"Detection: Host's consciousness under hypnotic influence. Would you like to remove the hypnosis?"
The System continued functioning as usual. Since it operated independently from Jun An, it served as his safeguard even while under hypnosis.
—No need. Is this also a necessary part of the mental synchronization?
"I know, just asking. But to avoid future responsibility, I'd like to confirm again."
"Does the host wish to remove the hypnosis?"
Under normal circumstances, it would have immediately removed the hypnosis for Jun An, but since the one who applied it wasn't an enemy unit, the System was turning a blind eye and merely asking.
—No need. Can't you see I'm enjoying myself?
By the way, this was an encrypted conversation; Aponia couldn't read it.
Jun An watched Aponia kneeling before him, massaging him with the demeanor of a devout nun. Both his body and mind felt immensely satisfied, but as a matter of male dignity, he naturally couldn't show it.
To divert his attention, Jun An deliberately searched for a topic of conversation. "Aponia, throughout this past year, has nobody in the Elysian Realm actively wanted to leave? If someone wanted to go, wouldn't Mobius help if they asked her nicely?"
Though Mobius was among the most calculating ones in the Realm, being scheming was one thing—she would still help if asked politely enough.
This was common knowledge: the most stubborn thing in the Elysian Realm was Mobius's mouth, and her mouth was the only stubborn part of her.
And there were others in this world with mental strength besides Jun An. Su could basically handle Aponia's work too; it was just a matter of different safety levels.
"No one," Aponia said.
Her large orbs bounced up and down before Jun An's face as she diligently worked to relieve his fatigue. "In fifty thousand years, only Mobius ever thought about leaving, and you thwarted her plan. After that, everyone became even less inclined to leave..."
"Really? I thought after the Honkai was defeated, you all could set aside your missions and enjoy exploring the current civilization."
Jun An felt rather disappointed. If even Pardo didn't want to go outside, it meant they truly intended to stay in the Realm.
As a Honkai 3 fan, Jun An would have enjoyed seeing more interactions between the Valkyries, such as Mistilteinn meeting her mother-in-law, the first Herrscher of Lust Rita meeting the second Herrscher of Lust Vita, or interactions between Siegfried's three daughters.
If they only stayed in the Elysian Realm without coming out, such interactions would likely be much fewer.
And if they were willing to go outside, Mei would naturally help them handle identity issues—in fact, she'd already taken care of it, considering Eden had started accepting advertisements within the Realm.
"But everyone is listening to you, Captain, taking a look at the outside world."
Aponia repeated the same massaging motions on Jun An's thighs. It was as if she had flipped a switch—Jun An suddenly felt a wave of comfort throughout his body and couldn't help but stretch his legs. However, he accidentally kicked the table, dirtying Aponia's delicate, somewhat sacred-looking face.
"Ah, sorry... I don't know how that just..."
When Jun An came to his senses, Aponia was looking at him with a benevolent expression. Did she actually seem... pleased?
"It's alright. This proves my massage is working," Aponia touched her dirtied bangs and licked her finger. Jun An felt this gesture seemed familiar, as if he'd seen it somewhere before.
Ah...
Jun An suddenly recalled Himeko's appearance when eating under the table—incredibly seductive.
Moreover, Aponia's identity as a nun gave Jun An a strange sense of satisfaction at having defiled something sacred.
Jun An quickly composed himself, shifting his gaze from Aponia's face that he had accidentally dirtied. What was he thinking? He was in a state of complete mental openness now; it would be troublesome if she read his thoughts.
Seeing Jun An's embarrassed expression, Aponia's smile became more pronounced. "Would you like to continue, Captain?"
"Better not. It would be troublesome if something happened again by accident."
Jun An immediately changed the subject: "Aponia, do you feel it's getting hot?"
"Is it? I do feel a bit warm too. Though it might be improper, would you mind if I removed a piece of clothing?"
"Huh?"
Jun An was a bit startled. Aponia's clothes...
"When you're hot, you take off clothes. That's normal, isn't it?"
"Eh? Normal..."
With a slight dizziness in his head, the scene before Jun An seemed completely ordinary. "Yes, you're right. I must be really tired lately, even talking nonsense."
It seemed some things still required moderation, or else his thinking would become sluggish. If she wanted to undress, she could—what did it have to do with him?
"Why not remove your nun's headdress?"
Jun An looked at Aponia with obvious confusion. If she felt hot, removing the headdress would seem more normal to him, since she was wearing a single-piece outfit.
"Because Captain just felt that if I wore the nun's headdress, it would give a sense of sanctity, didn't you? You probably like that feeling, right?"
Aponia continued her unhurried movements. "By the way, I'm feeling a bit cold now. May I sit closer to you?"
"Oh, just sitting is fine."
Jun An averted his gaze. Although he found it puzzling that a MANTIS would feel too cold or too hot, he didn't delve deeper.
After all, Jun An himself was the type who felt cold in terms of perceived temperature, yet in reality could swim in liquid nitrogen without issue. So Aponia being a bit sensitive to cold shouldn't be a problem.
