---o---
Looking at Ron on the light screen, Bronya couldn't help but feel a sense of bittersweet relief.
"Finally… I'm here."
She murmured to herself, her thoughts a tangled mess.
The reason her feelings were so complex was mainly because of what she was about to do in this simulation.
After getting confirmation from Herta, Bronya had changed for this meeting, even though it was only in a simulation. She had put on the uniform and insignia that had been prepared for her in the previous simulation and were left in the spaceship's cabin, tossing aside the tattered military dress uniform she had torn herself.
Although it was just a simulation, and changing clothes wouldn't affect her actions and was ultimately meaningless, the thought of seeing Ron made her do it subconsciously.
She always wanted Ron to see her at her best, even if it was only in a simulation.
To be honest, Bronya's current mood was rather delicate. She didn't quite know how to describe this feeling. It was supposed to be a natural step—to go and reveal her identity to Ron—yet she felt a strange sense of apprehension.
Although she had long suspected that Ron might also be a player in the Life Simulation Game, now that the moment had come to actually reveal everything to him, the emotions in her heart were far more complex than she had anticipated.
After all… she and Ron had been through so much in the previous simulations.
Though those simulations were several cycles ago, the memories they forged were now deeply etched into Bronya's mind, becoming memories she could never erase, could never forget.
It was because those memories were so profound that for such a long time, in every simulation, she would almost unconditionally choose to support or follow Ron whenever a choice arose. She simply couldn't forget.
This made her harbor a subtle hope—if Ron was also a player, would he too have memories from those past simulations that he couldn't forget?
Of course, this small hope was just one tiny, insignificant part of the countless complex thoughts in Bronya's mind. She certainly had more on her plate.
Whether it was the miracle Herta had invited her to join, one that would affect the entire sea of stars, or helping Ron add another brick to the great cause of [Salvation], contributing her strength—these thoughts also echoed in the depths of her mind, occupying an equally important space.
But if she were to be truly honest with herself, to take out all these thoughts and analyze what she cared about most—
She was probably still a little more biased towards Ron's opinion of her.
After all… while Bronya still hadn't fully understood her feelings for Ron, back in that simulation, her affection level for him had reached a solid 100 points.
In reality, Bronya, who had inherited the memories of the simulation, had been suppressing her feelings, but it was impossible to keep them completely and utterly contained at all times.
A tiny bit of hope lingered in her heart—since they were both players, and Ron had gone through those simulations with her…
At that time, his affection level for her had exceeded ninety points on one occasion. Did that mean Ron also had feelings for her?
As she thought this, Bronya suddenly shook her head as if startled awake, temporarily casting all these thoughts from her mind.
No, no, Bronya, is this the time to be thinking about such things?
Whether it's Belobog or this sea of stars, they both need you to contribute. At a time like this, how can you think about such meaningless, romantic trifles?
You came here not for these tender emotions, but because the miracle that will save this sea of stars may need your help, because Ron may need you to arrive, not for you to dwell on these sentimentalities…
Bronya constantly admonished herself, steeling her resolve for "Salvation," yet she couldn't completely hide the feelings in her heart, always allowing a small flicker of hope to show through.
But what she didn't know was, at that very same moment, on the other side…
---o---
Is that… Bronya?
Looking at the figure before him, dressed in a sharp "Knight of Salvation" uniform, wearing the insignia of the Twelve Great Knights bestowed by the Round Table Hall, her face filled with an air of determination, Ron even rubbed his eyes, afraid he was seeing things.
Could this really be that Ultimate Noob Duck?
Ron felt as if everything in his mind had just exploded. All the faint, lingering abnormalities from before now had an explanation, no longer leaving him perplexed.
He should have realized it sooner. Bronya was indeed a simulation player. Perhaps from the very first time she walked into Qlipoth Fort and took him, a mere Silvermane Guard Lieutenant, to be her personal guard, she had already been a player.
But then again, what was Bronya thinking back then, to make so many abstract moves?
Looking at the resolute Bronya before him, Ron's feelings were actually quite complicated.
Bronya had made far too many mistakes in the past.
As a player, she had so many choices, yet most of the time she chose the wrong one, so inept that Ron couldn't believe this person could be a player with the golden finger of foreseeing the future.
But now, everything about Bronya had thoroughly proven this one point. Unlike Herta and Fu Xuan, whose performances were so outstanding that Ron simply guessed their identities, everything about Bronya screamed that she was a player.
Just looking at the New Belobog "Knight of Salvation" uniform she wore and the insignia of the Twelve Great Knights on her chest, it was undeniable proof of her player status.
