Chapter 56: It seems... the Shogun is always on the bottom
「 Cocolia's sudden change of demeanor made Bronya's heart sink.
But she still followed her mother's instructions and detailed everything she had seen in the Lower Zone, including the truth about the Stellaron.
Cocolia's expression was cold: "I'm listening... continue."
"Lord Cocolia, I stake my honor that these [ Outworlders ] are absolutely not the villains we previously imagined."
Bronya placed her hand over her chest and stated solemnly, "I saw them draw their weapons for justice, and risk their lives for the ideals of others. I can confirm that they indeed came for the Stellaron, to resolve the disaster it has brought upon Belobog."
"Mother... you have always known the truth about the Stellaron, haven't you? I, too, will one day come into contact with that knowledge; one of the prices required to be a Guardian is to forever bear these secrets."
"So... forgive my presumption. I believe ordering the extermination of the Outworlders was the wrong choice. The Architects may have waited hundreds of years to solve the Stellaron problem, and they are—"
"Enough!"
Like a clap of thunder, Cocolia angrily interrupted Bronya.
"Arrogant, ignorant... You disappoint me, Bronya."
"You've only glimpsed a corner of the snow mountain, and you think you've seen the truth. You've merely gotten covered in mud from the Lower Zone, and you dare to question my orders?"」
「 .....」
~Genshin Impact World~
"It seems this Supreme Guardian looks down on the common people of the Lower Zone."
Yae Miko's purple eyes narrowed slightly, sighing with emotion,
"'Mud'... what an arrogant term."
"I acknowledge her sense of responsibility as the Supreme Guardian. But as the ruler of a nation, to treat the remonstrances of her subordinates with such an attitude..."
Raiden Ei gently shook the Dango Milk in her hand, and upon discovering the can was empty, immediately showed a disappointed expression.
"Ei, you can't say that... as your familiar, don't you often ignore my remonstrances?"
Miko suddenly turned her head and winked playfully at Ei.
"..."
Ei instinctively turned her face away, trying hard not to look at her.
Whenever Miko wore that expression, no one could refuse her, not even she, a god.
"Are you counting things like 'swapping roles and having the Shogun go to the Grand Narukami Shrine as a miko' as remonstrances?"
Ei said crossly,
"Do you really want to see me wear your miko outfit?"
"Eh—is that not allowed?"
Miko widened her eyes, her rosy lips forming a playful little circle.
"Because Ei, you're really cute, and I'm curious if you'll still have that serious expression when you wear a miko outfit..."
She propped her hands on the table, leaning forward, her face getting closer and closer.
When that moist and warm breath brushed against Ei's neck, she would instinctively shiver, feeling a tingling sensation like an electric shock.
Strange... she was the Electro Archon, after all.
To other mikos, this was an incredibly intimate and affectionate posture, like two butterflies, one pink and one purple, embracing each other—if the Shogun would cooperate and reach out to hug the waist of the Guuji Yae.
A passing miko looked up for a moment, then quickly lowered her head and continued sweeping distractedly.
"It seems... the Shogun is always on the bottom."
—
「 "Silvermane Guards, take Bronya—"
"—They are not mud!"
As if breaking free from shackles, Bronya finally mustered the courage to meet Cocolia's gaze: "My origins, those things you never told me... I remember them all now. I won't run away anymore, Guardian! Please stop fobbing me off with vague excuses!"
"Tell me what you saw. What are you hiding? Why did you send the Silvermane Guards to their deaths in the Fragmentum? Why did you abandon the people of the Lower Zone? Why did you change your mind at that critical moment?"
"...I understand."
Cocolia seemed to finally make up her mind, letting out a sigh of relief as if relieved of a burden, "This moment was bound to come... but I didn't expect it to come so soon."
"Then come with me, Bronya. This dying world... It's time for you to hear its voice."
Cocolia slowly descended from the high platform. As she passed Bronya... countless voices, as if from the void, suddenly appeared and drilled into Bronya's ears. She clutched her forehead in pain, seemingly struggling to resist the voices' influence. 」
「 .....」
~Frieren: Beyond Journey's End World~
"Could Bronya also be affected?"
Stark looked worried.
"Does Stellaron's voice have the effect of mind-control magic?"
Fern looked at Bronya's pained expression. If even she were controlled by the Stellaron, the situation would likely take a sharp turn for the worse.
"If the Stellaron could truly achieve mind control, Belobog would have long since turned into ruins,"
Frieren analyzed.
"Do you remember the scene in Stelle's dream where Cocolia was furious over Bronya's disappearance?"
"We have to believe in Bronya. She won't be tempted by the Stellaron. Even if she were... her little girlfriend from the Lower Zone would be the first to snap her out of it."
—
「 On the other side, Stelle and the others finally returned to the Upper Zone under Sampo's guidance.
However, as soon as they reached the surface, Sampo instantly disappeared, his escape speed like teleportation.
Considering the psychological trauma the Goethe Hotel had caused everyone, they decided to find a suitable place to stay first. As for where to go, the omniscient Teacher Dan Heng provided guidance.
"In my opinion, it's better to approach Serval Landau first," Dan Heng analyzed.
"Gepard is a high-ranking officer of the Silvermane Guards, and it would probably be difficult to approach him. Moreover... if he wasn't moved by Bronya's letter, we would be walking into a trap."
Dan Heng's analysis was universally accepted. The group carefully avoided the Silvermane Guards and quickly arrived at the Workshop.
After a simple greeting, Serval quickly led the wanted criminals into the house. She completely trusted their identities and couldn't help but ask concernedly, "What did you guys do? The Silvermane Guards have unprecedentedly recalled a batch from the front lines to patrol the entire city and arrest you. The whole Upper Zone is in a panic."
March 7th was about to speak when she was suddenly interrupted by Dan Heng. Dan Heng looked Serval up and down and said solemnly, "Bronya said we can completely trust you."
Serval was amused when she heard this: "There's a hidden meaning in your words. Bronya trusts me, which means you don't trust me yet, right?"」
「 .....」