NOVEL WEB Chapter 393: Delta, Rozaliya
"She's gone." Ren watched Senti disappear into the portal as Kevin's voice came from behind him.
Ren turned to face him. "I thought you'd keep her. Letting a Herrscher inhabiting your former comrade's body leave isn't World Serpent's style."
Kevin sheathed Judgment of Shamash, seemingly accustomed to such misconceptions. Considering their current alliance, he added, "I don't know how you know my identity, but there's a misunderstanding. I'm a warrior, not a power-hungry conqueror."
"But World Serpent's actions paint it as a villainous organization."
Kevin looked towards the distant sakura tree. "Beneath that withered tree, I promised everyone that humanity would defeat the Honkai, no matter the cost. This era's civilization is too weak. They don't understand the true Honkai, let alone how to defeat it. Therefore, even if World Serpent's methods seem extreme, the Stigmata plan must proceed. It's a necessary sacrifice for civilization's survival."
During their fight, Ren had witnessed Kevin's power firsthand. He knew Kevin spoke the truth.
Even in his MANTIS form, Kevin was likely stronger than everyone else combined. And even that power, according to Kevin, wasn't enough against the Final Herrscher. The sheer scale of that threat was terrifying.
If Ren had initially planned to hide until the Final Herrscher was dealt with, he now had something to protect, meaning he'd have to face it eventually. In that sense, his and Kevin's goals aligned.
However, he also recognized the radical nature of their plan. They were gambling with the fate of the world.
"Few will agree with your methods. Civilizations should forge their own paths, not have them dictated."
"I've given them time. If they grow strong enough before the Final Herrscher arrives, the Stigmata plan will cease. But currently, that's unlikely."
"Aren't you worried I'll sabotage your plan?" Ren smiled.
"If you succeed, wouldn't that prove the Stigmata plan has fulfilled its purpose?" Kevin's expression remained cold, but his slightly raised eyebrow betrayed a hint of satisfaction.
"You're the only one who currently approaches the necessary threshold to fight the Final Herrscher. But it's not enough. Time is short. If you can do it, World Serpent will help you reach that point."
Ren wasn't swayed. He knew how daunting the task was.
Besides, the [Tree] probably wouldn't allow it.
Shaking off his thoughts, he said, "I'll help with the Stigmata plan. I expect you to honor our agreement."
"Are you certain? I said, with World Serpent's help, you have the greatest potential to face the Final Herrscher."
Ren stared at the sakura tree, its petals drifting into the quantum depths. "But I'm not the savior."
"..." Kevin was silent.
Mei, having returned from the abyss, wanted to speak to Ren, but seeing Kevin, she held back.
"It's time for you to leave. As agreed, Raiden Mei can join World Serpent and access the Elysian Realm. But you," Kevin looked at Ren, "I hope you won't regret your decision."
...
The events in the Sea of Quanta didn't affect the outside world. After Senti and Mei left, the World Serpent base returned to its usual quiet.
Jackal was in surgery. In the main hall, only Bronya, still unconscious, and Raven remained.
"The Herrscher of Reason..." Raven murmured, watching the sleeping Bronya, so different from her combative self.
The quiet hall bored Raven.
Bronya was the fifth Herrscher she'd encountered. Kiana, Mei, Bronya—three B-rank Valkyries, now Herrschers, powerful adversaries.
Just as she'd said to Mei that night, the world was unfair. Ordinary people like her trained relentlessly to reach their current level, while these Herrschers surpassed her years of effort in mere months.
"Some are born to stand in the sun, their destinies predetermined... I used to think that way."
Raven chuckled, her melancholy gone. She'd changed. She envied their gifts, but now possessed something more precious.
Confirming the hall was empty, she took out her phone and dialed an unfamiliar number.
The call rang for a while before being answered.
"Hello? D..."
Bang! Bang! Bang!
The sound of a violent struggle, a man's cries for mercy, interrupted her greeting.
