"Calm down first, my friend."
Seeing the panic in Raven, Eden, as a friend, chose to calm the killer lady down first.
"Let's sit down, talk slowly, and figure out a solution together."
How did Herrschers come to be? Why have Herrschers become so different from the ones she remembered...
All of this was worth discussing.
Eden had stayed in this graveyard of the past for fifty-five thousand years, and she had developed a rare interest in the outside world.
For Raven to run to the Elysian Realm in such a panic for help meant that there was no one left in the outside world whom she could trust.
Eden was really curious about what could have forced this World Serpent cadre into such a state in an era where the Honkai had not yet escalated.
The treasured fine wine swirled in the jewel-like wine glass, releasing a rich aroma.
Raven took the wine glass from Eden and used the alcohol, whether real or illusory, to numb her body.
Then, she began to recount the story.
"This matter is actually related to the Stigma Project..."
After some explanation, Eden finally understood what had happened.
She wouldn't comment too much on the blood and sin involved, but regarding that new Herrscher of Death...
"Raven, are you saying he seemed absolutely certain he could become a Herrscher, and then absorbed the Herrscher Core with his own body without hesitation?"
Raven recalled everything that happened in Manila again: "That's the feeling I got. That guy wasn't scared at all after getting the Herrscher Core."
Eden: "..."
Now this... was very interesting.
As far as she knew, due to some irresistible factors, men in this era generally had low Honkai energy resistance, leading to most Herrscher candidates being women.
But from Raven's account, this boy named Brian seemed to have a vision of the future, as if he had already seen through the fate of this world and had everything under control.
Stopping World Serpent's actions was within his calculations, and becoming a Herrscher was just a small part of his growth.
And then there was his unrecorded past...
"Could he be an existence like Eli..."
He was just like an oddball like Ego.
"Eden, what are you saying?"
Raven seemed to have heard something from Eden's mouth and asked with some concern.
"It's nothing, I was just thinking about the other partners in the Elysian Realm."
Eden casually brushed it off.
Elysia didn't want to come out and see people, and she wouldn't force her best friend to get some air.
Although they were friends and besties, she actually treated Elysia more like a daughter.
It couldn't be helped. When they first met, Elysia was so cute, small, and delicate, while she herself was already an adult, even accomplished on the stage of art.
Even if she wanted to treat Elysia as a friend, she just couldn't!
"Let's get back to your problem."
"Natasha, do you want to avoid having a beautiful encounter with that Herrscher, or do you not want to go to the Sea of Quanta at all?"
Like attracts like. After spending a long time with Elysia, even a mature artist like Eden would subconsciously use some of the descriptions Elysia often used.
But to Raven, the person involved...
"A beautiful encounter... Eden, please don't tease me!"
Raven was at her wit's end, almost wishing she could go back to yesterday and beat Gray Serpent a hundred times.
"There's no beautiful encounter between me and that guy. It's more realistic to say we have a grudge."
Eden smiled: "Sorry, my choice of words was inappropriate."
Raven: "All I want is not to be ruined by that guy, and it would be best if I didn't have to go with him at all."
The ideal is beautiful, but reality is harsh.
Anti-Entropy's conservative faction, under their guidance, opened the Eye of the Deep, once giving Kevin Kaslana a chance to return to the Real World.
But unexpectedly, that Anti-Entropy Sovereign was a true hero, who actually used the power of the Herrscher Core in the Sea of Quanta to construct an isolation belt, causing that man to lose his way back to the Real World.
In front of a Herrscher, Raven was just a slightly stronger ant, unable to contend with the Herrscher of Reason.
That was why Gray Serpent had requested her to go with Brian.
"Is that so..."
The noble woman fell into deep thought, trying to come up with a solution for her friend.
But after much thought, there was only one answer.
"Sorry, I can't help you with this."
She was just an artist, not very good at these life-and-death matters.
"..."
Raven's expression darkened.
However...
"But if you go to Dr. Mobius, she might be able to help you to some extent."
Raven: "..."
Why don't you just give me a more direct solution, and not make me suffer on Mobius's operating table.
Eden immediately explained: "Raven, you misunderstood me."
"You probably don't know, the first Gray Serpents were artificial life forms born in Mobius's laboratory. If it's Mobius, she should be able to help you somewhat."
"..."
Raven really didn't know about this.
She had always thought Gray Serpent was some kind of artificial intelligence and had never thought about its origin. She never expected it to be a creation of 'Infinity'.
But this Mobius...
"I think compared to that Herrscher, Dr. Mobius might be more dangerous to me."
Young Brian lusted after her body, and Mobius lusted after her body too.
But they lusted in completely different ways.
The former at most just wanted to brutally inject her with pregnancy luck and give her bar a master.
But Mobius wanted to tie her body to an operating table and make her no longer herself.
