Herrscher of Thunder: Do You Think I Don't Understand Your Little Schemes?

"..."

Though it looked like she was being harsh with Kiana, Bronya was actually warning herself.

"It's good that you know."

No matter what, Kiana could tell that Bronya was in a bad mood herself, so she did not continue.

"Mother Bronya, how many do you want?"

Rosia came over carrying several cans.

"Three. Your sister Kiana eats far too much."

Bronya patted Rosia's head and took the cans.

"Put in the beef chunks and the potatoes we cut earlier..."

"Once the water boils, add some salt, then turn it down to a low heat..."

After finishing the preparations, Bronya let out a slight sigh of relief and climbed down from the small stool.

"Next, Rosia, wait with Mom for half an hour."

Holding Rosia as she sat on the sofa, with Kiana leaning beside her, the somewhat exhausted Bronya quickly closed her eyes.

"Seele..."

Bronya murmured in her sleep.

"See? No matter how wishfully you think, she'll only ever mutter about her own Seele..."

"Rosia" watched the blue-haired girl reach out her little hand to cover Bronya with a blanket.

"It's okay, because Mother Seele is the person Mother Bronya cares about most. Everyone has someone they like best, don't you and I too?"

Rosia said with a smile.

"Then who do you care about?"

"None of your business!"

"Rosia" puffed out her cheeks.

"Rest well, Mother Bronya."

Rosia gently touched Bronya's forehead, her silver-gray eyes glimmering.

Perhaps it was because of the Recombinator. Perhaps it was due to the division of her consciousness. Or perhaps it was a combination of all those factors.

Rosia had never had a bond of blood before, nor had she ever experienced familial affection.

So she wanted to try it once.

There might have been some unexpected feelings involved, but when she saw Bronya truly being threatened, it had been her body's instinctive reaction. That was why she had moved so quickly.

Rosia did not know whether Bronya truly cared about her, but she was certain that she cared deeply about Bronya.

Of course, there was someone she cared about even more.

"What are you looking at me for?"

"Rosia" looked at Rosia, who had been staring at her for who knew how long, completely baffled.

"Because you're very cute."

Rosia said softly.

"Me? Cute? With my personality? Did something break in your head?"

"Rosia" could not understand it at all.

To some extent, even she herself did not really like herself. Compared to Black Seele, her power was greater, but her emotions seemed more unstable.

In any case, "Rosia" increasingly felt that she was a collection of contradictions.

Maybe it was an illusion. Maybe she was simply overthinking it.

"Being cute has nothing to do with your personality. You're cute because you're cute."

"What a load of nonsense."

Though she said that, the tips of "Rosia's" ears still turned slightly red.

"Shh..."

While Rosia and "Rosia" were chatting idly, Bronya began murmuring again.

"Rosia..."

Hearing Bronya's murmur, "Rosia" fell silent for a moment before looking again at Rosia, who was smiling happily.

"Hmph, they're all idiots. Only idiots say stupid things in their dreams."

"Rosia" pretended not to care in the slightest.

"Mother Bronya, time's up."

Seeing that it was about time, Rosia gently woke her.

"Rosia... Oh..."

Bronya, rousing from standby mode, patted her head.

Although the dream had been nice, reality before her was more worthy of her attention.

"What? Is it time to eat?"

Kiana, who had also fallen asleep crookedly beside them, instantly woke up when she heard the commotion.

"Rosia, this bowl is yours. Also, this is sour cream. It tastes better if you pour it on."

Bronya personally brought Rosia her bowl, then helped her pour on the sour cream.

Meanwhile, Kiana sat on her chair and watched eagerly.

"What are you waiting for?"

Bronya looked at Kiana with a puzzled expression.

"If you want to eat, can't you serve yourself?"

Bronya could not be bothered to indulge someone as lazy as Kiana.

"Bleh..."

Kiana made a face at Bronya.

"Mother Bronya, it's really delicious."

Rosia tilted her head slightly, her short blue hair swaying softly over her forehead. Her smile at that moment made both Bronya and Kiana freeze.

"So cute..."

"Don't get horny."

Seeing Kiana's eager expression, Bronya mercilessly rapped her on the head.

Bronya did not know about the other Valkyries, but judging from Kiana's past remarks, her tendencies in that regard were not small.

"Ow..."

"Bronya, look, even though Rosia is a child, aren't I still a child too?"

Kiana began defending herself.

"So what?"

Bronya did not deny it.

"I'll make a bet with you, Bronya. If I call you something, you definitely won't dare answer."

"What's the wager?"

Bronya asked casually.

"If you dare answer, Rosia will sleep with you tonight. If you don't dare answer, you'll sleep with me tonight."

Kiana said confidently.

"Rosia is not an object. I cannot make that decision for her. You need to ask for her opinion."

Bronya said.

"Rosia, please?"

Looking at Kiana's expectant face, Rosia glanced at Bronya, then finally nodded her little head.

"Go ahead. What do you want to call me?"

Bronya was a little curious about what nonsense Kiana wanted to pull this time.

"Mom!"

Rosia: "..."

Bronya: "?"

Chapter 14: Herrscher of Thunder: Do You Think I Don't Understand Your Little Schemes?

"Get lost..."

Bronya, who had still had a little patience for Kiana's antics, immediately grabbed Rosia and left without hesitation.

"Hey, Bronya, you're taking advantage of me! Give Rosia back!"

Watching Bronya's retreating figure, Kiana stomped her foot in frustration.

Elsewhere, in the training room.

"Raiden Mei, focus..."

The purple-black-haired girl clenched the blade in her hand and muttered to herself.

Having practiced swordsmanship since childhood, focusing should not have been difficult for her.

"Don't you want that child very badly?"

A voice deep within her heart kept telling her.

"Innocent, cute, kind... Hmm, even as a young lady from a wealthy family, you rarely saw such a pure little one, did you?"

Such thoughts involuntarily surfaced in her mind, but Raiden Mei knew clearly that they were not truly her own thoughts.

That thing within the core inside her was influencing her.

"Shut up. I don't think that way."

Raiden Mei began correcting her thoughts.

"Don't be so anxious. Have you noticed the problem? That's right. Though you like that child just as much as Kiana, that child clearly carries a scent sweeter than honey. It isn't an illusion. I felt it too. So, how about it? I can lend you my power, but on one condition: you have to spend more time with that child."

Realizing she had been discovered, the Herrscher of Thunder stopped pretending.

"What are you trying to do?"

Raiden Mei demanded.

"Ha... I want to do the same thing you do. What's wrong with that?"

The Herrscher of Thunder chuckled.

"Bastard."

Raiden Mei gripped her blade tightly and swung it with force, then let out a breath.

"Heh, what's this? Embarrassed into anger? I know exactly what you've been thinking..."

If the Herrscher of Thunder had merely mocked and cursed her, Raiden Mei could have easily ignored her. But her words struck precisely at the source of Raiden Mei's recent inner conflict.

"My dear young lady, your possessiveness is much greater than you imagine, isn't it?"