LIGHTNOVELWORLD Chapter 85: Will You Save Griseo?
The sudden voice of their old comrade startled everyone present.
Though they had anticipated that Su might exist in some form, they hadn't expected him to appear at this moment.
Yes, the Su standing there had not spoken, the voice belonged to someone else.
Fortunately, Padra noticed this. Unfortunately, Padra noticed this.
"Y-y-you mean Su? Is he some sort of ghost now?"
Padra's voice trembled as she gestured wildly, trying to ward off whatever spectral presence she imagined.
The thought of the once-vanished Su reappearing, breathing in her ear, and speaking was… terrifying.
"S-Su, I swear I didn't take anything of yours. At most, I just borrowed it… Ah!! What touched me just now?!"
"…Padra, it was Can."
Hua replied with exasperation. Can, always sticking close to her side, had brushed its tail against Padra's leg at an angle she couldn't see.
Hearing this, Padra flailed her arm to the side, accidentally grabbing Can by the neck. The softness of its fur beneath her palm finally calmed her down a little.
"Hahaha… Can, don't scare me like that! I knew Su wouldn't play pranks like this." Padra chuckled nervously, scratching the back of her head while her eyes darted around, still failing to find any trace of Su.
"Meow—!"
Unfortunately, Can seemed displeased, letting out a sharp meow that pierced the contemplative silence in the hall.
"…"
For a moment, the atmosphere froze. Su, the observer of everything, was left speechless by his comrades' antics.
Reuniting with them after all these years—this was certainly not the scenario he had envisioned.
Su, who had spent years preparing his thoughts, suddenly found it difficult to maintain his intended composure. Meanwhile, his other memory fragment… perhaps it had guessed something, which explained its idle and carefree existence.
Even so, Su understood that the other's ultimate reason for inactivity was his desire for precisely such a life.
"Alright, Padra, let's settle down for now… Let's take a look at this old comrade of ours. If the situation hadn't spiraled out of his control, he probably wouldn't have appeared, right?"
Mobius narrowed her eyes with curiosity about Su's current form of existence.
After all, Luo Mo's earlier description had deliberately avoided mentioning Su, and in the game between Durandal and Su, his state had remained shrouded in mystery. The Flame-Chasers knew little about his current condition.
"It's not quite like that, but… I indeed don't approve of awakening Griseo now. There's no need to face a new threat when we haven't yet overcome the End. It's an unnecessary risk to ourselves."
Su's voice was slow and gentle, carrying an air of trustworthiness and calm persuasion.
"So… everything the little white mouse said is true?"
Mobius's gaze turned icy, though it carried a certain heat, an anger born of her care for Griseo.
The one who was meant to peacefully drift among the stars in search of a new home of hope was now imprisoned, unable to leave.
"Yes, and even more than I know. Sa is constantly calculating energy gains and losses to reconstruct a supposed 'homeland.' If it's Kevin, there's indeed a slim chance of success. His plan is feasible, but it's also extremely risky."
Su's voice remained calm, maintaining his unique sense of tranquility.
"Then what form are you existing in now? Oh, and you mentioned the timing isn't right yet. But according to Luo Mo, Fu Hua somehow just 'whooshed' over there, starting her whole 'Aunt Fu's Grand Adventure'… was that you?"
Mobius's voice struggled to replicate Luo Mo's words. She glanced sharply in his direction, clearly unimpressed with his so-called objective explanations.
Luo Mo responded with an awkward but polite smile, visibly embarrassed.
"…Probably. I've never forgotten Griseo's plight. Perhaps I'm the only one who could project someone I'm familiar with across such a vast distance."
Su affirmed her speculation, as it was an obvious matter, but he also raised his doubts:
"However... Mr. Luo Mo seems to genuinely possess the ability to see the future. Even I, with my observations across numerous worlds, have never encountered such a phenomenon."
