Chapter 55:Elysian Realm~

[Event: A glimpse of the ocean (select Sakura)]

"Want to go see Nozomi? Sure, I'll take you there."

Hearing Raiden Mei's request, Sakura nodded in understanding.

"But please wait for me for a moment before you leave..."

Sakura left for a short while, and when she came back, she had a small sakura-colored bag in her hand, which contained a lot of wrapped candies.

"This is?"

"Ah, since we haven't seen each other for a while, I wanted to prepare some gifts... Don't mind, this is just a way for Nozomi and me to communicate."

"It seems that you have a good relationship with him."

"Well... in a way, that's true."

Sakura smiled and nodded.

"Hi~, look what I found~."

Elysia's brisk voice came from the side.

"Did Sakura prepare candy again? You're going to see Nozomi, right~"

"Well, Miss Mei wanted me to take her to see Nozomi... and it just so happens that we haven't seen each other for a while."

"Oh~ So that's what it is~ I was just about to tell Mei~"

Elysia stepped forward slightly and stood shoulder to shoulder with Sakura.

"Would you mind taking me with you? I want to go play over there on this rainy day~"

"Of course you can... I'm sure he will be very happy too."

Sakura just smiled and nodded, not caring.

'…I always feel like I can't get a word in' Raiden Mei thought so as she watched the two people gradually walking forward.

Under the guidance of Sakura and Elysia, Raiden Mei came to a place deeper than the "Deepest Place." The surroundings were filled with darkness, and a slightly damp breath rushed into their nostrils, as if the three of them had come to a flooded cave.

"...Um?"

Raiden Mei frowned because she found that when Sakura and Elysia in front of her were talking, inexplicable bubbles would float out of their mouths... as if they were already in the water, and she herself had the same situation.

More importantly, she just felt a strong sense of crisis, a terrifying feeling as if she was being stared at by a predator, as if something was going to eat her physically... but this strange feeling only lasted for a moment, as if it was just her illusion.

But that strange and terrifying feeling still made Raiden Mei alert, and her hand unconsciously fell on the hilt of the knife.

But at this time, Elysia greeted the front cheerfully.

"Nozomi~ Are we here to play~?"

"...Elysia, you shouldn't have come with others."

"Hehe~ This time I just came here with Sakura~ and Mei also asked Sakura to bring her here~"

"...sigh."

Like a helpless sigh, the deep darkness before their eyes was gradually illuminated by a faint blue light, and everything around seemed to be covered with a layer of filter unique to the "ocean," with a unique beauty.

Following the sound, you can see a man in a dark "hunter's suit." A dark, slender, and strange sword is wrapped in blue water, floating quietly beside him, which makes people feel surprised. His white hair is like waves, his pupils are golden like stars, and his handsome face makes people like him at first glance.

But compared to Raiden Mei, who was paying attention to him, his gaze remained on Sakura. The corners of his mouth raised slightly, and he spoke softly in a calm tone.

"It's been a while, Sakura."

"Well...it's a gift."

Sakura also smiled and nodded, walked forward, and put the prepared candy bag in his hand. Nozomi gladly accepted it and directly took out a pink candy in the shape of a cherry blossom and put it into his mouth.

"Thanks."

"As long as you like it."

"Okay, okay~ I know you two have great chemistry~ But this time there are more important things~"

Elysia stepped forward in time to interrupt the two people who were about to immerse themselves in their own world, and reminded them with a smile.

"Well, Nozomi, this is Miss Mei, who is considered our [successor]..."

"I know... the rain told me something about her."

Nozomi nodded, indicating that there was no need to introduce Raiden Mei to him, and then shifted his gaze to Elysia.

"Elysia, I don't think she should come to me... nor should she accept my [Signet], even if she is a [Herrscher]."

"Please, just for Sakura and me, give her a chance, okay?"

"…Whatever."

"I know that Nozomi likes me the most~"

Elysia walked up briskly and rubbed Nozomi's cheek affectionately. Then, as if she remembered something, she quickly spoke to Sakura, who was standing beside her.

"Ah, Sakura, don't be jealous~ After all, you are the most important one here~?"

"Elysia...you don't have to explain so much."

Sakura looked helpless, but in the end, she didn't say anything, as if she agreed with Elysia's statement... even the pair of animal ears on her head trembled slightly as if she was somewhat happy.

"......"

Raiden Mei was speechless... 'Is this some kind of love triangle comedy?'

