Chapter 43: You Sneaky Bastard!

This week we have a chapter everyday.

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Su slowly woke up from his meditation.

The palpitations he had been feeling gradually subsided, and he suspected the source of it was Elysia.

Perhaps Elysia was up to some mischief again?

Occasionally, Su would use meditation to evade Elysia's pranks, but most of the time, he would just go along with them.

However, this time, the premonition felt a bit different.

It was as if once he came into contact with Elysia, he would experience his greatest regret of the past fifty thousand years!

But after Su woke up, he noticed Kevin's arrival.

"Don't you feel like joining my civilization game today? I suddenly realized that Peter the Great's ability seems to be something interesting. Maybe you won't even last through the industrial age."

"No, it's not the time for civilization now."

Seeing Kevin's serious expression, Su felt a sense of unease.

Yes, the air around them had become a bit chilly, indicating that Kevin's emotions were greatly fluctuating.

"What's happened?"

Su immediately stood up from under the meditation tree. As long as Kevin spoke, he would do anything!

"Nothing, just came to see if you woke up, and Bronie has made a new game."

"So soon? But I didn't sense her return to the Elysian Realm."

Of course she didn't come back.

Would she dare to come back?

This game has offended almost everyone in the Elysian Realm, and Bronie must know what she's done.

Elysia?

Everyone spoils Elysia, so naturally, they couldn't blame her. Most of the hatred is directed towards Bronie.

Of course, Kevin wouldn't directly tell Su.

"In fact, the game is not big. We've all cleared it. You missed Mobius's livestream and Kalpas's livestream."

"Kalpas livestreamed too?"

Su had a bad feeling.

"It's okay, he cleared it too. Elysia asked me to give you the game. It's quite an interesting one."

Brothers play together.

It's probably that kind of feeling.

Su didn't doubt it. After taking the USB flash drive, he inserted it into the computer and quickly installed the game.

"Anything else?"

There should be more than just this.

According to Su's understanding of Kevin, there should be more than just this, otherwise why would Kevin be in that state when he woke up?

Wait, why does Kevin's mood seem better now?

It's a bit strange.

"Nothing, I just came to see how you're doing with the game."

"Okay, Bronie is really a genius as a game producer. I really don't know what her living environment was like in the past. She can fight and make games."

"Indeed, I find it strange too, especially her talent in music. Although many in Civilization use local folk music, the theme song is made by Bronie herself."

"Perhaps some people are just such geniuses, like Dr. Mei."

"This is Bronie?"

Su saw the game character.

And Kevin also brought a chair made of ice and sat next to Su. "Yes, this is Bronie."

"It seems that many geniuses like to show off themselves, even Bronie is no exception."

"Yeah."

Kevin often stayed silent like this, and Su had long been accustomed to this Kevin.

Rather, today's Kevin spoke a bit more.

It seems that Kevin's mood has improved a bit?

Enter the game, swing the hammer.

Climb up, fall down, listen to mocking tunes, then climb up again and fall down.

Then Su looked at Kevin.

"Everyone cleared the game?"

"You're the only one left."

Not really, Kosma and Griseo haven't cleared it yet.

Aponia who rarely left the Deep End went on to challenge Kalpas in a duel. The rumbling of their fight is still even going until now. If it weren't for Aponia's preemptive measures, Klein and his work, Su would have noticed the commotion.

And after Hua cleared it, she rarely opened the trial module and beat up Honkai Beasts fiercely, then completely erased her memory.

As for Vill-V, she is now improving the magic show she will perform for Bronie, which is said to be even more thrilling and exciting.

Finally, there's Pardofelis, crying and asking herself where she offended Elysia and why she was suddenly tortured.

As for himself, he naturally cleared the game, but during the process, Kevin wanted to ask Hua to delete that part of his memory.

But thinking that he couldn't let himself suffer alone, Elysia said that Su was the only one who hadn't played in the Elysian Realm.

So Kevin brought the game over.

Hearing that everyone had cleared the game, Su took a deep breath.

"Let it be, let everything go with the flow. Even if the jar falls, it's its inevitable fate, and I can climb again."

Su's breathing technique was really good. He didn't get angry at all.

Truly worthy of being the Flame Chaser who executed the solo Project given by Mei.

"Mm."

So Kevin quietly watched him continue playing, wanting to know how many times he would have to fail before truly breaking.

Two hours passed.

Three hours passed.

And then he encountered a snake.

["Don't touch it."]

"This is a shortcut," Kevin said.

"Alright," Su chose to believe.

Then the jar slid down along the snake continuously, reaching the starting point.

Su calmly put down the mouse and turned to look at Kevin, who was sitting on the ice chair.

"You sneaky bastard, you plotted against me!"

Indeed!

His previous bad premonition was absolutely correct!

However, fate had already been determined; he had avoided Elysia's trap but still fell into Kevin's.

How should he put it?

Truly good buddies.

In times of trouble, they were truly together.

No matter how strong one's heart was, in the relaxed atmosphere of the Elysian Realm, it was indeed easier to lose control.

"I'm just thinking, why do birds fly?"

"Mm?"

"This way, I won't have to climb this damn mountain with a big hammer anymore."

It's like going back to the past.

Although within the Elysian Realm, one was always in a relaxed state, many things couldn't go back to the way they were once experienced.

But now it seemed a bit different.

Everyone used to be playful boys.

Chasing after the same stars together.

Playing the same games together.

It's just that the catastrophe called Honkai destroyed it all. After that, life seemed like a tightly wound string, with disaster striking repeatedly, and Kevin's only task was to prevent that string from breaking.

Otherwise, after his spiritual collapse, he wouldn't be able to fight against the Honkai anymore.

