I Don't Want to Be a Valkyrie (Honkai Impact 3rd)

Next, the conditions for Options 2 and 3 came into play. Option 2 required defeating the Valkyrie Corps, while Option 3 involved launching a counterattack against Schicksal on top of that.

If this were five hundred years later, facing the Schicksal headquarters controlled by Lord Otto, even as an SSS-rank Valkyrie, Serenade might have hesitated. Option 3 wouldn't have been worth considering.

Don't be deceived by the protagonist's effortless counterattack on Schicksal headquarters in the story's plotline.

But... is it really that simple?

No, it's not. While Otto's combat strength might be lacking, his strategic mind is undoubtedly terrifying.

If his goal wasn't to revive Kallen but to conquer the world, he would have achieved it long ago. After all, Lord Otto is... a mastermind who toys with all the Herrscher in his palm.

But... is this fate controlled by Lord Otto? No, it's the fate of the 15th century...

The current Lord Otto hasn't yet interfered with fate. He's still just a young master who prefers his own research and inventions, though his studies... have already touched upon forbidden knowledge.

The current fate is a corrupted... fallen Schicksal headquarters.

If we want to counterattack Schicksal, it's not impossible...

After all, the mission only says to deliver a powerful slap to the Schicksal leadership.

It doesn't say we need to overthrow the entire organization.

Upon careful consideration, it's still achievable. However, doing so would undoubtedly offend the current Schicksal leadership beyond repair.

But does that matter?

These leaders will eventually fall anyway. If Otto wants... he could seize control of Schicksal in no time.

If Lord Otto controlled Schicksal, would he harm Kallen?

Absolutely not.

So wouldn't this mean...

Teaching the Schicksal hierarchy a lesson and letting the bewitched Otto seize control of Schicksal...

This way, Schicksal would become Otto's, and since Otto obeys Kallen's commands, Schicksal would essentially belong to Kallen! Thus, the world's most powerful organization would fall into our hands through natural progression.

Of course, it's too early to think about this now. Even if Otto wanted to take over the entire Schicksal, it would require time. But it's certainly worth scheming about.

Since it's worth scheming about, considering the three options... even without mentioning the rewards, Option 3 is undoubtedly the best.

The first option won't be chosen. The second option, even if it involves defeating Schicksal's faction and joining the Valkyrie Corps, Schicksal wouldn't let it go unpunished. So only the third remains.

Take the initiative.

After careful consideration, without the slightest hesitation, Serenade directly selected Option 3.

After accepting the main quest, the remaining Ai-chan exclusive quest appeared quite simple. All that was needed was to interact with Otto for three minutes without him discovering that she was another Kallen, and the task would be completed.

The reward of Ai-chan Exclusive Coins wasn't insignificant either, totaling 300.

After reviewing the task, Serenade realized it didn't seem particularly challenging. She was currently identical to Kallen—she might as well be Kallen herself, just not the Kallen belonging to this world.

While Otto was very familiar with Kallen, and if it were the Bishop Lord Otto from five hundred years in the future, he might have exposed her immediately...

But... the current Lord Otto was still young, and three minutes should be enough time to complete the task.

This mission was practically a freebie.

So, Serenade accepted it without hesitation.

"Kallen, what's the strength of the Valkyrie Corps and Schicksal headquarters? Do you know?" Serenade asked Kallen, who was playing Western chess with Hokushin Mei.

Though Schicksal's current power might not be formidable, it was crucial to understand their capabilities thoroughly.

"The Valkyrie Corps and Schicksal headquarters? Why do you need to know?" Kallen paused her chess move, looking at Serenade with suspicion.

"If my predictions are correct, it won't be long... before a Valkyrie Corps unit arrives in Shinano," Serenade revealed half-truthfully. There was no need to conceal this information.

"The Valkyrie Corps is coming to Shinano? But how... Why would they come to such a remote Far East location? And with Shenzhou so close, how dare they..." Kallen protested, clearly unconvinced. The Far East region was relatively small - how could Schicksal possibly locate them here?

"You haven't forgotten about the Herrscher battle, have you? Schicksal is highly sensitive to Honkai's power. Last time... they must have detected it long ago."

Serenade casually addressed Kallen's confusion while glancing at the little fox Higokumaru perched on the tree outside the window.

"Why they waited so long to send people? That's unclear for now. But I suspect... they discovered Higokumaru's power surge months ago—the same energy from the black box you stole. So... do you think they'll come to retrieve the box and capture you?"

Serenade withdrew her gaze from Higokumaru, meeting Kallen with equally beautiful eyes.

"The Herrscher's power..."

Kallen's expression shifted slightly; the possibility was indeed plausible.

Though Higokumaru's power might not have directly affected Europe, Schicksal—familiar with Honkai's patterns—would undoubtedly have sensed it.

"The Valkyrie Corps' strength is divided into four tiers: C-rank, B-rank, A-rank... and S-rank Valkyries.

Only C-rank Valkyries lack combat eligibility, serving solely as logistics personnel. B-rank and higher Valkyries qualify to battle Honkai and enemies."

After learning that the Valkyrie Corps might actually come, Kallen didn't hesitate to explain Schicksal's Valkyries and their capabilities.

The Valkyries were Schicksal's main force against Honkai. After all, their power wasn't something ordinary people could resist—they were all super soldiers.

Why Valkyries? Because this world had a strong preference for women. Human warriors who could adapt to Honkai energy were almost exclusively female.

Though there were some men, they were truly few and far between.

Schicksal's main Valkyrie forces were primarily composed of B-rank Valkyries. A-rank Valkyries were already considered elite among them.

As for S-rank Valkyries...

There was only Kallen. So according to Kallen, the Valkyrie Corps coming this time... was very likely an elite A-rank Valkyrie unit.

And possibly... even led by an S-rank Valkyrie.

But wasn't Kallen the only S-rank Valkyrie? How could there be another leading them?

The true S-rank Valkyrie was indeed only Kallen, but there was another...

That was the former Valkyrie vice-captain. After Kallen betrayed the Valkyrie Corps, she was replaced by... the current Valkyrie captain.

According to Kallen's account, when she fled Europe, this Valkyrie already possessed near-S-rank capabilities. With Kallen's defection, Schicksal would undoubtedly enhance her to replace Kallen.