Chapter 140: On her birthday, Kiana wants to change
"Kiana-chan, welcome back~"
A few days later, a group of people gathered in Kirataka's dormitory to celebrate the discharge of the two girls.
As Theresa spoke, she pulled Kiana into the decorated hall and fired a salute.
"Of course, congratulations to Fu Hua for returning healthy too!"
Even the physique of an ordinary Valkyrie is quite different from that of an ordinary person. Normal injuries can be recovered in a relatively short period of time, let alone a more powerful fusion warrior like Fu Hua.
The injuries she received from the flaming bomb of the Judgment of Shamash had completely healed at this moment, and there was no trace of injury on her skin.
Fu Hua pushed up her glasses and looked around the house, which she seldom visited.
The decoration style here doesn't just look like it's for celebrating their discharge from the hospital but more like... it's prepared for someone's birthday party.
Mei and Seele were busy in the kitchen preparing dinner, while Bronya was still finishing up the final touches in the living room.
Himeko... Himeko is drinking again.
But Kirataka seemed to be nowhere to be seen.
"Where is Kirataka?" Fu Hua asked.
"As for Kirataka... I asked him to go get something for me. He will be back soon."
Theresa kept it a secret.
In short, the two people who had just recovered from their patient status were arranged to sit at the dining table, sitting motionless, watching others busying around.
"Class Monitor, I made a tonic soup in the style of Shenzhou. Please try it first."
Mei brought out a small bowl of soup from the kitchen.
The fresh soup just out of the pot is rich in flavor and aroma.
Fu Hua took the small bowl of soup and took a sip.
Well, it's a very authentic Chinese flavor, as if it was made by an elderly chef. It's so authentic that it's hard to believe it came from the hands of Mei, a girl from the Far East.
She said sincerely:
"...Thank you, Mei."
"Nothing. If you think it's suitable, then there's no need to adjust the taste. It will be served soon."
The purple-haired girl smiled sweetly, then turned back to the kitchen to busy herself.
The girls always have a lot of topics to talk about, but Kiana doesn't have much energy to talk to others.
She just sat in her seat in a daze, not knowing what was on her mind, and didn't even notice the birthday decorations in the hall.
"Kiana~What are you thinking about?"
Theresa came over and tapped her forehead gently, bringing the girl back to reality.
After being hit on the head by the cutest person in the world, Kiana screamed subconsciously, then covered her forehead and asked the girl next to her:
"Ah... nothing. By the way, aunt, I was just wondering, is dad really okay?"
At that time, she didn't remember what happened after she threw the punch.
So at the beginning, she was still very worried about the safety of her father Siegfried. After all, she still remembered that the nameless guy was planning to harm her father.
"Of course. Judging from the mission report sent back from the scene, there is no trace of Siegfried. Moreover, he is an S-level fighter. If he really had a violent conflict with someone, there would not be so few traces of the battle left at the scene."
Theresa said as a matter of course.
With the full force of the Judgement of Shamash, even a city could be reduced to ashes.
Of course, Siegfried was not the kind of guy who would ignore the lives of ordinary people, but judging from the traces of battle at the scene, at most he had a slight conflict with the Anti-Entropy's defense force, and the traces of battle were quite limited.
Although no one was seen, judging from the result, nothing should have happened to him.
"Really? That's good."
Kiana felt a little relieved.
"Kiana, you have to work hard too. The agreement we made when we entered school is still valid. When you reach the level of an A-rank Valkyrie, I will tell you where Siegfried is."
Theresa said casually again.
This is what she always says to encourage Kiana to work hard. Of course, it never has any effect every time she says it.
Anyway, his niece skipped classes or didn't complete her homework, and it didn't seem like she wanted to find Siegfried.
As for combat training... she hardly ever seriously studied fighting techniques and weapon handling skills and only relied on her natural talent as a member of the Kaslana clan to not fall behind.
But this time, a strange light flashed in Kiana's eyes. She lowered her head slightly, and then said seriously:
"I...I understand. I will exercise well in the future."
"...Hmm? Kiana, have you changed your personality? Is your brain fried?"
Theresa was very surprised to hear her niece's answer. She even stretched out her little hand to touch her forehead, wondering if she had a fever.
"Wait... I'm not sick!"
Kiana turned and dodged.
"Why are you suddenly so motivated when you are not sick?"
"…I just want to see my stinky dad sooner."
The white-haired girl made up an excuse to fool people.
At this time, Kirataka, who had been out, finally came back.
He came into the living room holding a particularly large birthday gift box.
"I'm back."
"Hey, this is…"
When she saw this extravagantly large birthday cake, Kiana realized something.
