Elysia, the Best Wingman

"Kevin? What are you doing?"

"Shh! Keep it down, if Elysia hears me, she'll kick me out again…"

Kevin nervously looked around, relieved when he didn't see the pink figure. "I heard you were injured and wanted to see you, but no one would tell me where you were… I finally got your location from Kosma, but Elysia's blocking the hospital entrance."

"Is that so? You've really gone through a lot." Lee leaned against the windowsill, smiling at Kevin clinging to the wall. "But are you planning to talk to me from out there? I didn't know you'd learned gecko techniques~"

Knowing his position wasn't exactly graceful, Kevin looked embarrassed. "Elysia's watching the main entrance too closely. I had to climb up from this side…"

Lee wasn't sure whether to admire Elysia's vigilance in keeping even the stronger Kevin away or Kevin's determination in sneaking around to see her.

This was probably something only Kevin could pull off. Someone weaker would have been detected by Elysia immediately.

"Come in, already." Lee shook her head, moving aside to let Kevin in. "Elysia patrols the hospital. You'll be spotted quickly."

Kevin eagerly slipped into the room, closing and drawing the curtains in one smooth motion.

"Slick moves, Kevin. When did you get back to HQ?" Lee leaned against the wall, smiling. "You seem much better than you did back at the camp."

"I came back after things were settled in the disaster zone, two or three days ago—but that's not important. Lee, you…" Seeing Lee in her hospital gown, crutches nearby, Kevin's anxious voice softened. He asked cautiously, "What happened to you?"

[Energy +50,000]

"Nothing serious… Didn't the Doctor tell you?"

"I asked, but Mobius and the others are ignoring me." Kevin shook his head. He figured it was because of his hesitation, which had cost hundreds of thousands of lives.

If not for the Fire Moth's new serum, an entire city of millions would have perished… So he understood why Mobius and Elysia were upset.

"I only know that HQ was attacked a few days ago, and you were seriously injured." Kevin sighed. "Mei won't tell me anything, and I can't reach Vill-V. I ran into Kosma this morning, and he told me you were here."

"Don't worry, I'm fine." Lee hobbled over to the bed and sat down. "I'll talk to the Doctor and the others… They're all warriors against the Honkai, why are they holding grudges? But I hope you won't dwell on it either, Kevin. They're just worried."

"I'm fine, but you, Lee…"

Kevin's gaze fell on the crutches, his voice tense. "Why… like this?"

"…There was a lab accident. It's nothing serious." Lee smiled. "But I might not be able to go on missions with you for a while—"

"Lee, please don't brush me off. I can share your burdens now!" Seeing Lee trying to evade the question, Kevin grew anxious.

His greatest goal had always been to become stronger than Lee, to protect her and the world she wanted to protect.

But he hadn't heeded her warning during the battle against the Herrscher, his hesitation resulting in millions of deaths… He had failed to protect the world. If not for the serum, Kevin couldn't bear to imagine what state he'd be in, having witnessed so many die before his eyes.

And now, the person he most wanted to protect was seriously injured at HQ—how could he stay calm?

He instinctively grabbed Lee's wrist, his voice earnest. "Please, Lee, tell me what really—"

"Kevin, you're hurting me…"

[Energy +10,000]

[Energy +30,000]

"Ah?! I… I'm sorry!"

Kevin quickly let go. Just then, the door burst open, revealing a furious pink-haired gatekeeper.

"Kevin, it's you! You're bullying Lee again?!"

"No, I—"

"Get out!!"

Ignoring Kevin's explanation, Elysia flung open the window and tossed him back out the way he came. "Stay away!"

Lee sat on the bed, stunned.

Wow, even the usually gentle Elysia has a temper. Although Lee had timed her "distress" to coincide with Elysia's patrol, the scene still surprised her.

"…Elysia, you don't have to be so harsh on Kevin."

Looking at the fuming Elysia slamming the window shut, Lee sighed. "He didn't do anything wrong."

"He didn't do anything wrong?!" Elysia glared in the direction Kevin had been thrown, yanking the curtains closed to block his view.

"I can understand what Mobius and the others did, but this is entirely Kevin's fault, isn't it? You warned him so many times, yet he still showed mercy to the Herrscher, causing so many deaths, and causing you to—"

"Elysia, it was Kevin's first time facing a Herrscher. We can't expect him to handle everything perfectly." Lee shook her head gently. "Besides, it was also our first encounter with a Herrscher feigning a host's consciousness. Even if I were there, I couldn't say for sure that I wouldn't have been fooled."

As if! No matter how good the Herrscher's acting, any Herrscher who harmed others would only face death at her hands!

"Lee, you're too kind to others." Elysia sighed. "Especially Kevin… If it weren't for his mistake, you wouldn't be like this now."

"I'm fine. Mei said I should be discharged in a couple of days."

Looking at the still-smiling Lee, Elysia finally snapped. "Fine?! Do you even remember how many times your blood was drained to make the serum that saved those people who were dying because of Kevin?! They even stuck needles into your bones, extracting your bone marrow—"

"Elysia, if killing you could save the world, would you be willing?" Lee suddenly interrupted.

"…" Elysia fell silent. She knew her answer and understood what Lee meant.

"My answer is the same as yours."

But you've got one thing wrong, Elysia—I'm not gentle at all, especially not to Kevin.

Lee maintained a calm smile as she watched Elysia, her attention actually focused on the system notification and the map marker.

[Energy +600,000]

Seeing Kevin's icon reappear at the door, Lee had to bite back a laugh.

From being thrown out to sneaking back in, all in just a few seconds. That boy is fast.