MGSFV?! Chapter 443. The Duck Whose License Was Revoked at Light Speed; Secret Crush
But then again.
Is "agreeing to disagree" really valid... if the premise isn't even worth agreeing on?
If it's an obviously wrong opinion, nobody bothers to argue. A simple "ah, yeah, sure" is more likely what people would say.
"Since he already said it like that, why not just go along with him?"
Therefore...
The situation between Kiana and Hokuto doesn't exactly apply to the metaphor just now.
"Can understand but can't agree"—that's what they're experiencing right now.
Anyway.
Hokuto and Kiana's group debated for a long time. Because their positions differ, their views couldn't align.
Even so, Hokuto still pointed them to the true battlefield of the [Stigmata Project]—Earth.
"All the final answers to the secrets lie there... not on this already dead planet. If you don't want humanity to be bound by the Stigmata Project, then break through the final barrier and advance toward Earth."
"—If you can grasp the opportunity, that is."
But the way she told everything, without reservation, raised considerable doubts.
Mei gazed seriously at Hokuto and asked, "Why are you telling us this? This seems to contradict the side you're on."
Hokuto wasn't like them. She was still a World Serpent officer, and also an executor of the Stigmata Project.
To spill all the secrets of the project just like that—was it really okay?
[Why do I vaguely sense troll energy from Hokuto?]
[Not exactly troll... but something does feel off.]
Then came Hokuto's response...
"Side? Ah, I think you've misunderstood something."
"The reason I help World Serpent with the Stigmata Project... comes from a rather absurd deal."
A deal?
That sounded like a critical bit of info.
Maybe it explained Hokuto's current behavior?
Bronya furrowed her brow slightly: "...Sounds like you have quite the story yourself."
"Heh..."
When the word "story" came up, Hokuto probably remembered something from the past. Her tone shifted noticeably.
"Strictly speaking, they don't belong to who I am now. Either way, compared to your story, those ancient events mean little."
That tied back to what she said earlier about some "unforgivable senior."
Of course, Bronya didn't know that.
She simply grew quiet and watched Hokuto with caution, seemingly trying to judge the truth behind her words.
A faint tension filled the air.
Hokuto noticed this too and let out a sigh. She stopped talking.
For a moment, both sides fell into an eerie silence.
At the same time, some players began noticing Hokuto's subtle behavior toward the Duck.
[Hokuto's attitude toward the Duck feels different from how she treats Kiana or Mei, doesn't it?]
[Yeah, I get the same impression.]
Hokuto's attitude toward Bronya was clearly more... ambiguous.
This piqued the players' curiosity.
What was going on?
Countless theories swirled in their minds.
But...
They probably never imagined that the seemingly friendly Hokuto now—would soon change completely...
Herrscher of Reason? Meh.jpg
...
Back to the main thread.
Hokuto's silence came from not knowing how to deal with the current situation.
Whereas Kiana's team was silent because...
They were still able to communicate with each other telepathically.
Bronya: ...No flaws found, and nothing truly useful either.
Mei: True. What she said was shocking, but lacks practical value.
Kiana: Then there's just one question left.
Bronya: —Why did she tell us all this?
[
[The Herrscher Chatroom still works?]
[Even though Herschy left so cleanly, she didn't forget the important stuff. Truly a reliable treasure.]
[Aren't you curious about Hokuto's motives? Why say all that?]
Some players admired Herschy—how she might seem silly and cutesy on the surface but was actually dependable, worthy of inheriting the class rep's legacy.
Herrscher of Sentience: Hmm?
Ahem, editing your mind? That's just comic relief and cheerful atmosphere-setting. All for you, out of selfless goodwill!
Some players, like Kiana's group, were more focused on Hokuto's motives.
[Maybe... Hokuto just finds the Duck pleasing to the eye, so she came here to reminisce?]
A theory offered by players who noted Hokuto's ambiguous attitude.
[Do you guys even believe that yourselves?]
[Well...]
Yeah.
Even they realized they were probably reaching.
...
Even the players couldn't figure out what Hokuto was really up to—so of course, Kiana's group wasn't about to trust her.
Sensing their thoughts, Hokuto gave a rather helpless smile.
"As expected, earning your trust is a tough task."
It was.
If this had been a few years ago, when the main trio was still at St. Freya, Hokuto might've been able to bluff her way through... at most, maybe trick Kiana.
But now...
The era of Hokuto was over. This was the Herrscher Trio's version.
Still, that "version" had been going on for quite a while now...
"It's good that you understand."
"Then, what if I help you a bit more?" Hokuto still wouldn't give up. "Would our trust become a little clearer?"
"I know you want to confront the Sovereign face to face—and he's waiting for you. But even if it's just to talk... in your current state, you likely won't gain anything."
Wow, even Hokuto could tell that Kiana's group wasn't there to fight Kevin, just to talk.
If... okay, there is no "if." That talk won't bear fruit.
Though Kiana didn't agree.
She immediately refuted: "Not necessarily..."
But before she could finish—
A dull gasp interrupted her.
Without warning, Hokuto reached toward Bronya—
Bronya: "...!!"
Everything went black.
