Chapter 10: Gepard (+Omake)
"Well, do you see that mechanical bridge over there? Once you cross to the other side, you reach hell on earth," Serval commented. "An endless fragmentum, a few exhausted guards… and an aura soaked in death. Knowing that this is what we have to cross to reach the Stellaron—are you sure you want to continue?"
Dan Heng, Stelle, and March 7th simply nodded.
Aleph smiled, about to speak, when Seele elbowed him to shut him up.
"Do you not know how to act in a serious moment?"
"And do you not know how to relax? Grumpy."
"What did you just call me?"
Ignoring the two bickering in the background, the rest of the group moved forward until they reached the entrance of the mechanical bridge.
"Tsk. Looks like someone sabotaged it on purpose," Serval muttered, seeing that it wasn't working and the door couldn't be opened. "Bad news, guys. These doors were specially designed to withstand fragmentum monsters, so they're too tough to break through. Our only option is to operate the access terminals from the central point."
*********
Dressed in maintenance technician uniforms, they walked calmly, mimicking the confidence and indifference of routine workers.
Serval led the group, holding a small device in her hand.
"Alright, the control box is just ahead."
Dan Heng scanned his surroundings cautiously.
"The security here seems stricter than expected."
March 7th adjusted the helmet of her uniform with a confident smile.
"Then let's do what we need to do quickly before anyone notices."
"Actually, I think I have a pretty good method to pull this off without any consequences."
Aleph sighed.
"I have a bad feeling about this."
Finally, they reached a side room containing what looked like a giant iron sphere behind some bars.
"Here it is! Officially, it's called the mechanism's energy center. It's connected to all the power lines and covers the entire restricted area."
Dan Heng nodded.
"I see. So that's why this area is so heavily guarded."
Seele blinked at the absurdity of it all.
"Seriously? A single unit for everything? That's incredibly risky, not to mention stupid… We had to learn that the hard way."
"Yeah, yeah, it might be stupid and all, but the real problem is: what do we need to do here, and how do we get in? It looks like it requires IDs we don't have, and there's no way we can break through these bars without drawing the attention of every guard nearby."
As soon as Aleph finished speaking, he noticed everyone giving him strange looks, and for some reason, March 7th was looking at him with what seemed to be… betrayal?
"Incredible, he can actually use his brain," she murmured.
"Hey, saying it like that makes it sound like I'm some kind of idiot who never thinks."
Ignoring Aleph's protest, Serval crossed her arms with a confident expression.
"Well, if I can access the center, I can make the mechanical bridge terminals work as they should. As for obtaining the permissions… we'll have to talk to the guards here."
*********
Just a few steps ahead, they came across a group of guards. In the center stood a man in armor similar to Gepard's, though bulkier, and wearing a strange helmet that almost looked like a top hat.
They seemed to be in the middle of a discussion, but that was quickly set aside as they noticed the approaching group. The guards raised their weapons cautiously, but the captain ordered them to lower them.
"Serval?" he asked, despite already knowing the answer.
"Dunn! Long time no see! I didn't know you'd been promoted to security captain." Serval grinned brightly and made exaggerated gestures, causing a few guards to swallow nervously.
Aleph gulped as a thought crossed his mind.
"This woman is dangerous."
"Oh… Ah, Serval, it has been a while, and you're still… Ahem, you look quite good."
"Thanks, you don't seem to be doing too bad yourself. Come closer, let me introduce you to my assistants. Have you all met Dunn, guys? He used to be the keyboard magician in my band."
March 7th's eyes lit up with excitement for a moment. Aleph tried to grab her and hold her back, but he wasn't fast enough.
"That's awesome! So, you're a rocker? How good are you? Did you stop playing when you got promoted? Do you play for your subordinates? How skilled are you?"
The guards barely held back their laughter as they watched a girl barely reaching Dunn's shoulders put their already nervous captain in an even worse situation.
Dan Heng finally managed to pull her aside, allowing Dunn to sigh in relief.
"Sorry, she can be a bit… intense," Serval said, looking slightly embarrassed at March 7th's antics.
"N-No worries." Dunn cleared his throat, forcing himself to regain a serious tone. "I imagine you're not here just to talk about old times, are you?"
Serval's expression turned more serious as she nodded.
"Gepard came to my workshop today. He said there had been some irregularities in the energy center lately and asked me to check it out."
Dunn remained silent for a moment, and the atmosphere grew heavy.
"Captain Gepard has returned to the front. Why don't we confirm that with him?"
"…Huh? He already left? Wait a second… He was still in the city not long ago…"
Dunn let out a tired sigh.
"You really haven't changed, Serval. You're still a terrible liar. The people with you aren't your assistants, are they?"
A feeling of unease filled the air as the guards raised their weapons again.
"Serval, I really would like to help you, but you need to remember that I'm still a Belobog Guard. I can let you go—I won't say anything, I promise—but the outsiders must stay."
