Schicksal HQ
Within Schicksal HQ, Theresa stared at the light screen before her, which displayed a long list of complex mission summary reports, and could only think one thing...
—Being the Archbishop of Schicksal is not a job for a human.
Just a month ago, when she was still the Branch Commander of the Far East Branch, Himeko handled most of this paperwork.
But now, although Himeko was still trying her best to help Theresa with these documents, well...
—Starting three days ago, the amount of paperwork from HQ had exceeded Theresa's estimates by a vast margin compared to the branch's.
No matter how smart Himeko was, she couldn't possibly get through all these documents by herself under these circumstances.
Even with Theresa's other secretary, Amber, along with Rita, who had no missions for the past three days, and Isla Ash, who had nothing to do and volunteered to help, they still couldn't finish processing all the reports.
According to Amber, the volume of these documents far exceeded the usual amount.
Although she didn't know why the other branches were sending such a massive number of documents to this database, the situation was definitely not normal.
Based on Himeko's personal speculation, she felt that the sudden explosion in paperwork might be related to the disappearance of two people.
Otto, the Archbishop of Schicksal, had been missing for nearly a month, and Leo Ash, Schicksal's strongest knight, had been missing for about twenty days.
With the organization's leader and its strongest warrior both gone, it was only natural that some people would get restless and try to stir up some trouble to test Theresa.
As for their official announcement that 'Leo Ash is on a mission to hunt down World Serpent,' that could fool ordinary Schicksal members, but not the old veterans.
For Leo Ash, Schicksal's number one Avenger who actively volunteered to hunt Honkai Beasts, to suddenly go missing at a time like this... that raised some questions.
Once they figured a few things out based on Leo Ash and Otto's whereabouts, it wasn't hard to understand why the number of mission reports had suddenly surged.
However, also three days ago, Theresa, knowing that Leo Ash was about to return, was prepared to release the news immediately to boost Schicksal's somewhat flagging morale, based on Himeko's guess.
If it weren't for Durandal, who had just returned from Anti-Entropy, and Rita, who was by her side, doing everything in their power to persuade her not to, the whole of Schicksal would probably know by now that Leo Ash had returned.
"Sigh, I don't get it. Why won't Bianka and Rita let me announce it..."
After lightly swiping a document to the bottom of the list with her fingertip and tapping the 'Read' button on the light screen, Theresa muttered to herself indignantly.
"These guys, taking advantage of Grandpa and Leo Ash being away to start causing trouble."
"They all think I'm easy to bully, don't they? Damn it!"
At that moment, Theresa looked at the [Oath of Judah] placed in her office and suddenly gave Himeko a dangerous look.
"Himeko, can I take Judah and go beat them all up?"
"That's one way, but not the best way."
Looking at the extremely irritable Theresa, Himeko replied helplessly.
"Suppress them with force? What are you trying to suppress?"
"Just because the branch paperwork has increased, you're going to storm their gates with a Divine Key? What do you think the other branches will think of you after you do that?"
"...That I'm not to be trifled with?"
Himeko, who had no expectations for Theresa's answer, put down her work and looked at Theresa with a resigned expression.
"Wrong. They'll think that Theresa Apocalypse is just that and nothing more. She has combat power, but lacks the brains and magnanimity to be the Bishop."
"They might submit for a short while, but from then on, those people will only harbor more rebellious thoughts."
"Theresa, you're my friend, and of course I'll do my best to help you, but..."
"—I may be highly educated, but since joining Schicksal, I've always been in a combat unit."
"Expecting me to outwit these old foxes for you is overestimating me a bit too much."
"Himeko, thank you for your hard work, but..."
Listening to Himeko's words, Theresa, who had jumped back onto her chair, looked at the documents with a troubled expression.
"But if we don't act now, the problem won't be solved."
"You've all checked these documents, and they are indeed reports that are perfectly fine to submit."
"If we don't handle this properly now..."
"It won't be a big deal."
Seeing Theresa's worried face, Himeko said with great ease.
"You used to sneak off to read manga all the time at the Far East Branch. Why the sudden sense of responsibility?"
"That was then, this is now."
Looking at the [Oath of Judah] not far away, Theresa's eyes suddenly glazed over as she spoke.
