Bronya nodded in agreement: "Mm. Just like how the Herrscher of Reason is actually the collective will of three hundred thousand people."
Mei did not speak, but thought to herself: This is also… the reason why Elysia insists that the thirteen Flame-Chasers are indispensable, right?
Bronya said: "Alright, dwelling too much on history won't provide much help to our current reality."
"It's time for us to set off and continue searching for clues."
"Mm."
Mei nodded, and the trio continued onward.
Through exploring yet another memory fragment, they searched for and analyzed more clues.
For example, the uniqueness of the Herrscher of Reason Core, which had never even undergone the Metamorphosis from the very beginning.
After watching another segment of her own past memories.
At that moment, a somewhat familiar voice rang out.
"Story is a very interesting way to put it, Bronya Zaychik."
"After all——humanity's greatest power is narrative."
Bronya reacted quickly: "This voice… Prometheus?"
Prometheus said calmly: "You may address me by that name."
"Although it may be hard to believe——but if you wish to learn Hare's weakness, it would be more beneficial for you to listen to me finish the previous topic."
Bronya immediately said: "Then Bronya will only ask one additional question."
"Your World Bubble, it…"
Prometheus answered: "It has irreversibly disappeared, and so has Dr. MEI."
"I was merely favored by fate and am temporarily surviving in the form of data."
"So… let us end this topic here."
"Grieving over the past does not help humanity move toward the future."
"Especially since, according to the new information I have learned…"
"If you still wish to resist, or even overthrow World Serpent's Stigmata Plan, then the power of the Herrscher of Reason is one of the cornerstones."
Bronya asked in confusion: "The Herrscher of Reason… is a cornerstone?"
Prometheus said: "Correct. However, this point would take a long time to explain… and constantly conversing within these memories that can hardly be described as beautiful brings no benefit."
"…Let me make a few more adjustments to the space you are in."
As her words fell, as if waking from a dream, Bronya opened her eyes and saw Prometheus before her.
Although the other party was a mechanical girl, the two of them standing together looked like sisters.
"…"
Bronya glanced around and said: "The so-called adjustments you made——where did you take Kiana and Mei?"
Prometheus answered: "I customized different escape routes for each of you based on your respective Herrscher Cores."
"Believe me, this is the more efficient approach."
Bronya: "…"
Prometheus continued: "Don't misunderstand. This is not saying that any of you were dragging the others down."
"It is simply that Hare has already set her sights on the authority of the Herrscher of Reason, so I need to arrange some more targeted countermeasures."
Bronya immediately asked: "Hare? How do you know so much about her situation?"
Prometheus said: "This point is indeed quite unbelievable."
"In conclusion, she cleverly utilized certain functions of the Stigmata, allowing my calculation system to luckily transcribe the continued existence of the World Bubble."
"Since this was not a simple data copy, I can believe that the current me is the same individual as the one who was with Dr. MEI before."
"It is not a relationship of prototype and copy."
Bronya said in confusion: "So… Hare is your savior?"
Prometheus answered: "Since I have no intention of repaying her kindness, your description is not accurate."
"And from her perspective, I am also one of the so-called new humans——just like you, possessing the freedom to act as I wish."
Bronya said indifferently: "Bronya does not believe that scientists would grant any freedom to the little white mice playing in their maze."
Prometheus said: "Very well… I understand your feelings. Indeed, efficiency cannot solve all problems."
"I admit I was somewhat too eager for quick results. So, let me temporarily bring them back to your side, Herrscher of Reason."
A look of confusion appeared on Bronya's face.
But before she could react, the world seemed to undergo a tiny distortion in an instant.
When Bronya came back to her senses, Kiana and Mei had returned to her side just as they were before setting off.
Kiana immediately spoke: "Mei! Bronya!"
Mei breathed a sigh of relief: "Thank goodness, everyone looks fine."
"So… why are you here, Prometheus?"
Prometheus crossed her arms and said: "If you knew exactly what kind of place this is."
"Then the answer to that question would be obvious."
After saying something that left people somewhat puzzled, Prometheus changed the subject.
She briefly explained the cause and effect of the previous interlude to Kiana and Mei.
Bronya spoke: "…Obvious?"
"Since you said that at the beginning of your earlier statement, Bronya has come up with some guesses."
"Although this is the Moon, it is also inside the Herrscher Core——did Bronya guess correctly?"
Prometheus had no choice but to admit: "…Your intuition is quite excellent."
"Similar to the World Bubble of the Doctor and me, this place is also a location that temporarily regained the flow of time because of the Stigmata Plan."
"But the cause was not World Serpent, but the unstable Core of the Herrscher of Reason."
Kiana said in confusion: "But… from Bronya's and Mr. Welt's experiences…"
"The Core of the Herrscher of Reason can be said to be far more stable than any other Herrscher Core…"
Mei continued: "And if the reason lies in the Metamorphosis… then the Herrscher of Sentience becomes an exception…"
Bronya shook her head: "No. The real reason… is probably the will of three hundred thousand people."
Kiana asked: "The will of three hundred thousand people? Isn't that the cornerstone that constitutes the Herrscher of Reason?"
Prometheus said: "Correct. However, from Hare's perspective…"
"That is precisely the fundamental reason why this Core is becoming increasingly unstable under the influence of the Stigmata Plan."
Bronya was not surprised: "As expected… that's how it is."
Prometheus said slowly: "I mentioned earlier——humanity's greatest power is narrative."
"And whether it is the Herrscher of Reason or the Stigmata Plan, they are essentially stories."
"When a story is powerful, it possesses the power to reshape the world."
"And when a story is deconstructed, it often becomes nothing more than waste paper."
Mei said in confusion: "But even if you say that… why are the Herrscher of Reason and the Stigmata Plan stories?"
