I, Herrscher Slayer

Durandal gripped her knight lance. Just as she was about to subjugate the Honkai Beast, the communicator on her body rang. Considering the order of priorities, and since the battle had not yet begun, she decided to hear what that man wanted first. Hopefully, it was not some other mission. Having been away from Rita for so long, she was starting to miss Rita's black tea.

"Wait a moment."

The tip of her knight lance pointed at the Honkai Beast. Her tone was clearly calm, yet the Honkai Beast, which had just been roaring to bolster its own courage, fell silent like a chick whose throat had been squeezed. It was as though it had been innately suppressed. As a Honkai Beast, its senses were sharper than a human's, and it knew that the seemingly ordinary girl before it was dangerous.

"Bishop, what is it?"

After accepting the call, Durandal spoke with the highest commander of Schicksal on the other end. Their exchange did not feel like one between a superior and subordinate, but by rank, Durandal did need to follow Otto's commands. Thus, she gave Otto the respect he was due.

"Durandal, how is the mission progressing?"

Otto's voice came from the communicator. Though he was asking a question, his tone carried intense confidence, as though he already knew the mission would succeed. Good steel had to be used on a blade's edge, and this girl was undoubtedly the finest steel available.

"If not for your call, Bishop, I would already be on my way back."

Durandal spoke calmly, without any intent to boast. To her, it was simply a matter of course. She spoke frankly and had a straightforward personality; she did not bother with empty pleasantries. Results mattered most, and Otto's call had interrupted her actions. There was an obvious note of challenge in Durandal's voice. If he could not give her a reasonable explanation, the strongest Valkyrie would be very displeased.

"I apologize for interrupting you, but headquarters truly needs your help. Among this batch of newcomers, there is someone with very good potential."

Otto's attitude toward Durandal was clearly different from his attitude toward other Valkyries, but his somewhat frivolous tone still made her frown. Such vague words had already made her unhappy. She was about to begin fighting, yet Otto had interrupted her. It was indeed irritating, and completely at odds with her decisive way of doing things.

"Get to the point."

Hearing the displeasure in Durandal's tone, Otto sorted through the intelligence before him and became slightly more serious. As for testing that person, it truly would not be appropriate to entrust it to anyone but Durandal.

"It's like this. You heard about the angel incident some time ago, didn't you? That angel has now awakened."

Hearing Otto's words, Durandal thought for a moment and recalled the matter. She had indeed heard of it. Rita had mentioned that so-called angel more than once, and there even seemed to be a photo of the unconscious angel on her phone. Durandal remembered him as a boy with hair rather similar in color to her own. His sleeping appearance really had resembled an angel.

But what did that have to do with her now?

"I said, get to the point."

She shifted her gaze to the untouched snowy scenery on the other side. Meanwhile, the Honkai Beast behind her had already begun to move quietly. It was not trying to attack, but to flee. Honkai Beasts possessed intelligence as well, and it understood clearly that if it did not escape now, it would definitely die.

"After awakening, the angel demonstrated considerable combat ability. Even in an incomplete state, he was able to fight Fu Hua to a draw. Of course, Fu Hua did not use her true strength, but even so, it surprised us greatly. Therefore, at my request, the angel is currently heading toward headquarters. However, I truly cannot spare the time, so Bianca, the combat assessment of the angel can only be left to you."

He swiftly stated his purpose. Otto attached great importance to Shen Gonglin. That battlesuit alone was enough to make Otto act this way, let alone Shen Gonglin's own unique qualities. After considering it carefully, he decided to have Bianca test him personally.

"Can't Rita do it?"

If it was merely an assessment, it should not require her deployment. Every move this man made might hold some deeper meaning, yet Durandal still could not understand it. Was it really necessary to send her out just to test a newcomer?

"As for Rita, for certain reasons, she likely cannot use her full strength. Furthermore, to obtain the most accurate data, we need you, Bianca, to act personally. After all, this also concerns the development of your exclusive 4th Generation God-Slaying Armor. So if possible, it would be more suitable for you to handle it yourself."

