HI3: I Don't Want to Be a Valkyrie

Despite the lack of rain, Kallen remained unperturbed. The deaths of these villagers held little significance for her.

Moreover, due to Yae Rin's actions, Kallen harbored no fondness for these people.

She lifted Yae Rin into her arms and, with Yae Sakura following behind, departed from the altar. As for the Shinku, lying nearby, his fate unknown? If he wasn't dead, he was in for a world of pain; if he had perished, well, that was even less concerning.

After all, a single kick from the exquisite Miss Kallen was not something just anyone could endure. Even now, she had consciously restrained herself, lest she completely blow him to smithereens with a single strike.

-

Kallen departed with Yae Sakura and Yae Rin in tow, leaving the villagers too intimidated to obstruct her.

Once they escaped the altar, Kallen was at a loss for their next destination.

"Sakura, do you know of any suitable places nearby?" Kallen asked the young Yae Sakura. "Somewhere without people. I need to tend to Rin's wounds." She cradled Yae Rin tenderly as she spoke.

At this moment, Yae Sakura appeared to be around ten years old, her youthful appearance unexpectedly endearing. However, one thing seemed amiss... Her pink hair lacked a pair of long, red donkey ears. Without those fluffy appendages, Yae Sakura seemed to lose part of her soul.

"A suitable place? I know just the spot!" Little Yae Sakura pondered for a moment before responding swiftly. "Follow me."

-

Yae Sakura led them to a small, dried-up riverbed. Beside it stood a cherry blossom tree.

The scene should have been picturesque...

"Few people come here... I often visit alone. Once this river had water, and the banks were covered with lush grass—it was truly beautiful..."

In this familiar surroundings, Yae Sakura seemed to relax slightly, spreading her hands open as she gazed at the frail child in Kallen's arms.

"I was planning to bring Rin here to play once she recovered from her illness."

"It certainly is a lovely spot..." Kallen nodded, surveying the area.

She then carefully laid Yae Rin on the ground, cradling her gently.

How strong and adorable she is, thought Kallen, as the little girl's bright eyes, framed by gentle fringes, seemed ready to soak in the sunlight around her.

Even with her tendons cut, the pain never ceased, but... this little girl, barely past childhood, frail and confined to her bed, never uttered a word of complaint.

She had even been comforting her elder sister earlier...

Such character, such upbringing...

It stirred a deep ache in the heart.

"Um... Miss, her tendons..."

Gazing at Yae Rin, powerless as she lay on the ground, Yae Sakura couldn't help but clutch at Kallen's clothes. In her weakened state, she could only rely on this older girl—a stranger.

"Don't worry... everything will be alright. And with Rin too, everything will improve," Kallen reassured them once again.

"Mm-hmm..."

"I believe..."

Yae Sakura and Yae Rin, the two sisters, nodded obediently.

At that moment, Kallen smiled warmly at them, took a seat, and placed Yae Rin's feet on her lap. Examining the injuries on her feet, Kallen's disgust for their bestial father deepened once again.

She gently caressed Yae Rin's small feet, making the girl feel a bit self-conscious. Then, Kallen retrieved a bottle of healing potion from her inventory.

Opening the bottle, she began applying the potion to Yae Rin's feet.

Next, she produced another bottle, opened it, and held it up to Yae Rin's lips: "Here, drink this."

Rimuru's potions were effective both topically and internally, working well for a variety of ailments.

However, for cuts and bruises, the healing effects were even better when applied externally.

"Yes..."

Yae Rin didn't shy away from the unfamiliar liquid offered by Kallen. Trusting that the girl who had rescued her wouldn't harm her, she calmly drank the potion.

Surprisingly... it wasn't unpleasant at all.

After Yae Rin consumed the potion, Yae Sakura, standing nearby, looked at her sister with anticipation. In a matter of seconds, the wound on Yae Rin's foot... began to rapidly heal.

In less than three minutes, it was completely restored.

"Rin, are you alright now?" Yae Sakura asked, her voice a mix of disbelief and hope, as she gazed at the healed wound.

"Yes... the injury on my foot is fine, but I still feel weak." Yae Rin replied softly. She had been born frail. It wouldn't be an exaggeration to call her a chronically sickly child.

This innate condition meant that while the medicinal potion had significantly improved her state, it hadn't completely eradicated the ailment.

Nevertheless, with regular nourishment, she should continue to improve.

"That's wonderful! I'm so relieved!"

Although Yae Rin's illness persisted, seeing her sister more vivacious than ever before was enough to satisfy Yae Sakura utterly.

She eagerly embraced her sister, her emotions flooding forth!

"..."

As Kallen observed Yae Sakura's actions, she sensed... that for Yae Rin, Yae Sakura felt more than just affection for her younger sister...

Yae Sakura seemed to be a onee-chan, deeply infatuated with her little sister.

Well... As long as it wasn't off-putting...

Moreover, with Yae Rin being so sweet and mature, who wouldn't adore her?

"Hey, Big Sis, are you a magical being?" After being held by Yae Sakura, Yae Rin smiled at her older sister. After a moment, Yae Rin suddenly turned to Kallen and asked this question.

When Yae Rin was dying, Kallen had appeared like a godly being, saving her. Now, she had healed Yae Rin's previously incurable foot injury.

Considering everything that had happened before, it was clear that Kallen, with her strange attire, was indeed akin to a magical being.

"Thank you, Godly Being..."

Hearing this, Yae Sakura finally reacted, gently releasing Yae Rin. She then knelt down, intending to bow in gratitude towards Kallen.

"Hey! I'm no godly being, you know..." Kallen objected, seeing this unfolding.

Putting aside the others for now, Kallen couldn't let Rin and Sakura end up like this. She hastily helped Rin to her feet.

"Not a godly being?" Rin, barely ten years old, replied with a hint of disbelief. "Who else could have such power besides a god?"

"No, not a godly being!" Kallen said, her mind racing to the manga plot. "But rather... the destined one for you, the guardian knight who will protect you both!" She spoke these words as if making a solemn vow, her voice imbued with a sun-like glow.

"The guardian... knight..."

As Rin and Sakura heard these words from the warrior maiden standing before them, a strange emotion seemed to take root in their hearts.

(TL Note: If you think about it, Sakura has shown up in ever volume so far...)