Underworld – Belobog
Dim yellow streetlights stretched their shadows long across the worn pavement, the silhouettes of two figures overlapping and intertwining.
Old buildings lined the road—aged, cracked, weary.
Now that he was here in person, Valerius realized something.
The Underworld looked even more desolate than in the game.
Bronya sighed softly.
The Stellaron crisis had ended.
Under Gepard's leadership, the ice aboveground had begun melting on a large scale.
But the Underworld?
It was still struggling.
Funds had been allocated, yes—but Belobog was poor.
Revitalization would take time.
"Don't sigh," Valerius said gently. "Rome wasn't built in a day."
"Rome?" Bronya blinked. "The Rome of Emperor Nero?"
Valerius almost choked.
"…Yes. That Rome."
She remembered Nero.
Apparently the Golden Theater performance left a deep impression.
Bronya hesitated before asking:
"Was her nation prosperous?"
She had been curious ever since seeing that extravagant golden theater.
What kind of national strength supported that level of excess?
Valerius scratched his cheek.
"…It was… complicated."
He certainly wasn't about to explain that Nero was betrayed and met multiple tragic endings.
Bronya could tell from his reaction.
Ah.
Probably not a great reign.
Meanwhile…
Not far behind them—
Natasha and Serval were tailing the pair.
"Why did she pick the Underworld for a date?" Serval whispered.
"Exactly! Of all places!" Natasha replied.
They huddled together like elite strategists—
Despite having exactly zero romantic experience between them.
After intense whispering, they finalized a plan.
"Good. Let's move."
A moment later—
Serval "coincidentally" appeared ahead.
"Oh! Bronya? Valerius? Are you two on a date?"
A few streets later—
Natasha appeared.
"What a coincidence! Out on a date?"
Then Serval again.
"Oh wow, fancy meeting you here during your date!"
Then Natasha.
"Such timing! I won't disturb your date~"
Bronya's face was turning darker with every encounter.
Are you two serious?
You're literally waiting ahead of us.
This isn't subtle.
Valerius, however, started to understand.
Every "coincidence" emphasized the word date.
They were deliberately pushing the narrative.
He glanced sideways at Bronya.
Ah.
So that's what this is.
He wasn't dense.
He understood.
"Bronya. Come with me."
He took her hand and quickly turned into a side alley, disappearing from sight.
Behind them—
"…Where did they go?"
"They were just there!"
The two failed tacticians panicked.
They had just started building momentum!
"Let's check ahead," Natasha insisted.
Serval nodded fiercely.
"Today we secure Bronya's future happiness."
In a Quiet Alley
Bronya's face was flushed bright red.
"They were joking… don't believe them…"
Valerius leaned closer.
"What if I did believe them?"
"What if… I want you to be my wife?"
Bronya froze.
Agreeing felt too bold.
Refusing felt too cruel.
"You're not saying no," he teased softly. "I'll take that as yes?"
"I— I—"
Her composure shattered.
Seeing the teasing glint in his eyes, Bronya finally made a decision.
She stepped forward—
And wrapped her arm around his.
"…Let's sit somewhere."
Valerius smiled.
"Alright."
They walked to a nearby bench.
Sat close.
Shoulders touching.
Meanwhile…
Natasha and Serval searched frantically.
"…Gone?"
"Did they leave town?!"
Just as they were about to expand the search—
They spotted two figures on a distant bench.
Leaning together.
Close.
"…Is that…?"
"It worked?!"
Natasha nodded solemnly.
"Our method is effective."
Serval clasped her hands dramatically.
"Cocolia… your daughter has grown up."
She opened the livestream.
Click.
A photo of Valerius and Bronya leaning together was uploaded.
Message clear:
He's taken. Back off.
Livestream Reaction
[Qingque: I knew something was going on.]
[Jing Yuan: Publicizing private matters seems unwise.]
[Jade: I suspected as much.]
[Cloud Retainer: They look well-matched.]
Cloud Retainer nodded approvingly.
Valerius had helped Shenhe rewrite her fate.
She had a favorable opinion of him.
Seeing him find someone?
That was good.
"Shenhe, you should—"
She stopped mid-sentence.
"…Shenhe? Are you unwell?"
"No."
Shenhe shook her head.
She stood and began walking down the mountain.
"Master. The Abyss Mages have been active recently. I'll investigate."
Cloud Retainer blinked.
Something was… off.
Shenhe didn't fully understand it herself.
Since Valerius touched her fate—
Since he rewrote her destiny—
Since she no longer needed the red rope—
Her emotions had become… clearer.
Livelier.
She was grateful.
But seeing that image—
Seeing them leaning together—
Something stirred inside her chest.
Uncomfortable.
Burning.
A faint, rising anger.
She needed an outlet.
And conveniently—
There were Abyss Mages nearby.
Time to vent.
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