93. Father and Daughter United, Rita's Little Thoughts?
Rita Rossweisse, an S-rank Valkyrie of Schicksal, is synonymous with composure and elegance, with most perceiving her as resolute and efficient.
Since her youth, saved by Ragna during a Honkai incident, she followed in her teacher's footsteps and became a Valkyrie.
To keep up with Ragna, she has always strived to maintain her elegant image, hoping to emulate her teacher's unflappable demeanor, calming those around her with her presence.
Of course, such grace and efficiency aren't achieved overnight. Initially, maintaining this facade exhausted Rita, often causing her to slip up.
But over time, she grew accustomed to and even began to enjoy this efficient maid persona.
Whether it was taking care of Durandal for the past five years or swiftly tidying her surroundings during daily tasks, Rita found joy and satisfaction in it all.
She didn't care about others praising her "perfect poise," because maintaining perfection itself was a pleasurable endeavor.
But recently, Rita has been… slightly less perfect.
Rita has faced failure before. In fact, many of Schicksal's Valkyrie missions are inherently impossible to succeed in, and the presence of Honkai adds countless variables to every task.
But… as for being in such a dire situation as today, this was Rita's first—well, actually, second time.
A few days ago, while confronting several Valkyries from the Far East branch, Rita was ambushed by the Third Divine Key. Her Azure Valkyrie armor lost its power, turning from equipment into a cage and nearly causing her to falter.
Fortunately, last time, a teammate named Gao Qi rescued her from the brink of disaster. Although they later encountered the Herrscher of the Void, they ultimately escaped unscathed.
And this time, Rita found herself trapped in another terrible predicament.
Shenzhou Pharmaceuticals hid itself well. Although Rita knew this company harbored ulterior motives and its cooperation with Schicksal was merely superficial, she never imagined its backing was a military entity with formidable strength and advanced research capabilities.
Besides the debilitating gas, Rita faced numerous tactical mechs rivaling Anti-Entropy's, hordes of Honkai-enhanced zombies, and well-equipped combat personnel.
This was not the kind of firepower a pharmaceutical company should possess. Alone and infiltrating Shenzhou Pharmaceuticals, Rita was also hit with HSN-B46 serum, rendering her S-rank Valkyrie combat abilities useless.
To be honest, if reinforcements hadn't arrived, Rita was prepared to overload the Honkai reactor of her Shadow Knight armor and take the sinister laboratory down with her.
As a Valkyrie, Rita was ready to sacrifice her life at any moment, but the thought of her Immortal Blades teammates dying due to her mistake filled her with guilt.
Fortunately, reinforcements arrived just in time—once again, it was Gao Qi, that ordinary logistics employee.
He wasn't a Valkyrie, but in an environment saturated with neutralizing serum, his "ordinariness" became the key to maintaining his combat effectiveness.
Rita felt relieved that she had obtained the most advanced powered armor from the Overseer to protect Gao Qi. While it couldn't compare to Valkyrie armor, in this situation, it made Gao Qi the most formidable fighter.
And now, after being rescued by Mr. Gao Qi, Rita found herself in an extremely disheveled state.
Indeed, what Rita considered disheveled wasn't mission failure but…
At this very moment, she, who should be taking care of others, the composed and elegant Rita—was being carried in Mr. Gao Qi's arms like a helpless child!
This—this was utterly unbefitting of a maid's demeanor!
Bzzzt—
A golden portal suddenly materialized in a corner of Arc City's night sky, and three somewhat disheveled figures rushed out.
Gao Qi held the weakened Rita in his arms, while beside him, Kiana, also struggling, quickly raised her hand.
Behind them, the roar of gunfire hadn't yet made it through the portal before Kiana shut the golden door.
"Huff, huff… This is my first time trying to teleport with others. What kind of gas did those people use? I feel a bit weak…"
Before leaving, Kiana inhaled several lungfuls of the neutralizing serum World Serpent had detonated around her. Although a semi-Herrscher, Kiana's condition was significantly affected, and she took several deep breaths before recovering.
"Ugh, what rotten luck. I was only halfway through investigating the data when you dragged me out… Whatever, my secret base is nearby. Let's hide there for now."
Looking at Gao Qi and the Rita in his arms, Kiana sighed softly.
