Volume 2, Chapter 14: The Valkyries' Dining Table

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Emerging from Saint Freya's basement, Xia Chen suddenly felt a sense of aimlessness.

It was midday, yet with no assigned tasks and no one urging him for training, he found himself completely free to do as he pleased.

"First, let's practice Taixuan Sword Qi."

He genuinely had little else to do at the moment.

"Then, I should find time to ask Himeko if there are any versatile sword techniques available; Sakura Petal Fall is too soft for my style."

For Xia Chen, while Sakura Petal Fall was effective, it didn't suit his combat preferences.

Currently, his undeniable advantage lay in physical prowess, but Sakura Petal Fall couldn't fully leverage this strength.

Perhaps learning to use a Greatsword might be worth considering.

However, these were not immediate concerns.

With a plan in mind, Xia Chen continued towards the training room.

Despite Saint Freya Academy's relaxed environment, he dared not waste any time. He still wasn't certain if he could subdue the newly born Herrscher of the Void, and the simulation scenarios have already introduced the more formidable Herrscher of Sentience.

There was no room for complacency.

Unless he was willing to hide quietly somewhere until the main characters seal the Honkai Energy and transition into Post-Apocalyptic Scenarios, which seemed uncertain itself. Could the era of Post-Apocalyptic Scenarios be a trap set by Honkai? No one could say for sure.

Only power can truly ensure his reliance.

Moreover, Finality's pheromone marking left him restless and uneasy.

Evening at Saint Freya Academy, Valkyrie Dormitory.

"Ah, finally done with class."

Kiana sprawled on the couch, letting out a contented sigh. "Saved! Teacher Welt's lectures practically put me to sleep; it's exhausting."

"Dumb Kiana, you've been sleeping all day. What's so tiring about that?"

Bronya sat at the other end of the sofa, expressing her disdain for Kiana.

"You wouldn't understand. It takes effort not to fall asleep, okay? It's really hard work."

"But the reality is, your head hit the desk and you were instantly asleep," Bronya mercilessly pointed out.

Kiana couldn't help but puff up her cheeks, pouting. "So annoying, Mei, Bronya's bullying me again."

However, there was no response to her complaint.

"Mei?" Kiana sat up from the couch, noticing Raiden Mei standing by the refrigerator, deep in thought.

Frowning slightly, she rushed over and playfully tackled her friend.

"Ah, Kiana, what are you doing?"

"Hehe, Mei, what's on your mind?" Kiana wrapped her arms around Mei, resting her head on Mei's shoulder. "You've seemed preoccupied ever since we got back. Is something wrong?"

"Kiana, stop goofing around."

"Nope, Mei, spill it already."

Bronya also approached, her gaze fixed on Mei.

Naturally, she was contemplating whether to use Project Bunny to lift Kiana off immediately.

Mei spoke up, "It's about Teacher Himeko; she came to see me earlier."

She continued, "Although Xia Chen is only a temporary teacher, he's currently part of Saint Freya. So, Teacher Himeko asked if I could prepare an extra portion for dinner tonight as a welcome gesture."

"But time is running short, and I don't know his dietary preferences or what dishes would be suitable."

"I see. Well, whatever Mei cooks, he'll definitely love it," Kiana confidently chimed in.

Bronya responded mildly, "And then Kiana will devour all the food first, embarrassing us in front of Teacher Xia Chen."

Kiana couldn't help but grind her teeth, "Who said that? I...I'll only eat half the dishes, no, just one-third! Even if Mei makes my favorite chicken legs, I won't overindulge!"

For Kiana, this would indeed be a severe punishment.

Bronya remained expressionless. "I'll have Project Bunny calculate the weights and monitor Kiana's behavior."

"Bronya, you're scheming against me," the girl belatedly realized.

"Kiana has already given her word; there's no backing out now. Unless she wants to appear dishonest in front of Big Sister Mei."

This only intensified Kiana's frustration further.

This little Pudding was anything but cute.

On the side, Mei felt a headache coming on from their bickering.

"I should consult Class Monitor Fu Hua for advice and invite her over as well. Since both Xia Chen and Fu Hua have Shenzhou names, they likely share common interests. That way, dinner won't be awkward." With that, she closed the refrigerator and proceeded to contact Fu Hua.

Meanwhile, Xia Chen was seeking guidance in swordsmanship from Teacher Himeko.

When he approached Himeko for instruction, she explained:

"The sword techniques taught to Valkyries may not be perfect, but they have been optimized by the Science Division to align with human physical training."

"Although Schicksal can't cover every aspect perfectly, their training methods are indeed reliable."

In his previous life with the Immortal Blades, Xia Chen primarily focused on firearms and hand-to-hand combat, having little exposure to sword techniques.

Therefore, he sought guidance directly from Himeko.

Xia Chen didn't feel embarrassed about learning these fundamental sword skills at this stage; he wasn't someone who let pride dictate his actions.

"You're progressing very quickly," Himeko observed, impressed as she looked at the young man before her. "Within just two hours, you've already grasped most of these sword techniques. All that's missing is practical combat experience, but with the Memory Battlefield, you should become proficient soon enough."

If possible, she genuinely wished she could persuade Xia Chen to join Saint Freya Academy. However, she knew it was unlikely; Saint Freya's environment was too laid-back, probably not appealing to Xia Chen's standards.

Smiling warmly, she said, "It's getting late now. Oh, why don't you come over for dinner tonight?"

"Uh, maybe another time." Xia Chen instinctively declined, explaining, "My appetite tends to be quite large, so I wouldn't want to impose any extra trouble on you."

Of course, his concerns extended beyond just that.

In the realm of primal desires, Kiana and Raiden Mei were undeniably tempting to him, akin to irresistible delicacies.

Despite achieving Still Water's state through Taixuan Sword Qi, it didn't mean his thoughts would remain entirely unaffected.

"What does it matter? Many people have big appetites, come on now." The older teacher urged him along enthusiastically.

She held Xia Chen in high regard; his actions consistently exemplified the conduct expected of a standard military officer. Moreover, he was most frequently seen at the training grounds.

He neither relied on his handsome looks to flirt with girls around the academy nor used his strength to bully others indiscriminately. While not perfect, his character was certainly commendable.

"Alright then."

It's just a dinner, shouldn't be any issues, though he wasn't entirely sure.

"I'll head back first to take a shower and change clothes before joining you," he smiled and said, "After all, I'm quite sweaty, wouldn't want to be impolite."

"That works."

Himeko's eyes flashed with approval; attention to detail in men always scored points for her.

Meanwhile, Fu Hua was already in the Valkyrie dormitory, cooking alongside Raiden Mei.

"Shenzhou cuisine is complex and diverse, but to ensure our guest enjoys the meal, boiled sliced pork will suffice. It's flavorful, filling, and perfectly suitable for hosting guests."

Clearly experienced in cooking, she continued calmly, "As for the rest, it depends on Raiden Mei."

"Alright, thank you, Class Monitor."

In the kitchen, Raiden Mei found her confidence and declared, "I'm determined to make everyone enjoy this meal thoroughly."