In the outside world, Fu Hua frowned and continued increasing the output of Fenghuang Down.
Her already limited memories began to fade.
"…Kiana, actually, I was sent by Otto to St. Freya to spy on you. Otto has always been watching you. I don't know his purpose, but clearly, you're very important to him."
"You've been at St. Freya for quite a while. Everything you've experienced, I've seen it all—playing with friends, the familial bond with the principal, your battles of wits with Himeko. Your laughter, your complaints, your emotions… I've seen all of it."
"The feelings between you all weren't fake in the slightest. Kiana… K-423? What does that matter? The attention you received wasn't false. Those sincere emotions are real… and I envy them."
"I believe your past must have been wonderful too. Everything you've gone through, everything you've felt and experienced—those all belong to the girl named Kiana Kaslana. They belong to you. Those real experiences and bonds can't be taken away by anyone."
"You are you—the Kiana Kaslana who overcomes every hardship and difficulty."
"And now… it's time to wake up."
Pink light illuminated the dark world.
Kiana slowly opened her blue eyes. The first thing she saw was Fu Hua swaying unsteadily.
"Class monitor, are you okay?"
Kiana quickly caught her before she could fall.
Theresa frowned. "Kiana, let go of Fu Hua first—"
Before she could finish, Kiana interrupted,
"Auntie, I trust her. She's saved me twice."
Kiana looked straight at Theresa. Her eyes were firm and shining. She had completely escaped her confusion and reaffirmed her will.
"I am Kiana Kaslana. I'm also K-423. The Valkyrie Ranger of the Skies, a St. Freya student, Mei and Bronya's best friend, your good niece, Auntie, the future hero who will save Sky City, and a candidate for Schicksal's strongest Valkyrie!"
She stood up dramatically—one arm holding Fu Hua, the other pointing to the sky.
"In the name of Kiana, I guarantee that the class monitor is a trustworthy friend."
She then looked at everyone else.
They exchanged glances.
"…Well, what can I do when I'm stuck with a niece like you?" Theresa sighed and lowered Judah.
"Bronya has her own judgment. Class monitor Fu Hua can be trusted," Bronya said flatly.
"I believe you, Kiana," Mei added, though she looked at Fu Hua with faint hostility.
Kiana quietly sighed in relief. Everyone's normal attitude reassured her completely.
"Wait… where's Himeko? Didn't she say she was on the way?" Theresa suddenly realized something and checked the chat.
"What? You went to the next city over? Even by helicopter it'll take an hour… seriously…"
Theresa rubbed her forehead, unsure how to complain about a subordinate who ran off to have fun while her boss worked overtime.
"Alright, Fu Hua. I trust Kiana's judgment. But you need to tell me the truth so I know how to treat you."
This wasn't something that could be brushed aside with simple trust.
She needed to know what Otto was planning.
"…Understood. I'll tell you," Fu Hua said without hesitation.
The dimensional Q&A system had already exposed even the future.
She couldn't be sure it wouldn't reveal her past too.
She had lived for over fifty thousand years.
She had never seen anything like this.
Better to confess voluntarily than be exposed.
There was a big difference.
And besides…
Fu Hua glanced at Kiana.
Given her position, after learning Kiana would become a Herrscher and trigger a Great Honkai, she should have eliminated her immediately.
But why had she weakened herself earlier to save Kiana?
Because of what she saw in the video?
No… even if she was sent to monitor Kiana, the time they spent together at St. Freya was real.
Just like her words in Kiana's mind—they came from her true feelings.
She had formed bonds with Kiana and the others.
A distant memory flickered—long ago, she had shared bonds like that too…
So she couldn't do it.
Especially after learning Kiana could control Herrscher power.
If the Herrscher of Reason could betray the Honkai, why couldn't Kiana?
But Shenzhou still needed Schicksal's help.
As she hesitated about revealing everything, the system's prompt sounded.
[Question 3: When Otto aimed the pseudo-Shamash at Fu Hua's head and fired, what was the last thing he said?]
A: "Your sacrifice has a price—for my love."
B: "Valkyries aren't your harem, you scumbag."
C: "Immortal Phoenix, I did not lie."
D: "Everything was Dr. MEI's plan."
The atmosphere turned extremely awkward.
Fu Hua couldn't believe what she was seeing.
Otto… pointing a gun at her head?
Using a pseudo-Shamash?
He wanted to kill her?
No—had already killed her?
Or would kill her in the future?
Even someone as calm as Fu Hua was shaken.
All these years she'd done dirty work for Otto…
and he'd show no mercy?!
"C-class monitor… are you okay?" Kiana's heart nearly jumped out of her chest.
"…It must be something that happens in the future. Even I couldn't survive a direct hit to the head from the pseudo-Shamash."
Fu Hua took a deep breath.
There was no injury now—perhaps because her memories had been burned away by Fenghuang Down.
But if Otto really did that, he wouldn't leave her beside Kiana.
…
Fu Hua's expression darkened.
She'd never liked Otto.
Disagreements between them were entirely possible—likely, even.
As long as their conflict against the Honkai didn't cross certain lines, they tolerated each other.
But she never expected a disagreement severe enough for him to personally kill her.
"Something must happen in the future that causes a complete falling-out between them," Mei speculated.
But looking at the answers made her sweat.
A and B were absurd.
Did A mean Fu Hua stole Otto's lover?
And B… a Valkyrie harem? A scumbag?
Even if Fu Hua was talented, kind, and admired by girls at school…
and sometimes Kiana looked at her a certain way…
…No. Probably not…
Mei shook her head and changed the subject.
"C-class monitor… do you have any idea?"
"Principal, you know Otto best. What would he say when killing someone?"
"Excluding A and B… I know my grandfather has done shady things, but for him to act personally…" Theresa trailed off.
If Otto acted personally, it meant either a secret that couldn't be known… or Fu Hua had blocked his path.
"Who's Dr. MEI? A Schicksal researcher?" Kiana asked.
"She doesn't exist in Schicksal's database," Bronya said.
"Then we can eliminate D. Dr. MEI's plans never included artificial Herrschers," Fu Hua said.
Dr. MEI—the greatest scientist of the Previous Era—had many plans:
Stigmata Project, Ark Project, etc.
None involved artificial Herrschers.
[TL note: luckily it's not GGZ Dr. MEI]
"This question involves me. I'll answer it," Fu Hua said.
She wanted to know what would make Otto kill her.
Kiana had answered two questions correctly and gained rewards.
But Tesla, Einstein, Rita, and Raven hadn't tried answering.
Perhaps they didn't know. Perhaps they feared punishment.
Fu Hua answered smoothly.
[Fu Hua submitted answer: C.]
[Correct.]
[Reward obtained: Activation of the Supergene within the body.]
A description followed:
The girl barely dodged the Honkai beast's attack, but past weakness and despair haunted her like inner demons.
Death? Escape? Those were excuses for cowards.
Under extreme pressure and near-death experience, she saw the warrior who once gave her courage—who fought for humanity yet fell into darkness.
Inner struggle, unwillingness to surrender, and resolve became fuel for power.
Her will to defy death and fate became wings that soared through the sky.
Her eyes turned blood-red.
She spread her wings and rose high above, showing the Honkai beasts humanity's unyielding spirit—never bowing to fate or death.