She had originally planned to take advantage of the Schicksal Valkyrie diverting Shenzhou Pharmaceuticals' attention to investigate the company's secrets, but the more she dug, the more alarmed she became.
The organization had numerous records about "MANTIS" and references to the "Omniscient Serpent." When she and Class Monitor Fu Hua saw those texts, they were both stunned.
This information documented the Class Monitor's life spanning centuries, shocking Kiana, who had always thought she was an ordinary person.
Of course, Kiana should've been shocked earlier—the fact that the Class Monitor could reside in her mind was surprising enough.
After that, the usually calm Class Monitor briefly showed signs of anxiety.
She said, "They're back."
Kiana tried to inquire further, but Class Monitor Fu Hua clearly didn't want to elaborate, so the sensible Kiana didn't press.
But more important than the Class Monitor's affairs were Shenzhou Pharmaceuticals' schemes. Before she could stealthily find the relevant information, that man named Gao Qi, holding the wretched Valkyrie Rita, was chased out of the building's lower floors by a horde of zombies and dragged her along.
During their escape, Kiana was also hit by a cloud of yellow smoke. After inhaling a few breaths, she felt exhausted and quickly opened a portal to flee with the two.
Although Kiana had cursed Schicksal and raged against Otto countless times during her wandering, viewing them as mortal enemies, in this desperate moment, she still softened.
"HSN-B46 serum, a Schicksal product. Captain Rita inhaled this stuff, so she probably won't be able to use her Valkyrie powers for a while—let's go inside."
Carrying Rita in his arms and looking at her "sleeping" form, Gao Qi shrugged and smiled at Kiana.
Having just parted with his dear daughter, only to see another version of her, Gao Qi couldn't help but hold Rita a little tighter, causing her sleeping body to tremble slightly before settling down.
No way, he couldn't help it—Gao Qi's "daughter addiction" was acting up, feeling as if a hundred Honkai beasts were crawling all over him! He really wanted to pat her little head!
Although he knew he'd see Kiana again, during the last simulation, as soon as he saw her, Gao Qi had to fight the Herrscher of Thunder, leaving no time for proper interaction with his daughters. This left the makeshift father feeling quite dissatisfied.
Especially since, just over an hour ago, the Kiana he saw was still sunny, cheerful, and positive.
But now, this Kiana was so serious and solemn, well-behaved and sensible, with an undeniable sadness in her brow… Gao Qi felt very unhappy, extremely so.
"Ah, that serum… Dr. Magi's work. When I was still a Valkyrie, someone injected me with that stuff. No wonder the smell is so familiar—it's useless. After injection, Honkai energy temporarily disappears, but it returns after a while. Now, others have turned it into a weapon."
Recalling her experience a few years ago as a Schicksal Valkyrie during a mission in Singapore, Kiana couldn't help but glance at the illusory Fu Hua beside her, who nodded in agreement.
Both of them had changed greatly since then.
"Alright, enough about that. Since you gave me those snacks, bring her in to rest for a bit. Besides, this is probably the last time I'll use this place anyway… Also, tell me everything Schicksal has found out!"
Glaring at Gao Qi and Rita, Kiana quickly walked toward a basement hidden in a quiet alley, unconsciously rubbing her chest.
For some reason, the Kaslana Stigmata that had appeared on her years ago in Nagazora but never showed any effect was now burning her chest, making it unbearably uncomfortable.
Gao Qi stuck out his tongue, held Rita, and followed her into the basement.
"Wow, not bad…"
Contrary to his expectations of a messy and rundown place, Gao Qi was greeted by a tidy little room.
A bed, a tea table, a shower, a small kitchen, and a blackboard covered with action plans, notes, and photos. Although it was a basement, Kiana's living conditions were far more comfortable than Gao Qi had imagined.
"I only tidied this up a few days ago. Before that, I was a bit… rundown. So hot, so hot, I can't take it—you sit still and don't touch anything! I'm going to take a shower!"
With her chest burning uncomfortably and the effects of the neutralizing serum, Kiana felt particularly unwell. She glared at Gao Qi, took off her jacket, and headed for the shower.
"Oh, is there hot water? Do you need me to heat some—take your time. I'll cook something for you. How about some black tea?"
