On the deck of the aerial battleship—
"Don't push, everyone! Please form a line~"
"Okay~ Teacher Trianne~"
Under Trianne's crisp, childish commands, the trainee Valkyries stepped into the large Gate of Hundred Worlds she had opened in an orderly fashion.
Atop the flagpole, the Immortality Gyrfalcon stood quietly, looking down at the crowd with great interest. Its eagle eyes flickered, as if comparing its own spatial travel capabilities with the Gate of Hundred Worlds.
"Wahahaha! Even though I embark upon a new crusade, do not mourn the dawn where all stars burn! Hmph, you better miss me!"
Just hearing this "my pace, my way" chuunibyou tone, one could realize the speaker was the self-proclaimed Savior of Light, Houraiji Kyuushou.
However, that last sentence betrayed the girl's reluctance to leave. Eating well, drinking well, and being accompanied by like-minded frenemies—even if she was dragged into the Superstring Space to be ravaged every other day, she had lived quite happily during this time.
"We will, we will."
Bronya waved her hand dismissively.
Her outfit today was particularly sharp. A tailored black blazer wrapped around her mature, developing figure. Underneath was a soft, white openwork knit sweater, pulled tight to accentuate the astonishing curves of her chest.
Below the black pencil skirt were long, slender legs wrapped in delicate silk stockings. Hanging from her swan-like white neck was an ID card exclusive to Fuli's secretary.
Her silver-grey long hair was tied into a high ponytail behind her head, with only a few strands hanging by her cheeks, giving her a heroic and spirited look.
However, the Big Bronya who was brushing someone off soon wore her signature expression (ᗜ˰ᗜ). Her gaze lowered helplessly to look at her own swelling frontal armor, which was once again undergoing continuous shape deformation under the influence of an external force.
"Hmph!"
"Ah? Sorry, sorry, didn't notice."
Fuli—the absolute creep—withdrew his hand with a sheepish smile under Mei's needle-like gaze.
It just fit his XP system too well. Today, Big Bronya was dressed so perfectly for the "If there's work, the secretary does it; if there's no work, do the secretary" vibe. His body had accidentally acted on its own accord.
Why can't I control this hand?!
Fuli coughed lightly to mask the awkwardness, turning his gaze to Wendy, who was waiting quietly by the side.
"Eep! I-I'm here!"
The beautiful Valkyrie, who had guest-starred as a maid for several days, instantly tensed up. She straightened her back like a startled rabbit.
Her submissive and timid appearance was pitifully adorable, vividly enacting the role of Xi'er (Seele) suffering under the exploitation of Huang Shiren in the old society.
"There's no need to be like that."
Fuli comforted her repeatedly, struggling slightly in his heart.
Calculating the time, that mysterious experiment that would completely change Wendy's fate was coming soon.
The boy, who didn't have a deep connection with her, originally only intended to remind Theresa. But after spending these few days together, he had come to regard this serious yet timidly beautiful girl as a semi-friend.
Thus, he coughed lightly and reminded her in a special way that only the two of them could hear: "If you trust me, after returning to Schicksal, be extremely cautious about the experiment proposed by those researchers. If you can refuse, try your best not to agree."
Wendy froze. A wisp of breeze brushed past Fuli's ear: "Did Master receive some inside information?"
A few days of maid life meant the girl hadn't adjusted her form of address yet. Coupled with various secret fantasies during her nightly "power generation" sessions, the word "Master" slipped out naturally.
"You could say that? Anyway, be careful."
Fuli didn't want to be a Riddler; he had always hated Riddlers.
The problem was that a reincarnator's intelligence source was too hard to explain. Plus, he didn't have a deep understanding of the specific events; doing this much was already the utmost of his benevolence.
"Yes! Mas... Mr. Fuli, Wendy will remember."
The girl's cheeks flushed slightly, and she nodded solemnly.
After greeting a few others, she finally moved her legs wrapped in pure white stockings, becoming the second to last person to step into the glowing Gate of Hundred Worlds.
The last one was naturally our Miss Pink Elf.
She didn't say much, just very enthusiastically gave everyone present on the Hyperion a hug.
She stood on tiptoes and planted a 'mwah' on Fuli's cheek, then hopped and skipped away to say goodbye amidst Mei's knife-sharpening gaze.
"Little Red! Don't forget our promise!"
Trianne poked her head out and waved her small hand cutely, and the Gate of Hundred Worlds promptly dissipated into the air.
The deck of the Hyperion returned to silence, leaving only the Pacific Ocean breeze rustling past.
"Promise?"
Bronya glanced at him sideways, jumping back with exaggerated movement, her expression seemingly saying, 'It's one thing to groom me, but how could you lay your hands on a little girl like Trianne!'
