The Third Herrscher born in Nagazora City was female—this was the intelligence Yae Sakura had gathered during this time. Therefore, the male among the three Herrscher auras could be ruled out. The remaining two Herrscher auras were not only both female but also seemed to be staying together, which saved Yae Sakura from making a choice.
Five hundred years of time had not only allowed Yae Sakura, as a Pseudo-Herrscher, to reach a height comparable to a Herrscher, but also made her manipulation of Honkai energy nearly perfect. Moving through St. Freya Academy as an intruder, she had not been discovered.
Yae Sakura arrived outside a residence. As she approached, she could hear the faint sounds of talking and laughing coming from inside.
The people living here were very happy.
Not long after forming this judgment, Yae Sakura was stunned by a figure walking past the window.
White hair, blue eyes. Compared to the little girl—an existence named Theresa—she saw last time, this figure had grown into a young woman. If not for the incorrect time and place, the different hairstyle and demeanor, and slight differences in appearance from the person she knew, Yae Sakura would have even thought she was Kallen.
Who is she? Kallen's descendant?
Moreover, one of the Herrscher auras she sensed was emanating from this person's body.
Compared to the other two, this person's Herrscher aura was very obscure. It seemed the Herrscher Core was in a strange state of being sealed or dormant. If not for Yae Sakura's powerful strength, she might not have discovered it at all.
Five hundred years later, Kallen's descendant, or a descendant of Kallen's clan, has actually become a Herrscher...
Yae Sakura was silent for a moment at this ridiculous fate. She wanted to reveal herself and meet the girl who looked very much like Kallen to ask what happened after Kallen sealed her back then, but another voice came from not far away.
"Eavesdropping on girls' conversations in the middle of the night isn't very nice, is it?"
Evan walked out of the night, coming right in front of Yae Sakura, and said this.
"You are one of the two people who went to Nagazora City to eliminate the Pseudo-Herrscher before. Your name... is Evan, right? I am Yae Sakura. Hello."
Perhaps she had already discovered Evan's existence, or perhaps she had developed a calm personality. Yae Sakura's tone was very peaceful.
Setting aside their opposing stances, such a tone would give people a sense of reassurance.
"So you had already observed me in Nagazora City. No wonder I had a faint feeling of being spied on at that time; I thought it was an illusion. I'll be more careful in the future."
Seeing that the other party didn't attack immediately but communicated normally, Yae Sakura didn't even think about what this attitude meant. She asked somewhat impatiently.
"You... have you heard the name Kallen? Kallen Kaslana."
The person in front of her had traveled with the girl named Theresa back then. Appearing here now meant he also knew the girl in the house who looked even more like Kallen. If she asked him, maybe she could get the answer she hoped for.
What happened to Kallen later? Did she... did she die from severe injuries because of that battle with me...
Just as Yae Sakura was waiting for Evan's answer with nervousness and expectation, the long-silent Higokumaru suddenly appeared. The giant fox, which had been plotting for a long time, opened its bloody maw and swallowed Yae Sakura, whose mind was agitated and guard was down.
"You are bent on dying, but I want to live. Obediently hand over control of the body, Yae Sakura."
The fox, originally semi-real and semi-virtual, became even more illusory after swallowing Yae Sakura. Then it looked at Evan, who was frowning nearby, and revealed a teeth-baring smile.
"There's also a witness. Might as well eliminate him cleanly too."
Evan knew of the existence and relationship between Yae Sakura and Higokumaru, but he didn't expect both to appear at St. Freya Academy, nor did he expect Higokumaru to swallow Yae Sakura.
From the other party's words, it could be tentatively concluded that this wasn't swallowing in the normal sense, but rather seizing control of the body. In other words, Yae Sakura shouldn't be dead yet.
Evan hadn't sensed Yae Sakura's existence initially. It was just dinner time, and when he was preparing to come over to enjoy dinner with Raiden Mei and the others, he saw Yae Sakura as soon as he went out.
Although he knew Yae Sakura wasn't a bloodthirsty person, Evan still maintained basic vigilance, bringing his repaired Nitrogen Crystal Sword. Seeing this unexpected scene now, he still didn't lose his composure and assumed a guarded posture, staring at Higokumaru.
Seeing Evan's appearance, the huge fox let out a sneer. Its already very illusory figure suddenly collapsed, then turned into a dark red wind that brushed past Evan.
When the dark red wind disappeared, both Higokumaru and Evan were gone. The night remained calm, and laughter still came from the nearby residence from time to time.
Higokumaru didn't launch any terrifying one-hit-kill attack. Even when attacking Yae Sakura earlier, the goal wasn't to kill her, but to make her fall into the space it fabricated.
To gain control of Yae Sakura's body, it had to completely control her mind. And the most vulnerable period in Yae Sakura's life was definitely that time.
Higokumaru wanted to help Yae Sakura recall the past, make her become that fragile shrine maiden again, and then crush her completely!
As for Evan, Higokumaru took him in as well. Incidentally, destroying the corpse and traces was more convenient in the space it created. Otherwise, if it controlled Yae Sakura's body but was discovered by St. Freya Academy due to the battle with Evan and then subjected to a crusade, it would be troublesome.
In another space, Evan calmed the strange feeling of the world spinning, gripped the Nitrogen Crystal Sword in his hand, and began to look around.
He saw rare green mountains and clear waters, a village not far away overflowing with peace and tranquility, and a girl sitting beside him, rubbing her eyes, seeming to have just woken up from a long slumber.
"Kallen?"
Read ahead with 100+ chapters now with daily updates!
@patreon.com/Zefyrus