In the end, Durandal chose to experience the games of this era with Takatsuki.
"Durandal, be careful not to break the machine."
Takatsuki remembered that in the arcades he used to go to, some students with heavy hands would often hit the machines until they malfunctioned, and now the player was Durandal.
With her strength, which could burst sandbags, she would definitely break the machine if her emotions got too excited.
"I wouldn't lose control of this much strength. Otherwise, wouldn't life be a hassle?"
Grabbing a handful of game coins from the box in Takatsuki's hand, Durandal sat down on one side of the machine.
"This thing..."
Durandal was about to ask how to operate it, "Strange, I haven't learned the language of the Far East, so why can I understand it?"
"Did you notice? This is a buff you get after going to other worlds. Even languages you've never learned can be communicated fluently."
Durandal raised an eyebrow, "Have you been to many other worlds?"
"Well, not many, but quite a few. You already guessed, didn't you?"
Since it was already like this, Takatsuki didn't intend to make excuses, lie, or conceal. One lie requires more lies to cover it up.
"Are all those worlds like this? Worlds without Honkai?"
"That's right. In fact, Honkai is a specialty of our world. It's even difficult to bring it to other worlds, unless you have a Herrscher Core or other things that can store a large amount of Honkai Energy."
The Honkai Energy in the Honkai world originates from the cocoon of the end constantly absorbing and converting Imaginary Energy, but other worlds don't have such things, and humans themselves don't have the ability to convert Honkai Energy.
"I noticed before that you seem to know things that haven't happened in this world. So, do you also know what will happen in our world's future?"
Although Durandal didn't ask about personal matters, she didn't choose to ignore the matter of saving her world and directly asked. And she also found that Takatsuki didn't even have the intention to hide it.
However, she could probably guess what Takatsuki would say.
"Yes, but if you want to know the details, it's the usual."
"Regain my memories, right?" Durandal frowned, "Why are you so insistent on making me regain my memories?"
Takatsuki sat down at the machine opposite and manipulated the joystick to select a character.
"Because once you remember your past memories, you'll choose to help me keep it a secret. As you are now, you'd trust Otto's words more than mine, wouldn't you?"
"What does this have to do with the Archbishop?"
Listening to the sound of keys being pressed from the opposite side, Durandal saw that the screen in front of her had entered the game and clumsily started operating her character.
"Because your amnesia is related to him. When you remember what happened before your amnesia, your trust in him will decrease."
Taking advantage of Durandal's unfamiliarity, Takatsuki directly operated his character to unleash a special move, pinning Durandal's character against the wall and taking half her health.
"To defeat Honkai, Schicksal is essential."
"But Otto is not. The current him will only hold Schicksal back."
Durandal frowned, unsure if it was because of Takatsuki's words or because Takatsuki had already taken down her first character with full health.
"Schicksal can already accomplish many things on its own. Most of the official business is handled by Amber anyway. You'll take over Schicksal in three years anyway, so why not do it early?"
Durandal didn't speak, or rather, she already knew what she wanted to know.
"What's wrong? Not asking anymore?"
Takatsuki poked his head out from the side of the machine.
"The more you ask, the more questions there will be. You won't tell me everything, will you?"
"That's not necessarily true. After all, I'm not very good at strategizing. I just know a bit more than you and have an information advantage. I know who can be a friend and who is an enemy."
If he were facing Otto, Takatsuki wouldn't dare to say that, or his true intentions would be seen through in minutes.
But the person in front of him was Durandal.
Durandal wished she could punch Takatsuki right now. Wasn't he basically calling her an idiot?
However, in this world without Honkai Energy, her strength was greatly weakened. She hadn't adapted to the magic power within her body and couldn't convert it into actual combat strength.
"So the Archbishop is an enemy?"
"No, Otto can also be a friend, but I don't have the ability to make him one right now."
To tame Otto, only Kallen in this world could do it. Even Kevin couldn't do such a thing. So, if Kallen could be revived, wouldn't Otto be easily manipulated?
