Within the Elysian Realm.
"Is it just my imagination? Lately, the Realm feels more and more empty… and quieter too."
Sitting on a swing, the pink elf's wings fluttered gently behind her, allowing her to sway back and forth.
This beautiful girl, radiant as drifting petals, brought happiness to anyone who merely looked at her.
At this moment, Elysia held a photo album in her hands, reminiscing about the beautiful days of the past through each photograph.
The albums were thick—twelve in total—and she had already flipped through every single photo thousands upon thousands of times.
Though those memories were incomparably blissful, if possible, she wished to obtain even more photos of the future.
"Sister Elysia, if you miss Brother Elias, you could secretly go see him. I'm willing to go with you."
"Thank you, Griseo, but that wouldn't do."
Elysia shook her head helplessly at the blue-haired girl before her. She had once gone to St. Freya Academy and secretly taken a distant look at the boy she loved.
She had nearly failed to restrain the impulse to rush to his side. If the other Flame-Chasers hadn't been there at the time, she was certain she would have thrown herself into the white-haired boy's arms.
"When will Elias finally return from the Previous Era? Hua hasn't sent any message yet, so the time probably hasn't come. Waiting like this is torture."
Elysia rolled around on the grass, clutching the photo album, her expression full of restless longing.
"Isn't it possible that Brother Elias has already returned, but Sister Hua wants to get ahead, so she's deliberately withholding the news?" Griseo blinked as she asked.
"Haha~ That's quite a reasonable guess, Griseo. But that's impossible. If it were someone else, I might believe it. But Hua is such an honest person—she would never do something so underhanded. Impossible. Absolutely impossible."
Elysia waved her hand dismissively with a laugh.
After all, she was someone who had failed to secure her position even after twelve full cycles. In some sense, she was even worse than a cat at taking initiative.
If she could suddenly awaken and secretly take the lead, Elysia declared she would eat this entire photo album on the spot.
"By the way, Griseo, you used to call me 'big sister.' Why are you calling me sister now?"
"Because that's the proper way to address you. I'm no longer the child who could only be dyed by others' colors. I'm already more than fifty thousand years old—an adult now."
"Hehe. If Elias were here, he would definitely say that no matter how much time passes, Griseo will always be a child in my eyes—and then he'd give you kisses and hugs and lift you up high."
"U-uh… that would be a little troubling."
The paintbrush in Griseo's hand fell to the ground. She wore an expression that was both expectant and conflicted. Kisses and hugs and being lifted up were fine—but she didn't want to be treated like a child anymore.
Elysia curved her lips and propped her chin on her hand as she gazed at the girl of stars before her. Then she affectionately brushed her cheek against Griseo's.
"All right, I was just joking. If Elias saw you now, he definitely wouldn't treat you like a child anymore. After all, you've grown so much~ Let big sister take a look."
"Ah~ It's so hard to draw Sister Elysia. You keep moving around. And honestly… Brother Elias is easier."
"Guh—am I being rejected…"
Elysia stiffened, then laughed helplessly as she looked at the now-grown Griseo, marveling at how much she had matured.
In every sense…
She subtly compared herself with Griseo and, unexpectedly, felt a faint sense of crisis.
It could only be said that being raised by Mother Aponia had clearly had its effects. Back then, even Hua had questioned her life choices for several days after seeing the results.
"Ahem! Griseo, do you think it's possible that Elias actually prefers the smaller you?"
"If Brother Elias were here, he would definitely say that no matter what version of me I am, he likes me all the same." Griseo confidently puffed out her chest.
"True~ Elias really would say something like that." Elysia nodded in agreement.
"But if Brother Elias truly prefers the younger me, then I can just become smaller again." Griseo smiled.
In this Elysian Realm—home to no fewer than three of humanity's greatest mad scientists—there was nothing that couldn't happen.
Griseo took out a small medicine box marked with Mobius' insignia. Inside were more than a dozen suspicious-looking red-and-white capsules, with the letters APXT printed on them.
"This is a shrinking drug recently developed by Grandma Mobius. Just one pill will turn you into a twelve-year-old child. Isn't it amazing?"
"Waaah~ Mobius invented something this interesting? That's so unfair—why didn't she tell me? Griseo, can I have one?"
"Oh, okay. But don't use it recklessly."
Griseo handed one pill to Elysia. It was actually an accidental byproduct from Mobius' attempt to reverse her own transformation from loli to mature woman. After seeing Griseo's interest, she had simply gifted her a whole box.
After all, Mobius doted on her dearly.
"Thank you~ When we finally get to see Elias again, I'll have him try it. Little Elias was super cute."
Elysia wiped at the corner of her mouth as though savoring a delicacy.
"Um… I'm sorry, Brother Elias. I might have given this medicine to someone who shouldn't have it," Griseo scratched her head. "But come to think of it, the Realm really has been very quiet lately."
"I haven't seen Mother Aponia for quite some time. I wonder where she's gone."
"Me too. I haven't seen Eden around either. I wonder if she's finished her new song. If you see her, Griseo, remember to ask for me. Your ability is actually quite good at tracking people."
"It's only a matter of following the traces of paint someone leaves behind. If too much time passes, the paint dries and becomes indistinguishable."
(Though… there are exceptions.)
Griseo thought as she looked out across the Elysian Realm, feeling something inexplicable.
Even now, this Realm was still stained with patches of pristine, immaculate white.
That was Elias' color.
(It's truly unbelievable. Even though fifty thousand years have passed, Brother Elias' color hasn't changed at all. As expected of someone who bears the Signet of [Eternity].)
