During the time she stayed with Herta, Kiana's days were anything but peaceful. Herta did not give her any special treatment because of their relationship. If anything, it was the opposite. In certain matters, Herta was even less courteous to her than before.
And when it came to making things difficult for her, she showed no mercy at all.
Kiana only dared to complain a little in her heart. She absolutely did not dare to let even half a word slip in front of Herta.
After spending some time together, Kiana finally understood a truth.
That was—Herta did not care about reason.
Explanations were useless to her. The greatest use of an explanation was merely to delay the time before finishing those few sentences.
Through fits and starts, Kiana and Herta finally constructed the initial version of the Honkai Simulated Universe. Most of the credit had to go to Araya, who only appeared when she was needed.
Then there was Herta herself, who had experience building the Simulated Universe. Having done it once before, it posed no difficulty for her. The more troublesome part was gathering the necessary materials.
They had been delayed for so long precisely because of those materials.
Once the device was fully assembled, Kiana was finally able to extricate herself from Herta's grasp.
After running two rounds of testing and confirming everything operated without error, Kiana prepared to depart for Penacony.
"You're leaving already?"
"I should have left over a month ago," Kiana said, suddenly feeling embarrassed when she realized she had unknowingly delayed another month.
Fortunately, she had not told Robin in advance that she was coming to Penacony. Otherwise, she would not have known how to explain herself.
"Screwllum and the others will be coming in a couple of days. Do you want to wait a bit longer before leaving?"
Kiana shook her head. "Next time. I don't have any particular reason to meet Screwllum and the others."
Though she said that, another thought surfaced in her mind. If Screwllum and the others were coming, did that mean the Starcrusher Swarm King incident was about to begin?
Had the matters on the Xianzhou already concluded?
The Astral Express' next stop was Penacony.
Kiana had no intention of staying. On the contrary, her desire to leave grew more urgent. Robin had invited her long ago. She could not very well arrive at Penacony at the last minute like everyone else.
"That's true." Herta nodded lightly and waved her hand. "Go then. But I might not be at the space station next time."
"If you miss me, send me a message. I can teleport over," Kiana said carelessly. Then, remembering something, she quickly added, "As long as I'm not in the middle of traveling."
She had not anchored many people. Since developing her teleportation ability, she had only bound Acheron, Ruan Mei, and Jyahnar. Now she would have to add Herta as well.
All of them were people inseparable from her life.
"If you come across anything interesting out there, remember to collect it for me," Herta said.
She was not surprised by Kiana's explanation, nor did she show any reluctance at parting. She had only asked because she had recalled her personal test subject.
For the device she and Kiana had developed together, she planned to let that little gray-haired one try it as well.
Originally, she had intended for Kiana to stay and observe.
After all, it was the fruit of both their efforts.
...Araya?
Herta counted her contribution under Kiana's name. There was no real difference anyway.
"I'm leaving then. See you next time."
She had already informed Ruan Mei in advance. Some time ago, she had also spoken with Acheron, asking whether she wanted to meet up and go to Penacony together.
But Acheron said she was currently outside and would need some time to rendezvous, telling Kiana to head to Penacony first.
Considering Acheron's strength—she could practically walk sideways across the universe—as long as she did not encounter an Aeon, no one should be able to pose a threat to her. Kiana did not worry too much.
In her normal state, Acheron could handle most situations. Against stronger enemies, she could also draw upon the power of the Herrscher of Thunder from the Honkai side.
If the enemy were an especially troublesome Emanator?
Acheron herself was an Emanator of Nihility. Kiana imagined there were probably few in the universe willing to fight an Emanator of Nihility.
After bidding Herta farewell, Kiana boarded a ship bound for Penacony and departed the star system in a warp jump.
Of course, once she was on the ship, she immediately took out her phone and informed Robin.
While en route, she was certain there would be no further mishaps.
If there were?
Then she would crash straight through them.
The planetary system where the Herta Space Station was located lay an immense distance from Penacony's.
To reach Penacony, she would have to remain aboard the ship for quite some time.
Come to think of it, ever since gaining the teleportation ability to save travel time between places, she had not taken a warp-capable ship in a long while.
Kiana did not feel bored.
Alone inside the vessel as it traveled automatically toward Penacony, she took out her phone and began to enjoy the freedom of controlling her own time.
Playing games!
Time passed quietly.
With no disturbances along the way, Kiana smoothly arrived once more at the Planet of Festivities in the Asdana System.
There was still some time before the Charmony Festival began. Kiana had just arrived at the hotel lobby and had not yet entered the dream world.
Even so, from the bustling crowd in the lobby, she could already glimpse a corner of the coming excitement. Compared to her last visit to Penacony, there were nearly twice as many people.
"Over here."
A voice as melodious as music reached her ears. As Kiana looked around for Robin, she spotted her not far away.
Seeing a friend she had not met in a long time, Kiana's eyes lit up. Avoiding the passersby, she quickly walked over to her.
"Kiana, it's been so long!"
A joyful smile curved Robin's lips when she saw her. For her, nothing was more delightful than reunion after a long separation.
"Yeah. The sea of stars is just too vast," Kiana said happily. "I haven't exactly been idle either—running back and forth between Izumo and the Herta Space Station."
"When you're out adventuring, don't forget to take care of yourself," Robin said gently. "When I couldn't reach you and learned from Miss Sirin that you had fallen unconscious, I truly wanted to go to Izumo in person to see how you were doing."
"Sorry, sorry. I made you worry." Kiana smiled sheepishly and lowered her voice. "It really wasn't a big deal. For me, it was just like taking a nap. Though... I guess it was a rather long one."
