"Hah! This kid is my Aunt!?"
"You should call her Director!"
Takatsuki walked over, seeing Kiana still incredulous while tied up.
"Don't look at Theresa like that; she's already 42 years old, four years older than your mother..."
Before Takatsuki could finish speaking, Judah's chains released Kiana and wrapped around Takatsuki.
However, before they could get close to Takatsuki's body, he dodged the chains as if he had precognition, then grabbed all of them with his right hand, which was covered in Armament Haki.
The Oath of Judah, a Key of Binding made from the core of the Herrscher of Binding, possesses the ability to nullify Honkai Energy. Takatsuki had always wanted to test if it could only nullify Honkai Energy or if it could nullify all supernatural abilities like Imagine Breaker.
But seeing that both Haki and the Hamon within his body were unaffected, it seemed it wouldn't work.
"You actually grabbed Judah's chains with your bare hands. Who exactly are you?"
Theresa didn't continue her attack. Besides, her previous attack was just playful.
"I'm just an ordinary person who wants to fight the Honkai. So, about the request I mentioned earlier?"
Takatsuki released the chains in his hand, letting them retract as he asked Theresa.
"Becoming a student at St. Freya Academy?"
Theresa's gaze fell on Raiden Mei: "Is this little girl the Third Herrscher? Her name is Raiden Mei, right?"
"Raiden Mei, greetings, Director."
Seeing the polite Raiden Mei, Theresa nodded: "She's a polite little girl, better than I expected."
Then she looked at Bronya, who had been silent the whole time.
"Bronya's name is Bronya."
Theresa nodded. After all, only a day had passed since the Honkai Eruption erupted, so much of the intelligence gathered was incomplete. Theresa only thought Bronya was a lucky survivor.
"Alright, I agree."
Theresa nodded: "However, I also have a condition: you must accept the supervision arranged by the Academy!"
"Regarding that, I have another request, or rather, a trade would be more appropriate."
Takatsuki suddenly spoke.
"What is it? This point is non-negotiable. Although you seem normal now, you can't guarantee that there won't be problems later."
Takatsuki didn't answer Theresa's words directly, noncommittally: "It's not about supervision. It's a new trade, but I'd like to discuss it with the Director alone."
"Alone? So, you mean?"
Theresa looked at the others.
"Mei, you and Kiana go out first."
Mei wanted to say something, but then realized she didn't know what to say, so she could only leave with: "Please be careful."
"Himeko, you also go out and wait for a bit."
However, there was still one person who was unhappy with this request.
"Wait a minute! Aunt! Takatsuki said you know where the stinky old man is, right!"
Before being sent out, Kiana finally remembered her purpose for coming here.
"Siegfried, huh? I do know where he is."
Theresa looked down at Kiana and said: "But if you want me to tell you, there's a condition! That is, to become an A-rank Valkyrie. Since you're going to study here, then become a Valkyrie. As long as you become strong, I'll tell you."
"Hmph! I thought it was some big request. If this lady gets serious, whether it's a Valkyrie or whatever, I'll become it for you to see."
Theresa nodded: "Confidence is a good thing. Himeko, take them to your dorm first. I'll have another talk with this kid."
Watching the others leave, Theresa sat at her desk and looked at Takatsuki: "So, what's this trade you mentioned?"
"The Far East Branch, no, St. Freya Academy, do you still remember the founding concept, Theresa?"
After the others left, Takatsuki also unceremoniously sat down on a nearby sofa.
"Concept?"
Theresa frowned, not knowing what Takatsuki wanted to say, but still spoke: "St. Freya Academy was established to train Valkyries who fight for all that is beautiful in the world. Is there any question about that?"
"Fighting for all that is beautiful in the world? Heh..."
Takatsuki chuckled: "Isn't that just a slogan from Schicksal? And if that were truly enough, Cecilia wouldn't have proposed establishing the Far East Branch, creating this St. Freya Academy that allows Valkyries to experience beauty and cherish their own lives. She certainly wouldn't have proposed having her own daughter, Kiana, study here."
"Although Cecilia is no longer here, you, however, successfully established this Academy."
"..."
Theresa, who was originally sitting on the desk, jumped down halfway through Takatsuki's words and looked at Takatsuki, who was sitting on the sofa, at eye level.
"Who exactly are you? Why do you know about this!"
Many people knew that the concept of St. Freya was proposed by Cecilia, especially many who participated in the Second Herrscher War within Schicksal.
But the subsequent conversation was entirely a private agreement between Theresa and Cecilia.
"I already answered that question, didn't I? Of course, I'm not bringing this up to expose your secrets. Instead, I want to ask, Director, do you think St. Freya has fulfilled the agreement made back then?"
Theresa crossed her arms and snorted coldly.
"St. Freya Academy is right here, isn't it?"
"Haha, that's not what I mean. While you certainly provide those Valkyries with a superior living environment and allow them to enjoy the beauty of life during their studies and training, to become Valkyries and not be corrupted by Honkai Energy, they have to engrave Artificial Stigmata on their bodies."
"Although Artificial Stigmata can protect them from dying from ordinary Honkai Energy corrosion, they also have significant side effects, not only causing pain and shortening lifespan but also leading to bodily collapse, isn't that right?"
Theresa looked into Takatsuki's eyes, not understanding what he meant. Although Artificial Stigmata were a secret of Schicksal, it wasn't surprising that he knew about them, given that he even knew about Cecilia's private matters with her.
"So what do you want to say?"
"What I want to say is simple: I can help them alleviate the pain caused by Stigmata, extend their lifespan. While I can't completely remove the side effects of Stigmata, I can strengthen their vitality, so they won't be dragged down and killed by this thing."