Thousand-Person Ruler's Personal Opinion

Beyond that, the Archbishop's authority or the righteous cause of saving the world would likely have no effect on her.

Such a person cannot be bound by common sense, but by grasping Wendy as the key point, controlling her is actually more stable and reliable than with an ordinary person.

Otto confirmed in his heart and said:

"Then let's get back to the main topic. Are you interested in going to headquarters with Wendy? Headquarters has the most advanced technology and the strongest defense forces, making it the most suitable place for special people like you to settle down. Moreover, after your rampage once, Oceania... the public opinion and interpersonal atmosphere will probably not be very friendly."

"No. I like the sunrise and sunset here."

Delta seemed to ponder for a moment, then said slowly.

Don't be silly. Before they could ensure they had the strength to fight Otto, all the Anqis were afraid to even step foot in Schicksal headquarters, let alone settle there.

They were super cooperative, okay!

Otto nodded knowingly.

"The key isn't the scenery, but the person you watch the scenery with, and the memories between you, right?"

"...The Archbishop is so long-winded."

"Haha! Alright then, Oceania is also a strategic location, and after this, headquarters will need a thorough cleanup and reorganization. With an S-rank Valkyrie like you stationed there, it can save a lot of trouble."

"S-rank?"

Delta blinked blankly.

Otto returned a calm smile.

"You risked your life to help Schicksal complete the first artificial Herrscher experiment, infiltrated and investigated, and ultimately independently purged the rebellious forces in the Oceania branch. Delta, an A-rank Valkyrie of Oceania, your abilities and contributions are outstanding. After personal review and approval by the Archbishop, you are now promoted to a new S-rank Valkyrie!"

"...Does that mean a raise?"

"A huge raise!"

"And more annual leave?"

"Except for a small number of important special missions, S-rank Valkyries can arrange most of their time freely. If you're lucky, you might even get a year-round paid vacation for several years!"

"Then what about Wendy..."

"What are you talking about? Wendy is an A-rank Valkyrie of Oceania, so she naturally needs to be stationed there long-term. Headquarters isn't short-handed to that extent!"

"Archbishop, you are wise. I am willing to go through fire and water for Schicksal!"

Delta said with a righteous expression, even forcing herself to sit up straight and shakily extending her small hand.

Otto, being very perceptive, took Delta's hand, his smile exceptionally warm.

The two parties reached a consensus, and the subsequent exchange was very harmonious.

After a full half-day, Delta finally finished this mentally exhausting conversation.

After walking out of the office, not only Delta but also the dozen or so Anqis behind her collectively breathed a sigh of relief.

'We got through it, right?'

'With the Thousand-Person Ruler not having appeared yet, he couldn't possibly imagine that the final experiment was staged. And as long as he believes this, he likely won't scrutinize other minor gaps in the background too closely.'

'We've done the best we could based on the current situation. Anyway, there seem to be no problems for now, right? Delta, continue to stay vigilant during this period, and slip away immediately if anything feels off. We've already obtained the most important gem power, so losing this identity isn't a loss!'

'Right, if you slip away, remember to take Wendy with you, lest she be captured and used as bait or something.'

'Fortunately, Wendy isn't very smart, so tricking her into wandering the world with Delta shouldn't be too difficult.'

The Anqis discussed contingency plans, even thoughtfully considering how to handle Wendy. She would probably be happy if she knew.

Delta glanced sideways at Wendy, who had somehow caught up and was now walking silently beside her wheelchair.

Then, Delta blinked in confusion.

"Why aren't you talking, Wendy?"

"I'm in a bad mood, is that not allowed?"

Wendy replied indifferently.

Having just recovered from crying and with red eyes, Wendy was indeed not in a good mood.

She had many things she wanted to say to Delta, but none of them could be spoken.

'For the current Delta, perhaps simple companionship is better than directly reopening her wounds?'

Wendy pursed her lips, reached out to gently stroke the top of Delta's head, and gradually revealed a faint, gentle smile like flowing water.

Delta blinked in confusion again, thought for a moment, and had some vague guesses. So, she tentatively asked:

"Did my thermos get lost in the mail?"

"...Are you a sentient thermos?"

"Oh, then I guess not."

Delta looked relieved and, under Wendy's exasperated and amused glare, comfortably closed her eyes.

However, just as Wendy was patting her cheeks, trying hard to improve her mood, Delta suddenly said slowly:

"Help me find an iron basin."

"Huh?"

"Ask fewer questions and do more, that's the secret to a Valkyrie's promotion. This is Delta, as the new S-rank Valkyrie, giving you, a mere A-rank, some advice. Don't be polite, this one's on the house."

"You're S-rank? You? A slacker like Delta? How is that possible!!!"

Wendy clutched her head, her fragile little heart struggling to cope.

Her dream of many years had been achieved by a slacker before her. How could anyone accept that?

In the end, she still helped Delta find an iron basin.

After returning to the room, Wendy placed the iron basin directly on the floor.

But before she could ask any questions, she saw Delta carelessly lift the bottom panel of a drawer and take out a thick, old notebook. Due to her weak and listless body, these movements were all very slow and difficult.

Wendy's heart tightened, and she forced a smile.

"Delta, why are you still hiding something like this in your room?"

