HI3: I Don't Want to Be a Valkyrie

Yae Sakura was well aware of the gap between herself and Kallen. Although Kallen often praised her as a genius these past few years, Yae knew she still fell significantly short compared to her.

Currently, there was a vast disparity in their abilities; even exerting her full strength, Yae couldn't inflict the slightest harm upon Kallen.

Understanding this reality, Yae approached this battle with unwavering commitment, holding nothing back. Whether wielding a blade or a gun, she showed no restraint.

Only by giving her all could she hope to meet Kallen's expectations.

And so... when Sakura pulled the trigger, there was not a hint of hesitation.

For she had unshakable faith in Kallen's prowess.

Just as she anticipated, although the two shots from Yae Sakura came with great suddenness, Kallen remained unfazed...

Clang-clang...

With a flourish of her katana, Kallen effortlessly deflected both bullets.

-

The attack was countered...

Yae Sakura, holding her warrior blade, swiftly charged towards Kallen. Her speed was remarkable, employing some technique that allowed her to blink right beside Kallen.

A lingering afterimage at her starting position slowly began fading away...

In a flash, Yae Sakura reached Kallen, showing no courtesy whatsoever. With a swift motion, her sword aimed directly at Kallen's body.

Clang...

However... just as Yae Sakura's sword was about to strike, Kallen moved even faster, lifting her katana... and deflected Yae Sakura's blade upwards.

A tremendous force surged through, prying Yae Sakura's palm open and sending her samurai sword flying from her grip.

In the blink of an eye... Kallen seized Sakura with one hand, the blade now pressed against her neck.

"I concede..."

The moment her weapon slipped from her grasp, Yae Sakura knew she had lost. Yet, she didn't crumble in despair but remained remarkably composed. Defeat was inevitable, yet at least she had given her all—this was enough for her.

"True to your name, Sakura," Kallen remarked, her voice filled with admiration as she released Sakura. "In just a few months, your strength has grown by leaps and bounds..."

Yae Sakura's rapid progress, especially in kendo, greatly surpassed Kallen's expectations. She was undoubtedly a prodigy in the art of the sword.

Sakura's strength has increased significantly over the past few months. Her skill in kendo is on par with a master, able to fluster you with its incredible speed and power.

Releasing Yae Sakura, Kallen turned to Yae Rin, who stood nearby.

"Rin, it's your turn now..."

At this moment, Yae Rin was also nearing adulthood... just a short time away from turning 13.

In this era, once girls reached 13, they were considered adults and could marry and have children. However... as Miko priestesses, Yae Sakura and Yae Rin didn't have to follow the same path as ordinary people.

True Miko never married!

Instead, they devoted their entire lives to serving the Godly Beings.

Mother at just thirteen...

Kallen gazed at Yae Rin standing before her. Although she was nearly thirteen, she was still... just a slightly larger young girl, still appearing so small...

After all, Kallen wasn't from ancient times. By modern standards, becoming a mother at thirteen...

That's just grotesque!

Before me stood the adorable Yae Rin. Thanks to her good nutrition... she wasn't hungry and appeared to be a perfectly healthy young girl.

Standing at about 140 cm tall, with long pink naturally-curled hair cascading down her back like a little princess...

Even by modern standards, she seemed quite young...

In contrast, other girls, especially those malnourished ones, at thirteen years old... looked no different from seven or eight-year-olds.

These children were already married...

"Yes, Kallen-nee," Yae Rin replied, stepping closer to Kallen with her katana at the ready, her demeanor solemn and focused.

-

The spar with Yae Rin ended even more swiftly than before.

Although Yae Rin's innate talent was no less than her sister Yae Sakura's... she had started learning these skills later, resulting in a less solid foundation compared to Yae Sakura.

Even physically, despite having cultivated her spiritual energy to the point where she now matched—or even slightly surpassed—an ordinary person, there was still a noticeable gap between her and Yae Sakura.

When all these factors were considered, Yae Rin fell significantly short of her sister's prowess.

However... it was clear that Yae Rin didn't harbor jealousy towards her elder sibling; instead, she was immensely content with her current abilities.

What were once mere dreams for her were now tangible achievements.

"You've all passed the trials... especially Sakura, who performed far better than I anticipated. However... your true training is only about to begin."

Following the completion of the trials, Kallen nodded, her gaze fixed upon the eager girl before her, acknowledging their hard-earned achievements.

Years of dedication, of painstaking instruction...

Now, they possessed a solid foundation upon which to build.

"Can we... receive the power of a Valkyrie now?" Yae Sakura and Yae Rin asked, their eyes gleaming with anticipation, fixed upon Kallen.

"Yes... you can now bear the power of the Stigmata, having proven yourselves worthy," Kallen nodded affirmatively.

Why had she withheld the Stigmata from them earlier? Kallen wanted to ensure they had a firm grasp of the basics.

Though not impossible for ordinary individuals to bear the Stigmata, they could only handle low-starred variants. Even then, they struggled to fully harness the power contained within.

Moreover, Yae Sakura and Yae Rin were too young, their bodies not yet fully matured. There was no rush for them to receive the power of the Stigmata. After all, Kallen was there to protect and guide them through this journey.

Now... the two girls' bodies had developed almost completely, especially Yae Sakura, who had fully matured.

Their foundations were also incredibly solid, capable of withstanding the power of five-star Stigmas without any issue.

"This is truly... fantastic!" Kallen exclaimed, her voice filled with delight.

"Thank you, Kallen-nee," Yae Sakura and Yae Rin responded, their faces lit up with happiness.

Kallen had often spoken to them about the prowess of Valkyries, and the sisters had always been deeply intrigued by the power of Stigmas.

"Hmm, but before we proceed... you two need to freshen up first." Kallen looked at the pair before her—Yae Sakura's beauty and Yae Rin's cuteness—her heart swelled with a deep sense of accomplishment.

I'm so proud of watching you grow, guiding your development, teaching you to protect what you hold dear with your own strength...

And now, like blossoming flowers, you're finally ready to shine in this most beautiful moment of your lives...

In recent years, Kallen had been not only their mentor but also their confidant and guardian, watching over their growth. Now... seeing these two sisters all grown up brought immense joy to Kallen's heart.

It felt like... witnessing the first steps of her own daughters.

But all of it had been worth it.

These two were her pride and joy!