"It's a deal with Tribios!"
Facing the questioning of his capable little secretary, Fuli quickly made an 'X' with his hands in front of his chest. "We made a deal. When I reach Critical Grade, she'll use the Divine Armament: Key of Janus to help me enlighten my Reality Distortion Field."
"Is that so."
No wonder the usually combustible Raiden Mei had no reaction to this.
The girl realized.
However, she remembered that Tribios, who possessed the Golden Lineage and was a hopeful for the next Queen of Britain, was a devastatingly beautiful woman.
He shouldn't get involved in that kind of relationship with her, right?
Bronya's gaze drifted into the distance, shaking her head gently.
After all, there's an age gap of seven or eight years. Doesn't he like young girls like me?
...
On the other side of the ocean, at St. Freya Academy's Cecilia Plaza.
As Elysia was the last to leap out of the Gate of Hundred Worlds, Himeko, who had been waiting there for a long time, stood with one hand on her hip. She chuckled while shaking the bottle of AD Calcium Milk in her hand, clearly remembering not to drink while on duty.
"Everyone assembled. Good work, my good girls!"
Her voice carried a hearty laugh.
"It wasn't hard!"
The trainee Valkyries were full of spirit, responding in unison.
"No, it was still hard work."
The smile on Himeko's face deepened, carrying a bit of teasing. "The good days are over. Our St. Freya's food budget can't support the way you stuffed yourselves on the Hyperion."
"Hahahaha!"
"Major always speaks the painful truth! Being able to eat freely occasionally is already thanks to the Principal's great fortune!"
"Exactly, exactly! We can never repay the kindness of the future Overseer, the Second Sun of Schicksal!"
"＼O／＼O／＼O／"
The atmosphere, tinged with the sadness of parting, vanished like smoke due to these down-to-earth words. The girls formed groups of twos and threes, chattering as they walked towards the dorms, unable to wait to organize the rich spoils of this trip.
The Hyperion wasn't a stingy capitalist. After handing over the pre-agreed percentage of the various materials they worked hard to farm in the Abyss, the rest belonged entirely to the individuals.
If they found rare items they couldn't use, they could even sell them to Massive Electric at market price for a tidy profit. This made the Valkyries look forward to their next trip to the Abyss with great anticipation.
Amidst the excitement, quite a few people even muttered, "If you ask me, we should just get that handsome Mr. Fuli to marry our Principal. Then St. Freya and Hyperion would become one, and wouldn't we have these benefits every day?"
"Shoo, shoo, shoo! Have you asked for Lord Durandal's opinion?"
"The Rita Simps also have something to say!"
This immediately triggered a collective crusade from the surrounding Durandal Faction and Rita Faction. The War of Ships has always been thus!
Elysia's lively gaze swept through the crowd. With a flash of her pink figure, she appeared precisely behind a dense bush not far away.
"Found you, Little Miyuki♪~"
She opened her arms with a sweet smile and pulled the girl, who possessed pink hair just like her, into her embrace. She nuzzled her cheek against the girl's affectionately. "Long time no see, Miss Elf missed you to death!"
"Uwahhh!"
Suddenly hugged, Asakura Miyuki let out a short scream of fright. The thick branch in her hand, used for camouflage, fell to the ground with a clatter.
To this day, this girl whom Fuli had saved when he first arrived in Nagazora City still wore oversized sportswear that perfectly concealed her figure.
She carried a huge guitar case containing the Solar Prominence Greatsword. At first glance, she looked like she was cosplaying Hitori Gotoh from Bocchi the Rock!.
Himeko sighed slightly.
After several months, her foolish apprentice's social anxiety was still headache-inducingly severe. That Natural Stigmata, which could be called strategic-level support—with a healing efficiency comparable to the Abyss Flower's First Rated Power, the Path of Deva—could currently still only be used on herself and that savior she avoided like the plague (Fuli).
In fact, Asakura Miyuki should have been among the students going to the Hyperion this time.
But the moment the list was announced, the girl rolled her eyes and fainted on the spot, only waking up faintly after the final selection was settled. It made Himeko, her master, feel angry, amused, and distressed all at once.
However...
Watching the two playing together, a trace of relief flashed in Himeko's eyes.
After months of adjustment, at least now Asakura Miyuki could interact normally with a few people without fainting on the spot like in the past.
Like herself, like Elysia and Houraiji Kyuushou, or—
"Hey! You pink-haired pervert over there! That's enough!"
A clear shout cut through the noise of the crowd. A girl wearing a St. Freya uniform strode forward.
Her name was "Yuno," a first-year high school student who joined St. Freya after the Third Eruption.
