Damn that Cocolia to hell. She either sends her to fight an S-rank Valkyrie and a Herrscher, or she sends her to snatch a Divine Key.
Has that woman's brain been completely absorbed by her obscene breasts? She can't even make a basic assessment of their relative strength.
Even if Bronya used her duck legs to think, she could figure out that she was only able to appear here not because she had plot armor or was a kung fu master.
It was entirely because the Immortal Blades believed they couldn't possibly make any waves, much less influence the outcome of this matter, that they let her off the hook.
But the chip in her brain forced her hand. Even knowing it was a suicide mission, she had to carry out the order.
She could only hope that this Inner World Protagonist would be gentle and not make her and Sister Mei strike the shameful Orz posture together.
"Bronya is going in. Be careful."
And so...
The Russian loli charged in, and the Russian loli was beaten to her knees.
From start to finish, the battle lasted no more than five minutes. It was just a pity that this 500-year-old Yae Shrine became a battlefield and was left in a complete mess.
Cocolia's voice vanished from the scene. All Bronya had left was the loyal Project Bunny 19C.
The young Brian frivolously lifted the girl's chin with his finger, meeting her silver-gray eyes, which had barely regained some of their spirit. "Bronya, loyalty that isn't absolute is absolute disloyalty."
"Although betraying us wasn't your intention, you must be punished for doing something wrong."
Although betraying Schicksal wasn't Bronya's intention, the young Brian had always been one to judge the deed, not the person. Bronya needed to pay a price for her negligence, however small.
"What do you say?"
Theresa, who was in the middle of contacting the Hyperion, heard this and said, "Be gentle with Bronya. Remember, whatever you do, don't create a life."
Fu Hua: "..."
So, when you say "create a life," just how much "essence" does that imply?
Forget it. She was a respectable person. She wouldn't get involved in this kind of bullshit.
The Key of Corruption had already been forged. She could continue to hide her contributions and fame and return to her campus life at St. Freya High School.
As for whether a life would be created... as long as her name wasn't on that list, it was fine.
Bronya's eyes flickered for a moment, but deep within them was the certainty of a wise person who knew she was in a winning position.
"You won't. Sister Mei won't let you do whatever you want to me."
If he wanted to make a move on her duck butt and duck legs, he'd have to get past Raiden Mei first.
A woman's possessiveness could be unreasonably strong!
Besides, she was the Silver Wolf of the Urals from the Siberian snow plains. Even with crippled legs, she hadn't lost her edge.
If this Inner World Protagonist dared to lay his filthy hands on her, she'd strangle him with her worn stockings.
Definitely!
"Is that so? I think turning you into my shape seems like a pretty good choice."
Having obtained one of the key components of the World Modulation Mode, the young Brian's eyes turned sinister.
The Divine Key in his hand trembled slightly with his will, modifying the built-in program of the bio-chip in Bronya's mind.
This bio-chip used a great deal of technology from the Previous Era. Removing it would risk damaging Bronya's brain.
But with the Key of Corruption in hand, a simple touch was all it took to erase the backdoor Cocolia had left in it.
And...
The light returned to the silver-haired girl's eyes. From now on, she would no longer be under Cocolia's control.
But the girl had only just gotten up from the ground when her gaze towards the young Brian filled with disgust. "Bronya hates you, you pervert with a mind full of unhealthy thoughts!"
Brian frowned, feeling that things weren't so simple.
This loli in a hat actually dared to insult her savior. It seemed she needed a good lesson.
He held out his hand and said, "Bronya, give me your leg."
You wish!
（ᗜ˰ᗜ）
However...
The girl's eyes were full of contempt as she took off her socks and offered her jade foot.
After removing her exoskeleton armor and cotton stockings, the girl, in a state of utter confusion, involuntarily completed the command.
Her short little legs looked crescent-moon white under the sunlight, and their chubbiness added a touch of cuteness to Bronya.
Bronya's baffled eyes were filled with a disgust of unknown origin, yet she still placed her chubby little duck leg into the man's hand.
Just then, she heard his voice: "I removed the backdoor Cocolia left in your head, but I never said I couldn't leave my own backdoor in there."
That smile was utterly evil!