Dan Heng, March 7th, Aleph, Seele, and Serval all drew their weapons.
"Negotiations have failed."
"I'm sorry, Dunn. But I brought them here, and I won't abandon them."
Dunn chuckled softly.
"Yeah, I should've expected that. You were never the type to leave things unfinished."
*********
The battle didn't last long. The soldiers with Dunn weren't many to begin with, and they were already exhausted after several days on the front lines, so defeating them wasn't too difficult.
Soon, they all collapsed unconscious, leaving only Dunn standing.
"Why…?"
"Sorry, but please take a nap."
Stelle calmly looked around as Aleph leaned down and took the access card they needed from Dunn's clothes.
...
Soon, they returned to the energy center.
Seele leaned against the wall, arms crossed.
"This is way too easy," she commented as she watched Serval handle everything.
"Who the hell designed this thing? It's so unintuitive!" Serval shouted in frustration. "'Rockstar Dance Floor Ambient Mode'? …Who added this here?! There's even one of my songs!"
Aleph cautiously looked around.
"Please, don't say that out loud. You're making me nervous."
"I found it!"
The lights flickered.
For a moment, there was absolute silence.
Then, the sound of bells rang out.
March 7th smacked her forehead.
"Damn it, Seele! I told you not to say that out loud!"
Seele clicked her tongue.
"Oh, shut up!"
From the nearby hallways, rushed footsteps and voices shouting about an intruder grew louder.
Dan Heng glanced toward the entrance.
"They won't take long to get here."
Serval closed the control panel and stood up.
"Well, at least we got what we wanted. The bridge should be unlocked."
Aleph sighed.
"Yeah, but now we have every guard in the area against us."
March 7th eagerly pulled out her bow.
"Time to fight!"
The first guards appeared at the end of the hallway, shouting orders to surrender.
But the moment the group took their battle stances, the soldiers loaded their weapons and advanced without hesitation.
The metallic echoes of hurried footsteps filled the hallways, mixing with the blaring sound of the alarm.
The group instinctively positioned themselves, ready for combat.
"Stop right there! By order of the Belobog Guard, you are under arrest!"
Seele clenched her fists, her legs flexing with impatience.
"Oh yeah? Then come and try!"
Before the guards could react, Seele vanished in a blur of speed and reappeared behind them.
CRACK!
Her scythe sliced through the air with precision, striking two soldiers in the legs and sending them crashing to the ground.
The rest of the group immediately went on the offensive.
Stelle charged head-on with her bat in hand, intercepting another guard and easily blocking his attack before taking him down with a powerful counter.
Dan Heng dodged a barrage of gunfire with a swift sidestep, propelling himself forward with his spear to strike an enemy with a cutting gust of wind.
March 7th raised an ice barrier to stop the guards trying to shoot from the rear.
Serval pulled out a modified weapon from her belt and fired an electric wave, stunning the nearby enemies.
Aleph, on the other hand, extended his hand and channeled icy energy.
[Are you sure you want to spend your App points on "Skill Evolution I"?]
"Yes."
[Since you've gained enough experience from prolonged use,
"Let's see if this works… Bufula!"
The air froze almost instantly as a dense wave of ice took the form of a mist that enveloped the soldiers.
KRAK!
The ice instantly trapped three soldiers, immobilizing them in place.
March 7th whistled in surprise.
"Whoa! Why didn't you tell us you could do that?!"
Aleph scratched the back of his neck, smiling sheepishly.
"Well… It's not like I could just say I literally just learned it, and that I actually messed up at first."
The battle continued with intensity.
The Belobog guards had numbers, but the group had plenty of experience fighting against overwhelming odds.
Aleph even wondered—should he be thanking Svarog for that?
One by one, the soldiers fell, until the hallway was finally clear.
March 7th exhaled in relief and put away her bow.
Dan Heng looked down the corridor, his expression serious.
"They won't take long to send reinforcements."
Serval nodded.
"Yeah. And if they do, they'll be better prepared for us."
Seele turned toward the door they had just unlocked.
"Then we move now. We can't stay here."
The group hurried across the bridge before more guards could arrive…
Fortunately, they managed to cross without too much trouble. Now, they could head toward the frontlines.
But just as they passed through the main gate of the restricted area, they stopped dead in their tracks.
Because on the other side of the hallway—
A familiar figure was waiting for them.
Standing tall in his pristine armor, with a massive shield strapped to his arm, Gepard Landau stood alongside several soldiers.
His gaze was stern.
"I knew I'd find you here. Serval… it really is you."
"Wait, Gepard! Listen to me—"
Gepard sighed, looking somewhat disappointed.
"When the sentinels told me, I thought there had to be some mistake. The enemy alert couldn't possibly be about you entering the restricted zone. At worst, maybe the intruders had taken you hostage. But… to think you'd be working with them."
"I'm sorry, little brother… We have a deal. I'm with them."
Gepard fell silent, his gaze shifting to Aleph, a flicker of realization in his eyes.