"Back then, you could handle all the paperwork by yourself, so of course I could relax a little."
"But this is Schicksal HQ, humanity's last bastion against the Honkai."
"If I continue to work with the same attitude as before and end up not finishing some tasks, which in turn leads to a delay in handling Honkai incidents in some areas—if that results in unnecessary sacrifices, wouldn't that all be my fault?"
Wow, this silly girl's sense of responsibility has suddenly skyrocketed.
Well, whatever the case, this is a good thing.
Although Theresa's abilities were still a little short of the requirements for 'Archbishop of Schicksal,' as long as she had this sense of duty, it wasn't a huge problem.
The leader of an organization was supposed to delegate miscellaneous tasks to subordinates and make the right decisions at critical moments.
Archbishop Otto might not be a good person, but under his reforms, Schicksal had long become a semi-automated organization.
Under these circumstances, as long as Theresa could get through this most difficult period, the pressure should lessen a bit in the future.
"But Himeko."
Finally recalling what Himeko had said about 'not worrying,' Theresa suddenly asked her with great curiosity.
"Why do you think this isn't a serious problem?"
"Oh, it's simple. The reason those people chose to 'make a move' now is because Archbishop Otto and Leo Ash aren't here."
"But in reality, we know that Leo Ash just happened to return three days ago. He just went after Kiana."
"In other words, once Leo Ash comes back, under the pressure of the strongest knight, they naturally won't dare to continue causing trouble in this regard."
Theresa nodded slightly at Himeko's analysis.
Then, she slammed her fist on the table in frustration, leaving a fist-shaped dent on the alloy desk.
"Damn it! Why can Leo Ash scare them, but I can't!"
"Are those guys looking down on me?!"
"You..."
Seeing the fuming Theresa, Himeko speechlessly pulled up some information that both of them were already very familiar with.
"Look at your record. Although you're a powerful warrior who can easily defeat Emperor-class and fight Judgment-class Honkai Beasts, you ultimately lost to a Herrscher fourteen years ago."
"But Leo Ash—"
Seeing Leo Ash's record, which showed [Defeated the Third Herrscher, Chiyou, the Fourth Herrscher, the Sixth Herrscher, and World Serpent's Lord Kevin Kaslana], Theresa tactfully cut Himeko off.
"Alright, you don't have to say any more."
"I admit I was wrong. Looking at his track record—how is that kid's rate of improvement so terrifying!"
Thinking that she had only known him for a hundred and ten days, Theresa felt that the progress of this nominal junior in her clan was truly frightening.
No wonder Himeko thought that the old foxes from the other branches would immediately back off after Leo Ash's return.
A Herrscher of Binding who could defeat the Previous Era's strongest warrior—his mere presence was enough to reassure the other members of Schicksal and, at the same time, deter any ambitious individuals from making a rash move.
A humanoid monster who could single-handedly take down a Herrscher was just that intimidating. In the face of Leo Ash's achievements, who would dare say another word...
Perhaps before Leo Ash even had to act, that idiot would be swarmed and attacked by everyone else.
The disasters caused by Herrschers started with millions of deaths and the destruction of countless buildings.
But in the several Herrscher battles Leo Ash participated in, he quickly dealt with the enemy without a single Schicksal member or innocent civilian dying, and without much structural damage.
In a way, after Otto's frenzied promotion of Leo Ash, some people in the organization had even become his fanatical followers.
These zealots firmly believed that the incredibly powerful Leo Ash would definitely lead humanity to victory.
If not for the lingering authority from Otto's five-hundred-year reign over Schicksal, something even more extreme might have happened.
Under these circumstances...
—No wonder Himeko felt that the others would definitely not dare to act recklessly.
However, as Theresa thought about her junior's current situation, besides being happy for Leo Ash, she also felt immense pain for the stressful future he now had to face.
There were still four months until Leo Ash came of age, yet this seventeen-year-old boy had to act under the pressure of being a 'savior'.
Perhaps for Leo Ash, who was bent on revenge, he wouldn't care, and might even enjoy this pressure.
But pressure, when it becomes too great, will eventually crush a person.
When she had just known Leo Ash for a month, Theresa had thought it would be good if he got into some romantic relationships.
