Honkai, Traversing Otto, Path to Godhood

"Our academy doesn't have Schicksal's massive resources. Having a Herrscher here is like a ticking time bomb that could endanger our lives at any moment!"

"Exactly. Lord Bishop claims he's doing this for the Headmaster's safety, but I think he's just eliminating a threat for us!"

The man with blond hair narrowed his eyes, his green irises betraying no emotion.

Very well.

Those as selfish as him would believe the talk of protecting Theresa; those full of passion would be happy about his protection of them.

Everyone has a bright future.

"I'm very glad you can all understand me,"

Otto bowed in thanks.

"You are Valkyries, warriors who fight for all that is good in the world. It is the solemn duty of Schicksal's Far East Branch—St. Freya Academy—to resolve difficulties for you beyond the Honkai and protect your safety."

—So if St. Freya cannot protect you and your families, feel free to cause trouble here and help me tie up Theresa.

He took a deep breath and continued:

"Of course, if anyone still finds this cruel, believing we have a more gentle way of handling this—I believe St. Freya does have such a kind child;"

—After all, you were brought up by Theresa. As the saying goes, one is influenced by their company. I wouldn't be surprised by how cute you all turn out to be.

"Then, I urge such children to continue working hard, become stronger, gain more power through kindness, and strive forward to transform this imperfect Schicksal into the form you desire!"

—Young maidens, look at this pie, it's big and round.

The blond man's voice became impassioned and resonant, his hands seemingly lifting something high.

"If you feel Schicksal isn't good enough, then build it up! If you find the technology here cruel, then become a leader! If you think I and many in Schicksal are ignorant, then start with yourself and become an excellent Schicksal Valkyrie! Change those around you from your own actions, rather than just criticizing, complaining, attacking, or colluding with enemy forces; become strong, and then save all that is imperfect!"

—Come! This way, I can exploit you even more without worry!

"Where you stand is precisely my great Schicksal! As you are, so is Schicksal! If you are light, Schicksal will not be in darkness!"

—Because I will only let you see what you want to see.

"Clap clap clap!"

"Bishop Otto is absolutely right!"

"If you think Schicksal isn't good enough, then keep working hard!"

Amidst thunderous applause and usual praise, Otto let out a long sigh, his exaggerated smile seeming even more sincere.

He raised his head, his green eyes glancing at the white-haired loli behind the crowd.

Theresa Apocalypse.

The Headmaster was a little dizzy. Her grandfather reappearing, killing the history teacher of St. Freya, Welt being the leader of Anti-Entropy—a series of incredibly complex pieces of information flooded her mind, leaving the already dazed loli even more confused.

What should I do... I have to use my brain now...

And... for some reason, she felt that the 'chicken soup' her grandfather was feeding her felt strange.

It felt like she should have a surge of hot blood boiling in her chest, but upon closer reflection, it was more like boiling Coca-Cola.

Hmm, it feels... a little familiar?

What is this all about?

Just then, she saw Otto's gaze turn towards her, his eyes filled with calm and indifference.

—This was the look Otto Apocalypse gave her just now in front of Siegfried; this was the look Cecilia Schariac gave her just now when picking up Fehu Rune.

Identical coldness.

As if... looking at a stranger.

"..."

"Alright," she heard him say, but addressing all the students of St. Freya, "My outstanding children of St. Freya, my personal mission is complete. Next, we must return and continue to fight the Honkai."

"Goodbye, I wish you success in your studies, and may I see your proud smiles in Schicksal."

"Goodbye, Bishop Otto!"

"Farewell, Lord Bishop!"

"But, Lord Bishop, aren't you waiting for the Headmaster..."

"No need."

Theresa heard Otto deliberately answer the last question.

The blond man's voice was soft, not enough to dampen the enthusiasm of the St. Freya students, yet it reached the white-haired loli's ears clearly and distinctly.

"...!"

A flicker of confusion flashed in the white-haired loli's eyes, but she immediately clenched her fists, her gaze full of determination.

Anti-Entropy, between the Ark.

"I'll fucking... Otto!!! Why doesn't he just **^&!!!"

The red-haired woman slammed her hand heavily on the control panel, unleashing a torrent of high-level vocabulary that would make the entire Taixu Gate crew bow in admiration.

"Rationality, Tesla," the blue-haired woman's voice was cool, but her eyes were also filled with anger. "Anger won't solve anything."

"Rationality? How do you expect me to be rational, Liesel Albert Einstein?!"

Tesla shouted, "I told that overconfident bastard long ago not to walk into a trap, not to trust that man—his every glance reeked of false sincerity!"

As she spoke, her eyes reddened, "Damn it! Think you're invincible, huh?! Think not returning to Anti-Entropy is protecting us?! Look at the situation now! I, I, I really... Hmph! Bastard! Idiot! Arrogant! Deluding yourself!"

"Anger won't solve anything, Frederica Nicola Tesla," Einstein's voice was calm. "And—why are you cursing Welt Yang?"

"I feel dirty just saying Otto's name!" Tesla roared. "That damned widower who kills and robs, living the high life, he's just—"

Einstein: ...

After the red-haired woman had spent over ten minutes unleashing a non-repeating barrage, cursing Welt Yang first, then Otto, and finally not even sparing Joyce or Einstein, Einstein seized an opportunity when the other woman paused to catch her breath and interjected, "Regardless, what we should be discussing now is the rescue plan for Welt Yang. Tesla, for every minute you waste, Otto could be conducting more inhumane experiments on him."

