Bronya's Compromise

"There will always be people in this world who are pessimistic, just as there will always be those who are optimistic and joyful."

Jing Yan said.

Bronya suddenly interrupted him.

"Could your power be... 'Elation'?" she asked.

"No, no, no." Jing Yan shook his head with a smile.

"'Elation'?!"

"The Aeon of 'Elation' is a terrifying existence, but their followers and the power of their Path are distinctly different from mine."

"The 'Elation' seeks amusement, but there is a prerequisite of being extremely clear-headed. The followers of 'Elation,' whether they are Masked Fools or Mourning Actors, are all very lucid; they deliberately seek out amusement."

"My Path of 'Eros' is different. This Path is about immersing people within it. For instance, I intend to spread emotions like 'joy' or 'happiness' in certain regions. You can understand it as allowing the populace to generate optimistic, open-minded, and cheerful emotions from within, rather than relying on power to find joy in bitterness or gaining amusement through causing trouble. Don't you think this is a good thing? Furthermore, there is something I don't know if I should say."

"Many Pathstriders of the 'Elation' Path build their happiness upon the headaches or suffering of others. Or rather, as long as they are happy, it doesn't matter what happens to anyone else. Pathstriders can derive a sense of unconventional, avant-garde pleasure from this, even to the point of abandoning basic moral codes."

"For someone who possesses power, this might not seem like much, but for others, it could indeed pose a massive danger."

"Of course, I, Jing Yan, am no paragon of virtue. However, as an administrator, from your perspective as Bronya, you can think for yourself and make a judgment: is an existence that disregards the law for the sake of pleasure—someone 'too clever' who considers themselves 'lucid in the human world' and does things to grandstand and be different just to gain amusement—in the interest of you, the Supreme Guardian, and the development of Belobog? Or is the person with the Path and faith I propose more in your interest?"

Jing Yan's words left Bronya deep in thought.

She then frowned slightly, looked up, and raised a question: "However, Mr. Jing Yan, how can you guarantee that this power of your Path and faith will definitely make the people feel happy? Is it possible that under the manipulation of some people with ulterior motives, or due to some accident, a completely opposite 'pessimistic' emotion could spread? For example, blowing trivial matters and problems out of proportion as if they were world-ending crises, disrupting the normal order of the populace?"

"It is possible." Jing Yan smiled and replied.

"But it is a pity..."

"In unnecessary circumstances, I only render and spread one of the four emotions—'joy'—and I can completely control this power. Under these circumstances, are you still worried about the occurrence of your so-called malicious incidents?"

"Hmm..."

Bronya pondered for a moment.

"Indeed."

"Mr. Jing Yan, according to your words, this power of your Path can provide a very positive and beneficial effect for Belobog at this current stage. It is as if you are applying lubricant between the two gears of the Overworld and the Underworld, allowing the bearings to operate without the slightest wear or friction. However, as the Supreme Guardian, because of the cautionary tale of my mother, Cocolia, I have to be cautious and careful in my actions."

"Especially regarding things I don't know very well yet."

Bronya said, spreading one hand.

"I understand you, Bronya." Jing Yan smiled.

"However, I am just reminding you that this is merely a power of a Path."

"It is a power originating from a new Aeon in this universe. You can understand it as a naturally existing force. So, even though you already know the potential harm that followers of the Aeon of 'Elation' I just mentioned might bring, would you enact policies to strictly restrict people of this faith and supervise their actions?"

"Merely because of the potential danger their actions might bring, even if it is likely less than the harm brought by some vagrants in the Underworld?"

Bronya hesitated upon hearing this, but still replied: "No."

"Then that settles it."

"So, Bronya, because I, as the liberator of Belobog, gave up some material and status rewards here, do you feel that you can use your position as a superior to better manipulate me?"

Upon hearing this, a hint of shame appeared in Bronya's expression.

"No!"

"Then that's that." Jing Yan smiled.

"By the way, may I be allowed to perform an experiment?"

"An experiment? What kind of experiment?" Bronya felt a bit strange hearing this.

"Could you open your mouth for a moment?"

Bronya's expression became somewhat peculiar upon hearing this.

Jing Yan reached out and tapped the other's lips.

Then he withdrew his hand.

Bronya felt a bit strange.

"Done." Jing Yan said nonchalantly.

Bronya felt quite strange: "Did you just do something?"

"Did you cast some Path power on me?"

Jing Yan smiled.

"You can consider it so."

In fact, he had only come to complete today's check-in task and, incidentally, to reach an agreement with the current Supreme Guardian, Bronya—that is, to have her allow him to spread his faith here.

Of course, because Jing Yan, as the Aeon of "Eros," was currently in a hostile relationship with the Aeon of "Elation," Aha, he had to choose a roundabout way to expand his power, which was to choose to spread only a portion of his power, rather than all of it.

Naturally, this was not considered a strange thing.

For instance, the organization granted power by "Elation" Aha also had two different forms of existence: "Masked Fools" and "Mourning Actors."

Among them, the Mourning Actors wanted to stop others from finding amusement, but they were still considered by Aha to be very amusing, so he granted them power.

By the same token, the power of faith that Jing Yan spread across the planet Yarilo-VI was limited to the emotion of "joy," so as to avoid causing any unnecessary chaos.

At this moment, Bronya stood beside her desk, looking at Jing Yan with a complex mix of emotions in her heart.

She found it difficult to discern the true thoughts of the man standing before her.

However, if everything were truly as he claimed, then the brand-new Path power he had mentioned and disseminated would indeed provide a significant boost to their Belobog—at least for this stage of its development—aiding its recovery and prosperity while minimizing much of the resistance they faced.

As someone who had aspired to become the Supreme Guardian since childhood, Bronya understood the nature of ideals; she simply could not fathom the personal motivations of Jing Yan himself.