There truly were such considerations. Based on the intelligence they had received, Rita really was not in a convenient position to fight. Her physical condition was one factor, and there was another issue as well. Looking at the compiled reports in his hand, Otto frowned slightly. Was an ability capable of having such a major effect even on an S-rank Valkyrie's physical condition dependent on the individual?

He wondered whether Durandal would display the same reaction as Rita. If so... this research would be very important.

Courting Death and Enjoying It

This angel really did keep bringing surprises. If he possessed such terrifying power even against S-rank Valkyries, could it perhaps be used elsewhere?

"I understand. Once I complete the mission, I will return to headquarters."

With that, she hung up. Though she did not quite understand why Rita would be unable to fight, Durandal would not dwell on it since it was a mission. If she had to personally test him, then she hoped he would give her a few more surprises. The 4th Generation God-Slaying Armor was important as well. With that armor, she should become even stronger.

"Sorry, we can begin now... An Emperor-class Honkai Beast can run away too?"

She turned her gaze back to the Honkai Beast from before. Only then did Durandal realize that the target, which had only recently advanced into an Emperor-class Honkai Beast, had already fled while she was contacting the Bishop. Its massive body was racing farther and farther across the snowfield. Durandal narrowed her eyes and raised the black knight lance in her hand halfway. Run. As long as you could get away.

"Vice Captain, how did you end up like this? What kind of powerful Honkai Beast were you fighting? Why didn't you request support?"

In the medical room of Immortal Blade's exclusive warship, Alvit was applying medicine to Rita. Seeing the wounds across her vice captain's pale back made her frown. They had all been caused by rubble and metal shards. One could imagine how intense the battle had been. A Honkai Beast capable of injuring the vice captain this badly could not have been ordinary.

"This was my oversight. As for what kind of Honkai Beast I fought... I can only say that he was indeed very formidable. Even if I fought him again now, I might not be his match."

After sending all the intelligence to the Bishop, Rita stood and changed into a spare maid uniform. The wounds on her back had already been bandaged. From the outside, Rita now looked no different from usual. After resting for so long, the sensation Shen Gonglin had left within her finally showed signs of fading. She should hurry back to headquarters. There were spare maid uniforms here, but no replacement underwear.

In other words, Rita currently only had bandages and a chest wrap beneath her maid uniform. It was not quite going commando.

"Even you weren't his match, Vice Captain... Then we truly have Lord Fu Hua to thank for helping. It's a good thing we didn't encounter him, or we might never have seen you again... Vice Captain, are you going out? Won't you rest a little longer?"

Alvit clicked her tongue inwardly. Even a powerful Valkyrie like Rita had been no match for him. If it had been Alvit instead, she would surely have been dealt with effortlessly. The battlefield was terrifying. She should just stay obediently as a technician. Just as Alvit was calculating things in her heart, she noticed Rita straighten her skirt and prepare to leave. Come to think of it, why had the vice captain not changed her skirt as well? If Alvit had not seen wrong, there truly was a tear in it. Although even with that, it still looked fashionable on Rita. She truly was worthy of being vice captain. Rita should be the most perfect woman Alvit had ever seen.

"There is no need. It would be terribly rude for the guest to be outside while I rest in here. I must go entertain him... Alvit, remember to call me Vice Captain a few more times later. Mm... but do not make it too deliberate."

After giving that simple instruction, Rita walked out. Once the weakness in her legs disappeared, she could feel her body recovering. Yet for some reason, she was already beginning to miss that earlier sensation.

"Shen Gonglin, I apologize for making you wait so long... Lord Fu Hua, may I ask what you are doing?"

The moment she left the medical room, Rita sensed that something was off. The Immortal Blade members gathered there were silent, and all their gazes were fixed on the pair nearby. Rita followed their eyes, and when she looked over, a strange chill appeared in her violet-red eyes. Aside from that inexplicable chill, Rita was also astonished. Was this truly the Fu Hua she knew? She could do something like this too?

"He said he was afraid of heights, so he has been like this the whole time. I am merely helping him relax."