But now, after so much time, had Leo Ash taken any action?
No, none at all.
Some of the other girls had made subtle advances, some were just short of confessing outright, and others had tried different tactics, but the problem was that Leo Ash wasn't receptive to any of it. Their efforts were useless.
Logically, with the Honkai clearly accelerating, Theresa shouldn't be focusing on such trivial matters.
But in the current situation, before the great battle to come, would Leo Ash's mentality, having already become a Herrscher out of despair, really not deteriorate further?
"Lady Theresa!"
As Theresa worried about Leo Ash, Amber suddenly spoke to her in the office through the communication screen.
"Lord Leo Ash has just returned to Schicksal HQ with B-rank Valkyrie Kiana Kaslana."
"May I ask..."
Recalling the incredibly tense reactions of Durandal and Rita at the time, Theresa immediately said to Amber.
"Don't make a scene yet. We'll meet him privately first, and then we'll see if we should announce Leo Ash's return."
"Mm, wait, how did he get back to HQ?"
"Well..."
Facing Theresa's questioning gaze, Amber stammered.
"Through an Imaginary Portal."
...Sigh, what a headache.
Although Leo Ash bringing Kiana back meant he had sorted things out with her.
But that didn't mean those of us in the know didn't need to deal with Kiana's complicated state of mind now.
Siegfried didn't dare to tell her the truth at first... and it wasn't his fault.
But after dragging it out for so long, we're now telling her that her entire past was a lie.
This is tough.
But no matter how tough it is, I still have to go see her.
After all, she is the daughter Siegfried acknowledged.
With Siegfried captured by World Serpent, as his friend...
—I have to help him take care of his daughter.
...
Schicksal HQ. Reception Room
Although Theresa told Amber not to make a big deal out of it, after a little thought, Amber still notified those who were close to Leo Ash and Kiana.
As Otto's secretary, Amber naturally knew most of his plans.
In Otto's plan, after K423 became the Herrscher of the Void, she had to fight others who held deep affection for her on a stage set by him.
And after this fierce battle, as long as Sirin, as the Herrscher of the Void, killed someone important to K423, then K423 might be able to fully 'awaken'.
Of course, one or two important people might not be enough, so in Otto's plan, he was prepared to sacrifice everyone around K423.
Among them, Leo Ash, when he wasn't strong enough, was Otto's first choice as a sacrifice. But now, due to various accidents, not even Amber thought K423 could defeat Leo Ash.
For Leo Ash to bring her back to HQ after she became a Herrscher meant that he had successfully helped K423 regain her consciousness.
As for whether the current K423 met Archbishop Otto's requirements, Amber didn't know.
But she knew that deepening K423's bonds with others at this time was definitely the right move.
After a minute or two, the door to the room was suddenly thrown open.
"Mama Kiana! You're finally back!"
Feeling a strong impact against her body, Kiana looked at the daughter in her arms and smiled, gently stroking Isla Ash's white hair.
"Yes, Isla, I'm back."
"Hmm..."
Isla Ash, keenly sensing that something was off about Kiana, suddenly looked at Leo Ash with a bit of confusion.
"Papa, what did you do to Mama Kiana?"
"How should I put this..."
Faced with Isla Ash's question, Leo Ash, who usually doted on her, suddenly feigned a fierce expression.
"Kids shouldn't ask."
"Oh..."
After letting out a meaningful "Oh," Isla Ash's gaze toward the two of them suddenly changed.
"So that's how it is..."
Hearing his daughter's profound words, Leo Ash felt that something wasn't quite right.
Elysia, what on earth have you been teaching my daughter?
I feel like she's learned some things she really shouldn't have.
"Leo Ash! Kiana!"
Mei, who arrived at the reception room next, saw the family of three reunited in the room...
—and all that was left in her heart was, of course, relief.
[I'm telling you, don't be relieved. The white-haired fool is back, and Leo Ash personally brought her. Don't you think—]
Think what?
Kiana is my important friend. Am I supposed to start getting jealous the moment my friend returns?
[Oh, you're so noble, so amazing.]
[Don't blame me for not reminding you when you're crying into your pillow later!]
...What nonsense are you talking about.