Despicable, lecherous man!
Bronya felt as if her entire body below the neck no longer belonged to her.
Not only was her bony duck butt in danger, but even her breasts, whose development had been stolen by Seele and Cocolia, were in peril.
Danger, close at hand!!!
But the situation was out of her hands. She could only curse through gritted teeth, "You despicable man, taking advantage of my predicament!"
She never should have trusted this Inner World Protagonist!
She had just escaped Cocolia's tiger den only to fall into the Inner World Protagonist's wolf pit.
All thanks to the Key of Corruption, and all ruined by the Key of Corruption.
From this day forward, Bronya was a lifelong hater of the Key of Corruption!
The light of the '正' mark shone down on Bronya.
But luckily, she still had one last means of resistance.
"Project Bunny, restrain him for me!"
However.
"Bunny, come over and massage my legs."
Bronya: "..."
Discretion is the better part of valor: "Great Mr. Brian, you are handsome and dashing, elegant and graceful. You are the light, you are the electricity, you are my only myth!"
Flattery will get you anywhere.
Discretion is the better part of valor.
She, a wolf from the Siberian snow plains, had not yet rescued her sister from the Sea of Quanta. She couldn't fall here.
The shift in atmosphere between them, from saber-rattling to harmonious affection, was so fast it was almost impossible to process.
Bronya's little duck leg was held in the man's hand, her petite body almost pulled into a full split, yet she still managed to say flattering words with a cool expression.
It couldn't be helped. The situation was out of her hands.
In front of the Key of Corruption, Jizo Mitama, she was just a duck on the chopping block.
If he told her to get into the Or2 position, she would absolutely not get into the Orz position; and her posture would be perfect—body bent, waist pressed down, hips raised, all in one smooth motion.
Perhaps the only way to escape this man's clutches was to find a way to become a Herrscher.
But Bronya also knew that Herrschers weren't cabbages you could pick up on the street, and St. Freya High School wasn't some den of demons in the Far East where Herrschers gathered in droves.
Ultimately, such thoughts were just wishful thinking.
Patting Bronya's head, the young Brian revealed a satisfied smile. "How lovely. Bronya is so well-behaved today."
Bronya: "..."
If I could actually fight back, I'd fucking explode on you!
Amidst their harmonious and loving exchange, a majestic warship arrived over Nagazora City.
The Valkyrie squads scattered throughout Nagazora City also concluded their missions and began to withdraw from this territory belonging to Anti-Entropy.
Schicksal's operation ended in a resounding victory.
...
Somewhere.
"What a bunch of useless fools!"
The men in their sharp black suits once again had to provide emotional support for Cocolia.
But even a self-righteous woman like Cocolia knew full well that if it weren't for her own arrogance, trying to paralyze the Immortal Blades' command system through Bronya, she wouldn't have been outmaneuvered by Schicksal.
Without those few hours when the command system was paralyzed, even if Anti-Entropy was no match for Schicksal's overwhelming force, they wouldn't have been routed so quickly.
In the end, only Bronya, leading a single squad of Titans, reached Yae Shrine.
"..."
The waves on her chest rose and fell with the woman's rapid breathing. Suffering another defeat, Cocolia didn't lament the armed forces that had been eliminated.
ME Corp was still in her hands. She only needed to wait some time to arm a second army.
Compared to that, failing to obtain the Divine Key and completely losing Bronya was what truly frustrated her.
Without a doubt, if the Twelfth Divine Key fell into Otto's hands, then no one in this world would be able to threaten that man's life.
But now, what's done is done. Even she could only pray to the gods.
"Let's hope that Otto fellow doesn't claim this Divine Key for himself."
...
Schicksal HQ.
"Theresa, you've completed this mission very well."
The blond, blue-eyed man was in his office, speaking with Theresa, who was on her way back to the Far East Branch.
He hadn't seen his granddaughter in a long time.
It couldn't be helped. The child was in her rebellious phase. Not only was she dissatisfied with his past actions, but she also wanted to realize her own vision.
As her elder, he could only let her be.
Theresa: "Grandfather, you're contacting me now. Surely it's not just for a family chat."
That old fogey Otto, everyone knew what he was like.