"Give me a few minutes, and I'll explain everything—"
"That's enough, Serval!" he shouted, stepping forward.
"...!" Serval took a step back, surprised.
"Do you even remember where you are? The Landaus know this place better than anyone… The front line against the Fragmentum, the most strategic fortress protecting Belobog. Every single guard, every person here, is ready to sacrifice themselves and spill their blood for Belobog at any moment… And here you are, leading these fugitives into the restricted zone, attacking my fellow guards, hijacking the energy center… Do you really deserve to carry the Landau name?" Gepard's anger flared. "And all this because you let yourself be seduced by the enemy?"
For a moment, the group froze.
March 7th shot Aleph a playful look, to which he only whispered, "Don't you dare."
Serval simply shook her head.
"Why do you think I'm here? We found a way to dispel the Eternal Freeze, to seal the Fragmentum. This could be the only hope left for this world!"
Gepard looked at her as if she had gone mad.
"If that were true, why didn't you report it to Lady Cocolia? Why sneak into the restricted zone and cause a disturbance?"
"You don't understand. The one trying to keep us from the truth… is Cocolia."
The air grew tense in an instant.
Gepard adjusted his stance, gripping his shield firmly.
"I won't let you go any further. You don't seem to be in your right mind."
The group exchanged glances.
Stelle flexed her fingers around her bat.
"So, he's serious about fighting."
Aleph cracked his knuckles, feeling a hint of excitement at the thought of facing his… "brother-in-law"?
"Well… I always wanted to see how strong he was in person."
Serval sighed, rubbing her face.
"Brother, you're making this complicated for us."
Gepard didn't waver.
"I won't let you destroy what I swore to protect. Lady Cocolia already informed me this morning about everything—the Stellaron, that 'treasure' you seek to steal from the Architects. Do you think I'll just let you do as you please just because she didn't believe your version of the story?"
The group took their battle stances.
"In any case, you'll explain yourselves to the judge later. You're accused of sabotaging the Guard's restricted zone. As captain, it's my duty to arrest you. Guards, get ready! We have to take them down before the Fragmentum monsters arrive!"
March 7th sighed as she drew her weapon once again.
"…Why do we always end up fighting?"
**************
The icy wind whistled through the halls as Gepard Landau took a combat stance, his shield glowing with a glacial radiance.
"I'll give you one last chance to surrender," he declared firmly.
His gaze swept over each of them: Seele, Dan Heng, Stelle, March 7th, Aleph… and finally, his sister, Serval.
Serval sighed, placing a hand on her hip in annoyance.
"Little Geppy, do you really think fighting me is a good idea?"
Gepard clenched his teeth but didn't lower his weapon.
"If that's what I have to do to protect Belobog… then so be it."
Aleph whistled softly.
"Man, this guy is really stubborn."
March 7th raised her bow.
"Yeah, he's like a knight straight out of a fantasy story."
Gepard wasted no more time.
With a strike of his shield against the ground, a wave of explosive ice spread toward them.
Dan Heng reacted instantly, sliding to the side and countering the attack with a wind slash.
CLANG!
Stelle rushed forward immediately, her bat colliding against Gepard's shield.
The impact echoed loudly, but he didn't even budge.
"We've fought before. Do you think I haven't learned your attack patterns?" he remarked as his fist struck Stelle.
Aleph clicked his tongue.
"Alright, this is going to take more effort than I thought."
…....
The captain of the Guard was a tough wall to bring down.
Every attack from Stelle and Aleph was met with his shield, absorbing the damage without showing any signs of weakness.
When Dan Heng attempted to strike from a distance with sharp wind blasts, Gepard planted his shield into the ground and created an ice dome around himself, blocking the offense completely.
March 7th raised an ice shield to protect Seele and Serval.
"This guy is way too tough!" she exclaimed in frustration.
Seele vanished in a flash of speed, reappearing behind Gepard with her scythe ready.
"Let's see if this makes him back off."
SWISH!
The dark blade of her weapon slashed down with brutal force, but Gepard turned with precision and blocked the attack with his shield, pushing her back with a well-calculated counter.
CRASH!
Seele slid across the ground, regaining her balance just in time.
Serval narrowed her eyes.
"I know him… and I know he won't go down easily."
Aleph frowned and raised his hand.
"Then we weaken him."
"Burroughs, run a scan."
The AI responded instantly.
[Name: Gepard Landau.]
[Title: Captain of the Belobog Guard.]
[Main Abilities: Absolute Defense, Reinforced Shield, Ice Control.]
[Status: Intact.]
[Weaknesses: ???]
Aleph smirked.
"Alright… let's make this more interesting."
He focused his energy and cast a spell.
Bufula!
A whirlwind of ice exploded beneath Gepard's feet, freezing part of his armor, but he didn't even blink.
"Tsk."
"If you think you can surpass the Guard's will with simple tricks, you're underestimating my determination."
Gepard struck the ground with his sword, creating a reinforced ice barrier around his body.
