Sky Striker Princess, but the swan song of Valkyrie.

Kazanari Genjuro directly explained the intelligence analysis he had just received from the Intelligence Division to Tachibana Hibiki. In such matters, the Second Division's experienced intelligence work was quite efficient.

"Could it be a lie?"

Hibiki Tachibana couldn't believe the information she had received, but she was already aware of Kohinata Mirai's current situation, and her mind began to race.

"The intelligence department spent a lot of effort but couldn't find Kohinata anywhere in the city. It's likely that Kohinata has already made contact with Zero's people and been taken away by them."

With a grave expression, Kazanari Genjuro, despite being somewhat worried about Tachibana Hibiki's mental state, still informed her of the current situation they had encountered.

The spacious bedroom was sparsely furnished, containing only a bed, a table, a cabinet, and a chair.

The bed was covered with clean white sheets and blankets. On the table were paper, pens, and several notebooks. The cabinet door was open, and inside hung several brand-new, inexpensive pieces of clothing.

"This is your room. It's definitely not as comfortable as your dorm room, but it'll have to do."

It didn't take long for Rei to find an empty room and furnish it to make it habitable before handing it over to Kohinata Mirai.

"Okay, I understand. By the way, may I ask where you live, Lingyi?"

Kohinata Mirai nodded without objection, then casually asked Rei.

"It's not far. The accommodations are clustered together. My room is right next door so I can keep an eye on you."

Lingyi pointed to a spot, gesturing to Xiaori Xiangwei in this way.

"Is that so? But if it's convenient for surveillance, wouldn't it be better to live together?"

Upon hearing what Rei said, Kohinata Mirai promptly raised this question.

"It's for your safety. Don't think of me as someone who's safe right now. I might just take your life if I'm in a bad mood sometime."

"And don't forget that you are a prisoner now. Prisoners should obey the supervisor's orders and not do anything unnecessary."

To answer Kohinata Mirai's question, Rei lowered her head and explained her reasons for doing so, while also adding a warning.

[For my safety, if this isn't a lie, then sure enough, something serious has happened to Zero.]

"So it seems you've already decided on my arrangements, Lingyi. Now, shall we proceed with the interrogation? You probably don't know why I came here of my own accord, do you? Don't you want to know?"

Seeing Zero's performance, Kohinata Mirai secretly kept the information to herself and realized that this was the limit. So she changed the subject.

"Whether or not to torture is not something you should be considering. You just need to follow orders and don't need to think about anything else. I will handle everything."

Zero refused Kohinata Mirai's request to communicate, seemingly without any curiosity about her arrival, and turned to leave.

"Zero, you should know how to treat Hibiki, right? One of the reasons I came here is to seek your help in treating Hibiki."

Before Rei could continue the conversation, Kohinata Mirai walked directly to Rei's side and revealed one of her purposes for coming.

"I told you that interrogation isn't your job right now. You can negotiate with other people about this. And don't get so close to me. Just because you're not a threat doesn't mean you can push your luck like this." Looking at the girl who had gotten so close to her at a dangerous distance, Lingyi's calm words carried a hint of annoyance, but she couldn't really do anything to this girl who had such a death wish.

P.S. Good evening.

Chapter Thirty-Nine Test Results

In a room with only one vent connecting it to the outside air, Kohinata Mirai wakes up from her sleep.

Whether you accept it or not, I will not change my mind; this is the one thing I will never compromise on.

Recalling the final words spoken by Rei yesterday, Kohinata Mirai sighed involuntarily upon waking.

"Even though we've gotten much closer, it still feels like there's no end in sight. Before and after that, what exactly did you go through, and what did you change?"

Looking at the stark white ceiling, Kohinata Mirai muttered to herself softly.

Yesterday, although she had put a lot of effort into figuring out the other person's feelings, she was stuck at a certain point and could not make any further progress.

This situation was completely different from the Zero she had encountered before.

The Lingyi she met back then was like a house cat that had suddenly lost its way. Although a visible shadow had fallen over her heart, she was still able to melt away her defenses with care.

Lingyi now is like a stray cat that has been wandering for a long time, enduring pain and cold, in a bad state but unwilling to show her softness to anyone.

"Phew, don't get discouraged. We'll take it one step at a time. There's still a chance."

