Chapter 79: Holy Relic

Kallen with the Oath of Judah was a completely different situation than Kallen without it.

Without the Oath of Judah in her possession, Zofia didn't consider Kallen to be a worthy opponent. Moreover, she hadn't even accounted for the Great Sword in her hand.

Zofia raised the sacred Great Sword before her, brimming with confidence. With this blade in her grasp and Kallen lacking the Oath, even three Kallens combined wouldn't stand a chance against her.

(TL Note: Funny she says that...)

The Valkyrie nuns facing the knight girl gazed longingly at the massive weapon in Zofia's hands.

"Holy Relic..."

Indeed!

The Great Sword wielded by Valkyrie Captain Zofia was none other than a Holy Relic.

A weapon from fifty thousand years ago... the pinnacle of power from the previous civilization.

This... was true confidence.

If Serenade were here, she would recognize this Holy Relic immediately and be utterly astonished!

For Serenade possessed an identical one in her collection.

╮(~▽~"")╭

7th Holy Relic

This was a universal-purpose cutting weapon from the previous civilization era, excavated by the Schicksal organization from the Black Forest Mountain in Germany. Driven by a substance similar to the Herrscher Core, its craftsmanship... even the world's most advanced technology couldn't decipher it.

The power of the Holy Relic was incredibly strong. Though it couldn't match the divine keys, it far surpassed ordinary weapons. After all, these relics were the super weapons of the previous civilization.

The technology of the previous civilization was far more advanced than our current one. This civilization was only at the year 1500 AD, while the previous civilization's technology would be equivalent to a thousand years later in our timeline.

A super weapon from a thousand years ahead, even if it was a general-purpose one, would still be far more powerful than any weapon in this civilization.

The Schicksal organization didn't possess many Holy Relics. This 7th Holy Relic was given to Zofia because she became the new Valkyrie captain.

After all, the Oath of Judah couldn't be used by just anyone, and the other divine keys couldn't be entrusted to others either. They could only enhance Zofia's strength through this Holy Relic.

However, it was clear that even this Holy Relic satisfied Zofia greatly. Her previous weapon was just a standard Valkyrie armament, which paled in comparison to this relic.

Armed with the 7th Holy Relic, Zofia was confident she could defeat Kallen, the former Valkyrie captain who lacked the Oath of Judah.

"Let's move out!"

Zofia sheathed her Great Sword on her back and produced a peculiar compass. Following the needle's direction, she began advancing toward the indicated path.

This device resembled a compass but served as an ancient Honkai scanner. Don't be deceived by its antiquated appearance—this relic showcased the remarkable technological achievements of its era.

"Yes!"

A dozen elite Valkyries marched in unison toward Shinano, their formation as precise as a military parade.

To the uninitiated, they might have mistaken this procession for a group of nuns embarking on a missionary journey to Shinano...

Little did they know, these nun-like garments were actually the combat uniforms of Valkyries.

The sun hung high in the sky, blazing with its afternoon fury.

The cicadas' chorus in the woods wove together, intensifying the already oppressive heat and irritation. The scorching sun seemed determined to evaporate every drop of moisture from one's body.

At this hour, most creatures had retreated to shaded corners, seeking respite from the sunlight's assault.

For Sixth Serenade, however, such weather held no consequence... for she could maintain an ideal temperature around herself at will.

This ability drew Kallen, Yae Sakura, Mei, and others to Serenade's side, treating her like a walking air conditioner.

Yet... there came inevitable moments requiring separation, when even carrying ice blocks crafted by Serenade offered little relief.

As the weather turned hot, everyone had been staying indoors in Serenade's room. A few days were manageable, but prolonged confinement became unbearable. With no internet or cell phones, being trapped at home without any distractions, they'd already endured nearly ten days - quite an achievement under these circumstances.

So one day, Kallen, Yae Sakura, and the others decided to head to the river to play in the water.

"The river's water is almost gone. This year's drought might be inevitable."

Yae Sakura gazed at the shallow stream before her. The water barely reached her calves, with even the deepest sections not exceeding knee height. At this rate... it wouldn't take long for the river to dry up completely.

"Don't worry, we'll find a way when the time comes." Serenade didn't concern herself with the drought. After all, Schicksal remained their primary objective.

"Hmm..."

"Big sis, the river water's so refreshing! Come play with me!" Yae Rin had already shed her shoes and waded into the stream, her bare feet reveling in the cool sensation.

The river's shaded section, sheltered from sunlight by riverside trees and bamboo groves, maintained its refreshing temperature.

"Coming, coming!"

Hearing this, the others hastily removed their shoes and joined the water.

Though shallow, the water provided ample relief from the heat.

After playing in the river for a while, Serenade walked to the shore, found a clean spot to sit down, and soaked her feet in the water while watching Yae Rin and the others play like children in the water.

Their clothes became completely soaked, revealing some inappropriate things.

"Eh! There's a fish in the river..."

Hokushin Mei, who was splashing water, suddenly spotted a fish about the size of a footpad swimming in the river. She immediately drew her katana and stabbed down.

But... she missed.

"A fish? Let's go fishing! Whoever catches the most wins, and we'll eat fish tonight." Yae Sakura was surprised to find fish in such shallow water and quickly proposed.

"Good! But no using supernatural powers. Only normal methods to catch them." Kallen also quickly suggested.

"Great idea! The winner gets to decide how we'll prepare the fish for dinner!"

"Sounds perfect!"

Everyone agreed without objection.

After the rules were set, all participants drew their weapons and warily scanned the river for fish.

For ordinary people, spearing fish with a blade would be challenging. But these were A-rank and higher Valkyries. Even without using their supernatural powers, their strength, eyesight, and observation skills far surpassed those of ordinary humans.

Even if they made a slight mistake, they could still strike the fish within two attempts at most.

Catching the fish was simple enough; the real challenge lay in... finding them.

The river didn't hold many fish, especially larger ones, which were even rarer.

Whenever the young girls spotted a decent-sized fish, they immediately thrust their blades downward. The longswords pierced straight through the fish's body, instantly cleaning out its internal organs.

Serenade sat on the riverbank, watching them play without joining in. Yae Sakura and the others called to her, but Serenade simply shook her head.

Watching them was far more entertaining than playing herself.

-

"Master!"

As Serenade observed the girls splashing about in the water, their clothes soaked through, a zombie materialized beside her. It crouched respectfully, bowing its head in greeting.