Felicity and Bronya followed Seele for a while.
Seele hadn't wanted Bronya to tag along, but she couldn't sway Felicity, so she simply acted as if Bronya didn't exist.
Bronya merely trailed behind Felicity, making no attempt to escape. In Felicity's presence, she couldn't muster any thoughts of resistance.
Seele's job was simple: patrolling the territory of Wildfire.
The three of them wandered through the Underworld, sending injured miners to Natasha's clinic and dealing with troublemaking vagrants by beating them up before also sending them to Natasha's clinic.
In just half a day, they had already made three trips to Natasha's clinic.
And that didn't even include those who backed down as soon as they saw Seele.
The chaos in the Underworld far exceeded Bronya's expectations, prompting her to murmur under her breath:
"...How did the Underworld become so chaotic?"
Seele stood not far in front of her, and even a whisper was clear as day to her.
"You'll have to ask your beloved Guardian about that."
Seele raised an eyebrow, not bothering to hide the sarcasm in her voice.
"Maybe the Supreme Guardian is just too kind-hearted, unable to bear seeing the people of the Underworld suffer, so she sealed off the passage between the upper and lower levels—out of sight, out of mind, perhaps."
Bronya didn't refute her. She looked deeply troubled, unable to defend the Guardian in the face of the Underworld's plight.
"The Supreme Guardian... her judgment may indeed have been flawed. If only someone had been able to explain the cost of all this to her back then..."
She cut herself off mid-sentence, realizing it was pointless to dwell on what could have been.
She sighed.
"I'm sorry."
Bronya apologized to Seele sincerely.
"You're a strange one. The one I've been blaming is the current Supreme Guardian. It was her orders that reduced the Underworld to this state. Why are you apologizing?"
Seele placed one hand on her hip, hoisting her scythe over her shoulder with the other, and gave Bronya a puzzled glance.
"No, this responsibility is partly mine as well."
Bronya shook her head, placing her right hand gently over her chest.
"That was a decision made by my mother. As her daughter, I have an obligation to bear this responsibility."
"...You're the daughter of the Supreme Guardian?"
Seele looked at Bronya with some surprise, then shifted her gaze to Felicity.
"You're quite something, actually managing to bring the Supreme Guardian's daughter down to the Underworld."
Perhaps Bronya's sincere apology had taken effect, as Seele's tone softened considerably.
"I thought everyone from the Upper World were arrogant and cold-hearted people. It seems that's not entirely true—at least someone knows how to apologize properly."
"..."
Bronya didn't respond further, chaotic thoughts crashing through her mind as her eyes fell upon Felicity.
"Is this the truth you wanted me to see?"
She whispered.
Felicity blinked, revealing a mischievous smile.
"Yes, what are your thoughts?"
Bronya let her hands hang at her sides, turned back, and once again looked at this dilapidated district. She took a deep breath and took a step back.
"I... I don't know."
"You're such a coward."
Felicity pouted.
It was normal for Bronya to be overwhelmed after receiving so much information at once—she just needed more time to process everything.
"Let's just look for the Stellaron for now—Seele, what should we do next?"
Felicity turned to ask Seele.
"I still need to go on patrol... Wait, what do you mean 'what should we do next'?"
Seele answered instinctively before suddenly catching herself mid-sentence, looking at Felicity with disdain.
"We're not a team!"
Seele emphasized her words.
"Fine~ In that case, we won't bother you anymore."
Felicity responded dismissively to Seele's words. She had already shown Bronya everything she wanted her to see, so there was no need to disturb Seele further.
"Ugh, you really don't listen to what people say at all."
Seele sighed, having almost forgotten that this unpredictable young woman before her was the one Natasha described as likely being the person who would bring hope to Belobog.
She remembered Natasha's order—to provide Felicity with whatever assistance she could within her means. This command essentially made Natasha's stance clear.
"I hope... this so-called Stellaron truly exists."
Seele murmured.
Felicity led Bronya back to the clinic entrance.
As expected, March 7th and the others had already returned. The three of them were gathered together, discussing the information they had obtained.
Stelle, sharp-eyed, noticed Felicity's figure and raised her hand to greet her.
"Felicity—"
"I'm back."
March 7th also reacted, looking up with a bright smile spreading across her face.
"The Underworld has so many interesting people and things too—it's so much fun!"
"March 7th is right～"
Stelle chimed in from behind.
"Hey, I told you not to copy that childish tone!"
March 7th's cheeks immediately flushed slightly pink as she glared at Stelle with displeasure.
Seemingly afraid of being misunderstood, she quickly explained:
"I heard from the children around here that Dan Heng ran off with someone. Those kids also said that if I want to know their whereabouts, I have to join the Moles, and to join the Moles, I have to play games. Only by winning can I prove my ability."
March 7th shot a glare at Stelle beside her,
"But who would've thought that Stelle happened to catch me while I was talking to the children."
"I'm a child too! I was just born a few days ago!"
Stelle immediately protested discontentedly.
"You lost your memory, you weren't born! What kind of child is born fully grown like you!"
March 7th facepalmed, remembering that Stelle wasn't this strange initially - why is she now both digging through trash cans and spouting nonsense...
A figure subconsciously surfaced in her mind, and March 7th looked toward Felicity.
"Ahem, Dan Heng, let's hear about your situation instead."
Felicity understood March 7th's gaze and instinctively cleared her throat before immediately changing the subject.
"Well, I investigated the people nearby and found they all trust the Wildfire greatly. Wildfire seems to have become something like the underground Silvermane Guards."
Dan Heng replied calmly,
"For now, I believe they're temporarily trustworthy."
"Also, Miss Natasha went out not long ago, heading toward the Great Mine direction as well. I suspect something major must have happened at the Great Mine."
Before Felicity could respond, Seele's voice suddenly rang out:
"Nat's gone to the Great Mine too?... It seems things are worse than I thought."
Seele emerged from the other side of the clinic with furrowed brows, looking at Felicity,
"Though I don't know what other plans you have - would lending Wildfire a hand be too much to ask?"