St. Freya Academy was filled everywhere with the vibrant air of youth.
Short skirts and thigh-high socks on beautiful girls.
Trench coats, long boots, long black straight hair, full of spirit.
Everywhere, the beauty of youth was being proclaimed.
Of course, that wasn't what attracted Mobius the most.
It was the overflowing vitality.
In her perception, every student appearing in St. Freya possessed vitality far surpassing that of ordinary people.
This was normal.
Although Valkyries had a shorter average lifespan than ordinary people, that was only because most of them lacked sufficient power. Faced with strong Honkai beasts, they were no different from ordinary humans.
As for those who had undergone Stigma transplants having reduced lifespans, rather than saying it was a loss, it was more accurate to say that the transplant elevated and forced out the body's potential, compressing what would have been a hundred years of vitality into a shortened period.
Under such circumstances, Valkyries naturally possessed overflowing vitality while in service.
Afterward, once their bodies could no longer withstand the strain, their vitality would plummet off a cliff.
But in this world, which of the two truly had it easier… nobody could really say.
As for Theresa, Durandal, those belonged to categories that couldn't even be compared.
Ordinary people shouldn't even think about it.
"Wow, that big sister is so elegant. Is she a new teacher?"
"I haven't heard of any teacher quitting. Is Principal Theresa bringing in another new face?"
"Noo, our workload is already killing me. If we get more classes, I'll have to give up my sleep!"
"If you didn't always sleep one or two hours earlier than everyone else, your grades would've shot up long ago."
"But sleeping is sooo comfortable!"
Hearing the whispering behind her, Mei felt curious and followed their admiring gazes.
She saw a woman in a white lab coat, her demeanour lazy yet refined, her long hair flowing, her aura blending strangely with St. Freya's elegant atmosphere.
Her aura was so unique. The type one wouldn't forget after a single glance.
A newly hired teacher? Mei had the same thought as the others.
That heavy, unmistakable "research lab aura" on Mobius was blindingly bright.
But she hadn't heard anything from Theresa about hiring new teachers.
"Be careful." Suddenly, the Herrscher of Thunder's voice echoed in her mind.
"What's wrong?" Mei asked softly, expression tightening.
"That person… gives off a presence I find very unsettling."
Hearing that, Mei's pupils widened subconsciously.
If even the Herrscher of Thunder felt wary, then the woman might be at least S-rank or someone equally dangerous.
And after spending so long with the Herrscher, Mei understood her personality quite well.
A textbook example of a proud tsundere.
Even she felt wary… Mei glanced around, only St. Freya students were nearby.
No, she couldn't let anything happen here.
She shook her head slightly and quietly followed, while also sending a message to the others.
…
After securing a reasonable excuse to leave, Mei trailed behind Mobius without drawing attention, observing her every move.
"She seems to be… window shopping?" Mei muttered in suspicion.
"Stay alert. People like her are never simple. Even I get chills from the madness hidden in her eyes."
Strolling around St. Freya?
The place was big, yes, but the commercial district was outside. Who would come into St. Freya just to wander around?
Having been through so much, Mei didn't believe anyone would do something so purposelessly.
Most importantly, whether it was World Serpent, Anti-Entropy, or Schicksal, all three organizations had good relations with St. Freya.
Under such circumstances, there was no way they'd send some unknown strong individual without notifying them.
A moment later, after wandering through most of the academy grounds, Mobius stopped at the spacious sports field.
The air was filled with sunlight and the unique scent produced when it touched the track.
Lightly rising onto her toes, she listened to the faint footsteps behind her and let out a soft laugh.
"What a beautiful campus. The person-in-charge must have worked very hard to maintain such an environment."
"The headmistress cherishes every person in St. Freya," Mei replied, stepping forward since she knew she'd already been exposed. Her voice was firm.
"Who exactly are you?"
Mobius did not answer. With her hands clasped behind her back, she leaned forward slightly, an undisguised probing gaze falling upon Mei.
