As for the Fourth to Sixth Herrscher outbreaks that would follow, she had absolutely no clues whatsoever. Add to that the potential butterfly effect her presence might trigger...
All in all, Durandal felt that this didn't really count as lying.
As for why Durandal was saying this...
Well, some things just had to be guarded against.
Whether there was something like a 'Will of Honkai' in this era or not, it was always better to be safe than sorry. An old ship stays afloat by being cautious.
Besides, she had just been grandstanding, boldly predicting that the Third Herrscher would erupt within six months in Nagazora.
What if the people around her got the wrong idea and became dependent, thinking she could accurately predict the location and time of every single Herrscher outbreak after this?
She genuinely had limited knowledge about the Previous Era!
"No one can say for sure when or where the Third Herrscher will erupt," she continued, "but I believe I possess some capability."
"I value Miss Mei's talent highly, so I planned to enter Chiba Academy as a fellow student. That way, no matter where the Herrscher strikes, I can protect this genius whose research could potentially bring immense value to humanity."
These words came from Durandal's heart, and no one could find much fault with them.
The scientists' intuition of Mobius and Mei told them that Durandal wasn't lying. But just because she wasn't lying, did it mean she was telling the whole truth?
Obviously not!
"You have that much faith in me?" Mei asked after a long silence.
"Of course," Durandal nodded, her tone firm.
"After all, not many people can be like you, Miss Mei, publishing independent research papers in authoritative academic journals on the Mu Continent while still a high school student."
"Furthermore, I've received word that soon, an academic symposium there will be inviting you for an exchange. Losing such a talent to a Honkai disaster would be a tremendous loss for all of humanity."
"I still feel I'm not quite worthy of such praise," Mei replied. She had her own pride, but that didn't mean she thought the world would stop turning without her.
Frankly, she felt Durandal's 'courting of a worthy scholar' was a bit over the top.
But since the other party had put it that way, she found it somewhat hard to refuse outright.
"So, you want me to join the Flame-Chasers organization?" Mei asked.
"Correct," Durandal said, then glanced at Kevyn. "And also Miss Kevyn. Her exceptional physical qualities could make her a powerful warrior in the fight against the Honkai."
"I'll consider it... As for Kevyn..." Mei looked at Kevyn, who seemed quite intrigued beside her.
Truthfully, she didn't want Kevyn to join.
Becoming a warrior meant fighting on the front lines.
And Kevyn was just a girl, not much different from herself. She...
Alright, she was feeling protective, she was reluctant, so what!
But she couldn't just ignore Kevyn's own wishes and forbid her from joining the Flame-Chasers.
"It should be her decision," Mei said softly, closing her eyes briefly and handing the choice over to Kevyn herself.
After all, this was Kevyn's own life.
It wasn't like her current relationship with Kevyn gave her that right, and even if it were more serious, could she really dictate everything for the other?
In times like these, even parents didn't have the right to control their children so much, let alone a partner.
"I..." Kevyn could clearly sense Mei's concern, and she was deeply moved by it.
But precisely because of that, she felt even more compelled to join the Flame-Chasers.
So, Kevyn took Mei's small hand in hers. Even in the dim park lighting, Mei could see the unwavering resolve in Kevyn's eyes.
"At first, my reason for wanting to join the Flame-Chasers was simple," Kevyn began. "Durandal and Elysia are my good friends. If they can do it, I think I'm not so bad myself, I can do it too!"
"Maybe there was some vanity and competitiveness at play. And I also wanted to snag a spot as a founding member before the organization's name was officially set."
"But later, after hearing your conversation with Durandal, and learning how incredibly important you are to her, my perspective changed."
"Durandal wants to protect you because of your importance to her and to all of human civilization. But what about me? Even without any of that, you are the one and only, the sole one who makes my heart beat faster in my life.
"So, to become someone who can control my own fate and the fate of others in this era of Honkai, to protect you, and for our future, I must seize this opportunity to temper myself into the strongest warrior. I don't have any grand ambitions."
"Saving the world and all that... honestly, I might have had such thoughts two or three years ago, but they were just the impractical fantasies of youth. It all feels too distant from me now. I just want to protect the present, to protect the person right in front of me."
"Kevyn..." If Mei had held any hesitation before, it was completely gone now.
She was utterly convinced that Kevyn was the one she wanted to spend the rest of her life with.
"Mei, you shouldn't join the Flame-Chasers just because of me," Kevyn said. "You can think it over properly. Whatever decision you make in the end, I will respect it."
Having said that, Kevyn turned to look at Durandal. "Since the leader has invited me as well, naturally, I can't be 'ungrateful' and refuse~"
Of course, whether intentionally or not, Kevyn didn't let go of Mei's hand as she spoke. And Mei didn't pull her hand away either. Both silently accepted this new state between them.
Witnessing the scene, Durandal couldn't help but sigh inwardly. 'The Ancestor' truly lived up to the title. With skills like this, who needed to ask her for advice?!
"Then, welcome to the Flame-Chasers," Durandal said with a genuine smile. "We're glad to have you as new members."
Just as her words faded, she heard that familiar sound again.
[Bzzzt... bzzzt...]
The Gnius still indicated the signal wasn't great.
[Detected that the Savior has recruited humanity's strongest warrior, Kevyn, to fight the Honkai together, bringing the final success one step closer. Rewarding the Second Divine Key: Cosmic Juggernaut. Please select a location for the reward deployment.]
Oh come on... It had only been a few days since the last reward, the Moon Ring, and now another one?
Was the title 'Humanity's Strongest Warrior' really that impressive?
And it was the Second Divine Key, the Cosmic Juggernaut!
Durandal didn't really need its ability to observe parallel worlds, but with this, could she start looking forward to the Star Rail as well?
Wait, wasn't the Cosmic Juggernaut shaped like a train?
She couldn't exactly put that on her bedside table. Where was she supposed to put it?
Durandal was dumbfounded.
In the end, left with no other choice, Durandal could only temporarily stash it on the far side of the Moon, planning to summon it back to Earth when the need arose.
--+--