Chapter 159: Not Elysian Realm~ but Garden of Eden

————[Event·About "Utopia"]————

　　Mei Raiden: It is said that the other builder of the "Utopia" is Nozomi... Is that right, Griseo?

　　Griseo: Yes, Mei-nee.

　　Griseo: In order to allow more people to survive and to have a more stable "retreat," my brother Nozomi and I built a "utopia" together.

　　Mei Raiden: I see, but I don't think I've ever seen him in the "Utopia" area.

　　Griseo: Because Brother Nozomi is not suitable to go there...

　　Mei Raiden: ...Not suitable?

　　Griseo: Because Brother Nozomi is gone.

　　Raiden Mei: Gone? But he was clearly in front of me just like you guys.

　　Griseo: Because Brother Nozomi is here, but... not over there, nor outside.

　　Raiden Mei: (What do you mean... go ask someone else)

————[Event· Regarding the ranking]————

　　Mei Raiden: I asked other people, did you guys rank each other? What was the basis for that?

　　Su: [Rank]? Ah... this, was it Elysia who said this?

　　Su: Actually, we don't care about this, but since Elysia wants to do this, we just let her do it.

　　Mei Raiden: But I asked other people and found out that their [ranks] are all connected.

　　Su: ...

　　Raiden Mei: So... what about Nozomi? He should also be counted among the [Flame Chasers], right? But when I asked him, he didn't know his [rank]... I don't think Elysia would deliberately leave him out.

　　Su: ...You went to ask Nozomi... No wonder, after all, he really didn't know.

　　Raiden Mei: Hmm?

　　Su: As for the other [ranks], they are all connected, so you couldn't notice Nozomi's [rank]... This is normal because his [rank] is ahead of everyone else.

　　Mei Raiden: But isn't the first one Kevin?

　　Su: No, it's Nozomi, he is [No. 0].

　　Raiden Mei: ...Why?

　　Su: Because he is the only [Flame Chaser] who sacrificed his life and also the only [Flame Chaser] who made the greatest contribution to us.

　　Su: It can be said that, except for the first few, all the fusion warriors since Nozomi, and even all the survivors... have received his favor.

　　Raiden Mei: (All? Isn't this too much? And…what does it mean that the only one who sacrificed is a [Flame Chaser]?)

————[Event: Sacrifice]————

　　Mei Raiden: I heard that... Nozomi has sacrificed himself, is that right?

　　Mobius: Hmm? Where did you hear that, little white mouse?

　　Mobius: But in their eyes, that's probably the truth. He did sacrifice himself and he did die.

　　Mei Raiden: But he is still in front of me, moving around in front of me just like you guys.

　　Mobius: I wasn't wrong, little white mouse, but I was just saying that in their eyes, he was dead, that's all.

　　Mobius: But in the eyes of some people, he... has not left us.

　　Mobius: For example, me~ But I am also the most special one. After all, for me... the definition of life and death is probably different from that of others~

　　Raiden Mei: ...You still haven't answered my question.

　　Mobius: Oh, it's not good to delve too deeply into this, right?

　　Mobius: However, I really like your desire to explore, because this way... you will definitely touch upon many things~

　　Raiden Mei: ...

　　Mobius: Okay, I won't tease you anymore... If you want to know about his situation... well... have you heard of the term "thought body"?

　　Mobius: It doesn't matter if you don't understand. Just think of him as a thought of ours, a real, tangible thought, a thought that allows us to see him again.

　　Raiden Mei: ("Thought body"… thought… so Nozomi himself no longer exists? So he can only move around in the "Garden of Eden"? Hmm… I think I understand what Griseo meant.)

　　Mobius: Oh, by the way, there is something Su may not have told you... Nozomi is actually a Herrscher like you~

　　Raiden Mei: ...Hmm?

————[Event: About Traitor]————

Eden: What's wrong, Mei-san? You seem to be worried about something.

Raiden Mei: ...I met Kalpas and heard a very concerning statement from him.

Raiden Mei: He said that all of you... including himself, are "traitors."

Eden: Traitor... I see...

Eden: In a way, he is right.

Raiden Mei: Hmm?

Eden: Whether from our own perspective or from a more outsider's perspective... at that time, all of us... might be called 'traitors.'

Eden: Including Kalpas himself, including Mobius, Kevin, Su, Elysia, and the others...even...me.

Eden: At that time, we all chose...humanity, not him.

Eden: Even if he was willing at that time, it is our responsibility no matter what.

Eden: Especially... me.

Eden: At that time... I was late, I was... late again.

Raiden Mei: (Eden seems very sad, let's not ask any more questions for now)

————[Event· About singing]————

Mei Raiden: Eden, before this, I had accidentally thought of a question... but I always felt that it would be a bit abrupt to mention it to you.

Eden: Really? Don't worry, my friend. Please go ahead and ask questions as you please. This is nothing to worry about.

Raiden Mei: You once said that it was the Honkai that prevented you from standing on the stage, but that doesn't seem to mean that you can't continue singing... But even in war, art should have its value and even be able to exert its unique power.