Dan Heng dashed forward in a flash of speed, using his spear to strike a weak point.
But before he could connect, Gepard deflected his attack with calculated precision and countered with a right hook that Dan Heng barely dodged at such close range.
The battle intensified.
March 7th unleashed a barrage of ice projectiles, forcing him to raise his shield, and Serval took advantage of the opening to unleash a bolt of electricity at him.
BOOM!
The impact made the ground tremble.
But when the smoke cleared…
Gepard was still standing, the only sign of damage being the slight wear on his armor.
Serval clicked her tongue.
"I almost forgot how annoying it is to fight him."
Aleph sighed.
"Well, at least I've got a good guinea pig to test certain combinations."
Gepard raised his shield once more.
"It's time to end this."
His body shone with an icy light as his shield generated an even stronger barrier.
…
"Does this guy ever get tired or what?!"
Aleph, honestly, was feeling pretty frustrated. Why was he the one dealing the least damage?
Damn elemental affinity.
At least, judging by the look on the guy's face, he could tell he was starting to wear down too.
No matter how strong and durable he was, eventually, he would tire out in a battle where his opponents had greater numbers and overwhelming firepower.
Seele moved.
She disappeared and reappeared in the blink of an eye, using her maximum speed.
Gepard tried to block… but this time, she was faster.
SLASH!
Her scythe struck directly at the exact spot where his armor was weakest, breaking through his defense for the first time in the entire fight.
Gepard staggered from the impact, and at that moment…
Aleph and Stelle seized the opening.
"Let's go!"
Both of them lunged forward, attacking with full force.
BANG!
Gepard's shield finally slipped from his hand, and the Captain fell to his knees, panting.
Aleph froze Gepard's legs to the ground, immobilizing him, while Stelle took the opportunity to push his shield as far away as possible.
The group had won.
Still kneeling, Gepard looked up at them.
His expression was no longer one of hostility but something else…
Mostly confusion and frustration.
"Tsk. This guy is so persistent!" Seele clicked her tongue in annoyance as she stood.
Serval sighed, her expression somewhat complicated.
"He's as stubborn as I am! Whether in arguments or fights, he always has to see things through to the end, and that's why he irritates me so much."
Her gaze drifted over the uncertain soldiers and her brother before her tone softened significantly.
"Gepard, it's just you now. Please…"
"…Even now, I won't surrender… Don't waste your words, Serval."
Dan Heng looked at him for a moment before speaking.
"You don't have to surrender."
March 7th stared at him like he had lost his mind.
"Dan Heng, what are you trying to do?!"
He raised his hand to silence her, and she reluctantly stepped back.
"We don't want you to surrender by force. That wouldn't really count as a victory for us."
Finally, Dan Heng pulled a letter from his pocket.
"You might not believe our words or Serval's—I don't blame you for that," he said, ignoring Serval's indignant shout. "But I think you can at least allow yourself to believe in Bronya, right?"
Aleph leaned close to March 7th to whisper.
"Since when did Dan Heng have the letter?"
"Stelle gets distracted easily when something catches her attention, and I lose things all the time, so we gave it to him."
…....
At last, things were cleared up.
"You… you're not here to destroy Belobog, are you?"
Serval sighed and knelt in front of him.
"You finally get it, Geppy."
Gepard closed his eyes for a moment before exhaling in resignation.
"As a guard, my duty is to follow the orders of the Supreme Guardian… But Bronya is my commanding officer. According to military protocol, if the front-line officer's orders conflict with those of the Architects, the guards must hold their positions until the next directive."
Dan Heng spoke calmly.
"Then… have you made your decision?"
Gepard clenched his fists.
"If we lose the people, we guards lose our purpose—the reason for our existence. We fight against the Fragmentum monsters for preservation… But our fight against you—what purpose does it serve?"
Finally, he looked at his sister.
"If this is true, if you can really prevent our misfortune, then I am indebted to you. No, Belobog is indebted to you."
He turned to his men.
"Open the gate!"
The guards, though stunned by what had just happened, obeyed without hesitation.
The massive metal doors began to open, revealing the interior of the Fragmentum zone.
Gepard struggled to his feet and turned toward the group.
"Rest assured, if this turns out to be a lie to mask your true intentions and drag my sister and Bronya into it, I will personally ensure you receive the punishment you deserve—without an ounce of mercy. I'll stay here. I'll do my best to keep the Guards stable, but you all need to stop this before it's too late."
The group nodded.
They prepared to enter the heart of the Fragmentum.
And with that…
The massive metal doors groaned open with a deafening screech.
A heavy, dense air emerged from the other side, accompanied by the oppressive presence of the Fragmentum.
From the threshold, a distorted frozen landscape could be seen.
The ground was unstable, shifting as the Stellaron's energy corrupted the area.
Aleph frowned.
"Well… this is completely different from what I imagined."
"How did you think it would be?" March 7th asked curiously.
