"Alright, I've taken care of the abnormality on you."
The hand that brought a sense of security lifted from Rita's head, and the world before the girl's eyes returned to its original state.
The world of flesh and blood became a cozy room, and the handsome tentacle monster from before turned into a good-looking boy.
The dangerous flesh disappeared, replaced by the Inner World Protagonist who could get her pregnant.
Rita rolled her eyes.
Why was this guy just like a child's father? When there was danger, he was the safest harbor; when there was no danger, he was the greatest threat.
He truly was a fellow who evoked very complicated feelings.
"Thank you."
Rita, whose whole body felt relaxed, tensed up locally, at a loss in the face of a new danger.
If this guy were to leverage his kindness for sexual favors, should she resist with all her might, or simply make a clean break with this man?
Rita stared at Brian's face, somewhat lost in thought.
Never had a man given her such a powerful sense of security; and never had a man made her heart flutter to such an extent.
In her daze, the young and beautiful Valkyrie noticed the mattress beneath her shift, and a reassuring embrace approached from the side.
Not only that…
"You... can't you be a little more honest?"
Her long, black-stockinged legs were being taken advantage of, yet the Valkyrie only verbally condemned the man.
After all, he was her lifesaver. Being too rude would be ungrateful.
However... this was the only time!
She wasn't ready to be a mother yet.
"As the old saying goes."
The black-haired youth wore a mischievous smile. "A man who isn't bad, a woman won't love."
No explicit rejection meant explicit acceptance.
As a Kidney Warrior with a harem, he had a wealth of experience in grasping the mentality of beautiful girls.
Rita's current attitude was one of feigned resistance; in fact, if he were just a little more forceful, it wouldn't be impossible for this Valkyrie to become another one of Raiden Mei's sisters.
However, considering that the current Rita was still an S-rank Valkyrie of Schicksal, and he was destined to fall out with Otto over Kiana.
It was better not to bring disaster upon this beautiful girl here and make things difficult for her.
His practiced technique gradually brought a shimmer of moisture to the Valkyrie's wine-red eyes. Her slender, black-stockinged legs trembled slightly, yet she had no intention of pulling them away from the Inner World Protagonist's hands.
'Just consider it repaying his kindness...'
Rita had already made up her mind. If this guy dared to draw his weapon on her, she would just have to use her formidable strength as an S-rank Valkyrie to make him disarm and surrender.
Right now, she was an S-rank Valkyrie of Schicksal, not some concubine kneeling under his jeans with a peace sign.
The girl bit her lower lip lightly, her voice trembling uncontrollably: "But you... are too bad."
We clearly agreed to repay the favor in the next life, so how did it develop in the direction of promising myself to you!?
Rita didn't understand. She wanted to struggle, but this Inner World Protagonist's technique was too powerful, leaving her with no strength.
Even though she was being taken advantage of, she still felt that same reassuring feeling.
This guy... was simply cheating!
With mesmerized eyes and a trembling body, Rita in this state was completely tempting one to commit a crime.
A force pushed the girl's delicate shoulders down onto the bed. Rita's wine-red eyes widened slightly as she stared blankly at the light on the ceiling.
Taking advantage of her when she was at her weakest, both physically and mentally, he truly was an experienced scumbag...
Despite this, the Valkyrie did not resist.
One shot to settle all grudges.
After this guy was done having his fun with her, this whole entanglement could be settled, right?
Rita Rossweisse was prepared to accept everything.
However…
"Get some good rest."
A thick quilt was draped over the girl's body. The sudden change left Rita a little stunned.
Didn't we agree on one shot to settle all grudges? Why aren't you playing by the book? You haven't even taken off my clothes or your pants!?
Rita didn't understand, but the man just placed a light kiss on her forehead, then walked out of the room and closed the door.
Like a true gentleman who could resist any temptation.
The girl on the bed stroked her forehead with her fingers, as if reliving the trace the man had left on her.
That man didn't take this opportunity to defile her body, yet it seemed... he had left an indelible mark on her heart.
"What a cheating guy..."
The girl curled up in the room changed her position, almost burying her head completely in the quilt.
A voice like a whisper came from the quiet room...
"Sorry, please forgive Rita..."
There are always things more important than love and romance.
…
"What have you been doing to Rita lately? She's started avoiding me whenever she sees me."
"It's probably because you're too beautiful, so you make Rita feel inadequate."
A man's mouth, a deceiving ghost.
Raiden Mei shot him a look, but she still felt delighted inside.
Most women rely on external adornments to highlight their own value, and appearance is, of course, one of them.
The so-called 'a woman adorns herself for one who appreciates her' speaks of a woman's happiness from others' praise of her beauty, rather than her own pursuit of it.
