Silver Wolf: 「It's hard to imagine what kind of miserable childhood you must've had to come up with a story like this....」
Sparkle: 「What's wrong with it? Isn't this how things are supposed to go? Oh, right, almost forgot to add the ending—after Bronya personally kills Bai Heng, she somehow learns the truth and spends the rest of her life drowning in grief and regret~ Mhm mhm! Now that's satisfying~」
Lumine: 「....」
Kiana: 「.....」
Elysia: 「......」
Stelle: 「You think your fake tragedies can get to me? I've already figured it out! None of those sad stories you mentioned actually happened! You Masked Fool—I see right through your tricks!」
Sparkle: 「Tch~ How boring. Well then, let's just keep watching. The livestream will give us the answers~」
--+--
As if responding to Sparkle's words, the screen gradually shifted to a new scene.
--+--
The Eternal City, Belobog's First Empire.
For all the people of Belobog, this was undoubtedly a day they would never forget.
A military coup, the dissolution of a centuries-old council system, the establishment of Belobog's First Empire—and the man behind it all was the one branded a 'traitor': Bai Heng.
In every alleyway, tavern, and restaurant, people were talking about his deeds.
It started with the Night of Rebirth four years ago, when he first rose in rebellion. He then served as a guardsman close to the nineteenth Supreme Guardian, won her trust, seized military power, and ultimately carried out this coup.
Along the way, he even led the Silvermane Guards on the front lines to counterattack the Fragmentum, reclaiming key territories. And when the Fragmentum struck back, he single-handedly drew the gaze of 'Preservation,' allowing this frozen land to feel the light of 'Preservation' once more.
Similar conversations could be heard all across Belobog.
Hidden in a small corner near Everwinter Monument, Bronya listened to all of it.
She knew this was Bai Heng's doing...
He controlled the military, but he didn't yet have the full support of the people. By spreading these stories—known only to a few surviving frontline Silvermane Guards—the public would place their utmost hopes in the man who had drawn the gaze of 'Preservation.'
Bronya knew...
But there was nothing she could do.
Everything that had happened in this single day left her in a daze. She didn't understand why Bai Heng had betrayed her, why he had purged the council, or why he had established this so-called First Empire of Belobog.
After all this time together, walking the same path side by side, Bronya now felt, for the first time, that Bai Heng was a complete stranger.
She wanted answers. Even if the title of Supreme Guardian meant nothing now, she needed to know what had led to all this.
"Here you are."
A familiar voice pulled Bronya from her thoughts. She looked up and saw the figure she had known so well all this time.
Bai Heng. He was still clad in steel armor, stern and exuding a faint metallic scent. His missing right arm didn't seem to hinder him—instead, it made him appear even more cold-blooded.
The only difference was the iron mask he used to wear was now gone, revealing his cold, sharp features.
Of course. He was no longer the 'traitor'—he was the emperor of Belobog's First Empire now.
There was no more need to hide behind a mask.
[With a heart weighed down by all that had happened in just one day, the young woman, shrouded in shadow as the sunset faded, sought you out and demanded an answer:]
"Teacher... why..."
Even though his betrayal was an undeniable fact, Bronya, her expression hidden in shadow, still couldn't break the habit of addressing him as she always had.
Some small part of her still clung to a sliver of hope, foolishly wishing that Bai Heng would give her an answer different from the reality she faced.
Seeing her like this, Bai Heng let out a long, heavy sigh.
"So, Bronya, you still haven't figured it out?"
He leaned closer, his voice dropping to a whisper near her ear, a hint of mockery curling in his tone.
"Then, as your teacher, let me give you one final lesson."
"Every misfortune in this world stems from one's own lack of ability."
His cold words echoed in her ears, and with each syllable, her silver-gray eyes widened slightly more.
"That's right, Bronya. Nothing else is to blame for all this."
"It's simply..."
"Because you weren't capable enough."
After speaking, Bai Heng slowly lifted his head, a faint smile playing on his lips as he watched Bronya's reaction, seeming thoroughly pleased by what he saw.
"To be honest, if you'd been a little more capable, we might have continued just as we were. You could've remained the Supreme Guardian, and I would've kept planning Belobog's future."
"But in the end, you disappointed me."
"You were indecisive, lacked resolve, and had too little faith in yourself. You didn't even know about the Underground—that hellish existence right beneath Belobog."
"You toddled along behind me, following in my footsteps, basking in the praise and achievements, and started feeling pleased with yourself—convinced you could keep this up in the future. But in the end, without me..."
"You're utterly useless."
Each word struck Bronya's heart with precision.
She had no retort.
Because everything he said was undeniably true.
All she could do was stare blankly at the man before her, so completely different from the one she once knew, lost in a daze.
A burning question welled up from deep within, and before she could stop herself, she whispered:
"Are you... really Teacher Bai Heng...?"
Hearing this, Bai Heng smiled. He met her gaze directly and gave his answer.
"Perhaps the Teacher Bai Heng you knew never existed at all."
--+--
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.