MGSFV?! Chapter 532: Kevin Envying Otto?; The True Weight of a B-Rank Valkyrie
[Back to serious talk—about that question, the key isn't what the answer is, but how everyone interprets it. Like, what does Kevin think about it?]
[So basically... when someone answers it, they're expressing what they currently believe in?]
[Yeah, that's what it feels like. Like how people interpret fables—some see them as metaphors, some as just stories. Neither can be said to be strictly wrong.]
[The process of discussion itself holds value. That's the beauty of thought.jpg]
[...] *N
Maybe because the stream chat suddenly got too serious—
Even the number of comments visibly dropped.
So...
[Why did everyone go quiet?]
Someone asked.
[We just didn't expect you all to suddenly become so deep! We're honestly at a loss now () Normally you're all so chaotic, and now you're dropping insight like pros.]
[Yeah, I thought you'd just throw in jokes like: "Even though Raven lost her island, she still has her SP."]
[First of all—does Raven even have an SP? Maybe you should reconsider? Second, you guys clearly get it... From now on, you take over the memes, I'm turning a new leaf and becoming serious.]
[Eww~~~ (big fake-out)]
...
Although the stream inevitably derailed again later, the earlier discussion wasn't meaningless.
At the very least, Raven was indeed taking this chance to share her current thoughts with Kevin.
"Indeed, birds fly not because of some deeper reason... but simply because they were born to do so."
"But what we should leave to future generations isn't just the bare, naked truth..."
"...but the dream that explains that truth. Right?"
[Huh?]
[Huh what? Raven's words were really good.]
[...Didn't you all notice how what Raven said echoes something Mei once said to Gray Serpent in a previous update?]
[Huh? What did Mei say?]
With that comment, some viewers perked up.
["Foolish Old Man Moves the Mountain."]
Just that phrase was enough of a hint for most to understand.
["I believe. My children will believe. Their children will believe. If we can't finish the task in this generation, the next one will. Or the one after. Even if we move it like the Foolish Old Man did—slowly—the day our dream is realized will still come."]
[Reminds me of another story.]
[Now that you say it, Raven and Mei's lines really are strikingly similar. Besties, truly soul-bonded.]
[I think Raven was influenced by Mei.]
...
Even though Raven spoke well, Kevin... of course didn't deny her like Gray Serpent did. On the contrary, he acknowledged her.
"I hope so, too."
But somehow, his affirmation felt even more unsettling than Gray Serpent's denial.
"I said this to you back then, didn't I?"
Regarding the question of flying, the man before her had already pondered it for thousands of years.
He clearly and seriously accepted that belief—but all he said was, "I hope so."
"You can take them anywhere. No one will stop you now."
He was willing to give everyone a chance. It's just... he didn't seem to believe anyone could truly achieve anything.
No, maybe it wasn't that he didn't believe—just that, compared to words, only irrefutable proof could convince him now.
Like... showing up before him and proving you could transcend Finality.
Because...
Only then would he be sure that they truly had the power to change everything. Only that would be safe.
Anything else, he wouldn't budge on.
He would never accept any plan with even a 0.1% chance of failure. Not even 99.9% would cut it.
But to say Kevin has no impulses at all... that he never considered "just taking the gamble"...
Actually, the Kevin of the Elysian Realm already answered that.
Of course Kevin has impulses. But acting on them would require him to not carry such burdens.
He can't. It's not that he doesn't want to—it's that he simply can't.
"Kevin must be jealous of Otto."
"Hmm?"
"Otto could throw everything away just for a 1% chance. But Kevin... he can't. Even if he wants to—so badly—even if the success rate isn't that low anymore. He still can't."
"...That's what makes someone a hero, right? What a hero has to do is always complicated. They can't just go all-in recklessly like a villain."
"..."
...
And this complex hero now seemed to have other thoughts.
With a faraway look in his eyes, he started walking—as if preparing to leave for a bit.
Only then did the former World Serpent officer finally understand why her sovereign chose to remain seated here.
Why he chose to—distance himself from all inhabited planets.
"This is...?!"
Natasha Cioara suddenly gasped.
Because what she saw now...
The shadow cast by the man seemed almost tangible, writhing with anomalies that exceeded her capacity for understanding.
And for humans, to see but not comprehend—is the ultimate form of fear.
Was this "Finality"? This is "Finality"?
Even if it takes form before people through some means, it still cannot be grasped.
And so—people don't "understand" Finality.
They feel it.
"...Huff~ Haa~~"
Like Miss Natasha now—suddenly gasping for breath as if crushed under an immense pressure.
[Did Raven just lose SAN from fear?]
[You can't even look at Finality?!]
[Why didn't they put a CG here? I wanted to feel that (I'm fearless.jpg)]
[Please no—I have zero interest in seeing indescribable horrors.]
[If you really want to experience that, go apply to be a test subject in Mobius' lab. One dose of her special serum and you'll see the unseeable.]
"Raven, when we talk about flying, it's easy to forget one thing—"
Kevin didn't care about Raven's current condition. In his eyes, her tension was completely normal.
Before leaving, he just said what he wanted to say.
"Icarus once flew high into the sky."
"At that time, all he had to do was stretch out his hand—and he could touch the sun."
