I, Herrscher Slayer

Durandal frowned at the two people before her. She could tell they were both flustered, their mouths glistening with grease. It was understandable for Shen Gonglin to be so slovenly, but what was going on with Fu Hua? Durandal had always respected Fu Hua, yet how had a Valkyrie like her been led astray by Shen Gonglin? Wasn't she supposed to be very rigid? How could something like this happen to her?

"It was all his fault... No, it was my fault. Shen Gonglin took two bites and didn't want to eat anymore, but he didn't want to waste food, so I had to finish it for him. Then we were short on time... We weren't late, were we?"

How embarrassing. Fu Hua wiped her mouth and immediately understood what state she was in. This was all Shen Gonglin's fault. She had waited so long for the hot dog to be ready, only for him to burn his mouth after one bite. Since he did not want to waste food, she had to help him finish it. Fu Hua felt that her image had been utterly ruined. In front of so many people, all she could do now was hope no one had noticed.

"Hm? The food outside really isn't very good, is it? But it's fine. I have sandwiches with me, and they should taste good. Shen Gonglin, would you like to try one?"

Rita asked Shen Gonglin with concern. Food bought outside definitely could not compare to what she made herself. Shen Gonglin had stopped eating after just two bites, which proved that her cooking was better. As she spoke, the maid reached for breakfast in her small bag, but Durandal hurriedly coughed twice to stop her.

What were they doing? The two of them were spoiling Shen Gonglin far too much. Did they have any regard for her at all? This was Schicksal Headquarters, and so many Valkyries were watching. Could they not pay attention to the occasion?

"Alright. Since Shen Gonglin is here, we should begin. Shen Gonglin, are you ready? From this moment onward, you are the fourth S-rank Valkyrie under Schicksal."

Durandal decisively began the ceremony. Fu Hua and Rita spoiled Shen Gonglin too much. This was supposed to be a solemn, formal occasion. If they did not proceed, who knew what might happen... More importantly, Durandal felt as if she could barely remain standing. The sooner it was done, the sooner it would end. This was probably when she was at her weakest. And all of this was Shen Gonglin's fault!

Her azure eyes fixed on Shen Gonglin, but he seemed troubled as he scratched his head. Did he not understand what she had said? That made sense; this was no minor matter. Still, with Shen Gonglin's combat ability, he truly deserved that rank. In his normal state, he might only be A-rank, but in Angel Form, Shen Gonglin was unquestionably S-rank... No, he possessed power beyond S-rank.

Could he please give her a response already? Hurry up and finish this; she still had to go home. She was almost unable to stand.

"Um... Are you sure you're not joking? I'm a man, you know. What the hell is a Valkyrie? Don't you know whether I'm male or female? Are you asking me to give you another round?"

That was what Shen Gonglin cared about. Anyone with eyes could tell, couldn't they? Shen Gonglin was a proper young man. He tilted his head at Durandal. Was she picking a fight? Or was she trying to get revenge on him here? Durandal was a little childish. Was she retaliating over last night?

Shen Gonglin had not lowered his voice. Fu Hua and Rita thought nothing of it, but the other Valkyries behind them heard something entirely different. How would Lady Durandal know whether he was male or female? The way that sounded... Could Shen Gonglin and Lady Durandal have some sort of relationship?

So that was it. Their captain must have developed a relationship with Shen Gonglin that went beyond friendship, or why else would he say something like that? Another round... Had Shen Gonglin really reached the point of flirting with the captain in public? He was so energetic. If they did it again, who knew whether the captain's body could take it? But the captain was the strongest Valkyrie, so it should not be a problem... Wait, why did the captain turn around and glare at her? Was she telling her not to let her imagination run wild?

Alvit stiffened all over. The girl straightened up and pretended nothing had happened. Sure enough, the captain had taken a grudge against her. Her future path was probably going to get much narrower.

Who had prepared this speech? It had to have been Alvit, right? Why had that girl become so careless lately? Should she send her down to the grassroots level for some training? Durandal put away the speech and glanced at Alvit behind her before turning back to Shen Gonglin. From now on, he was also S-rank, equal to her in rank... Though he did not seem to care about such things.

"S-rank... What use is that?"

