Chapter 196: Please Don't Hate Her
Theresa had been at the temporary command center in the Far East for four days before boarding a luxurious space jet to return to St. Freya Academy—one of the last sanctuaries in the Far East.
The academy, due to its formidable defenses and the presence of Valkyrie trainees, could repel a certain amount of Honkai energy.
Situated away from populated areas and attracting less attention from Honkai beasts, it remained relatively unscathed.
In the cabin, Theresa held a list of undercover agents given to her by Sigurd and read each name carefully. Then, with a sharp sidelong glance, she angrily glared at Himeko.
"How could you, Himeko! I can understand the students, they're young and might be swayed by Welt's ideas, but I, as the principal, have always treated you well. And you dare betray us in secret? Do you even feel any guilt towards me?"
Theresa slammed the table in anger, demanding an explanation.
Himeko, calm and collected, poured herself a drink, crossed her long legs, and, with a sultry glance at Theresa, replied, "I had no choice, you know. Captain Ragnar's dream was to create a world where children could grow up in peace and happiness... It's a dream that Schicksal couldn't achieve, but Anti-Entropy is already making progress. Besides, I haven't actually done anything yet."
Himeko's tone was carefree, and she smiled fondly, remembering the sacrifice of her captain, Ragnar.
Theresa rolled her eyes.
"So, if I hadn't accepted Sigurd's terms, you'd have raised a flag of rebellion in the academy, strung me up on a lamppost?"
"No, no. At most, I'd have turned you into my personal body pillow, locked away in my bedroom."
"I'll never set foot in your bedroom. It's messier than a junkyard, with everything just piled on the floor! And call me 'Principal'!"
Theresa slapped the table, fuming in frustration. After a long pause, she tapped the table and said seriously, "I forgive you, so... can you give Kiana a chance?"
Theresa's tone was part-joking, but mostly a heartfelt request.
Crash!
Himeko crushed the glass in her hand, and the spilled drink soaked her red dress, accentuating her striking figure.
The moment Theresa mentioned Kiana, Himeko instantly understood.
Himeko's former squad, including the captain she admired, Ragnar, had perished during the Herrscher of the Void's awakening. Himeko was the only survivor, and the Herrscher was none other than Kiana's original self.
Theresa had known this for some time, but she wasn't sure whether Himeko was aware. Now, seeing Himeko's reaction, she had her answer.
"You already knew?"
Theresa gazed at Himeko with sympathy and guilt, taking her hand to offer comfort.
Himeko remained silent for a moment before saying, "Sigurd talked to me about it the day I declared my stance."
"Then it seems he really trusts you. He wouldn't have told you otherwise, considering how important Kiana is to him."
"Yeah, Sigurd was very open about it. I feel honored to have his trust."
"Sorry..."
"It's not your fault."
Himeko pulled out a handkerchief to wipe the drink from her dress, her expression calm.
Theresa sighed deeply and tore the list of names into pieces. "So, what do you think now?"
"...I don't know. I can't bring myself to hate Kiana, but I can't fully forgive her either. I haven't spoken to her in a long time. For now, I'll leave things as they are. Captain Ragnar wouldn't have wanted me to harbor hatred against a child."
"I'm sorry."
"I told you, it's not your fault, Theresa. You don't need to apologize."
"She's my niece. Her problems are my problems. I promise you, I'll do everything in my power to create the peaceful world you and Ragnar dreamed of. And I promise, if Kiana ever loses control... I'll be the one to face her and bear the consequences myself. So, please don't show any hatred toward her in front of her. I know I'm asking a lot, but I'm really begging you. Kiana may seem optimistic, but the pain and pressure she's carrying inside might be heavier than anyone else's. If the people closest to her start hating her... I don't even want to imagine what might happen. She might break down."
Theresa held Himeko's hand tightly, her pure and unwavering eyes gazing intently into Himeko's.
Feeling uneasy under that gaze, Himeko turned her head away.
"You... seem different. Did something happen while you were over there?"
"Yeah, I cleared away some of the fog in my mind. The details aren't important, knowing too much won't do any good."
Theresa now understood Himeko's inner struggle and her own difficult position. She even realized why St. Freya Academy had been so smooth-sailing these past years.
Otto's tacit approval was part of it, but another key reason was the silent support from some of the higher-ups within Schicksal. These individuals didn't necessarily share lofty ideals; they merely needed a banner to rally against Otto, redirecting some of the resources that would otherwise be Otto's alone, in order to grab their share of the pie.
Yet Otto allowed this, using it as a way to control disobedient factions and swiftly eliminate unwanted elements when necessary. This, in turn, indirectly supported Theresa's position.
The twists and turns of it all—it was something Theresa might never have figured out if she hadn't seen through Otto's puppet strings.
Sigh...
Theresa let out a long sigh, filled with emotions from the past and uncertainty about how to face Otto in the future.
Repaying the debt of family love is the hardest thing.
And Otto's bond with Theresa was more than just family love. He had created her life, given her her name and identity, and had shaped her entire existence.
Most importantly, despite Otto's manipulations, the genuine care and attention he gave her was never fake.
She could never repay it fully. No matter how much she hated Otto's actions, Theresa doubted she could ever harden her heart if it came to confronting him face-to-face. If it hadn't been for Cecilia's sacrifice shaking her out of her daze, she doubted she could have stood up to Otto all those years ago.
Himeko noticed Theresa's somber mood and, seeing her own helplessness with the situation involving Kiana, quickly changed the subject.
"By the way, you're really okay with allowing the Ideology to be promoted in the academy? The Archbishop had a strict ban on it."
"He's lifted that ban now. Without a doubt, this beautiful and practical ideology will sway many Valkyries who desire a better world. As time passes, and as Welt and the others continue their efforts to change the world, more Valkyries will be moved or even switch sides. But that's not a bad thing, because the ideology is sound, and following it is the right choice.
The more Valkyries who understand this philosophy, the stronger Anti-Entropy will become. This will help in the fight against the Honkai. Odd as it may seem, if I had to choose someone to lead civilization's forces, I'd trust Sigurd and Welt over my grandfather."
Theresa ran her hand over the book of Ideology on the table, smiling softly.
She had never imagined that someone could stand on such a universal level and build a grand yet simple dream like this.
Welt was truly remarkable, someone who commanded respect.
Himeko nodded in agreement, smiling as well. "As long as you know what you're doing. I just worry that things might become chaotic. No matter how noble Welt's ideals are, defeating the Honkai is still our greatest challenge right now."
"It won't be chaotic. I'll proceed with caution, and Sigurd and the others will help us. Everything is for a better future. We will succeed. A world of equality, free from exploitation, with justice and freedom for all, will come. I'm certain of it because the people working towards it are all strong and kind."
Theresa turned to look out the window at the clouds, smiling confidently and determinedly.
'Cecilia, if you could see the world now, you'd be so proud, wouldn't you? There are so many good people who love humanity. We were never alone.'
'Kiana, wait for me. I'm coming for you. No one will stop me, I swear on my life...'
Theresa closed her eyes, exhausted after four days and nights of reading and reflection. She felt an overwhelming fatigue wash over her.
Meanwhile, the plane sailed through the clouds, steadily approaching the peaceful sanctuary of St. Freya Academy.
<+>
Tn: If you want to see more chapter of this story, please go to my
Latest Chapter in Patreon:
Link to the latest chapter:
Patreon: