If You Can't Make It as a Valkyrie, You'll Have to Inherit the Family Business

"... Ha! The first thing to remember when living in this era is never to trust Otto Apolcalypse too much. Alright, you have guests now, it would be too impolite to bother you any further."

Otto paused for a moment, his words carrying an ambiguous emotion, before cutting off the signal.

"Sure enough, even you, with your limited knowledge, find something wrong, so Kallen is even less likely to like this kind of thing."

After his impulsive, brief observation, Otto gave a self-deprecating laugh.

He felt jealousy once again.

Yae Sakura never tainted Kallen's will, so she could be so pure and open-minded, completely certain that Kallen would greet her with a smile and an embrace when she reached the end of her life.

That was a mindset he would never dare to hope for.

That's why he devised this plan, which he gave himself completely—to save Kallen, then be abandoned by the world, and be forever removed from Kallen's life. This is the best ending for Otto Apolcalypse.

Therefore, Otto is now very hesitant.

The power of the Key of Erosion is undeniable, and it can play a crucial role. And given Otto's persuasive skills, convincing Yae Sakura to contribute to his plans wouldn't be difficult.

However, Yae Sakura is another trace left by Kallen, and the only person besides him who can still remember and miss Kallen —this fact makes Otto very resistant to tainting Yae Sakura's purity.

Or rather, he knew deep down that Kallen wouldn't want to see Yae Sakura dragged into this mess by him.

"Well..."

The heavy sigh spoke of Otto's indecisive and hesitant state of mind.

He thought that once the plan was in place, nothing in the world could sway him anymore, but now it seems that's not the case!

"Welcome to the Schicksal Headquarters! I knew we'd become colleagues!"

Durandal entered Yae Sakura's room, looked around, took the dessert basket from Rita, and handed it to Yae Sakura with a bright smile.

Yae Sakura blinked blankly, took the item, and then exclaimed in surprise:

"Thank you. So you live around here too?"

"Well, let me formally introduce myself. I am Bianca Durandal Atagina, Schicksal S-Rank Valkyrie. This is Rita Rossweisse, also an S-Rank Valkyrie. Just call us Durandal and Rita."

"I am Yae Sakura, you can call me Sakura. Although I don't know what Mr. Otto will assign me, please take care of me!"

With a bow characteristic of the Far East, Yae Sakura solemnly introduced herself to the two "unfamiliar" Valkyrie.

Durandal politely returned the greeting, then pulled Yae Sakura aside to chat, asking her all sorts of questions.

Rita narrowed her eyes slightly.

'Mr. Otto ... the way she addresses me is almost like an equal, and her attitude isn't as reverent as that of a typical Valkyrie. She seems to be a La Signora of extraordinary background!'

With a mindset of understanding workplace changes, Rita joined the conversation and easily gleaned a wealth of information—so easily that she broke out in a cold sweat.

'A figure from five hundred years ago, Saintess Kallen's lover, the symbiotic and controller of the Key of Erosion, Archbishop Otto's friend... Will I be submerged in the Mediterranean tomorrow?'

Seeing Durandal's innocent and amazed expression, Rita regretted her rash decision to follow.

She doesn't possess the unparalleled combat prowess of Durandal. If she were to uncover confidential information involving Archbishop Otto, she might really be doomed!

Can girls be lovers?

Durandal, whose romantic history is completely blank, was unaware of Rita's unease; she was simply shocked by Yae Sakura's claim that she was Kallen's lover.

To be honest, although there are quite a few Valkyrie in Schicksal who are paired up, there is still a gap between Durandal and ordinary Valkyrie. And no one brings this up in public, so she really doesn't know about this situation.

Even when she occasionally stumbled upon seemingly sweet and affectionate scenes, under the influence of Rita, a seasoned pro, Durandal only considered them as close female friendships and never took them any further.

Therefore, Yae Sakura's words were like opening the door to a new world for her.

Rita immediately sat up straight.

"Durandal, true love has nothing to do with gender. What matters is the feelings between two people, so there's no need to make a fuss."

"That seems to make sense."

"There is no difference between same-sex love and heterosexual love. As long as they love each other, they should be blessed."

"Really."

Durandal looked enlightened, thoughtful, and nodded in agreement.

Rita's smile became even more radiant and captivating.

