Principal's Office – St. Freya Academy.
Today, as usual, the office of the academy's ever-dignified headmaster was filled with a serious atmosphere.
Sitting on top of her desk, legs swinging slightly, was the petite figure of Theresa.
Her slender legs, clad in white stockings, gently swayed as she buried her small head amidst the towering pile of documents.
Her clear blue eyes were fixed straight ahead.
Despite her childish, delicate face, she wore an expression of deep seriousness, her features tense with focus.
To someone unfamiliar with Theresa, this would no doubt appear to be the image of a hardworking and dutiful principal.
After all, as Otto's granddaughter, she was expected to inherit her grandfather's excellent work ethic.
Most of Otto's "working hours," however, were actually spent indulging in Kallen fantasies.
Theresa couldn't afford to let her grandfather outshine her in that regard.
Of course, the fact that she sneakily read manga during office hours was a secret known only to her closest friends.
A faint, satisfied smile curled at the corner of her lips as she eagerly flipped through the latest volume of Homu-chan manga.
Suddenly—
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"Warning! Intense Honkai Energy reaction detected!"
"Warning! Herrscher presence confirmed!"
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A sharp alarm blared from the nearby terminal.
The holographic screen flickered with a flashing crimson alert, abruptly shattering the peaceful quiet of the office.
Theresa's shoulders jumped as she instinctively straightened, her wide eyes filled with panic.
The manga book she was holding almost slipped from her trembling hands.
"W-What? A Herrscher reaction?! Is it Mei's Herrscher personality acting up again?!"
In a hurry, she tossed the Homu-chan manga onto the desk—completely forgetting to hide it—her gaze locking onto the holographic projection on the terminal.
Theresa's bright blue pupils narrowed sharply as her expression turned grave.
"No way... it's not the Third Herrscher?!"
Crap.
That meant—there was a new Herrscher appearing inside St. Freya Academy?!
Wait... why did I say 'again'?
Jumping down from her seat, Theresa quickly slung the ornate golden cross, intricately carved with complex patterns, onto her back.
Her short legs moved at surprising speed as she darted out of the office.
"Theresa!"
A familiar voice called from behind.
Turning her head, Theresa saw none other than her best friend—Himeko Murata.
With her fiery crimson hair cascading over her shoulders, Himeko, who had just changed out of her teaching uniform, rushed toward the office the moment she received the alert.
"Himeko! Quickly, mobilize the Valkyrie squads!" Theresa ordered without missing a beat.
The Hyperion was already on standby above St. Freya Academy, ready to provide immediate fire support.
"I've already done that. What the hell is going on?!" Himeko asked, her tone grim as she hurried to keep pace with the small white-haired bundle speeding ahead of her.
"I'm not sure yet. This isn't the Third Herrscher's energy signature, but there's no doubt—it is a Herrscher!" Theresa replied, her tiny feet moving shockingly fast, to the point even Himeko struggled to keep up.
Well, Theresa did have the DNA of the Emperor-class Honkai Beast, Vishnu, inside her body after all.
"The Honkai reaction's epicenter isn't far from here. We'll find out soon enough."
Theresa glanced at the terminal's screen, suspicion flickering in her heart.
The new Herrscher... doesn't seem to be moving?
"Big Auntie!"
A voice called out from behind, making Theresa pause briefly in mid-sprint.
She turned to see the girls from the Nagami dorm all gathered there.
Three identical bundles of white hair met her gaze, momentarily dazzling her mind.
Just how many Kiana clones had Grandpa made...?
Theresa, of course, didn't believe the whole "two Sirins" nonsense.
If two appeared together, she might think one was real and the other fake.
But three at the same time? All but confirmed they were clones.
At least, that was her theory.
"Auntie, what's going on? Mei said a Herrscher just awakened nearby!" The 'tuna', her twin braids swaying slightly, stared anxiously into Theresa's eyes.
"Principal Theresa, please explain the situation," Rita said calmly but firmly.
Her usual gentle charm was replaced by a steel-like composure—no longer a maid, but a true Valkyrie prepared for battle.
"We'll talk as we move. The location of this newly awakened Herrscher is very close."
Theresa glanced at Mei, whose bangs crackled softly with arcs of lightning. Some of her worry eased; her hesitation faded.
She didn't stop Mei from coming along.
If two Herrschers went out of control at the same time, St. Freya might not survive.
But from the looks of Raiden Mei's condition... it seemed Nagami's claim that the Third Herrscher was no longer a threat might actually be true.
