Chapter 3: The One from the Past

1. Raiden Mei was very surprised. Naturally, it wasn’t just her—everyone aboard the Hyperion, including Himeko’s secretary, was equally stunned.

This was understandable because, no matter who saw Himeko’s outfit and mood today, they would be struck with surprise and admiration!

Usually, Himeko on the Hyperion wore a neat, sharp military uniform, looking tall and upright, even exuding an incredibly fierce aura, like a female general commanding the battlefield.

Even though she had already handed over command, she still looked that way! The Hyperion was her battleship!

But today, this female general was more than just a general!

Thanks to the new captain’s habit of arriving at the bridge half an hour late, Mugetsu Himeko was able to stand here now.

Mugetsu Himeko slowly stood up from the captain’s chair in the command room, looking around coldly with eyes sharp as knives. Raiden Mei and the others shivered all over! Even the disappointed Kiana instinctively felt a chill.

What was going on? Yesterday, when going home, Himeko looked like she had a headache, as if scolded for hours by a homeroom teacher. But now, after just one night, she had revived and showed up here without any smell of alcohol—majestic and imposing.

She wasn’t wearing a military uniform today but gave off the impression of being fully armed.

Wearing a perfectly tailored black skirt suit and matching high heels, her long red hair pinned high on her head, with carefully drawn eyeliner sharp as swords.

All this showed that the former Hyperion captain had entered combat mode. Maybe Mei and the others didn’t understand, but mature women when entering battle mode always dress up; the higher the heels, the greater the pressure and fighting spirit, the fiercer the burning flame!

Mei didn’t know exactly what had happened, but she could tell that something had forced Mugetsu Himeko to the edge, so urgent that even Mei could sense the killing intent.

“Listen up, everyone! I know you all have complaints. You’re dissatisfied and even disgusted with the new captain. But since this is a decision from above, you can’t change it… But to hell with above! This time, we have to change it!” She slammed her palm onto the control panel with force, her gaze like a dagger piercing everyone present!

“We’re fed up, you’re fed up, and I’m fed up. What right does some rookie brat with zero sense of responsibility have to lead us?!”

After a brief silence, applause broke out, followed by unanimous shouts of agreement!

She walked to the front of the command room, raised her hand to signal the applause to stop, and immediately the room fell silent. What quelled the crowd more than her beauty was her aura of killing intent. Today, she was like a cold, enchanting demon blade—anyone admiring her beauty would also feel the imminence of her presence.

No one knew that this way of speaking and the imposing aura was simply Himeko imitating someone. Admittedly, her imitation was quite poor.

Because she had put on makeup and changed clothes.

That person, even wearing slippers and pajamas, could stand in one place, and with a single glance bring immense pressure. When speaking, their voice clashed like two swords striking—sharp and chilling!

“So, the academy dean has applied to recall those veterans who were forced away by fate ten years ago to replace our captain. Our battleship is no exception.”

“So, Major Himeko, who will replace the current captain?”

“That’s for us to decide, and I will decide.”

“Then, Major, who will you choose?”

Raiden Mei stepped forward. Although she had been on the Hyperion for some time, compared to these veterans with over ten years of service, she was still a rookie. And as a rookie, she had experienced a captain’s transition, with the new captain leaving a poor impression on her.

So, she was very invested in this question.

“Oh? Since you care so much, why don’t you come with me?” Himeko didn’t answer Mei directly but said excitedly with a wicked grin to everyone present: “Only one! There’s only ever been one captain of the Hyperion since its commissioning! My acting period is over. It’s time to bring back that absentee who hasn’t shown up for ten years!”

No one spoke, but their eyes filled with indescribable emotions and sentiment because they knew exactly who the real captain was.

No wonder Himeko seemed so familiar today—she was imitating that person. That person who, simply by standing there, emitted a sharp killing aura and fiery passion!

“Major!”

Everyone aboard the Hyperion, including her secretary, saluted her and said, “We wish you all the best.”

“Ah, I will definitely bring him back. Even if I have to tie him up and drag him back!”

“Major Himeko, please don’t let our sentimentality make you get carried away. Honestly, we can’t imagine you dragging that officer back. More likely, you’d be the one dragged out into the rain.”

The approving and emotional atmosphere vanished instantly as the secretary coldly poured water on Himeko’s high-spirited mood.

“…I’ll contact you when the time comes. So, please be neat when you kneel. Don’t lose all your dignity like when you do ten consecutive gacha pulls!”

“You can rest assured. If that’s what it takes to bring that officer back, I’ll kneel with the intensity of thirty consecutive pulls.”

Underneath her professional military uniform was an attitude completely lacking in dignity, her straight and stiff face saying something utterly ridiculous, but the eyes behind her gleaming glasses were full of determination!

What a serious rogue!

“Okay, it’s up to you now, Kiana, Mei, let’s go! Mission time!”

