Bab 19: Chapter 19: A Tender Embrace
In truth, if it weren't for Bronie already knowing what kind of person Mobius was, she would probably have started to get annoyed a long time ago.
Fortuntely, Bronie truly understood that Mobius was just like this, words were without too much malice. Consequently, there was no argument with Mobius about anything.
The game was duplicated thirteen times and subsequently distributed by Elysia one by one.
Except for Kalpas's slightly enthusiastic reaction, everyone else accepted it readily.
However, what Vill-V cared about the most was still Bronie.
Possessing special abilities and even claiming to be able to hack into reality and modify it, such abilities would undoubtedly be very powerful in Magical Shows.
If only she could become her magic assistant...
Thus, Vill-V didn't rush to see Bronie. Instead, she decided to wait and observe, to understand her.
She even prepared a breathtaking magic performance to completely captivate Bronie with her magic!
"Sorry, Bronie, everyone in Elysian Realm is relatively enthusiastic, so it took a little longer than expected to send out the game."
Arriving at the lounge, Bronie saw Eden sitting in the lounge, immersed in her own wine.
After seeing Bronie, Eden also generously praised her Undertale, the only regret was the art style.
Pixel art indeed diminished the game a lot, but its core story completely made up for it.
Just as Bronie was about to say that this game wouldn't be in pixel art style this time, Elysia arrived.
"Welcome, Ellie, I just chatted with Bronie for a while, unexpectedly Bronie is so talented, and seeing that the art of this era is still thriving, it really makes me feel extremely gratified."
"Hey there! My good Eden, have you been waiting long? Bronie said this game can actually be played in multiplayer, shall we play together?"
"Of course."
That's right, Spiritfarer can actually be played in multiplayer.
Apart from the protagonist, Stella, the only one who can be controlled is a cat named Daffodil.
What bad intentions could a cat have?
It's just a friend who quietly helps the protagonist complete the duties of a Spiritfarer.
Under Bronie's expectant gaze, Elysia slowly opened the computer and also opened the live broadcast room.
Unfortunately, no one entered the live broadcast room.
Probably because everyone was busy playing the game, but this was also a good thing for Bronie.
After all, playing the game personally is much better than watching someone else's live broadcast, isn't it?
The game began.
The opening content and demo were exactly the same.
Starting from the handover of duties by Charon.
The platinum forest, the blood-red sea, a leafy boat floating on it, very much in line with Eden's imagination of the afterlife world.
Of course, this has been beautified to a certain extent.
"Bronie, you have a talent for music. In making games, this time you put more effort into it. Coupled with this soft picture, calling you an artist is not an exaggeration."
If this game was really completed by Bronie alone.
In the previous era, she would have been quite an impressive existence.
"I set the musical tone, and then spent a lot of money to hire someone to refine it. As for the picture, I used my own projection ability to directly project the images in my mind as materials."
It's like using a perfect AI to draw.
But this thing is indeed very useful, it can help Bronie complete many things that ordinary people cannot.
"Projecting from your mind... but to present such high-quality images in your mind, if you undergo systematic painting learning, maybe you can really become a world-renowned artist."
Eden still affirmed as always.
This made Bronie feel a little uneasy.
If she were placed in the Previous Era, she would probably only end up sleeping on the streets, right?
"This is me!"
Controlling the little girl, after leaving the Everdoor, they arrived on a small island. Here, the system began to prompt how to proceed. Elysia controlled the little girl to move around the island.
"This is me," she remarked. Eden controlled the cat, also confirming their location. Following the system's guidance, they continued to jump and reached the roof, where they encountered the first NPC.
She wore a cloak, with a phantom floating above her head, resembling a deer with large horns.
"Stella! It's really you! Stand still, let me have a good look at you. You look fine, and Daffodil is also here. We need to find a lint roller. Ah, it may not be obvious, but it's me, Gwen."
The first encountered soul had a close relationship with the protagonist. "If I remember correctly, this is actually the afterlife, right? Meeting again with people after death, it's so romantic right?"
Elysia watched Gwen and the protagonist exchanging pleasantries, feeling Gwen's genuine happiness at meeting the protagonist.
"So you're the one replacing Charon. I've been trying to get rid of him but ended up here by accident. I've been stranded on this rotten island for over a week, surviving on sardines and cigarettes... Thinking back, whenever you encountered difficulties, I lent a hand. It's really interesting. I see the Everlight on you, did you see that ship?"
