Early morning, 7:00 AM, breakfast time before school.
Yunduo finished washing up and saw Kiana sitting blankly in her chair, her expression dazed. She popped open a can of cola and patted her on the shoulder: "What are you thinking about, Kiana?"
"...Ugh~ I don't know. When I woke up this morning, my finger was hurt, like it was burned by boiling water."
Kiana pursed her lips and said gloomily, "Could a dignified Herrscher actually burn her finger?"
"That seems unlikely, doesn't it?"
Hearing this, Yunduo found it amusing: "Wait, did you actively let the Herrscher of the Void out last night?"
"Yeah, because I feel like she isn't really that bad, just a bit rebellious like a child. Truly like a child. She even comforted me before, so I let her out to experience the beauty of this world."
"In exchange, she's not allowed to destroy anything or do anything out of line."
"By the way, Yunduo, what did you do with her last night? No matter how I call her today, she won't ignore me?"
At this point, there was a hint of confusion in Kiana's eyes.
She didn't understand how one could make a Herrscher fall into a state of... how should she put it, total withdrawal?
"Nothing much, just had her make me some instant noodles," Yunduo said, taking a sip of ice-cold cola and shrugging. "It seems the Queen might lack mental fortitude. That's how the burn on your hand happened—from the boiling water."
"No way, that's way too stupid!!!"
Kiana was incredulous and immediately started complaining.
After finishing breakfast, the group of four went to class.
After school that day, they sat together to discuss entering the Challenge Space again.
It had been a long time since their last entry.
The main reason they hadn't gone back in for several days was concern over the reactions of Schicksal and Anti-Entropy.
Surprisingly, those two organizations acted as if they knew nothing, taking no action whatsoever.
Additionally, the World Serpent that Theresa had asked Otto to investigate hadn't yielded much useful information.
It seemed like something, or someone, was still missing.
This rumored hidden organization had yet to show its supposed prestige.
The group agreed to enter the Challenge Space together this Saturday night to explore the future... in some dark corner.
The Herrscher of the Void had made no moves since Yunduo teased her last time.
Mainly because Kiana hadn't given her the chance, and the Queen couldn't actively seize her body at this stage.
However, in recent days, the Queen felt a faint calling deep in her heart.
A slightly immature voice was softly calling out to her.
"My Queen... My Queen."
The Herrscher of the Void was a bit puzzled and subconsciously replied, "Who is it? What's the matter?"
That voice didn't answer, but grew more agitated after hearing her, the calls for 'Queen' growing louder and louder.
Until one day, that voice changed: "My Queen, I've come for you."
At this moment, the hazy Herrscher of the Void finally remembered that this voice clearly belonged to her retainer in the human world.
The Demon Dragon, Benares!
Sirin's retainer, capable of manipulating weather, possessing four cores.
It can freely switch between four forms: attribute-less, ice, lightning, and fire. Its cores are distributed among four massive, detached crystals. These crystals can not only cause severe weather phenomena but also allow Benares to regenerate continuously.
Currently recognized as one of only two Judgement-level Honkai Beasts!
The Herrscher of the Void originally didn't want it to come, fearing it might cause an accident that would hinder her awakening at this stage.
But as soon as she thought of Yunduo's hateful face, her teeth itched with hatred, wishing she could devour him alive! Damn human!
How dare he tease her like that!
You must pay the price!
Thinking this, the Queen did not stop it; instead, a sense of anticipation arose.
She wanted to see Yunduo's astonished expression.
Anyway, Benares has wings; if it can't win, it can run.
As far as she knew, Yunduo had three forms: Skyfire Wanderer, Incarnation Herrscher, and Crimson Knight.
Among these, it seemed none could fly.
So there was no need to worry that he would harm Benares!
Thus, without anyone knowing, the Herrscher of the Void secretly summoned Benares!
Only a few days remained... Friday.
After classes during the day, Theresa suddenly called out to Yunduo, asking them to come to her office!
In the spacious Headmaster's office, the night breeze was accompanied by the ticking of a clock.
Inside the vast office, no one spoke, and the atmosphere was strangely eerie.
Kiana, Mei, Bronya, and Himeko all stared wide-eyed at Theresa, who pretended to be solemn while wearing rimless glasses.
Less than a minute passed before Kiana couldn't help but say, "Aunt, why did you call us here so late? I haven't finished my homework today; you're disturbing students' normal routines!"
"Perhaps the Headmaster has some special plan... like a Homu Super Adventure operation or something?" Bronya guessed.
"That's impossible, you two. Be serious."
Mei interjected from the side.
"Look, look here, do you notice anything missing?"
At this, Theresa pointed to an empty corner of her desk.
"Nothing's missing, it's usually—" Kiana instinctively spoke halfway, then suddenly realized something, her eyes widening as she gasped, "Hiss~ Aunt didn't sneak a peek at Homu comics today, that's rare."
"Exactly, exactly! That's what I wanted to say, my Homu comics are gone!"
Theresa nodded repeatedly at this.
"So what does that mean?" Kiana blinked.
"It means there's a Homu Thief! Someone stole my comics!" Theresa puffed out her cheeks. "Recently, strange phenomena have been occurring in the Academy, such as missing long socks from the sock shop, disappeared rice balls from the school cafeteria, and people have seen mysterious black shadows appearing within the Academy."
"Didn't you take them secretly, Aunt?" Kiana asked.
"I... of course not me, I'm the Headmaster, alright! And I paid for the rice balls I took before."
"Huh? Does Theresa also wear long socks?" Himeko chuckled, glancing at the fuming Headmaster's short legs.
Under Theresa's angry threat of giving Himeko ten extra classes a week, the farce quickly quieted down.
Everyone also realized that something unusual had indeed occurred within the Academy.
"So, a third party has entered St. Freya Academy?" Bronya whispered.
"It appears so for now, but we don't know who it is yet—Schicksal, Anti-Entropy, or World Serpent, we're completely clueless."
Just as they were discussing, Yunduo suddenly noticed sakura petals falling outside the window.
Pure petals, like an immortal miko, praying for heavenly mercy.
"...Rice balls?"
This reminded Yunduo of someone.
She had also given that person a spatial item, a sakura petal.
Perhaps that person came to look for something?
-------------------------------
Hope you enjoy this fanfiction if you do and would like to read the next 30 chapters in advance, pls do check out my Patreon.
patreon.com/TLScarlet
Also don't forget to give me a Power Stone if you do like this fiction. Your support really motivates me to continue doing my best in translating, Thanks!!