"Looking for Sister Elly? Yes, I know…"
Pardo was still counting the treasures she had found in the Elysian Realm when Mei sought her out. Seeing Mei's anxious look, she immediately asked in confusion, "What happened?"
"…Lin told me to find her. He's run into trouble."
Mei weighed her options and decided to tell Pardo the truth. Lin matter was definitely not small, and it was best to notify the various MANTIS.
"Lin-ge? What happened to Lin-ge!"
Pardo's leisurely expression immediately vanished upon hearing it concerned Lin.
Mei's face was decidedly grim. It had been a long time since she had experienced this feeling of being protected: "I'm not sure yet. He just told me to find Elysia. Pardo, do you know where she is?"
"I'll take you right away! Before Sister Elly left, she told me she was going to the Deepest Abyss for a trip. If we explain it to Kosma, he should listen, right…"
"Kosma?"
"Uh, well, you'll know when you meet them. Something like this has never happened in the Realm before."
Even Pardo, who was lazy and spent all day either scavenging or basking in the sun, had become serious. Mei's concern about the matter rose another level.
Along the way, Mei talked to Pardo about some things concerning Lin. What was more unexpected for Mei was that Pardo seemed to know more than she had imagined, especially about Lin. Pardo knew all the information about Lin that Mei had inferred from fragments of conversation and collected data.
It seemed Lin was even more caring toward Pardo than she thought…
"It seems Lin isn't cold and distant to everyone," Mei sighed, following behind Pardo.
"...Actually, I didn't feel much change between the first time I met Lin-ge and when I encountered him later," Pardo's expression suddenly stiffened, and she mumbled softly, "But… both Sister Elly and Sister Vil-V said Lin-ge went through a period like that…"
"What?"
"Nothing."
Pardo wasn't willing to talk more about it. She had only heard rumors, but she did have a tiny regret about not meeting Lin during that time.
"Right, Sister Mei, what exactly did Lin-ge run into that he needs to find Sister Elly?"
"…"
Mei was somewhat speechless at Pardo taking so long to ask, but she quickly answered: "Something very strange… Lin was very tense when he saw her, and the power I felt from it…"
That familiar, death-laced power reminded her of the Herrscher of Void persona that had awakened inside Kiana.
"That's not right… No one should be able to defeat Lin-ge now," Pardo shook her head, muttering, "Even Kevin-ge, in his memory body state, wouldn't be his match."
"What did you say? Kevin can't defeat Lin?"
"Eh? I didn't say anything."
"What exactly are you all hiding?"
Mei narrowed her eyes. She increasingly felt that this matter was not so simple. These MANTIS, and Lin, must be hiding many things from her.
She was tired of the endless guessing games.
"Does Lin have some other power? If he has that power, then why would he…"
The former "Lin" had exhibited abilities similar to the First Herrscher.
Could it be that, besides those things, there was some power she hadn't even seen?
"No! Lin-ge…" Pardo shrank her neck in fear. "Lin-ge can't use that casually…"
"You people really are…"
"Stop right there."
A cold voice halted Mei's questioning.
It was then that she suddenly realized they had unconsciously arrived at a place she had never been to before.
If one word could summarize this space, it would be "abstract."
The entire space was like a painting on a canvas, filled with abstract colors and architecture, yet possessing physical solidity. It was as if two dimensions had come to life in three dimensions.
Standing in this space was a slender young man with dark green hair and a pair of black horns on his head, arms crossed. He seemed to have been standing there from the beginning, awaiting their arrival.
"K-Kosma…"
"…"
The young man called Kosma glanced at Pardo, then observed Mei a few times, scanning her up and down.
These subtle gestures and looks naturally didn't escape Mei's notice, but what concerned her was that the boy was only looking her over, showing no intention of speaking.
"You are…" Out of politeness, Mei decided to ask proactively.
"The Ninth Flame-Chaser, Kosma, Daybreak."
The boy answered briefly in a clear, cold voice.
Another Flame-Chaser. This was within Mei's scope of acceptance, but this one seemed just as difficult to talk to as Kevin and Lin.
"What were you saying just now…"
"…" Kosma didn't answer Mei's question directly. He seemed to be considering something. After thinking for a moment while looking at Mei, he slowly said, "Don't ask what you shouldn't know."
"…"
This retort, which was tantamount to being directly confronted, immediately made Mei realize how difficult Kosma was.
But as if realizing his words might be misinterpreted, Kosma spoke up again to explain: "I was referring to Lin matter. You don't need to know his affairs so clearly. You shouldn't force Pardo to answer. If Lin wants to tell you, he will naturally tell you."
"Alright, I understand." Mei also realized she had been pressing Pardo, so she calmed herself and asked, "I need to find Elysia. Pardo said she was going to the Deepest Abyss. Is this the Deepest Abyss?"
"No."
"Okay."
"…"
"…"
What followed was an awkward, prolonged silence.
After saying "No," Kosma didn't speak again.
Mei, who had been waiting for Kosma to continue, looked at Pardo after a moment.
Pardo shook her head awkwardly at Mei, indicating that this was just how Kosma was.
"Kosma doesn't mean any harm, he's just… not very good at expressing himself." After explaining, Pardo smiled sweetly at Kosma, "Um, Kosma, something happened to Lin-ge, and we need to find Sister ELly. Can you let us pass?"
"Something happened to Lin? Who said that?" Kosma's gaze was now fixed on Mei.
"Sister Mei said it…"
"...No."
"You don't believe me?" Mei instantly realized the issue.
"Provide sufficient evidence, otherwise, it's best if you don't go to the Deepest Abyss."
Kosma dropped this sentence and turned to leave.
And the "painting" that had been beside him, unnoticed by Mei, suddenly moved.
It transformed into a monstrous shape with bared fangs and claws, lunging toward Mei.