"I should head back to the studio now. Thank you for inviting me to play, Sister Elysia. If I see Sister Eden later, I'll let you know. Goodbye."
"Mm~ Bye, Griseo. But don't worry too much about Eden. What's important is that you don't forget to send me a copy of the latest Elias doujinshi later, okay?"
"Uh… okay."
Griseo felt a bit embarrassed.
To ease her longing, Elysia was always commissioning all sorts of Elias-themed doujinshi from her. Over time, the content had grown increasingly… intense.
(When Sister Elysia makes that pitiful expression, it's impossible to refuse. But the recent requests have truly been a bit too… open. I'm actually worried about Brother Elias.)
After waving goodbye to the pink elf, the girl of stars left the Elysian Realm. However, on her way back to her studio—
She spotted a sneaky figure.
"Hm? Kosma? What are you doing here?"
"I've finally been waiting for you, Griseo."
Upon seeing her, Kosma hurried over. He cautiously glanced around once more to ensure no one else was present before revealing an expression as grave as if life and death were at stake.
"What happened, Kosma?"
Seeing his demeanor, Griseo adjusted her paintbrush into weapon mode and scanned the surroundings vigilantly. Surely an enemy hadn't invaded the Realm?
"Griseo, listen carefully. I may not have much time left."
"Eh?"
"Elias can be contacted now. Hua, MEI, and possibly Eden and Aponia have already gone to find him."
"Eh—eh—eh?!" Griseo's eyes widened.
Kosma then gave her a rough account of what had happened at the ramen shop earlier. For the taciturn boy, this was no easy task.
After hearing it all, Griseo was stunned. So this was the true reason the Realm had grown so quiet and empty lately.
"That's everything I know. As for what to do next, I'll leave it to you to decide. Good luck, Griseo. I'm on your side. Go and win Elias over!"
"Uh… o-okay. Thank you…"
"Mm! I'm leaving now… I probably won't be returning to the Realm for a while."
Kosma felt he needed to pack immediately and flee the Elysian Realm overnight.
If MEI discovered he had leaked information—
Death itself wasn't frightening.
The method of death was.
Kosma had no desire to end up like Kevin, force-fed dark cuisine and turned into Mobius' lab rat.
"Goodbye, Kosma. You're a hero."
Watching the chuunibyou boy depart, Griseo thought she absolutely couldn't waste his sacrifice.
Then she seemed to realize something and turned to look back toward the Elysian Realm.
"Emmm… since I'm easily dyed by others' colors and subconsciously imitate their behavior… doing the same as Mother Aponia and the others is only reasonable, right?"
So many people had already secretly taken the lead. If she didn't act, wouldn't she be the odd one out?
After hesitating for a moment, Griseo retrieved several sketchbooks from her studio.
She placed them at the entrance to the Elysian Realm.
"I'll use these as compensation. I'm sorry, Sister Elysia. These are my premium private collections. I used to feel too embarrassed to show them to anyone… but now… Griseo doesn't need them anymore."
Because she was about to meet the real person.
With that, Griseo grabbed her paintbrush and ran toward the exit of the Realm. But suddenly she stopped.
After half a second of hesitation, she slipped off her shoes, revealing her shapely legs wrapped in white stockings.
"Emm… would Brother Elias like this more?"
Recalling the anime works she had encountered over the years, Griseo felt it was worth trying.
As for whether not wearing shoes might result in cuts from stones—her fusion warrior body wasn't that fragile.
...
Meanwhile, at St. Freya Academy.
After Mei returned and revealed the true version of Elias' grand adventure in the Previous Era, everyone—aside from the Flame-Chasers who already knew—was left in tears.
For some reason, though the story was noble and heartbreaking, when watching the girls of the Current Era cry their eyes out from the emotional blow, Eden, Aponia, and Hua couldn't quite suppress the slight upward curl of their lips.
Their expressions were eerily similar to veteran captains watching new captains experience "The Final Lesson" for the first time.
The only one not smiling was Elias.
Rita: "You were far too reckless, Lord Elias."
Seele: "Waaa… how could something like this happen?"
Bronya: "Damn it… we couldn't do anything."
Herrscher of the Void Kiana: "Human, this world is not worthy of such devotion from you!"
Herrscher Mei: "Perhaps it would be better to lock you up forever. Only then would I feel at ease."
Eliana: "All of a sudden, I feel that keeping you with me forever in that false world might have been the better choice."
...
After being stabbed so deeply by the story, everyone showed signs of yandere tendencies.
The remaining dates for the day were immediately canceled. The girls announced they would convene to discuss a "Elias Protection Plan."
Elias silently prayed that it wouldn't involve a dark room and chains. With rare free time on his hands, he felt a premonition that such leisure wouldn't last long.
"I'll just wander around. Maybe I'll run into someone else," Elias muttered to himself.
Since MEI had been cooking today, it was certain that more than just Kevin and the others had fled the Realm in terror.
Though wandering aimlessly without a goal made the probability of encountering someone exceedingly small—
Elias believed in the bond between himself and the Flame-Chasers.
So he closed his eyes and walked casually down a street, guided only by his heart.
In his mind, he pictured that pink silhouette.
And as if by miracle—or perhaps by fate—after walking for some time, Elias sensed a familiar presence.
Opening his eyes, he realized he had unknowingly stopped beneath a cherry blossom tree.
A gentle breeze blew, scattering pink petals through the air.
Beneath that sakura tree stood a girl with pink hair, her figure breathtakingly beautiful.