Both sides had their own dangers, and Raven didn't want to choose either.
"Forget it, I'd like to live a few more years."
Having a baby is better than dying. If she couldn't resist... at worst, she would just treat it as being mounted by a pig.
"Eden, thank you for your help."
"It's nothing, we're friends."
Raven, having not received the answer she wanted, forced a smile and stood up, walking out the door with a dejected posture.
In the end, she still didn't get the answer she wanted. It seemed that traveling with the Inner World Protagonist was unavoidable.
After walking some distance, Raven remembered that she seemed to have forgotten to tell Eden something.
But her mind was in turmoil right now, and she couldn't sort out her chaotic thoughts.
"I'd better go back and think of a solution for myself..."
There was still some time before the official start of the operation. Hopefully, she could find a suitable solution.
...
In the Elysian Realm lobby...
The dignified artist finished the fine wine in her cup, then elegantly turned and entered the depths of the Elysian Realm.
She did not return to her own domain, but instead knocked on her best friend's door.
"Eli, I heard some interesting stories from a friend. Want to hear them?"
"Wow, my good Eden, you must have prepared a surprise for me, right?"
The pink-haired beauty had a face full of surprise, providing emotional value for her best friend.
The full curve of Elysia's chest swayed with her movements, creating alluring ripples.
If that boy who became a Herrscher came here, he would surely like Eli very much.
Eden thought to herself.
...
Schicksal Far East Branch...
"Lady Theresa, all of today's work has been taken care of."
As dusk fell, the snow-haired, blue-eyed nun blinked her eyes open.
Her short limbs stretched out, and she stretched in her chair, injecting new vitality into her body.
Theresa rubbed her eyes, her face still full of sleepiness: "Rita, thank you for your help."
Just looking at Theresa's current state was enough to satisfy the bewitching Valkyrie.
"It is all part of Rita's duties."
Durandal was now a past-her-prime goose, and there were no other cuter lolis at Schicksal HQ.
For Rita, the Far East Branch was a veritable paradise.
Not only was there a white-haired old crone like Theresa who satisfied both Lolicon and insubordination fetishes, but there were also the children from the orphanage in Siberia.
For a Lolicon, it was truly subarashii.
Of course, it would be even better without that degenerate Inner World Protagonist.
Perhaps there was a telepathic connection between lolicons and lolis. Just as Rita thought of that man, Theresa began to speak carelessly: "The work is done. Rita, you should go and rest too."
"Around this time, your ex-boyfriend should be back soon. you should go back and cultivate your relationship with him."
As she spoke, a teasing smile appeared on Theresa's delicate little face.
Raiden Mei, the cuckolded party, didn't mind, so Theresa, as an elder, naturally let things take their course.
After all, no matter what, Rita was a Valkyrie who lived on the edge, and she could die on the battlefield at any time.
Letting her experience the happiness of being a woman, just like Cecilia, was not a problem in Theresa's eyes.
Rita's expression stiffened, and her gaze towards Theresa held a hint of resentment: "Lady Theresa, my relationship with him is over."
Over? It never even started, okay!
If she hadn't been careless back then, things wouldn't have developed to this state.
If she had been a bit more ruthless back then, she wouldn't have been so tightly controlled by that degenerate man.
One misstep leads to eternal regret. Rita deeply regretted her decision in Nagazora City back then.
Theresa waved her hand: "I know, I know. You young people are always so reserved in expressing your feelings."
"Cecilia was the same back then. She clearly liked that guy Siegfried so much, but she still needed my help to give her a push."
"If she had just been as straightforward as Mei, she could have avoided all these problems."
Rita: "..."
What could she say at a time like this?
Just smiling was enough.
Having fully charged her daily dose of Theresa energy, Rita had no intention of staying here any longer to listen to Theresa's ramblings.
"Lady Theresa, Rita will take her leave now."
"Go on, go on. You should think it over carefully. Don't come to regret it when you no longer have the chance."
"Rita understands."
The maid walked out of the Principal's office and passed by St. Freya High School's teaching building.
Many youthful and beautiful Valkyries were sweating it out on the training grounds, learning useful combat skills from the instructors.
A pure white figure stood out among the Valkyries, her energetic appearance making one marvel at the beauty of youth.
Unfortunately...
"K-423..."
Overseer Otto had been keeping a close watch on this girl who had received the Kaslana surname and was steadily advancing the relationship between Kiana and others.
Theresa and Siegfried had familial love, Murata Himeko had a teacher-student bond, and Raiden Mei and Bronya had friendship.
And that final piece of the puzzle, romantic love...
"It seems the mission Lord Overseer assigned me also needs to be properly advanced."
As Otto's confidante, Rita was naturally well aware of Otto's current thoughts.
