Starting as a Behind-the-Scenes Boss in the Honkai World Chapter 45

"My deals have always been valid. I believe Cocolia will change her mind one day," Shi Hen said lightly, throwing Seele directly towards Cocolia. "Only when a person truly wants to change the world will they realize how insignificant individual power is.

When that time comes, you will need me."

As his voice faded, Shi Hen's body vanished in an instant, leaving behind only a thin, white metal card.

"Welt... what a monster!"

Catching Seele and looking at the white card left in the snow, Cocolia couldn't help but sigh softly.

This world was far more terrifying than she had imagined.

Even after joining Anti-Entropy, there were still too many things in this world that she couldn't understand.

Chapter 51: Seele, Peggy, Raven, and a Gift

Ah, the familiar ceiling.

Opening her eyes and looking at the sight she saw every day upon waking, Seele felt an unprecedented sense of ease and joy.

Right, and the other me!

As the memories from before she fainted surged in her mind, Seele quickly pulled down her collar and looked down. She saw only a white ring inexplicably added around the original red pattern, and...

"Other me, other me, what happened to you..."

Seele called out anxiously, but couldn't hear even the slightest response, as if the personality that had suddenly appeared more than half a year ago was just her own fantasy, nonexistent in this world.

What exactly was going on? What did that masked man do?

Fear suddenly arose in her heart, as if she had lost something very important. The girl didn't even notice that she could no longer use her Stigmata power.

Creak—

The door opened, and a buxom blonde lady walked in gracefully.

"Seele, you're awake. Are you feeling unwell anywhere?"

Cocolia walked to the bedside, touched the girl's head, and asked with concern.

"I... No, it's nothing, Mama."

She was about to mention the other self, but as soon as she opened her mouth, Seele immediately changed her words.

In the girl's not-so-long life, this Stigmata had brought her disaster time and time again. Seele didn't want everyone at the orphanage to get hurt because of it.

So, it was enough for her to bear it alone.

"Alright, you can tell Mama if there are any problems. Everyone at the orphanage will be happy to help you."

Looking at the girl's extremely pale face, Cocolia ruffled the girl's short blue hair and said.

This child really couldn't keep things to herself.

As an Iron-Blooded Iron-Fisted Warlord who had traveled through various battlefields and was well-versed in political struggles, Cocolia could naturally tell that the girl had something on her mind.

But as a mother, she would only guide her child to confide in her, not force them to explain everything.

They were just children, not prisoners or enemies.

"Mhm, okay, Mama."

Seele rubbed against the woman's palm and nodded obediently.

"By the way, Seele, do you remember the man with the white mask from last night?"

Cocolia asked softly.

"That person... what happened to him?"

Seele's heart immediately tensed.

Could it be that the matter of the Stigmata and her other self had been discovered?

If Mama found out she was a troublemaker, she wouldn't want her anymore...

A trace of despair crept into the girl's heart.

"That person who called himself Welt said he saved you from those bad guys. Is that true?"

Cocolia asked, staring intently into the girl's eyes on the bed.

Bronya had not yet woken up, so she could only get the answer from Seele.

"Huh?"

Seele couldn't help but exclaim in surprise at how shameless Shi Hen was.

They had sent people to kill them, so how could Shi Hen have the nerve to say he saved them?

But immediately, the girl realized this was a good opportunity, so she nodded imperceptibly and said softly, "Y-yes, that's right, Mama."

If she didn't say it like this, should she brag about killing those special forces soldiers herself?

Then Cocolia would continue to ask, and she would say that because she was too powerful, Shi Hen had turned around and banned her account?

Wuwu... That scoundrel, how could he say such a thing!?

"Is that so..."

Hearing the girl's answer, Cocolia didn't quite believe it, but she had no choice but to accept it for now.

There were only a few people present, and Bronya was already injured and on the ground. It couldn't have been Seele who did that, could it?

The only thing that made her uneasy was how long Welt had been watching her.

She didn't believe his appearance there last night was a coincidence.

"Oh, right, what about Bronya? How is she?"

Trying to break free from the guilt of lying, Seele asked cautiously.

Even though Shi Hen had said Bronya wouldn't die, she still couldn't help but worry.

When she was still conscious, Bronya was covered in blood and showed no signs of being out of danger.

