The Vixen's Gambit: Tonight We Hunt

"Eleanor, stop caring about them!" Otto looked at Eleanor, who was still fighting the Honkai beasts. "Have the other Valkyries take them away. We need to defeat the Herrscher here!"

"What nonsense are you saying? I still need to find Lady Lihua. I don't have time to die with you!"

Eleanor used her Abyss Flower to pierce through a Knight-class Honkai beast and angrily looked at Otto. "Where did you lock up Lady Lihua?!"

"She's in a safe—"

"I'm right here."

"???"

Otto and Eleanor, stunned by the familiar voice, turned around and saw that Lihua was there with Kallen.

"Herrscher of Corruption, huh…" After being put down by Kallen, Lihua looked at the giant fox on the hill and sighed.

I've heard that Yae Sakura has donkey ears. Seeing its true form, the rumors are true.

"Can you guys beat that thing? Are we humans doomed?"

Lihua remembered that, in the original story, the Herrscher of Corruption hadn't fully broken the seal. She wasn't as large, and she was eventually defeated by Kallen with Judah.

But now that Otto and Schicksal had done their thing and fully unleashed the Herrscher of Corruption, her power was clearly more than Kallen could handle, even with Judah.

"…If the three of us work together, there is still a chance." Otto glanced at Kallen's hand, which was still on Lihua's waist. He was seething with anger, but didn't say anything.

"Lihua and I were at the outposts when the explosion happened, so we came here." Kallen explained what had happened. "There are Honkai beasts everywhere, including in the town."

Kallen had wanted to send Lihua to a safe place and come back by herself, but there were no safe places in Kolosten anymore. Honkai beasts roamed the streets, and Schicksal HQ was already a ruin.

"We evacuated most of the civilians with no combat abilities to the gathering point outside the city before we acted." Eleanor said, "There are Valkyries stationed there and well-developed defense measures. You don't need to worry. It's far away from where the Honkai is concentrated now."

"We need to ev-"

Before Otto could finish, the giant beast on the hill started to move. It slowly walked toward their position. It was like a dark cloud pressing down on the hill.

"It seems we don't have time to evacuate," Otto sighed. He looked at Lihua. "I'm sorry, Lihua. There were many things I wanted to tell you, but it seems we don't have time for that. I'll tell you everything when all of this is over."

Oh wow, so many classic flags!

Lihua mentally rolled her eyes. She had told him not to do it, but he didn't listen. And now look at what happened.

"I know about the gathering point that Eleanor mentioned. Let me take the civilians and Valkyries there to evacuate." Lihua gently rubbed Eleanor's head as Eleanor hugged her tightly. Her injuries were still there, but they weren't as terrifying as before. "I'm just a normal human, I don't have any power like you. I'll leave the fighting to you."

Like hell that's going to happen. How can I not participate in this?!

She would guide the civilians to safety, then she'd rush back to die.

"Don't worry, Lady Lihua. I'll defeat her for you!" Eleanor said tearfully as she rubbed herself against Lihua. Usually, she wouldn't have dared to do such a disrespectful thing. Lady Lihua was someone that she held in her heart.

But now that she was going to die, she could at least hug her twice if she couldn't kiss her.

"Okay, okay. What are you doing on the battlefield!"

Kallen grabbed Eleanor's collar and pulled her up. "The enemy is right in front of us! Prepare to fight!"

"Tsk…"

Though she was annoyed, Eleanor knew that Kallen was right. She prepared to fight.

Seeing Eleanor holding the Abyss Flower, and Kallen and Otto wielding the Oath of Judah and Mimicry Judah, Lihua also prepared to evacuate the civilians.

But as soon as Lihua turned around, she heard Kallen say firmly, "Lihua, I like you."

"..."

Lihua wasn't shocked when she heard those words from Kallen. It made sense and there were hints beforehand.

But she didn't want to be a lesbian…

"I've always liked you. Ever since I was a kid. Although that affection made me do some bad things… I'm not asking you to return it, but I just had to say it."

"I hope I can hear your answer, Lihua. If I get the chance."

After that, Kallen didn't stop. She didn't respond to Lihua's pensive look, or to Otto's and Eleanor's betrayed expressions. She took her Oath of Judah and charged toward the Herrscher of Corruption.

"Judah!!"

You damn jerk, you said we'd prepare to fight the enemy together!

Looking at Kallen who was fighting the Herrscher, and had left her with no time to chastise her, Eleanor's forehead twitched. She wanted to grab her Abyss Flower and pierce that traitor.

She looked at Lihua, who was stunned. She was even more upset. You can't be tricked by this bad woman! She's just saying she likes you. I can say that too!

Eleanor opened her mouth and tried to do her own confession, but she couldn't say it. She could only turn her anger into rage, gripping her Abyss Flower and rushing toward the giant fox. "Eat this, you damn monster!!"

She had previously thought that Kallen liked Otto. Now, she had confirmed that she was a lesbian.

And so that meant that she had always earned energy when she got in between her and Otto because she wasn't annoyed, she was jealous.

That makes sense— wait, what's up with Otto's energy?

Lihua suddenly had a terrifying idea.

She mechanically turned her head to look at Otto, who was silent. "You don't like me, right?"

The circumstances in which Kallen and Otto generated energy were similar. But she was the one they were confessing to.

She had just learned that Kallen's energy wasn't because she liked Otto, but because she liked her. What if Otto felt the same way?

"I don't like you, Lihua."

Lihua was relieved when Otto said that, but the next words made her heart stop. "I love you."

...

Holy crap, please don't tell me that this a gay story too!! (YES IS IT AHAHAHAH)