Honkai, why do you only throw me into high-level battles? (Chapter 452-453)

Chapter 452: Dark Seele and White Seele

On the other side.

A scene of chaos...

"This isn't normal. Why is this happening?"

This "re-enactment of the past" made Seele feel at a loss. Her dazed expression after waking up also made Bronya and Sin feel at a loss.

"This is bad. She seems to have turned into an idiot. What do we do now?" Sin had always been straightforward, and she blurted it out immediately.

"Sin, don't talk nonsense." Bronya stopped her, then turned her attention back to Seele, calling her name repeatedly and urgently, "Seele, Seele... are you okay?"

"I... I'm fine..." Seele came to her senses, her face pale, and asked a question in a somewhat stiff voice, "Bronya-oneechan, these past few days... have I... not woken up at all?"

She had so many things she wanted to ask, so many things she wanted to say, but when the words came to her lips, they were ultimately condensed into this simple question.

"Yes, Seele, you've been unconscious for several days." Hearing Seele finally speak, Bronya couldn't help but let out a long sigh of relief, loosening her tight embrace. "Sorry, Seele, I was so happy to see you wake up safely."

Bronya had thought Seele would say, "Sorry for worrying you," in her usual soft, weak voice.

But unexpectedly, Seele was silent again for a few seconds, then clenched her fists and suddenly drooped. She hugged the blanket tightly in her arms and curled up into a small ball, as if to give herself a sense of lonely and helpless security, muttering to herself in a voice as faint as a mosquito's buzz, "Is... that so?"

Bronya didn't know why, but she felt that Seele at this moment was incredibly distant. Her heart panicked for a moment, and she raised her hand, just about to say something, when she saw Seele lift her bowed little face, revealing a somewhat dazed smile, and said in a soft, gentle voice, "I'm fine, Bronya-oneechan. Sorry for worrying you..."

The corners of her eyes had just curved upwards when two tears rolled down, dotting two thin, wet trails on her face. Seele felt the warmth and wetness on her cheeks but still held on to that smile filled with confusion and sadness. "Seele feels a little tired right now. Can you... let me be alone for a while?"

Though her words were like a dismissal, she looked at Bronya with pleading eyes, then at Sin with the same gaze.

"Hey, you..." Sin was about to get angry, but seeing Seele's pitiful gaze, she was suddenly speechless. "Tch, if you want to be alone, then be alone. I'm not willing to serve you like Bronya is. Hey, I'm talking to you!"

With that, she turned to leave, then, as if to vent the anger she had received from Seele, she kicked Bronya.

Bronya didn't get angry. She certainly knew this was Sin's unique way of reminding her.

Although she didn't understand why Seele would suddenly say something so distant, she would never refuse Seele's request. So she carefully helped her lie back down, carefully tucked in the corners of her blanket, and smiled. "Then, Seele, see you tomorrow."

"Mm, see you tomorrow, Bronya-oneechan." Seele also returned a beautiful smile. After this short interaction, the confusion and chaos she had felt upon waking had subsided a lot.

Watching the two close the door and leave, when she was finally alone, the smile on Seele's face could no longer be maintained. The smile visibly faded, turning bit by bit into confusion and sadness. She asked herself in a whisper, "My other self... those memories from before, they weren't a dream, were they?"

As her words fell, she couldn't help but hold her breath, starting to worry that her other self would also become abnormal like Bronya and the others.

She hadn't felt it before, but after this incident, when she was at a loss in her confusion, loneliness, panic, and helplessness, Seele suddenly realized with clarity that she still had someone she could confide in, someone she could rely on—that person was herself.

Now that even an invisible barrier seemed to have risen between her and Bronya, Seele was more grateful and fortunate than ever for the existence of her other self, who was always with her, supporting her.

She didn't even dare to imagine, if one day she were to lose even her, how lonely, helpless, and even desperate would she be?

Fortunately, at least for now, that voice still responded to her as always.

"Of course it wasn't a dream, Seele." Veliona didn't know about Seele's complex and unspeakable psychological activities these past few seconds. She was also in an extremely bad mood at the moment and said irritably. "Two possibilities—either we're being collectively pranked, and all this is a carefully arranged script with the sole purpose of playing a boring prank on us; or, we've entered a strange loop and become a hamster in a wheel. Tsk, this feeling is really annoying!"

