Honkai, but Behind the Scenes

"In other words, our ship's only mechanic and pilot are staying in this city?"

Five days later, Bianka, who had attended a series of trials, crossed her arms and concluded with complete incomprehension.

"Anyway, they get along well… As for the plane, that old-fashioned aircraft has limited use, so it doesn't matter whether we have it or not."

Tian Shi's indifferent voice came. 

He doesn't have as many thoughts as Bianka... or is he as sentimental? 

However, it's hard to tell if Bianka's mind is that delicate now. For him, obtaining the Gem of Reason is enough.

"At least this is their choice, and it's not someone else forcing them… But according to the King's Road RPG plot, teammates who leave the party midway will always return when fighting the Great Demon King."

"Tsk, why do you use this metaphor every day? Isn't an RPG a bazooka?"

Bianka scratched her head in irritation.

"A type of game is also called an RPG – role-playing game." 

Tian Shi explained with a smile, "It's about playing the role of a hero, defeating dragons, etc. Although I don't think you have much interest in this kind of game due to your personality."

"Of course, training and things like that are enough."

Bianka first nodded in response, and then had some doubts.

"But of course, setting Manfred aside, anyone with a discerning eye can see that Jimmy's stay has nothing to do with both of them working together, right? It's all because of that AI, right? Why?"

"It's simple. This is love. My dear crewmate, Miss Bianka."

Behind them, Shakespeare was reciting poetry, and Rita held a hymn to the garden.

"Haven't you read my book Romeo and Juliet?"

"No, I'm not interested in that kind of tragic love story," Bianka said without thinking.

"Well… this is truly heartbreaking." Shakespeare covered her chest and made a pained expression. 

"But it doesn't matter. I also have romances that aren't tragic. It's a huge mistake to consider me a tragic writer! Have you read A Midsummer Night's Dream?"

"Do you really want me to say I'm not interested in drama, Captain?"

"Well… Miss Bianka, as an A-rank Valkyrie, you still need to improve your culture…"

Shakespeare was defeated. "I'll go arrange the newcomers first. After all, we've been here too long."

"Newcomers? Who?"

Bianka was about to ask, but found that Shakespeare had already left this "sad place" in an instant.

"That person is really… but… well, Rita, have you ever read Shakespeare's works?"

"I've read a little, but I'm afraid I can't compare to the Captain in terms of literary achievement."

Although Shakespeare seemed unreliable all day, she was still a great writer after all. Rita would never dare to claim she "knew a little" in such a context.

"Then… Rita, what do you think love is in Shakespeare's work?"

"It's a tragedy, but also a comedy. Everything has two sides. Romeo and Juliet is a tragedy, but that doesn't stop A Midsummer Night's Dream from being a comedy. Lady Bianka, why are you asking me?"

"Well… I feel like there are too many problems in the world. If everything is like fighting—no, fighting doesn't seem simple either. It would be great if it could be as simple as exercising."

Little Bianka sighed from the bottom of her heart: it turns out Bianka at this stage can still be sentimental.

"As long as you exercise, you can reap the rewards. It's most suitable for someone with an empty mind like me."

"But this isn't something anyone can do," Tian Shi chuckled, "Bianka, do you know that there are actually three types of people in the world, and there are also three types of things?"

"Three?"

"It's a very simple distinction: if you work hard, you get nothing; if you work hard, you get something; and if you don't work hard, you also get something."

"What is that?" Bianka tilted her head. 

Obviously, she couldn't understand anything.

On the contrary, Rita listened very attentively.

"That's the literal meaning… But if you explain it in too much detail, it would be too cruel, just like the valiant lady doesn't have to worry about mortgage payments during an adventure."

"A strange metaphor."

"You'll understand someday. After all, this isn't Thales' twisted and difficult philosophy, nor is it an unpleasant riddle."

The smile in Tian Shi's words made Bianka even more dissatisfied. 

But since she couldn't hit Tian Shi, Bianka could only swallow her anger.

"Then, Tian , what do you think of Jimmy's supposed love? If you put in effort, you get something in return. But the other party is a robot, so even if you put in effort, you get nothing in return."

"Hmm… Bianka, you're very good at getting to the point. This kind of thing isn't easy to talk about; is it better to call it a goal?"

"Goal?"

"For example, is it enough just to be in love, or does it have to involve sex? Or, even further, having children?"

"Tian, Tian giving birth to a child?" Bianka blushed.

"Well, to avoid any misunderstanding, Miss Bianka, what do you think of the act of having a child?" Tian Shi seemed to have thought of something and asked very cautiously.

"Who are you looking down on? Even Schicksal gives basic physiology courses!"

Bianka seemed to understand what Tian Shi meant and grew angry, her face red.

"Isn't that… uh…"

"Really, Sir Guardian Angel, it's very rude for a lady to say such things."

Rita stood half a step in front of Bianka and ended the topic.

Oh, I wish it wasn't you who asked me about the number of experiences in the future, Rita.

Tian Shi curled the corner of his mouth and then returned to the point.

"In short, your understanding of this aspect isn't limited to holding hands or kissing; in short, this kind of thing varies from person to person. I think Jimmy should be in love, right? That would be hard work and rewarding, right? Although going a step further and having sex may not be impossible…"

"Having a baby is a bit difficult for the biology here, but having sex, which only requires adding parts, is not difficult at all."

"Now that you mention it, I feel like I can no longer look at Jimmy and Alice normally."

"That's what you need to hear; I don't care about the two of them at all."

Our Lord Ghost shrugged, though no one could see him.

"Mr. Tian, what do you think of love?" Rita asked suddenly.

"No, as a lady, is it really okay for you to ask me that question directly?"