Today, Mugetsu Himeko was clearly in high spirits.

Mei thought so too. As a rookie, although it was good to replace that captain she disliked, who exactly was the captain Himeko hoped for?

Mei couldn’t know, but she could guess a little from Himeko’s outfit and behavior.

Though immature, Mei was also a woman and understood that girls only dress up so elaborately in the most extreme moments—like grand balls where they must appear or… meeting someone they admire.

Only in those two cases would they use their beauty as a weapon, to leave the best impression on everyone or just one person.

Just thinking about Himeko’s earlier speech on the Hyperion made it clear why she was dressed and acting the way she was, including touching up her makeup before boarding.

It was clear that Major Himeko had this side as well.

“Pfft, hehe.”

Mei laughed quietly after discovering this little secret.

“What’s wrong, Mei? Thinking about something funny all of a sudden?”

Sitting opposite her, Mugetsu Himeko turned and asked.

Himeko had a mature, intoxicating beauty that was evident even without makeup, but today’s battle-ready Himeko was breathtaking enough to invite a suitor.

Caught off guard by this beauty, Mei’s face blushed abnormally and quickly looked away, stammering, “N-nothing.”

Himeko’s experienced woman’s intuition immediately noticed Mei’s secret blush.

If it were the old Himeko, she would have playfully teased Mei to the point that she couldn’t even lift her head, but now she couldn’t because of the dignity she was cultivating.

“Mei, do I look beautiful today?”

Her mature voice was like a mild electric shock all over, tingling but unwilling to let go. Tilting her head slightly and narrowing her eyes, Himeko looked at Mei like a rose bending under the weight of its own blossoms.

Yes, Mugetsu Himeko was really beautiful today. Beautiful enough to take one’s breath away, beautiful enough to captivate both men and women!

“Y-yes, yes, Major Himeko.”

“Is that so? Good.”

Himeko seemed to be about to tease Mei, but instead, she turned her head and looked out the airplane window at the clouds, her eyes filled with nostalgia and affection.

The past flashed before Himeko’s eyes like a projector—ten years ago on that day.

The day that person left.

On that day, at St. Freya, most Valkyries were still in classrooms for supplementary lessons. Because of heavy rain, outdoor training was canceled, and the usually busy training ground was unusually empty.

Yet, twenty or so girls and a young man occupied it.

The girls’ faces were full of determination and resolve, while the young man looked like a guest caught trying to sneak away.

“Instructor, are you leaving?”

“Yes, I’ve submitted my resignation. The higher-ups have approved it. My service time is over.”

“Then where are you going?”

“To a place where I don’t have to see these hypocrites.”

“Then we’ll come with you…”

“No!”

A sincere request met with a stern refusal.

“Mugetsu Himeko! You must understand the consequences of what you just said. You are warriors cultivated by the Stigmata Organization to fight the Honkai! Not children who throw tantrums over personal feelings!”

“You train us, not the Stigmata!”

“Don’t be mistaken, I’m also part of Stigmata! Training you is my job and duty. No personal feelings, no selfishness. I do this because I must!”

This was a perfectly straightforward and heart-breaking explanation from his position.

“…Lies!”

“It’s not a lie.”

“Then wipe your tears! Don’t say it’s just rainwater!”

“…So, do you plan to stop me here all day or should I break through by force?”

“We won’t let you! (We won’t!)”

Twenty-three voices united into a powerful barrier, representing their firm resolve.

“…Is that so? Fine then. Listen up, you stubborn girls! Although I’ve resigned from Stigmata, that’s from the moment I leave St. Freya Academy! Right now, I am still your instructor, your commander! So, B-13 class, listen carefully!”

His voice was powerful and resonant, just like when he trained them, full of momentum like thunder.

“To hell with the rain stopping physical training! The battlefield isn’t just terrain—weather is also your enemy. Rain muffles your hearing! Fog blocks your vision! Thunderstorms disable your instruments! But that’s the battlefield. You must overcome it. So, everyone, thirty laps around St. Freya Academy—start running!”

“Yes, instructor!”

That young man didn’t leave at that time because he knew if he did, it would be more than abandonment—it would be betrayal. So he ran with them, from class ending to starting again, until after school when they asked him again at the gate.

“Instructor, are you really going to abandon us?”

“No. It’s not abandonment, it’s letting go. A fledgling eagle under its mother’s wing can never truly fly. You’re the same. After I leave, you’ll be deployed to the battlefield immediately. What I taught you won’t make you heroes but will keep you alive. And staying alive… is more important than anything.”

‘Will we see you again?

“Of course. You’re welcome to visit my home. But if you don’t grow into outstanding Valkyries, I won’t buy you any drinks.”

That was the farewell between Mugetsu Himeko, her fellow Valkyries, and that man—the last time she saw him.

“Hey, do you think I look outstanding now, Instructor?”