The moment Rita gently hugged Leo Ash, the atmosphere on the scene instantly became tense.
The girls present were now divided into three factions: Theresa and Yuno's [What's Happening] faction, Bronya's one-person [This Has Nothing to Do with Me] faction, and Mei and Kiana's [This Woman...!] faction.
The onlookers were still observing, but at this moment, Kiana and Mei could already clearly feel a sense of crisis.
On the other side, Rita, hugging Leo Ash, smiled as she looked at Kiana, whose face was a mixture of shock and anger.
Although she knew that Leo Ash's trip to the Far East was a foregone conclusion, Rita wouldn't just let her younger brother be dragged directly into Otto's plan like this.
K423 needed to form sufficiently strong bonds with others, and after arriving at St. Freya High School, she would meet many people.
While Rita was willing to fight against the Honkai, that didn't mean she had no personal motives.
She couldn't stop Otto's plan, nor could she prevent her brother from stepping onto the battlefield and being caught in a vortex of conspiracy.
At this point, she could only find an opportunity to have Leo Ash retreat to a secondary role as much as possible.
As for whether this would anger Lord Bishop Otto...
In Rita's eyes, Otto wouldn't go that far.
A gentle hug between an adoptive sister and her adoptive brother as she sees him off is not an excessive act in Rita's hometown.
As an English girl, if Rita wasn't worried that a more excessive act would lead to some undesirable consequences, she might have done more than just hug Leo Ash when she came over.
As for the current Leo Ash, after being suddenly hugged by Rita, he didn't immediately start to struggle.
No matter how much he denied it, at this moment, he truly felt the warmth of family from this adoptive sister.
He could feel that Rita was genuinely worried about him.
In that case...
[In that case, of course you should be bolder!]
[Adoptive sister and adoptive brother, husband and wife, they're both family without blood ties anyway, is there really a big difference! GO! GO! GO!]
You know... I was finally having a quiet moment to feel the warmth of family, could you please not steer the atmosphere in that direction at this time.
[Host, this System is very disappointed in you. Haven't you realized yet—this System is reminding you that things are about to go wrong if this continues?]
At that moment, Leo Ash saw two data bars pop up from the System.
In the notes for these two data bars, he saw the names of Kiana and Mei—wait, why are your favorability fluctuations so huge!
And the resentful thoughts mixed in like [Ah, so Leo Ash has a girlfriend], [Can sisters really be this intimate?], [I guess there's no fate between me and Leo Ash], [That idiot Senior, you could at least struggle a bit!], [It's always been just me being wishful], [Damn it, I want to rush over—but what right do I have to stop a hug between siblings!]—are you serious???
[Hehe, you guess.]
So, from the time I transmigrated until now, today is only the fourth day.
Is this a favorability level you can reach in four days????
[Hehe, you guess.]
At that moment, Leo Ash struggled slightly in Rita's arms before saying softly to her.
"Sis, don't worry, I'm not a child anymore."
"Is that so? But Leo, you're still seven months away from being an adult."
After casually mentioning Leo Ash's birthday, Rita, who had let go of him, said with a hint of worry.
"Your sister is very worried that you'll keep pushing yourself too hard out there."
Damn it... Damn it!
Looking at Rita and Leo Ash, Kiana felt like she was grinding her teeth to dust.
Mentioning Senior's birthday at this time, is she telling me 'You don't understand him at all' and 'My relationship with him is much deeper than yours'?!
This woman is too hateful!
"But, thinking about it now, maybe I'm worrying too much."
After gently stroking Leo Ash's hair, Rita looked at the young man before her with a gaze full of loving affection.
"I believe my Leo won't let me down."
Mei, who had been staring blankly, finally came to her senses and understood that Leo Ash and the Valkyrie before her were siblings.
But the problem was... the atmosphere between you two, your actions, your tone of voice, is that really how siblings should be???
Why do I get the feeling that something is very wrong here.
After finishing what she had to do, Rita finally sighed helplessly.
"Alright, I've said what I needed to say. If I say any more, you'll probably think I'm nagging."
"You won't, Sis. But you should be careful too when you're on missions."
After the two had said their goodbyes, Rita glanced lightly at Kiana before waving to the group with a full smile.
"Well then everyone, have a safe trip."
"Ah, I made it."
Just as Rita was about to leave, another girl suddenly appeared before everyone.
"Ah, Lady Durandal?"
Looking at the girl before her, Rita asked with some curiosity.
"Are you also here to see Leo off?"
"Yes."
After a slight nod, Durandal said with a bit of gloom.
"After all, Leo Ash is going to St. Freya for a while, so he probably won't have much time to come home."
"We won't see each other for a while... Although it's like this when we're on missions, it just feels a bit strange."
Wait, wait a minute—so you all live together when you're not on missions?
Instantly grasping the meaning behind these words, Kiana felt that the information she received today was too explosive.
Then, she and the others present saw a scene they seemed to have just witnessed.
Under everyone's gaze, Durandal hugged Leo Ash in a very domineering manner and said to him with great concern.
"I know you want to fight the Honkai, but you still have to be careful. If something happens to you, Rita and I will be very sad."
After this scene unfolded, even if Theresa and Yuno were slow on the uptake in this regard, they understood what Kiana's spectacular expression was all about.
So... Kiana has that kind of interest in Senior Leo Ash.
This... this...
Theresa glanced lightly at Kiana, and then another glance at Leo Ash, feeling that the situation here was not quite right.
