"No need to be so nervous, Zao Wu."
Bronya briefly assessed the situation. The surroundings were fine; it was neither a dark and damp dungeon nor a Fragmentum infested with monsters. They were in an open area next to some abandoned buildings that seemed to have once been a residential area for commoners. The ones coming here were most likely residents from the nearby Underworld. If so, then it would be easy to handle.
"Let me do the talking. I believe they will trust me as a Silvermane Guard."
"Pfft..." Huohua, despite having her mouth covered by Zao Wu, couldn't help but snicker.
Bronya's brow furrowed slightly, but she still patiently explained.
"As members of the Silvermane Guards, we have always fought against our enemies, protecting Belobog from monsters, protecting everyone above and below ground."
"A temporary withdrawal is for a glorious return in the future!"
"I believe the residents of the Underworld are not so short-sighted. They will understand our difficulties."
Just as Bronya finished speaking, a few scavengers from the Underworld, who had noticed the commotion nearby and were armed with shovels and steel spears, came before Zao Wu and the others.
"Who's there! Are you here to rob us of our supplies!" the leader of the scavengers asked aggressively. From his stance, it seemed he was ready to fight to protect his precious supplies at any moment. This was the current living environment in the Underworld: limited resources, everyone for themselves, forming gangs, the law of the jungle.
"Wait, boss, her outfit looks..."
"Looks like what!"
It seemed someone had recognized the medal Bronya was wearing and the distinctive style of her uniform. The silver-haired Roman-esque girl immediately straightened her back and gave Huohua and Zao Wu a confident look that said, "See? I told you it would be fine~"
She knew that even in the sealed Underworld, the people would not forget the Silvermane Guards who had protected them for countless days and nights.
"Looks like a Silvermane Guard! Boss!"
"And from the looks of it, her position might not be low!"
At these words, the leader and the other scavengers looked at each other in shock. Never mind how they could see each other's expressions through their various iron masks; at least the shock was conveyed.
And after the shock, they all simultaneously gave themselves a buff.
Its name was—Rage!
"Hateful Silvermane Guards, you still have the nerve to come down here!"
"I'll make you pay for my brother who died at the hands of a Fragmentum monster, right now!!"
Bronya's pupils contracted violently, suspecting she had misheard. But now was not the time to worry about that; it was time to deal with the attacking scavengers. Because it was a sudden attack, Bronya didn't even have time to get a firm grip on her rifle!
Just as the scavenger's spear blade was about to slash in front of her, and her heart was about to leap out of her throat, a sound was heard.
"Clang!"
The sound of weapons clashing!
At the critical moment, it was Zao Wu, who had been on guard against the scavengers' every move, who stood up and blocked the scavenger's long spear with the God-Slaying Sword he had summoned out of thin air!
The boy's strength was far beyond that of an ordinary person. Even without exuding any killing intent, just with his own strength and the power of the God-Slaying Sword, he sent the scavenger leader flying!
"Urgh!"
The scavenger's long spear flew out of his hand, clattering on the ground. And the part that had come into contact with the God-Slaying Sword was glowing red-hot, as if it were about to melt under a calamitous fire.
Huohua stood on the side like a little fangirl, her hands clasped tightly to her chest, her eyes shining as she gazed at the handsome Zao Wu. The girl's small, cherry-like mouth opened and seemed unable to close, almost big enough to fit...
Zao Wu had no desire to kill, because he knew very well that the scavengers before him were also victims of Cocolia's policies. He just wanted to awaken the still proud, even somewhat naively aristocratic Bronya.
"Sister Bronya, perhaps it's not my place to say this, but please, abandon your naivety!"
"The past is the past, the present is the present."
"We cannot judge the present by the past!"
"The withdrawal back then was equivalent to abandoning the lives of all the people in the Underworld."
"The people of the Underworld who have survived through hardship will not thank anyone!"
In this situation, even an outsider like Zao Wu saw things more clearly than Bronya. It truly lived up to the old saying, "The onlooker sees more of the game."
Bronya tightened her grip on her rifle, not because she wanted to fight, but simply because she felt lost and uneasy.
"Let's go!"
In this situation, Zao Wu acted more like the leader of the small team and immediately made a decision.
"Yes, Lord Zao Wu!" Huohua replied eagerly, her narrowed eyes looking like a little fox's. But who could blame her for not having any combat power? All she could do was cling to the handsome and powerful Zao Wu
Bronya was still stunned, until Zao Wu took her hand. Only then did she blush and come to her senses, following the boy's pace to escape.
Although the scavenger group had the advantage of familiarity with the terrain, once their hot heads cooled down, they realized that Bronya, as one of the best among the Silvermane Guards, would likely defeat them in a head-on battle unless they had another unexpected opportunity like before. Not to mention that boy and his fiery red greatsword... he was clearly holding back. Otherwise, if Zao Wu had even a hint of killing intent, the fate awaiting the scavengers would be death by the blade.
