After returning to Salt Lake Base, they immediately reported everything to Dr. Einstein and Tesla.
Exhausted, the two retreated to rest.
"You're the one who's always protected Seele… aren't you?"
After a long silence, Bronya finally asked.
"How long have you known?"
『Seele』 didn't deny it—but she wanted to know how she'd been exposed.
Bronya's tone suggested she'd known for a while.
"Seele loves sweet food. So Bronya's borscht always matched her taste. But once… she asked for a spicy version. That's when Bronya suspected something. That one… was for you, wasn't it? You prefer spicy flavors."
"..."
Such a tiny detail—yet Bronya had noticed.
Her care for Seele ran deep.
"So? What now? Want me to disappear?"
『Seele』's hostility flared.
Seele was hers. No one else's.
"No. Bronya wants to thank you. For protecting Seele in the Sea of Quanta. And… if Seele never told Bronya about you, it means she trusts you. So Bronya trusts her judgment."
Bronya didn't understand 『Seele』's temperament—but she spoke honestly.
She'd been to the Sea of Quanta. She knew its dangers.
There was no way Seele could've survived there alone.
This other self had shielded her.
And for that, Bronya was grateful.
"Tch. None of you even know me, yet you trust me? Is that idiot's naivety contagious?"
『Seele』 turned away, grumbling—but her true feelings were obvious.
"Because you're also Seele. Bronya knows Seele… so Bronya believes in you."
"..."
"But… what should Bronya call you?"
Bronya hadn't settled on a term, so she deferred to 『Seele』.
"Just 'Seele.' And never 'Veliona'—or I'll do something unpredictable. But… for clarity, you can call us 'Black Seele' and 'White Seele.'"
"Understood… Seele."
That night…
"Seele… Are you sure about the report? It feels… off."
Seele hesitated. The wording was strange.
"It's fine. It was your power anyway."
"But I wanted to introduce you to everyone…"
Her voice dipped with disappointment.
Like wanting to show off a dear friend—only for them to refuse.
Sighing, 『Seele』 relented.
"Ugh. Dealing with you is enough trouble. More would be exhausting. But… maybe someday. When you don't need protecting anymore."
"Really?! Then you won't be lonely! You'll have me and Bronya-oneechan and everyone else!"
"Such a naive idiot. Keep trusting me like this, and I might hijack your body to dance on a table, screaming 'I'm Seele!'"
"I believe in you, other me. You are Seele. You wouldn't do that."
"...Tch."
"Well, well—if it isn't Red Lightning Dragon Lady. Ready for our script?"
Raiden Mei, freshly battered from Kalpas' Trial, shot a glare at Raven's teasing.
Wordlessly, she snatched the freshly mixed drink from Raven's hand.
"Wow. Never thought Miss Proper would resort to theft. You're paying for that."
"Raven. Never call me that again."
Downing the drink, Mei's eyes burned with warning.
She couldn't retaliate against the source of that nickname (Elysia's memory).
But Raven?
Easy prey.
"Yeah, yeah. Let's go. You'll be seeing your dear partner soon. Excited?"
Raven switched topics, seizing another chance to tease.
What else could she do?
Mei, strengthened by countless Signets, was far beyond her now.
Back then, Raven had barely won by cheating.
Now? Against a fully powered Mei?
No shot.
"...No. Just… glad to see her again."
"Uh-huh. Then maybe loosen your grip? That's Eden's cup. Solid gold."
Raven wasn't fooled.
Mei was crushing the cup.
"Not excited," her ass.
"Ahem. Let's go, Raven. We have a Herrscher of Dominance to deal with. Though… why didn't you plan to recruit them, like before?"
"Impossible. Every other Herrscher retained some humanity at first. They weren't inherently evil. But the Herrscher of Dominance? They're a manifestation of human malice. They'll never side with us."