"So it turns out..."
In The Deep, the ruins of the Stargate. Hare, who held the Herrscher core in her hand, smiled when she saw the Herrscher of Reason core begin to emit a dazzling light.
Imaginary space cracks appeared like spider webs, and like glass breaking into pieces, Bronya stepped into the outside world, back to reality.
Hare welcomed her back with her usual smile.
"Bronya Zaychik, welcome back to the real world. You, really like cheating."
Bronya snorted: "Whether it's cheating or not, as long as the method works then Bronya will still use it. Besides, the one who cheated from the start was you. You don't deserve to lecture Bronya at all."
Hare laughed: "...You have a point. But, there is something I want to ask you. How come you know that I have been watching you from the start?"
Bronya: "It's just a guess plus instinct. If Bronya were you, then Bronya wouldn't let a stranger access Bronya's memories so easily and without the slightest resistance. This is clearly a trap."
"Then you still want to go in there after knowing all this?"
"Yes, Bronya is sure that you won't harm Bronya. Otherwise, if you really want to seize the power of the Herrscher of Reason and kill Bronya, then we wouldn't need to talk so much nonsense in the first place. It's not very efficient."
Hare was still smiling: "What if I hadn't pulled you out before the cannon energy hit your body? Wouldn't that have been suicide?"
Bronya snorted coldly: "The result is still the same. Without your mercy, Bronya still has own way out."
"Oh... You mean by relying on the [metamorphosis simulation] that prometheus talked about?"
Seeing Bronya who was silent. Hare didn't need to ask any more questions to find out the answer. Different from what she imagined, Bronya didn't seem to be careless at all, and instead everything had been calculated by her.
Regarding shooting herself with an energy cannon, it felt like Bronya just wanted to tease and test Hare's conscience.
Really...
Very cunning Ural wolf.
"Bronya, you suprise me~ But, since you have chosen to give up, then the power of the Herrscher of Reason is now all mine."
Quitting the game of chess, but also losing the qualification to play chess. Bronya felt the connection between the herrscher core of Reason and herself starting to weaken.
It didn't take a few minutes, when Bronya saw the core of the Herrscher of Reason once again, Bronya just felt like she was looking at a rock at the edge of a city park.
She had lost her Herrscher of Reason powers.
Bronya could only sigh helplessly.
"There's something Bronya wants to ask you. Why do you want the power of the Herrscher of Reason so much?"
Even though it has not been fully activated, the stigma project can be said to be stronger than Bronya's Herrscher of Reason core even in its lowest mode.
Herrscher of Reason which has 300,000 consciousnesses, compared to the Stigma project which has a collection of billions of consciousnesses coming from all over the world and history. Even stupid people know how to choose the superior one.
Then, why does Hare still want the power of the Herrscher of Reason that is in her hands now?
"Using the power of the Herrscher of Reason? No, I'm not interested. You seem to have misunderstood."
"Eh?"
"I seized the power of the Herrscher of Reason not because I wanted it. But because I just wanted to keep it away from you."
Hare explained.
"Bronya, from now until the future, humanity's struggle against Honkai will be even more terrifying. In front of the screen we may be winning, but how much have we paid just for this victory?"
"When the news that the moon was approaching the earth arrived, the outside world had already begun to welcome the doomsday. As the successor of Anti-Entropy, the inheritor of the will of the first Herrscher of Reason, are you really sure you can endure all this?"
Bronya's face suddenly turned black.
"So in other words, the reason why you snatched the power of the Herrscher of Reason from Bronya was because you wanted to protect Bronya?"
"Yes, I'm not doubting your abilities. But, I have an obligation to protect you considering the promise I made with her. That's why Bronya, be a good girl, and just leave everything to us."
Bronya clenched her fists tightly. At this moment, the veins caused by anger could be seen very clearly on the back of her hand.
"Misteln... No, Hare. Do you understand what you are doing now? Every delay that passes, many people will die because of you."
"Yes, of course I understand. That's why, I will now take you to a safe place for shelter."
Like having an argument with a stubborn parent, and a stone wall that keeps reflecting the words they say. Realizing that words were useless, Bronya could only take a deep cold breath, calming herself.
Her small brain started spinning at full speed to find a solution.
"Last question, the reason why Bronya came to this place was to repair the damaged stargate. Then, after Bronya leaves, who will repair this place?"
"There isn't any."
Hare gave the answer clearly.
"The current Stargate technology is still very different from the technology that exists in the current era. Even though I know how to improve it, the materials we need will not be available for a while due to the existing gap in materials science."
"Then how will they go to the moon?"
"Of course they can find another way. However, as long as they think, they can always find a way."
"...In other words, another time delay."
Bronya massaged her forehead dizzily. Judging from Hare's tone, it seemed like she didn't have the slightest sense of guilt for the loss of life caused by her.
If [she] used to have a pure conscience like Cecilia, and liked to help others. So after [transcription] itself, the existence of this [Idea] becomes increasingly rational.
Rational can be equated with being cold-blooded.
"Then Bronya will reject your invitation. If you are afraid of the future, how can you embrace your own future?"
"Bronya will not back down, nor will run away. Bronya will not disappoint the hopes given to them all."
Like hearing funny things, Hare smiled playfully.
"Then what do you want to do? The current you is just an ordinary human."
"Yes, you're right. Bronya, who is currently just a human. But, if you can cheat, why doesn't Bronya cheat too?"
"Hm?"
"Kiana, DO IT NOW!!!"
....
Shout suddenly, surprising the enemy, and giving a signal to the ambushing party. A sword shot out from the darkness, and the fiery red sword shot towards Hare's back at full speed!
"BANG!!!"
The Seed of Idea appeared behind Hare and blocked the greatsword like a queen's bodyguard. Kiana also appeared beside her sword, and she cut in a full circle!
The Seed of Idea instantly split into two!
Hare, who reappeared from a distance after teleporting, sighed helplessly when she saw that the Herrscher of Reason core she was holding had now fallen into Kiana's hands.
"Bronya, catch it!"
Received the Herrscher of Reason core thrown by Kiana. Bronya held the herrscher's core tightly, and she also started to get serious.
A smile appeared on her face.
"The 300,000 consciousnesses that make up the Herrscher of Reason have indeed been merged into the stigma project. But you seem to have forgotten one thing."
"Even though they are all gone, Bronya, is also one of the 300,000 Herrscher of Reason fragments!"
"Star of Eden!"
Using her power that had disappeared, and was responded enthusiastically by the dazzling light emitted by the herrscher core. The power of reconstruction was triggered, and the Star of Eden, the 9th divine key, appeared in Bronya's hands!
The power Herrscher of Reason, is back!