"We protect not only humanity, but also the humanity that makes people human..."
Theresa closed her eyes and leaned back in her chair. After a long while, she opened them again and looked at Bronya before her.
"Is that so? That's what he said?"
"Yes, Lady Theresa."
Bronya nodded. That had been Fang Zheng's answer when she spoke with him.
In truth, Bronya had always been deeply troubled by this. To Bronya, Cocolia was her mother. They had once shared wonderful times together at the orphanage. But afterward, Cocolia changed. She betrayed Bronya's trust, almost coldly ordering her to betray her own friends and hurt them, while also betraying Bronya herself.
Cocolia's explanation was naturally that everything had been for the sake of fighting the Honkai. So while she had indeed broken Bronya's heart, everything she did had been "for a reason."
Of course, Bronya could not accept Cocolia's way of thinking. That was why they clashed, leading to the scene Fang Zheng had witnessed earlier.
But after separating from Cocolia, Bronya herself was equally lost and conflicted.
She could sense that Cocolia was not truly cruel and heartless. She had done it to protect the children of the orphanage, to protect everyone's future. But did that noble goal give her the right to do such things? Could she disregard the lives of others and trample their feelings without restraint just to protect everyone? Did people like them truly have no choice but to make such sacrifices?
With those doubts in mind, Bronya sought out Fang Zheng. She wanted to know what he thought. Did pursuing such a goal truly require sacrifice? Did one truly have to become cold and heartless?
But Fang Zheng's answer was completely different from what Bronya had imagined.
"We protect humanity. What we protect is