Honkai Impact: My Power Grows When Valkyries Fall For Me — Chapter 90

Chapter 90: A Cat of a Different Caliber

The tiny kitten tumbled onto its back in the center of Durandal’s palm, its paws batting playfully at the air for a moment before it curled back into a contented ball of fluff.

Durandal’s fingertips rested on that soft, warm weight, her every movement exquisitely gentle.

Lucian crouched beside her, watching the focused, almost cautious expression on her face. A quiet sense of amusement bloomed within him; the scene was a study in contrasts. This was Schicksal’s strongest Valkyrie, a woman who could obliterate a Honkai Beast with a single, devastating punch.

And at this moment, she was utterly captivated by a palm-sized kitten.

He couldn’t resist. He drew his phone from his pocket, quietly aiming the lens at her.

Click.

The sound of the shutter was exceptionally clear in the tranquil park.

Durandal’s body went rigid.

She turned her head, her gaze locking onto Lucian. In the depths of her sapphire-blue eyes, a flicker of subtle bewilderment surfaced.

“What… did you just take a picture of?” she asked, her voice soft.

“Nothing important,” Lucian replied, a smile playing on his lips. “Just wanted to capture the moment.”

Durandal stared at him for two long seconds, her expression unreadable as if she were trying to divine the truth of his words. Finally, she seemed to decide it wasn’t worth pursuing and lowered her head, her attention returning to the little cat in her palm.

Lucian pocketed his phone, the smile he hadn’t quite managed to suppress still lingering at the corners of his mouth.

Durandal said nothing more, her focus entirely on the tiny grey ball of fur. The kitten’s two front paws had latched onto her index finger, and it was now gnawing gently with teeth too small to do any harm.

“It’s biting you,” Lucian pointed out.

Durandal merely shook her head. “It doesn’t hurt.”

Watching the look of pure, unadulterated enjoyment on her face, the curve of Lucian’s own smile deepened. “It seems you really like cats.”

Durandal didn’t deny it. She just offered a soft “Mm,” her gaze never leaving the creature in her hand.

Just then, a growing clamor broke the afternoon peace, originating from somewhere not too far away.

Lucian lifted his head, his eyes turning toward the source of the noise.

Several passersby were hurrying from the direction of the park entrance, their faces alight with curiosity and surprise as they chattered amongst themselves.

“…heard something big happened over there…”

“…The British Museum? Are you serious?…”

“…Saw at least a few police cars heading that way…”

Lucian’s brow furrowed slightly. He turned to look at Durandal.

She had already looked up, her moment of peace shattered. The kitten in her palm, as if sensing the sudden shift in the atmosphere, leaped from her hand and scurried into the safety of the nearby bushes, a flash of grey fur disappearing into the green.

Durandal rose to her feet.

“Let’s go take a look.” Her voice was calm, yet it carried an authority that brooked no argument.

Lucian nodded, standing up with her. The two of them turned and walked briskly back the way they had come.

——————

Stepping out of the park, they found the atmosphere on the street had soured completely. More pedestrians were now rushing in the same direction, a sea of faces filled with the morbid curiosity of people drawn to a spectacle.

The faint wail of sirens sliced through the city’s usual hum, growing louder and more piercing with every step they took.

Durandal set a swift pace, and Lucian kept easily at her side as they handled the throng, making their way toward the British Museum.

The closer they got, the denser the crowd became.

By the time they reached the grand plaza in front of the museum, a massive crowd had already gathered, held back by a hastily erected police line. Police cars were parked haphazardly near the entrance, their red and blue lights painting the historic facade in frantic, strobing colors.

And there, not far from the chaos, they saw a familiar figure. Rita Rossweisse was sitting on the museum steps, her gaze fixed on them as they approached.

Lucian’s pace faltered for a half-step.

Rita sat with perfect posture on the stone steps, yet her exquisite maid uniform was smudged with dust and her normally immaculate hair was in disarray. She looked as if she had just endured a rather unpleasant ordeal.

But her expression remained serene, even holding the faint, ghost of a smile.

Seeing Lucian and Durandal draw near, she raised a hand in a light, elegant wave.