"A human coexisting with a Herrscher consciousness… how rare."
In the previous era she lived in, such a thing was impossible.
As long as a Herrscher didn't cause massive destruction immediately, everyone would already be thanking the heavens.
Let alone something like this, humans and Herrschers coexisting to fight against the Honkai.
"If you won't answer, then forgive my discourtesy." Mei furrowed her brows, drawing her weapon, the blade aimed straight at Mobius.
"What a lively little test subject," Mobius' eyes sparkled.
Truth was found in battle.
Not only on the battlefield, even in research, this was the same.
One had to use their body to feel every detail in order to grasp the true essence.
Zzz, snap!
Action followed intent.
Mei became a flash of lightning, arcs dancing along her blade, thrusting straight at Mobius.
Her speed was so fast no human eye could keep up.
In a blink, she crossed the distance between them.
The next second,
A flash, the tip of her blade lost its target.
"She dodged?" Mei's pupils trembled as she scanned rapidly.
Lowering her gaze slightly, she saw Mobius' body bending in a way bones shouldn't allow, her upper torso folding like a serpent's.
Her flexibility far exceeded Mei's expectations.
Mei barely had time to feel shock before instinct moved her body.
Zzz!
Lightning turned into something like s sword slash, streaking across the air, splitting Theresa's carefully maintained lawn cleanly in half.
"Not bad power," Mobius commented, unharmed, as if she were a casual tourist evaluating Mei's attack.
Mei said nothing, raising her guard, ready for the next strike.
She had already expected this outcome.
Someone capable of making the Herrscher of Thunder issue a warning, such a person was absolutely not simple.
After observing, Mobius shook her head in regret.
"A Herrscher's ability is closely tied to knowledge. You haven't reached the deepest layer of knowledge yet, have you?"
Hearing that, Mei froze, her expression turning a bit strange.
Why did this feel like a teacher checking on a student's self-study progress?
No, it had to be her imagination… Mei shook her head slightly and, without replying, once again transformed into lightning, striking forward.
Möbius didn't mind at all. Once again, she used her soft, flexible body to dodge the bolts of lightning crashing down.
The more she fought, the more uneasy Mei became.
No matter how she attacked this woman, she couldn't deal any real damage.
There was even one moment when she was sure, from the feeling transmitted through the blade, that she had cut her, yet in the next instant, the woman's behaviour completely denied that possibility.
'Where did she come from? Is this some trick created by Honkai or someone?'
As for other organizations around the world who knew of Honkai's existence, those weren't within Mei's considerations.
With this level of combat power, she could be called top-tier even in Schicksal.
For those small organizations lacking resources and technology, if they could make something like this, even Schicksal would need to learn from them.
Möbius did not answer Mei's doubts. The attacks did affect her, she simply hid it well.
But the effect wasn't deep.
Right now, Möbius with overflowing energy.
With the Infinite Serpent genes in her, how could she be defeated so easily?
"Haah!"
Bang!
A thunderous explosion echoed as Judah slammed into the ground.
With a light heave-ho, Theresa landed from the sky.
Arms crossed over her chest, chin slightly raised.
"Hmph, I noticed it while I was up there. Since sharp weapons don't work, then we'll use heavy ones!"
When it came to dealing with soft, squishy creatures, Teresa could be called an expert.
Her monstrous strength specialized in handling slippery-skinned foes.
After striking her pose, Teresa turned to Mei and asked,
"Mei, what is going on here?"
She had rushed over as soon as she got the message. Seeing Mei fighting someone, she didn't even think, she simply dropped Judah straight down.
If you're a person, getting hit by that means you're settling down. That's the Teresa Principle.
Mei shook her head slightly. She was just about to speak when the voice of the Herrscher of Thunder sounded in her consciousness.
"Be careful. She can still move!"
"What?!"
