Sky Striker Princess, but the swan song of Valkyrie.

Completely focused, Zero pointed her Flash Blade at Chris in front of her and said these words.

......

Soon, time flew by, and the evening arrived.

At this moment, Chris had returned to her room. Under the bright light, she was wrapped in a blanket and looked at the blonde girl in front of her with a face full of shame and indignation.

What have you done to me?!

Chris confronted Zero, questioning her about the inhuman treatment she had just endured.

"It's just a threat reduction measure for you. I understand that my actions just now may have caused you some misunderstanding, but it was really a necessary preparation to prevent me from killing you on instinct."

In response to Chris's questioning, Zero gave her this explanation very seriously.

As mentioned before, she doesn't like anything threatening to get too close to her. If Chris gets too close to her without first removing the threat, there's a high chance that she'll turn into an inorganic thing that was once called Chris.

Is that really the case?

Hearing Lingyi's explanation, the girl wrapped in the blanket lowered her head.

"That's right, so you don't need to worry about it too much. If you can, I hope you can think of my actions just now as a doctor examining your body."

Zero also realized that her actions just now contained a certain degree of misunderstanding, so she tried to use this reason to make it easier for Chris to accept.

"So, you stole my magic bow to reduce the threat?"

Chris asked.

"That's right, you are undoubtedly a considerable threat when equipped with the Symphogear."

Lingyi answered calmly.

The item that grants immense power simply by chanting a hymn is the primary source of threat to Chris, so it's only natural that it shouldn't remain on her.

"So, was treating my clothes like that also to reduce the threat?"

Chris continued to ask, her expression seemingly changing slightly.

"That's right, this is a necessary check to make sure you are not carrying any other dangerous items."

Lingyi continued to explain in a calm tone.

The magic bow was only the weapon Chris possessed openly; she couldn't ignore the possibility that Chris might have hidden weapons, so a body search and full-body examination were necessary.

"...So, coming into my room without my permission and moving in with a bunch of stuff was also to reduce the threat?"

A hint of dissatisfaction crept into Chris's voice.

"Here's the thing, I need to keep you under my sight to ensure your threat level doesn't rise."

Lingyi continued.

Although she was able to confirm through the previous two steps that there was no threat to Chris, she still needed to consider the possibility that Chris might do something out of her sight that could escalate the threat.

"Good good."

Listening to Lingyi's unchanging tone, a string of reason snapped in Chris's mind.

"So you made me wear these shameful clothes and put this weird collar on me, all for your so-called 'reducing the threat' reason?!"

Losing her temper, Chris threw off the covers, stood up, and shouted angrily at the still expressionless girl.

When Chris stood up, she wasn't wearing her usual red dress, but a strange outfit that might excite some enthusiasts.

Chapter Twenty-Five: Ceilings and Windows

"This suit can forcibly stop your body when it makes violent movements, while the collar can monitor your physical indicators and cut off your consciousness at critical moments. It is a good way to reduce threats."

Despite Chris's exaggerated gestures to show her inner anger, Zero maintained her usual tone and explained to Chris.

“You…you, you’re a real BAKA, a true BAKA.”

Chris was at a loss for words. Just when she thought she had a certain understanding of Zero, Zero still came up with some strange new tricks for her.

"Hmph, so you want me to wear this kind of outfit in public?"

After calming herself down, Chris asked, with a hint of embarrassment and annoyance.

"No, of course not. Unless you have some special fetish, you'll definitely wear another layer of clothing when you go out."

Lingyi denied it as a matter of course.

"Who has any special fetishes? To be honest, you didn't force me into these clothes. And where are my old clothes? Give them back right now!"

Chris denied it vehemently, then asked Zero about the whereabouts of her original clothes.

"Wait, let me look for it."

Upon hearing Chris's question, Zero opened the weapon machine and began rummaging through it for clothes she had somehow misplaced.

Because Chris resisted so strongly, she threw the other person's clothes into the weapon machine after taking them off. Then, in order to get daily necessities, she changed the teleportation port, and now she doesn't know where she threw Chris's clothes.

"Ah... thank goodness, we found it."

Fortunately, after repeatedly switching the interface of the Warblade Machine at her base, Zero found the red dress that had been thrown on the ground where she had previously placed the 'Threat Removal Suit Type 001' and gave it to Chris.

"Phew, at least I don't feel so bad anymore."

Chris took the clothes from her and immediately put them back on, covering up her own embarrassing and strange attire.

"It shouldn't be that uncomfortable, right? When I made this suit last night, I made it according to your figure, Chris. To make it as comfortable as possible, I used materials that were as close to underwear as possible. I also used heretical technology to equip it with cooling, heating, and cleaning functions to prevent discomfort from wearing it for a long time. Even so, is it still uncomfortable?"

Seeing Chris's complaint, Zero asked with a hint of doubt.

"...Ha, what functions did you add to this shameful outfit?"

Chris felt speechless. The overall design was terrible in every sense of the word, yet it was strangely considerate in some ways.

"So Chris, is there anything else that makes you uncomfortable? If needed, I can make further improvements. After all, we're here to address your psychological issues. If you have any discomfort, feel free to mention it as long as it doesn't affect our plans."

Lingyi asked earnestly.

"No, forget it, let's leave it at that. I don't want to go through that forced undressing and dressing game again."

Chris quickly refused. She had figured it out now. Although she usually acted normally, Lingyi would become inexplicably serious when it came to matters concerning her own safety.

