["Look at the future they promise, Bronya! A world without poverty, cold, or suffering; a world where people no longer have to beg for survival like prisoners; a world we can protect forever."]
"It seems she has completely become Nanook's puppet," Sukuna remarked with a shake of his head.
"Indeed. Even if such a perfect world as she describes truly existed, it would be foolish to pin one's hopes on someone else's promises," Kenjaku said, spreading his hands. "Especially when that 'someone' is a Stellaron."
"Whatever. If it's meant to be destroyed, then so be it. I don't care."
"It's just a shame she couldn't come to Japan. If she were a jujutsu sorcerer, I think I would've... liked her quite a bit." As he spoke, Sukuna's narrow, sharp eyes narrowed further, his pupils gleaming with a blood-red light. The corners of his lips curled into a chilling smile.
"Is that really 'liking' her? Or do you just want to slice her into pieces?" Kenjaku was unfazed by his expression.
Sukuna had always taken pleasure in brutally killing women and children, as well as battling strong opponents... Anything that amused him, he would gleefully destroy.
And Cocolia—being both a woman and a formidable warrior—satisfied both Sukuna's sadistic urges and his desire for a worthy fight. She was the perfect target.
As for her betrayal of Preservation in favor of Destruction, her ideals of salvation... Sukuna neither cared nor had any interest in such things.
"You're quite interested in this woman, aren't you?" Sukuna suddenly asked.
"Hmm, a little." Kenjaku watched the screen with amusement, observing Cocolia's haughty, confident expression.
"I want to see the look of despair on her face when her ideals crumble and she's abandoned by all... Heh, I bet it'll be absolutely delicious."
["For seven hundred years, we have struggled, resisted, believing that the light of humanity would guide us toward revival. And what was the result? Utter defeat!"]
["Why is it that when faced with undeniable power, our first instinct is always to resist, to cover our ears, rather than listen to its demands?"]
["That is the indelible folly and cowardice rooted deep within human nature. Cast them aside, break free from your shackles! The Stellaron will lead humanity to evolution. It will—"]
[The more Cocolia spoke, the more fervent she became, her voice rising like the crescendo of an opera, all instruments blaring in unison—until an off-key note abruptly disrupted her momentum.]
["That's enough brainwashing, witch!" Slowly, Seele stepped forward from behind Bronya.]
[Cocolia wasn't surprised by their arrival, though her expression carried a hint of regret.]
["Bronya! I don't know what's happened between you two. Even if you explained it now, I probably wouldn't understand all that cryptic stuff. But there are two things I do know—"]
[Seele's voice was warm yet firm, a solid pillar of support behind Bronya. Under the gazes of everyone present, she spoke each word with solemn determination.]
["First, these guys went through hell to get here, all to seal that thing called the Stellaron."]
["Second, remember what I told you? If anything happened to you, I'd come to save you no matter what."]
["So, get it? Even if that woman over there brainwashed you and made you forget our promise completely. I'd knock you out and drag you back anyway!"]
["Seele…" Bronya's pupils dilated instantly, a faint tremble in her eyes.]
"That was beautifully said... Seele."
Inside St. Freya Academy, watching her alternate self's unwavering bravery, Bronya couldn't help but murmur softly.
When she heard Seele on the Celestial Screen say, "I'd come to save you no matter what," even the Seele beside her didn't notice how tightly Bronya was gripping her hand—so tightly it was as if she feared losing something.
Back when Seele had been transformed into a quantum state during the X-10 experiment, Bronya had made the same promise.
No matter what, she would bring Seele back from the Sea of Quanta to reality. Now, feeling the warmth of the girl's palm, she was overwhelmed with both relief and happiness. She had kept her promise, finally grasping this hard-won happiness in her hands.
"Bronya Onee-chan..." Sensing something, the Seele beside her smiled softly.
"The promise you made to me back then... now an alternate version of me is saying it in another world. It feels so strange." Sitting on the bench, Seele gently swung her pale legs. "She said the words I wanted to say to you, nee."
"Oh?" Bronya smirked playfully. "What, do you want to knock me out and drag me back to the dorm?"
"Ah— Onee-chan...!"
Teased like this, Seele's delicate face immediately flushed pink.
["That's enough, isn't it? I've given you plenty of time... time to say your goodbyes." Cocolia, who had been silent until now, finally spoke.]
[Cocolia revealed her second purpose for coming—to witness Bronya's choice. There were no more secrets between them now; she had laid out all her thoughts plainly. As the would-be guardian of her ideal world, she wanted to know Bronya's decision.]
["Bronya, I've agonized over how to convey all this to you. The promised tomorrow will come, but if you cannot stand by my side, if you cannot watch over that new world with me... then I will be consumed by pain—pain that cannot be erased!"]
["Perhaps I should even thank you, outsiders. The pressure you've brought... has forced me to confront my final weakness."]
[Cocolia's stern gaze softened slightly as she looked at the girl before her. "Bronya, from childhood till now, I've never forced you to obey my will. No matter what, you've always had a choice—just as you do now."]
["Choose, my daughter."]
"It seems the Supreme Guardian is resorting to emotional manipulation at the last moment," Ningguang remarked, setting down her pipe and exhaling a slow stream of smoke. "A very human reaction."
"Lady Ningguang, but I don't think Miss Bronya will agree," her secretary chimed in.
"Indeed. Bronya may be gentle, but when it comes to crucial moments, she becomes unyielding. Plus, the girl is clever—on the business field, you can't deceive someone like that with petty tricks. The only card left to play is sincerity."
"Still, this is Cocolia's genuine feelings showing. After all... no mother wants her daughter standing against her."
[Bronya took a deep breath. Slowly, she opened her eyes, her gaze steady and resolute, as if she had made up her mind.]