Thousand-Person Ruler's Personal Opinion

Delta spoke with the lazy expression of a capitalist.

In fact, it wasn't just okay, it was absolutely amazing.

As the Thousand-Person Ruler, when had she ever felt such surging Honkai Energy? Not to mention the powerful authority within reach! If she didn't know there were still many experts in the world who could crush her, the Anqis would be showing off right now.

Wendy squatted in front of the wheelchair, resting her chin on her hands, staring intently at Delta with her clear, beautiful eyes.

Wendy had personal experience with the terror of the Gem of Desire, so naturally, she didn't believe Delta's excuses at all.

Thus, Wendy's eyes softened, and she gently took Delta's hand, saying:

"When you wake up in pain in the middle of the night, remember to call me. I'll be there immediately to laugh at you."

"...When I become a fully-fledged artificial Herrscher, the first thing I'll do is hang you from the highest point of the base to feel the sea breeze."

"Well, if I succeed, I'll do the same."

"Wendy, I'll remember this promise."

The two smiled at each other, feeling a strong "friendship" flowing between their gazes.

Chapter 67: Prelude

Three weeks after making the promise, under the watchful eyes of Wendy and the researchers, Delta unleashed invisible and sharp wind blades, tearing the test barrier composed of 16 special alloy steel plates into pieces.

"Boom!!!"

Amidst the swirling winds, Wendy, holding back her wildly flying dark green hair from her ears, stared with wide, stunned eyes.

"How is this possible?"

When she herself carried the Gem of Desire, all she felt was a life-threatening burden. Let alone authority, she couldn't even stand.

How did Delta manage this?

Was the gap between Valkyries truly that insurmountable?

When Delta steered her wheelchair to Wendy's side at a steady pace, she saw a dazed, adorable little face filled with profound self-doubt.

Delta blinked innocently and said with pity:

"So the gem damages not only the body but also the brain. How terrifying~~"

"...Are you calling me brain-dead?"

Wendy didn't need a response to know the answer, so she immediately reached out and began to knead Delta's cheeks.

'So smooth, so soft.'

The moment she touched them, the nature of the action shifted from venting to something else entirely.

Wendy kneaded with a bright smile, ignoring Delta's increasingly displeased, dead-fish eyes.

"If I could stand, I'd definitely put you through a bone-setting technique."

"Give it up, you lazy bum! You probably wouldn't even get motivated on the day of the apocalypse, why would I be afraid of you? Take this, Wendy's secret tickling technique for Delta!"

This heartwarming and beautiful scene was finally broken by the unromantic researchers.

Wendy pushed Delta to deal with the subsequent inquiries and tests, and it took a long time before they could leave the experimental area.

"Sigh, it seems I might not be needed after all. I never expected that the brutal experiment that consumed so many resources and sacrificed so many companions would succeed with a lazy bum like you. Life is truly unpredictable."

"Are you ready to be hung up to feel the sea breeze? As a friend, I'll allow Wendy to pick out a pair of panties she likes."

"Tch! If you can really do it... I'll accept being hung up."

Wendy's voice suddenly turned low. She stopped and, from behind the wheelchair, slowly hugged Delta's small body.

Delta froze for a moment, then turned her head, only to see Wendy's eyes reddened, trying hard to hold back tears as she looked at her.

"Hey, with that pouting face, are you jealous of me or just hungry?"

"No! Do you know how terrifying Herrscher gems are? I've carried it for over half a year... I'm so scared, Delta."

"You don't have to now..."

"That's precisely why I'm scared! I wish it were me, I wish it were myself, do you understand?"

Wendy clutched a lock of Delta's hair, her small hands trembling, her fingers turning red from the pressure.

This was a topic Delta couldn't explain.

She couldn't tell Wendy that she was a Herrscher herself, nor that the Gem of Desire posed no threat to her.

All Delta could do was gently stroke Wendy's face, showing a rare gentle smile, and quietly look at her teary eyes.

After a long while, Wendy wiped her tears and managed a smile, saying:

"Don't look, it's so embarrassing. Crying like this as a Valkyrie, you'll definitely laugh at me every day from now on!"

But being able to be together and be laughed at every day was Wendy's greatest dream at the moment.

Delta chuckled silently, silently reciting her apologies in her heart, and sighed helplessly.

Wendy pushed the wheelchair, continuing on the road home. At this moment, she only wished this road could be longer, and that the date of the next experiment could be postponed, even just a little, and she would be eternally grateful to the gods above.

Two weeks later, the Oceania branch conducted an experiment to transfer the Gem of Desire from Delta's shinbone to her thighbone.

Wendy hadn't smiled all day until Delta, in her wheelchair, slowly rolled out of the laboratory and waved at her with a face as pale as paper.

"You... um... is there anything you want to eat tonight? How about I cook for you?"

"Hm? Are you a better cook than the cafeteria chef?"

"Idiot! At a time like this, you should nod gratefully!"

"Alright, alright, Wendy decides."

Delta slumped bonelessly in her wheelchair, her eyes almost completely closed, her voice filled with a weak, listless tone.

Wendy couldn't tell if this was her usual lethargy or if the Gem was further eroding Delta's body. But Wendy didn't dare to ask. She could only tremble uncontrollably, walking silently and shedding tears.

