Mei and Bronya's Turn

Ragna's focus is a bit off.

"What kind of twisted fate is this..." Himeko sighed. "The only slightly better thing is that I'm not very familiar with Professor Einstein?"

This way, there are no scruples when competing.

"What kind of person was that Professor Einstein?"

"A petite, blue-haired, neurotic, slovenly girl—a loli-sized girl." Himeko's tone carried a hint of resentment.

"This character design is quite distinctive," Ragna nodded. "Compared to this, Himeko, you really don't have any distinctive features?"

"Special characteristics? Don't I have any special characteristics? For example, a female college student... Valkyrie..."

Himeko's voice gradually faded.

Now that you mention it, it seems like I really do lack some distinctive features?

"For example, a red-haired, single Valkyrie? Or a red-haired, big-breasted, single Valkyrie?" Ragna took a sip of water and gave two examples without expression.

"I feel like there's a lot of resentment in your words, Captain..." Himeko said, clutching her chest.

"Please remember that I am a young woman about your age, not a middle-aged woman who is twenty or thirty years older than you." Ragna took another sip of water.

"Of course I know that," Himeko muttered. "But if we're talking about distinctive features, couldn't it be something like 'Sixteen-year-old PhD, energetic Valkyrie, super beautiful Himeko'?"

"Whatever you want—but I truly admire Himeko for being able to say such a thing without batting an eye."

Ragna's facial skin twitched.

"Besides, why should I give you advice on relationship problems? I've never been in a relationship before, okay?"

Ragna's tone also carried a hint of resentment.

Then, Himeko showed a frightened expression.

"... What did that expression mean?"

Ragna was very displeased with Himeko's sudden display of fear.

"... I just find it unbelievable that you, Captain, would say something like that."

"..."

Himeko's answer left Ragna speechless.

What does it mean to be incredible?

You bunch of jerks, you can come to me for relationship advice anytime you want, but if I mention relationships, you act like it's the end of the world?

"Again! Again! I want to emphasize this again! I am a young woman around your age, not a middle-aged woman who is twenty or thirty years older than you!"

Compared to before, Ragna's words were now filled with resentment and anger.

"No matter what, I'm almost thirty, so shouldn't I be thinking about marriage? Himeko, you're only twenty-three, what's the rush? Have a little understanding of how it feels to be surrounded by a bunch of 'leftover women' who aren't even as old as me!"

My team has no single women!

Back then, they were all young Valkyrie, right?

Even now, there are still a group of people under the age of twenty-five.

As a result, they started getting anxious when they were seventeen or eighteen years old, and they've been anxious ever since.

"Hurry, hurry, hurry! What's the rush? All your predecessors are full of dirty jokes, but when it really comes down to it, they have to stick together in groups of three or four to go to a bar—and in the end, they still don't dare to step in."

Ragna inexplicably went into a frenzy.

... This is probably what they mean when they say an adult's breakdown often happens in an instant, right?

Himeko silently shrank her shoulders.

But upon closer reflection, what their captain said made a lot of sense.

After all, she was once a beautiful and youthful girl, but after four years in the team, she's starting to look like a spinster.

"... Well, haven't we all separated these past few years?"

Himeko asked timidly.

Although we get together every year, we are still separated most of the time. Even if I was a bit manic at the beginning, shouldn't I have recovered in the past few years?

... Although I don't seem to have recovered yet.

But that's different.

After all, he really did own "a cow".

Their predecessors, at best, only had "fantasy time."

"... It's the information age now, Himeko."

Ragna took two deep breaths and gradually calmed down.

"Your bunch of silly seniors call me every two weeks for a relationship consultation... no, maybe I should say 'fantasy consultation'?"

"... Now I can roughly understand what fantasy means."

Himeko understood quickly; after all, the fantasies of single women... are nothing special.

To everyone's surprise, Ragna showed a strange smile.

"Yes, the questions they ask most often are when you're going back and what the Alliance Leader likes."

"...?" Himeko's face showed a great deal of confusion.

Isn't there something wrong with this question?

Ragna took another deep breath, completely calmed herself down, and returned to her usual gentle and considerate maid demeanor.

"That's all for now. Himeko, do your best."

"..." Can't we even live like this anymore?!

