I, Herrscher Slayer: Selective Amnesia

Destiny's strongest Valkyrie, Durandal, had returned.

She needed to hurry home and take a shower.

Looking at the stains on her clothes, Durandal frowned slightly as she headed toward the home she shared with Rita. She had returned early from this mission. After defeating the Honkai Beast, she had come straight back without even stopping by the branch office, so she was inevitably rather dirty. With her slight germophobia, Durandal only wanted to go home, wash up properly, and get some sleep. And tomorrow... she should be able to meet that Angel, right?

Without alerting anyone, Durandal made her way back to the home she shared with Rita. She gently pushed open the door. The sound of the key entering the lock made her frown slightly. That noise would surely wake Rita. At this hour, Rita should already be asleep. Durandal had not wanted to disturb her.

"Hm? She didn't wake up? That shouldn't be..."

After waiting quietly for quite a while, the room remained completely silent. Durandal was a little puzzled by that result, but it was also the best possible outcome. It seemed Rita was genuinely exhausted today. Since she could sleep, Durandal would let her rest properly. Her adjutant was good in every way, except that she was a little too serious and polite.

She should clean herself up and sleep soon too. Although she was a little hungry, eating now would mean taking in too much energy... Forget it. She could run an extra lap tomorrow morning. She was hungry, so she had to eat. Rita's cooking could not be wasted.

She casually opened the refrigerator, and upon seeing the food inside, Durandal made that decision. One should never open the refrigerator at night. Apparently, Durandal did not understand that rule.

Selective Amnesia

I slept so well... Where am I again? Shen Gonglin felt as though he had lost a piece of his memory, yet he had no desire whatsoever to recall it. It was probably some unbearable past. Since he did not want to remember it, he would not.

After spacing out in bed for a long while, Shen Gonglin finally recovered from his groggy low-blood-pressure state after waking up. He stared at the unfamiliar ceiling above him and fell into thought. He remembered eating in Rita's dormitory, but then his memories seemed to have broken off. By the time he regained consciousness, he was already in this room. It probably was not Rita's home—the decorating style was completely different.

Still, it should be a girl's room. He would not mistake this scent.

He buried his face in the pillow and inhaled deeply. Shen Gonglin found the scent rather familiar. Whose scent was it? It felt like the answer was on the tip of his tongue, but he could not say it. He needed to identify it more carefully.

"Shen Gonglin, it's time to get up... What are you doing?"

The Class President's steady voice came from the doorway, and Shen Gonglin finally identified the scent on the pillow. It was indeed the Class President's scent. It carried a feeling like the accumulation of time... This pillow probably had not been used by the Class President for quite a while.

"I'm just doing something any normal teenage boy would do in a woman's room. Don't mind me, Class President. Just give me at least five minutes to handle and vent it myself."

He had no intention of lifting his head from the pillow. Since the Class President had already seen him, panicking and explaining himself would only make things more awkward. Shen Gonglin figured he might as well follow his heart. That way, the embarrassed one should be the Class President.

"What kind of incomprehensible nonsense are you talking about again... Get up already. I've bought breakfast. After eating, you'll do morning exercises with me... By the way, are you really all right? So much happened last night."

Fu Hua grabbed Shen Gonglin by the arm and pulled him up. She had no idea what her rebellious disciple wanted to do while sniffing the pillow. When she let him sleep here yesterday, Fu Hua had not removed his clothes, so there could not possibly have been any fanservice incident. Since he was awake, she had to ask him some questions. Otherwise, the Class President would not be at ease.

"Last night... Did something happen last night? I really can't remember much, and my body seems to be resisting any attempt to recall yesterday. Did something especially important happen last night?"

Shen Gonglin looked at Fu Hua curiously. From the look of it, the Class President seemed to know what had happened yesterday. Although he could not remember it, he was still a little curious. He had the vague feeling that something incredible had occurred.

"It was nothing. If you don't remember, then forget it. It wasn't anything important anyway. Hurry up and wash up. Afterward, eat and do your exercises. Shen Gonglin, you need to develop habits like this from now on. Moving your body in the morning is greatly beneficial for the entire day."

