"Why is that shut-in gamer who never leaves her room even stronger than me?!"
The white-haired clump sat bruised and swollen on the sofa as Raiden Mei tenderly applied medicine to her wounds.
Though Kiana had screamed bloody murder during the beating outside, the purple-haired girl hadn't truly aimed to kill. Despite the extensive bruising, there were no fractures or sekianarious injuries.
The fact that the white-haired clump still had the energy to yell was proof enough. Of course, it could also mean she simply had an abnormally resilient constitution.
"Seriously, even idiots have their limits!" Himeko, who had just woken up from a hangover, ruthlessly criticized Kiana, her words far sharper than Mr. Yang's more diplomatic remarks.
"Sleeping through academic classes is one thing, but you're practically a whirlwind in practical combat lessons. You must have seen Houraiji Kyuusyou and Fu Hua sparring at least a few times, right?"
"Uh..." The girl's simple mind began replaying snippets of her interactions with the Class Monitor during lessons. It seemed... every session ended with her being thrown out?
"Remember now? Kyuusyou and the others never got thrown out. Neither did your dear Mei. The only exception was Bronya, who didn't spar with Fu Hua due to her unique circumstances. You don't actually think Fu Hua was favoring anyone, do you?"
"Himeko, are you saying I'm the weakest one in this entire building?!" the White-haired Clump cried out in near-panic.
"Whether you're the weakest or not, I can't say for sure, Miss Kiana... but I think your good times are coming to an end."
The voice wasn't Murata Himeko, who was about to take another swig from her wine bottle, but Houraiji Kyuusyou, the very person who had beaten her into her current sorry state.
"You haven't forgotten what the Headmaster and Teacher Yang said before they left, have you? Though Headmaster Theresa probably won't expel you..."
"But the exam results are out. This means that Bronya and Mei Senpai, having both passed with flying colors, are now provisional B-rank Valkyries for the Far East Branch."
"Once they complete a few real combat missions, they'll officially become full-fledged Valkyries—"
"Regardless of the branch, B-rank or higher Valkyries are regularly assigned to missions. A-rank Valkyries even undertake missions directly issued by Headquarters."
"And you... if you fail your makeup exam again... according to the regulations... you'll be demoted to C-rank."
"C-rank Valkyries aren't authorized for field missions because they often lack the necessary skills beyond combat."
"After all, field missions aren't just about fighting and killing. They involve protecting targets, rescuing survivors, providing emergency medical care, and handling all sorts of situations—sometimes even caring for infants just a few months old..."
"What?! This young lady refuses to become C-rank!" Kiana exclaimed, her eyes blazing with panic at the thought of being separated from Mei.
"Then get back to studying!" Theresa kicked the door open, entering with Fu Hua and Snow, each carrying a stack of study materials.
"Kiana Kaslana, Teacher Yang kindly obtained these review materials from various subject teachers for you. Remember to thank him later," Fu Hua explained to the White-haired Clump, clarifying the origin of the materials.
The golden-haired girl's response was characteristically blunt and forceful.
"Your good times are over, until you pass—!"
"Kiana, my dear niece, where do you think you're sneaking off to?!" The golden Oath of Judah slammed down in front of the White-haired Clump, who was trying to slip through a small door, blocking her last escape route.
Turning her gaze to the window, Kiana saw Kyuusyou sitting on the windowsill, her expression stern as she watched her.
"Running away is pointless, Kiana Kaslana. Mr. Yang made it very clear—he's trained countless Valkyries from the Kaslana Family."
"Schicksal has countless Kaslanas."
"You're just one of them—nothing special, nothing outstanding..."
"If you think you can get anywhere just because of that surname..."
"—you're deluding yourself!" Houraiji Kyuusyou's voice now carried a distinct edge of anger.
"Auntie..." Kiana turned pleadingly to Theresa.
"Kyuusyou is right, Kiana, my niece... Think about Mei, Bronya... and your father... Just listen, okay?" Theresa remained unmoved by the girl's pleading gaze.
