Chapter 53

"……The antimatter legion and the cold wave—this kind of crisis is probably even more troublesome than the Archon War."

On the Jade Chamber, Ningguang couldn't help feeling fortunate; in her view, this crisis is far more troublesome than the vortex Archon breaking free of its seal.

Even if the Archon is powerful, dropping a Jade Chamber on them would make them obedient… Moreover, they had immortal assistance back then; although tricky, it's not hopeless.

And during the Archon War era, legend has it that Liyue was plagued with disease everywhere and demons ran rampant—probably comparable to present-day Belobog.

But Liyue had adepts and the Emperor, while Belobog for hundreds of years could only rely on flesh and blood to resist the wind, snow, and monsters…

"Bronya, are you alright?" March 7 steadied the swaying Bronya, worried.

"…I'm fine, I just… feel a bit dizzy." Bronya still couldn't accept reality, choking up: "Mother… no, perhaps she doesn't know, perhaps she…"

"Don't lie to yourself… Bronya." Herta interrupted her, her voice unusually gentle: "It's time for you to make up your mind."

The conflict in the lower districts has finally been resolved, the truth of the cold wave has come to light, and everyone is willing to lend Star and them a hand.

But the situation remains tense now: many problems urgently need solving—why did Kokolia's attitude change? The exact location and coordinates of the Star Core are also unclear.

Back at the hotel, Star suddenly recalled having dreamed of Kokolia several times, and told Dan Heng and March 7 the whisper heard in the dream.

Dan Heng and March 7 speculated that this might be because of the Star Core inside her.

Meanwhile, Herta and Bronya had returned to the orphanage in Rivet Town, standing side by side by the railing, letting the evening wind tug at their hair.

"Look over there, do you see it? That's where the most chaotic part of Rivet Town used to be, and it's where I grew up."

Herta pointed at a deserted stretch of road below the mountain: "I used to hang out with the older guys, just thinking about where to get a meal all day, until Leader Oleg picked me up and sent me to the orphanage."

"Then I started learning to read and write with Natasha, and from age ten I accompanied Oleg to inspect the various mining areas, sometimes even confronting local thugs…"

Listening to Herta talk about the past, Bronya felt a surge of envy: "How nice."

"How nice?" Herta raised an eyebrow: "Are you mocking me?"

Bronya realized her slip, quickly waving her hands: "Sorry, life in the lower districts is harsh—I shouldn't have said it so lightly. What I mean is, Herta… I'm a bit envious of you."

Herta stepped onto a railing one step higher than Bronya, slightly leaned down, taking in Bronya's shy, envious, nervous expression, and gave a light smile as if teasing: "What's there to be envious of?"

"From the time I could remember, my life has been a cycle of study, etiquette, and training. Every day someone reminds me in my ear: 'Remember your identity, Bronya,' 'This violates the Founders' precepts, Bronya,' 'A lady shouldn't utter such vulgar words, Bronya'…"

Bronya's gaze darkened as she spoke of the past and recalled these years' experiences; she felt a lump of iron in her throat that she couldn't shift.

Like a canary in a cage—comfortable and splendid, yet utterly lacking freedom…

"I really can't imagine it. But I'm more curious—what exactly was that vulgar remark you made?" Herta looked at her curiously.

"Uh…" Bronya's face suddenly flushed a faint crimson, as if embarrassed, her eyes darting… but she eventually steeled herself, closed her eyes, and when she opened them again wore a resolute expression.

"I hereby enact the Founders' will—I'll poke this gun into your nostrils!"

"Pfft… what kind of vulgarity is that?"

Inside the Valkyrie Academy, Bronya nearly choked on a sip of drink. That vulgar remark—leaving aside whether it's actually vulgar—first made her burst out laughing.

"You still need to work on your tongue… you can't even insult people properly—how will you debate scholars when you become a great guardian?"

Saying that, she glanced at Herta beside her and smiled faintly: "Herta, can you insult people?"

"…Me?" Herta's face immediately showed difficulty, she lowered her head slowly: "Insulting people…"

Indeed, Herta usually behaves like a little cake by my side, never getting a chance to train alone. Although she's skilled at wielding a scythe to slash Collapse Beasts, she still lacks experience in long‑range battles against people.

Insulting people, simply put, is to take one's mother as the center, relatives and organs as the radius, and draw a widening circle.

Saying that, she then wanted to give Herta a demonstration.

"Herta, if someday someone annoying provokes you and you can't conveniently resort to violence, you'll have to say something like this……"

"Bronya flashed a confident little gaze: I**** came! You lots**** are a bunch****! I** like your****! Remember that, wow! I'm insulting you in the Valkyrie Academy!"

"Ah ah ah ah, Bronya sis, don't say anymore!" Herta hurriedly tried to cover Bronya's mouth.

On another part of the Teyvat continent, Paimon, upon seeing Bronya's vulgar remark, likewise couldn't help but let out a "pfft" laugh.

"Oh dear, Bronya's swearing still needs some practice~"

Seeing Paimon with hands on hips, full of confidence, Mavuika also became interested, she laughed and looked at Paimon: "Oh? I didn't expect little Paimon to be such a master of foul language."

"Uh… not really, I just give unpleasant nicknames to people who make me really angry."

Paimon popped a sweet honeyberry into her mouth, wearing a satisfied smile. As she ate, she recalled the scene of arguing with a certain crouching dragon from Inazuma down in the Chasm.

"Hmm, I remember now—for example… a cowherd!"

"Hahaha! White little flying ant! Can that even be called a nasty nickname?"

Kukule Alajo burst out laughing, flashing over to Paimon's side: "If you aren't my servant's inferior friend, the great holy dragon Kukule Alajo really wouldn't want to teach this little flying ant how to insult people."

"Hah, you think your level is fit to teach others?"

Kinichi raised his head with a deadpan expression and warned: "Paimon, don't let Alajo distract you—maybe he's just trying to snatch the honeyberries off your plate while your attention is elsewhere."

"Kinicheck!! You dare ruin my fun! You stinky-faced idiot, miserly green-spotted lizard! Nitpicking reptile! Stingy! If I hadn't eaten so fast, who'd look at those rotten, moldy fruits on your plate?"

"Oh, then I'll eat them myself." Having said that, Kinich, right in front of Alajo, tossed the last two honeyberries on his plate into his mouth.

The next second, the still‑ranting Alajo visibly flushed red.

"Ah ah ah, Kinich! You jerk! Greedy swine! Dirty serpent! Go dive headfirst into an eternal cesspit!"