After all, if she hadn't experienced that simulation, how could she have these things on her?
There was no New Belobog in this current simulation. The people of Belobog were still clearing out the Fragmentum in the snowfields with the help of the Xianzhou Luofu.
Thinking of this, Ron's feelings grew more complicated.
He felt a slight resentment toward Bronya. Now that he knew she was a fellow player, her "contributions" were responsible for the failure of several previous simulations.
Before, when he thought Bronya was an NPC, it didn't matter. He could still comfort himself by saying it was just an AI being clumsy.
But now that he knew Bronya was actually a player, he could no longer use that excuse to console himself.
Yet, at this moment, he found he couldn't even muster the energy to be angry. Because Ron could clearly see the expression on Bronya's face, could see the glint of light shining in her pupils.
That was the light of "determination."
A clear goal seemed to be shining in the depths of her heart, and her entire being was walking the path to pursue it, taking firm, unwavering steps.
Such a resolute determination… it was hard to imagine it coming from Bronya.
Ron didn't really know what Bronya had been through. Because as he gradually acquired stronger traits, greater power, and more powerful allies, this girl who had started out with him, who had risen from obscurity in the snow-swept city of Belobog, had been left completely behind him.
It couldn't be helped. Bronya was too naive, too foolish, and too indecisive. She couldn't distinguish between what could and couldn't be done. Although she was kind and passionate about saving Belobog, she was simply too green.
After all… kindness and passion cannot be forged into a blade to pierce the veil of fate, nor can they sever the destiny that leads all things to their end.
Although saying this might sound a bit arrogant, Ron knew exactly where he stood—he stood on the edge of a cliff, propping up a teetering "world."
If he were to take one wrong step, the entire world would collapse with him, falling into an endless abyss to meet its destined end.
So Ron never looked back.
The people and things he left behind would no longer be picked up and examined closely. It was difficult to even turn his head for a glance.
Because just moving forward already took all his strength. How could it be easy to resolve the threat of Terminus, the Finality? He didn't have the slightest bit of spare energy to reminisce about the friends he once had and what they had become.
Ron didn't think he would see them again on his front line against Terminus. Belobog was too small. It couldn't produce such a powerhouse.
There were many who had cooperated with him in the simulations, but how many could transcend the chasm between heaven and earth, to step onto the grand cosmic chessboard as someone from Belobog and become a useful piece in the game against the Aeons?
He had never expected it… but Bronya had actually done it.
She had arrived.
Now, she stood here, at a time when Emanators and Aeons were powerless to solve the problem, a problem that would arrive in countless thousands of light-years to reduce everything to cinders with its calamitous fire, [The Destruction].
Yet she had become everyone's only straw of hope, the death-knight who could truly carry that lantern and walk a path of no return.
Ron didn't know what Bronya had experienced, but she must have experienced a great deal.
After all… the difference between the her of before and the her of now was simply too vast.
The gap was so huge that although Ron held some resentment in his heart, he found it impossible to direct it at the Bronya before him, because it was as if they were two different people.
Perhaps… this is what they call "growth."
Sighing silently in his heart, Ron didn't know how Bronya had managed to travel to reach him in this simulation, but for a mortal to barge into a game between Aeons at a time like this, she must have gone through immense hardship.
Thinking of this, the tiny bit of resentment he held for Bronya vanished.
He looked at the valiant figure before him, at a Bronya who seemed like a completely different person, and it was truly as if he were looking at a stranger.
It was like he was trying to confirm something. The impression of Bronya he once held and the person she was now were in conflict, making it difficult for him to reconcile the two for a moment.
But on second thought, there was no other path to take now. Bronya had already shown such determination. Why not hand the Lantern of [Salvation] to her and trust her this one time?
Weakness and incompetence are not original sins. The moment a person can cast aside their past weakness and incompetence and truly, firmly take a step forward, they are completely different from the weak and incompetent self of before.
He would trust the determination shining in her eyes and hand this lantern to her.
With this thought, Ron waved his hand, beckoning the lantern that was still being forged in the Furnace of Creation, and sent it into Bronya's hands.
He looked at Bronya and said earnestly, "I can entrust this to you, right?"
Bronya took the lantern from Ron's hand and spoke seriously to the Ron she hadn't seen in several simulations, her voice filled with resolve.
"I swear in the name of [Salvation], as Knight of Salvation, Bronya Rand—"
She balled one hand into a fist and lightly tapped it against her heart.
"—I will not fail this mission."