Honkai: Strijder
Chapter 431: I Don't Remember
Because the night had been long, the next day Kiana—still wearing a festive red cheongsam—was lying limply across the living room sofa.
Seele had very consciously come over to show concern, massaging Kiana's shoulders.
Bronya had also taken the initiative to help, currently kneading Kiana's waist and back.
While working, Bronya asked:
"How is this level of pressure?"
"Ah… whatever. Just let me zone out for a bit and rest first."
Kiana replied weakly, then slowly turned her head and stared straight at Bronya with lifeless, unfocused eyes.
Bronya's gaze drifted to the side.
From being passive before to becoming the proactive "predatory type" he was now, Sigurd's change had a lot to do with Bronya. But recently, for various reasons, she had been avoiding her "responsibilities," whether actively or passively. Thinking about everything Kiana had endured made even the usually cold and emotionless Bronya feel a little guilty.
With dead-fish eyes and a blank expression, Kiana asked:
"You don't have anything else to do tonight… right?"
"Bronya… Bronya is free."
"That's good. If I don't get some rest soon, my mind is going to turn into nothing but beep-beep-beep beep-beep."
Kiana's voice carried a sense of utter exhaustion.
Feeling good was one thing, but feeling too good nonstop… her mind really might break.
Bronya half-narrowed her eyes and swallowed. Honestly speaking, if even Kiana couldn't handle things one-on-one, then someone with Bronya's petite body and normal human constitution didn't stand a chance. Bronya couldn't refuse, but the usually expressionless face was starting to show faint cracks.
At this moment, because of Kiana's blunt words, Seele—who was massaging Kiana's shoulders—instinctively glanced at Sigurd sitting not far away. Her cheeks instantly flushed bright red.
"Seele, that's a bit strong. My shoulder hurts."
"Ah! S-s-sorry, Kiana onee-chan!"
"It's fine. Thanks for helping me with a massage so early in the morning."
"It's nothing… you're welcome…"
Seele replied timidly, blushing behind Kiana as she continued the massage.
…
On Sigurd's side, he accepted Jizo Mitama from Yae Sakura, who was dressed in a black ninja outfit. Flicking the blade lightly and listening to the metallic hum, he lowered his head to look at Higokumaru standing on the table.
"Are we going now?"
"Yes. Now."
Higokumaru twisted her fingers together, the fluffy fox tail behind her twitching restlessly, revealing the turbulence in her heart.
After hesitating for a moment, she slowly bowed.
"Please… no matter what, I want to see her one more time."
"You don't need to be so formal. You and Yae Sakura have helped me quite a lot, and that other Miss Sakura helped me too. As long as you ask, I'll make your wish come true. I'm not that cold-hearted, am I?"
Sigurd reached out and rubbed Higokumaru's fluffy head.
Higokumaru lowered her head, her eyelashes trembling slightly. For the first time, she didn't resist Sigurd's action at all.
This made Sigurd sigh inwardly. The matter of Sakura must truly have affected her deeply.
Higokumaru allowed Sigurd's gesture, but suddenly felt the corrosive power within her body rapidly fading.
"You—!"
She cried out in surprise. Before she could react, she realized her field of vision was slowly getting higher. In just a few moments, a fifteen- or sixteen-year-old girl with cherry-red long hair appeared sitting on the table, wearing a shirt and short skirt, her expression stunned.
"I… this is…"
"Miss Sakura in the Elysian Realm carries a fragment of the soul of the Sakura from the previous era. The two are essentially the same. The only difference is that she doesn't have the memories from after you became a Herrscher. At the very least, go meet her in a human form. That's all I can help you with."
"Thank you…"
"You're welcome. Bronya, take them to the underground."
Sigurd gave the order to Bronya.
"Understood!"
Bronya withdrew her hands from Kiana's waist, gave a salute, and then led Yae Sakura and the drastically transformed Higokumaru away.
Sigurd didn't pay attention to what happened afterward. These two sisters, both in extremely unusual states, were reuniting after fifty thousand years. No matter what, it was something between them. Outsiders should interfere as little as possible.
At this moment, Kiana waved to signal Seele to stop, then lay on the sofa and wriggled forward like a caterpillar until she finally collapsed onto Sigurd's lap, letting out a satisfied sigh.