Mei, not knowing whether to laugh or cry, looked at Kiana and suddenly felt a subtle abnormality.
"Mei, is something wrong with me?"
Seeing Mei suddenly staring at her strangely, Kiana smiled and waved at her before walking over.
"I'm fine, you don't have to worry about me."
"Besides, if you can't trust unreliable me, can't you trust Senior?"
I really want to believe you and Leo Ash, but the thing is...
Kiana, the you right now, you're really not right.
Mei hadn't just met Kiana Kaslana today. And precisely because the two were so familiar, even living under the same roof for several months, Mei was certain that the Kiana right now definitely had a problem.
The Kiana of the past might get down and sad, but after picking herself up, she would absolutely shine like the sun, illuminating everyone around her.
But the Kiana of now didn't give Mei that feeling.
Perhaps Kiana herself didn't feel it, but the moment Mei saw the smile on her face, she knew that today's Kiana was very un-Kiana-like.
The current Kiana was clearly someone with something on her mind but didn't want to talk about it, forcing herself to put on a brave face in front of her companions.
But, that's strange.
If even I can see it, could Leo Ash not?
Sensing Raiden Mei's somewhat puzzled gaze, Leo Ash could only think...
—These people must be overestimating him way too much.
To be fair, Leo Ash had lived for over thirty years combined in his two lives as an ordinary person. From that perspective, he should indeed be more capable in various aspects than a typical seventeen-year-old boy.
But psychological age isn't just about cumulative years; it's also about one's living environment.
Before he was run over by a runaway truck, he was a fresh college graduate who had just entered the workforce.
After he was reincarnated, he spent fifteen peaceful years as a kid with his parents.
During that time, he might have been more mature than other children, but to expect him to have mastered the art of conversation while surrounded by children and ordinary people—that was giving him too much credit.
With Kiana's heart currently filled with self-blame, her self-destructive tendencies were growing more severe. Leo Ash could only use other methods to divert her attention and give her some 'reasons to live,' just to barely keep her from constantly thinking about taking the Herrscher of the Void down with her.
This situation was, in essence, because Siegfried had raised her too well.
It was precisely because Siegfried had raised Kiana to be a person with a conscience and proper values...
[Cut the crap. You're telling me someone who stares at her senior wanting to drink her *juices* has proper values?]
Don't interrupt at a time like this!
Liking lewd things is part of having normal values!
[Oho, surprisingly frank at a time like this.]
Shut up, I have a headache.
Kiana was just raised too well by Siegfried, which made her more sensitive to good and evil.
After transitioning from a 'Kaslana warrior who protects the world' to an 'enemy of humanity who has slaughtered tens of millions,' it was already a miracle she hadn't ended her own life immediately.
Now... I've done everything I can.
I hope that in the time to come, Isla and everyone else can help Kiana emerge from this strange psychological state.
In the following moments, Yuna, Bronya, and Anna, companions who had received the notification, arrived one after another in the room and saw the obviously not-right Kiana.
Never mind the meticulous Yuna and Bronya; even Anna, who had actually only been in contact with Kiana for less than a month, felt that there was something indescribably strange about Kiana's current appearance.
However, with no one being a fool, they all, as if by unspoken agreement, chose not to point it out and decided to first try and soothe Kiana's heart.
As for Leo Ash...
Admittedly, the three of them had been very worried about Leo Ash's safety before.
But now, seeing him acting as if nothing had happened, and remembering just how powerful he was, the three naturally stopped worrying about someone who didn't need worrying about at all.
In their eyes, for someone who could defeat a Herrscher in minutes and easily obliterate the strongest warrior of the Previous Era at full power, no one in this world, aside from the legendary Herrscher of Finality, could possibly pose a threat to Leo Ash.
However, the atmosphere on the scene was still too strange.
Isla Ash watched her parents with a peculiar gaze.
Kiana still thought no one had noticed anything unusual, smiling as she chatted with her companions.
Mei, Yuna, Anna, and Bronya, though they didn't exchange glances, all chose to start small talk with Kiana, planning to find a time to think of a solution to Kiana's psychological problems with their other companions.
As for Leo Ash, after seeing Rita and Durandal appear at the doorway, he remembered something else he had forgotten.
Sigh, Kiana has remembered her identity.