Shen Gonglin tilted his head and looked at the badge in Durandal's hand. This thing was merely symbolic. Neither Durandal nor Rita wore theirs, did they? They probably only wore them on occasions like this. He wondered how much it could sell for.

"It symbolizes Schicksal's glory and—"

"I mean, does it have any practical significance? What benefits does being S-rank offer? Like social insurance and housing funds, using an S-rank card for public transport, cutting in line... Also, does S-rank come with a salary? I heard Kiana gets a monthly allowance."

Shen Gonglin interrupted Durandal. This was what he cared about. To be honest, Shen Gonglin was short on money. Even when buying a hot dog, he had needed the Class President to pay. Though he would not feel guilty about letting the Class President pay, if he had money himself, then he could treat her to food too.

Well... How should she put this? Shen Gonglin really was practical. Durandal had never met anyone like him and fell into a brief daze. This was more of an honor. As for actual benefits, Durandal truly did not know. She was normally with Rita and barely spent any money herself, so she did not really understand this.

"As long as you are officially employed, you will receive Schicksal's monthly subsidy. S-rank Valkyries also receive an additional monthly stipend. In short, you should not need to worry too much about money."

Rita stepped forward to answer Shen Gonglin's question. Of course she knew about such matters. Valkyries were people too; they could not be expected to fight without benefits. The maid tilted her head at Shen Gonglin. Was he really that short on money?

"Then alright, I'm willing to become S-rank. I'm willing to dedicate everything I have to the cause of fighting Honkai!"

In an instant, his image became overwhelmingly positive. Shen Gonglin puffed out his chest and spoke solemnly. At that moment, the cameras displayed his image on the command center's giant screen. Though Shen Gonglin was already famous, many Valkyries had never seen what he looked like. Now, everyone knew him. He truly deserved S-rank combat power. Such resolve really made him a model for Valkyries.

So... he was the legendary Shen Gonglin. No wonder an ordinary person could not possibly run around Schicksal Headquarters so freely. Then did that mean he had been teasing her all along? If he was S-rank, how could he have been injured by her casually bumping into him? Shen Gonglin was far too malicious!

Among the A-rank Valkyries, a pair of pink eyes stared fixedly at Shen Gonglin on the screen. Anna Saniyat clenched her small fists tightly. She had actually been fooled by such a brat. Even if he was S-rank, she could not forgive him. She had even given him money... This guy was definitely not a decent person!

"...Alright. Then, as the active S-rank Valkyrie Durandal, I will now present you with your medal."

Durandal was speechless. She did not believe for a second that he had accepted this status because he wanted to fight Honkai. He simply wanted the benefits that came with it. Durandal was a straightforward girl. Normally, she would have corrected someone like Shen Gonglin, but now she only wanted to finish as soon as possible. Her body was nearly unable to endure any longer. Once she put the medal on him, it would be over.

Taking the medal from the tray, Durandal drew a deep breath and prepared to pin it on Shen Gonglin. He was young and not very tall, so Durandal, wearing high heels, had to lower her head slightly to attach it. Her fingers trembled faintly as she opened the pin. Good. She only needed to put it on him, and it would be over...

That was what Durandal thought, but how could Shen Gonglin possibly stand there obediently? He could not feel comfortable unless he caused some trouble. After all, troublemaking ran in his blood. Otherwise, he would not be Shen Gonglin.

Huff...

Seeing Durandal's crystal-clear earlobe before him, Shen Gonglin could not help gently blowing on it. He only meant to tease the strongest Valkyrie. He had teased her all night yesterday, so doing it once more should not matter, right? She should have gotten used to it by now.

Shen Gonglin was right. Under normal circumstances, this would not have affected Durandal at all. But he had forgotten that Durandal was in no condition to compare with her usual self. That breath was the final straw that broke the camel's back.

Durandal had already been enduring her physical discomfort while concentrating on pinning the medal to Shen Gonglin. Then his sudden breath completely made her lose control. It was as if it stimulated the sensation inside her. Durandal let out a muffled groan and staggered into Shen Gonglin. The unexpected sight startled the many Valkyries. What was happening? Had something happened to Lady Durandal's body?

The solemn atmosphere in the hall became somewhat unsettled. However, the Valkyries were well-trained. Though they were confused, no commotion erupted. Then a scream rang throughout the command center—Shen Gonglin?