"Yes, I also feel that it wasn't a dream. Those memories were too real, completely different from the dreams we've had in the past..." Seele muttered, slowly getting up from the bed and walking to the window where she could feel the chill of the wind and snow outside. She touched the condensed water droplets on the glass, which were as cold as she remembered.

"The scenery outside, seen through the hazy water droplets, is also identical to my memory. This morning—or rather, the taste of the food I ate in my memory of this morning, the panic and sadness in my heart when Bronya-oneechan was taken away in the afternoon... they still remain in my body even now. Even now, my heart is still pounding..."

"As for a prank..." she hadn't even considered the possibility of a prank. "Sin might have such a malicious sense of humor, but Bronya definitely wouldn't. Mother Cocolia wouldn't waste even a second on such childish things."

So, although it was only one experience, Seele, despite the lack of sufficient evidence, instantly leaned towards the other, more unsettling answer...

Some things need to be repeatedly verified, while others don't need any extra evidence at all. It's like drinking water—you know for yourself whether it's cold or warm.

"Of course I know it's not a prank, that's why I'm in such a bad mood right now!" Veliona remembered what Sin had done before she fainted. She knew all too well what the other was thinking when she did those terrible things—she was frantic with worry for Bronya's safety, and also afraid that Seele would do something worrying after she left, so she simply tied her up to make her stay put.

That kind of genuine emotion was not something a malicious person like Sin could act out!

"My other self, what should we do?" Seele said timidly. "Will we be trapped in this loop forever?"

"Hah? Isn't this exactly what you wanted?" Veliona laughed out loud exaggeratedly and mocked, "This way, you can be with your Bronya-oneechan forever here. See, how great is that!"

She had been bottling up her frustrations for the past two days, and now she finally let it all out in one breath. So satisfying!

"No, that's not it!" Seele immediately became anxious, her little face flushing red. "You know that's not what I meant!"

"I can't read minds, how would I know what you're thinking?" Veliona pressed on with another jab, then, seeing that she had made her point, said, "You ask me what to do? Simple. Leave this orphanage, find that guy named Lin Wei, and then leave this annoying world bubble with him. See, it's that simple."

Seele was stunned for a moment, only then remembering why she had fallen into a world bubble so similar to her memory. She immediately pulled herself together, nodded, and said, "Mm, okay, tomorrow morning, we'll set off!"

But, where to? Seele was immediately at a loss again.

"What? Tomorrow morning? Are you kidding me!" Veliona sneered and mocked, "According to Bronya's previous words, Cocolia shouldn't be in this orphanage at least until tomorrow morning. You're not taking this opportunity to leave quickly, are you going to wait for her to come back tomorrow and then, like a harmless little good girl, submit an application report to her?"

"No, that's not it..." Seeing Veliona so angry, Seele was at a loss for a moment and explained incoherently, "I just... I just..."

"Just what? Just don't want to leave without saying goodbye and make your Bronya-oneechan worry?" Veliona then mocked. Seele instantly fell silent—how could she not understand this daughter she had been with day and night?

"So, how are you going to tell your Bronya-oneechan? Are you going to say you're leaving this place to find a stranger you don't even know what he looks like?" Veliona's tone sounded even harsh. "Do you think, with such a heavy blizzard outside, your 'Bronya-oneechan' who dotes on you so much will let you leave just like that? Or—are you planning to leave with her?"

"I..." Seele was at a loss for words. That was indeed what she was thinking.

"Hah, what a joke! Let's not even talk about how much time you have to waste if this really is a world that keeps looping. Just answer me one simple question." Veliona sneered and suddenly asked, "Seele, you know your Bronya-oneechan very well, right?"

"Yes... I do..." Seele nodded.

"Good." Veliona then asked, "Then do you think your Bronya-oneechan knows you well?"

"..." Seele was stunned. She seemed to understand what her other self was about to say.