Even facing an absolute disadvantage, Otto could obtain what he desired.
"What ability?"
"Can't say."
"…"
Durandal still wanted to probe for some information, but as soon as a crucial question was involved, it would be evaded with "can't say." She also knew that Takatsuki wasn't unable to say it, but rather couldn't say it to her, who had no memories of the past.
Was her past self really different from her current self? Would it directly change her perception?
For some reason, Durandal felt a trace of fear towards her past.
It was a fear of the unknown, a fear of the status quo changing, a fear of waking up and finding the whole world to be a lie.
Takatsuki didn't know that his actions were counterproductive. Instead, seeing that Durandal no longer asked questions, he said, "We're done talking about our world. Let's talk about the Holy Grail War."
"Regarding the actions of the other groups, the Tohsaka should be the first to act. With Tohsaka Tokiomi's caution, he should have his Servant demonstrate their strength to deter others and avoid unnecessary battles, hoping to reap the benefits."
Wasn't this already mentioned?
Durandal didn't expect Takatsuki to be talking about this.
But she didn't ask, because she guessed that Takatsuki must have his own reasons for suddenly bringing this up at such a time.
And the next sentence explained her confusion.
"I'm right, aren't I, Mr. Gilgamesh?"
"Hoh, you recognized this King. You've seen this King's true face, and yet you don't bow?"
Durandal looked at the blond man sitting on a nearby arcade machine, playing a game. He was wearing ordinary casual clothes, and apart from his golden hair and crimson eyes, there was nothing particularly special about him.
Like her, he was playing the same game, and his opponent was clearly not a computer, but a person.
But looking through the gap, there was no one else on the other side.
"How dare you look down on this King so lightly, you mere mongrel."
Gilgamesh felt like he was about to laugh from anger, as his character had been getting beaten up since the beginning.
"You can't say that. After all, playing games alone is boring, isn't it? And Mr. Gilgamesh, neither of us are your subjects nor your citizens."
"What a joke! Is there any land under heaven that is not the King's domain? This King is the one and only true King above and below the heavens. How dare a mere mongrel say they are not my citizen?"
He inserted another coin into the machine in front of him. After selecting a character, Gilgamesh, though unwilling to admit defeat, started the match again.
"You heard it just now, we are not from this world, so the history of this world naturally has no meaning to us."
Takatsuki said this without showing any mercy to Gilgamesh, mercilessly crushing him in the game: "Moreover, in another world, I am also a King. If anything, this is a meeting of two Kings."
"A King? You, a mere mongrel?"
As soon as Gilgamesh's voice fell, he felt a massive aura coming from the opposite side.
It wasn't pressure generated by magic, nor was it wind pressure, but pure aura.
He was no stranger to this aura; it was the aura of a King.
But even he couldn't materialize this aura into such substantial pressure.
Gilgamesh's crimson pupils constricted.
The aura came and went quickly, not affecting anyone else. No one even noticed what was happening in that corner.
"Conqueror's Haki, a temperament that can only be awakened by those with the qualifications of a King in another world. How about it, can this serve as proof?"
As he spoke, Takatsuki pressed the button in his hand, defeating Gilgamesh's character once again.
"Hahahahahahaha! I acknowledge you, mongrel. What is your name?"
"Takatsuki."
Gilgamesh nodded: "Takatsuki, an otherworldly King, interesting. You come to this King's courtyard and don't immediately pay respects to this King. I hope you don't bore this King in this Holy Grail War."
With that, he didn't even look at the character on the screen that had been defeated three times in a row, stood up, and left his seat.
In Durandal's gaze, he vanished into a golden light.
This was a Servant's spiritualization, also their fastest means of departure.
"When did you discover him?"
Only after Gilgamesh left did Durandal look at Takatsuki.
"Probably halfway through our conversation. He must have been attracted by our topic."
Takatsuki didn't expect Gilgamesh to be interested in eavesdropping: "But don't worry, he won't threaten our world. However, in this Holy Grail War, he is the strongest one. If you ever face him alone in the future, just run away."