Chapter 225: The Very, Very Busy Cocolia
Bronya's unnervingly sharp intuition sent a complicated ripple of emotion cascading through Cocolia's chest. The Supreme Guardian sat in silence for a long moment, her slender finger hovering uncertainly over the glowing screen of her communicator. Finally, letting out a soft sigh, she tapped out a slow, deliberate message.
Cocolia: Bronya, do you have feelings for Leon?
Miles away, a sudden, furious blush painted Bronya's cheeks as she stared at her mother's blunt question. Her breath hitched in her throat.
Was it... was it really that obvious?
Truthfully, Bronya couldn't even untangle the chaotic knot of her own emotions. Perhaps it had started from the very first moment she laid eyes on his striking figure—an inexplicable, magnetic pull that defied all logic. It was Leon who had shattered the icy illusions clouding her mother's mind, dragging Cocolia back into the light from the suffocating, abyssal depths of the Stellaron's temptation. It was Leon who had brazenly rewritten the "script" of their world, paving the way for Belobog to march toward a brighter, warmer dawn. It was Leon who had gently guided her through the fog of her forgotten past, allowing her to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with Seele once more.
He was the one who had truly pulled their freezing city back from the brink of eternal winter.
Bronya's thoughts drifted to the strange, otherworldly game Leon had introduced her to—Honkai: Star Rail. She had played through the specific "What If" storyline where Leon never stepped off the Astral Express. In that bleak, alternate reality, Belobog had still been saved, but the cost had been agonizing: she had lost her mother forever, left to bear the crushing weight of the Supreme Guardian's crown entirely alone.
A cold shiver traced its way down her spine. If Leon hadn't chosen to intervene, would that tragic timeline have become their reality? The more she pondered it, the more a terrifying certainty gripped her heart—that parallel space-time likely existed somewhere out there in the vast cosmos, a world where the tragedy had already played out to its bitter, tear-soaked end.
Because of that, her gratitude toward the man deepened with every passing day. And somewhere along the line, that deep gratitude had quietly, irrevocably morphed into something entirely different.
Bronya lost herself in a warm haze of memories. She recalled those quiet, intimate nights spent chatting with him under the dim glow of her desk lamp. She would eagerly share her ambitious plans for Belobog's reconstruction and her hopes for the people, while he would casually spin fascinating, vibrant tales of the Xianzhou Luofu and the endless wonders of the galaxy. Just thinking about his relaxed, teasing smile caused the corners of her own mouth to curl upward in a tender, unconscious smile.
Back in her private quarters, Cocolia watched the top of her chat box. The words "The other party is typing..." flickered intermittently, dancing on the screen for several minutes before eventually fading into a heavy silence. No new message arrived.
Cocolia didn't press her. She merely leaned back against the plush cushions, her own emotions a tangled mess. Bronya's hesitation, her prolonged silence—that was an answer in and of itself.
She had raised Bronya, loved her, and always viewed her as her own flesh and blood. Thank the Aeons I'm not her biological mother, Cocolia thought with a wry, self-deprecating chuckle. Otherwise, I really wouldn't know how to face this absurd situation.
Shaking her head, she decided to let nature take its course. Things would work themselves out eventually. Pushing the complicated family dynamics aside, she backed out of the chat and checked her unread messages.
A barrage of frantic notifications from Serval flooded her screen.
Serval: Are you okay? The IPC didn't give you any more trouble, did they?
Serval: I saw the livestream... did Qlipoth actually cast their gaze on you? That's completely unscientific! How the heck did you get the Aeon of Preservation to look at you?!
Serval: Hello? Why aren't you replying? The stream cut off, are you safe?!
Serval: I just asked Bronya, and she said you went back to your room to rest... damn it, you couldn't possibly be... [Right_Hand_Making_A_Circle_Left_Hand_Moving_Up_And_Down.gif]
Serval: I messaged Leon and he isn't replying either! Cocolia, you absolute jerk! [Angry_Face.jpg]
Serval: I'm sitting here worried to death about you, and you two are just... ugh!
Serval: I'm so jealous, you old woman. To think someone is actually pampering you like this.
Reading the frantic string of texts, Cocolia felt a genuine wave of warmth wash over her. It was nice to know her oldest friend cared so deeply. But the moment her eyes snagged on the words "old woman," her touching sentiment evaporated, replaced by a snort of pure, exasperated amusement.
Cocolia: I'm an old woman? Then what does that make you? Need I remind you we were born in the exact same year?
The "read" receipt appeared instantly, followed a split second later by a reply.
Serval: Oh ho ho, look who's finally awake! Last night must have been quite moisturizing for you, huh? [Cocolia_Smirking.jpg]
Cocolia blinked at the screen, her brow twitching.
Cocolia: Where in the world did you get a sticker of my face?
Cocolia: What, are you jealous? If you're that envious, why don't you come over and join us? [Provocative_Wink.jpg]
Serval: You're famous now, madam Supreme Guardian~ I made the stickers myself. You aren't going to charge your best friend copyright fees, are you? [Hands_On_Hips_Proud.jpg]
Serval: Wait, what? Would you actually be willing to share him?
Cocolia chuckled, her fingers flying across the digital keyboard.
Cocolia: I would never let anyone else near him. But if it's you... I suppose I could make an exception.
Cocolia: Besides, what's there to be unwilling about? To be perfectly honest, I'm a bit useless on my own. I couldn't even let him enjoy himself to the fullest before I passed out. [Depressed_Sigh.jpg]
Serval: No way. Seriously?! Is Leon actually... that strong?
