The Final Whisper

Although the price of this Houmu plush had already been driven up to double, they had promised Rosia, so naturally they would not go back on their word.

"Miss, could you mail it to the dormitory building at St. Freya Academy this afternoon? The recipient is 'Bronya Zaychik.'"

Faced with Rosia's adorable pleading expression, the clerk agreed despite not offering such a service.

It was just a little extra work—finding someone to make the delivery.

"Thank you, Miss."

Rosia said happily with a smile.

"Little dummy, why did you make me bring this God Key specifically?"

After Rosia left the Houmu shop, "Rosia" could no longer hold back from asking.

The materials of the God Keys were all highly unusual. Not only could "Rosia" touch it, but after she did, it vanished from sight in the real world as well.

That was why no one else had noticed "Rosia" carrying the Key of Erosion.

"I can carry this thing too, but I can't use it. My authority level isn't high enough..."

Although the Key of Erosion was a weapon that had not been fully designed in the Previous Era and only took shape in the Current Era, it still had usage permissions.

Either one had to gain the God Key's recognition, or possess sufficient authority.

Other than Previous Era warriors like Kevin, Su, and Hua, anyone else who wished to use a God Key could only obtain permission through their Stigmata, unless their bloodline and will were recognized.

"Rosia" had thought she was already the complete form of a Stigmata, but now she realized that she had never touched upon the true essence of a Stigmata at all.

"Just in case."

Compared to before, Rosia's personality and gaze had matured considerably, to the point that "Rosia" was beginning to wonder whether she had finally gotten a clue.

At the same time, "Rosia" narrowed her eyes. She had long felt that Rosia had been hiding something from her.

Their consciousnesses had split apart, and they had inherited both Seele's and Bronya's bloodlines. "Rosia" felt that her own single-track way of thinking was not particularly clever, but judging from the traits she had inherited, Rosia should have been exceptionally intelligent.

There were too many coincidences. Why had "Joyce" chosen to attack when Raiden Mei was absent? Why had he come alone? Where were the other members of Anti-Entropy?

Why had Rosia packed everything up so early, even hiding the diary she had always been writing inside the toy box?

"You never... planned to go back, did you?"

Only now did "Rosia" realize that Rosia had never intended to return.

"Mm."

It had become so obvious that Rosia knew she could not hide it anymore, so she could only nod.

"Where are you planning to go next? Aren't you going to see the sea with your Mother Bronya? Actually..."

"We still have enough time..."

Although "Rosia" had always been urging Rosia to restart the Life Cultivator, now that the moment had truly arrived...

"Rosia" began to feel a little flustered.

Would Rosia still be this timid after being reassembled? Would her personality become worse? Would she no longer have the strength to protect herself...

Countless thoughts flashed through "Rosia's" mind at that moment, but in the end, only two words left her lips.

"Do whatever you want."

"Ha..."

Seeing "Rosia" turn her head away with an expression that said she did not want to talk to her, Rosia gently patted her head.

"You!"

"Rosia" looked utterly incredulous. She had always been the one patting Rosia's head—when had the tables turned?

"Mother Bronya told me that you're really cute too."

Rosia said with a smile.

Just as "Rosia" had guessed, Rosia was indeed very clever—or rather, "sharp."

She had guessed many things long ago, including but not limited to Bronya's emotional breakdown, Joyce's arrival, and the abnormalities throughout the Far East.

Rosia had foreseen what would happen long ago.

She could have warned them in advance. She could have stopped all of this...

But even timid Rosia had a small wish of her own.

She had always felt that it was unfair. She had enjoyed six months of love and care, while "Rosia" could only watch her silently the entire time.

Other than Mother Bronya, no one knew she existed.

Rosia could clearly sense that when "Rosia" had deliberately teased Mother Bronya, she had been very happy.

It was not the delight of toying with someone else, but an emotion that "Rosia" had kept hidden away all along—her longing to be noticed.

So Rosia wanted to try something.

Rosia remembered clearly that Cocolia's "X-10" experiment was essentially an experiment in completely mastering a Stigmata.

If the experiment succeeded, the subject would be able to completely control everything about the Stigmata.

Cocolia's greatest mistake was failing to realize that the power within the Stigmata was not something her children could control at all.

Even Durandal, Schicksal's Rank S Valkyrie, had encountered considerable obstacles when she fully unleashed the Stigmata's power and underwent its trial.

When Rosia had first heard "Rosia" say that she had seen Seele in the Stigmata Space...

Rosia had thought of a possibility.

