"Huh?"
Setsuna pushed himself up, looking at Kiana in confusion.
"You want to challenge me?"
"Yes!"
Kiana nodded.
"Commander, the game rules never said we can't challenge you, right?"
"And actually, you're the one with the most chips in the entire world. As long as I beat you, I can gather the largest number of vouchers in existence."
"Oh?"
Setsuna froze for a moment, then burst out laughing.
It was true. The girls who came for vacation dueled through games, then handed their vouchers to him to exchange for time together.
Naturally, he was the one holding the most chips in this world.
Just like in No Game No Life, where one could challenge Tet to obtain the Suniaster—by the rules, one could challenge him as well.
"Interesting. Whose idea was this? You're the first to think of it."
"Bronya thought of it..."
The gray-haired girl raised her hand.
"So? Commander? We're pretty smart, right? You're not allowed to call me dumb anymore! And stop calling me a paramecium!!!"
The white-haired dumpling put her hands on her hips proudly.
"Smart? It counts as a bit of cleverness—but not enough."
Setsuna ruffled Kiana's hair and snapped his fingers.
Schwi unfolded her equipment at the side.
[Lösen: Game Selection]
Shff—
A complex holographic game interface projected before them.
"If Eris or Grey had come up with this idea, they'd probably win. But you three..."
"According to the rules, the challenged party has the right to decide the game."
"I won't pick something overly complicated to bully you. Let's settle this with international chess."
Shff—
The holographic interface condensed into a physical chessboard and pieces.
"Commander, I can play in your place~"
Eris said confidently.
"No need."
Setsuna smiled at Kiana, Bronya, and Mei.
"Also, during a game, both sides must wager stakes they consider equivalent."
"I currently hold the most chips in the world. What about you? What can you offer that's equivalent?"
He decided to face them strictly according to the rules.
In this game world, he was just another participant.
"Um..."
Kiana and Mei rummaged through their pockets. Compared to Setsuna, their chips were pitiful.
"Without sufficient stakes, the duel cannot be established."
Schwi reminded them.
"..."
As if gathering courage, Kiana stepped forward, tugging Bronya along.
"Commander, we'll wager ourselves!"
"If you lose, you give us your chips. If I lose, um... I'll give myself to you. I'll accompany you on dates, eat with you, sleep with you—do whatever you want."
"Come on!"
The white-haired dumpling assumed a serious battle stance.
Beep—
The previously virtual chessboard stabilized completely, signifying that the stakes were equivalent, the bet established, and victory would be decided by the game.
"Ridiculous. How could I lose? Even without using the Eternal Snowfall's computing power, you—"
Setsuna began speaking, then suddenly realized something.
"???"
"Wait."
"You dare use the rules I set to deal with me??!"
Under the rules of No Game No Life, wagering oneself was clearly a high-level stake.
But Kiana's condition sounded strange. She had found a loophole in the system.
"Was this really your idea?"
Setsuna doubted that a paramecium could think of something this layered.
"Bronya thought of it."
Bronya raised her hand again.
"After reasoning, this is the most efficient and highest-success-rate method within the rules to fulfill Kiana's wish."
"...Fine."
One against three, Setsuna and the girls took their seats on opposite sides of the chessboard.
Click. Click.
Kiana and Mei were basically just there to watch. The one truly playing against Setsuna was Bronya.
She sat cross-legged, leaning slightly forward, thinking carefully before every move.
Like Shiro, when facing Setsuna, Bronya felt as though every step was being calculated.
From the very first move, dozens—perhaps even hundreds—of future moves had already been deduced, forming a complete decision tree.
Any tiny mistake would be magnified infinitely. Once the board collapsed, there would be no chance of reversal.
"...Commander, you're amazing."
Bronya muttered softly.
"..."
Setsuna rather admired this open strategy. Win or lose, she didn't really lose anything.
After thinking for a long time, he decided to go all out.
A few minutes later.
"Checkmate."
As the final piece fell, Bronya let out a sigh.
"Mm... as expected, I still can't win."
Kiana threw herself into Setsuna's arms.
"The Commander won! So amazing!!—"
"Then according to the bet, I'm yours now!!!"
"..."
Raiden Mei looked as if she had seen a ghost.
"Weren't you already the Commander's daughter to begin with?"
"We can be even closer! Mm... I've read plenty of reference materials!"
"Huh???"
Even Bronya, whose face was usually expressionless, almost lost her composure. The corner of her mouth twitched.
"Bronya doesn't want to play with Kiana anymore. Kiana is a strange person..."
...
Several hours later.
Unsurprisingly, besides Eris, there was now an energetic white-haired dumpling by Setsuna's side.
