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

"Rita, what are you doing here?" Durandal asked, a hint of exasperation in her voice. "You're still the same as ever…" Even back when Durandal was a young Valkyrie, Rita had always had a knack for appearing unexpectedly.

"Lady Durandal, the Overseer asked me to temporarily take over your duties." Rita explained with a polite smile. "To be precise, he's concerned that if you leave, the awakened Mr. Lin Wei might be too much for the old HQ to handle, even with you gone. Concentrating Schicksal's cutting-edge technology here is currently the best option. However…"

Rita paused, glancing at the peacefully sleeping Lin Wei. He looks so different from the descriptions in the classified files about Welt…

She continued, "Whether Mr. Lin Wei truly is the Herrscher of Reason remains an unconfirmed theory. As a precaution, and given my prior interaction with him, I was chosen as a temporary replacement. As a recent comrade-in-arms, Mr. Lin Wei shouldn't harbor much hostility towards me…"

Even if Rita hadn't explained, Otto would have detailed his reasoning to Durandal. As a subordinate and adjutant, Rita was simply fulfilling her role.

A small incident had occurred before her departure.

Upon overhearing Rita's new assignment, Yuno, who had just returned with her, had vehemently insisted on accompanying her. Rita had dissuaded her with a single, smiling sentence: "Are the members of Squad Yuno truly qualified to care for a critically injured patient?"

Stung by this pointed question, even the destruction-prone Yuno had reluctantly backed down.

This was a serious matter; she didn't want to cause trouble. Besides, Lin Wei would eventually come to the floating island. She could simply wait.

Yuno consoled herself as she watched Rita depart.

"That's correct," Otto confirmed after Rita finished explaining. "While I personally see no need for such caution, I don't mind erring on the side of safety if others have concerns."

The old HQ, despite its advanced technology, was vulnerable. Otto had considered transferring Lin Wei to the current HQ, both for its superior defenses against the Herrscher of the Void, and because…

Durandal still had reservations. "The remaining residents here are mostly elderly and children, aside from a few researchers. They…"

"Don't worry about that. It's precisely because they are vulnerable that he won't act rashly." Otto's smile held a hint of hidden malice. "A hero like him would never harm the innocent, would he?"

While morally questionable, such tactics were often effective against those with a strong sense of justice, even if the "hostages" were Schicksal's own people.

"…" Durandal was silent, unsure if she was convinced or, as often happened, simply speechless at Otto's absurd pronouncements.

Seeing Durandal's silence, Otto simply smiled and ended the call.

"Sigh…" Durandal sighed wearily.

"The Overseer's methods are…unique. Don't let it bother you, Lady Durandal," Rita said soothingly. "At least, it's a practical plan with high value…"

"We can't change the Overseer's decisions. He has his reasons. We must obey." Durandal accepted Rita's comfort, but shook her head, glancing at Lin Wei with a hint of sympathy. "It does seem a little unfair to some…"

After this brief complaint, she quickly composed herself, offering Rita a reassuring smile. "Since it's the Overseer's order, I'll leave this to you. I have another mission."

As Schicksal's strongest Valkyrie, Durandal was always busy, constantly on missions or en route to them. She was used to this life.

"Safe travels, Lady Durandal." Rita bowed slightly.

Durandal nodded, about to leave, when she suddenly paused, turning back to Rita. "Rita, while I was in Manila, before the Honkai eruption, I mentioned someone named 'He Kun.' You remember?"

With her excellent memory, and given it was a story Durandal had shared, Rita couldn't forget.

"Of course. You said he was a spy the Overseer placed within Anti-Entropy, a highly capable, intelligent, and courageous gentleman." She sighed softly. "Unfortunately, fate is fickle. Mr. He Kun died assisting in the investigation of World Serpent. Even Manila itself fell to the subsequent Honkai eruption."

"…Yes, fate is fickle." Durandal echoed the sentiment, feeling its weight even more keenly than Rita.