And at the same time...
Kiana, has also remembered her identity.
Damn it, my head hurts so much.
Compared to dealing with these troublesome domestic affairs, I suddenly feel that beating up those damn Honkai Beasts would be much more relaxing.
"Hi, Leo."
Looking at the expressionless Leo Ash, Rita gave her adoptive brother a little wave.
"How was the business trip?"
Hearing Rita's words, Leo Ash walked helplessly towards his adoptive sister.
"...Sister, work is only ever tiring or more tiring."
"Oh, so you do know what 'tired' is."
Facing Rita, whose expression had suddenly turned a little grim, Leo Ash could only think...
Sigh, there's something she can't say in front of everyone, so that's why Sister wants to drag me away from here.
Let Kiana and Kiana solve their own problems.
Perhaps the System was right. I've always been striving to do everything perfectly.
But when desires exceed the limits of one's abilities, these unwarranted desires might, in fact, lead me to make things worse.
I've placed chains on Kiana to temporarily prevent her from self-destruction, but just like my actions with Yuna before, it's ultimately like drinking poison to quench a thirst.
Now, with her 'blood relative' here, plus Cecilia who is scheduled to meet her in the future, perhaps they will be able to soothe Kiana's shattered heart.
"Senior..."
Watching the grim-faced Rita pulling Leo Ash away, Kiana suddenly wanted to call out to him.
After glancing back at Kiana, Leo Ash understood.
Having recalled her past memories, Kiana naturally also remembered that she had her current life because the 'real Kiana' had been kind to her.
Now, facing Durandal, although Kiana had no proof, recalling the sense of closeness she had felt from this golden-haired knightess in the past, she had already roughly guessed the other's identity, even without any evidence.
Now, with the real Kiana appearing before her, she, not yet mentally prepared, began to be afraid.
She didn't know how to face this 'sister' whose name and identity she had stolen.
And there was another reason that made Kiana want to flee even more.
The gaze Durandal directed at her now was clearly filled with a complex mix of emotions.
She, she also remembered what happened back then.
So what about me now...
"Kiana."
Looking at Kiana, who was trying to seek his help, Leo Ash said with a deadpan expression.
"You're a mature warrior now. A mature warrior should face everything they ought to face."
"The fact that you can see the indelible sin upon you proves that Mr. Siegfried's upbringing gave you a proper sense of values."
"Don't overcomplicate things so often. Just face it normally, and talk things out normally."
"But Senior, I—"
"Kiana, you're an adult now."
After saying this seemingly random sentence, the departing Leo Ash pointed at Isla Ash, who was currently tugging on Kiana's sleeve.
"As a mother, you have to set a good example for Isla."
But, but...
Watching Leo Ash's departing figure, Kiana couldn't immediately adjust her mindset and only felt her heart grow even more flustered.
"Everyone, I'm sorry, I'm suddenly tired. I'm going to rest now!"
After saying this, Kiana directly used the power of the Herrscher of the Void and vanished from everyone's sight.
"...Sigh, Sister Kiana."
Watching Kiana leave, Bronya let out a helpless sigh.
"Brother Leo Ash was right. There are many things Sister Kiana needs to face on her own."
"But, as her companions, we should still help her when she needs it, so..."
Bronya, who had long sensed why Kiana had fled, now looked sharply at the equally bewildered Durandal.
"Sister Bianka, don't you think you should say something?"
"Sister Kiana couldn't even maintain her pretense after she saw you enter the room."
"...I'm sorry. I can't say much about this."
Faced with Bronya's questioning, Durandal shook her head and also left the room.
Now, looking at Isla Ash, who said nothing but seemed to understand everything, the others dared not say more.
Kiana was not in a good state, and even Leo Ash, the most skilled conversationalist among them, couldn't solve the problems in her heart.
Now...
"Alright, I'm just a kid, so I won't disturb you aunties and Mama Yuna's chat."
"I'll go find Mama Kiana first. You all take your time talking."
Seeing everyone's hesitant state, Isla Ash waved at them with a grin and, likewise using her now-revealed power, followed in her mother's footsteps.
"...Honestly, there's no helping them."
Facing the departed crowd, a very helpless Mei asked her companions before her.
