[The wheels of history turn ever forward. In the year 726 of the After Fortification Era, during the inauguration ceremony of the nineteenth Supreme Guardian, Bronya Rand, the rebel known as Bai Heng—who four years earlier had ignited the flames of rebellion and planted the seeds of revolution in the hearts of countless people—launched a military coup.]
[During the months he had spent alongside the twentieth Supreme Guardian, Bronya Rand, he had quietly gained control of most of the military power. Thus, he achieved success in the coup without the slightest resistance.]
[More than twenty members of the Council of Elders were all killed by his hand during the inauguration ceremony. Standing before the Everwinter Monument, his face stained with blood, he raised high the Lance of Preservation and declared before the masses:]
"Stagnation will only bring death. Only by facing the unknown can we breathe in the dawn of life."
"In the year 726 of the After Fortification Era, I hereby proclaim the founding of the First Belobog Empire. I will assume the role of the first emperor of this new empire. In this new era, the age of lamenting one's fate will come to an end. No stubborn flaws or wicked deeds shall remain hidden!"
"Belobog shall welcome the dawn!"
[Although some among the people held reservations about the reforms brought by this coup, they were in the minority.]
[In the eyes of most, the man who raised the Lance of Preservation before the Everwinter Monument was the same person who, four years ago, had spoken out for the people, only to be imprisoned and branded a "rebel."]
[He was the hero who, amid the onslaught of Fragmentum creatures on the front lines, awakened the will to preserve in many Silvermane Guards and fought alongside them to the death.]
[The Belobog Empire was officially established.]
--+--
Watching scene after scene unfold on the screen, the chat group in the livestream fell into silence.
This turn of events was too abrupt—like a romantic film seamlessly cutting to a war movie—leaving everyone stunned for a long moment.
Bai Heng, Bronya.
Just days ago, the two had been comrades walking the path of salvation together, their relationship akin to mentor and friend.
Bronya even held feelings for Bai Heng.
So why...
Did it suddenly come to this?
It took a long while before a comment slowly drifted across the livestream.
--+--
Kiana: 「So...can someone explain why? I don't think I quite get it...」
Stelle: 「Don't get it +1.」
Lumine: 「Don't get it +2.」
Silver Wolf: 「Bai Heng's out here playing the three fools.」
March 7th: 「Actually, I don't get it either...」
Silver Wolf: 「Well, now it's four fools.」
Ganyu: 「Why would Mr. Bai Heng suddenly launch a coup? And against Miss Bronya of all people? Logically speaking, weren't both of their goals to save Belobog? If that's the case, it doesn't seem like Mr. Bai Heng had any reason to do this...」
Raiden Mei: 「Hmm...let me share my thoughts. Perhaps this is the choice Mr. Bai Heng made earlier?」
Kiana: 「That choice to eradicate the Council of Elders?!」
Raiden Mei: 「Exactly. He didn't choose any of options A, B, or C. Instead, he took it upon himself to eradicate the Council. This way, all the negative consequences of option A would fall on Mr. Bai Heng himself, without affecting Miss Rand.」
Kiana: 「This...Mr. Bai Heng actually chose to bear all of this himself...」
Lumine: 「Wait, wait, wait! That still doesn't fully make sense. Even if Bai Heng chose to carry this burden, he didn't need to seize power. He could've just formed an organization and eliminated them in secret, right?」
Stelle: 「True...and if we follow Miss Mei's reasoning, there was no need to establish an empire either.」
Welt: 「Of course, there's another possibility. Perhaps from the very beginning, establishing an empire and becoming its ruler was Bai Heng's goal.」
March 7th: 「Uncle Yang, that's a pretty shocking thing to say...」
Welt: 「I know it's hard to accept, but upon closer reflection, it's not impossible. Become Bronya's mentor, grow close to her, and gain her trust. Then, through noble actions, make Bronya believe that Bai Heng's goal is to save Belobog.」
「This way, Bronya lets down all her guards and follows him in raising the banner of rebellion. Then, quietly, he takes control of the military and achieves his current goal.」
Paimon: 「Hold on! Hold on! Let me process this... So, whether it was the embrace on that snowy night, or risking his life to hold the line against the Fragmentum creatures on the snowy plains outside the city—even losing his right arm in the process—were all carefully laid groundwork by Bai Heng to become the ruler of the empire?」
Keqing: 「That sounds a bit far-fetched. These are developments that can't easily be controlled by human effort. Even someone like Mr. Bai Heng couldn't guarantee everything would go according to plan, right?」
Welt: 「Indeed, as a plan, there are too many uncontrollable factors, making it hard to accept. But if we shift our perspective slightly, it becomes clearer.」
Himeko: 「Shift our perspective?」
Welt: 「Yes. For example, what if Bronya discovered that Cocolia being influenced by the Stellaron was orchestrated by Mr. Bai Heng? Or that the Fragmentum creature invasion was facilitated by him through some means? Thinking along these lines, doesn't it suddenly make more sense?」
March 7th: 「After hearing you say that, Uncle Yang, I suddenly feel like Mr. Bai Heng in this world is...terrifyingly unfamiliar...」
Stelle: 「But what about the will of Preservation? Mr. Bai Heng genuinely attracted the gaze of Preservation. If he were the kind of person Uncle Yang described, could Preservation truly have cast its glance upon him?」
Topaz: 「Regarding that, it's not entirely unexplainable. The concept of Preservation isn't solely defined by actions but stems from belief. The fact that the 'Preservation' on Mr. Bai Heng hasn't faded even now serves as proof.」
「Perhaps, in ways we aren't aware of, he is still upholding his own 'Preservation.'」
--+--
As Topaz offered her final explanation, the chat group fell into silence.
It all made sense now! Everything fell into place!
That man with a resolute face, always offering Bronya warmth and guidance for the future...
Perhaps none of them had ever truly seen his real self from the very beginning!
Just as the discussion was about to conclude, Sparkle, who had remained silent until now, finally offered her completely different perspective in the livestream comments.
--+--
Sparkle: 「Oh my, why are you all making it so complicated? Let me share my take~」
Sparkle: 「That Bai Heng is still the Bai Heng we know, obsessed with 'saving the world.' But he clearly realized that the Council of Elders was just one symptom of Belobog's deeper flaws. In the distant future, Belobog would develop many more ailments.」
Sparkle: 「And Supreme Guardian Bronya isn't mature enough yet to rule the country with an iron fist. So Bai Heng chose to become the sole ruler of the empire himself. He would eradicate everything, bear all the infamy, and firmly ingrain his image as a treacherous villain in Bronya's mind.」
Sparkle: 「As the seed of hatred gradually sprouts in Bronya's heart, she grows rapidly. By the time Bai Heng has cleansed Belobog of all its ills, Bronya makes her glorious return! Pulls the trigger on Bai Heng with a fatal shot~」
「Everything returns to dust, Belobog gains a bright future and a mature Supreme Guardian, all at the cost of just one rebel's life. How wonderfully delightful~」
--+--
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.