Otto's Impeccable Timing

"Yuno! Over here! Here!"

From the moment he landed in Manila disguised as "Yuno," from the moment he saw that smiling, jumping, waving girl in the distance, Otto had embarked on a rather peculiar journey.

He was being led around by a naive and curious girl, taken to all the places Captain Jell had recommended, experiencing things that, to "Yuno," were novel and exciting.

In truth, many of these things were only novel to someone like her, a caged bird raised within Schicksal. But what did it matter? "Yuno" didn't mind this somewhat naive enthusiasm.

This carefree, almost worry-free ease made Otto feel, in a daze, like he was back five hundred years ago – back when he was a frail young boy, also being led around by a vibrant girl.

He remembered how he often struggled to keep up with her pace, panting and out of breath; how she would often intentionally slow down, take his hand, and pull him along until he, too, could match her pace and find enjoyment in the speed, until a smile finally broke through his slightly disheveled appearance, mirrored by a happy smile on her face.

They would catch shrimp and play in the river, fly kites in the fields, and launch his newly improved flying machines from mountaintops…

Sadly, those beautiful days had become distant memories, like yesterday.

And this present happiness and innocence, originally belonging to Anna and another girl, was now being experienced by an imposter, a virtual personality constructed from data.

Of course, Otto's heart had long since grown cold. The little sympathy he had left felt no guilt for this deception.

"My, my, you truly are a shameless creature…"

Otto relinquished control of his body to the virtual personality simulated from data collected from the real Yuno. This body, formed by Honkai-resistant Soulium, was like the real Yuno, flawless and seamless.

He himself retreated to the depths of his consciousness, silently observing this "first-person" youth drama, reliving a youth he had long lost.

Unfortunately, this rare leisure was inevitably interrupted by an unwelcome voice –

"Another… no, two. Two more unwitting girls falling into your trap, becoming your pitiful puppets, and you, their leader…"

The half-joking, half-sarcastic voice made Otto reluctantly withdraw from his reverie.

Of course, it was only natural for the Void Archives to be carried around by Otto.

"What is it, Void Archives? Are you so pathetic now that you must resort to attacking me with such trivial matters? Oh, I do apologize…"

Being interrupted while enjoying a high-quality 3D movie was annoying, even for Otto. He addressed the Void Archives directly, his tone sharp,

"Schicksal HQ's data terminals store many similar memory images. If you're interested, I can satisfy your needs once we return."

So until then, be quiet.

"Oh really? I must thank you for your 'generosity.' But sadly, I don't share your… hobbies."

The Void Archives seemed to ignore Otto's subtext, unwilling to shut up.

"Let's talk business. Do you intend to waste time here indefinitely, playing house with little girls under someone else's identity?"

At that moment, Anna was sharing her newly bought ice cream with "Yuno." It was a cool, sweet taste, a refreshing delight.

"Waste time? Certainly not, my friend. Hush… patience… Whether hunter or fisherman, the most important quality is always 'patience.'"

Otto, using his Soulium brain, analyzed and recorded the ice cream's shape and recipe, intending to "compensate" the real Yuno later. He gently gestured for silence – even though they were only consciousnesses, he believed the Void Archives understood his meaning.

"Our prey seems cautious. Careful now, don't scare the poor little animal away."

Otto's voice was confident and soft, his tone as gentle as a lullaby, as if he was truly afraid of scaring someone, even though this was just a conversation between consciousnesses, unheard by any third party.

"Ha? Prey?"

The Void Archives glanced outwards, bewildered. "Yuno" was strolling through a garden with Anna. Seeing Anna's childlike joy as she wove a flower crown and placed it gently on "Yuno's" head, then pulled her down to sit beside the flowerbed, enthusiastically teaching her how to weave one, the Void Archives couldn't help but scoff.

"…You mean her?"

The Void Archives felt Otto was insulting its intelligence. If you want an excuse to play, just say it. No need for such flimsy reasons that wouldn't fool a child.

"Hahaha, what are you thinking, my friend? Do you really believe that I, the Overseer of Schicksal, would need to go through such elaborate charades to investigate one of my own Valkyries?"

Otto saw through the Void Archives' thoughts, but didn't bother correcting its childish assumptions. Instead, in his usual sing-song tone, he gently explained,

"You know, the reason I chose this body, besides its impressive combat capabilities, allowing me to handle most unexpected situations, is its incredibly refined senses, able to detect the slightest disturbances in the air. Coupled with your invaluable assistance, Void Archives, this body possesses unparalleled intelligence gathering capabilities."

