In the time that followed, Bronya said a lot of things to Kiana that made Kiana nod, but which Bronya herself considered irrelevant.
It wasn't that she didn't want to teach Kiana seriously, but mainly...
On one hand, she only had theoretical knowledge in certain areas.
This theoretical knowledge, combined with Kiana's outstanding looks and figure, was actually enough to make any ordinary boy fall for her.
Unfortunately, Leo Ash was far from being an ordinary boy.
Normal people don't spend their days thinking about revenge and fighting, but Leo Ash was exactly that kind of person.
And now that Leo Ash had a daughter, Bronya felt that this aspect of his thinking would probably be reined in to some extent.
However, old habits die hard. To expect Leo Ash to start turning back into a normal boy from tonight just because of his daughter's appearance...
She wouldn't dare to dream of such a thing.
As for the other reason, it was even simpler.
By now, Bronya could see it clearly.
When Kiana got serious, her speed in learning was impressively fast, even ridiculously so.
But this genius girl, who should have a strong and confident aura, would curl up into a ball of white fluff in front of Leo Ash.
Sigh, no matter how much you psych yourself up, if you don't make a move, I'm really at a loss.
I can't carry you. I really can't.
Even though you and Leo already have a child, Kiana, I feel like you're still going to end up as the losing girl at this rate.
After having this thought, Bronya felt that she should probably stop interfering in this matter.
She had already tried hard enough. If Kiana still didn't make a move after being given an opportunity--then no one could help her.
Sigh, from the moment that child arrived on the beach, this beach party was basically over.
After all, most of the people who came here had ulterior motives, and after Leo Ash met his daughter...
What were they supposed to do, sneak into his room for a night raid while he was sleeping with his daughter?
If everyone had that level of initiative, then Bronya and Yuna wouldn't have had to worry so much.
......
Next day. Inside the hotel.
"Ah, what's going on?"
Seeing everyone with their luggage packed, Leo Ash, who had rarely slept in, put down Isla Ash in his arms and looked at his companions.
"Although I was hoping everyone would put in a little more effort, but... why so sudden today?"
"How should I put it--the Headmaster has ordered us to return to the branch."
Seeing the fleeting look of disappointment on Leo Ash's face, Bronya truly felt--she was quite disappointed too.
You see, as the number one tryhard in the dorm, Leo Ash usually had very little time to rest.
But now, he was disappointed because everyone was voluntarily returning to the Far East Branch from the beach early.
It's not easy. The iron tree is blooming.
"Leo, you don't need to worry too much."
Bronya's peripheral vision swept over the expressions on everyone's faces before she continued speaking to Leo Ash.
"The Headmaster said she just has a bad feeling and wants us to come back."
"Once we confirm there are no problems for us to handle, we can continue our vacation. We can still have all the fun we want then."
If it were anyone else who said this, Leo Ash would just think they were being overly willful, basically just bored.
But if it was Theresa...
Alright, even if she said it, it would still sound very willful. But considering Theresa is fundamentally a Kaslana, Leo Ash felt it was better to obediently return to the Far East Branch.
The Kaslana family's intuition was hit-or-miss, but if something really did happen while everyone was away and St. Freya High School, their home base, got taken over, that would be too ridiculous.
As for other matters...
"Strange."
After scanning the crowd, Leo Ash frowned slightly.
"Why aren't Fu Hua, Bianka, and Rita here?"
"Oh, Lord Bishop Otto also gave an order for Miss Rita and Miss Bianka to return to HQ. As for the Class Rep..."
Recalling Fu Hua's unusual demeanor today, Bronya told Leo Ash the truth.
"The Class Rep said she had something to do at HQ, so she left with Miss Rita and Miss Bianka."
"But, the Class Rep today... seemed very angry."
Angry?
Thinking back on Fu Hua's mental state from yesterday to today, Leo Ash felt that something was indeed off with her recently.
Logically speaking, someone like her who values promises should have maintained the state of 'hiding her true strength' due to her agreement with Otto, even after recovering.
