Half an hour later, everyone boarded the airship and returned to the Anti-Entropy base near Queenstown, New Zealand.
The newly reborn Judgment-class Honkai Beast Vayu was left to roam freely in the nearest stretch of sea. Silver Wing had reminded Wendy to try following in the footsteps of a certain purple-skinned puffer fish predecessor — transforming Vayu into a green-haired wind-element dragon-girl beauty to keep around as a maid.
In theory, anthropomorphizing a Judgment-class Honkai Beast was perfectly feasible.
But Wendy followed Sister Silver Wing's instructions and spent half a day pointing at the wyvern and shouting "Transform already!" — only for Vayu to blink its adorably dopey big eyes, scratch its cheek with one claw, and look utterly at a loss.
The reason?
Even a Herrscher couldn't shout "Let M=561, and if A is coprime to M, prove that A^(M-1) ≡ 1 (mod M)" at a math problem and expect it to solve itself.
The reason a puffer fish with an elementary-school education could turn Vanas into Bella was because she'd encountered a group of Imaginary renormalization consciousness entities on the far side of the Moon — receiving advanced knowledge like a divine revelation poured straight into her head, allowing her to operate Herrscher authority with far greater precision.
Though judging by Sirin's later performance, that knowledge probably went in one ear and out the other — but at least it passed through her brain once, technically.
Knowledge in transit: a temporary, time-limited advanced degree.
If she wanted to turn Vayu into a wind-element dragon-girl, they'd probably have to wait for Prometheus to wake up.
There was no shortage of things to do next — but fortunately, Silver Wing had plenty of time.
With Kevin locked up in the Sea of Quanta's dungeon, Rita and Durandal practically on the verge of defecting, and the ability to yank memory entities out of the Elysian Realm for a group brawl — Silver Wing held absolute initiative against both [Schicksal] and the World Serpent alike.
No need to rush. Take it slow.
Grumble~!
Three and a half hours after the last occurrence, that telltale sound once again emanated from the little golden-haired loli's small tummy.
"Uh."
Under the blank stares of everyone around her, Daylight — to her credit — didn't even blush. She pressed a hand to her flat little belly, expression thoroughly complicated.
So this is what a Kaslana body is like?
Caelus's other female vessels — Bronya, Seele, Raven, Li Sushang, and the rest — were more or less biologically ordinary humans in terms of DNA and genetics.
But Kiana and Little Bianca came with their own bloodline heritage built in.
This burns through fuel way too fast, doesn't it?
[Haha~ This might just be a growth spurt! After all that exercise, you get hungry fast.]
Bianca, running commentary from the body's back-end, laughed a little sheepishly.
Almost the instant the sound reached her ears, Rita — who had been standing behind Daylight with both hands folded elegantly over her own abdomen — had the faintest twitch at the corner of her mouth.
Before Kiana or Mei could even register what was happening, Rita moved without any windup whatsoever, flickering out via blink-teleportation and returning moments later pushing a restaurant service cart fit for a five-star hotel — laden end to end with food.
"Lady Bianca, I've prepared a selection of sweets for you — all perfectly suited to your palate, with careful attention to nutritional balance to support your healthy physical development at this stage!"
Maintaining her impeccable composure, yet moving with unprecedented agility, she sliced the cake at the speed of light, teleported a porcelain plate directly in front of Daylight, speared a piece with a fork, and held it up to the small girl's lips.
"Lady Bianca — a dessert. Rose Romance. Please, allow me to taste-test it for you — ah, open wide, I'll feed you."
The arc of her elegant brows was as perfect as a crescent moon, and her pretty face wore a smile without a single flaw — and yet the suppressed emotion beneath it was so potent that even the lines of her face, half-cast in shadow, turned sharp and almost severe.
Even Daylight felt a vague, inexplicable sense of pressure.
It seems that no matter how much I tried to account for it, I still underestimated just how lethal this form of mine is to Sister Rita.
