Honkai, why do you only throw me into high-level battles?

"Beep, beep, beep…" Durandal's morning meditation was interrupted by the insistent beeping of her communicator. Opening her eyes, she saw, as expected, an incoming call from Otto Apocalypse.

It wasn't hard to guess. Few people could directly contact someone of Durandal's status. Typically, it was only three: Rita, Nagamitsu, and Otto. Occasionally, Amber contacted her on Otto's behalf, but it was still Otto's will being carried out.

Rita knew her schedule intimately and only contacted her during free time. Nagamitsu, while occasionally requesting full physical checkups, didn't do so often and rarely contacted her otherwise. That left only the Overseer, who constantly assigned her various tasks.

Of course, this was Durandal's job, so she had no complaints.

"Overseer, what is it?" Accepting the call, Durandal asked directly.

"Apologies, Bianka, for interrupting your morning exercises." Otto began with a polite chuckle. Then, seemingly casually, he inquired, "How's the data?"

"How is what?" Durandal knew exactly what he meant. Glancing at the still, silent figure on the bed through the one-way glass, she checked the ECG and EEG monitors. "Still unconscious. It's been three days now, with no abnormalities. The data shows no signs of imminent awakening."

"Data, huh? I hope so…" Otto winced internally at the word. He'd learned his lesson. The Herrscher of Reason, if sufficiently imaginative, could transform themselves into a sentient rock, or something equally bizarre. Data wasn't always reliable.

"Setting aside the data, based on your experience and intuition, Bianka, what are the chances of him awakening soon?" He trusted the judgment of the strongest Valkyrie, with her exceptional instincts, more than easily manipulated data.

"One moment." Durandal rose and entered the room where Lin Wei slept. Observing him closely, she reported, "His breathing is steadier and stronger than before. He should show signs of waking within the next day or two."

"I see." Otto nodded, pondering.

"What did you need, Overseer?" Durandal, knowing Otto never contacted her without a reason, cut to the chase.

"Indeed, there's an important task for you." Unsurprised by her directness, Otto explained, "After the Honkai eruption in Manila, sensors detected unusual Honkai energy activity in the South China Sea. I suspect it's the Judgment-class Honkai beast, 'Chiyou,' sealed there by ancient Shenzhou inhabitants 3,000 years ago. The Great Eruption may have weakened its seal."

Otto's voice was calm. "The situation is unclear. I need you to investigate. Determine Chiyou's current state, its level of revival, and the degree of danger. If the risk is too high, like with the gentleman beside you, eliminate it preemptively."

He sighed, a flicker of regret crossing his face. "Though, that would mean losing a valuable tool and opportunity."

"Uh, I don't understand." Durandal was confused. It's a Judgment-class Honkai beast. Why not eliminate it immediately? Could you be more direct, Overseer? Your riddles are beyond me.

"Now, now, don't be hasty, Bianka." Otto chuckled, posing a question in return. "What do you think of our 'reviving the Herrscher of the Void' project?"

"Uh… I can't really evaluate it." Durandal stated her position plainly. I don't like it, but if it benefits humanity's fight against the Honkai, I'll accept it. Her stance was clear: she wasn't fond of the idea, but given Otto's confidence and the considerable resources invested, she would cooperate fully. "But I don't see how it relates to this mission."

"It's a magnificent plan!" Otto said, a hint of wistfulness entering his voice. "Of course, it's incomplete. It lacks several crucial components—the 2nd Divine Key, for instance, and a few other things. The former, I believe our soon-to-awaken guest will provide answers to. The latter… well, this unexpectedly revived ancient beast might offer some pleasant surprises."

"…I still don't understand." Durandal grasped that Otto had other plans for the Honkai beast, related to the Herrscher revival project, and wanted to keep it under observation.

"Bianka, you had many classmates at the Valkyrie training camp. Why did you form such a close bond with Rita, your partner after becoming an A-rank Valkyrie, rather than your former classmates?" Otto posed another seemingly unrelated question.

Durandal paused, puzzled. Before she could answer, he continued, "I doubt it's because she's also an S-rank Valkyrie. No offense intended, of course. Eliminating that reason, only one answer remains…"

Otto paused dramatically. "Your shared experiences—drifting in the Sea of Quanta, adventuring together in that world bubble you cherish so much—forged an unbreakable bond. Even the world bubble itself holds special meaning because of it."

"…" Durandal pondered, beginning to understand.

Otto confirmed her suspicions. "Our K-423, and her partners in this grand experiment, lack such shared experiences."

"St. Freya, the 'toy' I gave Theresa, is too idyllic (peaceful). While it fostered pure emotional connections and friendships for K-423, there's a downside. It perfectly facilitated the first stage of our plan, but it hinders the second. There are no storms in a greenhouse."

"Those three girls from Nagazora lack this crucial shared experience. Untested emotions would be the Achilles' heel of our grand experiment…"

Otto chuckled. "Fortunately, this ancient beast, defeated and sealed for 3,000 years, perfectly addresses this weakness."

"It's dangerous enough to be a threat unlike anything they've faced, yet manageable enough for them to overcome, forging irreplaceable bonds."

He sighed.

"Only through hardship, shared struggles, and mutual support can ordinary friendships be tempered into unbreakable bonds. Only such deep emotions can reawaken the Herrscher's caprice, giving us the key…"

He spoke earnestly. "This precious 'first milk' will allow these still-maturing children to grow in a relatively controlled and safe environment. Aside from this awakening Judgment-class beast, I see no other way to achieve such results."

He'd planned it all. He'd give the mission details to Theresa, assigning it to the Far East Branch. Understaffed and more academically inclined, they would need to mobilize everyone, sending their most elite squad to investigate. With Fu Hua's "subtle" encouragement, the task would inevitably fall to K-423 and her team.

She's forgotten everything. Even if some vague emotions linger, she won't be an obstacle…

If necessary, Durandal could oversee the operation, mitigating any unforeseen risks. Otto was practically giddy. This was an incredible stroke of luck.

However, there was a prerequisite…

"That's why I need you, Bianka, for this task." After laying out his reasoning, Otto reiterated his request. "Thoroughly investigate Chiyou's status, its level of revival, the extent of the seal's damage, and its current Honkai energy level. Assess the risk. Only with this information can my plans be realized, rather than remaining mere fantasies."

He spread his hands innocently. "Of course, if it proves too dangerous, you may act as you see fit."

"…Understood. If that's the case, I will simply severely injure it, ensuring it fulfills your requirements, Overseer." Durandal replied thoughtfully.

Otto's intentions were clear. If the conditions weren't naturally present, they would be created artificially. From that perspective, this mission was indeed tailored for her.

But what about him? Durandal glanced at the sleeping Lin Wei. "Overseer, you ordered me to guard him. If I leave, who will take my place?"

While the old HQ's security was second only to the floating island, that was for external threats. If Lin Wei woke up hostile, who could restrain him, minimizing potential damage?

"Don't worry, I've made arrangements." Otto glanced at the time, smiling. "She should be arriving shortly."

"Hmm?" Before Durandal could respond, she felt a chill behind her.

Whirling around, she saw Rita standing gracefully a short distance away, a polite smile on her face.

"Lady Durandal, Rita greets you."