Fu Hua led Shen Gonglin into the bathroom. She did not intend to tell him what had happened yesterday. If he could forget it, that would be for the best. He had cried from the spiciness back then. If possible, Fu Hua did not want him to remember it again. Letting the matter pass like this was best. She squeezed toothpaste onto his toothbrush and handed it to him. This guy always dragged his feet when doing things and never did anything decisively.

"Oh, if you want to exercise in the morning from now on, Class President, I'll exercise with you... This toothpaste tastes pretty good. Class President, since you live alone, don't tell me you gave me your toothbrush?"

Shen Gonglin casually teased Fu Hua, but the Class President did not seem to catch his meaning. Hearing him agree to her arrangement, she nodded in satisfaction. Not bad. She had thought she would need to spend a lot of effort persuading him. As for the toothbrush...

"You're overthinking it. I bought that for you while I was getting breakfast. My toothbrush is over there."

She shot Shen Gonglin an annoyed look. How could she make the same mistake as Rita? Personal hygiene was important... Speaking of which, Rita had probably already destroyed the toothbrush Shen Gonglin had used. Durandal absolutely could not find out.

"Tsk, Class President, you're so wasteful. Wouldn't it have been fine for us to use the same one? Save unnecessary expenses when you can. Maybe there are still people in this world who can't even afford toothbrushes. Class President, you can't be so extravagant and wasteful."

Shen Gonglin brushed his teeth indifferently, while Fu Hua's face darkened with black lines. Shen Gonglin made it sound as if she were the one who had done something wrong. He really was good at talking nonsense, casually making a huge issue out of everything as though she had committed some grave mistake. How badly did he want to use her toothbrush? There was no special meaning to it, right...? Fu Hua wondered if she ought to put a lock on her toothbrush. Otherwise, Shen Gonglin would surely keep thinking about it. This guy was far too strange. Maybe she should use disposable toothbrushes from now on and destroy them after each use.

Otherwise, who knew what perverse things this rebellious disciple might do to her toothbrush?

After finishing breakfast simply, Fu Hua, now aware of Shen Gonglin's tastes, had deliberately bought some bland food. Things like chili peppers would never appear on Shen Gonglin's dining table again. It was still early, just the right time for morning exercises. Fu Hua had already decided that, from now on, she would properly regulate Shen Gonglin's lifestyle.

"Shen Gonglin, watch my movements carefully. Do them properly. Don't slack off whenever you feel like it."

Fu Hua performed the morning exercises with meticulous seriousness. Perhaps only she would take such things so seriously. Shen Gonglin stood behind her, lazily raising his arms and kicking his legs. After eating his fill, he wanted to sleep again. He truly could not get motivated for something like exercise. Why had he come to Headquarters in the first place? He felt so idle. He might as well return to St. Freya and pet Kiana. Things that did not shed fur were the most fun to pet.

"Class President, what exactly are we doing at Headquarters? I feel like we should spend our limited time fighting Honkai. Why don't we return to St. Freya as soon as possible? Without charging... I'm already starting to miss Mei. I really want to eat her cooking."

"Cut it out. You just think you're bored and want something to do, don't you? There's naturally a reason we came to Headquarters. This time, we're conducting some basic tests on you and letting you see something. It may help with your memories. If you're really bored, I can find you something to do later. How about it? Do you want to help?"

Fu Hua turned around and corrected Shen Gonglin's posture. He had turned perfectly proper calisthenics into something resembling a lazy cat basking in the sun. Could he not spare a thought for someone with obsessive-compulsive tendencies?

Testing Candidate

"You tell me what it is first, then I'll decide whether to help."

Shen Gonglin watched Fu Hua warily. Situations like this were usually when someone was about to set a trap. Shen Gonglin was very familiar with that feeling, since he often tricked others. If someone wanted to trick him, there was no way he would fail to react.

"It's just some ordinary cleaning. Shen Gonglin, you know I haven't been back to my Headquarters dormitory for a long time. Since I've finally returned, I want to thoroughly clean it up. So later, the two of us will... Hey! Shen Gonglin, why are you running away? Get back here!"

