Volume 1, Chapter 51: Regret Born from Cowardice

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Gretel and Wendy's bond wasn't always this strong.

To be precise, Gretel played a part in why the Ocean Branch willingly used a future S-rank Valkyrie as an experimental subject.

Before Wendy became the test subject, the Ocean Branch had initially approached Gretel.

In the Ocean Branch, A-rank Valkyries were not valued as highly compared to those in other branches. This was because no Honkai incidents had occurred here, at least until then.

But Gretel refused.

Despite her Valkyrie's duty to combat Honkai, Gretel chose survival over responsibility.

And thus, this tragedy unfolded.

Afterward, she was tormented by immense pain and regret. Although rationally, she knew she hadn't made a wrong choice,

She felt like a deserter.

Gretel repeatedly declined offers to transfer to better branches or join other Valkyrie squads, choosing instead to stay and care for Wendy. She also seized every opportunity to report back to Headquarters, hoping to find a cure for Wendy's condition.

The guilt suffocated her relentlessly.

Seeing Wendy smile genuinely today, in front of Xia Chen, only deepened Gretel's remorse.

Wendy had endured too much suffering.

Yet, Gretel never shared these thoughts with anyone.

Her mind was elsewhere as she pushed Wendy's wheelchair, both remaining silent.

"Gretel, you seem troubled," Wendy's voice, gentle like a breeze, caressed Gretel's emotions.

For some reason, after seeing Xia Chen today, Wendy felt significantly lighter.

Perhaps the dream served as a premonition, and dying at his hands could be seen as a fateful release. Consequently, she wasn't afraid; rather, she eagerly anticipated it.

Despite her resilience, enduring such injustice as a young girl still left her feeling disheartened.

With Xia Chen's arrival, she sensed it might be some kind of guidance, leading her towards the destination called death.

"Alright."

Distractedly, Gretel informed Wendy about Xia Chen's plan to go to Nagazora City.

"He did come from the Immortal Blades after all," the A-rank Valkyrie said. "The relaxed atmosphere here at the Ocean Branch simply doesn't suit him. It's understandable that he wants to head to Nagazora City."

"I was originally considering asking him to look after you for a few days until I return."

Minerals and supplies were transported from Australia to Europe every four months, and Gretel planned to use this opportunity to visit Schicksal again, hoping to gather more information. During her last report, despite spending considerable time, she hadn't found answers but had managed to connect with individuals from several research institutes who agreed to assist in her investigation.

This time, she intended to return to Headquarters once more, taking a chance on new leads. Gretel couldn't predict when she would be back.

She told Wendy, "Xia Chen mentioned he could take you along to Nagazora City, but I'm not entirely comfortable with that. Despite his strength, disasters can strike unexpectedly."

In combat, warriors often struggle to divide their attention effectively.

Wendy, being an ordinary person, would find even fleeing difficult.

Even if Xia Chen assured her safety, she wouldn't agree to leave.

Moreover, the branch itself would never permit it, given Wendy's undeniable importance.

Gretel smiled and said, "It seems we'll have to do as before - when I leave, you must stay here."

"After all, although this place can be suffocating, it is quite safe." Gretel held back another unspoken thought:

Just like a prison cage.

A hint of sadness flashed across Wendy's eyes.

"Yes, I'll listen to you."

"Alright then, I know you fancy that handsome fellow, but he can't stay in Nagazora City indefinitely," Gretel responded with a slightly exaggerated smile, breaking the oppressive atmosphere. "Who knows, by the time your leg heals, you might also find happiness."

"Mm, you've figured me out."

Wendy's eyes sparkled.

What she truly cherished was the prospect of imminent freedom.

Naturally, Xia Chen couldn't take Wendy with him, but he successfully requested time off from the Ocean Branch.

For the staff there, accommodating someone from Headquarters was challenging. They all understood that Xia Chen would eventually be reassigned back to his original post.

Given his exceptional talent, it was impossible for them to keep him here indefinitely.

To the head of the Ocean Branch, Xia Chen's presence felt like having a demanding VIP around.

They were well aware that the atmosphere at the Ocean Branch differed significantly from other branches, and moreover, they had no need for this VIP to work actively. This situation posed a significant headache in managing Xia Chen's role.

When Xia Chen expressed his desire to clear Honkai incidents in Nagazora City, it was seen as a great relief by the branch leadership.

The responsible person eagerly responded, "Take as much time off as you want; go for as long as you wish. As long as you stay safe and avoid any trouble, even traveling the world wouldn't be a problem."

Indeed, the Ocean Branch could afford such indulgence.

This generosity left Xia Chen feeling somewhat embarrassed yet relieved at the same time.

With such freedom, he felt considerably more at ease.

Perhaps this opportunity could also help him track down the Jizo Mitama. It remains uncertain if anything will change once Rin obtains the Core.

Of course, even if he doesn't find the Jizo Mitama, it's not a concern. After all, the current Red Sakura is already sufficient.

The most crucial aspect for Xia Chen was to channel his restless energy elsewhere.

Just before leaving, Gretel approached him once more and said, "Could you spare some time each week to accompany Wendy?"

Her eyes held a hint of regret as she pleaded, "Wendy shouldn't endure such suffering. When I'm not around, she needs someone to talk and engage with."

Xia Chen briefly hesitated before agreeing.

Before meeting Wendy, due to Rin's memory alteration, his perception of her resembled that from the storyline - deeply pitiable and innocent.

However, after interacting with Wendy, his view significantly changed.

Despite everything, she persistently strives to stand up and fight. Even during her toughest times, she never forgets to practice shooting, maintaining her proficiency with firearms.

This resilience embodies what an A-rank Valkyrie should be.

It's no wonder that despite enduring immense hardships for so long, even upon becoming a Herrscher, she managed to reclaim control of her body within the Herrscher consciousness.

Compared to Raiden Mei's mental fortitude, Wendy was already significantly stronger.

If possible...

He wanted to change this tragic fate.

However, it is now October 2015.

While he didn't know the exact date of the Fourth Honkai outbreak, he was aware it would occur within 2016.

Unless, he could extract the Gem of Desire before that time.

Yet even Schicksal lacked the technology to remove a Herrscher Core directly. The only proven method involved Wendy transforming into the Herrscher of Wind, causing the Herrscher Core within her body to shatter upon manifestation.

Creating a Herrscher requires a large-scale Honkai event. If artificially induced, it would mean sacrificing hundreds of thousands of lives to save just one Wendy.

Xia Chen could never bring himself to do such a thing.

Even if Ana faced a similar situation, he wouldn't choose that path.

Thus, Wendy's death seemed like an inevitable outcome.