Logging In to Play for Someone, but Who's Logging In...

"Generally speaking, any young girl who still has a bit of a girlish heart would become shy and bashful when something like this happens, right?"

"Forehead..."

That makes a tiny bit of sense, doesn't it?

"Then, according to the plot of romance novels, the girl should start to seduce him and then throw herself into his arms..."

"Hold on."

Liu Bai suddenly called a halt.

"No matter how you look at it, it's not exactly 'self-conquest,' is it? Can't you at least show some respect for my hard work over a thousand nights? Don't portray this as some kind of scumbag reaping the benefits without doing anything."

"Hmm..." Himeko suddenly stopped.

"Go on, shall we?"

"... I feel a little sorry for you." Himeko said with a look of pity.

This guy coached Kiana one-on-one for four years—to be honest, coaching a student for four years isn't that hard.

But after training Kiana for four years, neither of them gave up...

One is a lazy, disliked student who only has a three-minute attention span; the other is a ghost who has to pretend to be an AI all day to listen to the silly student's various strange and wonderful troubles.

Himeko genuinely felt that this combination was simply... an absolute torture.

Based on the fact that these two were able to endure each other for four years, Himeko felt that it wouldn't be an exaggeration to give Liu Bai a first-class merit.

"... Your expression makes me want to punch you."

Liu Bai was extremely displeased with the look of pity on Himeko's face.

"And what right do you, Kiana's homeroom teacher who has been with her for six years, have to say these things?"

"I'm not just teaching Kiana, and besides, Kiana learns combat incredibly fast, okay?"

Himeko said she felt no pressure. Compared to Kiana's academic subjects, which hovered around the passing mark, Kiana's combat subjects were mostly excellent. Well, Liu Bai contributed at least 70% of the effort that allowed Kiana to hover around the passing mark in all subjects.

The remaining 30% are Bronya and Mei.

"...Tsk." Liu Bai was speechless. "But speaking of which, one-on-one tutoring...although it's infuriating that she forgets what she's taught today by tomorrow, aside from that, Kiana is still a pretty good student. After all, Kiana isn't stupid, she just doesn't want to learn. She knows who's good to her."

"Who can argue with that?"

Himeko shrugged—but the problem was that they were teachers.

Kiana's tendency to forget what she's taught today is truly torturous for them.

"Where were we? Self-guided strategy?"

Himeko steered the conversation back on track—though the original topic wasn't as serious as the current one.

"Forget it, if that girl knew I was her 'love rival,' she'd definitely give me the cold shoulder, right?"

Liu Bai thought about Kiana in reality, and his lips twitched.

Honestly, ever since Kiana saw Mei and Mei being affectionate with her in the real world, she's always had a serious face around him, okay? She doesn't even want to smile.

It's as if a piece of flesh would fall off if they laughed.

"Mei... is she really a rival in love?"

Himeko couldn't help but purse her lips as she thought about how Kiana had dragged Mei along, causing Mei to frantically inhale every time she saw Liu Bai these past two years.

Mei is so covered in grease and grime.

Kiana doesn't even deserve to talk to you about the word "love rival"?

Himeko seriously suspects that if Mei's attitude towards Liu Bai were applied to Kiana, it would make Kiana feel incredibly happy.

"It's just that Kiana is a girl, so Mei can take care of her like a little sister. If Kiana were a boy, Mei would have given Kiana a ton of friend cards by now."

Himeko ruthlessly revealed the cruel reality—fortunately, the person directly involved in that cruel reality wasn't here.

"That statement is indeed irrefutable—but my opinion is not important; the important thing is what Kiana herself thinks, right?"

Anyway, before this simulation, Kiana had never given him a kind look.

"Didn't you say that the child isn't stupid or foolish? She knows who treats her well."

Himeko glanced at the clock and then stretched.

"Then it might turn into a story where a proud student is moved but pretends not to know because of his pride, and uses the original excuse to make trouble in order to secretly get closer to the teacher he admires."

"..."

Liu Bai raised his eyebrows slightly in silence.

"... Contact the waste paper collector and have them throw away all your boring romance novels so they won't continue to torment you."

"Hey! You look down on romance novels?"

"No, I look down on you, you science student who's all talk and no action."

Liu Bai remained expressionless.

"If you can't make up a story, don't try to make up a story. This kind of plot only happens in low-grade toilet paper novels."

"You actually think I'm right, don't you!"

Himeko protested indignantly.

"You're just being unreasonable!"

