"Is that so...?"
This Mr. Tian Shi certainly doesn't look like a fairy.
Ragna patted her face to cheer up.
Does that mean I just asked a really stupid question?
"What kind of being are you?"
Out of all the questions, whether sensitive or trivial, this is probably the most appropriate one.
"Mmm... Strictly speaking, I'm a ghost, but for you, the term 'specter' is probably easier to understand, right?"
"A ghost? That's not exactly what I usually imagine. I'm sorry, Himeko, could you make me a cup of coffee?"
Ragna rubbed her eyes.
"I am very curious, Captain Ragna, what kind of specter do you imagine?"
"Uh... a skeleton covered in an unsettling green glow, with an iron hook in one hand and a curved sword in the other..."
"Those are pirates from a ghost ship, although they appear to be specters..."
Ragna usually seems serious, but when it comes down to it, her way of thinking is quite unconventional.
"To give you an example, I'm a bit like... a vörðr? (Guardian Angel)"
Since Ragna's cultural heritage is likely of Viking lineage, Tian Shi simply found an analogy that Vikings could understand.
"That analogy is simple and easy to understand... Thank you."
Ragna nodded, took the coffee Himeko had prepared, and cautiously took a sip.
Great, no chili flakes or anything!
"Besides that, Captain Ragna, is there anything else you wish to know?"
The pillow looked at the Captain in front of her.
"Suddenly, you are the one asking me questions."
Ragna smiled wryly; the coffee had indeed helped her recover some of her energy.
"Other than that... there's nothing else, but there is one question I hope you can answer truthfully."
Although Ragna is not without more questions, such as the relationship between the other party and Anti-Entropy...
"But... are you on Himeko's side?"
"Yes."
"Very well, that is enough."
What does Anti-Entropy have to do with her?
On one side are her charming new teammates, and on the other, those ruthless superiors.
As long as the other party does not intend to harm the team, why would she bother reporting it?
Loyalty is one thing, but loyalty has a principle: Ragna is not one of those lackeys entrusted with assassination missions.
She is a warrior who charges at the front!
Emotionally, she didn't fully trust Tian Shi, but she did trust Himeko.
The reason why the assault team used greatswords was not only to shatter the hard shells of Honkai Beasts, but also to use them as shields to protect themselves and their comrades in desperate situations.
Furthermore, based on our current interactions, this vörðr, Tian Shi, does not appear to be an evil person.
Mmm... in reality, he looks quite a bit like a fairy godmother.
Wait a minute, speaking of ancestral protection and so on... although the surnames are different, doesn't it seem possible that he could be Himeko's ancestor?
After all, he is a ghost, so the sound might not be accurate.
"Um... by the way, how long have you been living with Himeko?"
Ragna, who had just perceived a glimpse of gossip, was about to leave, but then sat back down.
Anyway, here I am, doing nothing.
"Didn't you say that was the last question?"
"Two years, uh, just two years," Himeko, who had been silent until now, took the initiative to speak.
Himeko breathed a sigh of relief at that moment.
She tried hard to remember what she and Tian Shi had talked about at night over the past few months.
The final conclusion was that things were not going well.
Although she didn't speak ill of the Captain behind her back, she did talk a lot about Anti-Entropy; after all, her own Angel was the leader of Anti-Entropy, and there was no more suitable channel to understand the organization than Tian Shi.
Himeko was very worried about what would happen if her Captain and Tian Shi became enemies, especially if related problems arose.
After all, according to her knowledge of her Captain, her loyalty to Schicksal was still very strong.
Especially when Ragna said "there's only one issue," Himeko had a lump in her throat.
Fortunately, things did not unfold as Himeko had imagined.
"Oh my God! Only two years? I thought it was more than ten years."
"Ah... although it was two years, it was the darkest time of my life... one of the darkest, certainly."
"'one of the darkest'?" It is quite novel to use the term "one" in something like that. "
"Because my father passed away two years ago... before that, the darkest was my mother's passing."
"Himeko... Ah, I apologize for bringing that up."
Ragna apologized repeatedly, but when she thought of 2015.
Ragna seemed to have a vague memory of it.
After all, as the most important Valkyrie of this period, she would have some impression of any movement, no matter how small, by the higher-ups.
