Comrades

"Traitor, damned traitor!"

In a deep, secluded valley, earth-shattering roars and howls echoed, causing the giants who lived there to tremble and shiver.

Within those rocks, a cliff face hundreds of meters high was carved into a chair, upon which sat a towering giant clad in jet-black stone armor. The armor was so tight it seemed to be a single, seamless piece, except for a crack on his right hand.

"Hmph, but that's fine too. At least the predicted location wasn't wrong. That damned traitor Skadi, I'll tear you to pieces and grind you into mincemeat in a millstone."

The giant's eyes were filled with rage, and then he let out a roar.

"Soldiers! Go! Find that damned traitor! Since she chose the Æsir, let her perish along with Æsir!"

The patterns on the giants, built from those millstones, shone brightly. With a cry of pain, they picked up their weapons and walked step by step toward the outside world.

Within Skadi's protective barrier, she sighed deeply, her brow furrowing slightly. A woman with long blonde hair, partially obscuring her eyes, approached and greeted her.

"Goddess, have the warrior and the escaped Valkyrie arrived?"

"Watch your words, Ophelia. Now that Ortlinde has lost her memory, let bygones be bygones. She is now our comrade-in-arms, and a Valkyrie."

Skadi sternly stopped Ophelia from speaking, and the latter nodded before changing the subject.

"So, is there some trouble you've got that you called me here?"

Skadi shook her head and said, "It is indeed a bit troublesome, but you probably can't solve it. Go and control that satellite spell and continue to fulfill your duty as a shield."

Ophelia, as Crypter, nodded and did not resist the order.

"However, are you sure that warrior is trustworthy?"

Skadi smiled and replied:

"He didn't hide anything. I spoke with Ortlinde, and at least in her eyes, he's a remarkable hero. Given that, I naturally believe him."

Bai Mo and Ortlinde walked in. After a brief chat between the two, Skadi asked somewhat solemnly:

"Alright, that's about all we have to say. Now we have a problem. The location of this barrier has been exposed to Hrungnir, the hand you encountered before."

Now, thousands of giants are charging towards us. Although we haven't prepared a feast for you yet, you need to fight now.

"It's alright, I didn't come here for a vacation anyway. Let me go out and deal with those guys, then tell me where Hrungnir is."

Bai Mo spoke calmly. If a warrior in Asgard said such things, most people would just think he was bragging. But Bai Mo's calm words revealed a steady confidence.

"You don't need to worry about safety here; I'm not completely without means of retaliation. But if Hrungnir continues to hold onto this, it's too dangerous."

So, warrior, although it's dangerous, but...

Before Skadi could finish speaking, Bai Mo interrupted her.

"Understood. Tell me where he is?"

As Bai Mo left Skadi's palace, he was heading towards the portal where the Rune Runes were carved, but a Valkyrie blocked his way.

"Question, Warrior, are you ready to play?"

"You guys are quite well-informed."

"In response, we Valkyrie receive information synchronously, warrior. I've come here to offer you combat advice."

"Suggestion?"

Bai Mo frowned, and then the Valkyrie nodded, turning her gaze to Ortlinde. Her eyes were completely devoid of emotion, yet they left Ortlinde feeling inexplicably empty.

"Yes, from a combat perspective, my machine is superior to Ortlinde in every aspect. Therefore, I suggest that I cooperate with you in this operation—no, in all future operations."

Valkyrie's words were very calm, as if he were describing a trivial and insignificant matter.

Upon hearing this, Ortlinde visibly froze. She wanted to say something, but the words caught in her throat, and she gripped the hem of her skirt tightly with one hand.

The Valkyrie before them was right; she had long since lost her gun. This gun, which Bai Mo had retrieved from the Gate of Babylon, was one she wasn't qualified to use. The Valkyrie before them, however, had obtained this highest-level pseudo-divine declaration through her own abilities.

Bai Mo turned his head and looked at Skadi had appeared out of nowhere.

"That's what you mean."

"They only make judgments based on preconceived notions, but it was I who set those notions."

Ortlinde's head was completely lowered when a large hand patted her shoulder.

"Rejected. Ortlinde is a comrade I trust, and I will not replace her."

Bai Mo's words carried an undeniable determination, Ortlinde immediately raised her head to meet Bai Mo's earnest gaze.

"I can't understand it. If it were me, I was confident I could have landed a fatal blow when I faced Hrungnir's Hand."

"But she charged forward without hesitation, so in my eyes, she is qualified to fight alongside me. My comrade should be a person of flesh and blood, even though you are all Valkyrie."

But I hope you won't confuse her with you, who has no soul.

Having said that, Bai Mo led Ortlinde down the stage. Skadi, seeing this, couldn't help but smile. The Valkyrie, after being rejected, remained expressionless and approached Skadi.

"Question: Is this the outcome you hoped for?"

"Yes, although we can't be sure of his stance, he is indeed a kind person. Alright, in that case, you can continue to fulfill your duty as a guard."

After stepping out of Skadi's barrier, Ortlinde's cheeks flushed slightly. She pulled down her hood, not daring to look at Bai Mo.

"Um... Bai Mo, do you think this is a good idea? In terms of combat, that person is probably much stronger than me..."

Ortlinde murmured to herself as she and Bai Mo flew toward the abyss where Hrungnir was located.

"Didn't I tell you? You don't need to worry about the combat. I've had many comrades before. They may not be as strong as me, but they all have courage."

Ortlinde, this is the most important point. Don't feel inferior because of the difference in strength; between a strong but thoughtless person and a weak but brave person, the latter is always more trustworthy.

Hearing Bai Mo's words, Ortlinde silently gripped the gun in her hand and flew behind Bai Mo.

In this world where her sisters were nowhere to be seen, she once again felt something familiar: the feeling of being trusted and entrusted with something.

She quietly placed the blade of her spear in front of her face, making a vow-taking gesture. In Northern Europe, vows made with weapons, especially spears, are considered sacred, and breaking the vow would incur Odin's wrath.

If Valkyrie swore an oath with a gun, it would be equivalent to swearing an oath in his father's name.

I swear to the gun, I will never betray this trust.