The risk of uncovering secrets is no longer important; after all, Archbishop Otto wouldn't be unprepared for information that shouldn't be known. Therefore, if this opportunity can enlighten Durandal, then taking a small risk is worthwhile!

With the mindset that nothing ventured, nothing gained, Rita began to steer the conversation toward the past Yae Sakura and Kallen.

But that was a romantic yet tragic story.

Durandal gained a story that left her deeply moved and with a lasting impression.

Rita was happy to let Durandal immerse herself in thought.

As for Yae Sakura, she didn't deliberately guide them, nor did she need to; she simply gained immense favor with both of them based on historical fact alone. After tonight, she would have established herself as a key figure in Schicksal's upper echelons.

In short, it was a win-win-win night.

"Amber will teach you some general knowledge to help you understand this world. Rita will teach you some common sense and skills to help you adapt to life. In addition, we have arranged Durandal's combat training for you. Although you have a high starting point, you still need more training to perfectly master this power."

"Oh... okay, then I'll do whatever Mr. Otto says. I'll try my best not to cause you any trouble!"

Yae Sakura bowed to the serious-looking Otto.

Otto kept a straight face, but after a moment, he put on a natural smile.

"Alright, alright, no need to be so polite. We're Kallen's only remaining friends and confidants, so you could call us friends, right?"

"But I... I don't have any other friends besides Kallen, and I don't know what to do."

Yae Sakura looked up, a hint of confusion on her small face.

Otto's smile deepened.

"What a coincidence, I don't have many friends either, so let's all be understanding."

"Huh? Even someone as powerful and important as Mr. Otto would lack friends?"

"Of course, many people want to be my friends, but unfortunately, those who catch my eye often don't like me back. Isn't that just how ironic life is?"

Otto said self-deprecatingly, shaking his head with barely concealed melancholy.

Fu Hua and Joyce were among the few people in his five-hundred-year life whom he genuinely admired and respected. But the former always remained more wary than trusting of him, and as for the latter—his words, "Tyrant of the heavens, witness the shattering of stars!" were still vivid in his mind!

"That's true. I only look at good people who have things in common with Kallen. How could they possibly look at me with my bloodstained hands? You'll be the same. Once you get to know me better, you'll probably want to stay far away from me too."

"Although I don't understand, since you've put it this far, I will observe and judge carefully."

Yae Sakura hesitated for a moment before finally responding earnestly.

Otto smiled with satisfaction.

"Hehe! That's exactly the attitude I want! Yae Sakura, live your life well, learn and experience this era, then follow your heart, make your choices, and that's enough!"

Because this is something Kallen would definitely want to see.

Otto smiled genuinely as he watched Yae Sakura leave the room, a hint of joy in his heart—at least he hadn't disappointed Kallen in any way regarding Yae Sakura, had he?

After arranging things for Yae Sakura, Otto picked up a document on the table, flipped through it, and looked thoughtful.

"The progress of deciphering the Chikai Ichijo is not going well. It seems I will have to put in more effort. It's a pity that I don't understand Yae Sakura's power enough, as there are risks involved. Otherwise, with the power of the Key of Erosion, I wouldn't need to rack my brains like this."

Otto felt a little regretful, got up, and headed to the area where the Chikai Ichijo was placed.

The Second Divine Key is also part of the plan, and it is quite crucial, so it cannot be lost. Therefore, he will devote himself entirely to the deciphering work for the next period of time.

Chapter 147 If you can't be a good Valkyrie, you'll have to inherit the family business.

"Some parts resemble humans, some parts resemble Honkai Beast, and some parts resemble Herrscher —how could such a chaotic structure be forcibly combined together?"

Otto leaned back tactically, striking a pose remarkably similar to an elderly person on the subway looking at their phone.

At this moment, Yae Sakura, who had just spent a few days adapting and learning at headquarters, was summoned to the archbishop's office. She drank tea, her gentle, watery eyes surveying her surroundings without any reaction.

Just like her reaction when Otto asked for some hair and blood samples the other day, she was completely calm and indifferent.

Then Otto sighed and shook his head, saying:

"You'd better remember to carry Jizo Mitama with you at all times. Right now, the power of erosion is helping you balance and maintain this chaotic body. Once you lose it, I won't be surprised what happens."

"Eh? Oh, Otto, Mr. Otto."