"Bronya is fine. She hasn't woken up yet, but she's out of danger and just needs a few days of rest."

Seeing the girl's worry, Cocolia gently said as she stroked her head.

"Is that so? That's good then."

Seele visibly relaxed, letting out a long sigh of relief.

This incident had started because of her. If Bronya had suffered any irreversible damage because of it, she wouldn't have known what to do.

"Seele, do you have any other questions? If not, you should get some rest. This time, Mama didn't protect you both well enough. I promise this won't happen again."

Gently rubbing the girl's head, Cocolia said softly.

"...Mama, that... Welt, he seems like a very dangerous person..."

After thinking for a moment, Seele said with some hesitation.

After all, technically, Shi Hen was still their savior, and it wasn't easy for the girl to just turn her back on him.

But if she were to speak well of Shi Hen, Seele's conscience wouldn't allow it.

As a compromise, this was the only way she could remind Cocolia.

"I know, I'll be careful with him."

Cocolia said with a smile.

As for whether Welt is dangerous or not, I know much better than you youngsters.

Recalling the "art" she witnessed last night, Cocolia still felt a chill run down her spine.

If he were to unleash that "art" on the orphanage, how could she possibly resist?

"If there's nothing else, you should get some good rest. Consider today a day off."

Cocolia said gently, carefully tucking Seele in.

Although Seele had no visible injuries, being frightened all night was enough for a little girl.

"Mhm..."

With a soft hum, and looking at Cocolia's gentle and beautiful face, Seele peacefully closed her eyes.

Her body carried a vast amount of Honkai Energy that didn't belong to her, making her more prone to fatigue for a long time to come.

Watching the girl's breathing become even, Cocolia couldn't help but smile slightly. Then, she carefully left the room and went to another bedroom.

"Yo, you're awake?"

After greeting her, Cocolia's expression became somewhat complex as she looked at the blonde girl curled up on the bed.

From a positional standpoint, she should have hated the girl, as she had almost caused her to lose her two daughters.

But from an emotional perspective, she couldn't bring herself to blame her.

Because she knew very well that the person truly responsible for orchestrating the kidnapping was the one behind the scenes, and this girl was just a pawn to be used and discarded.

In a sense, the girl was also a victim.

"Can you tell me your name?"

Sitting by the bed, Cocolia asked in the gentlest tone she could manage.

As if influenced by Cocolia, the girl huddled in the corner looked up, her wariness gradually fading. "Peggy, my name is Peggy."

"Peggy? That's a lovely name."

Cocolia smiled gently.

Looking at the blonde woman's smile, Peggy's thoughts drifted, and she couldn't help but recall an event from a few days prior.

"You know that Natasha and I aren't exactly good people, right?"

Looking at the blonde girl in front of him, Shi Hen asked in a casual tone.

"No, you are good people."

Shaking her head, Peggy said firmly.

They saved me when we were strangers and taught me all sorts of skills... If people like that aren't good, then everyone in this world must be bad.

"What if I asked you to kill someone?"

Shi Hen asked with a smile.

"..." Her lips parted slightly, as if shocked that Shi Hen could utter the word "kill" so casually. The girl remained stunned for a long time before finally replying in a small voice, "Then that person must be a bad person."

"No. In a way, the person I want to kill is the good person."

Shi Hen shook his head, refuting her.

At this point in time, Cocolia was undoubtedly a saint and a good person.

Even though she had conducted human experiments on quite a few children, she had, after all, allowed more children to survive, hadn't she?

If one understood this, how could anyone call Cocolia a bad person?

Good and bad, good and evil—this world has never been so easily distinguished.

"..."

Hearing Shi Hen's words, Peggy fell silent.

She didn't understand why Shi Hen would call himself a bad person and want to kill another good person.

"Setting aside good and bad, you just need to answer me one thing: if I asked you to kill someone, would you do it?"

Shi Hen said calmly, as if it were as simple as catching a rabbit.

"I..."

Her mouth opened, and facing the boy's calm, ordinary gaze, Peggy couldn't bring herself to say "I will."

After a long while, the girl's lips moved, and she said, "I will try my best..."

"Very good." As if he hadn't heard the waver in her voice, Shi Hen praised, then asked, "If you fail and get caught, what do you think you should do?"

Peggy: "..."