The evening passed peacefully, as both adoptive mothers had eaten their fill in the afternoon and didn't bother Jun'an further.
When Jun'an woke up the next morning, he discovered that Himeko and Theresa, who had been using him as a body pillow, were already gone. Looking at the time—around 7:50 AM—he realized he'd woken up early.
Of course, this was early compared to his schedule back on Earth. In his original world where he could enjoy life freely, Jun'an would never wake up this early. Even after coming to this world of Honkai Impact, he hadn't adjusted his previous sleeping habits.
Yawning as he got up, Jun'an had barely stepped out of his room when he saw Himeko preparing breakfast and Theresa busy with official work at her computer.
"Captain, it's rare to see you wake up so late," Himeko remarked while stir-frying vegetables. "You used to make breakfast for both of us, with Theresa sleeping in. Now, go wash up and try my cooking."
"Mm," Jun'an nodded.
Indeed, in the beginning, Jun'an had been the one preparing breakfast for Himeko and Theresa. Back then, Himeko had just started working and lived like a complete wreck, sustaining herself on instant noodles for breakfast.
As for Theresa, she relied on her powerful Valkyrie physique to endure through bitter gourd juice and plain bread. No one in the Far East Branch could live as... efficiently as she did.
After experiencing a period of their bitter gourd juice and instant noodles diet, Jun'an had no choice but to take over the household duties. Otherwise, he felt these two powerful women's dietary habits would eventually be the death of him.
Later, after becoming the captain of the Hyperion, Jun'an not only handled household chores but also helped Theresa and Himeko with work from both the Far East Branch and St. Freya Academy, becoming essentially a working machine.
This situation didn't change until Jun'an brought Mei, their resident cooking expert, to the Far East Branch from Long Kong City. Only then could he focus entirely on work and leveling up.
After a quick wash-up, Jun'an joined Theresa and Himeko at the dining table. Today's breakfast consisted of stir-fried water spinach and salmon.
"By the way, when will the bed, bedding, and computer you ordered for me arrive?" Jun'an took the opportunity during breakfast to ask about his bed. Yesterday, Himeko and the others hadn't helped him buy those large items, which he understood given how difficult they were to move.
However, when he wanted to order them online, both Himeko and Theresa said they had already ordered everything for him and it would arrive in due time. Jun'an's room was already equipped with a wardrobe, bookshelf, and mini-fridge—all that was missing was the bed.
"Uh... just wait a bit longer, no rush, no rush." Theresa lowered her head to scoop rice while simultaneously messaging Himeko on her phone.
World's Cutest: See, I told you! Captain really wants to sleep in a separate room!
Far East's Most Beautiful Teacher: Captain is a grown man after all, he needs his personal space.
World's Cutest: But we gave him a room already! Yet he still wants a bed!
Far East's Most Beautiful Teacher: A room without a bed is just a storage room, isn't it?
World's Cutest: It's only the second day! I knew he was born rebellious. Today he dares to ask for a separate bed, tomorrow he might not even leave his room!
World's Cutest: If he stays in his room tomorrow, the day after he might stop paying his conjugal duties! The day after that he might waste what belongs to us on tissues! And the day after that he might give what should be ours to someone else!
World's Cutest: ( •̀_•́💢)! Himeko! This is a serious matter—it's infidelity!
Far East's Most Beautiful Teacher: Σq|ﾟДﾟ|pﾜｵｫ!! You have a point!
World's Cutest: Right? He could just sleep in our bed! Yet he wants his own! Too evil! Such evil thoughts must be nipped in the bud!
Far East's Most Beautiful Teacher: But I have a question—in my case, wouldn't that make me the other woman? Am I my own mistress?!
World's Cutest: You're different—you're like a dowry maid that I personally approved.
Far East's Most Beautiful Teacher: Want me to call Amber and Durandal right now to drag you back?
Himeko threatened with her phone, and Theresa immediately surrendered, typing rapidly: I give up! I give up! We're both legal wives, okay?
