The first to arrive was Seele, her usually calm face clouded with worry.
As she neared Cocolia and Bronya, she instinctively slowed her steps, her demeanor somber.
Carefully, she lowered Pela from her shoulder. The younger girl shook her head slightly, trying to settle her stomach after the bumpy ride, fighting the nausea rising in her chest.
Once she steadied herself, Pela didn't even pause to salute, rushing out her report in a panicked tone, "Emergency report—! Guardian! Just now... the east wall of Belobog has been destroyed by the rampaging Stormterror! It's currently wreaking havoc where it landed!"
"What did you say?!"
The shock in Cocolia's voice was so intense it felt like thunder, ringing in everyone's ears and leaving them momentarily dazed. Even the Silvermane Guards, who arrived moments later and caught only the tail end of her words, felt the dizzying impact of her announcement.
Those who kept their wits turned their eyes on her, waiting anxiously, even Bronya was too focused to look at Cocolia, instead quickly asking, "What's the current state of the Silvermane border defense zone?"
"...W-We don't know. The only good news is that from the direction of its fall, the dragon didn't land directly on the front lines. But… if it breached the outer wall, I doubt the structure of the inner barricade can withstand such a storm…"
A bitter look crossed Pela's round cheeks.
"Plus, the sound of the wall's destruction was so loud, there's no chance of keeping it quiet. The eastern district residents must already be flooding toward the administrative zone for refuge!"
At these words, Gepard immediately spoke up.
"Guardian, you must make a decision at once! We can't sit back any longer!"
"Deploy to the eastern district, carry out evacuation procedures, and ensure civilians are guided safely into the administrative shelters!"
It wasn't Cocolia who responded but Bronya, her expression grim. No longer constrained by her mother's presence, she stepped forward with the commanding aura of a true successor, issuing orders without hesitation.
But just then—
"Stop! This order cannot be carried out."
A voice, chilling and devoid of warmth, rang out. Cocolia's tone was sharp, unrecognizable even to those closest to her.
"Seal off all routes from the eastern district into the administrative zone. Not a single refugee is to enter!"
"Are… are you really going to abandon half of the city's population?"
Bronya's voice was stiff, almost forced.
"This is a necessary decision. Do you understand the consequences if we allow a flood of refugees into the inner city?"
Cocolia's words fell heavily, leaving everyone silent.
Pela, small and determined, stepped forward to answer in Bronya's stead.
"…Half of the population would surge into the administrative zone, but since the last refuge incident, our supplies and resources aren't enough to sustain so many lives. At that point, the city would tear itself apart in civil war over survival."
Pela's face grew more grim, but she pushed on with her analysis.
"Even if we manage to prevent initial chaos, with the administrative zone's limited space, we'll have nothing to rely on. If we lose both the commercial and agricultural districts of the inner and outer city, it won't take a civil war; humanity will face extinction from the twin crises of energy and food depletion."
"...Exactly. As she explained, if those refugees are let in, Belobog's downfall will only accelerate."
Cocolia's voice grew colder, sharper.
"The emergency rations allocated to the shelters have already reduced the administrative reserves to less than thirty percent. And the flood of demands will bring Qlipoth's civic system to a halt.
"When people's needs go unmet, an even greater civil conflict will erupt, and the last city of humanity's flame will be snuffed out."
"But... that's only a possibility, isn't it? We could open the cable car route to the Underworld, let people disperse across both zones. With food rationing to hold out just a bit longer, and if we dispatch an elite unit to eliminate Stormterror—"
Bronya's appeal was cut off as Cocolia interrupted harshly.
"Your plan is nothing but wishful thinking. What makes you think the Underworlders would welcome a flood of refugees from the surface? And why would you believe mere humans could handle such a calamity?
"Most importantly, even the slightest chance of hastening humanity's end is unacceptable!"
"But all those people being abandoned—!"
