When Bronya opened her eyes, she found herself in an unfamiliar room.
"Where is this place?"
Bronya thought, still remembering the last scene.
"Well, could you complain a little, instead of staring at me so intently?"
Bronya, who had just woken up, resembled a cat with its fur bristling.
She was hunched over and staring at Tian Shi with extreme vigilance.
Considering Bronya's nickname, it might be more appropriate to call her a young wolf.
If Tian Shi were not an inappropriate-looking piece of white cloth, he would have no doubt that Bronya would resist directly.
"Don't think about it, this piece of cloth was part of your camouflage."
"I declare in advance: it has nothing to do with whether a pretty girl used it or not, it's just that this piece of cloth was the closest to me."
"..."
Bronya remained completely impassive.
She just stared at Tian Shi with expressionless eyes.
But then, Bronya's eyes moved slightly downward.
She felt the clothes on her body.
Only then did she realize that the cotton jacket she wore for fighting in the snow had been removed and replaced with a light yellow dress.
"This kid changed it for you."
Tian Shi pointed to Seele, who was hiding behind him and only showing her head.
Just like when she first met Tian Shi, Seele was still wary of strangers.
But it seemed that because of her "new sister" status, Seele took the initiative to greet Bronya.
"..."
This child, her eyes are lifeless.
"Well, I think you need this."
Tian Shi handed Bronya the sniper rifle he was holding.
"I'll warn you in advance, the bullets have been removed."
"Although it still has excellent performance as a blunt weapon, I honestly don't recommend you do that."
After hugging the familiar sniper rifle, Bronya's mental state visibly eased.
Although she was still alert, she no longer felt in danger.
-She probably changed from a cat with bristling fur to a cat hiding behind a cabinet.
I don't know if Tian Shi's previous warning had any effect, but Bronya only held the sniper rifle tightly, with no intention of attacking.
It was heartbreaking to see her like this.
"Alright, so I'll explain the current situation to you."
Tian Shi sighed, and Bronya tilted her head imperceptibly upon seeing the person in front of her who claimed to be her disguise.
"First of all, you are no longer a juvenile soldier."
"As I said a moment ago, the sniper rifle in your hand is just a stick, and it will remain the same in the future."
"And since there's no stove here, it won't even work as firewood."
A slight confusion appeared on Bronya's face.
"This also means that no one will force you to go to the battlefield, you are the master of your life."
"Although you are a minor and don't know any daily life skills, it is true that no one will force you to go to the battlefield."
Tian Shi continued to explain patiently.
"Well, speaking of this, let's talk about the 'second' point."
"The place you are in now is called 'Cocolia Orphanage'."
"Orphanage?"
Bronya finally said her first sentence.
"It's a place to adopt children like you."
"Why?"
"Why, what?"
"Why didn't you kill me?"
Bronya asked in an indifferent voice, as if... no, one should say that she didn't care about her own life at all.
It may be because the aftermath of the Second Eruption in the Siberia region has not disappeared.
In Siberia, which should be calm in a normal world... Or because there are still chaotic factors, and in the chaotic zone, young soldiers are just consumable items.
"You asked that question, and you still need a reason for me not to kill you?"
Tian Shi was very dissatisfied with Bronya's indifference to her own life.
"But if you insist on a reason, Cocolia will tell you that she doesn't kill children, and I... I'll just hold you down, spank you, and correct your character severely."
Tian Shi said quite unhappily.
"So, are you going to be my master?"
Bronya felt as if she understood something.
Now that I think about it, Bronya doesn't seem to have the habit of referring to herself in the third person yet.
Is it possible that this custom is contracted at the orphanage?
"Master? What have you gotten into your head?... Master, don't worry, being called that by a loli like you will only make me feel guilty..."
"I'm sorry, I've gone off topic."
"If you're talking about names, you can call me brother in the future."
"Brother?"
[Compatibility with Bronya +20%]
"Yes, isn't that a good start?"
Tian Shi pointed to Seele behind him.
"Speaking of which, why don't you say hi to your future... no, your current sister?"
"..."
Bronya's eyes slowly moved away from Tian Shi and turned to the shy girl behind him.
"Little sister?"
She doesn't quite understand it.
It's not that she doesn't know the meaning, but this word is too extravagant for Bronya.
Of course, there's also... my brother.
"Bronya Zaychik, and you?"
"See, Seele Vollerei."
After Seele finished speaking, she hid behind Tian Shi.
"Are you too afraid of life, Seele?"
Tian Shi helplessly patted Seele's little head behind him.
"Mmm."
"It's forbidden to sell cuteness."
"It feels so old-fashioned to say that."
Tian Shi complained to himself.
"Besides, my name is Tian Shi."
"Although it's not an important thing, it's better to remember it."
"I think it's a decent name, you can listen to it as self-promotion."
"Yes."
Bronya nodded slightly.
"By the way, do you still want this sniper rifle?"
Tian Shi pointed to the rifle Bronya was still holding.
Compared to before, Bronya's posture was much more relaxed.
"Although there are no bullets, it still seems a little weird, doesn't it?"
"Umm."
After thinking about it briefly, Bronya handed over the sniper rifle.
For a moment, Bronya felt a little uncomfortable with the empty feeling in her hands... or on her body.
She couldn't find a weapon on her whole body, which was unimaginable for her.
"Br, Sister Bronya! Please wait a moment!"
Seele suddenly gathered the courage to stand up, then opened the door and ran out.
Not long after, her little footsteps came back.
"Here! Sister Bronya!"
Seele held a Homu doll her size in her arms.