Tian Shi looked at the maid in front of him wordlessly, but it was clear that, although she hadn't fully developed yet, the maid didn't care at all about Tian Shi's gaze.

"At least I think this is a question that isn't rude: discussing the concept of love, is that rude in any way?"

After Rita finished speaking, she covered her mouth in "surprise," as if she had discovered something.

"Or is it that your thoughts are too dirty to talk about?"

"…"

Rita's attack power is unexpectedly high at all times.

"Eh? What are you talking about? Sir Guardian Angel…?" 

Bianka felt a little confused, but seemed to vaguely understand something.

"It's a joke."

"Oh… that's what I said…"

[Compatibility between Rita and Bianka +10%]

"By the way, Rita, the newcomer you mentioned earlier is…"

Bianka changed the subject, as this topic was truly beyond the scope of her brain. Well… in all aspects.

"The newcomer is Miss Champollion."

Rita answered bluntly.

"Since Jimmy got off the ship, even though Mr. Guardian Angel could also serve as a pilot, it was inconvenient. That's why Miss Schrödinger temporarily took over the pilot position, and Miss Champollion took the first mate position, as she showed extraordinary talent in this operation."

"Why do I feel that Miss Schrödinger is trying by all means to get close to you, Tian?"

"You're delirious," Tian Shi flatly denied it.

But Rita obviously had something more to say: "Lady Bianka, you were working with Miss Champollion, did you find anything wrong?"

"Eh? What do you mean?" 

Bianka was stunned, but seeing Rita's serious look, she took the initiative to think about it: "Hmm… I think there's a little…"

"Falseness," Tian Shi reminded.

"Yes! That's right, when we were about to attack the underground base, Miss Champollion didn't act like an archaeologist at all."

After Tian Shi's reminder, Bianka immediately remembered.

"That person made me feel a little like Bishop Otto when he was mobilizing before the war, and the way she handled the problem gave me the impression of an officer."

"Do you know what you're talking about?"

Rita, who had just noticed something wrong with Champollion, froze the smile on her face. 

When it comes to combat, Bianka's instincts are unmistakable: she is an innate talent. Therefore, if the opponent is really Otto… no, even if it is someone barely comparable to Otto, it is not something they can deal with.

"I hope she doesn't have bad intentions towards us."

Rita thought about it and abandoned her prepared surveillance plan, although she knew that this hope was just psychological comfort: the other party definitely didn't want to board that ship for no reason.

Then, Rita looked at the air around Bianka with a strange look: "Sir Guardian Angel, did you sense it a long time ago?"

"That's right, but there are things I cannot say; it's my rule. After all, you are the protagonists on stage, and I am just a backstage team member."

Rita nodded to show her understanding and felt much more at ease. 

Since Tian Shi knew, if anything really happened, the other party would definitely notify both of them… although Rita hoped that nothing would ever happen.

"Tsk, why do I feel like there are more and more abnormal types on this ship?" Bianka said sadly: "How about we throw her off the ship?"

"That's not a smart choice from any point of view." Tian Shi complained: "Besides, the most abnormal ones are the two ladies who are protected by a Guardian Angel, right?"

"Ah, I can't refute that."

Now that he puts it that way, it seems to be true.

"Let's skip this topic for now. Besides the newcomers, there's one more thing."

Rita took out two things: the holy sword Durandal and a crystalline gem.

"Captain Shakespeare said that, as the new owner, you should be the one to fuse them. Also, Ms. Schrödinger deduced that since the Gem of Reason is essentially a powerful artificial intelligence, once it fuses with Durandal, it's very likely to bring about relatively large changes."

"Big changes?"

Bianka is a person who believes in everything but evil. It was rare for her to encounter something she could understand, and once she became stubborn, she really wanted to see what a "relatively big" change was.

"How do you use it?"

"They will merge after a while if put together." Rita replied briefly.

Bianka nodded and immediately took out Durandal and pressed the Gem of Reason onto the sword. 

After only five or six seconds, after a dazzling light, the Gem of Reason in Bianka's hand completely disappeared.

And Durandal…

"…"

Bianka loosened her hands and looked at the thing in front of her again with an expression of complete confusion.

"Oh, oh, oh~ I'm so sad. I just changed my clothes and you didn't recognize me, Miss."

With wings and a grown eye and the sword's body greatly shrunken, Durandal covered her single eye with her wings and began to cry.

"Ah… how disgusting. I mean that from the bottom of my heart."

Bianka looked away: what was in front of her looked too obscene at first glance. 

Although she is not a person who cares about appearance, after all… she is also a girl, okay?

"This change is too big… I'd like to ask Schrödinger to relearn adjectives."

If Schrödinger had told her that Durandal, who was originally very beautiful, would turn into this, she would never have been so reckless.

"Truly~ I am Durandal~ If you think the name is too long, you can call me Xiao Du."

"…"

This being has left Bianka and Rita so confused that they don't know what to say. 

However, Tian Shi obviously couldn't communicate with this sword, so Rita, who had the best social skills, organized her thoughts and said:

"Since it can autonomously propel Soul Steel to transform, it shouldn't be the so-called 'holy relic'—not a standard weapon of the previous civilization, right?"

"Hmm… That's right… I certainly can't be a standard weapon of a previous civilization."

Durandal's eyes showed humanized emotions like "guilt" and "pride."

"But, then again, I have nothing to do with you humans in the first place."

As soon as she finished speaking, Durandal's eye filled with an expression of guilt. Obviously, this was a slip of the tongue.

"Oh, really? Then please tell me about your past experiences, Durandal."

Tian Shi said suddenly.

 Even Bianka heard the displeasure in Tian Shi's voice. 

At the same time, Xiao Du also instantly panicked.

"Hey, something is invading me!"