5

Chapter 5

"Ma'am, should we trust in a Chunni boy? The kid is delusional."

"Delusional or not. He became a Herrscher which can control his power. Tell me at least another person who could better grasp Honkai than a self-made Herrscher?" Cacolia said with a snappy tone. They don't have much time. The infection of Honkai is spreading fast through Seele, one of her orphanage girl's bodies. She will soon die because of it!

"Y-You are right… it's just…"

"Yes…trusting a small kid is not my first or second or third choice… but we have no other choice." She said with a sigh as they proceeded to follow Raynold's father.

He took them to his house.

The sheer sight to see that a Herrscher is living normally. In the most literal sense it is absurd.

World-ending disaster…is living among regular people. How on earth his parents didn't turn into zombies? How are they still okay after being in the presence of a Herrscher? Just by standing, that thing could turn the entire city into a wasteland…

None of this makes any sort of sense! People of this town living in a small paradise bubble of some sort!?

~~~

"Ray, there are some people who want to see you."

"Hmm? Oh. I sensed that you didn't come alone. It's a familiar energy as well." For a moment he thought about it. He then realised who it was.

"Oh…the orphanage lady."

"Yes, come with me. She wants to speak to you about something interesting."

"Now I am interested."

As he said that he got up from the couch. Kiana who has been using him as a heat source pouted for a bit. Though she swiftly followed after him. She wants to see and hear what this lady is going to see. It appears something interesting is about to happen.

…

…

…

"We meet again. I haven't thanked you for saving my orphanage. My name is Cocolia." The blonde lady was respectful to him while her two subordinates were quite petrified of him. They are trying to hide their fear from him.

"It was nothing big. I was in the area. So I took care of it."

"Area? You were doing something around there?* She asked curiously.

"Yes, I have been keeping Siberia as my hunting and training grounds. It's a big open place that is good for training."

'He is keeping the whole area as his private grounds…sweet God…' The ex-soldier thought with disbelief.

"I see… I would like to know how good your knowledge is about Stigmatas which appear on people's bodies?"

Hearing unfamiliar words Raynold looked at his father.

"There are several types of these Stigmatas. Artificial ones are used by Schicksal, this allows their Valkyries to wield Honkai. And then there are natural ones. Those are very rare…if a person has one of these. They could be considered candidates for a Herrscher. In your terms, they have high potential in forming a core."

"Yes. The issue is with Seele that she has low resistance towards Honkai. The infection has been spreading extremely fast through her body. She doesn't have much time left."

"Ray! You need to help the girl! You could refine the Honkai in her body!" Kiana chipped in as she was listening as well. His father Lucas nodded at him.

"Yes. I suppose. Haven't seen stigmata before. This would be a great chance." As he said that space warped not far from their location.

"Let's go, we can't wait any longer. A girl's life is in danger."

"I am coming with you!" At that moment Kiana grabbed his hand in a hug. She was grinning for a bit. A short adventure with Ray!

"Sure… Stay close, it's cold in Siberia." That moment of energy engulfed them. It was a protective layer that would keep Kiana warm.

"...Thanks!"

~~~

The kids of the orphanage looked at a boy and a girl entering… It was strange… the boy had pitch-black hair while the girl had pure white hair. Where his eyes were dark brown hers were bright blue. Where he had a bored look she was extra happy.

They were so different…

After them, familiar people entered. The orphanage kids rushed toward the blonde woman. They started asking questions.

Some of them asked her if these kids were a new addition to the orphanage which made Cocolia grimace.

Instead, she said that they are here to look at Seele and her condition. Which confused them but at same time satisfied them to some degree. Except for one…

Girl with silver ash-like hair and eyes. Looked at them with an unreadable look.

"Mother, what can they do for Seele?"

"You will understand when you see it," Cocolia said with a pained frown. She can't tell them that he is a Herrscher now can she?

All these kids lost their parents because of the beasts and the Second Eruption.

Most of them. So she doesn't want to risk it by telling about the real identity of that boy.

"...Okay…"

"Raynold follows me upstairs, she is there."

