Edward wondered what a fully realized Flame-Chaser of the Spiral could accomplish.
What heights could Vill-V reach if she could bring every one of her talents to bear with his support?
It was difficult to imagine.
Her potential was truly extraordinary.
It did not matter if he could not change anything.
It did not matter if he could do nothing at all.
The girl herself was already more than enough reason for him to give everything he had.
The courage she had shown in facing Elysia for his sake was more than enough.
In this world called Honkai, emotion often carried more weight than cold logic.
At least in the simulation, there was nothing wrong with repaying kindness with kindness.
Everyone knew that changing the President of the United States could change the entire world.
Yet how many people could actually do it?
In the end, such thoughts were meaningless.
Edward did not want Vill-V’s efforts to be in vain, and he certainly did not want the girl to feel sad.
Holding fast to those thoughts and ideals, he would never abandon his choice, even if Elysia could not bless it.
===
What was unsuitable remained unsuitable.
Elysia must have realized that Edward had become a burden to her.
But at that moment, something suddenly intruded into the space.
The sound grew louder and more frequent, crisp and clear, as if hands were coming together in applause.
It was applause.
When Edward looked up, he saw the very people whose eyes had never once focused on him, the ones who had never cared that this was his birthday party, now gathered together and giving him thunderous applause.
Their faces looked strangely masked, fixed into polite smiles that hid whatever they truly felt.
“Congratulations!” “Congratulations!” “Wishing you and Miss Vill-V every happiness!”
The blessings pressed against his ears, falling thick and meaningless like rain.
It felt ridiculous.
Elysia had chosen not to offer her blessing, yet these people who had never cared about him were the ones doing so.
In some hot-blooded stories, the protagonist would have used this moment to prove himself to those who once looked down on him.
It should have been a perfect ending.
Yet Edward felt only a strange sense of irony.
Elysia should not leave.
The thought was odd, but it rose in his heart all the same.
Of course, it was not because he was superstitious and needed her blessing.
It was simply that he knew, deep down, that watching all of this would cause something inside her to collapse.
Like a building built on a weak foundation, no matter how perfect it looked, it could crumble in an instant.
The world had always been this way.
Most people remained superficial.
Truly understanding one another was a rare luxury.
But in the end, what did any of it have to do with him?
He would have no further chances to interact with them.
They did not care about him, and he had never cared about them either.
If the birthday party had not been hosted by Elysia herself, if Vill-V had not personally brought gifts…
Even the most enthusiastic gathering could not revolve entirely around one person without turning chaotic.
The scene had become something closer to a disorderly fan meeting than a proper party.
Edward had no interest in accepting their gifts.
No matter what they offered, in his eyes they were all worthless.
The beautiful packaging changed nothing.
Leaving now felt perfect.
He could always contact Elysia later when he had the chance.
Essentially, he had simply chosen another path for his journey.
He had not severed ties, and the girl could not simply vanish.
Vill-V had clearly sensed his thoughts.
“Let’s go.”
The quiet girl looked up.
She rose slightly on her tiptoes, blinking eyes still filled with surprise.
Her fingertips gently tugged his sleeve as she softly parted her lips and spoke in a voice so gentle it seemed almost disbelieving.
“Edward.”
“Mhm.”
Looking at the girl who no longer paid any attention to her surroundings, whose eyes rested only on him, and who had even begun to overcome some of her old insecurities, Edward curved his lips into a warm, sunny smile and answered with equal tenderness.
In her silver-gray eyes, touched with cherry-blossom pink, one could easily see a dizzy, light-headed joy, as if she had sipped a little wine.
Even now, she had not fully accepted that he had agreed.
Yet the girl who had stood before him earlier had acted purely on instinct, driven by the desire to protect him and help him.
“Let’s go.”
“Since I have become your assistant, I should start fulfilling some of my proper duties right away.
Hello, my dear Miss Vill-V.”
As her companion, Edward extended his right hand to the sweetly dazed girl and gently took her soft palm before she could fully react.
He held it deliberately, letting their fingers brush.
Her slender, delicate hand felt as sweet and soft as flower petals.
A slightly playful, mischievous tone broke through her intoxication.
“…Eh?!”
Vill-V’s pupils contracted slightly as she let out a cute sound.
Though her palm was gently caressed by the boy, she showed no intention of letting go.
She lightly bit her silver teeth, as if cheering herself on.
“I’m also very much looking forward to it, my… my dear Edward.”
“And not as an assistant.
You are the master.
I could never be the master.”
At twenty-two years old, a better life was truly beginning.
Without any pretense or exaggeration, the words felt like a simple, declarative truth.
Edward had never imagined life could feel so pleasant after leaving Elysia’s side.
This was not an objection to that flawless girl, nor was it meant to belittle anyone.
It was simply an honest exclamation, the same as saying the weather was nice today.
Seeing a beautiful sunset, a golden dawn, or the boundless sky could stir the same instinctive appreciation of beauty.
Elysia was indeed a very perfect person.
Gentle, lovely, and capable, every one of her actions surpassed even the greatest idols in the world.
Simply watching her was enough to leave anyone enchanted. Get faster updates on g.com.
Her wonderful personality was beyond words, like honey, flowers, fairies, and moonlight all at once.
Yet people had different personalities.
Even the most perfect person could not make everyone want to stay by their side forever.
There would always be those who placed themselves on equal footing with the girl and quietly longed for her undivided gaze.
But they never understood that some things in this world could not be held captive.
===
Just as the sweetness of honey, the clarity of moonlight, the coolness of the wind, and the freedom of fairies could never be imprisoned, even if you reached out to grasp them they would eventually slip through your fingers and return to the world.
Elysia belonged half to the sky and half to the sea.
In short, she always belonged to freedom.
So when hope was dashed and a selfish heart could not receive her full attention, a natural sense of aversion would arise.
No one truly belonged to another.
It was a meaningless pursuit, yet life itself was full of such meaninglessness as people tried to find purpose.
If given the chance, Edward would still be willing to remain friends with Elysia and work together with her to change certain things.
But at least for now…
He would no longer allow himself to be so arrogant or selfish.
The girl by his side was Vill-V, someone he truly wanted to hold onto, to protect, and to do something meaningful for.
He would only be a burden to Elysia.
Why not save someone within reach who needed his care?
The first step was to accompany that girl to her workshop.
For a world-class genius like Vill-V, how advanced and futuristic would her workshop be?
After careful thought, Edward could only give a neutral and conservative answer.
“The style is quite unique.”
“…Eh…”
“Then… is it ugly?”
Vill-V instantly looked crestfallen.
She lightly bit the side of her lip and lowered her head.
The brim of her hat cast a shadow over her face, hiding her exact expression, but the sudden drop in her mood was unmistakable.
Even though things should not have felt this way anymore.
Even though she had already taken that brave step forward.
She had wanted to show Edward how much she had grown.
Yet being denied by him, even on something so small, still swept every other thought away.
“Cool.”
Edward did not hesitate.
Having spent a long time talking with her, he already knew how to handle moments like this.
He pointed directly at the plaque behind the building and praised her aesthetic once again with the same words he had used before.
A dejected Vill-V was also adorable, but it was better not to let her stay that way.
If she kept feeling down, there would really be problems.
Besides, who could resist the clanking gears, the mechanical symphony of moving parts, the black gauze, the mysterious cards, and the gentleman’s hat that symbolized enigma?
They formed the perfect combination.
“That’s great then.”
The girl’s silver-gray eyes lit up once more.
A visible surge of energy instantly filled her again, making her lively and cheerful from nothing more than a few simple words.
Just a word or two could completely change a person’s thoughts and mood…