"Hmph, eloquent words. All I see is sightseeing, sightseeing, and more sightseeing."

As if taking pleasure in even the slightest of Otto's failures, the Void Archives not only remained unimpressed by Otto's deliberate "flattery," but became even more sarcastic,

"Or perhaps, this powerful sensory system allows you to better appreciate the joys of travel? Heh, need I remind you that you are currently impersonating someone else without permission?"

The Void Archives glanced outwards. "Yuno" clumsily wove a loose, messy flower crown, far less refined than Anna's. Yet Anna, without a hint of disdain, happily wore it, looking around and asking "Yuno" which angle looked better…

The Void Archives sneered. What does the happiness of these two girls have to do with a five-hundred-year-old man like you?

The Void Archives suddenly realized, with a sense of dark humor, that as an AI, it seemed to have developed a sense of moral superiority.

"It is a great pity that the real Miss Yuno cannot witness this scene."

Otto, hidden deep within his subconscious, also sighed, then regained his usual composure and playful tone,

"But, my friend, have you truly not noticed anything unusual?"

"Hmm?"

The Void Archives was confused. Unusual? What unusual? Where?

"You, what strange discovery have you made now?"

The Void Archives quickly adjusted its mindset. While it often mocked and challenged Otto, it never truly underestimated him, knowing he never spoke without purpose.

Though reluctant, it seemed it had lost again, which annoyed it.

"Heh, patience, my friend."

Seemingly indifferent to the Void Archives' strange competitiveness, or perhaps enjoying the victor's natural condescension, Otto simply continued in a tone that was either gentle or mocking,

"From the moment I landed, I've sensed someone secretly watching me, or rather, us."

Otto's tone grew serious, his brow furrowing as he mused,

"That gaze is like a persistent fly, a constant shadow, yet I can't seem to pinpoint its source…"

"…Really? I haven't noticed anything."

The Void Archives, bewildered, accessed the body's memories – Otto had granted it temporary access – and used its powerful quantum computer to meticulously analyze every frame, every sound, yet found nothing, deepening its confusion.

"No need to bother, Void Archives."

Otto interrupted the Void Archives' futile attempts, also abandoning his own contemplation for the moment.

"This discovery wasn't made through technological means, but through a biological instinct honed over millions of years, a sensitivity to danger signals. You could also call it 'intuition.'"

Even though he had replaced his body with durable Soulium, his consciousness freely uploaded and downloaded, Otto never abandoned his essential human soul.

"…Are you sure it's not just your imagination?"

The Void Archives was speechless. Excuse me, I'm just a Divine Key.

"Heh, intuition or delusion, real or imagined – a suitable method of verification will reveal the truth."

With the rigor of a scientist, Otto organized his thoughts,

"That little worm is hiding deep, like a snake showing its tail but concealing its head. Disgusting… heh, but that very similarity intrigues me…"

"Oh? It seems you have a plan."

Seeing the curve of Otto's lips, the Void Archives felt a sense of resignation. The following script was all too familiar.

It was a realm where it couldn't interject.

"Constant, pervasive surveillance, yet untraceable. Heh, since it's a sneaky rat, we simply need to force it out into the open."

Otto continued to muse, either organizing his thoughts or conveying them to the Void Archives,

"To force a creature of stealth to reveal itself, we must isolate it. So…"

"Yuno, the weather's lovely tomorrow. Is there anywhere you'd particularly like to go?"

As Otto's consciousness pondered, Anna, outside his awareness, asked "Yuno" for suggestions for their next outing.

"Heh, I have an idea."

In the real world, "Yuno" shook her head, about to say "Anywhere is fine" – her usual response to Anna – but the words changed on her lips as a strong urge surfaced from within.

"I want to go mountain climbing tomorrow."

"Really? Wonderful!"

Anna had only asked out of habit, already prepared to make the decision herself. She was surprised by "Yuno's" response.

But she didn't think too much of it, simply happy that her somewhat reclusive friend was showing signs of becoming more outgoing.

Having made this minor intervention, Otto retreated once more.

"Heh… leaving the crowded city, I hope you have the courage to follow into the remote wilderness, Mr. 'Prey.'"