Unfazed, Gao Qi walked over, took her jacket, and hung it outside the bathroom. Kiana had loved bathing since childhood, whether showers or baths. After running around and sweating, the first thing she'd do upon returning home was shower, something Gao Qi was long accustomed to.
Opening the powered armor's pocket, Gao Qi magically produced several tea bags and began rummaging through Kiana's small fridge.
"Hey, you… Whatever. There are painkillers and a medkit you gave me in that drawer. Use them to treat Rita. Seriously, I don't even want to save her."
Watching Gao Qi make himself so at home, rummaging through her fridge on his first visit, Kiana wanted to say something but eventually shrugged and headed to the bathroom.
"Don't peek, or I'll throw you into imaginary space."
Though she threatened him, Kiana instinctively felt this man would never do such a thing.
For some reason, this scene felt… nostalgic to her.
Her Stigmata burning even hotter, Kiana could no longer bear it and rushed into the shower.
Meanwhile, Gao Qi took the few remaining eggs from the nearly empty fridge, thought for a moment, and pulled out sugar, oil, and starch from his pocket—as a logistics officer, carrying seasonings wasn't strange, right?
"Hmm, nothing too complicated… Let's make 'Three Non-Stick.'"
Without hesitation, Gao Qi chose an exceptionally labor-intensive dish. But when cooking for his daughter, effort was irrelevant—deliciousness was all that mattered!
As he separated egg whites and yolks and whisked them with chopsticks, Gao Qi turned his attention to Rita.
Rita had been placed on the bed by Gao Qi.
The Shadow Knight armor, having once again robbed her of her Valkyrie powers, had become a prison. Gao Qi had already removed her Valkyrie armor, leaving her in a shirt and black stockings, and covered her with a small blanket.
Now, Rita lay as quiet as Sleeping Beauty, a far cry from the woman who, not long ago, was prepared to crash the EOS into the Shenzhou industrial park, taking the enemy down with the transport ship's Honkai reactor.
Gently stroking Rita's head, Gao Qi reflected on his days working alongside her. Her diligence, seriousness, and approachability were all evident to him.
Her elegance and composure were built on top of doubling efforts and a meticulous attitude.. In everything she did, she put in extraordinary effort to appear completely unflappable.
She was conscientious and meticulous. in her work, tolerant with her subordinates and colleagues, and as Durandal's caretaker, she surpassed even Gao Qi in excellence.
"Sleep well, Miss Rita. You've worked hard, and you've done well."
Whispering these words of comfort into Rita's ear, Gao Qi noticed that Rita, who had been struggling to pretend to sleep, relaxed slightly. He then quietly began preparing dessert.
For a seasoned father with over a decade of parenting experience, failing to recognize when a child was pretending to sleep would be utterly pathetic.
But after all she'd been through, Rita deserved a good rest.
The sound of running water came from the shower nearby. As Gao Qi stirred the gradually drying egg mixture in the pan with a large spoon he carried, his phone rang within minutes. He quickly answered.
"Phew, Gao Qi, we've all pulled out and are hiding back at the base for now. We sent a distress signal to the Tianqiong City authorities, and Shenzhou Pharmaceuticals didn't chase us for long—we've already notified Lady Durandal. She's set off from North Africa and should arrive in Shenzhou in one to two hours."
Over the phone, Alvitr's voice finally sounded steady, less tense, and Gao Qi breathed a sigh of relief.
"It's a good thing you were here, Gao Qi. No one died, but we couldn't counter that neutralizing serum. Right now, our physical abilities are only slightly better than an ordinary person's."
Reporting their situation to Gao Qi, Alvitr's voice carried an unusual tenderness. After facing life and death, her feelings had grown complicated.
"Are you okay? I mean, and Miss Rita…"
Gao Qi simply smiled, glancing back at Rita, who lay unusually quiet like a sleeping beauty.
"We're fine, but Miss Rita probably needs some rest. You all take it easy and recover. Leave the rest to us."
Hearing that Gao Qi was safe, Alvitr couldn't help but smile on the other end of the line.
"Hmm, you also need to be careful and remember to stay in touch. I'm currently helping everyone adjust the Valkyrie armor to an energy-free mode, ensuring we can fight for a few minutes even without power. I'll soon have Lady Rita's Lunar Vow armor adjusted as well..."
