Honkai: Oh No, I’ve Become the Herrscher of Corruption?! - Chapter 52

Amidst their mutual surprise, Cecilia found herself stepping into the Elysian Realm’s lounge.

“Oh? You seem… startled?” Elysia teased.

“Ah… yes. I expected the gathering place of the Flame-Chasers to feel more solemn and grand. I didn’t imagine it would be so… lived-in.”

“That was my idea~” Elysia winked. “Sometimes, a little redecorating can work wonders for team cohesion. Work isn’t everything—we all need to unwind together now and then.”

Cecilia glanced around but saw no one else.

“Something on your mind, Cecilia? Ask me anything! I could never refuse a lovely maiden~”

“Elysia, why are you the only Flame-Chaser here? I thought this was a gathering place.”

Elysia chuckled. “Oh, I’m just like you—a curious soul! I love taking the initiative to greet newcomers. As for the others… they’re waiting deeper inside.”

“Everything you see here is woven from our thirteen memories. Think of the Elysian Realm as an ark sailing through the end times—we’re the sails that keep it moving. None of us are expendable.”

“I see… So to meet the others, I’ll need to keep exploring.”

“Exactly~ You sound motivated! Found a goal already? Normally, when Kevin’s absent, Gray Serpent screens candidates—only those deemed worthy may enter to seek truth or answers. But you and the others who came after… well, let’s just say the Herrscher of Corruption used special methods.”

“Ah… She did mention that most come here seeking answers, but for me, she said simply experiencing this place would bring value, regardless of the outcome. Still… that’s a bit vague. Even games need objectives to stay engaging. So I’ve decided—my first goal is to meet all thirteen Flame-Chasers!”

“Mmm… This is a paradise, after all. No harm in keeping things light. That confidence—you must be quite the gamer.”

“I’m alright.”

Cecilia’s “alright” meant topping the leaderboards in Otto’s Kallen Fantasy III… until a certain green-hatted bishop, saltier than the Dead Sea, permabanned her account.

(So when Kiana kept losing to Bronya in co-op, was it a lack of inherited skill… or was Bronya just that good?)

With renewed enthusiasm, Cecilia activated the Waypoint in the hall, venturing deeper.

The Previous Era’s architecture soon caught her eye again—roofs curved upward like wings, adorned with carvings she couldn’t decipher. The style reminded her of ancient Shenzhou in her own era’s records.

Yet as she explored, no human figures appeared. Only Honkai beasts and mechs, lurking in every shadow—though they posed little threat, dissolving before they could touch her.

Peering through windows revealed empty interiors; doors refused to open. It felt like a game world where buildings existed solely as distant set pieces, their insides left barren to save development costs.

In truth, this was simply how memories worked. When passing a neighborhood on the way to the supermarket, one wouldn’t know what lay inside every home. Since the Flame-Chasers themselves lacked those memories, the Realm couldn’t render them.

At the zone’s edge, Cecilia spotted another Waypoint—this one marked with a taiji symbol.

Touching it transported her to a modest house with the same winged eaves, nestled beside a lake. The air hummed with the sounds of wildlife.

“Greetings, successor. I am Hua.”

The voice startled Cecilia. There was something… familiar about it. She turned—and her eyes widened.

“Fu Hua?!”

Though the black coat was new, that face (and the unmistakable flatness beneath it) left no room for doubt.

“…?”

Hua tilted her head, baffled by the stranger’s reaction.

“Ah… I understand now. My apologies, Hua. I reacted that way because… I know you in the real world.”

Hua’s confusion deepened. “The real… me? I survived to your era?”

Cecilia: “???”

“Forgive me. Unlike the others, my memories are… fragmented, due to Fenghuang Down. I may not meet your expectations.”

“An amnesiac memory construct… I’m sorry for projecting my knowledge of you onto who you are here.”

“No, the apology is mine—”

“No, I should—”

“No, the fault lies with me—”

[…]

Five minutes later, Cecilia reluctantly accepted Hua’s insistence to drop the matter.

“This is the Sigil of Vicissitude. I will help you attune to it.”

As Hua spoke, Cecilia felt something shift—new knowledge crystallized in her mind; new strength flowed through her limbs.

“The road stretches long… Dark robes fade… To whom do we pass the torch?* This… is the Sigil of legacy.”*

“Life’s vicissitudes teach that failure precedes triumph. I lack my comrades’ extraordinary gifts—only experience to share. May it aid you.”

Under Hua’s guidance, the teachings fused with Cecilia’s muscle memory.

“This is but the first step. To truly master the Sigil—to carry its power back to reality—requires your own practice and insight.”

“Thank you. We’ll… meet again, won’t we?”

“You must survive long enough for that. Your talent is remarkable, but this place is far deadlier than it appears. Stay vigilant.”

A new Waypoint materialized by the lakeside. With a final nod, Cecilia pressed onward.