Honkai Impact: I, The Herrscher of Ice, Am Loved By Players-Chapter 171: Mobius’s Influence Broken

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The only remaining challenge was Mobius's attempt to sway Raiden Mei. However, before Mobius could utter much, Elysia swiftly changed the subject.

"Alright, alright, I know seeing me makes you happy, but I'm sorry, Mei and I have plans for some fun together. Oh dear, can't stay with you this time!" Elysia giggled softly as she stepped forward, gently pulling Raiden Mei alongside her.

"Elysia, what does this have to do with you?"

"Hmm... Maybe as friends? Very close ones? No, perhaps even super-duper close? What do you think, Mei?"

Raiden Mei remained silent. Although unsure of their exact intentions, she could tell that Elysia was feigning ignorance while fully comprehending the situation.

She didn't say anything further, sensing that Mobius had ulterior motives towards her. Elysia's intervention seemed like an attempt to divert attention away from Raiden Mei.

"Shut up! If I were you, I wouldn't flaunt myself around so openly..."

"The traitor," Mobius muttered.

These words struck a chord within Raiden Mei. She felt a vague connection between the secrets hidden in this Elysian Realm and the "traitor" mentioned by Mobius.

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"Dr. Mobius, I must say, it seems rather hypocritical for you to take such a stance on betrayal. In some sense, you too can be considered a 'traitor' now."

With a soft chuckle, Ana interjected.

"A traitor? Ridiculous. It seems like Mobius is resorting to desperate measures now. After all, if Raiden Mei stays by Ellie's side continuously, there's little she can do."

And a traitor? A Herrscher? Well, at present, even Mobius herself could be considered a Herrscher of Corruption. On the surface, it's actually Mobius who appears more akin to a betrayer.

"Ana, what does this have to do with you?"

"Oh, it has everything to do with me. Mei is my student, as I've mentioned before. As for the rest, remember, I'm not the true self; just a memory fragment."

"I don't indulge in such intricate schemes or convoluted thoughts, so don't count on me as your ally," Ana replied calmly.

"You!" Mobius glared furiously at Ana, fully realizing that this memory fragment version of Ana was vastly different from her original counterpart. However, it made sense since their discrepancies were significant compared to the true self.

"All right, all right, Mobius, Ana doesn't mean any harm. She simply wants to show more concern for you."

Elysia stepped forward to mediate, but her words sounded nonsensical or perhaps intentionally misleading—indeed, that's precisely what they were.

At least, Raiden Mei found herself momentarily bewildered.

"Furthermore, when you mention betrayal... Could it be about me? Please don't think like that; I still hold you dear."

"..."

Elysia's comment left Raiden Mei silent once more. She glanced at Ana, whose expression remained calm beside her, and inwardly sighed.

It seemed she was indeed struggling to keep up with Elysia's unpredictable nature.

After Elysia's interference, even Mobius was rendered speechless. She stared at Elysia, took a deep breath, and finally turned towards Raiden Mei.

"Listen closely, new girl. You must be extremely cautious around these two."

"In the Elysian Realm, they are always the ones least trustworthy, no matter how slight the circumstance."

"Hey, why am I being dragged into this? Do you really think I would deceive my student? Can't you be more reasonable, Mobius?" Before Raiden Mei could respond, Ana frowned and interjected.

"Are you trying to sow discord here?"

"I won't accept any answers forced upon me; I'll find my own truth." Raiden Mei remained unfazed by Ana's words, speaking with unwavering conviction. Though she didn't show it, her stance was clear: she trusted her teacher and lifelong mentor implicitly.

"Chuckles— I won't waste time trying to persuade you."

"That was merely a friendly warning. However, it would be wise for you to stay vigilant; otherwise, you will eventually pay the price."

"..."

Ana's eyes flickered as she observed Mobius thoughtfully. How should she put it? This manipulative approach felt quite familiar, reminiscent of that servant from next door.

