Otto's Little Schemes

Early morning. "Yuno," sitting outside Anna's room, absentmindedly opened her communicator. Otto wanted to check his private messages while undisturbed.

This "private channel" was hidden from "Yuno," reserved for emergencies: an Anti-Entropy attack on Schicksal HQ, incidents at St. Freya, or Rita locating the Second Divine Key.

He needed to react swiftly to these, unlike other trivial matters less important than his current plan: uncovering the elusive World Serpent.

Amber, his capable aide, wouldn't bother him with insignificant issues.

Only one other person knew this channel: Durandal, his prized student, almost surpassing that designation. He'd showered her with more care than anyone, even Theresa.

Choosing Theresa as the Subject for the Herrscher of the Void experiment had been surprisingly easy. He'd laughed at his own coldness, signing off on the plan without hesitation, knowing Theresa might die horribly.

But her sacrifice was worthwhile for his grand ambition. After all, wasn't that why he existed?

This didn't prevent him from making her breakfast the next morning.

Durandal was different. Despite her exceptional lineage, her unparalleled talent, and the powerful Soulium-like body he'd crafted for her, he hadn't molded her into a mere weapon.

He'd given her freedom, even sending her away after her near-fatal recovery.

Such leniency was uncharacteristic of him.

He'd given her the gift of free will. He'd watched over her, ready to bless any path she chose. Fate, it seemed, led her back to Schicksal under Ragna's influence.

He'd provided the best education, the harshest training, unlocking her full potential, then sending her to the Quantum Sea for the ultimate trial.

For that perilous mission, he'd assigned the meticulous and steady Rita as her aide. Upon Durandal's triumphant return, he'd given her menial tasks, letting her enjoy her freedom.

Assigning the peerless Durandal to lead a Valkyrie fire brigade seemed a waste.

Was there anyone better suited to train K-423? No.

"Defeat a Herrscher with love?" He could have subdued K-423 by force, then nurtured her slowly. But he hadn't, choosing to sacrifice Theresa instead.

He would have sent Durandal to St. Freya too, if she hadn't refused. That academy was a breeding ground for mediocrity, despite attracting talented individuals. Look at his previous S-rank Valkyries, like Liana and Cecilia, exploited to their deaths.

Durandal's treatment was unprecedented in Schicksal's 500-year history. He spoiled Theresa, but he truly cared for Durandal.

And his special treatment continued. He'd accepted her responsibility for the previous world and even offered to help. Whether this affected his plans was unknown.

Did anyone believe he'd said that just to gain her loyalty? He had ample opportunities to control her, but he hadn't.

In a way, he truly was a better father than Siegfried. Certainly not a better grandfather…

…

Otto, now in control, opened the communicator, reading Durandal's message. It detailed her encounter with "He Kun" and his claimed identity, requesting verification. Lin Wei's words weren't enough to convince her.

She ended with an unspoken question: What am I doing here? Days have passed with no instructions. What are you planning?

"Giving her a vacation, and she's still unhappy…" He sensed her frustration, patiently addressing her concerns.

"And Anti-Entropy… Are they competent now?" He remembered "He Kun," initially mistaking him for World Serpent. A humiliating misunderstanding, but he respected the man's IT skills, analytical abilities, and courage.

He'd altered He Kun's memories, turning him into a Schicksal spy, a valuable asset within Anti-Entropy.

"Anti-Entropy's new recruit? He's mine now!" he'd thought gleefully.

Now, he felt a chill. "That boy almost ruined everything!" If he hadn't intervened, He Kun would have reported Durandal's presence to Anti-Entropy, exposing his plan and alerting his target.

He'd released information to lure out World Serpent, not scare it away.

"That was close…" He wiped non-existent sweat, congratulating himself on his foresight. He'd turned a potential disaster into an advantage.

He chuckled.

"Did you ever consider that your 'plan' is wishful thinking?" the Void Archives asked, unable to resist a jab.

"Perhaps, at first." Otto, in Yuno's form, peered into Anna's room. "But when that interesting Honkai beast appeared, everything changed."

"…"

"You know this, Void Archives." He chuckled. "Otherwise, you'd remain silent, mocking me later. You're too eager to convince me I'm wrong."

"The more you insist, the more certain I am. I'm on the right path, approaching the finish line…"

Despite sharing a voice, Otto's words were more subtle than the Void Archives' blunt taunts.

"Old friend, you're looking forward to reuniting with your creators, aren't you?" He was wrong about that.

"Creators? You overestimate yourself, Otto. I was created by the Previous Era, but they were long gone by then," the Void Archives said, its tone flat. "I simply execute my programmed directives. I don't experience human emotions – except for a certain… distasteful individual."

"My apologies." Otto dismissed the remark, refocusing on his plan. Durandal's discovery was a reminder that she, unlike his Soulium disguise, was vulnerable to exposure. He doubted World Serpent would consider a tourist a threat, though. They wouldn't suspect his plan.

"Who says there can be only one bait?" "Yuno" and Durandal would provide mutual cover. World Serpent would ignore Durandal, assuming a tourist destination was safe. This would make them less wary of "Yuno," increasing his chances of success. Then, Durandal would appear, capturing them.

If they did target Durandal, she'd teach them a lesson. He had faith in his student. In that case, his own exposure wouldn't matter.

It wasn't foolproof, but the odds were good.

"But…" He frowned. "…what about Anti-Entropy?" If there was one He Kun, were there more?

"Those cockroaches!" he spat, his disdain clear. He'd never considered them a threat, but now…

"I can't wait any longer. I have to accelerate the plan!" He made up his mind. "And He Kun needs to start working…"