"Snap!~" A dry twig on the ground made a crisp breaking sound with a light step. Although the white snow on the ground had not yet melted… it was a forest, after all. Many bushes had already begun to slowly show signs of life, with tiny bits of green furtively emerging from their branches…
"I feel like we're not on a mission…" Theresa, walking at the very front of the team, said helplessly to Murata Himeko who was beside her, "But more like we're taking kindergarten children on a field trip…"
"Don't say it… I already regret it…" Himeko said with a forced smile, the exhaustion in her smile impossible to hide… The pain of a single dog is so heart-wrenching…
Although it was almost April, the Siberian forest still exuded a bone-chilling cold…
"Sakura… are you really okay wearing so little?" Li Xuan gently squeezed the somewhat cold, soft hand of the girl beside him and said softly. Even in this icy and snowy land, Yae Sakura was still wearing thin clothes. Her off-the-shoulder miko attire had a strong Japanese style, but unlike the long hakama skirts of traditional miko attire… Yae Sakura simply wore a short, cherry-colored skirt…
Every time Li Xuan saw Yae Sakura's exposed fair skin, he would involuntarily think of the line from the "Book of Songs: Shuo Ren", "Her hands are like soft shoots, her skin like congealed fat, her neck like the larva of a beetle, her teeth like melon seeds. A shapely head and moth-like eyebrows, a clever smile so charming, beautiful eyes so captivating."
"I'm fine~…." Yae Sakura revealed a gentle smile, gently taking Li Xuan's hand, which was as warm as a stove, and placing it against her cheek, saying, "I am your Familiar… my body is much stronger than a human's."
"Mm, I know…" Li Xuan nodded seriously, and a black overcoat appeared out of thin air in his hand. He assertively draped it over Yae Sakura's shoulders and said firmly, "But, I'm just worried…"
"Mm…" Yae Sakura was stunned for a moment. Xuan-kun has become bolder today? She lowered her head, the corners of her mouth curling up slightly… A rustling sound was heard, and Yae Sakura quickly put on the overcoat Li Xuan gave her, her exposed skin once again covered…
"Thank you, Xuan-kun~" Yae Sakura suddenly hugged Li Xuan, clinging to him like a koala. Her smooth hair, like silk, brushed against Li Xuan's face… A faint, clear fragrance, like that of cherry blossoms, filled Li Xuan's nose…
"..." Li Xuan was stunned for a moment, his fair face flushing red… Should I hug Sakura back? The tips of his ears also turned red…
Perhaps out of consideration for Theresa and the others not far away, Yae Sakura gave a light hug and then separated again… She kept her head down, leaning against the now-crashed Li Xuan, and said nothing more…
"Ahem… let's go." Li Xuan's face was beet red, and he looked at the snow on the side with some embarrassment, as if there was something interesting to see there…
His right hand secretly reached out and touched Sakura's somewhat cold little hand. Sakura's hand trembled slightly like a startled little rabbit…
Then… naturally, their two hands were held together…
...............…
"Tch..." Murata Himeko glanced behind her and subconsciously bit her thumb nail with a look of annoyance…
"What's wrong… have diarrhea?" Theresa looked at Himeko's annoyed expression with a teasing look.
"...No, it's nothing!" Himeko said through gritted teeth. One must endure the bitter fruit one has sown… Originally, she had only planned to bring Li Xuan on the mission, but Kiana and the others accidentally found out… and so… almost everyone came. And most importantly, Yae Sakura came along too! All along the way… the cold dog food was relentlessly stuffed into her mouth…
"Principal Theresa, the Fifth Squad has now arrived at the operation location…" Himeko looked at the GPS in her hand and said loudly.
"Ugh… so cold! So cold!! What the hell is this place!" Although she was wearing a jacket, Kiana was still shivering like a dog, hugging her shoulders and trembling as she spoke.
"Kiana, I told you… even though it's almost April in Siberia, it's still very cold…" Mei said helplessly. "You just wouldn't listen… and didn't know to wear more clothes." The jacket Kiana was wearing was hers…
"As a Valkyrie, you have to show some grit. Acting like this, you'll never become an A-Rank Valkyrie~" Theresa said, acting all mature and experienced.
"Great-Auntie, you're dressed like a rabbit hibernating for the winter. You have no right to talk!" Kiana said indignantly, looking at Theresa who was dressed in thick clothes with a flushed little face.
"Seriously… why do Honkai outbreaks always happen in a godforsaken place like this?" Kiana complained, looking at the vast white scenery around them.
"Kiana, you definitely didn't pay attention in your Honkai studies class… This is the Siberia region, the place where the Second Honkai War happened, you know," Mei said, narrowing her eyes and staring at Kiana as if scrutinizing her.
"Uh… th-that! Of course I know that!" Kiana said, feeling a little guilty.
"Classmate Kiana, weren't you sleeping at that time?" Yae Sakura came over and said with a serious face. She still remembered that day when Xuan-kun watched with her as Kiana drooled all over the desk…
"..." Kiana opened her mouth, a look of embarrassment on her face… Classmate Yae Sakura is really too honest….
"Well, Kiana isn't wrong. No one likes a place like this, all ice and snow. Let's finish the mission quickly and go to a bar for a drink to warm up," Himeko said, changing the subject. After eating a whole journey's worth of dog food… she also felt it was time for her to drown her sorrows in alcohol…
"Alright, I will now explain this mission. Our objective this time is to investigate the unknown Honkai energy fluctuation that occurred in the ruins of the original Second Honkai War battlefield." Theresa clapped her hands and began to assign the mission with a serious expression.
"In the Second Honkai War that ended in the year 2000, 'Schicksal' defeated the Second Herrscher and stopped the Honkai. Subsequently, this area was placed under lockdown, but recently, Honkai energy fluctuations have been detected again…"
"I have already transmitted the approximate coordinates of the Honkai energy occurrence to your communicators," Theresa said, truly like a meticulous commander. "Remember that this mission is only for investigation. Any sudden situation may occur, so be sure to maintain contact. In case of an emergency, you must retreat immediately!"
"Please remember…" Theresa's tensed face softened, and she said softly, "To me, you are Schicksal's most precious assets, so… be careful of your own safety!"
"Yes, ma'am!" everyone said solemnly, placing their right hands over their left hearts. This was Schicksal's military salute…
"Then, let's begin the mission!~" Himeko turned around and said to everyone. She seemed to notice that Li Xuan was a bit distracted, so she reminded him, "Stay sharp, classmate Li Xuan."
"Ah?! Yes, Major Himeko…" Li Xuan, coming back to his senses, quickly responded. He also gave Yae Sakura by his side a reassuring look and followed…
"..." Was it an illusion? Li Xuan secretly glanced at the palm of his right hand again… There was a dark blue mark there…
Why did it feel a little hot just now?
(End of this chapter)