"Could it be that Herrschers are magical girls!?"
In the end, Welt couldn't help but voice the most absurd thought in his mind. However, he still maintained a bit of dignity by not admitting that he was actually a magical girl himself.
After expressing this conjecture, Bronie was stunned. Even Elysia widened her eyes and looked at Bronie.
"Is that the case?"
"No, you're overthinking it... No, wait. The new era's Herrscher cores might have the possibility of carrying consciousness, so they could be considered soul gems? No, that's not right! Herrschers aren't magical girls. If anything, they're like witches spreading despair...
No, Elysia is a magical girl....
Yes, Welt, you are a magical girl too!"
Bronie thought of many things, ending up rambling. Elysia is a Herrscher and also a magical girl, so a magical girl is a Herrscher.
Welt is a Herrscher, so he will become a magical girl.
This logic chain, as if saying the bigger the fish, the smaller the fish, left Welt in reverse shock.
"Alright, I admit, Herrschers indeed have a dual nature. They can be messengers of despair but also warriors of hope. This is why I always believed that during the Second Eruption, Sirin had the potential to become the strongest Herrscher, leading human civilization through the calamity. However, her heart was filled with too much hatred."
At this point, Welt looked into Bronie's eyes again. "You know, Kiana once lived with you for a while."
So, Welt wanted to know Bronie's attitude towards Kiana.
"Sirin is a rather impulsive child, but like any other normal child, she likes sweets and isn't too keen on spicy food. However, because her friends like it, she tries to understand it. Recently, she's even gotten into fashion design, dreaming of one day designing beautiful clothes for others. She can be a bit tsundere, often saying one thing and meaning another. But if you engage with her sincerely, she'll show a shy expression. Lastly, she also likes beautiful girls."
"Wow! You observe Sirin so closely! It seems Bronie cares deeply about Sirin!"
Elysia was surprised by Bronie's detailed observations, not expecting her to be so attentive to Sirin.
"Did Sirin awaken while she was with you?"
"The Babylon Tower lab didn't provide her with a proper environment, nor did anyone love her. Never having been loved, her heart was filled only with hatred. The Sirin in the Second Eruption has already died, leaving behind residual consciousness within the Herrscher core, divided into benevolent and malevolent sides. Though extreme, we can dilute that despair with hope through daily interactions." Hearing Bronie's words, Welt finally began to understand what Siegfried meant by doing it all for Kiana's sake.
Previously, Welt couldn't comprehend how Siegfried, under the guise of doing it for her own good, abandoned Kiana—a behavior extremely cruel to a child.
But if Kiana's other side was filled with despair and seeing Siegfried would remind her of that despair, leaving might indeed be a better choice.
When Welt was young, his father was killed by Otto, making him long for paternal love. He even had a big argument with Siegfried over this. And what was the result? Siegfried turned around and drowned himself in alcohol, a pathetic sight that made Welt furious. But now, seeing things from a different perspective and truly understanding Kiana's situation, Welt felt an urge to apologize to Siegfried.
"Thankfully, you were there. If Siegfried had left and Kiana had wandered alone, the despair in her heart..."
"Would only deepen, right? Perhaps the bonds she forms with others in the future might pull her through, but there could still be lifelong regrets, right?"
"And it's all thanks to Bronie! Although Bronie always says miracles come with a price, I always feel like Bronie is a magical girl who controls miracles and magic, suddenly appearing to bring love and hope~" Elysia's words made Bronie a little embarrassed. Her toes, through the stockings, rubbed against her slippers—this was what one would call an awkward scratch.
Welt didn't notice the oddity but looked at Bronie with admiration. "I can feel your longing for love and hope from your work. Although there are occasional tragedies, it's precisely because of these tragedies that beauty becomes precious. I'm also spreading this idea through my work, so we should have many common topics to discuss."
"That's true..."
Bronie felt that Welt's interest was not purely about collaboration.
"But why did you choose to cooperate with that cold-hearted and greedy Archbishop Otto of Schicksal? Is it because he possesses more advanced pre-civilization technology? Or is it because Schicksal promises more resources?"
Welt could never understand this. If one had met Otto even once, it was obvious that he was not a good person. Not only had he maintained the same appearance for 500 years, but every smile seemed so evil. The technology Bronie controlled and the knowledge she possessed, if deeply collaborated with Otto, would be aiding a tyrant.
"Moreover, Archbishop Otto doesn't understand what love is. He treats others' lives as expendable sacrifices. He has no determination to fight against the Honkai."
Well, there are a thousand Hamlets in a thousand people's eyes. And Otto's usual behavior certainly appeared this way.
But there was one point Bronie felt needed to be corrected.
"No, he does have the will to fight against the Honkai. He believes in the power of human emotions more than anyone else and even wants to use it to control Herrschers."
"You know what he really wants!?"
If they could understand Otto better, it would provide more means to deal with him, right? So, Welt was very concerned about information regarding Otto.
"He wants to reverse causality. For this, he is willing to sacrifice everything to achieve this goal. Currently, he needs a Herrscher with humanity, sufficient power, precise positioning, and abundant energy."
Welt leaned back involuntarily. Could he really hear about such things?
"I'm not sure if this information is true, but his actions so far barely align with this... But what's the price for such information?"
Finally, back to the main topic. From the moment he saw Welt, Bronie wanted to establish a deep cooperation. Similarly, she wanted Welt to work for her, not in making games or comics, but regarding the Sea of Quanta.
