Tachibana Yuki Worries About the Country and Its People

Playful blowing of bubbles made the steam before Tachibana Yuki's eyes thicker, masking the gaze she cast toward the gazebo.

Afterward, as if she had noticed nothing, she leaned lazily and listlessly against the edge of the pool, muttering:

"Lord Cocolia's commission... should I stall for another two days? Ah, how annoying. I have no idea what kind of personalities they have, and the only one I could look up was Raiden Mei, who used to be an unapproachable ice queen. With my scrawny little arms and legs..."

"What did Cocolia Mom make you do?"

"It's nothing much, really, just..."

Tachibana Yuki pinched the soft flesh of her own arm, replying offhandedly, and suddenly turned her head mid-sentence.

There, she saw a diminutive girl with a cold, expressionless face floating impassively above the water. Two fluttering curly drills were bound by black bows on either side of her head, and she wore a pair of large purple gemstone earrings. Most striking of all, however, were the slender legs beneath her short skirt encased in exoskeleton gear—cyberpunk, stoic loli, it was none other than our beloved Princess Bronya.

"Uhm, good evening. Care to soak together?"

Tachibana Yuki pinched her arm flesh and said blankly.

Though she had long since sensed Bronya's covert observation, seeing her exquisite cuteness up close still took her breath away.

Bronya calmly met Tachibana Yuki's expression, slightly surprised by her dazed and naive reaction, yet she remained poker-faced as she said:

"Pardon the intrusion, but Bronya is rather concerned about Cocolia Mom's plan. If you don't mind, please tell Bronya what kind of orders Cocolia Mom gave you."

"Oh, that. It's really nothing. She just had me hand over a communicator to you... By the way, can Valkyries fly? That's so amazing!"

Tachibana Yuki spoke, cautiously reaching out a hand to gingerly touch the water beneath Bronya.

Naturally, she touched nothing at all.

Her expression thus grew even more awestruck, gazing at Bronya with sparkling eyes.

Say, it looks like none of us have ever seen Heavy Cannon Rabbit!

Stand: Heavy Cannon Rabbit 19C!

Stand Awakening: Reason Motorcycle!

Requiem: Herrscher of Truth!

I'm really, really high right now!

Feeling slightly uncomfortable, Bronya shifted her gaze away. Though logic told her that Tachibana Yuki was simply marveling at her abilities, some inexplicable intuition whispered to Bronya that it might be more than that.

"Ahem! Cocolia Mom only had you deliver a communicator? Are you sure?"

"Right, there was also a message. She said she knew you didn't want to contact her, but at least make time to reach out to your sisters at home; they miss you very much. Something like that."

"I... see. Is there really no other plan?"

Bronya's voice paused for a fraction of a second, her flat eyes involuntarily softening a fraction.

Indeed, she considered herself nearly estranged from Cocolia and unwilling to initiate contact. But Rosaliya, Liliya, and An. were different. Even if there had been various petty conflicts in the past, they were now truly family. Breaking ties with Cocolia did not mean abandoning her other family members.

Tachibana Yuki scooped warm water over her arm, nurturing her snow-white skin as she said with poised ease:

"I already told you, my coming here this time was mainly of my own accord, and it doesn't have much to do with Lady Cocolia. Of course, I did seek her consent beforehand, and in the end, she only had me pass the communicator on to you. That's all."

"Then what is it that you want to do?"

"What I hope for is that the events of Changkong City never happen again."

"Huh?"

Bronya's pupils constricted.

Meanwhile, Tachibana Yuki leaned against the edge of the pool, playing with her hands in the water as she let out a long sigh.

"Alas! The Far East has a population of 130 million, and until a few years ago, it was the world's second-largest economy. This narrow island nation possesses an enviable abundance of resources—talent, finance, technology, logistics, and so much more. How fortunate we are to be simultaneously favored by Anti-Entropy and Schicksal... And then, Changkong City was destroyed, and tens of millions of ordinary people suffered unbearable disaster. Where do you think the problem lies, Miss Bronya?"

"..."

Bronya was left speechless.

The direct factor in the fall of Changkong City was Raiden Mei awakening as the Herrscher of Thunder.

Yet the root cause lay in Cocolia's series of manipulations, among which was the part Bronya herself had aided.

Bronya did not know how heavy this sin truly was, but she knew it was a debt she could never repay in this lifetime.

