"Thanks for the generous gift. Sometimes it's handier than my bat." Stelle put away the lance.
Leon: "If your bat heard that, it'd be heartbroken."
Stelle scratched her head. "Nah, Herta said its origins are unclear, but I'm one hundred percent sure there's no spirit in it."
March 7th: "Now you're even talking about spirits."
Nearby, Bronya quietly listened to the Trailblaze team's banter, a hint of envy in her expression.
"Bronya, your inauguration as Great Guardian is getting closer, yet you're meeting us now. Are you worried you'll be too busy to spare time later?"
Leon asked.
"You could say that… In fact, this is one of the few free moments I've had recently."
Bronya sighed slightly, giving a wry smile as she pulled out a schedule.
"Before becoming Great Guardian, I barely have any personal space."
But then again.
After becoming Great Guardian, there'd be even less.
"If you all weren't Belobog's great benefactors, Sonia and Sebas probably wouldn't have let me out."
Stelle slid the schedule over, casually asking, "Who're the two you mentioned?"
"My mentor's assistant and my butler."
"Oh, no personal space at all? Just how busy can you—huh?"
Seeing the schedule's contents, Stelle froze.
Leon and March 7th leaned in from either side to take a look, then gave Bronya sympathetic glances.
In one sentence: her life was planned to the minute.
6:00 AM sharp: wake up, 20 minutes for a quick shower.
25 minutes for breakfast, listening to the butler read the day's schedule.
An hour after breakfast: morning combat training.
After training, 45 minutes for bathing, grooming, and image management.
Then—
8:30 AM to 5:00 PM: attending various courses at Belobog's military academy.
From military tactics, politics, science, and speechwriting to art appreciation and history studies.
Then an hour to revise the day's practice assignments.
The entire day was gone just like that.
Normally, the rest would be free time.
Not for Bronya.
Evenings involved on-site inspections at the guard post.
Back at the Guardian's residence, she'd handle administrative duties, write daily study reports, and learn essential knowledge for succeeding as Great Guardian with her mentor's assistant.
Then came makeup removal, bathing, and evening reading.
All waiting grandly for her.
Only from 11:00 PM to 11:30 PM was her free time at the residence.
Once that time was up, she had to rest immediately.
"Um, just one question: after becoming Great Guardian, will you be even busier than now?"
March 7th weakly raised her hand.
"Yes, as Leon… as Leon said."
A trace of exhaustion flickered across Bronya's brow.
"This world has too many issues that need solving. I'm afraid I won't have a single minute to spare, which is why I chose to meet you all today."
March 7th comforted her. "Don't put too much pressure on yourself. Take it slow—one bite at a time, one steady step at a time."
"Rushing too fast can lead to a fall. Leon, why not tell Bronya about that thing now?"
"That thing?" Bronya paused.
"It's about the Fragmentum and the Eternal Freeze."
Leon didn't beat around the bush or tease, getting straight to the point.
"Affected by the Stellaron for 700 years, the Eternal Freeze and Fragmentum won't vanish quickly."
"The Eternal Freeze's retreat is a slow process. Based on our preliminary findings, it'll take about 320 years for Belobog to regain its green vitality."
Bronya nodded silently.
"320 years it is. Even if I don't live to see Belobog prosper again, my successors will."
Leon: "The Eternal Freeze is a minor issue. The biggest problem is the Fragmentum."
"For the same reason, 700 years isn't a short time for this world—it's enough to leave deep-rooted scars."
"The Fragmentum won't expand anymore, but the areas it's claimed won't recover so easily."
"If you rely solely on yourselves, we can't say how many generations it'll take to heal those scars."
Bronya didn't frown in worry; instead, she gave a faint smile.
"That's fine. Belobog's fate is back in the hands of its people."
"As long as the light of hope isn't overshadowed by darkness, we'll reach the end one day."
Stelle gave a thumbs-up. "Well said. See, March, I told you Bronya wouldn't be discouraged or disappointed."
March 7th: "Sure, but—that was Leon talking, not you."
Stelle grinned. "I said it with my eyes. You just didn't catch it, so don't blame me."
March 7th: "Guess if I believe you?"
Stelle: "I guess you guess I guess you guess whether you believe me or not."
March 7th was dizzy from the wordplay, her brows shooting up.
"Speak plainly!!"
Stelle, earnestly: "I guess you believe me."
"Congrats, you guessed wrong. I don't believe you one bit, hmph~"
"March, the tsundere vibe is so last season."
"Who's tsundere? You're the tsundere! Keep talking nonsense, and this girl will—"
"Hit me, choke me, elbow me, right? Can't you come up with something new?"
March 7th gritted her teeth, kicking Stelle under the table.
"You want new? Tonight, I'll treat you like a carpet and stomp you hard!"
① "Why are you rewarding me?"
② "Bring it on. A Trailblazer fears nothing under the heavens!"
The absurdly wild options had countless people laughing.
Dan Heng sighed with closed eyes, realizing the journey ahead wouldn't lack for excitement.
[I seriously suspect the writing team's on something!]
[Bet.]
[Even Teacher Dan Heng can't bear to watch, lol.]
[What's Leon doing?]
Yeah, what's Leon up to?
…He just pulled out a slice of red melon.
Seeing eyes on him, Leon didn't blush or flinch. With a wave of his hand, a fruit platter appeared on the table.
His movements were so natural, flowing like water, as if he'd planned it all along.
"An appetizer before the meal. All fresh fruit. Oh, the melon's ripe too, no need to ask."
Old Bear laughed so hard he doubled over. "My stomach hurts, help!"
[Leon's in prankster mode now!]
[That's our Dragon Nation's melon-eating trait. Worthy of a traditional character, pure class.]
March 7th's brain started spiraling.
Why did Leon pull out a melon right now?
Was he eating the drama between her and Stelle, or was it just a coincidence?
It's a coincidence… right? Before coming to Belobog, he did mention preparing fresh fruit in the kitchen car.
He couldn't have predicted this.
Wait, yeah, that's it!
Conclusion: Leon isn't eating the drama of her and Stelle's bickering.
March 7th dispelled her mental storm, her big eyes narrowing into crescent slits as she started eating the melon.
In the physical sense.
Leon: Born of a mother.
Seeing the table full of fruit, Bronya stared for a while before gradually recognizing some varieties.
Due to the Eternal Freeze, most of those fruits existed only in history books.
"…To be honest, this is my first time seeing a real orange. It is an orange, right?"
Leon: "The one you're pointing at is actually a tangerine."