Fu Hua sat upright on the bench, maintaining her rigid and proper bearing. However, Shen Gonglin beside her had thoroughly ruined her image. He was currently lying on Fu Hua's lap, whimpering nonstop, wriggling back and forth like a maggot in Rita's eyes. His legs were even draped over the lap of an Immortal Blade squad member. Where had this lord come from? And Fu Hua was giving him a massage!

"My head is spinning, Class President. You need to rub it properly. No, I'm afraid of heights. Class President, can I lie face-down on your lap?"

Heaven knew Kiana, that idiot, could testify that Shen Gonglin really was afraid of heights. Ever since boarding the plane, he had pestered Fu Hua to comfort him. In the end, Fu Hua had been so annoyed that she could only offer him her lap as a pillow. Yet now, he was actually pushing his luck. Lie face-down?

Fu Hua only needed to imagine that position for a moment before she hurriedly grabbed Shen Gonglin's head and rejected his request. If she did not stop him, he would definitely lie down. Had she been too kind to him? How had she even let him lie on her lap? This fellow's skill at pushing his luck seemed to be getting better and better.

"No. Either get up, or lie there like this. Do not move around."

Her hands held Shen Gonglin's head in place while she massaged him. She would treat it as a reward for his performance in the earlier battle. He had already told her everything that had happened. Shen Gonglin had not disgraced her, but this battle had also exposed his weaknesses. Fu Hua had already planned the targeted training he would undergo next.

"Fine, then, Class President, use a little more force. I'm not afraid... Actually, lighter would be better. I'm afraid of pain. Hey, you, why does it feel less like a massage and more like you're touching me? Can you be a little professional? You know, I saved your maid earlier."

Though Shen Gonglin was afraid of heights, he had deliberately chosen a seat near the window. Mainly because this thrilling yet not-quite-suicidal feeling made him feel especially good. Courting death was fun for a moment; courting death forever was fun forever. Shen Gonglin felt that he was beginning to like this feeling. On one hand, he was scared to death; on the other, he was lying on a girl's soft thighs, while even his calves were being massaged by someone dedicated to the task. This was simply too comfortable.

Digging Her Own Grave

This guy... was so arrogant.

Alvit looked at Shen Gonglin lying there like a salted fish, her heart full of mixed emotions. This guy had such a terrible personality. What did he mean by saying he had saved their maid? Was he referring to the vice captain? How could someone like the vice captain need saving from him? And what had he done to their Immortal Blade comrades while Alvit and the vice captain were gone? Lord Fu Hua was one thing, but why was even that squad member massaging Shen Gonglin?

"Oh, oh, sorry. I got distracted just now. I'll massage you properly right away... Keep telling us about it. How did you save the Vice Captain back then? Did the Vice Captain really cry from fright?"

Her hand wandered over Shen Gonglin's calf. The Immortal Blade member, who had absentmindedly drifted off, had not noticed Rita's arrival at all. Only after Shen Gonglin spoke did she snap back to her senses. She had been captivated by the situation Shen Gonglin had described. So the vice captain had experienced something like that when they had not known?

"Of course. That maid was crying like crazy from fright. Her whole body went limp, and she could not even stand without me holding her up. Fortunately, I remained calm in a crisis. When the Honkai Beast attacked, I casually pulled her onto my back. That was how she survived. So I count as your benefactor, right? Is it too much to ask for a massage?... By the way, is she really your vice captain?"

Shen Gonglin continued boasting grandly. During the time Rita had gone to get bandaged up, he had gotten acquainted with these Immortal Blade members. They were all very nice big sisters. He just did not understand why they always liked staring at him and smiling, or why they all called him such a spirited boy. For now, Shen Gonglin took it as a compliment.

"Of course. Lady Rita is our vice captain. You're amazing. You could resolve a situation even the vice captain couldn't handle. You truly are so spirited... Would the Vice Captain really cry? Why don't you imitate her for me? I simply cannot imagine what she looks like when she cries."

