What Was Your Question Just Now?

Besides that, neither the Archbishop's authority nor the grand cause of saving the world would likely have any effect on her.

Someone like that could not be restrained by conventional means, but as long as Wendy remained the key point of leverage, she would actually be more stable and reliable under control than most people.

Otto steadied himself and said,

"Then let's return to the main topic. Are you interested in going to headquarters with Wendy? Headquarters has the most advanced technology and the strongest defenses. It is the most suitable place for someone as special as you to settle down. Besides, after your rampage... the public opinion and interpersonal atmosphere in Oceania probably won't be very friendly."

"No. I like the sunrises and sunsets here."

Delta seemed to consider it for a moment before answering slowly.

Give me a break. Before they had the power to stand against Otto, the Anqis would be terrified to even set foot inside Schicksal headquarters, much less live there.

They were extremely risk-averse, okay!

Otto nodded knowingly.

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

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

"Haha! Very well, then. Oceania is also a strategic location. After this, headquarters will need to thoroughly clean up and reorganize the place. With an S-Rank Valkyrie like you stationed here, it will save us quite a bit of trouble."

"S-Rank?"

Delta blinked blankly.

Otto answered with an unhurried smile.

"You risked your life to help Schicksal complete the first Artificial Herrscher experiment. You then infiltrated the enemy, investigated them, and ultimately purged the rebellious forces in the Oceania Branch on your own. Delta, a-rank Valkyrie of Oceania, your abilities and contributions are exceptional. Having been personally reviewed and approved by the Archbishop, you are hereby promoted to the new S-Rank Valkyrie!"

"...Does that come with a raise?"

"A huge one!"

"More annual leave?"

"Other than a small number of major critical missions, S-Rank Valkyries may arrange most of their own time. If you're lucky, you might even spend several years on paid leave!"

"Then Wendy..."

"What are you talking about? Wendy is Oceania's a-rank Valkyrie. Naturally, she must remain stationed in Oceania long-term. Headquarters isn't so short on personnel that we need to take her away!"

"Your Excellency the Archbishop is wise. I am willing to brave fire and water for Schicksal!"

Delta spoke with righteous solemnity. She even struggled to sit up straight and shakily held out her little hand.

Otto tactfully took Delta's hand, his smile exceptionally warm.

With that, the two sides reached an agreement, and the conversation that followed was quite harmonious for a time.

It took nearly half a day before Delta finally finished that exhausting conversation.

After leaving the office, not only Delta but also the dozen or so Anqis behind her let out a collective sigh of relief.

We should have gotten through that, right?

With the Thousand-Person Ruler yet to appear, he couldn't possibly imagine that final experiment had been staged. As long as he believed that, he probably wouldn't investigate the other minor gaps in the background too closely.

We've already done the best we could based on the actual situation. There doesn't seem to be any problem for now, right? Delta should stay alert for a while. If anything feels wrong, run immediately. We've already secured the most important power of the gems, so even if we lose this identity, it won't be a loss!

Right, if we run, remember to take Wendy with us. We can't let her get captured and used as bait or something.

Fortunately, Wendy isn't exactly the sharpest tool in the shed. It shouldn't be too hard to talk her into wandering the world with Delta.

The Anqis discussed backup plans just in case, even thoughtfully considering what to do with little Wendy. Surely she would be happy once she found out, right?

Delta glanced sideways at Wendy, who had somehow come up beside the wheelchair and was silently walking alongside her.

Then Delta blinked in confusion.

"Why aren't you saying anything, Wendy?"

"Am I not allowed to be in a bad mood?"

Wendy replied blandly.

Having only just recovered from crying until her eyes were red, Wendy was indeed not in high spirits.

She had many things she wanted to say to Delta, but none of them could leave her lips.

For the Delta of today, perhaps simply staying by her side would be far better than tearing open her wounds directly.

Wendy pressed her lips together, reached out to gently stroke Delta's hair, and gradually revealed a soft smile as gentle as water.

Delta blinked in confusion again. After thinking for a while, she vaguely came to a guess. Then she asked tentatively,

"Could it be that my thermos delivery got lost?"

"...Did you turn into a thermos or something?!"

"Oh, then I guess that's not it."

Looking relieved, Delta comfortably closed her eyes beneath Wendy's exasperated yet amused glare.

However, just as Wendy patted her cheeks and tried her hardest to calm down, Delta suddenly said slowly,

"Find me an iron basin."

"Hm?"

"Ask fewer questions and do more work. That is the secret to becoming a Valkyrie. As the newly promoted S-Rank Valkyrie, Lady Delta is offering you, a mere little a-rank, some guidance. Don't mention it. That one was free."

"You became S-Rank? You? A salted fish like Delta? Why?!!!"

Wendy clutched her head with both hands. Her fragile little heart could not quite take it.

A dream she had pursued for years had suddenly been achieved first by a salted fish. Who could accept that?

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

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

But before she could ask anything, she saw Delta casually lift the false bottom of a drawer and take out a thick old notebook. Because her body was limp and weak, every movement looked slow and difficult.

