So it was just changing locations to continue serving time.
Jyahnar couldn't hide the disappointment in her heart. It would probably be just like this time. After Kiana finished arranging everything, she would leave again.
And she would be the only one left behind.
Kiana didn't visit her often either.
As the first Planet-class Honkai Beast in this world, all she ever did was stand guard.
Forget it. As long as Kiana was happy, that was enough.
Jyahnar quickly consoled herself.
After watching over the Stigmata World for so many years, it was still better than guarding this unfamiliar planet, buried everywhere beneath ice and snow.
"I'll go take a look outside. Keep observing this world and see whether the Legion left behind any contingencies. When the time is right, I'll come find you."
"...I understand, Kiana."
Sure enough, after only a few words, she was dismissed again. Jyahnar's mood sank once more. If only I could stay by Kiana's side all the time.
After chatting with Jyahnar for a while and learning from her what exactly had happened with the Herrscher that appeared on Jarilo-VI, Kiana finally resolved her doubts.
Naturally, there was no further need to keep Jyahnar by her side.
To avoid staying together too long and letting their feelings change in nature, Kiana decisively sent her off to work.
She had to nip this budding possibility in the bud.
She absolutely could not let it take root and sprout!
Though reluctant and wanting to remain with her a little longer, Jyahnar still listened obediently. Once she left, Kiana was the only one remaining.
Acheron was still in the Upper District at this time.
After thinking it over, Kiana decided not to message her. She would wait until Acheron came back and give her a surprise instead.
After pacing once around the entrance, Kiana returned inside. She hesitated for a moment on the first floor. Remembering that one of Herta's puppets was still in the laboratory, she carefully made her way there.
Herta's puppet appeared to be in standby mode, standing motionless without any strange behavior.
"Herta?"
If they could talk alone, that would be for the best.
Kiana approached cautiously.
But she received no response. Madam Herta's attention clearly wasn't here, and the puppet remained in standby, offering no reaction to her proximity.
Maybe her attention was on Araya right now?
Kiana felt a trace of regret. The tension in her heart gradually eased as she found a place to sit, staring at the puppet from the side.
The puppet was exquisite, beautiful, and cute.
It was said to be modeled after Herta's childhood appearance.
The more Kiana stared at it, the more complicated her feelings became. For the second time, she murmured softly, "Is there really some strange setting written into me? That without my memories, I'd fall for the first pretty girl I see?"
She hadn't just met Herta. She had dealt with Madam Herta several times before.
Though always through her puppet.
She could swear that in the past she had never felt anything resembling romantic affection toward Herta. Otherwise, she would never have rejected Herta's various proposals for cooperation without mercy.
Besides, how could someone fall for a puppet when they weren't even close? How could she possibly have been attracted to Herta's puppet like that?
She had no other feelings toward Herta. At least before this incident, she could state that with certainty.
At most, she just thought Herta's puppet was cute and pretty.
"She really is pretty. And cute."
As long as she didn't speak.
Kiana propped her chin on one hand, still staring at the puppet, muttering to herself. "So this is the type of girl I like?... How unbelievable."
Even though she didn't know how to face it and felt that it was troublesome—something she had no idea how to bring up—she had no intention of denying it.
What Herta said back then had made perfect sense. She had been the one to cross the line first. She had insisted on saying those words to Herta.
Even knowing...
So she had to take responsibility for what she had said. At the very least, she needed to understand what Herta was thinking now.
Herta had suffered completely undeserved trouble.
Lost in thought while staring at the puppet, Kiana remained there until she sensed Acheron's aura drawing near.
She snapped back to her senses.
Quickly getting to her feet, she headed outside.
"Mei!"
"You... didn't just arrive, did you?"
A flicker of surprise passed through Acheron's eyes when she saw Kiana. She quickly realized that Kiana probably hadn't just arrived.
"Nothing gets past you, Mei!"
Kiana scratched her head sheepishly while stepping closer, then threw herself straight into Acheron's arms.
