CHIH - Chapters 61-70 (Patreon)
Content
CHIH - Chapters 60-70
Chapter 61: Cocolia Orphanage
The soldiers brought news.
Cocolia had been abducted, her fate unknown.
Usually, even kidnappers leave some form of contact information, but Cocolia hadn't left a single clue.
As time passed, Cocolia's subordinates would gradually realize that she wasn't as important as they know. The officer with the highest authority under Cocolia would likely inherit her remaining assets, becoming a new warlord or perhaps dissolving everything and living a carefree life of their own.
Of course, none of this concerned Cocolia directly. After being imprisoned in the secure room prepared by the World Serpent, Cocolia remained tight-lipped, much to Bronie's frustration.
Unable to extract any information from Cocolia, Bronie had to resort to other methods to find the location of the Cocolia Orphanage.
For example, examining expenditure records and daily travel logs. Eventually, Bronie managed to uncover some traces.
After all, Cocolia always carried her bank card with her.
Buying toys, clothes—these expenses always leave a trail, don't they?
Wherever one goes, they inevitably leave traces. Luckily, news of Cocolia's mishap would surely reach the orphanage. Then Bronie could rightfully take over the entire orphanage.
"It's a pity, you took a bullet in the knee. You'll need to use crutches for a while. Until I completely take over the orphanage, I won't let you leave. But I imagine your subordinates will soon take over everything you own, given that they won't be able to find you for a long time."
Bronie still believed in those guys' greed. It probably wouldn't take more than a month for Cocolia's fortune to dwindle significantly.
When Cocolia returns on crutches, how many people will still be willing to listen to her?
"Why are you ruining everything for me?"
"You should be asking yourself why you're ruining these children's futures."
"They never had bright futures to begin with. Is that something a kid like you should be concerned about?"
Cocolia glanced at Bronie.
After being caught, Cocolia initially thought that Cioara was the one controlling Bronie, but it turned out that dangerous mercenary hadn't done anything, and everything was Bronie's doing.
Unseen technology, projections reminiscent of science fiction, and technology that could even hack into banks—yet, Bronie was still just a kid.
And a very familiar one at that.
"It's precisely because I'm a kid that I can't stand for these things. Don't talk to me about sacrifices being worth it or necessary. I don't care. All these difficult choices stem from your lack of strength, right, Raven?"
"Although you seem to be thinking about something else, what Haxxor Bunny said is correct. All these difficult choices stem from your lack of strength. If you can't handle it, why bother researching Honkai? You might as well sell BBQ pork by the streets of Arc City."
Cocolia had nothing to say, only looking at Bronie again.
"What do you want to do with those children?"
"Hahaha! It's all part of my evil plan! I'll hire the best teachers for them, subject them to the torment of homework every day, and only let them wear the clothes I like. I'll force-feed them gourmet food made by top chefs every day and give each of them a phone so they're too busy playing with their phones before bedtime to hear my bedtime stories!"
It sounded evil, but in reality, it was just creating a better living environment.
However, Cocolia's expression was somewhat subtle.
"Do you have that much money? Can you solve the problem of Honkai affecting them?"
"Tsk, I have way more money than you! I understand Honkai better than you do, and treating it is a piece of cake. It's nothing difficult for me. Stop worrying about things you don't need to. If you truly love those children, you should spend the remaining time repenting for the sins you've committed."
With that, Bronie left the room where Cocolia was being held.
As they say, it takes a hundred days to heal a broken bone. Cocolia's leg would probably be unable to withstand high-intensity movement for quite some time.
So, there was no need to worry about Cocolia escaping.
"Where are you going?"
"Of course, I'm heading to the orphanage. There, many children have resistance to Honkai, but I suspect their health isn't up to par. So it's best to make contact with them as soon as possible and start treatment early."
"Treatment? Can you handle it?"
"I'll do my best. If I can't manage, I'll have Mobius guide me remotely. Though Mobius is a bit dangerous, it's still better than Cocolia. At least Mobius actually has the technology; we don't need to sacrifice lives for treatment."
"But taking over the orphanage, you're still so young. You can't possibly become the legal director of the orphanage, can you?"
Bronie's expression stiffened, as if she just realized this issue.
"Uh... then it'll be in your name? I'll provide the money and effort, and you just need to oversee it. Forget about profits; consider it your good deed. Let's leave the money aside. It's meaningless if it's not spent, especially for such a cause. Let's go. I'll leave Cocolia to your subordinates, and I'll go see what my orphanage looks like. I didn't expect my first real estate to be an orphanage."
"But it's quite meaningful, isn't it?"
"Perhaps."
The Ural Mountains stretch north and south for over 2,500 kilometers, with plenty of habitable areas.
Similarly, Cocolia's orphanage is within the Ural Mountains' range, so it's quite convenient to get there.
In winter, there's snow here, but in summer, it can get very hot.
After transferring ownership of the orphanage through proper procedures, Cioara brought Bronie to the orphanage without delay, knocking on the orphanage's door.
"The environment here is quite nice."
"Well, you'll have plenty of time to come here and take care of these children in the future. I hope by then you'll have enough patience. Also, you'll have to take care of Kiana. If you don't visit her for too long, she might suffer from a Honkai outbreak again."
"I've told you, Honkai has nothing to do with Kiana. If it's irrelevant, it's irrelevant. Don't overthink it."
At this moment, the orphanage's door opened, and a middle-aged woman looked Cioara up and down.
"Hello, you're the incoming director Cioara, right? I'm Alona, the maid responsible for taking care of the children's daily lives here."
"I'm sorry about Cocolia's situation. Although I don't know what happened to her, I can't bear to see the children in the orphanage suffer. So I spent a little money to at least give the children a less terrible childhood."
"You're really a great person. And this young lady is..."
"I'm Bronie. I'll also be assisting in managing this orphanage in the future. Education matters will be handled by me. Of course, you don't have to worry about my abilities. You'll see."
Alona looked Bronie up and down.
Finally, she stepped aside and opened the door wider.
"Please come in. This orphanage was actually converted from a mansion. When the children have nothing to do, they help maintain the garden. I believe you'll like these sensible and clever children."
Passing through the garden and arriving at the villa, curious gazes emanated from the windows and doors.
"Sine, the new director is here. Let's meet her. This is Director Natasha Cioara, and Miss Bronie."
"I'm sorry about Director Cocolia's situation, but in life, there are always some people who are just passing by. All we can do is remember the deeds they once did. I'm the same. In the days to come, Bronie and I will accompany you through childhood until you grow up and become independent. Of course, you don't have to worry about being sick anymore. There will be no more sacrifices. We have found a treatment solution."
Suddenly, the children began whispering to each other.
Alona didn't know about Honkai, so outwardly, what Cocolia said was that they all had an illness.
After all, who would easily abandon their own children if they weren't sick?
Sin seemed to gather her courage and asked Cioara, "Is it true? Do you know what illnesses we have?"
When Sin saw Cioara hesitate slightly and look at Alona, she immediately confirmed that Cioara really knew about Honkai.
As the oldest child in the orphanage, Sin was the most sensible, the most talented, and the most favored by Cocolia.
She demonstrated her own value to garner more attention and protection from Cocolia, as well as a sense of security.
In fact, everyone in the orphanage lacked a sense of security, with more or less troubled childhoods.
For example, witnessing family members become zombie.
Or the outbreak of Honkai, with many Honkai Beasts suddenly appearing.
"I know about your physical conditions, and I've arranged follow-up treatment, so don't worry too much. Unlike Cocolia, we only hope that you can grow up healthy and then create your own future."
From the beginning, Cocolia adopted those children with a purpose, and more or less, they all had some resistance to Honkai.
Some had more resistance and almost died, while others had a bit more resistance and seemed quite formidable.
And all along, Cocolia had been instilling in them the idea that their purpose was to help her conduct experiments, so they felt that participating in experiments was only natural.
So after Cioara said this, she could clearly feel the restless agitation.
How had these children's minds been twisted? It was truly lamentable.
After a brief chat, following Alona's footsteps, they entered the director's office. Alona went to prepare lunch for the children temporarily, leaving Bronie and Cioara alone in the room to discuss the upcoming matters.
"How do you feel about this orphanage?"
Cioara asked Bronie for her opinion.
"The estate is quite large, and it seems the money was well spent. But that Cocolia really has no morals. The children have significant psychological issues. If left unattended, there will definitely be trouble."
"Militarized management, but not so strict. Their thinking is still in line with military standards."
"It's like a dog can't change its nature. Knowing she's incapable of educating them, she adopted them with a purpose from the beginning. Naturally, the children she raised would have problems, especially Sin. She lacks a sense of security."
Despite being such a lovely girl, she had to pretend to be strong to garner Cocolia's attention.
But after pretending for so long, she forgot her true self. Under that awkward psychology, it's possible for her to do something twisted.
Cocolia may not realize it, but Cioara nodded in agreement with Bronie's analysis.
"It's a long and arduous task ahead. Can you handle it?"
"It's not about whether I can or can't, but that I must. But I think Elysia will be able to do it. I'll try to do it her way."
"Approaching them as an older sister of similar age makes it easier to connect, right?"
"Anyway, leave the education to me. But I might not be able to stay by Kiana's side for a while."
"I understand. I'll talk to her properly, and if anything happens there, I'll be sure to contact you."
Cioara could see that Bronie had more important things to do.
And these children, honestly, Cioara wasn't very reassured either, so any help she could provide would count.
Seeing them die like this would still be uncomfortable for Cioara.
"If you're free, would you like to come and teach the children?"
"Me? Can I?"
"At least you're probably better than Cocolia. Just look at the vigor and spirit of those children, and you'll know."
"Yeah... It was too lenient to just shoot her in the leg... That crazy woman really should see a psychiatrist. I remember it's called... PTSD?"
"Whatever her problem is, I'm asking if you want this merit or not!"
"I do!"
"Then this office is mine. I'll be here playing games with the children while waiting for you to come over."
Chapter 62: A New Home
After chatting for a bit and confirming how the orphanage would operate in the future, Bronie and Cioara headed to the cafeteria.
The children were eating here, and they would also eat here in the future, so it was good to come early and get to know each other.
When Bronie opened the cafeteria door, all eyes turned towards her.
"Ahem, everyone, I'm Bronie, and from now on, I'll be your big sister! Normally, I mainly develop games, but from now on, I'll also be your teacher, accompanying you through the days ahead. As for Director Cioara, she's a mascot. Once I come of age, the orphanage will be under my name."
Bronie stood with her hands on her hips, as if challenging anyone to oppose her.
The children's young eyes were greatly shocked, and little Sin looked equally incredulous.
"Is it strange? Indeed, it may seem strange for someone my age to do these things, but in the days ahead, strange things will be commonplace. So don't be too surprised. Anyway, that's how it is. If you have any questions, feel free to come to me."
Sin raised her hand at this point.
"Um, Bronie big sister, does that mean the director will temporarily leave, and you will stay?"
"Exactly! What awaits you next will be a life like hell!"
Bronie grinned mischievously, and suddenly all the children fell silent, waiting quietly for Bronie's next words.
"You will be forced to wear various clothes I give you, like dolls constantly changing outfits. You'll eat delicious and nutritious food until you're full every day, then drown in a sea of homework, only able to change your future destiny through learning knowledge!"
The response to Bronie was silence.
"I told you, scaring them like this won't work. Actually, these children are quite sensible, although it's possible that this is also a manifestation of lack of security."
What exactly did Cocolia do to these children?
To make them feel both insecure here and loyal to Cocolia.
It's like, Stockholm Syndrome, right?
"Okay, enough joking. In short, there's only one rule in the orphanage for me, and that's not to harm family members. That's enough. If you want something, just tell me, and I'll do my best to fulfill your wishes."
"But... what about the experiments?"
Sin thought it might be Cocolia's subordinates or colleagues who took over the orphanage, and the experiments would continue.
"Children should be like children, they should enjoy their childhood. Don't think about those things. I'll take care of the treatment, and you won't participate in the experiments. That's for adults to handle. Letting children take on adult responsibilities is a failure of an adult, so I won't let you participate in any experiments."
"But aren't you..."
Bronie placed her hand on Sin's head.
Because Sin is still relatively young, and it's still early in the day, Sin hasn't been deeply influenced by Cocolia, and her personality distortion isn't as severe as imagined.
So the cute, long-haired Sin looked a bit timid.
"Just be cute, okay?"
"Uh... okay."
Bronie's kind eyes made Sin hesitant to speak up.
Although she was like the king of children in the orphanage, her status actually came from Cocolia's attention and favoritism.
Now that Cocolia was gone, and so were the experiments, the precision in controlling Honkai also meant nothing. So now, in front of everyone, Sin was just an ordinary child.
After scanning around and confirming the presence of Seele, Bronie nodded in satisfaction.
"They're all such lovely children. Although we're not very familiar right now, I'll be able to get along with them soon."
"Using Elysia's method?"
"Using the Bunny's way. I might have to temporarily put aside the game production based on the voting system. I just realized that there are very few games I've made so far that children can play and enjoy."
Elden Ring isn't very suitable for children to play, and Kiana's situation is a bit special, so playing it is not a problem.
"Well, only you can do it this way."
Indeed, only Bronie can produce games and such.
"Elysia and others make friends sincerely, and I'm the same. I sincerely hope they have a happy childhood, while Cocolia sincerely hopes they die with value."
"This kind of thing, it's better not to talk about it in the cafeteria..."
Cioara was also helpless, but what else could she say? Arguing with a lunatic?
