A Birthday Present for Rita

... Never mind, not everyone is named Einstein, and a twelve-year-old girl can't be expected to understand anything.

"These kinds of vague and ambiguous things are not something I should be trying to figure out."

Bianka shouted in despair.

"It's alright, I understand." Schrödinger was already used to this situation.

This guy seems to have taught part-time for a while back in the day.

Her students must be quite troubled.

Schrödinger's statement made Bianka's face even more miserable, but the facts were undeniable, and Bianka was powerless to refute them.

"Speaking of which, back in the orphanage, my counselor criticized me—'My God! You idiot! Don't you even use your brain?'"

Bianka perfectly imitated the tone of the orphanage counselor.

"And also—'Don't believe it so quickly! Think it over before you act!'"

Well... it turns out that this orphanage counselor had a good eye for talent.

"But correspondingly, I think Bianka, your decision-making ability is excellent, and your persistence in not giving up until you hit a wall is a very valuable quality."

"I think what the guardian spirit said makes a lot of sense."

Rita nodded in agreement.

"... How come things that seem like flaws are considered rare and valuable strengths by you two?"

"Hmm... maybe Rita and I are both smart people?" Liu Bai said half-jokingly. "Smart people make decisions very complicatedly—it would be great to have someone with strong decision-making abilities by your side at this time."

"... I can't get any comfort from your words at all."

Bianka compatibility +5%

"Whether it's comforting or not doesn't matter, as long as I know you're very talented... By the way."

Liu Bai suddenly remembered something.

"Is there a counselor named Ragna at your orphanage?"

Chapter Ninety-One: A Birthday Gift for Rita

"Ragna?"

Liu Bai's question seemed to have touched on Bianka's memories.

No, it wasn't just Bianka; Rita also showed a nostalgic expression.

"No, Ragna is not my resident counselor."

Bianka shook her head. "She was just volunteering at the orphanage, kind of like a volunteer counselor."

"It seems like Lord Ragna is always doing part-time work," Rita said with a nostalgic smile.

Back then, Ragna, who rescued her from the Honkai Beast while dressed in a maid outfit, was engaging in social practice.

Bianka glanced at Rita with some surprise, seemingly not expecting that the other woman also knew Ragna.

After all, this was her first time working with Rita, and she knew very little about Rita's past, only the standard written information.

Rita, on the other hand, most likely learned about Bianka's orphanage experience from Otto, so her face showed no surprise other than reminiscence.

"Her main job at the time was a combat instructor directly under headquarters, and she also served as the captain of the Valkyrie Assault Team."

"Sounds like the head instructor of the 800,000 Imperial Guards or something," Liu Bai said half-jokingly.

Bianka rolled her eyes at Liu Bai and continued, "The Valkyrie Assault Team is the special forces, or rather, the suicide squad, of the Valkyrie. Therefore, at the beginning, we all thought she was a terrifying soldier who only emphasized discipline and training."

"I understand, you know, the kind of impression you get from a devilish drill instructor, right?"

"That's right, this is it."

Bianka nodded in agreement.

"However, unexpectedly, the tutoring program that this commando leader brought us... was a very peaceful and tranquil gardening class. To be honest, it's hard to imagine a commando leader smiling and patiently explaining flowers to us and teaching us poetry..."

Bianka looked at Shakespeare.

"It was quite a coincidence... I later learned that the poem she taught us was from Shakespeare's Sonnet No. 18."

Shakespeare rubbed his nose a little shyly. "It might sound narcissistic, but... I think it's the most beautiful poem I've ever written!"

After saying this, Shakespeare began to sing softly:

How can I compare you to summer?

You are cuter and gentler than it:

The strong wind shook the May flower buds.

Summer's footsteps have vanished in a flash:

Sometimes the light from the heavens shines too intensely.

Its dazzling golden appearance is often obscured:

Destroyed by chance or the unpredictable nature of fate.

No beauty will fade or be destroyed.

But your long summer will never end.

Your beauty will not be diminished.

Even Death is powerless against it.

When you live as long as time in immortal poetry.

As long as there are humans, or humans have eyes,

This poem will endure and give you life.

"..."

Shakespeare's softly sung poems once again stirred Bianka's memories.

But soon, Bianka's expression turned somber.

"The following year... that is, last summer, the lilies she taught us to plant all bloomed. However, she herself left this world last winter. In a fierce battle, only one person survived in the entire stormtrooper squad, and the stormtrooper squad was subsequently disbanded."

"... I'm sorry, please accept my condolences."

Shakespeare was also at a loss for words.

"Nothing."