Theresa was well aware of Otto's intentions, but this time, she was as steady as a rock.
"Theresa, you've gotten smarter."
Otto chuckled.
Theresa: "When have I ever been dumb?"
The little nun smiled, a smug look on her face.
Anyone in Schicksal with a bit of seniority knew exactly what her 500-year-old geezer of a grandfather was like.
He wouldn't do anything without a profit motive and was completely self-centered. Although he would maintain world peace, his own interests generally came first.
This time, his eagerness to contact her was undoubtedly because the power of the Twelfth Divine Key, the Key of Corruption, Jizo Mitama, was a natural counter to him.
If he couldn't have it in his own hands, he would rather destroy it.
But this time...
"Grandfather, I can't give you the Key of Corruption. It would do you more harm than good if you got it."
Theresa's words made Otto's expression turn a little cold.
The child has grown up, and become more rebellious.
The man's 500 years of cunning hid his true thoughts as he continued to listen to what Theresa had to say.
"You might think I'm lying, but every word I'm saying is the truth."
"..."
Otto said nothing.
"Jizo Mitama is a special Divine Key. The biggest difference between it and other Divine Keys is that this one has its own will. It's a living thing."
"..."
Otto's gaze gradually deepened.
"Although we completed the forging process for the Divine Key, we didn't actually eliminate the Herrscher. She resides within the Divine Key as a consciousness, becoming a part of it."
Theresa was marching towards victory: "To use Jizo Mitama, you first have to get past the Herrscher."
In other words...
"With your current Soulium body, I'm afraid you wouldn't last a single encounter."
Otto wouldn't trust anyone else to use it. Leaving it in the vault was no different from letting it run free.
Using it himself... that was like sending a sheep into a tiger's den.
Mechanical Ascension was at a natural disadvantage against the living Key of Corruption, with no way to resist.
Otto had to admit that Theresa wasn't lying this time.
A Divine Key with its own consciousness was, for him, a veritable suicide weapon. If the Herrscher inside it got upset, he'd be sent underground to reunite with the ancestors he himself had killed.
"Alright, it seems you've grown up too, Theresa."
Theresa wrinkled her nose. "I've always been mature, okay!"
She emphasized again, "Also, Grandfather, don't even think about destroying this Divine Key. If Jizo Mitama is destroyed by you, we'll be defenseless when we face this era's Herrscher of Corruption!"
"You absolutely! Cannot!"
"Alright, Grandfather understands."
After some pleasantries, Otto promised to send Theresa another batch of his own freshly squeezed bitter melon juice, then ended the call.
He immediately contacted another of his loyal subordinates.
"Rita, I have a mission for you."
"Your Excellency, please give your orders."
"Make a trip to the Far East Branch and confirm the current status of the Key of Corruption."
The domineering Schicksal Overseer would not tolerate refusal.
After confirming the Key of Corruption's status, he would formulate an appropriate countermeasure.
Rita's smile was awkward, even a bit stiff, but she couldn't utter a single word of refusal in front of the Schicksal Overseer.
"Rita, at your command."
It couldn't be helped. While having both parents alive raised her stock, it also made her easy to manipulate.
At this moment, the girl's smile was more painful than tears.
If she had a choice, she would never go to the Far East Branch, a place that would only remind her of her dark past.
But reality had not let her off.
Durandal: "Rita, it seems that fate wants you and your ex-boyfriend to patch things up."
Rita: "..."
You silly goose with breasts bigger than your brain, believe it or not, I'll send you to that guy's assembly line and have you pumped full like a cream puff!
...
"Cheers!"
Outside the window, the moon was bright and the stars were few. Inside, the room was brightly lit and bustling with excitement.
Although it wasn't New Year's, this small room in the St. Freya High School dormitory was filled with an unusually lively atmosphere.
Theresa downed the drink in her cup in one gulp, feeling the stimulating sensation of the carbonation on her taste buds.
She wasn't particularly fond of this kind of drink, but on such a joyous occasion, it wouldn't be right for her to be the odd one out.
As the highest-ranking officer here, Theresa naturally took the center position.
"I never thought this mission would go so smoothly. We completed the recovery of the Divine Key with almost no effort at all."
The girl looked dazed, as if it were all a dream.
