"What does this mean?"
Li Sushang, standing closest to him, couldn't help blurting it out.
Even Fu Hua frowned.
What was Otto doing? A sudden attack of conscience? Public self-exposure?
Or… another scheme?
"The person we just killed," the blond man raised his arm high, "was a Herrscher of the Honkai. In Sushang's homeland—and in the language of the Far East—you might call him a great demon. Mm. A demon who had not yet committed evil."
He looked at Li Sushang.
"Do you remember the forbidden book you told me you peeked at? Journey to the West. If I compare myself to the Jade Emperor, then the man just now… would be the Monkey King."
You still remember that conversation?! Li Sushang thought reflexively.
Five hundred years ago—and you still remember?
So…
The young heroine's pale cheeks puffed slightly, tinged with a faint pink sheen.
"But Overseer," Rita smoothly took over when she noticed Sushang's wandering gaze, "what does this have to do with our present topic?"
"Right now," Otto replied, "Sun Wukong was in the same room as the Golden Crow."
"The Golden Crow—the Jade Emperor's son?" Sushang suddenly understood. "You mean there's your son in the academy, and this Monkey King was there as well—so just in case, you eliminated him?"
So you already have a son…
The girl's eyes dimmed slightly. The pink faded from her cheeks. The small ahoge on her head drooped.
No wonder these past few days it was that attendant named Amber guiding me around… avoiding suspicion, huh?
So… you've succeeded already?
That's great.
Really great.
She'd already let it go. Really.
"It's granddaughter," Otto corrected calmly. "Theresa Apocalypse. My adopted granddaughter. The principal of St. Freya Academy."
Granddaughter… right, after five hundred years, it'd be strange if you didn't have descendants…
Wait.
Adopted?
The ahoge sprang upright again.
Fu Hua merely turned her head aside, offering no comment.
Five hundred years of experience had taught her: never play word games with Otto.
Durandal, already thoroughly convinced, nodded seriously.
"I understand, Overseer. You mean he infiltrated St. Freya with unknown motives. For Lady Theresa's safety, you killed him."
Excellent straight man.
"So you see," Otto smiled gently, "I am not as noble as you imagined. The order to besiege the leader of Anti-Entropy… was largely the selfishness of a grandfather protecting his granddaughter."
He glanced at Rita, who was suppressing a smile, and casually brushed his bangs aside. As his hand lowered, his index finger brushed lightly across his lips.
Shh. Don't expose it.
Rita bowed slightly in acknowledgment.
"That's right, Valkyries of St. Freya," Otto turned toward the students, spreading his arms. "I killed your history teacher, Welt Yang—because of my selfishness."
He was not surprised at their stunned expressions.
"Of course," he continued lightly, "whether it is truly selfishness… is another matter."
"In truth," Otto said, "he was the leader of Anti-Entropy. The Herrscher of Reason. The head of an organization opposed to Schicksal. Do you remember from your history lessons the First Honkai—tens of thousands dead? The Herrscher who emerged from those ruins… was the Herrscher of Reason. Welt."
Not a single word was false.
But lies do not require falsehood.
Deception is simply guiding others toward mistaken understanding. And arranging truth in certain ways accomplishes the same result.
"Schicksal once gave Welt a chance," Otto continued. "We allowed him to remain in America. I once trusted him so deeply that I told him personally—if he wished, I would hand this beautiful world to him. He would become Overseer of Schicksal, and I would immerse myself in research."
"I do not know what he truly thought. But the result of Schicksal's trust… you know it well."
He adopted a grave expression.
"The North American Branch defected. They formed Anti-Entropy and stood in opposition to me."
Anyone familiar with that history would find it absurd.
And yet—
He had not lied.
He had merely selected the truth.
History is a doll to be dressed as one wishes.
"Is that so?"
"It must be! The Overseer wouldn't lie!"
"Good thing he discovered it in time… otherwise St. Freya…"
"Forget St. Freya—Far East could've been in danger!"
"Our academy doesn't have Schicksal's resources. A Herrscher staying here is like a ticking time bomb!"
"Yes! Even if the Overseer says it was for the principal's safety, he eliminated a hidden threat for all of us!"
Otto narrowed his green eyes slightly.
Excellent.
The selfish will believe the "protecting Theresa" explanation.
The passionate will rejoice at being protected.
Everyone gets the future they desire.
"I am glad you understand," Otto bowed lightly. "You are Valkyries—warriors who fight for all that is beautiful in this world. To eliminate dangers beyond Honkai for you, to protect your safety, is the duty of Schicksal's Far East Branch—St. Freya Academy."
(And if St. Freya cannot protect you or your families, feel free to stir up trouble here and keep Theresa occupied.)
He took a breath.
"Of course, if some of you still feel this was cruel—if you believe there was a gentler solution—I believe St. Freya has such kind children."
(After all, you were raised by Theresa. It would not surprise me how adorable you are.)
"Then continue striving. Grow stronger. Earn the right to more kindness. Move forward, and transform this imperfect Schicksal into what you wish it to be!"
Young girls—look how round and grand this promise is.
His voice swelled, hands lifted as if raising something high.
