The Truth, Raven's Version

Combining two completely different styles of art doesn't feel incongruous; instead, it adds a unique beauty and charm.

"Is this... is this still the school cafeteria?"

Kiana stared wide-eyed at everything, her face filled with disbelief.

She had been enrolled at St. Freya for almost a year, and even though she usually ate lunch in the cafeteria, she still felt unfamiliar and surprised by the cafeteria at this time.

"The cafeteria is always decorated specially for important holidays."

Shi Hen explained with a smile.

Moreover, unlike regular school cafeterias where students eat in shifts, St. Freya's cafeteria was designed with the capacity for everyone to eat at the same time in mind.

Therefore, after being carefully decorated, St. Freya's dining hall appeared exceptionally magnificent.

This is the card that belongs exclusively to Schicksal.

The institution that trains Valkyrie in a school-like manner is the only one of its kind in the entire world.

"Our location is over there."

After checking the information displayed on the terminal, Bronya pointed to a seat near the front of a long table.

Because there was a previous exchange of New Year's Eve dinner dishes, each participant's seat was pre-assigned so that everyone involved in the cooking activity could enjoy the food they made and the food they exchanged.

If you were to examine this closely, the amount of information involved would be so vast it would be mind-boggling.

But under St. Freya's powerful AI control, everything was as clear as one plus one equals two.

"Let's go over there."

Smiling, Shi Hen led the group through the bustling crowd, and then...

Upon seeing the figure of a gray-haired woman in the seat, Shi Hen couldn't help but be slightly taken aback.

Noticing the boy's presence as well, the gray-haired woman smoothed a few strands of hair behind her ear, then smiled sweetly and said, "Long time no see, Hen."

"Sister, sister!?"

Kiana cried out in surprise first.

In an instant, everyone's eyes fell on the white-haired girl, and even the gray-haired woman cast a questioning look at Kiana.

"No, um, I mean... she's Hen's older sister..."

She hurriedly explained, Kiana cheeks turning as red as boiled shrimp.

"Sister Natasha, what brings you here?"

Shi Hen asked, somewhat surprised.

Yes, without a doubt, the one who appeared here at this moment was Raven other than Raven, a retired executive of the World Serpent.

"Well..." Raven said with an embarrassed smile, pointing to a White-haired Nun sitting prominently at the teachers' table. "Your headmistress invited me to be her guest, so I came."

"..."

Upon hearing this explanation, and glancing at the over-aged loli gesturing to him with a smug look on her face not far away, Shi Hen fell silent.

Clearly, inviting his sister, now in her current identity, to St. Freya so that he could truly enjoy a Shenzhou Chinese New Year's Eve reunion dinner was the surprise Theresa had carefully prepared.

To be honest, putting aside the good news, there were definitely some surprises, quite a lot of them.

"Um... should I not have come?"

Noticing the expression on the boy's face, Raven asked in a somewhat worried tone.

"Mark!"

Mei quietly tugged at the boy's clothes.

"No, I was just a little surprised." Shi Hen said softly, shaking his head and smiling. "It's been a long time, Sister Natasha."

"Welcome to St. Freya, Sister Natasha."

With her hands folded in front of her, Mei spoke respectfully.

"Relax, Mei, Natasha isn't that serious."

Seeing the girl's restraint, Shi Hen smiled and offered some words of comfort.

Who is this?

Raven looked at Mei, a perfectly timed expression of confusion on Raven face.

"My name is Raiden Mei, and I am... I am Kon's classmate and friend."

Mei spoke earnestly, her face slightly flushed.

"..."

Upon hearing this, the Raven's pupils immediately contracted.

She thought of a certain Raiden Ryoma that had been locked in a dark room.

Using his skills as a top mercenary to control his emotions, Raven's gaze fell on the white-haired girl beside him.

"My name is Kiana Kaslana, and I'm also a friend of Hen..."

Kiana shouted loudly, her tone strong in the first half, but gradually weakened in the second half, and two blushes appeared on her cheeks.

The other party is Shi Hen's sister, so isn't she meeting the parents now?

Before she knew it, her relationship with the boy had already reached this point...

As his thoughts wandered, the white-haired girl's expression became increasingly dazed.

Kaslana...

The Raven was once again slightly shocked.

Although the white-haired girl in front of her doesn't seem very bright, in the Honkai world, the status of this surname is unquestionable.

"These two are Bronya and Seele."

Pointing to the two little ones, Shi Hen took the initiative to introduce them.

"Hello, my name is Natasha."

Whether they call me by my name directly, or call me "sister" like Hen does, I have absolutely no problem with it.

Raven chuckled, his eyes narrowing slightly as he looked at the group, concealing a hint of surprise.

The daughter of the Raiden Ryoma, the heir of the Kaslana family, the Ural Silver Wolf, and Stigmata holder who was wanted by the black market with a huge bounty a few years ago... She felt that the young man's social circle was now a bit too high-class.

