MGSFV?! Chapter 499. Stop Bullying 'Erosi-Bao,' Or Do—Anyway, Elysia's Curious Magic
As for what strange thing Hokuto remembered—
That's a "secret" that can't really be spoken aloud.
Unless… Kiana is willing to… well, no "unless," actually.
Still, there are only a few possibilities. For Captains familiar with the plot, recalling them shouldn't be difficult.
"Why would Kiana think that way?"
While Hokuto remained silent, Elysia asked gently from the side.
"Because… last time, after Elysia took Hokuto through the Elysian Realm, she secretly pulled out a little loudspeaker, didn't she? [Even if you become a Herrscher—so what? I'm also a Herrscher!]"
In other words, Miss Pink Elf has a record.
Hokuto: "..."
"...That's true," Elysia said slowly. "But… back then in the Elysian Realm, I just wanted to leave a little memory of Hokuto. After all, it was a precious memory..."
Who could've known that the Realm would turn out like that afterward?
So leaving behind a recording to reminisce later on when free time came around, that was actually a fairly 'normal' behavior.
Normal behavior?
"Here… since we already knew it was just a dream, and that memories couldn't be retained… it was more important to give Hokuto a sufficiently beautiful experience."
"Just a dream…"
Suddenly a bit of sadness lingered. Though everyone knew this was the case, regardless of which Elysia it was, inside or outside the game, she always wore a smile.
Giving Hokuto a beautiful experience mattered more.
"..."
"I was just curious… Elysia, would you pull out that little loudspeaker again here? I didn't mean to say it was inappropriate."
Kiana took a serious tone to explain.
"Hmm… secretly pulling out a loudspeaker to record at such a moment… indeed isn't very… how should I put it? If Hokuto discovered it, she'd definitely feel embarrassed. That was predictable."
That was how Elysia responded to Kiana's explanation.
"So you actually do understand that Hokuto would…" Hokuto, who had snapped out of her silence, started to speak but hesitated.
"Yes, back then—how could I get carried away and play that recording for Hokuto? I should've made sure she never found out I was secretly recording."
Elysia believed that the biggest problem in the Realm incident… was simply that she got [caught].
Everything else? Not a problem.
Hokuto: "..."
She now, once again, didn't want to say anything.
...
At this point—
The off-stage banter between Elysia, Hokuto, and Kiana comes to an end.
In the game—
After Elysia fulfilled her own wish just to say "long time no see" to Hokuto—
Hokuto smiled, a smile that seemed both complex and nostalgic.
Then she also said, "Mm, long time no see."
"Seeing you this happy, as your [Tour Guide Elysia], I'm happy too."
Elysia also smiled.
"...[Tour Guide Elysia]?"
Hokuto thought of the elf in the Realm.
"That reminds me of Fairy Elysia. Though she worked as a records room manager, when it came to guiding me, maybe she could be considered a tour guide too."
Even if that elf was a little clumsy and liked to use "physical magic" to "repair" typewriters, she did finish her guiding duties properly in the end—
She guided her to—
Elysia: ...Was that a real hint? Is "tour guide" the next high-risk job in Honkai after "teacher"?
"Eh? So there's another me? And from the order of appearance, Fairy Elysia might even be Tour Guide Elysia's senior…"
Tour Guide Elysia suddenly got competitive in that uniquely Elysian way—she just loves challenging herself.
"When it comes to guiding guests, I won't lose to anyone!"
Her actual work ability remains unclear, but in terms of stage presence, Tour Guide Elysia already far outshines Fairy Elysia ( ).
[Every Elysia is this charming.]
[…Except the one played by Erosi.]
[Why… why would you say that about Erosi-Bao! ("Please," increase the dosage!)]
That unintentional remark from Elysia suddenly made Hokuto realize something.
Even after realizing this was a dream, her situation hadn't improved much.
She was still inside a dream—unable to fully exercise her Herrscher powers. Even [Elysia], who should've disappeared alongside [Kiana] and [Bronya]—
"Hmm… maybe it's because my mode of existence differs from theirs?"
"..."
Hokuto looked at Elysia. The words "I see" were about to leave her lips—
Wait, no!
"Hold on. How did you know what I was thinking?"
"Oh dear."
Elysia took a half step back and lifted a hand to her mouth like she had just let something slip by accident.
The not-quite-you, not-quite-me, hard-to-part-hard-to-stay atmosphere between her and Hokuto… honestly, even saying it aloud felt a bit embarrassing.
"...Anyway, they were indeed just dreams of yours."
"Like the friends we used to draw for ourselves as kids—once you stop believing in them, they vanish completely."
"But I… am connected to your inherited Signet and the treasure you're about to find. Though I may not be as emotionally pure as them, in terms of stability, that's more important now, isn't it?"
[Because Hokuto has the Signet and Crystal Flower, does that mean this is the consciousness of the real Elysia?]
[Though I don't want to say it like this… what you're hoping for may only be a beautiful wish. In reality…]
[...]
...
Clearly—
After Hokuto woke up, most viewers could no longer treat this chapter's story as "a happy day in a one-person amusement park."
"..."
"I see,"
In-game, Hokuto's expression turned thoughtful.
"In that case, if you hadn't shown up and gradually distracted me—maybe I wouldn't have noticed I was in a [Reverse Red-Light-Green-Light] game."
Her reaction mirrored the players', trying to analyze the current situation using whatever limited information was available.
