with grief.
But then…
"Thank you, Sister Hua."
"Sorry. Even though Kosma asked me to do this… I think this decision should be made by you."
Hua had not used Feather Dust.
In other words—Griseo knew all along she was using Kosma's data.
This was her choice.
This girl, barely into her teens, for the first time—like an "adult"—had taken part in something… and made her own decision.
Even if that decision was cruel—
To personally erase Kosma's memory.
Scriptwriter, you—
The players broke.
They hadn't expected that last scene wasn't even the most painful.
A greater one had been waiting right after.
And… was that the end of it?
No.
Just as Hua tried to comfort Griseo—
Griseo spoke first.
"Sister Hua… isn't this a good thing?"
"You see, Kosma… he just chose a different way to stay here."
Hua nearly replied that Kosma had died—but suddenly realized—
"Wait… Griseo, you…"
"Mm."
Griseo nodded. "I also lied to Kosma. I said I couldn't paint without his color. But I still used it."
"So this painting… is the real Kosma."
Ah?
Everyone paused. Then it sank in.
It was a twist of fate. Perhaps because Kosma had never truly understood himself.
The clarity he claimed to lack—had long since settled in his heart.
He spent his life denying himself… yet had already become the person he dreamed of being.
That—
That boy who wanted to be a hero, who thought he wasn't a hero, but had already become one.
He just… never gave himself the credit.
He accepted the cost of sacrifice, committed to his choices, and preserved his heroic heart—
Every single part… he got right.
Kosma.
Like this story Leave a review ; it would really help me out a lot.
Want to Read Ahead in Advance?
Join my Patreon!
+75 Chapters
Support me in
Patreon.com/BestElysium