Possessing excellent Honkai adaptability, she specialized in plant manipulation and toxin application, and was also Asakura Miyuki's roommate.
Both hailing from Nagazora City and being of similar age, the two had a very good relationship. And since both had suffered varying degrees of school bullying, Yuno was exceptionally protective of this timid roommate.
Of course, with Himeko as a master covering her, no one dared to bully Asakura Miyuki within the academy.
Yuno's protection was reflected more in the details of daily life, like right now.
The only small problem was—
"Wah! It's Little Yuno!"
Hearing the voice, Elysia, who was hugging Asakura Miyuki, had eyes that lit up. She immediately 'abandoned' the real-life Bocchi in her arms like she had discovered a new continent, opened her arms, and pounced towards the girl!
"You! Don't come over!"
The aggressively approaching Yuno turned pale, retreating faster than she had advanced.
Yes, based on the twisted logic of "the higher the Honkai adaptability, the higher the beauty," Yuno, who possessed the potential to become a Pseudo-Herrscher, was herself a star-level super beauty.
Pale purple long hair, locks hanging by her temples, a well-fitted St. Freya uniform, long and slender legs, a soft and flawless face, and a pair of light purple eyes that gazed indifferently at everything around her but melted like ice and snow only when facing her friend.
Such an appearance was undoubtedly within Miss Elf's hunting range. Moreover, it was Elysia herself who had come to the door back then to bring this girl with infinite potential to St. Freya.
"Damn it... gurgle gurgle gurgle..."
Therefore, even though her entire face was buried deep in the other party's soft and elastic peaks, Yuno only struggled symbolically a few times before ceasing resistance as if accepting her fate.
Forget it, as long as Asakura is saved.
She thought with self-abandonment.
"What youth."
Himeko, who had been watching the whole scene from the side, revealed an 'auntie smile'. Due to various reasons, she didn't have the chance to enjoy her youth properly. Precisely because of this, Big Sis wanted to protect this sparkling period of her students' lives even more.
Asakura Miyuki, who had just been saved, was somewhat dazed at this moment.
She stared blankly at Elysia, who was entangled with Yuno, her small nose twitching slightly.
She seemed... to smell Mr. Fuli's scent on her?
"Miyuki? Miyuki?"
"Ah? Yes! Master!"
Himeko's call startled the girl from her daze.
"I won't say anything about your absence from the Hyperion trip this time, but for the upcoming Wardance Ceremony, you can't find excuses to hide anymore."
As the leading teacher for St. Freya this time, Himeko specifically named her foolish apprentice to accompany them.
Staying holed up in the Far East Branch wouldn't do. The current world situation wasn't as simple as in the past. With connections to major Bubble Universes becoming increasingly tight, going out to see the world and broaden one's horizons was mandatory.
"Don't be afraid, Asakura!"
Yuno's muffled voice came from within Elysia's bosom.
She desperately poked her head out and shouted with difficulty, "This time... mmph! I'm also on the accompanying list! If... mmph mmph... we encounter trouble! I-I'll... mmph mmph mmph! Take it for you!"
"You take care of yourself first!"
Lord Kyuushou, passing by, delivered a sharp retort.
...
While other Valkyries were frolicking or dispersing, Wendy walked alone toward the Principal's office.
She stood still at the door, raised her hand, and knocked on the heavy oak door.
Knock, knock, knock!
"Come in."
Behind the door came a dignified voice that tried hard to be stern but couldn't hide its childishness. The girl smiled knowingly and pushed the door open.
A familiar scene came into view: a spacious room of over a hundred square meters, an imposing branded desk in front of the floor-to-ceiling windows, and two rows of sofas flanking a coffee table for guests.
It hasn't changed from a few years ago.
She thought, her gaze falling back on the small figure sitting behind the desk with a straight back and folded hands. She lowered her head respectfully. "Principal."
Mei had mentioned earlier to visit Theresa alone after returning to St. Freya.
Wendy kept this in mind, so she appeared here.
"It's Wendy."
Theresa's voice was unusually low, different from her usual clear and lively tone, bringing an abnormal pressure.
Her mentor's unusual tone tightened the girl's heart. She closed the door gently behind her back and walked forward quickly.
"Master."
Wendy whispered, her eyes dodging to the floor, daring not to meet Theresa's face.
"With my performance this time, I have embarrassed you."
This referred not only to the out-of-control rampage in the Superstring Space but also to the absurd fantasies during her finger exercises over the past few nights.
Mr. Fuli was Lord Theresa's fiancé, her future elder-in-law, yet she had used him as a side dish for her "power generation" these past few nights...
Fortunately, only Wendy knew about this matter, and this guilt could be buried deep in her heart.
