Though she had decided not to stay the night, Columbina's curiosity about Su Ran's research only deepened.
From what she knew, this new Second Harbinger was like the Doctor and the Puppet— a scholar, a rare kind of genius.
The kind of talent that was truly priceless to Fatui.
Their research could shape armies, change the very balance of war.
At the moment, Su Ran was tuning something he planned to bring along on his upcoming mission: floating cannons.
Technology far too advanced for Teyvat.
Even if Dottore were here, he would be baffled.
And Columbina—?
She just stared blankly, watching him work.
"…Is that a weapon?"
"Of course. A very powerful one."
Floating cannons—multi-purpose combat drones.
They could snipe.
They could bombard.
Even if he couldn't transform into Ultraman, with these, he could fire beams like one.
Far beyond the comprehension of anyone in Teyvat.
Not that he planned to hand them out freely.
They were for himself.
"Even Archons… if they face my cannons, they'll have no choice but to die."
The only reason they weren't stronger was because he'd had too little time.
He had focused on portability over sheer destructive output.
Otherwise, not just Archons— he could level entire planets.
Because his talent allowed it.
And he could provide the energy.
"…Amazing."
Columbina clapped her hands expressionlessly.
A week He had been a Harbinger for less than a week.
And he claimed to have built a weapon that could kill Archons?
She might be simple, but she wasn't stupid.
That was a boast even Dottore wouldn't dare make.
A newcomer, daring to say this?
Why not go ahead and claim he could solo Celestia too?
Su Ran: If you asked, I'd admit it.
"Columbina, I'm not lying~"
He willed one of the cannons to life.
It floated instantly, the barrel locking onto her as if listening to his thoughts.
No shots fired.
No threat spoken.
Yet that single act of aiming filled her with dread.
"Miss Columbina… ignorance can be deadly. Like right now—you don't even understand what you're facing."
Su Ran smiled gently, eyes fixed on her.
If it were Dottore here, questioning him— he wouldn't have hesitated.
A demonstration.
A blast, just to watch him burn.
The man had so many clones, after all.
Lose one? No problem.
Lose them all? Perfect—no more budget drain.
But Columbina wasn't Dottore.
She didn't have clones.
If she died, she was gone.
And Su Ran had no interest in killing a girl he rather liked.
"Ignorance leads to mistakes. Just like your mistake now—doubting my invention."
He looked around his pristine lab.
He couldn't bring himself to wreck his own home just to show off in front of a pretty girl.
"…Tch. Fine. We'll go outside the city. I'll show you what science really means."
He grabbed Columbina's delicate hand and whisked her off.
On the way, he couldn't help giving her soft fingers a little squeeze.
Not bad at all.
The touch of the Seelie-blooded was leagues beyond any girl he'd known before.
For Columbina, it was the first time a man had ever held her hand.
Shock rooted her still.
Before she knew it, they had landed on a snowy plain outside the city walls.
"No one around. This'll do."
He chose a stretch of open ground.
Columbina glanced back at the city wall, suddenly regretting her earlier, dismissive tone.
"…Is it really safe to test this so close to the capital?"
"Relax. No harm will come to them."
The floating cannons might not be as iconic as a Gundam…
but they were still part of one.
And now, it was time for Teyvat to witness true science.
Snap!
With a flick of his fingers, the eight drones whirred to life.
They aimed in unison at the snowy earth ahead.
A blinding volley erupted.
The night exploded into a miniature sun, illuminating even part of the city beyond the walls.
The thunderous roar shattered the stillness, waking countless citizens from their beds.
Those who didn't understand panicked:
Had Celestia come to strike them down?
"What happened?"
Childe, training alone, froze mid-swing.
"That power… could it be a god?"
His blood ran cold.
A god appearing this close to the capital, where Her Majesty resided?
At once, he called twin hydro blades to his hands and sprinted toward the blast.
Other Harbingers had noticed too.
And entire companies of Fatui soldiers abandoned their posts, charging toward the disturbance.
The explosion had happened practically at the city gates.
It could not be ignored.
If it were an attack, a single moment's delay could spell disaster.
The Fatui might be hated abroad, but in Snezhnaya they were heroes— protectors of the Tsaritsa's children.
Back on the snowfield, Columbina stood frozen.
Her eyes were wide.
Her face blank.
She stared at the devastation in silence.
When Su Ran had claimed his cannons could kill Archons, she hadn't believed a word.
As one of Seelie blood, herself wielding power on par with gods, she knew better than anyone how difficult they were to kill.
Unless they chose to die, mortals had no hope.
And this man, a Harbinger for less than a week, dared say he'd built a weapon capable of it?
She had scoffed inside.
But the sight before her— a crater five hundred meters across and a hundred meters deep…
It rivaled the all-out strike of a mighty god.
"…There's still plenty of room for refinement. But overall… not bad."
For a first test, the results were more than satisfying.
The only problem was the noise.
It had already drawn a crowd.
The Tsaritsa herself likely expected this, which was why she hadn't stirred.
But the first figure to appear on the snowy horizon was none other than a Harbinger.
Su Ran turned, smiling.
"Good evening~"
"…Good… evening…"