Chapter 14: Have I Stayed For Too Long?

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!

As for why it's named Icarus... Well, those who understand should understand. It's hard to explain if you don't, as it involves many things. Let's just say those who know, know. In any case, it's called Icarus.

"Yes, My Lord."

The mechanical female voice responded, and Icarus brought up the surveillance footage, projecting it onto the wall in front of Sigurd's eyes.

As Sigurd took a look, sure enough, Kiana crawled out of the smoke-filled kitchen.

"My Lord, as you can see, the explosion occurred because Miss Kiana attempted to cook."

"...Fix it, then write a slogan at the entrance of the kitchen: 'Kiana and idiots are not allowed.' Also, suspend her outside to sunbathe for two hours... No, three hours."

"Yes my lord!"

—-------------------------

Sigurd said to let Kiana sunbathe, but in reality, the winter sunlight wasn't torturous at all. In a sense, it was even enjoyable.

For Kiana, the most uncomfortable part of being suspended was losing face in front of little Vira.

Ding ding dong!

Kiana wriggled in the air like a caterpillar, trying to free herself from the shackles of the iron chains. But apart from making the chains produce crisp metallic sounds, her efforts were futile.

"Ah~ You wretched Sig! I had good intentions for once and want to cook you something, and you treat me like this? Sig, you big idiot! I curse you to never find a girlfriend in your entire life!"

Kiana grumbled and complained, unwillingly wriggling for a while longer. Eventually, she gave up the struggle, remaining motionless, hanging her head in dejection. With eyes lacking any sparkle, she gazed at this unreasonable and mischievous world.

"Heave-ho! Heave-ho!"

At that moment, Vira's voice came from beside her.

She could see the little girl, with great difficulty, holding a stool step by step as she approached below Kiana.

Vira placed the stool down and quickly ran back inside the house. She returned, holding a cup of hot water.

Vira climbed onto the stool, lifting the cup of water, attempting to feed Kiana.

However, Kiana was still positioned slightly higher, and even though Vira stretched on her tiptoes, raising her hands as high as she could, the cup only reached Kiana's abdomen, making it impossible for her to drink from it.

"Just—a little—more—huh?"

While exerting herself, Vira suddenly let out a surprised sound.

She noticed that the iron chain extending from the ceiling was slowly descending, allowing Kiana to come down to a level where she could reach the water.

Vira blinked her eyes in astonishment and turned to the voice coming from the room, saying, "Big Brother Sigurd, Thank you."

"Yes."

Sigurd responded with a nonchalant tone, and Vira turned her attention back to Kiana. She fed her the water and wiped her dirty face with a clean handkerchief.

"Vira, you're so good to me!" Kiana exclaimed, touched by the gesture. If she weren't restrained by the chains, she would have hugged Vira tightly.

Vira tidied Kiana's hair and sighed like a little adult. She suggested, "Kiana, you shouldn't go into the kitchen anymore."

"But I just wanted to cook for everyone!"

"No one 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—Siegfriend's version of Toast made with Judgement of Shamash.

"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.

"Haa~ I don't even find him a slightest bit annoying."

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

"Sig, 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.

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