At this time, Bianka displayed an extraordinary level of maturity.

"Actually, last spring, the survivor happened to visit our orphanage, but unexpectedly, she didn't recall much about the Stormtroopers. Instead, she was promoting a school where she taught... Yes, at the time I just thought she was using her identity to advertise for students."

Bianka was lost in her memories.

"I was naturally outraged by this behavior, but when I questioned him, this is how he answered—"

"That person's death... as her comrade-in-arms, I simply cannot accept it, but there's no benefit in making you relive that pain and sorrow. If you truly respect her and agree with her ideas, then you should go and help her achieve her dreams. Ultimately, what this world values is not empty words, but real, tangible effort."

So, not long after, I signed up for the Valkyrie training program. I did hesitate, though, about whether to go directly to the academy where that person taught... but their curriculum was too lenient; it would only be a waste of my time."

Bianka was just a hair's breadth away from becoming Kiana's senior.

In that case, it's not surprising that Bianka will become a hard worker in the future. Ragna's death and Himeko's words may have already placed a responsibility on this young girl's shoulders.

"Sorry to have you listen to my boring and sad memories... But as an active-duty A-rank Valkyrie, I've seen mountains of corpses and seas of blood! Don't underestimate me!"

Finally, Bianka brandished her fists, as if to prove her strength.

"Yes, that's the kind of spirit we need. Bianka will probably surpass that Miss Ragna in the future, right?"

"... Speaking of which, Mr. Guardian Spirit, do you also know Ragna?"

"Who knows?" Liu Bai said ambiguously.

He had a premonition that he might actually meet this assault captain in the future, who had left a deep and colorful mark on the lives of the three Valkyrie, Bianka, Rita, and Himeko.

"What kind of explanation is this...?"

Although they said that, Bianka and even Rita had already begun to suspect that Liu Bai and Ragna were related.

Rita & Bianka compatibility +10%

Rita's compatibility: 26%

[Bianka compatibility: 31%]

"Alright, alright, let's put this topic aside for now! As the captain, do you mind if I assign some tasks to you all?" Shakespeare tried to break the somewhat tense atmosphere.

"Of course, we can't just eat and drink for free on your ship."

Rita and Bianka had no objection to Shakespeare's proposal.

"By the way, is today February 29th?"

Bianka, who was helping the crew dismember the sea monster's carcass, suddenly heard Liu Bai mutter something nonsensical beside her.

"Number 29? Yes, it was indeed number 29 when we came in."

Bianka replied while working, "What's wrong? Is it some special day?"

"No, nothing's wrong today, it's just that tomorrow... um, I think it's Rita's birthday?"

Rita's birthday is March 1st.

"How did you know? She didn't tell me." Bianka looked at Liu Bai suspiciously.

"I said I didn't tell you, but you know anyway, don't you?" Liu Bai flicked Bianka's forehead.

"That's because Bishop Otto showed me Rita's information..."

"Then I'll still be your guardian spirit."

"Hmm... yes." Bianka couldn't find a reason to refute it for a moment. "Then do you know my birthday too?"

January 1st.

Bianka's birthday is really easy to remember.

"1998... no, January 1, 2001."

"What does this have to do with 1998?" Bianka pouted, taking it as a slip of the tongue by Liu Bai and not taking it to heart. "So, have you prepared a birthday present for Rita yet?"

"I have some ideas, but I'm not sure... What about you, Bianka?"

"I'm going to carve something with Leviathan's tusks... though I don't know what it will look like."

Bianka scratched her cheek, looking a little embarrassed.

"Speaking of carving..." Liu Bai suddenly looked at Bianka with an unsettling gaze. "Tell me, what if I carved a bone doll of you and gave it to Rita ..."

Are you crazy?!

Bianka spat at Liu Bai with an annoyed look, but the compatibility didn't decrease. "If you really want to be confident in your carving skills, you might as well carve Rita directly. After all, what kind of thing is it to carve me and give it to someone? People who don't know better will think it's my birthday."

"Yeah, if I were to actually do that, it would make me look like a pervert."

Liu Bai nodded. "Then I'll go inside and see if there are any suitable teeth. Bianka- chan, don't wander off."

Even if Liu Bai is incredibly skilled, he can't escape the 50-meter movement limit.

"... What a convenient ability."

Bianka muttered something with a hint of envy.

"Find one suitable for me too!"

"Here, how about this?"

Bianka and Liu Bai sneaked back to the submarine like thieves, avoiding Rita, and returned to their rooms.

Then, Liu Bai tossed a pearly white tooth to Bianka.

"I thought the teeth in the sea monster's mouth would smell even worse."