Acheron instinctively wrapped her arms around her waist, lowering her gaze to look at the white-haired girl who had flung herself into her embrace the moment they met.
"You came to talk to me about that?"
"Yes. The Stigmata Trial. I didn't expect that trial to drag you all into it too. I thought it would be like what Sirin and you described..." Kiana spoke with a hint of helplessness at the unexpected turn of events.
She had assumed she would just fight someone and had even been curious about what kind of enemy she would encounter.
Acheron's hand tightened unconsciously around her waist as she recalled the final scene of the trial—Ruan Mei transforming her into the Stigmata Terminal.
Her expression darkened visibly.
Even if it had only been a trial, and Ruan Mei had proven that it was what the trial required them to do...
Seeing that scene with her own eyes—
The impact lingered, impossible to forget.
"Hiss—Mei? Mei, Mei, don't get worked up!"
Feeling the pain from being squeezed, Kiana sucked in a sharp breath and pushed lightly at her. "The trial was very successful. When it was completed, the Stigmata Terminal was granted as a reward."
"The content of the trial... was for you to personally experience being turned into the Stigmata Terminal." Acheron took a deep breath.
"It was a bit intense, sure, but it was only a trial. Just treat it like a dream." Kiana hurried to reassure her. "Don't take it too seriously. None of it was real. I'm perfectly fine!"
Acheron pulled her tightly into her arms, feeling the warmth of her body, yet her mood did not improve in the slightest.
"Don't—don't ever make that kind of choice again." Acheron's voice sounded restrained, low and heavy. "Absolutely not. Sacrificing yourself or anything like that... I can't accept it."
So she's thinking about what happened in Izumo?
She's worried that I would...
Kiana raised a hand and gently stroked her back, trying to keep her own voice light and cheerful.
"I would never do something like that. I'm not stupid. I couldn't bear to be separated from such a beautiful Mei~"
"There are still so many things I haven't told you, so many places I haven't visited with you yet!" Kiana smiled. "Don't make me sound so selfless. I would never sacrifice myself for someone else!"
"Kiana..."
Acheron wanted to say that the "other people" she mentioned should naturally include herself.
But she knew Kiana's personality all too well.
Even if they argued endlessly and Kiana reluctantly said what she wanted to hear, she would never truly act that way.
It was precisely because she understood this—and knew she couldn't change it—that her heart felt so heavy. She would rather Kiana be a little selfish than see her risk herself again.
"By the way, it seems Belobog gained a new Herrscher?" Kiana seized the chance to change the subject.
"...So you know." Acheron suppressed her worries about the future, loosening her embrace and taking the initiative to step back slightly. "I only found out from Welt's message. During the time we were away, something unexpected happened in Belobog."
"But it's been resolved now. The Astral Express is planning to depart and continue its Trailblaze journey."
"Oh? The Astral Express is leaving?"
Kiana looked surprised. That part she truly hadn't expected.
Which meant the Xianzhou...
Right. Tingyun was still with Ruan Mei.
The next stop for the Astral Express would be the Luofu.
She couldn't help but feel curious. With Belobog's storyline altered so heavily—Honkai even being introduced into the picture—had Stelle still received Preservation's gaze?
"Yes. They've completed their Trailblaze in Belobog. The remaining issues can't be resolved in the short term. It depends on Belobog's own choices."
Kiana nodded. "In a couple of days, I'll have Araya keep an eye on Belobog and take control of distributing the badges. If nothing unexpected happens, Belobog should be able to get back on track on its own."
"Araya?"
"The Stigmata Terminal," Kiana said with a smile. "She's still at the space station right now. If there's a chance later, I'll introduce you to her."
The Stigmata Terminal...
Just hearing that name already caused a faint discomfort in Acheron's chest. The unforgettable scene resurfaced vividly before her eyes.
"What about next?" she asked. "What are you planning to do next?"
Kiana almost said she would return to Euphorion.
But Acheron was staring at her intently, and there was still lingering discomfort on her face from when the Stigmata Terminal had been mentioned.
