The Prinny's whole body trembled, and panic filled its eyes like never before.
"Mother… it really is you."
That reaction was enough for Bronya to confirm it.
This Prinny was truly Cocolia.
Valerius had once explained that only those who committed great sins in life would become Prinnies. Seeing her mother reduced to this state made Bronya's heart ache painfully.
Then again… it made sense.
Ignoring the suffering of the Underworld.
Deliberately sending Silvermane Guards to their deaths.
Being manipulated by the Stellaron and nearly bringing about the end of an entire world.
Any one of those could be considered a grave crime.
Even Bronya didn't know how to defend her.
"You've mistaken me, dood!"
"I don't know any Cocolia, dood!"
Hearing the Prinny's peculiar speech pattern only made Bronya feel more sorrowful.
Belobog now had hope. Everything was moving toward a better future.
But the mother who had raised her…
Had become like this.
Bronya was strong, but she was still young. She couldn't endure this calmly.
Tears spilled from her eyes.
"Bronya, dood!"
Cocolia felt terrible as well.
She might have been able to ignore the lives of others, but she truly cared about Bronya. Slowly, she raised her tiny Prinny hand, trying to wipe away her daughter's tears.
"I've had enough of this."
Valerius had already been uncomfortable watching this scene.
Why was this Prinny sitting on Bronya's lap?
Even he hadn't had that privilege!
And now it had made Bronya cry.
Unforgivable.
In a flash, he appeared before them and grabbed the Prinny, preparing to throw it away.
Cocolia panicked.
As a Prinny, being thrown meant exploding.
"Don't! Mother!"
Bronya shouted in alarm.
"…Huh?"
Valerius froze mid-throw.
What did Bronya just call this Prinny?
Mother?
He slowly looked down at the Prinny in his hand.
This thing… was Cocolia?
Suddenly, things became very awkward.
Valerius carefully placed the Prinny back onto the sofa, looking extremely embarrassed.
Great.
He had nearly thrown his future mother-in-law like a grenade.
Did that count as domestic violence?
"Ahem… well… you two talk. I have something to do."
Giving Bronya an apologetic smile, Valerius quickly retreated.
Bronya couldn't help laughing when she saw his awkward expression.
Her earlier sadness faded a little.
Meanwhile, Cocolia stared in shock.
As a sinner, she fully understood Valerius's identity.
She never expected her daughter to have this kind of relationship with him.
Even more surprising—
Bronya didn't look forced at all.
It seemed mutual.
What exactly had happened after her death?
Outside the Prinny Factory, Valerius still felt awkward.
Meeting his future mother-in-law for the first time and almost throwing her like a bomb…
That was rough.
"Oh? Valerius, why are you standing here alone?"
Serval happened to walk over with her siblings while touring the Demon World.
Seeing Valerius without Bronya, she greeted him.
"Uh… Bronya has something to take care of."
"Something?"
Serval frowned.
This was his Demon World.
What business could Bronya possibly have here?
She sensed something suspicious.
Immediately she told Gepard and Lynx to go explore on their own. She planned to wait here and question Bronya later.
"Maybe you should go explore too?" Valerius suggested.
"No need. I actually wanted to talk to Bronya as well."
Serval wasn't leaving.
Valerius's earlier awkward expression looked very suspicious.
She had a strong feeling he'd done something embarrassing and Bronya had caught him.
Fortunately, it didn't take long.
Bronya soon returned—carrying a Prinny.
At first Serval thought it looked cute.
But once she remembered these things were sinners, her expression immediately changed.
She grabbed Bronya.
"Bronya, why are you carrying that thing?"
Internally she wailed.
Are you serious?
That's a sinner!
If Valerius sees you hugging it, won't he get jealous?
"Uh… this… well… it's kind of cute, isn't it?"
Bronya felt awkward.
She couldn't exactly say this Prinny was Cocolia.
Serval would laugh her mother to death.
So she made up an excuse.
"Cute or not, that's not the point," Serval said earnestly.
"Bronya, you're his girlfriend now. You shouldn't be getting too close to other… things."
Then she sighed.
"This is all Cocolia's fault. She never taught you about this kind of thing."
Cocolia felt extremely awkward hearing that.
I was a maiden myself!
What exactly could I have taught?
But she absolutely did not want Serval to find out she had become a Prinny.
Serval would laugh her to death.
She shot Bronya a desperate look.
Get rid of her!
You're not going to let your mother lose face, right?
"Uh… I have something to discuss with Valerius. I'll go first."
"How strange…"
Serval frowned.
Bronya was acting oddly today.
Something was definitely going on.
And it probably involved Valerius.
What if…
Valerius had another woman?!
Suddenly Serval remembered Valerius's earlier embarrassed expression.
In an instant, she felt like she had uncovered the truth.
No way.
She needed to talk to Natasha about this.
"Alright, go ahead."
Without waiting for Bronya to reply, Serval hurried off to find Natasha.
Bronya finally let out a sigh of relief once Serval was gone.
Then she walked up to Valerius.
"Valerius… I… I have something I want to ask you."
Bronya rarely asked anything of him, and she looked embarrassed.
But for her mother, she had to try.
"I know," Valerius said. "Come with me."
He had already been thinking about how to deal with Cocolia.
She was Bronya's mother.
He couldn't leave her as a Prinny forever.
So he brought Bronya back into the factory.
At a machine, Valerius performed several operations.
Cocolia's soul floated out of the Prinny body and gradually formed a human-shaped spirit.
"Well… she's no longer a Prinny," Valerius explained.
"But her original body is gone. For now she can only remain in the Demon World."
"Thank you."
Cocolia immediately bowed.
Bronya had already told her about the current state of Jarilo-VI.
The future looked bright.
Far better than following the Stellaron and reshaping the world.
As someone who had committed great sins, Cocolia had no intention of leaving this place anyway.
Being freed from the Prinny body was already a blessing.
"Then… if I…"
Bronya hesitated.
"If you obtain a resurrection item, she can be revived," Valerius said.
His answer reassured her.
"Mother, please stay here for a while. I will obtain a resurrection item as soon as possible."
"Bronya… you don't have to do this for me."
Cocolia gently touched Bronya's cheek.
She felt deeply comforted.
Her daughter had truly grown up.
And she had found an incredibly powerful ally.
No one would dare bully her now.
In the end, they settled on a plan.
Cocolia would remain in the Demon World temporarily, managing the Prinnies.
After all, she had once been the Supreme Guardian.
Administration was second nature to her.
As for Bronya—
She entered full preparation mode.
Determined to win the next game.
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