Humans are in chaos, despicable outsiders.

The child, who had not yet experienced the cruelty of the world, posed a question to the hermit before her, seeking an answer—an answer she might have guessed but was unwilling to admit.

"These children are nothing more than lab rats and monkeys in a biology lab... No, lab rats and monkeys need to meet health and disease prevention standards... But these children only need to be able to move and survive..."

"How could this be...?"

The girl's pupils dilated, staring blankly at the emaciated children who reached their hands out of the fence, calling for help.

"They are lucky..."

The hermit watched as Theresa and Patrick arrived from behind and began to release and comfort the girl in the cage.

"?" The girl turned her gaze to the hermit beside her, her empty eyes filled with a hint of expectation.

"Your aunt, Theresa Apocalypse, may not be a perfect S-class Valkyrie... and she may not be a perfect elder either... but her innocence and kindness certainly deserve at least 90 points—she made a decision."

"What decision?!" Kiana's tone was urgent and expectant.

"They became the first students of St. Freya Academy... although some of them ultimately succumbed to physical decline..." The hermit shook his head.

"However, at least they had a wonderful time at the academy at the end."

"So, in other words, most of the children here later became my seniors?"

“Of course.” Omega nodded; it was nothing to hide.

"So, will I be able to find them at the academy?"

The listless white fluffy ball suddenly perked up again, and then, the hermit ruthlessly poured cold water on her enthusiasm—

"No matter how wonderful St. Freya Academy is, it is ultimately a Valkyrie training institution. Most of the children here die on the battlefield of Honkai at a young age, and the few who retire basically do not live past the age of 30. Valkyrie is not a long-lived profession, and the torment they suffer here has left them with health problems."

The hermit shook his head, looked at the girl who had frozen again, and sighed.

"If you want to see them, go to the St. Freya Academy cemetery; they're in the very first row..."

"...I will."

Kiana nodded solemnly.

......

"Let's continue with our previous topic—well, they've all been released... See that little girl with purple hair?" The hermit observed the distinctive purple hair in the crowd.

"I saw it, so what?"

"That is the Second Herrscher, Sirin."

"Huh? Let me see—isn't it cute... It would be even cuter if it didn't have that 'you owe me a million dollars' look on its face."

Kiana leaned closer and scrutinized the purple-haired girl for a while before offering her opinion.

"...Do you think that's possible?"

The hermit shook his head helplessly.

Chapter Sixty-Nine Little Xilin

The two followed Patrick as he walked through the bottom reactor of the Tower of Babel, where night had unknowingly fallen.

"Hey, what's she doing at the reactor so late?"

Kiana followed behind the silver-haired Valkyrie, watching Patrick, who was fully armed, head towards the reactor with some curiosity.

"She discovered Honkai energy residue outside the reactor during the morning's operation, and while rescuing the experimental children, she found the same Honkai energy residue on the bars of the cell where Sirin was being held."

"She has found the answer."

The hermit, seeing Patrick caught Sirin red-handed and beginning a standoff, explained to Kiana standing to the side.

"Then why didn't she bring her period? Her period is pretty strong too, okay?"

Kiana's confusion deepened after hearing the hermit's explanation, and she looked at Patrick, who was confronting Sirin, with an incredulous gaze.

"Because this A-rank Valkyrie's identity is not simply that of a Chosen Valkyrie."

While Omega and Kiana were talking, Patrick clashed with the Second Herrscher.

The outcome was obvious. Patrick's firepower briefly suppressed the Herrscher, but Sirin reacted quickly and reversed the situation, causing the Valkyrie to lose an arm. She dropped smoke grenades and stun grenades, clutching her injured right hand as she hastily retreated.

"Follow them, and you'll soon find out the answer."

......

Kiana did not respond to the hermit's words; after a brief silence, she posed another question:

"I just heard what that child said... She said the researchers were experimenting on her to create the stigmata on the Valkyrie... These orphans were able to sacrifice themselves for the Valkyrie, for destiny, they should feel honored...?"

"...Are we really fighting for a better world?"

She looked at the hermit, whose face was always hidden behind a hood and a black mask, revealing no emotion.

"You're asking me? You yourself are the Valkyrie—a descendant of Kaslana—do you truly fight for the good and the injustice of the world?"

Seemingly amused by Kiana's question, the hermit's tone was full of sarcasm.

"What? Because of a few words she said, you've started to question the rescue efforts you made in the past?"

