Hearing the man's magnetic voice, Vill-V lowered her hand that had been mimicking Pardo and turned around.
The blond man stepped out from the shadows of the skybridge.
He wore a black Victorian tailcoat, the lapels raised high to reveal a purple cravat. His long hair was tied into a single ponytail draped over his left shoulder. Within his deep-set eye sockets rested a pair of emerald-green eyes, as though they could see straight through a person's heart.
The moment Otto learned of Vill-V's arrival, he had come personally to Schicksal's air harbor tarmac to welcome the Valkyries and this "distinguished guest."
Only—who could have expected Vill-V to jump off midway...
For a moment, Otto had thought she had changed her mind halfway through, or perhaps intended to cause trouble at Schicksal Headquarters.
And yet...
She had merely been scavenging loose maintenance supplies.
Such a girl is indeed interesting. She reminds me somewhat of my mother—Sabrina. Otto began to grasp Vill-V's behavioral style.
Though she appeared eccentric, that very eccentricity made her easier to read.
Those who were truly calculating rarely did anything so peculiar as to expose their genuine temperament.
After all, every action and gesture reveals one's inner logic and way of thinking. Emotional theatrics and odd behavior make it even easier to glimpse the foundation of a person's character.
Of course, she could also be a master of deception. Further observation would be required.
Though Otto was arrogant and believed no one capable of deceiving him, he was also exceedingly cautious. He would never underestimate anyone. Even a seemingly seventeen-year-old girl might be a monster who had lived for fifty thousand years.
The corners of Otto's lips lifted into a confident, elegant smile.
"Welcome, hero of the Schicksal North American Branch!"
The handsome blond man stepped forward without hesitation, moving to greet Vill-V and Reanna. Spreading his arms, he spoke in a sincere tone.
"I am Otto Apocalypse, Archbishop of Schicksal."
"Before your arrival, I had already heard of your heroic deeds in Europe, Miss Vill-V. You saved New York City. You saved the Schicksal North American Branch."
"And Reanna—you as well. Well done. You are an excellent Valkyrie."
He deliberately emphasized that Reanna was Schicksal's Valkyrie...
Reanna caught the faint dissatisfaction hidden in Otto's tone. Clearly, the Archbishop was not pleased with her "acting on her own initiative" today.
With the excavation of the Previous Era ruins at Yellowstone, the Ninth Divine Key, Edison's contact with an eleven-dimensional existence—not to mention the addition of the Herrscher of Reason, Welt—the North American Branch now genuinely possessed the strength to stand toe-to-toe with Schicksal.
At any moment, they might uncover the truth about Schicksal. Leaving them unchecked would be like raising a tiger only to invite future disaster.
Originally, Reanna's primary secret mission in North America had been to dismantle any rebellious plans within the branch.
But now, instead, she had become their "helpful assistant," completely failing to restrain Tesla and the others. She had neither destroyed their Divine Key nor killed Welt, nor even uncovered the details of their plans.
As Otto's most trusted S-rank Valkyrie, this was an enormous lapse on Reanna's part.
Yet in front of guests from the North American Branch, Otto would naturally not discuss such secrets.
Specific arrangements had already been entrusted to Katrina. To ensure certainty, Otto had even allowed her to carry the Judgment of Shamash as a final measure.
Presumably, good news would soon arrive from Katrina.
And now, Otto's task was to stabilize the mysterious "conductor" before him—the girl who claimed to be from the future.
...
Archbishop Otto led the way, bringing Vill-V and Reanna into a restaurant styled in European medieval fashion.
Once they were seated, Otto snapped his fingers. Attendants and maids promptly served steaming dishes, politely asking Vill-V whether she required anything further.
Since when did Schicksal Headquarters have attendants and maids...? Oh, they're all Valkyries. Otto, training Valkyries like this is truly... promising.
Vill-V also noticed that the tableware provided included not only knives and forks, but also chopsticks—and even a few obscure utensils resembling small spatulas.
Clearly, this too was a form of testing one's habits.
Knowing her appearance leaned toward European features, Vill-V skillfully picked up a knife and fork and took a few bites.
The food entered her mouth, and her eyes lit up instantly.
Cuisine of this era was vastly different from that of the Previous Era. Compared to the heavy flavors of the past, this age's dishes were far lighter—yet unexpectedly refreshing.
Could it be Rita...? No, at this point in time Rita had not yet been born. Don't tell me that scoundrel Otto cooked it himself? I thought you only cooked when Theresa was asleep.
With that thought, Vill-V glanced at Otto—only to find him staring directly at her face with a faintly mischievous smile, sending goosebumps across her skin.
You scoundrel Otto... what kind of look is that?
Though she had long known that this Otto had certain questionable tendencies.
If you want to soak in a bath with a boy, you should go find your dear Welt instead.
Poor Otto. With Schicksal full of Valkyries, there's no one to bathe with him.
...
Otto, of course, was not thinking anything improper—nor was he reminiscing about bathing with Welt. He was simply studying the girl before him carefully.
Within her spirited gaze flickered curiosity, mischief, delight, and caution. It was as though she held beautiful expectations for the world. Yet when her eyes shifted, there lingered the faintest trace of loneliness and coldness.
Clearly, her outward appearance was a disguise. Her heart was not so simple.
But that was only natural. A truly innocent girl would have long since been sullied by this ugly world.
A hint of amusement stirred in Otto's heart. In German, he murmured softly,
"Beauty seen is more beautiful than beauty unseen." — The Merchant of Venice (Shakespeare)
Noticing Vill-V looking at him, Otto composed himself slightly.
"Oh, pardon me, my friend. I thought you might enjoy being observed."
Magician certainly would. He probably assumes my personality leans toward the Magician...
After dabbing her pink lips with a napkin, Vill-V replied in clumsy German,
"Love looks not with the eyes, but with the mind." — A Midsummer Night's Dream (Shakespeare)
"I do enjoy the gaze of an audience—but only when I am standing upon the stage."
Naturally, Vill-V would not pretend she did not understand German. Reanna was sitting right beside her—she could not afford to appear foolish.
Displaying a bit of cleverness would also facilitate later negotiations. Otherwise, Otto would inevitably transform into a riddling schemer, talking in circles and treating her like a child.
Perhaps Otto knew she was feigning ignorance at times.
But that scoundrel would gladly pretend not to know—just to toy with her.