"Alright."

~~~

When Raynold saw this Seele girl he frowned for a bit. He could see purple lines through her body which looked like arteries. This was the so-called Honkai radiation which was spreading through her body.

"So this is how it looks when wild Honkai saturates one's body. Let's do a scan." He said that while walking over. He put his hand gently on her exposed hand channelling some of his energy.

What he found freaked and excited him!

The Stigmata thing was like a miniature runic formation of some sort. It's like several things in one.

Most specifically it works like a physical form of a specific law!

This was a gold mine for anyone who wishes to grasp a specific law this girl has in her stigmata thingy!

'Hmm…if I drew this symbol and put intent behind it will it work the same way?'

After thinking for a bit he started to absorb all the Honkai in her body. She had quite a nice amount.

While he was doing all that, Cocolia and Kiana watched with bated breath to see what would happen next.

When they saw that the Honkai infection quite literally disappeared like that! they could not believe it!

It was like magic!

Once the infection was gone that moment pure white-like energy rushed into Seele. This energy concentrated around the Stigmata which was just below her neck.

"The Stigmata thingy is at this moment sealed with my Ki, I have channelled into her body. This won't last for long. I would need to periodically check on her.

I suggest she trains until she can generate enough Ki herself to counter the wild Honkai she constantly is receiving from that thing.

It would be even better if she overwrites it with her energy and takes charge of it. If she could do it…technically she could form a core on her own with very little effort."

He explained to the matron of the Orphanage who was blown away to hear all this!

"...Wait…you saying…you saying that…she can…become one of you?"

Raynold could not grasp what she meant by that. It's just the Golden Core stage. The literal next step is cultivation. The next step of power. Why do people react as if he is constantly pulling out some ancient pills?

"It's the next step of cultivation. She absorbs and refines the excess energy once she reaches critical mass one compresses and creates a core. It's not magic, it's simply hard work."

"You say it's easy to do…"

"Well, it is…you just need to stop listening to what those lazy cultists are whispering into your ear. They despise hard work and are forcing its followers to use technology instead."

'Is he talking about Schicksal and Anti-Entropy?' Cocolia thought with a frown.

Well, it doesn't matter… now she knows what she needs to do…

'I will just let the kid do whatever he wants… I guess those nations in Europe found the perfect formula to use a Herrscher to its fullest.'

The ex-soviet soldier lady grinned to herself. If everything plays out her Orphanage will have an actual Herrscher to protect them! Maybe more than one!

"...Mother?"

"Seele! Are you awake?" The blonde swiftly forgot about the situation and instead focused on the girl who had just woken up.

"Yes…"

"How are you feeling?"

Her question got the girl slightly confused as she needed to understand where she was.

"...I am feeling great. It's extremely warm…as if a gentle blanket engulfed me."

"That would be the Ki energy in your body. Hello, Seele. I am Raynold Westwood."

When Ray introduced himself it made Seele's eyes widen before she had weird feelings consuming her. She was embarrassed for some reason.

'What is this?'

"I will be seeing you from time to time." As he said that he turned around and proceeded to leave.

"Raynold Westwood. You have my everlasting gratitude. If there is anything I can do—"

"Her training…. I will oversee it. I wish to see her power manifest in all its glory." Ray said while waving one of his hands, he didn't even look back as he walked towards the doors.

When Cocolia heard that it could only make her grin.

"Of course. There should be no issues on that." As she said that it only confused Seele who was wondering what training they even talked about.

~~~

As Raynold exited the room he looked at several smaller girls staring at him with worry. Leading the front was an ash-grey-haired girl with the same colour eyes. She looked like one of those smart types of girls.

"...How is Seele?"

"I removed her Honkai infection. She should be fine. I suggest don't rile her up in a negative emotional sense. As wild Honkai energy reacts to emotions, especially negative ones. Her Stigmata thingy would react to it. While I sealed it up it won't hold for long."

"Understood…"

"Got it."

"We won't, don't worry…"

One after another all the girls agreed to his request.

Kiana who was silent the whole process had a perplexed look. Like she didn't like something.

"Mister! What's your name?" a pink-haired girl asked him with a curious look.

"Raynold Westwood. I am someone who cultivates energy."

"Cultivates energy? What does it do?"

"You grow stronger the more you have it."

"...Oh…but isn't it bad to have a lot of Honkai energy in your body?"

"Depends how good you are at it. Anyway, girls, I will see you later. I will be visiting this place often now."

By this point, Kiana was already like a cat wrapped her hands around his hand. She looked like she would pounce on people.

He didn't expect that she would be this jealous just for talking with small girls…

"Anyway go inside and talk with your matron."

As he said that the girls forgot about him and rushed inside.

Once he saw that they were gone he opened a wormhole and entered it with Kiana.

Though the ash-grey girl saw properly what he did.

She said a single word when she saw this.

"...Herrscher."

"Bronya! C'mon!" A voice brought her out of her shock. As she could not understand what she was seeing.

How can a bad being do good things!?

"Coming, Lily!"

~~~

"Well? What's with that sour face?"

Raynold asked the white-haired girl who was huffing and puffing at him.

"You used that positive emotion thingy on that girl! But you haven't done it to me for several days now!"

He raised his eyebrow when he heard that. Is she for real?

"I don't see issues with that. To beat wild honkai I use my own Ki mix with Honkai and good emotions. It's just a basic technique."

Kiana pulled her lip when she heard that. This was getting annoying!

"I thought I was your Kitten… You should care for your kitten."

She looked like she was going to start to cry.

Seeing this he just sighed and pulled her into a hug. That moment he started to channel his positive emotions into her.

Honestly, he started to feel like an owner who is constantly picking up abandoned cats and puppies.