Although Teacher Yang, who taught at St. Freya, surely knew something about Honkai and Schicksal, confidential matters involving the Simulated Herrscher Core still had to be kept secret.
"Oh, then enjoy your lunch."
Upon hearing that, Teacher Yang immediately put on an enlightened expression, greeted Gwen and the other two, then left without hesitation.
"Let's go."
After the utterly unremarkable history teacher left, Fu Hua spoke to the three of them and took the lead into the restaurant.
Although Theresa was often unreliable, when it came to food—as long as anything involving bitter melon was excluded—she was relatively dependable.
In any case, Gwen ate to his heart's content. Judging by her appetite, Yolandale seemed fairly satisfied as well.
After a satisfying meal without any alcohol, Gwen and the other two bid Fu Hua farewell and boarded the airship they had arrived in.
It was not that Murata Himeko, the person actually in charge at the moment, was putting on airs. After the Honkai outbreak in Changkong City, Murata Himeko simply had far too much work to do. The three of them knew her as well, and since this was not an official mission, they said their farewells over the communicator and left directly, without wasting Murata Himeko's precious time.
Although it was only a small airship, on the Eurasian Continent, Schicksal's home turf, and with a certain civil-war god still unable to spare a hand, no one would be foolish enough to attack a Schicksal airship. In the end, after Gwen and Yolandale spent the whole journey discussing applications for new armor, the airship safely arrived at Schicksal's air harbor.
It was not that Gwen or Rita did not want to chat about everyday, relaxing topics. The main problem was that the third person present found it difficult to join such conversations—
Bianca, who had once been lively and mischievous, with all the makings of an orphanage ringleader, had become serious, rigid, and utterly lacking in charm after returning from the Sea of Quantum—at least by her own assessment. She had gradually become detached from those easygoing daily moments.
If not for Rita, Yolandale might have become the sort of person who mechanically devoted everything to growing stronger and fighting Honkai.
After returning to Schicksal, the two rising A-rank Valkyries, Rita and Yolandale, took Valkyrie Knight: Moonlit Sky and the Simulated Herrscher Core stored within it to the laboratory Otto had designated, while Gwen once again went to Otto's office.
In the gentle morning sunlight, Gwen once again gave Otto a detailed account of his entire encounter with the Simulated Herrscher tentatively codenamed the Herrscher of Poison.
Afterward, Otto asked Gwen about something else that he had not mentioned over the communicator—
"Then, my friend, what was this matter you said was inconvenient to discuss over the communicator?"
Golden sunlight fell over his blond hair, lending him an extra touch of divinity as Otto asked with a smile.
"About that—"
Gwen pondered for a moment, seemingly considering how to explain it to Otto, before asking:
"Bishop Otto, you were from the same era as Saintess Kallen, weren't you?"
"...Indeed."
Otto nodded, the smile on his face fading slightly as he said in a low voice:
"Though before her radiance, I was merely a despicable little man, she and I truly were of the same era.
What? Do you want to hear the story of Saintess Kallen?"
"Then... I assume Bishop Otto, you must have heard the name Yae Sakura as well?"
Ignoring Otto's joking remark, Gwen asked gravely.
Otto: My Friend, Would You Like to Hear My Story?
Gwen keenly sensed a distinct emotional fluctuation within Otto's Soul Steel body after he spoke the name "Yae Sakura."
In the past, although the special nature of his Soul Steel body made it no different from Otto's original body in certain respects, it also allowed Otto to control himself more effectively.
Even Gwen found it difficult to detect Otto's true emotions face-to-face.
Today was the first time Gwen had clearly felt genuine emotion leaking from Otto.
Though it had lasted only an instant, it was enough to show how deeply that name had affected Otto.
"My apologies. That was somewhat unbecoming..."
But Otto was still Otto. He quickly steadied his emotions, composed his expression, and put his smile back on.
"You met her?
Let me guess...
That pink-haired woman?"
Although his expression had returned to normal, the aggressiveness in his words made Gwen clearly sense that Otto was different from usual...
Perhaps Otto was doing it deliberately.
Gwen was not interested in that. He simply continued his report.
"That's right. It was her. I can confirm that she was the Far Eastern shrine maiden from Saintess Kallen's story."
After confirming Otto's guess, Gwen continued:
"However, five hundred years later, Yae Sakura, who had only been a natural Stigmata awakener back then, became a Simulated Herrscher after prolonged contact with the black box.
Although she was still trying to suppress the Herrscher consciousness within the box, and the box itself was part of the seal, she had still become a Simulated Herrscher. She could have become a massive problem, like the final boss in Kallen Fantasy.
After all, what the box had sealed was the culprit that extinguished the last spark of human civilization fifty thousand years ago, leaving it only one step away from being completely kicked over by the Herrscher of Finality—the Herrscher of Erosion."
Although his identity as someone from the Previous Civilization was no longer important before Otto, and with Otto's intelligence and the information he possessed, he probably did not trust that identity much anyway, Gwen did not mind maintaining it casually.
"The Herrscher of Erosion?"
Otto quickly recalled the information he had obtained regarding that name. His brows unconsciously furrowed, as though he had thought of something, but he ultimately calmed down and asked with a smile:
"Then where is our Simulated Herrscher, Miss Yae Sakura... now?"
Yet from Otto's smile, Gwen could not find even the false warmth Otto usually carried.
