Of course, no matter what grand ideas Bronya had in her mind, the plan had to proceed.
In Bronya's eyes, aside from being a little clueless when it came to romance...
Alright, even calling him clueless in romance felt like a stretch.
To Bronya and the others, Leo Ash could roughly guess what was on their minds, but he chose not to respond to Kiana, Mei, and the rest, clearly because he was worried about hurting everyone's feelings.
Right now, to Bronya, Leo Ash, Kiana, and the others were all her important comrades.
Under the current circumstances, she couldn't possibly criticize Leo Ash for his actions just because his personal charm was too high and attracted others, while he himself was only focused on revenge and thus didn't respond.
In any case, having now seen Cocolia's true colors, Bronya was well aware of how outrageous her past actions of aiding a villain had been.
Yet, even for someone like her, Leo Ash chose to accept her sins, help her find a solution to her problems, and comfort her wounded heart...
Alright, although judging from Brother Leo's subsequent actions, he clearly still wanted to kill Mother Cocolia, there was nothing wrong with his words.
*It was my failure to earn merits and promotions fast enough to keep up with Mother Cocolia's self-destructive tendencies that led to the plan's failure.*
*He has already been good enough to me in every aspect, so now—it's my turn to help him.*
*Brother Leo may not show any feelings beyond friendship for the others on the surface, but judging by the way he secretly kissed Class Rep, he's actually quite normal in that regard.*
*But if even Class Rep, who was secretly kissed by Brother Leo, can't persuade him, then—Yuna's and my strategy is, theoretically, flawless.*
*If one person isn't enough to persuade him, then we'll raise the stakes.*
*As long as we can make Brother Leo fall in love with everyone, with a few more lovers, he should probably rein it in a little, right?*
"But speaking of which."
At that moment, after taking a harsh bite of the popsicle in her hand, Yuna suddenly asked Bronya with a wicked smile.
"Who do you think will win today?"
"Well..."
As an outsider to this, Bronya slightly frowned as she sized up the battle-ready Kiana and Mei, then glanced at Anna, who was still steeling her resolve, and Fu Hua, whose face was calm.
Although she was firmly on Team Kiana in this operation, the clear-headed Bronya knew very well that Kiana's chances of winning were definitely not the highest.
Right now, she looked like her 'fighting spirit was soaring' and her presence was maxed out, but...
*Sigh, with Big Sister Kiana's personality, if you were truly resolute, you would have charged in already.*
*We're already at the beach, yet you're all presence and no action. That's a clear sign of inner hesitation.*
*Hesitation before the battle has even begun. Diagnosis: a brat who talks tough but has a soft heart.*
"Let's exclude Big Sister Kiana first. I feel like she's the most unstable one in this round."
"That's true."
Watching the 'battlefield,' Yuna sighed softly as she looked at Kiana's stiff posture.
"Sigh, Kiana."
"It's been over half a year since I met her. When she first transferred to my class, she wasn't like this."
"Back then, she was brimming with confidence... well, skipping class every day was being a bit too confident."
"But now, in the eighty days since she arrived at St. Freya High School, her self-confidence has visibly dwindled, and I even occasionally sense a hint of inferiority when she's facing Senior."
"She's already very strong, but perhaps because she's too competitive, she sets her own standards excessively high."
"As a result, when she faces others, she's fine, but the moment she realizes the person she has to face is Senior..."
Seeing Kiana want to take a step but ultimately take no further action, Yuna sighed once more.
"I remember you have a wealth of theoretical knowledge—how much did you actually teach her?"
"Everything, of course."
After giving a straightforward reply, Bronya took a fierce bite of her popsicle. After swallowing the crushed ice, she spoke softly to Yuna.
" Big Sister Kiana is truly a genius. When she studied seriously, she learned all this knowledge in a much shorter time than I did back then."
"But if the target is Brother Leo... sigh, all the theory in the world is useless if you don't even dare to take the first step."
* Big Sister Kiana, move! Why aren't you moving?*
*Bronya even prepared condoms for you in the suitcase, but at this rate, forget about using them, you'll be the first one eliminated.*
And then, feeling Bronya's anxious gaze, Kiana moved.
Unfortunately, feeling the gaze didn't mean Kiana had resolved to approach Leo Ash. Instead, she chose to run towards her mentor, Bronya, with a look that pleaded for help.
Seeing Kiana's attitude, Bronya and Yuna exchanged a look, then shook their heads helplessly at the same time, reading each other's thoughts.