Theresa knew that the real Kiana had been [receiving treatment within Schicksal] ever since that incident eight years ago.
Knowing this, no matter how foolish she was, she wouldn't mistake the 'Kiana' before her, who had lived with Siegfried for several years, for the real one.
Uh, as for this Kiana's true identity, she seems to have Kaslana blood in her anyway.
Now, a girl from the Kaslana family and a boy from the Apocalypse family have formed some sort of connection... why does this picture feel so strange to me?
"Um, Bianka."
Being held in Durandal's incredibly domineering embrace, Leo Ash couldn't feel the softness coming from her chest at all.
Leo Ash could feel that Durandal was just as worried about him as Rita was.
But he could also tell that Durandal's worry for him was a bit excessive.
Otherwise—he wouldn't be feeling a little breathless now from being held by Durandal with too much force!
"A little lighter, I feel like I'm having trouble breathing..."
"Ah? Oh, sorry."
After letting go of Leo Ash, Durandal looked at the pale-faced boy and said apologetically.
"I subconsciously thought you had gotten stronger, so I forgot to hold back my strength."
"...If you keep being this airheaded, I'm really worried you'll be tricked by some big swindler into going somewhere you shouldn't."
"Oh, is that so?"
Upon hearing this, Durandal instantly became a little annoyed, walked up to Leo Ash, and 'affectionately' wrapped her elbow around his neck.
"I'm very worried indeed, since there's a big liar right next to me."
"I haven't forgotten about you tricking me and Rita into thinking you had 'given up on front-line combat', Leo 'Brother' Ash."
[She's angry! She's really angry! But you, who are on the verge of suffocating, do not feel annoyed by the girl's rough actions.]
[After all, you know very well that this is her way of showing she cares—Goose has me in her heart, hehehe.]
I'm about to suffocate and you're still going 'hehehe'. You're just watching me for fun at this point!
[Well, this System can't directly interfere with reality at a time like this—besides, this is actually a good thing for you, why would this System spoil your fun?]
"Alright, I'm done messing with you."
After letting go of Leo Ash, Durandal cleared the annoyance from her face and said softly to him.
"Even if you have to fight the Honkai, you don't have to go all out like this time."
"I know, don't worry."
After stretching his neck a bit, Leo Ash said to Durandal and Rita.
"This life of mine is very precious. I won't waste it where it shouldn't be wasted."
At this moment, Durandal and Rita exchanged a glance, and both saw a clear hint of helplessness in the other's eyes.
Sigh, this silly brother still hasn't forgotten about those things.
Sigh, that idiot Leo Ash, I feel like he's still thinking of charging headfirst into everything.
At this moment, Durandal recalled the atmosphere of St. Freya High School and could only place her hopes in that academy.
In the past, Durandal had chosen to leave the Valkyrie training academy because the atmosphere at St. Freya was too relaxed, opting to train elsewhere in Schicksal.
But now, she fervently hoped that this school could relax Leo Ash's tense spirit a little, and also heal his scarred and difficult-to-heal heart.
For now, we can only hope that the atmosphere at St. Freya will make him change his ways.
Otherwise... I feel like one day, he'll get into big trouble because of the obsession in his heart.
"Alright, alright, the pleasantries are over!"
Seeing that the atmosphere had finally calmed down a bit with the departure of the two, Theresa immediately said to everyone.
"Everyone get on the transport plane quickly, we've already delayed for quite some time!"
"Yes!"
At that moment, everyone filed into the transport plane.
And at the moment Leo Ash and Mei brushed past each other, he saw the fleeting conflict on the girl's face and said softly to Mei.
"I want you to sharpen your sword to its finest edge, but the most dangerous period has now passed."
"Once you get to St. Freya, there's no need to push yourself too hard. You still have plenty of time to get used to your own power."
"...Yes, I understand."
After seeing Raiden Mei give him a soft reply, Leo Ash saw that her favorability bar had finally stopped fluctuating, settling at the number 90.5.
Why did it go up a little...
[Hehehe.]
No, don't say anything at this point. You just laughing without saying anything is scarier than you talking.
[Hehehe.]
I just wanted her not to overthink things and release the Herrscher of Thunder out of too much stress.
Why does it feel like things have gotten even more complicated.
On the other hand, after hearing these words from Leo Ash, Mei's emotions seemed to have only quieted down a little.
But only she herself knew that her heart felt extremely ashamed because of his few words.
Leo Ash is still concerned about my state of mind, but not only have I failed to calm my heart and make the 'sword' within sharper, I've instead wasted my energy on unnecessary things.
And on the other side, after hearing the conversation between Leo Ash and Mei, Kiana felt even more helpless.
So Senior and Mei are also on good terms... Thinking about it, that makes sense.
He's handsome, and putting aside all that other stuff, his personality is actually quite good.
Looking at it this way.....
Ahhhhhh!
This is so annoying, why did things turn out this way!
It's a good thing that Senior is on good terms with his family and friends!
Mei and Senior are classmates, so it's normal for them to be on good terms!
Then what on earth am I so troubled about!!!
At this moment, inside the transport plane, feeling the atmosphere within, Theresa seemed to understand a little why Otto had instructed her to make sure Leo Ash lived together with these girls.
Grandfather's idea, it's hard to say now whether it's a good or bad thing for Leo Ash.
But now, this Kiana really does seem to have favorable feelings for Leo Ash.
Grandfather made this arrangement knowing this.
Could he be...
—Really planning to have the Apocalypse and Kaslana families intermarry again?
.....