And after 'entering' the Elysian Realm, it was as if he had entered a tomb.

Everything had been settled, and everyone had their own way of living. Kevin's only option was to silently guard this land of Elysian Realm.

And then pass on the Signets to the successors.

But Bronie's arrival made everything a bit more vibrant.

Sometimes Kevin felt like he had come back to life.

Even in this meaningless climbing-to-the-peak game, there was a unique joy to be found.

Yes, Su's angry expression was one of Kevin's rare joys.

"So everyone has went to this snake?"

"Only Mobius went to it. At that time, Elysia said not to touch the snake, but Mobius didn't believe her."

"Haha, sometimes happiness comes so easily from others' pain. I understand the core of this game's design now. I have to say, Bronie is truly a genius."

Kevin's face, icy cold, also lifted slightly at the corners of his mouth.

"Unfortunately, you're the last one to play this game, so you can't share the game with others."

Su's face stiffened.

And Kevin's smile grew wider.

"In fact, I can turn it into a trial, and the successors can only inherit my Signet after playing this game. Then I can also set a time limit for the successors to clear the game."

"Alright, you win."

Su admitted defeat.

For a moment, the entire Elysian Realm was filled with a cheerful atmosphere.

...

Raven: What are you doing? Anything happening on Kiana's side?

Siegfried left home, so Bronie stayed with Kiana at home to continue playing games.

Or rather, watching Kiana suffer.

But then Cioara suddenly sent a text message, which shocked Bronie.

Haxxor: What's wrong? Kiana and I are still playing games.

Raven: There's a small-scale Honkai outbreak nearby, with quite a few honkai beasts appearing. It's likely to alarm the World Serpent or Schicksal. Aren't you afraid?

Haxxor: Afraid of what? Seeing Otto? Or afraid Siegfried will be discovered by Otto?

Raven: A bit of both.

Haxxor: You don't need to worry, because even if Otto finds Siegfried, he won't do anything. What Otto needs now is the growth of the Herrscher.

Raven: Well, you better be careful. The World Serpent won't be able to pull you out of Schicksal if you fall into it.

Haxxor: Relax, everything is going according to plan.

A Honkai outbreak happened.

And it's not too far away.

Kiana didn't seem to have any abnormalities on her, but it's hard not to suspect that this is really related to Kiana.

"Kiana?"

"Mm?"

"Do you still feel like the finish line is still far away?"

"Yes, and... this game is so difficult!"

Every time she returned to the starting point, the game would mercilessly mock her.

How could young Kiana not understand the meaning of mockery?

So the more she played, the more she felt wronged.

Then a fair, tender hand covered Kiana's small hand.

"Although the image of solving all problems alone is indeed very handsome, such heroes are ultimately lonely. There won't be any companions by their side. Do you want to be that kind of person?"

"No companions?"

"It's written like this in the Book of God."

Bronie opened the quick drawing software and wrote the word "浜" on it.

"People rely on each other because they know that only by building bonds and working together can they move forward. Human development is never the work of one person."

"So..."

"You can ask your dad for help, or you can ask me. After all, Kiana is so cute. If you act a little spoiled, you'll definitely get a response, right?"

"Will you help me?"

"Beg me~"

"Please~"

Damn, she was too careless!

Kiana probably can't understand the feeling of humiliation when begging others!

But forget it, since Kiana said so, Bronie didn't have much to say.

Continuing to move Kiana's little hand, helping her pass the level.

Actually, during this time of torment playing this game, it wasn't entirely meaningless.

With the proficiency gained from playing, the previous levels would appear easier, and climbing up wouldn't be a problem.

To truly clear the game, Bronie had also conducted tests, right?

And during the time she developed the game alone, Bronie also regained the feeling of playing that game before.

Climbing up bit by bit with Kiana.

And Kiana also tried hard to use her little hand, cooperating with Bronie's actions. As she watched the pot climb higher and higher, reaching scenery she had never seen before, Kiana's eyes also brightened.

No, saying her eyes isn't quite right.

Even now, Kiana still had bandages on her head, covering one eye.

"The later levels are so difficult. Why did Bronie sister make such a difficult game?"

Feeling much more relaxed, Kiana started asking Bronie about the reason for making this game.

"Do you still remember how you felt when you saw your dad playing this game and falling down?"

"Ah..."

At that time, she was laughing.

Why was she laughing?

Because it was interesting.

Why did she find it interesting?

Watching Dad fall down from above just like her, but wanting to go a little further herself.

And then...

Still didn't understand.

"This is human nature, just like light and shadow opposing each other, people's hearts also have dark thoughts, a pleasure built on others' suffering. Although this sounds very bad, letting it be suppressed or letting it run rampant are both bad things. Balancing these two is the key to having a healthy mental state."

"Human nature, so is everyone like this?"

"Yes, just like under all the light, there are shadows, right?"

The little head was still full of doubts.

But Bronie didn't expect Kiana to fully understand. Just having such a memory in her mind, gradually, Kiana would surely understand.

"You don't need to understand it too clearly now. Properly release your negative emotions, then get to know yourself better, and maintain a good mental state, that's all! Smiling isn't about laughing at others' suffering, but because you can do better than them."

"Oh..."

Kiana still does not quite understand.

But knowing oneself better?

Just like now, she and Bronie were climbing up in the game together, about to pass the level.

But it was with Bronie's help.

If it were just her alone, could she still clear the game?

In the future, she should be able to!

But that future felt a bit far away.

"Then Sister Bronie, can I try it myself again?"

"Of course, it seems you still want to rely on your own strength."

"In that case, Dad won't have an excuse not to clear this game anymore!"

Goodness, what a filial child!