Robin sighed helplessly. She had not known Kiana for only a day or two—let alone the long period they had traveled and worked together.
"Let me take you to check in first."
...
"There are even more people here than last time," Kiana remarked, staying close by Robin's side as she continued observing their surroundings.
This time in Penacony, she still had not seen Sunday.
Come to think of it, did he not want to know what kind of friend his sister had made?
"Most of them are here for the upcoming Charmony Festival," Robin replied with a smile. "In a while, even more dream-chasers will arrive in Penacony."
The true main players had yet to appear.
Thinking of certain matters, Robin could not help but feel a trace of heaviness settle in her heart.
She did not show it. Instead, she brought Kiana along and once again helped her complete the check-in procedures for Penacony.
After handing over the dream manual and related items, Robin naturally took Kiana's hand and said, "Come. I'll take you to your room."
Though they had not seen each other for some time, she did not grow distant because of it.
Kiana walked beside her as they found the room for this stay. Robin escorted her inside, but did not leave immediately.
"I want to ask for your help, Kiana."
After closing the door, the smile on Robin's face was replaced by a trace of worry. She seemed to have been troubled for quite some time.
"Did something happen?"
Kiana knew about Penacony's situation in her heart, but this was not something she could say outright, nor would it be easy to explain.
"I suspect something is wrong within Penacony," Robin said, trusting Kiana enough to voice thoughts she had never told anyone else. "Penacony... has developed a discordant note. And someone, using the Watchmaker's name, has sent out invitations to many people under the pretext of this Charmony Festival."
"I have a feeling... this Charmony Festival won't be peaceful."
Robin pressed her lips together. After investigating Penacony's current state, she had come to understand certain things.
There was a traitor within the Family.
And the Watchmaker's legacy would undoubtedly bring unprecedented trouble to Penacony.
As a member of the Family,
Robin had not sought help from the others. After discovering the discordant note within Penacony and learning of the traitor in the Family, she began investigating in secret.
But she could not tell her brother about this. He would never want to see her take risks.
Especially now, when the discordant note in Penacony had made her unable to sing normally there.
The discordant note, the traitor within the Family, the mysterious invitations, the Watchmaker's legacy...
These matters were surely connected.
Robin looked at Kiana, a hint of difficulty in her expression—but even more so, expectation. "Right now, the only one who can help me is you, Kiana."
Robin's sincerity and trust made Kiana feel a little embarrassed.
Because she knew the truth Robin sought.
And the "villain" in this incident was none other than Robin's own brother.
The head of the Oak Family—Sunday.
"...What do you need me to do?"
Why did Kiana look as though she already knew something?
A flicker of doubt rose in Robin's heart.
"I will investigate the truth myself," Robin said seriously. "But there has always been a sense of unease in my heart—something with nowhere to settle. If things truly develop to the point where it becomes necessary, I hope you will step in."
"M-me?"
Kiana pointed at herself in astonishment. She was certain Robin had not forgotten what had happened on Kasbelina-VIII.
Robin had even gone to Izumo with her.
During their tour, they had traveled together to worlds in need of help.
"Among everyone I know, only you can help me," Robin said, her gaze utterly serious and without the slightest impurity. "If things truly reach that stage, I believe your intervention will bring new hope."
It took Kiana quite a while to process being treated as a final safeguard.
Robin meant that if the Charmony Festival turned out as disastrous as she feared, she hoped Kiana would act at the appropriate time.
"Is that really alright?"
"I trust you." A smile once again appeared on Robin's face. She placed a hand over her heart and said, "We've partnered up many times already, haven't we?"
To Robin, Kiana was no longer an ordinary friend.
She was a companion who walked alongside her in practicing the belief of "the strong aiding the weak." She was the one who had told her that true peace and stability required the will of everyone to push it forward together.
Together, they had carried seeds of hope and courage to worlds in need of salvation, sowing them into the hearts of their people.
That half year traveling with Kiana was the most important memory of Robin's life.
A memory that would never fade.
After parting from Kiana, she had always hoped for another chance to journey alongside her.
Only after their separation did she realize she had begun to miss her.
From Kasbelina-VIII in the beginning, to the later road they walked together upholding the same ideals, many of the words Kiana had once said—words that had moved her—had grown clearer and clearer with time.
The memories of helping others together.
The memory of holding Kiana's hands and teaching her to sing.
Those laughing, happy memories.
All the beauty of being with her.
After the day Kiana reunited with Miss Raiden Mei and bade her farewell,
those memories became ever clearer.
That budding affection, still in its hazy infancy, had shattered into pieces before it ever had the chance to be spoken aloud, broken apart by the sudden news.
They loved each other.
At the time, Robin had only felt regret. She sorted through the bitterness in her heart, smiled, and offered her blessing to Kiana and Raiden Mei.
That affection, which had died in its infancy, should have faded away.
It should not have continued to exist.
Yet after they parted, Robin discovered that the affection that should have died had not dissipated even after learning Kiana already had a lover. Instead, it took root in her heart and grew faster and faster.
Nourished by those beautiful memories, its vines wrapped tightly around her, as though trying to trap her within that sea of recollection.
Kiana was visibly moved and nodded. "As long as this is your wish, I will help you."
"You're still the same as before," Robin said with a smile. "I knew you wouldn't refuse me."
Kiana nodded as if it were only natural. "Of course. We're friends. You even helped me find Mei."
"Then later, we'll meet at the usual place," Robin said, nodding without responding to her last remark.
"The Golden Hour, right?"
Kiana made an OK gesture toward her. "No problem at all. I'll wait for you by the statue."
"See you later, Kiana."
"See you later."