Mei was very aware of Kiana's nature, so she didn't mind ending their first night at St. Freya Academy.
The next day's enrollment went very smoothly. After experiencing the desolate daily apocalypse in Chang Kong City, returning to Academy life suddenly felt a bit unaccustomed to Mei.
Of course, what she was most unaccustomed to was...
Kiana wasn't here.
"Ah..."
Listening to Welt Sensei's history class, Mei, who used to be a good student, was distracted after all.
After all, this was Schicksal's history; she didn't care at all. None of it concerned her.
More than that, Mei was more concerned about how Kiana was doing now.
After the test, judging from the perfunctory entrance exam, Kiana's academic performance was actually quite good.
So Theresa said that compared to academic subjects, Kiana needed combat classes more, and she dragged Kiana away.
Yes, she dragged her away.
If it weren't for the insufficient distance, Mei felt Kiana would have hugged her leg to avoid being dragged away.
Although Mei really wanted to keep Kiana, she... had dug her own hole, which left her no choice but to smile politely.
So, she was the only one who came to class.
In this classroom, which was no different from her usual ones, she was still quite unaccustomed.
It always made her think of her days at Chiyu Academy, even though everyone was actually quite friendly.
What was Kiana doing now?
"Is this the skill you said gives you the confidence to enter Honkai areas? Kiana, you're too lax!"
As expected, Kiana knew that after returning, she would be pulled into training by Theresa and the others.
Ah, perhaps this was... the price of good grades?
"It should be said that Aunt is too strong..."
Going up against the former S-Rank Judah Launcher right away, Kiana felt she still wasn't used to it.
But thanks to this, she gradually became familiar with her old skills, such as Kaslana Gun Kata.
From only being able to dodge at first, to now being able to... take a beating.
As expected of the S-Rank Judah Launcher.
That's why Theresa let her go now. She was, after all, the most familiar with the Kaslana family's fighting style, so she was helping Kiana's body recall it.
After that, it would be Himeko Sensei giving her special lessons.
"Kiana, it's not that I want to be strict with you, but in the future... you must always be on the front lines of the battlefield."
Theresa's feelings for Kiana were very complex; this girl was her rival's daughter.
But she was, after all, the daughter of the person she loved, and she wanted to protect her well.
"As for that life-saving tool, if possible, try not to use it. Not to mention the tool itself is very precious, nor how to re-conquer it after triggering quantumization at a Herrscher's location."
If it were easy to get, they would have already equipped all Valkyries with it.
"Most importantly, the Quantum World is ultimately very dangerous. If you encounter an enemy familiar with space, you will... No, I'm overthinking it. The Second Herrscher is already dead after all..."
Theresa rubbed her head, aching, feeling like she had forgotten something.
"..."
Kiana wanted to cover Theresa's mouth and tell her to stop making predictions. She was constantly making predictions even in her daily life. Was she implying Kiana was in the way by being alive?
"In any case, today's lesson ends here. Also, remember to take Bronya to the lab later. After basic data testing, the chip extraction experiment can begin next week."
Theresa naturally wouldn't forget to remove Bronya's chip, even on the secure Hyperion.
"After the chip is removed, it will take about one to two weeks to rest and recover. In about a month, she can attend school with you."
"However, although you'll be attending school, you are different from those students; you need to be on standby at all times."
After all, look at the identities of these three: one Herrscher, not to mention, also has years of honed sword skills.
And another, though a bit lazy, is also a Kaslana family member, and even has the ability to seal Herrschers.
"Don't worry about ordinary battles calling you. Only when a Herrscher appears will you need to depart. It can be considered... an ace, I suppose!"
Theresa seemed to be praising them, but...
If Herrschers appearing meant they had to go, wasn't that more reason to worry?
"Ah, that... Aunt, who is your most proud and cherished student?"
Since today's training was over, Kiana finally had time to ask and see how Wendy was doing.
"All of my... students are worth being proud of! They are all excellent!"
Theresa's answer was not unexpected. She also had deep affection for her students and was proud of them.
Whenever everyone was about to graduate, she would always sadly hug Homu by herself, not in the mood to read Homu comics.
"Don't give such an official answer! I'm talking about your most cherished! There must be one student you always bring up!"
"Always brought up... Only Fu Hua, I suppose. She's different from other students; she always comes to help with Academy work, and her strength improves every day."
"If nothing unexpected happens, she will stay here after graduation, and she'll be at least an A-Rank Valkyrie. You can aim to be like her in the future!"
Theresa allowed appropriate competition.
"..."
Kiana wanted to say, Fu Hua is an A-Rank Valkyrie my foot; S-Rank is even too low.
She's a fifty-thousand-year-old... beautiful girl. Considering her injuries, she's at least S-Rank.
"It can be said that only Durandal from Schicksal Headquarters and Wendy from the Oceania Branch can compare to her! But I think Kiana, you also have that potential later!"
Theresa was very much looking forward to Kiana's potential, as she possessed the power to seal Herrschers for her own use.
Although there was a slight unease, which was the high concentration of Honkai energy reaction when Kiana used Herrscher power, she would protect Kiana.
"Is that so..."
Kiana nodded, responding perfunctorily. She didn't think she could catch up to a big shot like Fu Hua during her Academy years.
Huh? Wait, she seemed to have heard two names?! Durandal and Wendy?!
Speaking of which, if Dumb Goose was here, shouldn't she be K423? It couldn't be that K423 went to be Dumb Goose, right?
But what about Sirin's power?! Where was her power?!
And Wendy... she wasn't even from this Academy!
Wouldn't she be unable to happily insult Theresa? No, wouldn't she be unable to build up goodwill in advance?!
"So, even though our Academy seems small now, it can already rival Headquarters! Plus..."
Theresa was already starting to praise her Academy, but Kiana's thoughts were no longer on that.