Cunning Anqi

Anqi said coldly, her fair cheeks turning slightly red, yet she stubbornly maintained an indifferent expression.

That's right, as long as I act like nothing happened, my character setting hasn't ruined!

It's just mere food, even if it flies right to my mouth, there's no way I would...

Himeko held a piece of beef closer to Anqi and said, "Ah~~"

Anqi opened her mouth: "Awoo!"

Anqi chewed the beef handed over by Himeko with a blank expression.

Three seconds later, she vanished from the chair.

Thus, according to the law of conservation of mass, a lump formed under the quilt on the bed.

"Hahaha! I'm going out for a little while, I'll come back to chat with you later."

Himeko couldn't help laughing as she left the room.

And on the bed, that lumped-up quilt was already beginning to tremble slightly.

Oh, how embarrassing.

Such a foolish person clearly isn't me, right? It must be a spy, kick her from the chat group!

Alright, alright, be serious. Embarrassing is embarrassing, but a self-sealing and awkward personality still fits my experiences in this world, mm, not really a flaw.

Relax, don't be afraid, keep insisting on the hunger strike.

That's right, endure two or three days, then pretend to faint from hunger, and next smoothly accept the goodwill and slowly cooperate with Himeko—this is the best script!

The Anqis in the theater smugly tapped their small abacuses, incidentally savoring the deliciousness transmitted through the shared sense of taste.

Only the Anqi beneath the quilt uttered a social-death whimper in the darkness.

Himeko shared the amusing event she had just experienced with Theresa.

Kiana was also at the scene because she cared about Anqi's condition.

Raiden Mei followed Kiana, and Bronya followed Raiden Mei, so the Three Great Families were all present.

"Hahahaha! What a comedic character! It's one thing to play at a hunger strike protest, but she actually botched it, hahahaha!"

Kiana clutched her belly in roaring laughter, curling up and writhing on the sofa like a restless, oversized bug.

Raiden Mei landed a light chop with the edge of her hand onto Kiana's head, saying half in reproach and half in helplessness:

"Kiana, you can't laugh at someone behind their back."

"Chop! She almost beat my pretty, cute face to the point of disfigurement, and you aren't even going to let me laugh a little?"

"Ki~a~na!"

"Yes! Whatever Mei says is right, I'll listen to Mei about everything!"

Kiana instantly clung to the side of the rice-cooker girl, hugging her arm and swaying coaxingly, looking utterly adorable.

Raiden Mei grew completely helpless, petting Kiana's head and temporarily abandoning the lecture.

Theresa watched this scene with a smile, then gave a dry cough and said with a serious expression:

"Ahem! Alright, Kiana, let go of Mei first. Mei, I suppose Himeko must have told you about that child's situation last night. So, what are your thoughts?"

"I... I'll listen to Teacher Himeko and Principal Theresa."

Raiden Mei's expression stiffened instantly as she twisted her fingers and replied weakly.

Theresa frowned and looked at Himeko.

Years of accumulated tacit understanding made Himeko catch on instantly. She turned toward Mei, speaking in her capacity as a teacher:

"Mei, you know it, that isn't what we want to hear."

"Teacher Himeko, I... I... I want to help her. Although I don't know what I can do or to what extent I can do it, I want to help her."

Amidst Himeko's encouraging gaze, Raiden Mei finally poured out her thoughts, feeling a sense of relief.

And since the topic had already been opened, and the people present were trusted partners and elders who knew the truth, Raiden Mei pressed a hand to her chest and continued:

"She's very much like me. Suddenly losing the elders and family members who protected her, encountering campus bullying, losing control amid darkness and despair... I feel like she's just another me in this world, but..."

Yet Raiden Mei was fortunate enough to meet Kiana Kaslana, who had barged recklessly into her gloomy life and illuminated Raiden Mei's world.

As for Anqi, she never met the light that saved her.

