The Wheels Keep Turning

"I just happened to bring my camera. How about we take a picture? Little Rita probably wants to have some memories too, right?"

"R-really, is that okay?"

Lolita's face showed excitement.

"Of course! Come on, you two, please stand close together."

Himeko raised the camera she had prepared beforehand.

Seeing this, Ragna wanted to say something, but he could only swallow it and reluctantly stood with the girl beside him.

"... Himeko, aren't you coming along?"

Ragna suddenly said, watching Himeko about to press the shutter.

"Eh... me... me?"

Himeko tilted her head slightly.

Maybe Liu Bai is the one who most wants to take a photo with them right now?

"Don't worry about me. It's just that some memories can't be preserved." Liu Bai sat on the chair next to them and smiled slightly at the two people, one big and one small.

Before his doll was born, there were many simulations that could not leave any memories... In a sense, Liu Bai had already developed patience.

Although this is hardly a good thing.

"Doesn't this guy's nonchalant expression make it even harder to ignore him?"

Himeko couldn't help but mutter.

"Captain, do you know how to fold paper figures?"

"Paper dolls? I can do that..." Ragna looked puzzled.

"Please fold one for me, please!"

"... I understand, don't worry, it won't take more than a few minutes."

Ragna pondered for a moment, then nodded and turned to walk towards the lounge. Less than two minutes later, Ragna came out with the adorable paper figure.

"... Thanks."

Liu Bai didn't stand on ceremony when he saw the paper figure in front of him and directly possessed it.

"Miss Rita, could you please take this paper figure?"

"Me?" Lolita was also a little confused at this point.

"Don't you want Captain Ragna's gift?"

"Think!"

Rita had no further objections at this point. She carefully held the paper figure and stood next to Ragna.

"Ready?... 1, 2, 3... Cheese!"

"By the way, you actually know that girl Rita, don't you?"

Himeko asked this question on her way back.

Why do you ask that?

"Because... well, your behavior was too obvious, wasn't it? I should have known better."

"That's right, I almost forgot you're still an intelligence-based student."

"What do you mean 'still now'... Seriously, aren't you going to explain yourself?"

Himeko was somewhat dissatisfied.

"And the way you treat your benefactor with such indifference is really infuriating."

"As for an explanation, well, you know the rules, right?"

"Ha... that explanation is really sneaky. Fine, the rules it is."

Having spent so much time together, Himeko also understands Liu Bai's limitations.

"So you're saying you'll get to know her in the future?"

"Who knows?" Liu Bai shrugged. "As for the second question... it's like I've felt the feeling of being taken care of again after a long time, or rather, being taken care of in a very normal way?"

"Wow, that's a really pathetic way to put it."

"Because most of the time I'm the one taking care of others, even though I'm not the kind of person who likes to stand out."

Liu Bai sighed, "As a result, inexplicably, I became someone else's pillar and started taking care of them."

"You must have a really tough life."

Himeko pouted. "If you're tired, just rest. Who can tell you what to do? To be honest, I only realized today that you might be having a pretty tough time."

"Tired... Although I sometimes feel mentally exhausted, I mostly enjoy it, right?"

Liu Bai smiled as he said this.

"And sometimes, seeing what you've changed gives you a sense of accomplishment."

"Ha...a change." Himeko seemed to be thinking of her father. "If only you had come sooner..."

"...To be honest, Himeko, I actually have the ability to stop your father from pursuing his dreams," Liu Bai said abruptly.

Although he couldn't save Murata Ryusuke, he did have the ability to keep him half-dead for the rest of his life.

"Tsk, I knew it—but let's forget it. Letting Dad stop at the door of his dream would be worse than killing him outright, and who knows what even more unacceptable things might happen."

Himeko leaned against the lamppost and said, half-complainingly.

"I thought you would never tell me."

"... You noticed?"

"A certain Alliance Leader has mentioned to me more than once that 'America is the backyard of Anti-Entropy.' Surely the master knows what's going on in that backyard, right? Didn't you just call me an 'intelligence-type' guy?"

Himeko glanced sideways at Liu Bai, who looked helpless.

