"The person I like is Kiana Kaslana."
So Otto said.
Kiana's eyes slowly widened. She covered her mouth, her heart hammering against her ribs.
Is… is this an official announcement, just like that?
Theresa, who had been disinterested, tilted her head, a flicker of confusion in her eyes. That name didn't sound right.
Shouldn't it be Kallen?
Wh-why did he say my dear niece's name!?
Th-this… As Cecilia's best friend, I cannot approve of this, even if he is my grandpa!
Himeko's eyes also widened slightly. The Lord Overseer was in love with the white-haired girl she had just met a few days ago.
Wow, am I even supposed to be hearing this?
However, Otto continued.
"And Yae Sakura…"
Kiana froze. Yae Sakura froze. How did I, an innocent bystander just enjoying the show, get dragged into this?
But Otto's words were not finished.
"Murata Himeko."
"Theresa Apocalypse."
After listing all four women present, Otto still didn't stop.
"Fu Hua."
"Raiden Mei."
"Bronya."
"Cecilia."
"Rita."
"Amber."
"Anna."
"Durandal."
"…"
"I like all of you. I like all of you Valkyries who fight for Schicksal, for humanity."
The Overseer of Schicksal loves only his Valkyries.
Otto listed off every Valkyrie he could think of. Kiana rolled her eyes. She thought he was about to make their relationship official, but it turned out this womanizing radish was just listing all the pits he intended to fall into.
Still, how does this scumbag know so many girls?
Himeko had a similar thought process.
When she first heard her own name, she was already wondering how she would refuse him and if he would force himself on her. Should she mentally prepare herself to become her best friend's grandma?
But then the list of names just kept growing.
After finishing, Otto picked up the cup in front of Kiana and took a sip of her happy water.
No one could say his answer was wrong.
Theresa didn't mind either. She knew her grandpa could be unreliable like this.
To outsiders, he was the dignified Overseer of Schicksal.
But to her, he was just her goofy grandpa.
Under the table, Kiana's left hand balled into a fist and she secretly punched Otto's thigh. Otto just chuckled. This girl was the one who said he had to wait until she became an S-rank, and now she was the one getting mad at him.
Tsk, tsk. Women.
"Your turn," Otto said with a smile, then, as if by accident, placed his right hand on Kiana's plump thigh.
Kiana shot him a glare and secretly swatted his dirty hand away before reaching into the tissue box to draw a slip of paper.
She was a little worried. What if she drew an embarrassing dare?
Oh well, Otto is the only man here anyway.
With a fluttering heart, she unfolded the paper. Otto and Theresa both leaned in, watching with great interest.
Kiana looked at the paper and slowly read its contents.
"In front of everyone present, kiss the person on your left through plastic wrap for 30 seconds."
Otto's eyelid twitched violently.
The person on Kiana's left… wasn't that him?
Seeing the dare, Kiana's face instantly turned scarlet, like a ripe apple.
The person on her left was…
The other three women turned in unison to look at the perfectly composed Overseer of Schicksal.
"Hmm," Otto feigned a calm, thoughtful expression. "Rationally speaking, since we have chosen to participate in this game, we must adhere to its rules."
"Therefore, as a participant, I will follow the rules," Otto said slowly.
His gaze fell upon the blushing Kiana.
"N-No, this is unacceptable!"
A sharp voice rang out.
Otto looked with some surprise at Theresa, who had slammed her hands on the table. He hadn't expected her to be the one with the strongest reaction.
Is she worried someone will steal me away?
Otto chuckled to himself.
That was some wishful thinking.
Theresa was probably the one who cared the least about him. In her eyes, it was only natural that he was good to her.
She was a fledgling who had been thoroughly protected by him.
"Little Theresa, I don't recall teaching you to be unruly," Otto said to her.
But Theresa clenched her fists and said, finding it hard to accept. "B-But, Kiana has someone she likes!"
Theresa and Himeko were convinced Kiana had a crush, and the whole point of the game was to trick her into revealing who it was.
Besides, Theresa felt that making Kiana kiss Otto was just too cruel. The poor girl would definitely have nightmares.
"Grandpa, y-you should just have Himeko take Kiana's place!"
Himeko: ???
Himeko froze. How did the fire spread to me???
What a great friend she is.
Himeko shot her "dearest friend" a "benevolent" look.
But after a moment's thought, she too addressed the Overseer.
"Lord Overseer, if I may, I can take her place."
Kiana is still young. She can't handle him. It has to be me.
Yae Sakura didn't interject. She had no place to, nor would she ever let Otto kiss her.
But this game is terrifying.
The thought that she could be the next victim made Yae Sakura's heart pound with anxiety.
What will I draw?
"Alright, alright," Otto said with a laugh. "It's just a kiss through plastic wrap. Why are you all so worked up? It's not like I'm going to eat the girl."
He sounded a little helpless.
Hearing his words, Himeko was surprised by how easy-going the Overseer was. He wasn't putting on any airs and was being perfectly polite to her.
And here she was, being a nervous wreck the whole time.
"Let's not get ahead of ourselves. We should at least hear what the person in question has to say," Otto said, turning his head to look at Kiana.
Kiana's face was beet red, her hands clenched into fists in her lap.
Her flushed cheeks looked like they were about to burst.
"W-We have to follow the rules, s-so let's just get it over with," Kiana stammered.
Just a short while ago, she had kissed him. But the atmosphere back then had been so perfect that Kiana had just gone for it.
But now, it was in front of other people!
I-I have to kiss Otto in front of everyone!?
But…
Kiana snuck a glance at Yae Sakura, Otto's secretary.
"You see?"
Having gotten the answer he expected, Otto shrugged. He raised his hand, and a sheet of plastic wrap materialized from thin air.
"It's just through plastic wrap. It's perfectly safe."
This was a classic dare in many party games.
It was the unsafe safety kiss.
"But…" Theresa pouted.
But a mere Theresa could do nothing.
Otto and Kiana stood face-to-face. Kiana's heart was in turmoil. She felt that even walking down the aisle with Otto wouldn't be this nerve-wracking.
The transparent film separated their faces.
But they could still see each other clearly.
Otto looked at Kiana, but Kiana was looking elsewhere—at Yae Sakura, who stood beside Otto.
Pursing her lips, Kiana took the initiative and leaned forward.
In front of Theresa, Himeko, and Yae Sakura, through a sheet of plastic wrap, she pressed her lips to Otto's.
Her heart pounded like a drum.
But Kiana did not close her eyes.
Her spring-water eyes stared intently at the man before her.
She was declaring her sovereignty to the others.