Next to the island, there was a huge wooden ship decked with garbage.
"Since you're the Spiritfarer, I can assure you, that ship will listen to you obediently. Alright, come to the deck and find me."
Gwen appeared as a guide in front of the protagonist, like a guide or a caring elder sister. Elysia and Eden smiled at each other and continued forward. With its unique and warm art style, and the serene background music, such enjoyment was quite novel for Elysia and Eden.
At least in the previous era, they rarely had the opportunity to experience such games. Arriving at the bow of the ship.
"Alright, I hope my leather coat isn't too damaged."
Under the protagonist's gaze, the phantom above the cloak's figure gradually solidified in the light, while the cloak's figure gradually dissipated. Then, a six-eared deer wearing a leather coat and holding a pipe appeared before everyone.
"Fantastic. I've always been a calm person, but this feeling is really great. Much better than expected. So, in my opinion, this ship is already yours. And since you're the Spiritfarer, welcoming souls is your new job. And once they board, they will show their true selves. Well... at least I think it will be like that... Why are you looking at me like that? Come on, give me a hug!"
Perhaps she had been holding back for too long, Gwen's words were a bit much. But Elysia could feel the joy of regaining a body between the lines.
"Hmm, a hug?"
Pressing the interact button, Elysia saw the option to hug.
Then she saw the protagonist gently rushing into Gwen's arms, the furry coat pressing against the protagonist's cheeks. It seemed even more intimate than expected. Gwen was slightly stunned at first, but then gently placed her hand on Stella's shoulder, embracing her tenderly. Although she wasn't the one hugging, the warmth that followed the embrace reached Elysia and Eden's hearts.
This made Elysia and Eden both smile involuntarily. "This design reminds me of the time I spent with Ellie."
Eden couldn't help but marvel at how such a hug not only healed Gwen's heart but also had a healing effect on the players. With a physical form now, Gwen could do much more.
Seeing Stella's first time as a Spiritfarer, Gwen guided her, gradually becoming a formal Spiritfarer.
First, they used the Everlight to drive the ship. Then, if they wanted to refurbish the ship, they had to find someone named Albert.
However, Gwen didn't have a good impression of him, as he was a usurer in his lifetime, and Gwen remained cautious.
Of course, what left the deepest impression on Gwen was Albert's humorless jokes. During the voyage, if they felt bored, they could pass the time by fishing. However, the shipyard where Albert worked wasn't far away.
After catching a few fish, they arrived at the shipyard. Here, the ship could be upgraded, whether in size or with new facility blueprints. In the future, if they wanted to travel to new areas, they would also need to modify the ship at this shipyard. In addition to some materials, Stella also needed a currency called "Lamplight."
Albert was a master of humor, and most of his jokes were puns, but even if the other person didn't laugh, Albert continued to enjoy himself. After the upgrade, Gwen began to guide Stella to build temporary guest rooms and then the kitchen.
"Gwen knows Stella. What exactly is their relationship?" Elysia couldn't help but be curious, but Gwen's words were filled with familiarity with the protagonist. But Stella hardly ever spoke.
"They've known each other since childhood. Gwen's design is everywhere, showing her true soul, or something that accompanied her throughout her life, which will be revealed in the dialogue later." Bronie explained, as some people read through the text quickly and might not grasp the hidden plot behind the dialogue.
"I remember, if it's a deer, don't female deer have smaller antlers?" Eden noticed some deliberate elements in this character's design. It seemed a bit contradictory. Gwen was a girl, but in her true soul appearance, she had antlers like a male deer.
"Yes, those are stag antlers. In the past, she stood out from a global company where ninety percent of the employees were male. It's a symbol of her being a powerful woman and also her belief in creating happiness with her own hands."
"That's amazing!" Elysia couldn't help but exclaim. That was Gwen's past experience, but what exactly had she experienced to come to this afterlife world? Elysia was even more curious, but also a bit worried.
"That's a good design. In your culture, what other symbols do deer have?" Eden's question really hit the nail on the head.
"Wisdom, hope, guide - these are also the most fitting elements for Gwen."
"Then..." Elysia seemed to want to know more. But Bronie stopped Elysia's lips with her finger.
"Saying more wouldn't be fun, right? You need to get along with her well, take care of her well, and when she starts to trust you, everything will be revealed."
Just like Elysia hoped Bronie would do in the Elysian Realm. No, this afterlife world really was a bit like the Elysian Realm.
"Is this the game you made for us?"