*Sigh, Kiana.*
*Sigh, she's a lost cause. Next.*
Seeing Kiana walking towards her, Yuna asked Bronya one last question.
"So, what's your answer from before?"
"I feel like it's a choice between Class Rep and Big Sister Anna. After all..."
Glancing at Mei, who had all the presence but was also completely motionless, Bronya said in a low voice.
" Big Sister Mei's body is also very stiff."
*Yes, Bronya's analysis is spot on.*
*The reason we took this course of action was not only for Senior's sake, but also because our relationship with Kiana and Mei is better.*
*But now, we've tried so hard, and yet you two won't even move.*
*Mei, it's not that I don't want to help you, but you...*
*We can only pave the way for you, but if you don't move, it's useless even if we lead Senior right to you.*
*Ah, I give up.*
*It's just a matter of one sentence and one kiss. How can you two be so stiff?*
*If everyone fails today, then I'll have to consider Plan B.*
*Since everyone is stuck at the starting line, it's better to let one person take the lead.*
*Once someone starts getting close to Senior—Mei, Kiana, no matter how much you hesitate, you should start feeling the pressure then.*
*Class Rep Fu Hua is just one push away... I really can't let her succeed first.*
*If it doesn't work out today, then I can only help Anna.*
.......
At this moment, Kiana walked over to Bronya. Seeing the pensive look on Yuna's face as she left, she asked Bronya anxiously.
"Bronya, what were you and Yuna talking about just now?"
"That you're a disappointment, Big Sister Kiana."
Looking at the unease on the girl's face, Bronya said coldly to Kiana.
"I've taught you every technique, and yet you, you, you—just make a move already!"
Faced with a frosty-faced yet fiery-eyed Bronya, Kiana immediately put her palms together and said decisively.
"...I'm sorry, I was wrong!"
"Apologizing is useless, Big Sister Kiana—now is the most critical moment."
Looking at her companion, Bronya could only suppress her helplessness and speak to Kiana with great seriousness.
" Big Sister Kiana, there's something I didn't tell you before, but now, I think it must be said."
"Yes, please guide me, Teacher Bronya!"
"It's not about guidance, but I think we need to be clear about one thing. As Valkyries, and with Brother Leo as a Knight, we are all essentially soldiers of Schicksal."
"And Big Sister Kiana, do you know what is the easiest way for a male soldier to relax his mind?"
Hearing Bronya's question, Kiana swallowed and asked nervously.
"What... what is it?"
"The answer is the union of love—don't stare at me like that, this is a conclusion drawn from past studies by some research institutions."
"I'll skip the complicated details. You just need to know that for Brother Leo, whose nerves are stretched taut, he is in extreme need of relaxation."
"Is... is that so?"
"Yes, it is."
After giving an affirmative answer, Bronya continued.
" Big Sister Kiana, don't think your actions are selfish or inappropriate. Right now, anyone among us can see that Brother Leo is far too tense."
"Your actions are not just for yourself, but for him as well—people who remain in such a high-strung state for too long can develop PTSD."
" Big Sister Kiana, you don't want Brother Leo's mental issues to worsen because of your hesitation, do you?"
If Kiana had been hesitant for various reasons before, hearing this sentence now instantly filled her heart with anxiety.
"I... I understand!"
"Good, that's the spirit."
Seeing Kiana fall for her persuasion... alright, it wasn't exactly persuasion, because what Bronya said was actually all true.
Leo Ash's mental problems, male soldiers using this method to relax—these were objective facts.
Bronya had just used a slightly more inflammatory tone for the sake of her comrade.
" Big Sister Kiana, you can do it! Bronya will always have your back!"
*Yes, this should be enough.*
*If this still doesn't work... damn it, then I'll have to let someone else go.*
*If the others don't work either...*
*If it's for Brother Leo's sake, I wouldn't mind doing it myself.*
*As long as it can make his condition even a little better, then...*
*—When the time comes, I'll just consider it repaying a debt to him.*
..
Meanwhile, on the other side of the beach, Raiden Mei was in a state of inner turmoil.
And sensing the complex emotions in Raiden Mei's heart, the Herrscher of Thunder truly felt...
[Ah, I overestimated her before.]
[She's still that same coward. Her earlier imposing manner was, as expected, just a fleeting thing.]
[No matter how decisively you talk, when you get on the battlefield, you're still the same useless trash who can't draw your 'sword'.]
