Outside the medical bay, Ming Yu and Kiana met up. Seeing that Ming Yu was safe and sound, Kiana seemed very happy, yet also a little annoyed at his earlier recklessness. She punched him on the shoulder and said, "It's great that you're okay! You had this young lady worried sick. Next time there's a Honkai Beast or something, this young lady can handle it by herself. You just protect yourself!"
Looking at Kiana's worried yet feignedly angry expression, Ming Yu felt a warmth in his heart. *A classic tsundere,* he thought with a wry smile. "Yes, yes, Miss Kiana. In that case, I'll be counting on Miss Kaslana to protect me next time."
Kiana's face turned slightly red as she let out a "Hmph."
"Hurry up, hurry up! Do you want to see Raiden Mei and Bronya or not?" Theresa urged from ahead, interrupting Ming Yu and Kiana.
At the mention of Mei, Kiana immediately quieted down. Theresa led the way, introducing St. Freya High School as they walked.
Ming Yu followed behind Theresa, looking at the Western-style architecture of St. Freya with a wave of emotion. Although he had visited countless times in his mind in his past life, the real St. Freya was more stunning than he had imagined. The school's overall architecture was filled with the atmosphere of a Western garden. From the predominantly stone materials to the round, pointed spires, it all gave Ming Yu a strong sense that he had truly arrived at St. Freya!
In a school as beautiful as a garden, it was hard to believe that this was a place for training Valkyries, warriors who fight against the Honkai. From the outside, St. Freya looked no different from any other school, though perhaps it was more elegant due to being an all-girls' school. And that was precisely Theresa's goal in founding this school. More than training warriors, she wanted her students to understand the dignity of life!
St. Freya was not just a preparatory base for Valkyries; more importantly, it was a school. In an era where Valkyries were treated as pawns and tools, their lives mercilessly expended, St. Freya taught these future Valkyries to cherish their own lives, telling them of their dignity as human beings. It allowed this group of girls, burdened with the mission of fighting the Honkai, to enjoy the lives of normal girls—to enjoy sunshine, flowers, and grass, rather than living as unfeeling weapons.
It would be more accurate to call St. Freya a sanctuary than a training base for Valkyries. Not only did it train talented and willing individuals to become Valkyries, but it also took in girls who had been treated as experimental subjects. It taught them to control the Honkai Energy injected into their bodies, even if they didn't want to become Valkyries. It was simply so that they would no longer be treated as guinea pigs, forced to undergo human experiments, and ultimately be used up and callously discarded.
Ming Yu looked at Theresa, who was proudly giving her introduction up ahead, and couldn't help but marvel internally, *What a gentle person.* She had witnessed the cruelty of the higher-ups launching missiles to destroy both Honkai Beasts and Valkyries during battles, and even her own best friend had died this way in the Second Honkai Eruption. But she chose to resist such rules, establishing St. Freya in this Far East land to nurture Valkyries who were not pawns and who cherished their own lives.
The hardships and obstacles in between were immeasurable, but Theresa persevered, creating a home for these strong yet fragile girls.
Before long, they arrived at the dormitory area. Mei and the others were currently staying in Himeko's apartment.
The moment the door was pushed open, all three of them froze. Kiana's mouth twitched as she looked at the room, which was piled high with garbage bags. She asked Theresa, "This room that looks like a garbage dump is...?"
Theresa also looked a bit embarrassed and said helplessly, "It's as messy as ever. Can't be helped, this is the world of an older, single woman living alone."
Ming Yu was also stunned. Although he had known Himeko's room was messy, the extent of the mess surpassed his imagination. Plastic bags and cardboard boxes were piled up to the ceiling in the corners, clothes were strewn carelessly on the sofa, and the floor was littered with various items. The scene could only be described by one word: chaotic!
Himeko's panicked cry came from inside: "Don't open that cabinet!"
It was immediately followed by the sound of a large pile of things crashing to the floor, and Mei's complaint: "Why are there so many things in that cabinet?!"
Himeko coughed, then explained awkwardly, "I've just been stuffing things I don't use into that cabinet for the past three months."
Hearing the door open, the three people who were cleaning looked towards the entrance. When Mei saw Kiana enter, she immediately pushed aside the clutter around her and ran towards her in delight.
"Kiana," the emotional Mei said, hugging Kiana tightly and whispering warmly in her ear, "Welcome home!"
After her initial excitement, Mei turned to Ming Yu beside her and said happily, "You too, welcome home, Ming Yu. I'm so glad you're okay!"
Theresa suddenly spoke up, "What a touching reunion. Now then, I have fulfilled your request, so you should respond to my proposal."
Ming Yu, who had already made up his mind, immediately agreed. Joining St. Freya was a crucial part of his plan. He wouldn't leave even if they tried to make him. Naturally, he would seize such an opportunity.
Kiana thought for a moment and asked, "If I join, will you tell me where my stinky old man is?"
Theresa sneered. "It's not that simple. With your current strength, it would be useless to tell you. If you want me to tell you, then first work hard to become a powerful A-rank Valkyrie!"
Hearing Theresa's condition, Kiana confidently declared, "Ah, is it that simple? With this young lady's talent, if I get serious, whether it's becoming a Valkyrie or anything else, I'll show you I can do it!"
Seeing Kiana's confident look, Ming Yu couldn't help but laugh internally. *How naive! Ignorance is bliss. What's holding you back isn't your combat ability, it's your grades!* Thinking about Kiana's future abysmal academic performance, Ming Yu couldn't stop himself from wanting to laugh.
Kiana saw Ming Yu's strange expression and became angry, pointing at him and saying, "Ming Yu! What's with that expression? Are you doubting this young lady's talent?!"
Ming Yu quickly waved his hands, retorting, "Of course not!"
Kiana's face was full of disbelief. She huffed and turned her face away, refusing to look at Ming Yu anymore.
Ming Yu looked at Kiana and a question popped into his head. Kiana had traveled all over the world and changed many schools. Besides looking for Siegfried, could it be that she was expelled from those schools? Thinking about this, Ming Yu stroked his chin. It was a question worth pondering.