Honkai, Traversing Otto, Path to Godhood

"Oh, right, Lord Bishop," Amber said, standing at the doorway after Cecilia also stepped into the office. "The Oath of Judah you requested from St. Freya Academy will be delivered tomorrow morning. Additionally, Lord Durandal seems to have something to discuss with you."

"Oath of Judah... Durandal... I understand."

After Amber mentioned the name of the eleventh Divine Key, Otto glanced at Cecilia's face. He saw the woman frowning as if trying to recall something, but her eyes remained vacant.

"Have Rita lead some Valkyrie squads to escort it back, and have Fu Hua lead another group to stand by," Otto ordered as he thought. "Once the eleventh Divine Key arrives at Schicksal, it must be handed over to me immediately. Then, have Fu Hua and those Valkyries destroy all experimental subjects in the St. Freya basement. Leave nothing behind."

"Furthermore, search the entire world for information related to 'World Serpent,' the 'Stigmata Project,' and the like. No detail should be overlooked."

"This is very important, Amber. If we fail, we will face a powerful organization capable of and intent on overthrowing humanity."

Chapter 12: Operation Serpent Devour, Commence!

After securing Cecilia and her formidable entourage, he would weaken Kevin, and finally, find a way to gather all his strength to confront the Herrscher of Finality. This was the basic plan he had set for himself after obtaining his golden finger upon transmigration.

Kevin's Stigmata Project ensured that they were irreconcilable.

Perhaps for an ordinary person, having someone else fight their battles through Honkai and indulging in dreams would be a good thing.

But for him, as Bishop, both for his own benefit and for the sake of modern civilization itself, he had to seize this project.

In other words, he had to disqualify Kevin from opposing him.

If anyone was to conduct the Stigmata Project, it should be him, Otto, in a position of absolute control.

When all his other means were rendered useless, organizing a Stigmata Project-like "surrender"—there was no need to rush.

Therefore, as long as Kevin intended to implement the Stigmata Project, he would be Otto's greatest enemy, second only to Finality.

Not trying every means to kill this fanatic was only because he intended to keep him as a scapegoat in the end.

So, since he needed to weaken Kevin, it was natural to suppress World Serpent, an organization that possessed most of the knowledge heritage of the Previous Civilization and was ahead of Schicksal in research.

World Serpent was Schicksal's greatest enemy, aside from Honkai.

—What? Anti-Entropy? Wasn't that like St. Freya in the future, a rebellious splinter faction?

Since when did the leader have to hunt down subordinates just because they threw a tantrum?

Of course, he had to squeeze out every last drop of profit from them before they died and then guide them to die more valuably—though, if possible, he wouldn't let them die; the living had more potential for exploitation.

Schicksal didn't even bother to demonize these "enemies" when educating Valkyries. In the future, in Kolosten, Durandal would even consider them mere impostors or clones.

Anti-Entropy wasn't worthy of being Schicksal's enemy; at most, they were just exploitable employees.

World Serpent was the real one.

Therefore, if he was to scheme against that organization that worshipped the Previous Civilization, he had to find them first, understand them, and finally... completely devour them.

In the original plot, they were the ones who surfaced with a plan and purpose.

This did not align with Schicksal's interests.

But now... he would take the initiative, unveil the veil of this mysterious organization, and then... consume it whole.

Speaking of which, Kiana was quite delicious—Hmm, is Kiana still around now?

"Kamiya Pharmaceuticals, this term needs attention," Otto recalled the game's plot and the manga's content regarding World Serpent. "Adan Ruani is also a key figure. These two terms are related to this organization."

Amber really wanted to ask how the Bishop knew so much about a mysterious organization after spending several days hiding in his office playing Kallen Fantasy, with documents from various continents piling up like a mountain. But the moment she thought that the person before her was Otto Apocalypse, all her questions turned into a respectful reply:

"Yes, Lord Bishop."

The Bishop was almost omnipotent; this was the confidence everyone in Schicksal had in him, and Amber was no exception.

Even as his secretary, having lost much of the mystery and distance associated with him, she still firmly believed this fact.

If he willed it, he could do it! (A certain Flame-Chasing Seven: Meow meow meow?)

In this regard, everyone in Schicksal was an Otto fan.

"Is there anything else?"

"That's all for now," Amber said, looking up to think before quickly lowering her head—she saw Otto and Cecilia holding hands. "There's nothing else. Enjoy your meal, Lord Bishop."

She retreated and closed the door. Otto sat down at the desk and released Cecilia's hand.

The woman retracted her fingertips and rubbed them in her palm a few times, recalling the warmth of his fingertips, feeling a hint of reluctance in her heart.

Otto distributed their food, opened the red wine bottle, poured two glasses, pushed one to Cecilia, and a smile curved his lips:

"Come, let's toast to your rebirth."

Cecilia carefully took the glass, clinked it with Otto's, and secretly glanced at his every move. Watching him finish his red wine, she also drank hers in one gulp.

"Cough... Mmm..."

After the first glass, Cecilia couldn't help but frown. Otto's smile widened at her reaction.

He knew very well that red wine was usually poured only a little as a formality; filling the glass was his little quirk.

A slight flush bloomed on her cheeks, and a beautiful woman's tipsiness was indeed one of her most beautiful moments. Otto watched as her fair cheeks were dyed with a warm blush, spreading all the way to her earlobes. A ripple appeared in her starry eyes, which was incredibly beautiful.

As a certain writer once said, there were few true words in this world; a woman's blush was worth more than a long dialogue.

He shook his head, forcibly suppressing the drowsiness and the effects of the wine in his mind.

