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Chapter 292 – Putting Yourself in Someone Else’s Shoes
🕑 Added 2025-08-31 15:31:36 +0000 UTC“What… what is going on there?!”
Theresa’s voice trembled as it grew louder, her eyes fixed in disbelief on the screen.
There, a silver-haired beauty was chatting gently with Kiana and the others, her face wearing the same soft smile Theresa remembered so vividly.
“I’m not dreaming, right? Cecilia—Cecilia’s been brought back!?”
“You don’t really get it, do you? Well, to be honest, I don’t either.”
With a shrug, Himeko stepped behind Theresa, slipped her arms under the smaller girl’s shoulders, and effortlessly lifted her off the command chair.
“It seems Nagami managed to travel sixteen years into the past and brought back Kiana’s mother—the former Schicksal Valkyrie Saint, Cecilia. Though… I doubt Cecilia was the only one he saved.”
Himeko crossed her arms as she sat in the command seat, her crimson eyes narrowing at another feed on the monitor.
Where a gray-haired woman walked beside Bronya, smiling just as warmly.
Just how many things has that guy done behind our backs?
Back when the Herrscher squad was cleaning up high-level Honkai beasts, she had already learned that Bronya, with Nagami’s help, had become the Herrscher of Reason.
And now… resurrecting her own mother? That little duckling was completely lost to him by now.
“If you want the details, you’ll have to ask him yourself. But right now, don’t you think there’s something more important than interrogating me?”
Taking over Theresa’s duties, Himeko crossed her long legs and smiled at her friend, who stood trembling—lashes fluttering uncontrollably, eyes brimming with tears.
Theresa froze for only a heartbeat before bolting for the deck, her small figure vanishing through the command room doors.
Theresa was the Kallen clone, A-310.
Because of her strength and more importantly, because her personality resembled Kallen’s—Otto had recognized her as his “granddaughter.”
Under his protection, she had even been made head of House Apocalypse.
Of course, no one else ever truly respected her for it.
On the surface, everyone politely addressed her as “Lady Apocalypse.” But behind her back, to them, she was nothing more than a monster.
A tool with some use. A toy that Otto happened to like.
Only Cecilia was different.
She had never treated Theresa as a monster. She had always been kind to her, always called her simply “Theresa.”
That gentle smile was something Theresa knew she could never forget—not for the rest of her life.
And honestly, in this yuri-flavored world overrun with Honkai, if Kiana weren’t the “protagonist,” Siegfried wouldn’t even be in the picture at all!
Memories surged like an unstoppable tide as Theresa’s steps quickened, her expression tightening with urgency.
At last, she turned the final corner. Light flared—and there she was.
Cecilia.
The moment her eyes fell on Theresa, Cecilia blinked in surprise.
Then, slowly, a tender smile spread across her face.
“Theresa… it really has been a long time, hasn’t it?”
Theresa’s sapphire eyes filled with tears, and then—like a dam bursting open, they overflowed.
“Cecilia!”
The small girl practically launched herself forward, crashing into Cecilia’s embrace.
Cecilia caught her with open arms, holding her tightly as a mother would, her voice warm and overflowing with affection.
“I’m back, Theresa.”
“Uwaah! Cecilia, I missed you so much!”
Theresa buried her small frame against her, clinging desperately.
Cecilia gently stroked her snow-white hair, her own smile soft as ever.
“All this time, and you really haven’t changed a bit, have you~?”
Nearby, the little Tuna Kiana watched her aunt crying her heart out in Cecilia’s arms, her expression twisting.
“…Why does it look like Aunt Theresa is more of a daughter to her than I am?”
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[The Heiress]: Um, am I the only one who thinks Aunt Theresa’s attitude toward Mom is… kinda off?
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In the mind-link chatroom between Kiana counterparts—
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[True Kiana]: Don’t even think about changing the subject. At this distance, you think I wouldn’t know what’s going through your head?
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Before Cecilia’s return, True Kiana’s attitude toward Theresa had never been openly hostile, but it was far from respectful.
At best, she treated her like an ordinary stranger, nothing more.
But now that Cecilia was alive again… if True Kiana kept treating Theresa like that, it would only make things painful for Cecilia, caught between the two of them.