Theresa really didn't want to be dragged back—returning to Schicksal Headquarters would mean an overwhelming amount of work. Even if she could bring Jun'an along, they'd hardly have time to make babies and claim maternity leave.
Besides, with a Valkyrie's constitution, getting pregnant wasn't easy. The road ahead was long.
While eating his salmon, Jun'an watched their expressions constantly change and asked curiously, "What are you two chatting about? Why use phones when there's no one else here?"
"We're discussing work! Work!" Theresa quickly explained. "Anyway, Captain, don't worry about the bed for now, you're not in a hurry. Let Himeko take you to the Hyperion first so everyone can get reacquainted with you! Also, you should familiarize yourself with your weapons and Fourth-Generation God Killer Armor!"
Jun'an nodded. His appearance had changed from before, and the Hyperion likely had many new crew members with whom he didn't share deep bonds. He'd need Himeko to verify his resurrection.
"What about you, Theresa?" Himeko asked, surprised. She'd expected Theresa to join them, especially since there were many... creative uses for spaces on the Hyperion.
Theresa sighed helplessly, "Work, of course. I am Schicksal's Principal Bishop now. Once I finish my tasks, I'll join you, and help get Captain's authorization for the Fourth-Generation God Killer Armor sorted out."
Before Theresa could even finish speaking, another call came in.
"What? A collaboration? Wasn't Susannah handling publicity? Just coordinate with Amber for the prerequisites..."
While remote work reduced her workload significantly, allowing her to delegate meetings to Amber and Chang Xiang, if she wanted uninterrupted time with the Captain, she'd need to complete her current tasks first.
After all, Theresa didn't want Amber suddenly calling a dozen times to interrupt their private moments, and she needed to prevent the Captain from getting mischievous during her calls.
Since Theresa had work to do, Himeko, who had already finished her tasks, proudly earned the opportunity to take Jun'an to the Hyperion.
"First, let's get you a weapon that suits you best from the armory, Captain."
After breakfast, Jun'an was led by Himeko to the Far East Branch's armory. Although Stigmata Awakened ones could fight ordinary armies bare-handed, having a suitable weapon at least meant their hands wouldn't hurt during combat.
The armory contained weapons of all types, and Valkyrie weapons were usually paired with Valkyrie armor. Most weapons here were likely left behind by retired Valkyries.
Therefore, Jun'an's weapon should naturally be here too.
Jun'an looked around but couldn't find his original weapon, so he asked, "Himeko, where's my Pseudo-Divine Key Judgement of Shamash?"
The Pseudo-Divine Key was created using the Herrscher of Reason's power, similar in nature to Bronya's consumable Star of Eden. It had decent output normally, but could only operate at full power once, making it a consumable item. Jun'an had created many of them, but couldn't see a single one in the armory.
Could they all have been borrowed? His weapons were quite impressive after all, so it wouldn't be impossible for them all to have been taken.
"Well..." Himeko hesitated. "You're proficient with all weapons anyway, Captain, not just the Pseudo-Divine Key. Why not try something else? Please don't use that weapon anymore, okay?"
As she spoke, her gaze fell on Jun'an's right arm. He had once burned his hand to charcoal using the Judgement of Shamash to save someone—a scene Himeko still vividly remembered.
"Don't forget your body is only human now," Himeko's tone carried a hint of pleading. "Please don't make me and Theresa worry again, okay?"
Even Valkyries might not survive unleashing the Judgement of Shamash's full power, let alone Jun'an who had forced it as a mere human. His entire right hand had been carbonized, and it took over a month in the medical pod to save his life.
Over this incident, Theresa had cried in front of Jun'an and even tried to take away his Divine Key.
With Jun'an's current strength, using it might be fatal.
"Then I'll just pick something random."
Seeing Himeko's expression, Jun'an could only compromise. He looked around casually—there weren't any Herrschers or other powerful enemies requiring the Pseudo-Divine Key's power right now, so any weapon would do for leveling up.
Then he found his very first weapon—a slightly dusty, weakest Divine Key: the Xuanyuan Sword.
[PS: That's all for today. Chapter End.]