"Commander, Commander, I want ice cream. Make one for me~"
"Bitter melon chocolate ice cream?! Who besides Theresa would eat something like that??!"
"Commander, Commander, ride the roller coaster with me, please~"
Although she had nominally lost the duel and wagered herself to Setsuna, Kiana felt completely fine about it. Instead, she took the initiative and began acting cute and clingy.
"..."
Mei and Bronya followed behind. They still felt considerable reverence toward Setsuna and didn't dare joke too freely.
"Oh?"
Before long, they ran into Cecilia.
"Commander, are you free tonight? Mm, I know a scenic spot along the coast... Ah, it took quite some effort to win enough chips from Himeko and Shigure Kira."
"The rules are interesting, but honestly, I find them a bit inconvenient..."
Cecilia had just begun her invitation when she noticed Kiana glued to Setsuna's side.
"Hm? Weren't you planning to challenge Pandora a few days ago? You gathered enough points already? Don't tell me you begged the Commander to—"
"No!"
Kiana hugged Setsuna's arm and puffed out her cheeks.
"I competed with the Commander fair and square!"
"Oh? ..."
"Also, from now on, we'll each call him our own. I'll call you Mom, and I'll call the Commander husband—ah, no, boyfriend for now? ..."
"Eh?"
Kiana's explosive declaration nearly choked Cecilia to death.
"What are you talking about? Honestly!"
Cecilia pulled Kiana into her arms and began kneading her cheeks back and forth.
"What do you mean we'll each call him our own? Hm? Have you been reading some strange books or comics? Who gave them to you? ..."
"No!!"
The white-haired dumpling was ruthlessly kneaded.
"What's wrong with it? Mom, you're too selfish... You won't even share the Commander with me, and you still say I'm your daughter?"
"I earned this chance fair and square through the game rules!"
"???"
"Share the Commander with you?!"
Cecilia was so exasperated she laughed instead, pinching Kiana twice until she bared her teeth in pain.
"At such a young age and already thinking like this. When we get back, you're going to class. I'll have Theresa and Himeko assign you more homework."
"Waaah!!—"
Facing Cecilia's oppressive motherly authority, Kiana shrieked and darted behind Setsuna.
She clung to his arm and stuck out her tongue.
"So fierce, even bullying me. No wonder the Commander goes on dates with shipgirls every day, bleh!"
Then she tugged on Setsuna again, acting cute.
"Commander, I won this chance openly and honestly. You won't go back on your word, right? These are your rules..."
"Hey?!"
Cecilia felt that Kiana had clearly entered her rebellious phase—she actually dared to compete with her for the Commander.
"Be serious, Kiana!"
"I am serious, Mom. Is there anything wrong with me wanting a boyfriend?"
The white-haired girl looked completely earnest.
"No."
Cecilia shook her head.
Over more than two years at St. Freya and the time since returning, Kiana had indeed grown a lot. Her figure had gradually developed graceful curves.
It was normal for a young girl to have such thoughts.
"My boyfriend has to be outstanding enough to match me, right?"
"Of course."
Cecilia nodded. After raising her daughter so carefully, how could she let just anyone take her away?
"In the Starsea Empire, this universe, or any other universe we've seen, is there anyone more suitable than the Commander?"
"Look at the destroyer shipgirls in the port—they all want to marry the Commander. Little Taihou and Little Formidable are the same. So what's wrong with me?!"
"From now on we'll each call him our own. Ah, but if I have another daughter with the Commander, what would she call him..."
"???"
That twisted logic once again left Cecilia half laughing, half furious.
"The vassal of my vassal is not my vassal, but my daughter's daughter is still my daughter. Commander, as expected of you."
Grey cast an admiring glance.
"I can already foresee that in the future you'll single-handedly create enormous difficulties for the Starsea Empire's sociologists and ethicists."
"Huh???"
After a while of chaos, Kiana simply hooked one of Setsuna's arms and looked up at him sweetly.
"Commander, keep playing with me. I still want to go to the seaside park!! And you said you'd take me to Totsuki Restaurant for dinner!!"
"?"
Cecilia refused to yield, claiming the other side of Setsuna.
"Commander, according to the rules, I also have the right to occupy you for a few days, don't I? Mm... I'll take good care of both you and Kiana. I won't let her be too naughty."
Their gazes met, almost sparking.
"Is this some eight o'clock soap opera?"
Bronya and Mei were stunned.
No—this was far more explosive than a romance drama. It combined palace intrigue, ethics, romance, and family bonds all in one.
Even if adapted into a TV series, it probably wouldn't pass review in the Starsea Empire.
"..."
Standing at the center of the storm, Setsuna could only offer a simple conclusion.