"Not long ago, this world experienced an energy spike, yet the entire world entered a state of stagnation. Even I couldn't intervene at that moment... You all... well, Hua has never been good at hiding her emotions."
At these words, a number of Flame-Chasers exchanged glances, their expressions betraying a mix of surprise and realization.
They all seemed to guess the cause, it could only have been that brief moment when the two worlds interacted, resulting in such an energy surge. What they hadn't expected, however, was that even someone beyond their world could sense it.
The ripple of his presence, always subtle and understated, was nonetheless unforgettable. As he had once said, his deeds and failures had faded into mere anecdotes.
(TL/N: They are talking about Otto)
"Su, you know I don't care about the difficulties we face. What I care about is what Luo Mo said about Griseo being in danger—and whether the plan is feasible."
Mobius spoke in a low voice. Her gaze briefly fell on the dazed Griseo, and for a moment, her icy demeanor wavered.
This was the child entrusted to her by her former assistant, and no matter how cold and serpentine she appeared, Mobius could never ignore her promise.
Griseo… she wouldn't allow anything to happen to her.
That guy was right. If they had the means now, they couldn't wait until after the End descended to take action. Though Mobius didn't have faith in the Original World surviving the End, she certainly didn't fear an enemy one-tenth its strength.
(TL/N: the Original World she meant is the world where Otto left, to create This world for Kallen "an alternative world")
Besides… the opponent was calculative, weighing every decision.
That was a strength, they couldn't annihilate it.
That was also a weakness—it gave them a chance to achieve their goal.
"I don't know. But if help is needed, I can offer it. My abilities allow me to project one or two individuals. If we add Vill-Vi's so-called 'backdoor'…"
Su offered his answer. In his view, the strength of the Original World had grown considerably. Durandal, the Heavenly yuan figure's current power exceeded her previous limits, and with the silver-haired lady's Stigmata of Truth… even Su himself felt uneasy about the energy levels involved.
"So, everyone, what shall it be? Do we act now, or wait until after we've defeated the Honkai?"
Mobius's furrowed brow relaxed slightly—Su's response pleased her.
Danger? When had there ever not been danger? Seeking safety in a world plagued by the Honkai was never a viable mindset. Rather than gamble on the enemy's kindness, she trusted her own abilities.
At this moment, when faced with a decision, Mobius didn't look to Kevin but instead turned to Elysia. Perhaps, instinctively, when it came to matters of their comrades, she subconsciously trusted this woman more.
"Why don't we… vote? After all, democracy matters, doesn't it?"
Elysia caught Mobius's gaze, pondered for a moment, and seeing Kevin remain silent, she tentatively proposed this idea.
She knew, of course, that the vote would immediately favor rescuing Griseo, rendering the process meaningless.
Then again, if it were not Griseo but someone like Kalpas or Mobius in such a predicament, would the vote yield a different result?
This whimsical thought flashed through her mind, perhaps they'd still go for a rescue? Maybe they'd begrudgingly mock the individual for their misfortune but ultimately take action anyway?
No, she couldn't entertain such notions anymore. Why was she even imagining this? Blame Luo Mo!
Elysia shook her head, dispelling those unnecessary thoughts, and skillfully pinned the blame on the culprit—Luo Mo. Still… she found herself oddly anticipating such a scene.
Life in the courtyard had always been lively and chaotic, yet it felt like their bonds were growing deeper. Even Mobius, who constantly talked about wanting to move out, had grown quieter on the subject.
"Oh, I'll stay out of this to avoid a tie. With exactly thirteen of you, there's no risk of a stalemate."
Luo Mo stepped back, gesturing for them to proceed with the vote.
"Heh, the little white mouse is quick to retreat. Don't think you can escape responsibility for what you've proposed. As someone from this world, you'll have to answer for any failures. We're just memory constructs, after all."
Mobius shot him a sharp glare, adding pressure with a cold smile. "Still, I agree with Elysia's suggestion."
Was she wrong?
