Chapter 137: A World Where Everyone Is Safe
[Having sorted out his thoughts, the Captain led his teammates back to the top of the tower. "These are the companions who've traveled with me through countless hardships to reach this point.
At the very least, please let them witness the end."
Under the Stargazer's questioning, the Captain revealed the truth—it was a certain thought in his heart that had shaken the foundation of the formation, causing everything that had happened. The Stargazer nodded in satisfaction, then pointed her feathered fan at Yae
Sakura: "Indeed, splitting into two individuals is the clearest proof of this. That bunny girl over there must have had a similar experience, no?"
"The true nature of your seven sisters—you must have realized it by now, haven't you?"
"...Ah, yes. Only after becoming one again did I finally understand."
"Though they were manifestations of the Sacred Sakura's power, in essence... they were always just different versions of myself." "They were born from my emotions, my desires—versions of myself I wished to become but never could."]
[Elysia]: "Sakura~ The Stargazer called you a bunny girl♪"
[Sakura]: "...I told you, these are fox ears!"
[Kiana]: "Huh? Why do I feel like donkey ears would be more accurate than fox ones?"
[March 7th]: "Wait, hold on—do people in the Quantum Sea just split apart that easily? Yae Sakura also split into seven versions!?"
[Stelle]: "Well, at least it's not March 7th. If there were seven March 7ths... I don't even want to imagine what would happen."
[March 7th]: "What kind of nonsense is that? Shouldn't you be happy if there were more of me? But... going by that logic, could it be that the Captain was also born from someone's wish?"
[Qingque]: "True, if the Captain could split once, he could split twice. But isn't that possibility way too slim!?"
["If that's the case, then Captain, you..."
The Captain gestured for Mei not to worry: "Yes, just as she said—perhaps deep down, I've always wanted to stay.
To remain in a world that wasn't mine, but where everyone was still safe and sound."
"After all, in my own reality, I've experienced far too many unbearable farewells."
The Captain looked at
Himeko: "A fool who challenged divinity with a mortal body, a teacher who burned her life to pass on her convictions."
Then at Fu
Hua: "A guardian who stood watch for millennia yet forgot herself, and..."
Finally at
Kiana: "A bearer of fate who struggled through denial and self-doubt, growing stronger yet never quite becoming who she once was."
"This is a world where people always leave without warning. But perhaps... none of us are ever good at goodbyes."
The Stargazer sighed: "Your emotions run far deeper than you realize, commoner."
"The formation responded to your wish. In truth, the teleportation back then didn't just distort space—it even warped time to some extent."]
[Silver Wolf]: "Damn... The Captain's story hits hard."
[March 7th]: "Huh? Mr. Yang? Why aren't you saying anything?"
[Honkai Star Rail·Welt]: "...In a way, the history of the Captain's main world and our own is strikingly similar."
[Raiden Mei]: "So you mean..."
[Bronya Zaychik]: "The Captain's descriptions of Himeko-sensei, Kiana, and Class Monitor... they're all true, aren't they?"
[Honkai Star Rail·Welt]: "In a sense... yes."
[Kiana]: "Mei! Bronya! I'm fine! No matter what the future holds, I'll definitely turn this world into the one we all wish for! Whether it's Himeko-sensei or Bronya—we won't lose a single one of us!!"
[Elysia]: "Go for it! A cute and lovely girl can do anything! If you ever run into trouble, remember—Elysia will always be waiting for you in the Elysian Realm!♪"
Mei watched Kiana's cheerful grin, then thought back to the Captain and his earlier revelations. Kiana would become the Herrscher of Finality—the god of Earth. She would mature, capable of protecting this world. But what had she endured in that growth? What had changed her so much that the Captain would say... she was no longer who she once was?
["You were split in two, and one half was sent to this world three years ago—he inherited all your self-awareness but completely lost all memories of other worlds."
This was the Captain from Einstein's team.