What was he shouting for? Had he nearly fallen on Lady Durandal?

"It hurts, it hurts, it hurts... Class President, she stabbed me! I knew she wasn't that generous. She's getting revenge for last night! I didn't expect her chest to be so big but her heart to be so small. Class President, it hurts so much!"

Shen Gonglin screamed. When Durandal fell, the pin behind the medal happened to jab into him. The point pierced through his clothes and straight into his chest. He was extremely sensitive to pain. How could he endure a method worthy of a vicious palace nanny? Durandal definitely wanted revenge, which was why she had done it. This woman had faked her fall!

The Class President was the person he knew best here. Shen Gonglin did not even dare move, and he could only look mournfully at her for help. Hurry and pull this woman away! It hurt! Sure enough, Durandal only brought him pain. She had caused his shoulder injury, and now she had stabbed him with a needle. He had never seen such a vicious woman!

"What happened? What happened? Shen Gonglin, where does it hurt... Lady Durandal, what is wrong? Is something wrong with your body? Could you get up first? Shen Gonglin looks like he is in a lot of pain."

Rita looked helplessly at the two pressed together. Could Lady Durandal really be getting revenge on Shen Gonglin? She should not be so petty... Though it was hard to say. Lady Durandal was a woman, after all, and even Rita felt that the way she had fallen on Shen Gonglin looked a little fake. Shen Gonglin was in so much pain now that, if not for preserving her image, Rita would have wanted to pull Durandal away immediately.

This traitorous maid! Had all the time they spent together gone to the dogs? Rita was being far too doglike. Clearly, she had a deeper relationship with him, so why was she taking Shen Gonglin's side?

Durandal gritted her teeth and tried to straighten herself. Why was Rita not concerned about her condition? She could not even stand right now. And Shen Gonglin—he had only been pricked by a pin. Was there really any need to cry out as if someone in his family had died? Did he think she had wanted this?

"Y-Yes, I'm sorry. I'll get up right away, I'll get up right away..."

The Valkyrie gritted her teeth and tried to climb off Shen Gonglin, but her normally nimble body would not obey her at all. Not only did she fail to get up, the medal in her hand moved wildly against Shen Gonglin's chest. The pain of the pin stabbing him became unbearable. Shen Gonglin was petty, and there was no reason for him to silently endure Durandal treating him this way. Getting revenge was what he should do!

"Get up already! This isn't our room. Stand up properly!"

After saying that, Shen Gonglin did something that left every Valkyrie dumbfounded. He raised his hand high, then smacked Durandal's perky little butt, wrapped in her black military uniform.

Smack! The sound was crisp, as though it had struck every Valkyrie straight in the heart.

Bianca, the youngest A-rank Valkyrie since Schicksal's founding, an active S-rank Valkyrie, the undisputed strongest. Some even called her a monster. She was meticulous in all she did and called herself the strongest Valkyrie who used violence to punish violence. A girl who had always aimed to become the strongest—what had been done to her at this very moment, before so many Valkyries who saw her as their idol?

Afterward, some claimed that nearly everyone present had frozen up mentally. Some even thought they had not woken up yet. Everything stemmed from that ruthless person who dared touch a tiger's backside in broad daylight.

"It hurts so much! Get up, get up!"

One smack had not gotten any reaction. The medal pin in his chest stabbed Shen Gonglin painfully, yet Durandal did not move. Before everyone's stunned eyes, Shen Gonglin raised his hand and smacked her several more times in succession. Since he had been pricked by the needle, he had no mind to enjoy how the strongest Valkyrie's butt might feel different to slap. His only impression was that it had great elasticity. Valkyries generally trained their bodies, so that was only natural. But the urgent matter was getting Durandal up. This had definitely drawn blood.

"You... you... What the hell is wrong with you?"

Leaning against Shen Gonglin's shoulder, Durandal said this softly. If she could get up, she wanted to. She was not trying to use this method to get revenge on Shen Gonglin. Even if she did seek revenge, she would do it openly and honorably. Her body simply would not listen to her. With the will befitting the strongest, Durandal forced herself to brace against Shen Gonglin's shoulders and pull away. Her teeth clenched tightly, and Shen Gonglin could even see tears glimmering in her blue eyes. What was going on? She stabbed him, yet she had the nerve to act wronged?

