[Daily Simulation Rating: D]
[Daily Simulation Guaranteed Reward: 1 Point of Honkai Energy Adaptability]
Lunelle's voice broke the quiet as her consciousness snapped back to reality, her tone tinged with both frustration and surprise. "Hey… I was just enjoying that feeding game with my wife Elysia! Why am I being bounced back all of a sudden?"
The answer lay in the delicate balance of her current physiological state—both in the simulation and in the real world—remaining safely within permissible limits. The system had automatically triggered the settlement of this daily simulation wave, yanking Lunelle's mind abruptly out of the vivid, intoxicating realm she had just been sharing with Elysia.
Though her body was back in the dull grayness of reality, her senses still clung stubbornly to the lingering warmth of that "honeymoon trip" with her wife, a tender echo that made the mundane world feel suddenly harsh and uncomfortable.
There was a saying that fit this moment perfectly: "It is easy to go from frugality to extravagance, but difficult to return from extravagance to frugality." It was the perfect description of Lunelle's predicament—torn from a place of comfort and affection back to the stark normalcy of life.
Yet, the simulation had its mercy. Since no death occurred within the daily simulation mode, Lunelle could re-enter it without interruption, provided the cooling period had elapsed. Activating this simulation mode carried no side effects, and the cooldown timer reset accordingly.
The harsh twelve-hour deep sleep requirement before restarting the simulation had been softened. Now, the system allowed Lunelle to kick off her next daily simulation as early as 4 a.m. — a small but significant mercy.
Moreover, her real-life interactions with her wives no longer hindered the cooldown's progress. Instead, they built up an exclusive intimacy value, measured by daily "stickers" that captured the closeness she shared with each of them.
As Lunelle's intimacy points grew, so did the chances of unlocking special rewards during daily simulation settlements—some even taking the form of "real talents" transferable to her existence outside the simulation.
In simpler terms, if Lunelle devoted herself to nurturing her relationships with her wives in the real world, accumulating enough intimacy points, she might someday draw out exclusive abilities from them.
For instance, if her bond with Bronya deepened enough, she could acquire Bronya's hacking prowess for free. Mei's cooking skills might become accessible without effort. And Kiana… well, perhaps the elusive Kaslana Gun-Fu technique might finally be within reach.
But before Lunelle's imagination spiraled too far, Systema—her ever-present system assistant—cut in sharply.
"Kaslana Gun-Fu," Systema explained, "is a talent that directly enhances combat effectiveness. The level of the talent reward depends both on the current daily simulation module level and the intimacy level between you and Kiana."
Unlocking combat talents this early? Not realistic.
Unless…
Lunelle was prepared to endure an astronomical amount of special intimate events with her wives—something bordering on the absurd.
Systema's example was vivid and unmistakably clear, tailored to Lunelle's blue-boy understanding.
If Lunelle's relationship with Kiana blossomed into marriage, followed by the birth of eight to ten children, then and only then could she effortlessly unlock any of Kiana's talents.
However, the system also issued a friendly but cruel reminder: for a delicate and youthful beauty like Kiana, the ordeal of childbirth was so severe she would never willingly have a second child, even if forced.
So, even if Lunelle could somehow manage to have children in a world where everyone was female, aside from the first child, she would likely bear the full responsibility of raising the rest—effectively managing her own football team singlehandedly.
Systema's cold pragmatism crushed Lunelle's fleeting daydreams.
After all, eight or ten children each required their own lives and futures…
The best I can be is a Herrscher of Life and Death, Lunelle thought bitterly. I'll never be a Herrscher of Childbearing. Not in this lifetime.
As the simulation interface slid into its cooling phase once more, Lunelle begrudgingly accepted that her fleeting joy had come to a temporary end.
Yet, a small comfort remained: the simulation didn't cause her to grow increasingly like Seele, her formidable rival and idol. This was a genuine breakthrough.
Woo woo woo… I've finally found a way to grow stronger, without sacrificing myself to become more like Seele. This is real progress.
And the intimacy points earned from those daily stickers? Just an added bonus.
Growing stronger every day, without any harmful side effects, is nothing to scoff at.
"Alright… the simulation will reset tomorrow. For now, I'll just bounce back to reality and take a nap."
Back in her modest room, Lunelle felt an unusual drowsiness settle over her. She slipped under the covers, cocooned by her own blanket, surrendering to sleep without a hint of caution.
After all, she had locked the door.
Even if Kiana and Bronya had mischievous plans, surely they wouldn't just barge into Teacher Himeko's room, right?
What Lunelle didn't anticipate was that her intrusion into this household had brought about consequences she hadn't foreseen—small but significant.
Not long after her breathing deepened in sleep, the door handle of her room shifted twice with quiet clicks.
Two stealthy little figures attempted to slip inside Lunelle's bed while she slept.
However, upon realizing the door was firmly locked, the mischievous Duck and Tuna—who had hoped to sneak into Seele's bed—hesitated.
After all, this was Teacher Himeko's home. Though the two girls possessed the strength to break down doors by force, they knew better than to risk such reckless behavior just to sneak into Seele's room. Getting caught would mean big trouble.
Meanwhile, long after all the other girls had fallen asleep, a mature beauty swayed through the quiet hallways, clearly intoxicated from a late night's drink.
It was Himeko—her figure strikingly graceful despite the obvious weariness. Years of numbing the searing pain caused by her transplanted Artificial Stigmata had made late-night drinking a habit.