Raiden Mei stroked Kiana's head, her gaze soft and moved as she said softly:

"I already know what a Herrscher is, and I also know my unshirkable responsibility in the Changkong City incident. It was I who created a her, someone so much like me. The moment I think of that, I can't just sit by and do nothing. I am so grateful that I was able to be saved, and precisely because of that, I want to do all I can to help her... Even though I'm still very scared and at a loss, not knowing what the final outcome will be, I will strive to shoulder these things. That is what I think, Teacher Himeko!"

"Mei, you're so good. Don't be afraid, no matter what happens, I will always stay by your side!"

"Thank you, Kiana."

"Hehe, Mei doesn't need to say thank you to me. What's our relationship, right?"

Kiana hugged Raiden Mei and rubbed against her, smiling foolishly.

Himeko smiled at this atmosphere as well, giving Theresa a pre-knowing look before nodding and saying:

"You've grown, Mei. As your teacher, I am very glad. Alright, I need to go check on that awkward child. Look forward to it properly, I believe you all will become good friends."

"Yes, everything is up to you, Teacher Himeko."

Raiden Mei bowed to see Himeko off, then troubledly yet blissfully dealt with Kiana's usual excessive enthusiasm.

Amidst the peace, no one noticed that Bronya, who had been listening quietly, tightly gripped the plush arm of her Homonculus Doll, her lowered gaze carrying a hint of gloom.

A victim... of Changkong City?

Then perhaps she, too, bore a share of that sinful debt.

Chapter 9 Cunning Anqi

"Mn... an unfamiliar ceiling."

Anqi opened her eyes to see only a pink ceiling and walls. Bright sunlight streamed in through the exquisitely designed window with its exceptionally favorable lighting angle, and right beside her pillow sat a bright yellow Homonculus Doll. The entire room possessed an exquisite, cute, and warmly cozy atmosphere.

"Eh? Didn't I say this line before?"

Anqi thought with a delayed reaction.

"Whether you've said it or not, I wouldn't know, but to actually starve yourself half to death, this is truly my first time seeing it."

Himeko walked in carrying steaming white porridge, and seeing Anqi still lying motionless on the bed, she could only sigh:

"Sigh! Stubbornness should have a limit. No matter what you plan to do in the future, you have to eat first and survive, right?"

Himeko moved the white porridge in front of Anqi. The faint aroma of rice carried a strong temptation for someone who had gone hungry for days.

Yet Anqi still tried hard to maintain her character setting, remaining unmoved.

Thus, Himeko held the tray with one hand, put her other arm around Anqi to prop up her body, shifted her into a sitting position against the head of the bed, and then scooped up some rice porridge with a spoon, gently blowing on it before bringing it to Anqi's lips.

"Stop being stubborn. When we brought you to the Medical Department, everyone there shot condemning glances at me, thinking I was deliberately starving you! Even if you don't care about your own body, at least do it to save face for me, won't you? Have I mistreated you these past few days?"

Himeko maintained the spoon-feeding posture, speaking with a helpless and headache-inducing tone.

Anqi kept a wooden expression, though her heart could not help harboring a trace of guilt.

This was all deliberately engineered by her. She had intentionally fasted for a few days, and when her body truly felt starved to the limit, she relaxed the power of her Dominion Authority, allowing herself to faint.

Judging by the current treatment, St. Freya clearly lacked the technology to detect Herrschers—at least ordinary physical examinations and medical care didn't reach that level of technology.

At this, Anqi's final misgivings could finally be put to rest.

Aunt Himeko, I'm sorry. I'll find a way to compensate you later.

Anqi thought to herself, her dry lips moving as she said in a weak voice:

"What on earth do you want to do with me?"

"I'm terrified of you! To be completely honest with you, St. Freya is a school that trains Valkyries. We want you to enroll and learn how to become a Valkyrie... Even if you don't want to become a Valkyrie, at least learn how to control your power so you don't hurt innocent people or yourself in the future."

"...It's just that simple?"

"What else? If we really wanted to do something bad to you, we could've done it when we brought you here! But have you noticed any missing parts on your body?"

