Xingtie, started with a guitar, and made a living by singing

What she saw was just the tip of the iceberg of the tragic situation in the lower district, abandoned by her mother and eroded by the rift.

Only then did she understand that becoming a qualified Great Guardian was not as simple as she had imagined.

Chapter 41 Sisters quarrel

"Wendy, do I seem foolish to you?"

Bronya lowered her head, feeling powerless and frustrated.

"As the heir to the Grand Guardian, I've received so much training and development, but all I can do is witness the Iron Guards dying in vain on the front lines every day, and then deceive their families with lies, telling them that all this is meaningful.

I knew the lower classes were suffering, but I could do nothing to help, and I never made up my mind to change my mother. If I hadn't made this trip, I wouldn't even know that people's homes have become what they are today..."

Through the gaps in her hair, Wendy could see some strong resentment and self-blame in her eyes.

"I... and so many Iron Guards are fighting on the front lines. Is this the future we're looking for? Doesn't that mean we're not protecting anything at all..."

This was a look of dejection that Bronya had never shown in public.

From childhood to adulthood, she has always kept the pressure in her heart and tried her best to prove herself, but until now, all these efforts seem to have been denied.

If she had not tempered her will once before, her faith would probably have collapsed by now. What is more inevitable is that she is wavering in practicing the concept of preservation.

In the past, Bronya could convince herself that she was excellent and a great guardian who could protect the future of the people. However, the minor setbacks along the way were not enough to prove anything.

However, since arriving in the lower district, everything she has learned has been based on the losses of others.

Such a contrast is completely contrary to the education she received, and even seems absurd.

"—Do you want me to comfort you with sweet-sounding truths, or do you want me to use harsher words to awaken your fighting spirit?"

Wendy used her eyes to stop Seele who wanted to scold the other party. After hearing Bronya reveal her identity, she glared at her angrily.

If she were allowed to vent her anger, it would probably take a long time for the two of them to repair their relationship if they wanted to get along like before.

However, this considerate act made it even more difficult for Bronya to suppress her self-loathing.

"...Don't treat me so gently anymore."

She shook her head, her tone struggling.

"I'm not worthy of receiving such a precious gift. Perhaps I shouldn't have been chosen in the first place, let alone qualified for such a position..."

"Hey - have you said enough?"

Xier, who finally couldn't bear it anymore, scolded.

"...Huh?"

As if frightened by Seele, Bronya's originally painful expression froze.

"From a while ago, I couldn't help wanting to scold you. You were crying and making so much noise!"

"I......"

It would have been fine if she hadn't said it, but after hearing it, Bronya's urge to cry became even stronger.

Wendy also looked at the two of them hesitantly. The conflict was bound to break out eventually.

There is no way around it. After learning about Bronya's identity, Seele will definitely quarrel with her, and quarrels like this may even continue in the future.

But, after all, they are sisters from the same orphanage. Perhaps it would be a good idea to let them put aside all concerns about their identities and have a good argument?

"What are you talking about? What are you doing? Just because you're being sentimental, you think I'll sympathize with you? Compared to what everyone in the lower class has been through, what right do you, a lucky guy, have to complain about yourself here?"

Seele glared at her angrily and even clenched her fists, making it seem like she would punch Bronya if she continued to cry.

"While guys like you are living in the palace, people in the lower districts are still shivering in the drafty tents in the mining area.

While you don't have to risk your life on the front lines, people in the lower districts are fighting for a sip of water;

Even when the upper class can so casually throw their meals into the trash, there are still countless people in the lower class who have no idea where to put their next meal!

"..."

Bronya could see from the other person's eyes that it was not so much anger towards her as hatred for some kind of injustice.

She resented the Great Guardian for abandoning the Lower District from the bottom of her heart, but at the same time, she found it ridiculous that she showed such weakness.

But is Xier wrong to be like this?

Bronya blamed herself with a look of shame on her face.

"You're right..."

Seele felt inexplicably irritated by Bronya's behavior. She scratched her hair roughly, and her tone became colder.

"So, ever since we first met, I've hated you, a self-righteous young lady. You always seem to have more baggage than anyone else. Without the singing girl, are you incapable of anything?

If you want to protect everyone, then don't cry here because of a small setback. Don't you have more important things to do than cry?"

These words seemed to wake Bronya up. No... rather than being woken up by them, it would be more accurate to say that she was looking for these words, so she showed this frustrated look.

Without the criticism from others, she was afraid that she would fall into that state again. Even if she was trapped in negative emotions, there would always be soothing voices around her. No one would ever wake her up, not even her mother.

She always told Bronya gently and firmly that she could do it. Even a temporary failure was nothing, it was just that she was distracted by too much schoolwork.

This kind of education made Bronya always lack a sense of reality, as if all the mistakes she made could be allowed and forgiven.

And now, for the first time, she felt some real strange emotion surging in her heart.

"...Thank you, Xi'er."

She covered her heart with her hands, her eyes filled with gratitude.

However, this behavior made Seele even more annoyed. She just glared at Bronya and then snorted coldly.

"No need to thank me. If it weren't for the street singer, your face would have been marked by my fist by now. While I'm in a good mood, get back to your upper-class area and don't show up here again."

She picked up the sickle and turned to leave. Her ruthless look left a deep impression on Bronya.

She stared deeply at the other man's back, and also looked at Wendy, who had remained neutral. His expression was a little distressed, but he still retained his concern.