If she won this gamble and unleashed all the power of the Stigmata, then on one hand, she could use that power to exchange Seele out of the Sea of Quanta. On the other, she could try to preserve "Rosia's" consciousness by unlocking the Key of Erosion's permissions, then cultivate her separately.

Even if she lost the gamble, Rosia could still use the portion of the Stigmata's power that had been forcibly activated to control the Key of Erosion and do something for "Rosia." At the very least, she could help Seele reestablish her connection to the real world. Even if she could not save her, there would still be more hope.

In Rosia's eyes, she had no choice but to take this gamble.

Why did Rosia care so much about Bronya...

Because she had never experienced what family affection was like—what it felt like to be simply loved, cared for, and cherished.

Before crossing over, she had also been adorable and refined, yet she had grown up under completely different circumstances.

From the very beginning, Rosia had wanted to know what "family affection" truly was...

Now, she understood.

Rosia looked at "Rosia," whose hair was practically standing on end as she puffed out her cheeks, and smiled happily.

"Keep laughing, little dummy!"

"Rosia" could not help knocking lightly on her little head.

Rosia covered her head and repeated the words she had told "Rosia" from the very beginning.

"I'm not stupid at all. I'm obviously very smart..."

P.S.: I can reveal a little in advance—the second reassembly will be a purple-black-haired girl plus a pink-haired girl, and their weapons will be two blades.

Rosia's storyline will probably end before the premium release, but all of her plot points and foreshadowing will be woven into the second cultivation. Rosia will be closely connected with the person from the second cultivation, so don't worry—it won't be completely separate.

Please send some votes, meow.

The Final Whisper

Roller coasters, pirate ships, merry-go-rounds, bumper cars...

By a little after four in the afternoon, Rosia and Bronya had already experienced more than half of the attractions in the entire Dreamland Amusement Park.

Sitting beneath a parasol at the amusement park, Bronya rested her chin on her hand and looked at the blue-haired girl.

"Did you have fun?"

"Mm. Was Mother Bronya not happy?"

Although she could tell at a glance that Bronya had something on her mind, Rosia still smiled as innocently as ever.

"I was happy too."

Bronya scooped up a spoonful of sundae, then instinctively held it out toward Rosia.

Rosia glanced at the ice cream in her own hand, then without hesitation leaned forward and lightly tasted the spoon Bronya had offered.

"Ha..."

Seeing Rosia's adorable expression, Bronya could not help smiling.

"The amusement park is so quiet today."

Rosia also held her ice cream out before Bronya, who understood immediately and took a bite.

"It would be such a shame if a place as fun as an amusement park had no visitors..."

Bronya glanced at the sparse pedestrians passing through the park and narrowed her eyes slightly.

"Isn't it nice when there are fewer people? At least we can enjoy the amusement park to our heart's content."

Bronya deliberately changed the subject.

"That's true..."

Rosia nodded, smiling as she met Bronya's eyes.

"Mother Bronya, do you remember when we first met? Mother Bronya looked so incredulous back then..."

Rosia was visibly happier when she mentioned it.

"Not at all. Wasn't Rosia the one who looked like she was about to cry back then?"

Bronya responded helplessly to Rosia's teasing.

She really had found it difficult to accept at the time. After all, who could accept having a ten-year-old child at the age of fourteen?

"Ha..."

Rosia smiled with her lips pursed.

"Because I was really afraid that Mother Bronya would hate me..."

"Hate you? No, it was probably more confusion than anything else."

Bronya explained.

She had truly accepted and embraced Rosia during Theresa's accidental experiment.

No one would hate someone who disregarded her own safety to protect you.

Although Bronya felt more guilt than anything else about that experiment, perhaps she would never have seen through it without that incident.

The more one had lost, the more sensitive the girl became to someone who suddenly entered her world.

"I heard Kiana and the others say that Rosia often sits on the benches at the academy. Is there something you're concerned about?"

Bronya asked, somewhat puzzled.

"Mm, because everyone's happy smiles make me feel at ease."

Rosia held out her hand and began counting on her fingers.

"In the morning, at dusk, and at night, everyone wears different expressions..."

"In the morning, everyone is full of energy, like they're shining..."

"By evening, everyone's expressions gradually become a little lost and uneasy..."

"And what about at night?"

Bronya saw that the girl's shining eyes had fallen silent for a long moment, so she asked.

"They become... a little lonely."

Rosia's eyes were pure, as clear as a pool of water. In comparison, Bronya's eyes held many complicated emotions. After merely meeting her gaze for a short while, Bronya could not help looking away.

Seeing Bronya's obviously evasive gaze, Rosia merely smiled faintly and continued.

"But even though they're lonely, there are still many people with satisfied smiles..."