St. Freya

"Classmate Xina, is there something on my face?"

Noticing Xina's somewhat strange gaze and the blush spreading all the way to her ears, Fu Hua asked with some curiosity.

"N-no." Xina panicked and turned her head to the other side, stammering in reply.

Xina, what were you just thinking? You're a Herrscher. Even if she's good-looking, she's still someone who's supposed to kill you! As an Apostle of God, you have to maintain your composure!

Right! Composure!

Carried in a princess hold for quite a distance, Xina watched Fu Hua, whose face wasn't flushed and whose breathing wasn't labored, then thought back to Kiana, who had sprinted along carrying her with ease. She couldn't help but start doubting herself.

How come these Valkyries all seem to have endless strength? Is it just my imagination?

"What are you thinking about?" Fu Hua looked at Xina, whose face was full of anxiety as if she were pondering something, and couldn't help asking.

"Nothing. I just thought carrying me like this must be pretty tiring for you..."

"Don't worry about that. Your weight is far below the normal range for a girl your age. The weights I carry during training are heavier than you!"

Then, Fu Hua expressionlessly launched into a long explanation of things that left Xina baffled, finally adding, "Once we get to St. Freya Academy, you need to eat more, or it'll affect your development."

"Affect... development?" Xina chewed on those words, but the image that popped into her head was Theresa.

Well, on that point, she thinks Fu Hua has a point... very much so!

A dozen minutes later, the two finally emerged from the deserted path onto a main road. Fu Hua expertly hailed a taxi and set off with Xina toward the airport.

"Class Monitor Fu Hua, how come you know the facilities around here better than I do, and I'm a local!"

Watching Fu Hua navigate the airport with ease, Xina said in surprise.

"I go on missions often, traveling all over the world. It's only natural I'm familiar with things." Fu Hua put away her documents, led Xina through security, and finally arrived at the waiting area.

"Would you like something to drink?" Fu Hua glanced at the time and suddenly spoke.

"Cola, with ice..."

"Drinking cola late at night is bad for your teeth. I suggest you don't have carbonated drinks in the evening..."

"Huh? Ah!" Xina stared blankly at Fu Hua, as if she hadn't expected words like an elder lecturing a younger one to come out of her mouth.

After a long pause, Xina tilted her head in confusion and tested, "Class Monitor Fu Hua, did you just say drinking cola late at night is bad for your teeth?"

"Yes, what about it?" Fu Hua didn't catch Xina's confusion either, and promptly pulled out a scientific basis to educate Xina on the dangers of drinking carbonated beverages at night...

"Alright, alright, Monitor, stop right there."

Her head throbbing from the lecture, Xina couldn't take it anymore. She grabbed Fu Hua's hand and "sincerely" accepted the advice: "Monitor, you're right. I shouldn't drink carbonated drinks at night. Just give me a bottle of mineral water..."

A few minutes later, Xina, tearfully downing the mineral water in one go, sat lifelessly on a chair in the waiting area, beginning to doubt her life as a Herrscher.

Wasn't I supposed to gain unmatched power by becoming an Apostle of God?

Why did I have to run into a Valkyrie like Fu Hua, who I can't beat in a fight and can't out-argue either?

Once on the plane, Xina, to avoid being noticed by Fu Hua for any of her living habits, asked the flight attendant for an eye mask and quickly fell asleep.

In her dream, she once again heard the faint whispering. The message it conveyed was only one thing: urging her to start the great project of destroying human civilization as soon as possible.

To this, Xina's heart was as still as water. She simply pretended not to hear it.

Are you kidding me? Fu Hua is sitting right next to her! Does this great project matter more than her own life?

This project can... wait. Yeah, wait until later...

When she woke up, the plane was already descending. Watching the fluffy clouds outside the wings, Xina thought of a second good idea, after melting the polar ice caps and freezing the ocean currents...

Getting off the plane, the two had finally returned to their own "territory."

"Let me take you to see the Principal!" Fu Hua said with a smile as they walked through the gates of St. Freya.

"The Principal?"

At those three words, the only image in Xina's mind was that white-haired old loli who was about as tall as a cross...

After walking a long way, Fu Hua led Xina through the winding work area and arrived before a large door.

"Is the Principal in?" Fu Hua politely knocked three times on the door to Theresa's office.

"Oh no, someone's coming!"

Hearing the knock, Theresa, who was secretly slacking off and reading manga inside, frowned. Taking advantage of Himeko not noticing, she casually stacked a file on top of her limited-edition manga.

Creak!

The door opened, but it was Teacher Himeko who answered.

"It's Fu Hua and Xina! Welcome to the new family!" Himeko warmly gave Fu Hua a hug, then took Xina's hand and led her inside.

New family?

Xina's body instinctively stiffened for a moment, but under her deliberate concealment, no one noticed her abnormality.

Having completed her mission, Fu Hua left to report to other departments after bringing Xina there, leaving Xina standing beside Himeko, at a loss in the spacious office.

"Back so soon? What a surprise. I believe you, Xina, must have a lot of questions on your first visit to St. Freya, but with me here, feel free to ask anything."

That voice—it was definitely Theresa.

But why couldn't she see her?

Xina looked around, trying to find Theresa in this massive office, but found nothing.

In the end, it was Fu Hua who moved aside a mountain of documents, finally pointing her in the right direction.

"Miss Xina, do you have any questions for me?" Theresa hopped down from her chair, walked over to Xina, and asked softly.

"Well... since St. Freya is a Valkyrie academy, is it something like a military school...?"

"Military school!?" Theresa thought for a moment, then nodded. "Pretty much. The nature of a Valkyrie's work is indeed similar to the military—even more dangerous. If you regret this, you can withdraw. There's no shame in it."

Regret? I haven't even figured out how the Third Herrscher can slack off with such single-minded focus—how could I possibly regret this!

With that thought, Xina lifted her head and said, "I don't regret it."

"Good! Not bad! Full of spirit!" Theresa smiled and gave Xina a thumbs-up, then turned to look at Himeko. "The new student is in your hands, Himeko. Take her to her room!"

"Alright, follow me!" Himeko responded gently, took Xina's hand, and led her out of the office area, walking slowly toward the dormitory zone.

"Look, that's where we live!" Himeko pointed at a villa in the distance and said to Xina with a smile, "How about it? Not bad, right?"

"Mm..."

Staring at the villa not far away, Xina felt a bit nervous—after all... she had never lived in such a nice place before.