Yae Sakura gave a gentle smile.

Throughout, she seemed completely unconcerned about her health, yet she thoughtfully stroked the sword on her lap, her gentle gaze filled with tenderness, as if silently expressing gratitude to someone within the sword.

Otto interlaced his fingers, rested his chin on them, leaned forward, and said with a hint of unease:

"I understand your feelings, but you must cherish this precious life that you have regained. This is definitely what Kallen would want, and it is also what Hiyomaru would want."

"I understand. But is it alright for Mr. Otto to set aside time for this? I remember you seem to be very busy."

"It's nothing. Analyzing the Divine Key is boring, and I just want to change things up once in a while."

Otto casually spread his hands, a relaxed and cheerful smile on his face.

It was really just out of boredom. Giving Yae Sakura a physical exam was to relax my brain, and chatting with this wonderfully coincidental friend was to relax my mood.

He never doubted anything, and after the test was completed, he had even less doubt.

After all, that chaotic genetic structure could only be integrated by a powerful force like the Erosion Authority. His history with Kallen is real, and his body, maintained only by the power of Corruption, is also real. In the present day, it's impossible for anyone to set such a trap specifically for Otto.

Otto, I can't think of anything to doubt.

Suddenly, Yae Sakura seemed to remember something.

"Oh, right, I also need to go to the library to find the books Miss Amber gave me. Mr. Otto, is there anything else?"

"No, not at the moment. Goodbye."

Otto watched with a smile as the witch, who treated everyone with gentleness yet always exuded an ethereal quality, like smoke that seemed ready to dissipate at any moment, left the room. Then, a hint of helplessness flashed in his eyes.

Soon after, Rita, the eternally elegant and charming perfect maid, entered the office.

"How is the situation?"

Otto asked in a deep voice.

Of the three who came into contact with Yae Sakura, Amber was reliable in her work, but unfortunately, she was oblivious to her own personality and feelings, let alone the ability to observe other people's hearts. As for Durandal, those who know, know; there's no need to say more.

Therefore, only Rita, with her broad mind and ability to understand people's hearts, could observe Yae Sakura's temperament and state of mind.

"These past few days, Lady Sakura has been very diligent in adapting to modern life and learning modern knowledge. She always strives to do her best to complete the work and tasks we assign her. She is tireless and very intelligent. However, at the same time, she seems to have no interest in the wider and richer outside world and never actively contacts people or things outside of what we arrange for her."

"In general, Lady Sakura is a person who possesses both a gentle exterior and a resilient inner strength, and is very charming as a woman, but..."

Rita hesitated for a moment, seemingly organizing her thoughts.

Then, with a hint of worry, she continued:

"But something just doesn't feel right. She's become adept at using modern tools, and her tea ceremony and cooking have earned high praise from Durandal; she's also quickly learned English and received praise from Lady Amber during her basic general education. But no matter what her achievements are, all I see on Lady Sakura's face is peace, not joy."

"Lord Otto, if I may be so bold, I'm afraid Lady Sakura doesn't have the same attachment to her new life as a normal person."

Rita's brows furrowed slightly, and a hint of seriousness appeared on her face.

Otto sighed, unsurprisingly, leaned back, turned his chair, and looked out the window at the scenery.

"It was expected. Rather, if she had a proper and legitimate reason, she would be quite willing to go to her death."

Just as he himself has survived to this day because of Kallen, Otto empathizes with Yae Sakura's mindset—it's not that she has any attachment to life or the world, but simply that she maintains the status quo for Kallen's sake, nothing more.

Then, he looked at Rita, whose face was filled with worry, and smiled calmly:

"Don't worry too much, she won't give up her life easily. Just keep an eye on her and tell me immediately if you notice anything wrong."

"Yes, Lord Otto!"

Otto watched Rita leave.

After that, he lost interest in continuing to study the progress of deciphering the Chikai Ichijo and instead had to consider the next steps for Yae Sakura.

What should we do with a character who is utterly hopeless, extremely powerful, and currently an ally? Should we send her down to the lower levels for training, or keep her at headquarters for advanced studies in common sense and psychology, or perhaps—try sending her to St. Freya to experience the warmth that her beloved granddaughter is trying so hard to create? Anyway Yae Sakura would definitely like Theresa, wouldn't she?