Chapter 113: Durandal, You Should Learn From Stargazer!
[Soon after, the Captain bid farewell to Kiana and Wolfram before leaving the room. Outside, a petite figure blocked his path. "Finally finished?"
Tesla·ZERO asked.
The Captain's response wasn't optimistic. Little Tesla understood the situation - for Stargazer's sake, they needed to depart immediately. That night. Northern Huangyue City, forest outskirts. Tesla·zero and the Captain made their final confirmation about upcoming events. From Little Tesla's explanation, the Captain learned he'd step into Stargazer's trap before meeting her. And sure enough, the Captain triggered it - this too was part of history.]
[Tesla]:"Wait, what the hell is this Tesla·zero?!"
[Herrscher of Sentience]:"Isn't that just a Battlesuit Doll? Modeled after Dr. Tesla's prototype."
[Honkai·Welt]:"Quite adorable."
[Einstein]:"Indeed."
[Under moonlight, Stargazer made her entrance wearing a blue dress with white fur outerwear, holding a feathered fan as she smirked at the trapped
Captain: "Tsk...Your incessant noise is truly irritating."
"Sta...Stargazer?!"
The name escaped the Captain's lips upon seeing his long-missed companion. "Oh? So this thief knows my name? Interesting, most interesting."
Stargazer's interest was piqued. She'd expected only wild game in her trap, but hit the jackpot instead. "Assassin-san, this wouldn't be your first day on the job, would it?"
The Captain tried explaining, but Stargazer wouldn't listen, demanding his accomplices' whereabouts under threat of poisonous insects!
"Wait! Stargazer, let me explain!"
"I'm really not an assassin!"
"We're here to protect you!"
"One—" "Hey! Fortune-teller, stop right there!"
At "one," Little Tesla couldn't help but reveal herself. Stargazer had wanted to see the Captain's partner, only to find Tesla·zero instead. Even with her vast knowledge, Stargazer had to admit this was unprecedented. Mistaking Little Tesla for a puppet before any explanation could be given, the doll immediately exploded: "Hah? Puppet? Who are you calling a puppet, fortune-teller! Where exactly does this genius resemble one?!"
Fascinated by this novelty, Stargazer began examining Little Tesla during introductions. As their playful bickering continued, Stargazer gradually lowered her guard and chose to trust them.]
[Kiana]:"This definitely isn't Aunt Theresa! I refuse to believe it!"
[Durandal]:"Kiana, do you have some issue with me?"
Durandal's current smile looked particularly dangerous.
[Kiana]:"Stargazer's only twelve here!"
For some reason, Durandal's smile grew even more threatening.
[Bronya Zaychik]:"Was there really any need for Kiana and Stargazer to compete for the throne?"
[Honkai·Welt]:"Tesla·zero's temperament closely resembles Dr. Tesla's too."
[Murata Himeko]:"Though I caught a glimpse earlier on the bridge, only seeing her full appearance now makes it clear - even with identical features, their auras are worlds apart!"
[Rita]:"Despite their completely different demeanors, every version of Lady Durandal remains utterly adorable~"
[Tesla]:"[Forbidden Science Catalog] series? Right! I'm inventing my own Battlesuit Doll now!"
[Stelle]:"White stockings~ Step on me, Lady Stargazer!"
[The following evening deep in the forest, after a day's journey, the Captain and Stargazer sat by a campfire. Amid crackling branches, the Captain offered grilled fish to Stargazer. "Hmph, this poisoned fish is better suited for you to enjoy yourself, assassin-san."
As crown princess, Stargazer remained highly vigilant, still not fully trusting these mysterious companions.
With a sigh, the Captain took a bite first before offering it again. After hesitation, Stargazer carefully accepted the fish, nibbling from the opposite side of the Captain's bite. The Captain then offered some to Little Tesla. She declined, insisting on dealing with real assassins instead. With Little Tesla gone, only the Captain and Stargazer remained by the fire in awkward silence. Just as the Captain pondered conversation topics, Stargazer broke the ice first. "Assassin-san... thank you for the fish."
"Eh? No problem at all! So how does it taste? To your liking?"
The Captain felt confident about his cooking! "Truthfully... it's rather terrible."
"One side is burnt. And the tail remains raw... Assassin-san, you don't cook often, do you?"
"Ahaha, saw through me that easily?"
The Captain scratched his head sheepishly.]
[Raiden Mei]:"Visually... it looks passable, but..."
Raiden Mei paused, considering how to phrase her critique diplomatically.
[Raiden Mei]:"But the Captain could use more culinary practice."
[Kiana]:"I bet even I could grill fish better than that!"
[Bronya Zaychik]:"If Kiana actually cooked, it would be worse than the Captain's attempt!"
[Raiden Mei]:"Alright, alright. Later I'll prepare properly grilled fish for everyone."
[Elysia]:"Even though the Captain knows Stargazer intimately in another time, here he recognizes her while she doesn't know him at all♪ How bittersweet♪"
[March 7th]:"Does that mean there must also be a timeline where future Stargazer knows the Captain but he doesn't remember her?"
[Silver Wolf]:"That plotline already sounds painful. Let me see how much worse it gets—pfft, like anything could hurt me?"
[At this point, Stargazer fell into reminiscence: "In the past... there was someone much like you."
"A terrible cook who always pretended otherwise, forcing all sorts of dreadful dishes upon me."
"Sometimes he'd sneak me out to fish in the backyard pond when the maids weren't looking... then grill them terribly too."
"He... must have been very important to you?"
Noticing her melancholy, the Captain offered comfort. "Yes.
That person... was my grandfather."
"My apologies..."
The Captain regretted mentioning departed loved ones. "Why apologize? Grandfather died defending our empire and people. I... should take pride in that."]
[Kiana]:"Stargazer's grandfather? That would be Overseer Otto!"
[Raiden Mei]:"So Overseer Otto couldn't cook either!"
[Otto]:"Nonsense. That was a bubble universe. My culinary skills are excellent."
Otherwise how could he have taught Durandal her cooking magic?
[Tesla]:"Otto dying to protect people? Since when do those words belong together?"
[Einstein]:"That was Stargazer's grandfather - the empire's late emperor. Dr. Tesla, he wasn't Otto."
Einstein decisively separated the late emperor from Otto through righteous distinction!