Moreover, it was Theresa, the head of the Apocalypse family, who personally invited her to St. Freya.

If she remembered correctly, when the boy invited her to play this role, he was supposed to compete for the Anti-Entropy Leader, rather than becoming some kind of Schicksal Bishop or something.

But now... looking at the Valkyrie in the cafeteria, do you still have the nerve to tell me your goal is to become the Anti-Entropy Leader?

Unaware of Raven's inner thoughts, Bronya and Seele exchanged a glance and called out in unison, "Sister Natasha."

"Alright, sit down quickly, or the food will get cold."

Shi Hen smiled and offered his advice.

On the other side, eight resounding chimes echoed from the distant clock tower, and a White-haired Girl in Nun's habit rose from her seat at the teachers' table, announcing, "Now I declare that this New Year's banquet has officially begun!"

As Theresa's concise speech resounded throughout the cafeteria, thunderous applause immediately followed, igniting the atmosphere.

Chapter 263 The Raven Version of the Truth

"Sister Natasha doesn't seem to be from Shenzhou?"

Looking at the Raven sitting between Shi Hen and Kiana, Mei, sitting on the other side of the boy, asked.

Not only her name, but also the physical features of Shi Hen's nominal older sister have a strong resemblance to those of another country.

"Yes, I grew up in Siberia, but I left there for some reason."

As she ate the various dishes in front of her, each with its own regional flavor, Raven secretly glanced at the boy before carefully answering.

Although Shi Hen was not informed of this operation beforehand, she was still a top-tier mercenary, so it wouldn't be difficult for her to come up with a reasonable and self-consistent explanation based on their previous exchanges.

"Siberia..." Mei understood something in an instant and immediately lowered her head. "I'm sorry, Natasha, I didn't mean to."

Having studied the history in the Schicksal Database, she naturally knew what had happened in Siberia.

Not to mention, Bronya and Seele were deeply affected by the aftermath of that disaster.

"It's nothing, it's all old stuff, I've almost forgotten about it."

With a smile, Raven spoke in a completely nonchalant tone.

"That's right, Mei. I told you to relax. Natasha isn't the type to hold grudges."

Shi Hen smiled and comforted Mei by placing a piece of fragrant chicken on her Mei.

"Mmm..."

Enjoying the boy's almost habitual intimacy, Mei lowered her head but still seemed to feel Raven's teasing gaze, and her fair cheeks couldn't help but blush.

"Hen~ I want that fish and chicken thing too!"

Seeing this, Kiana also started shouting.

St. Freya's Dining Hall uses banquet-style long tables, Shi Hen and the others all sit on the same side, so it is quite difficult for Kiana to reach the dishes placed in front of the boy.

"It's taro chicken."

"Correct, "Shi Hen said kindly, picking up a taro for the white-haired girl.

"..." Kiana's face fell as she looked at the white taro in the bowl. "I want meat!"

She's an absolute carnivore.

"Taro is delicious too," Shi Hen said with a smile, his eyes narrowing into a sly smile. "Besides, a balanced diet of meat and vegetables is healthier."

"Don't listen to him. Just tell me what you want to eat, and I'll get it for you."

Before Kiana could object, Raven spoke first, and a piece of fresh and succulent chicken was placed in the white-haired girl's bowl.

"Hehe~ Natasha is so good to me." Kiana immediately smiled and made a face at the boy. "Hmph~ I'm ignoring you!"

Even so, Kiana didn't throw away the taro. Instead, she used her chopsticks to pick up a small piece and put it in her mouth. After chewing it gently, she changed the worry on her face into a smile.

"I told you it would be delicious, didn't I?"

Shi Hen asked with a smile.

For the savory and flavorful chicken, taro cooked until soft and tender is the perfect complement.

To this, Kiana simply stuck out her tongue and said, "Hmm~"

She had no intention of letting this guy off easily.

Seeing this, the Raven couldn't help but smile.

Sure enough, the boy left Anti-Entropy and came to St. Freya because of this girl.

"By the way, it seems like everyone in St. Freya is a girl. Won't Hen get bullied if he's all alone?"

Savoring the beet soup that Bronya had specially offered, Raven smiled and asked Kiana, his slightly narrowed eyes full of teasing amusement.

"Hmph! What can he possibly take to be bullied?"

I'm always the one getting beaten up!

Mentioning this, Kiana, who already had a hint of reproach in her eyes, immediately turned her head away, her small face full of indignation.

Whether it was in general courses or professional courses, she was always the only one who got beaten up.

On the contrary, while she was being beaten, the boy would occasionally receive small gifts such as snacks and treats, the kind that he couldn't refuse.

The only consolation was that most of the food eventually ended up in her stomach.

Moreover, it tastes pretty good.

But for some reason, the Valkyrie seemed to beat her even more fiercely.

"This is probably what youth is all about."

Raven listened with great interest, and said with a smile, his tone tinged with a hint of emotion.