"Hey! Who are you calling a mascot?!" Theresa stomped her feet in anger.
"There, see? Just like that." Himeko smiled helplessly at Xia Ling, then turned and walked away with flair.
A few minutes later, amid the roar of engines, the Hyperion slowly docked at the harbor of St. Freya Academy.
Once the ship had come to a complete stop, Theresa led Xia Ling off the vessel, and the two strolled through the academy square together.
"Here, remember this wall. Whenever students skip class, they usually climb over it. If you want to catch them, just wait here and you can't go wrong."
So this was the place... Xia Ling silently stared at the wall and instinctively asked a question whose answer she already knew. "Then why don't you make the wall taller?"
"It's already been raised twice." Theresa gazed into the academy, her eyes carrying a hint of helplessness and indulgence. "Unfortunately, it doesn't seem to have done much to stop students from skipping class."
"I was planning to raise it again recently, but I probably won't after that. If it gets any higher, I'm afraid they'll hurt themselves falling down."
St. Freya's New Teaching Assistant
"And here too. People often hide in these bushes—like my niece, who loves skipping class. She's only been here for a month, and she's already skipped four or five times."
"Every time she skips class, she comes here to hide. Even now, I have no idea why."
"Maybe because the sunlight is best here." Xia Ling wore a faintly melancholy, nostalgic smile as well.
Xia Ling and Theresa chatted as they walked. Along the way, they passed quite a few places that stirred Xia Ling's memories. Before long, they had crossed nearly half of St. Freya Academy and arrived before the teaching building, where Theresa's office was located.
"Oh, right, Xia Ling." Sitting at her desk as she turned on her computer, Theresa suddenly looked up and asked, "What identity do you want?"
"Identity?"
"Yes. Do you want to be a student, a teaching assistant, or a teacher?"
"Um, may I ask what you plan to have me teach?"
"Don't be so lacking in confidence." Theresa let out a soft laugh. "I think you're capable of teaching them math and the like, or humanities subjects. With some studying, you should be able to pick them up quickly too."
"I'd better not. If I become a teacher or a student, you'd have to go through all the trouble of preparing a complete identity for me. That would be too much of a hassle."
Xia Ling shook her head like a rattle drum. "A teaching assistant probably doesn't need such a complicated process. Simpler is better."
"Actually, they're about the same... and it isn't that troublesome." Theresa muttered quietly before saying, "Forget it. Since you don't want to be a teacher, I'll list you as a teaching assistant for now. If you want to become a full teacher later, come find me."
"So what does a teaching assistant normally do?"
"Hmm... that's actually hard to say." Theresa thought about it. "If I had to describe it, your responsibilities would be similar to a homeroom teacher's. Besides teaching, Himeko is also the captain of the Hyperion, so she has a lot to deal with every day."
"And you can't really help much with the specialized courses. At most, you can assist with a few general education classes."
"I see. I understand." Xia Ling nodded. "Then I have no problem with that at all. Besides, if I can help ease Himeko's burden, I'd be more than happy to."
Seeing that Xia Ling had no objections, Theresa relaxed. She took a set of identification documents, a teacher terminal, two keys to Himeko's villa, and her first month's salary from a cabinet, then handed them all to Xia Ling.
What, you're asking why there was a salary too? Because Xia Ling was completely broke now. Without it, she wouldn't even be able to afford lunch today.
"Well then, Xia Ling, you can spend the rest of the day looking around St. Freya Academy. There's a map of the academy in the teacher terminal. If you get tired, you can head home first and have a look. Himeko usually comes back late, but there's a master chef in the villa who can give you quite a feast."
"These are the keys to Himeko's house?" Xia Ling looked at the keys in her hand. "I thought..."
"You're Himeko's teaching assistant, so of course you'll be living with her." Theresa revealed a sly smile. "But Himeko's villa is huge, so quite a few people live there. My niece and her two friends live there too."
"Don't be shy. Get along well with your roommates."
She wanted me to form new friendships and Bonds so I could leave behind this semi-reclusive state, while also keeping me nearby to observe me, didn't she? Theresa really was...
Understanding Theresa's good intentions, Xia Ling looked up and, for the first time, gave Theresa a faint smile. "Thank you, Theresa."
After turning to say goodbye to Theresa, who was a little embarrassed by her sudden straightforwardness, Xia Ling opened her teacher terminal and followed its navigation to the shopping district.
After all, she was starting a new life today. She needed to prepare some personal necessities. This wasn't like running trials in the system, where she could have the system materialize anything she wanted at any time.
