LIGHTNOVELWORLD Chapter 66: A Magic Show
In the Golden Courtyard main hall,
The revelation shocked many of the Flame-Chasers present. After all... it was Aponia's prophecy, and her prophecies rarely failed to come true.
"A death in ten days? Aponia, did you frighten Mei again this time?"
Elysia widened her eyes slightly, tugging insistently at Aponia's sleeve.
"...But I am not good at deceiving others. What I saw must have been real."
Aponia's soft voice held a hint of yearning.
More than anyone else, she hoped someone could shatter the future she had foreseen.
More than anyone else, she wished to believe it wasn't the future, but merely a curse.
"Haha—there she goes again! Hahaha!"
Kalpas laughed brazenly.
"Come on... let me see what that woman's end will be like."
"...Sigh,"
Aponia lowered her gaze, unmoved by Kalpas's hostility. "Kalpas, I can no longer see the threads of fate, nor the conclusion."
"Heh—so what?"
Kalpas sneered coldly.
"Hey, Aponia, do you really think the version of you shown in the game... is real? That prophecy—"
Mobius furrowed her brows as she scrutinized the scene, skeptical about the nature of the crisis unfolding in the Elysian Realm.
Just from what she knew, relying on the Herrscher of Thunder alone?
From her perspective, if Klein hadn't intervened last time, the Herrscher could have been handled single-handedly.
"But it is indeed the vision I saw... Ten days from now, the Elysian Realm will collapse. Though there may be other causes..."
"Just like when Mr. Luo Mo arrived last time, what I saw was also the collapse of the Elysian Realm."
Aponia's eyelids trembled slightly as she clasped her hands and murmured softly.
Just as she had seen before, the Elysian Realm reduced to nothingness after she left. However, she had also glimpsed Elysia walking away from the ruins. That was why she had never spoken of it.
"...Hmm. Are you saying that while the Elysian Realm's destruction might be real, it may not necessarily have anything to do with Mei?"
Elysia fell silent for a moment, her brows furrowed in thought before she gave an answer.
She genuinely couldn't understand it. Still... she had personally experienced the Elysian Realm's disappearance after Luo Mo arrived. Clearly, it was because they had left of their own accord.
"Sigh... In any case, Elysia, that was a scene from the game. In reality, I didn't see such visions and can't give you a definitive answer."
The voluptuous nun sighed, looking helplessly at Elysia.
"But Mei still has so many important scenes later. It should be fine—she'll get through it safely. Yes, very impressive."
Elysia beamed, her eyes sparkling as she clapped her hands.
"A death in ten days... In other words, the Elysian Realm is destined to face such a calamity."
Su, with his eyes closed, spoke calmly as he sipped tea, the light fragrance soothing his nerves.
The tea reminded him of those from ancient Shenzhou ruins—light and subtle. Su could discern it effortlessly.
"...Su, I can see that you're worried," Kevin said, glancing at him.
Recently, Kevin felt that his old friend had grown increasingly lax. Though there was little pressing business, Su spent his days relaxing, savoring tea and watching shadows, fully embracing a life of serenity.
"Haha, Boss Kevin, you're so funny... But yeah, Su does seem quite anxious!"
Pardofelis chuckled, surprised by Kevin's remark but quickly agreeing after glancing at Su's faintly trembling eyelids.
Su was becoming more focused on maintaining his health—at this rate, he'd likely join her in sunbathing soon.
---
Theresa paused mid-action, carefully analyzing the words of the female voice she heard...
What? Mei, killed by one of the Flame-Chasers in the Elysian Realm? And the other party openly told her about it? How bizarre!
"Why does Aponia have to personally kill Mei?"
She turned toward Luo Mo, her expression filled with doubt.
To Theresa, the game couldn't just be dismissed as a mere game. She remained wary, though she was relieved to have learned about the danger early, giving her a chance to avert it.
But this time... she truly didn't understand why Mei had to die.
"Keep watching. It's fine; Mei is the protagonist—she'll be okay," Luo Mo reassured her.
Before Theresa could relax, Bronie interjected in a sarcastic tone,
"Ah, yes, just like how Himeko was 'okay,' right?"
Her expression darkened, clearly recalling unpleasant memories—probably due to the recent gloomy weather.
(TL: Cough! Cough!... that hit me hard)
Luo Mo ignored her gloomy tone. Late at night, he was still using the game to moisten her eyes. Shouldn't she thank him instead?
"Anyway, things won't repeat like that here. How could you think otherwise of me?"
"Ah, you're right. But... sweet pepper curry is a bit spicy," Bronie muttered, her tone nonchalant as Theresa's expression turned suspicious.
Bronie... she had a record, didn't she?
"..."
"Ah, right. But that's the most selfish thing one can do," Theresa murmured, her confusion growing.
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Aponia didn't interfere further with Mei's choices, instead sending her back to the hall.
Still, the thought of "death in ten days" lingered in Mei's mind.
The deep End remained elusive and unexplored.
