Chapter 32: The Sins of The Balladeer
Hearing Kafka's words, Stelle stepped forward, raising a hand and speaking weakly, "I actually don't have a habit of sleeping in the nude!"
"Hmph, this child was delivered to me by your own hands, and now that she's about to be officially deployed, you're trying to cozy up to her again? Not a chance!" Himeko crossed her arms, looking on with undisguised disdain.
"Words are useless. The child has grown up; let her choose for herself who she wants to follow from now on," Kafka said, fixing her gaze on the Stelle standing to the side.
"Fine, I agree," Himeko replied, not refusing, and turned her attention to Stelle as well.
Feeling the terrifying aura radiating from both Kafka and Himeko, Stelle couldn't help but tremble uncontrollably.
"Stelle, if you dare to choose her, I'll broadcast the surveillance footage of you sneaking Pom-Pom into your room to every corner of the universe!" Himeko stared at the shivering girl with murderous intent.
"If you choose that woman, I'll leak your browsing history from Silver Wolf's computer for everyone to see!" Kafka added, watching Stelle with an equally dangerous tone.
"Uh, can I… can I choose both?" Stelle's voice was laced with a hint of a sob as she looked at the two women in sheer terror.
"No!" Kafka and Himeko shouted in unison.
"Waaaah! That's too scary!!" Hearing their response, tears instantly gushed from Stelle's eyes as she cried out in fear.
"I choose… I choose the one who is gentle and makes me feel at ease—" Despite her overwhelming fear, Stelle still managed to articulate each word clearly.
"That's definitely me, then!" Hearing this, Himeko finally smiled, looking quite pleased with herself.
"The one who often gives me surprise gifts—" Stelle continued.
"That can only be me," Kafka said, equally confident, her eyes half-closed with a faint, knowing smile.
"And also the one with a well-proportioned and full figure—"
"Who are you picking?" Himeko and Kafka, losing patience, roared at Stelle simultaneously.
"The—trash—can!" Stelle shouted, enunciating every syllable.
The scene shifted abruptly. Stelle was hugging a trash can, looking blissfully happy. "Only this little bin is my true home forever! Oh, my trash can, oh, my dear trash can!"
The scene shifted again. Himeko was seen pinching her nose in utter disgust, saying, "Whoever birthed her can raise her! Take her away immediately!"
"Birth is nothing compared to upbringing. I'm really not close to her; you keep her and play with her yourself," Kafka said, likewise pinching her nose in revulsion as she looked at Stelle.
The video ended.
…
[ Honkai: Star Rail - March 7th: Uh, this is unexpected, but then again, why does it not feel that unexpected? ]
[ Honkai: Star Rail - Welt Yang: Is it possible that Stelle would actually make such a choice? After all, Himeko raised her, and Kafka gave birth to her. So, to avoid offending either her birth mother or her foster mother, she had no choice but to pick the trash can. ]
[ Honkai Impact 3rd - Theresa: How should I put this? That goofy personality is just like that girl Kiana! ]
[ Honkai Impact 3rd - Kiana: Auntie, what do you mean by that? And since when am I goofy? You're clearly goofier than me. ]
[ Honkai Impact 3rd - Theresa: Do you need a spanking? ]
[ Genshin Impact - Yae Miko: If a child is disobedient, it's usually because they've been spoiled. A good thrashing usually sets things right. ]
[ Genshin Impact - Sangonomiya Kokomi: Lady Yae, the pot shouldn't call the kettle black! ]
"Since the secondary creation video has concluded, we will now introduce a villain from Teyvat!"
[ Genshin Impact - Paimon: Who could it be? I'm actually kind of looking forward to it! ]
[ Genshin Impact - Collei: Hmph, it's definitely one of those Fatui scoundrels! ]
[ Genshin Impact - Amber: Collei is right, it's definitely those Fatui jerks! ]
[ Genshin Impact - Columbina: Why must it be us Fatui? Those guys from the Abyss Order are just as likely! ]
[ Genshin Impact - Enjou: We of the Abyss Order do our dirty work openly; we don't engage in the petty, skulking behavior you Fatui do! ]
"Next, we introduce the villain from Teyvat—Sixth of the Fatui Harbringers—Scaramouche!"
[ Honkai Impact 3rd - Rita: I'm curious, in a world with such primitive technology, how do these villains operate? ]
[ Honkai: Star Rail - Asta: It's Sixth of the Fatui Harbringers, then it's Scaramouche… what is his actual name? ]
[ Genshin Impact - Yelan: Fatui Harbingers all have codenames, and Scaramouche is the Sixth of the Fatui Harbingers. Scaramouche should be his name! ]
[ Honkai: Star Rail - Luocha: Interesting. ]
[ Honkai: Star Rail - Welt Yang: Hiss… My friend, why do you look so familiar? ]
[ Honkai Impact 3rd - Durandal: Isn't that what the Overseer looks like? ]
Because everyone in the livestream had a profile picture, they could see each other's appearance.
[ Honkai: Star Rail - Welt Yang: …Mr. Luocha, could you tell me where you are right now? ]
[ Honkai: Star Rail - Luocha: Mr. Welt, what are you planning? But I am currently on the Xianzhou Luofu. ]
[ Honkai: Star Rail - Welt Yang: Nothing much, just wanted to send you a gift! ]
[ Honkai: Star Rail - Luocha: You are too kind! ]
…
"Scaramouche, originally named Kunikuzushi, was a creation of Raiden Ei, one of the seven gods of Teyvat, and was a puppet originally intended to house a Gnosis."
"However, in a dream, Scaramouche shed a tear. When Raiden Ei saw this, she deemed him unfit as both a vessel and a human because he was too fragile, and so she sealed him away!"
"Yet, for reasons unknown, Scaramouche awoke from his slumber and began to wander the mortal realm."
"Scaramouche was born with a greater capacity for desire than others. During his wanderings, he saw many people with hearts—some righteous, kind, brave, and passionate; others greedy and evil. Feeling the emptiness in his own chest, he conceived his first wish, which would become his lifelong pursuit: to possess a heart."
"He enjoyed watching the brighter side of interesting things take a turn for the worse. His favorite pastime was observing human terror and helplessness, for which he specifically chose a foolish subordinate with a highly expressive face to entertain him. To Scaramouche, good and evil are merely the prattle of the masses—useless and noisy. But as long as that heart is dug out, one can feel nothing at all!"
"Scaramouche possesses an intense obsession and pride, rooted in his instinctual craving for the Gnosis and the trauma of his past experiences!"
"Scaramouche was born for the divine. To him, his life thus far has been nothing more than a meaningless process. As long as he can achieve apotheosis, he cares not for losing his self, nor for ending the painful memories and human emotions he left behind!"
"Because of the betrayal he once suffered, Scaramouche believes that relationships between individuals are merely a matter of borrowing and returning; that relationships of utility—using and being used—are the most stable in the world. This is true for his relationship with the Fatui, and for the Fatui among themselves."
…