MGSFV?! Chapter 500: miHoYo, What Are You Doing!; This Is All the Players' "Good Fortune"!
"Elysia, what exactly is the so-called [true treasure] you mentioned?"
Clearly, the treasure hunt had long since left the realm of mere games.
Given the past treasure-hunting experience in Elysium Everlasting…
That is, running all over the Elysium with the kitty cat, climbing heights, leaping off cliffs, searching every nook for treasure chests, occasionally even fighting monsters conjured by Vill-V…
Mei felt it was necessary to ask.
Just to confirm—would this upcoming treasure hunt also take a strange and grand turn?
"Ah…"
Perhaps Mei's expression was too serious, because Elysia clearly looked a little surprised.
"Mei, don't tell me you're expecting the treasure hunt to be full of twists and turns?"
"I can't rule out the possibility," Mei replied.
"…Although, regarding what the true treasure is, what it's for, how to find it, and where it's hidden—those complicated questions—I honestly have no clue."
Elysia paused. "But I don't think it'll be as dramatic as you're imagining."
Mei: "…"
If Elysia truly knows nothing, then how can she be so confident that things will go smoothly?
Still, Mei didn't voice her doubts.
She chose to trust this guide Elysia a little more.
No other reason. Perhaps none needed.
Just that—the person before her, was Miss Pink Elf. That was enough.
"If Mei doesn't have any objections, then let's head out!"
"…Mm."
The game conveniently shifted to free exploration mode.
Elysia immediately ran a bit ahead.
[The story's already taken such twists, and Elysia's still acting as a tour guide, playing treasure hunt with Mei? No sudden escalation?]
[Hmm, I get what you're saying. Let's be real—Honkai Impact 3rd's plot often escalates out of nowhere. Like, back in the Elysium… who even remembers that Mei originally entered the Elysium to investigate the secret of the Herrscher of Origin?]
[Honestly, this is so typical of HI3, it feels abnormally normal. Are we… about to get hit with a big "surprise"?]
[Don't do this, I was just about to relax and enjoy the second half of the treasure hunt after Elysia's little joke, and now you're making me anxious again.]
Truth be told…
Many long-time viewers of Elysia's streams have probably noticed something.
That is… the stream chat is full of "prophets" these days. People who instantly spot a FLAG, who joke around but somehow hit the truth, who give wild, nonsensical analyses with totally wrong logic—but end up predicting the right outcome anyway…
And so on, and so forth.
Truly a community full of talent.
Perhaps it's because more and more people have been watching Elysia's streams.
Just as the players chatted among themselves…
Elysia, who had run ahead, turned around and waved at Mei.
"Mei! Come with me! I think I've figured out where it's hidden!"
"…Guessed?" Mei asked, puzzled.
"It's about thinking like a treasure hunt designer!"
Elysia led Mei forward to a rather inconspicuous corner of an amusement park.
"Like, right here—"
Following Elysia's cue, Mei crouched down and did a quick search, finding what appeared to be an important-looking letter.
But when she opened it, the page was blank and wrinkled from being folded.
"What's going on? My instincts told me something had to be here."
Mei: "…"
...
[Something really does feel off.]
Once doubt takes root, it doesn't go away easily.
"..."
Elysia blinked.
There really was a setup here. The paper Mei found was an important item.
But she couldn't just spoil it.
Hold it in!
Thinking this, her expression turned a bit odd. She even shifted her body slightly, as if trying to physically ease her tension.
Perhaps the movement was a bit too much—
"Elysia? What's wrong?" Kiana, who suddenly felt her thigh get nudged, turned her head toward Elysia.
Oh right, the three of them were seated in the order: Mei, Elysia, Kiana.
A very "Elysia-style" seating… Meaning, Elysia herself liked it a lot.
One on each side—who wouldn't like that?
"I… was just thinking, maybe highlighting a character's name at the start of a detective novel is actually a bad idea?"
"Huh?"
Kiana didn't quite get what Elysia meant.
But… what if the circled name turns out to be the culprit?
Once you point that out, it's not hard to guess what Elysia meant earlier.
...
In short, Elysia made a rather subtle and clever metaphor.
Some people, like Kiana, didn't get it now—but they'd surely understand later.
Just like Mei in the game.
Not knowing what the blank paper meant, she simply assumed that the guide Elysia had made a mistake in choosing the first treasure location.
So, after a short pause, Mei encouraged her.
"It's okay. Let's keep looking."
The story shifted again—players had to follow the guide Elysia forward.
And even though some players had that vague "something's not right" feeling, running around the amusement park with Elysia was still fun.
Complicated, yet joyful.
Kind of like playing games the day before a final exam.
Fun? Definitely. Emotionally complicated, with random thoughts? Hmm… probably, maybe, most likely, just a little bit?
With those mixed feelings, players guided their character, following Elysia to the next "guessed" treasure location.
This spot looked completely empty. Upon closer inspection… it really was empty.
Mei: "…"
Guide Elysia: "…"
Mei: Somehow… we're even less efficient now?
"Mei~~ I heard what you were thinking!"
As thoughts began to form in Mei's mind, Elysia's voice rang out.
Mei: "…"
[As direct as ever（ ）]
[Wait, could it be that Mei doesn't want to wake up? That she just wants to spend a little more time with Elysia? So the treasure can't be found? After all, this is Mei's dream.]