She didn't know what Otto wanted to do, but deepening the bonds between K-423 and the people around her was definitely a top priority.
It was the undisputed number one priority.
As long as this mission was completed, even if all other missions failed, she would not be punished.
Rita didn't plan to sacrifice herself to obtain the body tissue and data of the Herrscher of Death; so she could only sacrifice Kiana a little and push her relationship with the Inner World Protagonist.
"Forgive me, my dear Miss Kiana. I will let you taste a sour yet sweet love story."
Observing from the sidelines would not yield results, and the Schicksal Overseer's patience was limited.
Rita decided to personally intervene and prepare a bloody and gorgeous wedding for the lovely K-423.
...
The next day...
"Why has this woman become our combat practice teacher?"
The snow-haired girl shook her head, her two thick braids swaying with her movements.
Kiana looked at the Valkyrie standing in front of everyone and felt an inexplicable chill run down her spine.
The last time she felt this way was when she met this degenerate Inner World Protagonist next to her in Nagazora City.
With the same feeling hitting her again this time, it couldn't be that the same thing would happen again, right?
Her eyes widened, and Kiana hugged Raiden Mei tightly beside her: "I'm warning you! Don't you dare have any ideas about Mei!"
Combat practice required pairing up for sparring to hone fighting skills.
Normally, Kiana would rely on her thick skin to team up with Raiden Mei.
But today...
"Student Kiana, please let go of Student Raiden Mei. She is not your partner."
Rita Rossweisse, temporarily guest-starring as the teacher, spoke calmly, causing everyone's eyes to focus on Kiana.
As an S-rank Valkyrie, she already possessed authority equivalent to a Branch Head; with Theresa currently being punished, she held supreme authority in the Far East Branch.
Temporarily guest-starring as a combat practice teacher was naturally a piece of cake for her.
Kiana: "Huh? I've always teamed up with Mei before!"
It wasn't that she couldn't do it, but that she could only choose Raiden Mei.
Anyone who used a Herrscher's power knew how strong it was. Even the Inner World Protagonist was just one punch away from being knocked out by her.
Looking at the entire Far East Branch, who else could compete besides Raiden Mei!
But times were different now.
"Student Kiana, your partner for today is the male student beside you."
Kiana: "..."
Rita squinted, making her think this woman was like a fox!
This woman was doing it on purpose!
"Student Kiana, please follow the teacher's arrangement."
Many strange looks came her way, all from the students who were happy to be taught by an S-rank Valkyrie personally.
Although Kiana didn't care about their opinions, she did care about Raiden Mei's opinion of her: "Mei, what do you think?"
"I'll be watching, of course. You should practice with him today."
No matter what Rita wanted to do, Raiden Mei felt that she wouldn't lose out, so she naturally wouldn't stop the woman's actions.
Kiana pursed her lips, like an abandoned cat, and reluctantly moved closer to Brian.
Smelling the male scent, the snow-haired girl instantly acted like a threatened lioness, glaring fiercely at the guy beside her, and then bared her white teeth.
"I'm warning you, don't you dare lay a hand on me!"
What happened a few days ago was still fresh in her mind. Kiana even felt that the afterglow of that night still lingered in her body.
Although she hadn't let this guy touch her since then, Kiana always felt a threatening aura enveloping her whenever she was near him.
Extremely dangerous!
If it wasn't necessary, she didn't even want to say a word to this guy!
"That's not up to me."
Looking at Rita in front of them, the young Brian said to the girl beside him earnestly, "This is combat practice. Even if I wanted to not lay a hand on you, I can't."
Combat practice was all about laying hands on each other. Kiana's wish simply could not be fulfilled.
The snow-haired girl grimaced, tacitly accepting this, while silently lowering her bottom line in her heart.
Getting touched a couple of times by this guy was a foregone conclusion. As long as she didn't lose her composure in public like the Herrscher of the Void, it would be a victory!
"Everyone, please pay attention to my movements..."
After the S-rank Valkyrie's demonstration, the students in the class paired up to practice.
Naturally, the pair of Kiana and Brian became the focus of Rita's attention.
"Student, your posture is not quite standard."
The S-rank Valkyrie personally gave instructions, making the others envious.
A strange light flickered in Raiden Mei's eyes, but in the end, she didn't say much.
Under the guidance of the professional, the young Brian's movements gradually became excessive, at one point making Kiana's eyes burn with anger.
'What the hell are you doing?!'
'I'm learning!'
'Is this how you learn?'
'This is all thanks to Rita's good teaching!'
Kiana: "..."
'What on earth does she want?'
'Perhaps she wants us to cultivate our relationship?'
You two conspiring dogs, you're dead!
With a turn of his body, blocking the view of others, the front of the young Brian's hand instantly disappeared, and the S-rank Valkyrie's face, full of delight, also widened her eyes.
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