Bianca's Turn, Once More! (Continued)

Although her personality has changed drastically, she remains conscious.

However, Mei, who understood Bronya's meaning, shook her head.

"Well... rather than saying that their consciousness is still there, it's more accurate to say that the Herrscher consciousness has retained a portion of its goodwill towards us."

Mei looked at Himeko on the communicator.

"The mission has taken an unexpected turn... Himeko- sensei, what should we do next?"

"Return to the Hyperion —I'd love to say that, but Kiana wouldn't agree, would she?"

Himeko smiled and looked at Kiana expression was complicated.

However, Himeko's expression then turned serious.

"Half an hour, you only have half an hour— Wendy has made too much of a commotion. If you can't resolve this within half an hour, the people from headquarters who are here to solve the problem may arrive. In that case, it won't be a problem that can be solved by acting cute and willful."

Half an hour is roughly Schicksal time it takes for Herrscher and deploy the S-Rank Valkyrie —or even less.

After all, Himeko couldn't be sure whether Otto had anticipated this situation.

However, the next moment, a notification sound rang on Himeko's end.

"... Well, the situation is as bad as expected."

Himeko frowned as she looked at the tablet in her hand.

"Headquarters confirmed the Herrscher's existence at lightning speed, and the S-Rank Valkyrie is already on her way... By the way, the Valkyrie arriving this time is Durandal, the Valkyrie usually wears a black military uniform and carries a lance... And unfortunately, she is currently Schicksal's strongest S-Rank Valkyrie."

"This..."

The string of bad news was a real blow to morale.

"Don't worry, the half-hour agreement is still valid... Besides, the people from Anti-Entropy might also get involved."

Himeko's mention of this cheered Mei and Bronya up considerably.

"Alright! Stop dawdling! Let's get started!"

"Yes!"

"Hmm... Bianka..."

Liu Bai exited the possession mode and expressed his feelings in private chat.

Theresa, standing next to him, raised her hand with a somewhat gloomy expression and spoke.

She was very upset about her students being used as guinea pigs.

"As for Durandal... I might be able to buy some time, but it would require our Anti-Entropy allies to make a sacrifice."

"..."

Upon hearing this, Liu Bai silently looked at Theresa.

Are we going to trick Bianka's Anti-Entropy fleet into coming for a picnic?

Are you just going to bully honest kids like this? And then you even sabotage your own allies.

"Headmistress, is it really appropriate for you to say that in front of a Valkyrie of the Anti-Entropy Attribute?"

Himeko's lips twitched slightly.

The Anti-Entropy Leader is right beside me right now, okay?

"Well... Edison rich and powerful, so he probably wouldn't care about a little loss, right?"

Theresa felt a little guilty after Himeko said that.

"What else can we do? Do you think Mei and the others are faster than Durandal, or Wendy is stronger than Durandal? Although it's a bit arbitrary to say this, based on my feeling, Wendy probably won't last more than ten moves against Durandal."

Theresa knew at least how strong Sirin was back then, and the difference was immediately apparent when comparing the two.

Can it really last ten moves?

Liu Bai had serious doubts about this.

"I'll give it a try. I met her once when we were in the orphanage."

Himeko glanced at Liu Bai's expression and immediately spoke.

"If all else fails, we can stall for as long as possible."

"... I never realized that Himeko, you have such a wide circle of friends."

Upon hearing that Himeko knew Durandal, Theresa was slightly taken aback, as if she were getting to know Himeko all over again.

"You know Rita, and you also know Durandal..."

"It's just because of someone else's success."

Himeko glanced at Liu Bai.

"Oh, Ragna, is that right... The instructor certainly has a wide network of connections." Theresa's understanding naturally shifted slightly.

"Um..."

Himeko gave a vague reply, saying that from a certain perspective, there was nothing wrong with understanding it that way.

"I'll go find her directly on a small airship aboard the Hyperion. I'll leave those little girls in your care, Headmistress."

"No problem, leave it to me."

Theresa nodded.

"Also... if Himeko, you can't hold off Durandal, selling Anti-Entropy isn't really an option."

"...for example?"