She heard Mei gasp, and Kiana shout and question.
[???]
[DUCK!]
[The writers held it in this long, and now they're finally stirring things up?!]
[Maybe the hint about Kiana becoming Finality was just a teaser? Now it's time for the real chaos?]
Stirring up trouble?
Not this time. At least, not yet.
Hokuto figured—hey, not everything she did had to be trouble. She wasn't a devil or something.
Not every road she took led to chaos.
Serious Mode: On.jpg
???
If players heard her say that... tsk. They'd be mailing knives again.
Speaking of which, ever since Hokuto returned from the Elysian Realm, that warehouse Rita once rented to store fanmailed blades? Already half-full again.
Shows just how "passionate" the fans are.
In real life, even Theresa and the others loved teasing Hokuto about that.
Although... the real issue here might be the fact that someone actually rented a warehouse to store fanmailed knives.
...
Back to the point.
When Hokuto reached for her, Bronya felt a wave of dizziness.
Within that vortex of power, Hokuto's calm voice echoed in her ears.
"If you're determined to meet him—even if it means risking everything—"
"Then at least let me release you from the shackles the Stigmata Project placed on your mind."
The dull ache and impact slowly faded.
Looking at her companions, the girls saw the same shock reflected in each other's eyes.
"Mei, you..."
The lightning-born girl now crackled with electricity.
Mei had returned to her Herrscher of Thunder form.
"The mental shackles... are completely gone?"
[She's back in Herrscher form!?]
[The power has returned!]
[Wait... did Hokuto seriously help?]
Some players still couldn't believe it.
[Not sure why Hokuto did it, but... thanks, Hokuto (flowers)]
[Just like with Otto, huh? Back then he left the Black Abyss White Flower to heal everyone.]
[Hmm... speaking of which, weren't we joking that Hokuto was the Black Abyss White Flower personified?]
[The Black Abyss White Flower heals. Hokuto is the personified Black Abyss White Flower (fog). Suddenly, it all makes sense.]
Plot continues.
After seeing Mei return to Herrscher form, Bronya instinctively looked at her own hands.
"So... Bronya too..."
[The Duck's little crown is back on (joy)]
[Duck's back on her feet!]
All signs were good.
Duck fans couldn't help but celebrate.
But... the next moment, something went wrong.
Before Bronya could fully process it, an abrupt emptiness overwhelmed her.
Like a balloon with a leak, power flooded into her—then vanished completely, like a stone sinking into the sea.
Players: ?
Countless chaotic voices roared in her consciousness.
The memories and wills sealed in the Herrscher of Reason core.
Players: ??
"..."
"What's going on?"
"The Herrscher core... rejected me?"
Bronya's weak voice echoed—leaving the once-celebrating players stunned with question marks.
Players: ...???
[What happened?]
The Duck... stood up for just one second?
That's allowed?!
[Duck: Just realized my license expired.]
[Classic Duck derailing.]
Hmm...
Maybe not that surprising?
After all, it's not the first—or second—or third time...
Basically a Honkai Impact running gag by now.
[Herschy: The Herrscher of Reason core is cursed!]
[I used to doubt Herschy. Now I completely understand her.]
[Doubt Herschy, understand Herschy, become Herschy.]
[So, any lore experts want to explain why the core suddenly rejected the Duck?]
After a wave of jokes, players got a little more serious and began speculating.
This plot point wasn't hard to understand—but it offered many angles of interpretation.
So they were curious what others thought.
[I think... maybe the 300,000 wills in the core are split—some for, some against the Stigmata Project—and now they're arguing?]
[Agree. Bronya's not dealing with the fused core that Joyce left. She's facing the raw collective will of the 300,000 victims in Berlin. Joyce had the same issue before. Maybe now, it's Bronya's turn to truly become the Herrscher of Reason—not just an inheritor.]
[Hmm? You guys saying... new battlesuit for the Duck?!]
[If Bronya becomes the true Herrscher of Reason... does that mean a rename? Like True·Herrscher of Reason? (doge)]
[True·Herrscher of Reason?! Lol.]
...
Gotta admit.
This part really gave off a vibe—Bronya's about to awaken new power.
But... what would she need to do, exactly?
Because now, just after putting her little crown back on, Bronya was once again in normal form.
Situation looked grim.
Even Kiana, Mei, and... Hokuto, all gave her equally concerned looks.
[Hokuto? Why's she also so worried about the Duck? Something's fishy.]
"Sorry... based on the current outcome, it seems I can't help you any further."
"This..."
"I already removed the mental shackles. You should've all returned to your state before falling to the Moon. But reality contradicts that. I think..."
Hokuto suddenly gave Bronya a meaningful look.
[Why does Hokuto keep giving the Duck those weird glances?]
[Confirmed: Secret Crush.jpg]
[Pass it on: Hokuto has a crush on the Duck.]
[Pass it on: Hokuto wants to do unspeakable things to the Duck.]
[...???]
Of course, Hokuto absolutely did not want to do unspeakable things to the Duck.
After all, Hokuto x Duck? That's basically a mother x daughter ship... ahem.
Yeah, that'd never get past censors.
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