["Stelle placed a hand on Qingni's shoulder, giving her a silent look of encouragement to keep reading."]
["Qingni wiped the tears from the corners of her eyes and continued flipping through the diary."]
["In the end, Caiyi was about to head into a brutal war, sensing she might not survive. She wrote many farewells and arrangements to Yukong, almost like a will."]
["The most important part—"]
["'Yukong, if you survive and I don't, please take good care of Qingni. I know you will. All my savings are entrusted to you—use them for Qingni's upbringing.'"]
["'Whatever kind of person Qingni wants to become, please support her fully. But she must never become a starskiff pilot.'"]
["'Loneliness or freedom—we've tasted enough of both. Promise me, don't let that child touch the sky.'"]
["This was the agreement Yukong and Caiyi had made long ago."]
["'So, I'm the child Mom adopted? And Miss Caiyi… is my real mother?'"]
["Though Qingni had vaguely suspected this, the truth hit her hard, leaving her deeply melancholic. 'Don't let that child touch the sky… Is that why Mom refuses to let me become a pilot?'"]
Konosuba: God's Blessing on This Wonderful World!——
"Miss Qingni, forget those reasons… You have to become the strongest pilot in the Xianzhou!"
As the sun set, watching the clouds dim in the distance, Megumin leapt up from the hillside, shouting passionately at the Celestial Screen.
Her crisp voice startled a flock of birds in the nearby woods, sending them fluttering into the sky.
—Though she knew the girls on the screen couldn't possibly hear her, she had to shout from the depths of her heart.
"That's a job where you can soar freely through the skies! Piercing through clouds, overlooking the earth—it's just too amazing!"
Yunyun, startled by Megumin's sudden outburst, clasped her hands nervously, her brows furrowing. "B-But… that goes against Miss Caiyi's last wish, doesn't it? Plus, being a pilot is dangerous. If another Abundance war breaks out…"
"Stupid Yunyun! What doesn't come with risks?"
Megumin put her hands on her hips, puffing out her utterly non-threatening chest with a grin. "Speaking of which, isn't being an adventurer dangerous too? But Kazuma and the rest of us still go out happily every day, don't we?"
At the mention of Kazuma, Yunyun's delicate face flushed slightly, her voice softening. "Tch, that's different… We can retreat from danger, but a pilot's battle is a matter of life and death, with no chance to escape…"
"That's why we have to believe in Miss Qingni! Her talent is on par with the Helm Master!"
Megumin looked at the Foxian girl on the screen with anticipation. "Maybe the next time Stelle meets her, Miss Qingni will already be the strongest pilot on the Luofu Xianzhou!"
Yunyun lowered her head in silence for a moment, then looked up with a gentle smile. "…Megumin, you're right. If Miss Qingni is truly determined, I'll cheer for her too. But I still hope she stays safe…"
["After sorting out her thoughts, Qingni decided to talk to her mom again."]
["However, she hoped Stelle could stay by her side. Though she couldn't directly intervene, having Stelle there would give her immense courage."]
["Led by Qingni, the group found Yukong at a spot near the Jade Gate."]
["'Mom…' Seeing Yukong, Qingni's newfound courage faltered, and she became timid."]
["'Qingni? Why are Mr. Welt and Stelle here too?' Yukong looked at the three of them in surprise."]
["But from her tone, it was clear her mood had improved since earlier."]
["'Miss Qingni was kind enough to show us around Central Starskiff Haven. On the way, we heard she wanted to reconcile with you, Helm Master, but was feeling shy, so we boldly came along,' Welt explained."]
["Hearing this, Yukong's expression softened considerably, and she nodded slightly. 'My daughter is immature, so thank you both for your trouble.'"]
["'Mom!' Qingni couldn't help but call out."]
["'Alright, it's getting late. Whatever you have to say, we'll talk at home.'"]
["'I need to talk to you now,' Qingni said, stepping forward to stop Yukong as she tried to leave. 'No matter what, I want to become a starskiff pilot.'"]
["'…' Yukong took a deep breath, saying firmly, 'We've discussed this many times. No means no.'"]
["'But… but…' Qingni opened her mouth, but her words seemed tangled in invisible threads, unable to come out."]
Teyvat——
Natlan, Sacred Flame Arena.
"…She still can't say it," Mavuika said with a slight smile. "Facing the strong-willed Helm Master Yukong, the girl's still too nervous. But if she wants to be a pilot, hesitation won't do."
Chasca set down her wine glass. "She's scared, isn't she? The truth in Caiyi's diary is her biggest card. If even that can't sway Yukong, their mother-daughter tug-of-war over this topic will drag on for a long time."
"…I think being straightforward would be better," Mavuika raised an eyebrow. "If it were me, I'd probably shove Caiyi's diary into Yukong's hands on the spot."
Chasca shook her head lightly. "Mavuika, not everyone's as direct as you. Qingni's hesitation comes from how much she values Yukong—now that she knows the truth, she surely doesn't want to disappoint her mom again, right?"
["Seeing Qingni struggle, Stelle felt she should step in and give her a push. She took out Caiyi's diary and handed it to Yukong."]
["'This is… Caiyi's diary?' Yukong trembled. 'How did this…'"]
["But she quickly understood. She took a deep breath, remaining silent for a long time before speaking slowly. 'I understand. Qingni… I'm sorry, I can't support your wish because I swore an oath to someone else. I don't expect your forgiveness, but I hope… you'll listen to my explanation.'"]
["'Mom, what are you talking about? We're mother and daughter—how could there be talk of forgiveness or explanations? No matter what you say, I'm willing to listen…' Qingni said hurriedly."]
["Even without blood ties, Qingni had long seen Yukong as her true mother from the bottom of her heart."]
["Hearing this, Yukong's furrowed brow slowly relaxed. She turned, gazing at the starskiffs coming and going at the Jade Gate in the distance."]
["'I was once like you, full of longing for the sky. I know what that feels like… Sailing through the cosmos, surrounded by vast emptiness, with unimaginable wonders in the distance.'"]
["'Drifting through the sea of stars like a lone boat—some call it loneliness, but we prefer to call it freedom.'"]
["'Caiyi was the same. We were friends since childhood, piloting starskiffs and causing trouble everywhere until we were dragged before General Jing Yuan.'"]
["'Soon after, Caiyi and I became the Sky-Faring Commission's most elite pilots. That life wasn't easy—it was brutal. You never knew if the friend beside you would return, or if you yourself would return.'"]
["'But for me, those were the most beautiful memories of my life. Spilling blood, soaring through the skies, purging evil, upholding justice—a Foxian's life is so short, shouldn't it burn for such a glorious cause?'"]
["As Yukong spoke, the Celestial Screen shifted to her memories of the past."]
["Back then, she and Caiyi, who had just returned from maternity leave, were chatting happily."]
["'Speaking of which, Caiyi… I really didn't expect you to come back. Is piloting a starskiff really that appealing to you?'"]
["'Oh, it's incredibly appealing. It's tough, exhausting, poorly paid, always risking your life, and you barely get to return to the Luofu a few times a year… But if I had to choose again, I'd still be a starskiff pilot.'"]
["'Because I've already touched the sky.'"]