Chapter 114: Hokushin Mei!!!
[Astrologist explains how her grandfather fought against the Aberrants, noticing that the Captain seems unfamiliar with them, so she proceeds to introduce the
Aberrants: "Three years ago, the Aberrant Yama appeared in this world.
General Orchid led an army of three hundred thousand against it and narrowly achieved victory, thus protecting our nation's fortune."
"Last month, the Aberrant Formless appeared..."
A violent sound suddenly rang out. Astrologist grew alert, but the Captain brushed it off as just the wind before changing the subject: "By the way, what happened after Formless appeared?"
"After Formless appeared, Grandfather led a hundred thousand elite troops to confront it. Although we managed to repel it in that battle, Grandfather was severely wounded and eventually..."
"W-what was that sound this time!?"
This time, the Captain passed it off as a gas explosion, and Astrologist continued her story: "On his deathbed, Grandfather entrusted me with both the throne and the empire's secret. To me, this secret is the final key to permanently ending the Aberrant calamity."
At this point, Astrologist speculated that if Yama represents ultimate Yin and Formless is the source of chaos, then there must be an ultimate Yang Aberrant yet to appear. "BOOM——!"
When the third loud noise came, even Astrologist couldn't ignore the obvious anomaly. Just as the Captain was thinking of another excuse, Tesla returned. She explained it was just the sound of her fishing with explosives, which Astrologist actually believed. Pretending to pick up fish, the Captain leaned close to Tesla's ear, where Tesla briefed him on what happened. Those assassins were strong—Tesla had to use her ultimate move, but they still managed to escape, leaving her with only one life-saving punch remaining.]
[Kiana]: "Aberrants? Their behavior seems similar to Honkai!"
[Raiden Mei]: "But logically they're completely different. Though in the Sea of Quanta, anything could appear."
[Murata Himeko]: "Is everyone with Theresa's face this easy to fool? That loud noise was just the wind?"
[Silver Wolf]: "Seriously! Is 'gas explosion' some universal excuse!?"
[March 7th]: "Tesla·Zero already used two punches at the start. Can she really handle everything perfectly now?"
[Silver Wolf]: "Unlikely. If there were no twists, why would the Captain return to the past in the first place?"
[Fu Hua]: "Tesla·Zero calls Astrologist a 'fortune teller'—does that mean she's skilled in divination too?"
[Qingque]: "Looking at it this way, Astrologist kinda resembles Lady Diviner—at least in height."
[Stelle]: "Totally agree!"
["Lead Li into Kan. Subdue it with Dui..."
The Captain opened his eyes to find it still early morning. The young girl was murmuring to herself while drawing something on the grass nearby. "Good morning, Astrologist.
Is this... your morning exercise?"
Astrologist ignored him and continued drawing on the ground. After some explanation from Astrologist, the Captain quickly realized—this was a plan to lure the ultimate Yang Aberrant to an undersea altar. But this immediately made Astrologist wary: "...How dost thou know of the undersea altar's existence?"
The Captain tried to weasel his way out, claiming he'd heard it through rumors, but Astrologist saw right through him—this was top-secret information! How could it be mere gossip!? Just as Astrologist was about to interrogate him further, the Captain seemed to sense something and cut her off: "My background and our next steps can wait..."
"After all, I think our friend hiding behind that tree has heard enough by now."
Astrologist whirled around toward the tree—sure enough, a figure emerged. "My apologies. Eavesdropping is despicable behavior, far from my intent. But you two seemed deeply engrossed in conversation, and I didn't wish to interrupt. If I've offended, I beg your forgiveness."
The self-proclaimed Hokushin Mei, a military officer, spoke. "Hokushin Mei... A general under the Imperial Uncle's command..."
Astrologist tensed as if facing a formidable enemy.]
[Kiana]: "Mei! I knew it! No matter which world we're in, Mei will always be by my side."
[Raiden Mei]: "Hokushin Mei... Hokushin Ittō-ryū..."
[Seele Vollerei]: "No matter which world we're in, Seele will always find Bronya Onee-chan!"
[Bronya Zaychik]: "Seele..."
[Honkai: Star Rail·Seele]: "Tch, how sappy!"
[Seele Vollerei·Dark]: "Tch. How sappy."
Then she glanced at her own hardworking Bronya.
[Stelle]: "The Captain from the future knows this world way too well. And a different flavor of Miss Yae~ hehe~"
[March 7th]: "But given how Kiana acted at the start, would she really think this far ahead? She even sent pursuers—could she have been sidelined?"
[Dan Heng]: "If Kiana's behavior isn't an act, then it's highly possible."
[Astrologist informed the Captain that this was a general under the Second Prince's command, renowned throughout the land for her [Hokushin Nitoryū]. Hokushin Mei's goal was simple—to bring Astrologist back to the Second Prince. Just as tensions reached a boiling point, the Captain stepped in to mediate... by offering to fight himself! Faced with Astrologist's doubts about his abilities, the Captain remained confident: "I've studied Hokushin swordplay to some extent before. With Tesla's help, we should stand a chance."
But Tesla still hadn't woken up yet, which puzzled the Captain. Astrologist looked awkward—she'd disassembled some of Tesla's parts last night. The Captain sighed but insisted they still had a fighting chance! The only problem was that the Captain lacked a proper weapon and wasn't too familiar with Hokushin Nitoryū. Astrologist claimed this was easily solved. After some smooth talking, Hokushin Mei handed one of her swords to the Captain for a fair duel! The Captain was stunned by Astrologist's faith in him: "If I lose, you'll be taken away by her."
"Hmph. Entrusting one's safety and fate to their guardian—isn't that only natural?"]
[Bronya Zaychik]: "Should Bronya say Astrologist is clever... or that Hokushin Mei is too rigid?"
[March 7th]: "So this is how Hokushin Nitoryū became Hokushin Ittō-ryū!?"
March 7th had an epiphany.
[Raiden Mei]: "Though I'm not deeply familiar with my family's Hokushin Ittō-ryū history... I'm certain its evolution wasn't this... straightforward."
[Elysia]: "From this moment on, the Captain and Astrologist truly began trusting each other, didn't they? ♪"
[Elysia]: "The kind of trust where you entrust your lives to one another ♪"
[Stelle]: "Fight already! I want to see bloodshed!!"
[Silver Wolf]: "In this storyline, the Captain has to win—at least Astrologist won't die. Otherwise, why would he return to the past in the first place?"
[Ellie]: "In this narrative, the future is already set in stone."