If you asked her to change, she would absolutely be capable of doing something like personally taking it off and putting it back on to ensure her so-called safety.

"Is that so? Since Chris, you're all set, then go to sleep after dinner. You'll have a lot of work to do tomorrow."

Seeing that Chris was dressed and had no other questions, Lingyi said this, and then took Chris's hand.

"Wait, wait, wait, are you just going to lead me away like this? Don't forget we're still enemies."

Feeling the sudden soft touch on her hand, Chris said, at a loss.

"What's wrong? Since I need to keep your threat level low, I naturally need to keep a certain distance from you at all times."

Seeing Chris's flustered appearance, Zero explained as a matter of course.

"Is...is that so?"

Hearing Zero's answer, Chris wondered if she was overthinking things.

"Otherwise, what other reason could there be? However, if Chris doesn't want me to hold your hand, then I can add a chain to the collar around your neck..."

"No need at all, holding hands is fine!"

Hearing Zero's increasingly dangerous words, Chris immediately felt that holding hands wasn't such an unacceptable thing after all.

"Really? You don't have to force yourself, Chris."

"Zero said, then opened the War Blade Machine while blocking Chris's face."

"No, you won't be forced at all, Lingyi. Aren't we going to have dinner? Let's hurry up, or we'll miss it!"

Before Zero could take any further action, Chris quickly interrupted her and then took Zero's hand and left the room.

"Alright, since you insist, Chris, let's forget about it and go to the kitchen first."

After being pulled away from the room by Chris, Zero said this, and then proposed the next course of action: go to the kitchen.

"Ah, the kitchen, why?"

Chris asked.

"Of course I'm making you dinner, what else could it be?"

With that, Lingyi took Chris's hand and led her toward the kitchen of the mansion.

......

About an hour and a half later.

"...Hmm, it looks pretty good?"

Chris was somewhat surprised to see the rather elaborate three dishes and one soup on the table, which included both meat and vegetables.

Although she knew that Lingyi had studied cooking, after so many years, she felt that Lingyi's cooking skills had become even more proficient.

"Well, for personal reasons, I worked as a chef in the United States for a while, so I did some research on it."

Lingyi said.

"Chef, Lingyi, you're still working at the restaurant?"

Chris was a little confused; she couldn't quite imagine that someone dressed like that would become a chef.

"No, I work at a research institute in the United States that studies relics. I just occasionally work as a chef."

Lingyi explained that, after all, her vision is under a lot of pressure, and she has no hearing. In addition, she doesn't trust food prepared by others, so it's natural that making some food to her own taste is a decent form of entertainment for her.

"Is that so? Okay then, I'll start eating."

Although Chris was still very curious about Zero's past, she knew it wouldn't be good if the food in front of her got cold; she had to respect the food.

"Hey, Zero, aren't you going to eat?"

Just as Chris was about to pick up her chopsticks, she noticed that Zero wasn't eating with her.

"No, I don't need it. This nutrient solution is enough for me."

Lingyi said, then showed a bottle containing a milky white liquid in her hand. Next to her, a polygonal portal was slowly closing.

Chapter Twenty-Six: Developments on the Other Side (4k)

While Rei and Chris were having dinner together, on the other side, in Section Two, Ms. Sakurai Ryoko had just finished her work for the day.

"Ah—it's time to get off work."

Rubbing her aching shoulders, Sakurai Ryoko uttered words that could bring working people to the peak of pleasure.

"Thank you for your hard work, son. You've been working overtime until so late these past few days."

The room door opened, and Commander Fengming, carrying a thermos, entered Zi's studio, saying this.

"It's alright. I only did some technical work. Compared to me, Genjuro-kun, you have a much tougher job with the pressure from above, don't you?"

Sakurai Ryoko took a sip of the hot black tea beside her and then said this.

After Durandal was stolen by Zero Clothes, the entire upper management held Section Two accountable. Although Section Two employees managed to get through the first wave of accountability through hard work and overtime, they still faced difficulties from other departments from time to time afterward.

Although as a technician she doesn't need to deal with those people, she still has the rather troublesome task of researching Hibiki Tachibana's body.

"Indeed, dealing with those big shots is a real headache, but don't worry about it, Ziju. At least for now, we don't have to worry about being held accountable by the higher-ups."

Upon hearing Zi's words, Commander Fengming pressed his forehead and said this.

"Hmm... Oh, does that mean you beat up those old guys at the meeting, Genjuro-kun?"

Upon hearing Commander Kazunari's words, Sakurai Ryoko was somewhat incredulous, and after thinking for a moment, she made this guess.

You have to understand, this was a major mistake involving the loss of a very precious and complete relic. She found it hard to imagine what Genjuro had done to make those old guys stop pursuing the matter.

"Of course not, how could I do that? The reason they gave up on holding us accountable was because some new circumstances arose, and in some ways more important than Durandal's loss, which led to a reassessment of the importance of Section Two."

He first denied Zi's conjecture, and then Commander Fengming said with a headache expression.

"So, what exactly happened?"

Looking at Commander Fengming's umbrella, Sakurai Ryoko asked with some curiosity, but for some reason, she had a strange feeling of unease.

"This afternoon, Tachibana Hibiki, case number 1 of the Bio-Relic Fusion Syndrome, was attacked by terrorists on her way to buy a bento box."

Commander Fengming stated this information with a serious expression.

"Hibiki Tachibana was attacked by terrorists... Wait, does that mean...?"