The school bell rang, and groups of youthful, beautiful female students walked out of the campus, chatting among themselves.
Meanwhile.
On the street opposite Chiba Academy, Lierre held a heavy photo album in her arms, her eyes locked on the white-haired dumpling preparing to leave in front of her.
Seeing the target appear.
She no longer hesitated and quickly ran towards Kiana along the crosswalk.
"Kiana, wait a moment!"
"Who is it?"
Hearing someone call her, Kiana stopped in her tracks.
She turned to look and stared at the blonde little girl running towards her, a trace of doubt flashing in her eyes.
Have I met her before?
Lierre ran in front of Kiana and deliberately pretended to be weak, panting heavily.
In order to bait her target, the persona she had set for herself was a frail, beautiful girl. Aside from being able to summon powerful helpers, her overall strength was no different from a child's.
If she acted too strong and others didn't dare to target her, how would she find any fun in the future!
"Have we met before?"
Kiana tried hard to search through her memories but had absolutely no impression of the cute, doll-like blonde girl in front of her.
This kid is so cute. If I had seen her before, I would definitely remember!
"Kiana, don't you remember me?!"
"I don't know you! Little kid, I'm no idiot. Trying to buddy up to me won't work."
Kiana crossed her arms and continued, "Spit it out. You must have some purpose for looking for me. My time is limited; I can't play house with you!"
"Sure enough, the worst-case scenario still happened. I'm really sorry, Kiana... I wasn't by your side when you needed me the most..."
Lierre revealed an incomparably sorrowful expression, crystal-clear tears seeping from the corners of her eyes.
"W-wait! What nonsense are you spouting! And why are you crying? I-I didn't bully you!"
"I'm sorry for letting you see me in such an embarrassing state..."
Lierre took a neat handkerchief from her pocket and wiped her tears, then formally introduced herself, "Let's get reacquainted. I'm Lierre, your mother Cecilia's best friend and your auntie. I even held you when you were little."
As for Theresa, she could just be Kiana's second aunt.
Lierre didn't want to be the younger one.
As for whether she would eventually be exposed, she wasn't worried about that at all.
Hilarious. She had Cecilia herself in her hands; even a fake could become real.
"...Huh?"
Kiana's brain instantly crashed.
Is this girl really playing me for a fool?
To actually joke about my mother, unforgivable...
"I know you can't possibly believe me. After all, my body is rather special..."
Lierre didn't give Kiana a chance to speak. She waved the photo album in her hand and said softly, "So, to make you believe me, I specially brought photos of you when you were little. They might help you remember me. Want to take a look?"
Kiana stared at the photo album in Lierre's hand, the anger that had just risen in her heart instantly extinguished.
Even knowing that photos could be artificially synthesized, she still held onto a sliver of hope. What if it's real...?
"But let me make things clear first. If I find out you're fooling me with fake photos, I won't let you off easily!"
Kiana raised her fist, pretending to look fierce and malicious.
"It won't disappoint you."
A confident smile appeared on Lierre's face.
The photos in this album weren't photoshopped from the real Kiana's childhood pictures.
Instead, she had deliberately created a false timeline.
In that timeline, for a period of time after Cecilia and Sirin died together in Siberia, Lierre carried K423 out of the laboratory and awakened the soul sleeping within her body.
Then, crossing through time and returning to eight years ago, Lierre took K423, whom she had turned back into a baby, and found Cecilia and Siegfried. They subsequently lived together for eight years, filling in the gap before K-Kiana was eight.
The photos in the album were all taken on the spot. In a sense, these photos were more real than pure gold!
However, because this timeline was false, it couldn't affect the Proper World.
Inside a rented apartment.
Feeling apprehensive, Kiana gently opened the photo album. The first thing that greeted her eyes was a family portrait.
"This is Dad... Mom... and..."
Kiana's finger brushed over Siegfried and Cecilia in the photo. When she saw the two identical white-haired little girls in front of them, she froze.
Why are there two of me?
"The one with the braided pigtails is you. The other one is your older sister."
Lierre introduced considerately.
"Sister?! B-but Dad never mentioned her to me before..."
"Sigh..."
Lierre sighed and explained with a heavy heart, "This is Siegfried's lifelong pain. Your sister might already be... let's not mention the events of the past... But I believe your sister is still alive today. One day in the future, I'll reunite you two!"
"My sister, she..."
"Don't be too sad, Kiana. The heavens look after the good. I believe she is still alive and well right now. Work hard with me to find her."
"...Mhm!"
Kiana nodded forcefully, then quickly added, "But I'll verify this with my dad. You'd better not be lying to me!"
Although she couldn't contact her idiot dad right now, it didn't mean she wouldn't see him in the future. When the time came, she would know whether it was true or false just by asking.
Until then, she could only half-believe Lierre's words.
"Of course, that's no problem. Perhaps we don't need to go out of our way to see that guy Siegfried to make you believe me."
"What does that mean? I don't quite get it... You're not feeling guilty, are you?"
"Allow me to keep you in suspense. Alright, turn to the next page. While we're at it, I'll tell you stories from your childhood. But before that, shouldn't you show some courtesy? For example, what should you call me?"
"...A-Auntie."
In order to hear stories about her childhood, Kiana could only embarrassedly whisper "Auntie" to Lierre.
Calling a little girl much younger than myself 'Auntie' just feels weird.
"Mhm, good niece."
Lierre nodded in satisfaction. Then, under Kiana's urging, she vividly recounted the stories of Kiana's childhood.
"Eh? Who is this loli wearing a nun's habit standing next to Mom?"
"Oh, that's your second aunt. Her name is Theresa Apocalypse. She's currently the principal of St. Freya Academy. If you're ever short on money in the future, just ask her for some."
"Oh, I see... But, do none of you ever grow up?"
"Our situation is special. It's a special case among special cases. Don't be too surprised, my good niece. You'll get used to it."
"Alright then. By the way... Auntie, are you a Valkyrie too?"
"Unfortunately, I was born frail and didn't have the aptitude to become a Valkyrie. Otherwise, I wouldn't have been completely helpless back then. But things are different now. I now have the ability to protect you properly!"