Amid the howling wind and snow, the man's battered body stood firm. A faint, relieved smile touched his lips, tugging at the heartstrings of every viewer in the livestream.
They knew where that relief came from.
Bai Heng had witnessed the growth of Bronya, the heir to the position of Supreme Guardian. He had seen yet another flicker of hope take root in this land beneath his feet.
And from the bottom of his heart, he was glad—even as his body lay broken, his blood nearly drained, his thoughts never strayed from Belobog's future.
This version of him was now deeply etched into everyone's minds.
--+--
Firefly: 「Sniff... Please, stop, just stop! If you keep going, it really sounds like you're giving your final words!」
Kiana: 「But at the very least, he really did survive. He kept his promise to Miss Bronya.」
Kiana: 「But Bai Heng's right arm…」
Himeko: 「Don't worry. For a man like Mr. Bai Heng in this world, physical injuries mean nothing. His will won't waver because of a bodily flaw—if anything, it'll only grow stronger. From the beginning till now, hasn't he made that abundantly clear?」
Black Swan: 「Indeed. He was already prepared to offer his flesh and blood to this land. If some demon offered to save Belobog in exchange for his soul, I imagine he'd agree without hesitation.」
Ganyu: 「But still… I can't help feeling it's unfair for this world's Mr. Bai Heng. He could've lived a comfortable life, yet he chose to stand up and change this broken world all on his own… and ended up suffering all this…」
Welt: 「Every turning point in history requires someone to become its cornerstone—and Bai Heng has undoubtedly taken on that role. This was his choice. We need not lament it. We need only remember his actions and carry them in our hearts.」
Sparkle: 「How do you guys manage to get so sentimental over a story? 'Cause from where I'm sitting, it's just:
Bai Heng: Save the world! Save the world! Save the world!
Bronya: Sensei! Sensei! Sensei!」
Kiana: 「As much as I want to defend this world's Bronya… when I think about it, that's pretty much what happened…」
--+--
In the livestream, everyone felt both relief that Bai Heng had survived and a deep sense of emotion over his fate.
If the previous story depicted the bittersweet beauty of love and the imperfections of life,
then this one was about defiance—a rebellion against fate in a cruel world, noble yet heartbreaking to witness.
They were afraid the ending might not be what they hoped for; afraid the man who raised the banner of rebellion might fall before ever seeing Belobog's dawn.
It was with these emotions weighing heavily that the simulation continued.
[You wake from unconsciousness, and the first thing you see is Bronya's face. It lacks its usual refinement, instead marked by exhaustion. Yet the moment she sees you awake, a faint light returns to those silver-gray eyes.]
[The girl gently asks how you're feeling, but when her gaze accidentally falls on your right arm, you clearly see the guilt in her eyes.]
[She blames herself for your injuries—if only she had been stronger, if only she had been faster, perhaps none of this would have happened.]
"Bronya, changing the world demands a great price—the blood and souls of countless people," Bai Heng said gently, his broad left hand resting softly on her head. "Compared to that, what I lost is only an arm."
"No, perhaps I should put it another way…"
"This isn't a loss. I've merely staked it on Belobog's bright future."
"And you… you've already shown me that this bet is nearing its victory."
Slowly lifting her head, Bronya stared intently at the firm yet gentle expression on the man's face.
She wasn't foolish; she could read the deeper meaning in his words.
It wasn't just simple consolation—it was an entrusting of responsibility. The future of Belobog…
was now placed in her hands.
Tears welled in her eyes as she nodded firmly, giving a simple yet resolute reply:
"Yes! This bet… I will win it for you, Sensei!"
The moment her words faded, a notification appeared in Bai Heng's simulation:
--+--
[Bronya's affection for you has increased by 15. Current affection level: 90]
[90: Without a doubt, the girl who once saw you as a respected mentor has developed feelings that go beyond that. Yet she doesn't seem fully aware of it herself—only that in the days to come, she'll unconsciously look for you in a crowd, and find herself wanting to stay by your side a little longer.]
[Your affection for Bronya has increased by 5. Current affection level: 80]
--+--
Seeing the system's affection notifications, Bai Heng was somewhat surprised, but then it made sense.
In this simulation, most of his actions had been focused on "saving the world," with little direct interaction with Bronya.
Even the increase in her affection largely stemmed from his "savior" efforts.
That was why his own affection for her remained at a relatively moderate level.
But…
That's how it should be!
Emotions are rarely perfectly balanced. That "100% pure love" from the last simulation was largely because the theme revolved around romance.
In real life, that would be nothing short of a sci-fi miracle.
Shaking off his thoughts, Bai Heng refocused on the simulation.
[You enter a period of recovery, but during this time, neither you nor Bronya remain idle.]
[Due to the previous Fragmentum surge incident, your prestige within the military has risen significantly, and Bronya has gained the support of the people. In contrast, because of Cocolia's refusal to deploy troops, the Supreme Guardian's standing—both in the army and among the citizens—has plummeted to an all-time low.]
[Both you and Bronya clearly realize: the time is almost here.]
[It is time to raise the banner of rebellion.]
--+--
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.