Despite being the villain, Mobius portrayed herself with utmost sincerity, aiming to absolve her sins and erase any suspicion of her recent actions in one fell swoop - attempting a complete whitewash? It truly showed how she perceived Raiden Mei as naive, even resorting to sowing discord at the last moment.

One could only say, her silver tongue is impressive, but unfortunately, you're dealing with Raiden Mei, not...

"Yes, we...have all paid a price for it."

With that, Mobius turned and walked away. Watching her depart, Ana shook her head.

This was quintessentially villainous behavior—first claiming they're family, then sowing discord by revealing minor details, ultimately leaving bait to lure the target in.

The manipulative tactic was indeed quite effective, if not for Mobius's somewhat contrived, pinched tone of voice.

Ana glanced back and noticed Raiden Mei still watching Mobius's retreating figure, eliciting a soft chuckle from her. "What's up? Do you find her pinched accent so appealing? Or would you like me to mimic her coquettishness for you?"

"Sure, please do."

To Ana's surprise, the response came not from Raiden Mei but Elysia, smiling warmly.

"Hey, hey, don't joke around, Ellie! I was just teasing." Ana hastily replied. If she attempted to act coy with Ellie, it would undoubtedly become a dark Chapter in their history, possibly even recorded, leading to potential social doom.

Unlike Mobius, Elysia wouldn't stoop to shameless tactics for her own ends.

"Alright, alright, I was just joking, dear." Seeing Ana's anxious expression, Elysia chuckled warmly. Naturally, she could tell what Ana was thinking; after all, it wasn't hidden at all.

With that, she turned back towards Raiden Mei.

"Phew, that was close. Mobius always manages to surprise me in ways I never expect. Yet strangely, no matter how much she tries, I can't bring myself to truly dislike her or say anything bad about her."

"Don't worry, I have no qualms speaking my mind," Ana chimed in promptly. "Besides, to me, she isn't the real Mobius anyway."

"Oh, ho-ho! You make it sound like you've met the true Mobius yourself. Honestly, even the genuine article is quite similar," Elysia mused with a smile.

"It's natural for differences between memory fragments and their original counterparts," Ana acknowledged.

"Yes, perhaps. But regardless, I still hold great affection for Mobius!"

"Really? From what I've observed, your relationship doesn't seem as harmonious as you claim," Raiden Mei interjected. She had finally pieced together the conversation's content, but it only raised more questions and doubts.

"Oh, I truly adore her! Look at how tiny she is; can't resist teasing such cuteness, right?"

"..."

Ana watched silently. How to explain this—this was Elysia's usual tactic. While genuinely honest, she often chose to conceal certain aspects beneath the surface.

For instance, her stated reason for liking Mobius might be true, but it's also the least significant among all possible reasons. It's always like this with her.

Getting Elysia to reveal everything completely is indeed a daunting task. Even Ana, who already understands about eighty percent of Elysia's past, finds it immensely challenging to coax out that final piece from her. Elysia invariably shares what Ana already knows, and then, just when it seems crucial—

"So, regarding the 'traitor' she mentioned earlier..."

"Hmm."

Yes, precisely.

Ana silently observed Raiden Mei and Elysia before her, shaking her head inwardly.

"It seems you don't wish to discuss this matter, or perhaps it's just too soon, correct?"

"Regardless, it won't affect my judgment towards you."

Upon hearing this, Ana nodded approvingly. Her student indeed appeared exceptional, quickly applying what she had learned. However, for Elysia, it seemed of little use.

"The fact that your memory fragments remain here indicates there must be deeper secrets behind this incident. I will personally uncover them."

Raiden Mei's performance exceeded Ana's expectations; she had already grasped the core issue.

"Eh, I knew it—you're always the best to me," Elysia chuckled softly.

In response to the smiling girl, Raiden Mei quietly shifted her gaze away.

"I believe saying such things in front of her isn't appropriate."

"It's alright; I don't mind," Ana responded calmly. She was well-acquainted with Ellie's personality - it simply came naturally to her. While outsiders might view this behavior unfavorably, such individuals indeed exist.

