Chapter 298
"Kiana, I'll prepare a chair for you to rest in right away!"
"No, no, really, sometimes strange thoughts just pop into my head."
Fortunately, Freya has now developed her own consciousness. If she were still in the state she was in when her consciousness was first born, she might have stopped thinking because of the words "splits," "cleaning the deck," and "captain."
"Don't worry, it's more of an old problem. But Bianca, you should get some rest. You've hardly had a proper rest since you became Valkyrie. You have a small mission every three days and a big mission every seven days. Even if you can handle it, Sophia can't... Besides, this weapon should have just arrived today. You came to the training ground to test it as soon as you got it. You should also consider your still injured body."
Bianca lost her weapons and armor during the mission, which shows how devastating it was; Sophia, who went on the mission with her, is still in the medical center.
Since Bianca and Sophia are both knights bestowed with titles by Freya and belong to her direct knightly order, they do not yet have their own knightly squads, unlike the Valkyrie squad which are organized into smaller teams.
After all, there are very few officially recognized knight squads in the current Knight Order. The Dark Rose Squad is an exception, while the squad led by Laguna and Lewis is both Valkyrie squad and an officially recognized knight squad.
At the time, only Bianca and Sophia were on the mission, so they naturally did not expect that a Honkai event would break out again in that place. When the Emperor-class Honkai Beast suddenly appeared in the city, Bianca and Sophia had to suffer heavy injuries in order to protect the people.
Freya also blamed Bianca to some extent.
In her view, the Valkyrie's life was more important than those civilians. If they were civilians under the direct control of the Alliance, it would be one thing, but they were civilians from other countries, specifically North America, and were not worth the Valkyrie risking her life for.
It's important to understand that even though Freya continuously elevates the status of the Valkyrie, there are still people who constantly smear Valkyrie, even treating them as Valkyrie or other races.
Although her sister said she was kind and had compassion for the weak, she herself knew that she had a hierarchy of priorities in her heart.
At least the Valkyrie is someone she can protect, but what about those people who see Valkyrie as a monster? They are not worth the Valkyrie's efforts.
If the Alliance didn't require so many resources, Freya wouldn't even be willing to train Valkyrie for various countries.
In her view, the countries that sent the best candidates also treated the Valkyrie as disposable items, which contradicted the current alliance's philosophy.
Even in the so-called underworld, there were auctions of Valkyrie. Although that place was destroyed by Freya's Dark Rose Squad, the Valkyrie that were auctioned could not be found.
Freya doesn't think this world is worth protecting, but there are a group of people in this world that she and the Valkyrie should protect.
Just as Freya values her family, many Valkyrie also have things they value.
Some Valkyrie value their country and want to change its dark side.
Freya sighed softly, finally giving up the idea of interfering with Bianca.
"Fine, do whatever makes you happy."
Just as she values these Valkyrie who are ostracized or even treated as expendable resources, the Valkyrie also have their own objects of concern.
Whether those objects are important or not is not something she can arbitrarily define.
"... Just don't overwork yourself. Of course, if you get bullied, tell me and I'll protect you."
"Yes, Kiana!"
Bianca responded happily, while Rita sighed softly beside her.
This woman, like her sister, has the potential to become a deeply sinful woman.
341. Well, perhaps we'll explore that next.
"Speaking of which, Bianca, didn't you participate in the school festival?"
Freya asked curiously.
She didn't think Bianca was antisocial; powerful Valkyrie were very popular in the Valkyrie circle.
Upon hearing the question, Bianca smiled and shook her head, saying:
"Kiana, St. Freya's school festival is different; it's not the kind of open-day school festival that ordinary schools have."
"Although they are all school festivals, the school festivals of ordinary schools are mainly for each class or club to showcase themselves, and are an essential part of Far East school anime."
Bianca began to explain in detail, knowing that the Saintess Lord in front of her rarely paid attention to the operation of the academy.
"St. Freya Academy is a specialized institution for training Valkyrie, not a school that celebrates youth as depicted in Far East animation. St. Freya Academy's school festival is divided into a martial arts tournament and a research and development competition."
"The research team members will present their research findings for evaluation by the various research institutes that the alliance visits, which will give them an advantage when they apply for positions at these institutes in the future."
"The martial arts tournament is a competition to showcase martial prowess. Titled Valkyrie will not participate. The tournament is designed to allow Valkyrie to demonstrate their strength. However, titled Valkyrie are exceptionally powerful, and if they participate in the tournament, other Valkyrie will be unable to showcase their own excellence."
