"Aaaaaah, why can't I find a good man! Shun, do you think those men are blind? My conditions are so good—why won't they look at me!"
At the dining table, only Shun and Himeko were left. However, compared to the clear-headed Shun, Himeko was obviously drunk now.
Recalling the other party's final ending of dying without regrets, Shun couldn't help but sigh inwardly. "Teacher Himeko, it's not that you think others look down on you. It's that you feel you don't have many years left, so you always flirt and then leave."
However, with him here, everything would become different. He not only wanted to be Ana's line of defense, but everyone's line of defense as well.
"Teacher Himeko, I won't let you die. Rest assured, rest assured." It was precisely because Himeko was so drunk right now and would most likely black out that Shun spoke without restraint.
"Ah, what are you mumbling about? I don't understand! You brat, hurry up and drink with me!" Himeko shoved the beer can she had taken a sip from into Shun's mouth.
Of course Shun refused. He opened another 500ml can of beer from the side and downed it in one big gulp like a cow drinking.
Thanks to his current physique, which was comparable to that of an Abundance abomination, and the Abyss Flower constantly exerting its power, let alone getting drunk—he hadn't even needed to urinate today.
Had he already reached the beautiful-girl physique that no longer needed to excrete? Shun only felt this was somewhat ridiculous, but hearing that Raiden Mei already possessed this kind of 2D beautiful-girl physique, he felt relieved.
Honkai energy really was amazing, wasn't it?
At this moment, Shun spotted a strand of white hair behind the wall that was quite a bit below his eye level. Hmm… with that height, it was really hard to guess wrong.
"Theresa, come out. There's only one drunkard here, Himeko." Shun shook the empty beer can and said loudly.
Only after hearing Shun's words did Theresa poke her head out from behind the wall and trot over to Himeko's side.
"How much did this explosive-egg woman drink tonight again?" Theresa looked at the mountain of beer cans piled up in front of her and for a moment didn't know what to say.
If Himeko were simply an alcoholic, it would be one thing, but… she knew the reason why Himeko liked to drink heavily.
Besides needing alcohol to numb her body during battle, as for whether this would cause liver cancer or stomach cancer or whatever—
Do you think cancer cells can survive in a high-concentration Honkai energy environment? The vast majority of Valkyries were immune to all diseases, yet they often died from Honkai energy erosion.
"Let's not talk about that… Shun, can your Abyss Flower help treat Himeko's body?" Theresa finally stated her real purpose.
"I can, but it only treats the symptoms, not the root cause. Himeko's poor physical condition comes from the artificial Stigmata. I can only say that I'll clear out the Honkai energy in her body and spare her from the torment. But as long as she still wants to fight…"
Shun didn't finish, but Theresa already understood. She couldn't let Himeko fight anymore? By removing Himeko from the position of captain of the Hyperion, she had already done her best to reduce the number of times Himeko fought.
"I understand. Anyway, with you two joining the Far East Branch, our strength has undergone a qualitative change. When the time comes and I need to use you, don't refuse, okay?"
After all, there always had to be some laborers to exploit. Since Himeko was no longer up to it, someone had to step up. She thought this new captain of the Hyperion was a pretty good laborer.
"Fine, exploiting subordinates. Theresa, do you know what you should give a laborer when making them work?"
Looking at the big question marks above Theresa's head, Shun knew asking was pointless. As expected, Theresa was still too pure.
"Never mind. Since Himeko has already collapsed, I'll treat her first." Shun said as he placed his hand on Himeko's back. The Abyss Flower, originally hidden beneath the flesh, appeared and covered the skin.
The power of creation from the White Flower began to heal Himeko's body in a rough manner. While it wouldn't turn Himeko into an Abundance abomination, it at least made her no different from a normal person.
Theresa clicked her tongue as she watched this scene. "The Abyss Flower is really obedient in your hands. You know, even Cecilia couldn't command it so easily. Are you some kind of Divine Key attractor physique? My Judas seems to like you a lot too."
Shun withdrew his hand. The Abyss Flower hid back into his flesh. He spread his hands and said helplessly, "Well, who knows?"
So far, the three Divine Keys he had come into contact with—well, not counting the one Siegfried pointed out—had all been used very smoothly.
"Anyway, thank you for Himeko's matter. Your and Ana's joining has also taken a lot of work off her shoulders. I hope she won't push herself too hard in the future…"
Theresa suddenly becoming serious made Shun feel a bit unaccustomed. Was this still the principal who only knew how to exploit her employees every day?
But he also understood that judging a person solely based on their performance in the plot was biased. What mattered more was one's own inner feelings.
"I'll carry this guy Himeko to her bed. It's getting late. You should head home with Ana soon too." Theresa stood on tiptoe, pulled Himeko off the dining table, carried her on her back, and slowly walked out of the dining room.
"Really don't need me to help?" Shun offered.
"No need, no need. How many times do you think I've carried this drunkard back?" Theresa said with an expression that seemed to ask, "Do you even remember how many slices of bread you've eaten?"
But what Shun wanted to say was: wouldn't Himeko's feet dragging on the ground hurt? Wouldn't they have to go upstairs later? Wouldn't her feet hit the steps?
Never mind, that was their own business. He shouldn't meddle too much… Shun finished the remaining foamy beer in one gulp.
"Mhm, sure enough, alcohol really doesn't taste good." No matter how good the alcohol was, it only tasted bitter. If he hadn't been drinking with Himeko tonight, he really wouldn't have wanted to touch the stuff.
Forget it, better go find Ana… With a thought, Shun stood up and walked toward the living room. The living room was already dark with the lights off, quiet and silent. He moved forward carefully, afraid of making any sound that might disturb the peaceful night. Finally, with the faint moonlight coming in through the window, he saw the outline of the sofa.
Upon closer look, a thin blanket was casually draped over it, and beneath the blanket, a figure was curled up like a little kitten. It was Ana. She had tightly wrapped herself in the blanket, revealing only a small section of her fair neck and a few messy strands of hair.
Looks like she fell asleep… Shun quietly approached Ana, picked her up in the most comfortable way possible for a sleeping person, and left the villa.