"We are warriors—people who might die unexpectedly at any mont, and who always carry the fate of others on our shoulders. From the very beginning, we have been unable to stand by and ignore the destruction before us—so in truth, we had already chosen what kind of lives we would lead. If anyone still hesitates about this... I believe she hasn’t truly thought through what it ans to beco a ’Valkyrie,’ to fight for everything beautiful in this world."
—Bianka "Durandal" Ateagina
"Lady Fu Hua... Eh? Lady Kiana?"
Tap, tap, tap, tap...
Fu Hua was speaking with Kiana when the rhythmic sound of high heels striking the marble corridor interrupted them.
The approaching steps were crisp and full of rhythm. Many Valkyries nearby imdiately quieted and stood at attention with disciplined posture.
As the sound drew closer, the voice that followed was husky and soul-stirring. Both Fu Hua and Kiana knew it all too well.
It was none other than Rita Rossweisse, who called herself the personal maid of Bianka "Durandal" Ateagina, and was now acting as the operations director of the Empire’s Valkyrie Corps.
Yes, operations director.
Whether it was in personal combat skill, the ability to absorb new knowledge, or adapting to the Sacred Selene Empire’s order and reestablishing her own identity, Durandal had earned Sebas’ approval earlier than anyone else.
Compared to her "younger sister" Kiana, who embodied idealism, the "real Kiana" Durandal was far more pragmatic in action—though she still harbored so innocent fantasies.
Raised in the rigid and severe environnt of Schicksal HQ, under the tutelage of Archbishop Otto Apocalypse, her upbringing was the polar opposite of Kiana’s.
As a result, Durandal prioritized outcos. In her eyes, a process without results held no aning. As long as the goal was achieved, she didn’t care how.
Although she felt uneasy about the bloodshed brought by the Empire’s expansion, she did not shy away from it.
Indeed, "to fight for all that’s beautiful in the world" was Durandal’s guiding principle—as it was for all Valkyries.
Previously, "the world" referred to Earth, her holand. But after Earth was brought under the Empire’s rule, the aning of that "world" began to blur for the Valkyries.
Kiana might have her own interpretation of what "world" ant, but Durandal didn’t concern herself with it. Everyone had their own scale.
To her, fighting for her holand, for the world where the citizens of the Empire now lived—that was Bianka Durandal Ateagina’s interpretation.
Because she gained recognition more quickly, Durandal had been assigned to the Valkyrie Corps before Kiana and the Far East Saint Freya faction.
She had already begun integration training.
And it had gone exceedingly well.
As Schicksal’s strongest forr S-rank Valkyrie, and once even an acting Archbishop, Durandal’s experience quickly won her the support of the vast majority of the Valkyries.
Only the Valkyries from the Far East Branch felt a bit awkward.
Which was understandable. After all, the Far East Branch had once defied HQ under Theresa’s lead, clashed with HQ Valkyries, and even worked with the enemy organization Anti-Entropy.
Their atmosphere was quite different from that of Schicksal HQ.
Rita stepped forward. Sunlight fell across her face. Every smile, every movent sparkled with seductive elegance. She was breathtaking.
"Kiana has co here. It seems you’ve earned Sir Sebas’ recognition," Rita said with a graceful bow.
"Allow to offer my congratulations."
Watching Rita bow slightly as she approached, Fu Hua rubbed her forehead in mild exasperation. "Rita, do you really need to do that every ti...?"
Rita covered her face with a demure smile.
"Sigh... Where’s Durandal?" Kiana asked, scratching the back of her head and glancing around.
"Lady Durandal is still working out in the ’gym.’ Please follow ." With that, Rita made a polite gesture and placed her hands gracefully before her abdon as she stepped forward with poise.
After a few turns and passing through long corridors, they arrived at a doorway that opened into an expansive indoor area—more fitting to be called a training arena.
"Ha! Ha!"
The lighting inside was bright yet gentle.
The ceiling reached as high as a forty-story building. Several prismatic pillars surrounded the area, each one a generator for a defensive barrier field.