There are wolves in front, tigers behind, and a bunch of thieves in the house.

Have the older generation never seen a man before? Is Liu Bai also interested?

... Okay, I've seen men and I should still think about them.

And it seems like my elders really haven't seen many men...

Himeko, rubbing her forehead.

To be honest, in all the gatherings over the years, Himeko had never realized that her incredibly enthusiastic seniors had such intentions.

A thief within the family...

Fortunately, everyone was far enough apart...

"This must be what they mean by 'the road ahead is long and arduous'..."

Himeko glanced at Fu Hua was chatting with Liu Bai with a faint smile on her face.

Forget it, compared to this person, all my predecessors seem like mere nobody.

... Hmm, I think so too.

Fortunately, I still have some advantages at the moment, right?

"... Speaking of which, I really admire Principal Theresa when it comes to age."

Speaking of age, Himeko has to mention Theresa.

"Is the headmaster already forty-one this year?"

When Himeko first came to St. Freya, Theresa was 38 years old. Now, three years later, she has successfully entered her forties.

"If the older generation knew, it might greatly alleviate their anxiety."

"It will only increase, right?" Ragna corrected. "After all, Principal Theresa's appearance is fixed at 12 years old, so she has plenty of leeway."

"I feel like my physical and mental state is fixed at 12 years old," Himeko complained.

"Hey! Don't talk bad about me during lunch break!"

Before they knew it, Theresa had appeared beside them, looking annoyed.

Although Theresa doesn't really care about age... well, that's a lie.

Every time Kiana calls her "Auntie," her blood pressure spikes.

"You two... really."

Although she was a little annoyed, Theresa didn't actually lose her temper.

Over the years, everyone has become familiar with him. Apart from Liu Bai's somewhat sensitive identity, there's basically nothing he's hidden from Theresa.

So Theresa only pretended to be annoyed before getting to the point.

"Himeko, I've applied to headquarters for an airship for you."

"...ha?"

Himeko was a little confused.

Himeko was no stranger to airships, after all, she had ridden in airships quite a few times when she was still in the Stormtroopers.

But that thing is meant for a full squad of Valkyrie, right? What does it have to do with a retired Valkyrie?

"Um... didn't I retire?" Himeko voiced her inner question.

"What business is it of my Far East Branch that you retired from headquarters?"

Theresa glanced at Himeko with a puzzled look.

"You're one of the few Valkyrie in the Far East Branch, aren't you?"

"..."

Himeko was speechless. Excluding the underdeveloped kids in the academy, she was indeed one of the few Valkyrie in the Far East Branch —albeit a retired one.

"... Can headquarters approve it?"

"I mentioned it to my grandfather... to His Holiness the bishop, and His Holiness agreed."

Theresa said with a straight face.

This reason left Himeko and Ragna speechless, and at the same time refreshed their impression of Otto's doting on Theresa.

"Here, this is the detailed data of the airship."

"Let me see... Wow, six 430mm railguns, six 270mm railguns, ten close-in weapon systems, a Nexus-20 energy delivery port, a 133-meter-long ship-slaying sword, the Daybreak Greatsword, ten throwing ports... Is this some kind of warship?"

Himeko was astonished by this luxurious setup.

"And there's the Leonov Anti-Gravity Engine, and six nuclear reactors as energy sources... I feel like this setup is enough to storm the Schicksal Headquarters?"

Himeko was a top student, not one of those stupid people who only knew how to fight, so she naturally understood what level of configurations those were.

"By the way, is this launching port only for Valkyrie, or can it also be used to launch mechs?"

"Well... I don't know about that."

Himeko isn't stupid, but Theresa is.

"..."

"..."

Ragna and Himeko could only remain speechless.

"But then again, if we could launch mechs, then..."

"Stop talking nonsense. The low-end mecha technology in Schicksal is not good enough. Real mechas are something we have to watch with Anti-Entropy."

Chapter 206 Mei and Bronya's Round

Theresa rolled her eyes at Liu Bai's sudden interruption.

"You AI talk too much."

"Just telling the truth." Liu Bai pursed his lips—though the flat screen didn't show the pursing gesture.

"Moreover, with this configuration, we're still a long way from making it into the Schicksal."

"I was just saying it offhand."