Of course not. Luo Mo had to admit, rescuing Griseo didn't seem to offer any direct benefit to the world. But…
He was confident. Even in the worst-case scenario, where they brought Sa into this world, he wouldn't mind using it as a trial for the Three Herrschers. Giving them a strong adversary to face wasn't a bad thing.
With the numerous Stigmata he'd bestowed, if they couldn't defeat something one-tenth the strength of the End, then they'd have no chance of facing the End itself.
It was worth noting that the combat strength of this world was higher than in the game's current state, though Kiana and her team might be comparatively weaker. With Cecilia, Himeko, Wendy, Kallen, Theresa, and the thirteen Flame-Chasers, however, he didn't believe anything short of the End itself could pose a threat.
And with Vill-Vi's help, more than one individual could be projected into the fray.
"With dragon riders at our side, what's there to fear?"
"There's no way that Sa is as powerful as the End. If she comes, she will not leave alive," Luo Mo said casually.
"Oh, oh, I vote to save Griseo! Boss Kevin is invincible, Boss Kevin is the strongest!" Pardo confidently cast her vote of support, trusting Kevin wholeheartedly.
She had even contributed voiceovers for Griseo's ship exhibit!
Although recording it had been a headache, the thought of accompanying Griseo for many, many years made her smile and finish the job enthusiastically.
"I agree. I'm also curious to see… what they've achieved from simulating the Ark's technology," Vill-V looked amused but radiated boundless confidence.
She didn't believe she would lose, not just her, but all of them together.
"Of course, I vote yes~ I can't wait to see what Griseo looks like when she grows up," Elysia said with a smile.
"Heh—last time during the battle with the Thousand Puppets, I didn't get a chance to fight. This time… I'll make up for it!" Kalpas sneered, sparks igniting between his hands.
"I… vote against it." Griseo hesitated, and under the puzzled gazes of others, she pursed her lips and explained, "When I grow up, I need to be more independent. Besides… I trust her. If I'm safe now, then in the future… Griseo will become a hero!" She puffed out her chest confidently, her little ahoge standing tall, while Kosma silently stared at her.
Of course, Kosma being silent wasn't unusual, if not for his tendency to replace words with silence, he would likely have been the first to respond.
"… (Griseo is forced into slumber? Could there be danger lurking within? Even if it costs me everything and I become a monster, I must…)" A voice from Pardo's sync transmission trailed off.
The rest of the Flame-Chasers almost unanimously agreed. Su did not express his opinion, as his real self had already weighed in on the matter, making it unnecessary to repeat himself. The final decision was left to Kevin.
Though his vote couldn't change the overwhelming result, as the leader and a key participant in this event (albeit as a memory form), Kevin posed a soul-searching question.
Crossing his arms, he asked coldly, "So… has anyone informed my original self? Kevin is supposed to be the key figure, isn't he?"
A deafening silence fell upon the group. An awkward stillness ensued.
(TL:.... yeah, I don't think he will agree.)
"Uh… probably… Luo Mo, did you tell him?" Elysha turned her head, scratching her cheek nervously.
Luo Mo shook his head firmly, denying it.
Although he got along well with many people, Kevin was different. Apart from the comrades from the previous era, he doubted anyone could easily approach him.
Kevin's natural aloofness was an impenetrable shield, making it almost impossible for anyone to face him directly.
Not to mention Luo Mo himself, who had practically "relocated" all of Kevin's comrades. Feeling guilty from the depths of his heart, he couldn't muster the courage.
"However, I agree," Kevin said indifferently, aligning with the group's decision.
His agreement marked the final green light for action. The decision was made—to rescue Griseo, no matter what.
Luo Mo quietly exhaled a sigh of relief. After a moment of hesitation, he decided to hand over Van Gogh's Stigmata to Elysha, reminding them not to forget it during the final operation.
Meanwhile, Luo Mo turned to prepare for the next steps. Perhaps he could inquire about the system or ask Rita for assistance with the battleship?
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