That’s why True Kiana had resolved to soften her attitude toward Theresa.
As for Siegfried…
The memory of Cecilia beating him black-and-blue just moments ago still lingered.
For the first time, True Kiana felt a sliver of hesitation, even doubt, about how she should deal with him.
No, of course she couldn’t forgive him that easily.
Shaking her head to banish the mess of thoughts, True Kiana forced herself to focus back on the moment.
Now was not the time to think about Siegfried.
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[The Heiress]: Wait—hold up, what exactly is going on over there?
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Suddenly, a stray thought flashed through True Kiana’s mind, making her jerk her head up.
What she saw was the heiress frozen in shock.
Following her gaze, True Kiana turned to look as well.
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[True Kiana: This is…?!]
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A slender figure stood there, silver-gray hair gleaming under the light, styled in elegant Roman curls that gave her a noble air.
Not long ago, they had seen this same person riding a futuristic motorcycle—transformed from Heavy Bunny crushing a Herrscher-class Emperor Beast with ease.
The power gifted by Nagami had evolved Turbo Duck into Welt Duck.
But now, the heiress’s, True Kiana’s, and even the tuna Kiana’s eyes were fixed on the figure standing beside Bronya.
Her wavy gray hair cascaded down her back, framing both sides of her face.
She wore clothing remarkably similar to Bronya’s, her refined features softened by a gentle smile.
And most importantly—her face.
“Don’t tell me she’s…” The heiress trailed off as tuna Kiana suddenly bounced forward with excitement.
“Eh… Bronya, is this your sister?”
But the moment tuna Kiana eyes landed on Alexandra’s full, generous chest, her words faltered, her voice growing softer and softer until it vanished altogether.
The tuna Kiana shook her head instantly.
‘How could I even think this gorgeous onee-san might be Bronya’s family?!’
At this level of difference, impossible! No way! Not even if you ate papayas and drank milk every day could you reach this size!
Noticing her gaze, Bronya’s eyes turned cold.
“Heavy Bunny.”
A massive silhouette shimmered into view at her side.
With the Herrscher of Reason’s power fused in, it now sported dazzling blue armor.
Its steel-white fingers formed a flicking motion and aimed at Kiana’s forehead.
“Heh, I’m not scared of Heavy Bunny anymore, you know!”
With a smug, invincible expression, Tuna Kiana puffed out her chest, hands on her hips, her “pufferfish mode” swelling with pride.
“They seem to be very good friends.”
Alexandra watched the squabbling pair with a warm smile.
“Hello there. I’m Bronya’s mother, Alexandra Zaychik”
Her voice was gentle, almost melodic.
“Her… her mom?! Σ(っ°Д°;)っ”
Tuna Kiana’s eyes flew wide as saucers.
She stared at Alexandra who looked only a few years older than Bronya—with sheer disbelief painted across her face.
When she glanced back at Bronya, she found her wearing a smile unlike anything she’d ever seen before… and then Bronya nodded.
It was just like scolding your best friend every day, only to suddenly become the most polite guest imaginable when meeting their parents.
Straightening her posture, tuna Kiana quickly composed herself.
“Ah—ah, Auntie, hello! My name is Kiana Kaslana…” She paused, then her smile softened in a way that surprised even herself.
“What a polite child.”
For someone who was rarely complimented that way, tuna Kiana’s eyes curved happily into crescents.
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[The heiress]: I knew it! Looks like what Nagami did during the Second Eruption was way more than what this world Mom ever told me.
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A smile tugged at her lips, pride swelling quietly in her chest. After all, Nagami was her man.
Not only had he resurrected her counterpart mother—he had also saved Bronya’s mother too.
But when she turned her head, she noticed True Kiana deep in thought, her expression carrying an odd sense of unease.
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[The heiress]: What’s with the long face? Isn’t this a good thing?
[True Kiana]: Of course. For Bronya, this is wonderful—I’m truly happy she could reunite with her mother. But… think about what I did when I first learned Nagami had the power to bring my mother back. Bronya might also…
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The pride and joy drained instantly from the heiress’s face, replaced by a hard seriousness.
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[The heiress & True Kiana: We must keep a close eye on Nagami and Bronya!]
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