Chapter 144: Assa~ssin~ Saaan~ I Want That~ Buy It For Me~
[Kiana and Durandal arrived behind the folding screen, where Rita helped them change outfits. Then Durandal and Kiana emerged together, smiling as they said to the
Captain: "Captain, why don't you guess which one is the real Kiana?"
Kiana had changed into a new outfit, while Durandal was dressed in Kiana's usual attire.
Wearing her new clothes, Kiana approached the Captain and asked somewhat shyly: "Captain... does this outfit suit me?"
The Captain was stunned speechless. Seeing no response, Kiana began to doubt herself: "Is it... not good-looking?"
Finally snapping out of it, the Captain quickly said: "Ah, no no! I was just momentarily stunned."
Durandal changed back into her Starchasm Nyx outfit, placing one hand on her hip as she told the
Captain: "This outfit was specially made for the Tanabata festival~ Your reaction is so rude, Captain."
"It actually looks very nice," the Captain added. "Nevermind, I don't care about your opinion anyway. Though you could at least dress up properly for the festival."
As she spoke, Kiana fastened an accessory to the Captain's waist. After giving the Captain a once-over, she nodded in satisfaction: "Now you barely pass muster. The time has come - let us depart."
When the Captain still looked confused, Durandal kindly reminded: "We're going to the lantern festival, of course. Tonight we'll enjoy the lights and pray for blessings alongside the people of the Empire."
"Come along, Captain."
Kiana took the Captain's hand.] [Elysia]: "How wonderful~ The fairy just tasted something deliciously sweet! ♪"
[Herrscher of Sentience]: "Tanabata festival, new outfits, enjoying lanterns together? At this rate they'll have to get married!"
[March 7th]: "In the Captain's first timeline, Kiana and the others died during the Seven Stars incident. But through the Captain's efforts, we finally get sweet moments without tragedy!"
[Stelle]: "Just like when I went shopping with Firefly! Go for it, Captain!"
[Silver Wolf]: "But didn't Firefly die once in that video? Not exactly a perfect date analogy there!"
[Firefly]: "Just like how I emerged unscathed, Kiana will definitely be fine too!"
[March 7th]: "Captain! You must enjoy this Tanabata festival properly! Be happy with Kiana!"
[As evening fell and the summer breeze cooled, their group rode swiftly toward the Thousand Stars Pavilion. Every household hung colorful glass lanterns, with more street stalls than usual lining the roads.
Children holding pinwheels laughed as they darted through the crowd before disappearing around corners. The three girls (?) in the carriage played and joked together as they took in the rare spectacle of the city's myriad lights amidst the bustling crowds. Yet for some reason, the Captain felt an overwhelming sense of unreality... as if everything was going too smoothly. Along the way, Kiana explained their current situation and the festival's traditions until they arrived at Thousand Stars Pavilion. Rita and Durandal went upstairs to view the lanterns while Kiana stayed below to celebrate with commoners - dragging the bewildered Captain into the teeming crowds.] [Elysia]: "A date a thousand years in the making~ How wonderful ♪"
[March 7th]: "The Captain feels uneasy because it's going too well? Oh no, now I'm worried too!"
[Silver Wolf]: "Shut up! After all those timeline resets and with guides available, how could they possibly lose now? What could a mere Gray Serpent do to ruin Tanabata?"
[HuoHuo]: "The Captain must enjoy this festival with Kiana! It's the date she's waited a thousand years for!"
[Amidst the bustling crowd, Kiana shed her facade as the Sage-King and showed her truest self to the Captain - like a girl on her first date with a lover.
Spotting a stall, her eyes lit up: "Ah! Is that Fengjia Village's stall? I want red bean mochi! And tanghulu!"
"You've been here many times before. Why eat again?"
Kiana huffed proudly: "Precisely because I've been many times that I know which ones taste good."
"And during Tanabata, you must try Xiaoyan'er - that fried dough coated in syrup is wonderfully sweet~ Though rather sticky."
"Alright alright... what do you want? I'll buy it."
Kiana eagerly listed: "Three each of milk candy balls and sweet bean mochi, one osmanthus cake with extra sugar, and don't forget two milk cakes from that corner stall - theirs are best."
Then looking up at him with childlike excitement while pointing at crystal dragon-phoenix cakes: "Assa~ssin~ Saaan~ I want that~ Buy it for me~"] [Stelle]: "March, got any tissues? I can't handle this sweetness! Just like when I went shopping with Firefly!"
[March 7th]: "It's totally different! The Captain is buying things for Kiana while you spent Firefly's money!"
[Silver Wolf]: "This sugar purity is emptying my HP bar."
[Kiana Kaslana]: "I can't take it either. Mei~ Those snacks Kiana wants look so tasty~"
[Kiana Kaslana]: "Mei~ Sis~ter~ I wanna eat~ Make some for me~"
[Raiden Mei]: "I'll make whatever you want!"
Even Mei couldn't resist Kiana's撒娇.
[Bronya Zaychik]: "So idiot Kiana only thinks about food after all! How very Kiana."
Meanwhile observing St. Freya's chaos with cold detachment was Durandal - already regretting inviting Rita after being teased by her.
[Otto Apocalypse]: "Theresa never撒娇 like that with me!!"
["Alright alright, I'll buy... wait, what did you just call me?"
The Captain instantly noticed. Ignoring him, Kiana stuffed snacks into his hands before dragging him toward another stall. "They're selling sugar figurines there?"
"Hurry hurry, they'll sell out soon!"
The Captain found this side of Kiana novel and unlike her usual self - was this what Rita meant by "rare occurrences"?
Though if she stayed like this, she'd be quite cute! No sooner had he thought this than Kiana withdrew her Durandal-like innocent expression and flashed a sly smile. "Satisfied now?"
"You've been so gloomy lately - I couldn't resist teasing you a little."
Leaning closer playfully: "You seemed so happy - don't tell me you actually believed it?"
Munching snacks under lantern light, her cheeks were flushed pink. "Though someone seems quite happy..."
"Who? Go on, say who?"
Kiana's icy gaze swept over him. Just as the Captain floundered for words, the sugar sculptor handed over two figurines - saving him. Then they strolled through streets while enjoying their sugar art.] [Guinaifen]: "That opening line was peak tsundere behavior."
[Durandal]: "Claiming it was to cheer up the Captain when she just wanted to cut loose herself!"
[Stelle]: "Even if this bubble universe exploded leaving only a mouth behind, she'd still say it was for the Captain's sake!"
[Elysia]: "How wonderful, this beautiful world ♪ Don't you agree, my dear Eden ♪"
[Eden]: "Indeed, Elysia. May time stand still here forever."