Chapter 118: The Captain's Verbal Duel with Durandal!
[Before Theresa could vent her frustrations, soldiers arrived outside to deliver a message from the general:
"General Durandal requests your presence."
Shortly after, the Captain stood before the general.
Unconcerned with Durandal's current hospitality, the Captain only wanted to know one thing—where was Stargazer now?!
"There is no need to worry. Stargazer has long been placed in a secure location by me."
"Why should I believe you?" the Captain demanded loudly. "You have no other choice!"
"I don't think so."
"Your wounds haven't healed yet—don't act recklessly!"
Durandal cautioned, seeing the Captain's agitation.]
[Stelle]:"'You have no other choice'—Mr. Yang, do people in your world like saying that?"
[Honkai Star Rail·Welt]:"That phrase shouldn't be all that common, right?"
[March 7th]:"To be or not to be, you have no other choice!"
["Tch… General Durandal, just what are you trying to do?"
"Only what I must."
Durandal carefully explained her reasoning: "According to the late emperor's decree, Stargazer is to inherit the throne. As subjects, it is our duty to serve with utmost loyalty and assist in governing the nation."
"However, Stargazer is still young… At least for now, she is not yet ready to bear the weight of an entire empire."
"Until she is prepared, I shall—"
"Hahahahaha—!"
The Captain's laughter cut through Durandal's lofty speech. "I had thought General Durandal, who commands thousands of troops, would be someone who understood the bigger picture."
"But who would've guessed that despite your unwavering loyalty, you know nothing of your own sovereign? How laughable."]
[March 7th]:"Huh? For some reason, watching this makes me want to laugh!"
[Herrscher of Sentience]:"I had assumed that as a veteran minister of the empire, you would surely have profound insights. Yet you spout such crude words!"
[Herrscher of Sentience]:"This is exactly what I wanted to see! The Captain verbally sparring with Durandal!"
[Raiden Mei]:"Is this a replay of a famous scene?"
[Stelle]:"I suspect you're all referencing some Earth meme I don't know. There's already a tragic wall of separation between us!"
[Qingque]:"But in this situation… Is General Durandal trying to sideline Stargazer?"
[Durandal]:"Huh?"
[Rita]:"Absolutely not! Lady Durandal would never do such a thing!"
["What do you mean?"
The super-duper clueless goose didn't understand. "It's true that Stargazer is young—but so what? She has long been ready to shoulder this empire and is already fighting for it."
"Nonsense. If she were truly prepared to take on her responsibilities, why would she flee the capital alone, placing herself in danger?"
Durandal wasn't so easily convinced. "Do you truly believe that being a ruler means nothing more than sitting in a palace and issuing commands to the world?"
"When the beasts return, will you and your thousands of soldiers fight for such a ruler?"
Durandal fell silent. The Captain pressed his advantage: "Stargazer has always known what she must do… For this empire, the greatest threat remains those beasts whose arrival is unpredictable."
"And what Stargazer is doing now is precisely to seal those final beasts away forever—to ensure the empire's safety."
"Preposterous! When the beasts descended before, countless soldiers fought tooth and nail just to buy the empire a sliver of hope."
"Though Stargazer is brilliant, how could she possibly seal those beasts away alone?"
Durandal thought the Captain was bluffing. "If you believe she can't do it alone, then use your strength to help her."
"Trusting the sovereign you serve—isn't that what a general should do?"
Durandal remained silent. "If you still insist on this path… Then I challenge you to battle!"]
[Herrscher of Sentience]:"The Captain verbally dismantling Durandal—so satisfying!"
[Li Sushang]:"Though this alternate-world Durandal is just as dull as the real one. This battle of words wasn't as thrilling as it could've been."
[March 7th]:"The Captain really trusts Stargazer, huh? But wow, his verbal skills are something else!"
[Qingque]:"Is Durandal really going to be convinced just like that? What kind of ultimate talk-no-jutsu is this?!"
[Kiana]:"The Captain isn't that strong, right? He couldn't even beat that joke of a Raven, let alone someone as strong as Durandal."
[Raven]:"My strength is nothing to scoff at!"
Then she suddenly remembered that in spoilers, Kiana was supposed to be the Herrscher of Finality—
[Raven]:"At least I'm stronger than you right now!"
[Guinaifen]:"Challenging a stronger foe for a maiden's sake—this feels straight out of an Xianzhou novel!"
[The atmosphere was tense as steel. The Captain stared resolutely at Durandal, clearly ready to fight at the slightest provocation. "Wait!"
Suddenly, the nearby curtain was yanked aside.
Before the Captain could process what was happening, Stargazer's feathered fan struck him mercilessly on the head. "You… You fool! She stabbed you just yesterday, and you've already forgotten?!"
Though she sounded furious, her words couldn't hide her concern. "S-Stargazer?! General Durandal, what is going on?!"
Even the well-traveled Captain was baffled by this bizarre turn of events. After their explanation, he learned it had all been a test. Stargazer had conspired with Durandal last night. As the imperial heir, Stargazer had to verify the Captain's loyalty—if he had abandoned her, another corpse would have been left in the desert. Having passed the trial, Durandal prepared horses and supplies for him. After resting for a day to recover from his injuries, they would set off again. Due to the Seven Stars Formation, Stargazer deemed Hundred Zhang Plain a crucial location and requested General Durandal to guard it.]
[March 7th]:"So General Durandal really was loyal all along!"
[Theresa]:"Stargazer and Durandal conspired just to test the Captain? W-Wait, you can do that?"
Theresa had an epiphany!
[Murata Himeko]:"Stargazer is an imperial heir—a future ruler of an empire. Theresa, you're also destined to be the next Overseer of Schicksal. How is there such a gap between you two?"
Despite being older than Stargazer, Theresa seemed far more childish in comparison.
[Pela]:"Stargazer was totally bristling when questioned by the Captain—she likes him, doesn't she? She must!"
[March 7th]:"The Captain risked his life for her! He knows her preferences! He stayed by her side when she was lonely! There's no way she wouldn't fall for him!"
[Stelle]:"No! My Stargazer—tiny, adorable, fragrant, soft Stargazer!"
[Honkai Star Rail·Welt]:"...Once I find a way home, you can meet Overseer Theresa. Stop losing your mind."
[Star]:"Gwah! I don't want substitutes!"
[Rita]:"Failing to appreciate Lady Theresa's cuteness? How tasteless!"
[Theresa]:"Huh?"