From Kiana the Lord Ravager Onward: A Grand Fabricated History
Author: Better Hang Myself Than Write
"Is that so?"
Kafka's fingers paused ever so slightly around her coffee cup.
"That really is a shame. After all, if the Stellaron Hunters could gain a partner as lively as Miss Kiana, I think life would become very interesting indeed."
With that, Kafka set down her cup and looked up at Kiana.
There was no disappointment in her eyes, nor any trace of the irritation or wounded pride one might expect from a villain after being rejected.
"Still, for Miss Kiana to refuse so decisively—is it because you've already developed a sense of belonging here at Herta Space Station?"
"Or is it simply that… you don't trust me very much yet?"
"After all, this is only our first meeting. Perhaps outside prejudice has caused you to misunderstand us a little."
After a brief pause, Kafka added, "In that case, why don't we start by simply getting to know each other better?"
"Perhaps once we've become more familiar, Miss Kiana might give me a different answer."
At that, Kiana tilted her head and began studying the elegant, composed Stellaron Hunter before her with genuine attention.
Good grief.
She had already rejected her outright, yet judging from this attitude, Kafka still wasn't giving up?
No, more than that—this wasn't just refusing to give up. This was clearly getting more determined the more she was rebuffed.
Kiana's mind began moving quickly.
She had no desire to join the Stellaron Hunters, of course, but that didn't mean she had no interest in shearing a little wool off Kafka.
Originally, she had been wondering how to spin a few fabricated-history stories around Kafka.
But now this was perfect. Since the other woman wanted them to "get to know each other," then hadn't the opportunity basically delivered itself to her doorstep?
At the thought, Kiana blinked and put on an innocent-looking smile.
"Getting to know each other sounds fine."
"After all, Miss Kafka is so pretty, and you made coffee for me, helped me get dressed, and even put slippers on for me. How could I possibly be rude enough to refuse?"
Kafka smiled too.
"Then where should we begin? Perhaps Miss Kiana could start by asking a few questions about us."
"Mmm…"
Kiana thought for a moment, then said,
"For example—why do the Stellaron Hunters collect Stellarons? Is it to sell them for money? Or do you have some other objective?"
"To fulfill a wish."
Kafka's answer was concise and frank.
"A wish?"
"Yes. Elio can see the future, and everything we do is for the sake of reaching that promised future."
Kiana nodded thoughtfully.
"That sounds like a rather romantic obsession."
"Romantic?" Kafka seemed amused by the word. "This is the first time anyone's ever used that word to describe us."
"Well, of course." Kiana sounded perfectly matter-of-fact.
"To run toward a goal without caring about the cost, even if no one understands you—isn't that romantic?"
Well… to be fair, described that way, it wasn't necessarily romantic.
It could also just mean being stubborn as a mule.
But when talking to people, you said what pleased people; when talking to ghosts, you said what pleased ghosts.
The important part was to praise them.
After a brief silence, Kafka said softly, "Miss Kiana is very good with words."
"Hm? Am I?"
"Yes. Even when you're questioning someone, you make it impossible for them to get angry." Kafka lifted her coffee cup, hiding the smile at the corner of her lips.
"That sort of talent would be very useful in Stellaron Hunter operations as well."
Oh-ho, here she goes again.
Kiana laughed inwardly. This was obviously Kafka testing her attitude again.
But if Kafka was going to probe her, then Kiana could probe right back.
"Speaking of which, Miss Kafka…"
"You said just now that Elio couldn't see any script involving me?"
That question made Kafka hesitate for a brief instant.
"Yes. According to Elio, you are not in the future's script at all. In fact, because of your existence, the future's script itself may even become blank."
"I see."
Kiana laughed softly.
If that was the case, then she could understand why the Stellaron Hunters wanted so badly to recruit her.
After all, during the time ahead, expecting her to behave herself quietly was basically impossible.
And because an existence like hers had appeared, the future storyline would naturally undergo all sorts of unpredictable changes.
"Then doesn't that scare you, Miss Kafka? A person who isn't in the prophecy, a person whose next move you can't predict at all, is sitting right in front of you."
"After all, I am a Lord Ravager. Maybe in the very next second I'll suddenly lash out and hurt someone."
The air seemed to freeze for a moment.
And then Kafka smiled too.
"Would you, Miss Kiana?"
"Well, who can say? The Stellaron Hunters have something I want. Maybe I'm thinking of robbing you for it."
At that, the air really did seem to pause for a heartbeat.
Not because of the threat, of course.
Kafka had heard far too many threats in her life.
Far more direct ones, far subtler ones—none of them were enough to make even her eyelashes tremble.
What made her pause was the expression on Kiana's face as she said it.
It practically screamed:
Come on, cheer me up.
Kafka suddenly felt like laughing.
"What could the Stellaron Hunters possibly have that would make a Lord Ravager willing to resort to robbery just to get it?"
That was a good question.
What did the Stellaron Hunters have that she wanted?
Elio's script? That thing couldn't be farmed for points.
Silver Wolf's hacking skills? She had no need to break into any secrets.
Firefly's SAM armor? Too bulky. Hard to hide.
Blade's immortality? Pfft, absolutely not. Bad luck.
She couldn't exactly say, "I want your trust so I can use it to charge myself," could she?
Before Kiana could figure out how to spin a convincing answer, Kafka spoke first.
"Miss Kiana, Elio said you were a variable. I think I understand what he meant now."
Kiana looked faintly embarrassed.
"Is that a compliment, or are you calling me troublesome?"
"It's praise."
Kafka set down her coffee cup. Her movements were still elegant, but there was now a warmth in her gaze that hadn't been there before.
"A Lord Ravager who doesn't even know what she herself wants is very cute."
Kiana: "..."
Wait.
What did she mean, doesn't even know what she wants?
She knew perfectly well, thank you very much.
She wanted points. She wanted power banks. She wanted to empty out the shop. She wanted to max out every single one of her personas.
It was just that none of those things could be said aloud.
So instead, Kiana said:
"What I actually want are the Stellarons you've collected."
Kafka paused slightly, because that answer really had taken her by surprise.
"Stellarons?" She gently set down her cup.
"A Lord Ravager needs Stellarons?"
Unlike the outside world, where many people believed Stellarons were creations of Destruction, Kafka naturally knew their true origin.
But what could a Lord Ravager possibly want Stellarons for?
Surely she wasn't planning to use them as disposable explosives—like one-shot grenades?
Well…
actually, Kiana really had considered exactly that.
She was planning to stack another buff onto this persona of hers.
Join here to read ahead.
In Star Rail, Ultra-Beast Armored — Have I Caught "Equilibrium"? l (Chapter 80)
Uma Musume, But I Only Have Five Years Left to Live (Chapter 135)
Zenless Zone Zero: I'm a Doctor, Not a Bangboo (Chapter 115)
Ben Tennyson Wants to Join the Justice League (Chapter 110)
TYPE-MOON: Redemption Beginning with the Holy Grail War (Chapter105)
Yu-Gi-Oh! — Transmigrated into the White Dragon Girl (Chapter100)
"Is this chat group even serious?" (Chapter67)
I, Lord Ravager, Utterly Loyal! (Chapter85)
Can Playing Games Save the World? 60
Crossover Anime Multiverse: The Demon Hunter of an Unnatural World 65
From Junkman to Wasteland 50
Weekly Refresh of Overpowered 31
I'm Grinding Proficiency Like 35
From Kiana, Lord Ravager, Onwa 40
Honkai: Is This Still the Prev 37
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