The Thirteen Flame-Chasers. This was the collective name for the thirteen MANTISes who survived the "Tragedy of Binding."
Fu Hua was very lucky.
She survived the battle against the Herrscher of Binding and became an important figure in MOTH.
Otto, who had been watching everything as a transparent observer, couldn't help but lament that while the Celestial was cursed with terrible luck, she had somehow walked the correct path at this life-altering fork in the road.
She was no longer a nameless nobody.
Fu Hua, MEI, and Kevin had all joined MOTH after the Third Honkai Eruption. Dr. MEI, due to her family connections and her own outstanding abilities, quickly rose to the upper echelons of MOTH, gaining significant authority.
And Kevin, because of his relationship with Dr. MEI, was of a status far beyond Fu Hua's reach, even though he started as a mere soldier.
Furthermore, as the very first MANTIS, Kevin had achieved a miracle, breaking through what was originally a 0% success rate. After becoming a MANTIS and gaining immense power, he soared to the pinnacle of his life, the Judgment of Shamash in his hand becoming an unyielding banner on the battlefield.
Fu Hua, however, had always been an ordinary soldier who never made a name for herself. Even after becoming a MANTIS, she was just a high-ranking soldier.
And there was no shortage of such super-soldiers.
Even after undergoing the God-Tune Project, Fu Hua was still just a powerful super-soldier.
Li Sushang, simply because of Otto, became an S-rank Valkyrie of Schicksal the moment she woke up. But Fu Hua couldn't do that. She had no network and no connections. No matter how powerful she was, she couldn't even become a squad leader.
Even in this near-apocalyptic era, MOTH still ran on connections and social politics.
But the Tragedy of Binding allowed Fu Hua to successfully rise through the ranks, becoming an irreplaceable and vital asset to MOTH.
Soaking in the bath, Otto marveled at the many turns in Fu Hua's life.
But now, Fu Hua had finally made it.
At the very least, no one could easily decide her fate anymore.
At this moment, Fu Hua, Elysia, Mobius, Eden, Sakura, MEI, and Otto were all soaking in the same bath.
But Otto wasn't bothered.
Because he had already witnessed this scene in Elysia's Stigma.
Elysia, soaking next to Fu Hua, stretched languidly. Her movements were so large that Mobius, beside her, shifted away with a look of mild disgust.
The mad scientist was leaning against the edge of the bath, looking somewhat lethargic. Elysia had specifically dragged her out of her research lab.
Otherwise, she might have started growing mushrooms on her head.
Elysia was thoroughly enjoying bathing with everyone she liked, but her gaze fell upon Fu Hua.
To be precise, she was looking at the empty space next to Fu Hua—the very spot where Otto was currently located.
"HUA, your husband didn't follow you in here too, did he?"
"This bath is for women only, you know."
Elysia said with a smile. She knew about Fu Hua's "mental illness." Because she loved every single one of the Thirteen Flame-Chasers, she made it a point to know about them.
She had even taken Fu Hua to be examined by Mobius before, but they had found nothing wrong with her brain.
Hearing the term "husband," Fu Hua looked up slightly.
"No."
She didn't refute it. Elysia had a spontaneous personality; arguing would only make her keep saying it.
This reminded Fu Hua of Otto.
Otto used to love calling her Little Hua, and she used to love correcting him.
"How nice," Elysia said, turning to the mature Mobius on her other side. "What about you, Mobius? Do you have a man?"
"No," Mobius said coldly.
She had no interest in worldly sentiments.
The research she conducted had long since transcended human morality.
Mobius felt that her personality was incompatible with Elysia's, but Elysia was just too passionate, like a flame, warming everyone around her.
But snakes fear fire.
"Then..."
"No."
A voice as beautiful as a warbler's song rang out.
"No."
A flat but earnest voice followed.
The two "no's" came from Eden and Sakura.
The only one who didn't speak was Dr. MEI, who wore a serene expression with her eyes closed, as if she had fallen asleep in the bath.
But the ripples caused by the rise and fall of her chest betrayed the turmoil in her heart.
"Wuwuwu, MEI only needs me!"
The atmosphere had grown a little stiff, but Elysia immediately lunged at Dr. MEI, splashing water everywhere. She hugged MEI tightly, rubbing her cheek against the other woman's.
Otto suspected that the reason Elysia's face was so smooth was because she was always rubbing it against other girls.
But because of Elysia's antics, the area was once again filled with a cheerful atmosphere.
The girls joked and splashed around, and Otto watched.
In truth, he had seen this scene before.
When he experienced Elysia's Stigma memories, he had lived through it from her perspective.
But experiencing it again from an observer's point of view was interesting in its own right.
These were the women with the most status and power in this world.
"I'm leaving first." Mobius, who had been sitting quietly, rose from the bath and was about to leave.
Just then, Dr. MEI, still being held by Elysia, spoke up.
"Mobius, have you been conducting some new experiment recently?" Dr. MEI asked.
Mobius paused briefly. She looked at everyone in the bath and flicked her tongue out slightly.
Like a snake.
"I've found a place. It's very interesting."
"Do you need my help?" Dr. MEI asked.
"That shouldn't be necessary," Mobius declined. After speaking, she left.
"Let her be," Eden said, maintaining her elegant demeanor even while bathing. It reminded Otto of his maid, Rita. "Mobius knows her limits."
Her voice was as lovely as a warbler's song. Hearing her say this, Dr. MEI also nodded.
MEI understood Mobius. Mobius was her guide. She had genuinely just wanted to help her.
No longer discussing the matter, Dr. MEI looked at Sakura.
"YING, you look very happy."
"Mm." Sakura, who had been smiling faintly the whole time, nodded. "My little sister is coming to see me tomorrow."
Otto, who had been relaxing in the bath, sat up straight.
His eyes widened slightly as he looked at Sakura in the corner of the bath.
Sakura's little sister... isn't that...
The Herrscher of Corruption?
But as Otto stared, he noticed something was wrong.
Because a holy light was inexplicably shimmering around Sakura's body.
Who brought the Paladin? Kick them from the party!
But everyone else acted as if they didn't see it, as if their perception of this holy light was being blocked.
Just like their perception of Otto was being blocked.
In other words, Fu Hua and the others couldn't see the holy light.
This holy light was meant to guard against an upright gentleman like himself.
---o---