[Simulation completed, rewards for this simulation have been distributed.]
"I feel as if I am enjoying family life sixty years ahead of schedule."
Tian Shi, upon returning from the simulation, covered his forehead.
"It's fine, although I lost track of my actual age a long time ago..."
After bringing Su Mei and the others back to Schicksal, Tian Shi's simulation time began its countdown.
After that, he, his disciples, and great-grandchildren, including Su Mei, lived in peace in Schicksal for five years.
The original acting Overseer, Kallen, was the first to lie down in the Void Archive's hibernation chamber, followed by Eleonor, Su Mei, and the others.
Before Tian Shi finished his simulation, the only two little ones still jumping around outside were Vera and Li Sushang... well, not counting Hua.
After all, this girl does not need a hibernation capsule at all.
Tian Shi sighed and casually checked the simulated rewards.
He had no hopes of obtaining rewards from this simulation.
In his peak, Otto might have had special abilities, but back then, most of her skills had been learned from Tian Shi and the Void Archive.
The problem is that Tian Shi himself overlaps with a large part of the Void Archive.
However, Tian Shi was somewhat prepared for this kind of thing, as it had been similar the previous times.
Well... to put it another way, I am already a mature and old spiritual master, and I can no longer expect to pluck my host.
But when Tian Shi looked at it, he discovered something interesting.
[Mobius Hypothesis Level 4: A failed biological experiment hypothesis, left by Dr. Mobius of the previous civilization.]
[Acquiring this skill will grant an additional ability: Biology Level 10.]
"Mobius."
This thing... isn't this the disk that neither I nor Otto could understand back then?
This thing actually appeared in Otto's simulation rewards...
Tian Shi was surprised, but he still chose this option; after all, he had no other choice.
In addition, this can fill the gap in his knowledge of biology.
(Do I feel more and more omnipotent?)
While silently absorbing the vast amount of knowledge from the skills, Tian Shi looked at the silver-haired dragon maid beside him, who was tilting her head.
"Bella, what's wrong?"
"Master, did it look like you just disappeared?"
Bella's head, which had been tilted to the left, slowly tilted to the right, and she even sobbed a little.
"It's just an illusion."
Tian Shi replied with disdain and in a flat tone.
Having a strong perception is a problem; even if the simulated disappearance only lasts for a minute, it will still be detected.
It was like that with Senti back then, and it's like that with Bella now.
Fortunately, Bella's senses were not as sharp as her treasure-hunting abilities... or rather, Bella's sense of smell was simply strange.
However, it is lucky that Bella is relatively easygoing and doesn't cause as many problems as Senti, otherwise it would have been quite a show.
"Bella, why don't you go rest first?"
Tian Shi thought that, to avoid unforeseen circumstances, it was best to dismiss the dragon maid first.
"Bella doesn't need to rest," the dragon girl said emotionlessly.
"Weren't you recovering from serious injuries?"
"I don't need to spend energy right now."
Bella looked at Tian Shi with innocent eyes.
A Judgment-class Honkai Beast + a Herrscher.
Although the Herrscher's energy level is not high, both combined can fulfill the role of a follower.
In any case, following her owner does not consume any energy...
"Is Mr. Tian worried about this child?"
Then Rita poked her head out of the room.
"Are you still awake, Rita?"
"It's not that I haven't slept, but... was I woken up?"
Rita wore a kind smile.
"And indeed, I am a bit worried that Mr. Tian might be bewitched by some silver-haired dragon maid without a personality."
"So you didn't sleep at all, did you?"
Tian Shi couldn't help but sigh while looking at the smile on Rita's face.
"So, what advice does Miss Rita have in mind, being awake so late at night?"
"It's not a suggestion..."
Rita smiled.
"I simply think that Kiana... or rather, Miss Sirin would be very happy to sleep with Miss Bella in her arms."
Bella, the object of the discussion, tilted her head in bewilderment.
Tian Shi nodded, agreeing with Rita's words.
Wasn't this just a way to shift the blame?
Even if Bella is a femme fatale, she is still an innocent femme fatale...
"Then let's call her and ask her to come."
When Tian Shi took possession of the doll, he nodded in agreement with Rita's suggestion.
However, upon hearing this, Rita revealed a slightly subtle expression and casually opened the half-closed door completely, revealing Kiana in pajamas or... Sirin?
"Sirin?"
Tian Shi's lips twitched as he looked at the golden-eyed girl in front of him.
"Has Kiana gone crazy or has Hua gone crazy again? Why did she let you out?"
"Do you think I want to come out to see you, you bastard?"
As soon as Tian Shi spoke, Sirin got angry.
Does she really want to see this scoundrel?
