I'm Elysia's Dog!!!

Opening her eyes, Eden saw crimson feathers drifting through the air.

Her captors stood frozen, eyes vacant, like puppets with their strings cut.

At the center of it all stood a pink-haired girl, ethereal as a fairy-tale sprite, her expression a mix of exasperation and disapproval. She navigated the still figures, approaching Eden with an air of calm authority.

A gentle breeze lifted her pink hair, revealing a silver hair ornament adorned with a ruby-like gem, echoing the falling feathers.

"It's you?!" Eden gasped, surprise, confusion, and joy swirling within her like a vibrant pie chart of emotions.

"Indeed~ Surprised?" the girl asked, a playful lilt in her voice as she knelt down to untie Eden's bonds.

Eden managed a wry smile, relief washing over her. "I'd imagined many scenarios, but never this…" she winced, her elegant features contorted in pain.

Her captors hadn't shown any mercy. Coarse rope, tied with brutal efficiency, had dug into her skin, leaving bloody welts beneath her thin clothing.

Despite her resilience, she was still a singer, an artist, not a warrior.

The girl, noticing her injuries, clicked her tongue. "Honestly, how could they do this to such a beautiful girl?" [Elysia] sighed.

"I… apologize for this unseemly sight," Eden murmured, struggling to stand. Her legs trembled, threatening to give way.

Years of dance training, a legacy of her musical upbringing, were the only reason she could still move.

"Could you… help me?" she asked hesitantly, a blush creeping up her cheeks. It wasn't because she wanted to be closer to the girl, of course. Not at all.

"Of course~" the girl chirped, her smile widening.

As she drew near, the familiar, calming scent enveloped Eden, unchanged since their first encounter. The pain remained, but it was overshadowed by the frantic thumping of her heart.

Eden reached out instinctively—

But [Elysia] simply stepped aside, then—

The world turned upside down.

A moment of disorientation, then Eden found herself cradled in the girl's arms—a princess carry.

Her blush deepened. "I… I can walk," she mumbled.

"I know," the girl replied calmly, a mischievous glint in her eyes. "But I want to hold you~ Is that a problem?"

The sweet voice, laced with playful defiance, a hint of a fairy-like wheedle, sent Eden's heart into overdrive.

Want to hold me…?

Not a problem at all!

If anything, Eden wished she were the one doing the carrying.

But for this girl… she'd gladly be the princess.

Nestled in the warm embrace, the familiar scent washing over her, Eden's pain began to recede. She gazed at Elysia's slender arms, a sense of wonder washing over her. Beneath that delicate exterior lay surprising strength.

Eden, after all, weighed 58 kg! (Though Elysia, while 3 kg lighter, was also 11 cm shorter – talk about density!)

"They…" Eden gestured towards her still-frozen captors, concern lacing her voice.

"Don't worry, someone will take care of them," Jiang Qiao reassured her, navigating the crowd with ease.

MEI had contingency plans for such incidents, especially after the Herrscher of Dominance's appearance.

After due process, these individuals would be sent to the "Depths," managed by Aponia—Vill-V's prison, now repurposed as a testing ground for Project: Avalon.

"How… how did you find me?" Eden asked, settling into the Fire Moth vehicle beside Elysia.

From capture to rescue, less than an hour had passed. Such efficiency would make any police force green with envy.

But the real question wasn't the speed—it was how [Elysia] knew. Eden's agency hadn't even reported the kidnapping!

Partly because some of the kidnappers were from the agency itself. Others had used underhanded methods to suppress the news. Those who cared about Eden were kept in the dark, and those who noticed her absence were brushed off.

Many within the agency were clueless about the concert's postponement.

This was Eden's final performance in Mu Continent, her most important one. Mu Continent represented the peak of the Previous Era's prosperity. A successful concert here would solidify her position at the top.

Could it be…

Had she been… watching me?

Eden blushed at the thought.

There was no other explanation.

"Heehee~ It was Femirins's doing~" The girl held up her phone, and the little imp appeared on the screen.

"[Excited] It's the famous superstar Eden!"

"[Proud] Hello! I am Femirins!"

[Elysia] grinned, watching Eden's startled reaction.

