What kind of golden eyes were those?
Gray mist permeated the vast, endless space, but a golden light pierced through it, revealing a beautiful face and an alluring figure lounging lazily in the air.
A cascade of white hair, like moonlight, floated weightlessly, creating a dreamlike and illusory scene.
Those captivating golden eyes were filled with majesty.
She was like a lofty goddess, gazing down upon an insignificant insect.
Brimming with authority.
"Eh?"
Kiana looked at the girl floating in the gray mist with some confusion. Aside from the golden eyes, the other girl looked exactly like her—even her chest and rear were the same model.
She glanced around at the swirling gray mist, an endless space with no visible boundary.
Wasn't I sleeping?
Kiana was full of questions. She had been sleeping soundly, so why did she suddenly appear here?
Could it be that Raiden Mei had secretly kidnapped her and thrown her into a place like this!?
It was no wonder Kiana thought so; after all, Mei was the only one beside her before she fell asleep.
But her gaze returned to the girl floating in the air, and she frowned.
"Where is this? Who are you? And why do you look exactly like this young lady?"
Kiana was puzzled, though she had to admit the girl's aura was impressive, like a cold and arrogant queen.
We have the same face, so how can she look so cool?
She was so envious.
"I am you, and you are me."
The Queen of the Void's majestic voice echoed through the space.
She was Kiana's other side—the side of pure evil, containing all the malice of the past Herrscher of the Void, Sirin.
"The god has begun to call. The day of our descent is near."
"We shall be the end of humanity."
"This is a fate we cannot escape."
The Queen of the Void stared at Kiana, who simply frowned. This person was so incredibly chuunibyou. This definitely wasn't her; she had long since graduated from her eighth-grade syndrome phase.
"I don't understand what you're talking about," Kiana said. "How do I get out of here?"
"If I'm gone for too long, Otto will worry."
Upon hearing Otto's name, the perpetually majestic Queen of the Void's brow finally twitched, and a trace of disgust appeared on her frosty, beautiful face.
"Hmph."
A cold snort escaped her lips.
Then, in an icy voice, she said, "That man who dared to take liberties with my body... deserves to die."
The Queen of the Void also knew about Otto stealing a kiss from Kiana.
In her eyes, humans were insignificant creatures that deserved to be annihilated. Yet that man, a mere human, had dared to defile her sacred body, even leaving his filthy saliva in her mouth.
There was a price to be paid for blaspheming a god.
He would pay for it with his life.
---o---
Hearing the Queen's cold voice, Kiana took a step back. She could feel the bone-chilling killing intent directed at Otto.
"Who in the world are you!?" she shouted warily.
There was no way she would let this person harm Otto.
If something happened to Otto... then she would be homeless again.
She really, really didn't want to go back to living all alone.
Kiana looked around for a weapon, but she, like the Queen, was completely naked, let alone armed.
"Hmph."
Seeing Kiana's reaction, the Queen snorted coldly again.
"You cannot resist me, Kiana."
Floating in the air, the Queen raised her right hand, and countless Lances of the Void materialized behind her.
She pointed a finger at Kiana on the ground, and the lances shot forward. Kiana subconsciously raised her arms to block, but the lances pierced straight through her body.
"AHHHH!!!!"
Kiana let out a piercing scream.
She shot up from the bed, her eyes wide, her clothes soaked through with sweat.
Looking around, she saw that she was still in the hotel room. There was no sensation of being pierced, though a strange smell lingered in the air.
So it was a dream.
Kiana breathed a sigh of relief. She wiped the sweat from her forehead with the back of her hand, swung her legs over the side of the bed, and stripped off her drenched clothes.
She had truly been scared into a cold sweat.
Still, that flying version of herself in the dream was pretty cool.
Maybe she could develop that kind of cool, collected persona in the future?
Then, she would be a super-cool S-rank Valkyrie with a huge crowd of female admirers.
Kiana fantasized for a moment, a smug smile spreading across her face.
But... would Otto like me that way?
No, no, why should I care if Otto likes me! As long as I like myself, that's all that matters!
Kiana shook her head, her long white hair whipping back and forth. Annoyed, she pulled off her soaked underwear and balled it up in her hand.
Her thoughts couldn't help but drift back to the "other me" from the dream. That version of her seemed to want to kill Otto.
Why would she dream of something like that?
Pondering this, she wondered, Could it be that, deep down, I actually want to take a life from Otto?
No, that can't be right.
Otto had been so good to her. Why would she want to kill him?
The time she had spent with Otto was the happiest of her life. Good food, a comfortable bed, and companionship—it was like heaven compared to her days of wandering.
And Otto had given all of that to her.
Hey, don't people say that dreams are the opposite of reality?
So... it's not that I want to take a life from Otto, but that I want to give a life to Otto?
Kiana had a sudden epiphany, but then she stomped her foot and gritted her teeth. She was sure she had been infected by Otto's influence!
It was all his fault for constantly muttering "child, child, child" around her!
Honestly, this was all Otto's fault!
Kiana's left hand touched her smooth, flat abdomen, and she couldn't help but wonder.
If she had a child... would that count as starting a family?
Would that count as having a stable home?
She would never have to come home to an empty room again.
"Otto..."
The name escaped her lips involuntarily.
"What is it? You called?"
Suddenly, a voice came from the side. Kiana's body went completely rigid, as if someone had flipped a switch.
Without moving her body, Kiana turned her neck with great difficulty, the movement as stiff and creaky as rusted metal.
And she...
...saw the golden-haired man, dressed in a magnificent white and gold outfit, sitting leisurely on the sofa, a gentle smile on his face as he watched her.
In his hand, he was fiddling with his phone.
Evidently, Otto had been taking pictures as keepsakes.
Kiana stared at Otto, her mouth opening and closing silently. Finally, she managed to force the words out.
"When... when did you get here?"
"I've been here the whole time." Otto looked at Kiana, the corners of his mouth twitching uncontrollably upwards. "I was here right when you woke up from your nightmare."
Originally, Otto had noticed Kiana waking up from a nightmare and was about to go comfort her. But then he realized she was acting as if he wasn't even there and had started to undress on her own.
How could he possibly be so tactless as to interrupt something like that?
So, Otto had made himself comfortable on the sofa, enjoying the rare and beautiful scenery. A glass of red wine would have made it even better.
Fine beauty and fine wine—a match made in heaven.
"But I must say, I'm quite pleased," Otto teased. "Calling my name first thing in the morning."
"Just how much do you like me?"
Kiana's pretty face instantly went pale, then a shade of green, before finally flushing a deep, crimson red.
Her cheeks burning, Kiana forgot all about getting dressed. Overcome with shame and anger, she leaped into the air and launched a Rider Kick straight at Otto.
"I've decided! You're going to hand over that life of yours after all!"