She really, really wants to hand-feed me, doesn't she?
"Pfft~!"
Durandal, who had been drinking water nearby, felt a near-overwhelming urge to spit it all out at the sight of this — but managed to hold it in through sheer force of her formidable physical self-control.
Her feelings right now were thoroughly complicated.
Her original orders from Archbishop Otto had been to support Rita — so Durandal hadn't waited even a moment, rushing over in a frantic hurry.
And the earlier fight against Little Bianca had partly been motivated by seeing Rita taken captive aboard the Anti-Entropy airship — she'd wanted to rescue her.
So why was it that after the initial serious business of revealing identities and expressing concern, her best friend's attention had barely landed on her even once?!
The vast majority of the time Rita had spent talking with her future self — with a warmth and enthusiasm so intense that even Durandal's eye twitched, her heart a stew of mixed feelings.
She didn't know whether to feel hurt at experiencing rejection from her own vice-captain for the first time, or worried about the future version of Rita who had apparently become rather… peculiar.
"Mm…"
Daylight, being a cooperative little prey, obediently opened her mouth — the twin rosy petals of her lips parting just enough that in the light one could barely glimpse the soft pink of the small tongue inside.
As is universally known: the finest hunters tend to appear in the guise of the hunted.
"Dense, mildly sweet but never cloying — the apple roses were pre-soaked in honey. Rita's craft is as impeccable as always."
That childlike, adorable little voice offering words of praise nearly caused Rita's heart to melt entirely on the spot.
See? Sister Rita had now all but completely forgotten Durandal existed.
"Speaking of which, I just had a sudden idea — we could film a TV drama."
Silver Wing broke off a small piece of cake and tossed it to the side. Kiana-cat leapt nimbly and caught it in her mouth.
"A TV drama?"
Mei, accepting a piece of cake with a word of thanks, tilted her head curiously.
"You know, like this."
Silver Wing draped an arm around Daylight's shoulder. The latter seemed to understand at once, swallowed Rita's latest offering, and shifted her entire aura:
"I am Bianca — [Schicksal]'s strongest Valkyrie. One day, while visiting an amusement park with Rita, I happened to witness a suspicious transaction between a group of men in black."
"Just as I had my full attention fixed on their exchange, I was so engrossed that I failed to notice one of their members creeping up on me from behind."
Silver Wing picked up someone's ladies' black suit jacket — no idea whose — and put it on, grabbed some random stick-shaped object to use as a bat, swung it down with gusto, and began acting out the narration in sync with Daylight's performance.
"I was forcibly drugged by that woman."
Daylight feigned collapsing — Silver Wing stuffed a small piece of cake into her mouth — and continued her lines: "When I came to, I found my body had shrunk."
"If they discovered that Durandal was still alive, not only would my life be forfeit, but those close to me would be endangered as well. On the advice of Dr. Tesla, I concealed my identity."
Daylight yanked the goggles off her head and knocked them against the corner of the table as if dizzy: "When Rita asked my name, I panicked — and gave the alias: Durandal."
"To gather intelligence on those people, I took up residence at the [Schicksal] Detective Agency…"
Daylight stood with one hand in her pocket, the other finger-pointing forward — goggles catching the light, expression grave.
"This body may be small — but that only makes me more agile. [Schicksal]'s strongest Valkyrie declares: there is always only one truth!"
The two-woman theatrical performance left everyone around them momentarily stupefied.
"Mm~ That does sound like quite an interesting premise."
Elysia picked up a cake slice decorated with a strawberry from the plate, nibbling it in tiny bites, and dabbed a fingertip at the corner of her mouth where a smear of cream lingered.
"What about me, what about me — is there a Miss Fairy who protects the detective?!"
"There's a celebrity role I can give you — an artist idolized by Detective Kevin at the [Schicksal] Detective Agency. Orinoko… ahem, Lady Eriko."
Silver Wing considered for a moment before replying.
