Honkai Impact 3rd: Catching the Herrscher of Sentience at the Start

Elysia covered her mouth and giggled, "Oh dear, did the typewriter break again?"

Fairy Ellie quickly waved her hands in denial, then thought for a moment and said, "Impossible! I clearly fixed it! ...Unless there is no record of this person at all. Yes! That must be it."

Mei crossed her arms and curiously asked, "Then why does Elysia have his image in her memory?"

Fairy Ellie scratched her cheek, then declared righteously, "Uh... maybe it's exactly because there's no record of him that he's called the 'mysterious man' in the first place."

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Elysia blinked and looked at Mei's furrowed brows. She reached out to smooth them and gently unfolded them.

Then, holding Mei's hand, she smiled and said, "Dear Mei, you're overthinking. Frowning like that isn't pretty at all~"

"Aren't you trying to uncover the secret of the Thirteenth Herrscher? How could you leave me behind just because of a mysterious man?"

Mei rubbed her temples and looked at Elysia calmly,

"…You're right, I was going in the wrong direction. I thought investigating the mysterious man would reveal something, but I forgot about you—the person involved."

Elysia beamed like a flower, crossed her arms, and looked at Mei, "That's more like it. Now, let's continue!"

Griseo looked expectantly at Kosma and said, "Then… next, it's Kosma's turn."

Kosma replied decisively, "No."

Elysia lightly tapped the typewriter,

"Wow, such a straightforward answer. But Kosma, Griseo has already asked you. If you refuse again… wouldn't that be a little unkind?"

"Stop…!"

Kosma tried to stop Elysia but was a step too late. A brand-new document emerged from the typewriter.

Griseo picked up the document and looked at the contents in confusion, "Ah, it printed out. What is this?"

Elysia glanced at the document, pulled out an earmuff and an eye mask from who-knows-where, and handed them to Fu Lin while winking, "Fu Lin, remember to block all your senses~"

Fu Lin looked up at Elysia, eyes gleaming with curiosity, "Can I…"

Elysia wagged her finger and decisively refused, "Nope~"

"…Fine, I won't look." After all, I already know the story.

Fu Lin put on the eye mask and earmuffs that Elysia gave him, squatted in the corner, and drew circles, feeling left out.

Griseo blinked in confusion and looked at Elysia, "Elysia, why is Uncle Fu Lin…?"

Elysia walked over to Griseo, ruffled her hair, and exchanged a knowing smile. Then she leaned down and whispered in Griseo's ear, "I'll tell you after your Uncle Fu Lin leaves~"

Griseo nodded in half-understanding and didn't ask further, "Mmm…"

=== (Document Content Divider) ===

Kosma, 'Over there is…'

Elysia and the mysterious man stood together, while Hua watched silently from the side.

Elysia, "I'll demonstrate again."

Elysia performed the action once more. Kosma, watching quietly from a distance, looked puzzled.

Kosma, "...?"

Elysia lowered her arms and asked Hua, "How does it feel?"

Hua placed one hand on her hip, somewhat unsure, "It's indeed… quite an imposing technique. Is this meant to control the flow of Honkai energy?"

The mysterious man, face full of black lines, "No, this is just something Elysia did on a whim…"

Elysia covered the mysterious man's mouth and smiled at Hua, "Ah, well, let's just say… it's a kind of mental ritual? What do you think, Hua? You should try it too!"

Hua glanced at the mysterious man, then nodded, "…Alright, I understand."

As Hua completed the entire movement, Kosma was still watching in a daze, but his eyes glowed with a different light.

Elysia circled around Hua, "Hmm…"

"The movements are exactly the same, but for some reason, it feels like something is off…"

Hua's expression became flustered as she asked in confusion, "…Did I misunderstand something?"

Elysia paused, "What's wrong?"

Hua closed her eyes in thought, her face turning red, "I don't feel any change in my state. Also… it's a little embarrassing."

The mysterious man burst out laughing, clutching his stomach while holding onto Elysia's shoulder, "Hahaha! Hua, it'd be weird if this actually worked! Hahaha!"

Hua, "..."

Elysia twirled her hair and smiled at the mysterious man, "Ahem!"

The mysterious man immediately straightened up and said, "…Continue."

Elysia pondered, unable to pinpoint what was wrong, "Oh dear, Hua, it seems this set of movements… doesn't work for everyone."

"How strange, when ■■ did it, I was quite satisfied. Why is it different now? Hmm…"

The mysterious man, "..."

Elysia clung to the mysterious man's arm, looking at him expectantly, "How about you do it again? Let me see what Hua did wrong."

The mysterious man, "Daga Kotowaru!" ( But NO)

Elysia pouted, "Nooo~ Just one last time, okay? Just once, please fulfill my wish~?"

The mysterious man broke free from Elysia's grasp and ran around the building, with Elysia chasing closely behind.

Hua, watching the scene of cat-and-mouse play out before her, scratched her head in confusion, "Sorry, maybe the problem is with me."

Kosma, '….'Cool.

The mysterious man looked at the nearby figure, turned around, and ran towards him, shouting, "Kosma! Why are you just standing there watching?! Have you really betrayed our friendship?!"

Kosma, "..."

===

Mei, "..."

Kosma, "..."

After finishing Kosma's memory, everyone exchanged glances.

Mei covered her rising smile, "Kosma… you…"

Aponia spoke softly, "Ah… this is indeed very much Elysia's style."

Kosma clenched his fists, his face completely flushed as he lowered his head, unable to meet anyone's gaze, "..."