Even though she was the highest-ranking officer of the Far East Branch, she felt like she hadn't played much of a role in this incident.
It was as if she had just blinked, taken a stroll around her own backyard with the Oath of Judah, and suddenly her branch had a new Divine Key.
From discovering the location of the Key of Corruption to completing its forging, there was never a moment where she needed to step in. How strange.
However...
"Although the process was a bit convoluted, the fact that we're all gathered here together is a good thing."
"I propose that to celebrate this victory, we all toast our Fu Hua!"
Without another word, Theresa filled Fu Hua's cup to the brim with a drink.
As the number one contributor to the discovery of the Herrscher of Corruption, Fu Hua couldn't possibly stay out of this celebration banquet.
Besides, this child was too rigid and solitary. She needed to get closer to everyone.
"Principal..."
Fu Hua was helpless, but she couldn't refuse Theresa's kindness.
But she was no longer used to being the center of attention. "I only discovered the problem. The ones who truly solved it weren't me, but everyone working together."
Theresa waved her hand. "I know about the Immortal Blades' contribution, but your contribution can't be ignored either."
Pushing Fu Hua into the crowd, Theresa turned to Durandal and Rita. "Durandal, it's been a long time since we've had a good chat, hasn't it?"
Durandal said, "If we don't count the last time, this is the first time we've met for non-official business, Teacher Theresa."
"That grandfather of mine is really something. He clearly knew what the result would be, yet he still sent you two to test me."
Theresa grumbled.
Some things you don't realize in the moment, but once you're out of the situation, you see things clearly as an observer.
To the current Theresa, that 500-year-old geezer Otto was truly detestable. He had calculated her every move to a T, and he made things difficult for her every time.
When that old fogey is six feet under, she would definitely sneak in and eat the offerings at his memorial hall every day!
And she would keep her word!
Theresa's behavior was childish, which made Rita smile knowingly. "Lady Theresa, Lord Otto is also doing this for your own good."
The nun's tone was leisurely. "Who knows what that guy is thinking?"
She changed the subject. "By the way, I heard that when you were in Nagazora City, you paralyzed that Cocolia woman's command center, which greatly facilitated the operations of the other Valkyrie squads. How did you manage that?"
As far as she knew, the Immortal Blades, Schicksal's strongest Valkyrie squad, currently had no talent specializing in information warfare. They shouldn't have been able to pull something like that off.
After all, although that Cocolia woman had big boobs and no brain, the people under her command had some skills.
Rita replied, "Actually, it was all thanks to Miss Bronya."
"Without her help, our operation wouldn't have gone so smoothly."
Theresa: ???
"Speaking of which, why did you bring Bronya along on your mission? Was she of some special use to you?"
In the room, people were gathered in small groups of twos and threes.
The Russian loli they had just been talking about was currently lodging a complaint against the Inner World Protagonist in her own way.
"Sister Mei, this guy is bullying me. He installed a backdoor in my bio-chip that makes me obey his commands."
She hadn't even finished speaking.
"Bronya, go get me a drink."
The Russian loli's eyes were full of resistance, but her body moved involuntarily.
That evil man was showing her through his actions that even complaining was useless.
Raiden Mei chided, "She's still a child. Don't be too hard on her."
"I know."
The young man took Raiden Mei's slender hand. "Bronya is at an age where she's prone to rebellion. To prevent her from going down the wrong path, I've decided to educate her properly."
"..."
Raiden Mei rolled her eyes charmingly, not believing a single word the man said.
Given this guy's practically blatant promiscuity, if she woke up tomorrow morning and didn't smell Bronya's scent on him, it would count as him having kept it in his pants.
The bull hadn't even been put to the plow yet, but Raiden Mei had already figured out his temperament completely.
Eating what's in his bowl, eyeing what's in the pot, and thinking about what's in the field.
She even believed that every single person in this room was on his hunting list.
But!
"Don't you dare lay a hand on Bronya!"
The girl's delicate cheek drew near, her breath like an orchid by the man's ear.
If she couldn't stop this man from being a philanderer, she had to at least ensure the first bite was hers.
Faced with so many competitors, even Raiden Mei didn't think she could have the whole cake to herself.
