Honkai: Strijder
Chapter 446: Fu Hua's Question
"Sig, I'm here!!!"
Under the moonlight, on the observation platform, Kiana burst out from a ripple in space and pounced onto Sigurd's back. Her jade-white legs skillfully wrapped around his waist, and she hung there limply like a koala clinging to him.
"Good evening. What did you need me for? It shouldn't be bedtime yet, right? Or is it that Sigurd wants to work a little harder and hit the jackpot sooner?"
With a comical grin, Kiana gently swayed on Sigurd's back. For once in recent days, she was unusually bold, trying to tease and tempt him.
"Haa…"
Sigurd let out a helpless yet amused sigh and patted Kiana's raised, round hips. The slight curve of his lips showed that Kiana's presence had suddenly relaxed his mood quite a bit.
"Get down."
"No way! Let me hug you properly. According to Shenzhou's calendar, today is the New Year! Happy New Year!"
"Happy New Year."
Sigurd said helplessly, reaching back and handing her a red envelope.
"There's actually a red envelope? Yay! (???)!"
Kiana immediately tore it open and took out several gold coins—though in reality they were chocolates, not money.
She peeled off the golden wrapping and popped the chocolate into her mouth, her eyes curving into a satisfied smile. To her, sweet chocolate was far better than cold, hard coins—she loved this red envelope.
"Thank you, Sig! I wish Sig great luck in the New Year! I wish everyone peace, health, happiness, and joy! And I wish for world peace! Hehe!"
Kiana gazed at the bright moon in the sky, yet it felt as though she were looking toward people in distant places, voicing the most heartfelt blessings from the bottom of her heart.
Sigurd smiled as well, briefly forgetting many of his worries, simply enjoying the peace and warmth of this moment.
"So… is something on your mind? I feel like Sig seems to be in a bad mood."
Holding the empty red-envelope wrapper, Kiana lay on Sigurd's back with her head resting on his shoulder, asking gently.
Then, as the one in the lower position, Kiana boldly raised her hand and patted Sigurd on the head. In theory, she should at least have been grabbed and spanked for that—but this time nothing like that happened.
Sigurd simply caught the hand that had been patting his head and squeezed it lightly. Feeling the warm, soft touch, he sighed quietly and said:
"Kiana."
"Hmm?"
"Have you ever thought about going back to the past?"
"Why are you suddenly asking that?"
Kiana was puzzled. Her big eyes blinked as she looked at Sigurd's side profile, a little confused.
But since it was Sigurd asking, she rocked her head back and forth thinking for a while before replying with a hint of melancholy:
"I actually have thought about it. After all, there were so many regrets in the past. Like the people who sacrificed themselves during the Second Eruption… or Durandal and Dad being separated for so many years…"
"Look, if I could go back to the past, wouldn't I be able to fix those regrets?"
Sigurd fell silent for a moment, offering no clear response. He lowered his eyes and avoided looking at Kiana's current expression, then after a pause asked again:
"If you were given the chance now, would you choose to go back?"
"I guess… no."
"Why?"
"We finally managed to get here together. I finally got to be with you, Sig…"
"I… couldn't bear to give that up."
Kiana said quietly.
Yes, if she returned to the past now and changed something, who knew what the present would become?
Compared to chasing the uncertain possibility of altering history, it would be better to cherish the present and treasure every day spent with the people she loved.
That was how Kiana felt now.
Sigurd sensed her feelings and squeezed her small hand again before asking:
"What kind of situation do you think would make you choose to cross time without hesitation to try to save it?"
"…Your questions today are all so strange, Sig! What are you actually trying to ask? No, wait—what I want to ask is what exactly happened?"
"Last question. If you really traveled back to the past, what would be the one thing you'd most want to do?"
Sigurd didn't explain anything and instead asked his final question.
Kiana frowned. Even though it all felt strange, she answered without hesitation:
"Of course I'd make sure I could meet Sig. I'd make sure that on that night in Mond Town, I would appear in front of you and hug you!"
"That's the one thing I absolutely, absolutely wouldn't let go wrong!"
Kiana grinned widely, looking very proud.
And in truth, warming the sickly young Sigurd with her own body on that night was the thing Kiana was most proud of in her entire life. There was no experience more important than that.
Sigurd carried Kiana on his back, silent like a mountain.
The first night he came to this world had also been the greatest fortune of his life.
As for the young lady, he felt he had vaguely grasped an answer.
