Why do butterflies fly?
[Ron didn't outright reject your request; he wants to observe you for a while longer.]
"Phew… thank goodness."
Reading the text on the screen, Seele let out a sigh of relief. As long as Ron's allegiance wasn't locked, and there was a chance of him changing factions, Seele was confident she could pull Ron away from Bronya and make him her teammate!
As for why... Just look at Bronya's earth-shattering blunders.
Seele confidently clicked continue on the simulation, and the screen displayed a new choice:
[Because of your agreement with Ron, a fixed option has been triggered. Please choose—] [1. You've long been prepared... To save the lower district, you must grasp all its power in your hands. You will strive to act in the lower district, attempt to unify all its factions, and become the leader of the unified forces. Choosing this option will increase your stress value by 20.] [2. The responsibility to save the lower district has come too quickly, appearing before you instantly. You don't want to bear such a heavy burden yet and decide to retreat... Leave the task of saving the lower district to adults like Natasha. You decide to spend an ordinary day as a member of the Underground Fire.]
Seele unhesitatingly chose the first option. For her, the word "retreat" wasn't in her dictionary... It was time to start her plan.
The choices disappeared, and new narrative text appeared on the screen:
[You went to Natasha's clinic and had a deep conversation with the puzzled Natasha about your ideals, seeking her help.] [Natasha, after a moment of silence, asked you to represent the Underground Fire to unite with the robot settlement and, with Svarog's help, to subdue the wanderer camp.] [Once you achieve this goal, she will immediately announce your appointment as the leader of the Underground Fire, allowing you to use your abilities in that position.] [You agreed without hesitation.] [You went to the robot settlement, taking Ron, who was observing you, along.] [Outside the robot settlement, you ran into Bronya Rand, who was about to return to the Goethe Grand Hotel to rest—]
The text faded, and a new scene appeared on the screen:
"Why... is Ron with you?"
In the scene, Bronya frowned, her tone puzzled but not anxious or urgent. Her expression was somewhat stiff.
Seele replied straightforwardly, "We had a deep conversation and got along well. I want him to join the Underground Fire."
"But he is my guard."
Bronya spoke methodically, her tone calm.
"However, if you want Ron, I can release him from his position, but it will require a sufficient price from you. I came to the lower district to break the barriers between the upper and lower districts and lead Belobog into a new future. This path is fraught with difficulties, and I need the help of the Underground Fire... Can you, on behalf of the Underground Fire, agree to cooperate with me?"
The screen dimmed, and a choice box appeared: [Please choose—] [1. Agree to Bronya's request. Ron will lose his position as Bronya's guard, and your stress value will decrease by 20, making it 0/100.] [2. Refuse Bronya's request. Ron will remain Bronya's guard, and if he wants to join the Underground Fire, there is a high probability of facing obstacles from Bronya.]
Seele blinked, rubbed her eyes, and looked at the screen in disbelief. For a moment, she wondered if she had read it wrong. ...Bronya was willing to let Ron go so easily?
She couldn't understand what was happening. Didn't Bronya realize how strong Ron was? To be willing to let him go just to cooperate with the Underground Fire...
It was absurd and outrageous!
This fool doesn't know what she's doing... so stupid...
While inwardly criticizing Bronya, Seele thought the more situations like this, the better. In this regard, Bronya should remain a fool.
She chose the first option without hesitation. The screen's choices faded, and the scene resumed—
Seele's expression clearly showed her surprise. After a moment of confusion, she said decisively, "For Ron, the Underground Fire is willing to pay more than you think."
"So you agree? Good, remember your promise."
Bronya turned away arrogantly, not giving Ron another glance. Ron, watching the conversation between the two, had a slight smile fade from his face.
The screen's narrative text reappeared: [Ron is no longer Bronya's guard, reducing your stress value by 20.] [You invite Ron to join the Underground Fire again.] [But Ron shook his head, saying he needs more time to think and can't make a quick decision.] [Because Ron did not choose to join your faction, your stress value increased by 20, now at 20/100.] [The next day, you take Ron with you as you shuttle between the robot settlement and Panyan Town...]
[Bronya abandoned you, reducing your favorability and loyalty towards her.] [Seele keeps pestering you, trying to show her determination.] [The next day, she spent the entire day trying to persuade Svarog and the wanderers but failed. Your favorability towards her increased.] [On the third day, she went to the robot settlement again... but failed to persuade them.] [On the fourth day, she persevered despite the setbacks, working hard to mediate among everyone... but still failed.] [On the fifth day, thanks to her efforts, Clara from the robot settlement was moved, but Svarog remained adamantly opposed.] [You feel Seele is close to success.] [You start to look forward to the day she succeeds.] [On the sixth day, she successfully persuaded Svarog and Clara. Now, the robot settlement and the surrounding wanderer camps agree to cooperate with the Underground Fire, uniting all the forces of the lower district to save it.] [After six days, Seele's efforts and determination have moved you. Your favorability towards her has significantly increased, while your favorability towards Bronya has slightly decreased.] [Now, your favorability towards Seele is—70] [Your favorability towards Bronya is—45]
So Bronya didn't value me much initially... but it makes sense. In this simulation, I had just become her guard before being taken by Seele. For the sake of cooperation with the Underground Fire, it's logical for Bronya to let me go.
Ron stroked his chin, finding Seele's actions somewhat surprising. He didn't expect her to value him so highly... Oh, wait, bridging the gap between the upper and lower districts is something Seele intended to do anyway, so agreeing to Bronya's request didn't cost her anything.
In other words, she got me from Bronya for free—why does that sound weird?
Ron shrugged, not caring too much about it, and focused back on the screen. The text faded, and a new scene appeared:
"I did it, Ron."