Shen Gonglin had not even cried, so what did she have to cry about?

His thought process was unlike a normal person's. Seeing Durandal's aggrieved expression, Shen Gonglin raised his hand and smacked her again. It felt rather strange. Every time he hit her, Durandal trembled all over. Her gaze looked terrifying, but to Shen Gonglin, who had spent his life walking the edge of death, it was nothing worth mentioning. Now he understood. Durandal had not fully recovered after all. His blood-sucking was quite impressive.

Since she had let him smack her so many times, he would not hold the stabbing incident against her. They were even now.

"Lady Durandal... Shen Gonglin, could you hand Lady Durandal over to me? If this continues, Lady Bianca will be humiliated."

Rita was the first to recover. She hurried two steps forward to help Durandal up. The maid had never imagined something like this would happen. Shen Gonglin was truly reckless. Durandal was every Valkyrie's idol, and since they were all girls... Shen Gonglin had likely made a name for himself at Headquarters by making enemies this time. He had probably also offended Lady Durandal beyond repair. Before she recovered, Rita needed to send him and Fu Hua away as quickly as possible.

"Yeah, I also think she's super embarrassing. She's so old already, yet she still uses such petty tricks. But it's fine. I won't hold it against her."

Shen Gonglin maturely handed Durandal to Rita. The strongest Valkyrie buried her face in Rita's shoulder without saying a word. Durandal finally understood what social death felt like. She wanted to find a crack in the ground and crawl into it. Shen Gonglin... He was now on her kill list. Three S-rank Valkyries were enough. As for the fourth, she could just kill him.

"Alright, what happened just now was only an accident. Lady Durandal is unwell, so I will continue the presentation... Now then, thank you all for attending. That will be all for today."

Holding Durandal gently, Rita calmly continued the ceremony. There had originally been several more proceedings afterward, but if it continued now, the situation would be beyond her control. The maid grabbed Shen Gonglin by the collar, preventing him from continuously backing away, and hurriedly pinned the medal to his chest. The four of them were nearly huddled together in the eyes of the other Valkyries. After announcing the end, Rita quickly carried Durandal away first, while Fu Hua pulled Shen Gonglin after her. The remaining Valkyries in the command center looked at one another.

There really was something going on.

"What exactly is Shen Gonglin's relationship with Lady Bianca? I thought they were going to fight, but Lady Durandal never attacked him from start to finish. Did you see it? When he hit... when he was hitting her, Lady Durandal seemed to be trembling."

"Could there really be something wrong with her body? Otherwise, why would Lady Durandal react like that? But their relationship is definitely abnormal. Do you think... could Shen Gonglin be Lady Durandal's, you know?"

Once Rita and the others left, the scene immediately became uncontrollable. What had happened was simply too explosive. When Shen Gonglin made his move, some people had even begun sympathizing with him, because his perverted hand had smacked Durandal. But the development had surpassed everyone's expectations. Not only had Durandal not drawn her knight lance and stab Shen Gonglin to death on the spot, she had allowed him to continue. He had slapped her five, six, perhaps seven times? Durandal had not shown any intention of resisting, and she had even leaned against Shen Gonglin's shoulder like she was acting spoiled. If Rita had not pulled them apart, it seemed Lady Durandal would not have gotten up at all.

The only explanation was that Shen Gonglin and Durandal had an extraordinary relationship. Among this group, the members of Immortal Blade knew the most about Shen Gonglin. Valkyries were girls too, and they could not be more interested in gossip. Moreover, the female lead of this incident was their captain... Gossip about the strongest Valkyrie was truly irresistible.

"When I saw how energetic he was, I knew he was gifted. I never expected even the captain would fall to him. Impressive, impressive... But it seems the vice-captain is interested in him too, and so is Lady Fu Hua. Tsk, tsk. Their circle is really messy, isn't it, Alvit?"

The Valkyries in the command center immediately formed little groups and began discussing it. Alvit, meanwhile, looked rather silent. This was irrefutable proof. Shen Gonglin and the captain truly had that kind of relationship. The last shred of hope in Alvit's heart was gone. She had to put that matter on the agenda. She only hoped the captain would forgive her.

