Metal Gear Bronya: "Sorry, partners, I have to log off."
Green Plumber Uncle: "Eehh? Don't we usually play until 12 AM?"
Metal Gear Bronya: "I have an appointment. I need to help a lost girl."
Green Plumber Uncle: "No! How are we supposed to raid the Homu T-Rex dungeon without you?"
Green Hat Link: "Let him go. A man's promise must be kept."
Metal Gear Bronya: "Sorry, partners."
After a final apology, Metal Gear Bronya—Bronya—logged out of the Honkai Sword Art Onlinegame.
Among the five subjects of Biology, History, Geography, Physics, and Chemistry, History and Geography leaned more towards memorization. Kiana had scored a zero in History. Even if Evan put in a good word for her later, it would be extremely difficult to avoid remedial lessons.
Just imagining it, Evan could see the scene during the vacation: everyone else happily relaxing and having fun, while Kiana, crying, wanted to study but had to study, yet couldn't absorb anything no matter what, spiraling into a vicious cycle until she cried out of sadness.
Although Evan had never seen a crying Kiana, he wouldn't make a girl cry just out of curiosity.
If the subject Kiana needed to make up for was History, then there was no easier way to memorize it than to witness it with her own eyes and experience it personally.
Schicksal's technology could achieve exactly this. However, that was Schicksal's technology; naturally, it wouldn't be opened to Kiana for a reason like "making up for missed lessons." In fact, in the enormous St. Freya Academy, the only one who could directly obtain this level of access was Theresa. For no other reason than that Theresa was Otto's granddaughter—it was that simple.
However, Bronya could hack into Schicksal's database to read and utilize this data. She happened to be an extraordinary super-hacker. Although Schicksal's information security technology was also not to be underestimated, if it was merely to intrude into the part of the database that originally existed in history books and was open exam content, it naturally wouldn't be too difficult.
When she learned that Bronya was going to take action to help her, Kiana's expression clearly became very unnatural. She used to bicker with Bronya often, but now that the other party was repaying grievances with kindness, Kiana was a bit at a loss.
"It's okay. If you want to bicker in the future, just continue to bicker with Bronya. She won't really be angry about it; instead, she'll treat it as an interesting event. Right, Bronya?"
Evan noticed the subtle change in Kiana's expression. While comforting the girl, he looked at Bronya.
To this, Bronya nodded.
"Because Kiana is defeated by Bronya without suspense in every verbal confrontation, Bronya has indeed never felt angry about it. On the contrary, Bronya always enjoys the joy of being the winner. Kiana, just accept the help with peace of mind this time."
"..."
Kiana felt that Bronya's first sentence was very problematic. What did she mean by "defeated without suspense"?
But now was not the time to dwell on these things!
"So, Bronya, how do you plan to help me? Is it going to be one-on-one tutoring? In that case, I'd rather let Evan teach me. I feel he's much more reliable than you!"
"The core database of the Schicksal organization can display data through virtual reality. I have just created two external access devices. Evan will take you into the virtual reality to explain relevant historical knowledge, giving you a more intuitive feeling. I will control it from the outside to ensure that the relevant content is within the scope of the exam, so you don't do useless work."
The terms Bronya spat out puzzled Kiana very much, but it didn't matter. Since Evan was by her side, there would be no problems!
Kiana imitated Evan and took the Homu-shaped helmet from Bronya's hand, putting it on her head.
"When you are ready, please say 'Link Start' as the command to begin the journey."
Hearing Bronya's words, Evan raised an eyebrow. Finally suppressing the urge to make a retort, he spoke.
"Link Start!"
Virtual reality was a technological means to allow the human body to obtain real experiences in a non-real environment. Vision, touch, smell, pain, and so on would be restored to a certain extent, giving people an immersive feeling.
When Kiana opened her eyes again, she found that her clothes and even her carry-on items hadn't changed. Looking at the very realistic scene in front of her, she clenched her hand to feel the physical sensation, which wasn't much different from reality, and couldn't help but exclaim.
"Wow! More satisfying than watching a movie!"
Standing beside her, Evan reached out and flicked Kiana's forehead.
"We're not watching a movie right now; I'm tutoring you. Be a little serious."
"I know, I know."
Kiana, understanding that everyone had done a lot for her, nodded repeatedly at this moment. Looking around at the somewhat primitive architectural style, she couldn't help but ask.
"Where are we?"
"The 28th century BC. The earliest known record of the Honkai. Location: the Divine Land (Shenzhou). Animals infected by the Honkai appeared here—the earliest Honkai Beasts. They exist only to kill humans. Remember this; it will be on the exam."
"Mm-hm."
Kiana showed strong interest. Just as she was about to listen seriously to Evan's next explanation, she saw a primitive tribe in the distance being attacked by Honkai Beasts. They were different from the ones Kiana saw in Nagazora City, retaining many animal characteristics, but they were equally vicious.
Kiana wanted to rush up and help right then, but she was held back by Evan.
"This is virtual reality. That means everything is fake. We can't change it—at least for now."
"Fake? Even if it's fake, I don't want to..."
Kiana wanted to refute Evan's words, but when she saw Evan take a coin out of his pocket and throw it at a Honkai Beast, only for it to pass through the beast's body like a phantom without causing any effect, she fell silent.
No wonder. Even though she and Evan were standing nearby without hiding, those Honkai Beasts didn't attack them. Because that was fixed data, it wouldn't change because of an extra observer.
Although Schicksal's technology was indeed advanced, this virtual reality still hadn't reached the level of interactivity; it just gave people a real sensory experience. Watching the slaughter continuing before her eyes, which she couldn't change or even intervene in, Kiana fell silent.
If this was the way to learn history, it was indeed very effective. But to be honest, Kiana felt a bit uncomfortable in her heart.
However, that one-sided massacre didn't last too long. Soon, there was a change. In the virtual reality, or rather on this day in history, a girl appeared.
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