Even for Jiang Qiao, finding Eden quickly wouldn't have been easy. She wasn't a MANTIS yet, possessing no Honkai energy.

But for Femirins, a super AI, it was child's play.

Hacking traffic cameras, analyzing online data, and cross-referencing with geographical information pinpointed Eden's location with ease.

"Uh… hello…" Eden waved awkwardly, still processing the sudden appearance of the AI.

"Is this… an AI?"

Eden followed AI development. While unrelated to art, she was a staunch opponent of the "AI will replace humans" argument.

Her wealth and influence granted her access to the world's leading AI. But they'd all been… underwhelming.

Their creations lacked soul, emotion, the spark of creativity.

From an artistic perspective, it was disastrous.

But this little AI was different. She possessed a… sentience.

Jiang Qiao, thankfully, skipped the lengthy explanations. He briefly introduced Femirins, mentioning her need for Eden's "art."

"You need… to study my art?" Eden blinked, then smiled. "I'm honored."

She didn't believe machines could replace human artistic expression. But she recognized their potential.

If her art could help humanity progress, she was happy to contribute.

Besides, she would have performed tomorrow anyway. She'd never broken a promise to her fans. Not even after this betrayal.

But before that…

A little indulgence wouldn't hurt, would it?

Her gaze remained fixed on [Elysia], her heart overflowing with unspoken words.

Noticing Eden's intense, almost yearning stare, the girl chuckled. "I imagine you need some rest after all that."

"Would you mind if I kept you company, Eden?"

"It would be my pleasure… Elysia," Eden replied softly, her eyes sparkling with warmth. She'd learned [Elysia]'s name during their conversation.

Meanwhile, the real Elysia, completely unaware that someone was using her body to charm a famous singer, sneezed violently in a Southeast Asian city near the Barret border.

A bone-chilling frost covered half the city, courtesy of the Emperor-class Honkai beast, Ganesha—the infamous Ice Pig, future source of Kevin's genes.

Ganesha was supposed to be the 5th Herrscher's companion beast. But with Jiang Qiao's… intervention… in the Imaginary Tree, the Herrscher's birth had been delayed, leaving Ganesha to rampage alone.

Fire Moth had tracked Ganesha's origin to South Asia. A problematic region.

One of the few places outside Fire Moth's jurisdiction. At least, until its government collapsed.

During a UN meeting, they'd even threatened to use WMDs if Fire Moth intervened.

Well, that's how they handled Honkai eruptions anyway.

Collateral damage? What were civilians?

Thankfully, the Herrscher of Dominance's arrival had fractured their government, creating an opportunity for Fire Moth to step in.

And Elysia (in Jiang Qiao's body) was furious.

Destroying cities, interrupting her plans…

Ganesha… you're dead!!!

As the fuming fairy pummeled the Ice Pig, Jiang Qiao and Eden relaxed in a secluded courtyard—a Fire Moth property intended for researchers seeking inspiration.

It had remained largely unused since its construction. Even Einstein, when entertaining guests, preferred other locations.

The only frequent visitor was Yssring, using it as her secret dessert hideout—until she was inevitably caught.

Sitting across from the pink-haired girl, Eden struggled to find the right words.

What should she say? She barely knew this "girl."

A single, fleeting encounter had sparked an inexplicable fascination.

Thankfully, [Elysia] broke the silence.

"Eden, would you play me a song?"

Sensing Eden's nervousness, she offered a gentle smile.

Eden, of course, couldn't refuse. This was her element. If [Elysia] enjoyed her music, it would be perfect.

But…

"Elysia, there's no piano here…" Eden gestured around the empty courtyard, a hint of amusement in her voice.

It was clean, quiet, meticulously maintained by machines. But aside from sipping tea and enjoying the sunshine, there was little to do.

"It seems that way…" the girl agreed, tilting her head, her elegant neck exposed.

Just as Eden resigned herself to a raincheck, offering a promise for a future performance—

[Elysia]'s slender fingers danced in the air.

Ding~

A clear, resonant note echoed through the courtyard.

As Eden watched, mesmerized, the water from the fountain rose, forming shimmering ribbons that danced around them.