Afterward, Alvitr hesitated for a moment, somewhat faltering as she spoke her mind to Gao Qi.
"Um, Gao Qi, you really must stay safe. If everyone comes out of this mission unscathed, after it's over, could you go on a da— Mmmph!!!"
However, once again, Alvitr's words were cut short. Soon, the voice on the other end of the call changed to that of another Valkyrie from the Immortal Blades.
"Alright, Mr. Gao Qi, I wish you smooth sailing on your mission. You absolutely must come back alive—we're all waiting for your good news. Cover her mouth! Don't say such ominous things at a critical time like this!"
Gao Qi nodded. The "San Bu Zhan" in the pan was just done, sliding smoothly and perfectly into the plate. At the last moment, Gao Qi reached out and lightly touched the golden dessert, infusing it with the emerald-green power of creation.
"Alright, that's settled then. Leave things here to me and Lady Rita. You all stand by. If needed, prioritize your own safety. We'll call for your support if necessary."
Though he faintly heard the Valkyries whispering something at the end, Gao Qi paid no mind. Right now, he just wanted these temporarily combat-incapible girls to lay low properly.
Including Miss Rita.
Gao Qi was well aware of the World Serpent's goal: to trigger a minor Honkai eruption in Sky City, forcing residents who had received the activated Stigmata vaccine to passively activate their Stigmata.
Those unable to adapt would die, while the survivors would become successful products of the Stigmata Project, turning into weapons against the Honkai.
According to Mobius' estimates, the survival rate of such a plan might not even reach one in a thousand—an absolute catastrophe.
Gao Qi absolutely would not allow this to happen. Similarly, he also didn't want Kiana to join this fight.
In the original storyline, to stop the EOS Honkai Reactor from exploding, Kiana had to forcibly activate the power of the Herrscher of the Void, which she had barely suppressed, causing her already Honkai-corrupted body to worsen further.
At its most severe, Kiana, constantly resisting the Honkai, even lost her sense of pain. Compared to Mei's smooth transition into the Herrscher of Thunder, Kiana, as the Herrscher of the Void, clearly did not accept her power—after all, the Herrscher of Thunder's personality was much better than the Herrscher of the Void's. Kiana could only fully master her power after the Herrscher of the Void's will disappeared. As for the Herrscher of Flamescion... Gao Qi could only hope that its HP-burning effect was just gameplay mechanics and didn't harm Kiana herself.
Gao Qi had to help Kiana and also save Sky City. To that end, he had rescued the Valkyries in advance, having them board the EOS. This would directly prevent Rita, that reckless woman, from crashing the EOS into the Shenzhou Industrial Park.
Not only would that fail to destroy Shenzhou Pharmaceuticals, but it would also provide them with the Honkai reactor as an explosion source, even letting the World Serpent pin the blame on Schicksal—a terrible move on Rita's part.
But now, even though the World Serpent wouldn't get the Honkai reactor, Gao Qi knew they would still immediately proceed with other prepared Honkai sources.
This time, Gao Qi absolutely would not allow Kiana to put herself in danger.
Carrying the plate, Gao Qi walked to the sofa, leaned down, and whispered softly into Rita's ear.
"Miss Rita, had enough sleep? Stop pretending, time to wake up~~"
Rita's body trembled slightly, and her wine-red eyes slowly opened, looking at Gao Qi with a hint of reproach.
Though her strength hadn't fully returned, her body had regained some energy.
"You noticed long ago, Mr. Gao Qi?"
Noticing she was only wearing a thin white shirt and smooth black pantyhose on her long legs, Rita immediately covered her lower body with a small blanket, avoiding revealing the triangular area behind the pantyhose and letting Gao Qi see the style.
Gao Qi, on the other hand, shook his head smugly, grinning mischievously as he placed the plate on the coffee table and started brewing tea for everyone.
"Miss Rita, you can't use Honkai energy right now, and your ability to conceal your presence has failed. I know very well whether a naughty child is pretending to sleep or not!"
Rita, now alert and slightly flustered, knew she was in the Herrscher of the Void's hideout, and that Herrscher, who caused the Fourth Eruption, was currently taking a shower boldly in the next room.
"You—you're actually proud of this! That's a Herrscher, the Herrscher of the Void. You brought me into this den of evil just like that. The danger here is no less than the Shenzhou Industrial Park!"