At that moment, Pardofelis bounded over excitedly, holding a beautifully designed invitation. Her face lit with joy as she read the words:
"The greatest magic performance of the century, held at the Deep End, Vill-V."
The exquisite and vintage card stunned Mei. She hadn't expected the last Flame-Chaser to appear before her in this manner.
A magician, huh?
According to Pardofelis, the recent commotion in the Elysian Realm was likely tied to this magician's actions. After all, the woman's movements were always grand—just moments ago, Pardofelis had seen flying serpents in the sky!
Under Pardofelis's enthusiastic persuasion, Mei agreed to attend the show... though paying Pardofelis her guide fee may have been the deciding factor. Pardofelis thoughtfully issued her an IOU.
This journey in the Elysian Realm was already shaping up to be quite different from Mei's previous experiences.
Gone were the monotonous battles against Honkai Beasts and mechanical soldiers. Now, there were delightful Easter eggs like a giant yellow Houmu and entertaining mini-games like identifying magic hats.
From an outsider's perspective, these interactions weren't unappealing at all.
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Meanwhile, on Kiana's side,
"Hey, you have to admit! Vill-V's designs are pretty creative," Kiana remarked.
Tap, tap.
The Herrscher of sentience excitedly controlled the little Homu in the game, lighting up bouquets hidden in the darkness while dodging various attacks. Occasionally, when tired of defeating enemies, playing mini-games was surprisingly entertaining. The only disappointment was not witnessing the scene Pardo had described—Mei floating through the sky like a serpent.
How exactly did Mobius manage to fly? This was the one mystery lingering in her mind.
"Hey! Look to the left! You're choosing the wrong one again. What are you even doing?" Kiana complained, pointing animatedly at the Herrscher's screen.
"Homu… why do you have to attack Homu..." Bronya muttered, a dazed look in her eyes. She was still recovering from the earlier fight against the Homu King. But when she saw the little Homu darting and dodging on-screen, her expression brightened again.
Homu, she believed, was meant to be the Valkyries' companion, not a target for battle. She couldn't bear to harm it herself.
"Oh? There's an escape magic trick now? Wait, is this still magic? Why is the damage so high?"
The Herrscher of sentience grumbled in frustration as she frantically tried to maneuver her character. Without hesitation, she had chosen the highest difficulty, resulting in the screen filling with boomerang-like objects flying everywhere. She had to weave through them carefully, barely surviving in the gaps. One hit alone took away a third of her health.
This forced her to focus intently on the mechanics of Vill-V's in-game magic tricks.
Meanwhile, a voice from the corner reached her screen, where Pardo was muttering,
"Compared to before… Vill-V's magic seems much tamer now."
"..."
The Herrscher of sentience brushed her hair back behind her ears, muttering in a tone of reluctant agreement,
"That's true… normally, Vill-V's magic is far more over-the-top. But it's just a game; no need to replicate everything exactly."
"Well… although it's expected that the Flame-Chasers wouldn't be ordinary, I didn't think Vill-V would be this unpredictable. Does she really keep calling herself the greatest magician of the century?" Mei squinted in mild surprise.
"Vill-V is always like this. If anything, she's much more restrained now! Maybe it's the influence of her main personality? Or perhaps some agreement among the Flame-Chasers?" The Herrscher of sentience responded casually, her hands continuing to skillfully play the game.
Even among the Flame-Chasers, Vill-V was considered an exceptionally unusual individual.
"Um… excuse me, may I ask something?" Seele's soft, timid voice broke the conversation.
"Hm?"
"Well… every time Vill-V introduces a gadget or device… why does she always reference Kevin's combat model? What does that even mean?" Seele's voice grew softer and softer, her cheeks flushing slightly as she spoke. If not for the group's heightened senses, her murmurs might've gone unnoticed.
"Ah, well…" Fu Hua explained gently, "It's probably Vill-V's obsession? She wants to prove she can create anything, but the reality is… she's yet to create anything capable of defeating Kevin."
Fu Hua's explanation aligned with what the group had observed. Nearly all of Vill-V's inventions seemed aimed at challenging Kevin, something Kevin himself had admitted caused him more than a few headaches.
---
Elysia raised an eyebrow, surprised.
She hadn't expected them to incorporate some of Vill-V's magic into the game—and to make it so authentic? Even the recurring references to "Kevin Combat Model X" during her inventions were both amusing and absurd.
"Seriously? Vill-V, do you really call the Homu King and those escape room puzzles weapons against Kevin?" Mobius's voice sharpened with incredulity.
From a certain perspective, Kevin was the pinnacle creation of the MANTIS project—her project. Vill-V's constant attempts to "defeat Kevin" were both amusing and baffling.
"Hmph, you never know! Maybe Kevin has a secret weakness for one of these things. Besides, do you have a surefire way to beat him?" Vill-V retorted, hands on her hips, glaring back at Mobius.
Kevin… perhaps only he could defeat himself—assuming no one resorted to breaking the rules.
Vill-V's thoughts flickered momentarily. Cheating? Of course, she'd manipulate the Sea of Quanta! Compared to defeating Kevin, this was far simpler.
