There was none of the delicious food she had been yearning for.
Staring at the fish head on her plate, its face frozen in a look of utter injustice, she suddenly wanted to scream, "Freya——!!"
What the hell was wrong with her?
Properly Arranged (Revised)
While K422 was being led by Amber to Schicksal's cafeteria for a meal, Otto returned to his laboratory and reviewed all the records from K1 through K423.
Of the 423 clones created using the DNA of Kiana Kaslana and the DNA of the Second Herrscher, only K422 and K423 had awakened.
"K423's awakening is related to the transplanted Core Fragment of the Second Herrscher. But K422, who should have remained in cryogenic storage, awakened after K423 did."
Otto opened the data collected during the experiments on Experiment Subjects K422 and K423, as well as the monitoring data from the eight hours after their awakenings.
"The most interesting part is that after K422 entered a sleeping state, the brainwaves of K423 and Kiana Kaslana, who were also asleep, gradually drew closer to K422's and synchronized with hers..."
"If my guess is correct, the three of them can establish a mental connection while asleep."
Otto decided he would find an opportunity to test his hypothesis later.
If he had not happened to be monitoring all three of their brainwaves at once, he might have overlooked the connection between them.
This was not Otto's first time cloning life, but this was the first time he had discovered such a phenomenon.
He did not believe the other clones could do the same.
Therefore, there had to be some connection between Kiana Kaslana, K422, and K423 that he did not yet understand.
"...Could it be the hidden power of the Kaslana Family?"
Otto murmured to himself.
Unfortunately, K422 had only just awakened, and he was still constructing a persona for her. He could not make K422 cooperate with the experiment immediately.
The more Otto studied the experimental data on the screen, the more delighted he became.
"Otto..."
After entering the laboratory, Amber immediately bowed in greeting.
"Amber, how is K422 doing?"
"..."
Faced with Otto's question, Amber hesitated.
"She may like fish heads?"
"???"
Otto looked puzzled when he heard that answer.
Was that the answer he wanted?
Of course it was!!
If he could learn K422's preferences, he could understand her personality. Once he understood her personality, he could influence her actions through it, and eventually even control her.
Whether it was K422 or K423, both suited his purpose of replacing the real Kiana Kaslana.
Siegfried Kaslana wanted to take away his daughter, so Otto naturally wanted to ask: did he want this amnesiac Kiana who liked fish heads, or this Kiana who was practically an infant?
"Heh, she likes fish heads? What exactly happened?"
Seeing Otto's curious expression, Amber lowered her head again and respectfully replied, "I brought Kiana to the Second Canteen for a meal. The Second Canteen is mainly frequented by Valkyrie trainees, and most of them are admirers of Cecilia."
"I remember the head chef there is one too."
Amber continued, "Yes, the head chef is also a fan of Cecilia. When he learned that Cecilia's daughter was dining at the Second Canteen, he specially prepared one of his signature dishes for K422."
"Oh?"
Otto raised his eyebrows, realizing that he had still underestimated Cecilia's personal charm.
"What kind of signature dish?"
"Braised fish head with octopus legs..."
"???"
Upon hearing the name of the dish, Otto was completely dumbfounded.
It was not bragging to say that, as the Grand Bishop of Schicksal, he had eaten every kind of delicacy and enjoyed every kind of entertainment.
"Wait a moment, Amber. Tell me what K422's expression was like at the time."
"Yes, Otto. The head chef personally met K422 and said that Cecilia had once praised this dish, so he had specially made it for K422. After taking one bite, K422 was so moved that she cried and said it tasted like Mom."
"..."
What the hell did she mean, it tasted like Mom?
She had even cried from being moved. Otto would bet that K422 had cried because it tasted awful.
"Cecilia Schariac is a complete food addict! She even enjoyed the charred fish her husband grilled with the Judgment of Shamash! Amber, remember to bring K422 some stomach medicine later."
Otto did not want an important experiment subject to drop dead on the spot because of a dish like braised fish head with octopus legs.
"And... tell the head chef to make fewer of his signature dishes."
"Yes, Otto."
"Enough about that. Amber, tell me, between K422 and K423... who do you think is more likely to be the Second Herrscher?" Otto asked with narrowed eyes.
Although he did not particularly care about Amber's answer, he did want to know what others thought.
"K422 and K423?"
Amber considered the question seriously.
One showed signs of amnesia, while the other behaved like a newborn infant.
It was difficult to determine which of them was the Second Herrscher.
Bishop Otto had not created only the K-Series clones.
There was also the A-Series.
Bishop Otto had conducted three batches of cloning experiments involving the A-Series.
The clones of the A1 Model and A2 Model dissolved and died within five minutes of leaving their cultivation tanks.
Many A3 Model clones had survived, and even Amber herself was an A3 Model clone.