"—Warriors are inherently brave individuals who bear the hopes and suffering of the masses and forge ahead alone. They keep the prayers and wishes of the masses in their hearts, carry the misfortunes and hardships they have encountered on their shoulders, and clear the way for all living beings."

"The suffering of those experimental subjects she spoke of is the fate that every Valkyrie who knows the truth must bear, because they died for it. Whether those children wanted it or not, at least they died because of the Valkyries."

"If you don't have this awareness, then there's no need to continue on this journey; you've already lost your right—"

Never before had she heard such sharp words from her teachers or friends provoke such a sensitive nerve in the white-haired girl. The hermit before her offered no comfort, merely crossing his arms and coldly watching the girl kneeling on the ground.

She seemed to have finally grown impatient, turned around and walked into the depths of the dark passage without pausing.

"Wait, don't go, wait for me!!"

Kiana shouted as she watched the hermit disappear into the distance, but all she received in return was a sneer:

"Wait for you? Wait for someone who's frozen on the ground, too scared to even get up? What a waste of time—"

The hermit vanished into the darkness, leaving only the white-haired girl kneeling on the ground. She tried to get up, but was bewildered and forgot how.

...Black shadows spread from the depths of the passage where the hermit disappeared, swallowing up the last glimmer of light in this space.

--

In the dark space, only the white-haired girl remained. The illusory dream began to collapse, and in the end, a petite and warm body embraced Kiana. It was a little girl with purple hair wearing a white and purple princess dress.

The girl's golden eyes looked at the young woman, her eyes filled with worry.

"...Big sister, are you alright?"

The sweet voice, like honey, soothed Kiana's bitter and confused heart, slowing the collapse of this dream.

"You are... Sirin?!" Kiana turned her head and looked at the purple-haired little girl beside her in disbelief.

"It's Sirin! Big sister looks a little unhappy. Do you want to see Sirin perform magic?"

"magic?"

Kiana looked at the little girl with confusion.

"It's magic that can improve your mood~"

"Ping plop~ pang plop~ dulu dulu dulu bang! How's it going? Feeling better now, big sister?" The girl waved her arms, creating sparks of starlight, and the dancing little stars eventually turned into golden fireworks.

Sirin looked at Kiana with her golden eyes filled with anticipation.

"...Thank you, Sirin, I feel much better."

Kiana stroked the little girl's hair, feeling her previously gloomy mood improve considerably. Then, she suddenly remembered something and looked at Sirin.

"Um... um? Little Sirin, why are you here?"

Kiana was completely baffled by the little angel that had suddenly appeared. This was nothing like the cynical Herrscher she had just seen.

"Hmm? Sirin has been here the whole time... Big sister asked a strange question..."

Little Xilin glanced at the older sister in front of her, puzzled, and continued to squint her eyes, enjoying Kiana's head pat.

"Does Xilin know that guy called the Hermit?"

Kiana continued stroking the little girl's hair, tentatively asking another question.

"The Hermit? Sirin knows her. Did you upset her, big sister?"

"More or less...that's how it is..."

Kiana told the little girl in front of her about her past experiences.

"I see... Perhaps the Hermit has already given you a hint, it seems to be a trial."

Sirin nodded and gave Kiana a thumbs-up.

"A trial, huh... So, little Sirin, what do you think of those children?" Kiana looked at the young girl in front of her curiously, wanting to hear the thoughts of the person involved.

"Um... that Sirin isn't me, she's a nasty, bad guy," Little Sirin explained to Kiana, having figured out what she was thinking.

"If it were me, Sirin, I would probably remember their names and then use magic to pray for them."

Sirin poked her lips with her index finger, thought for a moment, gave her answer, and made a praying gesture, as if she were praying for the girls Kiana had mentioned.

"I see... Thank you, Sirin, I think I understand now."

Kiana didn't care who the annoying guy was in Little Sirin's mouth, and solemnly nodded to the purple-haired little girl.

"Hmm, is big sister leaving?"

Sirin looked at Kiana with some reluctance.

—After all, being patted on the head really feels good, the young girl thought to herself.

“Hmm, I think I know where to find the answer, Sirin.”

Kiana stood up, patted the little girl's head to say goodbye, and then turned and left.

"Go for it, big sister whose name I don't know."

Watching Kiana disappear into the darkness, Little Sirin silently cheered her on.

Chapter Seventy: Their Vows