When Theresa first saw Evan using greatsword-type weapons, she had thought about trying to find a suitable weapon for him. In fact, she had spent considerable resources searching beforehand. The legends Evan was reading now were also obtained after Theresa put in quite a bit of effort to integrate various fragments of information.
But they were just legends after all. People and things from nearly five thousand years ago should have turned to dust long ago. Over such a long time span, even vast seas would turn into mulberry fields. Even if that Xuanyuan Sword was truly a Divine Key, it would have been buried by time, hidden in some unknown corner.
This time, Theresa mainly wanted Evan and Kiana's group to go on an external training expedition, experiencing the feeling of collective action and accumulating experience, to avoid being too flustered when a real emergency arose in the future.
In Theresa's eyes, this trip to find the Nine Realms was without danger and destined to yield little fruit. As for the greatsword weapon she wanted to give Evan, after this trip returned empty-handed and the last bit of fantasy in her heart was extinguished, Theresa planned to find a way to seek help from Schicksal.
This was also one of the reasons Theresa hadn't stopped Rita from coming to St. Freya Academy.
However, Evan clearly knew the dangers of the Nine Realms.
"I suggest executing this mission in half a month."
"Why?"
"I promised Mei earlier that I would go on a date with her."
"Does a date require half a month? Are you going on a honeymoon? Or did you count Kiana, Bronya, and even Himeko Murata in?"
Theresa was a bit annoyed. Seeing her like this, Evan swallowed the words "You can count yourself in too"—which would only increase her anger—back into his stomach and said seriously:
"The date only needs one day. For the remaining two weeks, the first week will be used for combat training. Since Kiana and the others have become trainee Valkyries, they should be assigned exclusive training rooms. besides that, the Virtual Combat Room should be open to us too, right? After sufficient training, in the second week, we will go to Nagazora City to eliminate the residual Deadwalkers."
Evan's words made Theresa frown.
"I haven't forgotten about Nagazora City. Originally, I planned for you to go there for actual combat after completing the mission to find the Nine Realms."
Looking at Theresa's appearance, she even believed that the trip to the Nine Realms wouldn't involve any combat at all. No wonder she hadn't mentioned Himeko Murata's name earlier; she thought this kind of danger-free newbie mission didn't require deploying an A-rank Valkyrie.
Evan couldn't help but reach out and flick Theresa's forehead.
"We've already investigated the dangers of Nagazora City clearly enough, but the Nine Realms is an unknown territory. The land of Shenzhou is not the Far East; we should treat it with sufficient vigilance. You can't be careless, Theresa."
"..."
Theresa was stunned by Evan's flick. A moment later, reacting to it, she puffed up her cheeks angrily and glared at Evan, but ultimately didn't say any words of blame.
Thinking about it carefully, the relationship between Evan and herself wasn't a simple Principal-student relationship. They had dealt with the Pseudo-Herrscher born in the 3rd Eruption together as comrades-in-arms. Besides that, Evan had offered advice for the future of St. Freya Academy, and she had opened almost all of the academy's data to him. Coupled with his achievement of ending the 3rd Eruption, their relationship was quite complex.
This guy hugged me without permission before, and now he flicks my forehead...
I have to find a chance to retaliate in the future and let him know the dignity of the Principal.
Theresa secretly held a grudge, then spoke as if nothing happened.
"Alright, we'll do as you say and explore the Nine Realms in half a month. But during this half-month, I will monitor you the whole time—"
Thinking of the reassuring combat power Evan displayed during the 3rd Eruption, Theresa changed her words halfway.
"Uh... monitor Kiana and the others' training status the whole time. If they don't meet my standards, they aren't allowed to go to Nagazora City for actual combat."
Watching Theresa, whose expression changed successively in a short time but finally showed concern, Evan nodded with a smile.
"Okay."
After thinking for a moment, Theresa decided to give Evan a "vaccination" (preemptive warning) first, to prevent him from being too disheartened if they returned empty-handed in half a month.
"Ji Lin is a figure from five thousand years ago after all. Too many changes happen over such a long time. It doesn't matter if you can't find the Nine Realms. Or rather, not finding the Nine Realms is the natural outcome, so don't be too obsessed when the time comes. Cough. Even if you go to the cities around the South China Sea in Shenzhou to play halfway through the mission, I, being in St. Freya Academy, won't know about it at all. Understood?"
Theresa's meaning was clear enough. She practically said it explicitly—after Evan and the others found nothing, they could go to other cities to relax, treating it as a publicly funded trip.
Theresa wasn't a qualified leader, but she was a likable one.
Seeing Evan silent for a moment, Theresa added:
"As for your weapon, if we can't find the Xuanyuan Sword, I'll ask Schicksal to help modify your Nitrogen Crystal Sword. I didn't refuse Rita coming to St. Freya Academy this time, so when I make a request in the future, I'll have an extra excuse."
"But, didn't you hope to draw a line with Schicksal and prove your philosophy, Theresa?"
"Philosophy is something one only has the capital to pursue when reality allows it. Given St. Freya Academy's current condition..."
A look of depression appeared on Theresa's face, causing Evan to pat her head and comfort her.
"St. Freya Academy will improve. After the Honkai Inhibitor Devices are installed, we'll get a large sum of funds. After operating well for a while, expanding the recruitment scale, and getting tuition fees, there won't be major problems with money. Then we can increase investment in technology. For me, a weapon is just icing on the cake; there's no need to force it."
Being patted on the head by Evan felt pretty good, and his gentle comforting voice indeed smoothed out the grievance in her heart.
But, this guy did something insulting to the Principal's dignity again.
Theresa made another note in the little notebook in her heart, planning to retaliate in the future.
As for what situation would count as a suitable opportunity, only she knew.
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