"I don't know… Maybe a giant six-armed ice demon and a slippery ice queen hiding and healing it, negating all the damage we've dealt?"
"...You're weird, Aleph."
Serval sighed, observing the disaster.
"So this is the path to whatever's been causing the world's degeneration..."
Gepard, still struggling to stand, turned to the group.
"This is as far as I can go. From here on, you're on your own."
Seele nodded.
"We'll handle it. Just make sure no one follows us."
Gepard looked at his sister, conflict flickering in his eyes.
But finally, he closed them in resignation.
"Serval..."
She smiled.
"I know. Don't worry, Geppy," she said, stepping beside him.
Gepard said nothing more, but surprise was evident on his face.
"What? Did you really think I'd leave you and your men alone in your current state?" Serval let out a small laugh before giving Gepard's ear a playful pinch. "Don't try to play the hero."
The group bid farewell to Serval, who apologized for not being able to go with them until the end.
With the creaking of the doors sealing shut, the group finally moved forward.
…...
The ground crunched beneath their feet with each step.
The light flickered unnaturally, as if reality was on the verge of collapsing at any moment.
March 7th swallowed hard.
"Okay… this place gives off a really bad vibe."
Dan Heng observed the surroundings with a dispassionate gaze.
"The Stellaron should be quite close now."
Aleph extended his hand, allowing Burroughs to perform a scan.
[Analysis in progress… Spatial distortion detected.]
[Anomalous presence of unknown energy.]
[Threat level: Extreme.]
Aleph grinned.
"Now that's what I like to hear."
Stelle twirled her bat in her hand.
"Doesn't matter now. Let's keep going."
They didn't have to wait long.
Twisted beings emerged from the Fragmentum.
Shapeless creatures, made of crystallized fragments and living shadows.
Their bodies contorted into impossible forms, like echoes of what were once humans or members of the Antimatter Legion.
Aleph clicked his tongue.
"Great, they're rolling out the red carpet for us."
Dan Heng gripped his spear.
"Get ready."
March 7th raised her bow, while Seele vanished in a burst of speed.
The monsters charged at them with ferocity.
Stelle lunged into the fight, smashing one apart with a single swing of her bat.
"No! You crushed March 8th!" Aleph cried, pointing at the monster Stelle had just obliterated.
March 7th nearly faceplanted upon hearing his words.
"Are you seriously making jokes right now?!"
Dan Heng spun with precision, driving his spear through another creature's core, making it vanish in a burst of energy.
Seele moved like a shadow, cutting down enemies with her scythe before they could react.
March 7th fired a flurry of ice arrows, further weakening their already fragile defenses.
Aleph watched the scene with a grin.
What was this, if not the perfect testing ground for him?
There was just one thing left to try—something he hadn't been able to use in the fight against Gepard.
He extended his hand, channeling the energy of his latest acquisition.
A sound like shattering glass echoed.
Burroughs activated a notification.
[4-Star Essence consumed: Loki.]
[Skill obtained: Illusionist.]
For an instant, Aleph's eyes gleamed with a mischievous light, and a wicked smile spread across his face.
Suddenly, the battlefield distorted.
The monsters began attacking each other, confused by the illusions surrounding them.
March 7th stared in shock.
"What the hell did you just do?!"
Aleph smirked in amusement.
"Let's just say I borrowed a trick from an old friend."
Seele raised an eyebrow.
"I definitely want to hear more about that later."
With the enemies weakened, the group took the opportunity to finish them off one by one.
Finally, after one last explosion of energy, silence returned.
**************************************************************************
Essence System Explanation
The Essence System is a special mechanic that Aleph has unlocked as he progresses within the system. In simple terms, it's a gacha based on essences of beings from Shin Megami Tensei (humans, demons, deities, etc.), allowing him to absorb specific traits from them.
How does it work?
Obtaining Essences
Aleph can obtain Essences in different ways:
As rewards for major achievements.
Through special missions and challenges.
Completely randomly (Mwahaha, he'll have to become a raccoon alongside Stelle).
Using Essences
Each Essence is single-use and disappears once consumed.
When used, Aleph gains a characteristic from the original being, but he cannot choose what he gets.
The characteristics may include:
Active or passive skills (e.g., Illusionist from Loki).
Elemental resistances or weaknesses (e.g., Fire Absorption or Light Weakness).
Physical or mental attributes (Great intelligence, talent for manipulation, increased strength).
Equipment or artifacts from the original being (Clothing, weapons, relics).
Minor or major physical changes (Different-colored eyes, horns, demonic mutations).
Personality traits or quirks (A tendency to manipulate others if he absorbs something from Loki).
Essence Rarity Classifications
1-Star - Common: Minor changes, little impact in combat.
2-Star - Rare: Small but useful enhancements.
3-Star - Elite: Functional combat abilities or significant improvements.
4-Star - Epic: Notable powers, important physical or mental changes.
5-Star - Legendary: Gain power close to that of the original being—but with risks.
