61 Pseudo-Herrsher
The school-turned-forest shook as the vines gradually grew and covered all of Senba Academy, almost as if they wanted to prevent Kouro and Theresa from entering.
"Hmm... Looks like this Pseudo-Herrscher isn't very welcoming."
Theresa looked at the graph of Honkai Energy fluctuations, "Judging from our current situation, this Pseudo-Herrscher's action could already be considered friendly, the fact that she didn't attack us head-on confirms that."
Kouro, who heard Theresa's words, looked at the thorny vines that are as big as his thighs that were tangled together.
"Should I just burn it?" Kouro remarked while pulling a fire grenade from his pocket.
"Hmm... I don't know how you got that, but it doesn't seem like a bad idea, it's just that, we have a limited amount of fire grenades."
"Oh... If it's about the quantity, I got that covered." Kouro then proceeded to take out several fire grenades from his shirt pocket.
Staring at the dozens of fire grenades Kouro took out made Theresa dumbfounded instantly.
"...Kouro... Do you plan to burn down the entire school building!?"
Apart from being surprised by Kouro, who seemed to have a dimensional pocket of some sort, Theresa also picked up another important detail.
Judging from his preparations, Kouro likely knew from the start that the Pseudo-Herrscher had abilities related to plants.
Although she is very curious about it, Theresa refrained from asking, because she knew that everyone had their secrets.
Kouro and Theresa, instead of using their weapons to cut through the vines, used Fire Grenades as the means to open up a path.
It was because Kouro wanted to see how the Pseudo-Herrscher would react if they used such a method first.
Theresa, who figured out Kouro's plans, also wanted to know.
"You shouldn't use all of these fireworks grenades recklessly, Kouro!"
"Alright, okay." Kouro replied while putting back the fire grenades, he only left 5 fire grenades to use.
He grabbed one of the grenades and backed away a few meters with Theresa following as well.
Feeling that he is far enough away, Kouro releases the safety lock of the grenade and aimed at a bundle of vines before throwing.
*Boom!!*
The impact of the explosion, plus the smoldering embers, blew the entire rootstock and burned it's surroundings.
Confirming that most of the rootstock had been reduced to ashes, they did not enter the Senba Academy straight away and instead waited to see the Pseudo-Herrscher's reaction.
After a while, they still didn't see any reaction from the other party, which likely meant one thing.
The Pseudo-Herrscher is not an aggressive person.
Kouro and Theresa exchanged a look and breathed a sigh of relief.
"Let's go in." said Theresa.
Kouro followed behind Theresa while vigilantly surveying the surroundings within the academy.
The interior of the academy wasn't much different from outside, apart from having smaller vines in both quality and quantity than outside.
"...It's so quiet." Kouro remarked, he noticed that there were no sounds of insects, Honkai Beasts or even Zombies around or inside the academy.
He had also sensed that a pair of eyes had been observing them ever since the two of them had entered the academy
Theresa is currently busy focusing on the map the shows the Pseudo-Herrscher's location, then she suddenly raised her head and looked at the building in front of them and said.
"Kouro, the Pseudo-Herrscher is in the building right in front of us."
Hearing Theresa speak, Kouro stopped observing the surroundings and followed the directions of Theresa's gaze, he raised an eyebrow when he saw that the building in front of them is already filled with plants and vines.
'Isn't this the school building for the first-year freshman?'
Does that mean the Pseudo-Herrscher is someone who is also the same age as him?
"What's the plan, Theresa-san? Are we going straight in, or should we wait for reinforcements?" Kouro asked.
Theresa lowered her head in thought whilst looking at the Honkai Energy concentration fluctuation chart, then, she raised her head and looked at Kouro.
"We'll go straight in."
"Alright."
Kouro suddenly thought of something for a brief moment and stopped Theresa.
Kouro then took out the anti-radiation mask he had brought from the system and hand it to her.
He the said, "We don't know if there are any poison traps inside, better be careful than not."
Theresa stared at the mask before taking it, after putting it on, she saw that Kouro was already inside the building with his back to her.
"Let's go in, I'm already starting to sense the presence of that Pseudo-Herrscher."
After saying that, Kouro walked forwards while following his enhanced senses.
"Wait for me." Theresa ran forwards, following Kouro while staring at her virtual map.
The two of them walked slowly while taking heed of their surroundings that were already overgrown with vines
Kouro could sense the presence of someone very strong above him, that means that the Pseudo-Herrscher is probably on the top floor.
After walking slowly up the second floor corridor, they can in front of a door that had a [1-2] sign above it.
Kouro could feel a very strong presence behind this door.
*thump!*
*thump!*
His heart started to beat fast, although he doesn't know if it's from enthusiasm or fear, either way, it caused his purple eyes to start glowing.
Experience the tense situation.
(E/D: Don't know what that means.)
Kouro and Theresa looked at each other and nodded.
Kouro stepped forward and slowly opened the classroom door.
The problem is, either because the railings of the door has been damaged or because of external influence, the door became jammed that Kouro needed to use a bit of force to open it.
*Skrett!*
Feeling that maybe the Pseudo-Herrscher has already noticed them, Kouro scratched the back of his head and suddenly came up with a 'brilliant' idea, he knocked in the classroom door and cleared his through before yelling loudly.
"Excuse me, miss! You have a package delivery!" Kouro exclaimed as naturally as possible as if he is an ordinary delivery man.
Theresa stumbled and looked at Kouro with a blank expression that yelled, 'You have the nerve to act silly in such a tense situation!?'.
Although, because of that, Theresa's tense body relaxed a bit, she took a deep breath and readied her Big Cross.
Kouro knocked again and said, "Miss! I will open the door, if you are changing, please tell me immediately."
Seeing that the Pseudo-Herrscher on the other side didn't reply and hadn't even move either according to his senses, Kouro slid the door in a relaxed manner.
*Skrett!*
Kouro entered first, followed by Theresa behind him.
"What...!" Theresa exclaimed in surprise at the sight in front if her.
She saw a young girl kneeling, staring at Kouro with empty eyes, the girl is wrapped in vines which moved slowly towards Kouro as if an extension of the girl.
Theresa then turned her head to Kouro who is staring straight at the girl without moving, although she couldn't seem his expression because he is currently wearing a mask.
She could tell that Kouro recognized the girl who has turned into a Pseudo-Herrscher.
Sensing that maybe they had something they wanted to talk about in private, Theresa excused herself out and waited while keeping an eye out for Kouro's safety.
As if waiting for Theresa to leave, Kouro then said in a deep voice that contained a bit if sadness.
"I really didn't expect that we would meet again under these circumstances, Ayame..."
(E/D: Kouro be like ash, collecting Herrschers left and right.)
