As he worked, he casually asked, "So here's the question: assuming she was connected to that person, had you ever noticed any signs before?"
"..."
Kiana silently stared at the bottle as bubbles rose one by one, only to burst across the surface.
"So, you should think of it this way: to achieve your goal, you need strength. If A-rank isn't enough, become S-rank. If that still isn't enough, keep getting stronger.
"If strength isn't enough, gain more knowledge. If knowledge isn't enough, gain more experience...
"Surely he wouldn't stay hidden even after his daughter became the center of the world's attention, right?"
Kiana seemed to have figured something out, and her expression brightened completely.
Then she stood up and darted into the bathroom.
At that moment, Bai Yan was submerged in bubbles, with only his head exposed as he craned his neck to drink cola.
Kiana stared at Bai Yan with sparkling eyes.
Bai Yan stretched out a hand and flung the water high, splashing it all over her face. Only then did she obediently crouch in front of the bathtub, face-to-face with him.
"Xiao Yan, does your brother look like you?"
"Yes."
"Hey, hey, I heard he's pretty famous at Headquarters."
The corner of Bai Yan's mouth twitched, but in Kiana's eyes, it became a Mona Lisa-like smile.
He was indeed rather famous.
He had high Collapse Energy adaptability, normal behavior, and good looks. Even Otto could only claim two of those.
And Bai Yan frequently appeared in their field of view. Every major mission involved him in the logistical preparations and cleanup.
The Valkyries' greatest regret was not that Bai Yan lacked combat ability, but that Rita had already marked him as hers.
How many people would actually dare to treat Rita as nothing more than a maid?
"I'd only heard about him before. It was only recently that I learned from Teacher Himeko that he was your brother. But once I thought about how that guy looked a lot like Xiao Yan, I understood."
"Why bring this up all of a sudden?"
"Actually, someone mentioned him in passing when we were talking about Schicksal's strongest."
She still had not forgotten her original dream: to become Schicksal's strongest Valkyrie.
"Xiao Yan, how much do you know about Durandal?"
He knew her far too well.
"A little."
"Is she really as strong as the rumors say?"
"...Those rumors exist because people don't understand her."
"I see." Kiana felt relieved.
"If they understood her, they wouldn't be spreading such conservative rumors."
"Huh?"
"Don't aim too high. If you really want to beat her, start with a small goal—like beating the class monitor once."
Only to the point of sparring, of course.
As long as the class monitor did not go all out, everyone was still brothers in the beginner's pool.
"Oh..."
Yet Kiana showed no disappointment at all. Instead, her face was full of defiance.
Bai Yan laughed to himself. After getting instantly defeated a few times, she would settle down.
"Alright, I've soaked enough. Get out first."
"We're both girls, Xiao Yan. You're way too shy."
"Go, go, go."
Splash.
Water flew everywhere, driving the girl back again and again until she retreated from the bathroom and no longer dared cross the line.
"So you really were embarrassed... Mmph! Mei?!"
Theresa Was Ambushed
Raiden Mei looked into the bathroom.
By then, Bai Yan had already dried himself at lightning speed, changed into pajamas, and walked out while toweling his hair.
"Mei?"
"It's nothing. Kiana wasn't in the room, so I came out to look for her. I've found her now."
Raiden Mei left with Kiana.
Bai Yan carried half a bottle of soda back to his room.
After drying his hair, he deliberately listened by the door for a while. Only after confirming there was no one outside did he take out the mosquito coil.
Hyperdimensional Space.
Jingliu leaned against a massive rock and watched the full moon for a while. Only when Bai Yan approached did she lower her gaze toward him.
"How was it?"
"I tried it today. The effect was decent, but I still felt a slight obstruction. Otherwise, One Sword Startling Swan could have blocked the opponent's vision for longer."
Jingliu nodded. "You only just comprehended it. That is normal."
As she spoke, she crouched down and lightly brushed a hand across the water's surface.
Light and shadows swayed across Jingliu's face, outlining the swordswoman's cold, breathtaking features.
"Have you needed to fight recently?"
"Actually, yes. Our Headquarters wants to assess the strength of each branch, so they arranged a touring competition. Valkyries from Headquarters will go to each branch for instructional matches."
