Chapter 62: In Business, You Can't Fool Such a Person With Your Petty Tricks
「 "Look at the future they promised, Bronya! A world without poverty, cold, or pain; a world where people no longer have to beg for survival like prisoners; a world we can protect forever." 」
「 .....」
~Jujutsu Kaisen World, Future Timeline~
"It seems she has completely become Stellaron's puppet,"
Sukuna shook his head and said.
"Yeah, even if such a perfect world as she described truly exists, one cannot pin their hopes on others' promises,"
Kenjaku spread his hands,
"Let alone on a Stellaron."
"Whatever, if it's meant to be destroyed, then let it be destroyed. I don't care."
"It's just a pity she can't come to Japan. If she were a Jujutsu Sorcerer, I would… I would really like her."
As he spoke, Sukuna's narrow, sharp eyes narrowed slightly, and a blood-red light flickered in his pupils. He raised the corner of his mouth slightly, revealing a chilling smile.
"Is that what you call liking? I'm afraid you'd like to cut her into pieces, wouldn't you?"
Kenjaku was accustomed to his expression.
Sukuna always enjoyed cruelly killing women and children, and he also enjoyed fighting strong opponents… In short, anything that he found interesting, he would enthusiastically destroy.
And Cocolia, as a woman, satisfied both Sukuna's desire for cruel slaughter and his desire to fight strong opponents; she was simply a perfect target.
As for her thoughts and ideas about abandoning Preservation… the so-called savior complex, Sukuna neither cared nor was interested.
"Are you very interested in this woman?"
Sukuna suddenly asked.
"Hmm, a little bit,"
Kenjaku watched Cocolia's condescending yet seemingly confident expression on the screen with interest.
"I want to see what kind of desperate expression she'll have when her ideals are shattered and everyone turns against her… Heh heh, it must be very delicious."
—
「 "For seven hundred years, we have constantly tried, constantly fought, believing that the light of humanity would guide us to revival. What was the result? We were utterly defeated!"
"Why is it that when faced with undeniable power, the first thing we think of is always resistance, plugging our ears, rather than listening to its demands?"
"That is the indelible folly and cowardice ingrained deep within human nature. Abandon them, unlock the shackles that bind you! The Stellaron will lead humanity to evolution, it will…"
Cocolia grew more and more agitated as she spoke, her high-pitched voice like the climax of an opera, all instruments sounding together. But suddenly, a discordant note emerged from this opera, interrupting her thoughts.
"That's enough brainwashing! Witch!" Seele slowly walked out from behind Bronya.
Cocolia was not surprised by their arrival, but her expression showed a slight regret.
"Bronya! I don't know what exactly happened between you. Even if you explain it on the spot, I probably wouldn't understand those mysterious things. But two things I know very well—"
Seele's voice was like warm support, firmly backing Bronya. Under the gaze of everyone, she spoke each word solemnly.
"First, these guys went through immense hardship to get here, just to seal that thing called the Stellaron."
"Second, remember what I said? If anything happened to you, I would definitely come to save you."
"So, do you understand? Even if you've been brainwashed by that woman over there and completely forgotten our promise—I'll still knock you out and take you back!"
"Seele…" Bronya's pupils instantly widened, and a light trembled slightly in her eyes. 」
「 .....」
~Honkai: Impact 3rd World~
"Well said… Seele."
Inside the Valkyrie Academy, watching Seele's counterpart's selfless courage, Bronya couldn't help but sigh softly.
When she heard the Seele in the light screen say, "I will definitely come to save you," even the Seele beside her didn't realize that Sister Bronya held her hand very, very tightly, as if afraid of losing something.
When Seele was transformed into a quantum state during the X-10 experiment, she had also made the same promise to Seele.
No matter what, she would bring Seele back to reality from the Sea of Quanta—now, feeling the warmth of the girl's palm, she felt both incredibly fortunate and incredibly happy. She had successfully fulfilled that promise from back then, finally holding this hard-won happiness in her hands.
"Sister Bronya…"
As if sensing something, the Seele beside her smiled slightly.
"The promise Sister made to me back then, now being said by another me from another world, it feels so strange,"
Seele sat on the bench, gently swinging her fair little legs,
"She said the lines I wanted to say to Sister."
"Oh?"
Bronya showed a mischievous smile,
"What, Seele wants to knock me out and take me back to the dorm?"
"Ah, this… Sister…"
Teased by Bronya, a blush immediately spread across Seele's rosy cheeks.
—
「 "Is that enough? I've given you ample time… time to say goodbye," Cocolia, who had been silent, suddenly spoke.
Cocolia revealed her second purpose for this journey to Bronya, which was to witness her choice. Now there were no secrets between her and Bronya; she had told her all her thoughts, and as the guardian in her ideal world, she wanted to know Bronya's thoughts.
"Bronya, I've been racking my brain, racking my brain, trying to convey all of this to you. The promised tomorrow will always come, but if you cannot stay by my side, guarding that new world with me… then I will fall into pain—Bronya, an indelible pain!"
"Perhaps, I should even thank you, outsiders. Forced by the pressure you brought… I was finally able to face my last weakness."
Cocolia's stern gaze suddenly softened a bit, and she looked at the girl in front of her: "Bronya, from childhood to adulthood, I have never forced you to obey my will. No matter what, you always have a choice—it was so in the past, and it is so now."
"Choose, my daughter." 」
「 .....」
~Genshin Impact World~
"It seems this Great Guardian wants to play the emotional card at the last minute,"
Ningguang put down her pipe and slowly exhaled a puff of smoke,
"It's understandable."
"Lady Ningguang, but I don't think Miss Bronya will agree,"
Said the young secretary beside Ningguang.
"Indeed, although Bronya's personality is gentle, when it comes to crucial moments, she can be quite firm, and she's also smart—in business, you can't fool such a person with your petty tricks; you can only play the 'sincerity' card."
"However, this can also be considered Cocolia's genuine feelings, after all… no mother wishes for her daughter to stand on the opposite side."
—
「 Bronya took a deep breath. She slowly opened her eyes, and as if having made up her mind, her gaze became calm and steady. 」
「 .....」