It's like seeing a brother with two sisters arguing with each other at home...

Bronya shook her head lightly, suppressing her complicated thoughts, and said with some apology.

"I'm sorry. It was my inappropriate words that pissed Xier off..."

"It doesn't matter. It's better to have a problem out in the open than to have it lurking in the dark, where you don't know when it might explode."

Wendy didn't think this was a bad thing. Although he originally wanted to be the bad guy, he might have to take the responsibility of cleaning up the mess.

"Anyway, since Xi'er has ordered us to leave, we should go to our last stop. If we continue to stay here, both the lower and upper districts might start to cause trouble—"

Chapter 42 The Last Stop

"Hmm...yes, keep going down this road, the end is our last stop."

Wendy walked in front and explained the direction to Bronya, and she also took the opportunity to observe the surrounding shops and signs, and a sense of familiarity arose in her heart.

"Why, I feel like this place is somewhat familiar..."

Especially the stairs leading to the top of the slope, it seems that it should be more spacious instead of so narrow.

"I think I've been here before."

Bronya murmured subconsciously.

"But...when exactly?"

As you climb the stairs along the road, you can see the luxurious mansion located on a high place, overlooking the ever-changing world in the town day after day.

Wendy could see that Bronya's expression became increasingly complicated, and she covered her head, as if she was trapped in the mottled memories of the past.

"This is the only orphanage in town, donated by a wealthy businessman. Xi'er and Natasha (an employee) once lived here. Unfortunately, the Rift later eroded this area, and the children lost their place to stay."

He said it softly, but to Bronya it was like a thunderbolt in spring, exploding in her head.

At the same time, memories of the past came flooding back like an avalanche, including scenes from his life here.

They quickly merged with the building and the amusement facilities in front of them, turning into a certain throbbing sensation.

"Yes...I did live here when I was a kid..."

Bronya stared at all this in fascination until a poet sat on a swing, swinging back and forth. The old chain rubbed against the steel structure, making a rusty sound, which woke her up from her memories.

As the culprit, he had no awareness of interrupting people's memories, but instead spoke shamelessly.

"Hey, hey. Come over here and play with me. You push! I'll fly!"

Looking at his impatient look, Bronya felt a long-lost emotion reviving in her heart.

She came behind him, gently pushed his back, and watched him swing up and down on the swing.

Like some kind of green badminton...

When this mood came naturally, she also asked.

“Why here?”

"Yeah, you finally asked. I was thinking if you hadn't said it, we wouldn't have such a good opportunity next time."

Wendy spoke in a relaxed and natural manner while shaking her curvy white silk calves.

"It's actually very simple, there's no particular reason. I just felt that I should let you come back here and take a look—"

He looked at Bronya with a nostalgic expression and spoke in a softer tone.

"Although people shouldn't be bound by their birthplace, if we forget about this place, wouldn't we sometimes feel lonely because we had nothing worth cherishing about in our childhood?"

"……indeed so."

In the past, Bronya didn't have time to recall these things. In fact, if she hadn't returned to her hometown, her impression of this place would probably still be vague.

In the past, she was taken away by the city builders and then adopted by Lady Cocolia. Every day was not as easy and leisurely as Xier said.

Various heavy coursework, the heavy concept of teaching her that she should contribute to the people, and the earnest expectations of the people around her.

These pressures never disappeared, but only grew heavier until they became a layer of armor, indistinguishable from her.

If her mother had not been by her side, telling her one ancient folk story after another in her gentle and deep voice during those sleepless nights, soothing her tired soul.

Maybe she wouldn't be like this now——

Of course, Bronya was not dissatisfied with this identity, just like the stories her mother told about the lack of reunion.

Although their endings were not perfect, the girl liked them very much.

No one knows whether this is due to some kind of nature, or whether children's naive fantasies are difficult to realize, so they are forced to choose reality.

Gradually, the force of the swing died down, and Wendy got down from it, turning to look at Bronya, who had a nostalgic look on her face.

"Actually, before I brought you here, I didn't expect to experience so many accidents..."

He said frankly.

"Originally, I just wanted you to take a simple trip, even if you didn't have to see too much of the bad side of the lower class. As long as you know that there are still many people living tenaciously here, I think with your personality, you will definitely not sit idly by."

At this point, Wendy showed a slightly troubled expression.

"I just didn't expect to encounter so many discrepancies with my plan. As expected, I'm still not very good at this kind of thing."

The wind is inherently unrestrained and carefree, and there is not only one wind direction.

But when it comes to plans, the biggest fear is that something unexpected will happen, which is really not compatible with him.

Listening to Wendy's helpless words, Bronya could feel the barriers and suspicions that once existed gradually dissipating, and finally turning into a kind of unspoken sense of trust.

In fact, she could also see that Wendy had some kind of direction when she brought her to the lower area.

However, after she got involved, he began to "go with the flow" and gave her more choices.

"So, do you regret bringing me here?"

For some reason, Bronya said this teasingly.

This made Wendy smile, and she said jokingly, "No. I believe that no matter how sooner or later, as long as you don't want to stagnate in that desperate situation, you will arrive here sooner or later.

To use a metaphor, it’s like the woman in the story who believed in fate. This is also your fate, Bronya—”

"Fate?... That's a bit surprising, considering Wendy always emphasizes freedom."