It seemed there were developments.
She saw Amber, the Bishop's secretary, pacing anxiously in the corridor after hearing the news.
After that, Ragna hadn't heard much more about Ryusuke Murata, and the director of the San 7308 Research Institute had also changed.
"It's okay, the period after my father's passing was not entirely dark; on the contrary, it helped me consolidate my new goals in life... Hey, let's not talk about this anymore, Captain, would you like another cup of coffee?"
"No, I haven't slept well for a week, I want to take a nap... Can I borrow the sofa?"
Ragna waved her hand, found a comfortable position on the sofa, lay down, and immediately fell asleep.
"The Captain just finished drinking coffee and has gone to sleep... Can she really sleep?"
A friendly reminder: coffee is not as energizing as you might think.
After all, one gets used to things over time, doesn't one?
After being freed from possession, Tian Shi shrugged.
"However... well, although their personalities and appearances are completely different, there is definitely some resemblance."
Although he only exchanged a few words with Ragna, Tian Shi had the vague sensation of talking to Rita.
It is that kind of emotional intelligence and rationality... "subtle and appropriate."
"What?"
Himeko looked at Tian Shi in confusion.
Resemblance?
"Do you mean her and the Captain?"
"It's nothing, just a casual comment. By the way, should we go to the florist to buy a wreath for your Captain?"
"The Captain is only asleep, she's not dead!"
"It's a real shame."
"Speaking of that..."
Himeko lowered her voice a little.
"I'm afraid you two will suddenly have a conflict. If that happens, I'll be in a real dilemma."
"We won't argue; your Captain is a rational person; don't underestimate a maid."
Tian Shi chuckled, seeing Himeko's persistent fear.
"Your Captain... or rather, your veterans know exactly who they are fighting for."
"Schicksal?"
"How is it that you haven't understood? It's for the people," Tian Shi corrected.
"Protecting the people and resisting the Honkai: this is the concept instilled in most Valkyries during their training, which is why the vast majority of them are noble."
Even Rita, the maid who at first glance seems to smile with a knife in her hand, actually prioritizes the safety of the people.
She is not one to retreat if the situation gets complicated.
She is one of those willing to fight to the death for the lives of others.
In a way, this trait might have been inherited from the maid who was deeply asleep right in front of them.
However, compared to Ragna, whose warmth is immediately evident, Rita's warmth can only be felt through deeper interaction.
"So, even if you really are a spy for Anti-Entropy, Ragna will first tie you up and teach you a lesson, instead of immediately reporting you to the authorities; after all, you are a member of her team no matter what."
"This confidence is a truly heavy burden."
...
"Ha... why is all the jewelry here so expensive?"
In the shopping center, Himeko sighed as she contemplated the dazzling display of gold and silver jewelry in front of her.
"After all, British craftsmanship is quite good," Tian Shi explained from the side.
"Besides, it's not like you really can't afford it."
To reiterate, Valkyries receive very high compensation, even though Himeko has only been a B-rank Valkyrie for less than six months.
"It's just that I'm not used to suddenly being exposed to luxury items," Himeko sighed.
"It's better to change your mindset... ah, but don't change it too much, at least don't become Tesla," Tian Shi changed his mind mid-sentence.
"Doctor Tesla?"
"She is a famous spendthrift. I met her more than 50 years ago, and she was already a spendthrift, and she still is now."
They might even continue to live from paycheck to paycheck in the future.
Tian Shi added to himself.
Furthermore, Tesla has not corrected any of her flaws, including her immature behavior and bad drinking habits... Tesla is quite impressive in many ways.
"I don't understand... but could you recommend some? What kind of jewelry would Captain Ragna like?"
That's right, Himeko was choosing jewelry for Ragna.
After all, they have looked after us for so long that it wouldn't be fair not to return the favor.
"I think giving her a set of 'Winning Lingerie' would be a good idea."
Himeko now has more than a dozen sets of winning lingerie, one set a day for half a month without repeating a single one, can you believe it?
All of this is thanks to the love and care of Himeko's elders, although Himeko doesn't want it at all.
"Could you please stop bringing up topics that are difficult to discuss?"
Himeko doesn't want to become a spinster whose only gift is Victory Underwear; giving that to the Captain would only earn her a look of pity from her, right?
