"Understood. You continue investigating the Second Divine Key." The news of Dr. Magi's defection and World Serpent's theft of the Gem of Serenity naturally needed to be reported to Otto.
But the Overseer, his image projected on the screen, seemed strangely unconcerned, dismissing it with a casual wave of his hand.
While this wasn't entirely out of character for Otto, after years of serving him, Rita could sense something more was at play. The Overseer was clearly scheming something.
But that wasn't her concern. Even with above-average intelligence, Rita knew her role was to be the 'blade,' not the 'brain.' And right now…
"Rita, shall we explore elsewhere?"
A gentle, yet competent voice spoke. Rita smiled at the blonde girl in casual attire standing nearby. "Of course."
Having single-handedly resolved every major Honkai outbreak worldwide this month, Durandal had earned a special commendation, a reward of her choosing.
This wasn't unprecedented, but usually, Durandal would forgo any vacation time, continuing her tireless work on the front lines. Occasionally, she would use the time for intensive training at Schicksal facilities.
But this time, she'd made the unusual choice of a 'vacation to the British Isles.'
Is she worried about me? Durandal vehemently denied it, but Rita couldn't help but smile.
She had to admit, with Durandal around, she felt… safer. It was the reason she'd dared to scheme with Raven against him. Without Durandal, no matter how much she wanted revenge, Rita wouldn't risk it.
But with Durandal present, even without him here, nothing truly dangerous could happen.
"Apologies, Bianka-sama. I'm on duty and can't accompany you on your sightseeing tour. But I've compiled a list of nearby attractions. I hope you find it useful."
She handed a meticulously prepared notebook to Durandal, who accepted it with a grateful smile.
"I'll just wander around on my own then. Rita, finish your mission quickly. I'm counting on you to be my tour guide."
Durandal never liked mixing business with pleasure. Though she could easily have put the mission on hold, she chose to respect Rita's work, her words conveying complete trust—she was confident that Rita, with her abilities, would swiftly complete the Overseer's task.
"Now then, where to go…"
Flipping through Rita's notebook, admiring the neat handwriting, Durandal scanned the list of attractions, finally settling on—the Sherlock Holmes Museum.
As an avid reader and a fan of the famous detective novels, Bianka naturally held a special fondness for Sherlock Holmes, particularly resonating with the bond between Holmes and Watson. Now that she had the opportunity, how could she not visit such a sacred place?
Following the directions in the notebook, she strolled leisurely through the streets of London. The city's rich history and old-world charm emanated from the classic architecture, bathed in the soft morning light.
The streets were bustling with people, children playing, and—most importantly, to Durandal—cats basking in the sun on patches of green grass. A little-known fact: the strongest Valkyrie in Schicksal was a secret cat person. The sight of adorable felines made her heart melt.
Much to her dismay, someone had already beaten her to petting a particularly fluffy white cat.
While there wasn't a rule against two people petting the same cat, Durandal didn't want to intrude on the heartwarming scene between the girl and the feline.
Fortunately, London was a big city. Missing out on one cat just meant there were more to find.
Though none were quite as appealing as that snow-white beauty. Petting a plump ginger cat, Durandal's mind was elsewhere, her gaze drifting back to the girl.
Speaking of that girl…
Bianka observed the white-haired girl sitting on a nearby bench, a straw hat shielding her face. Her long, enviable hair was styled in loose curls, a single hair clip visible… a chameleon?
How strange. If she's a girl, wouldn't she prefer a cute animal hair clip? Why a chameleon?
Lost in thoughts she'd never normally entertain, Bianka suddenly felt an urge to ask the girl where she'd bought that hair clip. …The more I look at it, the prettier it gets…
…Oh well, I'll ask Rita to find one for me later.
But it doesn't seem very practical for combat. Only for casual wear… maybe I should have Nagamitsu customize one made of Honkai-resistant steel…
"…That back… looks just like Theresa-sama…"
Staring intently, Bianka realized something else. The girl's back… it was almost identical to Theresa's. A near-perfect 90% match.
The only difference was their height.
She must be a Kaslana, Bianka deduced. White hair was practically a Kaslana trademark. Though this was London, not Austria, with the passage of time, not all Kaslanas chose to become warriors against Honkai. Some, it was said, chose to live ordinary lives.
I'm so curious…
Bianka's curiosity burned like a wildfire. She desperately wanted to see the girl's face. …To pet… the girl… I mean, the cat! She rationalized, ignoring the ginger cat in her lap as she inched closer, trying to catch a glimpse of the girl's face.
But even as she practically slid off the bench, she couldn't see it.
It was as if the girl was teasing her, always just out of view.
This is driving me crazy!
Plopping down on the grass, the ginger cat now scampering away, Durandal puffed out her cheeks in frustration.
I can't believe I, an S-rank Valkyrie, can't even see a normal person's face!
Throwing caution and decorum to the wind, she crawled closer, peering through the grass. Almost… almost there… just a little bit more… I can see it… yes! Just like that! Let me seeee!
Thud!
