HI3: I Don't Want to Be a Valkyrie

Later that afternoon...

Kallen spent some time comforting Yae Sakura and Yae Rin, simultaneously explaining her plan to them.

The pair had no objections to Kallen's decision, their faces showing they trusted her to make the right call. Unless as a last resort, neither Yae Sakura nor Yae Rin wanted to leave the village they'd grown up in.

Just as Kallen had said, moving elsewhere wouldn't necessarily be better than staying here.

If their father and the villagers hadn't sought to sacrifice Yae Rin, Yae Sakura never would have even considered leaving.

When Kallen made her suggestion, Yae Sakura took her sister Yae Rin by the hand and nodded earnestly.

Though Yae Sakura, barely ten years old, lacked confidence in managing the village, with her sister and Kallen's support, she was willing to give it a try.

As for... her father, Yae Sakura hadn't yet figured out what to do about him...

Once again, they returned to the village.

The villagers of Yae Village watched as Kallen led the Yae sisters back. They were somewhat taken aback, and soon, small groups of villagers gathered in twos and threes, whispering amongst themselves. They cast sidelong glances at Kallen and the girls, likely discussing them.

However, after Kallen's display of power early that morning, no villager dared to step forward and say anything.

Kallen and the girls paid them no heed. Led by Yae Sakura, they headed towards the Yae Shrine, located at the top of the mountain connected to the village.

After a few more steps, Kallen suddenly leaned close to Yae Sakura's ear and said something softly. The little Sakura nodded, then stopped in her tracks. She turned to look coldly at the villagers trailing behind her.

"Announce this: at dusk... everyone is to gather at the shrine. I'll explain about the rain situation."

With those words hanging in the air, Sakura paid no heed to whether the villagers would believe her or not. She simply walked back to Kallen and Yae Rin, a smile finally blooming again on her face.

The trio continued towards the shrine...

As for Sakura's words... they began to stir something in the villagers. A failed ritual... and angering what seemed like a godly being... They had reached a dead end. Yae's sudden pronouncement was like a ray of hope, a life raft in the stormy sea.

Yae Sakura led Kallen and Yae Rin to the Yae Shrine...

As the trio entered, they encountered two old women who had just stepped out of the shrine. Observing Yae Sakura's group returning, the old women appeared utterly astonished; they had assumed the girls had left for good after the early morning incident...

"Divine Being..."

"Sakura..."

-

The elderly women, gazing at Kallen by Yae Sakura's side, seemed utterly terrified. They dropped to their knees in a panic.

"What are you doing here?" Yae Sakura looked coldly at the villagers before her. The events of the early morning had left her with not a shred of goodwill towards anyone from this village.

Not even her own father...

"Sakura... The Head... He..."

Hearing this, the elderly woman villagers hesitated as they looked at Kallen, but they continued, "The Head has... passed."

"Hm? Passed?" Yae Sakura and Yae Rin were momentarily taken aback.

"Passed..." Kallen also seemed stunned, somewhat surprised that the man had directly died. Although Kallen's strike appeared very forceful, she could control her strength; it should have only been a serious injury.

He didn't expect him to die so easily...

With this thought, Kallen looked with some hesitation at Yae Sakura and Yae Rin. Though they might not trust, or even resent and hate their father, he was still their father.

Now... I suppose I've become their father's killer... Kallen mused. I wonder if they'll see me differently from now on.

"Is he dead...?" When Yae Sakura came around, she muttered to herself, her voice filled with an indiscernible tone... yet for some reason, not a trace of sorrow surfaced.

Despite having killed their father, Sakura harbored no resentment towards Kallen. Even so... Sakura felt a subtle shift in her relationship with her newly acquainted big sister, Kallen.

"..."

As Sakura's thoughts remained a mystery, beside her, Rin suddenly clasped Kallen's hand tightly and smiled gently up at her.

It was as if she were saying... I don't hate you because of this.

Understanding the sentiment, Kallen returned a warm smile, mirroring Rin's warmth...

Kallen did not regret laying a hand on Sakura's father; if given the chance again, she would do exactly the same thing.

This father, who was worse than a beast, wouldn't elicit even the slightest hint of discomfort... or guilt upon his death.

"Alright, I understand now... You may leave first!"

After experiencing this series of events, the sweet and docile Yae Sakura of before was no more. Especially since the incident had just occurred, the passage of time hadn't yet diluted these feelings. Yae Sakura's loathing towards the villagers remained intense.

Thus, she no longer spoke with the elderly respectfully as she once did, but rather in a blunt and cold tone.

"Yes..."

Faced with Yae Sakura's completely changed attitude, the two old women said nothing. They exchanged glances with the shrine, then left with evident resignation.

Once the old women had departed, Kallen and her companions entered the shrine. They gazed upon the body of the chief lying on a mat on the ground.

Yae Sakura and Yae Rin approached, looking at their father's corpse without a word... remaining utterly silent.

Their faces betrayed not a single emotion.

Looking at the two girls before her, Kallen hesitated for a moment before speaking, "If you don't want him to die, I can revive him. If you wish it."

To be honest, Kallen didn't want to revive this man. However, if the girls wanted him alive, she had to bring him back. After all... it wouldn't be worth it if this matter made them start rejecting and hating her.

"Revive?" x2...

Hearing Kallen's words, Yae Sakura and Yae Rin turned their heads towards her with surprise at the same time. Revive...

Even most deities couldn't perform such a miraculous resurrection. But Kallen was saying she could bring their father back...

"Yes, revive... If you want it," Kallen said calmly, nodding as she saw their shocked expressions. "You must truly be a godly being then," Yae Sakura suddenly remarked as she looked at Kallen in front of her. If she already possessed such abilities, there was no other explanation than being some divine entity herself.