"Tell her the wrong address, so she veers off course and collides with the Anti-Entropy fleet. If she asks why she met the Anti-Entropy, tell her that the Anti-Entropy is out for a picnic."

"... Are you trying to fool me?"

Himeko looked at Theresa with a strange expression.

Going on a picnic to Anti-Entropy? Who would believe such a reason!

And why do you do this so skillfully?

"Tell me the truth, how many times have you lied to them?"

"No, not many times. If it doesn't work, we can give the coordinates of Durandal to Anti-Entropy..."

Theresa felt increasingly guilty under Himeko's gaze.

"Well, after all, it's 'Dudu'..."

Theresa's voice grew softer and softer, but then suddenly became louder.

"Anyway! Durandal is in your hands now! You have to stall for at least an hour! That's a military order!"

"Is this what they mean by 'a fool tricking an idiot'..."

Liu Bai sighed softly, and Himeko nodded in agreement.

Is this what they call a "fighting rival"?

But what has happened to Bianka these past few years that has given Theresa such a sense of intellectual superiority? Did she hit her head?

Himeko simply couldn't reconcile the word "idiot" with the lively blonde girl she once was.

"Durandal, a spaceship from the Far East Branch is approaching and has sent a signal to enter. Shall we allow it to enter?"

The crew on the airship reported.

"The other party claimed to be Murata Himeko."

Currently, there is only one Valkyrie on this airship: Bianka.

After all, when facing an enemy like the Herrscher, too many low-level Valkyrie might actually become a burden to her.

"Himeko?"

Bianka paused for a moment, and it took her two or three seconds to recall the red-haired figure from her memory.

Although she knew Himeko, it was only a brief encounter, and she wasn't as familiar with Theresa as she was.

After all, she had actually carried out missions with Theresa before, while she had only met Himeko once—of course, Himeko had met Bianka many times before.

However, Bianka wasn't the type to overthink things, and immediately nodded.

"Let her in."

With Bianka's order, Himeko's small airship successfully landed on the deck of the airship.

"Do you remember me, Miss Bianka?"

Himeko stepped off the airship and greeted Bianka with a smile.

Liu Bai's instructions to her on the way were to find an opportunity to be alone with him and leave the rest to him.

Himeko must be crazy to think she could convince Bianka; Liu Bai is the one who should handle this.

... But Liu Bai's social circle is really outrageous.

I guessed back then that he knew Rita, but I never imagined that he knew Bianka as well.

That's really well hidden...

"...Remember."

Bianka was not impressed by Himeko's enthusiasm.

... Although in a sense, the other party was the guide who led her to the path of becoming Valkyrie.

(Wow... she's really blossomed into a beautiful young woman!)

Himeko was also somewhat surprised to see Bianka like this.

(Is this really the same little girl from back then? Her development rate is already comparable to Mei's, isn't it?)

The heavy black military uniform could only barely conceal Bianka's slender figure.

The power of puberty should not be underestimated...

"It's been a long time, Himeko. Is there something you need this time?"

Bianka didn't have the habit of beating around the bush, and went straight to the point.

"Um... could we go somewhere else?"

"Change locations? Why change locations? This..."

Before Bianka could finish speaking, she felt a pair of hands gently pat her shoulder.

This feeling...

"Okay, come with me."

Bianka immediately changed her tune.

Bianka isn't inflexible; it's just that most people aren't capable of making her flexible.

After saying that, Bianka led Himeko to her bedroom on the warship.

Upon arriving at the bedroom, Liu Bai immediately possessed the Roland doll in Bianka's room.

"Hmm... I didn't expect you to put such cute dolls in your temporary bedroom, Bianka."

"Long time no see, Liu Bai."

Compared to Liu Bai's emotion, Bianca's response was much boring.

Perhaps Bianka also felt that her response was somewhat inappropriate, so she added another sentence at the last minute:

"Um... how have you been lately?"

Himeko: "..."

This girl's heart is probably in turmoil, isn't it?

It's unbelievable that someone would ask a ghost a question like "Are you feeling alright?"

Hmm... if you look at it that way, this girl is surprisingly cute.