The massive floor was completely paved with segnts of Oriha composite steel, without a single gap.
Under the lighting from the do above, these gray tal plates shimred with a pale glow, like a carpet of light.
Along the edges of the arena, so Valkyries were still training in secondary zones. Judging from the insignias on their uniforms, they were all forr mbers of Schicksal’s Immortal Blades.
Durandal herself was not wearing her usual [Bright Knight: Excelsis] Valkyrie armor, but a casual athletic outfit that bared her midriff.
Her long golden waves were tied into a clean, neat ponytail. Her top barely covered her shoulders and chest, and she wore a simple white athletic skirt no longer than sports tights.
She was completely focused on her routine workout.
It was a habit developed from childhood—Durandal had never slacked off when it ca to training and had never lowered her personal standards.
Now, her clothes were drenched with sweat, trickling down her sharply defined abs.
Though a woman, she possessed a physique no less powerful than any man’s.
Her features were striking, her figure tall and slender but far from delicate. She embodied the physical strength and beauty of a female warrior—like a proud, untad leopardess.
"Lady Durandal, Miss Kiana has arrived."
Rita naturally stepped forward, offering a towel and water to Durandal.
After wiping her face slightly, Durandal looked toward the door where Kiana stood and waved. "Kiana!"
"So Sebas finally let you out."
Taking a sip of water, Durandal casually grabbed Kiana’s hand and jumped straight into big-sister mode. "Kiana, you really need to change your daily habits!"
"Eh?"
"Back during the trial world, I already noticed—when you’re with i, you’re way too relaxed. Getting pampered like so old lord..."
She glanced toward a slightly flustered Raiden i.
"i, you spoil Kiana too much. You’ll turn her into a total dummy."
"I-I don’t think it’s that bad... Compared to back at St. Freya Academy, I’ve already cut back on taking care of her..." i said bashfully.
Oh really? That doesn’t count as taking care of her? It’s almost spoon-feeding. Wait—were you actually spoon-feeding Kiana back at St. Freya?
"But Durandal, doesn’t Rita take care of you the sa way?"
"That’s different!"
Durandal’s face turned slightly red as she cleared her throat. "Kiana, the first step is changing your daily habits. Get up early, go to bed early, get proper sleep. A consistent schedule is the foundation of a healthy body. Physical training and honing the body are essential disciplines for any warrior."
"Oh..." Realizing just how spoiled she’d been during her cozy days in Raiden i’s bed, Kiana shrank her head down in guilt.
Seeing this, Fu Hua chuckled softly. Good—this was a good sign. But, "Durandal, Her Majesty has assigned us a new mission. Fixing Kiana’s habits can wait."
"For now, let’s spar a bit. Ti to apply so pressure."
"Alright." Durandal stopped and turned. "Kiana, let’s spar."
...
Imperial Capital—Great Imperial Palace, Schönbrunn Palace.
"Ugh..."
A gray-haired bundle flopped onto a tea table. "Ugh, Shirahoshi, I’m so tired!"
"Waaah! Lady Alyssa, please don’t lie on that! We just had pastries there and haven’t cleaned it yet!"
The enormous pink-haired rmaid with a taiyaki hairpin was nearly in tears. "Wuwu, Lady Alyssa, if you dirty your clothes again, Lord Sebas will scold you!"
Her blue eyes shimred, her ample chest bounced with every movent, and her pink-and-white tail flicked nervously.
"You’re not wrong..." Alyssa didn’t lift her head and continued to flop on the table. But then she shot up. "Wait, what do you an I’ll be scolded by that old man Sebas?!"
"Wuwu..." But she deflated imdiately. "Going to General Budo’s front line and not bringing ... I’m so upset..."
What was the Queen doing now?
After watching the Valkyries cuddle and flirt for days, after eating so much taphorical dog food, Alyssa couldn’t help but want to cling to Selene—but the chance hadn’t co.