It was a case of killing a thousand enemies and losing eight hundred of his own.

It was worth it.

"Eat up," he handed Cecilia the cutlery.

"Mhm."

This little bit of alcohol wouldn't get Cecilia, a Valkyrie, drunk. She quickly recovered and, after responding to Otto, took the cutlery and buried her head in her food.

Seeing that she was eating comfortably, Otto also lowered his head, casually ate a steak, then poured another glass of wine, savoring the taste of the high-end red wine, and closed his eyes.

So many things happening in just a few hours, it was truly marvelous...

Lost in thought, Otto didn't notice the passage of time. When he opened his eyes, Cecilia had finished eating. Her cyan-blue eyes were gazing at him, her expression blank, making it impossible to tell what she was thinking.

"Are you full?"

"About."

"Then let's continue our walk. Amber will clean this up."

"Okay."

Otto took out paper and a pen from his desk and scribbled a line on it. He naturally hooked Cecilia's little finger. The woman also got up as Otto pulled her.

"Let's go, a post-meal stroll."

Amber opened the office door and walked towards the temporary dining table. One meal was completely gone, while the other seemed to have only the steak eaten.

Amber knew that the Bishop didn't actually need to eat and didn't comment on his wastefulness. However, a subtle emotion flickered in her eyes, one she herself couldn't quite grasp.

It was as if... she was happy for that man.

There was also a piece of paper on the table. She reached out and picked it up. It contained a message:

"The red wine was actually fine. It was mainly a change of pace. Pouring it out was a magnificent and grand ceremony of handover, a legacy passed down from arcane arts. You'll understand slowly. — Otto Apocalypse"

Amber: ...

Bishop must have had his own profound reasons for doing this.

The two walked out of the office. Streetlights had already illuminated the outside, making the entire Schicksal bright as day under the night sky.

But there wasn't much nightlife here. It was sparsely populated during the day, even more so at night. Most Valkyries were on standby at their branches or fighting various Honkai monsters in simulation rooms.

There were those resting, but very few slacking off, unless they were in support roles, a D-rank.

After all, the ones pushing them were their own lives.

Otto and Cecilia strolled along the quiet road, in silence.

They stopped only when they reached the entrance of the home where Cecilia had bathed earlier.

The man looked up at the night sky and let out a long sigh, a hint of helplessness in his gaze.

"Bianca Durandal Atagina, you've been following me all this way. What is it that makes you want to step forward yet hesitate? This isn't like you."

PS: Please collect!

Chapter 13: Durandal, you are my and Cecilia's...

"Good evening, Bishop."

A beautiful girl with black hair and golden eyes emerged from the shadows, her gaze complex, looking as if she had something to say but couldn't.

The girl before them was Durandal, nicknamed Durarara, the daughter of Cecilia Schariac, and a true knight.

"Good evening, little Durandal, is something the matter?"

Otto could see where the young girl's peripheral vision was directed. He reversed his grip on Cecilia's little finger, directly enveloping the woman's soft, boneless hand. Then, he saw Durandal's pupils contract, like a startled little cat.

The feeling of flirting with the mother in front of her daughter was incredibly stimulating.

Otto almost burst out laughing. He managed to curb his amusement only when Durandal snapped out of her daze, letting out a soft "Mhm?"

Durandal then regained her senses. "Apologies, Bishop, I was thinking about something else just now."

"I'm very interested in what you were thinking about," Otto said, how could he miss this golden opportunity to tease Durarara?

"Um... Bishop," Durandal, who always acted directly, hesitated for half a second before asking, "I was just wondering if this Valkyrie here has any relation to me?"

Otto distinctly felt Cecilia's body tremble. The hand that had been slightly struggling moments ago now gripped his back, appearing very nervous.

"Oh, really?" Otto's tone remained cheerful. "In that case... Rita would cry."

"What does this have to do with Rita?" Durandal asked, confused.

"What do you think?" Otto countered.

"I think it has nothing to do with her," the girl answered straightforwardly, ending the conversation in a dead end, true to her style.

Otto felt Cecilia's grip on his hand gradually loosen, the soft flesh on his palm no longer squeezed as tightly. It seemed she was happy.

Why was she happy?

Because her daughter had retorted so beautifully?

"I don't quite understand how a woman's mind works..."

"Perhaps," Otto shrugged, "let me rephrase: why do you think so?"

"Because..."

Durandal stared intently at Cecilia, remaining silent for a long time.

Faintly, Otto saw the eyes of the current Schicksal Valkyrie tinge with a thin, veil-like crimson before quickly receding.

"When I saw her," Durandal's voice softened, as if afraid of startling Cecilia, "I felt a sense of closeness, just like when I saw you, a doctor, at the orphanage back then, I wanted to punch you."

Otto: ...

Just for that comment, Kiana, the time until you and your mother reunite will be extended by N chapters!

"Please don't take offense, Miss Valkyrie," the simple-minded Kiana naturally didn't notice the almost tangible resentment radiating from the Schicksal Bishop, she continued, "When I saw you, my heart started beating violently, and my eyes inexplicably welled up. I wanted to hug you—just a gentle hug, without saying anything, without thinking anything."

She paused, then stammered, "I'm very sorry, but this is truly the thought that arose in my heart when I saw you. Of course, humans are creatures capable of self-control. I just wanted—I just wanted to tell you that I feel an inexplicable sense of closeness to you.

"Perhaps we've met before—perhaps we were close before I lost my memory—I didn't forget you intentionally, it's just that—I really did lose my memory when I was a child."

"From a practical standpoint—well, if you mind very much—I will try to appear before you as little as possible—I swear by the name of Durandal, I will do what I can."