"Or perhaps, Miss…"

"Heh, it doesn't matter. What matters is, I will catch you."

......

From the moment they entered the mountainous region, Otto began meticulously analyzing and eliminating every gaze that swept over him, tracing them back to their source, observing the owner of each gaze – their expressions, words, and interactions with companions – to determine if they were his target.

Otto didn't find this tedious. On the contrary, he relished this "silent hunting game." He was the hunter.

His initial strategy of spreading rumors and flushing out the snake had achieved its preliminary goal. Now, he simply needed to catch the creature.

The further they ventured into the mountains, the fewer people they encountered, making Otto's task easier. By the time they were drifting down the mountain stream, he had narrowed down the list of suspects considerably.

Victory was within his grasp. He simply needed the right opportunity to ditch Anna and capture his prey.

"Is that… a Honkai beast?"

A sudden attack interrupted his train of thought. A never-before-seen cat-like Honkai beast lunged from the riverside bushes, heading straight for him.

"Heh, interesting. It seems we had the same idea."

Otto noticed the collar around the Honkai beast's neck, realizing this was a carefully planned ambush, but he wasn't angry, rather amused, as if enjoying watching his prey struggle in a trap. He believed he had earned the right to such amusement.

"Look out!"

Anna reacted swiftly, stepping forward to intercept the beast, but she was instantly gravely wounded and thrown into the river, blood staining the water crimson.

This sudden turn of events not only enraged "Yuno," but also made Otto's eyes narrow. This creature was powerful, at least on par with Rita.

How many more like it did they have?

Otto's interest in his "prey" intensified. If his opponent was too weak, he would be disappointed.

After all, no one enjoyed playing mind games with thin air.

But Otto's attention was quickly drawn to another unexpected development:

The massive cat-like Honkai beast suddenly began thrashing madly, digging at the ground as if in agony, its claw, the one that had injured Anna, seemingly suffering equal damage.

"Oh? It seems the Schariac family has produced another interesting little one."

Otto understood what was happening.

In the past, he would have been interested in Anna, but now, he was indifferent.

Since cultivating Cecilia and successfully bringing Kiana into the world, the Kaslana and Schariac families held no further value for him. He wouldn't waste his attention on them.

What followed was unremarkable. "Yuno" retaliated furiously, forcing the monster to retreat.

"Heh, found you!"

At that moment, Otto finally identified his target from the few remaining suspects.

Compared to the fleeing Honkai beast, he believed the hidden observer was far more valuable.

Without hesitation, Otto laughed, seizing control from the virtual personality, preparing to confront his "prey."

Then, he realized his body was resisting his commands. "Yuno" wanted to save her friend first.

"…"

Otto hadn't expected a virtual personality to cause him trouble.

Though speechless, he didn't want to dwell on such a minor issue. In Yuno's petite form, he effortlessly retrieved the unconscious Anna from the water, briefly assessing her injuries.

Fortunately, they weren't life-threatening. While the bleeding was concerning in this remote area, it was nothing Otto couldn't handle. As a being of Soulium, composed of nanobots, treating wounds was child's play.

Though it sounded complicated, it was done in an instant.

With Anna out of danger, "Yuno's" wish fulfilled, she no longer resisted. Otto placed the girl by the riverbank and swiftly moved towards his "prey."

"At the summit? Heh, quite the commanding position."

Otto sneered at his opponent's perceived cleverness, appearing beside the tourist-clad man like a divine warrior descending from the heavens. The man seemed to be in shock, pale and about to collapse.

The mountain path was narrow and treacherous. A fall from the cliff would be a great loss.

That wouldn't do!

The kind-hearted Otto quickly reached out to steady him, lest he fall and soil his clothes,

"Careful."

"Thank you…"

The man thanked Otto sincerely. His pale face and weak voice made Otto frown. This man's appearance was far from what he'd expected.

Could I be wrong?

This man looked like nothing more than a frightened tourist. Looking around at the other unconscious tourists scattered about, Otto began to doubt himself.

But it was too late to pursue the Honkai beast. He had to cut his losses. Perhaps he could still salvage something from this.

He couldn't have come all this way for nothing.

With a "nothing to lose" attitude, Otto summoned a simulated Feather of Dust, golden feathers scattering across the ground –

"Sir, it seems you've seen something you shouldn't have, and it's given you quite a fright…"

"Would you mind telling me everything you saw, and everything you know?"