[HI3] Protocol Stigmata

Chapter 8 - S-Rank Valkyrie

"Heh... I can tell." I stood up straight, taking a defensive stance.

"Interesting stance... Do you perhaps do kendo?"

"Who knows?"

"Fufufu~ Boy, allow me to entertain you... I want to see the utmost of your skills."

"Miss Theresa!" I looked behind the maid as she just looked at me with a thumbs up. "Huh?! Why!?"

Just then she dashed forward, swinging her scythe. I dodged it and countered, but she blocked my attack. This cycle repeated until she disarmed me, forcing me to stagger back.

"Tch!"

As she prepared for a follow-up attack, I swiped her leg, causing her to lose balance. However, she swiftly recovered and attempted to launch a plunging attack from the air.

But I stepped back and charged forward, "Caught you!" I managed to grab her, intending to put her down on the ground.

"Impressive~ You certainly know how to handle a girl."

"Don't make it sound lewd." I retorted. My eyes widened as she easily slipped free from my grasp.

"You look certainly cute when flustered too~" She smiled sweetly at me.

"You're looking down on me, aren't you?" I glared at her.

"I wonder~"

"Tch..." I immediately assumed a hand-to-hand combat stance.

"Oh? You know hand-to-hand combat as well?"

"Who in the world wouldn't know hand-to-hand combat? As a Valkyrie, it is necessary whether with or without weapons!"

She smiled. "Miss Theresa, this child is indeed interesting... what's interesting is the stigmata on his right hand."

She just called me a child!?

Theresa intervened, standing between us. "That's enough already. Don't meddle with him and don't tell grandfather about it... or you might not get out of here alive."

Woah... loli hag is scary.

"Fufu~ If it comes to that, we'll see," Rita replied, glancing back at me.

"Shin, this is your first time meeting this maid, I assume? Let me introduce you to her. Her name is Rita Rossweisse, an S-Rank Valkyrie, lieutenant of the Immortal Blades, the most powerful Valkyrie Squad of Schicksal."

My eyes widened as I paused, "An... S-Rank... Valkyrie?"

"Miss Theresa, it would be nice if you kept everything a secret," Rita said with a hint of disappointment.

"Whatever. You can't just play with him all the time. He just got back from the mission, remember?"

"Ahhh~ That's right... My apologies." She turned to me," Do you want me to serve you a cup of tea in your dorm?"

"I refuse! Don't come to my dorm!" I grabbed my katana, which was still stuck in the wall, and sheathed it. I glared at her again and sighed. "So? What do you want, Miss Theresa?"

"Hm? Oh, I have another mission for you." Theresa returned to her office and sat down, rummaging through a drawer for something. "There we go~" She took out a single piece of paper and placed it on the table.

I approached the table, studying the mission brief.

"You will also be put on Rita's squad," Theresa said, writing something on the mission brief.

"What!? Hell no!? I don't want to be in the same squad as her!?"

"Now~ Now~, it's just a scouting mission," Rita said, smiling. "Plus, I'll take care of you~"

Uwah... That's the most suspicious line I have ever heard.

"Tsk... Fine." I sighed and accepted the mission paper, then walked away from the principal's office.

[Rita's point of view.]

"Miss Theresa, that boy is a Herrscher, isn't he?"

"...Yes, an unknown Herrscher."

"Why haven't we looked into it until now?"

"No, because it was hidden until just now."

"Hidden? I don't understand why a Herrscher like that would hide in a war."

"We don't know about the Herrscher, but the Stigmata tattoo looks like a blade with a dragon around it."

"Have you come up with a name for it yet?"

Theresa shook her head. "Not until we see it ourselves, then we'll name it."

"Fufufu~ You're starting to sound like your grandfather."

Theresa sighed, "Why did you remind me of him?"

"But, Miss Theresa, there's not enough time until Anti-Entropy... No, the World Serpent finds out."

"...I believe we are already too late for that. The World Serpent likely already knows about it and is making their move."

"Oh? Is that so?" Rita walked away but paused, turning her gaze over her shoulder. "Allow me to give them a warm welcome." She smiled and then left.

After all, it would be rude not to welcome guests, and it is my pride as a maid to do so.