"Heh, it seems you know too!" Veliona said very impolitely. "Then, how are you going to explain your various abnormalities to your Bronya-oneechan? Are you going to tell her directly: the Seele who woke up from the sickbed has been completely replaced by someone from another world, and is no longer the original Seele?"

"Don't say it!" Seele instantly hugged her head and cried out powerlessly.

Her existence had replaced the original Seele of this world—this was an obvious fact, and also a fact she was unwilling to think about, a fact she was subconsciously avoiding.

"If Bronya-oneechan finds out the truth, what will she think of me?" Seele thought with both fear and self-blame. "Will she hate me now? Or will she... hate me?"

The thought of the Bronya-oneechan who had always treated her gently showing her a hostile expression made Seele feel at a loss—even if she was the Bronya of another world, it was the same.

"..." Veliona had wanted to knock some sense into Seele with a few more words, but seeing her looking so self-blaming that she was about to cry, she couldn't help but soften her heart again.

She sighed, and her tone involuntarily softened as she comforted her, "Forget it, I did say too much. It's not like you intended to replace anyone's identity. From the very beginning, it was just a coincidence that you appeared in this place..."

She even despised herself for being so soft-hearted. Can't you have some backbone?

"No, you're right. This place doesn't belong to me. I can't so selfishly possess the life of the Seele of this world. I think, maybe this is also the reason for this loop..." Seele wiped her eyes and said in a firm tone, "Let's go, my other self. Let's complete the mission we came to this world for as soon as possible. Then, let's return the real Seele of this place to Bronya-oneechan!"

"..." Veliona thought to herself that Seele's awareness was improving too quickly, her thoughts couldn't keep up. Wait, weren't you just crying a moment ago? How did you suddenly become so brave and have such a spirit of dedication?

"...Ahem, you're right, Seele." Veliona covered her embarrassment with a cough and even generously praised her a few times. "Alright, let's not waste any more time. Let's get ready to leave."

"But..." Seele couldn't help but turn her head and look worriedly at the door. When Bronya-oneechan comes tomorrow and doesn't see me in the room, how worried will she be? She felt it wasn't right.

Veliona didn't know what she was thinking. She just saw her looking worried again and thought she had hesitated and shrunk back again, and she was instantly enraged. "I said before, if you go back on your word, I'll take over the body and act on my own. So, don't blame me!"

"Wait, my other self!" Seele was just about to say something when her whole body suddenly shook. Although her appearance didn't change, the temperament of her body changed dramatically in an instant—as if from an innocent little white rabbit, she had suddenly become a big gray wolf that wanted to devour people.

"Tch, I told you, let me do it!" The sea-foam-like pupils were dyed with a layer of scarlet. Veliona, who had forcibly occupied the body, pouted in annoyance and ignored the explanation of the original Seele in her consciousness. She looked left and right, strode to the closet, and roughly pulled open the closet door in a very unladylike manner.

"This one's too thin, this one's too short, this one's too long, it might hinder combat..." Veliona picky and roughly rummaged through Seele's closet, making a mess around her. She finally managed to put together a thick winter outfit suitable for going out in this season. Then she opened the window, looked left and right in the cold wind, and after confirming that no one was there, she jumped down with a swoosh.

"Wait! Before you go, at least clean up the closet and the room!" Seele quickly stopped her. "Otherwise, when Bronya-oneechan sees such a mess, she'll definitely misunderstand!"

She might even suspect I've been kidnapped or something... The thought of Bronya's possible reaction made Seele worry.

"Tsk, why didn't you say so earlier?" Veliona, who had already landed lightly in the snow, pouted in annoyance. "I've already jumped down, it's too late!"

She wasn't willing to go back!

Do chores? You might as well just kill me!

And so, she pretended it was too late and mocked Seele's loud protest.

Then, before anyone noticed her, she deftly flipped over the courtyard wall, looked left and right, and walked towards the main road as she remembered. She knew it would lead to a populated town, and if she was looking for someone, starting her search for clues there was the best choice.

This was only natural—if you're not looking for someone where people are, are you going to look for them in the wilderness?

Chapter 453: Pursuit

Knock, knock, knock...

The next morning, Bronya arrived at Seele's room carrying two trays of breakfast. She knocked a few times, paused slightly, then turned the doorknob with a click.