"No need to rush, take your time to experience it, and you'll come to enjoy the feeling of being with them." Bronie didn't rush to answer the question but silently watched.
"I know." That hug was simply brilliant for the whole game.
Then, to collect materials to build the kitchen, Gwen guided Stella to a sea area where almost all the light was swallowed up, with countless glowing jellyfish floating overhead, and some specific jellyfish happened to have the materials the protagonist needed.
Gwen was extremely afraid of jellyfish.
Yes, extremely afraid.
Despite the slightly grim surrounding environment, jellyfish had no aggressive behavior whatsoever, yet it instilled fear in Gwen.
Elysia and Eden controlled one person and one cat, respectively, flipping around the ship's guest rooms. Every glowing jellyfish they encountered was punctured, collecting a good amount of materials.
"So why is Gwen afraid of jellyfish?"
Elysia was quite curious. While preparing to build the kitchen, she began to ask Bronie. When immersed in the game world, many questions arose when interacting with Gwen. It seemed to be Gwen's past, a sadness she didn't want to talk about. Understanding her was crucial to sending her off, right?
"As a friend, Gwen has stayed in this area, unable to escape, always feeling lost and miserable. As a friend, we should find a way to help her resolve this, right?"
"That's something you need to explore on your own," Bronie remained relentless.
"In fact, Gwen's speech and behavior before also showed some traces of nobility. Maybe her childhood wasn't simple either," Eden began to analyze from another angle.
"It seems like it," Elysia nodded in agreement with Eden's words. And unconsciously, Stella began her journey again, drifting in this vast ocean. Then Gwen started reminiscing about the past with Stella.
"You've been there for me, and I'm grateful. But I'm not surprised at all because it all makes perfect sense. You've been taking care of me as I depart. You've always been so caring, always protecting those you feel are fragile, even someone as old-fashioned and self-righteous as me. Do you remember the day my father yelled at the cat? We had just graduated from elementary school. You were wearing blue sneakers with shiny labels. You were there, standing your ground, yelling back at my father. He got angry and smashed the purple Drano vase. Those were truly beautiful memories."
On one side was Stella's past, on the other side was Gwen's. "So even in life, was Stella watching Gwen leave?"
Eden and Elysia keenly sensed that behind the healing and warmth, there must have been many storms they experienced in their previous lives, yet Gwen seemed to casually gloss over them.
"Congratulations, you've discovered a bit of the truth," Bronie smiled. Behind that cheerful smile, Eden felt Bronie's ulterior motive.
Behind the warmth, there might be a blade. But behind the blade, there might still be words longing to be said, just like those Undertale.
"You really deserve that title, Miss Bronie, a great artist."
PERTIMBANGAN PENCIPTA 
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Bab 20: Chapter 20: Uncle Atul, the Frog
"Hey, my dear Eden, would you like to give me a loving hug?"
"Of course."
As they played, they suddenly embraced, startling Bronie.
After their tender embrace, Elysia looked at herself again.
"Bronie, could you give me a warm hug?"
"Of course you can..."
A sweet fragrance filled the air, followed by a soft sensation of suffocation.
Bronie's eyes widened, feeling her mind go blank.
Was this something she could enjoy?
This encounter made her life worth living!
If life had an achievement system, hugging Elysia would definitely be considered a rare one.
After all, even if you entered the Elysian Realm, there was no guarantee of seeing Elysia, right?
Perhaps the reason she could see her was because of the unique way she entered the paradise. It was assumed to be Elysia's, so naturally, she had to see who this person was that could bypass the world serpent's blockade and enter the Elysian Ream.
Wasn't this a wonderful encounter?
"Hehehe, Bronie is so soft and small, very cute!"
"I still have plenty of room to grow."
Bronie didn't want to be considered too small.
Despite her mature behavior, her height was the only issue.
But didn't she add some height with the rabbit ears on her hood?
"Yeah, yeah, yeah! Then I'll continue playing, okay?"
"You go ahead..."
Who knows what Elysia was thinking.
But Bronie was confident in her future growth potential.
Eden controlled the cat, moving back and forth on the ship, while in the kitchen, fish just caught were being cooked.
Honestly, seeing everyone still needing to eat in the afterlife world, Eden couldn't help but feel a bit hungry.
"Elysia, how long has it been since we last ate?"
"Well..."
Elysia also needed some time to remember.
