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ArabicHonkai Impact: My Power Grows When Valkyries Fall For Me — Chapter 47
Chapter 47: St. Freya Academy’s Security Guard?
Theresa composed herself, pushing aside the fleeting emotions and slipping back into her role as Headmaster.
“Yes, we’re done.”
She stepped into the lounge, her gaze sweeping across the room. It softened slightly when it fell upon Bronya, who stood quietly to the side.
‘This one is a good girl,’ Theresa thought, a flicker of approval in her eyes. ‘She doesn’t seem the type to fall for a smooth-talking scoundrel like Lucian.’
“Now then,” Theresa announced, her attention pivoting to Kiana. Her eyes danced with amusement. “Let’s talk about our matters, my dear Kiana…”
An unsettling feeling prickled at Kiana under the weight of that gaze. Her first instinct was to duck behind Lucian for cover, but she resisted, forcing herself to stand her ground. She puffed out her chest, trying her best to meet Theresa’s stare head-on.
“Kiana,” Theresa began, taking a few steps closer. She had to tilt her head back slightly to look up at the girl who was already taller than her. The smile that graced her lips was kindly, carrying an almost parental warmth. “I’m actually your Aunt.”
“Huh?”
The single word hung in the air as Kiana froze, feeling as though she’d been struck by a bolt of lightning.
‘A-Aunt?’
This person… this girl who looked shorter and more like an elementary school student than she did… was her Aunt?
Her head snapped toward Lucian, her eyes wide with disbelief and a desperate plea for answers. Lucian’s expression was a complicated mixture of resignation and faint amusement, which did little to help.
So… this little shrimp really was her Aunt?
Theresa placed her hands on her hips and puffed out her chest—a gesture that, given her flat physique, was more adorable than authoritative—as she tried to project an air of seniority. The significant height difference only made the pose look all the more comical.
“Your mother, Cecilia, was the most important person in my life. You’re her daughter, so that makes you my family, too.”
She paused, her expression softening as she took in Kiana’s dazed face. “So… are you willing to believe me, Kiana?”
Kiana’s mouth opened, but no sound came out. She stared into Theresa’s lilac eyes and found nothing but genuine, unwavering concern reflected in them.
An Aunt… She had never, in her wildest dreams, imagined she had a relative like this. For as long as she could remember, it had just been her and her perpetually absent father, with only the haziest memories of a mother she barely knew.
And now, out of nowhere, someone was standing before her, claiming to be her Aunt. The feeling… it was strange. Overwhelming.
“I… I need some time to process this,” Kiana finally managed, her voice slightly hoarse.
“Of course.” Theresa nodded understandingly. Her gaze then shifted to Mei, lingering for a moment as if she were assessing something deep.
“As for you, Raiden Mei…” Theresa’s tone grew more serious. “The situation within your body is… quite special. We will need to conduct more detailed examinations and monitor you closely.”
“But rest assured,” she added, her voice firm but reassuring. “As long as you cooperate, St. Freya Academy will provide you with all the protection and support you need.”
As she spoke, Theresa unslung the massive Oath of Judah from her back, setting it on the floor with a soft thud. She unlatched a hidden compartment and retrieved a small stack of papers, handing one to each of the girls.
“Huh?” Kiana took the offered document, her brow furrowed in confusion.
“St. Freya Academy…” she read the words aloud, her eyes filled with curiosity as she looked back up at Theresa. “…Aunt, what is this?”
“It’s a school that trains Valkyries,” Theresa explained patiently, a hint of pride coloring her tone. “And your Aunt just so happens to be its Headmaster.”
“Headmaster?” Kiana’s eyes widened in astonishment as she re-examined the petite woman before her. Even dressed in a nun’s habit and carrying a giant cross, she looked more like a middle schooler playing dress-up. This tiny girl was in charge of an entire academy?
Theresa seemed immensely pleased by Kiana’s reaction, puffing out her chest again in a futile attempt to appear more authoritative.
“At St. Freya, you can systematically learn everything there is to know about the Honkai—from theory to practical combat, from intelligence gathering to teamwork.” She leaned in, her smile turning persuasive. “So, what do you say? Want to enroll?”
“Of course I want to go! I need to become stronger!”
Before Theresa had even finished her sentence, Kiana had snatched a pen and scrawled her name across the application form. Her reasoning was simple and absolute: she had to get stronger. If she didn’t, she wouldn’t be able to protect Lucian and Mei…
Theresa nodded, a satisfied smile on her face, before turning to Mei. “And what about you, Raiden Mei?”
Mei accepted the application, her fingertips tracing the crisp edge of the paper. She saw the expectant look in Kiana’s eyes, then thought of the volatile power sleeping within her own body. She took a deep, steadying breath.
“I… I’m willing to enroll.” With newfound resolve, she picked up a pen and carefully signed her name.
“Bronya will go as well,” the emotionless girl’s voice stated calmly. She didn’t even bother to read the document, simply signing her name with practiced efficiency. She had been exchanging subtle glances with Lucian the entire time, and when she received the form, he had given her a slight, encouraging nod.
Theresa looked with satisfaction at the three signed applications. She then turned to find Lucian leaning against the wall, watching her with an unreadable expression.
“Where’s mine?” he asked.
“You want to sign one, too?” Theresa raised a delicate eyebrow. She crossed her arms, tilting her chin up to look at him. “St. Freya is a girls’ school. In principle, we only accept female students.”
Hearing this, Lucian arched an eyebrow in response. His gaze flickered past Kiana and Mei, who looked equally surprised, before landing back on Theresa.
“But Headmaster Theresa,” he said smoothly, “didn’t you just say you wanted all of us to go to St. Freya together, to receive systematic training and guidance?”
“That’s right…” A sly, mischievous smile curled at the corners of Theresa’s lips. She reached into the folds of her habit and produced a distinctly different-looking application, handing it to Lucian.
“So, congratulations, Mr. Lucian, on becoming St. Freya Academy’s newest security guard!”
“…”
A heavy, awkward silence descended upon the lounge.
Kiana blinked, her gaze darting from a smug-looking Theresa to a dumbfounded Lucian. Her expression shifted from surprise to a valiant, but ultimately failing, attempt to suppress a giggle.
Mei, too, was taken aback for a moment. She quickly turned her head away, a hand rising to cover the smile that was threatening to break free at the corner of her mouth.
Bronya’s gray eyes fixed on Lucian’s face for a brief second before moving away without a ripple, as if she hadn’t heard a thing.
The corner of Lucian’s mouth twitched. He glanced at Theresa’s face, which was practically glowing with smug satisfaction, and let out a long, weary sigh. “Security guard?” he repeated, the word tasting foreign on his tongue.
“That’s right!” Theresa placed her hands on her hips, nodding with an air of deep righteousness. “St. Freya Academy is a big place, filled with so many lovely female students. Security is of the utmost importance!”
She gave him a once-over. “Just look at you! You’re strong, you’re not hard on the eyes… you’re the perfect candidate for our security detail!”
Listening to Theresa’s completely serious-sounding nonsense, Lucian’s mouth twitched again.
“Did St. Freya even have security guards before this?”
“Nope,” she chirped. “So you’ll be the very first one.”
“…”
Taking the form from her, Lucian scanned the document. Printed clearly at the top in bold letters were the words: “St. Freya Academy Security Personnel Employment Agreement.”
It really was for a security guard.