A rational behavior.
As expected of the Herrscher of Reason's… best friend.
Though this also caused the cheerful tone from earlier to gradually dissipate… and even disappear altogether.
But would Elysia let the mood stay somber?
Of course not.
"Hokuto… you should say [distracted me] instead~"
After all, she was such a cute girl. Hokuto being drawn to her was only natural!
Elysia placed one hand on her waist, brimming with confidence.
It made people smile involuntarily.
[That "narcissism" is definitely Miss Fairy's style.]
[Elysia: It's not narcissism—it's confidence!]
"Haha, you're still the same as ever." Hokuto's lips curved gently.
Everyone seemed to brighten up all of a sudden.
Perhaps… that's the special magic Elysia possesses?
Beautiful, pure, flawless… able to infect those around her with ease.
"Smile, okay?"
It's framed as a rhetorical question, but in truth, Elysia was always silently doing things—things the other person might never notice—just hoping to bring more smiles.
Just like how she often creates iconic moments during her livestreams…
Elysia: That's right, all for the show's quality and the audience's experience! A huge sacrifice!
Hokuto: We'll just pretend to believe you. (deadpan) (deadpan) (dismissive)
Elysia: It's real~!
...
In any case—
Elysia clearly wasn't going to let Hokuto face the end of her amusement park journey with a solemn expression.
This was Hokuto's beautiful dream, after all.
Of course, she had to make sure Hokuto smiled until the very end…
As for herself… anyone who's known Elysia for more than a day wouldn't expect her to be sad about staying with a cute girl, right?
vigilant Elysian Realm heroine.jpg
"Looks like Hokuto's satisfaction with the Tour Guide Elysia persona is quite high."
Elysia smiled, noting Hokuto's slightly relaxed expression.
"...Do you have other personas?" Hokuto asked, picking up on something.
"Of course! I have thirteen personas, each with more than one style."
[Thirteen personas? Is miHoYo hinting at more Elysia skins?]
There may be more skins, but this isn't about that.
[Thirteen? Honestly, the first thing I thought of… is the Thirteen Flame-Chasers, right?]
[Don't bring it up so suddenly with no lead-in! Dammit!]
[Lmao lmao lmao]
[What lmao, say it with me: Sweet sweet sweet sweet sweet—Honkai is the sweetest of all (mental breakdown)]
[So none of you are curious what Elysia meant by that?]
Not curious?
Impossible.
[I'm extremely curious about Tour Guide Elysia's thirteen personas! What kinds are there?]
Some players even got impatient.
Fortunately, the story didn't hold back and revealed the answer right away.
In-game, Elysia said:
"What form I take… depends entirely on the visitor."
"For example, if Hokuto had the closest bond with Kalpas, then I'd appear as a butler Kalpas to guide her~♪"
[???]
[Butler Kalpas? That's wild.]
[Trying to imagine him saying… 'Hi~♪ Did you miss me?' I'm shaking. Okay, fine.]
[Actually… as weird as it is, I kind of 'do' want to see it? miHoYo! How about showing us?!]
Elysia: …Seems like everyone reacted the same way.
When she first saw this script, she too immediately imagined Kalpas saying that iconic line.
And her exact reaction? "Weird, but I kinda 'do' want to see it."
As Elysia was lost in these thoughts—
Suddenly—
"In-game, what Elysia just said… 'If Hokuto had the closest bond with Kalpas,' doesn't that mean, in reverse, that Hokuto's closest bond is with Elysia?"
A voice sounded in her ear.
"Kiana? …This just means that among the Thirteen Flame-Chasers, Hokuto and Elysia had the closest bond," Elysia explained after thinking a moment.
"...I know it's referring to Hokuto's bond with the Thirteen Flame-Chasers."
Kiana, however, looked slightly puzzled at Elysia's reply. She didn't know why she would make that clarification.
"I just wanted to make sure I didn't misunderstand."
"Oh, oh."
Elysia blinked. In that case…
Let's drop the topic here.
"I think that part probably is what you meant, Kiana."
"After all, in the Realm, Elysia and Hokuto spent the most time together, right? Of course the bond is the deepest."
...
Back to the point.
In the story—
When Hokuto heard Elysia use Kalpas as an example, she was speechless.
"...Why did I guess you'd use Kalpas as an example?"
From a writing perspective, Kalpas' character contrasts strongly when described by Elysia, adding depth to the dialogue.
Of course, based on "Elysia psychology," maybe she just thought it'd be funny.
"Hahaha, even if you ask me that, Hokuto, I can't answer~"
Elysia laughed, then said playfully, "Just treat it as a pretty girl's sudden burst of inspiration, okay?"
"Pff~~ That's so your style, Elysia."
The two continued chatting and laughing.
Watching them… one might momentarily feel as though they had returned to the Elysian Realm, that strange and beautiful place.
But—
That was clearly impossible. The Realm had already been…
Not only was returning to the Realm impossible—there wasn't even much time left for them to share smiles.
This tiny sliver of time might already be the writer's final act of "tenderness."
"Tenderness" is there—but not much (actually, a little more than you think).
Soon—
Hokuto would need to move again.
Because reality is where she must return.
To protect this world's beauty—that is her and Elysia's promise. A gift most worthy of Elysia.
To escape the dream—
She must find the [true treasure] Elysia spoke of.
Though right now, she still didn't know what awaited her ahead.
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