Before Fu Hua could finish speaking, Shen Gonglin braced himself on the railing and jumped out of the yard. No matter how Fu Hua shouted behind him, he did not look back. What was this? He had just woken up in the morning, only to be told to clean a room. Where had Fu Hua gotten this housewife act from? Shen Gonglin had no intention of doing that sort of thing. The wandering spirit had possessed him now. He needed to wander.

Otherwise, he would cough!

"Honestly... Hey! There's a park over there. You can walk around there, but don't run off! We still have serious business to do today!"

The moment she asked him to work, he ran far away. Fu Hua sighed as she watched his retreating figure. There was nothing she could do. Shen Gonglin was simply that kind of person. If she wanted him to do this sort of thing in the future, she would have to put him on a leash first. She shouted after him, though she did not know whether he could hear her. Hopefully, he would not run around recklessly. Otherwise, she would have to go find him later.

I slept far too long today. How did I wake up this late? I've truly neglected my duties.

At the same time, elsewhere, the sleeping Rita had awakened as well. Unlike Shen Gonglin, she did not have that low-blood-pressure problem. The moment she awoke, the maid noticed the time. After Shen Gonglin bit her yesterday, she had finally gotten a good night's sleep. Although she possessed the ability to sleep four hours and remain active all day, Rita had slept deeply today. After all, the burdens on her body and mind had been immense. Sleeping a little longer was perfectly normal.

"Hm? Lady Bianca, have you returned?"

The moment Rita opened her bedroom door, she sensed that something was wrong. For a qualified maid, identifying whether someone else was in the house was a basic skill. Yesterday, after Shen Gonglin had left her in that state, she had gone straight to sleep. But now, the room seemed to have already been cleaned. It could not have been Lady Fu Hua, leaving only Durandal.

"Yes, Rita. It's rare for you to wake up at this time. And I've told you that you don't need to use honorifics. Do you want something to eat? Though it's only the food you left from yesterday."

Wearing a sports bra and with her blonde hair tied into a single ponytail, Durandal walked out of the bathroom. For some reason, Rita was looking at her with a little surprise. Durandal had a toothbrush in her mouth as she patted the maid's shoulder. It seemed that even Rita could not maintain that tense, perfect appearance at all times. That was good. Durandal truly hoped Rita could relax now and then. Staying tense for too long would wear her body down.

Durandal had woken even earlier than Rita today. After seeing that the maid had not woken up, she had cleaned the house herself. After finishing all that, she had even taken a shower. Perhaps Rita was truly tired, since she had not woken up until now. Should Durandal let her take a proper vacation and relax?

Durandal thought this while holding the toothbrush in her mouth, yet Rita did not react to her words at all. Those crimson-purple eyes seemed to be staring constantly at her... toothbrush. Was there something wrong with it?

"...All right, Lady Durandal. I was truly discourteous today... Come to think of it, it's time to replace your toiletries with new ones. Please give me that toothbrush, Lady Durandal. I'll destroy it for you."

Honestly, how had she forgotten about this? After Shen Gonglin bit her yesterday, Rita had forgotten everything, even putting the toothbrush matter out of her mind. Now that Durandal had the toothbrush in her mouth, Rita found it strange no matter how she looked at it. No, she could not let Lady Durandal suffer such treatment. It would be better to destroy it in advance.

"Destroy it? No need. Didn't you say this toothbrush was specially made, Rita? And I've only used it for such a short time, so there's no need to replace it. You should know that there are many people in this world who cannot even use things like toothbrushes. So even if it may not make much difference, we should still be frugal when we can. I think this toothbrush works quite well."

Durandal stepped back to avoid Rita's hand. Was Rita still half-asleep? The maid seemed strange today. After speaking, Durandal put the toothbrush back in her mouth. Why was Rita so interested in her toothbrush? Was there something wrong with it? Durandal thought it worked quite well.

"...Is that so? Then, Lady Durandal, I was presumptuous. As long as you are happy. I truly apologize for making you prepare breakfast today. I have failed in my duties."

Perhaps it was better not to reveal the truth. After a moment of silence, Rita decided to bury the matter deep in her heart. Lady Durandal had already used it, and revealing it now would only create embarrassment. In that case, it was better not to say anything. Rita bowed slightly to Durandal and entered the bathroom as well. Hopefully, when Lady Durandal learned the truth... No, she absolutely could not be allowed to learn the truth.