For three years, the Stargazer had watched that Captain from atop her tower, tracking his every move. "Becoming the Captain of the Hyperion and joining the Far East Branch, living fulfilling days alongside St. Freya's Valkyries."
"—If I couldn't deduce the reason for the formation's failure after seeing all that, I'd be unworthy of the title 'Sage King.'"
"But to return to your original world, everyone involved in the initial teleportation must be present."
Only then did the Captain realize—he had fallen into the Stargazer's trap long ago. "That's right! Rosalia's got quite the knack for knocking people out!"
Mentioning it only made the Captain angrier: "Shut up! How dare you flap your lips like that, you insolent brat?"
What puzzled him most was—how had the Stargazer known he would appear at this exact moment? "Hmph. Commoner, have you forgotten my name already? 'Observing tonight's celestial signs to foresee great events' is but our traditional art."]
[Qingque]: "Damn, this Stargazer's divination skills are so advanced even I can't follow them. I wonder how she stacks up against our own Divination Master."
[Fu Xuan]: "I-I can't make sense of it either. The Stargazer's methods seem entirely different from ours."
[Kiana]: "So the other Captain is this world bubble's Hyperion Captain? And he works at the Far East Branch!? Doesn't that completely phase out Himeko-sensei!?"
[Murata Himeko]: "Kiana Kaslana. Choose your next words carefully~"
[Theresa]: "In a way... the Stargazer is way too fixated on the Captain."
[As they prepared to part ways, the Captain bid farewell to both teams—and most importantly, to Luna Kindred. "...Tch. Fine. You get five minutes. Say whatever you need to say.
Don't expect me to clean up your messes forever."
Watching Luna and the Captain exchange sweet words, the Stargazer turned away with visible impatience. "You said earlier... you're from another world."
"Yes. One completely different from here."
"Then... is there another version of me there?"
Luna immediately regretted asking: "...No, forget it. I don't want to know the answer..."
"I'm sorry... That was selfish of me..."
The Captain shook his head: "No... I'm the selfish one. It was my own desires that twisted this island into what it is now."
Luna's crimson eyes gazed softly at him: "But if not for this incident... I would never have met you. I'd still be trapped in that cold basement..."
"You gave me a reason to live again."
"Vampires don't believe in gods or fate. But someone like you appearing before me now... must be the greatest miracle I've ever known."
"So no matter how far apart we are... we'll meet again someday."
"Don't worry about me. Go back to your world—the one where you belong!"
The girl tilted her face upward, forcing her brightest smile. She trembled slightly, fighting back tears threatening to fall. "Don't worry... sniff... I won't cry... I'll smile as I send you off!"
"I'll wait for you... no matter how long it takes! Vampires live a long time—we're experts at waiting..."
The Stargazer's merciless countdown began. "Go on. She's counting down."
"Your scent... it comforts me. I'll never forget it."
"Every moment with you... is a memory I'll treasure forever."
"Two—" "If you wish with all your heart... doesn't it come true?"
"So we'll definitely... meet again!"
As the Stargazer's count reached zero and Luna's confession hung in the air—the Captain vanished into the formation.]
[Theresa]:'Isn't this basically a confession!?'
[Murata Himeko]: "Now I get why the Stargazer's been so prickly this whole time. Anyone would be upset watching someone who looks exactly like them confess to their lover while they could only stand by."
[Guinaifen]: "I don't know what happened between the Captain and Luna Kindred before this but listen—I was Team Luna Kindred before this even aired!"
[Sparkle]: "I'd say Luna Kindred is NTR-ing the Stargazer here~ But timeline-wise? The Stargazer's technically the interloper~"
[Stelle]: "So jealous! Captain gets to two-time without worrying about getting stabbed because he can just split himself!"
[Pela]: "Can't this Theresa go with the Captain? Does every Theresa have to endure a thousand-year wait for him!?"
[Kiana]: "Good thing our Captain is Himeko—no waiting for Aunt Theresa!"
[Stelle]: "OMG SAME!"
[Theresa]: "Himeko and I are NOT like that!!"