If she didn't fear that he would do something indescribable to Bella, would she have come in the middle of the night?
(I think even if the professor wanted to, he couldn't do it.)
Kiana's consciousness couldn't help but complain.
(Practice is also something indescribable!), Sirin replied fiercely.
If Tian Shi were truly a pure ghost, it wouldn't be a problem for Sirin.
However, the problem is that Tian Shi possesses all kinds of interference abilities, save for his lack of physical form.
He is practically no different from a normal person.
"I don't want to argue with you... I simply find it truly incredible that you've come out."
"Don't worry, the Herrscher of the Void is just an ordinary person at the moment."
Rita smiled and pressed Sirin.
"Just an ordinary person~~"
Rita emphasized again, and this gave Sirin goosebumps.
"What... what do you want to do?"
Sirin's tone was full of a sense of being all bark and no bite.
However, Rita held her and she couldn't break free.
"Hmm... What am I doing? Something truly satisfying?"
"You, you... you wait until I recover my strength, the first thing I'll do is kill you!"
"Oh dear, it seems our Herrscher of the Void still hasn't discovered her true identity~"
Rita showed her characteristic villainous smile.
"In that case, I will reluctantly give Miss Sirin a lesson."
Ah... these lines truly sound inappropriate for children.
"Get out! Get out of here!"
Sirin struggled for a while, but finally managed to break free from Rita... or maybe Rita let her go deliberately?
"Let's go! Bella! Don't hang out with the professor... er... that bastard!"
"..."
Sirin took a dazed Bella away; after all, besides Tian Shi, Sirin was Bella's closest friend now.
Rita watched them as they walked away, with a somewhat strange look.
"Miss Sirin, she addressed you as 'professor' just now..."
"Do they influence each other?"
Tian Shi stroked his chin, slightly surprised by Sirin's sudden address.
"Before, their consciousnesses were almost completely opposite, but now..."
"Thanks to Miss Bella, the two of them have started to get along... is that what you mean?"
Rita also seemed pensive at that moment.
Although these two were essentially one body with two souls, their antagonism was almost irreconcilable.
Unless one of them died, they would inevitably fight a great battle to seize the body.
However, due to Bella's situation, Sirin, who was originally prepared to reclaim her body and take revenge on the world, backed down first, and then Hua intervened to mediate...
"These two could end up becoming twins like Seele."
The two influence each other; as long as Hua blocks the Honkai interference, Sirin will definitely be the first to fall.
After all, although Sirin is full of thoughts of revenge against society, it is undeniable that Sirin sincerely yearns for a warm and beautiful life.
Kiana lacks nothing in this regard.
On the contrary, Sirin might be able to resist in the early stages of mutual interference, but later she will probably have to repress herself to prevent her memories from flowing into Kiana's consciousness.
"Some things become irreconcilable simply due to a lack of communication..."
Tian Shi sighed as if he had remembered something.
"But some people are out of the reach of communication, like Overseer Otto."
Hearing Tian Shi's feelings, Rita also thought of her own family affairs.
"Overseer Otto's dictionary might not even contain the concept of 'sincere reciprocity'... perhaps she even elevates it to the category of a 'useful tool'."
"..."
Otto...
"Your expression looks strange, what's wrong?"
"Eh... Rita, what if one day someone told you that Overseer Otto is a woman...?"
"A private room in the psychiatric hospital would suit you."
Rita smiled warmly.
Why did you suddenly bring up this topic?
"It's nothing, go to sleep."
…
"Lord Otto, please stop playing, your files are piling up like a mountain..."
Amber, standing behind the blonde woman, couldn't help but remind her.
"Besides, today is the day for regular maintenance of the Soul Steel Body."
"Is that so?"
These words seemed to bring Otto back to her senses.
"Isn't it too early?"
"The headquarters was previously interrupted by Ms. Hua, so according to Ms. Nagamitsu's calculations, it is necessary to perform maintenance and inspection tasks in advance."
"Well, it's true, my old friend is not an ordinary troublemaker, although she didn't affect the deeper areas at the time, some things could still happen... I'm sorry to bother Nagamitsu."
Otto then left the command and stood up.
"Let's go, Amber."
"Yes."
Amber bowed slightly to the person in front of her.
Afterward, both walked one after another through the Schicksal Laboratory in the middle of the night.
After a series of complex verifications, Otto and Amber reached the lowest level of the Schicksal headquarters.
Beep--!
When the identity verification was successful, the heavy metal door opened slowly, revealing dozens of cabins inside.
Inside were all of her spare Soul Steel bodies.
Beside her, there was a special manufacturing device.
In case of emergency, this device would instantly create a temporary body for her.
Everything seemed perfect.
