Chapter 89: An Unlikely Roommate and a Bribe
Theresa successfully convinced Kiana of her identity through a thorough application of her signature "Education of Love."
She also struck a deal with the girl: the moment Kiana became an A-Rank Valkyrie, Theresa would tell her everything she knew about Siegfried.
The promise instantly ignited Kiana's spirit. She declared with unshakeable confidence that she would become an A-Rank Valkyrie faster than anyone in history.
'Hmm…'Rovel mused silently.'If Kiana knew that becoming an A-Rank Valkyrie also required passing grades in all her theoretical courses, I wonder if that fighting spirit would dim just a little.'
Then again, even by the time Kiana ascended to become the Herrscher of the End, it seemed she still hadn't quite managed to finish all her homework.
"Himeko, I'll be leaving these few in your care for the time being," Theresa announced. "They can live with you."
"Live with me…?" A single drop of sweat traced a path down Himeko's temple. A flicker of panic flashed in her eyes.
As an older, single woman living alone, she had been assigned a spacious detached apartment at St. Freya Academy. However, her daily life could only be described as a complete and utter mess. Classes hadn't even started yet, and her dignity as a teacher was already on the verge of being swept out the door along with the mountains of trash piled up in her room.
"Oh, and one more thing," Theresa added, her gaze shifting. "Rovel Suou, you stay behind. I have something I need to discuss with you."
"Headmaster, my name is Fang Ruobai," Rovel corrected gently. "But you can just call me Rovel."
"...Alright." Theresa didn't press for an explanation as to why the name he used was different from his records, politely choosing to respect his preference.
Once outside the office, Raiden Mei turned to the others. "You all go on ahead. I'll wait here for Mr. Ruobai."
"Sigh… don't worry about him," Himeko said, pulling out her phone. "The Headmaster already sent me Rovel's student profile, which means he's been successfully enrolled."
She glanced at Raiden Mei, and a feeling she could only label as envy stirred in her chest.
'Being young is so nice,'she lamented internally.'Wuwuwu… I'm definitely going for a drink tonight! Drown these frustrations in a bottle!'
"Besides," Himeko added, a sly grin spreading across her face, "my apartment is a quadruple room. It's highly unlikely he'll be living with us."
"Eh?" Mei blinked, a little surprised, but after a moment's thought, it made perfect sense. After all, Rovel was a boy. It would be more than a little inappropriate for him to share a dorm with four girls.
"There are no more vacant individual residences in the school," Himeko continued, her tone laced with teasing. "So, your little boyfriend is probably going to be living with another girl."
"!!!" Mei's mind went completely blank.
"Hahaha, Mei, your expression is priceless!" Himeko laughed, patting the girl's shoulder reassuringly. "Don't worry, the person living with Rovel is likely the one person at St. Freya Academy who is 'least likely to ever fall in love'."
"The Bronya has a feeling Teacher Himeko is setting up some kind of terrible flag," Bronya remarked with her usual deadpan delivery.
"I… I can…" Mei seemed to want to protest, to say something more, but Himeko cut her off, adopting a gravely serious tone.
"Mei, although the school doesn't forbid dating, if it actually leads to a… life being created… it will still cause a fair bit of trouble."
"...That won't happen! I… Mr. Ruobai and I haven't even…!" Mei's face instantly bloomed into a shade of brilliant crimson as she scrambled to explain herself.
Teased so relentlessly by Himeko, Mei finally gave up.
One had to admit, Himeko was an old hand at this. By preying on a young girl's shyness, she'd made Mei too embarrassed to continue insisting on the topic of living with Rovel.
Still, Himeko wasn't entirely wrong. Young people lacked self-control. If something were to happen by accident, the creation of a new life would indeed be very troublesome.
'Besides,'Himeko reasoned with herself,'the person living with Rovel is often away on missions. And since Rovel is a Descender, he'll most likely return to his own world to rest at night. Under those circumstances, how could an accident possibly happen? Impossible. Absolutely impossible!'
Back in the office, Rovel stood patiently. "May I ask what the Headmaster wanted to see me about?" he asked politely.
"It's mainly about your identity as a Descender," Theresa began, leaning back slightly in her large office chair. After confirming the desk in front of her didn't completely block her diminutive frame from view, she continued, "Schicksal's official attitude toward Descenders is currently in a wait-and-see state. As such, headquarters does not want the various branches to have too much contact with them."