Raiden Mei: Just like Nozomi, I have heard that his singing voice still echoed in your era until the very end, so you who became a 'twin star' with him should also... hmm.

Eden: You are right, Miss Mei. Even if you look around and see that there is devastation everywhere, even if your entire body is burned and destroyed by flames, art can still survive, inspire the living, and bring hope.

Eden: But... Miss Mei, have you ever listened carefully to the tune that was created at that time?

Eden: At that time, the disaster penetrated our hearts. Even I was affected by the war. The tunes we created were more like a 'tool' than art. A 'tool' to inspire people, or even to escape from reality and indulge in temporary vanity. This... goes against my original intention.

Raiden Mei: Your true intention?

Eden: The purpose of art lies only in itself. It is not enough and should not be used to fight against reality, because the hope born from it is bound to be as elusive as the breeze, which cannot be seen, touched, or even grasped.

Eden: In comparison, I would rather use my hands to bring more real hope to everyone.

Raiden Mei: What about Nozomi...?

Eden: And this is what I want to tell you, the only exception... Nozomi is special, very special. His songs are endowed with power and form, allowing people to glimpse the faint light and touch the distant stars.

Eden: ...As you said, he did it by 'bringing hope to people through art,' just like his name suggests.

Eden: At that time, he did much more than me and was far more dazzling than me. He was like the only shining star in the dark night, like the breeze blowing under the scorching sun, like the drizzle falling in the fire, bringing upward momentum to people's souls and soothing people's anxious hearts.

Eden: He has indeed become hope, hope for me and for everyone.

Eden: But in the end, we destroyed our 'hope' with our own hands.

Raiden Mei: ... (There seems to be some hidden secret, but let's not delve into it for now)

————[Event· About 'Song']————

Raiden Mei: Actually, there is one thing I want to ask you... What exactly is the 'song' that you often talk about?

Mobius: Oh, little white mouse, you are actually curious about this?

Raiden Mei: From what I can see now, the 'song' you mentioned seems to be Nozomi's power, right? And this power has helped you a lot.

Mobius: That's right.

Mobius: Not only that, even now, his 'song' is still there~

Mobius: Of course, I don't mean here.

Raiden Mei: You mean... in reality? How is that possible?

Mobius: What's impossible? His 'song' has been circulating on the surface of the planet. Otherwise... How do you think you can maintain your self-awareness after becoming a Herrscher? How do you control the power of the Herrscher afterward?

Raiden Mei: ...

Mobius: Let me give you a hint, little white mouse. Whenever a major event happens, such as when you become a Herrscher or control the power of a Herrscher, will you hear some very strange 'songs'?

Mobius: It's like it's coordinating your actions like it's providing background music for your movements~

Mobius: Now... do you have any ideas? Little white mouse~

Raiden Mei: (So it wasn't just a hallucination at that time…)

————[Event· About 'Double Stars']————

Raiden Mei: By the way, Eden, your title is [Gold]. It seems that you have had this title in the past, when 'Utopia' and 'Garden of Eden' did not yet exist.

Eden: Yes, at that time I was still standing on the stage, singing for the world.

Raiden Mei: Was it when you were still shining as a star? Um... can you tell me how you got that title?

Eden: You are too kind to praise me. I cannot say it is shining... As for the name [Gold]... it is an interesting story.

Raiden Mei: I would like to hear the details.

Eden: At that time, Nozomi and I were showing ourselves in our respective fields. I preferred the stage where everyone was paying attention, while he preferred to play on the street for passers-by or people with nothing to do.

Eden: At that time we were praised as the 'Twin Stars of the Era'... Afterwards, our fans gave us a nicknames respectively. I was [Gold], and Nozomi was [Diamond].

Raiden Mei: [Diamond]?

Eden: Yes, according to their explanation, it is because I am passionate about classics and obsessed with opera, and I want to bring beauty to everyone. It is the sedimentation of past history and the precious wealth of mankind. I condense and melt it, and present it to everyone in the most perfect and attractive way.

Eden: In the end, people regarded me as the representative of classical music, and even as the reproduction of the glory of past art. It is the thing that humans cherish most and should cherish, so they gave me the name of [Gold].

Raiden Mei: So...what about Nozomi...?

Eden: He...

(Eden's eyelids drooped slightly, the corners of her mouth lifted unconsciously, and some memories flashed in her bright golden pupils)

Eden: The reason for his name is even simpler...it's because Nozomi's own experience is too similar to that of the diamond itself.

Eden: Miss Mei, do you know what diamonds are made of?

Raiden Mei: It should be the carbon element.

Eden: Yes, the diamond itself is a crystal formed by carbon elements under high pressure and high temperature with a special structure. It is loved by people because of its crystal clearness and special refractive properties.

Eden: Its value content is not particularly high. Even if there are expensive diamonds, most of them are given by people themselves.

Eden: And this happens to correspond to Nozomi's own experience... In his past, he has experienced numerous hardships and injuries, and the pain and suspicion along the way have never stopped.

Eden: But he was not defeated by this. Instead, he became more dazzling and more beautiful. His original intention was never shaken, just like a diamond. Therefore, he was treated as a diamond should be - everyone gave him a 'high price' that belonged to him alone.

