Chapter 27: This World… Has Never Been Kind (No Mercy)

Chapter 27: This World… Has Never Been Kind (No Mercy)

 『my favorite sister Bronya:』 "Miss Wendy… is the Gem of Desire?!"

 『pink fairy lady:』 "Oh my! Did I just guess something right~? Hehe, this must be a maiden's intuition~"

 『my favorite sister Bronya:』 "No way… I can't be wrong! Something must have gone wrong!"

 『pink fairy lady:』 "Hmm~ Perhaps your mistake was challenging me in the first place~?"

 In contrast to their lively back-and-forth, two people in the livestream knew the truth all along—yet they remained completely silent.

 First, Hokuto.

 Seeing how well the two were getting along, he almost felt bad interrupting them.

 Honestly, I'm just curious…

 What kind of reaction will they have once the game reveals that the 'Gem of Desire' was actually implanted in Wendy's leg?

 Second, Rita.

 As the vice-captain of Immortal Blades, personally dispatched by Otto himself—

 (and believing her infiltration was perfect 😏)—

 She wasn't in some cozy room watching the stream.

 No—

 She was onboard a Helios-class VTOL aircraft, en route to Sky City, her scythe resting upon her lap.

 Around her sat several veteran Valkyries—all part of a single, well-equipped hunting squad.

 Their mission?

 To hunt down and reclaim the experimental subject, K423.

 Or as she was now known—the Herrscher of the Void.

—

 As the aircraft soared through the sky, a nervous Valkyrie seated beside Rita turned her way.

 "Vice-Captain Rita …"

 "What is it?" Rita opened her eyes.

 "Can we… really defeat that Herrscher with just us?"

 Her words resonated with everyone else in the squad.

 Feeling the growing anxiety, Rita gently smiled, offering words of reassurance:

 "Don't belittle yourselves, but don't be arrogant either."

 "Otto-sama has acquired intelligence indicating the target is currently in a weakened state. If we strike at the right time, we have a chance to capture and recover her."

 "I… see. That's a relief… But, what kind of intelligence…?"

 "I don't know."

Rita cut the conversation short.

 Otto had already given strict orders—no leaks.

 This mission must remain classified…

 With the discussion put to rest, Rita shifted her attention back to the livestream.

—

 By now, the chatter in the stream had died down.

 And the reason?

 Hokuto had finally stepped in.

 By clicking the screen, he had resumed the game's story.

 [Let me explain.]

 [Three years ago, during an experiment at the Oceania Branch, the 'Gem of Desire' was implanted into Miss Wendy's leg. The Honkai Energy crystal was fused with her shinbone—an attempt to create a warrior on par with a Herrscher.]

 Silence.

 Absolute silence.

 Neither Seele nor Elysia typed anything.

 Too awkward.

 This situation is just too awkward.

 Even Rita , an outsider, could feel how uncomfortable the atmosphere had become.

 But thankfully—

 The young-sounding streamer knew how to ease tension.

 Before the two could spiral further into shame, Hokuto calmly reassured them.

 "Hmm… Based on the story's explanation, the gem is fused with her now."

 "So technically, calling her 'the Gem of Desire' isn't wrong."

 『my favorite sister Bronya:』 "Uhm… yeah, I guess…"

 『pink fairy lady:』 "Hehe~ That's right~" 💕

 With that, the livestream regained its lively atmosphere.

 Seeing the swift resolution, even Rita felt a hint of surprise.

 Who would've thought… a young boy like this… would be so naturally talented at diffusing tension?

—

 Back in the game, the story resumed.

 [Mei: If that's the case, Miss Wendy should have immense power… But she looks so weak right now.]

 [Himeko: Wendy was once the most outstanding Valkyrie of the Oceania Branch—thought to be the next S-rank candidate of her generation. But unfortunately… she couldn't control its power.]

 [Wendy: It's because I'm too weak… Not only can I not control the 'Gem of Desire'… but because of it, I lost the ability to walk…]

 [Mei: That's terrible… Then why didn't they just remove the crystal? Wendy can only sit in a wheelchair now!]

 As a new recruit, Mei was still naive—and her frustration was clear.

 But an experienced soldier like Himeko remained calm, patiently explaining:

 [In nearly all mediums, the 'Gem of Desire' is highly unstable. But within Wendy's body… it stabilized.]

 『my favorite sister Bronya:』 "This… This isn't fair… Why would they do something so cruel?!"

 Of all the viewers, Seele took this the hardest.

 Sheltered in Cocolia's orphanage, constantly under Bronya's protection—

 She couldn't imagine the horrors that took place within an anti-Honkai organization.

 "Fairness… Hmm."

 Hokuto spoke plainly.

 But then, in a cold, detached voice—

 "This world… has never been kind."

 『my favorite sister Bronya:』 "Big brother, you're… making me sad…"

 "I'm simply stating a fact."

 Hokuto wasn't just trying to sound cool.

 He was preparing her.

 If Seele didn't harden her heart now, then when Wendy got kidnapped by Anti-Entropy later…

 She might just break.

 Meanwhile, the other viewers handled it better—

 They were all adults, after all.

 Well… most of them.

 『pink fairy lady:』 "Such a pity… I hope this girl named Wendy… can one day walk again without needing legs~" 💕

 A kind blessing from the Herrscher of Human Ego herself.

 But also, an incredibly ironic foreshadowing of what was to come.

 Hokuto shook his head, replying simply:

 "I think she will."

 『pink fairy lady:』 "Mmm~ You really know how to cheer up girls~" 😘

 With that, Hokuto tapped the screen again, letting the story resume.

 End of Chapter 27