Key of Corruption (1)

After yesterday's date with Bronya, Despite a seemingly restful night's sleep, I found myself feeling unusually tired as I made my way to St. Freya Academy the next day.

"I could have sworn I slept like a log... Why am I still feeling exhausted?"

Did something happen after the date with Bronya yesterday?

As I entered the academy gates, I couldn't help but notice the curious glances and hushed whispers that followed me.

It appears that my popularity is still here.

I quickly made my way to the classroom, eager to settle in and perhaps catch a few moments of rest before the day's lessons began.

As I entered, Kiana's voice greeted me, "Ah, here comes the protagonist!"

"Morning, Kiana."

My gaze then shifted to Bronya, who was seated quietly with her usual stoic expression. "Morning, Bronya," I greeted her with a nod.

"Morning, Shin," she replied, her tone neutral as always.

The atmosphere in the room suddenly shifted as Kiana's words echoed through the space. "Eh?! What happened?! I thought you two went on a date!"

Bronya and I exchanged a brief glance before the two of us responded in sync, "We did."

"O-Oh... Y-You two don't have to sync," Kiana stammered, feeling a bit awkward under the sudden attention.

"So? Bronya-onee-chan! How was it!?" Wendy's excitement was palpable, and even Kiana couldn't contain her curiosity.

Bronya remained silent, her expression unreadable as always.

"Bronya?" Kiana prompted, leaning in with interest.

"It's a secret," Bronya finally replied, her gaze fixed on the floor.

Just then, Kiana and Wendy slowly turned their expectant gazes towards me, their curiosity practically tangible in the air.

Feeling the weight of their anticipation, I shifted uncomfortably in my seat, trying to find the right words. "Uh... Well, you see... It was... um..."

"Come on, spill it, Shin!" Kiana nudged me eagerly, her eyes shining with excitement.

Wendy leaned in closer, her expression filled with anticipation. "We won't judge! Just tell us everything!"

I scratched the back of my head nervously, trying to find a way to summarize the date without giving away too much. "Um... It was... nice. We had a good time."

Kiana's eyes widened. "Just 'nice'? That's all?"

I chuckled nervously. "Well, yeah... It was enjoyable, you know..."

Wendy's eyes sparkled with mischief. "Hehe! I'm slightly jealous of Bronya-onee-chan now!"

"No, really, Shin! You've got to tell us more!" Kiana insisted, her curiosity piqued.

just then, Himeko strode into the classroom, her authoritative presence immediately commanding attention.

"Everyone, take your seats!" she declared, her voice firm and no-nonsense. She then caught sight of Kiana and Wendy, who were still lingering near the front of the room.

"Kiana, Wendy, back to your seats," Himeko instructed, her tone leaving no room for argument. "I have an announcement to make."

Kiana and Wendy exchanged a quick glance, their mischievous expressions hinting at some shared secret.

With a playful pout, Kiana complied, making her way back to her seat while shooting me a meaningful look. She mouthed something silently, "I will be asking more later."

Uwah... You should use that curiosity of yours in the class instead.

Himeko took control of the classroom, swiftly activating the projector with a few deft movements. "Alright, settle down everyone! It's time for the exam results," she announced, her voice carrying across the room.

As the projector hummed to life, displaying the names of the top performers, Himeko's gaze settled on Bronya. "Bronya Zaychik, excellent work. Keep it up," she praised, a hint of satisfaction evident in her tone.

I already expect that.

Bronya simply nodded in acknowledgment, her expression as stoic as ever.

Himeko then shifted her attention to Wendy. "Wendy, since you're new here, you'll have a special exam later. Make sure you're prepared," she instructed her tone firm but encouraging.

"Yes, ma'am!" Wendy responded enthusiastically.

"Now, onto the part you've all been waiting for: the students who barely passed," Himeko announced, turning her gaze to Kiana. "Any guesses on who might be in that category?"

Kiana chuckled confidently. "Oh, I'm sure I passed with flying colors! No need to worry about me," she declared, a playful grin on her face.

Himeko regarded Kiana with a raised eyebrow before sighing softly. "Well, Kiana, you managed to scrape by. Good job," she conceded, a faint smile tugging at her lips.

Woah, good progress from the idiot. I bet Mei-senpai will be praising her a lot.

"It seems that no one will be taking an exam since no one failed except for Wendy, Of course. Good work, everyone! Now, onto the part you've all been waiting for," Himeko declared, swiping the projector to reveal the countdown to the vacation week.

Not gonna lie, This is the best part about announcements.

Excited murmurs rippled through the classroom, but Himeko quickly quieted them down. "Now, I'll be calling out the names of students who will be going on a mission, so please stand up when I call your name."

With another swipe of the projector, the names appeared. "Kiana Kaslana and Shin Watanabe."

What!? HUH!?

"Eh?! What did I do?" I exclaimed, caught off guard by the sudden announcement.

Kiana joined in with her protest, "Oh, come on! I wanted to spend my time with Mei-senpai!"

