Honkai: Man(Sludge) From Future

Hachiman Hikigaya was assigned to a homicide case.

His superior was a Valkyrie named Wendy, whose combat prowess dwarfed his own.

"Huh? Domestic violence?"

Wendy seemed a bit bewildered.

She looked at the burly man, who fidgeted nervously, his gaze darting around, his expression shifting from anger to fear, then to meek subservience.

"Yes. My husband was abusive. I couldn't take it anymore. I thought if I became a man, as strong as him, I could fight back. So, I secretly went to the research facility and had the surgery."

"It worked! A man's body is so much stronger than a woman's. Even running and jumping feels different. I can do things I couldn't before!"

"He was always stronger, even when drunk and smoking. But not anymore. When he came home to hit me, I fought back, and… he was drunk, and I… I accidentally killed him."

Hachiman glanced at the "murder weapon" on the table, if it could even be called that.

It was a cooking spoon. The man had half his skull caved in. Whether the suspect's story was true remained to be seen, but the victim's blood alcohol content was 245mg/100ml.

Practically pickled in alcohol.

Testimony from neighbors corroborated the abuse claims.

The case itself wasn't complicated. The gender transformation aspect was the reason Hachiman was assigned to observe and learn.

The young cadet's promising career had just encountered its first wife-turned-husband killer case.

Possibly the first such case in human history, destined for the annals of crime.

"Amazing. I wish Theresa-sensei could become a man…"

Wendy, expecting a dangerous assignment, was surprised by this mundane domestic dispute. She dutifully recorded the interrogation, leaving the legal complexities to the experts.

Honestly, the whole affair was a bit much for a young girl like her.

It shattered her illusions of marital bliss. She was already a modified being, thanks to future technology. Maybe she should just stick with the future people?

Wendy had no grand ambitions, unlike Mei, who cherished the simple joys of domestic life. She was simply adrift, unsure what to do with her life, content to follow whoever treated her kindly.

Currently, she favored Bronya and Noldrei.

Hachiman had learned to tune out his superior's ramblings about Theresa-sensei, focusing on his own work.

"Leader, what should we do? Should we publicize this? Or classify it?"

Hachiman knew his role. A Public Safety cadet's primary duty was maintaining order in Academy City, secondary to hindering Noldrei's policies.

Either way, mitigating the impact of this policy felt like a futile effort.

They clearly had no intention of minimizing the impact. So, he couldn't simply follow Kuro's instructions.

He needed to avoid getting entangled, not try to solve problems he had no control over.

Wendy was also unsure how to proceed. Legally, sentencing differed based on gender.

But someone among the Valkyries had coined a new term:

"Cisgender woman."

Meaning a woman assigned female at birth.

Wendy understood the intent, but the speed at which new terminology emerged was startling.

I never thought the Valkyries would be involved in this. But this can't continue… Should I consult with Bronya-neesan?

Public Safety cadets had no experience with such issues. Even the legal system would likely produce an unsatisfactory outcome.

Wendy was unaware of Noldrei's orchestrated prison break, where a male inmate transitioned to female, became pregnant, and escaped capital punishment. If she knew, she'd understand her next course of action.

Unfortunately, Noldrei hadn't given her any instructions.

As if she were insignificant…

This disheartened the often-overlooked girl. She longed to prove her worth.

Wendy pondered, finally reaching a decision.

"Gather reporters and lawyers. Announce this case to the public. Hold a press conference. Elevate this to a societal discussion. Let's expose all the underlying family conflicts. Do you understand?"

Hachiman was taken aback.

"I'm still a student. Is this appropriate?"

Wendy dismissed his concern. "There are plenty of young leaders in Academy City, many A-rank Valkyries are young girls. These students are already in leadership positions. They're capable. Trust me, you're more capable than you think."

"The Council needs these students to mature quickly, to handle responsibilities and protect themselves. As for compulsory education, that will be addressed after Stigmata armor integration."

"If you need help, find some academically gifted students. Academy City has laid the biotech groundwork. Anti-Entropy will soon release advanced educational tools."

Wendy knew some of the details. Tesla planned to unveil quantum technology, further integrating Stigmata armor into daily life.

She even knew Noldrei planned to combine biotech with Tesla's quantum tech.

Not just quantizing armor…

But quantizing living beings.

Hachiman obeyed his superior, though he just wanted to avoid getting involved. His position, however, demanded action.

He envied Miyuki Shirogane.

If only I were good at science, I could hide in the research facility, shielded by the Council.

The ironic humor of his predicament wasn't lost on him.