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

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

"Didn't you already read it? I noticed a long time ago that someone had touched my diary. Fortunately, it wasn't those people. Forget it, none of it matters anymore."

Delta spoke carelessly. In front of Wendy, she stroked the notebook once, then tossed it into the iron basin.

Wendy's mind instantly became a tangled mess. She did not know whether she should cover it up first or comfort Delta first. Then she heard Delta point at the motor oil and lighter on the table and instruct,

"Pour the oil. Light it. Burn it."

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

"Whoosh~~"

Flames suddenly flared up in the iron basin, swallowing the notebook and casting a faint red glow over Delta's little face.

Wendy stared blankly at the scene. After a long while, she bent down and gently wrapped her arms around Delta.

"I'm sorry, Delta..."

"It wasn't Wendy's fault. You don't need to apologize."

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

"Okay. I understand."

When the time came, all the countless words in their hearts were reduced to such a brief promise.

The firelight warmed their bodies, and it seemed to warm both their hearts as well.

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

Then let it go. That past was not worth longing for. From now on, she would protect and accompany Delta. That would be enough.

Wendy took a deep breath, breathing in Delta's faint, reassuring scent. The tumultuous heart she had carried all day finally seemed to have been completely soothed.

"Cough, cough!"

Then Wendy suddenly choked, snapping completely out of her tender affection and warmth. In its place was a screaming JPG.

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

"It is indeed on fire."

"Water, water, water! Where is the water?!"

In her frantic scrambling, Wendy knocked over the motor oil they had just used to start the fire.

She froze for a moment.

At the same time, the blaze surged up uncontrollably, and rhythmic fire alarms began blaring throughout the entire dormitory building.

"Wooo~~ Wooo~~ Wooo~~"

After a chaotic scramble, the Valkyrie colleagues in the building rushed in to put out the fire, then shoved the soot-faced Delta and Wendy outside.

The light had vanished from Wendy's eyes—It's over. My already terrible relationships are beyond saving now, aren't they?

"Hahahaha!"

Yet Delta, equally bedraggled and filthy, looked at the chaotic scene filled with smoke and suddenly burst into bright, carefree laughter.

Wendy turned her head woodenly and stared at the inexplicable smile blooming across Delta's pitch-black little face.

Three seconds later, Wendy simply hugged Delta tightly. Together, they watched Valkyries with soot-covered faces rush in and out, while an inexplicable laugh rose to Wendy's throat.

"Hahahahaha!"

That day, amid the piercing fire alarm, the two laughed until they rolled into a ball in the corridor. Though there was a hint of gloating in it, they finally looked like two innocent little girls.

Burn it, burn it. Burn away all those old, filthy things. Let us both start over, Delta!

Wendy held Delta's dirty yet soft body and suddenly understood. She laughed until tears spilled from the corners of her eyes.

What Was Your Question Just Now?

"Burning away the past and running toward a new world? It seems our newly appointed S-Rank miss is far stronger and more open-minded than I imagined!"

Otto casually tossed aside the fire report that had just been delivered. He spun his office chair with interest, then looked toward the two trusted generals before him.

"Rita, your work has come to an end. The following promotions and transfers are headquarters' responsibility. Return with me this afternoon. As for Durandal, I'll need to trouble you to remain stationed in Oceania for a while."

"Yes, Bishop!" ×2

After responding, Rita let out a resentful sigh. Half of it was because she would be separated from Lady Durandal, and the other half was because she would be separated from Wendy and Delta. But as Otto's black glove, she had responsibilities to fulfill and no other choice.

Do not think that the Oceania group was the only one in Schicksal looking to cause trouble. In truth, with Schicksal's enormous scale covering half the planet, unruly elements surfaced almost every day. Rita's work was therefore extremely busy.

Naturally, Durandal was completely unaware of Rita's resentment. She was merely thinking seriously about her assignment.

As a result, Rita's gaze became even more resentful.

"Hm? Rita, what's wrong?"

"Nothing. I am merely glad that those two adorable, delicate flowers already belong to each other and pose no threat to Rita."

"Hm??"

Durandal tilted her head with a blankly adorable expression.

Otto watched the scene with a smiling gaze, taking a subtle sort of amusement in his subordinates' romantic troubles, as though his own little cabbage had finally learned to root around for another little cabbage. Then he picked up an urgent message from headquarters from the table, sharp light flashing in his narrowed eyes.

Anti-Entropy discovered a mysterious ancient ruin while constructing East Sea Base in the Siberia Region. It is suspected to be a Previous Civilization site. The intelligence department is conducting an urgent investigation and verification. Please provide instructions, Bishop.

"Anti-Entropy, Cocolia..."

Otto quietly repeated those two names.

Now things were about to become interesting.

"Cocolia, I discovered that someone has recently been investigating information about World Serpent. Do you have any leads?"

"Huh?"

Cocolia, who had been reading the survey report on the Nine Nether Ruins, looked up and blinked blankly at Gray Serpent through the communicator.