"Smooth talker."
Since this guy knew that her beauty surpassed Rita's, Raiden Mei didn't want to pursue the matter of him rekindling things with his ex-girlfriend any further.
She changed the subject: "Rita is returning to Schicksal HQ today. You two might not see each other for a long time. Don't you want to go loosen her up?"
Several more months had passed. Even if her brain had been stolen by joy beans, she could see the situation between Rita and Brian clearly.
She was a little jealous, but that didn't mean she was unreasonable.
Brian: "..."
Are you sure you don't mean 'send her off'? But 'loosen her up'?
"Mei, did you misspeak?"
Even he, the Inner World Protagonist, hadn't said such wild words. How had his woman become so uninhibited?
Young Brian did not understand, but he was greatly shocked!
Raiden Mei, who had long since been developed to have profound experience, didn't think she had misspoken. She just turned her head away calmly, watching a butterfly in the garden flying into the distance.
"So, why is it that you, at the critical moment, just don't understand a woman's heart?"
The problem could have been solved just by using his profound skills as the Inner World Protagonist, yet this guy hesitated in front of his ex-girlfriend, Rita.
It was just revisiting an old haunt anyway, was there really anything to think about?
Although Raiden Mei was unhappy about the threat Rita posed to her status in the family, she wouldn't refuse to have a scapegoat for herself.
Brian: "Mei, you don't understand Rita. Right now, she doesn't have time to dwell on romance with us."
"She is Otto Apocalypse's loyal subordinate, and also an S-rank Valkyrie with a mission to bear."
Her delicate brows furrowed. Raiden Mei had a feeling there was a hidden meaning in his words: "Can't you tell me about it?"
"There are some things I don't know the specifics of, but I know something is bound to happen."
"Before the outcome is revealed, we just need to wait quietly."
Just as Raiden Mei was about to ask more, she suddenly turned her head towards a certain direction in St. Freya High School, filled with unease.
Such a sudden turn of events, combined with the man's recent words...
"It seems that woman Rita is not only a shameless little bitch, but also a disloyal traitor!"
Loyalty that is not absolute is absolute disloyalty!
A little bitch like this who is disloyal to him needs her ass thoroughly fucked!
"There can be no betrayal without loyalty."
In contrast, the Inner World Protagonist was very open-minded.
"Let's go. Let's see what the Schicksal Overseer has prepared for us."
…
Several hours earlier…
"Rita, you're leaving already?"
The airflow on the open ground lifted Theresa's black nun's habit, revealing the girl's slightly troubled face.
The baby fat on Theresa's face was very cute, but it couldn't suppress the sadness in her heart.
In a little while, the airship from Schicksal HQ would land here to pick up Rita, the S-rank Valkyrie.
When this woman first arrived, Theresa thought her grandpa was plotting against her territory.
After she got familiar with her, she, who could read manga every day, thought it was great to have someone do the hard work for her.
Now that she was leaving, Theresa was actually a little reluctant to see her go.
Without Rita, she would have to handle these problems herself.
It's so hard!
Beside Theresa, the demure and elegant Valkyrie had a smile on her face: "If Lady Theresa is reluctant, you can apply to Lord Otto to have Rita permanently stationed at the Far East Branch."
Theresa, who had been a bit melancholic, pouted upon hearing this: "Rita, don't think that just because you're pretty and your work is outstanding, I don't know what you're up to!"
"You're clearly reluctant to part with your rekindled ex-boyfriend, aren't you? Helping me with work is just an excuse!"
Her reaction was just a bit slow, not so dull that she couldn't understand anything.
Just as there's some unconscious intimacy after two people have been physically close, it was plain for anyone who wasn't blind to see that Rita's old feelings for her ex-boyfriend had rekindled.
She was just an extra; her lust for her ex-boyfriend's body was the real goal!
"Lady Theresa, for you to hold such a prejudice against Rita truly saddens Rita."
As she spoke, a sad expression appeared on the Valkyrie's face.
She, a Lolicon, was so sincere towards the legal loli Theresa Apocalypse, yet she was still scorned by her.
Truly, a kind heart wasted on a stupid loli. How sad!
Theresa: "Rita, your crying is too fake."
Such insincere crying wouldn't even fool a blockhead like Kiana, let alone a mature and steady adult like her.
A mere S-rank Valkyrie was still lacking in front of an old veteran like her.
The two girls chatted idly. The transport ship from Schicksal HQ arrived at the Far East Branch's airport at the scheduled time.
The valiant Valkyrie opened the cabin door and saw her long-unseen adjutant from afar: "Rita, long time no see!"
