Honkai: Starting to Wander with Kiana

"Let's start with a proper introduction. I'm Otto Apocalypse, CEO of Schicksal Technologies. You've probably heard of our game, 'Kallen Fantasy'."

"I've heard of it, but my family couldn't afford a gaming system, so I've never played it," Ryn said with an embarrassed smile. How do you respond when someone introduces you to their pride and joy, and you know absolutely nothing about it beyond the name?

Otto looked at Ryn incredulously. How can this guy not have played 'Kallen Fantasy'? He's clearly talented at games—what a waste if he hasn't tried my masterpiece.

"In that case, I'd like to gift you a set of 'Kallen Fantasy' equipment and an account, in my personal capacity. It pains me to think that someone as skilled as you might miss out on the greatest game in the world due to financial constraints."

Ryn was silent for a moment, unsure how to respond to this unexpected turn of events. Although he desperately wanted to play 'Kallen Fantasy', there was just one problem: There's no room for it in my apartment. The full set of 'Kallen Fantasy' was incredibly expensive, with two different versions available—PC and holographic. The PC version could be played on any computer, while the holographic version required a massive gaming pod and several standalone consoles.

"Thank you for the Stargate residence, Mr. Otto, but... our home doesn't have space for all the Kallen Fantasy equipment."

Now it was Otto's turn to be silent. He hadn't thought of that. While slacking off in his office, he had glanced at his computer and found Ryn's game proposal among all the other paperwork. Usually, Amber handled all these work-related matters, with Otto only responsible for setting the overall direction and giving the orders. Amber had quickly skimmed through the game proposal and promptly sent it to Otto, knowing he wouldn't be able to refuse such an enticing idea.

When Otto first read it, he became instantly fascinated by the gameplay and technical concepts behind Dark Souls: Die Twice. Eagerly, he asked Amber to arrange a private jet so he could meet the genius himself.

On the way, Otto was so excited he barely noticed whether this might be another trap set by Entropy. Even if it was, he didn't care; he had to see this person. This could be his chance to take Kallen Fantasy to the next level.

They couldn't give up on Kallen. Instead of investigating further, they simply switched Ryn to a soul steel body. If he was from Entropy, they'd knock him out and take him away - spies were no big deal. If he was just an ordinary person, they'd invite him to join Schicksal, where he could show off his skills.

Otto tapped his fingers on the table. He could easily buy a whole house for Ryn, but that would be going too far. Amber would definitely reject such a proposal and keep a close eye on him, then give him a severe lecture later.

This was both a privilege Otto had granted Amber and a measure to control himself. Even when developing "Kallen Fantasy," which required large sums of money, he narrowly escaped a severe criticism from Amber. Thankfully, "Kallen Fantasy" sold well enough for them to no longer scrutinize him.

"Join Schicksal. We'll give you the best treatment, a stage to show off your skills. Your talent will shock the entire game world. Don't even think about rejecting us; there's nowhere better for you than here. You don't need to worry about funding either; the Shaniet Group is one of our partners."

Ryn was intrigued. Developing games required both capital and equipment, and Schicksal could clearly provide what he needed. He was also familiar with the Shaniet Group, a world-renowned conglomerate that dominated most global businesses. They had investments in Akademstadt as well; even this coffee shop they were in bore Shaniet's name.

However, Ryn felt uneasy about the mention of being "graced with divine talent." He didn't possess any extraordinary gifts. His strength lay only in coding and programming. What he really enjoyed was modifying existing games to shape them into something closer to his vision. (In his Old World, Ryn had loved developing games, but his coding skills were average at best. Mistakes were common, often leading to complete disasters.)

"Sorry, I can't join you at Schicksal or even work there. My sister Kiana goes to school here. We've finally found some stability, and I don't want to uproot her again."

Ryn hesitated for a moment. He thought back to all the places Kiana had been dragged to, smiling bravely through it all. But at night, when she fell asleep, her face would betray her true feelings: a deep sadness and insecurity. It wasn't until recently, when she made friends and found a place to call home, that she began to relax and feel safe. For that reason, Ryn had to turn down Otto's offer.

Otto laughed this time, a genuine smile. He had already considered meeting Nine Heavens and Kiana to be a pleasant surprise. But he never expected an even bigger one: their deep affection for each other.

"No, you should join Schicksal. I won't make you come work at the company. I'll send people to help you with your games instead. Oh, and we'll give you a house big enough to store all the Kallen Fantasy series. You and your sister can live there and work from home!"

"I'll join Schicksal, but can I get my pay up front first?" Ryn shook hands with Otto. The older man's handshake was a little stiff and cold, but Ryn didn't think much of it.

"No problem. Now let's talk about Dark Souls: Die Twice. I'd like to discuss some changes to the game content and characters."

"Oh, Mr. Otto, you're too kind. Your wishes are my command. Just tell me what needs changing." Ryn didn't mind; after all, the game was a rip-off anyway. Changing it a bit more wouldn't hurt. Besides, Otto was paying him so well that his 'honesty' had truly won him over.

Otto picked up the coffee Amber had brought him, ignoring her eyes fixed on him. Amber must have heard about how I treated Ryn, he thought. She wouldn't be staring at me otherwise. I'll sort it out with her later.

"First, I want the game name changed to 'Kallen: Cherries Bloom Twice'."

"Huh?!"

"Let me finish before you express your surprise. No arguing."

"Go ahead."

"The story... It starts with Kallen waking up in a dungeon. She holds a golden cross, which she uses to overcome obstacles and meet Bishop Otto. Following his instructions, she goes..."

"As they complete tasks together, Kallen and Bishop Otto develop romantic sparks. They fall in love sweetly. This is crucial; you must emphasize it.

During these tasks, Kallen discovers that each time she dies, a pink fox named Yae Sakura saves her. Yae either takes the fatal blow or brings her back from death. You should remember that Yae is a love rival for Bishop Otto's affections. Make sure to show Kallen using Yae as a shield. In her death scene, make it look particularly gruesome...

Finally, Kallen realized Yae Sakura was constantly trying to seduce her. But Kallen remained faithful to Bishop Otto, rejecting Yae's advances time and time again.

Then came the final boss battle. To everyone's surprise, it was Yae Sakura. Blinded by hatred born from love, Yae tried to kill Kallen. But Kallen and Otto fought back together, defeating the villain.

In the end, Kallen and Otto lived happily ever after, even having a child named Theresa. Remember that—that's how it ends."

Otto looked content, as if everything he just said was true. Ryn wiped away cold sweat—he imagined there must be some truth in those words, right? Based on reality, Bishop Otto probably had to wear the proverbial "green hat" didn't he? If not, why so much hostility towards Yae Sakura and emphasis on his love story with Kallen?

"No problem," Ryn said. "Even though it feels completely different from the original story, I can see this making for a tragic love story. Players will definitely buy into it for the romance!"

"Mm-hmm, you think so too?" Otto held Ryn's hand, feeling like he had finally found someone who understood him.

Bishop Otto, hold on tight—