"Nooooo!! Kazuki-san is my Einherjar!!"
Before Rossweisse even knew what she was doing, she had thrown herself at Kazuki Fuwa, clinging to him right in front of everyone.
"K-Kyaaaaaaaaahhh!!!"
One moment, Kazuki had just finished obliterating Nidhogg; the next, he found himself surrounded by Valkyries and being clung to by Rossweisse for reasons he couldn't fathom.
Then, when those same Valkyries let out a collective shriek of delight, he was left standing there without a clue of what was happening.
"Did you hear that!? Just now!?"
"Yeah, I heard it loud and clear. That Rossweisse, of all people~."
"Isn't this a happy occasion?"
"Indeed, a truly happy occasion. That Rossweisse they always called the 'Failure Valkyrie' or 'Eternal Ragnarok' has finally... sniff..."
"Ah, Gerhilde-nee-san, don't cry..."
"Congratulations, Weisse! Wishing you happiness~!"
The Valkyries were chattering up a storm, practically squealing with excitement.
"U-um..."
Kazuki wanted to ask what was going on, but the person in question—Rossweisse—had frozen solid, her face an impossible shade of crimson, completely useless.
"Th-That's not what I meaaaaant!!"
Whatever she was trying to deny, Rossweisse suddenly leaped back onto Scarlet and tore away from the scene at breakneck speed.
"Uhh, so...?"
"Well, let's just leave that girl be for now. Once she cools her head, she'll come back. More importantly... Welcome to the Norse realm. From here on, we'll serve as your guides."
The Valkyrie with the pale pink hair offered a gentle smile.
As they made their way toward Valhalla, Kazuki received an explanation from Waltraute.
These women were the "Nine Sisters." They were, so to speak, the generals of the Valkyries, inheriting their names from the age of myth itself. Each of the Nine Sisters' names carried a specific meaning.
Whenever a seat became vacant, the most suitable candidate among the Valkyries was chosen to inherit that name, thereby becoming a new member of the Nine Sisters. This was why, in some cases, a younger girl could end up as an elder sister.
The eldest, Brynhildr, stood at the top. Then came the second-eldest, Gerhilde; the third, Ortlinde; the fourth, Waltraute; the fifth, Schwertleite; the sixth, Helmwige; the seventh, Siegrune; the eighth, Grimgerde; and the ninth, Rossweisse—nine in total.
The second-eldest, Gerhilde, was a spear-wielder with crimson hair and crimson eyes, the only Dragon Rider among the Valkyries.
The third, Ortlinde, was a katana-wielder with golden hair and golden eyes.
The fourth, Waltraute, was a songstress with pale pink hair who bolstered her allies with her singing on the battlefield.
The fifth, Schwertleite, was a swordswoman with violet hair.
The sixth, Helmwige, was a short black-haired girl who boasted impenetrable defense as the sturdiest of all Valkyries.
The seventh, Siegrune, was a long black-haired telekinetic—though she herself adamantly insisted it was magic.
And the ninth, Rossweisse, was a magic-user capable of wielding every element. It was said that the eldest, Brynhildr, awaited their arrival at Valhalla, while the eighth, Grimgerde, was currently away on a separate mission.
As for all that talk about "contracts" earlier: one of the duties of the Valkyries was to form contracts with heroes they discovered on the battlefield. Upon that hero's death, they would guide the soul to Valhalla, where it would become an "Einherjar"—one of the gods' divine warriors.
A Valkyrie and her contracted Einherjar would often end up as lovers, or even as husband and wife.
In other words, in front of all her sisters, Rossweisse had practically declared Kazuki to be her lover. No wonder the poor woman had fled with her face red enough to burst into flames.
While the Valkyries, as Odin's personal guard, belonged to the "Open-Faction," they apparently did not hold the Biblical Factions in particular high regard. Especially the eldest of the Nine Sisters—Brynhildr—whom they were about to meet, was said to despise their side... and Fallen Angels most of all.
They absolutely needed to secure her cooperation, yet already the road ahead looked rocky as hell.
"Brynhildr-nee-san is a real stickler. It's gonna be tough wooing her over, but do your best—Well, we've arrived."
With that final note from Waltraute, they reached Valhalla's "Hall of the Gods."
When they arrived at the fortress known as the Hall of the Gods, Odin's personal residence, they found a Valkyrie seated in front of the castle gates, clutching her head in her hands. It went without saying—it was Rossweisse.
"Ah! There's Weisse!"
"Shh! Don't, Wige. Just pretend you don't see her."
"Traute-nee-san, I think that's even meaner..."
Helmwige had been about to call out to her innocently, but at Waltraute's hushed warning—and Siegrune's pointed remark—Rossweisse's shoulders twitched violently. Her ears had long since gone a deep, burning red.
"Alright, alright, I get it's entertaining, but that's enough. Weisse, putting your foot in your mouth is nothing new for you, so don't go moping about it forever!"
Gerhilde clapped her hands as she spoke, but that was completely counterproductive.
"Gerhilde-nee-san, that was the cruelest of all."
"Ahaha, seriously."
Ortlinde and Schwertleite both gave wry, pained smiles. Watching this exchange, it became painfully clear that Rossweisse was the designated butt of the jokes among her sisters. At any rate, at this rate, they'd never make any progress.
"Rossweisse."
Kazuki knelt down in front of her, bringing himself to her eye level. The moment he spoke, her shoulders jolted, and she timidly lifted her head.
"Let's set aside the matter of what you and I are, for now. Right now, saving Odin-sama comes first. Isn't that right?"
"Kazuki-san..."
"There's no need to rush. So think it through carefully and give me your answer. I'll wait as long as it takes."
"Kazuki-san... Yes. I understand. Thank you very much..."
Rossweisse bowed deeply as she said it.
'Good. She should be fine now,' He thought.
"Well then, let us go. Brynhildr-neeue awaits."
Prompted by Gerhilde, they finally set foot inside the Hall of the Gods.
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