Cecilia barely had time to turn her head—
—and saw Otto already standing beside her, driving the cross into the ground.
"Judah's Oath."
He spoke calmly.
Chains burst forth from the cross, intercepting the inhuman creature's attack. They extended endlessly, binding it in place, nailing it to the earth.
"That won't do, Cecilia," Otto said as he turned toward her, a faint note of reproach in his voice. "A Honkai Beast got that close behind you, and you didn't even notice."
"…But your use of Black Abyss White Flower wasn't bad."
"Mm…"
Cecilia smiled sheepishly, then shot a fierce glare at the bound Honkai Beast before glancing back at Otto.
He gave a slight nod.
She stepped forward, lifted the lance, and thrust cleanly through the beast's skull.
Boom.
Black mist scattered, and the creature vanished.
"I've dealt with the Dead Walkers that ran elsewhere," Otto said, raising a hand. The cross shrank once more into a bracelet around his wrist. "Let's go."
Golden feathers drifted into the center of the crowd.
A moment later, confusion spread among the survivors.
"What just happened?"
"…Why was I running?"
"Ahh—there was a murder!"
"I think I saw a man and a woman standing there… Huh? Where did they go?"
"I saw them too. They were… quite good-looking, actually…"
…
Schicksal's Overseer and its Saint walked quietly beneath the streetlights, their shadows stretching long across the pavement.
"Your combat… had some issues."
Otto couldn't help but comment.
"You're fighting purely on instinct right now. Your awareness is lacking—you let a Honkai Beast approach from behind. That's unacceptable."
"And also…"
He continued listing points one by one.
Cecilia said nothing.
Head lowered, she nudged pebbles along the road with the tip of her boot.
Her disappointment was obvious.
She didn't fully understand why she felt this way. She knew he was right. She knew he meant well.
But…
Strictly speaking, this had been her first battle since awakening.
Her first performance in front of him.
Yes, she acknowledged her mistake with the ambush.
But she had defeated so many Dead Walkers…
"Upset?"
He stopped in front of her.
She looked up to see his teasing smile.
"Do you think I was wrong?"
She shook her head quickly.
Otto sighed.
"I know what you're thinking. You believe that since this was your first battle after awakening, I shouldn't be so strict. You may even wonder whether what I said yesterday—to you, to Durandal—was merely pretty words."
He raised a hand. Golden feathers formed at his fingertips.
"Mimicry: Fenghuang Down. I can implant memories directly into you. If I truly wanted you to become an S-rank Valkyrie, I wouldn't need to force you into fighting Dead Walkers to recover your strength."
"I could overwrite you. Mold you into whatever I desire."
He snapped his fingers. The golden feathers vanished.
Cecilia blinked, startled—but there was no fear in her gaze.
Only questions.
"I let you fight because in this world, survival requires strength."
He looked up at the dark sky. No stars were visible.
"This is a world plagued by Honkai. Outbreaks large and small occur constantly. Your life is precious. Becoming stronger is your only real choice."
"This has nothing to do with me. Nothing to do with your past memories. Nothing to do with destiny."
"It concerns you."
"You need combat skill to protect your life. To protect the friends you will one day make."
"I want you to have a new life—but that life must be built upon your ability to defend yourself."
He paused.
"I cannot accompany you at every moment. I cannot guarantee that I will always arrive in time to save you—like during the Second Honkai Impact."
"So in small-scale incidents like today, you must quickly reclaim your strength."
"So that when I am not there, you can protect yourself."
"Brother?!"
Before he could finish, Cecilia clutched his arm tightly.
Panic filled her eyes.
Since awakening, Otto had been the one guiding her—teaching her, traveling with her, helping her adapt to this familiar yet foreign world.
It had only been a day.
But the trust planted deep in her soul—and the happiness of that day—had made her fall in love with this carefree life.
She loved the gentle rhythm of the comb in her hair.
The quiet warmth of interlaced fingers on the roller coaster.
The security of entrusting her back to him completely.
She wanted more of that time.
More.
But now he was saying he would leave.
That he might not always be there.
No.
No.
"No, I'll get them back," she said quickly. "I'll recover everything through battle. If necessary, I don't mind accepting forced restoration through Fenghuang Down…"
As long as you don't abandon me.
She didn't say the last words aloud.
But they were written clearly in her eyes.
"Don't overthink it."
Otto smiled gently and brushed a hand through her hair, his emerald gaze meeting hers.
"I will accompany you. Just not every second of every day."
"That's why I want you to protect yourself. Not nearly fall to an ordinary Honkai Beast like today."
"You only have one life. I want you to value it. To value yourself."
He fell silent for a moment before continuing, voice low and sincere.
"The current Otto Apocalypse promises you this—he will never abandon you."
"So you must protect yourself too. Don't throw your life away for anything or anyone."
"It would break my heart."
It would break his heart.
Cecilia's nose stung.
Her eyes reddened.
It felt like joy after long suffering.
Like rebirth after certain death.
She stepped forward and embraced him.
The street fell silent.
Only his quiet voice echoed between the lampposts.
"Grow well, my dear girl. Don't lose to the wind. Don't lose to the rain. Don't lose to the Herrschers. Don't lose to the Honkai."
"I will be your strongest support."
"But do not rely on me. Do not make me the master of your life and death."
"You are yourself first—before you are anyone else's anything."
"I am willing to walk mountains and seas with you. To tread paths I once walked—just as a girl named Kallen once led a naive boy to embrace the world."
"But I believe Cecilia Schariac is far stronger than she imagines."
"She does not exist because of anyone."
"I am only an embrace when she is tired—not the tree she must cling to."
"Living for me might sound romantic."
"But I hope you cherish your own life—not become anyone's appendage."
"Otherwise, you will live in confusion—like a puppet pulled by invisible strings."
"Those who wish to stunt your growth are not worth your concern."
"And those who truly cherish you would never desire to take your entire life for themselves."
"So, girl—may you be happy. May you begin new dreams freely."
"Stand in this world independently. Strong. Confident."
"Otto Apocalypse hopes you will live freely."
"Follow your own will."
"Love yourself. Love your life."
"Whether joy or sorrow. Love or hatred."
"Your life is yours. Your future is yours."
"Because you belong to yourself."
"Not to anyone else."
"Not even to the world."
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