Didn't you go to Teyvat to earn money to support me?

Siegfried's feelings were complicated. Her younger brother, so aloof and unassuming, was now humbled and thoughtfully considering everything for her family's sake. She felt that Brunhilde sometimes seemed too mature, perhaps because he had always needed to rely on others to survive, and this sensitive nature...

If he could, Siegfried really wouldn't want his younger brother to be so mature and sensitive.

At the dinner table, Cecilia finally got up. Siegfried looked at the two of them. Cecilia's gaze towards Brunhilde was full of interest and tenderness. Such a young child was cooking by herself, beautiful and sensible, so much so that Cecilia would occasionally put food on Brunhilde's plate.

Siegfried was a little depressed at this moment, because in her imagination, these days were the time for her and Cecilia to go on blind dates and cultivate their relationship.

In theory, a meal should involve two people gazing lovingly into each other's eyes. Even if not, it should at least be a situation where she is passionate and outgoing while Cecilia is shy and timid. Just like when she was pursuing other girls, she chatted heartily while constantly putting food on Cecilia's plate. Cecilia would listen occasionally, sometimes not, smiling gently, and then occasionally putting food on Cecilia's plate and chiming in with a few words.

But now even this Chinese-style breakfast was made by Brunhilde! Cecilia's focus was entirely on the child, completely ignoring her. Not only did she not serve her food, but when she did manage to chat with her, the main focus was on Brunhilde.

Siegfried pouted, feeling a pang of jealousy.

Although she knew that Brunhilde was trying to win Cecilia over to the Kaslana family, and although she knew that Cecilia, as a kind and gentle saint, would definitely care more about the delicate and cute 1.4-meter-tall Ragdoll cat, and although she could understand all of this... she still felt a little jealous.

That's infuriating! Bro, do you really have that kind of appeal to girls? I've never noticed before. All the girls I bring home are conquered by my charisma and good looks, aren't they? Bubu, shouldn't you be more attractive to those greasy old men who have designs on middle school girls?

But Siegfried felt it was unlikely he could take Brunhilde away and start a life of his own with Cecilia.

Just kidding, all the progress I've made with Cecilia lately was thanks to my little brother. Without him, I wouldn't even have anything to talk about with the Saintess! Forget it, forget it, getting jealous like this is really beneath my heroic spirit, Siegfried. How could I, the mighty hero who inherited the name of the dragon slayer, possibly envy a weak, easily bullied, virtuous, and aloof little princess?

This is outrageous!

After breakfast, the group had nothing to do at the hotel.

As the saying goes, when you're full and warm, you start to think about money and desires. Once you're full, there's no way to stop thinking about money and desires. To avoid having wild thoughts after eating and drinking, Brunhilde turned the air conditioner up to 16 degrees Celsius. Everyone huddled on the sofa, covered with blankets, with six tiny feet touching each other underneath.

Brunhilde continued playing Minesweeper on her phone. Smartphones didn't exist in this era; even Schicksal hadn't invented them. The smartphone era wasn't a new technology of the Fire-Chasing Civilization; on Earth, it truly had to be developed by private companies. Therefore, Brunhilde didn't have many games to play in this era, and Minesweeper was one of the small games she used to practice her reflexes.

Yes, for ordinary people, Minesweeper is a game of calculation, but for Brunhilde, it's a pure reaction game. While most people play the 16x30 version with 99 mines, he plays a specially made 200x400 version with 20,000 mines. This is because simple calculations are no longer enough for Brunhilde's thinking; he demands that the interval between clicking the next square be no more than one second, forcing himself to think extremely fast while also being quick-witted and avoiding mistakes.

Brunhilde knew that this speed of thought and reaction was beyond human limits, but among the Valkyries of the transcendental side, this was not the limit; in fact, even Siegfried could reach such a level. Therefore, he forced himself to use this speed of thought; at least in his mind, he was no weaker than a Valkyrie.

The two older sisters stared at him for a while, then looked across at the same time and found that they were both staring at the same person, which made them a little embarrassed.