That squad member kept questioning Shen Gonglin. These two people standing at the edge of life and death had no idea what they were doing. Fu Hua closed her eyes to rest. She only focused on massaging Shen Gonglin's head and did not participate in anything else. Let him talk nonsense all he wanted.

Uh... others might not be able to imagine it, but Alvit felt she roughly knew what the vice captain looked like when she cried. She looked as though she was about to cry from grievance right now. To think she could see the vice captain like this. Her life had been worth it.

Alvit secretly glanced at Rita beside her, then swiftly turned her head away and pretended nothing had happened. She had seen nothing. Nothing had occurred.

"Rose, excuse me. Could you please move somewhere else? And Shen Gonglin, when exactly did I cry?"

If she did not speak now, Shen Gonglin would ruin her reputation completely in front of the Immortal Blade members. Rita stepped forward with a smile. At that moment, the squad member who had been massaging Shen Gonglin's calves felt a chill shoot from her toes straight to the back of her head. Rita's smiling face looked like a demon from hell to her. Terrifying! When had the vice captain arrived?

"Vice Captain! I-I'm sorry! I was just joking around with him. I know he was talking nonsense. We would never believe him. We were only chatting for fun!"

Rose hurriedly clarified matters. She was so frightened that she immediately stood up from her seat. She knew Rita's methods. Rita would not directly punish anyone, but being remembered by her was the greatest misfortune. All Immortal Blade members knew that their vice captain had a black heart.

"Mm, Rose, it comforts me that you are so clever. All right, now that you have stood up, that will do. Shen Gonglin, damaging a woman's reputation while she is absent is not something a gentleman should do."

Once the squad member stood, Rita naturally sat beside Shen Gonglin. She was very satisfied with the girl's tactful attitude, so Rita temporarily abandoned the idea of assigning her to the worst possible position. By rights, Shen Gonglin should now know her true identity. Then he should also know that no matter how he arranged stories about her, it would be useless. Immortal Blade would never believe him.

"Huh? You didn't cry? But I clearly remember you shedding tears back then. At the very least, your eyes turned red. Let me think. You should have been like this then..."

Even in front of the person herself, Shen Gonglin was not afraid. After all, his lack of morals far exceeded ordinary imagination. He looked at Rita and pondered for a moment. When he spoke again, his voice had become the maid's. Everyone's eyes widened at that moment. Shen Gonglin had a skill like this too?

"Y-you... don't stop... N-no, that's not it... Y-you, what did you do to me... You tormenting..."

Shen Gonglin had a good memory. After thinking a little, he recalled what Rita had said then. She had spoken those words while her eyes were red. He should not have remembered wrong.

"Shen Gonglin, shut up!"

Rita instantly exploded. The maid tore apart her elegant exterior and pounced like a beast ready to devour its prey, covering Shen Gonglin's mouth. How could this guy dare say anything at all? Rita herself could no longer remember what she had said in that state, but Shen Gonglin could perfectly reproduce not only her voice but even her tone from then. Why did this guy have so many talents? Since he was so smart, could he not put a few more skill points into his brain?

Tell me, what benefit did you get from embarrassing me to death? Or did me being alive really affect your performance?

Gasp... The vice captain looked completely unprecedented. Could Shen Gonglin be telling the truth? Had the vice captain really cried her eyes out because a Honkai Beast frightened her?

That was even more horrifying than hearing Shen Gonglin reproduce Rita's voice. After all, Immortal Blade had never seen Rita like this. What exactly had happened to their vice captain when they were not around? And that voice, those words... They really wanted to know what had happened!

"All right, Rita, calm down. Shen Gonglin, you too. Inform Kiana and the others now. We came straight to headquarters without telling them, so they must be worried about you. Stop fooling around."

Fu Hua was the one who finally separated the two, who were tangled together. Though she was also curious about why Rita had become like this, the most important thing now was to inform everyone at St. Freya. To prevent Himeko from finding Shen Gonglin and interfering with his dedication to martial training, Fu Hua had directly brought him aboard Immortal Blade's aircraft toward headquarters. They needed to let the others know.

