(Volume IV: Elysian Realm ARC 2: Return to the Elysian Realm)
The Elysian Realm was still the same familiar Elysian Realm, unchanged since he last left.
The hall was as magnificent as ever, like an ancient and elegant palace. The orange light was as soft and bright as ever, soothing...
This scene had remained the same for 50,000 years, like a piece of amber frozen in time, perfectly preserving this small world, spanning the end of an entire era, sealing the stories of the previous era within...
Closing the iron door, stepping up the stairs, turning a corner, and walking into the magnificent hall, everything seemed exactly the same as in his memory, except...
"Eh? Why do you look like you're visiting a famous museum? Hmm, even though we've lived together for so long, it's still amazing to see such an interesting expression on your face. It's quite novel!"
A pink-haired girl suddenly popped out from somewhere, chuckling and saying,
"Hi, long time no see. How does it feel to see Elysia again?"
Except the person greeting him at the door had changed...
Seeing the familiar, bright smile of the pink-haired girl, whose enthusiasm gave him a headache, Lin Wei suddenly felt a subtle sense of familiarity, as if he had seen it somewhere before.
Thinking about it, this was the Elysian Realm, and he immediately realized—of course he had seen it here!
"Yeah, not bad."
"How perfunctory! It's completely different from the reunion I imagined..."
Elysia complained with a sad and hurt expression,
"No enthusiastic greeting, no loving hug, even your expression is so cold... Sigh, Lin Wei, you're really hurting this girl's feeli—eh, did you bring a new friend this time? And a cute girl at that!"
Her tone changed from sad to happy in just a second, without even waiting for Lin Wei to react.
Elysia had actually noticed the unique girl behind Lin Wei long ago. Most importantly, her appearance was very much in line with her aesthetic, immediately piquing her interest. She was just pretending to be surprised now.
Seeing that Yuno only curiously looked around at the environment and furnishings before focusing her attention on her, Elysia immediately put away her little act, gracefully slipped past Lin Wei, and appeared in front of Yuno with a sweet smile, greeting her enthusiastically,
"Hi, nice to meet you♪!"
It was clear that she was trying very hard to make a perfect first impression.
"..."
Yuno was startled and almost threw a punch.
Can you not be so sudden?
"Oh my, she's even shyer than Lin Wei!"
Elysia discreetly took a step back, her smile still sweet, and said apologetically,
"I'm so sorry, was I too enthusiastic and scared you?"
As someone with severe social anxiety, Elysia was a veteran of such situations. She was very adept at handling this kind of small scene, easily resolving the awkwardness—at least her own awkwardness.
Of course, this was assuming she could feel awkwardness...
"Alright, she's not from World Serpent, she doesn't know anything about the Elysian Realm or the Flame-Chasers, so don't scare her just yet."
Lin Wei was also helpless that Elysia had slipped away without him noticing,
"Let me introduce you. Her name is Yuno, a friend I met outside..."
After briefly introducing Yuno to Elysia, Lin Wei turned to Yuno and introduced Elysia,
"Her name is Elysia, one of the thirteen Flame-Chasers of the Elysian Realm. As you can see, she's quite enthusiastic—a bit too enthusiastic sometimes, but not a bad friend."
Lin Wei gave an objective introduction responsibly.
If he didn't want the newly arrived Yuno to have any unnecessary misunderstandings, he almost blurted out the words "Elysian Realm bully."
However, judging by the current situation, it wouldn't be long before Yuno discovered this "truth" herself...
Just like that, Lin Wei spoke seriously, Yuno listened quietly, and Elysia watched with a smile, only giving an enthusiastic and proper greeting when Lin Wei introduced them to each other.
"Yuno? What a beautiful name! Simple, easy to remember, and very cute. It's the kind of name that makes people remember it after hearing it just once!"
"Yes, that's right, Elysia. It means 'paradise' in Mu's language. Doesn't it suit me perfectly?"
Elysia asked expectantly.
"I..."
Yuno didn't know how to respond to her excessive enthusiasm. This was the first time she had met such a familiar person.
Elysia smiled magnanimously,
"It's okay, relax. After you get used to this place, you won't be so nervous!"
"Alright, Elysia, let's get down to business."
After briefly introducing each other, without even bothering with pleasantries, Lin Wei said directly,
"I came here this time because I need your help. I..."
Yuno's unusual physique, Yae Sakura's Stigmata problem... Just as Lin Wei was about to explain his reason for visiting again, he was interrupted—
"No way!"
Elysia sighed slightly.
Lin Wei was stunned. He was mentally prepared for some twists and turns, but he hadn't expected such a blunt refusal.
Elysia wasn't the type to make such malicious jokes. Lin Wei felt a chill in his heart at this unexpected answer.
Just as Lin Wei was racking his brains for a solution, two slender fingers silently touched his forehead. The cool touch seemed to penetrate directly into his brain, making Lin Wei freeze, his thoughts pulled back to reality.
"You can't do that in your current state! I really want to show you a mirror, so you can see how furrowed your brows are."
Elysia gently smoothed Lin Wei's unconsciously furrowed brows and said regretfully,
"Really, you were such a laid-back, cheerful boy, a bit shy and reserved, who enjoyed wandering around and experiencing simple joys. It's only been a few months since you left the Elysian Realm, how did you become so anxious? If I had to make a comparison... it's like a terrifying end-game (Maheśvara) Honkai beast is chasing you."