But the current Fu Hua gave Leo Ash the feeling that she wasn't holding back at all.
In the past, the impression Fu Hua gave others was at most an A-rank Valkyrie close to S-rank, with nothing else special about her.
But now...
Thinking about how Fu Hua did indeed become a Herrscher in the original timeline, Leo Ash felt that the situation was becoming increasingly wrong.
If Fu Hua already had the potential to be a Herrscher, and her style was starting to shift towards that of the Herrscher of Sentience, then Leo Ash felt he should probably give up on any illusions.
Everything was accelerating now. It wasn't impossible that Fu Hua had been swayed by the will of the Honkai.
I need to follow them to Schicksal HQ.
If she just beats up Otto, that's fine. Otto deserves a beating anyway.
But if a conflict with Otto leads to a fight between her, Bianka, and Rita, then the problem becomes a bit serious.
Even if the current Fu Hua is healthy, the unlucky event of being possessed from the original story probably won't happen to her.
But the influence of the Herrscher of Sentience and the will of the Honkai is subtle--alright, that's not the main point.
I suspect she's actually wanted to beat up Otto for a long time.
And if the will of the Honkai guides her in that direction, it's really possible that the influence of the Herrscher of Sentience could be used to fool her completely.
Although Su should also be at Schicksal HQ, now that I feel something is off, it's not appropriate for me to stay at the Far East Branch and do nothing.
Looking back at his daughter standing quietly on the ground, Leo Ash knelt down and gently stroked Isla Ash's hair.
But before he could speak, Isla Ash said to him obediently.
"If Daddy has something to do, just go ahead and do it."
"I'll listen to my mommies and aunties. Daddy can go to work without worry."
"...Then I'm relieved, my good daughter."
Watching the man emerge from the transport aircraft, Leo Ash said calmly to the others before walking towards it.
"I just remembered I also have something to do back at Schicksal HQ. You guys go back to the Far East Branch first."
"Mike, get me back to HQ as fast as possible."
"Whoa, in such a hurry?"
Seeing the undisguisable anxiety in Leo Ash's eyes, Mike whistled and immediately returned to the transport.
Watching the transport take off and fly into the distance, the remaining group exchanged glances, a hint of helplessness in their eyes.
It had to be said, if the Leo Ash from just a moment ago gave Bronya the feeling of an iron tree blooming, then the current Leo Ash gave everyone the feeling of 'ah, Leo Ash really hasn't changed at all'.
Although most of them didn't know why Leo Ash was going to Schicksal HQ, no one thought he was going there just for fun.
In the past, some of Leo Ash's actions were incomprehensible to them at the time.
But after the events concluded, everyone understood from the results of his actions that his decisions themselves were not wrong.
Well, aside from putting himself in danger, Leo Ash's choices were indeed fine.
But now...
"I feel like something's wrong."
Kiana said with a hint of unease as she watched the departing transport.
"The Class Rep looked off, and Senior immediately chased after her--that's obviously suspicious."
"Yeah, that's true, but..."
Looking at the other helicopter, Mei, who had calmed down, said with a frown.
"Originally, the two transports were enough to take us back to the Far East Branch in batches."
"But one of the transports went to take Leo Ash, so now we can't split up even if we want to."
"Bronya is already contacting the Far East Branch. Headmaster Theresa said she will send other transports to pick us up."
"Mmm..."
Mei looked at Yuna, who had been silent all morning, and suddenly said to her.
"Yuna, you should go support Leo Ash."
"The combat power at HQ should be sufficient, but after the fight, our comrades might need the power of Rebirth for healing."
"Ah, okay."
Only after Mei mentioned her name did Yuna snap out of her daze and nod at everyone.
"Then, I'll take care of things on Senior's side."
"Mommy Yuna!"
Isla Ash, seeing Yuna about to leave, suddenly shouted to her.
"My name is Isla Ash. Daddy gave me this name."