Once a brilliant scientific talent, Himeko had devoted herself to studying the stars, shunning alcohol and frivolity.
But desperate to uncover the truth behind her father's death, she had chosen to become a Valkyrie—a warrior powerful enough to face the Honkai.
Her body, however, never truly accepted the Honkai's influence.
The golden age of Valkyrie potential had long passed when Himeko transplanted the Artificial Stigmata, burdening her with debilitating rejection reactions beyond ordinary comprehension.
Still, through sheer determination and relentless battle, she had risen to become the strongest A-rank Valkyrie of Schicksal's Far East Branch—second only to the elite S-rank.
Looking back, even Himeko herself marveled at how far she'd come, given she was once deemed the least likely candidate for Valkyrie ascension.
But the cost was steep: her body's violent rejection of the Artificial Stigmata left scars and pain that only numbing liquor could dull.
Not everyone was born with a natural Stigma like the Three Houses, and not everyone was blessed with the potential to become a Herrscher.
"Hmmm… why does the house smell so… sweet today?"
Himeko staggered through the doorway, her steps unsteady from the alcohol still lingering in her system. Yet, despite her tipsy haze, one thing was unmistakable: a soft, milky fragrance floated through the air, delicate and unusually soothing. It was unlike anything she had noticed before in her home.
That sweet scent was more than just pleasant—it was almost medicinal. The subtle aroma seemed to reach deep into Himeko's scarred, weary body, easing the relentless rejection pain of the Artificial Stigmata embedded in her nerves. Though her nervous system was largely numb, this unexpected relief washed over her like a balm, urging her to breathe it in more deeply.
Compelled by this instinct, she found herself drawn toward the source of that healing fragrance—Lunelle's locked door.
"Eh? Locked?" Himeko murmured with a slurred chuckle. "No matter. I'm the landlord—I can unlock this with just a fingerprint. Let's see what secret's hiding behind here that's making me feel so… at ease. Immature, huh?"
With casual ease, she pressed her finger to the lock. The door clicked open smoothly, no barrier to Himeko's will.
Crossing the threshold, she stepped inside and immediately felt the sweet scent intensify—far richer, far more enchanting than at the door. It was like the very air was charged with an irresistible calm, a tender balm that soothed every ache within her.
Her breath caught, body instinctively moving toward the source of the scent: the small, sleeping form of Seele.
The girl was still, peaceful in her sleep, wrapped in a fragile innocence that seemed to glow even in the dim light. But beneath that innocence lay a powerful charm, a terrifying allure that Himeko, despite her age and experience, could unmistakably sense. It clung to Seele like a secret force, one that could draw others in completely without resistance.
Himeko, as Seele's teacher, fought hard to keep herself restrained. She understood the stakes—she knew that indulging this urge could lead down dangerous paths. But the wine in her veins clouded that judgment.
"Such a cute little thing…" Himeko whispered, her voice thick with both affection and something far more carnal. "Come here… let big sister hold you."
Without hesitation, the intoxicated Valkyrie slipped into Seele's tiny bed, her arms wrapping around the soft, delicate form as if clutching the very essence of comfort.
"Mmm… this… this is perfect…"
The moment her body pressed close, the scent, the softness, the warmth—it was intoxicating beyond reason. Himeko felt herself sinking deeper into the embrace, as if the little girl's presence was a sanctuary against all the pain and bitterness she carried.
If only she could stay like this forever—close, unguarded, shared. The thought filled her with a dizzy kind of happiness.
The aches that had plagued her for so long seemed to vanish, dulled into oblivion by the sheer tenderness of the moment. Himeko's mind cleared just enough for a fleeting shame to surface. She knew it was inappropriate—climbing into a student's bed in the dead of night—but she didn't want to let go.
Seele's charm held her captive, wrapped in a spell of longing and softness that dulled all her inhibitions.
"Hmmm… looks like I'm getting a good night's rest tonight," she murmured with a sleepy smile, burying her face in the nape of Seele's neck and inhaling deeply the sweet fragrance that had drawn her here.
With a sudden impulsiveness born of warmth and liquor, Himeko pressed a gentle kiss to the pale skin, leaving behind a quiet mark—an unspoken claim in the stillness of the night.
Then, exhaustion overtook her, and she slipped into a deep, untroubled sleep, still holding the small girl close.
But the night was not as peaceful for Seele.
Used to sleeping alone and free, the little one found herself pressed tightly against a warm but unfamiliar weight. The scent that had comforted Himeko was now a sharp, pungent odor that clung stubbornly to the air around her—an unwashed, alcohol-soaked musk that made the bed feel less like a sanctuary and more like a prison.
Though she had never liked the taste or smell of alcohol in her past life—even as a blue girl—now it invaded her space without warning.
Still, being held like a living pillow by Teacher Himeko was not altogether unpleasant. But even so, the strange scent nagged at her senses.
"Ugh… this always feels… weird," Seele grumbled quietly as dawn crept in.
The discomfort gnawed at her sleep, pulling her from dreams bit by bit until she finally opened her eyes—only to realize, in startled confusion, that despite having locked the door before sleeping, she was now tightly held in someone's arms.
"Eh!? Wh-what just happened?!" she gasped, eyes wide with disbelief as she struggled to piece together the events of the night.
--+--
T/N: We got Diddy Himeko in this fanfic if Seele is 14 at the beginning of the story and Himeko is 27. Bros double her age.