Lowering her voice and keeping a wary eye on the Herrscher in the nearby shower, Rita still tightly gripped the scythe beside her. The reason she had pretended to be asleep was to avoid direct contact with the Herrscher and prevent conflict.
She never expected Gao Qi to lead her to the Herrscher's home—though Schicksal did intend to capture the Herrscher, it definitely wasn't under such terrible circumstances.
"And you're cooking for her. Are you her boyfriend or her father? If I didn't know you had no connection with her, just your current actions and previously passing information and evidence through her would make me suspect you're the Herrscher's accomplice—Mmm."
Smelling the dessert's aroma on the table and seeing Gao Qi's calm expression, Rita felt both tense and helpless. If she were alone, she might have remained composed, but with Gao Qi here, she couldn't help scolding him.
"Herrschers are uncontrollable, just as dangerous as the forces behind Shenzhou Pharmaceuticals. We can't cooperate with her—Mmm."
Before she could finish, Rita's mouth was stuffed by Gao Qi—of course, with a bite of "San Bu Zhan" filled with life energy, which could help Rita recover quickly.
"Alright, saying all this is useless. Have some tea to soothe your throat. The most important thing is for you to recover soon—you've already done very well. Take a rest."
Handing the tea to Rita, Gao Qi received a glare from her, but Rita eventually took the tea, sat up, and drank it all.
Hearing Gao Qi's comforting words, Rita's usually serious expression unconsciously relaxed slightly.
Being taken care of was a completely novel experience for the maid.
In any case, Rita, as an expert, fully recognized Gao Qi's culinary and tea skills. The traditional Shenzhou dessert was sweet and delicious, soft and non-sticky, yet the accompanying tea didn't taste bitter—instead, it was full of tea fragrance.
"Hmm?"
Moreover, in today's dish, Rita detected a different flavor, one that hadn't appeared when he cooked for her before—a delicious dish only made with genuine love.
[Perhaps Lady Durandal would like this kind of dish. If everything goes smoothly, when Lady Durandal comes here, I can cook with Gao Qi for her.]
But now, Rita had no time to think about such things. With millions in Arc City facing a huge threat, she had to act.
"Anyway, we can't trust the Herrscher. After exchanging information with her, we leave immediately. I'll change into the Lunar Vow battlesuit, have Alvitr track all vehicle signals in Arc City, and calculate possible Honkai outbreak locations. Let's go now—"
However, before she could finish, Gao Qi's large hand gently covered Rita's slender hands, holding them tenderly.
"Stop saying these things, Miss Rita. Touch your heart and be honest. After this time together, do you still view Miss Kiana as the world-destroying Herrscher like before?"
Looking seriously into Rita's wine-red eyes, Gao Qi gazed at the tear mole at the corner of her eye, his expression turning earnest.
"I need you to tell the truth, Miss Rita. At least from my perspective, she's now fighting for the people of Shenzhou, for those affected by the Honkai. If we still treat her as an enemy... that's not right. She holds no hatred for humanity and is rational. If she could kill us, she would have done so last time, right?"
Hearing Gao Qi's words, Rita hesitated. In truth, she did think similarly. She wasn't familiar with Kiana, having only met her once during a routine inspection of St. Freya at headquarters long ago.
When she saw Kiana again, the other had already become that world-destroying Herrscher.
But upon seeing Kiana again in Shenzhou, Rita never felt that this girl named Kiana resembled the Herrscher in any way. She was still that Valkyrie, working hard for ordinary people.
Rita... also had doubts.
"Regardless, even if her nature is good, once the Herrscher personality takes over—"
Seeing Rita's hesitation, Gao Qi knew the timing was right and earnestly pleaded with Rita, half-kneeling before the sofa as if proposing, looking up at her.
"Please, Captain Rita, give me a chance, alright? You keep pretending to sleep nearby and listen carefully, okay? Please, Lady Rita, I'll do anything you ask~~"
Putting on an exaggerated pitiful act, Gao Qi sincerely begged Rita.
During their short time together, Gao Qi had already grasped part of Rita's personality.
Completely opposite to Mobius, who was outwardly dominant but inwardly submissive—seeming wild but actually preferring Gao Qi to take the lead—Rita appeared to be a professional and dedicated maid but actually had the heart of a queen.