"That sounds somewhat childish."
Bai Yan curled his lips and crouched beside Jingliu, looking at the tips of his feet in the water.
"But it may actually be related to my mission target. That girl is the core of the Bishop's plan."
"Oh?"
"He wants to use her power once she has fully matured."
Jingliu raised her head.
"What role do you play in this?"
"I am merely one of his subordinates. My purpose is to get close to that girl."
"Do not hide anything."
"Fine. I only suspect that I might be one of the potential sacrifices. Deep, unforgettable regret in exchange for rebirth and transformation."
"So this is why you crave power. It seems our time is very limited."
Jingliu stood up, a faint bloody light flickering in her eyes.
The moment she heard the word "sacrifice," she wanted to charge into Schicksal Headquarters and start killing.
The Hyperdimensional Space could suppress the Mara-struck state, but it could not suppress her killing intent.
"For now, there's no need to worry. I'm not high on the list of possible sacrifices. It's just that the deeper the bond, the more likely someone is to be chosen."
Jingliu relaxed slightly.
Then she casually conjured an Ice Sword. It was blunt and somewhat short.
She poked Bai Yan with it.
"Stop always thinking about taking shortcuts. Even if you deliberately stir up my concern, I will not use those risky methods."
Bai Yan gave an awkward laugh to hide his embarrassment.
"Come on. Let's try Luoshen Transformation again today."
"Again?"
Jingliu revealed an inscrutable smile. "Your perception seems to have its limits, but from my perspective, it has undergone another change."
Bai Yan took the blunt Ice Sword, his expression turning serious.
Jingliu put one hand behind her back. "Come."
Bai Yan nodded, took out the other earring from his pocket, and put it on with practiced ease.
Watching his movements, Jingliu nodded approvingly.
Not bad. This little disciple was quite aware of himself.
As the earring was successfully worn, an inexplicable power surged through him, leaving his entire body feeling light, as if he could rise with the wind at any moment.
Bai Yan held the sword and fiercely thrust it at Jingliu.
Jingliu still extended two fingers to meet the Ice Sword without a sound. The deflection was completed in an instant, and she could have counterattacked at any time if she wished.
But she stopped, firmly pinching the long, blunt ice sword between her fingers.
"As expected..."
"What is it?" Bai Yan withdrew his sword, his left hand forming a gesture as he habitually swept back his slightly disheveled hair.
"Sixty percent."
"..."
"You don't seem very happy. Are you dissatisfied with growth of this level?"
Jingliu was puzzled.
In her view, forcibly increasing his power by ten percent in such a short time was something to be proud of.
Combined with Bai Yan's genuine improvement in strength, this ability could easily be called divine.
"Master, did you forget that I'm a man?"
"No. But I consider that an acceptable price, and your appearance as a woman is simply pitifully beautiful. Perhaps you were merely born into the wrong gender?"
There was no smile on Jingliu's face, but the amusement in her eyes was impossible to hide.
Bai Yan curled his lips. "Even Master is like this..."
But soon, a pale, slender hand rested on his head.
"So, when you are willing to return to being a man, there will be no more conflict over there, correct?"
"Mm..."
Luoshen Transformation required a complete "outfit." There were six elements in total: earrings, shoes, stockings, clothes, skirt, and makeup. Not one could be missing.
They all had to be women's items. Unisex ones would not work.
After discovering that, Bai Yan had secretly gone alone to an hourly hotel to test it out.
Getting stronger was ultimately a good thing, but the motivation brought by that expectation mixed with the awkwardness also left Bai Yan deeply conflicted.
Whenever he thought that all this effort could only be used at the cost of cross-dressing, he felt endless doubts about Collapse Energy.
Are you really capable of anything?
At St. Freya, Theresa was even more conflicted than Bai Yan.
Recently, she had even developed dark circles under her eyes.
Those who did not know would think the principal was exhausting herself with worry, while those who knew her understood that she suspected her allowance was in danger.
She had begun holding a grudge against Durandal. These days, she had nearly started sticking pins into a doll.
Bai Yan and Himeko stood in a corner of the office, silently watching Theresa, each lost in their own thoughts.
Before you continue