"Are you willing to change your family name and join our Apocalypse family?"
[The Apocalypse family? Hehe, the family of the Bishop, one of Schicksal's three ruling houses. For others in this world, joining this family might be equivalent to walking a path of success.]
[But you know very well that you are not like the others. You—do not need to rely on this family's reputation.]
[After all, you have a system that's snarky and has a bad personality but at least gives out rewards. This damn system is much more reliable than the so-called Apocalypse family.]
Sometimes I feel like you're a bit...
To even insult yourself, I really don't know what to say.
But well...well, since I'm already an actor, I'll just keep acting.
Looking into Theresa's eyes, Leo Ash fell silent for a short while before giving Theresa a slight shake of his head.
"I'm sorry, Branch Commander Theresa."
"Thank you for your invitation, but I feel that, for some personal reasons, I cannot join the Apocalypse family after all."
"Oh?"
Hearing Leo Ash's surprisingly unexpected words, Theresa asked with a hint of curiosity.
"Are you sure?"
"I'm not trying to threaten or entice you, but after joining our family, you will have more say and a higher status, and Grandfather will also trust you more."
"Having a voice and status, as well as the Lord Bishop's trust, is equivalent to having many conveniences for you, who wish to fight against the Honkai."
"That is true."
At this moment, after deactivating his Poker Face trait, Leo Ash said to Theresa with a hint of helplessness.
"But joining the Apocalypse family, according to you, would require me to change my name, right?"
"To be honest, if we go by that, something like Ash Apocalypse... that name sounds very strange."
"And, Leo Ash is the name my parents gave me. If possible... I don't wish to abandon it."
...This child, he actually refused to join the Apocalypse family for such a reason.
Looking at the young man before her, Theresa could indeed see a hint of helplessness in his eyes.
Previously, based on what Otto had said, Theresa had thought this young man had become one of those avengers willing to abandon everything to fight the Honkai.
But now it seemed that Leo Ash wasn't actually as radical as Otto had described.
Even though his family had passed away, he still cherished the name they left him.
For Theresa, who had seen many radical juniors, not wanting to forget the bond between his name and his family was already a very commendable act.
At this moment, Theresa had to admit that, as a senior, even putting aside the fact that he was her savior, she had grown to like this young man a little.
It wasn't a romantic attraction, but as a senior fighting against the Honkai, she saw something in her junior that she had hoped to see.
At this moment, a glint appeared in Theresa's eyes, and she immediately said to Leo Ash.
"That... That's not a big deal at all!"
"Although Grandfather was the one who suggested changing your name, making a special exception isn't a huge problem."
"You don't have to change your name after joining—I'm the head of the Apocalypse family, I have the final say!"
"I see."
Upon hearing this, Leo Ash gave Theresa a slight bow.
"Then... greetings, Family Head."
[Haha! Brilliant! After deactivating Poker Face, you relied on your inner helplessness to feign the appearance of 'being unable to forget one's family', successfully deceiving this white-haired fool!]
[You've taken the benefits of joining the Apocalypse family, established your character, and Theresa has developed a favorable impression of you and trusts you more because of this act.]
[Although the effects of your titles are also at play, this System must admit that achieving such an effect with just a few words—you are indeed much more outstanding in this aspect than this System imagined!]
Cut it out, I wasn't thinking that far ahead.
I just didn't want to slap Otto in the face and was too lazy to change my name, so I just gave it a try.
In the end, I'm just taking advantage of how easy Theresa is to fool.
Deceiving people isn't a good thing, there's no need to hype it up so much.
[No need to hype it up so much, that is indeed what you think in your heart.]
[After all, for you, with the bonuses from special items and skills like Mind Like Still Water and Cold, Handsome Man, you can tell a monstrous lie without batting an eye or your heart skipping a beat.]
[You, who can even fool Otto, certainly don't need to be concerned about fooling Theresa.]
[No one can see through the mask you wear, and no one can know your heart.]
...I feel like you're implying something.
At that moment, a character profile template suddenly popped up in front of Leo Ash.
[Name: Theresa Apocalypse]
[Identity: Former S-rank Valkyrie of Schicksal, current Branch Commander of the Far East Branch, Head of the Apocalypse family, your superior.]
[Current Favorability: 20]
[Note: Under the guidance of your words, she thinks you are an outstanding junior worthy of nurturing. Keep up the good work, you can definitely step up your game in the fooling department.]
Looking at the character profile template that the system popped up, Leo Ash looked at the template and asked.
How is this favorability calculated? Theresa's is... only 20?
[Oh, a stranger seeing another stranger would generally be at 0. Favorability is based on 0. If they have a good impression of you, it goes up; if not, it goes down.]
[Generally, anything above 0 means they don't completely dislike you, while below 0 means at the very least they find you unpleasant.]
So it starts from zero, huh? Why do I feel that's a bit off—aren't others usually in the dozens even when they're cold?
[Don't apply other people's favorability systems to this System. The creators of the systems are not the same, do you think such a standard can be unified?]
That's true.
[Also, to add, the upper limit of favorability is not one hundred, and ordinary women's favorability towards you will actively increase by +3—after all, you are indeed very handsome.]
...What's the use of being handsome?
You can't rely on others forever. In the end, a person has to rely on themselves.
"Alright, alright, you don't have to bow for so long."
Looking at Leo Ash, who was still bowing, Theresa said, a little embarrassed.
"Unless it's a particularly formal occasion, you can really relax a bit at other times."
Seeing the obvious trouble on Leo Ash's face, Theresa suddenly said, exasperated.