"If you think Schicksal is not good enough—build it better! If you think our technology is cruel—become leaders yourselves! If you think I and many within Schicksal are ignorant—then begin with yourself. Become an outstanding Valkyrie. Change those around you, instead of only condemning and resenting, instead of colluding with enemies. Grow strong—and save all that is imperfect!"
Come. The stronger you become, the easier you'll be to exploit.
"You stand upon the land of great Schicksal! What you are, Schicksal shall be! If you are light—Schicksal shall not be dark!"
Because I will only ever let you see what you wish to see.
Applause thundered.
"Overseer Otto is right!"
"If Schicksal isn't good enough, we'll work harder!"
Amid roaring applause, Otto exhaled slowly, his smile appearing almost sincere.
His green eyes glanced toward the back of the crowd.
Theresa Apocalypse.
The white-haired little principal looked overwhelmed.
Grandfather appearing again.
Killing St. Freya's history teacher.
Welt being the leader of Anti-Entropy.
The flood of information left her dazed.
Do I need to grow a brain now…?
And somehow… that speech felt off.
Like she should feel hot-blooded and inspired—
But when she thought about it, what was boiling wasn't blood.
It was Coca-Cola.
And—
It felt familiar?
What even—
Then she met Otto's gaze.
Calm.
Indifferent.
The same look he had given her earlier before Siegfried.
The same look Cecilia had given her when picking up Shamash.
Cold.
As if looking at a stranger.
"…"
"All right," Otto said to the students, "my personal matter is concluded. We must return to our fight against Honkai."
"Farewell. I look forward to seeing your proud smiles in Schicksal one day."
"Goodbye, Overseer!"
"Safe travels!"
"But Overseer, won't you wait for the principal—"
"No need."
His voice was soft, barely louder than the students' cheers—yet it reached Theresa clearly.
"…!"
Confusion flickered in her eyes.
Then she clenched her fists.
Resolve hardened within them.
Anti-Entropy — Ark Chamber.
"Welt, you absolute—! And Otto, why doesn't he just—!"
The red-haired woman slammed her fist against the console, unleashing a barrage of profanity that would leave even the entire Tai Xu Sect in awe.
"Calm down, Tesla," the blue-haired woman said coolly, though anger burned in her own eyes. "Rage solves nothing."
"Calm down?! How am I supposed to calm down, Liesel Albert Einstein?!"
Tesla roared.
"I told that overconfident idiot not to walk into the lion's den! Not to trust that man—every look in Otto's eyes screams fake sincerity!"
Her voice cracked, eyes reddening.
"Damn it! Thinks he's immortal?! Thinks staying away from Anti-Entropy protects us?! Look at this now! I—I—damn it! Idiot! Moron! Self-righteous! Delusional!"
"Anger solves nothing, Frederica Nikola Tesla," Einstein replied steadily. "Also—why are you yelling at Welt Yang?"
"I don't even want to dirty my mouth cursing Otto!" Tesla snapped. "That murdering, arsonist widower—!"
Einstein: …
After fifteen straight minutes of uninterrupted profanity—cursing Welt, Otto, Joyce, and even Einstein herself—Einstein finally seized the opportunity when Tesla paused for water.
"Regardless, what we must discuss now is how to rescue Welt Yang. Every minute you waste, Otto could be performing more inhumane experiments on him."
"Oh? Really?"
A new voice interrupted.
"I think venting is healthy. The two conservative chairpersons of Anti-Entropy seem capable of little else but impotent rage."
"Cocolia, what the hell are you doing here?!"
Tesla spun toward the blonde woman behind them.
Cocolia ignored her and began listing their assets.
"Silver Bullet? Schicksal created a Honkai fission bomb nearly a century ago."
"Anti-Entropy mechs? Do we truly have machines capable of suppressing S-rank Valkyries?"
"Moonlight Throne is unfinished. Arahato remains unrepaired since the Second Honkai."
"So tell me, my respected seniors—without Leader Welt, what does Anti-Entropy have to oppose Schicksal?"
"Or are you hoping for Otto's mercy?"
Silence fell.
For all their belief in "declaring war on false beauty," reality now loomed.
What did Anti-Entropy have?
"Wait—how did you even know the leader was captured—"
"What? You think I was spying on you?"
Cocolia blinked in confusion.
"Is placing a mole in St. Freya really that difficult?"
Einstein and Tesla: …
Right.
That's how they found out too.
"Enough deflection," Cocolia said coolly. "If you still want to bring the leader back."
"So you're proposing cooperation?" Tesla demanded, voice steadier now. "What's your plan to rescue Welt Yang?"
"I have my methods," Cocolia said confidently. "If I came here, it's because I am fully prepared to overturn this rotten, decaying Schicksal with you."
She waved a hand.
The Ark's doors slid open.
Rows of men bearing Welt's face stood beyond.
Their eyes glowed crimson.
◇ You can read 60+ chapter ahead on P@treon if you're interested:
patreon.com/ElaraVance1
✨ Bonus Chapter Goals ✨
10 Reviews = 1 Bonus Chapter
100 Power Stones = 1 Bonus Chapter