"After learning that it was now five hundred years later and that Saintess Kallen had long since passed away, she lost her final attachment and cooperated with me to completely eliminate the danger posed by the Herrscher of Erosion."
Seeing Otto's expression, Gwen gave up on the idea of recounting everything in detail and said concisely:
"However, because she had already become something like a Simulated Herrscher, once the Herrscher of Erosion's power was completely removed, Miss Yae Sakura's life also came to its end.
And whether it was due to the Herrscher of Erosion's influence or the power of Miss Yae Sakura's Stigmata itself, before dying, she transferred her Stigmata to me through some unknown method, then disappeared completely."
"Oh?
A Stigmata transfer?"
Otto raised his brows, looking surprised.
Natural Stigmata awakeners were simply too rare. Even Otto, as the Bishop of Schicksal, had never heard of such a case.
"Yes."
Gwen nodded in confirmation.
"Though it is quite unbelievable, Miss Yae Sakura's Stigmata really did transfer to me.
However, because it has only been a short time, I still know nothing about what kind of power this Stigmata possesses."
"..."
After a moment of silence, Otto asked softly:
"May I take a look?"
Whether natural or artificial, once awakened, Stigmata would manifest tattoo-like patterns on the body's surface, serving as proof.
"Of course."
Gwen nodded, took off his coat, lifted the shirt underneath, and turned his back toward Otto.
"It truly is incredible..."
Looking at the flower-like pattern emerging beneath the crystal flower on Gwen's back, Otto's gaze flickered uncertainly, and he rarely revealed such a complicated expression.
"The principle truly is difficult to understand."
Gwen lowered his shirt, sat back down, and said:
"However, logically speaking, there is not much of a problem.
After all, Miss Yae Sakura was also deeply influenced by Saintess Kallen, whom you, Bishop, hold in such high regard."
"Yes, Kallen..."
Otto let out a long sigh, his face showing reminiscence. Seeing this, Gwen did not interrupt him and remained silent.
The atmosphere in the room did not grow heavy because of it. Otto soon spoke again.
However, what he said was somewhat beyond Gwen's expectations:
"My friend, would you be interested in hearing my story?"
"Your story?"
Though surprised that Otto had suddenly brought this up, Gwen did not hesitate and nodded.
"Of course. As an ordinary person, I am naturally interested in the story of Bishop Otto, someone who could be called a living legend."
"Then please forgive me for taking up some of your time."
Otto nodded, a nostalgic expression appearing on his face as he slowly leaned back against the sofa. He raised his head to look at the softly glowing electric lamp overhead, as though he had returned to that morning—
"Five hundred years ago..."
There was no doubt that Otto was a master storyteller.
Although Gwen already knew most of the grudges and entanglements involved, he lacked knowledge of many specific events. Hearing Otto, one of the people involved, recount them now, he gradually became immersed in Otto's tale of the past.
It was not a short story, but neither was it overly long. Even though Otto involuntarily added much more detail to certain parts, after simplifying some portions, the tale that had begun in the morning still came to an end by evening.
"Phew... My apologies. It has been far too long since I spoke to anyone about events from five hundred years ago. I got a little carried away."
Looking at the sunset outside the window, Otto apologized to Gwen, still wearing a nostalgic expression.
"It's fine."
Gwen shook his head.
"Being able to hear this story has already made the trip worthwhile."
"I am glad you do not mind."
Otto nodded, withdrawing his gaze from outside the window and looking at Gwen.
"Although I have no favorable impression of Miss Yae Sakura, this was still a choice she made in accordance with Kallen's spirit.
I only hope that this power, carrying Kallen's spirit, can help you better protect the world Kallen wished to protect."
With utter sincerity, Otto spoke those words without even the slightest trace of sincerity.
"Of course."
After meeting Otto's gaze for a moment, Gwen looked toward the sunset outside.
"Though I may not possess such noble ideals, I still wish to protect this world, where there are people I wish to protect."
Bounty Results Summary Monthly tickets—(279-89)/50=3...10 Recommendation tickets—(3058-1552)/500=3...6 Rewards—(2676-1476)/5000... Blades—(93-33)/50=1...10 Total bonus chapters—3+3+1=7 I happened to add seven chapters this week too. Perfect. Throw some flowers!
Mei: Kiana, You Deserve to Die—
After a heartfelt exchange... or rather, a round of probing, Otto finally let Gwen go.
After Gwen left, Otto, now alone, leisurely took a bottle of wine from the cabinet nearby, casually opened it, poured himself a full glass, and slowly walked to the window. He happened to see Gwen leaving the building below.
"..."
Otto said nothing. He merely raised his glass with a smile, as though celebrating something.
Downstairs, after sending messages to Raiden Mei and Kiana, Gwen felt something and looked back. He saw Otto behind the window, smiling as he raised his glass, and waved back with a smile.
After bidding Otto farewell once more, Gwen's Schicksal terminal vibrated slightly. It was a message from Raiden Mei, saying that she and Kiana were on their way to a restaurant and asking whether Gwen wanted to join them for dinner. She also sent him an address.
Gwen casually replied, "Be right there," then strode away.
Thanks to Kiana's fairly conspicuous white hair, Gwen successfully found Kiana and Raiden Mei in the restaurant—
"Mei, Kiana!"
Calling out softly, Gwen sat across from Mei and Kiana, who were seated side by side.
Before you continue