"Hah—if you erase the Sea of Quantum, maybe you'd achieve your goal," Mobius replied flatly.
"Ah… so you agree with me after all," Vill-V sighed dramatically, patting Mobius on the shoulder as if they were kindred spirits.
Kevin, observing the scene with arms crossed, began to wonder.
What's wrong with these two? Why are they so obsessed with defeating me?
Do they really think defeating the leader is some sort of ultimate goal?
"Come on, don't keep picking on Kevin," Elysia chimed in, trying to mediate, though a hint of exasperation lingered in her tone.
"…No, she's targeting Kevin. I'm targeting you," Mobius muttered under her breath, the memory of the pink dress incident flashing vividly in her mind. Worse yet, the shared image of her and Klein both wearing matching pink dresses haunted her still.
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Surviving the escape magic, card tricks, and the deadly "Queen" battles, Mei finally confronted the mastermind behind everything—Vill-V.
"Oh my, how thrilling… simply splendid!"
"Welcome, dear guest from afar! Did you enjoy this grand magic show?"
With a faint smile, Vill-V tipped her hat and bowed slightly in respect. Her silvery-gray hair was styled into two clever twists that fell neatly to either side, complementing her black-and-gray ensemble. The bright white patch on her chest immediately drew attention, its bold presence rivaling anyone else's. Around her floated several cog-like mechanical devices glowing with mysterious purple light.
What stood out most, however, were her eyes, radiant, confident, and almost bursting with life. She stared curiously at the Herrscher before her, intrigued by the peculiar energy emanating from within the Elysian Realm.
Pardo had already rushed forward, quietly murmuring about seals. She had been paid, after all! It was her duty to ensure the client's satisfaction.
"Mm-hmm, quite the spectacle. So, is it over now?"
Unfazed, Mei stared blankly at the grand magician before her. The theatrics were… well, impressive, but she was far more concerned about the potential dangers.
"Haha! There's still one final act… But, Pardo, there's no need to get so close. I'm not carrying anything valuable right now."
Vill-V glanced down at Pardo, who wore an awkward expression while scratching her head apologetically. Mei sighed; Pardo's greed was no secret to anyone.
Vill-V, too, seemed puzzled by the anomalies in the Elysian Realm, dodging direct answers with vague responses. Mei's sharp gaze scanned her. No, this wasn't the person she was looking for.
Mei shifted her attention elsewhere, already planning to leave. The magician in front of her seemed anything but reliable.
Yet, Vill-V clung to her stubbornly, insisting on joining them to investigate the abnormalities. As a gesture of goodwill—or perhaps compensation—she generously offered Mei her signet.
"With reality creating illusions and contradictions reversing their meanings, behold the cheers of meshing gears and the spirals of inverted logic!"
Her bright eyes sparkled with confidence.
As long as she believed, then she could.
Thus, Mei acquired another signets. Only one final piece remained—Aponia's signet. Among all the trials, hers was among the rarest and most challenging.
Signet of Helix—obtained.
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Looking at Mei's success, Elysia couldn't help but remark,
"How rare… That makes twelve seals, doesn't it? Among all the challengers, this is quite an achievement."
Her smile radiated pride, as though she were personally responsible for Mei's success. It was as if she were saying, I knew Mei was special, so many Flame-Chasers are fond of her!
"...Indeed. Regardless of the difficulty, the Flame-Chasers must take an interest in someone before giving their signets," Mobius noted, her eyes glinting with contemplation.
"But having a Flame-Chasers take interest in you is incredibly dangerous."
Mobius mused over the signet Mei had collected, Aponia's premonition, Elysia's eager generosity, and even Griseo's cooperation. Herself? Well, she had been thoroughly defeated by Mei—proof enough of her recognition.
Mobius cast a silent glance at Elysia. How infuriating.
Elysia merely grinned.
"Mei's journey is becoming more and more fascinating. Breaking Aponia's prophecy won't be an easy feat," Elysia commented as she gave Aponia a gentle hug. Her pale pink jacket and off-white blouse contrasted perfectly with Aponia's serene stillness.
Smiling faintly, Aponia replied, "Indeed. Let us wait and see how Mei performs."
Vill-V chuckled lightly. Reaching into her coat, she pulled out a card and held it up, blocking her face as she whispered,
"I wonder… What will I witness when that moment comes?"
Her storyline might seem disconnected, but after her performance of disruptive magic, her role had been relegated to comedic relief. Yet, Vill-V refused to remain anyone's side character—not even Aponia's.
She smirked, her eyes gleaming with determination. Whatever happened next, she would deliver a grand magical show.
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Compared to the other signets, the signet of Helix wasn't an easy one to accept.
The moment it was imprinted, Mei's consciousness blacked out, plunging her into the depths of an unfamiliar place.
"I saw the storm coming a day before you."
"Fate sweeps us into its currents. The more we struggle… the deeper we sink."
A voice murmured in the darkness before a gentle force pushed Mei out of that void.
It seemed this time, her arrival hadn't been entirely of her own volition.