Wow, none of you are watching the animated short "Angel Reconstruction"? / She was once Theresa's student, and is now the Herrscher of Wind.

Yet this time, she did not do so. Instead, she became wary.

Wait! Was that just my imagination? The way we came in was closed off! Could this be a trap? We have no way out!

"Heh, you only realized that now?" A blood-red comment drifted elegantly across the screen.

Seeing that Kiana had finally caught on, Black Seele began mocking her. "How laughably naive!"

"More like adorable~ After all..."

Beichen tapped the screen, and the story dialogue quickly shifted to a conversation between Theresa and the mastermind, Cocolia.

Or, more accurately... a little girl (on the surface) and an old woman trading barbs before a fight?

I see. You must be Miss Cocolia?

That's right, I'm Cocolia. And you must be Theresa Apocalypse? Oh my, I never expected such an important figure to come. I'd always heard you were an exceptional warrior, yet you fell into such an obvious trap so easily. You really don't live up to your reputation.

Tch, I'd always heard you were a sly fox. Looks like it's true. But when the bait is this luxurious, it would be rude not to bite.

Though it was merely a little girl (on the surface) and an old woman trading barbs before a fight, the gunpowder in the air was so thick it practically spilled out of the screen.

Perhaps because watching them quarrel was so entertaining, Himeko joined in as well.

Getting caught in a trap is irritating, sure, but it makes things simpler. Now all we have to do is enter the laboratory, rescue Mei, and carve a bloody path out! Let's tear ME Corp apart!

Hmph, you certainly know how to boast.

Himeko's wild declaration naturally made Cocolia disdainful.

You'll soon find out whether it's boasting.

As soon as she finished speaking, a green comment suddenly floated across the screen.

"Hehehe, well said."

Clearly, Otto was quite pleased by Theresa and Himeko's combined verbal assault.

And Durandal was equally delighted.

"This... is truly admirable. Even after falling into a trap, they can remain so calm in the face of danger. They are Valkyries worthy of being role models."

As her neatly typed comment drifted across the screen, Cocolia gave her reply.

Then I shall await your arrival in the laboratory. I hope you don't die on the way and leave me waiting for nothing.

As Cocolia finished speaking, the story call ended as well, and the game entered the gameplay screen.

What made this wave different from the previous ones was that the game required the player to defend supplies.

Put simply, they had to protect the fortified object. If its durability reached zero, the game would fail. They had to eliminate several waves of monsters before they could move on to the next stage.

Of course, since this was a beginner chapter, the monsters that came to attack were nothing worth mentioning. Before Ri Duck, they were as fragile as paper.

Beichen easily wiped out all the monsters and entered the next stage.

After entering this stage, the game did not play any story dialogue, and the backdrop shifted from the exterior of the building to its interior.

As numerous Titan mechs and Zombies appeared, this stage became much livelier.

After clearing the first two waves and reaching the third spawn point, two white mechs suddenly descended into the battlefield.

They were the Ancient Mech and the Magnetic Storm Mech. Blue rings glowed beneath their feet as they assisted the player in battle.

At the same time, a mission prompt appeared in the upper-left corner of the screen.

Bronya has hacked into the enemy mechs' cores and can make some mechs assist in battle.

Upon seeing this prompt, someone in the Live Stream froze.

"If the intent to deceive has been exposed, then continuing the pretense is meaningless. This cannot be part of Anti-Entropy's plan. Could it be... I see. Making such a decision at a time like this... it seems I underestimated her."

Otto's comment drifted across the screen.

Wow, Haven't You All Been Watching the Animated Short Reburn: II?

When Beichen saw Otto's comment appear on the screen, he realized that this man had already predicted Bronya's betrayal of Anti-Entropy.

But figuring it out only now was not particularly meaningful.

Because at the end of this stage, the answer everyone had long awaited was about to be revealed...

Give Mei back to me!

As the final monster in the stage fell, the entire game screen was gradually engulfed by erupting white light.

Before that milky-white radiance faded, Kiana's emotional demand rang out first.

Everyone's attention was drawn by that shout, and they all turned their eyes toward the screen.

On the screen, the former three-person team now stood facing one another.

Hmph, you know nothing of a Herrscher's true value. Once we understand how Herrschers control the forces of nature, humanity's technological level will advance by leaps and bounds. Bronya, stop them for me!

Bronya's combat suit had once again turned red and black, a sign that Cocolia was forcibly controlling her. That same form had appeared during her two previous betrayals.

But before this, Kiana had always chosen to believe in her.

And this time... was no exception.

Bronya, don't let them control you! Wake up!

The camera shifted. Bronya and Kiana stood on opposite sides of the screen, Kiana holding her twin pistols as she called out to her companion, trying to wake her.

What she did not know was that Cocolia's control had already loosened at this moment.

Bronya was about to make a choice of her own will.

