Looking at the familiar yet unfamiliar surroundings and the two familiar faces, Chang Yuan knew—his attempt to die had failed.
"You two... It would've been better if you just let me die. Why did you have to... sigh."
Facing his old friends, Yuan couldn't bring himself to say anything harsh.
But the bitter truth remained—he wouldn't be able to see Elysia now.
"You idiot! Stop trying to kill yourself over nothing! Elysia is still alive!"
Mobius lunged forward, grabbing Yuan by the collar and shaking him violently.
Her words made Yuan's dull eyes suddenly light up.
In an instant, he gripped Mobius even tighter than she held him.
"What did you say? Say it again!"
Right now, Yuan desperately hoped Mobius wasn't playing some cruel joke. If she was, he might actually lose control—even if she was an old comrade.
"I said, Elysia is alive. Due to special circumstances, her soul has been residing in the unique Stigma she gave you."
"Your 'clone' was actually Elysia's new body. We confirmed this long ago. She planned to tell you after Honkai was defeated."
"But who could've guessed you'd try to follow her in death? Do you have any idea what she'd do if she woke up to find you gone?"
"...She's really alive. She's actually alive. Where is she? I need to see her."
Yuan barely processed anything Mobius said afterward.
The only thing that mattered now was that the person he longed for still lived.
"Rest first. After transferring the Authority of Origin to Raiden Mei, she exhausted herself and fell into a deep sleep."
Mobius forgave Yuan's rudeness, seeing how emotional he was.
Hearing Elysia was still unconscious, Yuan gradually calmed down.
But once the initial excitement faded, frustration set in.
"Tch. Elysia was never like this before. Why would she suddenly pull such a cruel prank on me? Doesn't she know how much it hurt me?"
"You know her personality. Her love for the world and humanity was never lesser than her love for you."
"She wanted to wait until everything was over—to truly let go of the world—before becoming just your wife, nothing more."
Mobius patiently explained the reasoning behind Elysia's actions.
Hearing the truth, Yuan felt an indescribable emotion.
This girl who once loved the entire world... from now on, would love only him.
"Hehehe~ I've got a brilliant plan for revenge. Want to hear it?"
Vill-V (Expert Mode) suddenly proposed a mischievous idea.
After all the times Elysia made them cry, it was their turn to make her cry.
"Oh? What's the plan? Let's hear it."
Yuan's interest was piqued.
If it was harmless, he'd gladly play along.
"Hehehe~ Here's the plan—we'll..."
Seven days later...
"Mmm~ That was a long nap! But also the most comfortable one ever~♪ Wait for me, Yuan!"
Waking up in bed, Elysia noticed nothing unusual as she cheerfully skipped out of her room.
But the sight outside froze her in place.
White mourning banners. White lanterns. White ribbons. Even white couplets.
A cold shiver ran down Elysia's spine.
"These... I remember these. They're... funeral decorations from Hua's culture. Did someone... die while I was asleep?"
Her cheerful mood instantly plummeted.
If the funeral was held near her room, it had to be one of her old comrades.
"So... there were sacrifices after all. Nothing can ever be truly perfect, huh?"
Heart heavy, Elysia walked into the memorial hall.
There, she saw all her old companions—
Kevin. Su. Aponia. Eden. Pardofelis. Griseo. Kalpas. Sakura. Mobius. Vill-V. Kosma. Hua.
Even people connected to them were present.
For a moment, Elysia couldn't guess who had died.
She approached Hua, who seemed to be leading the ceremony.
"Hua... who are we mourning?"
"...You're awake. Here, burn these too. After all... it's someone connected to you."
Hua gestured, and Nuwa and Fuxi stepped forward to dress Elysia in mourning clothes.
Confused but compliant, Elysia put them on.
As she did, she wracked her brain—who among her loved ones could have died?
But no matter how hard she thought, she couldn't figure it out.
Everyone she knew was here—alive and present.
Then, suddenly, it hit her.
If this was a funeral for someone connected to her... Yuan would never miss it.
Yet she didn't see him anywhere.
A horrifying realization dawned.
"No... It can't be him. Yuan... Yuan was just an observer. He shouldn't have... sacrificed himself..."
Staggering back in denial, Elysia refused to accept it.
In a panic, she called out desperately: "Yuan! Yuan! I'm back! Your beloved Elysia is back! Come out!"
But no matter how many times she called, the boy who once answered her every call would never respond again.
Her legs gave out, and Elysia collapsed to the floor.
In a daze, she grabbed Hua's sleeve. "Hua... Where's Yuan? Is he playing hide-and-seek? Or... is he hiding because he found out I tricked him? Just to make me worry?"
"...I'm sorry. I can't lie to you. Today is his seventh-day memorial. Seven days ago, right after Honkai ended... he took his own life for you."
"He planned everything so well... we couldn't find him in time. By the time we did... all that remained was his cold body."
Hua delivered her lines with practiced calm, her face expressionless.
But her words shattered Elysia's last hope.
Now, Elysia understood—her joke had gone too far.
Because of one deception... she had lost the boy who loved her enough to die for her.