"Hello, honored guest from the Upper District. I am Natasha, leader of Wildfire."
Upon hearing that someone from the Upper District had come down, Natasha was puzzled.
She couldn't understand why they would come here.
The passage between the Upper and Underworld had been sealed for so long.
"My name is Su Ran—the owner of this world."
Su Ran stated his identity plainly.
Seele: "...Huh?"
Did this guy hit his head or something?
What kind of nonsense was that?
Owner of the world?
Based on what?
Those bugs?
Did he even ask the Supreme Guardian—or the Fragmentum monsters—if they agreed?
"…I'm sorry. I don't have any means to treat mental illnesses."
Natasha looked troubled.
She could treat physical wounds—
But mental problems were beyond her.
"Are you sure?"
Natasha was about to politely send him away—
But in that instant, she froze.
"Hey! Natasha!"
Seele noticed something was wrong and quickly tapped her shoulder.
This wasn't the time to lose composure in front of Upperworlders.
"I'm fine…"
After receiving the system's information in her mind,
Natasha instantly understood what had happened in the Upper District.
When she looked at Su Ran again—
Her eyes were filled with respect.
"Thank you for everything you've done for this world!"
She had just been integrated into Belobog's official system,
Which gave her access to all relevant information.
Naturally, she now understood Su Ran's actions—
And felt genuine reverence.
He had saved the world.
Respect was the least she could offer.
"???"
Seele stared at Natasha in confusion.
Her attitude had changed completely in an instant.
Fortunately, Seele wasn't particularly well-read.
The idea of something like "cognitive alteration" never crossed her mind.
(Not that Su Ran had done that anyway.)
But she still couldn't understand—
What just happened?
"Underworld doesn't need discord. It needs order," Su Ran said calmly.
"Fix the order here, and I'll reopen the passage between Upper and Underworld."
To put it simply—
The scavengers were too troublesome.
He didn't deny that people here had suffered.
But the Underworld was undeniably more chaotic.
Compared to the Upper District—
There were more parasites here.
Robbery and looting were practically routine.
Even within Wildfire, there were individuals of questionable character.
"I understand. But the Underworld isn't controlled by Wildfire alone," Natasha said seriously.
"There are also roaming scavengers, and the group led by Svarog."
Since orders had come from above,
She naturally needed to act.
The sudden change in temperature—
Combined with the system's information—
Made her realize the eternal winter had already ended.
But the Underworld was now facing shortages in medical supplies.
Reopening access to the Upper District was a crucial opportunity.
"It's fine. I'll handle it myself."
Svarog?
Just a machine.
Not a problem.
"You're going personally?"
Natasha was uneasy.
Svarog wasn't exactly friendly.
Only certain humans from that faction could communicate with it.
"Strength solves everything. If it resists, I'll dismantle it."
At Su Ran's current level—
If fists could solve it, why bother thinking?
"Exactly!"
For once, Seele agreed immediately.
Because that was her philosophy too.
Life in the Underworld wasn't easy.
She had fought her way to becoming a leader.
Even though she still didn't like Su Ran—
At least the hostility had faded.
She trusted Natasha.
"As for the scavengers—recruit those who can be recruited. The rest… eliminate them."
Su Ran had already shown restraint.
Whether they survived now depended on their choices.
Criminals disrupted stability.
And he wasn't about to let a few bad elements ruin his "civilization-building game."
"Isn't that too cruel?"
Natasha frowned.
Kill them if they refuse?
They were still people—not monsters.
"What do you think?"
Su Ran glanced at Bronya, then at Seele.
"…It's… not unreasonable."
Bronya hesitated.
It felt harsh—
But compared to threatening an entire city like before,
This was already an improvement.
Seele said nothing.
After all—
She herself had just been threatened the same way.
Even if she found it cruel—
It wasn't surprising.
"…Alright. I'll do my best."
Seeing their reactions,
Natasha understood—
This was already mercy.
If those people cooperated, they could survive—
Maybe even see the Upper District one day.
"Good. The Underworld matters. I'm playing a civilization-building game here—don't make me switch to extinction mode."
Su Ran patted Natasha's shoulder.
"Bronya, let's go."
"Yes, Boss!"
Bronya followed immediately as they headed toward Svarog's territory.
After they left, Seele turned to Natasha.
"Who was that? Do you know him?"
"…No."
If she had known him earlier—
The Underworld would never have been sealed off in the first place.
She didn't believe someone like her could've ever known someone like him.
"Then why were you so respectful?"
Natasha looked at her quietly.
"…Seele. The snow covering the world has melted."
Seele fell silent.
"…He did that?"
"…Yes."
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