"Ah… I'm so tired…"
"Is the burden really that heavy?"
Sigurd asked hesitantly, reaching out to stroke Kiana's head.
After all, the earlier "turning someone into a human" spectacle—especially with Higokumaru being quite attractive—should normally have made Kiana rush over to watch immediately. Yet now she looked completely uninterested.
Kiana rolled her eyes, turned her head, and said gloomily:
"It's all your fault! Beast!"
"I'll restrain myself a little next time."
"That's not really necessary…"
Kiana muttered, then turned over and sat up, leaning against Sigurd and finding a comfortable position before continuing softly:
"It's not like… it's not like I said I didn't like it…"
The girl blushed. A sweet, delicate scent seemed to drift from her body into Sigurd's senses, making him wrap an arm around her waist and lower his head to kiss her lips.
Kiana was startled for a moment and hesitated, briefly glancing at Seele nearby. But in the end, she still melted into the lingering exchange, eventually falling asleep in Sigurd's arms.
"Oh my, oh my. First thing in the morning and you're already—mmph!"
Mobius, who had arrived gracefully in a small flying device, had only just begun teasing when Sigurd stuffed a towel into her mouth, cutting her off.
"She's sleeping. Don't wake her."
Sigurd looked at Mobius calmly and said in a low voice.
Mobius pulled the towel out of her mouth. Her long green hair floated behind her, and along with it several metal tentacles stirred restlessly.
Just then, Elysia suddenly appeared with a bright smile. She forcibly hugged Mobius and covered her mouth as well, then cheerfully dragged her away from Sigurd—thus preventing a potential disaster.
Meanwhile, other people gradually began to appear. From the kitchen came the aroma of breakfast prepared by Raiden Mei and Rita.
…
After breakfast, those with tasks went off to handle them, while those without tasks either trained, gathered to chat, or simply wandered around doing nothing. In short, everyone had their own way of spending the time.
Sigurd sat inside the newly repaired golden palace—solemn and magnificent.
Facing Otto, who slowly walked in, Sigurd raised a hand. A seat rose before him, level with his own.
"Sit."
"Thank you for Your Majesty's grace!"
"Cut it out. It makes me feel awkward. Call me whatever you used to call me before. My authority has nothing to do with what you call me."
"What a pity. It was clearly quite entertaining."
Otto sat across from Sigurd and said with a smiling face.
One of Otto's hobbies was acting; another was happily teasing Sigurd.
Calling him "Your Majesty the Emperor" again and again like someone from ancient times, making Sigurd feel awkward at every moment—wasn't that perfectly suited to the Overseer's hobbies?
Sigurd simply looked at him calmly and said nothing.
Otto gradually became embarrassed under that gaze. In the end he coughed lightly and said:
"Ahem! Alright, my dear friend. Since you specifically called me here, what did you want to talk about?"
"Kiana Kaslana."
"Mmm! An expected answer—no surprise at all. I'm a little disappointed."
Otto spread his hands and said with a bright smile.
Then his expression suddenly turned serious.
Kiana Kaslana—the original body of that Kiana "Tuna" Kaslana. The problem concerning her was indeed very serious.
Sigurd had his suspicions, and Otto had his as well. That mysterious young lady might very well be connected to the Herrscher of the End.
And the End was the greatest obstacle in defeating the Honkai.
Sigurd leaned back and crossed his legs.
"Let's talk about Durandal first."
"Durandal? What problem could she possibly have?"
"At a time like this, what's the point of hiding it? Durandal's talent is so abnormal that I naturally conducted some private research. I already discovered that her genes are basically identical to Kiana's. She must be another clone experiment of yours. Tell me, what exactly is her origin?"
"What are you talking about? What does Durandal have to do with that young lady or with Kiana? She's just… just…"
Otto's words suddenly stopped. Stroking his chin, his brows gradually knitted together.
"That's right… I sent the young Durandal to an orphanage and trained her into the strongest Valkyrie in the history of Schicksal. But before that… where did Durandal come from?"
Otto muttered to himself, confusion appearing in his eyes.
Sigurd's calm expression disappeared. Leaning forward, he asked seriously:
"Are you serious, Otto?"
"I… I don't remember. There's nothing in my memory about her origins."
Otto said blankly, looking somewhat at a loss.
Then silence enveloped the entire palace.
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