The scavengers, though gritting their teeth in reluctance, could only give up. After all, in this underground world, nothing was more important than survival.
Zao Wu, Bronya, and the others passed through the abandoned residential buildings and came to a hidden corner. Noticing that the scavengers were not pursuing them, they finally stopped.
"Ugh, Huohua is exhausted and floppy~"
The girl stuck out her tongue slightly, panting as she hugged Zao Wu's arm, leaning against him as if she had no bones. Zao Wu knew that Huohua was physically weak and rather clingy, so he didn't mind. Huohua took this opportunity to snuggle and rub against him, casting a victorious glance at Bronya.
However, Bronya seemed preoccupied with her thoughts and paid no attention to the girl's self-proclaimed competition.
Bronya leaned her body against the gray, dusty wall behind her. She looked up at the "sky," if it could really be called that. In reality, it was just a rock ceiling. The people living in the Underworld, in the era when the upper and lower districts were not separated, could still come to the surface to feel the breeze and sunshine, to see the clear, azure sky. But now, whenever they looked up, all they saw was this unchanging, hopeless dome.
Just a brief glance was enough for Bronya to feel an indescribable sense of oppression in her heart.
What about the people who have lived underground like this, day after day, for over a decade?
In the past, Bronya had only known about the Underworld and its people on paper. But it was only today that she truly experienced it. The Underworld was not a dispensable noun, and they were not a string of cold numbers! They were living people!
The decision to abandon the Underworld did not mean abandoning them just once. It meant... the act of being abandoned happened to countless people in the Underworld, countless times!
"Mother, you always say, 'for the greater good'."
"But what is the 'greater good' anyway..." Bronya muttered, her voice fragile and helpless.
Just then, she felt her cold fingertips being touched and enveloped by something warm. It was Zao Wu's hands, holding Bronya's slender ones in his palm. He was still the same, sensitively caring about the emotions of those around him.
"Maybe, what's important isn't what others say, but what you see."
"And using your own judgment to make a decision you won't regret."
Zao Wu had always done this, even though no one had ever taught him.
"..."
Looking at Zao Wu's pure and innocent face, Bronya was silent for a long time. When Zao Wu was starting to feel embarrassed, she suddenly smiled.
"I... I understand."
"Thank you, Zao Wu."
She never thought that after living for so many years, she wouldn't see things as clearly as a child like Zao Wu. Or perhaps it was because her mother had protected her too well in the past, and her life had been smooth sailing. She had become the Captain of the Silvermane Guards without any special effort, even though Gepard had done better and protected more people... But now, it was a complete opportunity for her to leave her mother's cradle, her control. To measure this underground world, this land she had never deeply understood, with her own two feet.
"I plan to spend some time to understand the situation underground and find a way to change my mother's mind. Are you... willing to accompany me?" Bronya asked nervously.
Zao Wu smiled and nodded.
"Coincidentally, I also need to find the Stellaron that caused the disaster. Maybe there are clues to its existence in the Underworld." He hadn't forgotten his trailblazing mission this time.
"Stellaron..." Bronya repeated the vaguely familiar name. It felt as if she had heard it somewhere, sometime. In a daze, a picture flashed in her mind. It was a scene of Aunt Serval and Mother Cocolia arguing heatedly. Later, Aunt Serval left the Silvermane Guards. And her mother became more and more cold, more and more autocratic...
Huohua blinked her beautiful cherry-blossom eyes and also stated her wish.
"As for me, I just want to find my memories."
"And staying by Zao Wu's side is enough for me~"
Although Bronya still felt a suspicious aura from Huohua, for now, she did not object to traveling with this soft,娇软 (delicate) girl who loved to act cute with Zao Wu. Learning to get along with people from different regions and different classes was a basic quality of a leader.
The three of them each had their own plans, but they all, without exception, decided to start by understanding this underground city.
"The town is probably not far ahead. Let's start heading out now." Bronya naturally showed her leadership ability, taking on the role of decision-maker in the small team of three.
"W-please wait a moment." But Zao Wu raised an objection.
"What's wrong, Zao Wu?" Bronya raised her hand and tucked a messy strand of hair from her recent run behind her ear. Huohua imitated her, but she couldn't replicate Bronya's dignified temperament. The girl immediately showed a disappointed little expression.
"I was going to say, Sister Bronya, are you really planning to go into town... wearing this Silvermane Guard uniform?"
Bronya understood Zao Wu's concern, but she also had her own principles. The silver-haired girl took a deep breath and nodded seriously.
"I know there's a big misunderstanding about the Silvermane Guards in the Underworld now, but that's precisely why someone needs to take on the responsibility of breaking the ice between the Overworld and the Underworld."
"I hope I can be that person, to rebuild the bridge of trust between the upper and lower districts."
Zao Wu was moved by Bronya's words and no longer tried to dissuade her.