"Oh, really?"

A voice, different from the two present, chimed in, "This kind of venting is quite satisfying—I, for one, think that you two conservative Chancellors can only manage this kind of impotent rage."

"Cocolia, what the hell are you doing here?!"

Tesla roared, glaring at the blonde woman behind her.

Cocolia ignored her and began listing Anti-Entropy's assets:

"Silver Bullet? But Schicksal developed a Honkai Energy Fission Bomb with similar effects almost a century before us."

"Anti-Entropy Mecha? Can we really produce mechs that can subdue S-rank Valkyries?"

"The Moonlight Throne is still under construction, and the Arahathoin from the Second Honkai Outbreak hasn't been fully repaired."

"So, my esteemed two seniors from Anti-Entropy, please tell me, what will Anti-Entropy use to fight Schicksal after losing our leader Welt?"

"Or, are you hoping for Otto's mercy, wanting to resolve this peacefully through words?"

Tesla and Einstein fell silent.

Yes, although they usually firmly believed in the concept of "declaring war on false beauty," at this moment, they sadly realized... they were powerless to resist their twisted fate.

That's right, how could Anti-Entropy possibly save Welt?

"Wait, how did you know the Alliance Leader was in trouble..."

"Huh? This? You don't think I've been spying on you, do you?"

Cocolia was taken aback this time, her expression one of utter confusion. She swallowed and asked Einstein earnestly, "Is it that difficult to place spies at St. Freya Academy?"

Einstein, Tesla: ...

Well, it seemed they had found out through the same means.

"Don't change the subject, you two doctors—if you still want to bring back our alliance leader."

"So you're here to cooperate with us? What do you plan to use to rescue Welt Yang?"

Tesla couldn't help but ask, her voice still agitated, but much calmer now.

"I naturally have my own methods—since I received the information and came here, I must have had ten-tenths confidence to join you in overthrowing this rotten and decaying Schicksal."

Cocolia said confidently, gesturing behind her. Instantly, the doors of the Ark of Anti-Entropy opened, and men resembling Welt stood behind them, their eyes glowing crimson.

PS: [Those as selfish as him would believe the talk of protecting Theresa; those full of passion would be happy about his protection of them.]

This is why Otto used two different explanations.

Chapter 63: Cecilia: I Belong to Otto

Cecilia felt like she was dreaming.

She had just returned to Schicksal headquarters with the Fehu Rune when Amber appeared beside her as if she knew everything, telling Cecilia to go to the residence where Otto had been living with her for the past few days.

Then...

The woman saw Otto's tall figure standing in the kitchen, an apron tied around his waist, intently... simmering soup?

"You're back?"

The man looked up, his eyes, the ones she could never forget from before he accepted the Skyfire, gazed at her tenderly, waiting patiently for her answer.

Yes. I'm home.

Cecilia felt a little dazed, which then turned into tenderness. She opened her arms, her Holy Blue eyes fixed on him, with a cuteness like a younger sister pouting to her older brother, and also with the charm befitting her age, the age most eager to be plucked.

Hug me.

She thought silently.

Otto immediately understood her meaning. He opened his mouth, but in the end said nothing. He extinguished the flame, hung the apron to the side, and then gently embraced the woman whose emotions were in turmoil.

But Cecilia was not satisfied with this brief encounter. She took a step forward, pressing her pure, flawless, pretty face against Otto's neck.

The man couldn't help but hold his breath.

Normally, feeling at a disadvantage in front of him, Cecilia's every move was playful like a little sister's. But this deep embrace, the holy aura and childlike heart couldn't hide the exquisite charm that blended coquettishness with purity.

Cecilia's graceful figure held Otto tightly. Her snow-white plumpness pressed into his chest, forming soft, yielding circles as they drew close. Her warm breath on his shoulder made him itch from the bottom of his heart. Her cherry lips brushed against his neck, as if stealing a kiss.

So moist.

The woman's body was soft and extremely elastic. Otto sniffed her refreshing, lily-like fragrance, one hand around her slender waist, the other slowly lifting her silver-white hair to tuck it behind her ear. He gently patted Cecilia's beautiful back, hiding all words in silence.

In this simple, warm embrace, Cecilia suddenly felt an impulse. The emotions of youth seemed to stir her snow-white hair like a gentle evening breeze, smoothing over the scar called first love.

Her eyes flickered with light and shadow, like a white flower fallen into a dark abyss.

She wanted to open her cherry lips, to bite the man's shoulder with her teeth, and then lick it with her tongue; she wanted to stop thinking about the future and stay in this warm embrace for the rest of her life.

—For this, she might be willing to pay any price.

That's right.

Any. Price.

He was the only person she could rely on now...

If he abandoned her again, a voice whispered in her ear, she would have nothing left...

They embraced for a long time before Cecilia reluctantly pulled back. Her fair face was flushed, and her eyes, full of dependence, looked up at Otto.

Her pupils were clear and bright, carrying a faint sense of fragility that evoked a protective instinct from the bottom of one's heart.

The warmth of the woman still lingered on his neck. His heart, which had been calm until now, beat a little faster. Otto chuckled for a moment, nodded at Cecilia, pointed to a white porcelain jar in the kitchen, and turned to walk away.