System Risks
He doesn't always get what he wants. He might receive useless abilities or even negative effects.
If he consumes too many Essences in a short period, his body and mind may collapse or suffer irreversible alterations.
He cannot return what he gets. If he absorbs a problematic trait, he's stuck with it.
Sorry for not being able to upload anything these past few days. A relative had serious health issues, so I had to go see them. It was the most boring five-hour trip of my life. Not that I could write much anyway, especially after having to donate a lot of blood.
****************************
Omake: Fugitive.
At the highest point of the Upper City, in the majestic and icy office of the Supreme Guardian, a solemn air reigned. Snow fell gently on the other side of the window, but inside the room...
There was a distinct sense of discomfort.
Bronya Rand, heir to Belobog, sat with her back straight in a chair facing her mother's desk.
She had been urgently summoned.
And though her face maintained the composure of a leader in training, her mind was full of questions.
"What is this about?"
She thought, trying to guess the reason for the meeting.
Cocolia, standing by the window, observed her in silence for a few seconds before speaking with a rather serene and motherly smile.
"Bronya, dear… the time has come for our family to grow."
Bronya blinked in confusion.
"Excuse me?"
Cocolia slowly walked to her desk and sat down, calmly intertwining her fingers.
"I know this may come as a surprise to you, but after much reflection, I believe this is what's best for everyone."
Bronya felt a bad premonition.
"Mother…" she began, her tone wary. "What are you trying to tell me?"
Cocolia smiled sweetly.
"I've made an important decision about our future."
She leaned slightly forward and took a deep breath before saying the words that would change Bronya's life forever:
"You're getting a stepfather."
Bronya felt her brain shut down for a second.
"…What?"
"You heard me, dear."
Cocolia stood up and turned toward the door.
"Come in, dear."
The door opened.
Bronya held her breath.
And then...
Aleph appeared.
Wearing his ever-reliable black-and-gold coat, his standard expression of "What the hell is going on?" plastered on his face, clearly not understanding why he was there.
Bronya, on the other hand, froze in pure shock.
Her mind tried to process what she was seeing.
Aleph.
Aleph.
ALEPH?!
A deathly silence fell over the room.
Aleph blinked slowly.
He looked at Cocolia.
He looked at Bronya.
He looked at the luxurious office.
He looked back at Cocolia.
And finally, he muttered to himself:
"…Burroughs, did I skip an important dialogue?"
[No, I am just as confused as you, Master.]
...….
Bronya, still processing the horror, slowly turned to her mother, her face utterly blank.
"Mother."
"Yes, dear?"
"Tell me this is a joke."
"It's not." Cocolia stood up, walked toward Aleph, took the confused boy's hand with a graceful motion, and guided him to the seat where she had been sitting.
And then, she proceeded to do something that left Bronya with her mouth hanging open.
She forced Aleph to sit down in her chair—then sat on his lap and snuggled against him.
Bronya clenched her fists.
"No. No. NO."
Cocolia smiled patiently.
"I know it's hard to accept a change in the family, but, Bronya, sometimes we must open our hearts."
Bronya gritted her teeth.
"He is NOT, and will NEVER be, my dad!"
Aleph raised his hands in surrender.
"I don't even know what's happening here!"
Cocolia sighed lovingly and placed a hand on Aleph's shoulder.
"He's part of our family now. Bronya, just as I accepted your request to adopt Seele, I want you to accept him."
Bronya looked at Aleph, then at Cocolia, then back at Aleph...
And at that moment, she realized she was living her worst nightmare.
...….
The room remained in complete silence.
Bronya still stared at Aleph as if she had seen the end of the world.
Aleph, for his part, still had no clue what was going on.
"…This isn't a joke," Bronya murmured in disbelief.
Cocolia smiled with serene patience.
"It's not, dear."
Bronya took a deep breath and massaged her temples.
"Mother. I know we've had our differences lately, but this…" She gestured at Aleph with a furrowed brow, unsure of how to continue. "This is insanity."
Aleph crossed his arms and sighed.
"Believe me, I didn't even want to be here."
Bronya glared at him.
"Shut up!"
Aleph raised his hands.
"Hey, hey. I only came because they told me, 'Come, we have free coffee.' I didn't expect to walk out of here with a stepdaughter."
Bronya felt an eye twitch forming.
"Don't you dare call me that!"
Cocolia placed a hand on her chest and looked at her daughter sweetly.
"Bronya, dear, I know this is hard to accept, but I want you to understand something. I've found someone special, someone who has made me see life from a different perspective."
Aleph was speechless. Once again, he looked at Cocolia, then at Bronya, then back at Cocolia.
"…We met because you tried to kill me."
Bronya slammed both hands on the desk.
"EXACTLY!! You should be enemies, not lovers!"
Cocolia sighed, closed her eyes, and rested her head against Aleph's chest, completely indifferent to the uncomfortable expression on the boy's face as he received Bronya's death glare.
