Durandal the Dull Goose was baffled.
Not just a little baffled; she was utterly, completely baffled.
She was a "cheating cat"?
Miss Bianka was a person who aimed to become the "strongest" in the truest sense, willing to sacrifice everything to achieve that goal.
As a child, she had been criticized by her orphanage counselor as a blockhead who couldn't think straight, and she was well aware of her own situation—aside from her combat abilities, she was useless.
Therefore, even though Otto treated her differently from other Valkyries, Bianka never slacked off.
If necessary, she would only consider how to live her life after the Honkai had been eliminated.
If not for the help of her perfect, stylish, and perverted maid—Rita—the life of the Dull Goose, who focused only on getting stronger, would undoubtedly be a complete mess.
Having never even considered the problem of how to live, she had naturally never given any thought to matters of romance.
In fact, it was safe to say that this klutz of daily life would most likely end up in a lifelong lesbian relationship with the Scummy Maid Rita if things went on as they were.
And now, words that felt like something out of a dream had just fallen upon her ears.
"It's you, the cheating cat!!"
Miss Dull Goose, who had never once considered finding a man, stood frozen in place, as stiff as a wooden goose.
Cheating cat?
Beside her, Miss Rita, still clutching the mini DSLR camera, had a glint in her eyes.
Wow. It seemed she had stumbled upon something even more interesting.
The Dull Goose, now labeled a cheater, turned her neck with the creaking stiffness of a rusty machine. She stared at the guy who was probably going to get carved up and divided by a mob of girls one day, her expression completely vacant.
Her, a cheating cat?
Putting aside the fact that she had no interest in finding a man...
Just how desperate would she have to be to go after the Captain, a man who was a god in terms of ability but the scum of the earth when it came to relationships?!
Was this reasonable?
Was this Joan of Arc reasonable?!
---o---
"Excuse me, but could I ask what relationship I have with Dull Goose?"
The boy narrowed his eyes, gazing at the girl whose memories he had once sealed with Fenghuang Down.
His original plan had been to simply take Miss Mei and Bronya to the era of the Second Honkai Eruption, prepare a wedding for them there, and, while he was at it, resolve the issues with Herrscher Sirin and Cecilia.
Thinking about it now, it seemed the things he did in that era went beyond just those three matters.
Interesting.
This is truly interesting.
In that case, I'll just add Dull Goose to the team.
Seeing the boy who seemed to have been instantly aroused, the girl floating in mid-air had a flash of regret in her golden eyes.
Damn it.
She had forgotten that at this point in time, her minion and Dull Goose shouldn't have any relationship to speak of.
She had been too emotional just now.
It seemed she had made them both realize something.
Especially her minion.
Just a moment ago, he had been looking at the cheating cat not as a woman, but as a tool. Now, he was looking at her like a woman.
At that thought, Miss Sirin felt a sudden chill in her heart.
Wait, wait, the reason those two get together in my era... couldn't be because of the single sentence I just uttered, could it?
At this thought, Sirin's heart grew even colder.
Wait, wait, wait, no way.
I created this cheating cat myself?
Now what? What if my minion starts asking questions?
Should I say there's no relationship?
That would be complete bullshit.
Her one sentence had already revealed a lot.
To suddenly say, "Actually, you two have no relationship," would be a denial so clumsy it was practically a confession. It would be like putting up a sign that says, "No 300 Taels of Silver Buried Here."
But if she answered, "Your relationship is great," that would be even worse.
They would inevitably become more aware of each other and grow closer.
What should I do?!
Miss Sirin was as anxious as an ant on a hot pan.
"Sirin, stop joking. The Captain and I have no relationship whatsoever."
At that moment, Durandal's voice rang out, bringing a flicker of joy to Miss Sirin's heart.
Durandal did not like Li Zihan.
At least, not in a romantic sense.
Her perception of Li Zihan had gone something like this: Forever God -> a slightly unsettling super-genius -> a high-spec, gender-bent Rita -> a high-spec, gender-bent, scummy Rita.
Clearly, a guy like that did not meet her requirements for a lover.
Her statement made Sirin, who looked steady as a rock but was panicking like an old dog on the inside, rejoice.
The cheating cat had answered the question herself.
Obviously, she had zero interest in the minion right now.
That meant the situation was still salvageable.
With a bit of maneuvering, she could avoid one more verdant green hat.
But then again, she thought, the one I met in my own era should be the future version of her.
Logically, the cheating cat I met should be much more mature than the one here now.
How is this one so much more mature than the one I remember?
Miss Sirin was inexplicably confused.
Whatever. There's no point thinking about that now.
Her focus should be on more important matters.
"Is that so? Hehe, it seems the friendship between you two isn't as close as I imagined."
The Queen of the Void, cleverly substituting "relationship" with "friendship," put on a faint, detached smile, like a lofty judge passing sentence.
"To think that I, too, could misjudge someone."
You misjudge things all the time.
Li Zihan, whose powers of observation were on another level, thought to himself as he watched the girl trying her best to play the part of a superior evaluator, as if trying to cover something up with that posture.
Also, your technique for switching concepts is far too clumsy.
At a time like this, when a broad term like "relationship" should be used, she deliberately limited it to "friendship." No matter how you looked at it, something was off.
She was clearly trying to use specific words to guide people's thoughts.
The boy, who played this game all the time, inwardly shook his head at the girl who was probably very smart but whose acting was just too awkward.
However, since she wants to put on a show, I might as well play along a little.
With that thought, the boy began to scrutinize Durandal.
His gaze was so invasive, so appraising, that it made Durandal want to draw Black Abyss White Flower to defend herself.
"As I thought, I'm still not a fan of this overdeveloped type," the boy, who indeed wasn't a big fan of the older-sister type, sighed.
He took back his previous thought.
His interest in mature women had always been limited. Even if he occasionally felt something, he could just go find the Scummy Maid, who was also a mature type but far more feminine and alluring.
He probably really had no interest in Dull Goose.
Seriously? Could I have gotten something wrong?
Judging by what Sirin said, he was supposed to be very interested in Dull Goose.
How strange.
Thinking this, he looked at the Herrscher personality that had appeared using his lover's body and sighed.
Oh well. I'll think about these questions when I have time.
With that thought, he snapped his fingers lightly.
A few black and red feathers brushed past the girl's eyes.
Then, her brilliant golden pupils abruptly changed to one gold and one blue.
The other personality in this body had been awakened.
"Sirin, let's go home."
The boy, having awakened the girl who was completely his, opened his arms to the girl in the air.
Who wants to go with you?
Herrscher Sirin thought with disdain.
And then—
Her mood changed in an instant.
Her body, as if acting on its own, Pounce into the boy's embrace.
"Okay," said the girl, whose control over the body, with her lover's help, was now clearly superior to the primary personality. Her smile was thick with loving attachment.
Author's Note:
PS: I'm already dead.