CHAPTER 95: ICISEI EPISODE 95

Episode 95: Once upon a time, friends, the strongest female martial artist - Cecilia....

『 Not only were the people on the ground shocked, but Dr. Tesla on the Hyperion was also startled.

"Hey, hey, hey, spiky hair, this isn’t a joke, is it? It looks like that thing we saw in the Second Honkai Outbreak."

On the other side, Dr. Einstein was quickly analyzing the powerful energy fluctuations.

"Based on the energy readings and reactions, this is indeed the Divine Key Barrier."

"No, to be more precise, this is a way of applying restrictive power similar to the Divine Key Barrier."

As soon as Dr. Tesla confirmed the news, he immediately opened his communicator and urgently shouted:

"Kiana! Get everyone out of there quickly! If you get touched by those gears, it’ll be all over for everyone!"

"We don’t know if this is a defense mechanism activated after defeating the light screen or something else. In any case, it’s rapidly expanding outwards around the Imaginary Core within."

On the ground,

After learning this astonishing news, Kiana loudly asked everyone present.

"Seele, Rozaliya, Liliya, can you guys still move?"

After contributing their Honkai energy just now, everyone present had almost reached their physical limits.

"Hoo... hoo..." Rozaliya’s weak voice came through: "I... I gave all my strength to Bronya-nee. I have no strength left now."

"Liliya has already fallen asleep. I can carry her, but what about Seele-nee and Bronya-nee..."

Seele, holding Bronya, said firmly, "Ha... I’m fine, I can still carry Bronya-nee."

Looking at everyone’s condition, Kiana felt a little unwilling.

"What should we do now? Everyone seems to be out of combat, and the expansion of those gears shows no sign of slowing down."

"If only there were a way to push those things away."

"Damn it, my strength hasn’t recovered yet."

However, at this moment, Dr. Tesla’s surprised voice came from her communicator.

"What is that? A strike fighter from the Hyperion? It’s Theresa! When did you go out?"

Along with the voice, a roar sounded in the sky. 』

『 .....』

~Dimensional livestream, Chat Room~

[ Shizuka Hiratsuka (Oregairu): "Theresa? Is that the little girl from just now?" ]

[ Theresa (Honkai: Impact Third): ".... I’m not a little girl, I just don’t grow." ]

[ Conan Edogawa (Detective Conan): "..+ 1.." ]

[ Tesla (Honkai: Impact Third): "Really, don’t you know the danger of this thing in the future?" ]

[ Theresa (Honkai: Impact Third): "Perhaps it’s because I know that I went out?" ]

[ Theresa (Honkai: Impact Third): "But no matter what, I am the principal of St. Freya, and they are all my students." ]

[ Kiana (Honkai: Impact Third): "Principal! sob, sob, sob" ]

[ Theresa (Honkai: Impact Third): "I wish you could be as mature as your future self, the current you." ]

[ Kiana (Honkai: Impact Third): "I know." ]

[ ..... ]

『 On the Hyperion, upon spotting Theresa’s strike fighter, Dr. Einstein, as if finding a treasure, excitedly said:

"But this is good. Since Theresa is already there, hurry up and let the ground personnel board the strike fighter and leave."

But Theresa, on the strike fighter, offered her own opinion.

"No, Doctor, a simple retreat won’t solve the problem."

"Theresa, what do you plan to do?"

"Bronya and the others have just gone through a tough battle and are exhausted."

"Coupled with the speed of the gears’ expansion, if we retreat from the air, I’m afraid we’ll face even greater risks."

"Doctor, do you remember the experiments we did on constraint before?"

"You? You don’t mean!?" Dr. Tesla looked at Theresa, who was piloting the shuttle, with disbelief.

The scene of the last experiment replayed in her mind, as clear as if it had happened yesterday.

At this moment, Theresa’s voice rang out again.

"Yes, you must have guessed, right?" Theresa paused, then stated her plan:

"If I release the same power as it from the Divine Key Barrier, then Kiana and the others will be safe, right?"

"Theresa, don’t rush. Theoretically, this method is indeed feasible, but..." Dr. Tesla couldn’t bear to continue.

"But, Ms. Theresa, you should be aware of what the Divine Key Barrier means for a fusion-wielding warrior like you," Dr. Einstein said calmly.

As soon as the two doctors finished speaking, Theresa’s firm voice reached everyone’s ears.

"I know, I experienced it once during the Second Honkai Outbreak."

From her voice, it could be felt that Theresa had made up her mind.

However, upon hearing Theresa’s nonchalant reply, Dr. Tesla could no longer suppress her anger.

"Didn’t you see that Imaginary Core? If it matches the same intensity..." Dr. Tesla shouted, "You’ll die!"

As a long-time partner, Dr. Tesla did not want to witness anyone else disappear before her eyes.

Whether it was the late Himeko Murata, or some people even earlier.

Now, Theresa faced the same dire situation as they did.

Facing Dr. Tesla’s plea, Theresa simply replied faintly, "Perhaps, indeed."

