'At daybreak, the guardian shall be a glittering star, illuminating the people's path. At nightfall, the guardian shall be a flickering flame, comforting the people's soul… So many years... Have I been following lies this whole time?'
Bronya wasn't sure how she was supposed to feel after learning that everything was simply a hoax. If someone had told her that the source of the Eternal Freeze — Belobog's everlasting struggle — was brought about by the first Supreme Guardian, she would have brushed it off as blasphemy.
However, the evidence was right in front of her. Svarog was a robot created to serve humanity, so she doubted that he would have fabricated the transmissions. In the end, the most ridiculous scenario was proven true.
She turned her head as she heard footsteps trudge through the snow. She found Seele, seeming awkward as she was most likely going to attempt to comfort her.
"Hey... maybe you should find someone to talk to..."
Seeing that Bronya was simply going to stay silent, Seele sighed.
"Don't let it get you down — you can share your feelings with others y'know? Do you think keeping it all to yourself is doing you any good? You let that status of yours go to your head, huh? Afraid to show weakness? That's why you're keeping so much bottled up inside, right?"
She scoffed.
"This isn't the Overworld. We don't do envy and etiquette down here. Whatever's on your mind, you can say it."
Bronya found her words t be slightly ironic. From what she had seen, Seele was the kind of individual who would act straightforward until embarrassment comes into play.
"...I just want to be clear in myself, first. These fragments of history, the teachings I studied... It's all muddled together in my mind... I just... I don't know what I should believe."
Seele stayed silent for a moment.
"...No, you just have to be clear on what you should do. You've spent long enough living in lies, Bronya. This is your chance to break out of the cage."
***
Abiding by her request, Sunny met up with Natasha. The older woman gazed in the direction of Boulder Town — and by extension, the passage between the Overworld and Underworld.
"The Furnace Core... The path to the surface is close at hand now."
She turned towards him, a soft smile playing on her face.
"Thank you, Sunny. What you've done has brought new hope to the Underworld. Now we have to wait and see... But maybe this will lead to a new lease on life."
After a moment, Sunny shrugged in response.
"I'm just doing what I said I would. After all, I'm the most honest man in two worlds."
She tittered, shaking her head in mirth.
Sunny paused before tilting his head in curiosity.
"Why did you come here anyways? Also, where is Sampo?"
Suddenly, her mature expression became slightly… ashamed?
"...I, um... I haven't been truthful with you..."
She coughed into her fist.
"As Wildfire's leader, I couldn't simply look on while you fought on our behalf. I had to come help. As for Sampo, he called me over before disappearing off to who knows where."
Sunny stared blankly at her for a moment, before making a noise of confusion.
"Huh...? Huh!? So, you're the real chief? Then… what about Oleg?"
Who would have thought that his rival for Seele's enslav— employment wasn't the old geezer, but Natasha instead?! No wonder he never took Sunny as a real opponent… it wasn't even his battle!
Natasha couldn't help but laugh at his incredulous expression.
"Oleg has always acted on my behalf — he helps me deal with all manner of problems in the Underworld."
A wistful look appeared on her face.
"Thanks to him, I'm able to make time for the people. I do my best to make sure that they have everything they need... At the same time, I was formulating a plan to deal with Svarog. Your arrival unraveled that carefully crafted yet rudimentary plan, hehe... and for that, you have my utmost thanks."
Sunny simply stared at her before exhaling. It seemed that Bronya wasn't the only one who was living a lie.
Natasha continued:
"However, even though Svarog is no longer sealing off the Furnace Core, there's no way that we undergrounders could go pouring onto the surface."
Her features turned sharp.
"That cold-blooded Supreme Guardian has used lies and tricks to keep the surface separated from the underground. If she detects any change in the Underworld, I don't know what she might resort to... As for Wildfire, we need more time to build up our strength. In the meantime, I'm sending someone I trust to go with you."
Sunny blinked. When it came to candidates who could be useful in a fight against the Supreme Guardian, the list was rather short. Sampo might have been useful, but practically nobody trusted him when times got tough. Even Natasha shouldn't resort to him in such important matters.