As she spoke, she massaged the tense muscles in Lin Wei's forehead, carefully examined him, and then withdrew her hand with satisfaction,
"That's better! For a moment there, I almost thought Kevin was back! You scared me, that joke wasn't funny at all!"
"...I don't think it's funny either."
Can you say something nice? Lin Wei thought, a dark line crossing his face.
"Right, you think so too!"
Elysia nodded in agreement, and warned nervously,
"One Kevin is enough. You mustn't become like him, a very! very! ve~ry! boring boy!"
"Eh? Kevin, why are you here?"
Lin Wei looked expressionlessly behind Elysia.
"Hmm... should I do this next?"
Elysia looked at Lin Wei with a smile, "startled" cooperatively, then turned around and said "nervously,"
"Kevin, don't misunderstand, I didn't mean it that way!"
Elysia enjoyed this game. After her "performance," she turned back leisurely, but before she could speak, the happy smile on her face froze.
Lin Wei had taken out a small camera from somewhere, the lens pointed directly at her, recording the scene just now.
"Kevin will probably like this..."
Lin Wei admired the footage he had taken with satisfaction. The next moment, he felt his hand lighten, and the camera was gone.
"Alright, let's continue our previous topic."
Elysia put her hands behind her back, made a cute gesture, casually crushed the camera into powder, and said seriously,
"So, you mustn't become like Kevin, the kind of boy people hate, understand?"
"...Understood."
Lin Wei seemed to ignore the powdery debris falling from behind Elysia, not mourning the lost camera at all, and nodded obediently.
"Hee hee, that's right!"
Elysia clapped her hands with satisfaction, cleaned the last bit of debris from her hands, then said seriously,
"So, do you know what you should do now?"
"...What?"
Lin Wei felt like he couldn't keep up with Elysia's erratic pace.
"Of course… it's to have a good rest!"
Elysia darted behind Lin Wei, pushing him towards the lounge while saying,
"Your room is still in the same place. Go and have a good sleep, recharge your batteries, and adjust yourself, so you'll have more energy for the new round of 'Elysian Realm Adventure'!"
"...Alright, I understand."
Lin Wei roughly understood what Elysia meant.
The Flame-Chasers had always been in the Elysian Realm, quietly waiting for every successor to visit, like messengers. Why rush?
"I won't disturb your rest. Then... good night, see you tomorrow!"
After sending Lin Wei to the familiar room where he had lived for quite some time, Elysia waved gently, then closed the door with a clang and left.
"..."
Lin Wei sat on the soft edge of the bed, momentarily dazed.
In the real world outside, there were always people trying to harm him, so his nerves were always on edge. Having become accustomed to that kind of high-intensity lifestyle, he suddenly felt a little uncomfortable in this new environment.
Even though, strictly speaking, he had lived in this "warm and home-like" Elysian Realm for almost as long as, or even a little longer than, in the real world, it still felt this way.
After all, since waking up in this world for the first time at the end of January 2014, and entering the Elysian Realm for the first time at the end of March, he had lived here for more than half a year, leaving at the end of January 2015 to return to the real world. Then, it was only the beginning of June now, and he had returned here again...
"This is really... people who don't know would think I've made the Elysian Realm my home!"
Lin Wei lay down heavily on the bed, feeling both amused and helpless.
But having said that, returning to the Elysian Realm this time was different from last time.
Last time, the Elysian Realm was the end of his journey. He basically lived a life of seclusion, just wanting to live here in a daze, like Pardo, taking it one day at a time.
But this time, it was completely different.
Now, he had unavoidable difficulties to face in the real world. He returned to the Elysian Realm this time only to find something he needed to help him face those difficulties with more confidence.
In the past, he had no desires, so the Elysian Realm was like a resort for him—except for Hua, who strictly demanded he train every day.
But now, he had desires. Although it was still different from other successors who came here, the Elysian Realm still revealed its true nature as a "place of trial."
"Heh... after going around in circles, I've really become like a native of this world."
Lin Wei chuckled self-deprecatingly, then got up to make the bed and turned off the lights to sleep.
Anyway, as Elysia said, having a good rest, relaxing, and adjusting his state to readapt to the rhythm of the Elysian Realm was the most important thing to do now.
"Elysia is so thoughtful, actually considering things so thoroughly for me."
Drowsiness washed over him, and Lin Wei, already drifting off to sleep, thought hazily,
"I really have to thank her properly..."
In a daze, the sound of conversation from the hall on the other side of the door drifted in through the crack, reaching Lin Wei's drowsy ears.
"Lin Wei is probably asleep now. We should be quiet and not disturb his rest... Hee hee, now it's our time♪"
Lin Wei instantly jolted awake.
"Yuno... can I call you that? Your name is really beautiful, and you're very cute. Adding any suffix to this name feels like it diminishes its beauty, which would be such a pity, wouldn't it?"
"...Really? That's great, thank you. I knew you were a kind girl! Hmm... how should I repay you?"
"I've got it! Let me, as the host, give you, the newcomer, a tour of the Elysian Realm! I'll thoughtfully show you every beautiful detail. Keep your eyes peeled!"
"..."
Lin Wei opened his eyes and sat up expressionlessly.
I take back what I just said!