*No, that's not it!*
['Not it'? Are you going to say you weren't prepared next?]
[You talked such a big game before, but now Leo Ash is just lying right there, and you can't even walk over to him—I call you useless, and you still won't accept it?]
*I, I, I—*
[You what?]
The Herrscher of Thunder, who was observing Leo Ash through Mei's senses, let out a cold laugh.
[Hmph, Leo Ash is lying on a beach chair with sunglasses on, looking at the sun. What's the problem with you walking over there right now?]
[If you can't do it, you can't do it. If you really can't—]
*You have the nerve to lecture me? Who was it that told me to watch and learn, only to hit the brakes at the last second?*
[That was then, this is now!]
Her sore spot having been poked, the Herrscher of Thunder angrily retorted to Mei.
[If you don't believe me, I'll show you right now!]
*No need!*
*I wasn't ready before, but now... Kiana has taken off on her own, so, I'm going in!*
[Good, go—don't give me a chance to laugh at you!]
After taking a step, Mei felt as if a weight had been lifted from her.
*What's the big deal? Just walking towards Leo Ash is simple.*
*Before, I was thinking things like 'this swimsuit is too shameless, what will Leo Ash think of me'—I was overthinking it.*
[Don't have so many inner monologues. The more you have, the more it makes me think you just got scared and are trying to dramatize it for yourself.]
*Hmph, just you watch, Herrscher of Thunder.*
[Ah, I can already see your future failure, Crybaby.]
[Heh, see? What did I tell you?]
As Mei's steps suddenly halted, the Herrscher of Thunder began to roar with laughter in her mind.
[Hahahahaha, someone stole your spot—how do you feel? How do you feel now, Mei?]
At that moment, just seconds away from Leo Ash, Raiden Mei suddenly saw a figure approach him.
*Anna, you—*
['You' what? She made up her mind faster than you. Whoever strikes first has the advantage.]
[So what now? Are you going to back down just like that, or are you...]
[—Going to go over there right now and face that chestnut-haired little girl head-on?]
.....
Several minutes earlier, on the beach chair, Leo Ash was...
—feeling strangely uneasy.
It wasn't that he sensed any danger, but there was a persistent feeling in his heart that he couldn't shake off.
And now, the System's actions also felt very off.
In his opinion, the System should have been very active today.
After all, having been with it for so long, he felt he had a rough grasp of the System's personality.
Its nature couldn't be called evil, but when it came to having fun, it was really... quite malicious.
And for a system that focused on crude humor, for it to be completely silent after everyone changed into swimsuits was an anomaly in itself.
[Sigh, this System thinks that although you've figured out this System's personality, Host, you still haven't understood this System's mode of operation.]
*So? You're not going to cause trouble today?*
[Don't misunderstand this System. This System causes trouble purely for fun, and it's mostly just verbal.]
[But today, the situation is different.]
*What's so different? The more you act like this, the more I feel like I'm going to panic.*
[Ah, if I have to say...]
[—Haha, the entertainment has arrived at your doorstep. Don't you think this is the perfect time for this System to quietly watch the show?]
[This System will try its best to keep its mouth shut today. Anyway, there will be no shortage of entertainment today!]
*Heh, forget it. It's just everyone changing into swimsuits. What kind of entertainment could you possibly see?*
[Oh, so bold today?]
[Have you figured things out, or have you given up on yourself?]
*Hehe, of course I've figured things out.*
*I have finally understood.*
*Since I've already become stronger thanks to the Blank Key, why should I still be afraid of Sirin?*
*Since everyone does like me, now that I have no more scruples, why should I still be so timid?*
*Act boldly, love boldly!*
*That's what I want to do now.*
[Waaah, Leo Ash, have you finally gone mad?]
*No, this isn't madness. It's a decision I've made after seeing reality for what it is.*
[Wow, such a personality change. If this System wasn't monitoring your mental state, this System would have thought you'd been turned into a Herrscher by the implanted Herrscher Core.]
*Wow, I finally start acting according to your M.O., and you suspect I've been turned into a Herrscher.*
*System, seeing me like this makes me a little sad.*
[No, no, it's just that your personality has changed too drastically.]
[If a character in a novel acted like this, this System would suspect it was OOC.]
*I've just come to see my true self and made a decision.*
*Without any scruples, I've finally decided!*
*Starting today...*
*—I'm becoming a Sea King!*
..