If she said now that she wanted to go back and construct the Stigmata World—to recreate the Izumo of the past—Mei would definitely get angry, wouldn't she?
Her survival instincts kicked in.
The words that reached her lips took a sharp turn. "Mei, did you forget? Robin invited me to the Charmony Festival."
The plot...
Truthfully, Kiana wasn't overly concerned about it. What happened on Jarilo-VI had been an accident. Since she had intervened, she naturally had to consider the consequences.
But the Xianzhou storyline...
The Luofu was capable of handling the Stellaron crisis on its own, especially with the Astral Express there. Although the Ark was docked at the Luofu, she had no compelling reason to go to the Xianzhou.
The excitement she had felt over Araya's birth—the impulsive urge to rush back immediately and begin experimenting—gradually cooled under Acheron's steady gaze.
Going back to Euphorion right now would probably provoke strong dissatisfaction from Mei.
Maybe it was better to let things settle for a while?
Mei had never supported her pushing herself like that.
And she had nearly forgotten that Acheron still carried the mission of finding the Galaxy Ranger.
It was better to go to Penacony first.
She had promised Robin she would attend the Charmony Festival. And now, there were only two months left before it began.
There were also promises Mei had made to others.
Those needed to be resolved as well.
Besides, if she wanted to recreate the Stigmata World, Kiana felt she could learn more in Penacony. Perhaps she might gain some inspiration.
She couldn't rely solely on brute force miracles.
"There are only two months left before the Charmony Festival starts. Robin asked earlier if I had time to meet her—she wanted to talk about matters related to the festival."
"Now that Jarilo-VI's situation is more or less settled, I think it's necessary for me to make a trip to Penacony."
"Robin?"
Acheron nodded thoughtfully. She remembered Robin—not only because she was a famous singer, but because she had played a part in helping her find Kiana.
When she had just reunited with Kiana, she had even met Miss Robin once.
Kiana had indeed mentioned the Charmony Festival before. Judging by the time, Penacony's grand celebration was approaching.
Attending a festival...
Nothing unexpected should happen.
"You remember her, right? I really owe her thanks. If it weren't for Robin's help, I don't know how long it would have taken me to find you."
"We should properly thank her."
After the Charmony Festival, Kiana would probably begin preparing to construct the Stigmata World.
Return to Izumo...
Before that, she also needed to complete the task entrusted to her.
"Don't worry. I'll thank her properly!"
Penacony's situation wasn't particularly complicated. She understood the circumstances there and stood on Robin's side.
Acheron nodded in acknowledgment and did not press further about Kiana's next plans. Instead, she guided the conversation back.
"After leaving the trial, did you come straight to Jarilo-VI?"
"Of course!" Kiana replied matter-of-factly. "I knew you'd want to see me, Mei, so I came!"
It was good that she thought of her.
But after arriving, Kiana hadn't gone to find her immediately. She had waited here instead.
Acheron knew she was only telling half the truth.
Between remaining silent and asking directly, Acheron decisively chose the latter.
"Can you tell me what exactly happened between you and Herta?"
When it came to matters involving Kiana, Acheron was sharper than usual. Even though she hadn't said much during the trial, that didn't mean she hadn't noticed anything.
Now that the trial was over and only the two of them were here, she finally had the chance to ask.
She knew when the question should be asked. She had never intended to pretend nothing had happened.
This...
Kiana's expression froze instantly. Even her face turned visibly guilty as she rubbed her hands together uneasily.
This was bad.
If Mei could ask that question, she must have sensed something. Maybe she already knew everything.
"Think carefully before you answer me."
That added sentence made Kiana's already racing heart pound even harder. She lowered her head and thought for a long time.
She had no idea how to tell her about this.
How am I supposed to say that I confessed to someone else while already in a relationship?
After I promised...
Mei would definitely stab me on the spot, wouldn't she?
Cold sweat formed from sheer nervousness. The words reached her lips but refused to come out, as if she had suddenly lost the ability to speak.
"...I see. Then can you tell me—who was the one who spoke first?"