Kiana Gets Drunk

"I..." Kiana jumped to her feet, her eyes wide open. "I want to too..."

Before he could finish speaking, the white-haired girl collapsed to the side.

"Seriously, if you can't drink, then don't drink!"

Supporting the girl, Shi Hen couldn't help but shake his head and sigh.

Seeing Durandal drinking, he insisted on drinking too, just like a child who hadn't grown up.

Look at Bronya and Seele, they obediently switched back to juice after only finishing their first cup.

As for that thousand-year-old doll... I hope that Himeko will be able to be stronger after she returns.

Glancing at the other person's bulging belly and the row of empty wine bottles next to him, Shi Hen silently prayed for the Book of Cang Xuan.

"I'll take Kiana back to her room."

Mei took the already drunken white-haired girl from the boy and gave him a gentle smile.

Although she was somewhat bothered by Durandal's request, she trusted the boy and believed that he would make a rational and reasonable judgment.

"Bronya and Seele, come and clear the table."

Bronya said so.

The blue-haired girl standing nearby nodded vigorously upon hearing this.

"Okay, then I'll leave it to you."

Smiling, Shi Hen offered to help Durandal lift the bag containing the gifts.

Although most of the gifts they gave Durandal were small items, two cat plush toys took up a lot of space.

Of course, these two dolls were purchased separately by Shi Hen later.

The doll that Kiana and Mei won through a shooting game is still lying on the boy's bed.

Upon seeing this, Durandal was slightly taken aback, but did not refuse. She simply glanced at Mei and the others and nodded gently, saying, "Thank you so much for your hospitality tonight."

In previous years, she and Rita had always spent her birthdays alone, never inviting anyone else.

Because in her heart, this day was not actually special.

Her so-called birthday was just a date she randomly selected because she was too lazy to go through the motions.

But at this moment, she began to understand the feelings of celebrating one's birthday.

"As long as Miss Durandal is happy."

He spoke softly, a genuine, Shi Hen smile appearing on his face.

Although he didn't quite understand Otto's intention in sending Durandal to St. Freya, he didn't care about it.

The rift between Otto and Durandal has already formed; all that remains is for time to tell.

All he needs to do now is play his current role well.

As he left the warm and comfortable house, a gust of cold wind suddenly blew by, causing Shi Hen to shiver.

"Sorry to make you come out in such cold weather."

Noticing the boy's condition, Durandal immediately spoke up.

"Even though I can't compare to S-rank Valkyrie like Miss Durandal, I'm not so fragile as to be easily broken." Looking at the girl's fair face under the streetlight, Shi Hen shook his head and smiled. "Besides, being able to travel with Miss Durandal must be something that many people in the academy envy."

"But you don't seem to be like that."

Durandal pressed down her long, golden hair that was being blown by the wind, and looked the boy up and down, her blue eyes revealing seriousness.

Compared to the other students at St. Freya, the boy's attitude towards her was rather ordinary.

It is no exaggeration to say that most people in St. Freya have a kind of star-struck fanaticism when they face her, regarding her as some kind of unattainable existence.

But she didn't sense that emotion in Shi Hen.

Durandal could sense that the boy's attitude towards her was always peaceful, neither fearful nor admiring, as if she were just an ordinary Valkyrie.

She had only ever seen this kind of attitude in seasoned Valkyrie.

Only those who have firm goals, understand their own limitations but do not belittle themselves because of them, can treat her as an equal.

Compared to those people, Shi Hen is far too young.

"That's probably because my goal isn't to become the strongest Valkyrie."

Faced with the girl's scrutinizing gaze, Shi Hen simply smiled wryly.

"I remember you said you wanted to be like Mr. Welt, didn't you?"

If possible, could you tell me why?

Durandal asked with a serious expression.

She is not someone who likes to pry into other people's secrets.

But she was willing to be more patient and curious about this boy who seemed more mature than his peers and who also aspired to be like Welt.

"There's nothing I can't say. It's just that if I were to tell it, it might not be a story that would interest people."

Looking at the white mist he exhaled, Shi Hen's tone was tinged with nostalgia.

"But for you, that possesses power, doesn't it?"

Durandal countered with a question, her expression still serious.

This strongest Valkyrie, who is only seventeen years old in real life, is indeed a bit too serious.

Shi Hen remained outwardly calm and said, "Two years ago, when I first encountered the Honkai disaster, I was saved by a passing Anti-Entropy member."

Perhaps he felt I still had some potential, because he told me a lot of stories about Mr. Welt and recommended that I participate in the selection and assessment of Anti-Entropy.

From that moment on, I decided that I wanted to become someone like Mr. Welt, someone who would fight to protect the world.

Yes, as the third Anti-Entropy Leader, the young man's dream was so simple and unpretentious.

"A very admirable ideal."

