Simulation: Holy Sword - Durandal

Liu Bai, somewhat annoyed, leaned over the mattress and bounced Rita a few times.

"Now it's your turn to ask questions, Ghostly Gentleman." A mere bumpy ride couldn't do anything to an S-Rank Valkyrie.

"Hmm... next question... Rita, what do you think of the job of a maid?"

"A maid?" Rita was slightly taken aback. "Ghostly Gentleman, you always ask me questions that surprise me."

"... Isn't it better than some self-proclaimed lady maid blatantly asking about a man's experience?"

"Me too, it's a 0." Rita smiled faintly. "So, Ghostly Gentleman, are you satisfied? Or would you rather make your hands on a delicate lady? Change that number?"

This is already an openly blatant temptation, but... is it really okay for an S-Rank Valkyrie to say she's weak?

"... Rita, I think you should stop calling yourself a lady in the future."

"I was only saying this to you, Ghostly Gentleman." Rita chuckled, clearly enjoying Liu Bai's embarrassment.

"Speaking of which, Ghostly Gentleman, you are my first female friend... Although you are a strange creature like a ghost, I don't really know how to get along with female friends. I can only follow what is taught in some novels, but it seems to be quite effective?"

Rita was in a great mood. Although she and Durandal had stayed up all night watching movies together before, it was a completely different feeling than this.

Because it's a heart-to-heart talk session?

Then I and Durandal should understand each other better.

... Is this what they call hormones?

Rita blushed slightly, but fortunately the lights were already off, so Liu Bai didn't notice.

"I think you should throw those kinds of novels away as soon as possible."

Liu Bai twitched the corner of his mouth.

Rita is already alluring, and with this bold and aggressive style, who can resist her?

"Without realizing it, the topic seems to have veered off course again."

Rita concealed her girlish shyness and steered the conversation back on track.

"Speaking of maids... I'm not really a maid in the true sense."

"?"

"Ghostly Gentleman, haven't you noticed that although I am proficient in everything about maids and do maid's work, I don't actually serve a 'master'?"

"Huh?"

Rita's words startled Liu Bai slightly.

"Actually, the reason I wear a maid outfit every day is because of my mentor Ragna Rodblock, who rescued me from the Honkai Beast —at that time she was wearing a maid outfit for social practice."

Rita continued to explain, a nostalgic look on her face.

"By the way, speaking of Ragna, she was the captain of the Valkyrie Schicksal Team at the time. To put it nicely, it was actually a suicide squad... Oh, right, that Miss Himeko from the Far East Branch was one of her team members. In 2010, which is seven years ago, the entire Valkyrie Assault Team was wiped out except for Murata Himeko."

Rita chuckled softly again.

"I was 15 years old then, still undergoing training at Schicksal Headquarters. I didn't become A-rank Valkyrie until I was 16, when I received the order to protect Lady Bianka... Although I really enjoy working as a maid, maybe it was also a way of commemorating Lady Ragna..."

If the entire riot squad hadn't been wiped out, she might not have accepted the order to protect Bianka and would have joined the riot squad instead.

Rita seemed to have thought of something again.

"Speaking of which... that's why I didn't kill that Miss Himeko during that rebellion war, even though I had countless opportunities... It's really a cruel twist of fate—although Lady Fu Hua also forbade me from taking her life, I never actually thought about it."

After all, Himeko was the only surviving subordinate of her savior—there weren't many people left who could still remember that a Valkyrie named Ragna once existed.

"But then again, I think I still like the profession of maid—that's probably the only thing I have in common with Lord Ragna."

A hint of loneliness crept into Rita's voice.

Assassins, assassins who specialize in carrying out hunting missions, Otto's black glove, this profession is not honorable.

In Rita's heart, Ragna was like an angel— Rita felt that if Captain Ragna were still alive, she might not be able to face her at all.

"Rita, if you saw a little girl about to be killed by Honkai Beast in the flower shop, would you save her?"

"..."

The answer is self-evident.

Even now, the Valkyrie Rita Losweisse tries her best to avoid affecting civilians when carrying out missions.

"See, isn't it still quite similar... Although it sounds a bit like preaching, I think as long as we stay true to ourselves..."

A faint snoring sound suddenly came from behind Liu Bai.

"... Really, it seems like I don't need to comfort them anymore."

Rita's compatibility +20%

Chapter 87 Simulation: Holy Sword - Durandal

"What did I just say...?"

After confirming that Liu Bai had left, Rita opened her eyes with a slightly flushed face.

"The atmosphere just now..."

The atmosphere was just too strange.

It was as if she were having a secret rendezvous with Liu Bai.

Although the maid was composed and elegant, just as she had said before, Liu Bai was her first male friend.

Rita originally intended to communicate with Liu Bai using the same method she used with Durandal, but halfway through the conversation, she inexplicably started paying attention to gender... even though the other party was just a ghost.

And...

Rita! How dare you ask about experience points?!

Wouldn't it be terrible if I were mistaken for a shameless woman?

With her head covered by the blanket, the perfect maid revealed her girlish shyness alone in the quiet of the night.

"Rita is truly powerful in every way, without any blind spots."

Liu Bai, who had drifted into the corridor, couldn't help but sigh.