'Is she trying to persuade me to leave?' That was the first thought that flashed through Rovel's mind.
But the idea that Otto's attitude toward Descenders was one of rejection was unexpected news.
"So," Theresa continued, "I hope you will keep a slightly lower profile. To prevent you from being discovered by headquarters, you won't be officially recorded in Schicksal's files. Also, if people from headquarters come for an inspection, you will need to avoid them. I hope you can understand."
To Rovel's surprise, Theresa was still finding a way to protect him, using her authority to bend the rules.
"I understand," Rovel nodded, indicating it wasn't a problem.
"Good. That's good," she said, relieved. "Because your file won't be in the Schicksal database, even if you are promoted to a B-Rank or even an A-Rank Valkyrie, we cannot apply for a suitable set of 'Schicksal Knight Armor' for you."
She paused, letting the weight of that sink in.
"However, as compensation, when you are promoted to a B-Rank Valkyrie, I will find a way to procure a weapon that suits you."
"Then I thank you in advance, Headmaster," Rovel said with genuine gratitude.
Theresa had already done everything in her power for him. Despite them being strangers, she had not only chosen to hide his existence from her superiors but had also considered his future development and offered compensation.
Rovel didn't think for a second that Theresa would be able to keep it hidden—there was no telling how many of Otto's spies were embedded within the Far East Branch. It was entirely possible Otto already knew he was here.
Regardless, Theresa's attitude and her willingness to take such a risk for him were deeply touching.
"This is your student ID card," she said, holding it up. "Oh, wait… let me change the name first."
A translucent virtual screen materialized in the air before her. She tapped it a few times with practiced ease, and the name on the ID card's display shifted from "Rovel Suou" to "Fang Ruobai."
Theresa was remarkably thorough, even with such small details.
"That should do it." She placed the student ID card on her desk. "You'll be staying on the third floor of Apartment Building A. Go and say hello to your new roommate. She's quite easy to get along with, and like you… she's from Shenzhou."
After saying this, Theresa placed a small, silver key on top of the ID card.
Rovel stepped forward and picked up his student ID and his dormitory key.
[System: Obtained 'St. Freya Academy Student ID'. Information updated. Use new name—Fang Ruobai?]
Rovel chose 'Yes' without a moment's hesitation.
He hadn't expected such a pleasant surprise. He had always been troubled by others calling him Rovel Suou. He had chosen to take his mother's surname long ago, but the Zhou Family, it seemed, had no intention of letting him go so easily and had never permitted him to legally change his name.
Now, in this world at least, one of his small wishes had been fulfilled.
"Oh, right, Headmaster," Rovel said, remembering his manners. "Thank you for doing so much for me. This is a small token of my appreciation…" He reached into his system inventory to retrieve something.
"There's no need. St. Freya Academy doesn't engage in that sort of… social nicety…" Before Theresa could finish her sentence, her eyes locked onto the item Rovel had produced, and her words died in her throat.
"The 10th Anniversary Limited Edition 'Homu Adventures' hardcover set! And… and it's the whole collection!" Theresa's voice was laced with a hint of breathless disbelief.
That gleaming, gold-stamped cover, the officially certified anti-counterfeiting logo… there was no mistaking it. This was the set Bronya had given him to trade for the Christmas Homu No. 001.
Theresa's hand unconsciously reached out, her fingers twitching.
The next instant, she caught herself, realizing she was acting completely out of character. She hastily straightened her posture, struggling to maintain the dignity befitting a Headmaster.
"Ahem… actually, I'm not really interested in things like Homu. After all, I'm an adult!" she declared, a little too loudly. "But… seeing as you are so sincere, I will reluctantly accept it. Alright, hurry up and go get familiar with your roommate. She just so happens to be in today and isn't on a mission."
Theresa waved her hand dismissively, signaling for Rovel to leave.
Her eyes, however, kept darting back to the cover of the comic set, and she had to consciously stop herself from swallowing.
Rovel, ever tactful, simply nodded and excused himself, leaving the office.
As he walked, his mind turned to his new living situation. A roommate who was also from Shenzhou, just like him…
Could it be…?
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