"Boss, I don't quite understand—why did you choose the leader of Wildfire?"
Bronya followed behind Su Ran along the uneven roads of the Underworld.
Selecting someone from the Underworld to join Belobog's governing body…
It didn't seem very appropriate.
It wasn't that Bronya looked down on the Underworld.
But in such a harsh environment, even survival was difficult for most people.
How could they possibly have the time or energy to study?
So that woman named Natasha might not necessarily be the best choice.
"Because she's kind."
Bronya was puzzled. "What does that mean?"
She knew there must be reasoning behind his words—
But couldn't he say it in a way she could understand?
Kind?
Because Natasha was kind?
Well… as a doctor in the Underworld, she probably was kind.
"It means I like it. Besides, even Serval said that with what I gave you, even a pig could do better than Cocolia. So does it really matter who I pick?"
"…Alright."
Fine. As long as the boss was happy.
Unfortunately, by the time Bronya accessed the system, Cocolia had already been promoted.
So she couldn't see her mother's past records.
Naturally, she didn't understand why Aunt Serval would say something like that.
She chose to believe it was because Su Ran's system was incredible—
Not because her mother had performed poorly.
She would rather believe Su Ran was amazing—
Than accept that Cocolia had done a terrible job.
"But there's still a problem. Can people in the Underworld even read? That Seele girl seemed to be a high-ranking member of Wildfire, right?"
If even their upper ranks couldn't read—
How capable could their leader be?
The system in their minds was powerful—
But only if they could actually understand the text.
"Seele's just muscle—she only knows how to charge forward. Natasha's different. She's a doctor. If she couldn't read, how would she prescribe medicine? So of course she can read."
Being illiterate as a doctor would be disastrous.
Especially since Natasha seemed to be the only doctor in the Underworld.
So Su Ran had never even considered that possibility.
"Oh…"
So there was reasoning behind it.
Bronya couldn't help but feel a bit ashamed of her narrow thinking.
How could she judge the Underworld so harshly based on preconceived notions?
After arriving here, Bronya had indeed seen what she expected—
Low general education levels.
Frequent petty crimes.
Dirty and chaotic surroundings.
But she had also seen something else—
People emaciated from hunger.
People struggling just to get enough food.
Compared to the Upper District, they were practically living in hell.
It made her heart ache.
And all of this…
Who was responsible?
Her mother—Cocolia.
If not for her decisions, would the Underworld have suffered this much?
Bronya even saw people using expired medicine—
Something unimaginable in the Upper District.
"Boss, do you think the Underworld can ever live as well as the Upper District?"
Her compassion stirred.
She wanted to help.
She didn't deny the problems here—
But many of these people were innocent.
Some of them deserved better lives.
"Probably not the same. It's underground, after all—no natural advantages like the surface. But their lives will definitely improve."
He had already reshaped the planet's ecology.
If people still couldn't survive—
That would be a problem of attitude.
The Fragmentum creatures had mostly been cleared by his swarm.
If that still wasn't enough—
Then the issue wasn't the environment.
"...That's good."
As long as things improved, that was enough.
Bronya didn't ask for much.
If their living standards could return to what the Upper District had been like before the eternal winter—
That would already be acceptable.
"Look! A white-haired, red-eyed little girl!"
Su Ran suddenly stopped her and pointed ahead.
In a corner, a small girl was rummaging through a pile of scrap.
"…?"
Bronya was confused.
The girl had her back turned—
How did he know her eyes were red?
Su Ran quietly approached, step by step.
Finally found her.
He didn't have many goals for coming to the Underworld:
First, restore order.
Second, promote development.
Third—
This little girl.
White hair and red eyes.
A rare and precious combination.
Add in her soft, delicate appearance—
Practically perfect.
"Hey there, little one… are you alone?"
Clara, who had been searching for parts, heard the voice and turned halfway around.
Bronya: …They really are red eyes. Just how sharp are your eyes, Boss?
"I don't recognize you, big brother and big sister."
Clara didn't seem particularly wary.
After all—
They weren't Fragmentum monsters.
"That's okay. Now you do."
Su Ran gently patted her head.
It was a bit sudden—
But it helped close the distance.
Little girls usually liked head pats.
"My name's Su Ran, a super amazing inventor. What about you?"
"My name is Clara, big brother."
Clara didn't reject his friendliness.
Instead, she seemed curious.
A super amazing inventor?
"And big sister?"
Seeing Bronya hadn't spoken, Clara asked her directly.
"Bronya… the boss's attendant?"
Bronya introduced herself uncertainly.
Strictly speaking, she was still being punished.
"Secretary" didn't quite fit.
Once Su Ran left, she'd still have to serve her confinement.
But "attendant"…?
Well, she was only following him temporarily anyway.
Maybe that counted.
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