Counting from the day Rita left Schicksal HQ, not including the times she returned to report on her duties, the two had indeed been separated for a good several months.
Rita Rossweisse walked forward, with Theresa by her side.
"Lady Durandal, it seems you've been living quite well during Rita's absence."
Her clothes were neat, her appearance exquisite…
From these superficial signs, Otto, the Schicksal Overseer, had at least not mistreated his Valkyrie, arranging a professional team to take care of her daily life after Rita left.
Durandal: "It's alright. There are people to manage the house, but I just don't find the food they make to my taste."
"Then why doesn't Lady Durandal mention her requirements to Lord Otto?"
"Well..."
The mischievous Valkyrie successfully sabotaged her superior, teasing her once again.
The single-minded Durandal didn't want to admit that she just missed Rita a little, so she chose to change the subject: "Teacher Theresa, it's been a long time since we've seen each other too, right?"
"It has indeed been a while. It's been almost a year since we parted in Nagazora City."
Time really flies.
Theresa didn't even feel like she had accomplished much in the past year, yet she felt that changes were happening one after another.
Finding Kiana, re-establishing contact with Siegfried, the appearance of Jizo Mitama, the mysterious organization's conspiracy in Southeast Asia…
It seemed like she had done nothing, but changes were constantly occurring.
Even the girl in front of her had already become a full-fledged young woman.
Looking at the Lolicon beside her, Theresa then looked at the well-developed Valkyrie in front of her.
Since even her adjutant had found her true love, Theresa thought... maybe she should introduce Durandal to someone too?
"Speaking of which, Durandal, you don't have a boyfriend yet, do you? Need me to introduce one to you?"
"I can't guarantee you'll be satisfied, but at least everyone who's used him says he's good."
Durandal: "..."
She almost made a sweating emoji face.
A proper maiden, being teased by a stupid loli for being single, who even wanted to introduce her to someone.
Theresa Apocalypse, you, the Far East Branch Head, have a death wish!
But considering there was a more important mission that needed this person to complete, Durandal chose to endure for now.
"Teacher Theresa, that won't be necessary. I have no intention of starting a relationship."
It wasn't just that she had no intention; even if she did, she wouldn't let that man, who had more women than he had pants, get lucky.
She, Durandal, also had her own principles!
Theresa was a little regretful: "Is that so..."
Rita interjected: "Lady Theresa, there's no need for you to trouble yourself with this matter."
Durandal's expression relaxed. As expected, her adjutant was more reliable.
But just a second later…
"Just leave this matter to me. I will definitely give you a satisfactory answer."
Theresa: "Rita, you handle it. I have faith in you!"
Durandal: "..."
You two have the guts to look me in the eye and say that!
Having become the target of teasing, the single-minded Durandal didn't intend to delay any longer.
"Rita, it's time for business!"
The two schemers stopped their whispering.
"Yes, Lady Durandal."
An helpless smile appeared on Rita's face.
"Lady Theresa, Rita has business to attend to. Please excuse me."
The black-haired loli, white-haired old woman waved her hand, thinking this was just a very normal farewell: "Go on, go on. Without you troublemaker around, I can finally get to my work."
"My apologies, please forgive Rita's impoliteness."
A sensation like a mosquito bite appeared on Theresa's arm. A numbing feeling flowed through her entire body with the beat of her heart, making Theresa's expression furious.
"You... you people... what on earth are you trying to do!?"
Schicksal HQ had come prepared, yet she was completely unaware.
Only those two Valkyries had already donned their 4th-generation battlesuits, their expressions grave.
"This is all for the sake of fighting the Honkai!"
…
"Sorry, Kiana."
"Class... President..."
The snow-haired, blue-eyed girl's expression was dazed as she collapsed weakly in front of Fu Hua.
Even the other consciousness within her body was hypnotized by the power of Fenghuang Down, unable to react to external stimuli.
Next, this girl would be taken to Schicksal HQ to eliminate the other consciousness in her body, making her a Herrscher who belonged to humanity.
Soon, Durandal and Rita arrived.
"Lady Fu Hua, please leave the rest to me. You and Lady Durandal still need to proceed with the next step of the plan," Rita said.
Taking Kiana Kaslana from here would not be an easy task.
In the plan Fu Hua received, Rita was responsible for taking Kiana back to Schicksal HQ, while Fu Hua and Durandal were responsible for obstructing the Herrschers of the Far East Branch and explaining the situation to them.
Although Fu Hua didn't know why such a forceful method was necessary, she still chose to obey the order.
She figured it was because Herrschers were wild and untamable, and this was to reduce variables in the process.
She was a warrior, not adept at thinking.
"Alright, she's all yours."
…