"...Yeah, Isla, you go home with Mommy Kiana first."
Forcing a smile, Yuna said to Isla Ash.
"I have something to do, so I'll be going on my own for now."
Watching Yuna say this and then rush towards the transport as if fleeing, Mei confirmed that her thinking was correct.
Since yesterday, Yuna, as the child's other mother, had been avoiding her.
Mei didn't think Yuna disliked this adorable child, but since she had noticed that her companion didn't want to face certain things, helping her escape the predicament was, in Mei's eyes, something she had to do.
As for whether Yuna would be mentally prepared in the future to face what she had to face, that was no longer Mei's concern.
This was all she could do. As for the future...
[Still worrying about Poison Ivy's future? You should think about what you're going to do in the future.]
You... why do you always have to pop up at times like this?
[Why pop up at this time? To laugh at you, of course, Mei.]
[You're always considering other people's feelings. Before this little brat showed up, you were too considerate of others to make a move. Now that she's here, you're still the same.]
[Leo Ash already has a child with Kiana and Yuna. I think you should just give up and go cry in a corner.]
You... I...
[See, you can't even refute me.]
[You clearly know that even if this little brat isn't their 'biological' daughter, she will strengthen the bond between them.]
[But even at this point, you're still concerned about the brat's feelings, concerned about others' feelings, yet you ignore your own.]
[At least before, you were stubborn. Now you can't even be stubborn anymore, so what's there to say.]
[Hey, don't go silent on me. At least refute me a little.]
...Perhaps you're right.
I am just such an incompetent and cowardly person.
[Um, Mei, I was just kidding.]
I don't even have the courage to pursue Leo Ash. This outcome is the retribution I deserve.
[I was just using reverse psychology. Don't actually think they've already sealed the deal and blocked off the path!]
But at this moment, the disheartened Mei, listening to the words of the Herrscher of Thunder in her mind, truly couldn't muster any thoughts she believed she 'shouldn't have'.
I'm so useless.
Compared to who I was in Nagazora City, my current self has only grown in power, but my state of mind hasn't changed at all.
No, there is a change.
In the past, Leo Ash described my 'sword in my heart as having grown dull, almost to the point of breaking'.
But now... do I even still have the sword a swordswoman should possess in my heart?
At this moment, Anna, looking at her companions who each had their own thoughts, was completely confused.
Strange, why does it feel like everyone is thinking about some random stuff?
"Auntie Anna."
Isla Ash trotted over to Anna's side and said to her cautiously.
"Don't mind them. A lot of what they're thinking about is just them worrying over nothing."
"Auntie Anna just needs to keep being herself. Don't be like Auntie Mei and Mommy Yuna, thinking too much about unnecessary things."
"Is, is that so?"
Looking at the child before her, Anna could only think...
--Ah, as expected of Leo Ash's daughter. She's so smart from such a young age.
At this moment, on the plane, Leo Ash saw the character introduction template pop up from the system and was momentarily stunned.
[Name: Anna Schariac]
[Identity: A girl from the Schariac family, a Schicksal B-rank Valkyrie, currently affiliated with the Far East Branch.]
[Current Affection: 63]
[Note: That's one powerful and caring daughter you've got.]
No, wait a minute. I didn't even talk to Anna just now.
Ignoring her at a time like this, it's a miracle her affection didn't drop. Why did it go up by three points?
[How should I put it, this System doesn't really understand either.]
[But that's just how it is... Sigh, Host, when did you become so strong?]
What's wrong with me being strong?
[Nothing's wrong. It's just that the situation is so good now that it has led to a very awkward situation.]
[Because your own strength is sufficient, and your companions are getting stronger and stronger, so...]
[Now, when we encounter ordinary events, this System can't even give you rewards anymore.]
Ha, how is that a bad thing?
I'd rather you just chatter in my head than give me lottery tickets all day.
After all, once I get those things, it means I'm about to face danger again.
From that perspective, I...
--I'd really rather see these things less often.
.....