"This is too strange."
Prometheus said: "…It is understandable that you find it strange."
"Because I found it a bit troublesome, I once again presented the conclusion to you first."
Just as Prometheus had said, Hessian had also tried to simplify the complicated and tedious plot that followed.
Simply put, Prometheus had not come to deliver a notification, but as a guide.
Under her guidance, Bronya also learned how to regain the full power of the Herrscher of Reason.
At the same time, she found the past of Hare's birth within the memories.
It originated from——Cecilia Schariac.
Of course, this was not the main point. What truly caused Bronya's pupils to tremble was.
She saw memories from before her own birth, and she saw her biological mother whom she had never met.
Just from looking at those twin braids, it was clear——she was Alexandra.
At this moment, many viewers who were Bronya fans could no longer hold back.
"Is this Mother-in-Law? It really is the ancestral twin-braid anti-duck hairstyle!"
"Not just the hairstyle, Bronya and her mom really look so alike!"
"After all, they are mother and daughter, but isn't this a bit too similar?"
"Mother-in-Law, please accept this son-in-law's bow!"
"All you lolicon stay far away. I'm young, Bronya is mine!"
"…"
Inside the company.
Everyone couldn't help but turn their gaze toward Bronya. They also felt that Bronya and Alexandra looked far too alike.
The most important thing was that during the previous filming, they didn't seem to have seen Bronya's mother?
Bronya was silent for a moment, then glared at a certain director and said:
"Mom is still back home. It wasn't easy for her to come over, so the director asked Vill-V for help."
Vill-V's technology had already been outrageous before, and after coming to the company, it had advanced by leaps and bounds.
Mainly because Hessian not only didn't restrict her budget but also provided all kinds of bizarre and wonderful ideas.
So, with powerful technical support, Bronya did not turn into Big Duck first.
Instead, she first played the role of her own mother.
After understanding the situation, everyone finally realized what had happened and turned their attention back to the TV.
The still nameless Hare met Alexandra.
Thus, she received the name Misteln, and under a mother's resolve.
She helped seal the Stigmata, choosing instead to let the unborn Bronya survive.
In the end, before joining World Serpent, Hare stood before Alexandra's grave.
From Gray Serpent, she learned that Bronya was still alive.
While simplifying these plot points as much as possible, Hessian also planned to release them as completely as possible during the livestream.
On the TV, the memories of the past came to an abrupt end.
However, for those watching, this was an unexpected interruption.
Hare looked around. This place was still the heart-image space she had previously unfolded.
But she, who was already very familiar with this history, also understood clearly that there were still some epilogues and interludes before that story truly ended.
"The space of memories was broken from the inside?"
"Was it because of… the Herrscher of the Void?"
"No, that's not right…"
As if responding to her words, deep within the Herrscher Core that had been forcibly fused using the power of the Stigmata Plan.
A dark red light flashed out.
However…
"Mm? I see… This is truly a very bold attempt."
As her words fell, Hare raised her head and looked up.
At the point where her gaze landed, cracks in the Imaginary Space gradually spread.
Accompanied by a sound like a mirror shattering, Hare said slowly: "Welcome back, Bronya Zaychik."
"At least you yourself did not disappoint me."
Having returned to reality, Bronya stared at Hare and said: "As expected… the Core has completely gone to you."
"No, it has gone to the Stigmata Plan."
"Also, are you deliberately emphasizing the difference between me and the Herrscher of Reason?"
Hare admitted: "…Correct. My praise is given to you as an individual, not to the Herrscher of Reason."
"Besides, you no longer need to bear that identity now, do you?"
Bronya said firmly: "Bronya's goal is still to reclaim the power of the Herrscher of Reason."
"It's just that… if we continue the tug-of-war with you using the previous method, Bronya cannot win."
"If we view it as a game of chess, the most rational approach is to destroy the space itself——to flip over the chessboard."
"And if we cannot do that for the time being, we should immediately admit defeat and open a new battlefield to avoid wasting time meaninglessly."
"Therefore, through bombardment, Bronya severed her connection with the Core and temporarily abandoned the authority of the Herrscher of Reason."
"And thus, as an ordinary person, she broke free from the constraints of that specialized space."
Hare asked in confusion: "But… didn't you struggle for so long precisely because you didn't want to let everything of the Herrscher of Reason be taken by me?"
Bronya said indifferently: "Under the circumstances where you cheated using the power of the Stigmata Plan, this was the only way to return to reality."
"Moreover… if a person cannot accept the situation of something dying."
"Then she actually does not possess the capacity to truly hold onto that thing."
Hare laughed in astonishment: "That is indeed a mistake the past me easily made."
"…Alright. More or less, you now know what kind of existence I am."
"Creating one's own kind——that is the necessity of the Stigmata Plan for me. Simple and clear."
Obviously, this was a lie.
But Bronya on the opposite side did not yet know about Hare's relationship with her biological mother, so she could not raise any objections.
Hare continued: "I have always wanted to help you. This is also sincere."
"However…"
Bronya interrupted: "Once we touch upon the key to the problem and hinder the execution of the Stigmata Plan, you will absolutely not yield."
Hare nodded: "Yes."
Bronya said in confusion: "But even so… Bronya still cannot understand why you are so obsessed with only the Herrscher of Reason."
Hare said with a subtle expression: "What if I said… it's because of jealousy?"
As if not seeing the confusion on Bronya's face, Hare's voice continued.
"The first Herrscher of Reason, Welt Joyce."
"He is an existence similar to me, yet he is admired by countless people and has even become a spiritual legacy."
"——Completely different from the me of the past."
"I hate that curse placed upon me from the moment I was born."
"I want to know how my own kind transcended this pain that surpasses death."
"To repair their wings in hell, and fly once more."