Perhaps because she was thinking about other things while in the hospital, she completely forgot one thing -
Today is her birthday.
"Happy birthday, Kiana-chan~"
Theresa also smiled and congratulated at this time.
The remaining girls and Aunt Himeko also offered their blessings.
"…Thank you, everyone."
With the arrival of the cake, the delicacies prepared by Mei and Seele were also brought to the table one after another, and a lively birthday dinner was about to begin.
Before the formal ceremony begins, the first thing to do is to light candles and let the birthday girl make a wish.
Seele took the initiative to pick up the small candles and put enough on the cake according to Kiana's age.
Kiana pointed at a strangely shaped object on the cake and whispered to Kirataka beside her:
"Kirataka, what...what is this?"
It was a thing of indescribable shape, looking like some kind of prehistoric creature.
"This is a paramecium. I asked the merchant to customize it."
Kirataka answered as a matter of course.
——This is his "nickname" for Kiana. After all, this idiot usually behaves like a single-celled organism most of the time.
Bronya reminded from the side:
"Time to blow out the candles and make a birthday wish, stupid Kiana."
As she spoke, she turned around and turned off all the lights in the room, leaving only the faint light from the lit candles.
So the white-haired girl gently blew out the candle, and in the room that was temporarily plunged into silence and darkness, she made a pious wish in her heart.
If it were before, she would probably wish for countless delicious food every day, or for not having to attend classes or go to school.
But now...
She closed her eyes and said silently in her heart:
"…I hope everyone will be safe and sound in the future."
A few seconds later, Bronya turned on the lights in the house again, and everything became clear again.
"Once you make a wish, you must work hard to make it come true."
Kirataka said with a smile on the side.
Looking at all the smiling people around her, Kiana felt her eyes sore for some reason and she shed two tears.
"Ki, Kiana, why are you crying?"
Seeing her like this, Mei hurriedly took some tissues from the table in the living room.
"...It's nothing, nothing. I'm just too excited."
Kiana shook her head, took the tissue, and wiped her tears.
Kirataka is right.
She hopes that everyone can be safe and sound, and she must work hard towards this goal.
She cannot let something like what happened four years ago happen again.
She must learn how to exercise and control her own strength, otherwise, one day...she will hurt the people around her just like she hurt her father back then.
............
The night after the birthday party.
Theresa and the others left one after another. After Kirataka and the rest of the people cleaned up the leftovers after dinner, they went back to their rooms.
"Master~"
Because of Kirataka's instructions, Higokumaru stayed in his room obediently until the birthday dinner was over.
Seeing that he finally came back, she happily went up to him.
The existence of Higokumaru is still a secret, and Theresa, Fu Hua and others are still unaware of her existence.
Whenever they saw her in the dormitory occasionally, they just thought of her as a very lifelike little doll.
"Yes, Higokumaru."
Kirataka sat on his bed and placed the little guy on his lap.
"Master, do you not like Higokumaru anymore?"
"…Why are you asking this all of a sudden?"
He still likes this little fox very much. The hair and tail feel great. It is very well-behaved when sleeping and is usually quite lovable.
"Because the master never brings Higokumaru with him when he goes out!"
The little fox pouted and said with some complaints.
"…Because the world outside is very dangerous."
Kirataka explained while rubbing her little head.
For Higokumaru, who has no power now, the best arrangement is not to leave St. Freya Academy.
The last time was the Quantum Sea, the time before that was Singapore, and the next time will probably be the base in Cocolia. None of them are particularly safe places.
"But...Higokumaru also wants to help the master…"
The little fox said somewhat unwillingly.
"…I may indeed need your help in the future, but before that, you should just enjoy your life here."
Kirataka smiled and used more force with the fingers that were playing with the hair, making the little fox's hair a mess.
"Ouch, my hair—"
Higokumaru protested.
"Okay, I'm going to take a shower first."
He stood up and took off his shirt, revealing the well-trained muscles underneath.
Just then, the door of his room was pushed open.
The figure of a white-haired ball appeared among them.
"Kirataka…"
She glanced into the room and saw Kirataka with his upper body naked. Her face turned red and she closed the door out of habit.
"…Kiana, remember to knock before entering someone else's room next time."
Kirataka said somewhat helplessly.
He picked up the clothes on the bed and put them on, then opened the door.
The girl, who had grown another year older today, did not have her usual pair of pigtails in her hair. Instead, she had untied them all, with her long, smooth white hair falling down her back, giving Kirataka a very different feeling.
Hmm... a little cuter?
From his point of view, Kiana's pigtailed hairstyle really conceals her beauty and temperament.
He whispered:
"What's wrong, Kiana?"