This answer made Dr. Einstein realize that they could no longer persuade Theresa to change her mind.

Finally,

Dr. Einstein repeatedly cautioned, "Once the barrier is deployed, the Honkai energy engine will stop working, and even we won’t be able to remotely control it from the Hyperion."

"I understand," Theresa replied calmly.

Since she couldn’t be stopped, Einstein could only sincerely hope that Theresa’s actions would be successful.

"It seems we can’t stop you."

Theresa, piloting the shuttle, responded silently.

"Thank you for your understanding, Doctors."

As soon as she finished speaking, her shuttle approached the massive mechanical body.

At the same time, Theresa was immersed in memories of the past.

When the screen lit up again,

It displayed a little girl and a gentle older sister talking on a bench.

The top left corner indicated the time:

⟦ 2000, Schicksal Headquarters ⟧ 』

『 .....』

~Dimensional livestream, Chat Room~

[ Theresa (Honkai: Impact Third): "Year 2000, this time point is not?" ]

[ Kiana (Honkai: Impact Third): "History from so long ago, this is really something." ]

[ Kiana (Honkai: Impact Third): "But wasn’t this the time when the Second Honkai Outbreak occurred?" ]

[ Umaru Doma (Himouto): "Second Honkai Outbreak?" ]

[ Umaru Doma (Himouto): "How many Honkai Outbreaks were there?" ]

[ Bronya (Honkai: Impact Third): "According to current records, the First Honkai Outbreak was in 1961, the birth of the First Herrscher: Herrscher of Reason. The Second Honkai Outbreak was in 2000, the birth of the Second Herrscher: Herrscher of the Void. The last one occurred in 2014, the Third Honkai Outbreak." ]

[ Bronya (Honkai: Impact Third): "This is also recorded as the birth time of the Herrscher of Thunder." ]

[ Raiden Mei (Honkai: Impact Third): "..." ]

[ Acheron (Honkai: Star Rail): "...." ]

[ Tesla (Honkai: Impact Third): "Heh, this is one of the points where Otto became inhumane. No, it’s the time point when a normal Otto would do something like this." ]

[ Otto (Honkai: Impact Third): "Heh, to eliminate the Second Herrscher, wasn’t it?" ]

[ Miyamizu Mitsuha(Your Name): "So, what is Theresa-san recalling at this time?" ]

[ Theresa (Honkai: Impact Third): "It should be my meeting with Cecilia. After all, we met at Schicksal Headquarters not long before the Second Honkai Outbreak broke out, and she then." ]

[ Miyamizu Mitsuha(Your Name): "I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have brought this up." ]

[ Theresa (Honkai: Impact Third): "It’s all in the past. That little kid from back then is already so big." ]

[ ..... ]

『 At this moment, the gentle older sister suddenly thanked the little girl beside her.

"Thank you for accompanying us to take art photos of Kiana, Theresa." The older sister said with a smile, "She seems to like you very much."

"Cecilia, your application for the Far East Branch Academy project has been approved." Theresa also shared another piece of news with a smile.

After finishing, she did not forget to remind her older sister—Cecilia: "But next time, you need to be more careful with the procedures. For example, this time the materials didn’t indicate priority for special projects."

"Fortunately, I paid more attention at the time; otherwise, I don’t know how long that document would have been buried in the pile of documents."

Recalling the scene of searching for that document in the pile of documents, Theresa smiled helplessly.

Who would have thought that it was such a crucial document?

It was buried in such an ordinary pile of documents for so long?

If I hadn’t specifically looked for it myself, with the thickness of that pile of documents, who knows how long it would have taken to get it signed?

Her good friend Cecilia’s wish, who knows when it would be realized.

But when Cecilia learned of this, she thanked Theresa with a smile.

"Hehe, thanks to you, Theresa. But I always feel like you’re quite concerned about this academy project."

Hearing this, Theresa was also a bit puzzled and retorted, "How could I not be concerned? It’s your wish, isn’t it?"

As one of Cecilia’s good friends, how could Theresa not care about her friend’s wish?

Moreover, Cecilia had helped her a lot before, and now that she had the opportunity to help her within her capabilities, Theresa was naturally happy to do so.

And, regarding this matter, Theresa had another plan in mind.

"Kiana is growing up day by day. If we don’t hurry, she won’t be able to enroll in that academy."

Little Kiana is already five years old. When the academy is built,

She will be old enough to enroll.

How wonderful it would be to study at an academy that her mother participated in building, right? 』

『 .....』

~Dimensional livestream, Chat Room~

[ Kiana (Honkai: Impact Third): "Principal, no, Auntie, is this Kiana me?" ]

[ Theresa (Honkai: Impact Third): "Indeed, it is." ]

[ Bronya( (Honkai: Impact Third): "Little Kiana." ]

[ Raiden Mei (Honkai: Impact Third): "Although I can’t see clearly, little Kiana is very cute." ]

[ Kiana (Honkai: Impact Third): "Although I don’t know why, I have no memory of that time." ]

[ ..... ]

『 However, Cecilia, upon hearing this, made another request to Theresa in a seductive tone.