"Love blossoms in the most unexpected places, dear."
"You don't call trying to crush someone under an ice lance love!"
Cocolia shook her head, completely unbothered by the matter.
"That was just a misunderstanding."
Bronya clutched her head, feeling like it was about to explode.
"No, this… this can't be happening."
Aleph huffed and crossed his arms.
"Look, I wasn't aware of this either, but if it helps, I have no intention of being your 'dad.'"
"Of course not!"
"Great, we're on the same page!" He smiled brightly and gave a thumbs-up.
Cocolia watched them with a tender and sweet smile.
"Oh, how wonderful to see you getting along from the start."
Bronya opened her mouth to protest, but before she could scream, the door suddenly burst open.
"Ma'am!" A Belobog Guard soldier ran inside, breathless. "Commander Gepard is here to see you!"
Bronya soon displayed a sinister smile.
Aleph, on the other hand, paled.
"…Shit."
Cocolia remained calm.
"Let him in."
The soldier nodded and left.
Bronya looked at Aleph with a malicious grin.
"Oh, this is going to be fun."
Aleph closed his eyes and took a deep breath.
"Burroughs, start preparing my will."
[It was an honor being your system, Master.]
...….
The office doors opened with solemnity.
Through them stepped Gepard Landau, captain of the Belobog Guard, carrying his usual impeccable demeanor and serious expression.
His gaze calmly scanned the room… until it landed on Aleph.
His eyes immediately narrowed.
"…You again."
Aleph's survival instincts kicked in. Fortunately, he had managed to get Cocolia off his lap in time and had positioned himself behind her.
"For all the demons… why did it have to be him?"
Cocolia, oblivious to the tension in the air, smiled serenely.
"Gepard, I'm so glad you're here. Since you're here, I'd like to introduce you to Aleph."
Bronya sighed, enjoying this far more than she should.
"Yes, Captain Landau. From now on, you should treat him with respect."
Gepard frowned.
"Respect? Why should I…?"
His voice cut off as he processed the words more carefully.
His gaze slowly turned toward Cocolia.
"…Don't tell me…?"
Before he could finish the sentence, the Supreme Guardian confirmed it with total ease.
"Aleph will soon become my husband."
The silence that followed was so heavy that the air in the room seemed to freeze.
Gepard felt as if reality itself was shaking.
"…Husband."
His mind tried to deny what he had just heard.
Aleph, sensing the horror on Gepard's face, tried to intervene.
"Hey, hey! This isn't what it looks like, this is just one huge misunderstanding—"
But before he could say more, Gepard shot him a glare of icy fury.
"Unforgivable… Not only did you dare to go after my sister, but even that wasn't enough… Now you're after the Supreme Guardian's hand as well?!"
Aleph felt as if his soul had left his body.
"Damn it, it's true! This guy still thinks I'm dating Serval!"
The Captain of the Guard placed a hand on his forehead, as if life itself was punishing him.
What face would his sister make when she found out the kind of scoundrel she had been dating?
What was he supposed to do with all the wedding preparations? His mother had already started making ridiculous plans. His father and younger sister had even begun buying baby stuff. Baby stuff!
"This… this can't be real."
Bronya, with a smile that made it clear she was enjoying Aleph's horrified expression, nodded with resignation.
"Oh, but it is."
Aleph raised his hands in a desperate attempt to regain control of the situation.
"Wait, Gepard! What happened with your sister was an accident, and this is an even bigger misunderstanding!"
But Gepard was no longer listening.
He turned to Cocolia, his face a mix of confusion and frustration.
"My lady, with all due respect… Why him?"
Cocolia calmly placed a hand on her chest.
"Because he's the only man strong enough to challenge me and still be alive. Besides… He kisses very well~"
Gepard felt that, for the sake of Belobog, he should sentence him to death without a trial…
Aleph let out a defeated sigh.
"I don't want to be here."
Bronya let out a small laugh, her expression slightly spiteful as she spoke to Aleph in a playful tone.
"But you are. And now, dear stepfather, how do you plan to take care of this family?"
Aleph frowned at her.
"I'm going to disown you."
Bronya feigned indignation.
"Oh, how cruel!"
Meanwhile, Gepard was already leaning against the wall, staring into the void.
That scoundrel almost became the father of his nieces and nephews?
"…This can't be real."
.....
The silence continued, but the tension in the air was so thick it could be cut with a knife.
Gepard had long since left the room, shooting a murderous glare at Aleph as he walked out.
Aleph, still processing the absurd situation he had found himself in, felt cold sweat run down his back.
Cocolia observed the scene with tranquility, completely unbothered.
Bronya, on the other hand, seemed to be enjoying the moment far too much.
"Well, Aleph, what do you think? How does it feel to be part of the family now?"
Aleph gave her an incredulous look.
"Like I'm about to jump out the window."
Bronya smiled with fake sweetness.
"Oh, don't worry. If you try to run, we'll find you."