"Lady Durandal, did your mission go smoothly? According to the schedule, you should not have returned to Headquarters for another week. Is there some reason you came back so soon?"

At the dining table, Rita had returned to her usual self. After putting away the dishes, she asked this question. The maid did not know what arrangements the Bishop had made for Durandal. She was simply curious. Did Durandal's return to Headquarters at this time carry some special meaning?

"Yes, there is another arrangement. Rita, someone new has come to Headquarters, right? The one codenamed Angel. I'll handle this combat test. Please arrange it."

Durandal was already putting on her shoes by the door. She had eaten earlier, and combined with the energy she had taken in last night, she needed to add another lap to today's fitness training to maintain her best condition.

"Lady Durandal will do it personally? Forgive me for speaking frankly, but such test results would have little reference value. Why are you interested in this matter, Lady Durandal?"

Rita was slightly stunned. Destiny's strongest Valkyrie was going to test Shen Gonglin. It was not that she looked down on him, but the result was simply obvious. Shen Gonglin would probably be defeated in one move.

Unless he used that move.

An Old General on the Stage

Destiny really was impressive. As expected of the so-called greatest organization fighting Honkai, it was truly wealthy. Who would have thought that an entire city could float in the sky? Its wealth was displayed everywhere. Shen Gonglin wondered when he would become this rich... Speaking of which, did that maid still owe him a huge sum of money? He would collect it whenever he had time. Holding money in his own hands made him feel more secure.

Shen Gonglin wandered alone through the streets. Aside from research facilities dedicated to Honkai, Destiny Headquarters also had ordinary residential and commercial districts. After wandering around by himself, Shen Gonglin could no longer find the way back to Fu Hua's place. But that was fine. It definitely was not because he had no sense of direction. If Fu Hua wanted to find him, she would surely be able to. So Shen Gonglin was not afraid at all. He could take the opportunity to look around... Was that a soccer field? Destiny even had something like that. Was this really a serious organization dedicated to fighting Honkai?

Looking at the lush green field before him, Shen Gonglin felt that Destiny was different from the disaster-fighting organization he had imagined. He had already found it strange when he saw Kiana and the others. They fought Honkai Beasts in those fluttery outfits. Shouldn't warriors fighting Honkai be wearing thick armor that made people feel safe? He truly did not understand it. And there were even recreational facilities like this... Or perhaps they were meant for the relatives of researchers?

Taking a soccer ball from a basket beside the field, Shen Gonglin balanced it on his head and pretended to be a seal. This was unlike basketball. When he was alone, he could still practice shooting hoops and such, but soccer... Maybe he could try some strange moves?

Shen Gonglin had played hot-blooded games before. The moment the soccer ball landed at his feet, he had an idea. First, he would try a fireball.

He juggled the ball on his feet and fixed his gaze on the distant goal. Watch him score with one shot!

"Rita, I'll go for a run first. You can head straight to Headquarters and arrange what comes next. I'll come over when the time comes."

At Rita and Durandal's home, Durandal put on a white jacket, unceremoniously exposing her slender yet powerful waist. Fitness was her hobby. After eating a late-night meal yesterday, Durandal had already decided to intensify today's training. Her daily fitness routine was mandatory.

"Yes, Lady Bianca. I'll handle what comes next... For the upcoming strength test, please go a little easy on him, Lady Durandal. After all, he... he has quite a strong competitive streak. I hope you can leave him a little dignity."

Behind Durandal, the neatly dressed Rita bowed slightly. Next, she needed to go to Headquarters to make arrangements. First, Shen Gonglin would be allowed to come into contact with that suit of armor. She did not know whether it would make him remember anything. Then, she would arrange the contest between him and Durandal. Although the outcome was certain, Shen Gonglin's various responses during battle could still be evaluated. Fu Hua's report claimed he was comparable to an A-rank Valkyrie, but that was not enough without a systematic assessment.