Himeko silenced us with a stern look. "Quit complaining. Headmaster Theresa has assigned this mission to you for a reason."

"What about me!? I want to spend my time with Mei-senpai!" Kiana protested.

"And you, Kiana, should stop complaining. This mission will also earn you points to rank up in the Valkyrie ranks," Himeko replied firmly, shutting down any further objections.

Oh, I don't mind ranking up but what about my vacation?

"Right," Kiana pouted, reluctantly accepting her fate.

"Alright, that will be all for today, you two," Himeko announced, her gaze shifting between me and Kiana. "Follow me."

I stood up from my seat, and stretched my arms while Kiana mirrored my movements, and together we followed Himeko out of the classroom and toward the office.

"Himeko-sensei, may I ask a question?" I spoke up as we walked.

"What is it, Shin?" Himeko turned her attention to me.

"I'd like to know more about the Valkyrie ranking system."

Himeko nodded, "Of course, I'd be happy to explain as we walk to the office."

But Kiana couldn't hide her boredom. "Booo~ Boring!" she chimed in.

Ignoring Kiana's protest, Himeko began her explanation, "The Valkyrie ranking system is a hierarchical structure within St. Freya Academy that ranks Valkyries based on their performance, skills, and achievements in combat and academics. There are several ranks, starting from D-rank and ascending to S-rank, with S-rank being the highest. Each rank signifies a Valkyrie's level of proficiency and capability in battle."

Kiana let out a groan of boredom, but Himeko ignored her and carried on. "To advance in rank, Valkyries must demonstrate exceptional skill and achieve certain milestones, such as completing missions, earning high scores on exams, and showcasing leadership qualities."

"Wait how come my rank is still not S?!" Kiana protested.

Himeko sighed, "Look, Kiana, It's been a while since you asked that so how about I tell you WHY you haven't gone up to S rank yet... i see, Let's start from the mischief you did-"

"AHHH!! I remember now! I see!" Kiana halted Himeko immediately.

Himeko sighed and raised an eyebrow, "Anyway, was that all, Shin?" she asked, turning back to me.

"Yes, thank you, Himeko-sensei. That was enlightening," I replied gratefully.

Himeko nodded, pleased with my interest. "You're welcome, Shin. It's important for Valkyries to understand the system they're a part of."

Kiana, however, was eager to move on. "Can we get to the office already? I'm itching to know what this mission is about."

Himeko sighed, sensing Kiana's impatience. "Fine, we're almost there anyway."

As Himeko knocked on the door, we stood outside the principal's office, waiting anxiously.

"Come in," came the voice from behind the door.

With a nod, Himeko opened the door, leading the way inside. I followed closely behind, with Kiana trailing after me.

Inside, we found ourselves facing Theresa Apocalypse, the school's headmaster, and Fu Hua, who regarded us with a knowing gaze.

"Oh? I see you've brought them," Theresa remarked, acknowledging our presence.

Himeko stepped forward, "As you ordered, Kiana Kaslana and Shin Watanabe will be tasked with recovering the stolen divine key known as the 'Key of Corruption.'"

"Key of Corruption?"

"It is located in Yae-gu, Shinano, Japan," Fu Hua interjected, her voice calm and composed. "It's believed to be in the possession of the Yae Tribe, residing in a remote village."

"I see."

"The Divine Key, Jizo Mitama, manifests as an illusion of an armored samurai, wielder of two blades of misfortune and calamity. It embodies hatred and carnage, and it must be recovered before it falls into the wrong hands."

Kiana's brows furrowed with concern. "But how do we recover it?"

"It's quite simple," Theresa stated matter-of-factly. "You three will travel to Yae-gu, Shinano, and retrieve the key."

"Are we going to depart tomorrow?"

Theresa nodded firmly. "Yes, tomorrow morning. Please ensure you are prepared."

"Understood," Fu Hua, Kiana, and I replied in unison.

With Theresa's dismissal, we exited the principal's office, our minds already racing with plans and preparations for the mission.

Kiana's enthusiasm was palpable as she spoke up. "Wow, this is going to be so exciting!"

I couldn't help but chuckle softly at her boundless energy. "Carefree as always, huh..."

Just as we were about to leave, a familiar voice called out to me, causing me to pause. "Shin."

Turning back, I saw Himeko standing there, her expression serious. "Yes, Himeko-sensei?"

She gestured for me to come closer, and I obliged, leaving Kiana to wait a few steps away.

"How are you feeling, Shin?" Himeko's voice held a note of concern as she reached for my hand.

I hesitated for a moment before replying, "I'm... fine, Himeko-sensei. Why do you ask?"

Himeko's gaze was steady as she lifted my hand, revealing the stigmata etched into my skin. "I meant about... her."

My breath caught in my throat as I looked down at the mark, "I'll be fine... for now."

Himeko nodded, her concern evident. "Is that so? Then... Go enjoy this youth."

"R-Right!"

With her words echoing in my mind, I nodded in gratitude before rejoining Kiana.

"What are you two talking about?"

"Hm? None of your business."

"Boo~" Kiana pouted.