Kevin, of course, had not forgotten the tragedy Rin caused back then.
At that time, Kevin was already unrivaled in terms of combat power, but the Herrscher of Corruption was precisely the type of Herrscher that could create massive disasters without needing to fight head-on.
Even though he possessed near-invincible strength, he was still unable to stop the blackened Rin from completely extinguishing humanity's last hope.
And because of this, even though Kevin trusted his dear friend before him, he couldn't help but feel some complicated thoughts arise in his heart.
In his view, what Rin did back then was understandable.
A young girl who trusted her sister was imprisoned in a cell, forced to endure treatment she never should have, and in the end, even died at the hands of the Fire Moth soldiers.
Others might know it was a misunderstanding created by the 'Discipline', but for the victim, what she lost was her life.
But understanding was one thing; it didn't mean Kevin wouldn't be on guard against the Herrscher of Corruption.
If he didn't trust that Su and Leo Ash wouldn't act recklessly, Kevin might have already charged into the Realm to drag Rin out.
"When exactly..."
Kevin, who had wanted to ask how Leo Ash met Rin, suddenly abandoned the question and instead asked Su the question he *really* wanted to know the answer to.
"Su, how much do you know about Leo Ash?"
Kevin saw new hope in Leo Ash, but if possible, he still wanted to hear his dear friend's judgment.
Even if their positions still had subtle differences, as long as *that one thing* wasn't involved, they were undoubtedly the person the other trusted most—one could even add 'and no one else'.
Su, who was meticulous and had known Leo Ash longer, might be able to provide some key information that Kevin wasn't aware of.
"How much do I know..."
Hearing his friend's question, Su thought for a moment before shaking his head with a bitter smile.
"Although I met him about a month earlier than you did, my understanding of him isn't as deep as you might think."
"Where Mr. Leo Ash learned so much information, and where he obtained these powers that are clearly a different system from us [MANTISes]—I've never asked him these questions, and he has directly stated he doesn't want to talk about them."
"In other aspects, I can only say... he is perhaps the same type of person as you."
At this point, Su suddenly rubbed the bridge of his nose tiredly.
"You and he are alike. You both share a troublesome trait."
"...What trait?"
"You both want to throw everything onto your own shoulders."
After saying this, Su said helplessly to Kevin.
"I certainly understand that your sense of responsibility and your convictions compel you to make these choices, but..."
Su, who had wanted to say 'try to rely on your companions a little', ultimately couldn't get the words out.
Although Su had felt some apology toward Leo Ash for his heavy-handed methods when they first met...
...after that, he considered himself to have, at least, never wronged Leo Ash.
But unlike with Leo Ash, Su felt guilty toward Kevin.
Regardless of his intentions, he was, in the end, a traitor who had betrayed his dear friend's trust.
To talk about 'relying on companions' to the friend he had once betrayed... even if Kevin wouldn't care, Su couldn't be so shameless as to say it.
"Is that so?"
Seeing Su's hesitant expression, Kevin suddenly spoke in a rare, slightly relaxed tone.
"I, on the other hand, think he's a bit like you."
"According to the information our World Serpent staff inside Schicksal sent back, Leo Ash seems to spend a lot of time thinking."
"You're like him. You both want to do things perfectly, and you're both unwilling to abandon anyone you could possibly protect. Precisely because of that, you both think about more details than anyone else."
(Su's Internal Monologue) *As expected, some of the spies Mr. Gray Serpent planted are still active in the HQ.*
*But Mr. Leo Ash must have known about this long ago.*
*However, for him, who is already preparing for the Herrscher of Finality, he probably couldn't be bothered with such trivial matters anymore.*
"Ha, perhaps."
Seeing the rare look of relaxation on Kevin's face, Su suddenly felt that just seeing this expression today made it all worth it.
Thinking about it now, only when new hope had appeared, and only when Su, his old friend, was present, would Kevin show this expression that Su hadn't seen in so long.
"You're that relaxed? Are you really not worried about something happening in the Realm?"
"Mm. Just after I said those words, I realized that Leo Ash probably won't act recklessly."
"As for Rin... you knew about her long ago, yet you still brought her to the Realm. This means that in your eyes, she must already be a harmless Herrscher."
"If my trust in Leo Ash was only that shallow, I wouldn't have actively invited him into the Realm in the first place. As for these... variables..."
Remembering that comrade who had died before his eyes, Kevin said with some emotion.
"Letting Rin meet her... the resentment in Rin's heart..."
"—perhaps it will lessen somewhat because of it."
......
Elysian Realm. Interior.
When Leo Ash felt the dizziness fade from his body, he confirmed he had arrived in the Elysian Realm and immediately looked beside him.
After confirming that Rin had entered this special space with him, Leo Ash immediately shook her.
"Hey, Rin, wake up."
Leo Ash shook Rin, but seeing her eyes were still hazy and she wasn't responding, he immediately raised his right hand.
At that moment, Rin, who had been drowsy, suddenly felt a chill and shot backward several steps as if startled.
"What... what are you doing!"
Staring at the crimson light erupting from Leo Ash's right hand, Rin said nervously.
"I'm awake! Don't do anything crazy!"
"Ah, so this trick really works."
Seeing that he had scared Rin awake, Leo Ash naturally dispersed the power that had begun to gather in his hand.
"You..."
