"Eden, are you really going to continue holding the concert?"
Dressed simply in plain clothes, unlike her usual style, the red-haired woman was flipping through some basic documents given to her by the helmeted man. At her manager's question, her finger paused on the paper.
It was hard to imagine that someone in this age of technological explosion would preserve paper documents from the "ancient" era. This reminded Eden of her fans on the internet who specialized in buying three copies of her merchandise: one for personal use, one for collection, and one for proselytizing.
Was this gentleman also preparing a paper document for proselytizing?
Thinking of this, she couldn't help but laugh, a graceful smile curving her lips.
"You, you can still laugh? According to that person, something big is about to happen in Australia, we need to leave quickly!" The manager, seeing Eden smiling, anxiously grabbed her shoulder. Having personally witnessed the destructive power of that Honkai Beast, she wanted to retire and find a place to hide.
Moreover, according to those two, that Honkai Beast was merely a common type.
"Leave? Where can we hide? Are we supposed to hide on the moon?" Eden put down the documents. Although simple, the information was comprehensive. "The Honkai is a global catastrophe. Even if we could hide underwater, we would still be attacked by mutated marine organisms turned into Honkai Beasts."
"Then what should we do... Am I supposed to buy a grave ahead of time..." The manager stood behind Eden, on the verge of tears. She couldn't think of any way to guarantee her life in the future.
Why did people of their generation have to encounter the Honkai?
But Eden didn't show much anxiety. Instead, after gently tapping the document cover with her delicate finger, she said softly, "I think I still need to hold this concert."
"Oh, my dear girl..."
"This time is not just for the Australian wildfires." The sigh of previous days was gone from Eden's smile; she was completely at ease. "We have things we can do, don't we?"
...
Time: Before departing for the subjugation of the two Emperor-class Honkai Beasts.
"Ah, thank you. You really didn't have to go to so much trouble to buy wine."
Eden said so, but she showed no pretense when accepting the wine. Lin also handed her the high-stemmed wine glass he had bought.
"Aren't you drinking?" Eden looked up at the man who seemed to have stepped out of a science fiction movie, confused to see only one glass in his hand.
"I have a mission coming up," Lin shook his head. He didn't like drinking. He figured the only person who would drink alcohol, which dulls the brain, before combat was probably Himeko.
"Heh heh, my friend, I can see you are quite resistant to wine. I am not overly fond of it myself, actually." Eden poured the red wine into a decanter. She now had plenty of time to talk with this gentleman who lived in a different world than her. "But the appreciation of its history outweighs the pleasure its taste gives."
Was this what they called style?
Lin neither drank nor knew much about wine, only that Himeko loved beer. She seemed to be the type who only indulged in the instantaneous pleasure.
"However... Mr. Lin, if there is a next time, please don't buy this kind of wine again."
"Is it too cheap?"
Lin had bought the most expensive bottle of red wine at the nearest hotel. He had no idea which wines were good, but a celebrity of Eden's caliber probably drank high-society wine, and high society... usually equates to expensive.
"Hmm? My friend, are you perhaps mistaken? Although good wines are often expensive, expensive wines are not necessarily good."
"…"
Eden looked at the silent Lin: "Heh heh... you truly are interesting, Mr. Lin."
"...I don't find it interesting at all."
"I have a friend who, when encountering something she doesn't know, always eagerly asks questions, and talking to her always allows me to share my expertise in my field, making me feel proud." Eden's eyes were like clear water, translucent and bright. "You are the complete opposite of her. You only listen. When you do that, I find myself reflecting during the conversation to see if there is anything wrong with what I am saying."
Lin didn't think his silent listening deserved praise. It was just a long-held habit, a "result" of being quiet in the past.
"So, have you made up your mind? Will you join the Fire Moth?" Lin crossed his arms. He couldn't figure out Eden's personality. She felt different from anyone he had encountered before.
Elysia mischief, Mobius's elusive nature, Mei's deep thoughts... Eden gave him the feeling of a long-lost friend, somewhat familiar, yet completely different.
"...Mr. Lin, what impact do you think my joining the Fire Moth would have?"
"I am only giving you a choice, not making the choice for you." Lin patiently repeated what he had said. He had no right to decide someone else's path. "If you choose to join, the Fire Moth will allow you to continue working in the outside world to maintain normalcy, but it will certainly affect your career."
"Heh heh... It seems Mr. Lin still hasn't fully understood. I asked about the impact of joining the Fire Moth on 'me,' not on the outside world, nor on my career. Just purely, the impact on me as an individual."
Slowly, the mellow aroma of the red wine began to permeate the air. Eden poured the wine from the decanter into the glass, just enough to look comfortable and inviting.
"If I choose to join the Fire Moth, it means I am prepared to fight for humanity, and I will inevitably start developing toward your methods, becoming one of the soldiers you mentioned."
"But I believe that right now, I still have something only I can do, in my identity as the singer Eden."
Lin understood what Eden was trying to express. She raised the wine glass, letting the deep red liquid touch her rosy lips, savoring the wine's fragrance in small sips.
"...So, you don't want to join the Fire Moth?"
"I believe I will eventually step into it, but for now, I ask you, allow me to keep this memory and continue my activities as a singer."
In simple terms, she was pleading: neither join nor be kept in the dark?
The Fire Moth certainly needed much consideration to accommodate such a significant figure. That was why only Lin would give such an impartial choice. If it were anyone else, they would probably insist that Eden stop getting involved in these matters without question.
Lin closed his eyes and pondered for a good while. When the red wine in Eden's glass reached the bottom, he opened his eyes—
"Can you guarantee that you will not leak any information about the Fire Moth?"
"Yes, I can guarantee it on my most prized identity as a singer."
"Here are some relevant documents, and you can call this number to contact me." Lin handed her the paper documents.
Eden smiled. It seemed she hadn't misjudged him. This person, who looked cold and aloof, was surprisingly understanding.
"Mr. Lin, I will be holding a concert in Australia soon. If you can, please come and listen."
A concert ticket was presented to Lin.
He looked down at the finely printed ticket.
It felt like a return to the past.