That's right, after a brief exchange with Cocolia, Cioara directly categorized her as mentally ill.
"It's nothing, just a little angry, you see these children here, they are all so adorable, and they are all lovely girls."
God knows why, but this is probably the world of Honkai.
Those with a slightly stronger resistance to Honkai are mostly girls. Originally, Bronie was afraid that she might treat others differently based on gender.
But is there still a need to consider such things now?
Certainly not.
Cioara didn't stay long in the afternoon.
After all, she was really worried about Kiana. Cocolia wasted too much time, and wandering around outside could easily attract the attention of the World Serpent.
That's not good.
And naturally, Bronie stayed behind. They introduced each other, and then got to know each other better.
Children with resistance to Honkai are actually quite difficult to find. Apart from the familiar Vodka sisters, Sin, and Seele, there are still four unfamiliar children left.
But they were equally adorable.
Bronie remembered their names: Nina, Isabella, Sofia, and Anila.
"Well..."
After dinner, Bronie returned to her office, pondering what kind of game to make for the children.
Being too enthusiastic might make the children nervous, so Bronie chose to stay in her office. Besides, her room was right next to the office, so she could rest anytime after work.
But then Bronie's office door was pushed open.
A shy girl with short blue hair peeked out from behind the door, as if she had something to say.
"Hmm? I remember you're Seele, right? What's up?"
"Big sister Bronie, I heard you and Director Cioara discussing Mother Cocolia in the cafeteria earlier, and... um, do you know what happened to her? Everyone is very concerned about this issue, but a bit afraid..."
Unexpectedly, the shyest girl was the first to muster the courage to ask such a question.
It seems they also know that Cocolia is really unreliable and could crash at any moment.
"She's in prison, charged with arms trafficking, intentional murder, and illegal human experiments, with children as subjects."
In total, five died at Cocolia's hands. After taking over the orphanage, Cocolia finally faced reality and confessed her crimes.
"But..."
"Even if the children volunteered, it still violates laws and regulations. Not to mention whether the children volunteered or not, conducting human experiments is inherently unethical and should never be done in the first place. So being arrested for a crime, isn't that normal?"
Seele was speechless.
The little knowledge stored in her young mind couldn't answer Bronie's questions.
"Are you worried about Cocolia's safety? Don't worry, when you grow up, you can visit her in prison. And don't worry about how well she's doing in prison, it's a place for repentance, not punishment. Cocolia won't be harmed too much."
Moreover, behind Cocolia, there's the shadow of the Ash Snake, but who says Bronie doesn't have people within the World Serpent?
With the answers she wanted, Seele breathed a sigh of relief.
But when she looked at Bronie again, Seele felt that although Bronie looked cool, she was actually quite kind...
"By the way, I mentioned before, I'm a game developer, specializing in making games, right?"
"Yes, everyone is very curious, including Nina. She said you, Big sis Bronie, seemed familiar."
"Familiar? That's good. Come here, I want to make a game for everyone, but I don't know what theme you'd prefer."
Saying that, Bronie hugged Seele and put her on her lap.
Then Seele saw the full design sketches on Bronie's computer desktop.
There were cute little animals, one with a strange rodent with yellow skin and black stripes.
There's also a chubby pink blob, wobbling cutely as it walks.
And a plumber uncle, who seems to be on a mission to rescue a princess?
Each art style was so cute that Seele was immediately drawn to the images on the computer.
At the moment, Seele, small and very cute, looked about nine years old.
Even younger than Kiana.
As a 'wife' from HI3rd, she naturally had to be nurtured from a young age.
Righ-wait no. No unholy thoughts.
"This one!"
Seele immediately picked Kirby.
That's normal, girls like pink things, right?
"Great, tonight I'll print out the story settings collection and then let everyone vote for the game they want to play the most and the second most. I'll make them all in the future for everyone to enjoy! Oh, and don't think there can only be one... How is that possible? These adorable games, I can't just give up on all of them. Rather, these games are important games to clear my name, to prevent everyone from calling me the 'Dreadful Evil Bunny '."
The traps in the dungeons of Elden Ring did cause quite a bit of resentment, and although Bronie offered ample rewards, players still gave her the nickname.
There's nothing she can do about it. Those two games, where players conquered the dungeons, really struck a chord with people.
Just think about it, in the process of exploring the dungeons, accumulating one's own Runes continuously, and suddenly losing all of them accidentally.
All the hard-earned Runes saved up for leveling up disappeared in an instant.
Anyone's mentality would explode.
"Haxxor Bunny..."
"That's the username I use online. Look at these games."
"Wow!"
From Undertale, to Spiritfarer, then to Civilization, and Elden Ring.
Although young Seele couldn't understand what these games represented, from the art style, comments, and Bronie's pride, she could feel Bronie's excellence in game development.
Unlike Cocolia's cold military demeanor, Bronie was like a spring breeze, building relationships with others as an elder sister.(Learnt from Elysia)
"It's getting late. If you don't get enough sleep, you won't grow tall, remember to go to bed before ten o'clock at night, and when you go out, call Sin in too."
Sin was more cautious, more insecure, while Seele was just shy. But with care from family, she could muster courage faster.
It was Sin who lacked a sense of security and felt awkward, knowing her own limitations, so she didn't dare to provoke Bronie.
After noticing Seele's departure, Sin also tried to gather information about Bronie from Seele, at least to understand Cocolia's situation.
So she lurked outside the door, eavesdropping on Seele and Bronie's conversation.
Sure enough, Bronie knew about Cocolia's situation!
But she didn't expect Cocolia to really mess up.
After Seele left the office, Sin tried to hide, but when she saw Sin's figure, Seele also walked straight towards her.
"Sin, Big sis Bronie wants you to come over. Cocolia mom... she's gone to prison... We can visit her in prison in the future."
After saying that, Seele escaped like she was running away and went back to her room.
Watching the half-open door of Bronie's office illuminate the corner of the corridor, Sin fell silent for a moment, but still pushed the door open and entered.
Entering the office, what she saw was not Bronie sitting in the office chair like a boss.
But a back figure rummaging the closet like a racoon.
At this moment, Bronie seemed to be looking for something in the cabinet, because the cabinet was not designed for children's use, so it looked like Bronie had been eaten by a mimic.
Then Bronie came out, holding a violet little dress in her hand, which looked very gorgeous.
"I'm sorry about Cocolia, but if I say it directly, it might break the ideal image of her in your hearts. The world is never black and white, everyone has their own faults, but don't worry, if you can't find the meaning of your life, it's okay to take a temporary break and then slowly embark on the journey of searching. After all, the meaning of life assigned by others is different from the one you find for yourself, and that's where the fun lies, isn't it?"
Sin didn't quite understand, but she seemed to understand something.
Bronie didn't mean any harm to her.
Is it like this?
"This dress is for you! Of course, everyone in the orphanage will also have new clothes, and there will be more in the future. But I think you might look even cuter dressed like this."
With this set of moves, Sin was completely confused.
But surprisingly, Bronie's straightforward words were very helpful to Sin, and in just a few words, Bronie gained some of Sin's trust.
However, holding the little dress nervously, Sin ran to the door of the office and said, "Don't think this little gift will please me! Being cute is not my style at all!"
With that, Sin fled the office like she was escaping, and even remembered to close the door behind her.
But this Sin, still with long hair, is also very cute. She wonder if Sin will wear that little dress tomorrow.
Chapter 63: New Game Trailer
The news of Seele and Sin emerging from Bronie's office quickly spread among the children in the orphanage.
Some approached Sin, who was furious because her little skirt almost got discovered.
Others sought out Seele, who patiently invited them into her room to calmly discuss Cocolia's situation.
How can they put it? Although Cocolia is kind and friendly, the things she has done are indeed crimes that could lead to imprisonment. It's just that it came a little early, catching everyone off guard.
Fortunately, Bronie doesn't seem too strict, and it's not bad, right?
Who can say what will happen in the future? So, aren't they afraid of experiments?
Of course, they are.
But Cocolia has raised them and treated them well. What other choice do they have?
Naturally, there isn't much choice. And Cocolia has always been building their psychological resilience, so they don't really understand what it means to die after an experiment.
After Bronie checked every room, ensuring the children were all still there, and went to bed in her own room, she lay on the unfamiliar yet soft bed, reminiscing about the bed in Cioara as she slowly fell asleep.
And then woke up when the children were almost awake.
Tonight, the children's sleep quality was much better than the previous few days, as if knowing about Cocolia's situation had eased their minds a bit. Sin felt the same way.
Cocolia won't let them undergo experiments anymore, and no more family members will die from experiment accidents. That's the best outcome.
But for some reason, it feels like there's something soft sticking to her body in her dream.
She opens her eyes. And sees Bronie's eyes.
"Good morning!"
"You, you, you! Why are you suddenly in my bed?!"
The morning drowsiness swept away, Sin, like a startled cat, quickly jumped up and distanced herself from Bronie.
"Hahaha, I'm just really looking forward to seeing you wear the little skirt I gave you, so I couldn't wait and waited in your room!"
Bronie crawled out from under the warm covers and tidied up her messy drill ponytail.
"Believe me, you have the potential to be cute. As long as you dress a little more carefully, you will be very cute. Cocolia is always thinking about fighting and killing, so she definitely won't teach you how to dress up, so I'm here!"
Seeing Sin's fluffy hair sticking up, Bronie tried to flatten it. But the pink fluff still stood up, as if Sin's fluff had been like this since last night.
That's the effect of a mental breakdown.
And what about her own double helix drill?
That was carefully prepared by herself.
Sin showed her shark teeth, trying to scare Bronie away, but for Bronie, it was just a little cat extending its claws.
After Sin finished washing up, despite her struggles, she was still put in the little dress Bronie gave her.
In the dining room, Bronie pushed Sin, who was the last to arrive, to the front of the dining room.
"Wow—"
The dining room door opened, and there was an instant chorus of admiration.
Sin, who usually behaves the most tomboyish, unexpectedly looked so cute in the little dress!
And now? At this moment, Sin was so shy that she could boil water directly, her restless little hands tightly gripping her skirt, and she lowered her head so as not to see the other children's gazes.
Then Bronie's hands were placed on Sin's shoulders, startling her.
"Look at everyone."
Raising her head, she saw that everyone was wearing little dresses. And they were very gorgeous, obviously not cheap little dresses. Each person had one.
"These are very, very beautiful clothes! Sin..."
Seele saw Sin like this for the first time, but she still knew that Sin now was like a little hedgehog, ready to prick you at any touch.
But soothing along the fur might probably work.
So Seele gathered her courage and gave some praise.
As a result, Sin's face became even redder.
Pushed into her seat by Bronie, Sin, and Bronie took their places at the table.
"In the days to come, as I mentioned yesterday, I will accompany you in your growth. There aren't many rules at home, just don't harm family members, and don't engage in activities that endanger yourself. If you have any questions, just ask, that's it."
Bronie didn't like lengthy speeches, and in the days to come, there would be plenty of time to get to know each other.
However, Aunt Alona on the side looked worried.
There was nothing she could do. Bronie looked so young, after all.
Although Bronie repeatedly emphasized her genius, taking care of the children was all learned from Cocolia.
So from daily life to class, Bronie needed some time to adjust.
Fortunately, Cocolia had left a daily schedule in the orphanage, listing clearly when classes were held and when exercises were done.
After a hearty breakfast, Bronie stood in front of the refrigerator, looking at the schedule.
"Well, today is Monday, what to do... Since I lack experience, let's temporarily follow Cocolia's routine. I guess sudden changes in daily life may make everyone uncomfortable... Hmm? Practice using Honkai Energy?"
Goodness, can this be said in front of Aunt Alona?
When she looked at her, she wore an expression of helplessness.
"To be honest, I don't know what this is. Cocolia led the children in this course, and outsiders are not allowed. Do you know what this class is about?"
"Yes, I know what this course is. Aunt Alona, this thing really can't be shown to others. It has very high confidentiality. If you know the contents, it could affect your daily life and your family."
"Okay, okay, I won't ask anymore, but the classroom is at the end of the first-floor corridor. I'll stay away from the rest."
Indeed, those who took over this orphanage were no ordinary people.
As for what Honkai Energy was, Aunt Alona didn't want to pursue it anymore.
Sometimes, knowing too much is not good for oneself.
The children in the orphanage also wore their little dresses, happily following behind Bronie.
"Cocolia's original intention in training you was probably to select candidates for Honkai Energy experiments. Excellent individuals have a higher success rate. But with me, this class will be different."
The little ones looked at each other, then at Bronie, with curious expressions.
"What I'm going to teach in the classroom next is the basic nature of Honkai Energy, the methods used in real life, and how to protect yourself after a major Honkai outbreak. The content is based on the curriculum of the Schicksal's newly built St. Freya Academy. I believe the upcoming classes will give you a clearer understanding of Honkai Energy, and if you encounter disasters caused by Honkai in daily life, you should know how to protect yourself."
Indeed, she might not be using Honkai Energy herself, but the textbooks from St. Freya Academy were indeed useful.
Since she couldn't find anything to teach, just bring them over without any problem.
Then Bronie projected the lesson plan while explaining some information about Honkai Energy that she knew, combined with the knowledge provided by Vill-V, to some extent, it was also learning new knowledge.
Compared to life getting back on track in the orphanage, some people on the gaming side have already completely completed all the achievements!
Including Otto himself.
The various whims and uses of the Bunny in the dungeons, as well as their ability to use space, truly allowed Otto to experience the genius of the Bunny.