She bumped into something. Blinking in surprise, Durandal looked up to see a police officer in a British uniform staring down at her.
"Miss, we've received a complaint. You'll have to come with us."
The officer clearly couldn't ignore such strange behavior in a public place.
Durandal stared at the handcuffs on her wrists, speechless.
How… how did a simple sightseeing trip to London end up with me being arrested?!
"Meow~"
"There, there…"
Just as Durandal was contemplating her predicament, the white-haired girl she'd been obsessively watching walked past, holding the white cat. And in that brief moment, she finally saw what she'd been desperately trying to see—the girl's profile.
Delicate features, clear, sapphire-blue eyes… a wave of familiarity washed over Durandal.
She remembered something Rita had shown her.
Wait a minute—
…Could she be…?!
Memory and reality clicked into place. Durandal's eyes widened in realization.
"Wait!" she shouted, struggling against the handcuffs.
But when she turned, the girl was gone.
Durandal stood there, frozen in disbelief, the police officer looking at her expectantly.
A woman and her little girl walked past.
"Mommy, why is that pretty lady in handcuffs?" the girl asked innocently.
"She must have done something bad. Don't be like her when you grow up. Come on, let's go," the mother replied.
"…"
Durandal was struck speechless.
…
Seele, observing the scene from afar, spoke with concern:
"That Onee-chan over there seems to be in trouble."
(Tch, what's it to us?)
"Uh… you're right. But should we really leave Bronya Onee-chan alone?" Seele nodded, then hesitated.
They'd followed Bronya because they were worried this imposter might cause trouble before the real Bronya Onee-chan returned. But once they arrived in London, Dark Seele had insisted on sightseeing.
She'd been hesitant, but Dark Seele had said, "This is our first time here! Don't you want to look around?"
That had convinced Seele.
Having grown up in an orphanage, Seele had always yearned to see the world—though limited to books and her imagination.
While their journey through the Imaginary Tree had partially fulfilled that wish, it wasn't the same.
Besides—Seele really wanted to travel the world with Bronya Onee-chan.
Unfortunately, the real Bronya Onee-chan was… elsewhere. Though this high-quality imitation wasn't bad, and Seele wasn't particularly picky, Dark Seele strongly disapproved.
"Do you really want to give this precious 'first time' memory to an imposter Onee-chan?" she'd asked.
Though this 'first time' talk felt strangely possessive, Seele, ever loyal, agreed with Dark Seele, choosing to obey. This time, it would just be her and her other self. She could always make up for it with the real Bronya later.
Besides, after this experience, she could be Bronya Onee-chan's tour guide! The thought made her giggle.
…
Meanwhile, back at the hotel, Bronya sulked.
She'd been looking forward to seeing London too. After all, she'd mostly been confined to the Far East and Russia… Well, okay, Bronya admitted she wasn't really into sightseeing—it couldn't compare to gaming!
But a trip with Seele… that was different.
When Seele had asked about exploring London, Bronya had been thrilled, imagining a fun trip with Seele, visiting Big Ben, strolling along the Thames…
But Seele had looked at her with a confused expression and asked, "Are you coming too, Bronya Onee-chan?"
…Are you coming too?
…Too?
Needless to say, Bronya was crushed.
Had Seele's love… vanished?
Though heartbroken, she didn't connect it to Jiang Qiao. If not for that jerk stealing her moment and impersonating her, she might even have been grateful.
Bronya resolved to win Seele back through her actions.
But before she could swallow her pride and follow Seele, she received a communication from Anti-Entropy.
The disappearance of Dr. Magi and the Gem of Serenity couldn't be ignored.
To prevent any unforeseen complications, Bronya, representing Anti-Entropy, needed to track down Dr. Magi and thwart World Serpent's plot. Furthermore, they had received an anonymous tip that Schicksal had discovered traces of the Second Divine Key on the British Isles.
Naturally, Anti-Entropy didn't want such a valuable asset falling into Otto's hands. So, on top of tracking Magi and countering World Serpent, Bronya now had to find and secure the Second Divine Key before Schicksal.
With so many tasks, even if she wanted to slack off and enjoy London with Seele, she didn't have the time.
Ugh… this is worse than being in Elysium! Bronya suddenly missed the simulated world. There, she could happily game… ahem, pursue her hobbies.
But back in reality, it was all work and no play!
That jerk, Jiang Qiao, couldn't he have just finished the game before returning Bronya's body?!
Completely clueless…
Due to Anti-Entropy's… limited intelligence network, Bronya received little assistance, relying on scant clues and hoping for a lucky break.
…This feeling…
Activating her somewhat rusty 'analysis' ability, Bronya suddenly sensed something. Her gaze snapped towards a nearby alley—a strange cat caught her eye.
Unlike ordinary cats, this one had a peculiar marking on its forehead.
But that wasn't what caught her attention. It was…
"…A Honkai beast?!"
Looking at the data briefly transmitted by her analysis ability, Bronya stared at the cat in disbelief.
Not only was it a Honkai beast, but judging by the concentration of Honkai energy, it was no weakling. Furthermore, Bronya detected traces of artificial modification…
…World Serpent!