"I have a brand-new collaboration project with Anti-Entropy. This project will have a significant impact on fighting the Honkai. The information is a gesture of my sincerity and a chance for cooperation between Anti-Entropy and Schicksal."
"Oh? Let's hear it."
"Firstly, the size of the Cocoon of Finality is large, but it only encompasses the solar system. Compared to the boundless Sea of Quanta, it's like a football field compared to a sesame seed."
"So, you're saying that the hope to fight against the Honkai lies in the Sea of Quanta? Indeed, recently, Einstein's research on Aether suggested it has the ability to combat the Sea of Quanta."
"No, there once was a civilization that tried and succeeded, but also failed. However, what I'm talking about is not that, but a special product of the Sea of Quanta."
"What is it?"
"The Ether Anchor within a world bubble of the Sea of Quanta. Possessing it is akin to having authority over that world bubble, like a creator. It responds to the wishes of the beings within the bubble, establishing special rules. Its unique operation can be considered a miracle of the Sea of Quanta."
Upon hearing this, Welt straightened up, deeply respectful.
"The Sea of Quanta actually has such a miraculous thing!"
"The larger the world bubble, the more information the Ether Anchor carries, and the greater its power. Using the miracle of the collective wishes can suppress or even partially control the Cocoon of Finality."
In other words, there is indeed a means to combat the source of the Honkai, the so-called Cocoon of Finality, through the Sea of Quanta.
Previously, Tesla complained that many of Bronie's pieces of information were unverifiable. Even if they were true, how could something as complex as the Cocoon of Finality, seemingly existing in higher dimensions, be touched or destroyed? Like a cartoon character unable to break through the dimension to slap the audience.
Manipulating the Cocoon of Finality seemed nearly impossible. But Bronie proposed a new solution, one that Anti-Entropy might find within reach: the Ether Anchor in the Sea of Quanta!
Aether, through specific editing, could display special effects, almost like editing reality itself. Using the power of miracles to manifest magic to combat the despair-spreading Honkai! It all made sense!
Bronie was hinting at something! Definitely hinting at something!
Seeing Welt's expression of sudden realization and subsequent respect, Bronie felt satisfied.
"Sorry, but this matter is of utmost importance. We in Anti-Entropy will definitely explore the Sea of Quanta and find the Ether Anchor!"
"Yes, Anti-Entropy currently has the resources to achieve this. On the other hand, Otto of Schicksal is researching the Honkai from the Imaginary Space. You both are on different paths but share the same end goal."
"...I see. Is this the vision you wanted to share with me?"
The Cocoon of Finality ultimately exists in the Imaginary Space, but its positioning is challenging. Schicksal has made significant progress on this path. Meanwhile, Anti-Entropy, researching Aether, has laid the foundation to step into the Sea of Quanta.
Only through genuine collaboration, with Bronie mediating, can there be a real chance to fight against the Honkai. Bronie hoped Anti-Entropy would set aside its prejudices, unite its strength, and use it against the Honkai.
But...
No way! There was absolutely no way to cooperate with Otto!
So Welt's expression wasn't great.
"Actually, when Otto is about to achieve his goal, the plan to reverse causality will begin. He will step down as Archbishop of Schicksal, leaving his path open for his successor to collaborate with Anti-Entropy. I know you have strong opinions about Otto, but as long as the Archbishop isn't Otto, isn't that fine?"
"And what will happen to Otto once he completes his plan...?"
"I won't let him die easily. The worst outcome is death. At best, he'll spend a few hundred years at a sewing machine with no chance for leniency!"
"Can that really be done!?"
It seems Welt cared deeply about Otto.
"This is my plan. My deal with Anti-Entropy. What I want is the Ether Anchor."
Bronie felt that if Welt ventured into the Sea of Quanta without encountering Kevin, he might indeed find an Ether Anchor. And manipulating the Cocoon of Finality was a possibility. Bronie's reward was Anti-Entropy's expected vision: a future where Otto is humiliated and possibly cuckolded.
Fighting for the beauty of the world was a slogan shouted loudly in Schicksal's St. Freya Academy.
But this motto was long ingrained in the DNA of Welt, Tesla, and Einstein.
So, although Bronie made demands and presented a plan, the final results were what Anti-Entropy needed.
As for whether to proceed or not? Did Anti-Entropy have more choices? It seemed they could refuse, but Bronie's information left no room for refusal. If Anti-Entropy failed to follow through, what then?
The recent disturbance on the Pacific island was known to Anti-Entropy, and Bronie claimed it was a great advance in their collaborative experiments with Schicksal. Can they tolerate this!?
Since Otto of Schicksal agreed to cooperate with Haxxor Bunny's plan, Anti-Entropy, after verifying the plan's feasibility, would naturally not refuse.
This was an open strategy. Welt was resigned once he realized this.
"Thank you for your support of Anti-Entropy. After verifying the plan's feasibility, we will immediately begin exploring the Sea of Quanta. However, Anti-Entropy might not find the Ether Anchor. At that time, are there more plans?"
"I will activate plan B or even plan C. I won't reveal specific plans now. So, go explore the Sea of Quanta without too much burden. Treat it as a trailblazing journey."
At the mention of trailblazing, Welt got excited!
"Great! Then here's to a happy cooperation!"
"Of course. We will continue to discuss commercial and military cooperation online. Trust me, humanity will defeat the Honkai."
"Indeed! Humanity will defeat the Honkai!"