"Then will you help me fulfill another wish, okay? The one I mentioned last time."

Cecilia looked at Theresa with anticipation: "How about it, Theresa, do you want to come and be a teacher at my school in the future?"

Theresa immediately shook her head upon hearing this: "Oh my, let’s forget about that. I definitely can’t be a teacher."

The thought of teaching students made Theresa feel a bit awkward.

Especially with her body that had long stopped growing,

How could she face those tall girls? 』

『 .....』

~Dimensional livestream, Chat Room~

[ Theresa (Honkai: Impact Third): "Who would have known that I refused to be a teacher back then?" ]

[ Theresa (Honkai: Impact Third): "Later, I became the principal here." ]

[ Himeko Murata (Honkai: Impact Third): "Theresa." ]

[ Theresa (Honkai: Impact Third): "I’m fine, Himeko." ]

[ Umaru Doma (Himouto): "You guys, this... feels a bit off." ]

[ Tesla (Honkai: Impact Third): "Didn’t I say before that the most powerful Valkyrie of Schicksal was killed?" ]

[ Umaru Doma (Himouto): "Could it be?" ]

[ Tesla (Honkai: Impact Third): "That’s right, it’s this person on the screen, Cecilia Schariac." ]

[ ..... ]

『 But Cecilia didn’t understand this reason and looked at Theresa with confusion: "Huh? What’s wrong with that?"

She had just quickly solved such a tricky problem, so why was this small matter a problem now?

Under Cecilia’s repeated questioning, Theresa finally revealed her inner conflict.

"I’m not good at dealing with children. After all, they’ll definitely see me as their peer."

Looking at her own meager frame and then at Cecilia’s righteous physique, Theresa couldn’t help but feel envious.

"Really? But I think you’re quite suitable. Look how much Kiana likes you."

Cecilia looked at Theresa, who had fallen into thought, with confusion.

Although she had some expectations, she looked at little Kiana playing happily with Siegfried in the distance and declined the invitation.

"I’ll stay at headquarters. You’ll definitely find a suitable teacher. Besides, the child you two have will surely be more mischievous than other people’s children. How can I manage them?"

Well, the elegant older sister Cecilia in front of her and Siegfried in the distance were both troublesome.

Their child, when grown up, would probably be a little devil, perhaps a magnified version of Cecilia.

In that case, Theresa had little confidence in managing such a child.

However, Cecilia didn’t seem to mind Theresa’s words and instead thanked her happily.

"Oh my, to receive such praise from you, thank you so much."

"Don’t misunderstand, I wasn’t praising you two." Theresa thought the other person had misunderstood the issue and quickly corrected herself.

But Cecilia shook her head and said, "Perhaps. When she grows up, she might become more obedient. Like her father."

Theresa looked at the unreliable Siegfried in the distance and asked doubtfully, "Siegfried is considered a reliable person?"

Confused, Theresa didn’t dwell on it and turned to ask about another matter: "Cecilia, why are you in such a hurry to build the Valkyrie Academy? Is it because of Kiana?"

Even if little Kiana grows up, there’s no need to be in such a hurry, right?

"Not entirely. I should say, I would be happier if she didn’t want to become a Valkyrie in the future," Cecilia said as if recalling.

"To be honest, I’ve been thinking about building this school for a long time."

"A long time ago? How long?" Theresa was a bit puzzled by this.

This plan clearly only came up recently, so did she have this idea long ago?

Facing the question, Cecilia sighed helplessly and began to trace back:

"You know, I’ve received warrior training since I was young. Except for fighting Honkai, I knew almost nothing about the world."

"Until I met Siegfried. You should know how we first met."

"That’s when I discovered that besides fighting, there were so many beautiful things in the world worth experiencing."

"These experiences eventually became a new motivation for my Valkyrie career."

"Therefore, I want to create a different branch that offers what I almost missed—"

"Private dormitories, beautiful gardens, delicious canteens, attending classes together, and even friends to skip class with."

"I hope that before they become qualified warriors, they will first feel the world freely as people." 』

『 .....』

~Dimensional livestream, Chat Room~

[ Shizuka Hiratsuka (Oregairu): "As a young person, enjoying life is what they should do." ]

[ Theresa (Honkai: Impact Third): "But all of this is too luxurious for Valkyries." ]

[ Theresa (Honkai: Impact Third): "This is also one of the philosophies of St. Freya Academy." ]

[ Kiana (Honkai: Impact Third): "No wonder our academy is different from other Valkyrie places." ]

[ ..... ]

『 In the light screen,

After listening, Theresa nodded and said, "So that’s how it is, I understand."

Seeing that Theresa seemed to understand, Cecilia made another invitation:

"How about it, Theresa, are you tempted? I just said, faculty and staff can also enjoy it~"

But Theresa still refused: "Don’t underestimate me, I won’t be easily attracted."

"However, a campus full of youthful energy does fit your style." 』

『 .....』