"Didn't you already see it? I knew someone had tampered with my diary a long time ago. Fortunately, it wasn't those people. Whatever, it doesn't matter anymore."

Delta said nonchalantly, caressed the notebook in front of Wendy, and then tossed it into the iron basin.

Wendy's mind was in a mess, unsure whether to cover her tracks or offer comfort first. Then she heard Delta point to the machine oil and lighter on the table, instructing:

"Pour the oil, light it, burn it."

Wendy was flustered and could only follow Delta's instructions subconsciously.

"Boom~~"

Flames suddenly erupted in the iron basin, consuming the notebook and casting a faint red glow on Delta's small face.

Wendy stared blankly at the scene for a long time, then leaned down and gently hugged Delta's body.

"I'm sorry, Delta..."

"It's not Wendy's fault, you don't need to apologize."

"I'll never leave you alone again. From now on, I'll always be with Delta."

"Okay, I understand."

All the words unspoken finally boiled down to such a simple promise.

The light from the flames warmed their bodies and seemed to warm their hearts as well.

Wendy thought that Delta must be saying goodbye to that kind of past.

Then let her say goodbye. Such a past was not worth cherishing. From now on, she would protect and accompany Delta, and that would be enough.

Wendy took a deep breath, smelling Delta's comforting, faint fragrance. Her heart, which had been through so much turmoil today, finally seemed to be completely soothed.

"Cough cough!"

Then Wendy suddenly choked, completely snapping out of her affectionate and warm feelings, replaced by "The Scream.JPG".

"∑(っ°Д°;)っ Oh no! The carpet is on fire!"

"Indeed, it is on fire."

"Water, water! Where's the water!"

In Wendy's frantic rush, the machine oil she had just used to start the fire was knocked over.

She froze for a moment.

At the same time, the great fire surged uncontrollably, and rhythmic fire alarm sirens echoed throughout the dormitory building.

"Wooo~~ Wooo~~ Wooo~~"

After a period of chaos, her fellow Valkyries rushed in to put out the fire and pushed the soot-covered Delta and Wendy outside.

Wendy's eyes had lost their sparkle—It's over. My already terrible social life is completely ruined now, isn't it?

"Hahaha!"

However, Delta, also covered in soot, looked at the scene of utter chaos and billowing smoke and suddenly let out an incredibly joyous, clear laugh.

Wendy turned her head blankly, staring at the inexplicable smile blooming on Delta's little black face.

Three seconds later, Wendy simply hugged Delta tightly and watched with her as Valkyries, their faces covered in dust, went in and out. A chuckle, from somewhere unknown, rose to her throat.

"Hahahaha!"

On this day, amidst the piercing sound of the fire alarm, the two of them laughed and rolled around on the floor. Although there was an element of schadenfreude, they finally looked like two innocent little girls.

Burn it, burn it all, burn away the old and dirty things, let us all start anew, Delta!

Wendy hugged Delta's dirty yet soft body, suddenly realizing everything, her eyes overflowing with tears from laughter.

Chapter Seventy-Six: What Was Your Question Just Now?

"Burning the past and heading towards a new world? Our newly appointed S-rank lady seems much stronger and more open-minded than I imagined!"

Otto casually tossed aside the fire incident report that had just been delivered, swaying his swivel chair with interest, and then looked at the two trusted confidantes in front of him.

"Rita, your work here is done. The upcoming promotion and reassignment are matters for headquarters. You'll accompany me back this afternoon. As for Durandal, I'll have to ask you to garrison in Oceania for a while."

"Yes, Archbishop!" ×2

After Rita responded, she sighed with a hint of melancholy. Half of it was due to parting ways with Durandal, and the other half was from separating from Wendy and Delta. However, as Otto's Black Glove, duty called, and there was nothing she could do.

Don't think for a moment that the Oceania faction is the only one causing trouble within Schicksal. In fact, given Schicksal's vast scale, covering half the planet, restless elements would emerge almost daily. Therefore, Rita's work was actually extremely busy.

Of course, Durandal was completely oblivious to this melancholy. She was merely contemplating her mission with a serious expression on her small face.

Rita's gaze grew even more melancholic.

"Hm? Rita, what's wrong?"

"Nothing. I'm just glad those two lovely, delicate flowers have found each other and won't pose a threat to me."

"Hm??"

Durandal tilted her head in a dazed, cute manner.

Otto watched the scene with a smile, finding a subtle amusement in his subordinates' romantic entanglements, like his own little cabbage finally finding someone to cabbage with. Then, he picked up an urgent message from headquarters from the table, his slightly narrowed eyes flashing with sharp brilliance.

[Anti-Entropy's Siberian sector discovered mysterious ancient ruins during the construction of the East Sea Base, suspected to be relics of a previous civilization. The intelligence department is urgently investigating and verifying. Requesting instructions from the Archbishop.]

"Anti-Entropy, Cocolia..."

Otto murmured these two names softly.

Now, things were about to get interesting.

"Cocolia, I've noticed someone has been investigating World Serpent's information lately. Do you have any leads on this?"

"Huh?"

Cocolia, who was reviewing the exploration report of the Nine Nether Ruins, looked up and blinked blankly at Gray Serpent through the communicator.