"I have to say that Bubu's presence is really strong. Even if he does nothing but sit there playing on his phone, he still has an aura about him," Cecilia commented.

"What aura? I can't see it."

“You’re his older sister, of course you wouldn’t be able to tell. You two are too familiar with each other. To be precise, it’s an aura of aloofness and unapproachability. Just by looking at him, you can tell that he has a cold and aloof personality, the kind of coldness that makes people want to stay away.”

“I didn’t,” Brunhilde replied without looking up.

“Look, it’s that aloofness that’s always emanating from you, like a snow lotus. I bet Bubu is very popular at school, but no one dares to confess to you, right? That’s typical of a high-class young lady. As long as you beckon, everyone is willing to do things for you, but if you don’t beckon, no one dares to chatter around you, and you never attract attention.” Cecilia showed a somewhat envious expression. “Actually, I also had the experience of going to school. Although I went to an all-girls school, I didn’t have Bubu’s noble aura. Those people knew that I was the young lady of the Shaniat family, but they still happily surrounded me and made a ruckus. Kira and Salome, from that time on, they stopped treating me like some kind of saint.”

Siegfried also felt that Cecilia was quite easy to get along with, so gentle that she had no airs at all. But if he went along with Cecilia at this moment, he didn't know if she would be happy. After all, he couldn't tell whether she wanted others to respect her or not.

So she said, "Bubu is just putting on an act. What can a ragdoll cat that can't even kill a chicken do? What noble aura? It's all just a good act. Pick him up and shake him like you're shaking a can of soda and see if he can still act like that. If he gets angry, he might bite you but you won't even break the skin!"

Chapter 43 If you're a woman, come and fight!

"Don't always bully your younger brother."

“This isn’t bullying, this is getting to know each other. In other people’s eyes, Bubu is a pure and innocent snow lotus in a world of filth, but in my eyes, he’s just someone who pretends to be expressionless because of his good looks. Do you think I don’t know what kind of person he is?” Siegfried went to the kitchen, cut a plate of pickled cucumbers, and the group shared them.

Cecilia wasn't used to the extreme cold of Scandinavia, so she was reluctant to eat pickled cucumbers. But she was bored, so she used a toothpick to stick cucumber slices on her and fed them to Brunhilde on the sofa opposite her.

This scene left Siegfried feeling uneasy, but she was too embarrassed to approach the saintess and ask her to feed her some food, since they weren't familiar with each other yet. So, after finishing the pickles, she suggested they go play boxing.

Five-star hotels naturally come with many functional areas, and the gym alone occupies an entire floor. The boxing room is the size of a basketball court, with a ring in the center and punching bags around it.

The two men helped Brunhilde change her clothes. Brunhilde couldn't go into the boys' locker room, and Siegfried naturally couldn't go into the girls' locker room, so they both changed in their rooms before coming out. Siegfried tied his long hair up, while Cecilia, wearing a cropped sports vest and yoga pants, strode confidently into the boxing gym.

The Valkyries are not just a simple dance troupe of pretty girls; they are soldiers from an extraordinary government supported by powerful financial families and religious forces, possessing armed troops in various countries. With "martial" in their names, it's easy to imagine that each Valkyrie is a formidable female warrior, capable of riding a horse on her arm and standing on her fist.

Most of these people don't enjoy traditional arts like music, chess, calligraphy, or painting, though it's not that they're not skilled in them—the noble ladies all have a little bit of each. But unlike proper noble ladies, they prefer games like running, swimming, horseback riding, shooting, bungee jumping, rock climbing, skydiving, and martial arts—games that are both good for their health and entertainment, and also allow them to compete and fight.

Competitive and aggressive tactics aren't necessarily derogatory. These Valkyries possess extraordinary powers, so naturally they'll find ways to utilize them within their circle. Such physically demanding activities are naturally interesting. Since those with superhuman abilities aren't allowed to participate in competitions with ordinary people, private competitions are commonplace.

Siegfried stepped onto the stage, casually removing his tie and suit jacket; though dressed in men's clothing, he was undeniably handsome. He put on his boxing gloves, clapping his fists together with a series of thuds, and his strikingly handsome face scanned the guests below with interest: "Anyone want to play a round with me?"