[Your reading comprehension is, as always, something else, but that's probably not the case here (that plot about choosing whether to wake up or not was already wrapped up earlier)]
Even sugar consumption needs to be grounded in facts.
Besides…
Elysia soon led Mei to something "good."
An exquisitely crafted little wooden box, with a subtle ancient elegance—inside was a pale purple charm, the one her mother had prayed for and given her.
"…Why is this here?"
Another item that had no business being in an amusement park.
What in the world…
"Mei…"
Guide Elysia seemed like she wanted to congratulate Mei, just like when she found the wooden sword earlier.
Her voice, still light and sweet as always… or was it?
Not quite…
Suddenly, her voice carried a hint of electronic distortion—soft and distant.
Something was clearly wrong. Very wrong.
At least, the players felt a chill when they heard that change in Elysia's voice.
[??? miHoYo what are you doing?]
[That voice change? It instantly maxed out my sense of dread…]
Elysia: …
Actually, Elysia herself was surprised. Because… when recording, she had just done a normal line. But here… did Hokuto add tuning?
To her, it was an unexpected "gift."
She hadn't thought that just a touch of hoarseness and electronic filter would make her voice sound so fragile, so on the verge of collapse.
A perfect example of 1 + 1 > 2.
Seems like "Otto" really is exceptionally gifted when it comes to scenes like this (knife delivery).
Still… couldn't you learn to use your powers for good? (insert imagined expression)
...
Of course, it wasn't just players who noticed something off about Elysia.
In-game, Mei also sensed the abnormality in an instant.
She whipped around to look at her: "Guide Elysia, you…"
"Aiya."
Though her voice was weakening, Elysia still wore a warm, beautiful smile.
"That was a bit sudden… but it looks like I've been found out after all."
As she spoke, the background music changed.
[Who switched the BGM!?]
[And it's… that one.]
The same track that played when Mei and Elysia parted ways after their Elysium Everlasting journey.
Including the earlier one from Himeko and Kiana at St. Freya…
That made two classic pieces now.
To use both in one story? Writer, you really went all out!
Hokuto: Don't panic.
Players: So you mean… that's all?
Hokuto: Of course not. I meant there's still plenty more to come (serious.jpg)
It's been said many times: in a previous life, maybe due to budget constraints, HI3 often reused assets. But Hokuto usually prefers using new materials—unless the story specifically calls for reuse.
So, players in this world—they're truly blessed. They've got so many classics to savor.
?????
Ahem, back on topic.
With the gentle BGM playing in the background, Guide Elysia spoke softly once again.
"You…" Mei seemed to realize something. "You knew this would happen all along?"
"If that's the case… everything before…"
"Mei~~"
Elysia gently shook her head.
"If I had revealed the truth from the beginning, I probably would've been flagged by the dream as a foreign element… and deleted before you could figure anything out."
So…
That's why she never explained everything clearly from the start. Just to spend a little more time with Mei?
"Of course, if I had used a special trick—like suddenly hugging Mei, and slipping her a note full of truth and my feelings—maybe that would've worked?"
"But… even if it would work, I still didn't want to choose that method."
Why?
Could it be that there was another reason for not revealing the truth early on?
"If Mei wants to enjoy the amusement park under Elysia's guidance, with Kiana and Bronya—"
"—then how could I bear to end this rare, wonderful dream early?"
So that's it…
A very Elysia-style choice.
[So the closer we get to the truth, the sooner Elysia disappears?]
[But she still helped Mei anyway, and even during her fleeting time, all she thought about was fulfilling Mei's wish.]
[It hurts. It really hurts!]
Just as they'd said earlier—some stories hurt more the longer you sit with them.
And yet, they still couldn't help but want to savor them slowly.
...
The story continued.
"I…" Mei tried to speak after hearing Elysia's words, but was at a loss. She didn't know what to say.
Still…
Elysia: "Though I'm your guide, and an extension of an Engraved Memory… I probably won't be able to stay with you any longer."
[If I tap a few more times… maybe three or four more… will this long-awaited "Elysia" disappear forever?]
Someone asked—half realization, half question.
Even across the screen, one could feel that complex emotion: wanting to tap forward, yet not wanting to.
Yeah. Of course.
Once reminded, everyone in the stream realized… what kind of choice they were facing.
[We have to continue…]
[Of course! We already promised Elysia…]
["We said we'd keep going, didn't we?"]
Remembering those words, it felt like courage flowed back into their hearts.
They gently tapped forward.
First tap.
"But, I believe in Mei."
Elysia's voice once again floated into everyone's ears.
Fainter and fainter… but still as sweet as ever.
And since Elysia was looking forward to it so much…
If they stopped, wouldn't that mean Mei stopped too?
So again, they gently tapped.
Second tap.
"If it's Mei, I know she'll find the [true treasure]~♪"
Third tap.
"Because, this abrupt ending today—must be for the sake of romance tomorrow!"
Fourth tap…
"…"
Only silence remained.
It really… ended, just like that!?
From the moment they realized there might only be a few lines left, to the actual ending—it was only three segments?
Rule of three?
Is that even how you use it???
A sudden sense of loss wrapped around them, plunging their emotions into a state of helplessness.
I can't do anything.jpg
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