Chapter Eight: Shakia and Qin Yun

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Listening to the classmates chatting idly around her, Qin Yun finished her meal quietly.

“I’m heading back first...” Qin Yun stood up, intending to leave ahead of the others.

If it were the old Qin Yun—the one previously scripted—she might have tried hard to fit in and mingle with everyone. But now, fully aware of her true identity, she had no desire to engage in trivial chatter with these kids.

The bespectacled boy watching Qin Yun’s retreating figure seemed a bit disappointed.

“Heh, it’s rare you actually got Qin Yun to come eat with us today, but she leaves before the rest of us—must be a shock, huh?”

Another boy next to him chuckled.

“I’m telling you, you’re way too green. If you want to win her over, you’re not ready yet!”

A girl nearby rolled her eyes at the two boys.

“Enough, both of you,” she said to the bickering boys.

After classes resumed, Li Jiayi hadn’t shown up, and Qin Yun seemed a little off...

The two boys stopped their chatter, standing up with a hint of disappointment.

“Well... I guess we should head back too.”

They all realized that after what had happened, everyone carried emotional scars.

Though they had completely misunderstood Qin Yun.

Qin Yun—or rather, Shakya—her school life was a façade, a disguise. If she had to face those monsters again, she might not come back. At least, that was how she felt for now.

Given that, it no longer mattered how she got along with her classmates. As for Li Jiayi, it was because she owed her a great deal.

During lessons, Qin Yun hadn’t been paying full attention, but she understood everything. This was why she never doubted her past identity as a top student. Reflecting on it now, it was probably because Shakya had studied all these subjects before. By that logic, Shakya was a brilliant student. So... she probably wasn’t just a high schooler anymore. The director really was quite casual about these things.

Regarding Shakya, the director seemed to be holding back some information. Qin Yun planned to ask him next time she visited Svarg. Restoring her memories couldn’t be rushed. At least now, having encountered the monsters and heard the director and Shion’s accounts, she had no choice but to believe it.

“Qin Yun, sorry, you’ll need to leave school early today,” the teacher found Qin Yun resting her head on the desk during lunch break.

“Hm?”

“Someone’s waiting for you at the school gate. Seems urgent. Looks like they’re from the military...” The teacher didn’t seem very clear on the details either.

Qin Yun immediately recognized who it was. She glanced out the classroom window and saw a red sports car parked at the gate.

Gathering her things, she stepped out of the classroom.

Two boys who had invited Qin Yun to lunch saw this scene.

“Man, I’m telling you, something must be up at Qin Yun’s house. Look, after the teacher said a few words to her, she packed up and left right away.”

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The bespectacled boy looked worried.

“... Next time you invite her, maybe you should comfort her first.”

His friend, a burly-looking boy, nodded thoughtfully.

Qin Yun approached the sports car at the school gate. Shion rolled down the window.

“What’s the emergency? I’m still in class.”

“You really got into character, huh? Hehe~” Shion smiled at Qin Yun.

“Wasn’t this your doing...?”

“By the way, we have a mission now, Shakya.”

“The attack came so soon?” Qin Yun—now called Shakya—was startled as she opened the door and got into the back seat.

“Our mission isn’t just about fighting,” Shion reassured her not to be too tense.

The car sped away from the school gate.

“By the way, Shakya, interested in trying something?”

“What?”

“Driving,” Shion replied. “Why not get a driver’s license when you have time?”

“Hmm?” Taken by surprise, Shakya grew curious. “Maybe I’ll give it a shot. Using your car?”

“You’d better start with a driving instructor’s car first.”

“Ha! Traum is no problem, so a car is nothing,” Shakya said confidently.

“Not necessarily.”

They entered the highway ramp and exited the expressway. Shion skillfully turned into a street leading to a classical-style building.

She parked outside and led Shakya inside.

“Why did you bring me to a library?” Shakya recognized this as the library in a district of New Spring City.

“It’s just the closest place,” Shion said, pressing the elevator button.

“?”

Shakya looked at her in confusion.

Inside the elevator, Shion pressed a series of numbers on the floor panel as if entering a password. Shakya had never seen anyone operate an elevator like this—at first glance, it even seemed like a prank.

Suddenly, the elevator began descending. The panel showed no basement floors.

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“Interesting.”

Shakya said nothing more, silently watching.

After descending for a while, the elevator doors opened to reveal a corridor bearing the Svarg Bureau emblem on the wall. At the corridor’s end was another elevator.

The two took it down to Svarg’s underground training ground. The place was bustling; the technical team was already assembled, and Traum had also been brought here.

“Hey, your base is really well-connected,” Shakya looked around, finding it quite fascinating.

Today, the technical department had summoned Shakya for further testing and analysis of Traum’s capabilities. She would also undergo regular combat training.

“This is your training schedule,” Shion handed Shakya a sheet.

“No way... what about school?” Shakya felt overwhelmed. She was already busy with school; now her evenings might be taken up too?

“Don’t worry, training is just once a week. Today’s a special case.”

Shion encouraged Shakya to take this opportunity to familiarize herself with the Svarg Bureau. After all, this would be her main base from now on.

“Shakya, get ready.”

Thinking about finishing the mission and resting soon, Shakya piloted Traum onto the training ground.

Starting with walking, then running—the basics of control were tested first. The technical team was very excited; this was the first time Traum was fully activated using its built-in operating system.

In other words, during the twenty years since Traum was discovered, all attempts to activate it or test the body had relied on external forces, like a puppet on strings. Only after Shakya arrived did Traum seem truly alive, revealing its real power and strength.

“Okay! Now, single-leg jumps!”

Shakya complied.

“Next, try a somersault!”

Shakya obeyed.

Though the goal was to test agility to the fullest, even a body of steel would tire from such difficult maneuvers.

It was almost certain Shakya would be thoroughly exhausted today.

“Um... Shakya, I’ll come pick you up after this. Good luck,” Shion said with a wry smile, preparing to leave first.

“Hey! You’re leaving me here!”

Good luck to yourself, Shakya.