"This is..."
Bronya looked at the ugly yellow rabbit doll in Seele's hand with some doubts.
"This, this is..."
However, Seele's courage seemed to run out all at once and she hesitated again.
"Homu, some kind of mascot that kids like?"
"But it's not limited to them, it could also have an audience among 40-year-old aunts."
Tian Shi said with a bit of malice, although the object of his malice was not present.
"Well done, Seele."
"It's all thanks to Brother Alliance Leader."
Seele tilted her head shyly.
"?"
Tian Shi didn't understand the relationship between the two.
"E-even though I'm afraid of life! But, but... but I'll try my best to fix it!"
Seele once again gathered the courage to say this, and Tian Shi only understood after that: so Seele gathered the courage because he had told her before that she was afraid of life?
This child is really trying too hard...
"How is everyone? Are you getting along well?"
At that moment, Cocolia finally returned with food.
Cocolia's food was very simple, a large piece of bread and a bowl of hot borsch.
This is a very classic meal for Eastern Europeans, and there was nothing that Bronya wouldn't like.
"Good."
Tian Shi touched Seele's little head.
"This child Seele is really... um... the light of the orphanage."
"Thank you for the praise, Leader."
"Seele has always given me peace of mind."
The first thing Cocolia wanted to say was:
"This evaluation is quite subtle."
This is like saying that the other children are quite stupid.
But thinking about the performance of those children before, um, Cocolia felt that even if Tian Shi really meant it, she couldn't refute it.
Then, Cocolia looked at Bronya.
"By the way, Bronya, do you know your current situation?"
"Yes."
"That's good."
Cocolia seemed to be quite used to dealing with these young soldiers.
"You can call me mother in the future, and you don't have to think about the battlefield..."
Cocolia suddenly saw the sniper rifle in Tian Shi's hand and immediately understood.
"It seems I don't need to say this."
"Mother?"
Bronya tilted her little head and pointed to Tian Shi.
"Brother?"
"..."
Cocolia suddenly gave Tian Shi a strange look.
The white cloth on Tian Shi's body trembled.
"Officer Cocolia, do you have any questions?"
"No!"
Hearing Tian Shi's official tone, Cocolia immediately gave a military salute.
"Very well, if you make fun of me, you will die."
"I understand."
Cocolia nodded.
"I can understand your state of mind."
"After all, Professor Planck is also sensitive about this."
As for age, Einstein, Tesla, Edison, etc., are all people who could be his grandmothers, not to mention Planck, who was born in the 20s, not to mention her direct boss, Reanna, who has been in service for almost 200 years...
"You have many strange experiences."
Tian Shi's expression suddenly became strange.
"Probably because there are many elders in Anti-Entropy."
Cocolia also sighed.
Now that Edison, Joyce, and Reanna are alive, the Anti-Entropy army and government are completely separated.
So, not to mention the contradictions, Cocolia and Einstein even have a pretty good relationship.
Well, after all, Cocolia also relies on their research for new weapons and mechas.
Who doesn't like the logistics of new weapons and mechas in two days?
The only thing that isn't very reliable is that Dr. Tesla sometimes does some very strange things for her to test.
Cocolia accepted all those things as "care for the elders," and even changed some of the less dangerous things and threw them for the children to play with.
"They... that's a really tough job."
Tian Shi patted Cocolia's shoulder sympathetically.
"No, you, who are from the same generation or even older than those elders, are not completely qualified to sympathize with me, are you?"
"Besides, you are still the leader of the first generation, and you are also a ghost."
"The pressure on me is almost doubled, okay?"
Although Cocolia really wanted to complain like this, she had received professional training and knew exactly what to say and what not to say.
However, just like with Einstein and the others, with Cocolia, Tian Shi, who has no age consciousness, is very tolerant, although this kind of tolerance is based more on his still-young appearance.
In short, Cocolia asked herself if she had the courage to say the word "old lady" to her superiors or the logistical scientists.
So, upon hearing Tian Shi's equally young voice, Cocolia easily accepted it.
"By the way, do you want to adopt this child?"
Cocolia looked at Bronya and asked Tian Shi.
Although as a soldier, she shouldn't think too much, but this kind of sensitive matter, she can't ignore it like that.
But Cocolia is obviously overthinking.
"Adoption? For me, let's forget it."
"You can't force the child to be adopted by me just because I let her call me brother, can you?"
"Seele, what do you call me?"
Tian Shi touched Seele's head.
"Brother, the Alliance Leader..."
Although Seele didn't quite understand the situation, as a good child, Tian Shi asked her to call him that.
"Although it seems I heard this name in the hallway after I left, you are very popular among the children."
In this situation, Cocolia couldn't help but hold her forehead.
Although it's a very normal thing, it's very uncomfortable to put it on your boss, whose age is unknown, whether from the perspective of age or popularity.
"Relax, you'll be fine."
"I'm not a tyrant and I can't order Reanna to hang you outside."
"..."
"Are you relaxing me or are you implicitly threatening me?"
"Anyway, it's different."
"Bronya, you don't need to think about it anymore, just call me what we told you."
"Oh, now I understand."
"Speaking of that, in fact... forget it."
Tian Shi really wanted to say that good children like Seele and Bronya would be adopted by him, but this is still a bit shameless.
After all, this is someone's orphanage, and Seele also has a lot of feelings for Cocolia.
"Do you have any instructions?"
Cocolia looked suspiciously at Tian Shi, who hesitated to speak.
"Instructions... How about you buy her a new Homu doll?"
Tian Shi pointed to little Seele who had just shared her doll.