And this liability also included Anqi, who now trusted and grew close to her.

Bronya's gaze flickered before its luster finally dimmed, and she simply clenched her fists in silence.

Observing her reaction, Tachibana Yuki felt similarly complex and inexpressible emotions, but prioritizing her mission to establish her persona, she continued:

"Anti-Entropy's main force is beyond reach, and Schicksal's branch hangs in isolation overseas. The Far East, seemingly under double protection, is actually just a sacrificial pig that no one cares about! All the two organizations want are our manpower, material goods, and financial resources; none of them have ever genuinely protected us! The disaster of Changkong City must never be repeated. This nation cannot endure it, and its citizens cannot either. For this, I must take action!"

"...Then, do you... know that the Changkong City incident actually had to do with Cocolia Mom?"

Bronya said with a heavy gaze.

Hearing this, she thought that the Tachibana Yuki before her was probably a good person.

Yet Cocolia struck Bronya as a rather ruthless individual, and it would be best for Tachibana Yuki to be on her guard; otherwise, it wouldn't be strange if she were harmed one day.

At this, Tachibana Yuki smiled, then shook her head bitterly:

"How could I not know? Although I am far from qualified to know the plans of those big figures, the Tachibana Family is, after all, the head of Lady Cocolia's pawns in the Far East. Around the time of the Changkong City incident, we could still observe some of Lady Cocolia's moves."

"If you're dissatisfied with Cocolia Mom and that's why you came to St. Freya, you'd better take some precautions. Cocolia Mom... frankly speaking, is dangerous."

"You might want to look over there."

In response to Bronya's kindly warning, Tachibana Yuki pointed toward the empty ground nearby.

Following her gaze, Bronya saw the silhouette of a massive mecha materialize.

"Even though Lady Cocolia is not in the Far East, her eyes and guns have always been with me. Speaking ill of her in front of this fellow, Lady Cocolia will hear it, Miss Bronya."

"That's the truth, and Bronya would say the same to anyone. But since a Titan is following you, it means this trip of yours truly has Cocolia Mom's approval... Yet why? What scheme is she hatching again?"

Bronya knitted her slender brows, growing increasingly suspicious and wary.

The last time Cocolia schemed, she destroyed Changkong City and turned all of them into unforgivable villains. What about this time? Condoning Tachibana Yuki's contact with St. Freya must involve some incredible plot, right? Was she trying to deal with Principal Theresa, or did she still harbor designs on Big Sis Mei?

Bronya couldn't guess it, feeling only a heavy weight in her chest.

Tachibana Yuki appreciated Bronya's tangled and suspicious reaction. Though there wasn't much change in expression, the varied flickers of light in those gray pupils were already exceptionally entertaining.

Such a dark sense of humor!

Shut up, you guys! I'm not doing anything bad; isn't it fine to just appreciate the sight?

Ah, they say teasing little girls really is addictive.

Little duckling~ So cute~~

Tachibana Yuki cupped her face in her hands, took a deep breath, and revealed a satisfied smile.

Regarding the twenty-seven missing chapters, well, I suppose there is no need for explanation; everyone knows the reason. In any case, everything marked in red has been deleted, so it should pass review. Otherwise, I really don't know what else to say. Wishing everyone good health. 5

Chapter 35: Tachibana Yuki Worries About the Country and Its People

Bronya eventually departed, floating away before Tachibana Yuki's eyes with the communicator she had been asked to deliver, alongside a belly full of misgivings and a heavy heart.

Afterward, Tachibana Yuki flung her arms wide, her legs kicking leisurely beneath the water.

Exquisite maids crowded around with fine wine, pouring cups and tending to her body. Closing her eyes, Tachibana Yuki raised the corners of her lips in a faint curve, looking just like an extravagant and decadent ancient monarch.

Meanwhile, in Himeko's room, Anqi pulled out her phone right in front of Himeko and Theresa, searching for information on Tachibana Yuki.

"Hey, autistic little girl, are you interested in that person?"

Theresa wore a short white skirt, lying prone on the tatami bed as her snow-white legs, extending from beneath pink pumpkin shorts, lazily kicked and swung.

Anqi glanced sideways at her, then went back to scrolling through the news on her phone.