"In that case, come together."
...
"Mom, you've been with the Commander long enough. It's my turn now!!"
"Children shouldn't talk nonsense!!!—"
"The Commander definitely prefers younger girls, right? ..."
As they walked, the two continued clashing. The white-haired dumpling clung to Setsuna's arm, trying to pry him away from Cecilia.
"Theresa, next semester please have Kiana take a few more electives. For her future development, I think she needs to study astrophysics, advanced mathematics, and arcane studies."
Cecilia opened a communication line to Theresa, making a sincere request as a mother.
"As for standards... let's use Kayo Senju, Midori Fuse, and Megumin as benchmarks. Be strict with Kiana. No special treatment. If she fails, keep her studying until she passes."
"Reducing her entertainment time is fine. The Commander and I fully support your educational policies."
"Waaah—"
Theresa was deeply moved, feeling that Cecilia truly was a model Valkyrie mother.
"Cecilia, don't worry! I'll definitely raise Kiana into a capable person!!"
"That's too underhanded!!"
Kiana cried out.
Relying on talent, she could pass practical combat tests easily, but academic subjects were always her greatest headache.
Everything Cecilia had arranged were high-end Research Division courses.
How could a mere paramecium possibly study to the level of those research lolis?! She'd probably spend the rest of her life stuck in remedial classes.
"Commander, save me!!—"
Kiana tearfully appealed to Setsuna.
"..."
Setsuna was actually quite interested in the parent-child rice bowl concept, but Kiana was still a bit silly. She needed more time to grow.
"Study properly. When you become a true Valkyrie of the Starsea Empire, we'll talk."
"You're still far from Cecilia."
He tapped her on the head.
"Mm..."
"So as long as I become a stronger Valkyrie than Mom, Commander, you'll agree?"
Kiana interpreted it in a rather strange direction and suddenly became filled with motivation.
"...You can understand it that way."
...
"Huff—"
"Honestly... so troublesome."
By evening, after spending an entire day out with Kiana, Bronya, and Mei.
Setsuna and Cecilia returned to their private time together.
"Huff—"
Setsuna noticed that Cecilia was especially proactive and especially gentle today. He could simply lie back and enjoy.
"What's wrong? I've never seen you like this before."
He gently stroked Cecilia's cheek and asked with a smile.
"Mm... you know perfectly well!"
Cecilia braced her hand on his chest, biting her lip as if sulking.
"It's one thing for Kiana to fool around, but why are you encouraging her? ..."
"Hm?"
"What's the problem? I like Kiana very much."
Setsuna replied while running his fingers through her hair.
"!"
Cecilia rolled her eyes.
"You're so improper!"
Even so, her movements did not stop.
There was a subtle feeling that one day she might lose to her own daughter.
After all, she knew perfectly well how deeply Kiana depended on Setsuna.
Back on the Honkai space station, when she was still a little girl, it could be dismissed as childish nonsense.
Now Kiana had grown up. Cecilia couldn't help but think more seriously about it.
"Commander, what do you think?"
Cecilia's pale finger traced lightly across Setsuna's chest before landing on his lips.
"It depends on Kiana's thoughts."
Setsuna answered succinctly.
"Pfft—"
"Does she look like someone who changes her mind easily?"
Cecilia poked him.
"You're definitely thinking strange thoughts, aren't you?"
When she first arrived in the Starsea Empire and boarded the Eternal Snowfall, the once-pure Cecilia had been stunned by the various antics between Setsuna, the shipgirls, and the Spirits.
As the one sharing his pillow, she could guess most of what was going through his mind.
"I've always dared to face my own desires."
Setsuna felt there was no need to hide anything from his own people.
"Mm..."
Cecilia drew out the sound, thinking for quite a while.
"I suppose... it's not impossible?"
"If that's what you want, and Kiana wants it too, wouldn't refusing be a bit unromantic?"
"And for Kiana... perhaps it would even be a good thing?"
Entrusting Kiana to Setsuna was, in a sense, something Cecilia could genuinely feel at ease about.
If this was the happiness her daughter chose, then perhaps she should support it wholeheartedly.
"Oh? Then next time I'll call you and Kiana together. Remember to teach her properly. After all, you know more."
Setsuna pinched Cecilia lightly.
"Hey?!"
Cecilia cupped his face with both hands and leaned close.
Their gazes intertwined. Her blue eyes held warmth and affection.
"Don't bully Kiana. And don't bully me either."
"Mm."
"And... don't grow tired of the new and discard the old! If Himeko and Shigure Kira find out Kiana stole you from me, they'll definitely laugh at me!"
"..."
"Adding them in isn't impossible either..."
The evening air grew heavy with unspoken implications.