"Mmm... then I recommend silver jewelry, like bracelets."
After careful consideration, Tian Shi offered his suggestion.
"After all, gold jewelry doesn't quite fit your Captain's style, does it? Silver, on the other hand, is more discreet and even goes better with that maid uniform..."
Clang--!
Suddenly, a slightly shrill alarm sounded.
"Alarm!?"
Himeko, who was still hesitating, suddenly stood at attention.
"Not here," Tian Shi added, at the same time Himeko's personal communication device activated.
"Sergeant Himeko! A small-scale Honkai energy reaction has occurred 2000 meters from your location, at a 30-degree angle to the northeast. The affected area is small!"
Himeko recognized the voice on the communicator; it belonged to someone from the defense department.
"According to the latest location data, Captain Ragna is currently inside the Honkai source!"
"What do you mean by 'final positioning'?" Himeko was alarmed by what the other person said.
"Honkai energy interference is too severe! We cannot confirm the location; we will deploy special forces to help maintain stability in the area. Please proceed immediately to the location to carry out the rescue!"
"***!" Himeko cursed angrily.
Why did it have to happen right now?!
"Our Captain should be doing community service right now; that means she is unarmed!"
Nothing as advanced as Valkyrie armor exists yet, and combat suits have limited effectiveness, so weapons are the basis of the Valkyrie.
If she were fully armed, her Captain could undoubtedly break through this Honkai level alone, but without weapons...
"This is bad... this is bad... I'm heading to the scene immediately! You guys go to our temporary base and get our weapons!"
Who would have imagined that this place would suddenly turn into chaos without warning, and that the Captain would be caught in the crossfire?
What bad luck!
However, the only positive thing is that the area affected by the collapse was not very large.
If they are lucky, the Captain should be able to make it out alive.
...
"What bad luck...!"
Bang--!
Ragna muttered to herself as she picked up an iron pipe and smashed the Charriot-class Honkai Beast in front of her.
"Coincidentally, Honkai Beasts appeared right at this moment."
Ragna felt practically the same as Himeko; both felt incredibly unlucky.
However, Ragna did not have much time for sentimental comments.
"Everyone! Evacuate to this side! Don't panic! Maintain order!"
Honkai Beasts came out of the building across the street, and the damage they are causing is not yet that serious. The real problem is the tourists in the street.
Faced with this sudden "monster," most people panicked.
She had to go out and maintain order.
"Everyone immediately evacuate to the outer perimeter! Someone will come to meet you!"
"Then we'll erase their memory," Ragna added under her breath.
Although Ragna was dressed in a maid outfit that was not particularly intimidating, the "monster" corpse at her feet and the deformed steel pipe in her hand were enough to convince everyone.
"I'm going in to rescue people! The rest, evacuate immediately! Don't stay a moment longer!"
Fortunately, this is a wide street, so the chances of a stampede are much lower.
The only positive thing now is that there are no Deadmen.
It is unlikely that this type of relatively small-scale Honkai event will produce many Honkai Beasts; after all, Honkai Beasts are the favorites of Honkai, and compared to Deadmen, it is like the difference between a favored child and an adopted child.
If even small-scale Honkai events could generate large quantities of Honkai Beasts, the world would have ended a long time ago.
(I just saw a Knight-class creature charge...)
After the initial panic and the failure of a second Honkai Beast to appear, the tourists calmed down a bit.
Seeing that the situation was gradually stabilizing, Ragna was relieved and rushed toward the building.
The other tourists didn't pay attention, but she clearly saw it: next to the Charriot-class Honkai Beast, there was also a Knight-class Honkai Beast that was even more formidable.
...
"Waaah..."
A petite girl with short, grayish-gold hair huddled trembling among the flower trellises.
"My God..." Seeing the white hooves under the flower trellis, the little girl could only pray to the gods.
But...
Click--!
The huge spear lifted a gust of wind, and the flower stand that had been hiding the trellis was instantly shattered, revealing the girl who had been hiding there.
If nothing unexpected happens, this girl will soon die under the stomping of iron hooves; if nothing unexpected happens...
Clang--!
"Phew... How are you, young master? Are you alright?"
The black-haired maid smiled at the girl huddled behind her, while holding a huge spear.