After this, Wendy moved into Delta's room and slept with her.

Just like when Wendy was the one limping and Delta was still healthy, Delta had moved into Wendy's room without consulting her.

In subsequent tests, Delta displayed even stronger Herrscher powers.

Thus, the experiment was escalated, and the Gem of Desire was moved from her thighbone to her pelvis.

Delta was injured for the first time during the experiment. It wasn't related to the Gem; it was purely the researchers' crude work that left a gruesome scar on her waist and abdomen.

That night, Wendy cheerfully cleaned Delta's body, who couldn't move at all. But in the dead of night, she hid under the covers and cried all night long.

Later, the researchers excitedly delivered good news to Delta:

"Archbishop Otto highly commends our experimental progress! Listen up, for the final step of the experiment, the complete integration of the Herrscher Gem into the body, headquarters will be coming to observe! This means Archbishop Otto will witness our success! The schedule is set for one month from now, so prepare yourself. We will definitely succeed!"

"Bang!"

Before the messenger's astonished eyes, Wendy expressionlessly crushed the armrest of the wheelchair.

"You..."

"If there's nothing else, get lost. We're busy right now."

"Ah? Oh, okay. Anyway, you two should rest well during this time and be prepared. Don't mess up when the time comes."

The messenger wanted to say a few more words, but under Wendy's gloomy gaze, he finally quickened his pace and left.

Delta gently touched Wendy's hand.

The warm, smooth, familiar touch gradually dispelled Wendy's gloomy expression.

Delta said:

"You're worried about me?"

"..."

"Why aren't you speaking?"

"Delta, let's refuse the experiment, okay?"

Wendy forced a smile and held Delta's hand.

Delta shook her head.

"You know, we can't refuse."

"If you can't refuse, then why did you come here! You, who are content with mediocrity and only seek comfort, why participate in a Herrscher experiment? Why not go to a remote branch and be a logistics Valkyrie? Why did you come here, you idiot!"

Wendy collapsed to her knees beside the wheelchair, crying out loudly.

Seeing the experiment escalate step by step, seeing Delta grow weaker each time. Although Delta never complained of pain, in Wendy's eyes, it was an undeniable fact.

She felt like she was watching Delta walk into a sea of knives and flames, watching everything around her—even herself—pushing Delta towards the scythe of death.

"How can you make me... do this..."

"Don't... Delta... don't go!"

"I'm begging you, let's stop here, or let me do it! I can do it, I've fully recovered, I definitely can! Yes, I'll go find them to switch people right now!"

Wendy stood up, intending to leave the room.

Then, she was lightly hooked by the corner of her clothes by Delta.

It was such a weak grip, a gust of wind could probably blow it away, but precisely because of that, it was like unbreakable steel, making Wendy unable to move an inch.

"Why participate in the experiment... How should I put it, I have things I want to do too. I don't want to leave, I want to continue. Don't worry, I absolutely, absolutely won't die. I promise you, Wendy."

Her incredibly gentle voice, carrying a certainty Wendy couldn't understand, felt like a web of silk and iron binding Wendy's trembling heart.

I probably will never forget this day.

Wendy thought this, turned back, and faced Delta with a tear-streaked, disheveled face.

After a long while, Wendy forced an ugly smile, squatted down, and carefully hugged Delta, as if holding a treasure that could shatter at any moment.

Finally, Wendy nodded.

"Okay... I'll go with you..."

"Thank you, Wendy, you're my best friend."

"You too, Delta..."

So, please, change your mind. If you change your mind, I'll do anything for you, Delta.

Wendy closed her eyes painfully, unable to breathe at that moment.

Chapter 68: Delta's Private Little Diary DA☆ZE

Beneath the blue sky and white clouds, an invisible transport ship was rapidly slicing through the sky, speeding towards New Zealand across the ocean.

Inside the comfortable and luxurious cockpit, Rita Rossweisse added drinks for the golden-haired girl and the golden-haired youth sitting opposite each other. For the girl, she prepared refreshing and delicious sparkling water, and for the youth, she prepared high-quality cola from '82, deep red in color.

"Black tea will be fine, thank you."

Otto Apocalypse said without looking up, flipping through a diary.

Rita secretly lamented but replaced the drinks as instructed, while also thoughtfully placing a straw in Durandal's sparkling water.

Durandal then held the straw in her mouth, took a sip of sparkling water, and then, with some hesitation, said to Otto:

"Archbishop Otto, is it necessary for us to be so solemn? If it were just me and Rita, that would be one thing, but you are a person of immense importance. Do you need to go directly to the site of such an experiment?"

Durandal wasn't worried about Otto getting into trouble. First, she had confidence in her and Rita's strength. Second, she knew a thing or two about Otto's countless backup lives.

However, the authority of an Archbishop needed to be carefully maintained. The Herrscher experiment in New Zealand was unprecedented, with too many variables. Durandal believed Otto was not suited to appear in such a situation.

Otto continued to focus on flipping through the diary, saying with a calm smile:

"Durandal, Rita, the significance of this experiment is far greater than you imagine. It is very necessary for me to witness it personally."

"?" x2

As his two trusted subordinates looked on in confusion, Otto provided an explanation while still reading his book.