"She actually just left like that… unbelievable!"
Watching Durandal and her fleet disappear into the distance, Kiana couldn't help but sigh. "She didn't even question us at all?"
"Well… she is the easiest person in all of Schicksal to fool."
Kagura shrugged and let out a sigh. "As for Otto, maybe he trusts Durandal too much. Otherwise, the moment she hesitated, Otto would've definitely made a move."
"In that case, we really got lucky." Himeko chimed in. "It's no easy feat to distract Durandal with smooth talk and slip past Otto's surveillance."
"Lady Durandal…"
Unlike Kiana and Himeko's relatively relaxed demeanor, Rita looked grave. "Forgive me, Lady Durandal… I've let you down."
"When she learns the truth, I believe she'll make the right choice," Kagura said, patting Rita on the shoulder. "Come on, she's the strongest Valkyrie we've got. No need to worry so much!"
"It's because she's so strong and righteous that I am worried." Rita's voice was soft and solemn.
"Miss Kagura, Lady Durandal isn't like you—someone who always sees through everything and remains calm no matter the situation.
She's a pure and kind soul… and I'm deeply concerned about what the Overseer might do to her."
Everyone knew: regardless of what excuse Durandal gave Otto for failing to capture Rita, Otto would never let it slide. He might even start questioning Durandal's loyalty.
Otto Apocalypse—deceptive, ruthless, and utterly inhuman—might not hurt Durandal directly like he did with Fu Hua, but retaliation against Rita and others could be much more brutal and overt.
After all, if it turns out that not just Rita, but even Durandal and the "Immortal Blades" have turned against Schicksal… then Otto might truly snap.
On the other hand, given Durandal's personality, once she learns the truth about the dirty dealings behind Schicksal's glorious façade, it's hard to say how she might react.
Good kids don't make good double agents. If Durandal does betray them, she'd probably do it in the most straightforward and dramatic way possible…
In short, although thanks to Kagura's maneuvering, Himeko, Kiana, and Rita's Immortal Blade squad were safe—for now—a far greater crisis was slowly creeping in.
No one knew what Otto's next move would be.
Nor could anyone predict what Durandal and the remaining Immortal Blades would do next.
"Well, no matter what, it's already done." Himeko tried to comfort Rita. "All things considered, this is probably the best outcome we could've hoped for."
"At least we didn't have to fight Durandal, and you weren't dragged off by Otto to become a lab rat.
Still… if we want to avoid any future tragedies, we'll have to work even harder from here on."
"Hehehe…" Looking into Himeko's golden eyes, Rita chuckled lightly. "Miss Himeko, I'm surprised. You're actually not bad at comforting people. I always thought you were a bit… simple-minded."
"…Hah?! Who are you calling simple-minded?!" A vein bulged on Himeko's forehead. "Is this how the youth of today talk to their elders?!"
"Apologies. It's just that, in my view, anyone who drinks before a combat mission… usually isn't all there upstairs."
Rita responded with her usual polite and graceful smile, as if nothing was wrong. "Am I wrong, Miss Himeko?"
"You—! Are you picking a fight with me?!" Himeko clenched her fists, clearly annoyed. "We just saved your life, and this is how you thank us?! Couldn't you be a little more grateful?"
"Technically, it was Miss Kagura who saved me," Rita replied, gently touching her lips and looking up at the sky.
Her earlier anxiety seemed to have vanished completely. "As far as I know, you and Kiana were just waiting outside the door. That's it."
"WHAT DID YOU SAY?! ヽ(●-`Д´-)ノ" Himeko raised her fist.
"That's it! Draw your weapon! I'm gonna roast that prim-and-proper maid outfit of yours with one swing!"
"Alright, alright, cut it out!" Seeing the two women ready to throw down, Kagura rushed between them. "You two busty—uh, you two ladies, come on! Aren't you both senior members here? Why are you bickering like kids?!"
"My apologies. Just got a little carried away," Rita replied with her signature flawless smile. "But really… thank you, Miss Himeko. Because of you, I do feel a lot better now."
"Don't think I'll let you off just 'cause you're being sweet now! Get your sword! I'll slice your dress into ribbons!"
Himeko's shouts grew fainter as Kagura dragged her away, "Remember this! You two-faced maid! Evil woman! Snake-tongued, backstabbing—!"
Though there were a few bumps along the way, the Honkai disaster in Skyd City had finally been resolved.
With the collapse of Divine City Pharmaceuticals, this once-chaotic metropolis would soon return to normal.
The raging Honkai outbreak would subside, and people could finally go back to peaceful lives.
And not only that—Kagura had decisively crushed the World Serpent.
One less global threat to worry about.
However, beneath this seemingly happy ending, Kagura's journey in this world was far from over.
Schicksal and Otto still loomed like a dark cloud over them.
Divine City's biotech experiments had unearthed even deeper secrets—ones that might threaten the entire world.
And the one holding those secrets…
Was none other than Otto Apocalypse, the Overseer of Schicksal—likely plotting some catastrophic plan from the shadows.
That's why Kagura decided to board the Hyperion alongside Himeko, continuing the investigation into Schicksal's operations.
As for her reward…
Divine City's database had everything—
Research on Honkai, Honkai beasts, theories about deadwalkers, Stigmata, Valkyries, anti-Honkai weapons...
What Kagura uncovered in that underground facility had already far exceeded her expectations.
And if she followed the trail deeper into Schicksal… maybe she'd find something even more interesting.
After all, Honkai energy and Valkyries were just conventional weapons.
The real "superweapons" Kagura wanted to uncover were the ancient technologies of the Previous Era: the Divine Keys, the Herrschers, and the forbidden truths about the Finality itself.
As the silver-white spacecraft slowly descended before her, Kagura let out a deep breath.
Mmm…
The adventure was far from over.
This humanoid girl still had much work to do!
(ง •̀_•́)ง!