'If I die in battle…'
"Sigh…"
Sigurd shook his head with a sigh and didn't continue explaining. After all, it was only a guess for now. Saying it aloud would only cause Kiana unnecessary worry.
Just imagine—if he told her, "I think I might die in battle in the future," she would explode on the spot.
And after that, every single day she would probably cling to him nervously, refusing to let him leave her sight.
Making Kiana live in constant fear would also make Sigurd uneasy. There was no need for that.
Besides, even if the guess turned out to be true, Otto had already proposed a countermeasure. It was only one possible future. The real future was still in his own hands, wasn't it?
Sigurd patted Kiana on the backside and said casually:
"Get down."
"Huh? No way! It's already so late—you might as well just carry me back!"
"Stop acting spoiled. I still have serious matters to handle. Go back and rest."
"I want to stay and work overtime with Sig!"
The girl shouted brightly. Not only did she refuse to get off Sigurd's back, she wrapped her arms even tighter around his neck. Her legs clamped a little harder around his waist as well, clearly unwilling to abandon her role as a troublesome little nuisance.
Of course, in her own mind, accompanying her boyfriend while he worked late was simply being thoughtful. Big bonus points!
…
"Snore… snore…"
Thirty minutes later, in Sigurd's study.
As soon as Fu Hua pushed the door open, she heard the familiar sound of snoring.
Looking closer, Sigurd was adjusting several holographic projections that looked like weapon models, while Kiana lay sprawled across his lap. Her arms and legs were thrown about carelessly, a silly smile on her lips and a bit of glistening drool at the corner of her mouth.
"Pfft!"
Fu Hua covered her mouth, but she still couldn't suppress the sound of her laughter.
Sigurd paused his adjustments and shifted his clear, sapphire-blue gaze toward Fu Hua.
"Is it that funny?"
"A little… You really can't do anything about this child, can you?"
Fu Hua shook her head with a soft laugh. Beneath that smile, however, was a faint trace of envy that even she herself didn't fully understand.
She walked over beside Sigurd's large chair and leaned down, gently wiping the drool from the corner of Kiana's mouth. Then she softly asked:
"Shouldn't you carry her to the bedroom? If she sleeps like this, she'll feel uncomfortable when she wakes up tomorrow."
"Let her sleep a bit longer. She just fell asleep. If I move her now, she might wake up."
"That's true. Then we'll leave her for now. Sigurd, I came because I wanted to ask you a few questions."
"Go ahead."
Sigurd continued adjusting the models while replying casually.
Fu Hua opened her mouth, but she didn't ask immediately. Instead, she carefully observed Kiana to make sure she was truly asleep. Only then did she slowly speak.
"About the young lady—do you have any clear conclusions or countermeasures now?"
"The conclusion is still just that guess. There isn't enough solid evidence yet. As for countermeasures… if she truly is the Herrscher of Finality, then we can only fight."
Sigurd's eyes flickered slightly before returning to calm. His tone became rational and cold.
"Don't fantasize about taking shortcuts. Defeating Finality—that's civilization's only way forward."
Fu Hua sighed inwardly, yet she understood his reasoning.
If the young lady really was Kiana from another timeline, such a solution would be cruel for many people—including Sigurd himself. But according to current research conclusions, the Herrscher of Finality was the final trial given by the Imaginary Tree, the ultimate culmination of the Honkai.
It couldn't be avoided or bypassed. There was no other choice but to fight.
"I understand. No matter what happens, I'll prepare myself and do my best."
She paused briefly.
"But I still have one more question."
"Ask."
"If the young lady really is Kiana… then the original Kiana Kaslana—is she truly Durandal?"
"…"
Sigurd fell silent.
He lifted his head and met a pair of clear, gentle, lake-like blue eyes.
Fu Hua treasured every bond she had with those around her. And among everyone, Kiana's identity was uniquely complicated. It wasn't strange for Fu Hua to come seeking confirmation about it.
"Based on all the verification methods we currently have, there's no real doubt that Durandal is Kiana Kaslana."
"I understand. I'll keep it confidential. And I hope you resolve things soon. The two of them… neither of them has had it easy."
Fu Hua let out a long breath.
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Tn: I updated the story once every 2 days, but if you want to see more chapter of this story ahead of time, please go to my Patreon.
Latest Chapter: Chapter 490: There's Going to Be Trouble[1]
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[1] https://www.patreon.com/Strijder/posts/honkai-strijder-161536858
[2] https://www.patreon.com/Strijder/posts/honkai-strijder-161536858