"Rita, I've told you that you don't need to use honorifics... Still, this is rare. You're actually considering something like this. It seems this Shen Gonglin truly has something special about him."

Durandal frowned slightly. She had said it more than once, yet Rita continued using honorifics with her. The maid was good in every way, except that she seemed unusually stubborn about this. She also disliked considering strategies in battle and preferred charging forward directly. Yet Rita was now making such a request to her on Shen Gonglin's behalf. That truly surprised Durandal.

"That is indeed the case. Since meeting him, I have changed somewhat... Lady Bianca, consider this my advice. In actual combat, do not let any part of your body come into contact with Shen Gonglin's teeth. Not any part."

Thinking of this, Rita hesitated before offering the warning. Although Lady Bianca was the strongest Valkyrie, Rita could not guarantee that she would be able to withstand Shen Gonglin's mouth. If he was truly provoked, Shen Gonglin would not follow any combat etiquette. In Rita's mind, he was capable of things like pulling hair and slapping faces, let alone opening his mouth and biting someone.

There would surely be many researchers watching then. Rita did not want Bianca to embarrass herself in front of so many people.

"Not come into contact with his teeth? What does that mean, Rita? Is there poison on his teeth?"

The maid's suggestion left Durandal baffled. What kind of battle would even involve teeth? She should not be having such an intense battle with Shen Gonglin. She had complete confidence in her own strength, but Rita was being so serious. Did that Shen Gonglin truly have some skill in battle?

"...It isn't poison. It's just... Anyway, Lady Bianca, you only need to be a little careful."

How was she supposed to explain this? Was she really supposed to tell the truth? Say something like being bitten by him would cause one to fall into an orgasm? If she told the truth, Bianca would definitely realize Rita had experienced that feeling herself. Rita would have no face left to continue living, so she could not say it. She could only tell Lady Bianca to be careful.

"Some kind of secret weapon... All right, Rita, I understand. Then I'll be going out."

Who knew how Bianca had interpreted it? After thinking briefly, she nodded and went out. Durandal had indeed taken Rita's words to heart, but this Valkyrie had immense confidence in her own strength. No matter what kind of move it was, it would not work on her. That was the pride of Destiny's strongest Valkyrie!

Like an old general on an opera stage, Durandal walked out the door. She raised her head and took a deep breath. Let's begin. Today should be quite interesting, and naturally, a perfect day had to begin with running. She had to burn off the heat and fat accumulated in her body, or else her figure would lose its shape.

Whenever she did not have a mission, Durandal performed basic physical training every day. Things like punching sandbags and running were part of her daily routine. While others might find these things incredibly dull, she devoted herself to them wholeheartedly. One hundred push-ups, one hundred squats, one hundred shuttle jumps, and so on... Perhaps that was precisely why she could become the strongest?

It seemed she still had room to improve, considering she still had that long hair.

Really Good at Playing Ball

Her pace was not fast, but it was steady. Durandal carried out her morning training at her ideal speed. Seeing the soccer field in the distance, she changed direction and ran toward it. This strongest Valkyrie had a hobby that did not match her status: she liked playing soccer... There was nothing strange about that for anyone else, but for the strongest Valkyrie, it did seem a little too ordinary.

"Hm? That sound... Is someone playing soccer?"

Before she even reached the field, Durandal heard the sound of someone kicking a soccer ball. The moment she heard it, her interest was piqued. She loved soccer, but after her strength had grown and she became a Valkyrie, no one could play with her anymore. Even so, Durandal still loved the sport. Even if no one could play with her, watching others play was enough.

As she slowly approached the field, Durandal saw Shen Gonglin in the middle of it. So he was playing alone too. Looking at his solitary figure, Durandal quietly curved her lips. Shen Gonglin, huh? She had not expected their first meeting to be here. Did he like soccer too?

"Finishing move! Super Spinning Shot!"

Just as Durandal observed Shen Gonglin, he suddenly shouted out that move's name. With one kick, he sent the black-and-white soccer ball spinning fiercely toward the goal. Durandal's eyes immediately lit up. He even had a finishing move like that. So Shen Gonglin was someone with profound knowledge of soccer too. He actually had such a special technique. She really wanted to spar with him.