Shirahoshi hurried to console her with clumsy words. "Her Majesty must have her reasons..." She quickly placed a plate of snacks on the table, trying to distract Alyssa.
"These are freshly made pastries from Lord Susanoo’s palace kitchen. They’re really good. Lady Alyssa, shall I feed you?"
"Yes!"
"Aah~" Alyssa closed her eyes and opened her mouth wide, not at all worried that Shirahoshi’s large size would sohow ss it up. She looked thoroughly relaxed.
"Aah~ ... Huh? Her Maje—mmph?!"
Her mouth hung open for a while with no movent. Just as she was about to ask—Splat!
A huge piece of cake was shoved into her mouth.
The next mont, Alyssa felt her feet lift off the ground.
"You look more carefree than I do, Alyssa." Selene had grabbed Alyssa by the back of her collar and began shaking her unceremoniously.
"Glrk!" After a hard swallow, Alyssa teared up, staring at Selene who was now inches away. "Waaah, Your Majesty! I missed you so much!"
Crying and sniffling, she clung to Selene’s waist and nuzzled her.
"Ugh, all because I didn’t bring you to the 117th Universe front line? You’re being dramatic..."
"Here."
Like handing a lollipop to a kid, Selene pulled a W-shaped grip from her storage and handed it over.
"Brought you a souvenir from the 117th Universe."
"What is it?"
VSSHT!
Selene pressed a button on the Sangheili Type-1 Energy Sword hilt. A glowing blue-white plasma blade surged out, buzzing in a magnetic field.
"Waaah! I want it! Alyssa wants it!"
Taking the deactivated energy sword hilt, Alyssa excitedly played with it. "Your Majesty, is there a new mission this ti? Will you take with you?"
"Nope."
"Wuuuu—!"
Seeing Alyssa puff her cheeks in frustration while hugging the hilt, Selene chuckled. "It’s paperwork. Are you sure you want to join?"
She waved a stack of freshly written heroic epics prepared by her court scholars.
"Uh... Your Majesty, you’re busy. I still have unfinished business with the Sisters of Battle. I’ll take my leave!"
Without hesitation, she grabbed Shirahoshi and dashed out in a blur.
Watching Shirahoshi bow repeatedly in apology, Selene waved it off with a smile, then opened a spatial teleport gate.
"The plan has progressed this far... From here on, everything must remain on track, without any deviations..."
...
Type-Moon World, a universe once ruled by foreign powers (Fate/Apocrypha).
That day, dark clouds churned over the Thas.
Fine rain fell upon the historic-modern hybrid gacity, soaking the land.
On the city’s eastern edge lay a vast, ancient estate recently purchased and restored by the famous alchemist family, the Musik clan.
The Musik family had risen rapidly within the British Isles, renowned for their expertise in artificial human alchemy and magical attire alchemy.
Especially magical attire.
For a magus, one could never have too many Mystic Codes.
Demand for magical attire far outstripped supply in the Mage’s Association.
It was this scalable magical attire alchemy that allowed the Musik family to amass wealth even the Twelve Lords envied.
Considering their origins, many magi within the Clock Tower suspected that the Musik family had reaped the greatest rewards from the Holy Grail War.
After all, following the end of the Romania Holy Grail War, the Musik family abruptly announced their separation from the victorious Yggdmillennia clan and swiftly relocated to the Clock Tower’s headquarters.
Yggdmillennia itself had supposedly collapsed soon after due to internal strife.
Very suspicious.
Rumors grew that Goredolf Musik, then head of the family, had obtained the Greater Grail and wished for divine knowledge.
Wealth attracts envy. Among magi, knowledge is the ultimate wealth.
Naturally, many sought to seize it by force—but once the Musik family affiliated with the Political Affairs Departnt and cozied up to the prestigious Bartholoi family, all hostile ambitions imdiately withered.
Though they paid a hefty tribute to the Bartholoi each year, the Musik clan lived quite comfortably.
Until today.
Today, the peace of the Musik estate was shattered.
"The vault has been breached!!!"
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