Huohua, however, shrugged, looking noncommittal. Even without her memories, Huohua naturally favored interesting things and beautiful boys over boring politics. She and the upright and serious Bronya were polar opposites in personality. If it weren't for Zao Wu playing an important mediating role, it would be hard to imagine these two appearing in the same team.
And so, the three of them set off on the road to Boulder Town, completely unaware that from a high point on an abandoned building, a sharp, blade-like gaze was following them closely.
No—Zao Wu did sense it for a moment! But he couldn't be sure. Because when he suddenly looked up at that tall building, the boy found nothing. He only saw a phantom-like purple butterfly, fluttering gracefully in the air, and then quietly disappearing in a ripple of quantum energy.
"..."
"What are you looking at, Zao Wu~" Huohua asked curiously, wrapping her arms around the boy's neck from behind.
Zao Wu shook his head.
"Maybe it was just my imagination."
"Hmm~" Huohua wasn't concerned about that anyway. She just wanted to be close to Zao Wu.
"Ugh, what's on the other side of that iron fence?"
Today, the great Pitch-Dark Hook, oh no, the great Pitch-Dark Hook the Great! was also pondering this very important question for her young life. If possible, she really wished all the iron fences in the world could be opened. Then, she could freely explore this gray world!
Just as the tender yellow-haired little girl was letting her imagination run wild in front of the fence, Zao Wu and his group happened to arrive here from the abandoned old building area, which was one of the entrances to Boulder Town. However, because this area bordered the dangerous Great Mine, which was full of Fissures, it was sealed off with an iron fence.
Of course, the iron fence couldn't stop those who were trapped in the Underworld and often ventured into the Fissures to find any usable resources for survival, that is, the scavengers. The only one it could stop was a well-behaved little girl like Hook. Although she didn't like being called a "little girl," believing she could stand on her own without adults.
When Zao Wu and the others noticed little Hook behind the fence, Hook also noticed this group of well-dressed, beautiful big brothers and sisters. Especially that little big brother! He was so beautiful that Hook's eyes lit up on the spot, and she let out a cry of surprise.
"Wow!"
A child's eye for beauty is the purest, without any impurities.
The last time Hook saw someone so beautiful was the last time... ah, no! It was at the "Machine Gra... Graveyard"! Because Hook, as the boss of the Moles, thought she should find a powerful weapon, she secretly went to that place without telling her dad and the old witch.
Fortunately, Hook didn't encounter any out-of-control machines or Fragmentum monsters. Instead, she met an incredibly beautiful girl. The other party was probably a few years older than Hook (but Hook was still the boss!). She was wearing a very pretty red coat but no shoes. Hook thought that would be very cold, but for some reason, the girl didn't seem to feel cold. Oh, and she also had hair as white as snow! Just like the little big brother behind the fence!
Could it be that all white-haired people are that good-looking? Hook wanted to have long, white hair too...
Later, Hook won over the white-haired girl with her enthusiasm and even became friends with her. And her current weapon—the "Diggertron"—was also found for her by that girl. The girl's name was Clara! She was an honorary member of the Moles led by Hook!
And now that Hook saw Zao Wu, she was as excited as when she first saw Clara.
"Guhehe~ I have to find a way to get him into my Moles and make him my member!"
"Little friend, what member?" Huohua walked towards Hook with a smile and asked softly.
Hook was shocked to hear this.
"How did you hear my secret!"
"Uh..." Huohua scratched her cheek, her lips twitching slightly. The girl thought to herself, didn't you just say it out loud in a "loud whisper"?
Zao Wu also came to Hook behind the iron fence at this time, smiling as he crouched down to talk to her. Bronya was touched by this. Probably few people would talk to children with such respect.
"The Pitch-Dark... Hook the Great?"
"Yes! That's me!" Hook was a natural extrovert and proudly puffed out her small chest.
"Eh~ Then I am the Ever-Smiling Huohua the Great!" Huohua also got along well with children.
Zao Wu couldn't think of a cool title, so he just honestly gave his name.
"My name is Zao Wu."
"Big Brother Zao Wu! Can you join Hook's Moles!?" Hook asked enthusiastically.
Before Zao Wu could respond, Bronya came beside Zao Wu and Huohua. She elegantly lifted her skirt, crouched down, and took the initiative to chat with the cute little Hook.
"The Moles? It sounds interesting. What do you do?"
Hook rarely had moments like today, being the center of attention of adults, so she was even more excited.
"The Moles are very powerful!"
"If the adults in the Underworld are managed by 'Wildfire,' then all the kids are managed by the Moles!"
"We usually, usually..." But at this point, Hook became timid. She couldn't possibly tell the big brothers and sisters in front of her that she usually just played hide-and-seek and picked up machine parts! That would be too embarrassing for a kid! So she had to think of a more impressive activity!
Ah, I've got it!
"We Moles usually fight the evil Silvermane Guards!"
"Hmph, hmph, I, the great Pitch-Dark Hook~ am amazing, right!"
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