The Vice Captain Has a Screw Loose

He had nearly forgotten that he had been carrying out a mission with that Kiana girl. Then that stupid, directionless girl had vanished. Either way, he ought to tell her. She was so worrying. Without him leading her around, that idiot would definitely panic.

Still not having figured out whether he or Kiana had actually gotten lost, Shen Gonglin accepted the communicator Fu Hua handed him. It was a Valkyrie-exclusive model, with a much stronger signal than an ordinary phone.

"Hello, hello, Shen Gonglin calling Kiana. Shen Gonglin calling Kiana..."

Lying on Fu Hua's lap, Shen Gonglin was about to take the opportunity to turn over when Fu Hua once again fixed his head in place with both hands. This Class President was really something. A lap pillow was supposed to be comfortable, but forcing him to maintain a single position was a little uncomfortable. Shen Gonglin really wanted to lie face-down on her lap. In his current position, he could not help wanting to look out the window, but the moment he did, he felt so dizzy he could barely stand it. The feeling of courting death really was great.

"Eh! Shen Gonglin, why are you using the Class President's communicator? Are you with the Class President right now? Where the heck did you run off to?"

The call connected, and Kiana's loud voice came through. She was currently searching the battlefield for Shen Gonglin with Himeko and Mei. Yet he had suddenly called them with Fu Hua's communicator. The three of them had searched everywhere, only for Fu Hua to find him first? To think that flat-chested girl had gotten there first. What a miscalculation.

"Kiana, by the time you receive this call, I may already be gone. Don't be sad. May the holy light keep fooling you. Also, remember to tell Mei that I still love her... Ow! Class President, what are you doing? I'm being sentimental here. Don't pinch my face. That hurts!"

Could Shen Gonglin not be serious for more than three seconds? Seeing him spout nonsense again, Fu Hua casually pinched his face. Getting to the point was more important. If he kept making things up like this, Kiana might actually believe him. Given her intelligence, nothing was impossible.

"Get to the point. We are about to pass through an area without signal. Do not make them worry about you."

Fu Hua instructed Shen Gonglin, released his face, and continued massaging his head. Just because she had relaxed for a moment, this guy had begun squirming on her lap like a maggot again. His soft hair brushed back and forth over her thighs. Should she wear pants whenever she saw Shen Gonglin from now on?... No, that would make it seem as though she had prepared to give him a lap pillow.

"Okay... Kiana, you should be with Mei right now, right? Because you are so directionally challenged, this young master has decided to leave first. The Class President and I are heading to headquarters now. My game account is in your bag, so remember to log in for me every day. Raising a character is difficult, after all. That's it."

It felt like a husband who spent all year away from home making a perfunctory call to his wife waiting at home. Shen Gonglin ended the call in just a few sentences. Mainly because the maid had been secretly moving her hand around on his leg, making him uncomfortable. Besides, what was there to say to Kiana?

She was so directionally challenged, yet she still ran around. She needed to be taught a lesson.

"Rita, what are you doing? If you keep touching me like that, even I'll get angry. Of course, if you pay me, that would be another matter. I'm not some easy man, after all. Let go."

The skin on his legs was rather sensitive. Rita's touch made Shen Gonglin feel itchy. It was not uncomfortable, but he simply was not used to being touched like that. She had driven that big sister away and sat down herself. What was she trying to do?

"You can put the money on my tab. After all, before this... I believe it was called a rescue fee? I have not paid that either. Just now was merely preparation to obtain the most accurate response area. Please allow me to carry out a maid's duties. Providing the most perfect service is a maid's basic quality. You ran a long way earlier, did you not? A proper massage would be better for your body."

She was still hung up on what Shen Gonglin had said about a perfect maid. After several attempts, Rita had found the most appropriate pressure and acupoints. Perfection was both her attitude and her standard. Since they had nothing to do on the journey back to base, she might as well massage Shen Gonglin... It would also let him understand the true nature of a perfect maid. What had happened earlier had been too embarrassing.

"Ah, a proper massage? Who even goes for proper... Hiss, right there. That feels good. I didn't expect you to be this skilled. In that case, I'll charge you a little less. I believe you're a real maid now, not someone cosplaying as one."