Serval and Cocolia had been inseparable best friends in their youth. Though the crushing responsibilities of the Supreme Guardian and the ideological rift between them had kept them apart for years, the ice had finally thawed. Now that they had slipped back into their familiar, comfortable rhythm, the content of their late-night chats was rapidly deteriorating, becoming progressively dirtier and utterly shameless.
But then again, that was simply the nature of true best friends.
In her workshop, Serval stared at the bold, scandalous words glowing on her screen, clicking her tongue in disbelief. A hot flush crept up her neck. As expected, the sheer audacity of a "married woman" was on an entirely different level. Cocolia's unrestrained openness completely eclipsed the theoretical knowledge of a "maiden" like herself. Serval had always prided herself on her wild, rock-and-roll spirit and bold attitude, but even she found herself struggling to handle this level of explicit teasing.
Serval: Hey! Why are you suddenly talking to me about this stuff?! [Blushing_Furious.jpg]
Cocolia: Didn't you start this conversation? [Raised_Eyebrow.jpg]
Serval: Yeah, but you didn't have to be so incredibly detailed about it!
Cocolia: If I'm not detailed, the material for your dreams tonight won't be accurate.
Serval: COCOLIA!
Cocolia laughed out loud, the sound ringing clearly through her quiet bedroom.
Cocolia: I'm being serious, Serval. If you like him, you have to take the initiative. Otherwise, with the way things are going, you won't even know what number you are in line.
Serval:...
Serval sat frozen in her workshop, utterly at a loss for words. Sometimes, it really wasn't a good thing for best friends to know each other so intimately. Cocolia had seen right through her flimsy defenses, piercing straight to the core of her chaotic thoughts.
She was indeed... a bit jealous.
No, that was an understatement. She was absolutely dying of envy. She had been sick with worry when Cocolia was facing down the IPC crisis. And now that her best friend had not only survived but was being watched over by an Aeon and thoroughly, lovingly pampered by an incredible man... Serval couldn't help the intense, burning envy that coiled in her gut.
A beautiful, knowing curve graced the corner of Cocolia's lips. She knew the rocker mechanic far too well. If Serval truly wasn't interested in these scandalous topics, she would have aggressively changed the subject by now. They used to be exactly like this in their academy days—huddled together, giggling over handsome guys and wild fantasies. But as they grew older, they had gone their separate ways, and those carefree topics had been cruelly submerged by the crushing weight of reality.
Then came the dark years, when the Stellaron's whispers had seduced Cocolia's mind, leading her to ruthlessly expel Serval from the ranks of the Architects. They had lost so much time. But beneath it all, she still knew Serval better than anyone.
Despite her loud, rebellious, rock-and-roll exterior, Serval Landau was actually a massive paper tiger when it came to matters of the heart. Cocolia could vividly picture the scene on the other side of the screen: Serval tightly gripping her communicator, nervously scratching her blonde hair, her cheeks burning as red as a ripe tomato.
Cocolia: There's no harm in being more active, you know. Leon... he never refuses the 'initiative' of someone he already has a soft spot for.
After serving as the Supreme Guardian for so many grueling years, Cocolia considered herself an exceptional judge of character. She knew exactly what kind of man Leon was.
Serval:...
Serval: I'm not talking to you anymore!
Cocolia: Running away already? Coward.
Cocolia: Alright, alright. Go about your business. But—
Cocolia: If you don't take the initiative now, don't come crying to me when you regret it in the future.
The chat box went completely quiet. Cocolia let out a soft, contented breath and sank deeper into the plush cushions of her sofa. Turning her gaze toward the frosted windowpanes, she looked out over the city. The eternal blizzard had finally ceased, and the sky of Jarilo-VI was slowly, miraculously recovering its vibrant, azure vitality.
Her communicator buzzed one last time.
Serval: Do you really think... he would actually like someone like me?
Cocolia couldn't help but laugh softly at the rare display of vulnerability.
Cocolia: Why don't you just throw yourself at him and find out? Trust me, he won't be able to refuse.
Cocolia: If there was truly no chance between you two, his attitude toward you would have been completely different from the very start.
Imagining Serval's conflicted, indecisive expression, Cocolia felt a fond sense of exasperation. Thinking back on her own chaotic journey, hadn't she simply "gone for it" directly when the opportunity arose? To think that she, the formally stoic and unapproachable Supreme Guardian, was now sitting here giving her wild best friend step-by-step instructions on how to chase a man... it was absurdly funny.
And yet, Serval was still dragging her feet.
Just as Cocolia was formulating another teasing remark to push Serval over the edge, a new notification popped up at the top of her screen. It was Bronya.
Bronya: Mother... why would you ask something like that so suddenly...
Bronya: Actually... maybe there is a little bit.
Cocolia stared at the screen, a helpless, deeply amused smile spreading across her face. It seemed she was going to be a very, very busy woman.
[Inorin's Note:
Enjoying the story? Dropping a quick review, comment, or Power Stone means the world to me and keeps these daily updates flowing!
Want to read 50 chapters ahead or just want to help keep a shameless translator alive? (My livelihood actually depends on this, haha 😭). You can support me directly here:
(P.S. Just remove the brackets and replace the [.] with a regular dot . to use the links!)
✨ Patreon (50 Advanced Chapters): patreon[.]com/InorinTL
☕ Ko-fi (Support / Sponsor): ko-fi[.]com/InorinTL
Thank you so much for reading and keeping this project alive!]