“Good afternoon, you two.” Her voice was as smooth and refined as ever, as if she were merely greeting them in her own garden over afternoon tea.

Durandal walked right up to her and crouched down, her expression serious. “What happened?”

Rita looked up at her, a hint of wry helplessness flashing in her wine-red eyes. “I seem to have run into a spot of trouble.”

“A spot of trouble?” Durandal repeated, her gaze sweeping over Rita’s state. The scrapes on her hands, the visible mess of her hair—this was clearly more than a minor inconvenience.

Rita sighed softly and raised a hand to tuck a stray lock of hair back into place. “Alright, perhaps it was a bit more than a ‘spot’ of trouble.” She paused, a flicker of amusement in her eyes. “It’s just that while I was investigating the cultural relics, I encountered a cat and we had a small disagreement.”

“A… cat?” Durandal echoed the word, her gaze falling once more on Rita’s disheveled appearance. What kind of cat was she talking about? A saber-toothed tiger?

Rita nodded, an almost sheepish smile gracing her lips. “To be precise, it was a three-meter-tall, artificially created Honkai Beast. And it has, unfortunately, escaped.”

Her expression turned serious. “The people behind it were likely after something inside the museum. To be more specific, a clue regarding the Second Divine Key.”

“Do you need help?” Durandal asked immediately.

Rita shook her head, gracefully rising to her feet and patting the dust from her skirt. “There’s no need, Lady Durandal. It’s a rare day off for you; you should enjoy it.”

She paused, her gaze shifting to Lucian, a glint of mischief appearing in her eyes. “Besides, don’t you have a date to attend to today?”

Durandal’s calm expression didn’t break, but the very tips of her ears flushed a delicate shade of red. “Rita…” she said, her tone laced with a helpless sort of warning.

Rita chuckled softly, deciding to end her teasing. She turned to Lucian and offered a slight bow. “Mr. Lucian, I am truly sorry to have you see me in such a disheveled state.”

Lucian shook his head. “Don’t worry about it. Here, let me help you with your wounds.” His gaze had settled on a cut on the back of Rita’s hand that was still sluggishly seeping blood.

Rita blinked, momentarily taken aback, before a gentle smile returned to her face. “Oh? Does Mr. Lucian know how to treat injuries?”

“I’ve been learning recently,” he said simply.

Lucian stepped forward and extended his hand. A soft, amethyst light bloomed in his palm, and the ambient Honkai Energy in the air seemed to answer his call, flowing toward him in gentle currents.

A flicker of genuine surprise crossed Rita’s features. The energy radiating from his hand was incredibly gentle, completely devoid of the corrosive, destructive nature typical of Honkai Energy.

A soothing warmth enveloped her hand, chasing away the sting of the cut. It felt as if something was gently stroking the torn skin, coaxing it back together.

A few seconds later, Lucian withdrew his hand.

Rita looked down at her palm. The wound on the back of her hand had vanished completely, leaving not even a scar behind. The skin was as smooth and unblemished as ever, as if the blood from moments ago had been nothing more than an illusion.

She raised her hand, examining it closely under the flashing lights, and flexed her fingers.

“…Impressive,” she breathed.

“Just a minor trick,” Lucian said, downplaying the feat. “If the wound were any larger, that would be my limit.”

Rita looked at him, a complex and unreadable emotion swirling in her eyes. “Mr. Lucian, you are truly… full of surprises.”

Lucian retracted his hand, the purple light in his palm slowly dissipating. “It’s just something I happen to be able to do.” His tone was flat, carrying no hint of pride or showmanship.

Rita studied him for another moment before her professional smile returned. “Well then, I shall take my leave. There is still some cleanup work to be handled.”

She turned toward the museum, took a few steps, then paused and looked back at them over her shoulder.

“Have fun, you two.”

With that final, parting shot, she turned and disappeared through the museum’s main entrance.

Lucian stood rooted to the spot, watching her back until she was gone. Then, he turned his head and met Durandal’s gaze.

She was already looking at him.

Their eyes locked for a charged second before Durandal was the first to look away.

“Let’s go,” she said softly.

“Where to?”

Durandal seemed to consider this for a moment, the chaos of the plaza fading into the background.

“Just for a walk.”