Kiana: 「.....」
Yae Miko: 「.....」
Pela: 「...」
Stelle: 「And here I thought you were about to pull off something epic, but you just dropped a massive flop! Had the chance and you totally blew it!」
Elysia: 「I take back what I said earlier—if it were Firefly in that situation, they'd probably have kissed by now!」
Silver Wolf: 「I'd say you can be more confident than 'probably'.」
Lumine: 「Let's go even further—they'd already be on their second kid by now.」
Sparkle: 「Why stop there? At that point, the kid would be old enough to run errands~」
March 7th: 「Why is this conversation getting weirder by the second?!」
--+--
[Faced with Bronya's sudden words, you pause briefly before offering a bitter smile. "They were just futile attempts, nothing worth noticing."]
[Bronya sternly refutes your words, telling you that even now, many people in Belobog are influenced by those writings. In their own ways, they cling to hope for a tomorrow that may never come.]
[She herself grew up guided by those very books.
In the end, Bronya makes a request of you: as the next Supreme Guardian, she feels she still has much to learn, and she hopes you can become her mentor and light the way forward.]
[You agree.]
--+--
[Bronya's Affinity Level has been unlocked. Current Affinity: 65.]
[65: Admiration is the greatest distance from understanding. Right now, the girl's feelings toward you are firmly at this stage. Perhaps she wants to know you better, but her reverence keeps her unconsciously holding you at a distance.]
--+--
[You settle into a relationship somewhere between mentor and friend. In public, you are her guard, always wearing an iron mask to conceal your identity. In private, she affectionately calls you Teacher Bai Heng.]
[After half a month of continuous investigation, you and Bronya compile the policies Cocolia has enacted in recent years and reach one conclusion.]
[Belobog's gradual decay isn't due to Cocolia's incompetence—it's intentional.]
[As for why she's doing this, you still have no answers. Then, Bronya seems to remember something. She tells you there's a place that might hold secrets, but due to its restricted nature, only she can go. She asks you to wait for her return.]
[The next day, while waiting for news from Bronya, you join the defense efforts against the Fragmentum in your capacity as her guard. Late that night, you finally see her figure outside Qlipoth Fort.]
[Amid the swirling snow, the girl looks slender and fragile, her head bowed, her expression hidden in the shadows of her hair.]
[In a slightly hoarse voice, she reveals what she discovered.]
[Cocolia—her mother—has already abandoned the Path of Preservation under the influence of the Stellaron and has turned to the embrace of Destruction. She even looks forward to the new world its devastation would bring, clinging to a pitiful, delusional hope in the Stellaron.]
[All these years, her so-called counteroffensives into the Fragmentum were nothing but efforts to weaken Belobog's forces, leaving the city vulnerable to the Stellaron's eventual corruption.]
Lies don't hurt; the truth is the sharpest blade.
To Bronya, raised since childhood to become the Supreme Guardian, Cocolia's embrace of destruction was the ultimate betrayal.
Her head still lowered, Bronya's usually proud silver-gray eyes now looked dull, like stagnant water. It was as if all the strength had been drained from her body by some invisible force, leaving her barely able to stand.
Despite her elite upbringing, she was still just a girl in her teens.
How could she possibly withstand a betrayal from someone she held so dear?
"Are you alright?"
A steady voice spoke beside her. Bronya felt herself drawn into a warm embrace. She lifted her gaze slightly and met those dark, unwaveringly resolute eyes.
In moments of emotional collapse, even the smallest comfort is magnified tenfold. The moment her eyes met Bai Heng's, the strong mask Bronya always wore shattered under the heat of her tears, revealing the vulnerable girl beneath.
The betrayal by her own mother, the years of effort rendered meaningless—all of it poured out through her scalding tears, streaming silently from those silver-gray eyes.
She didn't sob or cry aloud, only buried her face in that warm embrace and let her tears fall without a sound.
"Make this the last time you cry, Bronya. From now on, you will shed no more tears."
Bai Heng's voice was calm and low near her ear. He offered no empty encouragement, no hollow comfort.
He simply did what he could, using his own broad frame to shield her from the wind and snow.
"I'm not crying... It's just the frost..."
Even with a trembling voice, Bronya's tone remained stubborn.
Stelle: "You're seriously in denial."
Bai Heng watched quietly. Only when her tears had fully stopped did he finally speak:
"Now that we know the truth, it's time to act."
Wiping her damp eyes, Bronya forced a look of determination onto her face and met his gaze.
"What should we do next?"
--+--
[She may be vulnerable, but she is not weak. Having composed herself, Bronya knows you've already reached a decision at that moment. Your choice is—]
[A: Withdraw and Consolidate — The Safest Path
You are now aware of Cocolia's goals. To ensure nothing goes wrong, you will spend a long time gathering support and planning a seamless takeover.]
[B: Those Who Treasure Me, I Treasure — Those Who Betray Me, I Will Repay a Hundredfold!
Young lady blinded by loyalty, dry your tears. It is time to rise in rebellion against your mother!]
[C: Reveal the Truth — Expose the Stellaron and Cocolia's Plans to the Public
Use public opinion to force her to step down.
This option carries a high risk of plunging the nation into chaos. If mishandled, it may accelerate Belobog's destruction!]
--+--
Without hesitation, Bai Heng selected Option B.
"Bronya." Bai Heng's firm hand rested on the girl's shoulder, his gaze intense. "Time is not on our side. With your mother acting as she is, we cannot afford to wait until you succeed her as Supreme Guardian."
"So, before the Stellaron's radiance devours this land—"
"Let us first set the fires of rebellion ablaze, until they reach the farthest corners of this planet!"
--+--
T/N: While I am an inexperienced Translator, I have a Patreon! While it may seem empty as of now, webnovel will get 2 Chapters Every Day, and advanced chapters will be uploaded on Patreon.
It may not seem worth it now, but maybe in the future. Who knows!
[email protected]/AspenTL
If you guys wanna check it out.