However, after achieving each ending, Otto was even more thoughtful.
In this Lands Between controlled by the Greater Will, what it brought to humanity was endless suffering. Even if the blessing brought eternal life, under the erosion of time, it also became a curse.
Marika tried to break free from chains, but the Greater Will turned Marika into Radagon again, giving birth to more halves, trying to bring more easily controlled puppets.
But human will has always been free, and countless people resist in their own way. Of course, there are also countless people who want to regain the glorious era of the past.
Under such a background, the fate was placed in the hands of the players to choose.
Ranni chose to create her own world, completely breaking free from the Greater Will's cage, and pursuing the spiritual and soul sublimation.
Marika sought a new husband to help her repair the Elden Ring and reclaim the throne.
The Frenzied Flame wanted to destroy everything.
The Dung Eater even planned to curse everything.
And Goldmask sought to perfect the Elden Ring, bringing back the golden age, to some extent, it was also repairing the mistakes left by the gods with human identities.
The Duskborn ending, to be honest, was a bit obscure to Otto, perhaps it was another kind of eternal life?
But is that kind of state really considered death?
Or is it a completely new form of existence?
Redefining the basis of human existence.
"Sometimes I really want to use Fenghuang Down to see what's in Haxxor Bunny's head. Such a Western fantasy epic portrayed through games, a desperate and crazy world, is even crazier than the world of Honkai."
"Are you sure you want to discuss the connotation of a work with an AI?"
There was a sound in Otto's ear.
This was the AI inside his Void Archives.
"It's nothing, I just want to share my feelings, it's really a good game, Bunny, maybe at the end of the year, Schicksal Entertainment's evening party will invite her? I really want to take a good look at that child."
"Do you want to use her talent for practical verification?"
"Experiment? No, it should be seeking inspiration. Don't you think this god of Honkai is like the Greater Will? Although it's high and mighty, it's also full of restrictions, right? The Elden Ring gave me a good inspiration, and what I need next is verification."
"You are really crazy!"
"You know me, from five hundred years ago, I have been completely crazy. You've been with me for so many years, don't you understand me?"
The Void Archives fell silent.
But Otto just closed the game on the computer in front of him.
"Next is the experiment, more experiments. The information about Anti Entropy doesn't need to be given to me for the time being. Those mobs are destined to not cause any attention."
"My lord Bishop, are you finally willing to work seriously? The game is over, and you won't be addicted to the game again, right?"
Amber, seeing Otto's thoughts converge, was also happy.
At least she wouldn't have to work overtime recently!
"Yes, I definitely won't be addicted for a short time, and the production time of a masterpiece is very long. Bunny won't be able to release a new work so quickly, and you see, she hasn't even set the theme yet."
As he said this, Otto opened the voting interface, and Amber saw a more blood-pressure-raising scene.
Even Bishop himself participated in the voting, and even invited a wave of his subordinates to vote!
So far, the most popular options were action and multiplayer confrontation.
Even Otto himself voted for this.
"A network game made using the Magic Engine under Schicksal Entertainment, to be honest, I'm more curious about what she can achieve. Maybe it can help Schicksal expand its influence and quickly restore the property lost in the second eruption."
"How can a game achieve this?"
Amber shook her head, feeling that no matter how much money Bronie made through games, it still couldn't match the simple project of Schicksal.
A little technology, a patent, a monopoly, and money would really come pouring in endlessly.
"It's the influence in the entertainment field, just like the cultural victory in civilization, which is also very important. Oh? It seems that I'm lucky today. Haxxor Bunny just released new information."
Hearing Otto suddenly say this, Amber's heart was immediately raised.
Could it be that they were going back to the days when the Bishop was indulging in his original life!
[Haxxor Bunny' New Update:
Before making the next big work, I suddenly remembered that the most important thing in games is to bring joy, the happiest memories that childhood should have.
Therefore, I will make three easy and pleasant games next, bringing everyone the simplest joy of childhood memories. At the same time, it will also give parents a chance to accompany their children and enjoy the happiest parent-child time together!
Tips:
1. Cute electronic rat battles.
2. Round, rolling and relaxed big adventure.
3. Save the abducted princess as a plumber.]
Chapter 64: Sin seems to have grown a lot today.
All the children in the orphanage are just kids, and the oldest, Sin, is only about nine years old.
As for Seele? Seele is even younger, only seven years old now. Strictly speaking, what they learn in class is just elementary school knowledge, much simpler than what Kiana has to learn.
Bronie showed Kiana around the orphanage using her drone, and Kiana was envious.
Then she spoke about something about Bronie having a child bride, which were directly commented by Siegfried, opening up a new world for Kiana.
Then Bronie remotely commanded Cioara to teach Siegfried a lesson. There's nothing else to it.
Bronie's goal is to develop Kiana into a little princess.
If Siegfried says a few words that lead Kiana astray, how can Bronie not be annoyed?
Unfortunately, Bronie can't physically confront Siegfried through the internet, so she has to rely on Cioara to discipline Siegfried.
But Bronie is perfectly capable of handling the classes at the orphanage.
After getting familiar with how to teach, Bronie didn't bother with the Flame Chasers in the Elysian Realm for this task.
After becoming proficient, Bronie naturally had enough time to work on the games. However, it's not realistic for one person to develop three games.
But doesn't she still have a company?
Although she usually keeps a low profile, without these game design and production plans being passed on to the company, what will they use?
So Bronie can just make various plans first, then send them to the company for production, and she can do level design and artistic support along the way.
Modeling and programming will be handled by her subordinates.
With smaller games, production naturally speeds up.
Pokémon naturally requires a lot of art and a huge amount of data. After all, it's a game similar to nurturing, and every Pokémon needs strict data balance to avoid situations where only one or two Pokémon dominate battles in the future.
Kirby and the Forgotten Lands is actually the easiest to make, with a short process, and the theme is just a relaxed and enjoyable adventure, with almost no difficulty.
Stare—
After all, expecting kids to perform a bunch of difficult actions, it's better not to. Games should bring joy to children, and positive feedback should come quickly, rather than the sense of achievement after hardship.
Stare—
Next is making a trailer, clearly stating what kind of game she is making. The trailer can effectively filter out the player base, so as not to stir up too much trouble online, saying things like "Haxxor Bunny is running out of ideas".
Although this doesn't affect Bronie's game development, seeing it too often becomes annoying.
Stare—
"Is there something you need?"
From the beginning, Bronie felt a gaze coming from behind the computer.
Upon closer inspection, it turned out to be Sin staring at her from behind the door.
With a grimacing expression, it was like a kitten trying to kill its owner.
"What are you doing?"
Sin didn't expect to be discovered so quickly, so she didn't bother hiding.
As for the little dress she was wearing?
After getting used to wearing it and finding no one mocking her, but rather receiving compliments, Sin decided to wear it whenever she felt like it.
After all, isn't this light and airy dress quite comfortable?
"Making games. Didn't I tell you before? My main job is making games. Otherwise, where would I get the money to support you all?"
"Eh? Is that your only source of income!? Can you make so much money by making games?"
Sin needed to understand Bronie to protect her family.
If Bronie had ulterior motives, then she should be the first one to confront her. Even though Bronie was teaching everyone and buying them new clothes, and even though the food seemed to be getting better every day.
But she absolutely couldn't let her guard down.
Her pink antennae swayed wildly, and Sin leaned in, her eyes full of curiosity.
But when she saw the computer desk.
"Is this the game you're making? The chubby and strange Pinky?"
"On a distant planet there is a place called Popstar, where there is also a country called Dream Land, in that peaceful and magical ideal land, as the hero of Dream Land, Kirby constantly resolves any anomalies that may occur."
"Uh..."
"Well, maybe this setting is a bit childish for children, but it's just right for adults. Actually, the background isn't that important, what's important is the relaxed and enjoyable gameplay, mainly focused on clearing stages. And I'll negotiate with Homu Entertainment to get the authorization for Homu as well, maybe I'll even include Homu in it?"
Seeing Bronie's almost resigned expression, it seemed like she was saying that she wasn't very suitable for making plots.
This indeed brought a slight smile to Sin's face.
"In reality, happiness is actually very simple. What I need to do is bring joy to you through games. We can discuss the big ideas later on, and as for the plot, simpler is better," Bronie said as she continued working without pause.
In the blink of an eye, Sin saw something like a map editor, with levels being created one after another by Bronie.
"Do you want to play a game?"
"Huh? Me? Is it okay to play games?"
"Rest time should be enjoyed. As long as you're happy and not causing trouble, it's fine. Let me show you my skills."
Saying this, Bronie spread out her empty hands.
Then, from a tiny component, to a sophisticated circuit board that seemed unreal, and then to a casing, a screen, a keyboard. It appeared slowly and surely, materializing in front of Sin's eye.
"What... what is this?"
"Materialized Creation, how about that? Pretty cool, right? As long as I have specific data, I can project whatever I want, although I can't project anything too large, but a computer is no problem."
At this point, Sin was speechless with amazement.
"Is this also a utilization of Honkai Energy?"
"Uh... maybe?"
Bronie wasn't too sure either, but according to Vill-V's research and judgment, her power source did have some similarities with Honkai Energy.
It's just that her abilities weren't as volatile as Honkai Energy.
"First, this is the first game I've made. Undertale. But I think you should be able to read, so playing it shouldn't be too difficult."
For children, there's still a bit of a learning curve when it comes to playing games.
First, they have to learn how to proficiently use a computer or controller.
Secondly, they need to be able to read.
Just like Rosalia and Lilia, who couldn't read well, Undertale might be quite challenging for them.
But Sin, being the oldest, was different.
Competitive and diligent in her studies, Sin worked hard to make Cocolia happy, gain her recognition, and showcase her own worth.
"Such an ugly protagonist."
Opening Undertale, Sin immediately began criticizing the pixelated graphics.
"Well, given the limited conditions at the time, this was the best game I could make. Have you played games before?"
"Of course! Mama Cocolia used to play Homu Dragon Quest, which was super fun! Playing as a hero to defeat the evil Dodo Demon King and all."
"Dodo Demon King, huh..."
Bronie really had no idea what kind of plot Homu Dragon Quest had.
But it's probably not much different from Dragon Quest, right?
Children's plots tend to be straightforward and simple.
"Yeah, yeah! Dodo Demon King. Oh well, talking about it is too childish. So, were the games you made before for adults?"
"Because of the limitations, Undertale focuses on plot. Its widest audience is naturally teenagers and adults. But I promise the plot in there will definitely move you."
"Alright, then I'll watch carefully!"
To prevent Sin from getting too tired while playing, Bronie projected a chair for her to sit next to him.
As for herself?
She naturally had to continue working.
[Long, long ago...]
Sin started playing the game, and at this time, other children were curious and entered the office.
Nina and Sophia, two close friends like Lilia and Rosalia.
After hearing that Sin had gone to Bronie again, they came to see if Sin had been eaten by Bronie.
The result?
They saw Sin playing a game!
Although Mama Cocolia didn't let everyone play games too much, there was only a small amount of time on weekends to play together!
"Nina, Sophia, if you want to play games with Sin, come in. Don't worry about disturbing my work."
"O-okay!"
Nina gathered her courage and entered the office.
For Bronie, her office was just a place to work.
But for the children, it was like a teacher's office, and going in usually meant being scolded for making mistakes, right?
This was probably a feeling shared by children all over the world, right?
"So, this is the game made by Sister Bronie?"
"Should I say it's the first game she made?"
"Awesome!"
Nina didn't seem very old, so naturally her vocabulary wouldn't be too extensive.
But her praise came from the heart.
"Ah, ah, ah! Ugly little flower! I'll kill you a thousand times over!"
Just at the beginning, Sin fell into a trap set by the little flower.
Seeing herself with only 1 HP left, Sin exploded with rage and wanted to completely eliminate the opponent.
But then Toriel intervened in time, calming Sin down.
Nina was quite scared, but she could also understand Sin's feelings.
Just after arriving here, Nina also witnessed Sin falling for the trap all the way.
Sophia nudged Sin's shoulder teasingly, "Hehe, Sister Bronie's game, and you fell for it so quickly?"
"No, I was just caught off guard. I won't fall for it again!"
Sin assured, showing that she was indeed full of hostility towards the monsters in the underground world.
But it's okay.
The tutorial would explain it slowly, and Bronie also believed that Sin was a good kid who wouldn't go to the extreme of killing indiscriminately.
Then, Rosalia and Lilia also entered.
Seeing everyone playing here, they came over to join the fun.
Next were Anila and Isabella, and finally Seele.
Seele was a very shy child with a bit of inferiority complex.
It's not clear what terrible things she experienced in her childhood to develop such a personality.
Maybe because of the Stigmata?
Suddenly, the whole office became lively, although there was only one computer, everyone was highly engaged in discussing the plot.
Sin, being the one who could read the most, naturally had to read the plot aloud.
Toriel's caring attitude quickly won over the children.
With a motherly demeanor and caring attitude, she was simply heartwarming to the children.
Everyone quickly fell in love with Toriel.
A fluffy, adorable giant.
The other children discussed Toriel, but Sin didn't forget the protagonist's mission.
To leave this underground world and go home.
So she was destined to face Toriel's blockade.
Seeing Toriel blocking the way and herself clumsily dodging, unable to communicate, Sin started to get anxious.
"So annoying! We need to get past! If you don't let me through, I'll attack!"
Toriel couldn't hear Sin's words, and this part of the game constantly tested the player's patience, tempting them to attack Toriel.