After shopping around and having a satisfying meal, Xia Ling arrived at Himeko's villa, found her room, and began unpacking.
"Mei, Mei, I passed my makeup exam! Tonight, I'm eating ten fried chicken drumsticks!" Kiana skipped along the road as she excitedly bragged to Mei.
"Idiot Kiana, Bronya's virtual reality connector did all the work. If Idiot Kiana relied only on that paramecium brain of hers, she still wouldn't pass even after another month of studying." Bronya and Kiana began their usual bickering.
"What do you mean? It was obviously thanks to this lady's brilliance!"
"All right, all right. Since you passed your makeup exam, you can eat as much as you want." Mei looked at Kiana and couldn't help smiling indulgently. "But Teacher Himeko also told me to prepare extra ingredients today. I think she said it was for... a welcome dinner?"
"Sister Mei, Bronya heard from a student in the neighboring class who skipped class that she saw a new face in the shopping district today. She was wearing a student uniform, but she had never seen her before. Could the person we're welcoming be her?" Bronya thought for a moment and shared a bit of gossip she had heard at noon.
"Hmm... it should be." Mei pondered. "Although we haven't been here long and don't know every student, those who have been here for one or two years must at least recognize most people in the academy."
"If even they don't know her, then she's most likely the person we're welcoming."
"Awesome! I hope this new student lives at Himeko's place too." Kiana cheered. "Otherwise, Himeko's house is so big, and Himeko and Theresa often don't come back at night. The villa always feels so empty."
"Idiot Kiana, isn't it really because Sister Mei cooks, so you can only play games with Bronya, which gives you no gaming experience at all? And now you can't wait to find an opponent you can actually beat?"
Bronya mercilessly exposed Kiana's true thoughts from the side.
"This lady can't beat you?" Kiana bristled again. "That's only because this lady goes easy on you, you little runt!"
"All right, all right, stop arguing. Whoever keeps arguing won't get any chicken drumsticks tonight."
Amid their playful squabbling, the three finally returned to Himeko's villa.
"I have a strange feeling."
Bronya floated by the entrance, frowning as she looked around.
"Huh?" Kiana swayed her gaze left and right along with Bronya's, but she still couldn't see anything unusual.
"Ah, I know!" Mei clenched one fist and struck her palm, suddenly realizing. "It's because the area around the entrance has been tidied up. Look, these flowers and plants are much neater than they were this morning."
Just as the three were still studying the changes around the entrance, the villa door suddenly opened. Then, a small head with smooth black hair poked out, looking around with a puzzled expression.
The Peaceful Daily Life Finally Begins
"Are you... the guest Teacher Himeko mentioned?" Mei asked uncertainly.
"Mm. More precisely, I'm your future new roommate." Xia Ling pushed open the door and greeted them. "Come in already. What are you all standing outside for?"
"Whoa, it really is a new roommate! Little sister, how old are you? Are you a newly transferred student too?" The naturally friendly Kiana had already crowded up to Xia Ling after hearing her greeting, firing off question after question.
"L-Little sister?" Xia Ling's face went dark.
I may be shorter than Mei and Kiana, but I'm still taller than Bronya at least, right? Do I really look that young...
"Ahem. I'm a teacher." Xia Ling expressionlessly patted Kiana on the head.
As expected of Kiana. Her hair felt so nice...
"A t-teacher?" The silly grin on Kiana's face froze.
As everyone knew, Kiana's grades in academic subjects were terrible.
"That's right. I'm the newly hired teaching assistant. I'll mainly be helping Himeko handle some daily affairs, as well as teaching a few general education classes." Xia Ling explained, then looked at Kiana with a kindly expression. "I've already heard quite a lot about you, Kiana. I hope we get along well from now on."
"Y-yes, Teacher..." Kiana could no longer smile. By the law of conservation of smiles, the smile on her face had transferred to Mei and Duck Duck.
"Teacher, why are you wearing a student uniform? We heard students saying that a new face wearing a student uniform showed up in the shopping district today, so we thought a new student might be transferring in."
Bronya asked with the same expressionless face.
Wait, weren't there two emotionless types in this house now? Their character traits were overlapping!
The system complained in Xia Ling's mind.
"This?" Xia Ling touched her chin. "I ran into a little trouble on the way here and got into a fight. My clothes were pretty much ruined, so Himeko found me a school uniform to wear for now."
