Chapter 117: Could This Not Be The Captain's First Time Returning to the Past?
["Hey! You birdbrain, wake up! Don't you dare faint! I haven't even started beating you yet! No fake injuries allowed! Hey!"
Raven passed out cold from sheer terror, leaving Tesla fuming - this was outright fraud!!
Later, under Yae's suggestion, the Captain and Tesla went back to rest while Yae prepared to throw the disgracefully unconscious Raven down a well. Just as Yae pushed open the door, Overseer was waiting outside. Yae tried to talk her way out of it, but Overseer had been eavesdropping and already knew everything. "...I beg your forgiveness, my lord."
"This isn't your fault, Yae. Besides, there's still one matter where I require your assistance."
"Please speak, Overseer."
"We shall depart this place tomorrow. Before then, I need you to..."]
[Stelle]: "Huh? Even world bubbles have their own cryptic speakers now?"
[Qingque]: "This kind of plot development is super common!"
[Silver Wolf]: "Please don't tell me this is another case of withholding critical information from the Captain. We've had enough tragedies caused by information asymmetry - just spill it already!"
[Star]: "In this sea of cryptic speakers, only the fraudulent Raven can bring me comfort!"
[Sparkle]: "A scammer assassin~ How novel~"
[Raven]: "Will you all shut up already? Haven't you had enough?"
[The next morning
The Captain's first action upon yawning awake was to ask Overseer if they'd continue setting up the Seven Stars Array, but Overseer had already completed the local formations overnight.
Overseer informed them their next destination would be Hundred Zhang Plains, location of the next array node. If they departed now, they could arrive before sunset. "One moment, honored guests."
Yae stopped them before departure. "My lords, these are the sakura mochi you requested yesterday. I've prepared them for your journey - simply unwrap them when needed."
"Mm, thank you."
Overseer accepted the packaged sweets from Yae. Both Tesla and the Captain noticed something odd - sakura mochi didn't seem like Overseer's preferred snack. Overseer changed the subject, and the Captain didn't press further.]
[Herrscher of Sentience]: "Tsk~ This Seven Stars Array, Hundred Zhang Plains... with feather fans and silk scarves... this place reeks of ill omen!"
[Li Sushang]: "The characteristics do resemble the Prime Minister's historical tragedy, but surely nothing will happen... right?"
[Star]: "What are you guys talking about? I don't get it."
[Honkai Star Rail - Welt]: "It references a historical event from Shenzhou's past. Likely unrelated to this recording."
[Qingque]: "Forget that incomprehensible stuff - those sakura mochi must be special if Overseer had Yae prepare them secretly."
[After a long journey, they reached Hundred Zhang Plains by evening - a desolate expanse of yellow sand where three hundred thousand soldiers had died battling the demonic Yama.
Facing this sacrificial battlefield, Overseer grew melancholic, scooping up sand only to let the wind scatter it. "Fortune-teller, hate to interrupt your moment, but we've got company."
Overseer grew alert. "From that ruined city's direction - someone's coming."
Across the endless desert, hoofbeats approached rapidly until the riders entered view. "General Durandal, at your service after long anticipation, Overseer."] [Rita]: "General Durandal in Shenzhou military garb remains as striking as ever."
[March 7th]: "Do you think Durandal was sent by Kiana or that mysterious Prime Minister?"
[Silver Wolf]: "She doesn't look friendly! Since the Prime Minister seems aligned with Overseer, Durandal must be Kiana's subordinate!"
[Kiana]: "Speaking of which... if I'm the second prince, who's the first?"
[Bronya Zaychik]: "Bronya believes unmentioned first prince is either irrelevant or background decoration."
[A soldier through and through, Durandal's decisiveness was unmatched.
After brief exchanges confirmed Overseer wouldn't come willingly,
General Durandal tightened her reins and charged straight for Overseer!
"Wait! General Durandal!"
The Captain blocked her path. "How dare a mere guard interfere with imperial affairs? Move!"
With a furious shout, Durandal leveled her spear directly at the Captain's chest. For Overseer's sake, the Captain refused to yield! "Clang—!"
Durandal stared in shock - her spear had struck true yet failed to pierce through, producing metallic resonance instead. "Iron Body technique? Interesting."
Durandal thrust again, this time cleanly piercing the Captain's shoulder. "This... wasn't... supposed to happen..."
Blood gushed as pain and vision blurred simultaneously.
In his fading consciousness, the Captain saw a girl desperately staunching his wound while crying his name.]
[Qingque]: "So sweet! Sweet with glass shards mixed in!"
[Herrscher of Sentience]: "Never expected Hundred Zhang Plains' victim would be the Captain instead of Overseer!"
[Stelle]: "Let me handle this! So what if the Captain failed at heroics? I'll succeed where he didn't! Mere Durandal can't stop me!"
[Kiana]: "But... how did the Captain know to wear armor plating? When did he put it on?"
[Theresa]: "Even as a general, Durandal remains straightforward as ever - not even questioning why he was armored. Just like her real self."
[An unfamiliar ceiling greeted the Captain upon waking. Tesla informed him this was "that spear-woman's" barracks - he'd been unconscious nearly 22 hours and was lucky to be alive.
His first concern was Overseer's whereabouts. Tesla assured him Overseer was being treated well in another tent. Relieved at his recovery, Tesla couldn't resist teasing: "Last time she only stabbed you once! I even told you exactly where to pad your armor!"
"Who knew she'd suddenly go for a second strike... At least it missed anything vital. You'll live."] [Tesla]: "'Last time she only stabbed you once'? Wait, what the hell does that mean?!"
[Kiana]: "Huh? What's weird? They're from the future so of course they'd know this stuff?"
[Raiden Mei]: "No Kiana, this is different. The phrasing suggests the Captain has personally experienced this before."
[Silver Wolf]: "Like playing a game - this might not be Captain's first playthrough."
[Herta]: "The Captain projected his consciousness here specifically to alter past events. If changes can be made once, they can be made twice."
[March 7th]: "Could it be... this really isn't the Captain's first time returning to the past? Maybe not even his last?"
[Aha]: "Now this deserves my undivided attention!"
[Elysia]: "An endless cycle just to save that one special person? sob Why must such sweetness come wrapped in blades!?"