Chapter 54 Chapter 54: Belobog and Its People Are One!
Chapter 54: Belobog and Its People Are One!
When Belobog's future and Belobog's people became a relative question of how to choose between them, Bronya had never considered this problem before.
Because in her eyes, Belobog and its people were completely an inseparable whole... If there were no people maintaining this city, wouldn't Belobog become a dead city, which could be considered completely extinct?
Therefore, in Bronya's concept, protecting Belobog's people was protecting Belobog, and when all the people perished in disaster, Belobog would also be destroyed.
But Cocolia cruelly separated these two concepts that should have been one before her eyes, and listed facts that she found difficult to accept no matter what—
Either let Belobog and its people gradually perish under the erosion of the Fragmentum and the Eternal Freeze, or temporarily abandon Belobog's people to embrace the Stellaron, thereby creating a new world as it promised.
Perhaps everything it said was true. Even if those people would perish in the disaster, they would welcome rebirth in the new world with a completely new form... But they had to personally erase these people who supported them, which was an undeniable fact.
No matter what, Bronya truly, truly could not accept such a thing...
She had always believed in Mother's wisdom and firmly believed that Mother also loved this city as much as she did. But, but... why must it end in such a way? Why couldn't there be other better methods?
Bronya, who had always been firm in her beliefs, fell into confusion for the first time. Just as Kevin had once evaluated, she was indeed kind and decisive, but too soft...
So even though she clearly knew that Mother's 'correct' choice from a broader perspective should be wrong, she had no words to refute it; so she still had no judgment of her own and could only try to probe others here.
In fact, the first person Bronya thought of was Kevin. As a powerful and calm outsider, he could definitely give her relatively objective and true judgment.
But unfortunately, Bronya searched for a long time but couldn't find Kevin's whereabouts. Finally, when she came to the Silvermane Guards camp under Mother's order, she suddenly thought of Gepard, this upright Captain.
"She would never do that. She is the Supreme Guardian."
Even though he wondered why the other party would ask such a question, Gepard's answer was swift and decisive.
This might not just be his personal thought. In Belobog, everyone was willing to believe and firmly believed that the Supreme Guardian would definitely lead her people step by step on the right path. This was a faith built bit by bit in their hearts through centuries of history and familiar stories. This was precisely the cornerstone for civilization's survival.
Bronya used to have such firm faith too. She also greatly admired these warriors who firmly supported Belobog. But this wasn't the answer she wanted.
"I mean if, Gepard."
Gepard slightly furrowed his brows. He could tell that Bronya's state seemed somewhat off at this moment. He didn't know what caused this, but it didn't prevent him from firmly expressing his determination.
"I don't know why you ask this way, but I have sworn the Oath of Preservation to Qlipoth. I will defend Belobog and her people at any cost—including my life, of course."
"If one day, protecting the people means defying the Supreme Guardian's orders, and no matter what choice I make will put me in great danger, I will still choose the former. Because this is what I should do."
As a Captain who has fought on the front lines for years, Gepard understands well that the reason Silvermane Guards swear to defend the border at all costs is not only for the faith preserved in their hearts but more importantly because behind them are their relatives, children, friends... and everything.
All warriors know they could be forever trapped in the glaciers at any time. When people die, it's like a lamp extinguishing; nothing in the world can disturb them anymore. But at least, they successfully fought for the right for their loved ones to continue living.
They came into this world not just to live for themselves.
"......"
"So that's how it is. Thank you, Captain Gepard. I understand."
Bronya was ultimately a very intelligent person. She could see what the other party meant. In Gepard's eyes, Belobog's people were absolutely more important than the pure name 'Belobog'.
He absolutely could not allow anything harmful to the people, even if this matter might be beneficial to all of Belobog from another perspective.
After understanding this point, Bronya slightly closed her eyes and took a deep breath before speaking: "Then if I tell you that the current Supreme Guardian has already betrayed her people, would you follow the oath you spoke of?"
"What? Are you sure what you're saying is true?! As the successor of the Supreme Guardian, you must be responsible for the words from your mouth, Lady Bronya. The Supreme Guardian... how could she possibly betray Belobog?!"
Even though he had prepared mentally beforehand, when hearing Bronya's words, Gepard still couldn't help but lose composure.
"No, Gepard. The Supreme Guardian has never betrayed Belobog from beginning to end. It's just that for Mother at this moment, Belobog's people have already become an obstacle to her preservation of Belobog..."
"......"
Looking at Bronya's complex expression, Gepard understood that she wasn't lying about this matter. Actually, compared to the somewhat distant Supreme Guardian for him, this comrade who had fought side by side with him multiple times was someone he knew more truly.
And Bronya... as a daughter, she should and indeed understand her mother better than anyone else.
"The Supreme Guardian's original task was for me to take you to the Underworld. She said that next, the people of the Underworld might likely cause riots that would affect her plan. That's why she sent us to the Underworld to seal off the passage."
"We don't have time anymore, Gepard... If you're willing to believe me, come with me. I'll tell you everything."
To prevent Mother from making greater mistakes, she must not hesitate at all at this moment.
Even if Belobog ultimately couldn't avoid heading toward destruction, it should be in the struggle between Belobog's people carrying their faith together against the disaster—where they themselves pave the path leading to the ending—
Moreover, she also believed that methods to save Belobog definitely wouldn't be only that most extreme one...
There is an illustration here. It can be viewed after updating to the latest version.
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