Nervous

Rita's confusion was the same as Bianka's. But when you really thought about it, her own codename, [Durandal], was the one that didn't quite fit the pattern.

Everyone else had a two-character codename, so why did she have four?

Bianka didn't dwell on this problem for long. Her attention was quickly captured by something else.

"Ri... Maid... uh..." After struggling with the name for a long time, Bianka resigned herself to it. She pointed at the exoskeleton armor parked outside the storage area and asked quietly, "What is that? It looks like very large armor..."

"That's an armored exoskeleton. It can provide the wearer with extremely strong individual power," Rita explained patiently. "Before the Great Honkai, it was commonly used in search and rescue operations in heavily affected disaster areas."

It was also commonly found in underground fighting rings. Many local warlords with some, but not much, power would also hoard large quantities of these cheap, simple, and fool-proof devices as a lower-tier substitute for Titan mechs.

Bianka nodded seriously, then looked to the other side. "What about that?"

"That's a single-person jetpack. It can carry one soldier and some light equipment for short-range flight. It's usually used for disaster relief and individual operations in complex terrain."

It was also commonly used by mercenaries and special forces for mobile operations, and was standard equipment for some "air bandits" in chaotic regions.

"And that one, it looks really impressive..."

"My apologies, Lady Durandal, I have not seen this device before, but it should be some kind of grappling hook launcher. It seems more suitable for combat support in more open areas."

It looked like a product directly copied from some anime. If it could truly achieve the effects shown in that anime, it would indeed be a very powerful piece of equipment.

"Is that so? Maid, your thoughts are exactly the same as mine," Bianka shared her opinion sincerely.

Rita listened to the whole thing with a smile. While marveling at Bianka's combat intuition, she also noticed that Bianka no longer felt awkward or shy when using her codename.

Can she even improve on that...?

The two walked and talked. The warriors they passed on the road all saluted before giving them a wide berth. Before they knew it, they had reached the edge of the camp.

There was only a simple barricade made of barbed wire coils, with a few warriors standing guard.

Seeing the two of them, the guards exchanged a look, and one of them spoke up.

"Please wait. This is the edge of the camp. Any further is the clearance zone. If you... intend to go there, please change into your equipment."

The person blocking their path spoke with great sincerity, which surprised Rita slightly, but she quickly understood.

They weren't soldiers, after all. They wouldn't issue orders with the sternness of a military officer. They were just people who had signed up to be warriors out of sheer passion, coming to this front line to risk their lives.

That's why they would persuade them so kindly; it was their true nature.

Suddenly, Rita fell silent. Bianka, on the other hand, acknowledged the two guards and then pulled Rita to turn around and head back the way they came.

"Maid, are you thinking about something?" They hadn't walked more than a few steps before Bianka's question came.

She was truly curious about everything, like a newborn just seeing the world...

"No, it's nothing, Lady Bianka," Rita said with a smile, snapping out of her thoughts.

Bianka frowned and pulled Rita to a stop. "No, you definitely have something on your mind, and it's troubling you."

Rita: "..." Lady Bianka's intuition seems to be extraordinary as well...

"You should be calling me Durandal, but you just called me Bianka," Bianka said seriously. "The last time you had something on your mind like this, you mixed up my names just the same."

Rita maintained her smile, while her mind raced to recall when exactly this "last time" Bianka was referring to had occurred.

Before Rita could remember, Bianka had already placed a hand on her shoulder.

"Rita, I know I shouldn't pry into other people's personal matters, but we're on the front line now, and we're about to head to the most important place to assist Senior Judah in battle. We can't have even the slightest distraction at this time."

Then, to Rita's slight surprise, Bianka confidently patted her own chest. "So, don't be nervous. Tell me what you're thinking, and I'll help you solve the problem."

Rita was still smiling, a smile that seemed somewhat impervious.

Looking at Rita's "I don't know what you're talking about" expression, Bianka's breathing quickened slightly.

She stared intently at Rita's ruby-red lips, which seemed to glow in the twilight, watching as the sunlight dotted her full lips with specks of light.

Finally, Rita slowly opened her mouth.

"Lady Durandal... you seem to be very nervous... Would you like me to tell you a joke?" Rita asked with a polite smile.

She got me!!

Bianka's vision went dark. She hadn't expected Rita to see through her so easily and, in an instant, turn the tables, seizing the initiative!

"Ahem... me... how could I... haha..." Bianka stubbornly tried to deny the fact that she was actually very nervous, but her body had no memory of how to lie. Halfway through her rebuttal, all that was left was an awkward laugh.

As expected, Rita is truly Rita...

Faced with Rita's smiling face awaiting an answer, Bianka suddenly looked dejected.

"Alright... I am actually a little nervous..." Bianka sighed, deciding to just throw caution to the wind. "I only just joined Senior Theresa's team a few days ago, and I only arrived at the front line today, but tomorrow I might have to fight a Honkai Beast...

"But no one has questioned whether I have the ability to fight a Honkai Beast. It's like everyone trusts me so much..." Bianka said in a low voice, looking at her hands.

"So, is Lady Durandal worried that she might hold everyone back tomorrow?" Rita asked with a smile.

Bianka hesitated for a moment, then nodded.

Rita understood. Being entrusted with a great responsibility right after her debut—anyone except the most arrogant would ask themselves this question.

Can I really do this?

This question was hidden in everyone's heart. It was just that most people had more reasons why they had to do it, which suppressed that anxiety.

But Bianka had never been good at hiding her feelings, so she took this opportunity to ask frankly, seeking an answer from Rita.

It seems Lady Bianka really needs a true victory to build her self-confidence.