"Enough! Bronya, you'd better understand your place. I am the Supreme Guardian, the final authority in Belobog. And you? You're nothing but a fledgling successor, a Silvermane Guard commander stripped of your authority! Do not arrogantly presume to speak for the people!"
Cocolia's harsh reprimand nearly stripped Bronya of all dignity, reducing her in status with each word. Yet, her callous scorn, however pitiful, was still safer than the risk of actually standing against that monstrous dragon.
Death at that creature's hands would erase one's very essence, leaving nothing but distorted echoes reconstituted by the Fragmentum's chaotic will.
Cocolia wanted her daughter to live, to accompany her into this "new world." Without Bronya by her side, she would be left with a pain she could scarcely imagine.
Compared to that, sacrificing half of the population—soon to be cradled in this new world—seemed like the only reasonable option.
"—What are you all standing around for?! Execute my orders at once!"
Cocolia's cold gaze landed on the silent guards around her, her expression darkening further.
Bronya stared back at her mother, feeling only sorrow… and a cold determination.
"I refuse to support this proposal."
Her words were resolute, drawing everyone's attention, including Cocolia's.
"Bronya! When will this madness end? Even now, in this time of crisis, you insist on defying me—the Supreme Guardian, with the highest authority in Belobog?"
Cocolia's voice rose, becoming a shrill, grating sound.
But this time, Bronya didn't back down.
She stepped forward, facing her mother directly.
"You—no, you are no longer fit to be Belobog's Guardian the moment you decided to abandon the people and deny them even a sliver of hope for survival!"
"—Guards! Escort her back to Qlipoth Fort. I'll deal with her myself later."
Cocolia's voice trembled with fury as she issued the order.
But this time, it wasn't just Bronya. Other guards, unable to watch this betrayal silently, looked at her with open contempt.
"—We're sorry, but we cannot carry out your order."
The young officer, Gepard Landau, answered coldly.
"Gepard Landau?!"
Cocolia's glare was fierce.
"Seems like their answer took you by surprise, Supreme Guardian Cocolia."
Seele, who had been silent until now, sneered, stepping in with her scythe held out horizontally to block Cocolia's exit.
And beside her, the usually timid intelligence officer, Pela, had a new expression as she opened her control panel for her reconnaissance drone, her face calm as if her earlier panic had been nothing but an act.
"—According to recent intelligence, most of the Silvermane Guards were deployed across the city for safety patrols, leaving only a small contingent stationed at Qlipoth Fort. Convenient, isn't it?"
"What do you mean by that?"
"Hm? Don't tell me you haven't figured it out yet, my Lady? I thought it was obvious."
Pela's voice dripped with feigned surprise, as though baffled by Cocolia's slowness.
"—You... all of you?! Are you intending to betray me, betray Belobog, betray every citizen who lives here?!"
Cocolia staggered back in disbelief, looking around at everyone present.
"Betrayal? No, around us, there are only two types of people. Enemies… or comrades."
The young officer with a squirrel-like face adjusted her glasses, the data reflected in her lenses obscuring her expression. But Cocolia could feel it—those eyes regarded her as an enemy.
Cocolia let out a bitter laugh, sweeping her hostile gaze over everyone before fixing on Gepard, the one person who held true power in the situation.
"This must be the handiwork of the Landau family. A clever ruse—first using insignificant pawns to lower my guard, then tracking my movements to ambush me at the perfect moment and seize control of Belobog."
"I don't know where you got that idea," Gepard answered, his face expressionless. "But I can say this much: I do not act in unison with Bronya or Officer Pela."
His voice was steady, unyielding.
"I share their concerns, but I wouldn't place all trust in them. A crisis of this magnitude demands caution. Ultimately, I choose to support the side that will ensure humanity's survival.
"In the past, as the Supreme Guardian, you knew secrets beyond the knowledge of Architects, Guards, and ordinary citizens. Entrusting humanity's future to you may have been the wisest course."