But at that moment, the soccer ball, which had been flying straight toward the goal, suddenly spun to the side. Shen Gonglin stood with his hands on his hips in smug satisfaction. You thought it was a Super Spinning Shot, but it was actually a banana kick. Even the goal did not expect that!

And so, the spinning soccer ball struck the excited Durandal squarely in the face. Durandal had completely relaxed as she prepared to admire Shen Gonglin's shot. Even when the ball hit her face, she still looked stunned. The soccer ball fell to the ground with a slap. Seeing the blonde older sister clutching her face and crouching on the ground, Shen Gonglin became a little flustered. What was he supposed to do in a situation like this?

So embarrassing. How could I zone out enough to get hit in the face by a soccer ball...? It hurts so much. My nose hurts. Endure it. No matter how much it hurts, I can't cry. This is so humiliating...

Durandal crouched on the ground with both hands covering her face. The nose struck by the ball felt painfully sore, yet she did not want to blink. If she blinked, tears might spill out. Nothing like this had happened since she fell in love with soccer—getting hit in the face by a soccer ball... He had clearly called it a Super Spinning Shot, so why had the ball flown toward her? If not for that, she would not have gotten so distracted that she forgot to dodge. The world's strongest Valkyrie had been hit in the face by a soccer ball. No one had seen it, right?

"Miss, are you all right? I was just passing by and saw you here... There was a maid playing soccer here earlier, but when she saw that she hit someone, she ran away. She went in that direction. That maid had crimson-purple eyes and a pretty sexy figure, so her features are obvious. If you want to find her, you definitely can."

Shen Gonglin ran over at that moment. He carefully grabbed Durandal's hand and pulled the crouching Valkyrie to her feet. That kick had not seriously hurt her, right? Seeing Durandal's reddened nose, Shen Gonglin immediately shifted the blame onto Rita. She had been playing soccer here earlier. He was merely an ordinary passerby who had acted righteously, and this had nothing to do with him.

...This guy had quite a dark heart. If Durandal had not watched everything herself, she might really have thought he was an innocent passerby. He even pushed the blame onto Rita, who had not even come here. Was it not a little hasty to make her take the blame?

Durandal rubbed her nose and adjusted herself before looking at Shen Gonglin. Under her gaze, Shen Gonglin became increasingly embarrassed. This older sister was pretty cute too. Or perhaps there simply were no unattractive Valkyries? She looked rather young, but her body was truly impressive. The defined lines on her abdomen were especially obvious. She was clearly a very fit older sister. The round curves wrapped in her black sports bra beneath the jacket looked even bigger than Rita's. What a great figure.

It seemed the Class President was the exception. As for Bronya, she still had room to grow.

"Is that so? What a terrible maid. But since she ran away, there's nothing we can do... So how should I thank you?"

Durandal rubbed her nose. For various reasons, she did not expose Shen Gonglin. Getting hit in the face by a ball was quite a novel experience, and Durandal also wanted to interact with Shen Gonglin before the strength test. How should she put it? Her impression of him now was rather subtle.

Judging by how practiced he had been, Rita had probably already been tricked by him.

"It was nothing, really. Saving people from suffering is my duty in life. Of course, if you're willing to pay me, that works too. I charge by the minute. You only need to give me..."

Shen Gonglin began calculating a reasonable price to charge. Durandal, meanwhile, opened her mouth speechlessly. Was he not plainly asking for money? He had no shame at all. Did he really think she did not know what had happened with that ball? It was already generous enough that she was not asking him to cover her medical expenses, yet he dared ask her for money?

"To thank you, I'll play a game of soccer with you. A soccer match with only two people. Are you interested?"

Before Shen Gonglin could finish, Durandal picked up the soccer ball from the ground and spun it on her hand. Paying him was impossible. She did not have some strange fetish where she got hit by a ball and then had to pay for it herself. Seeing Shen Gonglin play had also stirred Durandal's enthusiasm. Since they were both exercising, playing soccer was obviously the better option.

"Hm... Since you're begging me so sincerely, I suppose I can. But let's make this clear first. We can play soccer, but that counts as me keeping you company. You have to treat me to ice cream afterward, all right?"