"I remember her. This person did a lot to help the disaster victims of Changkong City... Yes, there are lots of news articles like this. If I weren't at St. Freya, I could have collected her relief aid too."

"A good person, probably."

Anqi murmured, rendering her evaluation.

As one of the victims of Changkong City, speaking a kind word for a philanthropist who aided the city was completely normal. But to Theresa and Himeko, who believed they were concealing the truth, these were by no means weightless words.

Theresa's expression stiffened for a split second before she grinned and sidled up to Anqi, looking at her phone as she said:

"Oh, it looks real enough. Maybe she really is a good person."

"Principal, do I really have to wait until graduation to become an A-rank Valkyrie?"

"Not necessarily. If your performance is exceptionally stellar and you complete a few more weighty missions, doing it a bit early is possible. After all, it's not like St. Freya has never had genius Valkyries who reached A-rank before graduation... Why'd you suddenly ask that?"

"Once I reach A-rank, I can apply to unlock the classified files of Changkong City and find out what happened there, right?"

Anqi lowered her phone, her pair of purple glass-like eyes staring straight at Theresa.

Theresa felt a knot in her chest.

How was she supposed to answer that?

What now? Seeing how persistent yet trusting Anqi looked, the guilt in her heart only deepened!

Fortunately, Himeko stepped in at the right moment, placing a hand on Anqi's head with a speechlessly exasperated look.

"You little rascal are reaching too high! Do you know what A-rank standards are like? Your teacher here went through countless battles, crawling out of hell time and time again just to earn an A-rank rating! For over ninety percent of Valkyries, B-rank is the absolute limit. It's not that simple!"

"Himeko is so naggy. I'm a genius; I'll definitely be much faster than Himeko!"

"Hey now, you stinky brat, you dare talk back to me? Taste my Driller!"

Looking provoked, Himeko hooked her arm around Anqi's small head, clenching both fists to drill into her temples from either side.

"Ow ow ow! I hate Himeko!"

"Stinky kid, keep yapping and I won't cuddle you to sleep tonight!"

The two of them frolicked and wrestled, yet gradually, both of their faces bloomed with smiles.

After playing around for a while, the two simply lay down on the tatami mat, naturally embracing one another.

Himeko held Anqi's petite body, the smile on her face slowly fading. Anqi nestled against Himeko's chest, her hands clenching tightly in secret.

This child already trusts me this much, and yet I...

Big Sis Himeko clearly trusts me this much, and yet I...

That night, the two individuals burdened with guilt held each other very tightly as they fell into a deep sleep.

Early the next morning, Bronya held a private meeting with Himeko and Theresa, laying out all her doubts and suspicions one by one.

"To sum it up, Bronya believes Tachibana Yuki probably didn't approach us with malicious intentions. However, what Cocolia Mom is plotting is something Bronya cannot guess either. We must remain careful, especially regarding Big Sis Mei's safety."

At this, Bronya involuntarily reached up to touch the back of her head, the look in her eyes growing somewhat desolate.

Cocolia had used a brain chip to help Bronya control her exoskeleton, allowing her disabled legs to possess greater mobility than a normal person's when needed. But at the same time, it also allowed her to directly control Bronya's body when necessary.

During the Changkong City incident, Bronya had thus been controlled to carry out missions for a time.

Bronya was quite certain that if Cocolia intended to execute some sort of conspiracy next, she would inevitably control her once again.

"Don't worry, the Far East is our territory after all, and running amok won't be that easy. Changkong City caught us off guard with an information gap, but now, she won't be able to do as she pleases."

"Mm, Bronya believes Teacher Himeko, and she believes everyone."

"That's right. Don't be afraid; go on vacation as you should! Kids should act like kids! As for other matters, leave the worrying to us adults!"

Himeko pinched Bronya's cheek, smiling as she shooed her away.

Afterward, Himeko turned to look at Theresa, who was frowning in thought.

"Park the Hyperion suspended above the city, and prepare Crimson Impulse as well."

"Eh? Is that necessary? Aren't I still right here? Don't tell me you're afraid that old fox can pull out a power capable of rivaling an S-rank?"

"Just in case. Being prepared to fight a Herrscher of Thunder all over again is never the wrong move."

"Since you put it that way, fine. Anyway, it's just a bit of fuel cost; consider it taking out insurance."

Theresa sent the instructions to the academy's command.