"Even if you ordered me to lead my sister or other innocents to the gallows, I would obey without question. If required, I'd sacrifice myself—such is our duty and the vow we swore upon becoming Silvermane Guards."
The young officer's gaze hardened, hostility finally surfacing as he held Cocolia's conflicted gaze.
"But from what we've seen of you today, even if we're terrified of forces beyond understanding…"
"We are less willing to abandon our people, less willing to cling to the title of 'Guardian' while abandoning those we're sworn to protect. Maybe we lack the callousness needed for that, but at least we can ensure more lives are spared."
"W-What nonsense! Even if you seize Qlipoth Fort and strip me of power, what then? The people will never accept the Silvermane Guards; they recognize only me as the Supreme Guardian! And the Architects won't just stand by idly!"
"At that point, you'll end up no better than those two miserable scapegoats, hung out to dry to pacify the people!"
Cocolia's composure shattered, her voice descending into a feral snarl as she glared at those who had driven her to this precipice.
But wait… something didn't add up. If they truly intended to carry this out, they wouldn't have exposed themselves prematurely without securing victory.
"It seems not only your taste is poor but also your grasp of reality, still stuck in your outdated political games."
A voice, one she hadn't expected to hear, echoed through the room. Cocolia turned in shock.
At the prison's exit stood a bard.
Gone was the haggard boy from before; clad in green, his robe fluttered in the wind, a faint smile of confidence gracing his face. His fingers played gently across his lyre, weaving a unique melody that seemed to harmonize with all things.
"You—!"
"Ehe. Seems you caught on. This isn't just a noisy diversion, my Lady. While you were busy forsaking your people, they heard whispers on the 'wind.'"
"Look—those who've learned the truth are gathering outside, burning with anger. They'd love nothing more than to see you strung up from a lamppost."
As Venti's words ended, the sounds of shuffling footsteps grew louder, echoing from the nearby streets. Mostly civilians, with a few Silvermane Guards among them.
They shared one emotion: rage.
Weapons raised, they chanted with one voice, "Purge the traitor!"
It was all directed at Cocolia—the very "public sentiment" she'd thought to manipulate.
Those she deemed expendable, those with family within the inner city, had grown fearful with each new catastrophe. And the Guardian they trusted had denied them even a sliver of mercy, assuming she could fool them all as easily as sheep.
How could they not be furious? How could they not resist?
All the simmering resentment from her years in power… today, Venti had unshackled it.
The noose Cocolia once intended for Venti and Serval seemed ready to ensnare her own neck.
Realizing this, Cocolia fell into a crazed state—
Bronya watched her muttering "Impossible" over and over, her gaze both somber and unfathomable.
"Mother… Cocolia, this will be the last time I call you by name. Forgive me, but I cannot stand by you any longer."
"…"
Cocolia's breaths grew more rapid, beads of cold sweat gathering on her forehead.
"No, be silent—! None of you have the right to do this to me!"
Her display was pathetic, a circus clown's act.
Bronya couldn't help but feel a pang of pity as she spoke softly.
"Perhaps you see humanity's depths as foolishness and cowardice, that desperation brings out only the darkest parts of us."
"But those you ignore—those who strive to survive, to keep fighting in these dark days—they too have a light that shines, a light that isn't false."
"In the borderlands, in the Underworld, and in those hidden corners you refuse to see, our ancestors built this city with their hands, fought to preserve civilization amid the howling blizzards. Even if this world is destined to crumble, that journey should be paved by human hands—"
"Not surrendered to the poison that distorts minds and deceives hearts!"
At that moment, Cocolia finally realized her long-held secret had leaked long ago.
Her pride, her insistence—all of it now seemed ridiculous.
Even Bronya's earlier defiance, dismissed as rebelliousness, only further confirmed the truth.
"...Am I the truly arrogant, ignorant one…"
She bowed her head, whispering with despair.
---
T/N: Eh heh!
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