"After you join the Apocalypse family, my first order to you as the family head is—smile more, don't be so serious all day long!"
"...Forget it, pretend I didn't say anything."
After seeing Leo Ash force a smile uglier than a crying face, Theresa immediately supported her forehead and said helplessly.
"Do as you please... Aigh, go get some rest."
"Tomorrow, we should leave here and return to the Far East Branch."
...
Next Day. Schicksal HQ
After a day of rest, Leo Ash, having arrived near the transport plane, saw Theresa and Kiana, who were preparing to return to the Far East Branch with him.
Of course, it wasn't just the two of them. In fact, Raiden Mei, Yuno, and Bronya Zaychik, who at this moment didn't dare to approach the group, were also nearby.
At this moment, Raiden Mei, upon seeing Leo Ash, was about to break into a smile and rush over.
But just as she was about to move, Mei suddenly remembered the things 'she' had done.
Although it wasn't her intention, 'Raiden Mei' had indeed tried to harm Leo Ash.
Leo Ash wanted her to become stronger, and in return, she was possessed by another personality and prepared to kill Leo Ash.
Even after hearing Otto's comforting words, Mei still felt—she was simply too useless.
Leo Ash... he must be very disappointed in me too.
And in the end, the relationship between me and Leo Ash... was just my own wishful thinking.
Making a move like this under the current circumstances would only trouble Leo Ash.
On the other hand, Leo Ash looked at the calm-faced Mei, then at the character profile template that popped up from the system.
[Name: Raiden Mei]
[Identity: Herrscher of Thunder, has temporarily sealed her own power.]
[Current Favorability: 90 (You know what this means)]
[Note: Be careful of everything.]
No, System, give me an explanation. What's going on?
Her calm face paired with a favorability of 90 and a 'Be careful of everything' is a bit scary.
And now, Yuno next to Mei... is she coming back to St. Freya with us too?
[What else? A living Herrscher, and a super-strong Pseudo-Herrscher who could force Theresa to flee within a minute of meeting her. Otto will definitely squeeze out all her value.]
Makes sense...
After seeing Yuno and Raiden Mei, Theresa, who had been waiting for everyone to arrive, took the initiative to walk towards the two Herrscher girls.
Raiden Mei was fine, but Yuno, next to Mei, instantly showed an unconcealable sense of guilt upon seeing Theresa.
"Mei and Yuno, right?"
After walking up to the two of them, Theresa said.
"This time, Grandfather told me that you two are willing to join our Schicksal. I will first welcome you on behalf of the Far East Branch."
"I was originally going to say something like 'the training at St. Freya High School is very strict', but now it seems..."
Noticing Yuno's expression, Theresa took another step forward, bringing herself closer to Yuno.
"I-I'm sorry!"
Seeing the girl she had tried to kill after turning into a demon appear before her, Yuno's already unstable emotions instantly fluctuated wildly.
"I, I didn't mean to... No! I, I, I..."
"Alright, calm down."
Seeing Yuno's emotions begin to fluctuate, Theresa walked to Yuno's side and—to her extreme embarrassment, found that she couldn't reach the other's shoulder.
"After being controlled by the Honkai, even the kindest person can become a demon."
"Losing to the Honkai is not your fault. You just have to work hard to become stronger in the future."
At this moment, Theresa looked at Mei, who was still calm beside her, and said to Yuno.
"I heard you're classmates at the same school, right? Look at Miss Mei, her emotions are very well-controlled."
"But, I..."
After timidly glancing at the calm Raiden Mei, Yuno proactively swallowed the words she was about to say.
I didn't feel this way before, but now that I'm standing next to Senior Mei, I realize...
So scary, so scary, so scary!
This sense of pressure, and this calm expression—if she had shown even a tenth of her current aura back then, she wouldn't have been bullied by those scumbags to the point of being 'famous throughout the school', right?
Senior Mei, how did she become like this?
"As for you..."
Looking at Bronya, who didn't dare to approach the group, Theresa said helplessly.
"Miss Bronya Zaychik, it would be better for you to obediently return to St. Freya with me."
"Your identity is rather special. Following me and leaving this place is already the best choice for you."
Although Theresa didn't spell it out, the highly intelligent Bronya already understood the elder's meaning.
Two days ago, because Durandal had used the Abyss Flower to heal Theresa, she had also infused its power into the others, so Bronya's injuries were also healed.
Whether it was her partially damaged emotional circuits or her injured legs, under the power of the Abyss Flower, they had all been restored to their most perfect state.
But precisely because of this, a new problem arose.
If the Bronya with partially damaged emotional circuits only realized that what she had done was a bit wrong after Leo Ash exposed the truth she didn't want to face.
Then now that her emotions had returned to normal, Bronya's emotions were on the verge of instantly collapsing.
Especially now, with Raiden Mei and Yuno, the two victims of the 'Third Eruption', by her side.
Even if these two had no idea of her identity, the thought that she had also participated in this incredibly excessive affair made Bronya feel that she had absolutely no face to see these two people.
"Oh my, it seems everyone is here."
Kiana, who had been standing there ready to greet Mei, suddenly tensed up when she heard this voice.
This voice... could it be?!
On the other side, Theresa had the same reaction upon hearing the voice.
This voice... it couldn't be!!!
At that moment, the two white-haired girls, one tall and one short, looked towards the source of the sound in unison.
Rita Rossweisse—it really was her!
In that direction, the Valkyrie named Rita Rossweisse was walking towards the group with a smile.
Then, under everyone's gaze, Rita naturally walked to Leo Ash's side...
—And gently pulled him into her arms, like an affectionate lover.
...