"So, what does everyone plan to do now?"
"My suggestion is—"
Seeing everyone looking at her, Bronya said to them quite simply.
"Everyone, stay out of it. The only reason Brother Leo Ash hasn't handled this is because of a lack of time."
"Give him enough time, and with Sister Kiana's intelligence, she'll be successfully coaxed by him sooner or later."
What I want to talk about now definitely can't be said here.
Sister Anna isn't a bad person, but she isn't particularly familiar with us, after all.
The things I'm about to say would be too much of a shock for a 'Schicksal native' like Sister Anna.
Unless it's absolutely necessary, it's better not to involve her in the turmoil that might occur.
On the other hand, Yuna, looking at the girl who had just hopped down from the sofa, knew in her heart that this was not what Bronya meant at all.
Just as she said that, Bronya gave me a deep look.
Is it that this place is not suitable for discussing the next topic, so she made that gesture and ended the conversation?
Strange, this is Schicksal HQ. It should be the safest place.
If even this place isn't safe, then...
Thinking of a certain possibility, Yuna suddenly had a thought that worried her a little.
The reason Yuna and Mei knew about the special method of 'condensing a core near a singularity' was because a World Serpent mole lurking within Schicksal had told them.
At that time, because World Serpent had used the Quantum Teleportation System, Schicksal had failed to capture this mole.
But thinking about it now, if there were still World Serpent moles remaining in Schicksal, did this mean that our every move might already be under the enemy's surveillance?
In that light, Bronya's actions made perfect sense.
Unless we're in a room that we've thoroughly checked for listening devices, we can't discuss anything too confidential.
What a pain.
With the Honkai accelerating to this degree, why at this particular moment...
—Can't humanity just unite and fight together, instead of continuing to prepare for internal strife?
......
Meanwhile. In a certain café
After leaving that room with Rita, Leo Ash used the Quantum Teleportation System to transport himself and Rita to a café in Shenzhou.
Rita, transported to this place by Leo Ash, showed no signs of confusion as she watched him placing an order.
"To be this cautious, it seems..."
"—Leo, you know far more than I imagined."
Hearing Rita's meaningful words, Leo Ash, who had just finished ordering, could only lead her to a private room on the second floor and speak to her helplessly.
"I'm sorry, Sister. There are many things I didn't intentionally hide from you."
Sitting opposite Leo Ash, Rita smiled at her adoptive brother and gently shook her head.
"I'm not blaming you, Leo."
"In fact, you are a brother I am truly proud of."
"Proud, huh..."
Hearing Rita's praise, Leo Ash suddenly let out a weary sigh.
"Hah, I'm just an immature kid."
"Charging forward on my own, arrogantly thinking I could do everything perfectly. In the end, it was all just my own wishful thinking."
"Stop. The self-pity session ends here."
After giving a small smile to the waiter who had just delivered hot water to their private room, Rita immediately turned to her adoptive brother.
Seeing the dejection on his face, Rita suddenly reached out her right hand, gently caressed Leo Ash's face, and said to him with great tenderness.
"Don't think about all that."
"It's rare for us siblings to have the time to sit down and chat today, so let's talk about some personal topics first."
"...What personal topics?"
"Hmm, for example..."
Seeing Leo Ash's slightly uneasy expression, Rita suddenly whispered to him.
"How does it feel to become a man?"
Leo Ash, who had just taken a gulp of hot water, immediately turned his head and spat it all out.
No, wait, what is this situation.
How does she know about this!!!!
[Isn't that obvious? Rita may be weak in combat, but she's never been lacking in other areas.]
[Executioner of Schicksal is one of her identities, but not her everything. As a perfect maid, one must have master-level observational skills to prepare everything for her master before they even speak.]
Okay, that makes sense, but...
[Hee hee hee, what to do, the parent has found out—why not just let her experience your cannon as well.]
You shut up!
"Why have you gone silent, Leo?"
Looking at the embarrassed Leo Ash, the teasing look on Rita's face became even more pronounced.
"It's not like your sister is blaming you. In fact, after noticing what happened between you and Miss Kiana, I was actually a little bit relieved."
"After all, now..."
"—My Leo has finally, and congratulatorily, become an adult."
......