"I'll talk! I'll talk! Delta-sama, I know where the leader of the Rookies gang is!"
A girl's voice followed. "Oh? Weren't you being tough earlier? Let's see... 'Who's this brat?' Was that it?"
"I'm sorry! I'm sorry!"
Crack!
A bone snapped, followed by a scream. Silence returned.
Raven winced. She'd been a mercenary since her teens, but she wasn't this brutal. Dunking someone in a toilet was her limit.
"Raven? What is it? As you can hear, I'm busy."
"Delta, I sent you to be a mercenary, not a murderer..."
"Relax, I know my limits. Just two broken legs. You know what these gangs do."
"I know they deserve it, but don't lose yourself in violence. Your teacher told you that, right?"
Delta paused, looking back at the chaotic bar.
"...She did."
"So, whether mercenary or gangster, remember what you're doing. Don't let these scum cloud your judgment."
Before becoming Delta, Rozaliya had been a child, barely a teenager. Despite her training, she was still impressionable.
"Liliya..."
Whispering the name calmed Delta. She looked at the overcast sky, told a passerby to call the police, and walked away from the chaos.
"This mission's a bust." Delta sighed, heading into the unfamiliar city.
She was used to navigating unknown places, though the growing negativity within her made her increasingly violent.
"Are you free later?" Raven asked.
"Something up?"
"Remember the children from Nagazora?"
"Of course. I'll never forget them. But they're..."
"No, they're alive. Durandal rescued them when Nagazora fell."
"Are you sure?"
"I can't be certain, but I believe Kiana."
"That's great!" Delta's outburst drew stares. Ignoring them, she grabbed her cloth-wrapped greatsword and ran towards the airport. "I'm going to Schicksal! I'll get them back!"
"Wait."
"Don't worry, I'm good at fighting. Even Schicksal's strongest Valkyrie won't stop me."
"Do you even know where they are?"
"Uh."
"So, first, investigate. Schicksal HQ is above the Mediterranean. Durandal grew up in a French orphanage. If she placed them anywhere, it would be somewhere similar. ...You do know where France is, right?"
Raven paused, remembering Delta mentioning her lack of formal education.
"Doesn't matter. Just find some unlucky soul. Plenty of targets on the bounty list."
Threatening someone for information wasn't ideal. Raven sighed. "Don't be rash. I have contacts. I'll find someone familiar with the area. But you'll have to handle the rest..."
"..."
Silence. Delta frowned, tapping her phone.
"Did this thing break?"
As she was about to hang up, a familiar voice, trembling, came through the speaker.
"Rozaliya? Is that you?"
Delta froze, an image of a gray-haired girl flashing in her mind. She almost said her name.
"Bronya-nee… no, wait, you have the wrong person."
Months had passed since the Obsidian Concord took her. She'd almost forgotten her real name. To protect Liliya, she'd promised to keep her identity secret, adopting the name Delta.
But hearing her sister's voice brought back the impulsive girl she once was.
No, I can't reveal myself.
Panicked, she fumbled to end the call, her usually steady hand shaking.
"It is you! This is wonderful!"
Her finger finally hovered over the end call button, but the tearful voice stopped her.
"Rozaliya, everyone is looking for you. Liliya misses you every day."
"..."
Rain began to fall. People scurried for cover, leaving Delta standing alone in the street.
Cold rain plastered her hair to her face, mixing with tears streaming down her cheeks.
"Bronya… nee..."
She finally spoke the name, like a lost child finding her way home.
Back at the base, Raven held up her hands in surrender as Bronya aimed her cannons at her, oblivious.
Raven looked at the weeping girl, then silently stepped back, giving them space.
I hope she returns my phone. The top-of-the-line model is expensive. Random thoughts flitted through Raven's mind as she pictured the children's hopeful faces.
"I wouldn't be any different if I reunited with them," she thought, a smile brightening her eyes.