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[HSRGSS] Chapter 19: Cocolia's Decision
🕑 Added 2025-07-14 05:51:42 +0000 UTCJust as Lucian left the Qlipoth Fort, Bronya arrived at the door of the Supreme Guardian's office.
She took a deep breath, calming her slightly hurried breathing from running, then raised her hand and knocked three clear times on the carved door panel with her knuckles.
"Wait a moment!"
Cocolia's anxious and somewhat flustered voice came from inside, and it took quite a while before Bronya was allowed to enter.
"Bronya, did you find Lord Lucian?"
Cocolia put down the pen in her hand and tried to compose herself, calming her breathing as she looked up at her adopted daughter.
Honestly, she still had no idea what had just happened, but all her clothes had suddenly burst open.
When Bronya knocked, she was still frantically getting dressed.
"Yes, Lord Lucian has already gone to the Underworld."
Gazing at Cocolia's calm expression, Bronya replied respectfully.
"I see..."
Cocolia's tense shoulders relaxed almost imperceptibly, and the worry she had been carrying quietly disappeared.
Seeing Bronya's completely businesslike and unaffected expression, she secretly felt relieved.
It seemed that those 'little secrets' between Lucian and herself, which could not be revealed to outsiders, were safe for the time being.
Cocolia picked up the glass of water at the corner of her desk, hoping to moisten her dry throat, but Bronya's next words struck her like a bolt from the blue, exploding in her ears without warning.
"Mother, I think Lord Lucian might like you."
Bronya's words were like thunder on a clear day, causing Cocolia's hand to tremble and nearly spill her glass.
"Ahem, Bronya, nothing is going on between me and him. We haven't done anything, so don't let your imagination run wild."
"But I saw Lord Lucian secretly keeping your portrait and even putting it inside his coat." Bronya said, looking at her mother with pure, wide eyes. "If he doesn't like you, why would he do that?"
Cocolia instantly fell silent.
Bronya never lied, so her words alone were the strongest evidence.
As a result, a surge of indescribable warmth, mixed with surprise, embarrassment, and a secret sweetness, quietly filled Cocolia's heart.
'Even though... Even though things have already... he still secretly keeps my portrait? Seriously, that's something only a lovestruck teenager would do...'
As she thought this, Cocolia took out a small portrait of Lucian from the drawer and unconsciously smiled.
'I see... he's just like me...'
Soon enough, the corners of Cocolia's mouth lifted higher and higher, becoming harder to suppress.
Ever since the Stellaron was removed from her body, her state of mind had shifted, and her personality had gradually returned to how it once was.
Bronya saw her mother smiling, but did not know why.
'Could Mother be thinking about how to keep Lord Lucian in Belobog?'
Even though she was curious, she dared not speak, much less ask.
As Cocolia kept smiling, memories of her embarrassing state last night suddenly floated into her mind.
'No, there's no way I can keep him here by myself...'
She understood very well that Lucian was not an ordinary man, so if she could not meet his needs, it would be over for her sooner or later.
And when that happened, Belobog's fate would also be doomed.
'Rather than share him with other unknown women... maybe...'
Cocolia's expression suddenly became serious as she fixed her gaze on Bronya, sizing her up from head to toe.
'Bronya has an outstanding appearance, a great figure, and an excellent personality—without a doubt, she has inherited all my best qualities.'
'And she's also at that age when she's just beginning to blossom.'
'As the saying goes... keep the benefits in the family...'
'If he helps Bronya, she will surely have a bright future...'
As Cocolia was lost in thought, Bronya felt a chill under her sharp gaze.
She didn't know why, but she could not shake the feeling that her mother was plotting something important involving her.
"Bronya." Cocolia spoke solemnly, her expression stern. "You have already grown up, so it's time for you to help me shoulder some of my worries."
'Worries? Mother must be tired from working so hard...'
Bronya thought silently, then made a firm expression and patted her chest with determination.
"Yes, Mother, I promise to do my best to share your worries!"
Cocolia immediately smiled and nodded with satisfaction.
===
Meanwhile, Lucian still had no idea that someone was working behind the scenes to help him build up his harem.
At this time, he was walking down the streets of the Administrative District in Belobog's Overworld.
Whenever someone saw him, they always greeted him respectfully.
"Good morning, Lord Lucian!"
"Thank you for your hard work, Supreme Guardian!"
"Lord Lucian, I just made this breakfast. Please have a taste!"
"Supreme Guardian, I picked these flowers for you~"
"..."
People enthusiastically greeted the new Supreme Guardian who had saved their world one after another. If Lucian had not already ordered everyone not to disturb his daily life, he would probably have been surrounded by crowds by now.
Soon, Lucian arrived at the entrance to the Underworld.
It was now fully open, with more than a dozen Silvermane Guards on duty.
At the entrance, crowds of people were coming and going—the scene looked just like a subway station back on Earth.
"Supreme Guardian! Gepard reporting! Everything is normal!"
Noticing Lucian, a tall man in a white and blue military outfit, quickly came before him and saluted.
Lucian looked closely, seeing the familiar, handsome blond man who was even more attractive than his game model.
"Yes, I can see that you are carrying out your orders seriously." Lucian raised his hand and patted Gepard's shoulder, praising him. "Good job. I'll find you a wife next year."
"Thank you for your concern, Sir!"
Gepard hurriedly responded modestly upon hearing the praise, but then paused.
'Huh? A wife?'
Gepard quickly looked up, only to see Lucian already turning away, hands in his pockets, humming a rousing and unfamiliar song as he strode lightly toward the entrance to the Underworld.
Even though the humming wasn't loud, it carried a strange resonance, reaching Gepard's ears and those of several nearby Silvermane Guards clearly.
"We've made a choice, go fight against your fate!~"
"Pain will come with the blade~"
"Pain will wake up the despondent crowd in this dormant world somehow~"
{Note: Lyrics of Wildfire.}
One had to admit, the melody was stirring, and the lyrics filled people with passion.
Gepard unconsciously started humming along with Lucian.
As he kept humming, however, Gepard gradually felt something was off.
'Hmm, that's odd... Why does this song make me feel like the former Supreme Guardian is about to get beaten up?'