When Bronya was little, both her parents died. In Bronya's heart, Cocolia was like a mother. But then Bronya met Mei.

As she narrated, the camera shifted again, showing Mei, who was bound, and Bronya.

Bronya clenched her fists with her back to Mei. Though her tone was as calm as ever, her words carried incredibly intense emotion!

Mei has always been very kind to Bronya, and Bronya does not want to hurt Mei.

So Bronya will not fight.

Kiana, take Mei and leave.

As Bronya spoke, the camera shifted once more, showing Kiana's face.

Bronya has already burned the Bio-chip.

What nonsense! The Bio-chip was implanted in your brain. If you burn it... are you trying to kill yourself?

After hearing Bronya's confession, Cocolia's voice rang out again.

At the same time, the camera shifted once more, taking in Bronya, Mei, and the surveillance camera on the laboratory ceiling from below.

Bronya thinks Mei is more important than her own life.

As she said those words, the camera shifted once again, focusing on Bronya as she turned back to look at Mei.

Bronya will no longer accept any order that could hurt Mei!

As she said this, the emotions Bronya had suppressed for so long were finally released, and obvious anger entered her voice.

Kiana, Mei is in your hands now.

After entrusting Mei to her at last, Bronya peacefully closed her eyes as red lines crawled across her face.

Then the entire screen went black, as though this was what she saw after burning her own chip...

After the cutscene ended, the screen remained on the battle results page.

The Live Stream was deathly silent. No one sent a comment for a long while.

Beichen stared at the four IDs in the viewer list for a long time, then clicked into the next stage.

"I never expected her to do something so foolish in the end. Sigh~ Forget it. It's the sort of thing she would do anyway. Though someone is probably going to cry now~"

A blood-red comment drifted across the screen...

Seeing that color, Beichen guessed that Black Seele had sent it.

As for the person she meant~ There probably could not be anyone besides Seele.

As if they shared a telepathic connection, Black Seele's ID suddenly vanished from the Live Stream at that moment.

In contrast, Seele, who had been silent for so long, finally came back to life.

"Waaah! Bronya, Bronya will be okay, right?!"

As that long-absent blue comment drifted by, Beichen felt that the atmosphere in the Live Stream had improved considerably.

Ah, Seele was still as sweet and adorable as ever.

Compared to her, the other two people in the Live Stream were Otto, who harbored ulterior motives, and Schicksal's strongest Valkyrie.

Even if those two said nothing, they still gave off a feeling that they were not to be trifled with...

"Don't worry. If she can't get through this, she won't be able to become Ri Duck."

Wanting to look after his little fan, Beichen reassured her with a half-spoiler.

"Really?" After hearing him, Seele sent a doubtful comment. "Big Brother, you're not lying to me, are you?"

"Of course not."

"Mm, okay!"

Because of your Live Stream interaction, Loves Bronya felt delighted. You received Crystal x740!

Oh? An unexpected reward too? Hahaha, looks like Seele really trusts me.

The moment Beichen heard the system reward notification, he was delighted.

Who would have thought comforting fans could earn rewards too? Haha, awesome!

But just as he was celebrating, an ill-timed green comment drifted past.

"Based on what you just said, you do not seem worried that Bronya will remain asleep forever after burning her chip. Why are you so certain? You know why this little girl will become the Herrscher of Reason, don't you?"

Beichen froze when he saw Otto's questioning comment.

Well, well. This old bastard was picking a fight at a time like this? No, I can't tell the truth. I need to think of a way to brush this off...

"Uh... Viewer, is that really the important part?"

Unfortunately, Durandal ruthlessly stopped Beichen's attempt to change the subject.

"Ahem, excuse me. Although I feel that saying this at a time like this may be inappropriate, I am very curious why you, Streamer, know these things. Could you tell us?"

Amazing. You Schicksal master and servant are in cahoots, aren't you? You're planning to interrogate me together?

Caught between two sides, Beichen felt troubled by his current predicament.

How should I explain DuckDuck becoming Ri Duck without revealing too much...

Oh! That's it!

"Because I watched the in-game animated short Reburn: II~" An idea flashed through Beichen's mind, and he steered the topic toward Bronya's personal animated short.

However, what he had mentioned was an extremely, extremely unfamiliar concept to Otto, Durandal, and everyone else in this world...

"?"

Even Otto could not help cautiously and doubtfully typing a question mark when he saw the words "animated short"...

She Was Theresa's Former Student, and Now She Is the Herrscher of Wind

"So aside from loading animated CGs, this game also includes independently produced video animations. What an unexpectedly innovative feature..."

Though Otto had never watched one, he quickly analyzed and understood the meaning of the term.

At that moment, he had to admit that this was a very good idea.

Perhaps he should use Schicksal's authority to make several shorts for Kallen's Fantasies as well...

Forget it. He would think about it later, if he had free time in the future...