Instinctively, Mei looked over, and sure enough, she saw Möbius, who had just been motionless, gently placing both hands on the sides of Judah, her touch soft and smooth.
"Oath of Judah, what perfect creation."
Even without Mei reminding her, Teresa's eyes widened.
She took that hit and she's fine?!
Teresa had not held back, she was only afraid the woman would escape, so she actually didn't go easy!
As for whether the attack would kill her in one blow,
That wasn't something Teresa considered.
And someone who could fight Mei for so long, how could she possibly die from a single strike?
Teresa regretted it deeply.
If she had known this woman was so resistant to beatings, she wouldn't have held back earlier.
"Who exactly are you?" Teresa asked solemnly.
She sighed inwardly.
'Why were monsters like this popping up everywhere recently?'
Logically, no matter how the world evolved, strong individuals of this level shouldn't appear out of nowhere.
"Who am I?" Möbius's eyes turned at Teresa's question.
A moment later, under the two girls' shocked gazes, Möbius slowly walked toward them completely defenseless.
What's going on?
"I don't know."
"Should we attack…?"
"The Herrscher of Thunder says she has no ill intent. Maybe we should stall for time?"
Exchanging glances, the two silently agreed, stall until others arrived.
With graceful steps, Möbius stopped before Teresa. Her soft body leaned slightly forward, and her deep eyes stared straight into Teresa's.
Just as Teresa and Mei tensed to their limits, ready to move at any moment,
Möbius slowly opened her mouth.
"If you really want to know, then…"
...
Under their stunned expressions, Möbius gently spoke the words that shook both of them.
"You can call me Auntie~"
"Eh?"
"Hah?"
"Ah?"
…
Another bizarre person had appeared.
The two of them stared at each other in confusion for a long moment.
Finally, Yae Sakura and Kallen rushed over, breaking the strange atmosphere at the scene.
Only then did the two return back to their senses and moved to an indoor place.
"Um… what exactly is going on?"
Carefully moving to Mei's side, Kallen whispered into her ear.
Yae Sakura perked her ears to listen, drawing Möbius's gaze.
Mei covered her mouth slightly and whispered, "I'm not sure either… It seems like the principal's relative came to visit."
"Didn't they say Teresa is already in her forties or fifties? Her relatives look this young? And, and their hair colors aren't even the same!"
"Uuu…" Teresa's cheeks puffed slightly as she glared fiercely at Möbius, who was treating this place like her own home.
She was calmly drinking tea!
'Sakura, why are you even pouring tea for her! And where did you even get the teacup?'
Sensing Teresa's silent resentment, Yae Sakura turned her head away as if nothing happened.
Since she wasn't an enemy, she was simply showing St. Freya's hospitality.
"What do you mean by all this? I've never heard of any relative like you in the Kaslana or Apocalypse families."
Crossing her arms, Teresa demanded.
She knew every person in both the Kaslana and Apocalypse bloodlines.
There was absolutely no one like this green-haired woman.
As for whether she could be from the Shariac family,
Impossible. Absolutely impossible!
If Kaslana or Apocalypse suddenly had a new member, she could still blame Otto's schemes.
But the Shariac family? No chance at all.
She would bet next month's Homu manga on it!
At Teresa's doubts, Möbius gave a lazy smile. Her soft, boneless body leaned sideways on the sofa, and she spoke lightly:
"It's not important. The facts are as they are. Just wait a little and you'll know the truth."
"In the meantime… why don't you call me Auntie first? Maybe I'll tell you early."
Hearing this, Teresa's expression instantly darkened.
If she weren't worried about causing more damage to St. Freya, she would have already launched Judah.
Seeing Teresa clearly wanting to attack but unable to, Möbius felt deeply satisfied.
This wicked amusement had surged up the moment she saw Teresa.
Especially the Kaslana aura radiating from her, Möbius felt an even stronger urge to take this adorable little white mouse home.
Surely Kevin wouldn't mind her taking a Kaslana-blooded little mouse… right?