Otto walked through the room, her eyes scanning each of the capsules.
"Eh?"
Otto suddenly stopped.
Did I just see something strange?
Otto instinctively took two steps back and noticed the strangeness of the body inside the cabin: it was not the one she normally used.
Or rather, this is the true form of her.
How could such a thing exist?
Manufacturing error? Or...?
Beep--!
With a faint mechanical sound, the light in Otto's eyes faded and she fell backward with a thud.
"Well done, Amber-chan!"
A figure descended from the ceiling and pounced on Amber, giving her a good massage.
"Ugh... Lady Kallen, please let me go..."
"What, Lady Kallen? Even if you don't want to call me 'mom' or 'grandma', you should call me 'Lady Kallen'."
"Stop messing with my secretary."
The capsule containing the only female body opened.
The woman… no, the real Otto, trembling, sat up, gripping the edge of the cabin.
"And what on earth is 'Lady Kallen'? Has someone finally realized she's aging and past her prime?"
"Mmm..."
Kallen nodded indifferently, looking at the sky.
"So, Otto, can you call me mom?"
Otto smiled.
"Keep dreaming!"
"Otto, you've been in a bad mood lately, why have you finally reached menopause?"
Kallen looked at Otto with affection.
"This is not like a lady at all... But if you're shy, I can accept you calling me 'Mom'."
"I just don't want you calling me unladylike."
Otto rubbed her head, feeling like she might need brain surgery.
"Amber, help me up."
"Yes."
Amber lent a hand and pulled Otto out of the cabin.
She also knew that her own Overseer was extremely weak.
"Has it been ten years? Why are you waking me up again? Is time up? Or is this body showing signs of losing control again?"
Otto looked at Kallen.
Her method for waking up was once every ten years when nothing was happening, and she could wake up at any time with the help of the Void Archive if something happened.
Kallen's method was relatively more flexible.
She could wake up whenever she wanted.
Coincidentally, in all the years when something important happened, Kallen was always the first to wake up.
Or is it that this person will encounter something big as soon as she gets up?
Even now that she has matured, Kallen's tendency to cause trouble remains strong.
"It is more accurate to say that both are true."
Kallen scratched her head.
"I sincerely think that copying thoughts and then inventing memories is too dangerous."
"But this is the only way to ensure Schicksal acts according to my will while I sleep."
Otto put on the shirt Amber handed her.
"You could also transfer your consciousness."
"Transfer my consciousness?"
Otto kicked the Soul Steel body lying on the floor.
"It turns out that even fake memories can cause unexpected obsession or even loss of control if someone feels five hundred years of solitude."
She wasn't waiting aimlessly, so why would she want to change her focus?
Just five hundred years... Otto would never allow her feelings toward God to change!
"Okay, okay, I can't argue with you."
Kallen also kicked the Soul Steel body.
Otto used a male Soul Steel body largely because, in situations where there is no clear difference in body size, a male body is more convenient for handling affairs.
"But compared to that, would you like to hear some funny stories from last year?"
"Stories?"
"Your Soul Steel body was used to open the Immortal Lady's brain, the type that involves a 'biu'."
"?"
Otto's face darkened.
"Something so serious and you didn't wake me up? What are you for, Void Archive?"
"Lies!"
"Don't you know how to think clearly? Under normal circumstances, wouldn't you protect yourself from me as if I were a wolf?"
The hatch beside her, which had opened, seemed to have read Otto's mind and couldn't help but curse aloud.
"Besides, you left me in this desolate place, how am I supposed to deal with those bodies that have copied your way of thinking? Not to mention the alternative accounts I created! I only created them by borrowing some of Higokumaru's power."
"They are good at fighting, but they are simply not good enough for intrigue!"
"Can't you control the consumption of the Soul Steel Body? I wasted time putting you in charge of this place!"
"What's the use of looking at consumption? Do you remember when the Soul Steel body ran out last time! In London! I woke you up, and in the end, you scolded me! Saying you didn't have to do something so trivial!"
The Void Archive is extremely dissatisfied.
"You bastard!"
"Unless the other side is a big boss, you might not die, like that time seventeen years ago, you didn't even lose energy!"
If we were to talk about the biggest event of these years, it would undoubtedly be the Second Eruption seventeen years ago.
However, although Otto's Soul Steel body came out unscathed, she suffered no permanent damage at all...
"..."
Otto remained silent; indeed it was so.
"How was I supposed to know they were so weak, I couldn't even kill one of them?"
"Back then, I was the one cleaning up Otto's mess."
Kallen also got a bit annoyed when the topic came up.
"Just to clean your butt, I almost fell... Just for that, it's not much to ask you to call me mom, right?"
...
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