"However, it seems that Dad must have done something unacceptable, right? After all, you... although you're a maid-lover and loli-lover, you're still quite upright most of the time. If Dad fell on the road of pursuing the righteous path, then he... tsk."

Himeko suddenly clicked her tongue.

She suddenly realized that her father's last letter was likely left by Liu Bai.

This guy can be so considerate sometimes that it makes people... a little annoyed.

But undeniably, it was that letter that helped her quickly emerge from the shadow of her father's death.

"Never mind, let's talk about your business."

Himeko suddenly lost interest in talking—but she was also somewhat surprised that she could accept this so quickly.

"My affairs...? I thought you would then ask about your father."

"You'll tell me if I ask? Tsk, this line sounds like something out of a melodramatic soap opera." Himeko shook her head.

"If you had asked me this this morning, I would have definitely made up an excuse to brush you off, but now..."

"Forget it, let's wait until you think it's appropriate to talk about it."

Himeko waved her hand—for some reason, Himeko now felt that the so-called truth was no longer important.

Judging from Liu Bai's attitude, perhaps what his father did really wasn't a good thing...

"For example, in ten years, when I turn twenty-seven?"

"... It's a deal."

"It's a deal—by the way, what will your relationship be with Little Rita in the future? Why are you so concerned about her?"

"..."

Himeko's compatibility +50% (Heartbreak resolved)

Chapter 195 The Wheels Roll By

"Himeko, we've been notified that our vacation is over. Everyone, assemble."

Ragna brought "bad news" when he returned home from work.

"Oh, why so suddenly?"

This left Himeko somewhat bewildered.

"Wasn't everything fine this morning?"

"Morning is morning, afternoon is afternoon—who knows how many meetings those big shots have been in during this time."

Ragna sighed softly.

"Let's pack up. A transport ship will probably come to pick us up tomorrow—I never thought the lie I told this morning would come true this afternoon."

"This morning... Captain, didn't you talk to that kid a bit too much today?"

"Rita? That child is the kind of person who is 'talented', which is why Schicksal didn't clear the child's memories."

There are ways to erase memories, after all. Tesla has developed an invention that can directly erase memories, so it's no surprise that Schicksal is no less capable.

"Talent... Stigmata? Indeed, it's enviable."

This is one of the few things that makes Himeko somewhat resentful. In a sense, the Stigmata is indeed a gift from God—well, Mei—even though it essentially exists in the genes of every human being.

But what's that saying about card games? If you don't draw it, it's like you didn't get it at all.

However, Himeko wouldn't be jealous of a child over something like this.

"So, she'll be one of our future team members?"

"Who knows? I don't really know whether I should agree or decline if that child asks to become Valkyrie."

"You feel guilty, right?" Liu Bai said at this moment.

"Yes, yes, Ghostly Gentleman, you've hit the nail on the head."

Ragna smiled wryly.

"After all, that child is only in the first year of junior high school... just finished elementary school."

Making this child Valkyrie at such a young age is too cruel in every way.

"If one's mind is not mature enough..."

"I understand."

Liu Bai nodded. "Besides the casualty rate, the Valkyrie's suicide rate is actually quite high—though it looks low on paper."

"...You know the Valkyrie better than I thought," Ragna continued with a wry smile.

Himeko shrugged. She wasn't exactly a newbie anymore, so she didn't know what Ragna was worried about.

It's just a matter of whether a twelve-year-old girl can adapt to training and the battlefield.

"But speaking of which, why is the suicide rate of Valkyrie so low on paper?" Himeko was still a little curious about Liu Bai's statement.

After all, this is a topic that few people talk about.

"Because most of the Valkyrie who commit suicide are survivors after their teams are disbanded, and most of these survivors are retired."

"Abolish... tsk."

That sounds nice, but isn't it just total annihilation?

"Okay, that's enough, I understand."

Himeko raised her hand to stop him.

Talking about this with these soldiers is like talking to a fisherman.

May God protect us so that day will never come.

May the Maid God bless you.

Ragna said with a smile.

"I think praying to Liu Bai might be more reliable than praying to God."