"Okay, Elysia, let's get this sorted out first."

Nozomi put his hand on Elysia's forehead and pushed her away, then took a few steps forward and came in front of Raiden Mei.

"Since you want to accept my [Signet], then you must also accept some [Test]... Of course, it's not difficult."

"I'd like to hear more about it."

Raiden Mei also temporarily suppressed her random thoughts about the two women and one man in front of her and focused on the [Flame Chaser] in front of her.

"Just need to withstand one blow."

As Nozomi said this, the azure water flowed quietly, placing the strange dark sword in his hand.

"As long as you can withstand one blow and not die, you have passed the test."

"…Is that all?"

"Ha...do you think it's easy?"

"No, I don't think so, but... never mind."

Raiden Mei shook her head... She had thought that the so-called [assessment] would be a battle or something else, but she didn't expect it to be so "simple."

"Let me know when you're ready."

"Well, I can already...?"

The next moment after Raiden Mei finished speaking, Nozomi's figure had already appeared in front of her, with a strange dark sword held high, and azure water gathered behind him like waves, and then... he swung it down heavily at her.

There was no time to dodge! - Raiden Mei made a split-second judgment and drew her sword to block.

But the force from the blade that followed made her feel terrified… It was too heavy, and she couldn't block it at all.

And in the next moment, her body was submerged by the azure water. She was unable to use her own abilities and lost consciousness in an instant.

......

.........

"Hey Mei, are you awake? Did you dream about me?"

When Raiden Mei woke up again, the first words she heard were Elysia's concern.

"I am…"

Raiden Mei got up in a daze and shook her head. When she regained consciousness, she found that she had been resting her head on Elysia's thighs. It seemed that Elysia had been taking care of her since she fainted.

Also, her body was completely soaked in water, and it seemed that she had not been unconscious for long.

"First of all, congratulations on passing Nozomi's [Test]~ This is very rare~"

Elysia said with a smile, and then gently pulled Raiden Mei's body, pulling her to her side, and whispered to her.

"But please don't be too anxious to collect your reward now~ After all... it's rare for them to be together for a while~?"

As she spoke, Elysia secretly gestured with her hand.

Following Elysia's instructions, you can see that on the other side, Sakura is curled up in Nozomi's arms, breathing steadily, as if she has fallen asleep. The slender ears on her head are gently resting on the back of Nozomi's neck, and she rubs it affectionately from time to time to express her love for him.

"...So this is the kind of relationship they have?"

Mei Raiden asked with some curiosity.

"Hmm? What do you mean?"

"... a lover?"

"Hmm... I'm afraid that's not the case~"

"No?"

Now Mei Raiden became even more curious.

"The relationship between Nozomi and Sakura...how should I put it? It's a bit complicated..."

"… Could it be related to you, Elysia?"

"Eh? Mei, how did you know that? But let me make it clear in advance that this isn't a love triangle or anything like that. No, no, I wouldn't do anything as bad as that. And don't even think about doing something rude, or I'll get angry."

"…What is then?"

"Well... it's complicated anyway, let them tell you themselves~ Maybe you can ask Sakura? I think she should be happy to tell you~"

After saying that, Elysia gestured slightly, turned her head, and found that Sakura had woken up at some point and was walking toward her, holding hands with Nozomi. There was still a hint of red on Sakura's face, as if she was a little shy.

"Ahem... Sorry for making you see some strange images."

Sakura coughed lightly and said a little embarrassedly.

"It's okay, I just didn't expect...you two are actually...lovers?"

Raiden Mei said tentatively.

"Ah... No, we are not really lovers..."

"Um, what's the problem?"

The two responded almost at the same time, but their answers were completely opposite.

"... that... Nozomi?"

The slender ears on Sakura's head trembled suddenly, and she looked at him beside her with a somewhat stiff face.

"Is there a problem? Is the relationship of lovers... strange?"

But Nozomi seemed not to have noticed. The expression on his face was as calm as ever, and there was a hint of doubt in his eyes as he looked at Raiden Mei.

"...No, nothing."

Raiden Mei looked at Nozomi, who had a calm face, then at Sakura, who had become a little stiff because of shyness, then at Elysia, who looked surprised and then became extremely happy, and finally shook her head with a puzzled look on her face, indicating that there was no problem.

'...The relationship between these three people is really weird, I really don't understand it' Raiden Mei thought so.

[After the event is over, the "Revelation" mark will be opened]