"Seele, time to wake up and eat breakfast, Seele..."

Bronya's gentle and careful wake-up call stopped abruptly the moment she pushed the door open. Because what seeped in from the crack in the door was not the warm air that should have come from the stove, but a biting cold wind that made her fingers ache!

In Seele's room? How is that possible?

Bronya was pale with shock. Forgetting all about politeness and caution, she pushed the door open against the bone-chilling draft. The sight that met her eyes made her feel as if she had fallen into an ice cave...

Thump, thump, thump, thump...

Bronya dropped the trays and ran downstairs without a care in the world. She found Sin hesitating at the kitchen door, grabbed her hand, and asked breathlessly, "Sin, do you know where Seele went?"

"Hah?" Sin had wanted to mock this annoying person who always one-upped her for how pathetic she looked now, but seeing her frantic expression, her heart also skipped a beat. "Hasn't that person been hiding in her room since she woke up yesterday? What, she's gone again?"

She remembered Seele's usual timid and cowering demeanor and couldn't help but wave her hand, saying in a mocking tone, "Did you check her toy box? Maybe that crybaby is curled up in that dark place, hugging some rag doll she picked up from somewhere and crying 'boo-hoo'!"

She was, of course, deliberately mocking Seele's cowardice, but at the same time, she was also giving Bronya a reminder and a suggestion—should you go look first?

Of course, with her arrogant, proud, and irritable personality, it was impossible for her to say what she was really thinking so directly. She always expressed it in a very convoluted way.

Of course, Bronya, as the older sister, understood her and never argued with her. At this moment, she was also not in the mood for it. After hearing Sin say this, she just shook her head in disappointment, then pursed her lips. Her eyes, which had been anxious, instantly became firm, even sharp. She let go of Sin's hand, turned, and ran upstairs again.

Seeing her like this, Sin realized that things seemed to be not quite right and followed her to Seele's room. Going up the stairs, turning into the corridor, the moment her eyes passed through Seele's doorway, even Sin was shocked.

"How did that crybaby's room get covered in so much snow?"

Seele's room wasn't large, but after one night, it had now turned into a winter white. The ground was covered in thick snow, the walls were hung with white frost, and even the table and bed were covered with a thick layer of snow. The plain-colored curtains were frozen solid, stiffly hanging by the open window, unmoved even by the bone-chilling wind mixed with snowflakes.

Seeing this heart-chilling scene, even Sin immediately realized a fact—this time, Seele wasn't hiding somewhere, she was really missing...

"..."

Bronya silently walked to the window and looked down. The traces of last night had long been erased by a night of wind and snow. All she could see was a vast expanse of white.

Sin also leaned over for a look, snorted in annoyance with a "tch," and her already fierce expression instantly became even more malicious. But she didn't say another word to Bronya. Instead, she turned and left with an irritable air, not even looking at her.

Bronya didn't call her either. She had other things to do.

Just as she turned around, she suddenly felt like she had stepped on something. She kicked away the snow under her foot, clearly revealing a piece of clothing.

Bronya recognized it at a glance. It was Seele's clothing, now carelessly discarded on the ground. It was only at this moment that she noticed that the small closet in Seele's room was also wide open, just like the window.

She bent down again and dug through a few more patches of snow, and after finding a few more discarded clothes under the snow, she turned and rushed to the closet to rummage through it.

At this time, Sin also returned. Holding her own slightly breathless breath, she forced a nonchalant look and said, "Hey, Bronya, the other children in the orphanage all said they didn't notice Seele's whereabouts."

It turned out she had gone to ask others for clues...

"...Hey, I know. In this cold weather, no one would go out of this building for no reason, so naturally they wouldn't notice Seele's whereabouts. Or rather, this could also be considered a good thing."

Bronya was slightly disappointed with this result, but she still spoke in as calm a tone as possible. "By the way, Sin, you didn't ask the other younger sisters, did you?"

She was very worried that it would cause unnecessary chaos in the orphanage.