But a mere verbal request had no binding power.
Even if you want the old ox in the field to turn the mill, you need to dangle a carrot in front of him.
The man's hot palm rested on the girl's slender waist. Raiden Mei didn't stop him. The passion in his eyes burned with twelve-tenths of its heat. "Then, is it okay with you?"
Microsoft was actively asking to be acquired by a very hard company.
If they didn't acquire her, he would go find a cute Russian female executive.
Such direct and explicit words brought a crimson blush to Raiden Mei's delicate cheeks.
Ever since she learned he had narrowly escaped death this time, Raiden Mei had decided to take this step, to brand this man as her own.
But she had never imagined such a direct and explicit development.
But since things had come to this, and the last time in the dream, they had already come so close to the final step, there was no room for retreat.
A backdoor had been installed on Bronya. There was no telling when this Russian loli might successfully make a move behind her back.
Rather than being unable to do anything then, it was better to take the initiative now, lock in her victory, and then ruthlessly slaughter all the shameless little bitches with a knife!
She was no longer the weak Raiden Mei of the past!
"Pervert!"
The girl's voice was as soft as a mosquito's buzz, yet it made his heart bloom with joy.
He, the Inner World Protagonist, could finally have a day to do his real job.
The man's hands began to wander restlessly on Raiden Mei's body.
The atmosphere between them was filled with a silent intimacy, just short of making the sky their bed and the earth their mat.
Everyone else tactfully left the lovey-dovey couple alone. Only one person, lacking any sense of tact, came to spoil the mood.
"Hello, Brian. I'm Durandal."
The blonde Valkyrie extended her hand in a friendly gesture, wanting to shake Brian's hand.
It wasn't that she hadn't seen the intimate interaction between Brian and Raiden Mei, but her intuition told her that if she didn't intervene on the battlefield now, her adjutant's happy life would be a distant dream.
"Hello, Durandal. I believe this is the first time we've met peacefully."
Slender yet full of strength, not at all like the hand of a beautiful girl.
Durandal: "It can't be helped. Duty calls. There are always tasks that I must complete."
"I understand. We are all bound by circumstances. There are always things that don't go as we wish."
Durandal got straight to the point. "I came to see you today for a personal matter."
Raiden Mei, her eyes rippling like water, was understanding. "You two talk. Kiana and Bronya are calling me."
The girl turned gracefully, leaving behind a trail of enchanting thoughts.
Durandal watched Raiden Mei's retreating back. "It seems that an outstanding man will always have beautiful girls offering him their hearts, no matter where he goes."
"Durandal, you're wrong about that."
The young Brian disagreed. "The reason Mei fell for me is because I pulled her up when she fell into the abyss and healed the wounds in her heart."
"You see, someone like Kiana would never fall for a man like me. In fact, she thinks about taking my place every day."
"Hahaha~"
Durandal was speechless for a moment, then laughed. "You're quite the joker."
"Kiana can't be judged like a normal girl. Whether she likes you or not, I think everyone else can see it quite clearly."
The joking ended.
"I came to find you. I think you should know why, right?"
Durandal was not good at negotiating, but the problem at hand couldn't be solved by violence.
A problem of the heart requires a medicine for the heart. She had worried herself sick over her adjutant's happiness.
Brian: "For my ex-girlfriend, Rita?"
"I think there's been some misunderstanding between you two."
The Valkyrie was direct.
"So you're planning to have me talk to her alone?"
The young Brian was a bit dumbfounded.
The whole thing started with that old fogey Otto.
During his first encounter with Rita in Nagazora City, in order to stop the fight between Durandal and the Herrscher of Thunder, he had no choice but to resort to a dirty trick, making Rita the victim of that trick.
To cover up her embarrassing past, Rita admitted he was her ex-boyfriend.
Unexpectedly, the effect of this trick was exceptionally potent, leaving Rita with psychological trauma. Every time she saw him, she wanted to turn and run, which caused some misunderstanding among others.
Durandal nodded. "Yes. I told her to wait for me on the balcony."
She had already created the opportunity.
Whether Rita could grasp her own happiness or choose to sever this fruitless relationship, it was all up to her own choice.
"Alright."
...