Staring at the boy before her, Rin asked Leo Ash with lingering fear.
"What on earth were you planning to do just now?"
"Oh, you weren't waking up, so I was preparing some... stimulating... physical therapy."
(Rin's Internal Monologue) *Physical therapy—you just wanted an excuse to slap me, didn't you!*
*Damn it, just because I didn't catch this era's Corruption?*
*He... he doesn't think I was slacking off, and that's why I couldn't catch that slippery bastard, does he?*
*This man, how can he be so petty!*
As for Leo Ash, who was being frantically roasted by Rin in her mind, he of course hadn't actually planned to give her two big slaps.
He had released his killing intent and power purely to stimulate Rin, and at the same time, to test whether the powers he got from the System could be used in this place, the Realm.
And now, he had his answer.
Just like when he was in illusions or dreams, he could also use these powers in this special space.
With this, things became much easier.
"Alright, if you're not going to mess around anymore—what exactly are you planning to do now?"
Rin stared at Leo Ash and asked bluntly.
"Before we came here, you clearly acted like you knew about this place."
"With your style, if you have intel in advance, you definitely would have prepared a countermeasure based on it."
"Ah, I think you're overestimating me."
Leo Ash, having retracted his power, scanned the surroundings and shrugged helplessly.
"You can easily get lost wandering around this place. If we don't use a special method, we'll spend all day just going in circles."
"Mhm—so you've already thought of a way, haven't you?"
"Of course."
At this, Leo Ash suddenly patted Rin's shoulder and said in a grave, heartfelt tone.
"To put it bluntly, this place is just a memory space. No matter how mysteriously it's described, a memory space like this is naturally countered by your Power of Corruption."
"So, Rin..."
"—Please, just do it for my sake... use your Power of Corruption on the Elysian Realm!"
After hearing this speech from Leo Ash, Rin was silent for about three seconds.
Then, she completely dropped her usual, fickle attitude and said to Leo Ash with deep concern.
"Leo Ash, you must be tired. That's why you're saying these things."
"Don't push yourself so hard. Otherwise, before we even start, why don't you take a good rest first?"
"Ah..."
Seeing Rin's rare, visible concern, Leo Ash asked with a strange expression.
"When I said that... did I look like I was insane?"
When his words were met with Rin's frantic nodding, Leo Ash really began to wonder if everyone's impression of him had some kind of weird deviation.
*I think I'm still pretty normal most of the time, so why...*
[Give me a break. The more people get to know you, the more they wonder—how have you managed to *not* go insane by now?]
*It's not that serious...*
After taking a deep breath, Leo Ash said to Rin.
"Don't look at me like that. I'm not crazy. I'm serious. This is our best strategy."
(Rin's Internal Monologue) *Oh no, he really thinks so.*
*Now I know why that Bioroid he called Gray Serpent was so worried about him bringing me into the Realm.*
*I really wasn't planning on causing any trouble today.*
*But if Leo Ash wants to cause trouble, it seems I can't stop him...*
*If not for the fact that he needs to conserve his strength, Leo Ash could just grab me and forcibly link with the Blank Key, and he'd be able to use the Power of Corruption himself.*
*But that kind of action wastes too much power on the connection and is too inefficient, which is why he's giving this task to me.*
*Whatever, whatever. It's probably right to listen to him. In that case...*
*Time to get to work!*
Seeing Rin already starting to corrupt this space with her power, Leo Ash nodded in satisfaction.
As everyone knows, the reason the Herrscher of Corruption in the original story could push the Flame-Chaser memories to the brink was not just because its authority was a natural counter to this place, but also because it itself was never exposed.
And now, with Corruption potentially betting everything on one throw, Leo Ash had to seize the initiative by corrupting this place first.
To put it bluntly, his idea was simple.
Walk the enemy's path, and leave the enemy with no path to walk!
As long as Rin corrupted the Realm first, how the hell was Corruption going to corrupt the Realm?
Even if it wanted to force the issue, it would have to contend with Rin.
And as long as it contended with Rin, Leo Ash would have a chance to drag the bastard out.
After all, before *that day* arrives...
—as long as Corruption is dealt with, many problems will no longer be problems!
.....
Meanwhile. Inside the Elysian Realm.
Inside the Elysian Realm, Elysia, who had been preparing to watch how Leo Ash and Rin would find the entrance, was now sweating profusely.
Just today, the Realm had welcomed two new guests.
And according to Elysia's aesthetic standards, Leo Ash himself, even setting aside the two Herrscher Cores he possessed, definitely passed.
As for the other person, not only was she Sakura's little sister, but she was also a Herrscher.
At the thought of being able to meet two Herrschers who stood on humanity's side today, the Pink-Haired Elf was already humming a cheerful tune.
But very quickly, Elysia felt that something was very wrong.
After Rin entered this space and was persuaded by that young man... she began to reveal her power.
And this power... was precisely the Herrscher of Corruption's authority, which had the worst possible affinity with the entire Realm.
If Rin was allowed to continue this rampage, there was no telling what would happen to the entire Realm.
"Not good, not good. If this continues... it's going to be a serious problem!"
"Sigh. Although Rin is the one using the power, she isn't really the mastermind."
After picking up her weapon, Elysia let out a helpless sigh.
"This boy is very handsome, but he's also very naughty."
"And naughty boys..."
"—really should... receive a little punishment."
..