To be honest, Liu Bai had inexplicably felt a sense of "love" just now... which made Liu Bai, the "single ghost," a little embarrassed.

After all, he hadn't been in many relationships, and he had never encountered a "bad woman" like Rita who was both aggressive and defensive.

... Although it really smells good

No, it's not that Liu Bai felt like he was in love or anything, it's just that Rita's "girlfriend vibe" was just too strong.

Liu Bai didn't think much of it just now, but after coming out of the room, he realized with a slight daze that the discussion just now was just like what couples do.

Moreover, Rita's behavior just now was exactly what a girlfriend in the throes of new love would do.

The previous hosts were all rather reserved. Even the most proactive one, Mobius, didn't take the initiative when he was 18. At most, he would intentionally or unintentionally use his body to seduce Liu Bai. He wanted to take the initiative when he was 28, but Fu Hua blocked him, and he didn't have a chance to "steal a bite".

Needless to say, the others were even more proactive, with Einstein, who had naturally curly hair, being the most proactive of them all.

Rita now has everything going for her.

With no one in the way, Rita's aggressiveness and charm were off the charts, and the room had a quiet, secluded atmosphere after the lights were turned off.

Moreover, although Liu Bai was a gentleman, he was still somewhat different from Liu Xiahui.

... Okay, to sum it up, Liu Bai felt that he was starting to feel romantic.

Sweet romance and all that... Liu Bai felt he should slow down a bit, otherwise if this feeling continued, he might even have already decided what to name his child by tomorrow morning.

For example, let's call him Liu... cough cough.

Moreover, the fact that Rita's compatibility increased dramatically when he left shows that Rita was just pretending to be asleep.

... This makes me feel even more ashamed.

Liu Bai even thought that if he weren't a ghost, he might be able to get to base tonight... Well, Liu Bai admitted that this idea was a bit far-fetched.

"I need to do a simulation to calm myself down."

Liu Bai sighed softly.

Although he had said he wanted to rest and save up simulation attempts, given the current situation, Liu Bai didn't want Rita's first greeting to him tomorrow morning to be something like, "Rita, our first child's name is..."

Moreover, a simulation only lasts for one day, and the situation is not yet so tense that every second counts.

However, the number of random simulation attempts for today has already accumulated, so we can only use the bonus attempts.

Einstein received the compatibility bonus twice, Rita received it once, and Tesla hasn't claimed it yet.

That is, three times.

"Let's begin the simulation... Hopefully, it'll be a slightly more relaxed and peaceful one."

Liu Bai sighed, and then the simulation panel appeared in front of him.

Looking at the words on the panel, Liu Bai suddenly froze, revealing a strange expression.

"Ha...?"

In that instant, Liu Bai felt the malice emanating from the system.

[Please note, the simulation is about to begin!]

[Simulation Location: Sea of Quanta, a certain World Bubble]

[Simulated Hosts: Bianka Atagina (Kiana Kaslana) & Rita Losweiser]

[New story segment discovered: Holy Durandal]

System, what the hell are you doing to me?

However, the system simply ignored Liu Bai.

Just tell me if you're going to simulate or not!

[Please note that during this simulation, the compatibility score of host Rita Losweiser will be temporarily set to zero. After the simulation is completed, the compatibility scores from both simulations will be added together.]

"..."

With things having come to this point, Liu Bai no choice but to resist. The scene before him quickly changed, and when it became clear again, there was a girl in a maid outfit and an even younger blonde girl in front of him.

Without a doubt, the two people in front of them were Rita, who had just become A-rank Valkyrie and was only 16 years old, and Bianka Atagina, who was four years younger than Rita and was currently twelve years old (actually fourteen) – the future Durandal.

"Phew... It seems we've arrived at our destination safely... Lady Bianka, are you alright?"

"It's okay— Rita! Just don't add 'Mr' after my name!"

Bianka now is far from being as composed and calm as she will be in the future; in every way, she's a vibrant little kid—and neither her chest nor her buttocks show any signs of future potential.

Even now, her relationship with Rita doesn't seem to be as good as it will be in the future.

In Bianka's current view, Rita is a partner that Otto inexplicably forced upon her.

Well, the relationship isn't bad, though.

"Yes, yes, Lady Bianka."

Rita, on the other hand, has remained completely unchanged in personality and future, except for a slightly more childish face and a smaller figure.

Bianka, still a young girl, twitched the corner of her mouth. Rita's seemingly easy-going but actually stubborn personality made her feel that she was difficult to deal with.

"Never mind... By the way, where are we now?"

"It's obvious, it's the seaside," Liu Bai said, seizing the opportunity.

"Who... who is it?!" The voice that appeared out of nowhere startled Bianka. "Rita, did you... did you hear that?!"

"If you mean that sudden voice..." Rita made a wary gesture.

Bianka then took out her weapon— the 2nd Stigmata, also known as the 2nd artifact in the game, a pair of dual pistols.

Both of them were now looking around warily.

"Don't be nervous, beautiful ladies," Liu Bai continued in a gentle voice. "I am just a guardian spirit, and my duty is to protect you both on this journey."

"... Were you sent by the bishop?"

Bianka looked around suspiciously.