With a sigh, Kohinata Mirai reaffirmed her belief, checked the time, and got up to tidy herself up.

laugh--

Almost the instant Kohinata Mirai finished tidying up, the door to the room where she was being held opened automatically, and Zero appeared in the doorway.

"Hey, Rei, could you remind me before you came in, just in case I'm not available..."

The sudden opening of the door startled Kohinata Mirai, who wasn't prepared.

"I have no need to remind you, and besides, you've already captured Kohinata, what privacy rights do you still want?"

In response to Kohinata Mirai's statement, Rei silently stated the fact.

"Okay, so what do you want me to do now, Zero?"

Faced with Rei's statement, Kohinata Mirai didn't know what to say, so she asked Rei why she had come.

"The preparations for the qualification test of the Divine Beast Mirror are complete. I'm here to take you there."

Lingyi answered calmly, stepping aside to indicate that Kohinata Mirai should follow her.

"Is that so? I understand... Let's go together, Zero."

Looking at the girl by the door and the single-lens screen covering her face, Kohinata Mirai felt a slight tightening in her heart. She then walked to the door and pulled out Rei's hand.

"...If you regret it now, the deal can still be terminated, Hibiki Tachibana. As long as she stops fighting, there is still a chance for her body to recover."

After a moment of contemplation, just before the final moment began, Zero reminded Kohinata Mirai.

What she said was true. Even if Tachibana Hibiki's body seemed incurable at the moment, that was only the case. As long as she took good care of herself from now on, the technology would eventually develop to the point where it could cure her.

In her view, Kohinata Mirai had absolutely no need to make this unnecessary deal, because everything would turn out for the best in the end.

"No need, I've already made up my mind, and this deal is also good for you, Zero, isn't it?"

Despite Zero's advice, Kohinata Mirai smiled and shook her head, still sticking to her choice.

"Is that so? Well, good luck to you. Getting something with a low suitability coefficient to adapt to Symphogear is no easy task."

Seeing that her well-intentioned advice had no effect, Lingyi gave up trying to persuade her and casually pulled Xiaori towards their destination.

They walked in silence. Although Kohinata Mirai had other purposes for coming here besides trading, she also knew that being too hasty might have the opposite effect.

Therefore, she plans to ask Lingyi some key questions at a more appropriate time.

The room, specially designed to adjust the performer's body, was already equipped with instruments that were flashing green light, and Dr. Will had been waiting in the chair for quite some time.

"Will, let's get started."

"Hmph, Zao Er 0 Er Yao Shan Leng Ba Yi is ready."

Zero gave the order to begin, and Dr. Will pressed the start button.

Then, Kohinata Mirai was guided to lie down in the scanner connected to the Divine Beast Mirror, and the instrument began to hum as it began to test the compatibility between the two.

"The suitability isn't very high; it seems like it was all just wishful thinking."

As the test progressed, looking at the data displayed on the instrument, Lingyi came to this conclusion.

Despite Kohinata Mirai's insistence, it couldn't change the fact that her suitability wasn't high. To achieve this level of suitability, one would need to use several times the lethal dose of Linker if forced to wear the outfit.

"Zero, is that really true?"

Hearing Rei's words, Kohinata Mirai felt a bit resistant. If that were really the case, then what were her thoughts...?

"Numbers don't lie. Although I appreciate your support, your plans have fallen through, Kohinata. I'll send you out in a little while."

Lingyi watched quietly, then announced this fact to Xiaori and the future.

"But perhaps there is something else I can do."

Kohinata Mirai, the ball-winged girl, wanted to try her best, but ultimately failed under Zero's gaze, and her expression gradually became dejected.

She understood that she had only reached this point through good luck, so if her luck ran out, there would be nothing more she could do.

"Let's focus our energy on designing instruments from now on, Dr. Will."

Lingyi spoke to Dr. Will, who was still looking at the values ​​on the instrument.

"Wait a minute, Miss. Perhaps things haven't reached the point where we have to choose a backup plan. There is still a way to improve Miss Kohinata's suitability, isn't there?"

However, at that moment, Dr. Will, who was staring at the values ​​on the instrument, said this to Zero.

"Hey, Dr. Will, you don't mean, I remember saying that a method without any stability is not feasible, do you?"

"Moreover, even if that method is used, her numbers can only reduce the linker requirement, which is several times the lethal dose, to a level that is barely non-lethal."

