Just then, after introducing the character, the narrator started piping up again.
[Sister? Yes, you do have such a sister. But that doesn't mean you have to listen to her every word.]
[You're eighteen years old! You're an adult! You have to take responsibility for your own actions! Now, show her with your actions—who's the boss in this family!]
I'm starting to think you really just want to see me get beaten up every day.
Show Rita who's boss with my actions... Hell, she's an S-rank Valkyrie.
Even if the requirements for the Valkyrie rank promotion test were lowered after the Second Honkai War, she's still an S-rank!
Even if she's constantly made fun of in the original story, she's still one of humanity's top combatants!
Well, at least in 2014 she is, probably...
In front of Rita, both 'showing her who's boss' and pulling a 'run for it!' were impossible.
The reason was simple—Leo Ash was no match for her.
Even without using Honkai energy, an S-rank Valkyrie's physical abilities far surpassed the limits of ordinary humans.
If some clueless punk were to try and hit on her and get handsy, Rita could probably take them down silently and instantly.
"Hey, this beautiful lady..."
[Look, someone's making a move! A man must fight for love—]
"I'm so sorry."
Facing the rude man who had reached out directly for her, Rita smiled faintly and took a step back while, with a movement almost too fast for the naked eye to see, she effortlessly knocked him down.
"I'm not in a good mood today, so I really don't have the time to waste on you."
[Don't be afraid! She wouldn't dare expose her powers in front of ordinary people. Besides, this is Anti-Entropy's territory, she wouldn't dare act recklessly. Now, right here—]
Just shut up!
Forcibly ignoring the narrator, Leo Ash could only focus his attention on Rita.
Earlier, looking at his skill list, he had already pondered his 'own' identity.
Combat skills, weapon proficiency, hacking skills—none of these were difficult to acquire, nothing much to say about them.
But if you combine them with the skill [Beginner Honkai Energy Resistance], then the origin of these skills becomes clear.
Being able to master this skill meant that Leo Ash's identity was, plainly speaking, a member of one of the three major anti-Honkai organizations.
And combined with the fact that Rita was his adoptive sister, he could basically confirm that he was part of Schicksal.
"My, why are you just spacing out today?"
Looking at the dazed Leo Ash, Rita sighed helplessly, then took his hand and led him out of the shop.
"This isn't the place to talk. Come with me to where we're supposed to be."
Seeing Rita next to Leo Ash, the gazes of the other passersby towards him became tinged with jealousy...
Oh, he's a handsome guy. Never mind then.
But only Leo Ash knew that being held by the hand by Rita wasn't as wonderful as everyone imagined.
Rita's hand felt soft to the touch, true, but the strength coming from it made Leo Ash feel that if he made a single rash move, she could definitely snap his wrist with ease.
Ah, this is a big problem.
With this confirmed, as a member of Schicksal, my mission in Nagazora City must be...
[Mission? No, as the child of destiny, you don't need to care about what others think!]
[Show them the spirit a transmigrator should have, and make the woman before you submit!]
Hey, what do you think a transmigrator is?
A Gary Stu who makes people bow down to him for no reason?
If you have such high expectations for me, at least give me an instant-kill cheat!
[Though you complain, you know deep down that in critical moments, the only person you can rely on is yourself—after all, as an orphan, you're used to being self-reliant. It's normal to have such a correct mindset.]
Oh.
Right.
I shouldn't have expected anything from this piece of junk that's useless for anything but providing intel.
After Rita led Leo Ash into a coffee shop, she placed their order and then looked at her brother across the table.
"Leo, you're not acting like yourself today."
Seeing that Leo Ash still hadn't spoken, Rita continued on her own.
"Is it because all our comrades have lost contact, and you're starting to worry? Or is it..."
"—that you've already realized the truth about our mission target, Kiana Kaslana?"
Damn it, I knew it.
After Siegfried left without a word, Kiana wandered alone from Europe to the Far East for so many years. How could Otto possibly let his most precious experiment run loose?
During those years, Kiana was definitely followed by a large group of Schicksal members protecting her, and my current identity is—one of those unlucky bastards.
Sigh, no matter what, I need to come up with an explanation now.
After all, this stupid narrator is useless for anything but providing intel.
He already told me Rita is angry. If I don't explain myself clearly, I'm probably in for a world of hurt.
"Lady Rossweisse—"
"Hm?"
"Alright, Sis."
"Mm."
Hearing Leo Ash change his form of address, Rita smiled with satisfaction.
"Although we're on duty, it's just the two of us. There's no need to be so formal at a time like this."
"So, tell me, little brother. Why didn't you contact the organization for so long after losing touch?"
"I overslept."
[Oh! Nice! Considering you were almost asleep for good, 'overslept' is indeed accurate.]
At this, Leo Ash irritably scratched the back of his head and said peevishly.
"I don't even know when my phone broke, and my head still feels groggy."
"...Is that the reason?"
===============
Taking a new phone out of her bag and placing it on the table, Rita said with a smile.
"I thought you'd realized how dangerous the mission was and were planning to run away."
"Dangerous?"
Picking up the phone from the table, Leo Ash looked down at it and said.
"Honestly, if all my comrades hadn't lost contact, I wouldn't have thought there was any danger in protecting that little brat."
"Sis, has this mission been affected by some other factors? Otherwise, headquarters wouldn't have sent out so few people just to be killed by the enemy."
"Well, how should I put it."
Placing a finger on her lips, Rita looked up at the ceiling and said softly to Leo Ash.
"You guessed right."
"The identity headquarters arranged for you this time is an exchange student at Senba High School. You must have heard a certain name at school by now."
"Raiden Mei. That name shouldn't be unfamiliar to you, right?"