"You're right. I've decided to confiscate your romance novels and, incidentally, your future salary as well."

"..."

Himeko fell silent.

It seems... my salary has always been paid by Anti-Entropy?

"If you exploit me like this, I'm going to lead the captain in a rebellion."

"And then your captain tied you up and brought you before me to beg for forgiveness?"

"... So, you also think that those kinds of low-brow novels and toilet paper stories would happen, right?"

Himeko's mind raced for a moment, and then her lips suddenly began to twitch.

Wait a minute, why does she feel more and more that this kind of thing could happen?

It was clearly just a joke at first!

"Liu Bai... I'll tutor Kiana in the evenings from now on."

Himeko felt she should do her best to prevent the number of enemies from increasing.

Bronya and Mei are dangerous enough. If it weren't for Kiana holding them back these past two years, Himeko would have wondered if she needed to add two more beds to her house.

If Kiana were to side with them now...

Himeko started to facepalm.

"... Isn't it true that sometimes it's better not to know some things, or that you're happier?"

Liu Bai's gaze held a hint of pity.

"So, can I throw away all those romance novels of yours now?"

"Ah... just throw it away."

A happy morning, gone in a flash.

And is it too late to stop it now?

... It's completely too late, isn't it?

"Himeko, it's time to go to class."

Liu Bai glanced at the clock.

"No matter what, we can't let class be delayed."

"...Too."

Feeling somewhat depressed, Himeko quickly tidied herself up and then went out.

However, as soon as she arrived at the playground, Himeko realized that something was wrong.

Why is there a headquarters transport ship on the playground?

Good morning, Miss Himeko.

While Himeko was in a daze, a gentle female voice with a hint of laughter beside her pulled Himeko back to reality.

At the same time, Himeko also saw clearly who was calling her name.

She had short, grey-gold hair, a fringe covering her left eye, wine-red pupils, and wore a maid outfit with a gentle yet polite smile on her face.

A somewhat distant memory suddenly surfaced in Himeko's mind.

"You are... Rita?"

Chapter 212 Account Subscription, But the Account Subscriber...

"I didn't expect you to still remember me, Miss Himeko. It's truly an honor," Rita replied with an unchanged smile. "It's been eight years since we last met, hasn't it?"

"Hmm... it has been eight years indeed."

Himeko looked at Rita, who had grown into a graceful young woman, and her tone couldn't help but be filled with emotion.

If it weren't for the many similarities in their appearances, Himeko would never have believed that the composed maid before her was the same timid little girl from back then.

"If I remember correctly, Rita, you were already an S-Rank Valkyrie a couple of years ago... You're a force to be reckoned with."

Obviously, even if Himeko didn't care much about what happened at headquarters, she wouldn't be unaware of something like this.

"Speaking of which, eight years ago, I returned to headquarters the day after you left, it's a pity..."

"What a pity? You didn't get to see me one last time?" Rita smiled.

"Saying it's the last time is really unlucky."

Himeko scratched her head.

"But if we're talking about regrets... there's really nothing to regret."

After a slight hesitation, Himeko took back what she had originally intended to say.

What's a pity? Of course, it's a pity that we almost brought Rita back to see Ragna.

Even though there's no surveillance around, Himeko couldn't bring herself to say it.

After all, eight years is roughly a third of Rita's life, and people are fickle.

What if Rita's first reaction upon hearing the news that Ragna is alive is not joy?

This thought silenced Himeko.

Especially Rita now...

Himeko didn't know how to describe it; she felt a little "uncomfortable" with the now more mature Rita.

"... that is, hypocrisy."

Liu Bai seemed to notice the confusion on Himeko's face and spoke up.

Rita's fake smile has been criticized by Raven and Mei several times in the future.

In the words of the Raven, "It looks friendly at first glance, but the more you look at it, the more nauseating it becomes."

"... Rita, by the way, you're 21 years old this year, right?"

"She's a grown-up now, it's normal for her to be a little scheming," Himeko comforted herself.

"Yes, looking back on these eight years, it feels like it's just been a blink of an eye."

Rita, who couldn't guess Himeko's thoughts, also showed a look of emotion.

In these eight years, I met Lady Bianka, and we even had a fantastical adventure Bianka I can no longer remember. Together we rose to the S-Rank Valkyrie, together we formed the Unfading Blade, and then there was London...

Eight years... If Lord Ragna were still alive, he would be happy for himself... right?

Rita maintained her ever-present smile, but inwardly she was sighing.