"A celebrity, hm~ That actually sounds more suited for Eden to play."
"No — the role that suits Eden best is Rita's best friend: a ridiculously wealthy socialite."
"Silver Wing, Silver Wing — this lady demands a role too!"
Kiana grabbed the silver-haired girl's arm and shook it vigorously.
"Technically, according to the setting, Bianca does have a phantom-thief little sister — but for you, Kiana… you're better suited to play Lupin."
Silver Wing grinned and ruffled Kiana-cat's head.
"Lupin — sounds like a legendary master thief!"
Kiana crouched on the edge of the table in a flash, eyes darting left and right in a sharp, nimble impression of a phantom thief.
Silver Wing hesitated briefly but ultimately decided not to mention that the Lupin she had in mind was not Lupin III — but rather the dog that accompanied Jirokichi Suzuki every time he went chasing after Kaito Kid. That dog was also named Lupin.
Chatting about the detective drama script they'd film whenever they had a free moment, Daylight finished the cake Rita had prepared — and still didn't feel particularly full, as though it had barely been an appetizer.
The Anti-Entropy base chefs were decent enough, though of course they couldn't hold a candle to Rita. It was only just past ten in the morning, and since they weren't pressed for time —
A certain energetic Miss Chubby-Pink proposed a trip to nearby Queenstown. The moment Elysia had set foot in New Zealand, she'd had her eyes on that tourist paradise, just waiting for the business with the Herrscher of Wind to be wrapped up before taking a stroll around.
Naturally no one refused. Rita in particular voted with both hands enthusiastically raised. Daylight — whose inner core was the Masked Fool — could figure out with her still-undeveloped little purse exactly what that woman was scheming.
But she obviously wasn't going to let Sister Rita have her way so easily.
It would have to be a slow drip of 'rewards' — savoring the joy of reeling Rita in, one tantalized tug at a time~
The sun blazed bright, the sky clear and crisp.
The original trio, the big-and-little geese duo, Rita, Wendy, Miss Chubby-Pink, and the fox-sisters donburi gang — some youthfully radiant, some poised and elegant, a procession of lively beautiful girls, laughing and chattering, descended en masse upon Raven's holy land.
They settled lunch at a restaurant on the beachfront street. Daylight put away roughly twelve steamers' worth of buns — which counted as about eighty percent full — leaving the remaining twenty percent for local street food.
"Boss! Another big plate of roast lamb, please!"
A voice brimming with joy and vitality rang out through the restaurant's dining hall. Roast lamb counted as one of New Zealand's traditional dishes — the preparation had long since shed any English culinary influence and developed its own distinctly individual style.
Kiana was having the time of her life.
"Lady Kiana, have you seen Lady Bianca?"
Rita came hurrying over to Kiana, who was still piling more food onto her plate, and asked in a gentle tone.
After Durandal and Kiana's sisterly reunion, Rita's attitude toward Kiana had naturally shifted in a noticeable way — warm and kind, just as one might treat a beloved sister-in-law.
"Huh, Sister?"
Kiana's cheeks puffed out with lamb, her little antenna-hair twitching, and she tilted her head to look at Durandal not too far away, walking back over carrying some street snacks.
"Oh — I meant the future Lady Bianca."
Rita was planning to take Little Lady Bianca shopping for clothes after lunch — though she had already ordered quite a lot online, the delivery address was set to their next destination, England.
And Lady Bianca would certainly need to change into pajamas before going to sleep tonight, so it was more convenient to buy locally for now…
"Rita, are you alright? Did you get heatstroke? I think you're about to get a nosebleed."
Kiana offered a concerned word for her sister's best friend, then shook her head.
"Not sure — 'little sister' and Silver Wing said they had something to take care of and stepped out for a bit. They'll be right back."
"Is that so."
Rita snapped back from her reverie of Little Bianca modelling all manner of adorable pajamas — and felt a vague, nagging premonition that something was not quite right.
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