On their way to Elysium, Jiang Qiao had mentioned World Serpent's fondness for such creations.
Remembering the intel about World Serpent's activity in the city, Bronya's eyes lit up—a breakthrough!
Catch it, and I'll have a lead on World Serpent!
The desire to quickly complete her mission, to boost her reputation, to impress Seele, spurred Bronya into action. She charged towards the cat.
"Meow~"
The cat—an artificial Honkai beast named Stan—glanced at her, then, with surprising agility, darted away.
"Hmph, trying to escape?" Bronya scoffed.
When it came to agility, she was unmatched. Her exploits as the Ural Silver Wolf spoke for themselves.
No one, not even a Honkai beast, could escape her grasp!
But…
As the chase continued, Bronya noticed the buildings thinning out, the crowds dwindling.
It's leading me somewhere secluded?
Her instincts screamed danger.
But instead of fear, she felt a thrill of excitement.
She couldn't unleash her full power in the city. London was the capital of the British Isles. A full-blown battle would cause chaos, especially with the ongoing secrecy surrounding Honkai.
—Both Anti-Entropy and Schicksal agreed on keeping Honkai hidden from the public.
Besides, the Herrscher of Reason's power was… loud. Bronya, still new to wielding its full potential, couldn't fully control it yet.
The city, with its dense buildings, was a constraint. But out in the open…
Take this!
Fire!
Her Project Bunny materialized, raising its arm. A beam of laser energy shot out—
—the scorching beam hurtling towards Stan as it leaped into the air.
Mid-air was the most vulnerable state for most creatures, with no leverage for dodging.
Anticipating a potential overkill, Bronya had deliberately lowered the beam's power, aiming to incapacitate rather than incinerate.
But—
Stan, flipping in mid-air, simply glanced at the beam with disdain. The next moment, the high-tech collar around its neck glowed, its body swelling in size. With a flick of its tail, it swatted the energy beam aside as if it were a mere fly.
It landed gracefully, its massive form creating spiderweb cracks in the concrete.
Seeing this, Bronya, instead of fear, felt a surge of excitement.
Good! I was worried you'd be too weak.
I've been on the losing side too many times. I've been waiting for a strong opponent to help me boost my stats, to even the score. An easy victory wouldn't be satisfying!
Too bad Seele isn't here to witness Bronya's true power.
Today, Bronya will reclaim her glory!
A smile played on her lips as she clenched her fist.
The next moment, a brilliant azure light erupted from her chest, ones and zeros weaving themselves into a pristine white dress, transforming Bronya into a princess. [Reference to Herrscher of Reason battlesuit]
A deep blue butterfly landed gently on her head, becoming a crown-like ornament.
The wind played with her hair, her bright yellow earrings swaying gently.
Feeling the power coursing through her, Bronya laughed.
She'd been envious of Jiang Qiao wielding this form—after all, Herrscher outfits were tailored to one's inner desires, and this Herrscher of Reason regalia was exactly how Bronya envisioned herself.
And now, she finally had the power of the Herrscher of Reason, the same power as that jerk, Jiang Qiao.
Both in princess dresses, both named Cece…
Jiang Qiao, Bronya has caught up to you!
"Surrender!" she declared.
Stan didn't react, simply adopting a more defensive posture.
As a product of World Serpent's artificial Honkai beast experiments, Jackal's masterpiece—it was incredibly powerful.
Once its limiter was removed, it possessed strength rivaling a Judgment-class Honkai beast.
And this was just the beginning. With further modifications, Stan had immense potential for growth.
As a self-made, exceptional cat, it dreamt of one day rising above its current limitations.
Mere humans…
Meow~ (In your dreams!)
Its speed and strength were terrifying. If not for Project Bunny's enhancements, Bronya might have been torn to shreds in a single blow.
She had to admit, this little cat was strong.
But unfortunately—
Even with its limiter removed, Stan, at its absolute best, was maybe slightly stronger than Rita in her Argent Knight: Artemis battlesuit.
And Bronya, wielding the Herrscher of Reason's power… though not yet fully proficient—by Herrscher standards, she was still in the knowledge-gathering and blueprint-construction phase—
…her past battle experience, the residual 'traces' left by someone who had used this body before, made her effectively a fully functional Herrscher.
Herrscher = Judgment-class Honkai beast.
Stan < Judgment-class Honkai beast.
Bronya would win this fight.
Looking down at Stan, now pinned by Project Bunny, Bronya smiled. Another one bites the dust.
"Meow! (Help me or I'll die!)"
"Calling for backup?"
Using the Herrscher of Reason's power, Bronya understood Stan's desperate plea.
But she simply scoffed.
As long as Tuna wasn't around, she was invincible!
Sensing another presence, Bronya calmly turned towards a figure standing on a nearby hill, watching them, a single umbrella held aloft.
…Grey Serpent?
Instantly identifying him, Bronya, still analyzing the situation, chuckled.
Seriously? That's your backup?
He's even weaker than you!
Wait… what's that in his hand…?