Schicksal Air Harbor, Immortal Blade's exclusive port. Durandal sat in a chair, staring blankly at the distant sky. Whenever she recalled what had happened in the command center, she felt as if her mind would explode. She had actually been spanked by Shen Gonglin in that kind of setting... The key was that, in everyone else's eyes, she had not resisted. That was rather thought-provoking. Durandal did not visit the forums exclusively for Valkyries, but she could imagine what they looked like right now. As expected of her, she would definitely be the top headline.

And all of this was because of Shen Gonglin.

The Valkyrie turned to look at Shen Gonglin nearby. Durandal's gaze darkened. Once she recovered, she would definitely beat Shen Gonglin until he cried.

"I've already packed your luggage. Because of what happened just now... I think it would be best if you set off immediately. After all, if Lady Durandal recovers, I may not be able to stop her. For your safety, you should leave first."

Rita truly deserved the title of perfect maid. Shen Gonglin and Fu Hua had prepared nothing, yet she had already readied everything for them. The maid worriedly glanced back at Durandal. Even from here, she could feel the low pressure radiating from the strongest Valkyrie. It was truly frightening. If Shen Gonglin could not become Angel Form, Rita was genuinely worried about his safety. No one knew what a woman might do in such circumstances, and this was Lady Durandal. So although Rita was reluctant, she still had to let Shen Gonglin leave.

Still, it was fine. St. Freya, the Far East Branch... They should need a maid there, right? She had heard the personnel department was sending medical staff and technical personnel to St. Freya. They must need maids too.

"Oh, then Rita, we'll be going. Let's go, Class President. We're heading home."

Shen Gonglin had no intention of carrying his luggage. He turned around and prepared to board the ship. This vessel would take them to the city below, after which they would use other means to return to St. Freya. Shen Gonglin subconsciously regarded St. Freya as his home. He had been away for so long and wanted to return badly. He already missed Kiana and the others. Kiana was terrible with directions, so he really had to worry about her.

"You bastard, are you really just leaving like that... Don't you have anything to say?"

Rita reached out and grabbed Shen Gonglin by the collar. Even her composure was beginning to crack because of him. He was just leaving so simply, without even the slightest reluctance. So much had happened between them. Did Shen Gonglin truly have nothing to say before leaving? Sometimes, Rita wanted to pry open Shen Gonglin's head with her scythe and see what was inside. Why was this man's ability to make people angry so extraordinary?

The maid stared at Shen Gonglin in exasperation. He had bitten her like that and given her that kind of experience, yet now he wanted to turn around and run off? How could there be such a good deal in this world?

"Um... Rita, go to bed early tonight, and don't forget to cover yourself with a blanket."

Shen Gonglin looked at the maid in considerable difficulty. What did she mean? Had she not packed his luggage and sent him off? Why was she acting like this now? Shen Gonglin did not really understand. He did not like farewells, and he did not know how to say anything sentimental.

"...If you really have nothing to say, then don't say anything. After all, our relationship is only at this level!"

This time, the maid was genuinely angry. Rita released Shen Gonglin, crossed her arms, and turned her little head aside. Shen Gonglin still wanted to make her angry at a time like this. Did he believe she would not go looking for him? She had even wanted to give him a gift, but this Shen Gonglin... He only thought about bullying Lady Durandal. Was she merely an afterthought?

"Oh, then I'll leave... Rita, move aside. You're blocking the way."

Shen Gonglin scratched his head, unable to understand why Rita was angry. Maybe the maid disliked farewells too. But although she had let him go, the moment Shen Gonglin took a step forward, Rita took a step forward as well and blocked him again. What was wrong with her? She was being so awkward and indecisive, not like a man at all... No, Rita was not a man in the first place.

If he did not have that cute face and all those abilities, he would have probably been beaten to death long ago. Watching Shen Gonglin and Rita, Fu Hua sighed faintly. Shen Gonglin seemed popular with girls, but he apparently had no emotional intelligence at all. If he had even a little sense, he could probably have Rita eating out of his hand. Fine, at a time like this, his teacher had to guide him.

"Say something nice. Rita has taken such good care of you, and you're about to part ways."

Unable to keep watching, Fu Hua reached out and pulled Shen Gonglin over. The girl leaned close to his ear and spoke softly. Otherwise, Rita probably would not let Shen Gonglin leave. Just watching this made Fu Hua's teeth ache... Or perhaps it was more than just her teeth aching?