Unaware of this, Theresa hopped lightly off her chair, moving her short legs to stand in front of her (relatively) tall beloved student.
She wore over-the-knee white silk stockings of the same style as Wendy. Or rather, the latter's habit of wearing white silk stockings originated from her.
"Bend down."
Theresa said softly.
Wendy bowed as instructed.
The Principal raised her hand, her small palm touching Wendy's slightly pale cheek.
"To think it has deteriorated to this extent..."
Her voice carried pity and a heavy sigh. "You've really suffered, Wendy."
Huh? What?
The girl blinked.
My face is pale clearly because over the past few nights... Did Master misunderstand something?
Theresa, however, returned to the desk, picked up a medical report that had been sitting there, and handed it over. "Look at this."
Wendy took it subconsciously, carefully reading the cold words and professional charts.
Accompanying the swish of turning pages, the last bit of color slowly drained from her already pale face. Her knuckles turned white from clenching too hard, and she bit her lower lip fiercely.
No wonder... No wonder my self-control suddenly became so poor, that I couldn't control... those things and even immersed myself in them! No wonder I couldn't calm down that day and went directly berserk, unable to wake up even after being defeated by Miss Bronya!
It turns out the awakened Natural Stigmata has a defect!
She put down the paper document she had accidentally crumpled. "Master..."
"There's no way. Currently, Schicksal cannot repair natural defects in the highest sequence Stigmata."
Low-tier Stigmata might have some room for maneuver, but this Wind Stigmata corresponding to Herrscher Authority—classified as top secret even in the Previous Era—left everyone in Schicksal helpless, even after searching high and low.
In Type-Moon terms, the mystery level of this thing was no less than a Divine Key, and being inside a human body made it even harder to deal with.
Not only that, as time passed, Wendy's sieve-like body would weaken daily under Honkai erosion. Out-of-control emotions and Honkai energy would be like floodwaters breaking a dam, pushing her toward the abyss of berserk rage time and again.
Eventually, only the loss of self awaited her, completely degenerating into a Pseudo-Herrscher that defied her will to protect and lived only for destruction.
For a Valkyrie sworn to fight for all that is beautiful in the world, this was worse than killing her!
Clang!
An ear-piercing ring!
Without thinking, the collapsing girl drew her spare dagger. The sharp blade traced an arc in mid-air, slashing toward her own fragile throat.
Rattle—!
Golden chains of Judah broke through the air, stopping her suicide in the nick of time.
Theresa sighed faintly.
"I knew it."
She knew her foolish apprentice would do this; that was why she had specifically kept it a secret before.
"Look at this too."
Theresa's voice held a trace more fatigue.
Wendy, eyes hollow, took the second document with her stiff left hand released by Judah's chains.
"Report on Candidates for the Gem of Desire Implantation Experiment." Several ominous-looking words came into view.
To be honest, Theresa originally hadn't intended to tell her anything, including the Stigmata defect.
An S-Rank candidate, the ace of the Oceania Branch, the pride of St. Freya—turning into a monster enemy of humanity in the blink of an eye?
She worried that Wendy, who had always had smooth sailing, couldn't withstand such a blow. Rather than letting the girl know everything, it was better for her, the elder, to make the decision.
That way, even if the experiment failed, Wendy could resent her for 'unauthorizedly' recommending her for the Gem of Desire experiment, instead of losing her life's goal in a daze.
However, in the end, Theresa changed her mind.
Under the influence of the Hyperion.
She had been watching the growth of Fuli and the others, from having nothing to where they were now.
It was they who made Theresa understand that elders don't need to make decisions for children; they have the right to know the truth and the freedom to make choices.
"So, will you participate? This experiment."
Looking straight into Wendy's dull pupils, the girl said softly, "You are the vessel with the highest chance of success. If the experiment succeeds, the world will gain a Herrscher fighting for humanity. If it fails... as long as no one forcibly digs out the Gem of Desire implanted in your body, you can still live as a human until death."
The office fell into a stagnant silence.
"If you trust me, after returning to Schicksal, be extremely cautious about the experiment proposed by those researchers. If you can refuse, try your best not to agree."
Fuli's parting words echoed in the girl's chaotic mind.
"I want to become a Valkyrie who fights for all that is beautiful in the world!"
The oath made in the past also resonated in her heart.
A long, suffocating silence. Time seemed to stretch infinitely.
Finally, Wendy raised her head.
"Yes!"
In those eyes that had lost focus due to despair, a decisive light now shone—bordering on tragic, carrying the glint of a desperate gamble.
"I'll participate!"
I'm sorry, Mr. Fuli. I still...
...don't want to give up!
...