Seeing that Seele and Bronya looked ready to argue the moment they met, Natasha spoke up to smooth things over.
"Seele, don't be so hasty. Maybe they can help you."
Stelle, who was recording with her phone, narrowed her eyes and blurted out, "With a temper like that, I'm not helping!"
After several encounters, Natasha had more or less figured out Stelle's personality and played along.
"Don't be like that. Seele's all bark and no bite. She means no harm."
At those words, Stelle turned to look at Bronya.
For a moment, she felt as though something had influenced her, and she looked at Seele with encouragement in her eyes: I've done everything I should and said everything I should. Hurry up and help her!
Bronya was a little bewildered and found Stelle's burning gaze a little hard to bear.
Still, she nodded lightly.
Natasha spoke again. "Here's the situation. A lot of people were injured in that incident in the mines, and the clinic is packed. After you helped quell the unrest, Seele and I have been busy looking after the wounded.
"As you know, resources underground have always been scarce. With this happening so suddenly, the clinic's medical supplies are almost gone. We need to get some from elsewhere."
At that, Stelle asked, "Are there other towns underground?"
Seele shrugged. "Hey, the other towns are worse off than we are.
"The reason more and more vagrants are gathering in the mines is that the Fragmentum is spreading underground. Monsters are roaming everywhere, and every town is suffering from it.
"The supplies and equipment we depend on to survive have all been swallowed by the Fragmentum. Even trying to salvage a few things means risking your life."
The more Seele spoke, the more worked up she became, and her