Say something nice? What exactly counted as nice?

Shen Gonglin found this even more difficult. He considered himself a gentleman. How could a gentleman like him do something like coaxing girls? Think about it—what did those male protagonists do at times like these?

"Rita, like I said earlier, make sure you take good care of yourself. A perfect maid has to be perfect in every way. Going to bed early and getting up early will keep you healthy. If that great figure of yours gets thinner from starving yourself, I'll be at a huge loss. If it gets smaller the next time we meet, I'm definitely going to settle accounts with you."

Shen Gonglin reached out and placed his hand on Rita's head. Her dark golden hair felt soft in his hand. Head pats always seemed effective on girls. Though whenever he used them on Kiana, that girl only bristled and tried to pat him back, that was only because Kiana was not a girl. Now, though... It seemed rather effective.

Shen Gonglin used Head Pat. It was super effective.

Feeling the pressure on her head, the maid's cheeks instantly turned red. Had Shen Gonglin not looked utterly carefree just moments ago? Why had he suddenly changed? And what did he mean by that? Why did he keep staring at her chest when he spoke? Was Shen Gonglin concerned about changes to her figure?

This guy seemed to really like her chest.

"Yes, I'll maintain it properly... And this, Shen Gonglin. Please accept it."

Rita was indeed Rita. Though she was incredibly shy inside, she did not avoid him. Shen Gonglin's rough head patting had practically turned her dark golden hair into a bird's nest. After tidying herself up a little, the maid offered Shen Gonglin something with both hands. Shen Gonglin's head-patting skills were rather poor. Or perhaps he simply wanted to mess up her hair?

"Hm? What is this?"

Shen Gonglin looked doubtfully at the card in Rita's hand. It resembled his own card. Could it be Rita's S-rank Valkyrie stipend card? Shen Gonglin felt as though he could already smell money. But why was she giving him this? Was she trying to buy him off?

Rita truly knew how to handle Shen Gonglin. Aside from being lecherous, he was a money-grubber. He was short on money. Fighting Honkai was fighting Honkai, but how could he protect this beautiful world without money? Shen Gonglin understood that very clearly.

"Have you forgotten what I said before? The fee for saving someone from suffering—I have kept it in mind. After all, in my view, my worth is far greater than the money in this card. So, in the end, I'm the one getting the better deal."

Rita clasped her hands together and blinked at Shen Gonglin. Even this cute expression from the maid was especially alluring. This had happened when she and Shen Gonglin first met. Shen Gonglin could forget, but she could not. That was why she handed him the card now. It contained Rita's savings accumulated over time. An S-rank Valkyrie's monthly stipend was quite generous, and Rita had few places to spend money. So... Giving it to Shen Gonglin could carry a piece of her feelings as well.

In any case, if she wanted to spend it while it was with him, she could simply ask him for it. Thinking about acting that way, Rita found it rather interesting. Wasn't a maid supposed to ask her master for funds to support daily life? Being a maid was Rita's profession.

"Oh, right. My portion is fine, but because of the time, I haven't taken out Lady Durandal's portion yet. For certain reasons, Lady Durandal's stipend is also on my card, so please be a little careful with it."

Rita suddenly remembered this and felt it was necessary to tell Shen Gonglin. After all, she only had the right to manage her own funds. Durandal had nowhere to spend money except the gym. Should Rita have withdrawn Durandal's money before giving the card to Shen Gonglin? Giving it to him like this... Honestly, Rita was a little worried.

"Yeah, yeah, I get it. I'll keep it safe for you, alright?"

It was not that Shen Gonglin loved money so much. He simply liked the sense of security that came with having money on him, the feeling that he need not fear any situation. Besides, with this money, he could protect this beautiful world better. How could he protect beauty without first making his own life beautiful? Shen Gonglin had already figured out how to spend it. His days of living extravagantly and spending money like water were almost here.

Shen Gonglin happily accepted Rita's bank card, but Fu Hua felt this was not good. Shen Gonglin had no plans at all. He could not be allowed to carry so much money. If he had money on him, something would definitely happen. Fu Hua had that feeling. Therefore, she had to exercise her rights as his guardian.