The white-haired girl lowered her head slightly, held the corner of her pajamas with both hands and said softly:
"Well, Kirataka...I want to discuss something with you."
Completely different from her usual energetic idiot image, the Kiana in front of her appeared somewhat weak.
'I feel pity for her when I see her like this.'
Kirataka probably knew what she wanted to ask, so he opened the door and let the girl in.
Come to think of it, this was Kiana's first time coming to his room.
"Sister Kiana, why are you here?"
Kirataka thought for a moment and said to Higokumaru:
"Higokumaru, go to Seele's room and play for a while. I'll pick you up later."
"Okay~"
After the little fox flew out staggeringly, Kiana sat down beside his bed.
"So, what does our Miss Kiana want?"
"…"
Kiana hesitated for a long time before she whispered:
"Kirataka, let me tell you something, don't be scared."
"Well, I'm professionally trained. No matter how scary something is, I won't be surprised. Tell me."
"I... I am actually the Second Herrscher..."
'Sure enough, I came here for this.'
"is that so?"
Kirataka pretended to show a shocked expression.
Kiana nodded vigorously.
"But, isn't the second Herrscher's name Sirin?"
The name "Sirin" is not a strange name to the Valkyries under Schicksal.
The artificial stigmata and space-time rupture systems used by the Valkyries today are almost all derived from the research results of the "Sirin Project" over the years.
However, these achievements are just the external appearance used by Otto to deceive people.
The real result of Otto's [Sirin Project]... is this white-haired ball in front of him.
"...I don't quite understand it either, but I am certain that the core of the Second Herrscher has been implanted in my body. I am the Second Herrscher."
Kiana said somewhat bewilderedly.
"So, you want to come to me to discuss how to control your power?"
Kirataka asked.
"...Um."
The white-haired girl nodded.
After spending a long time together, she has already gained full trust in Kirataka.
Back in Nagazora City, it was he who repelled the Anti-Entropy Mecha and waited for support from Auntie and the others. When Watt invaded St. Freya Academy, it was also him who captured the invader and rescued Mei and Bronya.
Unconsciously, he had become a very reliable person in Kiana's mind.
So, when she wanted to discuss her future plans with someone, the first person she thought of was not her Aunt Theresa, but Kirataka.
"…So, why did you come to me first, Kiana?"
Kirataka asked curiously.
Generally speaking, shouldn't one first look for people of the same kind, such as Mei, when faced with this kind of problem?
"Because, that..."
Kiana whispered:
"Didn't you first come into contact with the Third Herrscher when you were at Chiba Academy? So I wanted to ask you what happened at that time, for example..."
She organized her words and asked:
"Is there a second will in Mei's body that is fighting with her for her body?"
This is her own situation. Recalling the past, she is very clear that there is another will lurking in the core of the Herrscher of the Void within her body.
It was not easy to ask the purple-haired girl such a question in person, so she chose to ask Kirataka, who had the first contact with Mei in the third Herrscher state, to get confirmation from him.
"Hmm... well, Mei was indeed different at that time, but generally speaking, her other will wasn't too hostile towards us."
Kirataka answered carefully.
Kiana's situation and Mei's situation are not exactly the same.
Sister Lei Lu inherited the power of the Herrscher with the power of the stigmata and was hardly seduced by the will of the Honkai. She stayed alone in Chiba Academy throughout the entire period of the Third Eruption and did not commit any destructive acts.
But the consciousness of the Herrscher of the Void within Kiana...
As the second generation Herrscher of the Void, that "Queen" inherited the "hatred" from Sirin and was born from the very beginning to take revenge on the world. She is a completely opposite existence to Kiana and there is no room for reconciliation at all.
"...is that so?"
Kiana murmured.
She raised her head somewhat helplessly and asked the young man in front of her:
"So what should I do?"
Kirataka suggested:
"In any case, you should start by training hard and becoming stronger. When you become stronger, you will have a chance to fight against the will within your body. Accept and use the power within your body little by little."
It's always a good idea to improve your hardware conditions.
He recalled the punch that Kiana delivered that easily broke through the defense of the [Infinity]. In essence, she was an extension of Sirin, so naturally, she could utilize this power.
"...Okay, when you and the Class Monitor go for morning exercise tomorrow, call me too. I'll go with you."
Kiana whispered.
She has decided to make a change and stop being the lazy person she used to be.
"Well, I'll go call you, but don't lie in bed then."
Kirataka teased.
Watching the girl leave her room, Kirataka was also thinking about how to break through Kiana's inner shackles.
Generally speaking, problems in this area can only be solved by Kiana herself, but...
If you want to help her in this regard, it is not completely impossible.
After all, he knew another living purple-haired Sirin.
When the time comes... just go and ask her for help.
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