And after multiple interactions, Toriel's attack would soften, and she would enter a state where she could be defeated with two hits.
In other words, although the first hit might not kill her, the second hit would directly finish her off.
Sin and Toriel clashed for a few more rounds, and Toriel's attacks weakened slightly, but for Sin, it wasn't very noticeable.
Unfamiliar with the controls and facing dense bullet patterns, these challenged Sin's patience.
Then Sin tentatively attacked.
The damage wasn't much, and although Toriel was sad, her gaze remained firm, not allowing the protagonist to leave.
"Tsk, do I have to knock her out? Well, that's how it is..."
She attacked again.
The critical hit cleared Toriel's health bar.
As Toriel looked at Sin in disbelief, Sin's young heart was greatly shaken.
At this moment, Seele instinctively looked at Bronie.
And Bronie's smirk was fleeting, but Seele caught it precisely.
Toriel was dead.
Never to return.
"Welcome to the adult world. Your actions are your responsibility. Since you chose to attack her, you should be prepared to accidentally kill her. Fortunately, this is just a game. If it were reality, how terrible would it be~"
Sin silently recited Toriel's final words, but her heart was filled with guilt.
Seeing her almost in tears, Bronie also silently nodded to Sin.
"Alright, don't be too sad. This is just a small mistake. That's why I said, never lay a hand on family, or you'll eventually encounter heartbreaking situations. Cocolia is the same. She just realized it too late, and the harm caused by Honkai Energy to her was too deep."
Now all the children fell silent.
Toriel's passing had a big impact on them.
They didn't really have a clear concept of what would happen if they harmed family members.
But now, combined with Cocolia's current situation, they deeply understood the seriousness of the matter.
"If you want to overpower someone, you need to be three times stronger than them. Weak individuals can only give it their all to seize that slim chance of victory. Toriel was the strong one, and this child is the weak one, so she naturally failed. But would Toriel fail?"
As Bronie spoke, Sin also understood the true solution to the game.
"Should I reload?"
"Of course you can. Children can be a bit willful. But if it were adults, they would have to take responsibility and continue playing!"
Children always fantasize about becoming adults.
But now, Sin realized what being an adult truly meant.
What the word "responsibility" truly represented.
But in the end, Sin gritted her teeth and gave up reloading.
"I understand, Sister Bronie. I'll try not to make mistakes again, and I'll try to take responsibility for everything. If this is what growing up means, perhaps by understanding all this beforehand, I can grow faster to the point where I can protect my sisters."
That day, Sin felt like she had grown up a little.
Chapter 65: The Pink Devil Release
Haxxor unveiled a teaser video for the upcoming Kirby and the Forgotten Land.
With its adorable art style, cheerful music, 3D platform jumping challenges, and diverse scenes of abandoned cities, it exuded an air of delightful charm.
How best to describe it?
Incredibly cute, yet subtly nuanced.
Especially captivating were the scenes of Kirby inhaling enemies, acquiring their abilities, and assuming different fighting stances, as well as Kirby's ability to inhale air and float to higher ground.
The variety of monsters and abilities, coupled with the upbeat music, unmistakably conveyed Haxxor's intention to create a light-hearted and enjoyable game aimed at children.
["No mimics? No mimics? No mimics?"]
["Where are the traps? Where are the dungeons? What about Margit Sensei and Malenia?"]
["Hahaha, driven mad by Elden Ring, aren't you? Didn't they say this is a relaxed children's game!"]
["So, as the Elden Lord, it's only fitting to start from a young age!"]
["Do your homework after you die, huh?"]
The level of discussion in the comments section was quite high, yet the overall assessment of this promotional video remained somewhat conventional.
The extraordinary game engine provided by Schicksal was utilized to depict such whimsical, round characters?
It's not entirely pessimistic, but rather most are adopting a wait-and-see approach.
There's a general trust in Haxxor's development capabilities, though every game has its own audience. Some may not enjoy platform jumping, while others may not appreciate this cute art style.
But for Bronie, real men should indulge in Kirby, else risk leading a somewhat unfulfilled life.
It's akin to owning a Nintendo Switch but neglecting to play Mario Odyssey and Zelda.
Through Undertale, Bronie swiftly gained respect among the children while creating games.
Bronie's mature demeanor and impressive knowledge make it difficult to perceive her as merely a child.
Character, do you understand character?
It's that sort of demeanor where disobedience results in limb disassembly.
At least Sin grasped it. Although the other children might not fully comprehend, being obedient invariably makes one more welcome and better treated.
Especially under Bronie's financial onslaught, the standard of living skyrocketed, a dream come true for everyone.
The most crucial aspect is that Bronie has never once mentioned conducting any experiments.
In other words, no one will face life-threatening situations.
However, Sin couldn't shake the feeling of unease regarding Dr. Mobius, whom Bronie found through video calls.
Dr. Mobius's gaze resembled that of a snake fixated on a mouse, brimming with curiosity toward everyone at the orphanage.
One moment, she's inquiring whether Seele bears peculiar patterns on her body, and the next, she's probing into her adaptability to her Honkai abilities.
Bronie claimed she hailed from a Research Institute, boasting formidable treatment capabilities.
Yet, this Mobius is truly terrifying!
Despite her youthful appearance, Bronie insists everyone refer to her as Grandma Mobius.
Isn't that peculiar?
Bronie may dare to address her as such, but the children dare not speak out.
As for Lilia and Rosalia, it appears that Mobius's colleague, named Su, is responsible for their medical treatment.
It's said that Mr. Su had long been researching treatments for the Honkai disease.
The duration of this research remains unclear, but after Bronie procured the prescribed medicine, it proved efficacious. Lilia's sleeping habits seemed to shorten, and Rosalia's fevers appeared to decrease.
In sum, Bronie is an enigmatic individual, with a curious fount of knowledge and magical friends. Most importantly, Bronie has a sister named Kiana, cherished like a little princess.
To a certain extent, Sin also acknowledges Bronie in her heart.
As a guardian, Bronie's care for everyone is exemplary.
If only, amidst all else, there weren't those sudden incursions into her room, filling her wardrobe with pink skirts inexplicably.
But...
In truth, wearing those adorable skirts feels rather nice.
It's just puzzling why Bronie adores these skirts so much yet never dons them herself.
"Today's lesson concludes here. The homework comprises the subsequent section of the workbook. Once completed, you may submit it directly to me. However, let this serve as a reminder against any further instances of plagiarism. If you don't understand something, feel free to ask me, or if you have a valid reason for not completing an assignment, explain it to me. Nonetheless, plagiarism shows how one fails to retain the knowledge acquired through learning. I must address this with Rosalia."
All the children looked at Rosalia, who picked up a book and tried to cover her face with it, hiding her identity. But that was just turning a blind eye to the inevitable.
"Next, I want to commend Seele. Despite falling behind in everyone's learning progress, Seele managed to keep up with the pace of learning. A significant part of this is due to Seele's efforts in coming to my office to ask questions."
Seele also shyly hid behind a textbook, and Sin also felt a bit awkward.
Fortunately, Seele's grades didn't surpass her own, so her position wasn't threatened.
Later, Sin secretly glanced at Bronie, wondering if Bronie had any evaluation of her.
None.
However, as Bronie walked to the door, she suddenly remembered something and turned back to address everyone, "Oh, by the way, I've finished making the game Kirby and the Forgotten Land, and the promotional video has been released for some time now. It's already on sale. This game happens to be a gift I made for everyone. If you want to play, you can come to my office. We have extra computers, and it also supports multiplayer."
"Wow!!! Lilia, let's go!!!"
Rosalia reacted the fastest, as they say, the quick catch the prize, and after seeing Rosalia run off like a streak of smoke, the other children quickly caught on.
Everyone rushed out with their short legs, almost knocking over passing Grandma Alona.
Bronie cast an apologetic glance and returned to her office.
Because the children often came to play, Bronie specially designated an area for gaming.
There were enough computers, screens, and controllers. Three screens, six children, two per station, and the cheerful music of Kirby filled the air.
"Wow!"
Sin didn't care much and accelerated!
"Sin... this should be the difficulty selection interface."
[Spring Breeze Mode]
[Wild Mode]
"Of course, it's Wild Mode. Am I the kind of person who's afraid of challenges? Let's go!"
"But I'm afraid of falling behind..."
Seele thought that the high difficulty might cause problems.
"Don't worry, this game's difficulty is very low. It's just a bit challenging to collect everything. The purpose of making this game is to make everyone happy while playing games."
Bronie came up behind Seele, making Seele tremble with fright.
But after hearing Bronie's words, what else was there to say?
Let's just play and see how it goes.
The adorable Kirby walked through the forest, and then a huge rift appeared in the sky.
The kingdom where Kirby was located encountered a major crisis, and at this time, a hero was needed to step forward and solve the difficulties!
Riding on a golden star, Kirby rushed towards the rift, and then, amidst the chaos, Kirby lost consciousness and arrived on an unknown continent.
"Is this me? Pink and chubby, feels a bit strange."
Operating the joystick, Sin felt that this pink color was indeed a bit unsuitable for herself.
She should be the kind of character who was stronger and more masculine.
"So this is me, let me see... move..."
Seele controlled another character, Waddle Dee, who looked like a chocolate bean but with a distinctive blue headscarf, resembling a warrior.
The two set off on a joyful adventure, while Bronie also began working on the next game.
Mario Odyssey.
Although Kirby and the Forgotten Land was also an all-ages game, the difficulty level was really too simple.
Some people like a bit more challenge, so in the game Mario Odyssey, the difficulty would be slightly higher.
But it was just a little bit.
If Bronie really wanted to make a difficult game, why not make Bloodborne or Hollow Knight?
After all, Bronie promised to bring three gifts to the children.
So, starting from the simplest Kirby, to the slightly harder Mario, and then to Pokemon, which could leave a deep impression on childhood, that was Bronie's main purpose.
And it was also to clear her own notorious reputation and surprise the players.
Bloodborne was already in a new folder, but behind these three games, there was also a customized game voted on.
So Bronie had plenty of time to polish Bloodborne and optimize the game process.
For example, that long and shitty Chalice Dungeons, Bronie really didn't like being tortured in there.
So Bronie planned to take a look at the dungeons in Elden Ring and make them a bit more interesting.
After Kirby and the Forgotten Land was released, the adorable and versatile image of Kirby immediately became popular.
Especially among children and girls.
The game sales skyrocketed instantly, and many netizens also noticed an interesting phenomenon: it seemed that more girls were playing games now.
Amber looked at the report sent by Schicksal Entertainment and realized that games were not just for boys; girls were also a very strong consumer potential.
Who didn't like more money?
Cute appearance, simple difficulty, and a relaxed and enjoyable gaming atmosphere.
Players who hadn't played games before could quickly get started and find their own fun in it.
Kirby and the Forgotten Land wasn't just about clearing levels and defeating bosses; many mini-games were built-in and unlocked during the town-building process, allowing players to explore their own joy!
"Let me ask you, after being tired all day, busy with work, dragging your exhausted body in front of the computer, and then suffering in Elden Ring, does that bring you joy? Dreaded Evil Bunny also knows how to use games to bring joy to players. She has taught us a lesson again; sometimes happiness is really simple."
"But, Archbishop, you opened the game after only working for an hour..."
Amber responded.
Suddenly, Otto also felt a bit guilty.
"I just started playing the game, didn't I? Are you coming? It is said that this game can support a second player. You've been busy with work lately, haven't you? Try this game; maybe it can help you relax."
Amber accepted the controller handed over by Otto obediently and joined the game.
Although the Spiritfarer made before could also be played by two people, the sense of participation for the other person was actually quite low.
Besides collecting materials and playing mini-games, the main player had complete control most of the time.
But Kirby was different.
After all, it was a level-clearing game. Two people could cooperate with each other, one actively attacking while the other providing assistance, or competing to see who could defeat more enemies.
Both sides had things they could do, so it could be said that the sense of participation and interaction was top-notch.
To some extent, was this not the first real multiplayer game made by Evil Bunny?
Amber hadn't had much contact with games, but after a simple familiarization, she quickly became proficient.
Looking at the chubby, round figure, every action was like an emoji.
The adorable figure left a deep impression on Amber's heart, gradually awakening the girl's heart exhausted from intense work every day.
"So... cute..."
Otto also smiled.
Before, Amber kept reciting the achievements of Dreaded Evil Bunny's game expressionlessly, but she didn't really understand how big a blue ocean Evil Bunny had opened up with this game.
The purchasing power of girls was also very strong. After this game appeared, letting girls get into games, and then game companies making similar games, Schicksal Entertainment quickly seized the market, and the control of public opinion from the game started to develop continuously, which was also more conducive to Otto's plan to make Schicksal bigger and stronger, and then use it to complete his experiments.
Artificial Herrschers, resurrecting Kallen, and finding the Honkai God, these goals required a lot of resources.
But recently, Amber's condition was getting worse and worse, as if she had never really rested properly.
So Otto was very worried about Amber.
Although she was a clone, she also used Kallen's genes, and she was a child entrusted to be saved by Theresa.
Otto wasn't some super-psychopath who had to torture Amber.
"Let's enjoy this game together. The joy brought to us by Evil Bunny makes me look forward to tomorrow a bit. In the past, I only needed to focus on experiments, but now when I turn on the computer, I can't help but think about what kind of game Evil Bunny will make next. What kind of game will it be?"
"Archbishop..."