Eden: Of course, in addition to this, [Diamond] also has another sarcastic meaning in it.

Raiden Mei: Hmm?

Eden: At that time, we were pursuing our own dreams, so we didn't make our relationship clear to the world, but long before that, our relationship had exceeded everyone's expectations, so we occasionally did some... um... actions that seemed overly intimate in the eyes of others.

Eden: That's why people often want to bring us together. Every time they see our intimate actions, they hope that we can confess our love to each other, and... maybe it's because Nozomi is a man, everyone wants him to take the initiative.

Raiden Mei: ...So?

Eden: That's why they always complain. We are so close, but why he is still indifferent? Why doesn't he move forward in our relationship? He is just like a stone... no, harder than stone, just like a diamond.

Raiden Mei: ...Pfft, okay, I see, this is indeed a very interesting thing.

————[Event·About Each Other·Part 1]————

Raiden Mei: Hmm... there's something that I'm quite concerned about.

Eden: Please speak, my friend.

Raiden Mei: The relationship between you and Nozomi... is that you are lovers, right?

Eden: Yes.

Eden: But in a way, our relationship is even closer and more special... Yeah.

Eden: As twin stars shining in the same era, the connection between us is deeper than others imagine. Correspondingly, others... may find it difficult to understand us.

Raiden Mei: ...

(Raiden Mei opened her mouth and wanted to say something, but swallowed it back in the end)

————[Event·About Each Other·Part 2]————

Raiden Mei: There is something I am curious about, which may be a little offensive...

Sakura: It's okay, please go ahead.

Raiden Mei: You and Nozomi... are you lovers?

Sakura: ...Well, yes.

Raiden Mei: ...

Sakura: Ah, I think I understand what you mean... You should have asked Eden, right?

Sakura: In this respect, she and I are the same. We both like him and we both know each other's existence.

Sakura: Well... in terms of time, I should be considered a latecomer.

Raiden Mei: You both know each other... ahem... sorry, it's still hard for me to understand your relationship.

Sakura: It's okay. At the beginning, I didn't expect it would end up like this... Let me borrow her words from the beginning.

Sakura: Just like as much as you can, love as much as you can, that's all.

Sakura: And no matter what, Eden is the one who stays with him until the end, we both know it.

Raiden Mei: ...

Raiden Mei: (Sure enough, it's still a little hard to understand)

————[Event·About Each Other·Part 3]————

Raiden Mei: Can I ask you a question?

Nozomi: Please speak, Miss Mei~

Raiden Mei: You... have two lovers, right?

Nozomi: That's right~ It's Eden and Sakura, you should have seen them.

Nozomi: And judging from your expression... you should have asked them, right?

Raiden Mei: That's right, so... um... to be honest, I don't quite understand the relationship between you three.

Raiden Mei: If I hadn't seen that they had no complaints, I would probably have labeled you in my mind as... um... not so good.

Nozomi: For example, "a two-timing scumbag" or something like that? There's no need to hide this kind of thought, right? After all, someone has said that to me before.

Nozomi: Actually, I don't reject this statement. After all... this is the fact, isn't it?

Nozomi: And... it's better for others to accuse me of being unfaithful than for others to accuse them of having poor vision, right?

Raiden Mei: Sigh... I think I understand...

Raiden Mei: Anyway, I wish you happiness.

Nozomi: Thank you~

————[Event·About Skadi]————

Raiden Mei: This... about Miss Skadi, why do you call her "blood relative"?

Nozomi: [Blood relatives] are [blood relatives], right? Why?

Raiden Mei: But she... should be a Honkai beast, right?

Nozomi: That's right~

Raiden Mei: So why is she your [blood relative]?

Nozomi: Because she is my [blood relative].

Raiden Mei: ...Okay, let me change the question. Why is she here? Logically speaking, Honkai beasts should be conquered, right?

Nozomi: Because she is my [blood relative], she can be here, so I will protect her from being attacked.

Nozomi: Because she is my [blood relative].

Raiden Mei:?

————[Event: About "Blood Relatives"]————

Raiden Mei: Hello, Miss Skadi...

Skadi: ...

Raiden Mei: Can I ask you some questions?

Skadi: ... (looked at her, then nodded, as if not wanting to talk too much)

Raiden Mei: (Why does it feel like I'm seeing Kosma?)

Raiden Mei: Anyway...what do you think of Nozomi? As an Honkai beast with a clear consciousness.

Skadi: He is a blood relative, and blood relatives are important.

Raiden Mei: ...

Mei Raiden: What do Eden and Sakura mean to you...

Skadi: A partner of [Blood Relative].

Raiden Mei: The others...

Skadi: Someone who is unimportant, dangerous, and may harm [blood relatives].

Raiden Mei: ... (Why do you keep talking about "blood relationship"?)

Raiden Mei: I heard that Nozomi is the Herrscher.

Mei Raiden: So... you are considered his [Companion Honkai Beast], right?

Skadi: No, he is a [blood relative].

Raiden Mei: ???

(TL: I feel bad for Mei hahaha)