With those close to her, she would occasionally play harmless little jokes, watching their helpless and troubled expressions while apologizing and then stepping in to handle everything.
Gao Qi knew Rita was definitely someone who yielded to softness, not force. As long as he showed vulnerability, her likelihood of relenting greatly increased.
"Eh, Mr. Gao Qi, wait, why are you suddenly—no, don't, Mmm... Hah."
Seeing Gao Qi suddenly half-kneel before her, earnestly making a request, Rita, who had never been treated this way, was instantly flustered.
Rita wanted to refuse Gao Qi, but for some reason, as she looked down at him, a spontaneous sense of pleasure suddenly filled her heart.
Perhaps it was because she had been carried princess-style by Gao Qi twice in a weakened state, cared for extensively—these two embarrassing experiences had become absolute black marks in Rita's history.
Rita's reason for pretending to sleep this time wasn't just to avoid conflict with Kiana; it was also because speaking with Gao Qi at such a moment was indeed somewhat embarrassing.
But now, Gao Qi had voluntarily half-kneeled, lowering his posture to beg for her understanding and cooperation.
Though Rita never wanted to be above anyone, looking at Gao Qi now, she felt a hint of inappropriate—pleasure?
As if, at this moment, Rita was no longer a maid but rather... a desired queen!
Rita didn't even dare to meet Gao Qi's gaze, appearing extremely nervous yet faintly a little... excited?
Having never experienced such a feeling before, Rita momentarily forgot the threat of the Herrscher nearby. After much thought, she finally agreed.
"Alright, alright, get up quickly. I agree, Mr. Gao Qi. I'll cooperate with Kiana."
In the end, Rita still wasn't used to looking down at Gao Qi from this angle. Using all her weakened strength, she pulled Gao Qi onto the sofa, her fair face slightly flushed.
"But... only this once. If this matter ends smoothly, from now on, you must listen to me properly, understood!"
Gao Qi, very happily, gave her a thumbs-up. With Rita's agreement, Kiana's side would be easier to handle.
For this operation, Schicksal and her had to cooperate.
"Don't worry, from now on, I'll listen to you in my work, Miss Rita. Is that okay?"
The usually gentle Rita now glared fiercely at Gao Qi with her wine-red eyes, picked up her chopsticks, and started eating the dessert. At this moment, these high-calorie ingredients were perfect for replenishing her lost strength.
Now, Rita finally understood why Durandal allowed Gao Qi to hug her. Though Gao Qi had only been employed for a little over a month, even just a few days working out together in the gym, this kind-hearted yet mischievous man could definitely capture Durandal's naive and innocent heart.
However, Rita now felt no discomfort about "a good cabbage being eaten by a pig." On the contrary, she had to admit that Gao Qi was very suitable for Durandal.
After all, Durandal was already Schicksal's strongest; she didn't need a powerful partnership like Cecilia and Siegfried. Rita hoped someone who could take care of Durandal for a lifetime would appear by her side.
And Gao Qi happened to be the most suitable candidate!
[I, I'm just keeping an eye on Gao Qi for Durandal's sake. Yes, that's it. When she returns this time, I need to ask her properly about her feelings. If Durandal likes Gao Qi, I'll work hard to bring them together... I must make them a couple! Gao Qi and Durandal are definitely a great match!]
Rita resolved to protect Gao Qi properly for Durandal's sake. Whether it was the girls in the Immortal Blades with their own ideas or the highly threatening Herrscher of the Void before them, Rita would eliminate all threats.
No one would harm Durandal!
On the other side, Gao Qi finally heard the water in the shower stop. He immediately winked at Rita and called out loudly toward the bathroom.
"Kiana—the food's ready. Come out and have a bite. Let's discuss the next steps."
——————
Meanwhile, in the shower, Kiana was covering her burning Stigmata, entering a strange state.
She seemed... to remember something.
And upon hearing Gao Qi's words, Kiana instinctively called out.
"Yes, is Dad calling me?"
Note: I'm new to translating so please be kind and tell me any mistakes you all find, I will try to release a chapter a day but don't expect much
Please support the original author: warboss
Raw: 崩坏模拟器,你找的人是我么?