Because of Cecilia and Brunhilde's stunning beauty, many of the customers who were already in the gym were drawn to them as soon as they entered, and naturally followed them into the boxing room to watch.

A handsome man with delicate features but a burly build challenged people on stage, and many were immediately eager to try. A well-built man, who seemed to be one of the hotel's coaches, threw off his coat, flipped onto the ring, glanced at Cecilia intentionally or unintentionally, and then showed off his muscles.

Next to Brunhilde, Cecilia complimented, "You have a great figure."

"Are you talking about my brother or that coach?" Brunhilde asked, being cautious in his speech with someone nearby.

“You all have great figures,” Cecilia laughed. “Of course, I prefer Bubu’s cute style.”

Upon hearing this, one of the other tourists, a young woman, laughed and said, "The coach's muscles are much more defined than your friend's, it's a pity my boyfriend doesn't like working out, he has a bit of a belly."

"After all, the coach came from the military."

Cecilia shrugged, gave Brunhilde a mischievous smile, and whispered, "I don't like explosive muscles; I prefer good-looking ones."

Why are you telling me this?

“Bubu needs to work on developing some nice muscles too. He looks sickly and lacks energy, not lively enough.” Cecilia stroked his chin, and the little Ragdoll cat subconsciously narrowed his eyes. Then, realizing what she meant, he glared at her coldly. Cecilia chuckled, “Although this cool and aloof style suits him well, I also want to see the energetic, strong, and passionate Bubu.”

[Powerful? Passionate? You wouldn't want to see that.]

【Eh? 】

Cecilia was puzzled when the fight broke out on the ring, with blows coming in quick succession.

Both fighters have solid fighting skills, but it is clear that Siegfried follows the logic of boxing strictly, without kicking, and adopts a take-it-or-leave-it style, giving his opponent room to maneuver, and occasionally even managing a few beautiful evasive maneuvers.

The arena is her stage to showcase herself. She is the strongest warrior of the Kaslana family in this generation and the current head of the knight lineage. Although the Kaslana family has declined, she, Siegfried Kaslana, is still strong enough to be worthy of Cecilia!

With skillful dodging, Siegfried gave her opponent room to maneuver while showcasing her own fighting prowess. She didn't utilize Honkai energy, achieving a flawless exchange of blows solely through physical strength. As she fought, her thoughts began to wander…

Siegfried's affection for Cecilia wasn't based on a family duty, but rather on genuine affection that developed after they met.

She knew from childhood that she was betrothed to the eldest daughter of the saintly family. In order to save the gradually declining Kaslana, Shaniat took the initiative to arrange such an important person to marry Kaslana.

She felt quite wronged. As a girl, she had to pretend to be a boy for the rest of her life, forced to make many choices for the sake of her family. So, from a young age, she had a vague sense of sacrifice, feeling that many people and things had let her down, that she was the most pitiful child in the world. But this was because she needed to save the family business, she needed to save many people and things, so she had to do it.

She spent her days leading a bunch of unruly kids around, initially boys, then girls. The boys were there because she was the spoiled young master of the Kaslana family, and it was only natural for her to be the leader of a group of boys. The girls came later because she grew up and realized that the young master of the Kaslana family was always surrounded by beautiful women, and she had to learn how to interact with girls.

But she later suddenly realized that she seemed to be wallowing in self-pity.

She realized she wasn't the most pitiful child, no, not even pitiful. She felt like a chosen one, yet she was forced into an arranged marriage with someone even more exceptional than herself—a contemporary saint. She felt that many people and things had let her down, but she heard that Cecilia had obeyed her family's arrangements without resistance.

From that moment on, Siegfried never again felt that self-pitying sense of sacrifice. Kaslana was the Wall of the People, and there were countless beings in this world, as fragile and easily broken as crystal, far more deserving of protection than Siegfried herself. The saintess of the Schariac family was even more deserving of being called the "Wall of the People."

Cecilia always held a place in her heart, even though they had only just met. Cecilia had already left a deep mark on her life.

