Many years later, facing the two people he was about to meet once again, Kevin Kaslana would still recall that distant night when Shun spoke to him.
"If one day, all it takes is to pull the trigger on me like this to save the majority, Kevin what would you do?" In the capital of Mu Continent, on the rooftop of one of Fire Moth's office buildings, Shun had invited Kevin up there and said these words to him.
At that time, Kevin was not yet the walking refrigerator of the future. Although the Third Honkai had changed his life, the people important to him were still by his side. One could still glimpse traces of the prince-like figure from Senba Academy in him back then.
Kevin smiled and deflected as if changing the subject: "Shun, what are you even saying? We're friends how could my gun ever point at you? As for Seele, don't worry. With Dr. Mobius and Mei around, everything will definitely be fine!"
Shun gave a soft chuckle, but there wasn't the slightest trace of amusement on his face. "Kevin, one day in the future you'll understand there's a phrase called 'body not obeying the heart.'"
Kevin remained noncommittal. In his view, this wasn't a big deal. As long as these companions were here, they could surely defeat Honkai. He, who had never tasted true powerlessness or despair, was still very optimistic. Only when he later understood what Shun truly meant by those words would everything already be too late.
Walking through the pitch-black palace constructed of profound ice, Seele had already fearfully shrunk her entire body behind Shun. Shun, on the other hand, strode confidently across the icy surface.
The only person capable of creating a palace like this was probably Kevin. Who would have thought Kevin was actually quite the chuunibyou at heart living alone here and still having the mood to build something so extravagant.
"Ah!" At that moment, Seele suddenly let out a startled cry from behind Shun. Shun immediately turned back with concern: "Seele, what's wrong?" Although this was already Kevin's domain, the possibility of an accident wasn't zero.
"It's nothing… I just stepped on something." Seele lifted her foot. Shun looked down at the ground and saw some small ice crystals. He picked one up and examined its shape. It resembled a type of glass object called Rupert's tear.
Shun casually tossed the ice crystal aside and said to Seele: "It's nothing just some ice crystals. Let's keep going."
Seele nodded, inwardly scolding herself for being so jumpy and causing trouble for Shun-oniichan again. Next time, she had to muster her courage and not be like this anymore.
The two continued deeper into the palace. Finally, at the end of the high platform, they saw Kevin seated upon his throne.
"Is this the person Shun-oniichan is looking for?" Seele curiously glanced over once before quickly averting her eyes. The other party's aura felt overwhelmingly powerful but he did look very strong. Maybe he really had a way to help them return.
Shun looked at Kevin, momentarily unsure how to begin. Should he drop to one knee right away, break his staff, and swear loyalty to Kevin? Or should he play the riddle-speaker like Kevin and act reserved?
But Seele was still behind him he had to maintain his image, right? If he lost his so-called [big brother dignity], how could he ever hold his head up in front of Seele again?
Kevin, too, was troubled about how to speak to Shun. They hadn't seen each other in fifty thousand years, and their last meeting hadn't been pleasant. Although the other side might not recognize him, Kevin was still carefully choosing his words.
And so, Shun and Kevin stared at each other Shun looking at Kevin, Kevin looking at Shun. Neither spoke. Naturally, Seele didn't dare open her mouth either. The atmosphere on the scene simply froze.
In the end, Kevin couldn't hold out and spoke first. "I have been watching you ever since you entered the palace. Tell me your names, you who bear the mark of the serpent."
Hearing Kevin say this, Shun breathed a sigh of relief. It was good that the other side spoke first. But Kevin didn't seem to recognize him he had really thought everyone knew him.
Since Kevin had asked, Shun naturally had no reason to hide his name.
"Shun."
"Seele Vollerei," Seele quietly added from behind.
"I see. State your purpose. As the sovereign of World Serpent, it is my duty to assist you." Kevin spoke with a cold face, pretending this was the first time he had heard the name though a strange feeling lingered in his heart.
Fortunately, Kevin had long since become expressionless, and the dim lighting here prevented Shun and Seele from noticing anything unusual.
Shun took a step forward, looked up at Kevin, and said: "It's like this, Sovereign…"
Kevin's eyebrow twitched slightly at the words "Sovereign," but he didn't react outwardly. His hand resting on the arm of the throne unconsciously rubbed against it though no one could see from their angle.
"I understand. I will find a way to send you back to the real world as soon as possible." Kevin said, waving his hand. A fierce cold wind suddenly rose in the palace, sweeping Shun and Seele into the air. In midair, Shun quickly grabbed Seele and pulled her small body into his embrace. Seele instinctively hugged Shun tightly and curled up in his arms.
The two clung together as they were blown outward. When they landed back on solid ground, they found they had already left the profound-ice palace.
Shun let go of Seele and set her down, scratched his head, and looked toward the palace. "What exactly is Kevin thinking?" Kevin's behavior of keeping people at arm's length felt strange to Shun. He couldn't shake the feeling that Kevin seemed to be avoiding him and Seele.
But Shun quickly put the thought aside. Come on why would Kevin need to avoid them? Emperor Kevin, who had reigned alone for eternity and stood as the strongest below Finality, avoiding two noobs like him and Seele?
"Seele, are you okay?"
"I-I'm fine…" Seele shrank her head, cheeks slightly flushed, not quite daring to look at Shun.
Bronya: "Cow! There's a cow!"
"Sigh, there's no other choice now. Since Kevin said he'll find a way to send us back, let's trust him." Shun still had great faith in Kevin. The sense of security Kevin provided as an ally was unmatched.
Meanwhile, after sending Shun and Seele away, Kevin also breathed a sigh of relief. Toward these two, his heart still carried deep guilt. If only he had been strong enough back then if only his ideals hadn't been so naïve perhaps everything wouldn't have become irreparable.
If the current Kevin were to face that choice again…
"You know I've always been this selfish. I never gave up because I never persisted. What is Honkai? What will happen to humanity? I don't care at all. If one day I must pull the trigger on [you] to save the majority what would I do?"
"Hmph!"
"It has nothing to do with choice, nothing to do with survival. This time, I stake my own life in the chamber solely to save [one] person."