After seeing Xina off at an airport that was still operating, Theresa waved her hand grandly and generously allocated funds from the Far East Branch's account to buy Xina a plane ticket home.
Since Bronya had been there at the time, news that Xina would be attending St. Freya Academy after a while quickly reached Kiana and the others.
"What? Xina will join St. Freya Academy as a Valkyrie after a while? Bronya, you're not lying to me, are you?" Kiana poked her little head out of Mei's arms and looked at Bronya with an expression that screamed disbelief.
"Idiot Kiana, Bronya has no reason to lie to you about something like this." Bronya rolled her eyes at Kiana and sat back down in her chair expressionlessly.
"Idiot Bronya, I'm not an idiot!" Kiana angrily... tightened her embrace around Mei and protested loudly.
"Oh? Looks like you've forgotten that, in the games so far, Bronya has 118 wins, while you, hehe, have zero. In other words, Bronya has a perfect record."
"Pfft— You!"
Kiana clutched her chest and stared at Bronya in disbelief, as if she were about to cough up blood.
"Mei~, look! Bronya is bullying me! Boohoohoo~"
In the end, Kiana chose to burrow back into Mei's arms for comfort once again.
"Alright, alright. Kiana isn't an idiot. Kiana is the smartest, smartest girl." Mei smiled as she comforted Kiana in her arms.
Xina, who entered behind Himeko, saw this incredibly provocative scene the moment she stepped inside and could not help but widen her big eyes.
Most amazingly, everyone around them acted as though they were used to it, each busy with their own affairs.
No, can't you all see this?! They're practically about to kiss! Why are you all so calm?!
Not knowing whether she should first complain about puppy love or all the snuggling, Xina was speechless for a long while and could only obediently find a place to sit.
"Xina~, Idiot Bronya said you're going to become a Valkyrie too?"
Seeing Xina enter from outside, Kiana temporarily crawled out of Mei's arms as well. She walked up to Xina, her eyes shining, and spoke excitedly.
"That's right. Xina will be transferred directly into our class in the future. That means you're already classmates."
After speaking, Himeko cautiously looked around. Only after confirming that Theresa was nowhere nearby did she carefully pull out her Silver Wine Pot and take a huge gulp.
"Phew—now this is living!"
After the good liquor went down, a satisfied expression appeared on Himeko's face.
"Hey, Xina, don't worry. Since we'll all be classmates from now on, Miss will look after you at St. Freya!" Kiana held her head high and puffed out her chest, speaking with complete confidence, until...
"Idiot Kiana always fails her classes, so she shouldn't say such overconfident things..."
"Bronya, you!!"
It had to be said that Bronya's perfectly timed jab was practically Kiana's natural enemy. Often, just one little sentence was enough to knock the confident Kiana back to her original form.
Seeing Kiana's strange expression, flustered and angry yet unable to argue back, Xina could not help curling the corners of her lips upward.
What should I do? I actually seem a little excited about what comes next!
Since they could make her happy, she would reluctantly let them live until the final moment before the world was destroyed!
The Hyperion's travel speed was undeniably fast. At full speed, it reached Xina's transit point in no time at all.
Fu Hua watched Xina's figure disappear beyond the airport entrance. After hesitating for a moment, she ultimately walked to an unoccupied corner, took out her communicator, and dialed one of its contacts.
Before long, the other party accepted Fu Hua's call.
Once the connection was established, Otto's image appeared before Fu Hua.
Onscreen, Otto stood with his hands behind his back, wearing an unreadable smile.
"Durandal just told me that the Fourth Herrscher's true body has disappeared. What she and Theresa eliminated was merely a puppet double, and they didn't even obtain the Pseudo-Core. Tsk, this Fourth Herrscher really is different from the previous ones!"
Otto glanced at Fu Hua onscreen, then continued, "My old friend, judging by your expression, it seems you've made some special discovery. Is it related to the Fourth Herrscher?"
"It was probably just a coincidence."
Thinking of the test report in Bronya's hands, Fu Hua shook her head. After all, a Herrscher's body should not possibly be that frail.
"A coincidence? My old friend, you know me. I never believe in so-called coincidences. Do you need me to send someone to help you?"
Hearing this, Fu Hua fell silent for a moment before replying evenly, "No need. I will verify such a small matter myself."
After hearing Fu Hua's answer, Otto in the communicator let out a long sigh and said leisurely,
"Very well. In that case, I shall await good news."
Putting down the communicator, Fu Hua looked at the bustling airport below and murmured, "I hope I'm only overthinking it!"
A few days later, Xina retrieved a key from atop the doorframe as usual and opened a rusty iron door.
"I'm back!"
Her clear voice echoed through the empty little house. With no one answering, it seemed especially desolate.
But Xina had long grown accustomed to this silence. She walked through the neither spacious nor luxurious house with the familiarity of someone who had done so countless times. Even without turning on the lights, she could still skillfully retrieve a neatly folded, old women's casual outfit from the wardrobe.
Placing the outfit on the sofa, Xina gently rested her head on it. Breathing in the scent that had long since faded from the clothing, she slowly closed her eyes.
More than ten minutes later...
The lock on the front door slowly turned. Fu Hua, clad in a strangely designed black Valkyrie Armor, slowly approached Xina.
"Mom, I miss you so much..."
Even in her sleep, Xina's brows remained tightly furrowed, as though she was sleeping very uneasily.
Fu Hua's advancing steps paused ever so slightly because of this, but after several breaths, she regained her composure and moved again. Holding a highly unusual detector, she crouched in front of Xina and swept it over her entire body.
"So it really was a coincidence..."
Seeing the stable readings on the detector, Fu Hua sighed in relief.
She slowly stood up and left as silently as she had arrived.
As the front door's lock gave a barely audible click, Xina, who should have been immersed in sleep, abruptly opened her eyes.
She stared toward the door through which Fu Hua had disappeared, a trace of cunning flashing through her golden eyes.
So you still couldn't rest easy about me, could you, Class Monitor Fu Hua... You followed me for so long before showing yourself. That must have been hard on you.
Before you continue