In Amber's eyes, Otto's changes were not just a little bit.
Before, that sinister smile was always calculating something.
Although there were vacations and rest, they were just necessary behaviors to keep oneself from collapsing mentally.
Under the shadow of power, behind the figure of the strategist, there was even madness that was willing to destroy the world. So Amber had always been very afraid of Otto.
But now, it seemed that something had changed.
Watching Otto play the game next to her, Amber carefully observed his current expression.
In the past, Amber lived cautiously. If she did anything that might displease Otto even a little bit, she might be disposed of directly, just like other clones.
Reading between the lines had long been a skill she was proficient in.
And at this moment, Otto was completely relaxed.
Could games really bring about such a big change in people?
Five hundred years of obsession, a state of mind like madness, hidden evil and madness beneath the calm.
"Amber, hurry up."
"Ah... okay..."
Chapter 66 Catching a local Bunny
As usual, the game naturally ended up in the Elysian Realm. Elysia and the other beautiful girls gave feedback, but the remaining Flame Chasers seemed to have no reaction?
But that was normal. After all, upon seeing Kirby for the first time, macho men usually would only be curious but wouldn't immediately dive in.
Instead, they would choose to observe first or watch Elysia's livestream.
There was nothing strange about it, and it seemed a bit interesting. Plus, since downloading the game was free, the first to open the game was Kalpas.
This game, placed in the Elysian Realm, didn't generate much discussion. At most, it was opened to play when bored or tired, indeed serving its purpose of relaxation.
The Flame Chasers also knew that Bronie made this game as a gift for the children in the orphanage, many of whom were afflicted with the Honkai disease, which made Aponia and Su feel quite emotional.
But upon learning about this, Kalpas was triggered by unpleasant memories and directly engaged in a fierce fight with Aponia's memory model.
As a result, Klein had to work overtime again.
After a busy day, Bronie put down her work and called Cioara.
"Good evening, Bronie. Recently, Kiana said she wants to come and see everyone at the orphanage, clinging to my leg, crying and making a fuss, almost driving Siegfried crazy."
Bronie and Cioara communicated quite frequently.
Although they were not far apart, whenever Bronie had nothing to do, she would call Cioara to chat about recent developments. She would also share some details about how Sin was tangled up in her little pink dress.
"Kiana probably won't be able to come."
Bronie just shook her head. Siegfried would never be swayed by a happy life.
Kiana's identity was special, and taking her out from the orphanage could lead to unforeseen consequences.
Especially since the children here reacted to the Honkai energy, if Kiana were to come here, who knows what strange incidents might occur.
"Yeah, whether Kiana can come depends on Siegfried, but Siegfried definitely won't let Kiana go far. Luckily, Kiana is sensible and understands that Siegfried seems to have some special reasons, so after a simple fuss, she realized that she couldn't change Siegfried's mind and gave up."
"So Siegfried is so easily manipulated, huh? Does he really think he's hiding well? It's just because of Otto being kind."
"Can that guy even be kind?"
"Who knows, but let's put Otto aside for now. By the way, are you still paying attention to the Charon Directory?"
The Charon Directory is a hidden ranking within the mercenary industry. The higher the ranking, the higher the value, the faster the money comes in, and the more reliable the service.
"I haven't paid much attention to the Charon Directory for a while, since I haven't been looking for new jobs. But why do you care about it? Did you use the alias Haxxor Bunny for something?"
Cioara was a bit puzzled. She couldn't understand why Bronie would be interested in something unrelated to their daily lives.
Did Bronie also want get involved in it, seeking extra income and excitement behind her back?
"Not much, remember the last time we stole a lot of money of Teslas and Einsteins, and then I mentioned the alias Haxxor?"
"What about it?"
"Anti Entropy put out a high-priced bounty in the mercenary world for information about Haxxor Bunny, and then my alias appeared on the Charon Directory."
"That's really ridiculous..."
"I guess Tesla was annoyed, so she used a bit of Anti Entropy's ability. But compared to that, I'm more interested in the Ural Silver Wolf."
Hearing Bronie say this, Cioara was a little stunned on the other end of the video call.
"Huh?"
"A while back, the Silver Wolf of Urals was quiet on the Charon Directory for a while, and then reappeared on the list, so I'm thinking whether a mercenary's alias can be inherited."
"Who cares about inheriting aliases? If you crash while using that alias, the value of the alias as a mercenary identity will plummet. But aliases can indeed be inherited."
"It's intriguing."
Seeing Bronie say this, Cioara always felt that Bronie seemed to be hiding something in her words.
But she couldn't quite figure out what it was.
"Hey, don't go bothering them. Despite whatever is said, that person is still a legendary mercenary, and since they're active nearby, having too much interaction with them will not end well. Even if you don't care, you have to think about the children."
Hearing that the Silver Wolf of the Ural Mountains was a very young killer, Cioara felt terrified just hearing about it.
Although she thought this person wouldn't pose a threat to Bronie, Bronie had her concerns.
Every time they chatted, Bronie seemed so happy, and every time Cioara felt that the children in the orphanage had truly become Bronie's daughters.
It's just like a foolish parent boasting about how cute their child is. Bronie put in some genuine effort. Cioara could understand this kind of thinking, and she even had thoughts of starting an orphanage in the future.
"Well, I'm just a little curious, like when you open the map while playing a game and find a question mark on it. You still want to take a look, right?"
"Life isn't a game..."
Cioara reminded Bronie that this mindset was actually quite dangerous.
"But life can also be transformed into a game. Don't worry, I can distinguish between reality and the game. It's not that exaggerated. I'm just saying and conducting some insignificant experiments."
"Oh? Changing your logic of actions can be considered an experimental project? It seems like you're exploring an unknown and dangerous territory."
"I'm just preparing for the future!"
Cioara shook her head. If slightly changing one's mindset could directly gain immense power, wouldn't the end of the previous civilization have been casual?
"Anyway, keep in touch more often. Don't let me suddenly see you dead on an operating table one day, or killed by random gunfire."
"I know!"
After ending the communication with Cioara, Bronie understood her misunderstanding and concern.
But as Bronie said, all of this was for the future.
[ Commission issued, named Silver Wolf Team, reward one billion, target: Bronie; location: Ural Mountains. ]
Logging into the mercenaries' darknet, Bronie posted such a commission.
Because it was a named target, there might be traps, so the down payment was quite high.
To lure Bronya out, this money was worth it.
At least it would spare Bronya from suffering for a few years!
If it weren't for the fact that the Ural Silver Wolf had no information on the Charon Directory recently, Bronie would have posted this commission on the day she took over the orphanage. It might seem strange to Cioara, but Bronie didn't care.
The next day, Sin woke up early and, after opening her eyes, didn't see Bronie's figure.
This made Sin breathe a sigh of relief.
Opening the wardrobe, there were no extra clothes, and Sin couldn't help but feel emotional: "Has that guy finally grown tired?"
But she also felt a bit lonely.
Today was the weekend, no need for classes, plenty of free time, and even the luxury of sleeping in.
But since she was used to waking up early, Sin didn't sleep in, but got up early to see why Bronie wasn't causing a ruckus with her today.
As a result, she saw Bronie dressed in a down jacket, looking like she was about to go on a trip.
"Bronie, what are you going to do?"
"I'm going to pick up a new kid. I'll try to be back by Monday. If I can't make it back at that day, I'll ask Elysia to give you guys online classes."
"I want to go too!"
"It seems our little princess Sin has learned to act cute?"
"No... I just feel that maybe the other person needs my comfort. After experiencing the Honkai disaster, everyone might have some issues."
Sin's judgment wasn't wrong, but unfortunately, Bronya's personality issues were definitely not caused by the Honkai, but by humans.
"Not this time."
"Why not?"
This was the first time Sin had heard a refusal, and it struck her hard.
After finally trying to get closer to Bronie and offering to help voluntarily. But did she end up with a cold shoulder?
"It's dangerous. I'm afraid I won't be able to protect you."
"So you can go alone?"
"After all, I have the ability to project. I can even project precise computers, so guess whether I have the ability to project weapons?"
This left Sin a bit speechless, but she still couldn't help but wonder how dangerous the place Bronie was going to could be?
"I'll take care of myself, and I'll also protect myself well! If you tell me to go west, I definitely won't go east!"
So Sin insisted on following her? She really is conflicted.
Sin was still very, very young, and Bronie was torn about whether to let Sin see her bloody side.
"Sin, you should understand that usually children don't have to take responsibility for what they say, but you want to grow up, so you must face this."
Children don't understand things, so naturally, they don't have to take responsibility for what they say. But this time, it was extremely important, so important that Bronie had to tell Sin about the seriousness of it with a straight face.
Sin also felt it. The other side of Bronie, who was usually like a spring breeze. This one is the decisive and powerful side.
"What will happen if I go with you?"
"People will die in front of you, there will be life-threatening battles, and there's also the possibility of becoming a burden due to a mistake."
"..."
In these few words, Sin thought of the aura that Mother Cocolia carried with her every time she came back from going out. The aura of returning from the battlefield, as well as the decisive and unquestionable tone of a soldier.
"I understand. You should come back soon. If you're late for half an hour, I'll burn all the dresses in the wardrobe!"
"Instead of burning dresses, why don't you call everyone to clean up a vacant room? Okay, that's it. I'm off!"
Bronie arrived at the gate of the orphanage, and Sin just weakly waved goodbye.
Her eyes were still filled with reluctance.
How should she put it?
During this time together, Sin had learned a lot and understood Bronie's good intentions.
But everyone has their own secrets, don't they? Although she had a premonition, she didn't expect Bronie to start acting so quickly. In other words, Bronie didn't have much intention of hiding anything.
Anyone who knows about the Honkai and even studies it is destined not to be ordinary.
After all, the current strategy of Schicksal's is to conceal the existence of the Honkai.
Saying goodbye to the children at the orphanage, Bronie naturally set off officially on her journey.
The next destination Bronie was going to was an abandoned town that had been ravaged by the Honkai in the past, but after clearing out the Honkai Beasts, no one had come to live here anymore.
Because those associated with this town had all died at the hands of the Honkai Beasts.
This was unavoidable.
Forgetting caused this town to be completely abandoned, and Bronie's arrival this time brought a bit of vitality to the town.
To prevent the Silver Wolf Team from becoming suspicious of her, Bronie made some modifications to the town to make it look like she had been living here alone for a long time.
The dilapidated houses were renovated under her ability, and they looked like they had been lived in for quite some time.
There were also plenty of weapons buried in the basement, giving the impression that it was a safe house prepared by some mercenary organization.
...
It had snowed heavily last night.
The snow covered the forest, and it felt particularly dazzling under the sunlight.
In this deserted town on the hillside, a drone sounded an alarm, and a team of nearly ten people headed straight here. They advanced cautiously, gripping their firearms tightly, ready to pull the trigger at any living thing in front of them.
The task Bronie assigned was to annihilate. In other words, they came for her life.
Mercenaries loved this kind of mission the most: few people, not easy to be found, simple opponents, and lots of money.
As for the intelligence aspect, Bronie's identity was clean, and she had a Bunny game studio behind her, so naturally, she was judged to be engaged in commercial competition.
"Target spotted, the target is currently adding firewood by the fireplace."
"Large number of weapons found in the basement, stay alert."
"No bodyguards found, ready to strike at any time."
"Snipers in position."
The young voice appeared on the intercom, and Bronie instantly locked onto the location of the other party.
"Caught you, little bunny~"
Chapter 67: Catch a Few
Bronie has always been kind-hearted.
When she acts, she usually just breaks people's legs without causing fatalities.
This time, Bronie came prepared. The drones carried tranquilizer darts, and these mercenaries fell to the snowy ground in just a few moves.
Perhaps they would wake up with some frostbite?
But who cares?
If they live, they can be used by Bronya for practice in the future, staging a revenge drama.
If they die, then so be it. Bronie didn't deprive them of the chance to live.
With a bad body, what can one do as a mercenary in Russia?
Long-term training, coupled with brainwashing, had already tempered Bronya's heart into steel. No matter what happened in front of her, there would be no change.
Even facing death, the young Bronya wouldn't waver.
...
All the teammates died?
No problem. If they survive this time, there will be new teammates next time.
Last time, the Silver Wolf Team almost got wiped out, but new teammates were quickly recruited, weren't they?
This task felt straightforward. It was a named task with a hefty reward.
If Bronya could get that money, she might even afford an extra can of beef for her daily life.
However, as soon as Bronya reached the sniper spot, aimed through the scope, and hid herself in the snow, why did her teammates suddenly go silent just after reporting their positions?
Bronya hadn't seen this kind of situation before, but it didn't stop her from assessing the situation.
But...
At the moment of meeting the target, Bronya couldn't help but wonder if there really was another person in the world exactly like her.
"Caught you, little bunny! You can sleep well for now. When you wake up, everything around you will be different. You'll understand the beauty of the world and see the potential for your own growth."
With a bewildered expression, Bronya fell into a deep sleep.
Looking at her small body, the firm muscles beneath the soft, white skin, and the slight scratches in various places, Bronie was glad she had arrived early.
This might save her four years of hardship.
Actually, anesthesia has quite an impact on a child's body, but was this little bunny obedient?
Definitely not.
So Bronie had to let her sleep first before transporting her to the orphanage.
Projecting het own motorcycle, Bronie strapped Bronya to the back of the bike, covered her with a military coat for warmth and wind protection, and then set off for the orphanage.
...
When Bronya woke up and saw the unfamiliar surroundings, she immediately suppressed the weakness in her body and found a safe place.
