“…No.”
Otto blinked.
“No?”
“No.”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“No questions.”
Seiya slumped back into his couch with a sigh, spreading his arms across the armrests.
“Fair enough.”
Everyone else blinked in disbelief at the rapid exchange.
This condition seemed harmless enough.
He wasn’t about to ask why this was the condition Otto had wished to address throughout this entire negotiation.
If that was the deal, then he’d oblige.
It was a pain for him and would undoubtedly be annoying in the future, but at the same time…
Sirin seemed really happy.
Sirin raised her hand, her eyes shining.
If this Otto guy could recognize the greatness of her brother, then maybe he wasn’t so bad…?
“Question!”
Otto raised his glass toward her, the wine sloshing inside.
“Go on, my dear purple-haired Voidling.”
Sirin scrunched up her face in mild irritation at anyone other than Seiya giving her a nickname, but quickly smoothed out her expression as she asked excitedly,
“Can I be the first believer?”
She looked at him with hope and anticipation in her eyes.
Otto held his chin in contemplation for a second.
“…I don’t see why not.
I was planning on being the first one to join, but I suppose I could extend the courtesy to you.”
Sirin’s opinion of him rose immediately, going perfectly according to Otto’s plan.
“…Are you going to build a church?”
Seiya asked exasperatedly, astounded by the sheer absurdity of the plan.
He feared there were a lot of misunderstandings going on, but since they seemed to be working in his favor, he’d let them continue.
He hadn’t bothered to hide his knowledge of Divine Keys or Herrschers from Otto.
Figuring that although it would put Otto on his guard, the benefits far outweighed keeping them secret.
Of what concern was knowledge that he would never use?
Otto slouched back in his seat, humming the opening theme of Kallen Fantasy IV while thinking about the logistics.
“…We could, in fact, build the church… but we’ll let you do it instead.”
Seiya’s eye twitched.
Now he’d have to oversee the development of an entire church!?
Sirin was ecstatic, her mood increasing exponentially with every passing second.
Now she’d get to decorate a church in her brother’s name!?
This day just kept getting better!
Brother had commanded her to make a Gem of the Void, and she’d planned on making it later, but now seemed just as good a time.
Perhaps if she delivered the gem quickly, the golden-haired man would be inclined to be more… generous with the church’s funding.
In a swirl of golden Honkai energy and thrumming void power, she raised both palms and coalesced vast amounts of Honkai energy into a dark purple gem.
The distortion of space caused by the Authority of the Void swirled around it, disturbing the flow of space-time and putting everyone on edge.
Even after everything they’d seen, this raw amount of Honkai energy was still no joke.
Sirin casually flicked the gem toward Seiya.
Seiya tossed it to Otto.
Otto handed it to Amber for safekeeping.
“Fine!
Fine!
Take your stupid church and make me a Saint!
I have no idea what kind of politicking you’re planning with this, but quite frankly, I don’t give a crap!”
He yelled in annoyance and exasperation.
Otto’s lips curved upward while Sirin giggled in delight.
Everyone else simply watched in bemusement as the usually composed man got absolutely jostled by twin bullies.
(Sirin strongly protested that term.
She’d never bully Brother.
This was simply loving teasing.)
Seiya slapped a hand against his forehead and gave up.
“…Cecilia’s going to have her daughter for a while at Anti-Entropy.
When the breastfeeding stage is over, you can take her back, and she can visit on weekends.
Missions excluded.”
Otto acquiesced.
“Surprisingly reasonable.”
Cecilia waved her hands frantically.
She didn’t want to suddenly find herself under the command of some random stranger in Anti-Entropy.
What if they took advantage of the opportunity and extracted information from her regarding Schicksal’s secrets?
She opened her mouth to protest and—
“She’ll be working exclusively under me and alongside Sirin, with no one except Welt authorized to give her orders.”
And then she promptly closed it again, blinking.
That was… marginally better.
And she’d have her daughter with her.
She shrugged.
Alright.
“Siegfried can visit whenever he wants.”
Seiya spoke, and the flames that had begun to surge around Judgment of Shamash immediately fizzled out.
Siegfried… was ultimately alright with it now.
Now that Otto had tried to kill both him and Cecilia, he didn’t particularly feel a shred of loyalty toward Schicksal anymore.
He would’ve deserted already if his daughter wasn’t back home.
And now he could visit whenever he wanted?
A better employer.
Better working conditions.
More freedom.
Fewer life-threatening missions.
…This was just a promotion, huh?
“You can have her as long as you don’t attempt to recreate the Schariac Holy Blood.
I wouldn’t be opposed to working with you in the future to refine it, but you’re not to start from scratch again.
Valuable time and samples would be wasted.”
Otto added a single restriction.
“…Let me punch you in the face.”
Otto sipped his wine, a bemused twinkle in his eyes.
“I’d rather not.
Even a Soulium body hurts somewhat.”
“…Screw off.”
Otto nodded and began to leave.
Siegfried accompanied him back to base.
Cecilia departed with them temporarily as well, intending to retrieve Kiana.
For some reason, Seiya was certain that Otto Apocalypse wouldn’t go back on this agreement.
Amber bowed once more before closing the jet door behind them.
A few moments later, they were gone.
Otto had gained valuable information.
Seiya hadn’t reacted to Soulium at all.
Interesting.
Pretty sure a little sick.
Bye.
Comment, and like and all that.
Baiii~