"Aponia, aside from the others, haven't you ever thought about leaving the Elysian Realm?"
Jun An said, "I remember you entered the Realm to verify the possibility of defying fate, to secure a glimmer of hope for humanity? You don't need to do that anymore."
Because humanity's future was uncertain, constantly guided by the threads of fate. Even though Elysia had cut the threads of destiny, the future still remained incomparably dark.
Aponia sat beside Jun An and said softly, "Once, Elysia severed all threads, erasing my differences from ordinary people, making me unable to see the future. This led me to a new despair, forcing me to seek new hope within the Elysian Realm."
"I became one with the Realm itself, controlling everything like a deity, waiting for someone to pull me down from my divine pedestal."
"Then I met you. You were unbound by fate, with an unwavering direction and a radiance like Elysia's. It was you who pulled me out of that mire where the future was invisible."
Aponia recalled Jun An's various actions after entering the Realm. Back then, before becoming a MANTIS, he sought stigmata to gain power, even establishing connections with Kalpas.
Although initially just observing, as she continued watching Jun An's actions, she unconsciously became inspired by him and began to contemplate human possibilities.
And later, Jun An indeed succeeded, defeating her—the omnipotent deity within the Realm.
Moreover, Jun An defeated the Herrscher of Corruption, who was even more omnipotent than her in the Realm, while preserving everyone there—an achievement beyond Aponia's imagination.
Even in retrospect, Mobius and Vill-V indicated it would have cost at least three to five Flame-Chasers as sacrifice.
"However, after you had your incident, I planned to observe the three-year mourning period according to your customs before deciding anything."
"Three-year mourning? What's that?"
Jun An was a bit startled, "Isn't that only for family members or husbands? You didn't need to do that."
"Captain, even though you might not realize it, I am a girl too. In the long and hopeless fifty thousand years, suddenly, a dazzling ray of light shone down. Even I would cherish and worship it as divine."
Aponia's words seemed somewhat resentful, but her speech appeared to become slightly halting. Jun An thought it must be his imagination.
However, Aponia was right—this world's difficulty level was quite high.
Small incidents could escalate into situations like the previous revolt against Schicksal by an organization composed of three MANTIS. If Schicksal's mid-level combat forces hadn't all been upgraded by Jun An, Helia might possibly have fallen during Chameleon's assassination of the chieftain.
If Kevin from the Previous Era, serving as the Current Era's boss, hadn't been strengthened as well, Jun An estimated the Previous Civilization would have perished long before Finality.
Against this backdrop, how could humanity's future not be dark?
And Jun An felt quite good being praised.
"I'm not as incredible as you say." Jun An enjoyed the praise but verbally maintained his modesty.
"But Captain truly accomplished it. As thanks, let me massage your shoulders this time."
Aponia continued massaging Jun An. Her slender fingers easily covered his shoulders, and even her large thunders pressed against his face—softer than Himeko's.
However, Jun An also noticed something unusual: why was Aponia massaging his shoulders when the comfortable spots weren't just there?
Probably some illusion to help him relax. Mental perception-type MANTIS were truly impressive.
"Mommy Aponia, I've come to sketch."
Suddenly, a girl with light blue hair entered the Deep End—Griseo, chronologically under legal age but actually fifty thousand years old.
"Ah, Griseo..."
Aponia suddenly seemed flustered, having forgotten to close the door from the art studio to the Deep End.
Jun An clearly felt her body stiffen, then begin to tremble. Why such an intense reaction?
"Hi, Griseo, remember me?" Jun An pushed aside the giant armor blocking his face to greet Griseo, whose paintbrush and palette had quietly fallen to the ground.
"It's Daddy Jun An's color..."
Griseo's mind was somewhat confused, feeling dizzy. "But why is Daddy Jun An together with Mommy Aponia...?"
"Daddy and Mommy being together, isn't that very normal?"
Aponia responded with a smile. "And I'm just giving Daddy a massage, nothing strange about that."
Jun An also said to the blushing Griseo: "Well, it's just a massage, this is very normal. Even ordinary friends do this for each other."
Looking at Griseo's blushing face, he thought how remarkable the nature of memory simulacra was. After fifty thousand years, despite accumulating knowledge and memories beyond ordinary humans, their personalities couldn't be easily changed.
Fifty thousand years old yet still with a child's personality, blushing just from seeing someone get a massage.
Or was Griseo actually the secretly perverted type? Perhaps she really was.
"Is, is that so?" Griseo seemed doubtful.
"Griseo, right now the Captain and I are doing something very important. If you want to paint, please go over there, okay?"
Aponia pointed to a spot in the Deep End, then used her mental power to check all pathways leading to the Deep End once more before saying: "Don't worry, we won't disturb you."
Jun An nodded as well. Currently, Aponia was scanning his mind—this was indeed important.
However, Griseo stood motionless, seemingly making an important decision.
"I like Daddy Jun An too,"
Griseo's attitude was unusually firm. "I want to give Daddy Jun An a massage too!"