It was a matter of course. Yae Sakura became Otto's personal secretary.
However, she had yet to realize the gravity of the situation.
Still, for someone so detached from the current era, being able to serve by Otto's side was a form of good fortune.
"However, there are many things you will need to learn."
Otto spoke slowly. The girl sitting on the bed before him relaxed slightly, as she didn't harbor any strong wariness toward him.
The childhood friend Kallen always spoke of must be a good person, right?
"And the very first thing you must learn… is to obey me."
Yae Sakura nodded, though she didn't fully grasp the weight of his words.
She understood obedience, however. From a young age, she had always been obedient to her duties as a miko.
"Of course, I won't make you do anything you're unwilling to do. After all, you are Kallen's dear friend."
Otto smiled, his gaze gentle, as if he truly meant it.
"Mm."
Yae Sakura responded softly, but a thought occurred to her, and she subconsciously pressed her legs together.
"Lord Overseer… may I change my clothes?" she asked, a hint of shyness in her voice.
The nun's habit she wore—a replica of Kallen's—felt a bit shameless to her.
Especially in front of a man.
"You don't like the clothes Kallen used to wear?"
"Incidentally, I made most of Kallen's clothes back then. The one you're wearing is no different."
The only difference was that Kallen's clothes were sewn stitch by stitch by the Otto of the past, while the one Yae Sakura wore was created in an instant by the current Otto using the Authority of Reason.
Still, to be able to replicate it so perfectly… I am truly magnificent.
"Ah, no, it's not that."
Yae Sakura shook her head. She didn't dislike the outfit; she was just a little embarrassed.
Kallen had worn these same clothes, but perhaps because they were both women, she never felt anything particular about it.
But… did Kallen also dress like this in front of Otto in the past?
Could they be so close, just as childhood friends?
Yae Sakura didn't understand. She had never had much contact with men her entire life, let alone a childhood sweetheart.
Moreover, there was another reason for her shyness.
Beneath the habit, she was only wearing stockings.
"Since you don't dislike it, we'll leave it at that."
"Oh, right. Let's consider this my first directive to you."
"As her superior, I believe I have some say in my secretary's attire, don't you think?"
"Besides, the resemblance is uncanny. It's as if Kallen were still here."
Without waiting for Yae Sakura's explanation, Otto used Kallen's name to settle the matter.
He knew exactly why she was shy.
But he was just that malicious.
"Ah…" Yae Sakura opened her mouth, but with Otto bringing up Kallen, she couldn't find any words to refute him.
Kallen was the softest spot in her heart.
"Incidentally, let this teach you something. In this era—no, whether in the past or the present—not everything will go as you wish."
"What you must do is adapt to me, and adapt to this world."
Otto said with a smile. Yae Sakura pursed her lips. Even ten thousand village girls couldn't win an argument against the Overseer of Schicksal.
"I understand, Lord Overseer."
Yae Sakura affirmed that she would follow Otto's words.
She would try to adapt, but she didn't know if she could do it well.
---o---
Just then, there was another knock on the room door. Yae Sakura instinctively grew alert, but Otto simply said:
"Come in."
This was the Far East Branch. What danger could there possibly be for him, the Overseer of Schicksal?
Besides, as long as Kevin didn't show up, he, who wielded the authorities of six Herrschers, would not lose to anyone.
Unlike when he had first awakened, the current Otto possessed the power to resist anything.
Otto had grown a bit arrogant. After all, the powers of Reason, Thunder, Wind, and Flame that he possessed were all authorities that Senti once held.
"Lord Overseer, I've brought your meal."
Anna pushed the door open and walked in, holding a tray with rice balls that Otto had requested from the Far East Branch.
The moment she entered, she noticed a girl in a nun's habit had suddenly appeared on the bed.
When she had come by earlier, Yae Sakura had been completely covered by the blanket. Anna, too excited about the prospect of fighting alongside Durandal, had failed to notice the then-unconscious Yae Sakura.
"And this is?"
At first, seeing the black nun's habit, Anna thought it was Miss Amber.
But when she saw the long, cherry-pink hair and the strange ears atop her head, a question mark formed in her mind.
Are those… donkey ears on her head?
"She is my secretary, Yae Sakura."
Otto introduced her forthrightly. Anna placed the tray on the table next to Otto, her eyes filled with curiosity as she secretly sized up Yae Sakura.
So she's a secretary to the Lord Overseer, just like Miss Amber.
Wait, doesn't that make her a major figure in Schicksal?!
"Sakura, come have something to eat."
"This is my subordinate, Anna Schariac. She's not a bad person," Otto said to Yae Sakura.
Yae Sakura nodded at Anna, who, a bit nervous, quickly nodded back.
Since she's the Lord Overseer's secretary, she must be on the same level as Lady Amber. She's not someone a mere B-rank Valkyrie like me can afford to slight.
Even her mother and grandmother had to treat Lady Amber with the utmost respect.
Yae Sakura got off the bed, her head lowered and a faint blush still on her cheeks.
These new clothes… they feel so strange.
Otto watched the fidgeting Yae Sakura with great interest. He picked up the cup of green tea that had been delivered with the rice balls and took a small sip.
Hah.
He exhaled a wisp of warm air.
"This tea is excellent."
And so are those legs.
Otto offered his praise.
"We have staff from Shenzhou at the Far East Branch. They were the ones who brewed the tea," Anna said nervously, standing carefully by Otto's side.
Otto nodded and placed the cup back on the table.
"I may take you back to Headquarters at any moment. You should be prepared to leave on short notice. You can use this time to say your goodbyes."
Anna nodded like a chick pecking at rice.
"You're dismissed. If I need you, I will call for you," Otto said. He didn't want too many people to know he was in the Far East Branch.
As far as Mei was concerned, he was still a dead man.
"Yes, sir!" Anna replied, saluting Otto before leaving the room.
Otto then turned to watch Yae Sakura, who was now sitting on a nearby chair. Her posture was a bit awkward; it seemed she wasn't used to sitting on chairs.
"Eat. You've just awakened, it's best to get something in your stomach."
"If this isn't to your liking, I'll have them prepare something else."
"After you've finished, I will tell you about this world."