Chair legs could be broken and made into makeshift weapons!
Even stockings could be used by Bronya to mercilessly harvest lives, not to mention a hard chair leg!
With the sound of breaking a chair, she would surely attract the other person's attention.
But...
Why didn't the other person tie her up?
Still, Bronya had encountered such people before. They thought she was small, so they didn't feel threatened and didn't bother to tie her up.
Usually, the lesson of not underestimating the enemy in Bronya's hands cost lives.
Bronya nervously gripped the chair leg and stared at the door.
Then, light footsteps approached.
Here they come!
The door opened slowly, but when Bronya saw the visitor, she hesitated and hid the chair leg behind her, planning to observe the almost identical girl in front of her first.
"Hey, you're finally awake! Are you hungry? Thirsty? After hearing your movements, I made some soup for you. It's nutritious, delicious, and easy to digest."
Bronie presented a large ceramic bowl from outside the door, which was even bigger than Bronya's face.
The steaming soup emitted a milky aroma, arousing a reaction from the already weak Bronya.
Her stomach growled, but Bronya didn't dare to move recklessly.
"According to Bronya's calculations, if you hold the bowl with both hands, your ability to counterattack and defend is completely zero. Bronya can take your life at any time. You're the one who tied me up. Why didn't you take any measures to restrict my movements and even prepared food for Bronya?"
Even the clothes on her body had been changed to a cute sleeping gown.
There was heating in the room, the sunlight outside was just right, and it seemed like all the beauty surrounded her.
"Of course, it's because I mean no harm to you. Do you want to eat by yourself, or should I feed you? Also, put down the chair leg. That thing can't hurt me."
Bronya remained silent, still staring at Bronie.
"Really, open your mouth, ahh~"
Seeing that Bronya seemed unwilling to put down the chair leg, Bronie scooped up a bit of creamy soup, blew on it to cool it down, and then brought it to Bronya's lips.
"Is it really unable to hurt you?"
"Um... do you want to try?"
Hearing Bronie's response, how could Bronya not try?
The chair leg behind her suddenly swung towards Bronie's head with force, but before it could make contact, an invisible force intercepted its path.
The powerful recoil instantly destroyed the chair leg, and Bronya's hand also bled from the backlash.
"Huh, quite persistent. It would have been great if you could use this determination to deal with the leader of your mercenary group. Anyway, you've tried it, let's have dinner now, shall we?"
Bronya slowly opened her mouth, and Bronie cooperatively brought the spoonful of soup to her mouth.
Small and tender, indeed observing the little bunny up close was quite interesting.
"I don't quite understand, what are you smiling about?"
"Whenever I see something cute, I can't help but smile. Oh, and my name is Bronie, no surname. You can just consider me your big sister."
"Sister? Bronya is an only child, she can't have a sister. And even if she did have a sister, based on Bronya's estimation, you'd only be about five years older than me, which isn't enough to survive on your own."
"Five years not enough? No, I was dominating the street in Cyber Arc City when I was three... Forget about those unpleasant things, let me see your hand."
Bronya, like a little hamster, slurped the creamy soup. Upon hearing Bronie's request, she extended her hand.
"No, the other hand, the injured one."
"Oh..."
After swallowing the soup, little Bronya watched as Bronie took out something resembling a pistol and applied it to her hand.
A slight sting, followed by the injured hand feeling no pain anymore!
"This is some old technology my friend found in her own lab, used for battlefield recovery. It works quite well and has no side effects. It's called Little Black Abyss White Flower."
So it was for treatment.
"I don't quite understand, is Bronie an alien?"
"Huh? Why would you say that?"
"Because on the battlefield, Bronya has never seen such advanced technology and equipment."
Anything related to combat, Bronya could recognize, but apart from that, she had no common sense whatsoever, like a blank sheet of paper.
Of course, she was slightly better than Kiana when they first met.
"This may take you some time to understand in the future."
"So, does sister Bronie want to be my owner?"
Feeding her, treating her, Bronya could only think her value lay in combat.
Hearing Bronya say such a cruel thing so calmly, Bronie could only sigh helplessly.
"I just regret not finding you earlier! I don't want to be your owner, I just hope you can be my family. Of course, there are many children in the orphanage, they are your family too. We will grow together in the future, face many things together, witness many things together, and leave behind the unpleasant past."
"Family? Bronya doesn't quite understand..."
Then Bronie's response was a hug.
"Growth together, companionship, support, that's what family is. No more fighting, rest assured, I'll protect you in the future."
Feeling the embrace from the larger Bronie, Bronya was also deeply moved.
Since she could touch, she could attack, but Bronie had no qualms at all, hugging her without any defense.
So this was what family meant?
...
As night fell, children should sleep early to ensure proper development.
However, Bronie usually slept later than those children, as she had games to develop, and she also had to take care of little Bronya, so tonight she slept later than usual.
And Bronie was also waiting for a call.
A call from Cioara.
Just as Bronie was wondering why Cioara hadn't called yet, the phone rang.
She answered.
"Bronie! What have you done these past few days? Now everyone in the mercenary world is looking for someone called Haxxor! Even I've been targeted!"
Well, using a contract to lure mercenaries in and then kill them was indeed a bit out of line.
But Bronie never liked following other people's rules.
If there was any dissatisfaction, Bronie could also let the other party experience the rules of the gang world.
She just didn't expect such a big reaction from the mercenary world.
Its just a mercenary group, right?
"Yeah yeah, why are they looking for Haxxor now? Bronie has no idea~"
"Because of the tranquilizer darts."
"Huh? Can those things become Haxxor's symbol? I've only used them twice! Just twice!"
"Yeah, when you were looking for the leaders of Anti Entropy, only you, the weirdo, in the mercenary world would use tranquilizer darts. Others just shoot them in the head directly. Where else would you leave them alive?"
Cioara was not wrong, it seemed like Bronie was the only one in the mercenary world who didn't kill.
Although the first time using the name Haxxor Bunny was in front of Tesla.
But didn't expect the name to spread so quickly, a little action drew so much attention.
"So how much am I worth?"
"Several million dollars... No, that's not what I meant to say, it's just that Tesla has publicly disclosed everything she saw for free, so now you're famous in the mercenary world too, and the Silver Wolf Team was completely defeated, was that also your doing? What exactly do you want to do?"
Cioara was very worried about Bronie.
And Bronie just sent over a photo.
"Why did you send me a picture of you as a child?"
"This is the child I just picked up. Her name is Bronya Zaychik. Isn't this reason enough?"
Bronie really liked Natasha's words.
"Huh?"
Chapter 68: Bronie's Universe Mini Lecture Hall is Now Open!
"You wait for me!"
After saying this, Cioara hung up the phone directly, leaving Bronie puzzled.
Didn't she mention before that she is a traveler wandering through the Bubble Universes, where similar individuals could exist in different worlds?
But upon further thought, this matter wasn't important, and Bronie hadn't really mentioned it much anyway.
But what does matter?
Time to sleep, time to eat.
The next morning, when Bronie entered Bronya's room, she saw Bronya getting up anxiously from the bed due to her injuries.
Watching Bronya pretending as if nothing had happened despite the pain from her injuries, Bronie calmly got out of bed.
"Only by resting well can your injuries fully recover. Of course, if you insist on overexerting yourself, I won't stop you. Don't worry, there's no fighting here, and there won't be any."
Teaching little bunny about human warmth was indeed a long and arduous task.
"Do you have any business with Bronya?"
Although there were many doubts in her heart, speaking them out loud might not necessarily bring answers.
So Bronya just suppressed her doubts and waited quietly for Bronie's instructions.
"Nothing, I just came to give you some new clothes. From now on, there will be Princess Dress Day every month, where everyone will gather and play in beautiful princess dresses. So I prepared a little dress for you in advance. I am the head of this orphanage. I'm also responsible for both classes and daily life."
Alona Grandma was in charge of most of the cleaning work at the orphanage, as well as going to the nearest town to buy ingredients.
For an old lady, these tasks were quite strenuous, so Bronie also arranged for a robot vacuum cleaner to help.
In a way, wasn't this also part of her management?
Looking at the colorful dresses, Bronya fell into silence. Such clothes were not suitable for combat. They might even hinder her performance in CQC.
Was this Bronie's scheme?
"For everyday life, you can wear whatever clothes you like, as long as they don't deviate too much from aesthetics." Bronie added.
Seeing the questioning look in the young bunny's eyes, Bronie also sensed something.
It was the look of someone with questions in their heart but too afraid to ask.
"I know you have many doubts, but only by asking directly will I know what you really want to ask."
"Who are you exactly? Why do you look exactly like Bronya?"
Bronya was straightforward, or rather, emotionally unintelligent?
When there were questions, if she got consent, she would ask them sincerely.
And this was indeed the biggest question on the little bunny's mind.
"Well, this question is actually quite complicated. With your current level of knowledge, you may not be able to understand it fully. In simple terms, the starry sky above our heads contains countless worlds, similar yet different. Sometimes, the universe may play a little joke on us, giving birth to a similar individual, and I am one of those people who come from different worlds but look alike... Your expression..."
ᗜ ‸ ᗜ
Seeing Bronie explain it this way, Bronya's face was full of disbelief.
Yeah, this situation often occurred.
But it didn't matter; Bronie couldn't be bothered to explain whether she believed it or not.
She would understand on her own eventually.
"Um, Bronie sister..."
Seeming to have talked too much, Seele came over from the dining room to find them.
Since Bronie and Bronya hadn't arrived yet, they couldn't start the meal directly.
"Seele? Oh, sorry for being a bit slow. You know, Bronya is still unfamiliar with everyone here, so she's a little shy. Let's go, Bronya. I steamed some buns for breakfast today, all filled with meat. You'll definitely like them."
After changing Bronya into her new clothes and tidying up her spiral drill, Bronie looked satisfied as he held her hand and led her to the dining room.
"I knew it! Sister Bronie must have gone out to have a baby behind our backs, even the names are so similar!"
"Rosalia, if I hear you spreading rumors again, I'll make you copy the physiology textbook five hundred times! Five hundred times! You'll even have to draw the diagrams carefully!"
"Eek!!"
Drawing unmentionable things five hundred times could cause severe mental trauma!
Rosalia was instantly scared into silence, while Lilia chuckled on the side. "And Anila, don't believe everything you hear. Can't you think for yourself for once?"
"What is the cycle from birth to birth?"
Well, since Bronie has mentioned it, everyone naturally dares not to talk nonsense about Bronya being Bronie's daughter.
"Well, Bronya Zachyik, the orphan of the Second Eruption, was raised in the mercenary group. Don't think it's very cool. You can't even run 500 meters every day. The torment Bronya has endured is hundreds of times stricter than running 500 meters every day!"
"But it's really cool..."
Bronie's sharp gaze caught Isabella, who seemed to sense being stared at, hurriedly hiding behind Nina, who was even more at a loss.
"In any case, get along well. She is also part of the family from now on. And recently, Bronya is recovering from her injuries, so don't let her engage in too intense physical activity."
At this point, Bronie noticed Lilia raising her hand seriously.
"Do you have a question? Let's talk while eating."
Now everyone reacted; they hadn't had breakfast yet. Since Bronie said so, Lilia quickly picked up the steaming buns on the table.
"Bronie sister, why do Bronya and you look so alike, even your hairstyles?"
"Didn't you see my hairstyle today? It's not twin drills, it's twin draped drills plus side drills. It's not the same hairstyle. As for why we look exactly alike? Today happens to be Monday, and the Honkai class has changed to Cosmic Sociology. I'll explain to you what kind of universe we are in."
Bronie's words left Bronya stunned.
Cosmic Sociology?
Honkai class?
In a state of confusion, Bronya enjoyed a delicious breakfast. It was something she hadn't really enjoyed since birth.
Delicious food, constant heating, comfortable beds, and beautiful clothes.
Bronya began to believe that Bronie was sincere to her.
Although she had many secrets, if she could continue to live like this, it would be great.
"Miss Bronie, Director Cioara is here."
After breakfast, Bronie was about to take the children to the classroom when Cioara rushed over without stopping!
"Did you not sleep last night and come straight here? I remember it's quite far from there to here, right? Did you have breakfast? ....Don't be so excited!"
It had been a long time since she had seen Cioara, and Bronie missed her.
But seeing Cioara's worried look, Bronie thought she might have died in the mercenary world.
"You better explain to me clearly what's going on. You've made a big mess this time. Anti Entropy is looking for you, and you're still moving around nearby, getting recognized. If I don't take care of you, Schicksal might focus its attention here."
Cioara was worried about Schicksal's people.
After all, with Kiana by her side, if things got any more chaotic, the situation might attract the attention of both Schicksal and Anti Entropy, and then the World Serpent might just abandon her for the sake of the infiltration plan.
And her future self wouldn't fare well either. Of course, Bronie was the same.
"Don't worry, this time I acted solely for that child. Her childhood was worse than yours. After all, the World Serpent wouldn't treat her so harshly just for completing a task and only receiving a can of beef as a reward?"
"Hi... That child is indeed pitiful..."
But how did Bronie know about this?
"Well, since you're here, to prevent you from being shocked by some things about me in the future, the class I'm going to teach next will change from Honkai to Cosmic Sociology, so you can have a good understanding of what the universe outside is like. But just treat it as a story, because what I'm going to say next is hard to prove."
"Hard to prove, then why say it?"
"Because they are all true, and they can also help you understand this universe and some truths about Honkai."