"Hey, you..." Sin wanted to get angry when she heard this, but thinking about the priorities right now, she suppressed the anger in her heart and said in a voice that was almost a shout, "Bully those useless weaklings? Tch, I'm not interested in that! By the way, this is for you!"

At the end, she threw a palm-sized object at Bronya with extreme impatience. "I just pried open Mother Cocolia's room and found this communicator inside. You should know how to use it!"

What a reliable younger sister, Bronya couldn't help but feel a wave of emotion.

She knew Sin had said it lightly, but how could she not know the risks of such a disrespectful act?

"Thank you, Sin." Although Bronya's heart was still in a mess, she still gave the异瞳-eyed girl, who had always had a terrifying image, a grateful smile.

"...Tch, boring." Sin was greatly satisfied in her heart, but her face showed a disdainful expression. She even walked a distance away with an annoyed look, all the way to the door of the room.

Although Bronya was a little helpless about Sin's pretense, she didn't have time to banter with her at the moment. After taking a deep breath, she opened the communicator she had caught in her palm. Soon, the screen showed the blonde woman who always had a stern and serious face.

"Mother..." Bronya called out cautiously.

"Bronya?" Cocolia was also surprised by her unexpected communication, but she also realized something. "This communicator has always been in my locked room. For it to be suddenly activated now—did something happen at the orphanage?"

Her voice was low, full of the authority and confidence of a superior, as well as a trace of well-hidden, imperceptible emptiness and fatigue.

"Seele is missing, Mother." Bronya didn't hide anything and gave the most complete report in the shortest possible words.

"..." Cocolia was silent, but only for a second, before she said in an unchanged tone, "I see. I will send people to find her. Is there anything else?"

Her words were so plain, as if this was just a trivial matter, not worthy of her second sentence of attention.

"Mother!" Her cold reaction made Bronya instantly anxious. She said in an urgent voice, "Seele was unconscious for several days, and she disappeared as soon as she woke up. She..."

"Are you trying to say she ran away on her own?" Cocolia interrupted her indifferently.

"No, that's not it, Mother!" Bronya was afraid of causing any misunderstanding with this always stern and strict mother. She quickly raised the communicator's perspective to let the Cocolia on the other side see the full view of the room, and then said, "Seele would never discard her clothes so casually. She must have been kidnapped by someone, just like last time!"

"..." Another second of silence, then Cocolia said in the same unchanged tone, "I see. I will handle it."

Her attitude was completely unchanged.

"But..." Bronya wanted to say more, but was interrupted by Cocolia's cold laugh. She said in a reprimanding tone, "What, are you trying to say you're a good-for-nothing who can't even watch the house? Now you want to mend the fold after the sheep is lost, make up for your mistake, and go find the lost person again?"

Her words were full of sarcasm, but Bronya dared not refute. She just said in a low voice, "Yes, Mother. I want to find Seele! It hasn't been too long since she was taken away. I just need to..."

"Oh, is that so?" Cocolia sneered and continued to interrupt, asking, "Then where do you plan to start looking?"

Bronya dared not delay and quickly replied, "Along the highway, the towns along the way. As long as the person who took Seele passes through there, I'm sure..."

"That's it? Then you've really disappointed me, Bronya." Cocolia's tone was still as strict as ever. "Every highway leading out of the orphanage, every town and gas station along the way, Anti-Entropy has eyes there, ready to obey my orders at any time. Just now, I've already issued the order, along with Seele's photo. If any suspicious person passes by, there will be news soon. If we're fast, I'll get the news before I get back to the orphanage."

At this point, she looked deeply at Bronya on the screen and said with a cold smile, "Is that the only simple thing your barren little brain can think of? Or are you so flustered by your anxiety that you've lost your composure over a trivial matter? If this is all you've got, Bronya, you might not be qualified to call me 'Mother'."

"...I'm sorry, Mother." Cocolia's calm and extremely strict attitude left Bronya speechless, even breaking out in a cold sweat.

She knew that the reason Mother Cocolia said this was because she wanted to hear a different answer from her. She had always been strict with her, always testing her with this kind of PUA method from time to time, and this time was no exception.

So, what is it?

What exactly is it?