The gentle murmur of wind and water blended harmoniously.

The setting sun bathed them in a warm glow. A crystal gramophone appeared, seemingly out of thin air, playing a classical melody. A pristine crystal record spun within.

Eden closed her eyes, lost in the beauty of the moment.

Despite technological advancements, she remained devoted to the nostalgic charm of vinyl records and gramophones.

And to the timeless elegance of classical music.

[Elysia], smiling, poured tea from a small teapot that hadn't been there before.

Thanks to Elysia's memories, Jiang Qiao knew Eden's preferences intimately.

Eden took a sip, then paused, surprised.

"Wine?"

"A Mu Continent specialty. You enjoy it, don't you?" the girl smiled.

Eden chuckled. "Wine is best enjoyed in a stemmed glass," she said softly, a playful lilt in her voice.

"Does it matter?" [Elysia] asked, sipping her tea. "Does the container change the taste?"

"Well, it does affect the…" Eden began to explain, then stopped, deciding not to dwell on it. She drained the cup, savoring the subtle notes of the wine despite the unconventional vessel.

If it was for Elysia, it didn't matter.

With the wind as their instrument and the flowing water as their melody, the two settled into a comfortable silence, like old friends reunited.

To Eden's delight, [Elysia] shared her love for art. This hadn't changed, even though Jiang Qiao inhabited her body.

While Elysia admired human beauty, Jiang Qiao was drawn to the brilliance of the human spirit.

Both appreciated art, but their approaches differed. Elysia enjoyed it superficially, while Jiang Qiao… understood its essence.

It was a difference in levels of understanding, like educational attainment.

Elysia might say, "That song is beautiful."

And Eden would agree, launching into a detailed analysis.

Elysia, meanwhile, would simply nod, impressed but lacking the vocabulary to engage further.

Jiang Qiao, however, could discuss art on Eden's level. Especially with Elysia's memories.

While Elysia had spent five millennia with Eden mostly drinking and cuddling, even a pig would absorb some artistic knowledge after five millennia with the Previous Era's greatest artist.

And Jiang Qiao, with those memories, was no pig. He was steeped in Eden's essence.

And Eden, an Elysia fan and art lover, was utterly captivated by this "Super Elysia" (Jiang Qiao Plus version).

She's so cute, she understands me so well… she's perfect!

A true kindred spirit.

If Eden weren't so reserved, she would've tweeted: Guys, I'm in love. And yes, that rumor is true. I'm totally gay.

Woof woof woof!!! I'm Elysia's dog!!!

Sensing Eden's intense gaze, the almost predatory gleam in her eyes, [Elysia] smiled nervously.

So this is what rich ladies are like?

Though surprised, Jiang Qiao still had a mission to complete: the Elysian Realm Eden's request.

Eden seemed to sense his shift in focus. She composed herself, her expression returning to its usual serenity.

"Is there something you want to tell me?"

"Heehee~ You see right through me, Eden," [Elysia] chuckled, then added softly, "But it's more accurate to say… there's something she wants to tell you."

A cryptic statement. But Eden trusted [Elysia] implicitly.

She racked her brain, but the meaning remained elusive.

[Elysia] smiled, deciding to show rather than tell.

With a flick of her wrist—

The music stopped. The water ribbons coalesced, forming a shimmering image in the air. The setting sun illuminated it, revealing…

Eden's own face.

Using a fraction of the Herrscher of Wind's power, Jiang Qiao manipulated the water and air to project a memory.

The Feather of Truth could achieve the same, even more perfectly. But it was an invasive Divine Key, potentially harmful to ordinary humans.

The Herrscher's power was gentler.

Eden watched, speechless, as the scene unfolded before her, every word echoing through the courtyard.

"What… what is this…?" she whispered, her voice trembling.

"The future… or rather, a remnant of you left behind," [Elysia] explained as the water returned to the fountain and the wind settled.

The information contained within that sweet voice was overwhelming.

"The future?"

"Then what about… me?"

Trusting [Elysia], Eden didn't question the revelation. But like anyone, she was curious about her own fate. The question died on her lips as realization dawned.

[Elysia] simply smiled.

"You already know the answer, don't you?"