"For Valkyrie who have not received a title or joined the Knights, achieving good results in the martial arts tournament will benefit their treatment after returning home and will also provide bonus points for applying to join Valkyrie squad."
Bianca patiently explained the two main events of the school festival. The school festival lasts for three days, with the first two days being a fierce martial arts tournament and the last day being a scientific research competition.
"So it's all for the sake of getting extra points."
Freya immediately understood what this school festival was all about.
It's not hard to guess if you think about it carefully. After all, St. Freya Academy also implements an exclusionary policy, and those who can go to the St. Freya Academy are naturally all related to the Alliance.
St. Freya Academy is an institution dedicated to training Valkyrie, but not every Valkyrie is willing to join the Apocalypse Knights. Some Valkyrie, due to their background, choose to return to their home country after graduation and become resident Valkyrie guarding several Honkai battlefields in the country. Other Valkyrie receive funding during their studies and are willing to become private bodyguards...
In addition to establishing the Apocalypse Knights, Freya also allowed the Valkyrie of each branch to form their own Valkyrie squad. She also created a Valkyrie Guild, modeled after the standard adventure guilds in isekai light novels, so that Valkyrie who did not want to become members of the Knights would fight for her.
Excellent Valkyrie squad naturally attract excellent members, and they also attract Valkyrie who are still students. In addition to their daily performance and achievements, these students rely on their performance in the school festival's martial arts tournament to join those excellent Valkyrie squad.
Although it is held every year, this year is only the third edition. In addition, the 13th batch of freshmen are all monsters, so the top eight in the first two martial arts tournaments were almost completely dominated by the 13th batch of freshmen.
The restructuring of the St. Freya Academy will certainly make a certain headmaster, who is practically a mascot, very unhappy.
Whether they choose to join the Valkyrie squad, return to their home country to develop their careers, become private bodyguards, or join the Apocalypse Knights, they ultimately have their own considerations.
This is their future.
Freya never interfered with their own ideas.
Even so, Freya, who held the title of vice principal of the St. Freya Academy, was unaware for the first time that the school festival of the St. Freya Academy was like this.
"This is the third year already..."
Freya was momentarily stunned.
"Yes, sir. Lady Bianca came in second place in the first tournament, and because she was granted a title the following year, she did not participate in the second tournament, and she will not participate this year either."
Rita explained why Bianca was testing weapons alone at the training ground.
Because the current school festival really doesn't have much to do with her.
She not only received the title of "Radiant Knight," but also obtained an exclusive weapon from the director of the Research Institute 1504, surpassing 99% of Valkyrie of the same period.
"Hmm, I remember Aurora won first place in the martial arts tournament twice."
Because of her busy schedule, Freya could only get news about Aurora from Rita.
Connecting this with what Bianca had said, Freya recalled what Rita had once reported to her.
Freya focused on Aurora's victory but completely ignored the martial arts tournament.
"Yes, Aurora won first place in both martial arts tournaments, and after participating in the second tournament, she received the title of [Moonlight Knight], so she will not participate in the third tournament."
"By the way, during the first martial arts tournament, Miss Mei was stopped in the top eight because she encountered Aurora. In the second martial arts tournament, she won second place and received a title together with Lady Aurora."
After listening to Rita's explanation, Freya nodded slightly.
Only a minority of people are as obsessed with "farming missions" as Bianca, but Aurora and Mei are both geniuses in combat.
Therefore, the two were awarded the titles of "Moonlight Knight" and "Thunderclap Knight" respectively six months ago.
Considering that the two belonged to the Anti-Entropy faction, Freya did not assign them to the Apocalypse Knights.
But then she had another question.
"Wait a minute, if Aurora has already received a title, why is she still allowed to participate in the school festival?"
"My lord... Aurora is also part of the research group. In order to Tesla Lord Tesla's research institute, she wanted to achieve good results in the research group's research competition. However, she only got second place in both of the two research competitions."
Rita noticed Freya's puzzled expression and quickly provided a detailed explanation.
After all, some things need to be clarified to understand Aurora's true purpose. She has already achieved great success in the field of Valkyrie, yet she is still delving into scientific research...
