Within the consciousness space.
Six eyes met.
The Queen of the Void, possessing golden pupils, glared murderously at the uninvited guest before her.
Kiana, on the other hand, was looking K423 up and down with an expression of pure curiosity.
Even K423 felt a little embarrassed under her intense scrutiny.
Because in the consciousness space, only consciousness existed. Things like clothing were not part of one's consciousness.
"Super handsome me, you..." Kiana suddenly spoke up.
"Just call me K423," K423 smiled. Having experienced so much, she could long since face this identity with calm acceptance.
She more or less understood her relationship with the Kiana standing before her.
They were the same person, from the same world.
It was a relationship of past and future.
However, for reasons she didn't yet understand, she, who had witnessed everything in the future, had somehow become the stigmata of her past self.
"Mm, mm." Kiana nodded. Still, she felt a strange sense of familiarity with the name 'K423'.
"K423, are you..."
Kiana's expression grew solemn as she continued.
"Are you... bigger than me?"
The Herrscher of Flamescion, the Firefly—no, she should be called K423 now—was stunned by Kiana's words. It took her two full seconds to realize what Kiana was referring to.
At a time like this, you're actually thinking about THAT!?
Was I really this unreliable back then?
K423 opened her mouth to speak.
Her normally placid heart rippled.
It felt like she had grown up, only to be forced to revisit her cringe-worthy dark history. Thank goodness there were no outsiders here.
"Cough, cough," K423 cleared her throat. If this was during the time of Anti-Entropy's invasion of St. Freya, her body was still developing. Naturally, she would grow in the future.
She possessed an infinite future, after all.
[Just what in the world are you!?]
The Queen of the Void beside them could no longer sit still. She demanded sharply. She had been on the verge of taking complete control of Kiana's body, only to be rudely interrupted by this newcomer.
"It has been a long time."
K423 looked at the Queen with a gentle gaze. Having completely annihilated the Queen in her own timeline, she never expected to see her alive again.
It was truly nostalgic.
Back then, she had been naive and ignorant. They had fought each other, and in the end, she had triumphed over her.
[I have never met you before.]
The Queen stated with hostility. She sensed an oppressive aura coming from K423, as if this girl were her natural predator.
"Eh? You guys know each other?" Kiana asked curiously. Why do my second and third personalities seem to know each other?
[Heh.]
The Queen merely sneered.
"Since we have some time, let me introduce myself," K423 didn't dwell on the Queen's attitude. She turned to Kiana.
"I am not a third personality. I am the soul residing within the stigmata on your body. You should know what a stigmata is, right?"
"Huh? What's a stigmata?" Kiana asked, her head tilted in confusion.
K423 wanted to facepalm. One look and you could tell she hadn't paid any attention in class.
Though, I suppose it's true that when I was at St. Freya, I just slacked off and goofed around all day.
"All you need to know is that I will not harm you, and I will help you suppress her." K423 pointed at the Queen of the Void.
"Hah? She wants to harm me?" Kiana realized a step too late.
[Hehe, even if you can suppress me for a moment, you cannot suppress me forever.]
A look of disdain crossed the Queen's face, though inwardly she was starting to panic.
Dammit. My comfortable single room just became a shared double, and now I'm going to be watched like a thief all day.
But she was stubborn.
She would never admit defeat.
Looking at the still-naive Kiana, K423 sighed softly. She had lost that innocence a long time ago.
She hoped Kiana could keep it forever.
But K423 knew how difficult that would be.
Because Otto existed.
That man had orchestrated countless tragedies. From the moment of her birth, more than half of her life had been under Otto's control.
But the future would be different now.
Because she, who knew the future intimately, had become the stigmata of her past self.
Even though she could no longer embrace Mei, the Class Rep, Aunt Himeko, or her Great Aunt... she could guide her past self toward a different future.
They would all have a bright future.
Though...
Maybe if the opportunity arises, I can borrow Kiana's body to have a meal with Mei.
A smile touched K423's lips.
She had no intention of stealing Kiana's body. She could never do such a thing.
Besides, what bad intentions could a stigmata possibly have?
"You look really pretty when you smile," Kiana said, looking at K423's smile and offering a compliment.
A smile?
Hearing Kiana's words, K423 realized she was indeed smiling. It felt like she hadn't smiled in a very long time.
Looking at K423, Kiana offered a silly grin of her own.
"You look really pretty when you smile, too," K423 replied.
The two of them were essentially tooting their own horns. They looked exactly alike; complimenting the other was practically complimenting themselves.
"However, if you want to keep smiling so happily in the future, your current strength is completely insufficient."
"Let alone protecting the people important to you, you can't even protect yourself."
K423 stated. Kiana subconsciously touched her neck. She hadn't lasted a single exchange against that man; her neck had almost been snapped.
If K423 hadn't stepped in to substitute for her, she'd probably be gone.
And then she would never be able to see Otto again.
Rubbing her neck, an urge to get stronger surged within Kiana.
After her near-death experience tonight, she realized just how tortuous the path to becoming an S-rank Valkyrie would be.
Seeing Kiana's expression, K423 understood that this slacker finally had the motivation to grow stronger.
It must be for the sake of protecting Mei and the others.
"However, during your time at St. Freya Academy, I will teach you."
"I will teach you my combat style, and how to fight," K423 offered. If her past self didn't start working hard now, she would only repeat the mistakes of her past.
Do not let my past become your future.
[Tch.]
The Queen clicked her tongue. This K423 was her natural counter, and now she was going to teach Kiana? Wasn't this pushing her toward a dead end?
It made her tremble with rage.
Kiana looked at K423. Her expression turned serious as she spoke slowly.
"I have someone I want to protect."
If a guy with thin arms and legs like Otto ran into an enemy like the one tonight, he'd definitely die a miserable death.
My useless old dad said the Kaslanas are a family of knights. And Otto, looking all delicate like that, is clearly a princess.
For Knight Kiana to protect Princess Otto is perfectly justified.
K423 nodded. She fully understood the feeling of wanting to protect Mei and the others.
"I want to get stronger. Will you teach me?"
"Of course I will."
K423 smiled warmly.
"Let's fight for all that is beautiful in the world, together."
K423 extended her hand. Kiana didn't hesitate, grasping it firmly.
Leaving only the helpless Queen of the Void to roll her eyes on the sidelines.