Honkai: Strijder
Chapter 433: Su's Miscalculation
"So you're saying Durandal is Kiana, and Kiana is Durandal… I think my brain is already a mess."
"To be honest, I was caught a bit off guard too. The development of events has gone beyond my control. I shouldn't have been so relaxed—after returning, I should have investigated that mysterious young lady's truth immediately."
Nighttime, in the living room of Sigurd's room.
Kiana curled up on the sofa with her head resting on Sigurd's thigh while he stroked her hair, sighing as he talked with her.
Across from them, Bronya held a cup of black tea, her expression somewhat stiff.
Durandal — golden hair, tall and imposing.
Kiana — silver-haired beauty.
This kind of truth was indeed hard to believe.
After a moment of silence, Bronya spoke.
"Are you certain, Sigurd?"
"The history Su observed in the Sea of Quanta is most likely the truth." Sigurd replied.
Another long silence followed. Both Bronya and Kiana needed time to process this shocking news.
After a while, Kiana raised her head and asked Sigurd:
"If Durandal is the real Kiana… then who is that girl?"
Naturally, Kiana was referring to the mysterious young lady in the golden space who looked exactly like her. That person had even confidently said she would give the name Kiana Kaslana to her. If she wasn't the real Kiana, where did that confidence come from?
"…I don't know."
Sigurd answered, though there was a brief pause.
If that person really was another Kiana from a different timeline, then what made her different from the Kiana here? What had she experienced? Sigurd felt there were too many questions involved. Until there were clearer answers, it was better not to burden Kiana with more worries.
"Oh."
Kiana responded quietly. She could tell Sigurd didn't want to discuss it further, but she trusted his judgment and didn't press the matter.
Sigurd smiled slightly and pinched Kiana's cheek reassuringly.
"Be patient. I'll tell you later."
"Mhm. I trust you, Sig."
Kiana hugged him and leaned against his chest. Listening to the familiar, steady sound of his heartbeat, her emotions gradually settled.
After a moment she asked again:
"Then… does Aunt Theresa, my stupid dad, and she herself… know about this?"
"Not yet. You're the only one I've told so far."
"I see… Maybe we should tell them. Durandal would probably be happy to know she has family. And Aunt Theresa and my stupid dad—they've suffered because of this for so many years. Maybe… it's time to give them some relief."
Kiana sighed softly, lamenting the twisted and painful family tragedy.
She didn't consider the awkwardness of her own identity if the truth came out, but Sigurd did.
He frowned slightly and said after a moment's hesitation:
"Let's wait a bit. There are still many mysteries that need to be solved. And you should use this time to sort out your feelings. Don't worry, I'll always be by your side."
"Hey! Don't treat me like some fragile doll. I'm tough. Nothing can knock me down!"
Kiana lifted her head and flashed a row of bright, jade-like teeth. Gentle light shimmered in her clear, beautiful eyes.
Sigurd shook his head with a laugh and followed his instinct, kissing her lightly on the forehead. As expected of his girl—like flawless white jade, both beautiful and strong.
Kiana threw herself into Sigurd's arms and rubbed against him, then looked up, took a deep breath, and said:
"My heart still feels a little weird, Sig. Kiss me."
"As you wish."
Right in front of Bronya, the two began kissing.
The location was Sigurd's room, the time was night, and the only people present were the three of them. Everything was set, and the intimacy clearly wouldn't stop at just a kiss.
Soon the two embraced, kissing as they gradually removed each other's clothing.
Bronya watched the scene expressionlessly. In the end, she couldn't help but clench her fist, her emotions complicated.
Then she set down her teacup and walked toward the bathroom.
"Bronya will go take a shower first."
'Mm. Let Kiana draw some of the fire first. Maybe I'll be able to last a bit longer afterward,' Bronya thought to herself.
Soon, the soft sound of running water came from the bathroom.
The two people with disheveled clothing finally broke apart from their embrace. Kiana's cheeks and shoulders were flushed red. Then her eyes rolled slightly, and a mischievous grin suddenly appeared on her face.
"Hehe~ Sig, I think… we should go take a shower too, don't you?"
"…That makes sense."
Thinking of Bronya—of that delicate and lovely body he hadn't properly cherished for some time, the unique soft touch, and that particularly teasing, milk-like cry she sometimes made—Sigurd narrowed his eyes.
Then, in a princess carry, he picked up the very cooperative Kiana and slowly walked into the bathroom.
…
That same night, Su held the young lady's crystallized power and walked into the Cosmic Juggernaut, which was docked within the Imperial City.
"Following the traces of time and space, tracing the result back to the cause… it shouldn't be too hard to find her, right?"
Standing inside the internal world of the Cosmic Juggernaut, Su sent the crystal into the interior of the Divine Key and activated the tracking program.
Click! Click! Click!
Mechanical sounds like rotating gears echoed from every direction. Su opened his eyes and felt the entire world slowly tremble.
"This is…"
Before his eyes, the gentle world of blue sky and grassland flickered—and then changed.
Gold. Gold. Gold.
Everywhere he could see was blinding, pure gold. An incomparably powerful surge of Honkai energy burst from the crystal like an erupting volcano.
"This is bad! The core of the Cosmic Juggernaut is in danger!"
There was no time to think further. Closing his eyes, Su thrust his hand into the void and grabbed the golden crystal he had just inserted.
"Hiss!"
A burning pain shot into his brain, and anxiety appeared on Su's face.
It wasn't heat—it was the pure and incredibly dense Honkai energy acting on him, even exceeding the physical limits of Su as a MANTIS.
In theory, this level of energy intensity could only be reached by a Herrscher core. And even an actual Herrscher core might not burn Su merely from being touched like this.
"Stop! I can't let you destroy my old partner like this!"
Within the blinding golden light, Su opened his eyes. Pure crimson spread from his pupils.
Driving the Honkai energy within his own body, he forcibly suppressed the crystal's outburst.
BOOM!!!
The entire bubble world trembled violently, and the shock spread to the massive hull of the Cosmic Juggernaut.
When Su finally came back to his senses and regained his vision, he found himself collapsed inside a deep crater. His right hand—covered in blood—was still gripping the now much smaller golden crystal.
Before him, the enormous hull of the Cosmic Juggernaut was covered in cracks, with smoke continuously rising from it.
Su opened his mouth, then shook his head with a bitter smile.
"Ha… this time I really paid a heavy price. I just hope Sigurd has a way to repair the Divine Key… He should, right?"
He lay back, staring at the pale sky as the morning sunlight fell across his face.
"Has time also become somewhat disordered? Hopefully it only shifted from night to day, and not something far worse."
Su sighed with a headache. Then he sensed several old friends rapidly approaching.
He smiled bitterly again and began organizing his words—preparing to properly explain his recklessness and carelessness… and also to explain just how dangerously powerful that mysterious young lady truly was.
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