Bronie once claimed to be a traveler of the Sea of Quanta.
Cioara fully believed it, but she had never heard of the state of the universe as Bronie knew it.
And the truth about Honkai...
"By the way, it seems you have never worried about Honkai or the coming of the End."
"How can I not worry? I worry a lot. Otherwise, why would I try so hard to trick the Flame Chasers into coming out of the Elysian Realm? I'm doing this to get them to solve the Honkai, right?"
"If they could solve the Honkai, they would have come out of Elysian Realm long ago..."
"Considering the current civilization's resources and situation, solving the Honkai is still very hopeful. If the Flame Chasers can come out, it will greatly increase the success rate of surviving the Honkai. Anyway, let's not talk about these. Just treat it as a story."
Bronie seemed indifferent, but Cioara became interested.
"I want to see what the universe looks like in your eyes. Isn't it like a Dark Forest?"
"The premise of a Dark Forest is whether the exchange of information can be conveyed accurately and the speed of interstellar travel. The Dark Forest can be broken through, but before civilizations enter space, without technology, the Dark Forest prevails. This is not just talk."
As Bronie spoke, she entered the classroom, where everyone was seated.
"Today, Cioara came to see Bronya and to listen to the class. Who erased the drawings I made?"
Looking at the empty blackboard, Bronie was confused. There were originally drawings of a tree, a sea, and symbols of various Paths, all gone.
"Uh... it, it was me..."
Nina weakly raised her hand.
"Although I know you meant well, remember to ask me next time."
Saying this, Bronie snapped her fingers, and the drawings of the tree and sea, along with the symbols of destinies, reappeared on the blackboard.
"Ahem, first, I'll briefly explain the concept of the imaginary tree. In simple terms, it compares countless timelines and worlds to a tree-like structure. Each branch represents a form of existence in a world, and each leaf represents its present and past in the time dimension. The tree crown, fueled by unclaimed imaginary energy in the spacetime conduit, always maintains a dynamic structure, with new buds growing and old leaves falling."
Bronie left a dot on a branch tip.
"This is our world, our planet. Beyond this, there is a mysterious imaginary energy that separates one universe from another. Therefore, most civilizations can only explore the edge of their own universes, as that is the trunk of the imaginary tree."
"So can we move outside the branches?"
Ann raised her hand and asked.
"Yes! The branches are full of imaginary energy, so naturally, you can move elsewhere, like this gap. But it's also very dangerous. The Sea of Quanta lacks the concept of time, and the relative dimensions of space to the real world are difficult to calculate, making it just as difficult to travel through imaginary space as it is to travel in the Sea of Quanta."
Cioara seemed to have something to say.
But if no one raised their hand, she wouldn't stop.
"So what is Honkai? Are there Honkaiis in other worlds?"
Bookworm Anila also raised her hand and asked.
"No, according to my experience and observations, Honkai does not occur in other worlds. So this thing, Honkai, is unique to our world as a test. If it can't be overcome, then there is only destruction."
Although Bronya had many doubts, she knew she had never attended a Honkai class, so she couldn't understand the content of the class.
But listening to the story was still quite enjoyable.
At this moment, Seele tapped Bronya's shoulder, and Bronya looked over curiously, finding a notebook.
There were many notes on it, all about Honkai and what to do when Honkai disaster strikes.
Bronya glanced briefly, only then did she understand that Honkai was a constant threat in this world.
"That's all for the quantum sea and the imaginary tree. This is just to give everyone a deeper understanding of the universe's condition. Now, In this vast universe, there is also a powerful existence called Aeons. Although everyone knows very little about it and is limited by finite cognition, intelligent beings can vaguely perceive the paths of the Aeons. This is also the source of some special abilities."
Cioara felt a bit far-fetched, but special abilities did exist.
After all, she had to help Jackal catch people, so once some special existences were found, they would inevitably be subjected to research.
"Each Aeon holds a Path. So far, the nature of the Paths is still unclear, but it can be roughly summarized with a philosophical concept. It is a part of the imaginary, a metaphysical aggregation. After meeting certain conditions, this part of the imaginary energy will be occupied by that intelligent creature."
Hearing this, Cioara suddenly understood what the experiment Bronie had mentioned before was about.
Was all this true? But how did she know these things?
"And that intelligent creature is the Aeons. The Aeons can freely use the power of Path, but it is also firmly bound by Path. Those who follow a Path and exert their own will may gain a faint power from that Path. In simple terms, it is the predecessors' enlightenment, and the successors' follow-up, which is like cultivating in the universe."
The more common and widely related insignias of Path were projected by Bronie, and Cioara raised her hand. She had a question to ask.
"Then what Path do you walk? What about me?"
"Me? I don't know yet, but according to my own understanding of myself, I probably walk the path of nihility. As for you... I don't know, maybe it's order, or maybe it's nihility. Who knows, after all, neither of us has been seen by the Aeon on our own destiny."
"Then tell us about Aeons. I think I have many questions that may need to be asked of you."
Cioara tentatively believed Bronie's words, but such information was indeed difficult to accept.
Aeon? Honkai? Imaginary tree?
There were too many bizarre things, and it seemed like they had nothing to do with her. But it seemed that there were ways for her to become stronger here?
"Right, my goal is the vast ocean of stars. How could I leave you on Earth? You should know these things. So let me tell you about each Aeon and its Path. These heavyweight information is unknown to anyone in this world!"
"How do you know then?"
"Because I have special abilities in the realm of information. In the Sea of Quanta, I can investigate scattered information at any time, including these. Although I can't verify these things, they are probably true because destiny does exist."
Chapter 69: Redemption
There are many Aeons above the starry sky, each representing a Path. Walking on such Paths grants one a bit of power, giving them special abilities.
But Paths is not something that can be changed easily.
After all, certain beliefs, certain desires, are reasons why people embark on their destinies. If one feels that the world is meaningless, they might truly tread the path of Nihility, then be glanced at by IX of Nihility and become self-annihilators.
"Sis, how do you feel about this lesson?" Bronie asked.
Bronya listened to Bronie's lecture in a state of confusion. Although she understood every word, when they were strung together in a sentence, she became confused.
"It's very interesting. Humans are not alone; there are Aeons walking among the stars, and there are many powerful civilizations on the Imaginary Tree. Moreover, there are many destiny walkers with fantastic ideas. Isn't that interesting?"
Okay, Bronya really saw this as a story.
But young Bronya couldn't understand what Bronie's information truly represented.
She only saw the nervous expression and worry in Director Cioara's eyes.
"Does Elysia know about this? Did you tell them about these things?"
"If it's Su who's currently carrying out the Project Velukan, he should know by now. However, his goal is to deal with the Honkai, not to explore other universes, so..."
Bronie shrugged, and the matter of the universe was something she had only recently learned about.
While developing her own abilities, through the fragments of information drifting in the Sea of Quanta, Bronie learned about it. This provided her with a lot of inspiration and even opened up new paths for her ability development.
After all, Paths sounded very much like something idealistic. Even the imaginary abilities on Path were essentially manifestations of will.
"So, The Flamechasers doesn't know about this for the time being?"
"I only found out recently, but it doesn't matter. I haven't found the location of the Cocoon of Finality, but wherever there's existence, there must be traces. My abilities have a very high advantage in the informational dimension. Perhaps in the next Honkai Eruption, or the one after that, there will be a way after all."
"I really admire you. So, are you going to stop caring about the game and focus on confronting the Honkai and exploring the universe in the future?"
"No, the game still needs to be made. Oh, do you want to play Kirby? It supports multiplayer!"
"No, let's do it another time. I feel sleepy after class. I didn't sleep last night, so I'll take a nap first."
Cioara promptly declined Bronie's invitation to play, which Bronie understood.
"If you don't mind, come to my room. The bed in my room is quite big."
"Okay."
Bronie then took Cioara back to her room.
Although staying up late was already commonplace for mercenaries, it was still tiring. After changing into pajamas, Cioara quickly fell asleep.
Leaving her room, there were children playing in the corridor.
But Bronya was alone, and Seele seemed to be absent.
"Is there any command?"
Sensing Bronie's gaze, Bronya looked up and asked.
Bronie just silently shook her head.
"Is this how you usually rest and relax?"
"Because you always have to be ready for battle, so rest can't involve any unnecessary activities. Bronya will obey orders."
"Come with me to the game room. There are many ways for children to relax, whether it's playing around or playing games. These are the real ways to rest and relax. There won't be any battles nearby, and there won't be much combat training in the future. You don't have to fight anymore."
Silently, Bronya followed Bronie to the game room.
"Next door is my office. If you can't find me elsewhere, you can come here."
"Yes!"
This child, it's really heart-wrenching.
"That... you can call me Big Sister Bronie."
"Big Sister Bronie, can I ask you anything?"
"Yes, most questions are fine."
"Then... what does Big Sister Bronie usually do? Why are you so powerful in battle?"
Since following Bronie, Bronya had never seen her with any subordinates. Maybe Cioara looked like she could fight, but that was the entire Silver Wolf squad!
"I usually work as a game developer, handling programming, writing, music, and art aspects. Of course, some smaller tasks are delegated to others in my company. As for combat, it's a skill I use to navigate the Sea of Quanta, and without some combat prowess, it's impossible to travel such distances."
"What's wrong? Still don't believe me? No problem, I'll take you to play the game I've been working on lately. It's quite suitable for kids to play. Tonight, I'll have Cioara bring 'Homu's Big Adventure' over for you to watch together!"
Standing in front of the TV, Bronie opened the game, much to Bronya's surprise, and directly entered the game.
...
[ Hey! Welt, where have you gone, you damn ghost! ]
[ [Auto Reply] Hello, I'm currently busy, please contact me later. ]
Looking at the history on his phone, Welt sat alone in his teacher's dormitory, feeling regretful.
"I'm sorry, Tesla. For the next while, I'll sever ties with Anti Entropy and focus on finding important things within St. Freya Academy. Besides, the Valkyries' educational philosophy is also crucial..."
As Welt spoke, he resumed playing Kirby.
"Hmm, I didn't expect Haxxor Bunny to be able to create such a fun game, and it's for kids too? Guiding children to discover the beauty of the world through games and casually mentioning the cautionary aspects of cosmic ecology when civilizations enter the universe, this guy is extraordinary. But how could she be an unknown game developer?"
Welt usually liked to call himself an animator, but because of his love for history, he used the identity of a history teacher within St. Freya Academy.
So Bronie's identity actually made Welt, who was sensitive, feel a little something.
How should he put it?
There's a sense of resonance, as if traveling on the same path, making similar choices.
If she knows about the Honkai, then Haxxor Bunny is probably also taking action against the Honkai in secret, apart from Entropy, perhaps only Schicksal?
Then his phone vibrated again.
[Me and Einstein got robbed! Do you know a mercenary called Haxxor? They stole fifty kilograms of gold from us!?]
The auto-reply appeared again, infuriating Tesla, who smashed her phone, while Welt noticed this so-called Haxxor.
Is it a coincidence?
"It seems necessary to test Haxxor Bunny, but how should I proceed while undercover within St. Freya Academy?"
From Haxxor, Welt saw many doubts, but from the game, he also saw the positive qualities of Haxxor.
Although robbing gold, especially such a large amount, completely stumped Welt.
Although the money wasn't much, it could at least buy him a ticket to a Arahato movie.
"Perhaps, during the holidays, I'll use the excuse of being the author of 'Homu's Big Adventure' to meet with her. The sudden creation of a game for kids likely means she has kids nearby..."
After making up his mind, Welt temporarily stopped replying to Tesla and continued playing the game.
Once the game ended and St. Freya Academy went on vacation, he would then go find Haxxor and understand the situation better.
Reading Tesla's message, it was very likely that Haxxor broke through Titan's defenses and directly found Tesla and Einstein. Although they were frightened and robbed of the gold, nothing more extreme happened.
On the other hand, the new partner found by Anti Entropy had completely disappeared.
Obviously, the other party's goal was that partner of Anti Entropy. If it weren't for her, Haxxor probably wouldn't have shown up.
As for Bronie, who didn't intend to devote herself, she was happily playing with Bronya.
Cute Kirby, thrilling adventures, and seemingly meaningless gaming activities completely opened up a new world for Bronya.
Soon, Bronya became immersed in this round, pink little creature. Plus the relaxed atmosphere and Bronie's comforting presence, she gradually forgot her unease and threw herself into the game.
Watching every little monster she ate, gaining new abilities each time, and exploring more fun in every new map, a smile gradually appeared on Bronya's face.
Cioara watched this with envy in her heart.
She envied how easily Bronie could win over Bronya.
And herself?
When she went to see her in the morning, she was immediately grabbed by the hand and almost got hit in the face.
And the water brought over had to be splashed into herself first before she could drink it.
There was so much distrust.
From her toy box, Cioara found her long-cherished 'Homu's Adventure'. Cioara was determined to make Bronya let go of her guard.
After all, those behaviors could only indicate that her past was indeed very unpleasant. Cioara also wanted to make her own effort to let Bronya feel the beauty of the world.
Just like what Bronie did.
"Alright, Bronya, let's end the gaming session for today. I'll save your progress, and you can play it again later. Of course, it's also okay to play alone. This game was initially designed for a single player."
Pausing the game, Bronie saved the progress, and Bronya's face clearly showed a lonely expression.
Happy times are always short-lived, but those eyes that once had no hope for tomorrow gradually gained some expectation, at least for tomorrow, Bronya had some anticipation.
