HI3: I Don't Want to Be a Valkyrie

As Kallen closed her door and prepared to step out in her geta, she plunged her foot into the snow. When she tried to lift it again, only her small bare foot emerged—the wooden geta had completely sunk into the snowy ground.

Kallen was instantly speechless...

Although she had grown accustomed to wearing geta, clearly... they were not suitable for walking in the snow!

After a moment of hesitation, Kallen retrieved the trapped geta from the snow and removed the one from her other foot as well, placing both at the room's entrance.

She then ventured out, barefoot, her delicate feet treading directly on the snow.

As Kallen reached the inner courtyard of the shrine, she saw Yae Sakura diligently sweeping snow with a broom, while beside her, Yae Rin was building a snowman.

"Sakura, let me help!"

Seeing the young Yae Sakura struggling with the hard work, Kallen couldn't bear it and walked over immediately. These tasks are better done by myself.

"No need, I'm almost finished," Yae Sakura shook her head, refusing to let Kallen touch the broom.

Yae Sakura felt that she and her sister owed Kallen far too much—so much that it could never be repaid, even in several lifetimes. How could they possibly ask Kallen to do such simple chores?

If they did, Yae Sakura might feel even more useless than she already did.

At least now, she still felt capable of performing some task, not entirely helpless and reliant on Kallen for everything.

"...Alright!" Seeing the earnest look in Yae Sakura's eyes, Kallen didn't insist further. Sakura's happiness was her top priority.

"Kallen-nee, Want some tangerines?"

Just then, Yae Rin finished building the snowman and walked over to Kallen with several tangerines in hand, happily offering some to her.

Despite their little hands being frozen nearly stiff from the cold, the children were still overjoyed.

"Mm-hmm," Kallen accepted two tangerines without declining the gesture.

"The villagers gave us these tangerines. We had a bountiful harvest this winter." Yae Rin peeled off the tangerine skin, speaking as she ate one. "In fact..."

"..."

Kallen didn't answer directly. Instead, she gazed at Yae Rin and Yae Sakura standing before her. The sisters wore thick cotton garments, making them look like adorable stuffed dolls. Surprisingly, the style of their clothes was quite fashionable, not detracting from their charming aura.

"Kallen-nee, aren't you cold? wearing so little."

Yae Rin, standing next to Kallen, observed her elder sister's exposed long legs against the snowy backdrop. Not only were Kallen's legs bare, but she also stepped directly onto the snow without shoes.

Gazing at Kallen-nee's legs, Yae Rin felt a hint of envy. They seemed... truly beautiful and perfect...

"It's not cold at all. After all, I am a Valkyrie who controls ice," Kallen nonchalantly replied while munching on a tangerine.

"Valkyrie!?!?"

Kallen hadn't fully explained this to the sisters yet. They only knew that she was incredibly strong, perhaps even a godly being.

"It's not exactly about being a god. I'm just a warrior. Don't worry... someday you can become Valkyries too."

Kallen kicked away the snow from her feet, then gently reached out and tousled Yae Rin's hair.

"Miko, Godly Being! It's terrible! Something awful has happened!"

"Miko, Godly Being, there's been an incident..."

"Godly Being..."

-

As Kallen and her companions engaged in casual conversation, frantic cries for help suddenly echoed from outside the shrine, causing them to immediately cease their chatter.

"Let's go investigate!" With this brief exchange, Kallen, Sakura, and Rin swiftly approached the shrine's main gate.

They saw several villagers hastily running towards the shrine, their faces filled with panic and urgency.

"Shrine Maiden! Godly Being... It's dreadful..."

Upon spotting Kallen and her group, the villagers rushed over, gasping for breath.

"Please, slowly tell us what happened," Kallen instructed calmly, her gaze steady.

"A monster... A colossal monster has charged... charged..." One villager stammered, clearly in distress.

"Oh, Godly Being, a fearsome monster has invaded our village! You must save us!" another implored, their voice tinged with desperation.

"The monster remains in the village. It has already taken so many lives," a third added, their tone heavy with sorrow and fear.

One after another, they frantically spoke to Kallen, their faces pale with genuine terror.

"A giant monster..."

Monsters couldn't possibly exist in this world, so... this supposed monster had to be, without a doubt... a Honkai Beast. But if Kallen hadn't even reached Shinano yet, how could a Honkai Beast appear in Yae Village?

"Big sis Kallen..."

"Kallen-nee!"

Hearing the villagers' words, the two sisters, gripped their katanas on their backs and looked intently at Kallen.

Though they didn't particularly like these villagers... if a monster had invaded their territory, it had to be dealt with. Although they had never seen a monster before, they knew of their terrifying reputation through legends alone.

"I understand," Kallen said after a moment's consideration. "I will take care of it. You may all withdraw now!" She waved her hand, signifying that she had grasped the situation.

"Divine Being, you must vanquish that dreadful monster!" The villagers, upon hearing Kallen's words, looked at her with fearful pleas in their eyes.

"I will."

With this reassurance, the villagers finally found some peace of mind. The legendary monster had truly appeared, and it was as terrifying as they'd imagined! Thankfully, their village possessed a Divine Being to protect them.

As Kallen watched the villagers depart, her gaze fell upon the two sisters brimming with determination at her side.

"You're coming too?"

Although the sisters' strength was commendable—no ordinary person could match them, and even a few dozen common warriors wouldn't stand a chance against the Yae siblings... their newfound prowess still fell short when facing Honkai Beasts. Even the weakest among these creatures wielded honkai energy, far beyond what could be considered "average."

"Kallen, we must go!" Yae Sakura declared, her eyes resolute as she turned to Kallen.

As a shrine maiden, it was her duty to face these legendary monsters; not everything could be left to her elder sister.

If that's how it is, one day, even Kallen will come to hate me. Her own affairs, she had to face them herself. As the miko of Yae Village, I must protect the village.

"I'm coming too!" Yae Rin said with equal seriousness.