Honkai: Strijder

Chapter 14

Sigurd has adapted well to the new world.

The main reason is that he possesses an inhuman understanding capabilities.

To put it more specifically, for the people in this world, learning and understanding knowledge is like finding an exit in a maze.

The more complex the knowledge, the more intricate the maze becomes. Only a small number of individuals with strong memory and analytical abilities, coupled with a bit of luck, can quickly find the way out. Most people, however, end up wandering in the maze, going through a lot of effort and trial and error, often without guarantee of finding the way out.

For Sigurd, it's as if he is standing above the maze, observing it from a higher perspective. He doesn't need to worry about the complexities and twists and turns, about where the entrance is and where the exit is. From the very beginning, it's all clear to him.

Sigurd named this cheat "Intellectual Superiority from Above"

Perhaps, as some internet users jokingly say, Sigurd's original world belonged to higher-dimensional observers, which is why he was endowed with this ability?

As for the specific reasons, he currently has no clue.

In any case, this is an incredible ability, and Sigurd's current understanding is that he needs to make good use of it to survive better in this world.

That's why he recruited a sidekick.

The purpose is not for wealth and power, but for a suitable research environment—a comfortable life and abundant resources.

Once the sidekick's development is on track, Sigurd becomes a shut-in, fully dedicated to climbing the technological tree and enhancing his own power.

At this moment, he is in the underground laboratory of his estate, using materials like hair and bodily fluids extracted from grasshoppers to conduct research on the phenomenon of Honkai energy.

His goals are twofold:

First, to extract Honkai energy and understand its nature, its special reactions with various substances, and how it can be effectively utilized. This is the first step in creating Titan mechas.

Second, to find methods of suppressing Honkai energy. Sigurd himself is able to adapt to Honkai energy, but it's difficult to determine the extent of his adaptability. It might only be slightly stronger than an ordinary person. Therefore, in a future where Honkai is destined to occur repeatedly, protective and treatment measures are necessary for his own well-being.@@@@

Sigurd is currently crouched in front of a microscope, observing the results of his latest set of experiments.

Boom!

Suddenly, an explosion sounds from above.

The explosion, although not causing significant tremors, is enough to destroy all the previous progress of the delicate experiment currently underway.

"Kiana!"

Sigurd doesn't need to think twice; he already knows who the culprit is.

"Calm down!"

"It might not be her. Think positively; maybe the Honkai has arrived?"

"Icarus, report to me what happened."

Icarus is the artificial intelligence Sigurd created.

It hasn't reached the level of intelligent life yet, but its self-learning and evolutionary capabilities are at least two centuries ahead of the present era—excluding the cheating bastards of fate and negentropy.

It was only after creating Icarus that Sigurd understood why so many people, even in silly online novels, were obsessed with this thing.

It's just too convenient!

"But nobody cooks with a flamethrower."

"That's not... Well, machine-cooked food lacks soul! Hmph!"

Kiana stubbornly refused to admit her mistake, brushing it off as a minor mishap since no one was hurt.

Vira shook her head and finished feeding Kiana the water. She then retrieved a clean handkerchief from her pocket and wiped Kiana's grimy little face.

"Vira, QAQ! You're so kind!"

Tears welled up in Kiana's eyes, deeply moved. At this moment, she wished she could give Vira a big hug.

Vira patted her hair, sighed like an adult, and said, "Kiana, from now on, let Vira handle the cooking."

"You? Can Vira even cook?"

"Of course! Vira's toast is delicious. Papa can eat two more slices each time... Huh? Kiana, what's wrong?"

Vira noticed a momentary change in Kiana's expression. She seemed lost in thought, as if something had triggered a flood of memories.

"Toast..."

Kiana pondered on the word, and suddenly, many things rushed back to her mind.

Sigurd often cooked for her, and the only dish he could successfully make was toast.

So, in Kiana's short-lived memories, the most familiar food was toast—Sigurd's version of Heaven's Wrath Holy Roast.

"Hey!"

Kiana twisted her body, making the chains sway, and for the person watching her spin, the world appeared to rotate.

As she watched the scenery move in sync with her rotation, Kiana reflected on her life since meeting Sigurd.

Apart from the initial few days of chaos, her life had been safe, stable, and abundant. Even though she constantly found ways to annoy Sigurd every day, Kiana knew that she could act recklessly because Sigurd would always have her back. She didn't need to think or worry; she could just do whatever she wanted.

Whatever she could do, Sigurd would support her; whatever she shouldn't do, Sigurd would stop her.

Sigurd wasn't gentle, and he often scolded her, sometimes even suspending her from the ceiling every day for the past month. But Kiana didn't dislike Sigurd at all.

She realized that she had become dependent on Sigurd and drew an incredible sense of security from him. She didn't have to think or worry as long as she did everything she wanted.

Sigurd might not be gentle, and he could be terrifying when angry, but Kiana didn't mind.

"Really, I don't even have a tiny bit of annoyance towards him."

The rotation slowly came to a stop, and finally, Kiana, who was quietly suspended in mid-air, looked up at the sky.

"Sigurd, you're really great."

"Vira is so cute too."

"But, maybe I've stayed here for too long?"

Through the clouds, Kiana faintly saw a silly smile, the face of Sigurd, who had been completely out of touch until now.

Kiana narrowed her eyes and suddenly felt that the sunlight today was too bright.