Lingyi frowned at Dr. Will's words. Having done some research on Linker before, she quickly understood what he meant.

"What is the method? Let me try it. If it's something I can do, I'll accept whatever it takes."

Before Dr. Will could continue answering, Kohinata Mirai, who had noticed their conversation, immediately asked them a question.

Chapter Forty: Thoughts

"One of the key principles behind Linker's ability to improve fit is stimulating a region on the wearer's cerebral cortex that primarily governs tender feelings of care for others."

"Therefore, if it is difficult to complete the connection based solely on the suitability of the clothing, one can increase the suitability and reduce the difficulty of dressing by relying on the intense emotions in one's heart."

"In other words, Symphogear is an equipment that values ​​the power of 'heart and love'. As long as the emotional activity in this regard is strong, it is possible to break through the inherent suitability of the equipment."

As the explanation began, Zero gave Kohinata Mirai a brief explanation of Dr. Will's method, pressing Dr. Will's head onto the table with her hand.

“Hey, miss, you’ve explained it to her so clearly, it’ll probably be very difficult for her to continue working afterward… Pfft.”

Dr. Will, who was being held down, tried to struggle and say something, but Zero didn't intend to let him continue speaking.

"Do you think I don't know what you're thinking? Using deception and sophistry, along with drugs and electroconvulsive hypnosis, to amplify emotions in specific areas of the brain, thereby increasing fitness level."

Lingyi then explained the specific operation method of this method.

She actually had some knowledge of the basic workings of the linker, so she quickly understood Dr. Will's plan.

"Indeed, this approach can effectively solve the current problem. If handled properly, it could even create a monster that can unleash power far exceeding that of the Divine Beast Mirror itself."

"But it is ultimately a forced and unstable method. Those who are forcibly created in this way are not only fragile and irrational, but also only reduce certain death to a level where they are barely not dead."

After giving Dr. Will a brief moment to 'calm down,' Zero turned to explain to Kohinata Mirai, who was still completely unaware of the situation.

"I'm not entirely sure, but if there's anything I can do to help..."

"I know you'll say it's okay, but it's okay for me. I don't want to make too many enemies before I'm fully prepared. If you really die on my side, who knows how many variables it will add to my plans if the conflict escalates."

Kohinata Mirai wanted to say something more, but Rei immediately interrupted her, explaining the reason as she moved closer.

"So, if you understand what I mean, you, an idle person, should hurry back and take care of your rampaging fusion case. Keeping her quiet and preventing her from becoming active is the greatest help you can give me."

"Do you understand? Then stop wishful thinking. You won't find what you want here, and you won't get the results you want."

Grabbing Kohinata Mirai's right shoulder, Rei spoke to her seriously in a warning tone, her emerald green pupils meeting her blue-green pupils.

As Kohinata Mirai gazed into the emerald green eyes that met hers, seeing those eyes empty because they had suppressed their emotions and feelings so deeply, she grasped the hands that were on her shoulders and shook her head, expressing her unwavering thoughts.

"……cut"

Kohinata Mirai's actions only intensified Rei's irritation.

She understood why the other person had persisted to this point, but her reasons for refusing to communicate were equally valid.

If the cycle of despair she faces could be shaken by mere words and concern, then she wouldn't need to make such an effort.

"Hmph, hahaha, yes, that's it. Maintain this level of emotion and remember how you feel right now."

Just as the atmosphere reached a stalemate, Dr. Will's excited voice came from the side.

"Dr. Will?"

Lingyi's interrogative gaze fell on him, wondering what the other was doing.

“Miss Lingyi, I know you are a genius in many ways, but in the professional production of linkers, my talent far surpasses yours.”

"So this is something only I can do, to give those who were originally unable to wear gear the ability to wear it. It is something only I can do."

Dr. Will stood up, seemingly lost in a state of intense focus, oblivious to everyone around him, and his expression began to falter.

"That's absolutely right, so what are you trying to say?"

Unfazed by his 'performance,' Lingyi admitted in a flat voice, while inquiring about his purpose.

Although her ability to learn a particular technology allows her to quickly master technologies in many fields, due to limitations in energy, she will only specialize in the areas she deems important.

“Miss Lingyi, if you think my approach is not stable enough, then I will bet everything and adjust it to the most perfect linker as quickly as possible so that she can use the ‘Divine Beast Mirror’.”