Considering the lack of Awakened within Belobog — the Underworld in particular — there was only one candidate left if he excluded Sampo and Natasha herself.
"Seele...?"
Natasha seemed surprised by his questioning tone.
"Didn't she tell you? In private, she insisted on accompanying you. Don't let her carefree nature fool you — she's actually very discerning, and can read a situation like no one else."
…The reason Sunny doubted that Seele wanted to come along was because of her obvious dislike of the 'Overworld snobs'. It seemed quite counterintuitive to voluntee to go to the place that is completely populated by them.
"I'm sure that you're already aware of Seele's strength, even if she's inexperienced. She'll definitely be able to help you. Not to mention... you also have Bronya now."
When it came to the Overworld princess, Sunny wasn't sure if she was willing to provide them with assistance after learning of the truth. It wouldn't be unreasonable for her to decide that she didn't want to have any part with this.
"Will she stand with us?"
"It seems like the intel we got from Svarog caused her a significant shock... but with Seele by her side, I know she'll recover."
'Huh? Seele? Of all people?'
Sure, she might have a powerful Aspect, but what does that have to do with her social skills? She was brash, couldn't mince her words, and was blunter than his bat. Out of anyone who should comfort Bronya, even he would do a better job!
'Hm… that's an idea.'
Sunny was not one who would allow a beneficial opportunity to be forgotten!
Suddenly, Natasha started to look him up and down.
"…Sunny, when's the last time you got some rest? I heard that you've been on your feet looking for Svarog since Rivet Town."
A stern expression appeared on her face. Was his fatigue that obvious? Even Bronya pointed it out!
"Health is everything — you won't be much use if you neglect yours. Let Wildfire take care of the Furnace Core for now. You head back and recuperate. If you're lucky... perhaps tomorrow you can return to the Overworld."
***
Stelle opened the mini-freezer within her room. The interior of it was bland, filled with nothing but countless packets of meat. She mindlessly fished one out, tearing the packet open as she pulled the pinkish flesh out.
Since she was hungry, she simply stuffed it into her mouth, not bothering to cook it. The taste of uncooked pork flooded her mouth, although, it was a bit more bitter than pork would normally be.
Eating meat in such a manner would have been disgusting for most. However, it was quite delectable to Stelle. In fact, it was even better than usual — although, a little tougher to chew on. She held up the packet, staring at the fine print that was left on a corner.
"True Name: Baron of Secrets, 596M, Transcendent."
'Pretty tasty for an old guy.'
It must have been the guy that Kafka had dealt with a few weeks ago.
In the past, there weren't any tags on the packets. Random bits of human flesh were simply stuffed in for her consumption. For whatever reason, Sunny didn't like that, so he bought a full food production team to clean, seperate, and label the food.
It seemed to be one of those things that peeved him. She didn't really get it, but she noticed that the meat started to taste better ever since he'd done it, so she wasn't complaining.
She clicked her tongue in annoyance.
'If he was still here, he would have cooked it for me!'
Grumbling about her lack of a personal chef, her spiritual intuition suddenly triggered. With a sigh, she 'listened' to whatever entity was attempting to speak to her.
[If you're searching for a personal chef, why don't you go looking into a trashcan…?]
An eerie, whispering, yet familiar voice spoke into her mind. In response, Stelle simply sighed.
'I'm sorry Mister Raccoon God, but we both know that chefs don't hide themselves in trashcans.'
With how ridiculous it's ravings were, Stelle would have permanently silenced it if it didn't share the same interest in trashcans that she did.
[Silly girl… don't you know that everything is both within and not within a trashcan until it is opened? I believe this theory is called Schrödinger's Trashcan.]
Stelle placed a finger to her chin, seriously considering it's words. She stuffed the rest of the Transcendent meat into her mouth, noisily chewing.
'…Good point. I guess I should get to digging…'
As she moved to leave her room, the Raccoon God chuckled.
[While you're at it, you wouldn't mind sacrificing some of that human flesh to me, would you? Although it is inferior to what I would usually have, I just happen to have a Voracious appetite…]