"Durandal said sincerely."

"I thought Miss Durandal would find it boring."

Shi Hen said with a smile.

"How could that be?" Durandal retorted seriously. "Ideals are not ranked. What truly determines their value is the effort a person puts in."

"Then why did Miss Durandal become Valkyrie?"

Shi Hen asked with a smile.

"Hmm..."

Upon hearing this, Durandal hesitated.

If it were before her last battle with [Welt White], she could have given the answer without hesitation.

But now... she's not sure if that was also part of Otto's plan.

"If it is inconvenient for you to answer, Miss Durandal, you need not force yourself. It was just a matter of my curiosity."

Shi Hen is very considerate and authentic.

"No, it's just..." Gently shaking her head, Durandal paused for a moment before continuing, "The reason I became Valkyrie is also due to the influence of a senior."

As far back as I can remember, I have lived in an orphanage.

Then one day, a volunteer came to the orphanage. She taught us to identify all sorts of flowers and showed us that there were so many colors in the world.

"This is different from the Valkyrie I remember."

He nodded slightly, a Shi Hen of curiosity on his face.

In the traditional sense, Valkyrie should be as fearless as a robot, and her entire life should revolve around Anti-Honkai.

Although the Valkyrie currently active in the public eye are all quite remarkable in their own way, in a certain period of the past, Valkyrie used like tools were the mainstream of Schicksal.

This is also the original intention behind Theresa's decision to found St. Freya.

"And she was also a member of the Valkyrie Squad's assault team," Durandal added, a nostalgic smile curving her lips. "Although the assault team has been abolished now, in the past, they were the squads that carried out the most dangerous missions."

"That's even more surprising."

Shi Hen nodded.

"But then one day, she stopped coming." As she spoke, Durandal paused slightly, her mood becoming somewhat somber. "It was her comrades who brought the news that she had been killed in action."

Looking at the girl's slightly disappointed face, Shi Hen hesitated for a few seconds before smiling and saying, "If that senior knew that a girl who followed in his footsteps has now grown into the strongest S-rank Valkyrie of Schicksal, he would surely feel gratified."

That's how humanity is—passing on the torch from generation to generation, going further and further along the way.

"Yeah..."

With a soft sigh, Durandal found no solace in the boy's words.

If even that predecessor's sacrifice was part of Otto's plan, then what exactly is she now?

Durandal glanced at the boy, not giving him a chance to ask further questions, and changed the subject, saying, "I once heard Rita mention that Mr. Siegfried met you once before he fought White?"

"Um..."

He nodded slightly, a hint of sorrow in his Shi Hen.

"So, in your opinion, what kind of person is Mr. Siegfried?"

Seeing the sorrow in the boy's eyes, Durandal felt a pang of pity, but she still persisted in asking.

She wanted to know more about Siegfried, her theoretical father.

"What kind of person is Mr. Siegfried in Miss Durandal's memory?"

Instead of immediately answering the girl's question, Shi Hen countered with a question.

"Mr. Siegfried... should be considered a hero."

A hint of hesitation crossed her face, Durandal quickly gave her answer.

"But in my opinion, he is first and foremost a father." Shi Hen couldn't help but shake his head at this, "Whether he is a hero or a warrior or not."

"In Mr. Siegfried's heart, Kiana should be number one."

The Kaslana clan, burdened with the destiny of saving the world, has never truly prioritized saving the world.

From Kevin to Siegfried, the true essence of the Kaslana clan should be protecting the love in their hearts.

"Not a hero, but... a father?"

Surprise appeared on Durandal's face.

"Yes. In my brief conversation with Mr. Siegfried, he mentioned Kiana the most." Shihen nodded emphatically, Shi Hen tone filled with emotion. "I think that in the last second of his battle with that imposter, Mr. Siegfried must have been thinking about Kiana."

In a sense, this is indeed the case.

"Father... hero..."

As she pondered these words, Durandal felt even more lost.

Because she knew that the real Kiana had long since died, and the one who remained in St. Freya was merely a pawn of Otto.

Knowing all this, why did Siegfried mistake her for Kiana?

Is this also out of a father's love?

Gazing at the crescent moon in the sky, the girl still couldn't find the answer.

Chapter 250 Kiana is Drunk

Shi Hen returned to Himeko's house, only Himeko was left in the first-floor hall, drinking alone.

"Has the headmaster already gone to sleep?"

Shi Hen asked with concern.

"Yeah, that's right." Himeko said, her face slightly flushed with drunkenness as she swung the bottle in her hand. "Honestly, she's so old, yet she's still so willful."

Looking at the scratch marks and wrinkles on Himeko's clothes, Shi Hen knew that something unspeakable must have happened at Theresa's house earlier.

Compared to Himeko, a professional alcoholic, this over-aged loli's drinking habits are indeed not very good.