How could he even begin to believe he had any chance of escaping when they had just thrown a problem at him that would take more than a few good therapy sessions to resolve?
Aleph shivered.
Why did it feel like that wasn't just a joke?
Cocolia nodded in satisfaction.
"Good. Now that everything is settled, why don't we start discussing your new responsibilities?"
Aleph blinked.
"…Responsibilities?"
Bronya crossed her arms and looked at him seriously.
"Well, of course. If you're my stepfather, that means you're responsible for me now, right?"
Aleph remained silent.
Seeing the smile on Bronya's face, he could already tell that "Now you're responsible for me" came with a lot of red flags.
The trap had closed.
And he had walked right into it.
"…I refuse."
Bronya sighed dramatically, pretending to be disappointed.
"What a shame. I was just starting to consider calling you 'dad' for real."
Aleph felt his soul trying to leave his body.
"Don't you dare."
Bronya tilted her head with a mischievous smile, deliberately making her voice sound softer and more childlike.
"…Daddy?"
A shiver ran down his spine.
Aleph wasn't one to waste time… Well, most of the time.
"Alright, it was nice meeting you all. I'm leaving."
Without wasting a second, he turned toward the door.
But just as he tried to open it…
Click.
It was locked.
Aleph felt another shiver creep up his back.
He turned around slowly.
Cocolia was holding the key with an expression of absolute calm before slipping it into her cleavage.
Bronya smiled.
"Oh, Aleph… I thought you understood."
For a second, Aleph had the illusion that her sentence would continue with: "If I had to suffer this much today, why would I let you go without making you suffer just as much—or even more?"
Cocolia narrowed her eyes.
"If you try to run, don't worry… There are many ways to make you reconsider."
Aleph looked at both of them.
Then at the door.
Then at the window.
And finally, he made a decision.
"Alright… Then I have no other choice."
Bronya narrowed her eyes.
"What choice?"
Aleph sighed…
And then bolted for the window.
"See you in hell!"
Crash!
The sound of shattering glass echoed throughout the room.
Cocolia and Bronya remained silent, watching as Aleph disappeared into the distance.
After a moment, Bronya sighed.
"We should have reinforced the windows."
Cocolia nodded calmly.
"Yes… but it's admirable that he has such determination."
Bronya watched her "fugitive stepfather" disappear on the horizon and smirked slightly.
"Well… At least it was fun while it lasted."
And so, Aleph fled, swearing never to set foot in that office again.
**********
Extra – The Flight of the Fugitive Stepfather
The icy wind hit Aleph's face as he plummeted from the window, his survival instincts kicking into overdrive.
"Damn it, damn it, damn it! I shouldn't have let my guard down! Since when are MILFs this dangerous?!"
With a quick twist in the air, he managed to grab onto a nearby ledge, preventing himself from crashing into the ground.
From the Supreme Guardian's office, Bronya and Cocolia watched calmly.
"He's agile," Cocolia remarked approvingly.
Aleph didn't stick around to hear more.
With adrenaline pumping through his veins, he pushed off the ledge and landed in a nearby alley.
"Alright… Alright… I just need to disappear from the face of Jarilo-VI and everything will be fine."
But his escape wasn't over yet.
As he tried to catch his breath, footsteps echoed behind him.
Aleph turned around slowly…
And felt a chill as he saw Gepard standing in front of him, arms crossed.
The Captain of the Belobog Guard had a serious expression, but the tension in his jaw and the absolutely murderous glare he shot at him stood out the most.
Aleph tried to smile nervously.
"Oh… uh… hey again, Gepard…"
The captain was silent for a moment.
Then, slowly, he tilted his head.
"Aleph."
Aleph swallowed hard.
"…Yeah?"
Gepard took a step forward, his voice firm yet calm.
"Do you have any last words?"
Aleph raised his hands in surrender.
"I can explain."
Gepard narrowed his eyes.
"…How fast can you run?"
Aleph blinked.
"…Huh?"
"Because I'll give you a three-second head start."
Aleph's survival instincts flared up again.
"Three."
Aleph turned on his heels.
"Two."
He bolted.
"One."
The ground trembled as Gepard charged after him at full speed.
"ALEEEEPHHHH!! Get ready to die!!"
And so, the chase began.
In the alleys of the Upper City, the tale of the Fugitive Stepfather and the Wrath of Captain Landau would be told for generations.
…
Meanwhile, in the Supreme Guardian's office, Bronya watched the scene from the window with a neutral expression.
Cocolia took a sip of her tea.
"You think I should have stopped him, don't you?"
Bronya looked at her.
"Not at all. In fact, I hope he doesn't get caught too quickly."
Cocolia raised an eyebrow.
"Huh?"
Bronya shrugged with a slight smile.
"This way, he'll learn his lesson."
Cocolia nodded calmly.
"A wise decision. This way, he'll understand that there's nowhere to run."
The two women continued enjoying their tea while, in the streets, Aleph ran for his life.
THE END?