After being born, many A3 Model clones did behave like ordinary infants. However, they possessed extremely strong learning abilities, quickly understood language and commands, and feared Bishop Otto, who had created them.
But not every clone had been like that at birth.
Among the A3 Model clones, the individual designated A-310 had displayed many extraordinary traits. For example, she could already hold conversations involving semantic analysis after being born, did not fear Otto, who had created her, and possessed a gentle yet strong personality. As a result, she was deeply favored by Bishop Otto.
After passing Bishop Otto's many trials, A-310 had been adopted by him and received the name "Theresa" from him.
K423, who possessed a Herrscher Core, was undoubtedly the most likely candidate to be the Second Herrscher.
However, K422's unusually exceptional behavior meant that the possibility of her being the Second Herrscher could not be ruled out either.
"This subordinate cannot determine it. However... if I had to choose between them, I still believe K423 is more likely."
"Oh? Why?"
"Only K423, who possesses a Herrscher Fragment, can become the Second Herrscher. Even if K422 possesses the Second Herrscher's personality, the Second Herrscher's power is ultimately within K423."
Otto nodded. He was not surprised that Amber's conclusion matched his own.
Amber had been with him for several years. As his assistant, she naturally knew more of the truth than most others.
A Herrscher possessed a Herrscher Core, which served as the source of a Herrscher's power.
Therefore, the one who possessed the Herrscher Core was indeed the Herrscher.
That was also Otto's hypothesis. K422 most likely possessed the consciousness of the Second Herrscher, but K423 would possess the Second Herrscher's power.
"Then the original plan remains unchanged."
Whether K422 possessed the Herrscher's consciousness or not, his ultimate goal was to revive the Second Herrscher.
Or rather, to create a human who possessed Herrscher power.
"...Amber, you may leave. Remember to stay by K422's side. And remember, she is Kiana Kaslana now."
Otto did not forget to remind her of the persona he had created for K422.
"Oh, right. I remember Theresa wanted to meet Kiana. Make the arrangements. Let them meet in a few days."
His granddaughter, "Theresa," had already requested to meet Kiana several times.
This was the perfect opportunity to fulfill her wish.
A Kiana who appeared to have amnesia would naturally be easier for his granddaughter to accept than a Kiana who behaved like an infant.
"By your command, Otto."
Otto waved his hand, and Amber immediately left the laboratory.
Meanwhile, she stood in front of the bathroom in her room, clutching her stomach in hesitation.
Perhaps there was a way to make braised fish head with octopus legs taste good, but the one she had eaten was definitely not it.
She did not even know how to describe that awful texture and flavor.
Especially since what had been served was not an entire fish, but only its head.
The fish head, chopped off and braised together with octopus legs, had clearly been radiating resentment.
Wasn't ordinary braised fish good enough?
Wouldn't salt-and-pepper fish have been delicious?
Couldn't it have been cooked into sour fish soup?
Why did it have to be braised with octopus legs? And why did it have to taste so terrible?
If that honest-looking head chef had not said Mom had praised the dish, she definitely would have dumped the plate right onto his face.
"...Sigh. I should've just dumped it on his face."
She had not expected to get a stomachache.
Of course, she had not eaten much. The pain was simply caused by the stimulation of stomach acid as her body digested food for the first time, triggering cramps. It was not the kind of pain that required a trip to the bathroom.
But when her stomach started hurting, she instinctively walked to the bathroom—and then completely froze.
"Hiss... Come to think of it, I'm an adorable girl now."
She was not happy about referring to herself that way.
Because she was now facing an enormous crisis.
—What should I do if I, a man in my previous life, reincarnated as an eight-year-old girl and need to use the bathroom? I still can't accept the fact that my little brother is gone... Waiting online, urgently.
She really did not understand how those "heroes" who reincarnated as girls could calmly accept their new identities.
Her little brother had been with her for an entire lifetime, and now it was just gone. How could she not feel heartbroken? How could she not be devastated?
Most importantly, she wanted to know how she was supposed to use the bathroom.
Even if she could endure this stomachache now, she would still have to use the bathroom eventually. She would still have to face this problem.
As another cramp ran through her abdomen, she felt the dampness between her legs increase considerably.
"!!!"
She nearly cursed out loud.
"This body is way too inconvenient."
To avoid wetting the floor like some crybaby, she gritted her teeth, entered the bathroom attached to the room, and briskly took care of nature's call...
After leaving the bathroom, she immediately dropped to her knees in a defeated forward bend. As some fluid left her body, she felt as though she had lost something incredibly precious.
But before she could finish lamenting, the Little Maids who had left only briefly returned one after another, each carrying a beautiful new dress. They were clearly preparing to replace the outfit that had accidentally gotten a little sauce on it.
"Kiana, it's time for your bath~"
Before you continue