Although she couldn't understand the text in the game, through Bronie's explanation, Bronya roughly understood that the pink Kirby she was controlling had a heroic identity in her hometown, rescuing and protecting others.
Kind of cool.
"Now Bronya believes that you're a game developer. Can I watch you make games sometime?"
"Making games is quite difficult. You'll need to pay attention in class and accumulate basic knowledge to a certain extent before you can develop games. But don't worry, I'll adjust the teaching speed according to your learning pace. Let me tell you a secret, Anila is the most sensitive to math among all the kids. Although she's not recognized as Einstein, if she's nurtured properly, she might actually pioneer a new path in scientific research!"
"Okay..."
"Don't be shy to approach her. Anila loves math. If you discuss problem-solving strategies with her, she might even forget about time and eating. Math is the foundation of gaming. Without programming skills, you can't connect graphics, music, plot, and everything else together."
Seeing Bronya let go of her guard, Bronie excitedly said a little more.
At this moment, Cioara also woke up and watched Bronie and Bronya interact with crossed arms.
At this point, Bronya also noticed that there was actually a stranger behind her!
Then Bronya, frightened, hid behind Bronie, and Bronie, like a mother hen protecting her chick, stretched out her hand.
"Seeing your expression, do you want me to go to the Elysian Realm and talk to them?"
"After all, this matter is quite serious. A direction determines the future direction of research. The existence of the Aeons may help us get through the Honkai."
"The Aeons can definitely solve the Honkai, but would you bend over and reach out for a mere earthworm? It's impossible. The fleeting glance of the Aeons on the path of destiny is the only intersection between mortals and the Aeons. Otherwise, Su would have solved the Honkai through Project Veluka!"
Because he believed in Bronie's words, Cioara seemed very anxious.
There's no way around it, the game's settings, though light, are of great importance.
Who wouldn't want to quickly solve the Honkai?
"Although it sounds easy, these things are observed and summarized by other civilizations after countless changes, right? It's still too far-fetched to come into contact with them now..."
Cioara calmed down, and Bronie also gave Cioara a hug.
"Don't worry, my determination to solve the Honkai is not much different from yours. We still have plenty of time."
Indeed, there's still plenty of time.
At least six years.
The third Honkai Eruption without Cocolia is definitely going to be postponed by quite a bit. Of course, Bronie doesn't know the current situation of Raiden Mei.
Worst case, she would take over the position of Origin in the future and elevate Kiana the little princess to the position of Finality.
"Alright, I trust you. But afterwards, you need to organize a document for me, in electronic format. I'll deliver it to the Elysian Realm myself, preferably with all the information you've seen from your dimensional vision."
"Of course, scientists value rigor. I'll record what I've seen, but don't expect me to figure out anything. After all, I don't know the principles."
"Yes, yes, yes, I'm just a tired soul. It seems that I'm doing something voluntarily for the first time, without expecting any rewards. When I come back, you'd better make me something delicious."
"That goes without saying."
"One more thing."
Suddenly, Cioara stopped Bronie again.
This Miss Raven speaks like a dad!
"Kiana said she really misses you. If you have time, go see her. But Bronya is here, so you might have to wait a while."
"I know, I know. When I have time, I'll definitely go see her."
Chapter 70: New Game Release, Getting Acquainted with Little Bunny
Bronya was like a little kitten, repeatedly confirming the safety of her surroundings in the unfamiliar environment before gradually starting to smile.
Every night, Cioara would come to Bronya's room, bringing the "Homu's Big Adventure" comic book to tell stories to Bronya.
Of course, sometimes Cioara would want to sleep early, so she left the storytelling to Bronya.
And every morning, Sin would somehow find some little dresses from somewhere and occasionally bring some new styles for Bronya.
But Bronya felt like Sin was venting something.
How should she put it, it was all venting, without sincerity.
But Sin was quite an interesting character.
As for Bronya's observations of Bronie, Bronya was sure that Bronie probably wasn't really her long-lost sister, but perhaps someone who came from another world, almost identical to herself.
Of course, in order to understand the concepts of parallel worlds and alternate dimensions, Bronya also studied hard and barely kept up with everyone else's progress in the orphanage.
Fortunately, as a potential talent of a Herrscher Successor, her learning efficiency was fast, and she quickly caught up with elementary school-level knowledge. She even bothered Anila from time to time, with an attitude of wanting to squeeze all the knowledge from Anila's mind, scaring Anila into thinking that Bronya was not some mercenary picked up outside, but a heartless learning machine.
From a glance, it was clear not to mess with her.
After all, having undergone rigorous training since childhood, if her learning efficiency couldn't keep up, she would go hungry due to failed training.
Later, after getting a little more familiar, Bronie told Bronya that when they attacked the Silver Wolf Squadron, she spared everyone's lives, so if she wanted revenge, Bronie wouldn't stop them.
As a result, besides studying and playing games every day, Bronya added a project of real-life combat training.
And they still followed the training method used in the Silver Wolf Squadron, and even had Bronie provide combat guidance.
Would Bronya refuse?
Of course not.
However, during the training process, Cioara watched with envy, so she joined in, working hard every day. Even when Bronie dressed her in the cutest little dresses, she remained unaffected.
Fortunately, the little dresses really worked.
At least when worn by Sin, she would subconsciously be a little shy, so she wouldn't really turn into that future little devil, swaggering around and calling herself the boss.
Now that she think about it, maybe jealousy won't lead to anything bad happening to Bronya, right?
Using the completion of the Mario production as a milestone, Bronie conducted the final assessment of Bronya.
Assessing Bronya's psychological state and physical development.
If everything was okay, Bronie could also temporarily leave the orphanage with peace of mind to go back and see Kiana.
Cioara went to the Elysian Realm once, delivering the information she had given, and as a result, Vill-V and Mobius sent messages almost every day.
On one hand, they asked about the Aeons, and on the other hand, they asked about the Abundance Aeon. They were also interested in the knowledge of the Astral Computer Nous, but it seemed there wasn't much worth discussing for now.
Instead, Fuli, which existed in the form of memory and memes, and the Yaoshi, which constantly spread eternity in the universe, became the focus of the two scientists.
One was a completely new form of life, how should she put it, very similar to the Elysian Realm, except the Elysian Realm was just a carrier of memories.
How to transform it into meme-like things, Vill-V had some idea about this, but not much.
Hare, to some extent, was also a similar existence, but still bound by material constraints unless Senti appeared, perhaps there was still a glimmer of hope?
As for Mobius, of course, she was naturally interested in the Aeon who constantly spread eternity, after all, that was her area of research. Mobius was also constantly pursuing the infinity of life, and the Abundance Aeon Yaoshi seemed to have truly achieved that?
Of course, more importantly, the Aeons evolved from ordinary mortals.
Although the specific principles were unknown, it also gave everyone a new goal.
What to do after the Honkai is resolved?
Bronie's suggestion was to slightly modify the "Cosmic Juggernaut" and turn it into a spaceship to explore continuously in space.
Originally, Vill-V refused.
But now, the existence of the Aeons really made it difficult for Vill-V to refuse.
Go out to explore, communicate, learn, and then search for that brilliant miracle in the universe.
Indeed, the Aeons could indeed be synonymous with miracles.
They created a path of destiny, allowing those walking on it to have the possibility of obtaining miraculous powers.
At this moment, Vill-V remembered that perhaps Aponia back then was walking on someone's path of destiny?
Who knows, maybe, Finality, Nous or Remembrance?
Vill-V had many questions she wanted to ask Bronie, but Bronie refused to communicate with the Elysian Realm, which made Vill-V extremely anxious. Of course, besides Vill-V, Mobius and Elysia were equally impatient.
Everyone was intelligent and naturally understood what the information sent by Bronie represented.
The vast universe, endless possibilities, and countless beautiful girls!
Although Bronie knew they were anxious, this matter couldn't be rushed. Sometimes in scientific research, having a clear direction and definite answers was crucial. It could save decades of wandering.
The existence of Fuli demonstrated the potential of memetic entities, while Nous proved that digital life could also become a Aeon. But weren't these goals too distant?
Or should they just play the Mario game Bronie sent?
"Bronie, why did you make a game with a middle-aged mustachioed plumber as the main character?" Bronya asked out of curiosity.
Because her focus was on learning, Bronie didn't realize that Bronya knew she had made several games.
Most were more suitable for adults, games children might not fully understand.
However, Bronya tried to understand them all, from Undertale to later works like Elden Ring, each highly praised and generating thousands of related videos.
Currently, Bronie was primarily working on a trilogy for children.
Kirby was the first game Bronya encountered, bringing pure joy and leaving a lasting memory. The second work, Bronya witnessed its production almost entirely. Only during game testing did Bronya finally see the full picture.
"Do you not think this plumber is quite cute? His features are distinct, easy to recognize, and as a worker, doesn't he evoke a special sense of closeness?" Bronie explained.
Back then, the limited capabilities of the NES made detailed character designs challenging. Elements like the red hat, big nose, small mustache, and red overalls had high recognition value and were very distinctive. Bronie continued using them to create an IP, enabling her game company to produce interesting games under this IP.
After all, who doesn't like making money effortlessly?
"Does that mean... it's the type of character you like?" Bronya asked.
"Ha, my type? Come on, mature middle-aged men can indeed provide a sense of security to little girls, but am I someone lacking in security? I prefer beautiful girls, but for children, this character is more relatable, and their perception of workers won't be swayed by capitalism," Bronie explained.
Seeing Bronie's awkwardness, Bronya couldn't help but laugh. "Alright, I believe you. I'm really looking forward to your new game, hoping it'll be as excellent as Kirby."
"You can rest assured. Although Mario is a bit harder than Kirby, most children can still pass it. Otherwise, how could a game that children can't complete be considered a gift to them?" Bronie reassured.
Under Bronya's gaze, Bronie finalized arrangements with the company and announced the new game's release tomorrow, simultaneously launching it on consoles and computers. Then, she released the trailer, showcasing platform jumping and action-adventure elements.
"Are you going to start working on the third game now?" Bronya asked, noticing Bronie's relief, realizing game development was quite exhausting.
"I found the production cycle for Mario this time a bit long. The game the company started based on the previous vote already has substantial content, so the focus will shift to another game," Bronie explained.
"The one called Titanfall?" Bronya inquired.
"Yes, like giant robots? Homu Entertainment's Arahato is really interesting, and I really like it. This time, the vote showed high enthusiasm for first-person shooter games, so Titanfall, as an appetizer, will be followed by something even more important."
"What's that?" Bronya asked.
"APEX Legends, a battle royale game set in the background of Titanfall. It will focus on gameplay and competition, with minimal plot, aiming to be a future cash cow," Bronie elaborated.
Bronya compared the setting of Titanfall with the visuals of APEX. "Are these really set in the same background?"
"Games under capital control that sacrifice lives for entertainment need a more rounded, cartoonish art style to highlight their entertainment value. Titanfall is a Warfare battlefield, so it needs to be slightly more serious," Bronie explained.
Time flew by.
"Bronya has learned a lot. Bronie, you often ask everyone about their dreams. Bronya now has a goal, to make games."
As expected, Bronie patted Bronya's head happily.
"That's great. Having a goal is a good thing."
"Because Bronie's games bring light to my world, I also hope to bring smiles to everyone like Bronie does. Kirby is very fun, Super Mario is also very fun, and... Undertale also brings warmth..." Bronya trailed off, recalling her experiences with the games.
Encouraged by Cioara's recommendation, Bronya also played Undertale.
As a rough pixel game, its content brought Bronya unprecedented shock at her age.
In Bronya's mind, Bronie's position continued to elevate, gradually understanding what kind of genius Bronie was. Despite her young age, she understood many profound truths, possessed vast knowledge, and made game development extremely enjoyable. Her combat prowess even surpassed that of the Silver Wolf Squadron.
"Fighting for all that is good, perhaps that's my action goal? Making games is just one way to achieve it. You'll understand later. But in the next week, the orphanage will have self-study sessions," Bronie announced.
"Huh?" Bronya didn't understand why Bronie suddenly mentioned this.
"In a while, I'll temporarily leave the orphanage to do something with Cioara, so I won't be back for a short time. But I can still conduct classes for you through the network. Alona Grandma will take care of your meals," Bronie explained.
Mainly to ensure Bronya had no psychological issues, allowing Bronie to leave the orphanage with peace of mind to see Kiana.
"I see..."
Bronya understood, but didn't seem happy about it. It was evident that Little Bunny hadn't grown up yet, still enjoying the beauty of the world and feeling a bit attached.
"Is there something you want to say?" Bronie asked.
"Can I go with you?" Bronya asked, as expected.
Although Bronie wanted to agree, it wouldn't be fair to the other children.
So she shook her head. "Sorry, Bronya, if I take you with me, I'd have to take the other children too for fairness. Besides, I'm not going out to play; I have more important things to do. So, no."
"...I understand, Bronya will stay in the orphanage obediently," Bronya responded, disappointed.
"Everyone relies on you to protect them! If any bad people come, besides Sin, you're the only one who can protect them. So please help me protect everyone, okay?" Bronie urged.
"Is the orphanage in danger?" Bronya asked.
"Of course, because everyone is very special, countless bad people want to abduct them. They have almost no combat ability, so in my absence, I can only rely on you. This is the login method for the Mercenary Black Network. If you find any information about the orphanage, be sure to message me!" Bronie explained.
Feeling Bronie's trust, Bronya clenched her fists and responded, "Got it! Bronya will complete the mission!"