Memory bodies didn't need to eat. At first, everyone was a bit unaccustomed, but to avoid increasing Klein's workload, they hadn't eaten much.
Everything here was completed through cognition. Even if they ate every day for fifty thousand years, eating the same taste repeatedly wasn't really necessary.
So, after thinking it over, Elysia's answer surprised Bronie slightly.
"Since entering the Elysian Ream, except for Eden, no one else has eaten anything!"
"As for me, I usually just taste the wine from my memories. Would you like to taste it? It won't affect a child's body; it's just a taste from my memories."
Eden took out a golden wine glass filled with red wine.
Bronie hesitated for a moment, then gulped it down.
"Cough, cough, cough... forgive me, I'm not used to fine wine; it tastes average."
"Hehehe..."
Eden chuckled.
"You don't taste fine wine like that. I'll teach you properly in the future. Perhaps you'll appreciate the richness and sparkle behind the wine's story."
"Perhaps, I still have a lot to learn."
"Alright Eden, let's continue our game! Gwen is waiting for us to rescue him!"
"Right."
The game resumed because there was no pause; the scenery on the ship shifted from noon to evening.
Under the sunset, the sea had a unique charm.
Then Gwen led the protagonist to cut wood, mine, and wade in shallow water.
After collecting enough materials, they could farm on the ship.
Beehive Castle was the nearest populated island. With more people, naturally, traders would appear.
And the traders had the seeds needed for farming.
Gwen thought the trader was too greedy, so she confronted him, demanding he adjust the seed prices to a reasonable level.
Like a caring big sister.
But Gwen didn't plan to help with farming. Because even though she usually had mature behavior, she would only add chaos to farming, just like her father's empathy.
"I think you should find some new friends."
"It's not that I dislike the idea of us wandering the seas together. But you're a Spiritfarer. The ferryman's mission is to find souls and help them fulfill their last wishes, no matter how trivial. I heard there's a place not far from here where someone might need your help."
"New friends? What kind of person would it be?"
On the map, Gwen marked the location of the next character.
Elysia had anticipated it, and Gwen's identity had been successfully shaped.
A protective older sister, a strong woman, a guide.
And the next characters, each one would definitely not be worse than Gwen.
There might be some differences, but from Undertale, it could be seen that Bronie was actually very gentle with everyone.
"Let's set sail. Only by reaching our destination will we know the final result, right?"
Elysia was like a curious baby, always asking questions, but Eden knew this slightly embarrassed Bronie.
After all, spoilers would reduce the enjoyment of the game by half.
"And I bet if he's the one I think he is, you'll definitely like him."
"Go on, set sail."
Gwen added, then went on to do her own thing.
Although the protagonist's ship didn't need sails, just setting a destination on the map was enough.
But if they passed by anything on the way, the ship would still be seen passing through that area. In other wrords, the ship wasn't just a cutscene; it was really sailing.
Of course, on a two-dimensional plane, it was hard to notice.
On the way to Beacon Creek Island, there was a fierce thundercloud surrounding it, but fortunately, it was only raining in the sky, occasionally with a little lightning, which didn't pose any threat to the ship.
In this afterlife world, everything seemed so peaceful, without any danger.
After arriving at Beacon Creek Island, they went right, deep into the island, where a lonely soul was standing by the pond.
Approaching and interacting, the other party spoke up.
"Hey! Great! I found you.
Listen, I just dropped my lemon into that pond.
My fingers were so sticky, and it just slipped out accidentally.
Why, you ask?
Good question! I've been eating delicious berries all day, look at my hands, I swear.
I've been experimenting.
I wanted to squeeze some lemon juice onto these wild berries.
Now look, only berries are left.
Unless you can help me, right below here."
The center of the pond emitted golden light, indicating something could be caught underwater.
A simple task, right?
However, Eden's controlled cat was very afraid of water. If forced to go underwater, the cat would walk on the surface using the Everlight.
So Elysia did it.
A lemon!
After fishing it up, she handed it to the other party, but they didn't take it.
After a reminder not to squeeze it, the other party proposed the idea of coming aboard for some food and drink.
This was exactly what a ferryman of souls was supposed to do.
Find lost souls and bring them aboard, gradually fulfilling their wishes.
"It feels like the other party knows Stella."
Elysia was always accurate in her assessments of people. Although she hadn't spent much time with the other party, facing such a familiar request, she sensed something unusual.
Coupled with Gwen's words.
It seemed Gwen also knew the other party?