Rita nearly made Shen Gonglin cry out, so he hurriedly buried his face in Fu Hua's stomach. Fu Hua, who had let down her guard for a moment, darkened her face and pulled his head back into place. Could this guy not behave himself? Did he have to move around like this? She really wanted to snap his neck.

"Thank you for the compliment. I have some experience with massage as well. Please enjoy the rest of the journey."

Seeing Shen Gonglin's reaction, Rita narrowed her eyes and revealed a satisfied smile. It seemed that she had finally regained some ground before Shen Gonglin. Ever since meeting him, she had been constantly embarrassing herself. To be honest, Rita cared a great deal about that. When they first met, she had nearly injured him by mistake. Then during their fight, he had left her in such a poor state that she nearly suffered a mishap before an ordinary Honkai Beast. She was Schicksal's S-rank Valkyrie, yet she had no dignity at all. Even now, this guy thought she was a cleaner pretending to be a Valkyrie. Now he finally knew what she was capable of, right?

She was a top-tier maid, not some pathetic Valkyrie.

This guy really was arrogant...

Watching the scene before them, the Immortal Blade members could not help having the same thought once more. Lord Fu Hua was offering him a lap pillow, while their deeply respected vice captain was not only massaging him but apparently charging him for it. That was right, the vice captain was massaging him, and he was charging her. Most importantly, the vice captain even looked proud. What kind of brutal battle had she gone through earlier?

Had a Honkai Beast hit her in the head?

Could she still serve as the vice captain of Immortal Blade, the strongest squad, while this mentally unclear? And why had they never heard that this was a maid's basic quality? Why had the vice captain suddenly begun valuing maid work so highly? Had she not become a maid merely as a hobby?

Though she dressed as a maid every day, who in all of Schicksal would truly dare order her around as one?

Untitled

"Hello? Shen Gonglin, you can't seriously... Hello! Mei, Shen Gonglin really hung up on me! I worried about him for so long, yet he hung up without listening to a single word from this beautiful girl. Look at this, is he even human anymore?... Mei, why are you blushing? You don't actually believe that nonsense about him still loving you, do you? Anyone could tell with their elbows that he was just making a joke."

Looking at the darkened phone, Kiana clenched it in fury, on the verge of losing her temper. Shen Gonglin's behavior made her feel foolish for searching so hard for him. Who was the truly directionless one here? And compared to explaining things to her, he seemed to care more about having her log in every day and maintain his game account. This guy truly did not want to be human. He did not want to do a single thing remotely related to being human.

Kiana wanted someone to complain with, but when she turned around, she saw the unnatural blush on Mei's face. Honestly, Mei was too easily embarrassed and too willing to take other people's nonsense seriously. This was obviously a lie the moment one heard it, so how could Mei take it seriously? How could Shen Gonglin possibly like Mei? Though... huh, there really did not seem to be anything about Mei that he would not like. Mei was gentle, an excellent cook, beautiful, and had a great figure. It did not seem impossible for Shen Gonglin to like Mei.

What a joke. She sincerely considered him a friend, yet he wanted to steal her girl. What an asshole!

"Unlike his innocent and kind appearance, he has such a lively personality and speaks like a scumbag... What a special boy. I really want to meet him."

The one who said this was Himeko, who for some reason had started breathing heavily beside them. Shen Gonglin had hung up too quickly earlier, so she had not even gotten the chance to say a word to him. After hearing Shen Gonglin's conversation with Kiana, Himeko seemed to have developed a subtle misconception. Was this the legendary gap moe? Beneath his usual obedient and adorable disguise was such a side of him. She really wanted to investigate it.

"Teacher Himeko, you're acting so strange... Forget it. Since Shen Gonglin and the Class President have already gone ahead, I need to hurry to headquarters too. With the Class President's personality, she definitely won't be able to handle Shen Gonglin. This kind of thing needs a professional like me to personally deal with it. After all, this was originally a mission for Shen Gonglin and me. Himeko... Teacher Himeko, Mei, I'll head out first."