Theresa gave the two 'Sirins' a long, meaningful look, then turned and continued forward.
The others followed closely behind, their steps quick as they listened intently to Theresa's briefing.
"...Are you alright?" Bronya, and the heiress KIana, turned to glance at true Kiana walking beside them.
Concern flickered in her eyes.
Despite their conflict over the Nagami incident, in all other ways, the two were connected.
After all, they were alternate versions of each other.
In terms of bloodline... they could be considered sisters—or perhaps even closer than real family.
The heiress Kiana could naturally sense the tangled, complicated emotions swirling in true Kiana's heart as she faced Theresa.
"..."
True Kiana didn't answer.
She knew that no matter how she tried to lie, it would be impossible to hide her true thoughts from her other self.
Her fair, delicate fingers clenched slightly as she silently stared at the small figure leading the way, a flicker of deep, complicated emotion flashing in her eyes.
She... didn't recognize me.
Not even a hint of suspicion.
Even though she had mentally prepared herself for this outcome, now that it was real, true Kiana couldn't help but feel a faint sense of disappointment.
The heiress Kiana's expression showed hesitation.
She could clearly feel her other self emotional turmoil.
After a moment of silent struggle, she gently reached out and held her hand.
So cold!
[True Kiana: What are you doing? Even if you act like this, I'm not giving up on Nagami.]
With direct physical contact, the two could even communicate mentally.
The heiress gave her a helpless sideways glance but said nothing.
Instead, warmth from her heart seemed to flow gently into the true Kiana's through their joined hands.
Feeling the sincerity in the heiress's heart, true Kiana turned her head slightly, glancing at the faint blush spreading across her other self's cheeks.
She parted her lips to speak—
—but in the end, said nothing. Instead, the corners of her mouth lifted into a gentle, radiant smile like spring sunlight.
[True Kiana: Hah... I didn't expect my other self to be such a tsundere.]
Sensing Kiana's teasing, the heiress immediately let go of her hand without hesitation, shooting her a sharp look as she quickened her pace to walk alongside the 'tuna.'
[True Kiana: Hmm... having another little sister isn't bad either~]
[The heiress: I'm the big sister! You're the annoying little one!]
Unable to hold back, the heiress finally spoke aloud and shot a fierce glare at her—only to be met with her serene, elegant smile.
[The heiress: Tch. You sly fox!]
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Their pace remained swift, and the location of the new Herrscher's awakening wasn't far.
Before long, they spotted two familiar figures floating in midair, facing each other.
Their footsteps halted instinctively.
Even though their appearances and attire had changed greatly, no one present could possibly fail to recognize them.
At the sight before them, Theresa's expression instantly froze.
Even her eyes glazed over in shock.
"N-Nagami?!"
"And... C.C?!"
"Eh...? Why is everyone here all of a sudden?"
The green-haired figure gently descended. C.C's Herrscher armament dissipated the moment she sensed others approaching—otherwise, the secret of the twin Herrschers could have been exposed.
"You... became a Herrscher?" Himeko asked blankly, staring at Nagami with a look of confusion and concern flickering in her orange-gold eyes.
"Yep—Herrscher of Reason, to be exact" Nagami said casually, raising a finger and waggling it playfully as he walked leisurely toward Theresa.
"You… you're not being controlled by the Honkai?"
Theresa's face cycled through a spectacular series of expressions—blank, confused, then utterly shocked.
Waves of doubt flooded her mind before she finally snapped back to herself.
"Wait—what?! Herrscher of Reason?!"
"But the Herrscher of Reason should be Welt, leader of Anti-Entropy! How did you suddenly…?!"
"Ahh... long story. I'll explain everything once we're back at the dorms. But for now…"
Nagami smiled slyly, looking down at the tiny, white-haired little girl standing before him.
Without warning, he gently placed a hand on Theresa's petite shoulder.
"Let me take a good look at you~"
"Hey—what are you doing?! Let me go! L-Let me gooo!"
Struggling desperately in Nagami's grasp, Theresa flailed with all her might—but her short arms and legs made resisting completely futile.
"Relax. It's not like I'm Rita."
With those teasing words, Nagami casually tossed the little white-haired girl straight into Rita's waiting arms.
His gaze then shifted to the spot where Theresa had stood moments before—where the Judgement of Shamash burned with brilliant golden light.
The cross of Judah!
In Nagami's eyes, the violet hexagram shimmered, but it was no longer purely purple—faint traces of icy blue light flickered within.
Analysis!