"Why do you mention him, Lady Durandal?" Rita wondered why she'd bring up someone seemingly irrelevant. "Could it be…?"

"Yes, 'He Kun' is him," Durandal confirmed, nodding.

"Really? That's… unexpected." Rita finally understood the weight of "fickle fate," her surprise quickly replaced by a wry smile. "To deceive you so boldly, Lady Durandal… he's quite the rascal!"

That he'd also deceived Otto, a far more audacious feat, went unmentioned. After a brief pause, Rita added, "Perhaps you should stay, Lady Durandal, and wait for this daring 'He Kun' to awaken."

Durandal interrupted her musings, shaking her head. "I was angry when the Overseer told me. Who wouldn't be, after being tricked like that?"

Upon learning the truth, Durandal's initial embarrassment had turned to anger. She'd felt awkward, even regretful after hearing of 'He Kun's' death. Now, she realized he'd done it on purpose!

"But after calming down, especially after seeing what he did during the Honkai eruption, I changed my mind." She looked up at the dim lights, her voice calm and honest. "There are many constraints in this world. We all live with invisible shackles. Perhaps he had his reasons."

As someone who stood against disaster, shielding those behind her, Durandal didn't want to think ill of him.

"At least, regarding the fight against the Honkai, we share a common goal. That's enough."

"…I see, Lady Durandal." Rita looked at her intently, sighing softly. "I understand."

"If he wakes before I return, tell him I won't hold that incident against him. He needn't worry." Durandal smiled. Knowing the strongest Valkyrie bore no ill will would surely ease his mind. With her tasks complete, Durandal nodded farewell to Rita. "I'm off."

"Safe travels, Lady Durandal." Rita watched as the tall, blonde Valkyrie strode away, transforming into a streak of light that pierced the orange sunset, soaring towards the eastern horizon…

.....

Stigmata Space

"So that's what happened…" Some time later, Lin Wei and Yae Sakura sat on the simple tatami mat, listening to her recount the events during his coma. He felt a mix of relief and disbelief. Surviving had been a miracle.

If he hadn't shown Anna the serum because of the Chen siblings, he would have succumbed to Honkai corruption.

If he hadn't agreed to let Anna and Jell Meister accompany him, their desperate protection wouldn't have saved him from being trampled by Honkai beasts.

If Yae Sakura and Fu Hua's feather clone hadn't intervened, his fate would have been uncertain.

He'd been utterly helpless, entirely at fate's mercy. It was the most perilous experience of his life. Yet, through unexpected factors and coincidences, he'd returned to the shores of life.

This strange feeling left him speechless, unable to articulate his emotions.

He'd lost something, but the profound return made him feel like he truly belonged in this world, no longer an outsider. He was genuinely touched that Anna, despite her respect for Durandal, would fight her for him.

Why? Lin Wei chuckled wryly, his heart aching. If this was Anna's "growth," it was a cruel path.

"Indeed, it's a testament to her resolve and courage, denying a part of her own life," Yae Sakura agreed, nodding solemnly. Then, her tone shifted, a smile gracing her lips. "What will you do now?"

"What else can I do? Take it one step at a time." Lin Wei took a sip of tea, a wry smile on his face. "In a way, being in Schicksal's hands is the most advantageous situation."

"Oh?" Yae Sakura was surprised. She knew he'd tried to avoid this outcome, worrying constantly during his coma, even considering escaping.

She hadn't expected this relaxed demeanor. She wanted to understand his reasoning.

"The secrets of the Key of Corruption can't be kept forever. As long as we exist, and Otto is aware of us, he'll eventually discover the truth. Then, our situation becomes incredibly dangerous. He'll do everything to eliminate that threat."

Lin Wei continued sipping his tea, a strange smile playing on his lips. "But now, he's invited me in, exposing his Achilles' heel… He doesn't seem to realize the difficulty of 'sending a god back once invited.'"

He placed his cup on the table with a soft clink.

"Schicksal HQ isn't just his home turf. It can be mine, too."