"...Fine," Kiana finally agreed, though her voice was thick with reluctance.
-
"You're too impatient..." Snow and Kyuusyou murmured to each other from a distance, watching Fu Hua tutor Kiana in biology and chemistry.
"...Perhaps. This weak personality—the one that only shows a hint of stubbornness when Raiden Mei is mentioned—doesn't meet the requirements of our plan at all..."
"In her current state, let alone killing the Second Herrscher's Evil Personality... we should be grateful Siegfried's Shamash, fueled by his self-inflicted arm severance, prevented it from completely taking over. And after the Third Honkai Eruption, that Evil Personality will inevitably resurface."
"...She'll grow, she will... Just give her time. The fledgling eagle in its nest will eventually spread its wings and soar..." Snow murmured softly, arms crossed as she leaned against the wall, watching Kiana scratch her head in frustration over a particularly challenging problem.
"Before soaring into the sky, the fledgling eagle will flutter and fall, bruising itself all over. Yet you seem unwilling to even let her flutter once?" Kyuusyou pointed out the flaw in Snow's approach, leaning beside her.
"Because in the near future, she's destined to fall, drenched in blood, struggling in the mud, until she's bruised beyond recognition..."
"For now, at least—let her dream this dream she refuses to wake from—"
"But—dreams always end. The deeper she falls, the more painful the awakening will be. Kiana, is this truly for the best...?" The golden-haired girl gazed at Kiana in the distance, her tone a mix of mockery and affection.
"Her laughable illusions will inevitably shatter. This absurd school drama, even if we allowed it, Otto never would—" Unlike her companion's enigmatic tone, Houraiji Kyuusyou's words dripped with undisguised scorn and ridicule.
"...You should probably rest. You never speak with such hostility normally, Kyuusyou," Snow said earnestly, noticing Kyuusyou's once-purple eyes now clouded with a murky crimson.
"No! I don't need to—"
"Your eyes are dark red right now..." Snow produced a small mirror and placed it before her companion.
"...What?!"
"Just like when I wield my authority... A complete personality shift. What's this? The Savior's dark side, perhaps?" The golden-haired girl leaned in curiously, staring intently at Kyuusyou's crimson eyes.
"Tch... Almost... Guess I was too impatient after all. And... don't get so close! You're going to kiss me, aren't you?!"
"It's not like we haven't kissed before... Why don't you go get some rest, Kyuusyou?"
"Fine... I'll go lie down for a bit then." The purple-haired girl rubbed her temples and headed upstairs.
After seeing Kyuusyou off, the blonde girl continued observing the White-haired Clump, who was being tormented by math, physics, and chemistry, until someone poked her left hand a few times.
"Bronya? What's up?" Turning to her right, she met the gray-haired girl's gaze.
"Bronya heard from the Headmaster about Kiana's... academic struggles. Teacher Yang also asked Bronya to help. Bronya would like to invite Snow to help silly Kiana review history together." Bronya's gray eyes shone with earnestness as she fixed her gaze on Snow, hoping for a commitment.
"...It's impossible to resist that look. But Bronya, how do you plan to tutor her? For that idiot, simply reading textbooks... is no different from reciting a headache-inducing spell... Hmm, no difference at all."
Snow watched as Fu Hua's iron grip clamped down on Kiana's head, forcing her to sit on the ground and listen to her explanation of key concepts. She nodded decisively.
"Bronya has a special method to ensure even a fool like Kiana learns and masters everything, probably..." Bronya followed Snow's gaze and saw the White-haired Clump being held by Fu Hua's cranial-splitting grip.
"Bronya is recalculating the feasibility of the plan..."
"Forget it. We can just switch roles. I'll pin her down, and you can lecture. Recite like a monk for seven days and nights straight, and I guarantee she'll be spouting history even in her sleep." Snow shrugged nonchalantly, stretching her muscles.
"...Bronya believes Fool Kiana does not deserve such treatment."
"Who knows~" Snow hummed noncommittally.