Himeko said with dark circles under her eyes and a face full of helplessness, pushed almost to the edge of her patience.

To think she was, after all, the second-in-command of St. Freya, the top combat force in the Far East aside from Theresa currently, someone who could even wield a greatsword to reason with the Herrscher of Thunder. Normally, when it came to observing and negotiating with wild awakened ones, when did she ever need to step in personally?

Was it not because she considered that the scene caused by Anqi's awakening was rather intense, and if she handed her over to others, she worried this child's experiences would spread and she would be ostracized by classmates in the future, that Himeko specifically carved time out of her busy schedule to accompany Anqi?

As a result, she was left alternately angered and amused by Anqi's stubbornness, and now she was physically and mentally exhausted.

Looking at Himeko's helpless and weary expression, Anqi felt an even deeper sense of guilt, and she knew that persisting up to this point was enough. Thus, she opened her mouth and quietly began to eat the porridge.

Himeko was stunned, her expression brightening the very next second as vitality returned to her face.

"Heavens above, you're finally willing to eat! If you hadn't opened your mouth I would've wanted to shove a funnel in and pour it straight into your stomach!"

"( ? ? ? ) Mn!?"

"Ahem! Just kidding! Eat slowly, you've starved for days, you can't rush it. Come on, open up, ah~~"

"Ah~"

With the intent to cooperate, one fed the porridge while the other drank it, and the scene was for a time very warm and harmonious.

A bowl of porridge was quickly emptied.

Anqi rubbed her warm stomach, while Himeko wore a look of pure emotional touching.

"That wasn't easy. It feels even harder than executing a mission!"

QAQ Yeah, it really wasn't easy, I was practically starved flat.

"Alright! Through observation, it's basically confirmed that you won't easily lose control. Therefore, you can stay here from now on. We'll chat slowly about the enrollment matter later; anyway, we won't force you, so don't worry."

Himeko gently patted the top of Anqi's head, speaking with a bright, hearty smile.

Anqi narrowed her eyes, looked up, and questioned:

"You won't force me?"

"Of course not, we're an organization that protects the world, not a terrorist group!"

"Ha! Who knows?"

"What I'm saying is true, I'm not lying to you!"

Himeko rubbed Anqi's hair with both hands, once again feeling that same helplessness from earlier. If she hadn't spoon-fed the porridge into her herself, Himeko would have thought nothing had changed at all!

"Adults all lie. You're the same, and they... are the same..."

Anqi lowered her head, the final sentence spoken in a voice so faint it was almost inaudible.

Mom and Dad in this world, and mom and dad in that world.

I'm so sorry!

Your cutest little baby Anqi is currently in a super dangerous world, and she has a super fatal identity!

To survive more safely, I have no choice but to occasionally make use of your names!

For your beloved baby Anqi, please forgive me!

The Anqis in the theater either crossed their fingers in a sign of the cross, pressed their palms together, or adopted a devout prayer posture, expressing their apologies to their parents on both sides through various methods.

As for the real Anqi, she hugged the Homonculus Doll that had originally been placed by her pillow tighter, burying her face into that fluff—and honestly, the texture was truly top-tier. It looked very likely to be a high-end collector's item treasured by Bronya!

A thought stirred in Himeko's heart, and she intuitively understood that the "they" Anqi mentioned referred to her parents who had met with disaster in Changkong City, instantly filling her with pity.

"Get some rest, don't be afraid, no one here will hurt you anymore."

Himeko said softly, her face carrying a warm, maternal radiance, before she stood up, took the empty bowl, and quietly left the room.

Pushing open the door to exit, standing before the closed door panel, Himeko turned her head and spotted the three figures who had tumbled into a heap by the doorframe like stacked arhats.

At the very top was Raiden Mei, below her was Kiana, and at the bottom was Bronya.

Probably because Himeko opened the door and caused them to lose their balance, Bronya's head had now landed solidly against the floor, her tiny body forced to bear the weight of both Kiana and Raiden Mei while unable to voice any complaints.