As she spoke, Xia Ling glanced at the gloomy Kiana beside her, grabbed her, and kneaded her cheeks. "Don't look so miserable. I'm not going to eat you. Don't worry, I'll help you catch up on the classes you've fallen behind in."
"It's precisely because you look like such a serious and responsible teacher that I'm miserable," Kiana muttered under her breath.
"Oh, right, Teacher, you haven't eaten yet, have you? Teacher Himeko specifically told me to buy extra ingredients today to welcome you." Mei lifted the ingredients in her hands.
"That's right, that's right!" The moment food was mentioned, Kiana perked up again. "Mei's cooking is amazing, Teacher. Just get ready for a feast!"
"Don't call me Teacher. Just call me Xia Ling." Xia Ling pinched a lock of hair hanging beside her ear in embarrassment. "I'm not that much older than you. It feels strange hearing you call me Teacher, so just call me Xia Ling."
"As for cooking, I'm actually quite good at it too. So I'll help out with dinner tonight."
"Xia Ling, you can cook too?" Mei may have felt that calling her by name alone was impolite, so she added "Sister."
"Judging by your name, Sister Xia Ling should be from Schicksal, right? Then Sister Xia Ling's cooking probably won't be bad either," Bronya said from the side.
"Mm... Schicksal, I suppose..." Xia Ling's words caught in her throat, then she casually changed the subject. "Still, I really am good at Schicksal cuisine."
"Great! Two master chefs!" Kiana cheered.
"Then I'll have to learn properly from Sister Xia Ling." Mei wore her usual gentle smile, though a flicker of fighting spirit lit up her eyes.
That evening, after Xia Ling and Mei had worked together for two or three hours, a lavish meal was brought to the table.
Then Himeko and Theresa joined them in celebrating Xia Ling's arrival.
After the welcome dinner, Himeko pulled Xia Ling aside and explained the things she needed to pay attention to as a homeroom teacher, as well as some work schedules.
She also repeatedly reminded Xia Ling to take good "care" of Kiana.
Under Kiana's pitiful gaze, Xia Ling readily agreed.
As night fell, Xia Ling lay on the bed in her bedroom after a busy day, looking as though she had peacefully fallen asleep.
In reality, her consciousness had already entered the system space.
So, Host, you finally met the Big Three you've been thinking about all this time. How did it feel?
"How did it feel..." Xia Ling pondered, seemingly still immersed in that evening's welcome dinner. "Just like the first time I met them."
"So I'm even more determined to protect this beauty."
Seeing that the Host was still so motivated, I was relieved.
But did the Host feel like she had forgotten something?
"Huh?" Xia Ling tilted her head, looking utterly confused. "Forgot... what?"
Reinstalling the system, Host! You don't want the beginner gift pack and compensation anymore, do you?
"!"
"Damn, I really forgot about that!" Xia Ling slapped her forehead. "But you can't blame me for that. It's already been a month since I first transmigrated. It's normal that I forgot, right?"
Yes, yes. So does the Host want to reinstall it now? Installing the system will take one day. During that time, you won't be able to use any system functions. Of course, I can still keep you company and chat with you.
"Of course. Better to get it over with early, while nothing much is happening at this point. By the way, System, do you know what the beginner gift pack and compensation are?"
Well... I really don't know. I know the beginner gift pack should be six Originium Ingots, but I truly have no idea about the compensation.
Host, you need to know that a malfunction in the transfer system causing a transmigrator massive losses is an extremely serious case. This is the first time I've ever seen anything like it, but the compensation shouldn't be too bad.
"So the beginner gift pack is meant to let me promote once immediately?" Xia Ling was extremely sensitive to the number six Originium Ingots. "So this really was a hellish start!"
Hehe, that's why I said the Host is amazing.
But a hellish start has its advantages too.
"Oh? How so?"
With the six Originium Ingots from the beginner gift pack, the Host's resources will reach 3 Hope and 10 Originium Ingots.
The Six-Star Random Recruitment Voucher is half price for the first purchase. After the discount, it only costs 3 Hope and 15 Originium Ingots.
That means that as long as the Host completes at most two more trials, your first character card will be a six-star card. It will be a huge help in both future trials and the real world.
"That's true... But System, how exactly are these character card ratings calculated? It shouldn't be based on strength, right?"
Of course not. No matter how strong those characters are in their original games, the abilities the Host draws will have been adapted for this world. In terms of overall power level, they're all at the same level.
However, the higher a character's star rating, the greater their potential.
Teacher Xia's Imposing Presence
"Potential? You mean their use and storage of Honkai Energy?"
You could put it that way.
Before you continue