"To apply to Tesla Lord Tesla's Research Institute, you need to be number one in grades. This is the standard set by Lord Tesla. Although you can apply to join as an assistant, Aurora wants to become a researcher in the Anti-Entropy First Research Institute through your own efforts, not as an assistant."
Rita sighed softly and admired the three sisters from the bottom of her heart.
Although the three sisters took different paths, they all worked hard in their own ways and protected their family in their own way.
Kiana joined the World Serpent Organization in search of immense power, for only with such power could she protect her family during the repeated Great Honkai.
Aurora, who wants to join the Anti-Entropy First Research Institute, protects her family by spending time with them; companionship is the deepest form of protection.
Conversely, the second of the three sisters has too many people she wants to protect, and even with a so-called priority order, she still wants to protect everyone...
"This is Aurora's determination, but these two days are the days of the martial arts tournament, and it seems that Aurora has been invited to serve as a commentator."
"... So that's how it is. No wonder it was so strange."
Freya gave a dry laugh.
"Sir, shall we go to the academy's dueling arena?"
"No... I originally wanted to see Aurora, but it wouldn't be good to disturb her."
She rejected Rita's offer.
"It seems she really does have her own goals, and without realizing it... she has grown up."
Freya couldn't help but sigh at this moment.
Although she and Aurora are clones and are only six years old in real life, her cute and silly little sister can no longer be treated as a child.
"I suddenly have a very complicated feeling."
"My lord, it's a good thing that Aurora has her own ideas."
"I know that after it was made public that Aurora is my sister, some people wanted to replace me with Aurora."
Freya's lips curled up slightly.
She naturally understood what Rita was trying to say, since what these people wanted to do was exactly the same as Freya's original plan.
The former simply means killing her, then impersonating Aurora, and manipulating the organization by manipulating Aurora.
The latter wants to relinquish all her status after resolving everything, so that the real Kiana can have what belongs to her.
Unfortunately, neither plan could be implemented, especially after Schicksal and Anti-Entropy merged, and the Alliance established four highest positions of governors.
Even if they could manipulate Aurora, they would be no match for the wrath of Welt, Tesla, and Theresa.
The former's plot failed, and he was also purged by Freya.
However, the latter's plan failed before it even began due to unexpected events such as Kiana becoming the disciple of the World Serpent Lord and the acting leader.
Since they had given up on visiting the school festival, Freya naturally took Rita back with her. Before leaving, she also went to the sanatorium, chatted with Himeko in the ward for a while, and also visited Sophia, who had a broken left hand.
After all, they were her own [War Knights], and Freya couldn't possibly show favoritism.
She had originally wanted to ask Changguang to create a custom weapon for Sophia.
After all, as a swordsmith, Changguang naturally prefers to forge swords rather than other Valkyrie's firearms, sniper rifles, automatic machine guns, Armstrong cannons, and other weapons.
The Golden Osmanthus Sword that Bianca obtained was forged by Changguang using a certain non-metallic shape memory polymer.
Because this substance is extremely rare, only Bianca possesses it to this day.
However, Changguang personally is very willing to create exclusive weapons for Valkyrie have been awarded titles.
After all, only a great Valkyrie deserves to possess a great weapon.
For Changguang, it's not just about choosing weapons for Valkyrie; weapons also choose Valkyrie.
Of course, she was unwilling to create any more custom weapons for Freya.
Moreover, she had previously crafted weapons for Freya entirely out of respect for Otto. Now that Otto was gone, Changguang was naturally more willing to take on the orders she wanted.
Sophia meets Changguang's needs in every aspect.
He is serious and a powerful warrior.
However, Sophia had refused Nagamitsu's offer to forge weapons for her Changguang ago, so she had no choice but to refuse Freya's kindness once again.
Freya, who knew Sophia inside and out, naturally knew what she wanted.
To prevent Sophia from getting injured again in the next mission due to poor weapon performance, Freya had Schicksal's weapons research institute send Sophia several counterfeit, degraded Great War Saber.
However, the Great War Saber used by the War Knight Order cannot be given to Sophia for the time being.
The weapons research institute's study on it seemed to have reached a dead end; they couldn't find a complete way to replicate the Great War Saber in the short term, since the Great War Saber used different forging techniques.
However, due to the fact that such forging techniques were largely passed down through generations, their lineage has long been lost in modern times.
Despite the outdated forging techniques of ancient times, the unique forging skills employed meant that many modern industrially manufactured swords are far inferior to the famous swords forged in ancient times.