Seele, looking exhausted but unable to hide the excitement in her eyes, said to Ron, "Five days... It took me only five days to successfully integrate the two major forces in the lower district. The situation here will change from now on!"
The screen faded, and new text appeared: [On the seventh day, due to the cooperation between the Underground Fire and the robot settlement, wanderers who had been excluded flooded into Panyan Town.] [Unfortunately, Panyan Town's carrying capacity was insufficient, leading to intense conflicts between the wanderers and the original residents.] [The wanderers caused significant disturbances, looting food in Panyan Town.] [The townsfolk accused the wanderers of severely disrupting their lives and decided to retaliate with their mining tools.] [The conflict escalated, turning into a bloody clash within hours.] [As the current leader of the Underground Fire and the main proponent of the cooperation between the Underground Fire and the robot settlement, Seele took responsibility for handling the situation.] [You accompanied Seele to the scene of the conflict—]
The text faded, and a new scene appeared:
At the entrance to the Great Mine from Panyan Town, two groups were confronting each other, holding sharp mining tools, ready to clash. Their bodies were battered, some already lying on the ground, bleeding profusely. Despite the dire situation, neither side was willing to back down, as if they wouldn't stop until the other side was completely defeated.
"Stop it, all of you!"
Seele approached quickly, her face stern and shadowed with gloom.
The crowd turned, seeing Seele approaching with a formidable presence. Some seemed to loosen their grip on their tools, instinctively wanting to obey her, but no one truly put down their weapons or stepped aside.
This conflict was about survival.
No one would truly lay down their weapons.
"Still not stopping? Do you want to kill each other?!"
Seele's voice grew harsher, "Though the mission of the Underground Fire is to improve the lives of the lower district miners, we won't hesitate to use force... Do you want me to break your arms?"
No one obeyed her command, silently protesting.
After a long silence, an old miner stepped forward from the crowd, his face slashed open by a mining tool, blood dripping. He looked at Seele with a sorrowful expression and said, "We just want to protect our home... What are we supposed to do now that these wanderers are here?"
"They occupy our houses, steal our food. We only picked up weapons to fight back. What did we do wrong?"
agreed to cooperate with us, promising to develop new mining areas. We all have jobs, and we will definitely be able to pay back the borrowed food in the future. But you reject us, refusing to accept our request... Do you think wanderers are only fit to sleep in dirty corners and scavenge for food in the garbage?"
The leading wanderer, covered in wounds and wearing tattered clothes, was furious, his eyes bloodshot. "We just want to survive. What have we done wrong?"
The screen faded to black, and new text appeared:
[Due to the city's limited capacity, intense conflicts erupted between the wanderers and the original residents of Panyan Town.]
[Seele, with a stern attitude and the Underground Fire's force, barely managed to halt the conflict.]
[However, it was evident that such conflicts would continue to occur until the lower and upper districts were connected, due to the scarcity of resources and the low authority of the leadership.]
[You noticed that after everyone left, Seele, who had been so harsh in front of the crowd, seemed to soften, showing a hint of melancholy on her face.]
[You could clearly see that Seele was deeply troubled.]
[Late at night, as you were about to rest, you saw ethereal purple butterflies fluttering in your room, forming Seele's silhouette.]
[She, heavily burdened with worries, asked you if her performance was satisfactory, her tone almost pitiful, begging you to join the Underground Fire.]
[Though it was a routine daily question, you felt that today's Seele was different; she wanted an answer beyond your willingness to join the Underground Fire.]
[Instead of giving a definite answer, you asked her if there were other questions.]
[Guided by your words, Seele opened up, revealing her confusion:]
["These conflicts will continue in the future, but they are all just fighting to survive. There's no clear right or wrong..."]
["What should I do in such a situation?"]
[A special choice has been triggered—please note that the following choice will affect the character "Seele" in this simulation.]
[Depending on your choice, Seele will take different paths.]
[Please choose—]
[1. "The root cause of all conflicts can be traced back to productivity issues—Seele, the lower district is too poor. As long as we work hard to make sure everyone is well-fed, everything will get better."]
[2. "Conflicts arise because they cannot understand each other... As long as the people understand one another, all conflicts will disappear."]
[Because this is a special choice, you automatically gain a free option:]
[3. Enter the simulation yourself and handle it freely.]
What kind of nonsense choices are these?
Ron felt speechless. The first option was overly optimistic. The lower district was in such dire straits that ensuring everyone was well-fed was a fantasy. As long as they remained in these cramped mines, hunger would always be their companion.
The second option was naively idealistic—as if spoken by someone who had never faced the harsh realities of the world. It sounded like something a child under ten might say, still harboring pure, innocent dreams about the world.
But the sad reality is that people cannot truly understand one another; humanity is inherently tragic in that way.
Initially, he thought Seele was quite strong compared to Bronya, but now it seemed she was far from qualified as a leader. Saving the world isn't done this way. Seele hadn't yet realized the weight of her dreams...
If she truly understood the gravity of "saving the world," she wouldn't be so easily confused by such minor issues.
This choice couldn't be taken lightly. Ron didn't want to see Seele grow into a useless leader who dragged him down like Bronya did before. It was clear he had to step in himself...
Ron unhesitatingly chose the third option.
With a slight dizziness, Ron found himself in the simulation, facing the worried and pitiful-looking Seele, awaiting his answer.
Looking at her, Ron gently plucked a butterfly fluttering beside her, watching as the imaginary energy condensed into an illusion that flapped its wings in his hand, leaving ephemeral trails in the air. He smiled and asked out of nowhere:
"Seele, why do butterflies fly?"