In that instant, Bronya's mind raced, and her eyes, as if seeking help, darted around. Her gaze suddenly swept past the window, then returned to the window—or rather, to the vast snowy landscape outside the window.

Bronya instantly realized something. She quickly turned her face back to the communicator screen, took a deep breath to calm herself down, organized her words, and said, "Mother, the enemy doesn't have to take the highway, much less pass through the towns along the way. The snowfield, the forest, the mountains, there are so many paths to take! Right now, you're still outside and won't be back for a while, and it will take a long time to mobilize your subordinates for a search. At this time, only I can set off immediately, catch up with them before their tracks completely disappear in the wind and snow, and bring Seele back!"

As the "Silver Wolf of the Urals," a child soldier who had been active in this snowfield since she could remember, Bronya was well-versed in the cruel battles of hunting, counter-hunting, ambushing, and counter-ambushing in the snowfield. It was just another hunt!

"Are you that confident, Bronya?" Cocolia's expression was still as indifferent as ever. "In the snowfield this season, how many people do you think would take such a path to their deaths? And to kidnap a little girl with not much practical value?"

Her words were still mercilessly harsh, but Bronya had already calmed down. "Perhaps there's only a one-in-ten-thousand chance that the villain who took Seele would hide like a fly in the inescapable net Mother Cocolia has laid... But, Seele... I don't want her to have that one-in-ten-thousand chance... This one-in-ten-thousand loophole, only I can fill it now! So, Mother..."

"Is this your will?" Cocolia was noncommittal, but she didn't say any more sarcastic words. She just said in her usual tone, "I approve. Go."

"Yes!" Bronya couldn't help but feel a sense of relief in her heart.

"Remember to come back before dark, Bronya." Cocolia finally reminded her in a deep voice. "Don't forget, we have a more important mission to complete next."

"...Yes, Mother." Hearing this "mission," Bronya's heart sank, but she still replied in a low voice.

"Mm." Cocolia's face showed no sign of satisfaction or disappointment. She just nodded flatly and then hung up the communication.

"..."

Looking at the screen that had instantly gone black, Bronya was silent for only a second before she took a deep breath and turned to leave.

Time was tight, she couldn't waste it on self-pity.

She first returned to her room and took out a plain red woolen coat from her closet. It was the coat she used to keep warm when she was on missions outside. She skillfully put it on, then turned and went downstairs, to the first floor, then to the basement, and opened a hidden door, revealing a weapon room.

Although the appearance of a weapon room in an orphanage was out of place no matter how you thought about it, Cocolia still did it. Perhaps it was out of her long-standing professional habit, or perhaps, this was not just a simple orphanage to begin with.

Bronya didn't think about those things. She was a child soldier herself, and seeing guns and weapons made her feel at ease and familiar. She selected a rifle suitable for moving through the forest from the dazzling array of weapons, put a pistol for self-defense and two grenades on her belt, and stuffed a dagger into each of her boots.

After checking her ammunition, medicine, and other things, Bronya closed her eyes and thought for a second. When she opened them again, her gaze and expression had become completely different from before, as if she had instantly transformed from an orphanage older sister back to the child soldier who killed without batting an eye.

"No, I can't. Seele doesn't like me like this..." Bronya admonished herself, took a deep breath, and let her killing intent dissipate bit by bit, trying to become as peaceful as possible.

"This should be fine." Bronya looked at herself in the mirror, then set off immediately without any delay. But when she went up the stairs and turned the corner, she met Sin again.

"Sin?" Bronya subconsciously lowered her gun, keeping it away from her companion, and asked, "Are you coming with me?"

"Hah? Together? Don't be so full of yourself, Bronya!" Sin sneered disdainfully, then threw a package heavily into the arms of the fully armed Bronya. "Take this food and get lost! Don't be an eyesore!"

"This... thank you," Bronya said.

"It's best if you don't come back, take that crybaby who left one step ahead of you with you," Sin rolled her eyes at her and said with a look of disgust. "Mother's daughter, one is enough with me!"

"..." Bronya was speechless for a moment. Is that really what you think, Sin?

-----

Lin Wei Freezing in taiga area, Seele search him in town area, and Bronya searching Seele rural area like in taiga? whats a plot!