Overall, Takatsuki was not suitable to be a leader.
After bringing YoRHa over, he only set a general direction and then completely became a hands-off manager. Fortunately, the Commander of YoRHa had ample management experience. After understanding the situation of this world with the help of Anti-Entropy, and with the financial support provided by Takatsuki, things quickly got on track. What made the Commander happiest was that she finally didn't have to deceive others under her command to hide the truth.
At least every day was fulfilling, and she had enough personal time.
The original YoRHa's daily missions were empty and false; defeating mechanical lifeforms was simply impossible. Even if an area was cleared, more mechanical lifeforms would soon appear there.
Every day, endless battles and missions awaited them.
But facing the Honkai, they were genuinely doing the work of saving humanity.
Even if the underlying logic of protecting humanity had disappeared, the habit formed over many years could not be changed. Fortunately, their mission was indeed to protect humanity.
YoRHa entered a self-operating state, and St. Freya Academy returned to its former tranquility. Takatsuki slacked off daily, occasionally giving lectures, while others happily experienced the campus life appropriate for their age.
Due to YoRHa, the tasks of various anti-Honkai organizations worldwide significantly decreased, and St. Freya Academy was no exception.
Perhaps the only one who was busy was Bronya, who had to rely on Takatsuki to travel back and forth every day.
During this time, Takatsuki also rummaged through the depths of his memory and found some rumors he had heard before, such as the things under St. Freya Academy…
"There is indeed a forbidden zone under St. Freya Academy, but Grandpa doesn't allow anyone to enter that place."
After Takatsuki told Theresa about this, Theresa gave her answer.
"Even I haven't been inside that place. But now that you mention it, I did try to go a few times, but something always came up, so I never went."
Theresa recalled that when she first took over St. Freya Academy, she had wanted to explore the things under the Far East Branch, but each time, she gave up due to other reasons.
"That's because Otto has hidden things underground that he doesn't want you to see."
Although Theresa had chosen to trust Takatsuki after their candid conversation and helped him conceal some things, she had not truly become wary of Otto. Even what Takatsuki said was just baseless talk.
"Doesn't want me to see?"
Theresa fell silent for a moment. Her rationality told her that outsiders should not be allowed into the forbidden zone under the Far East Branch, but after Takatsuki brought it up, she was also a little curious.
Seeing the opportunity, Takatsuki quickly struck while the iron was hot, saying, "Headmaster, this is a rare opportunity to understand what Otto is hiding, and…"
Takatsuki continuously searched his memory until he found a clue from a past memory of a forum post.
"The things underground are related to Cecilia."
For Theresa, nothing was more effective than Cecilia's name.
"!"
She looked at Takatsuki suspiciously: "You wouldn't lie to me, would you?"
"Of course not. If I were to lie about something like this, wouldn't I be exposed on the spot? Then the Headmaster can do whatever she wants with me."
Theresa nodded. Unlike other things Takatsuki had said that had no proof, this matter could indeed be easily exposed.
"In that case, let's go take a look."
…
Walking on the path leading underground, Theresa, carrying Oath of Judah, looked speechlessly at Takatsuki: "So, you still need me to lead the way?"
"I can't help it, Headmaster. I've never been underground."
Theresa rolled her eyes cutely: "If you've never been, how do you know these things?"
"I heard."
"…"
Takatsuki held Jizo Mitama in one hand, simultaneously activating Hatori Nozomu's ability to interfere with the surrounding electronic equipment, preventing Otto from discovering their visit to the forbidden zone.
From Theresa's earlier words, Takatsuki suspected that Otto had installed many alarm devices underground.
"Ah, not good, I forgot what I promised to prepare for Himeko earlier."
As they approached the forbidden zone, Theresa suddenly remembered something and stopped.
"…"
"Theresa, I think… were you hypnotized?"
Takatsuki was confident that with Hatori Nozomu's ability and Jizo Mitama, their visit to the forbidden zone would definitely not be discovered, but Theresa suddenly remembered something she had forgotten.
This made him seriously suspect that Otto had tampered with Theresa's subconscious.
For example, like the spells in some magic that expel idlers, their effect is that when ordinary people approach, they leave because they remember other things.
"Hypnosis? No, but how did I forget about this? Himeko didn't even rush me."
Theresa's attention was still on the sudden realization, when Takatsuki scooped her up by the waist.
"Ah! What are you doing!"
Although Judah was heavy, the petite and adorable Judah launcher was not. With Takatsuki's current strength, it was effortless to carry her even with the launcher attached.
"Theresa, you always remember other things when you get close to the forbidden area. This is clearly a psychological suggestion someone placed on you, but its effect isn't strong. It just needs you to have something more important to focus on."
Directly carrying Judah and her launcher, Takatsuki opened the door to the forbidden area deep underground.
Normally, electronic locks requiring authorization to open should be extremely secure, but they were useless against Takatsuki. With a dual intrusion, this environment was like an unguarded territory to him.
"There's… nothing here, is there?"
Held by Takatsuki, Theresa surveyed her surroundings, seeing only a pile of incomprehensible pipes and similar objects.
"Don't worry, there's an operating console over there."
Walking to the console, under Takatsuki's intrusion, this underground forbidden area, completely unbeknownst to Otto, revealed the secrets Otto had hidden there.
"This is… Cecilia!"
The surrounding camouflage disappeared with Takatsuki's operation, and cultivation pods appeared before the two. The person in dozens of these pods was none other than the Strongest Valkyrie of Schicksal, Cecilia Schariac, who had long since passed away.
Or rather, her clones…