Chapter 146: The Beginning of Countless Cycles
[After evacuating all civilians and extinguishing the potentially explosive lanterns, a city-wide manhunt for the artisan began. Surrounded by guards, the artisan found Rita's scythe grazing past his face—no blood splattered, only a human mask split in two sliding to the ground.
Realizing escape was impossible, Gray Serpent, though regretful he wouldn't witness Blazing Moon City at its most "fiery," chose to drink poison and end his life. With the explosive lanterns neutralized and the culprit dead, the incident seemed resolved. Yet, for some reason, the Captain's heart still churned with unease. Without confirmation of Astrologer's safety, how could the Captain rest!?]
[March 7th]:"Oh no! This isn't over! Forget how a machine could poison itself—anyone who offs themselves like this in dramas always has accomplices!"
[Stelle]:"Hurry to the bamboo forest, Captain! Astrologer might be in danger!"
[Raven]:"March 7th's guess is pretty close. If that artisan was Gray Serpent in that world, remember—our Gray Serpent isn't just one person."
[Firefly]:"So Gray Serpent is... a collective?" [After dealing with Gray Serpent, the Captain and Rita set off to find Astrologer. Meanwhile, in the bamboo forest, Astrologer stood at a crossroads, peering around anxiously.
Worried the Captain had gotten lost after being gone so long, she decided to head into town to meet him. Cradling a lantern carefully, Astrologer moved against the panicked crowd streaming toward the city gates. "Strange... Why are all the lanterns extinguished? What's happening to everyone...? Pardon me, let me through."
Navigating against the tide, Astrologer frowned. "Where on earth has that Captain run off to... Hmph!"
Lost in thought, she forgot to watch her step—and collided squarely with someone. "Ah—my apologies!"
Rubbing her forehead, she tried to sidestep, only for the stranger to seize her arm. "Found·you."
Before Astrologer could react, a black dagger pierced her chest. Her body went limp as searing pain spread from the wound, coiling around her nerves like chains—rooting her in place, stealing her voice, even halting her breath momentarily. She recognized the assailant... but not his name. Astrologer collapsed onto the cobblestones, unable to move or breathe as warmth drained from her body—only her mind sputtering on stubbornly. When the frantic Captain finally appeared in her blurring vision, Astrologer gasped ragged breaths, mustering her last strength: "A-assassin... Sir..."
"Run... It's... not safe..."
In her fading moments, fragmented memories and faces flickered through her mind—until all she could offer the Captain was an apologetic smile: "This year's... fireworks... I suppose... I'll miss them..."
And just like that, Astrologer died before the Captain's eyes.]
[March 7th]:"Again?! After eliminating so many threats, she still runs into Gray Serpent by chance!?"
[Silver Wolf]:"How is this winnable? It's like the GM stepped in for a scripted kill!"
[Clara]:"Even then... Astrologer was still worried about the Captain..."
[Huohuo]:"I'd have broken down already... Do you really think... the Captain can save her?"
[Otto]:"He will. Whether it takes a thousand tries or a million—he'll persist until he carves out a better future."
These repeated cycles had made Otto fully acknowledge the Captain as his grandson-in-law. In some ways, Otto saw himself in him—just with higher moral standards.
[In the bamboo forest, Gray Serpent poured out his unused poison after killing Astrologer: "Correction complete... This toxin meant for wine is now obsolete."
"The right cause begets the right effect.""A flawed cause can only yield a flawed effect."
"We exist for this causality—and share it with her.""Now that our duty is done... this world has no further need of us."
Every Gray Serpent in existence vanished simultaneously.]
[March 7th]:"Huh!? Gray Serpent existed just to kill Astrologer? WHY!?"
[Qingque]:"Since Rita's fine, our last theory must be wrong. They're targeting only Astrologer—is there something special about her? If they're 'correcting' the world, why not kill Rita too? She died in the first timeline!"
[Stelle]:"Immortality?"
[Guinaifen]:"Rita has that too." ["Are you satisfied now?"
"Satisfied? Don't make me laugh!""...Why does it still end like this!?"
After dismantling every explosive—why couldn't the outcome change!?
The Captain gazed at Astrologer's worried face, eyes inexplicably stinging. He gripped her arm subconsciously until she yelped in pain. Unable to explain the memory of her bleeding out—gasping for air while begging him to flee—the black dagger lying beside her oozing relentless crimson... Astrologer gently soothed his near-breakdown until he confessed his time-traveling truth. To his surprise, she believed him instantly—and vowed to face it together.]
[March 7th]:"Fourth loop... But she accepted it that easily?"
[Stelle]:"Remember—she figured out a Captain was from the future a thousand years ago."
[Qingque]:'Once is enough to make the next time simpler.'
[This time, the Captain had shadow guards inform Rita while staying glued to Astrologer's side. They uncovered artisan Gray Serpent, thwarted shadow guard Gray Serpent, and with Rita's reinforcements—eliminated them again.
Preparing to return by carriage for medical treatment, Astrologer changed her bloodied robes alone when—BOOM!—a building explosion sent their horses bolting wildly! While Rita ordered firefighters, she and the Captain chased the runaway carriage—only to be delayed by another cryptic Gray Serpent (swiftly bisected by Rita's scythe). By the time they reached the city outskirts... The carriage stood still. The driver: lifeless. The cabin: empty.]
[March 7th]:"NO! I CAN'T WATCH WHAT COMES NEXT! AHHH!!"
[Stelle]:"...Yeah. I think we all know."
[Bronya Zaychik]:"Bronya feels as though the world itself wants Astrologer dead."
[March 7th]:"Right?! Then saving her means... taking her out of this world?"
[Silver Wolf]:"Ahem. Brace yourselves, chat. Tissues ready—something big's coming."