"Why not check the description of that lemon in your backpack?" Eden suggested, and Elysia hadn't considered that. After opening the backpack, she saw the description of the lemon. It was a plastic lemon.
"This is a joke," Bronie explained.
"I totally fell for it..." Elysia chuckled lightly, completely surprised that the other party would leave such a joke. Then the two returned to the ship.
"Wow, this ship is really amazing! The real big news is coming, you little rascal. Get ready for a family reunion!"
Gwen was already waiting at the bow of the ship. And further ahead, the soul they had met before stood there, waiting to return to its true form. Elysia approached and interacted. Then, a familiar golden light flashed. And this time, what appeared before everyone was a chubby blue-green frog.
"Wow!"
Elysia looked at the chubby frog and felt a sense of security all over her body.
"It's me! Stella, your uncle Atul! Surprise, aren't you? I hope you're happy to see me! I've been on the island for a while now. Can't wait to explore the scenery and the sea with you! I've been thinking alone, feeling lonely. And now I finally see you! Bean sprout. Let's set sail and have a great adventure together! Onward! Wait... is that..."
Atul seemed to have discovered something and hurried to the stern of the ship. Elysia was completely led by Atul.
"So it's her Uncle..."
"But if we meet in this world, that mean..."
Eden's expression wasn't actually good. Meeting again in this afterlife world, how sad it was...
"Perhaps it's not so bad, my dear Eden. Meeting a long-lost relative again, isn't that something to be happy about? And the most important thing is that he's also in trouble, with unfinished wishes. Helping him is also a rare opportunity, isn't it?"
"You're right, Elysia. Everything often has its two sides, and we shouldn't just focus on the bad side."
Follower Atul arrived at the stern.
"I knew it! It's the Sea Master 2000! I've never seen it with my own eyes, just heard all kinds of legends. They say with it, you can catch the biggest and most beautiful fish. Wow, Stella! You're really good to yourself!"
"Of course!"
Elysia responded from outside. And Eden said, "Unfortunately, it seems like we've been catching a lot of junk lately. I don't know what's going on."
Yes, during the process of finding Atul, after multiple attempts by the two, they only caught garbage. At that time, they just thought they were unlucky.
"Wait a minute! You're missing a few bolts. Let me guess, you've mainly been catching junk, right? Hmm, that won't happen again in the future!"
Atul said, then began to modify the fishing platform. "It's clear that Uncle is a very enthusiastic and cheerful person."
"Yes, my dear Eden, that's the problem. Why would such an enthusiastic and cheerful uncle linger in the afterlife ocean?"
The keen Elysia noticed this subtle contradiction. And in her eyes, Atul's behavior was actually diverting the protagonist's attention, so as not to notice some of his inner vulnerabilities or sadness. Because he was someone who was prone to overthinking.
He had claimed that before. And after Atul's role was highlighted, having only caught garbage for so long, Elysia felt even closer to him.
Trying to fish again, this time they finally caught an octopus. It was the first time they caught an octopus, and this octopus struggled before being caught.
After catching something, Atul would happily slap his belly to congratulate you. And he wouldn't hesitate to praise you.
It could be seen that Atul was a character who liked to make Stella happy as much as possible. So Elysia temporarily suppressed her doubts and approached Atul to interact.
Then she rushed up for a big hug. The chubby big frog. It sounded a bit disgusting, but in this scene, it felt so heartwarming. "The setting of this hug is really well done,"
Elysia sighed after hugging Atul.
"Because sometimes a hug really can make people forget a lot of worries and deepen the bond between each other, don't you think?"
"Would you like another hug from me?"
Elysia responded to Bronie.
"No, let's forget it, because doing this too much can inevitably make people feel dependent, which is not good."
There was also a cooldown time for hugs in the game. It took some time, at least a day, before another hug could be given.
"That's too bad."
Elysia could see that Bronie still liked hugs, but since Bronie had already refused, it was better not to do it.
"But it's not necessarily a pity. If you don't mind, how about holding a gathering in the Elysian Ream, inviting everyone from the Elysian Ream to experience the cuisine of the current era again? I can do my best to recreate them, and they'll all be different." Atul was a very food-loving guy. On the ship, discussions ranged from repairing and upgrading the ship to cooking.
And now, it seems like everyone in the Elysian Ream is almost forgetting about these things. Bronie feels like this is an opportunity to bring them beautiful memories.
"Great! Then I'll really look forward to it!"
PERTIMBANGAN PENCIPTA
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