Brunhilde was born at the age of eight, and was corrupted by Honkai energy from birth. Siegfried felt it was the end of the world, but less than three days later, the Schariac family received the news, and the saint herself sent the serum.

A girl whose marriage was controlled by her family, a girl who was so devoted and selfless that she could even be called saintly... Siegfried once suffered because of this engagement, but now he is proud of it.

Look, the Holy Maiden is my fiancée.

Look, I've been in love with her for so many years.

Although Cecilia could never know, and even her closest friend Brunhilde might not know, that she rarely takes a relationship seriously, but... she really is serious.

She wanted Cecilia to see that she loved her and was worthy of her.

Siegfried's eyes narrowed, and his body dodged in an exaggerated, inhuman arc, twisting his slender waist and knocking his opponent down with another punch!

"...3! 2! 1!" The temporary crowd acting as referees immediately declared Siegfried the winner!

"Kaslana family gun-fu?" Cecilia's beautiful eyes narrowed slightly. She noticed that Siegfried's body was twisted so dramatically that it looked as if several bones had been removed. This was not a movement that a human could do, nor could the Shaniat family. This was a fighting technique that only the Kaslana family's exaggerated physique could accomplish.

Siegfried turned his head and looked at Cecilia defiantly, but she didn't say anything, because it wasn't reasonable for a man to challenge a woman in front of so many people.

But Cecilia understood the meaning in her eyes.

"If you're a woman, come up and fight me!"

Cecilia felt a little wronged, wondering what this foreign woman was thinking on stage, suddenly so full of fighting spirit. "I didn't do anything to you..."

However, Cecilia's lips curled slightly.

—Alright, I'm going to beat you so badly today that you'll question your existence!

Chapter Forty-Four: I, Siegfried, have never been inferior to anyone in my life!

Given Cecilia's status and abilities, anyone who dares to challenge her is extremely rare, in any respect.

Strength, talent, family background, beauty, learning, and power—Cecilia isn't keen on using these things, but that doesn't mean she lacks them. Within the entire transcendental realm, Cecilia is the most prominent S-rank Valkyrie.

She entered S-rank at sixteen, the youngest in Schicksal's history. Her very existence was enough to intimidate the United Nations, an organization established by countries around the world since World War II, and she was Schicksal's minimum nuclear deterrent strategic soldier. Now, at just twenty years old, she is already the most powerful Valkyrie of this generation in Schicksal.

Siegfried is only A-rank. She does have the talent to reach S-rank, but there are different levels within S-rank.

Siegfried has to undergo rigorous training like a male to reach S-rank, while Cecilia can achieve this level simply through normal training and life. To be precise, even if Siegfried reaches S-rank, it only means she is an S-rank genius, while Cecilia is considered S-rank only because Schicksal's highest standard of judgment is S.

Therefore, Siegfried is unlikely to challenge her.

Even the Kaslana family's most prized martial arts wouldn't be able to achieve that.

What does it mean to be the most talented saintess in the history of the Shaniat family? Cecilia's talent is unheard of. She may not have the physical body of the Kaslana family, but the limitless Honkai energy brought by her holy blood since childhood has already forged her body into something unparalleled. Her body can easily rival that of the Kaslana family, even without using Honkai energy.

Although she couldn't master the Kaslana Gunfighting Technique, her combat talent made her invincible in the training grounds. The Kaslana Gunfighting Technique was just one of many martial arts styles, and Cecilia had defeated countless skilled fighters. Even the various sects of the Divine Land School, which claimed to have integrated Honkai energy into martial arts, were not necessarily able to defeat her in a direct confrontation.

Although Cecilia herself has not yet realized it, in the future she will not only be the strongest Valkyrie of the current Schicksal era, but also the strongest Valkyrie in Schicksal history.

But Cecilia can now see clearly that Siegfried's challenge is serious.

Kaslana, the current "young master," is a very proud person who refuses to lag behind in any aspect. She is also one of the top geniuses in the extraordinary realm. As a child prodigy, she naturally has to strive to be number one! Martial arts are Siegfried's pride, and even Cecilia cannot make her submit.