Due to Kiana's lack of cooperation—and the Captain's current body being far too delicate—it took considerable effort to pull her out of the snow.
The Captain, who had momentarily lost her balance and collapsed into the drift, let out a long breath of relief. Kiana was safe. Cradled in her arms, uninjured. A soft smile tugged at her lips.
"Difficult as it was... I still managed to get her out."
With slender arms barely supporting her weight, the Captain sat upright in the snow, her gaze falling on Kiana—who had been staring at her the entire time.
Her small face was flushed red from the cold. The Captain gently brushed away the snow clinging to her hair and cheeks, bit by bit, as if tending to a precious relic.
Kiana nestled quietly into her embrace, obedient and still. It felt like she had waited for this moment for a long, long time.
As the Captain continued her careful work, a breeze stirred within Kiana's eyes—soft, distant, and full of memory.
It came from the far future, whispering a single truth:
"My dear Kiana... don't make the one with light in her eyes cry again."
But the breeze didn't know—Kiana had already made her decision.
She buried herself deeper into the Captain's warmth, inhaling her scent, imprinting it into her soul.
She would never forget the one who had once sacrificed everything for her.
The Captain, still brushing snow from Kiana's shoulders, noticed the girl's dazed expression—entranced, almost reverent—and felt a bit flustered.
With a helpless smile, she cupped Kiana's face and gently blew across her nose, sending the last flecks of snow fluttering into the air.
Only when Kiana's usual spark returned did the Captain finally relax.
Just as she was about to stand and lead them to safety—
She was tackled.
Kiana lunged forward, clinging tightly to her, pushing her back into the snow.
The Captain froze, blinking in confusion. She awkwardly patted Kiana's head, her thoughts a whirlwind of uncertainty.
"A little girl just jumped into my arms out of nowhere... What do I do? Someone help. Waiting online. Urgent."
While the Captain struggled to make sense of the situation, Kiana was already basking in her victory.
She had confirmed it—the time rewind had worked. She had used all her authority to reset the timeline, and everything had returned to the beginning.
Well... almost everything.
There was one tiny deviation.
The Captain's physique had changed.
And most importantly, Kiana remembered clearly: before transmigrating, the Captain had been a boy.
Which meant... even if she didn't remember the previous cycle, her soul was still that of a clueless, kind-hearted guy.
"So no matter how much I tease her... she won't react too strongly?"
"This is heaven. Hehehe~"
Kiana, curled up in the Captain's arms, shamelessly enjoyed the moment. She had dreamed of this warmth for so long.
Meanwhile, the Captain lay helplessly in the snow, watching the little girl snuggle into her chest with zero restraint.
Only when her fingers began to stiffen from the cold did she gently push Kiana away.
"Um... Kiana, how about we find somewhere safe to wait out the storm? It's not good to stay here too long."
At the mention of her name, Kiana's idiot hair twitched. She looked up with a sly smile.
"Kiana? Big sister, how did you know my name~?"
The Captain froze.
She hadn't asked. She'd just... said it.
"Oh no. Did I just out myself as a suspicious person?"
A wave of unease surged through her. Her instincts screamed to run—to put distance between herself and this girl before things got worse.
Suppressing the panic, she blinked rapidly, forcing her frozen brain to come up with an excuse.
Kiana quietly climbed onto the Captain's lap, her small hands reaching out to clasp the Captain's. She gently intertwined their fingers, her body leaning forward, eyes locked onto the one beneath her.
The Captain blinked, startled.
"Kiana?!"
Her voice trembled slightly, caught between surprise and confusion.
Kiana flinched at the sound of her name, her body shivering—not from the cold, but from the storm of emotion swirling inside her. Still, she steadied herself, suppressing the tremor in her heart.
She gazed down at the Captain, her voice soft and unwavering.
"Big Sister... you knew me from the start, didn't you?"
The Captain hesitated. Her eyes darted away, unable to meet Kiana's gaze.
Should she tell her the truth?
That she wasn't from this world? That Kiana—this brave, radiant girl—was just a character in a game from another reality?
She couldn't predict how Kiana would react. After all, she was still a child. Not yet the Herrscher of Finality who had endured so much.
No... it was too soon.
Even if it meant being misunderstood, the Captain chose silence.
Saving them is my choice. It doesn't need to be understood.
Kiana watched her quietly. And for the first time, she saw the Captain's true self—not the stoic protector, not the mysterious traveler, but the girl who bore everything alone.
Always making decisions without asking for help. Always carrying the weight of sacrifice.
You really are... selfish, my dear Captain.
Kiana leaned down, brushing aside a strand of hair that had fallen over the Captain's ear.
The Captain remained silent, but her cheeks flushed pink, betraying the emotions she tried to hide.
Kiana's smile deepened. She saw the Captain's changed appearance not just with her eyes, but with her heart.
And in that moment, she surrendered willingly.
"Has anyone ever told Big Sister... you're really easy to read?"
The Captain's face turned crimson. Embarrassed, she turned her head away, flustered by the teasing.
"I-Is that so? I think... it's fine."
Kiana felt her heart skip. Her grip loosened, and she instinctively covered her face, now blushing just as fiercely.
Her chest thumped with a rhythm she hadn't expected.
Was it really possible... to feel this way just from seeing her like this?
She had never seen the Captain like this before. Vulnerable. Human.
Maybe she had been too suspicious in the past. But none of that mattered now.
Everything had begun anew. Their story was just beginning.
The Captain was beautiful. Easy to tease. And now, Kiana had a mission.
Protect her. Cherish her. Keep her safe.
Mei, Bronya... you two can live your own lives. Just don't get in the way.
Watching the Captain still trying to maintain her composure, Kiana chuckled softly.
"It's okay if Big Sister doesn't say anything. We'll have plenty of time to get to know each other."
She sat up straighter, her voice clear and proud.
"So let me reintroduce myself. I'm Kiana. Kiana Kaslana. And I'll be your knight—always protecting you."
The Captain stared at her, cheeks burning, the blush creeping from her ears down her neck.
There was something strange about Kiana. Something she couldn't quite name.
But in this moment... she looked radiant.
The Captain's head, which had just turned back, involuntarily tilted away again.
"Mm... hello, Kiana. I... you can just call me Captain."