Captain, Silver Wolf, Acheron, and... the Tuna

 - Volume II: Fire Moth and Birth of Savior -

"Mr. Shu, I've arranged rooms for you all to rest in. May I ask, you and these companions…" Yun Feng looked past Shu, pausing in surprise when he saw Bronya.

Then, Yun Feng tilted his head, looking at Shu with a puzzled expression. He whispered, "Mr. Shu, do the Fire Moth… employ child labor?"

Pfft!

Shu didn't laugh, but Kiana burst out laughing, quickly stifling it and pretending nothing had happened.

Bronya glanced up, a hint of resentment in her gaze—first at Kiana, then at Yun Feng, who was clearly looking at her with a prejudiced eye. She remained silent.

Shu chuckled softly. He couldn't exactly deny it. Bronya was technically a "child laborer." If Yun Feng had asked about Theresa, he could have argued she was a legal adult, but Bronya… well, no matter how skilled she was, she was still underage.

"Mr. Yun Feng, you shouldn't underestimate her," Shu said, smoothly sidestepping the question. He improvised introductions for Bronya and the others.

"This is a member of the Fire Moth' First Squad – codename: Silver Wolf." Shu smiled, gesturing toward Bronya. "She's a true weapons master and our team's sniper."

Yun Feng looked surprised, his earlier doubt giving way to seriousness. He turned to Bronya with a polite expression.

"Ah, Miss Silver Wolf, hello. My apologies for my rudeness."

"It's alright," Bronya murmured softly, her grey eyes fixed intently on Shu. Her thoughts remained unreadable.

"And this is our team's point woman, codename – Acheron." Shu smiled, turning his attention to Mei. Now that he'd started introductions, he couldn't just introduce one person. As for these codenames, Shu had simply borrowed them from next door. Hey, tell me he's wrong!

"Hello," Mei said, offering Yun Feng a slight bow. Her demeanor was dignified, emanating an air of grace.

Yun Feng nodded, slightly dazed. "Hello…"

Before Shu could continue—barely even glancing at Kiana—the white-haired dumpling couldn't resist stepping forward. She puffed out her chest, practically begging for Shu's "praise."

Shu: "…" You're certainly eager, aren't you?

Kiana nudged Shu insistently with her eyes. Her undisguised eagerness caused Shu to pause and fall silent. Yun Feng, meanwhile, looked increasingly puzzled.

"Excuse me, she's new to the team, a little over-eager," Shu explained, covering for Kiana. "She just received her codename recently."

"Oh? And what might that be?" Hearing "newcomer," Yun Feng's furrowed brow instantly relaxed. Newcomers, always so eager to please and show off, aren't they? He smiled. "So, what's her codename?"

Tuna, emm, idiot tuna. Shu really wanted to say it, but knowing Kiana would hold a grudge and eat all his food later, he reluctantly followed his better judgment.

"Her codename is Finality," Shu announced, looking directly at Kiana. His tone suddenly shifted to an unusually solemn one.

"Huh?"

Both of them blinked in surprise. Kiana wondered why the tone of the codenames had suddenly shifted when it was her turn.

"Why 'Finality'?" Kiana's confusion was evident in her eyes, while Yun Feng voiced the question directly.

"Because… I have immense hopes for her," Shu said earnestly, causing Kiana to blink again, this time in surprise. "More than once, I've wished she could bring an end to the Honkai." There wasn't a trace of deceit in his expression.

Yun Feng and Kiana were both speechless for a moment. Then, Yun Feng looked at Kiana and chuckled softly.

"It seems Mr. Shu has incredibly high hopes for Miss Finality, entrusting her with such a heavy… burden of expectation…"

During their conversation, they reached a small room. The last few words were exchanged at the doorway.

"It's getting late. Why don't you all get some rest here tonight? Whatever we need to discuss can wait until after breakfast tomorrow. How does that sound?"

"Sounds good," Shu nodded, shaking hands with Yun Feng again before watching him depart.

The group silently opened the door to their room and stepped inside.

As Shu closed the door, he glanced back outside. The mother holding her child was still leaning against the corner of the wall, but this time, she and the others were all looking at Shu with a somewhat burning gaze.

For some reason, Shu felt a little guilty, but in the next moment, he straightened his back, openly accepting these fervent gazes.

He will do it.

Gently closing the door, Shu stood for a moment, calming his mind and sensing the power within him.

The moment he declared himself to be from Fire Moth, the [Expectation] within him surged, the increase in volume not even less than the time he promised everyone under the moonlight that he would take them away.

However, Shu didn't receive any concrete [Prayers]. These [Expectations] were simply lingering within him, waiting for the right moment to erupt.

As for how to obtain [Prayers], he couldn't [Pray] to himself, but couldn't he just tell others to do it for him?

When the time comes, he just needs to tell Kiana and the others, and have them sincerely request him to defeat the Honkai beasts, and wouldn't he be able to unleash his power?

Shu considered the scene in his mind, and immediately felt wonderful…

Wonderful, my ass!

Shu suddenly shuddered, breaking out in a cold sweat.

How could he possibly say such [Prayers] to himself?

[Kiana: "Shu, you absolutely must defeat that Honkai beast!"

Shu: "Yeah, I'll win!"]

Isn't that just setting up a flag?! Sticking flags like that is just begging to die young!

My name is Shu, and I'm starting to panic.

"Kiana…" Shu wanted to try a more subtle approach. Bronya had provided him with a [Prayer] from the bottom of her heart not long ago, right? As long as he guided them a little, they should be able to do something similar…

But the result last time wasn't good either!

Shu felt like crying but no tears would come. For the first time, he felt that this ability was so useless.

"Forget it…" His train of thought derailed, and Shu sighed wearily, "Let's just sleep first. We'll deal with everything else tomorrow."

"Wait…" Just then, Kiana, who had been silent since earlier, looked at Shu with a complicated expression and spoke, "That codename you gave me… and those expectations you have for me… were they real?"

Mei and Bronya both looked at Shu, waiting for his answer.

Shu was taken aback, looking completely puzzled. "Uh… what do you mean?"

Hearing Shu's reply, Bronya averted her gaze, remaining silent. Mei unexpectedly seemed a little anxious, while Kiana continued to stare intently at Shu.

After a moment, Kiana suddenly grinned, revealing a bright smile.

"In that case, just leave it to this lady!"

Shu, completely unaware of the heavy burden Kiana had just placed upon herself with those words, watched as she flopped onto her bed and fell asleep instantly.

He scratched his head, a puzzled look on his face, and lay down in his own space.

He couldn't fall asleep until late into the night.