Of course, Ellie had always treated Ana kindly.

"Alright, but my stance remains the same for you too, Ana-sensei." Raiden Mei sighed softly before changing the tone, adding a hint of seriousness to her voice. "I will uncover everything about you as well."

"You're better off not delving into it. My existence and plans are far beyond your current reach," Ana shook her head earnestly.

This statement held truth. Whether it be her presence here, dedicated to combating the Herrscher of Corruption and preserving the Elysian Realm, or her true self's schemes unfolding outside the Garden, Ana believed that Raiden Mei was not yet ready to involve herself in these matters.

"What conditions must I meet then, to truly understand all this?" Raiden Mei asked sincerely, sensing that this time, Ana might reveal the truth. It was an opportunity she couldn't afford to miss.

"Only when you fully grasp the secrets of this Elysian Realm will you be qualified to enter the larger game. I hope you won't disappoint her," Ana said calmly.

"Her?"

Raiden Mei's eyes flickered, suddenly realizing the implication.

In truth, she should have understood long ago that Ana couldn't simply fade away. Although taking control of two Authorities was indeed impressive, considering Ana's power and the scope of her plans, it didn't align with Raiden Mei's perception of her.

Thus, she had always harbored some suspicions about Ana-sensei. Now, despite interacting only with a memory fragment of Ana-sensei, these fragments still represented aspects of her teacher to some extent.

Given the confidence displayed by even the memory fragments, it must truly mean...

"Forget it. Since Mobius insists on causing chaos, I won't interfere further. After all, I am not one of the Heroic Spirits; like you, Mei, I'm merely a visitor here. You understand, don't you?" Suddenly, as if struck by a thought, Ana spoke up.

"Yes, I understand. All along, I've trusted you, Ana-sensei. Thank you for your unwavering support throughout this time." Raiden Mei nodded in response.

Raiden Mei nodded.

Indeed, she had noticed that Ana's presence within the Elysian Realm was somewhat delicate, especially since Mobius's arrival.

It was difficult for Raiden Mei to describe this feeling accurately.

However, considering what Ana mentioned earlier, it became clearer. Ana did not appear in the Elysian Realm through the Heroic Spirits' memory fragment method. She stated her desire to be with Elysia, implying that her own memory fragment might have a connection to Elysia.

As Mei delved deeper into exploration, it wasn't just Ana's power but rather, one could say, Elysia's strength at play.

Throughout their journey, Ana had consistently accompanied her in exploring the Elysian Realm. Honestly, even Mei felt it was somewhat excessive. Now, it seemed likely that this was Ana and Elysia's way of providing beginner protection. From here on, they would truly enter the heart of the Elysian Realm.

"Don't worry, I will still watch over you, and my blessings will continue to aid you. If needed, you can always come back here to find me," Ana assured calmly.

As Ana calmly explained, her departure was indeed as Raiden Mei suspected - though it was just one reason among many.

Ana wasn't the master here; she was Ellie's guest and a guest to the Heroic Spirits. Throughout their journey, Ana had already overstepped somewhat, albeit with everyone's tacit consent.

However, as they approached Raiden Mei's true trial, it was natural for Ana to step back at this juncture. Moreover, with Raiden Mei nearing the truth, it wouldn't be long before she might discover the real Ana present within this realm.

Indeed, the Ana appearing now in the Golden Courtyard's grand hall is merely a projection. Her true form, or rather, her primary memory fragment, still resides in the Eternal Paradise.

The power contained within that memory fragment far surpasses what Ana possesses currently. After all, in Ana's original conception, her role encompassed restarting the Elysian Realm and even defeating formidable enemies.

Yes, considering the butterfly effect, Ana had contemplated: What if Ellie and the others couldn't triumph over the Herrscher of Corruption as per the original storyline? In such a scenario, the solution would involve summoning the Herrscher of Origin, her alternate self residing here, to suppress the threat.