[Then his wings melted.]
[Icarus flew too close to the sun with wax wings, they melted, and he fell to his death.]
[A well-known story... reminds me of a paper my Western Philosophy professor once gave us—why did Icarus become such a major symbol in Western civilization?]
Some players were deeply impressed by "Icarus" for academic reasons.
[So... what was the answer?]
[Because, even though there are countless interpretations of "Daedalus and Icarus" in literature—each new reading gives the tragedy new brilliance.]
[Didn't someone say it earlier? Thinking itself is fascinating. And seeing how others think differently about the same thing—that's equally fascinating.]
[Ah, I get it. It's like... cultural resonance?]
[...Let's go with that.]
...
As players discussed "Icarus"—
In-game—
Kevin had parted ways with Raven. He walked into the depths of the Stigma Plan, where countless dreams floated through a void.
Why did he come here?
Was it to see the world again?
Or perhaps...
loading~~
The screen shifted.
[Cut again... whatever.]
[It's over. I'm numb now (pain)]
But...
Despite that, the voice that followed immediately snapped them to attention.
"Apologies. But I must refuse—again."
That was Rita's voice.
Players: !
Who would dare refuse that Herrscher?
"No need to worry. Come, try it if you wish."
That was Li Sushang's voice.
Rita and Li Sushang? What are those two doing together?
"They say—when in Rome, do as the Romans do. We're almost there anyway."
"Indeed... Lady Sushang is flying..."
A third voice—weak—chimed in.
Susannah?
What's going on?
Sharp-eared players instantly recognized Susannah's voice—and were curious about her condition.
Flying?
"Ughh... that was... intense..."
Players: ...?
"Is Susannah... airsick?"
Elysia paused her hand briefly and looked toward someone beside her.
"Technically speaking, this is what you'd call 'sword-sickness,'" Hokuto explained with mock-seriousness.
"Sword-sickness?" Elysia blinked.
"She clearly got carried by Li Sushang's flying sword, didn't she?"
Hokuto said, gesturing at the screen, prompting Elysia to continue advancing the plot—until she heard—
AaaaAAAAAH—!!
Susannah's scream.
Then Hokuto calmly added, "See? She's really out of it."
[B-rank Valkyries are just too fragile.]
[Don't underestimate B-ranks—some of them became Herrschers later.]
[Thanks to Honkai's three-tier system, a B-rank Valkyrie in Schicksal can range from "goddess-slayer" to "logistics assistant." Truly fantasy ranking.]
Elysia: "..."
"Motion sickness is no joke. 'Mr. Otto,' could you try taking it more seriously? Susannah looks like she's about to hurl..."
"This..."
Hokuto's expression—unknown. His tone, slightly changed. Just when everyone thought he might backtrack...
He instead said with a trollish smile:
"Just don't puke on my phone."
Elysia: "..."
She really...
"'Mr. Otto,' I'd like to remind you that we are, after all, hosting a formal, serious, and tightly run official stream... maybe dial down the weirdness?"
"...Hmm?"
Hearing that, Hokuto let out a thoughtful hum, glancing sideways at Elysia.
Formal? Serious? Tightly run?
Wait...
Weren't they already in tacit agreement that the official stream format was basically "stand-up comedy"?
But after a moment's thought, he didn't say anything.
Maybe...
Maybe Elysia's line was also part of the "comedy."
He nodded thoughtfully.
"Got it. I understand. I understand."
...
Back in the story.
"Alright, Susannah, we're here!"
Li Sushang stood proudly, hands on hips, smiling bright.
Susannah: "Uuugh..."
In total contrast to her, Susannah looked about ready to collapse.
"Huh...? Susannah?!"
Li Sushang finally noticed, panicking a little.
"Cough, Lady Sushang—why don't you leave her to me."
Rita cleared her throat quickly. She couldn't let Sushang keep manhandling Susannah, or the girl might not survive.
Thus...
Under Rita's care, Susannah was escorted back to the nearby landing zone—just below the floating Schicksal transport ship Eos.
Eos—the same ship Rita once piloted to crash into the God City Pharma building back in Skydome City.
She'd repaired it?
Or perhaps Schicksal built a new one and just passed the name down.
Like the classic Lexington.
In another game, this would be the kind of ship you could pull in the gacha.
With Susannah now resting after her "sword-sickness"...
Rita and Li Sushang were ready to get to work. Ever since Durandal and Theresa began anchoring the world, recovering lost lands had become meaningful again. Valkyries had been deployed for reclamation efforts ever since.
Li Sushang, Rita, and Susannah formed the Schicksal squad responsible for this area.
As for the area itself...
Beautiful mountains and rivers. Birds chirping. Traditional houses dotting the landscape.
Wait—wasn't this...
Exactly like the current background of the official livestream?
Only then did everyone realize that Li Sushang and the others had arrived at Mt. Taixu?
[Oh? So the first stream background did connect to the main story?]
[So what are they doing in Taixu Mountain?]
[Reclaiming lost ground, didn't the story just say that?]
[There are plenty of places that need reclaiming. Why start with Taixu?]
[Good question. Why indeed? (Great Herrscher of Sentience doesn't know.jpg)]
Hokuto: ...
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