........
Guinaifen's voice was like a candle flickering in the wind, trembling and broken.
"I... I'm... haah... not feeling well today... I'm... I'm ending the stream..."
Each word seemed squeezed from the depths of her throat, draining her last bit of strength. She bit her lip, her trembling fingertips touching the screen to shut down the live stream.
Instantly, the light in the streaming room dimmed, leaving only a cold, black screen.
The audience seemed to have been muted. After a brief pause, the chat exploded.
Countless question marks and speculations flooded in like a tide.
"What happened to Little Gui?"
"Her voice sounded wrong, like she was about to cry?"
"Nooo, please don't do that to her, Top Donator Bro!"
"Who is the top donator? Come out and explain!"
All sorts of guesses flew around, but there was no response.
Guinaifen's stream room, the identity of the top donator, became an unsolvable mystery deeply etched in the audience's minds.
Meanwhile, Daziel let out a long sigh.
An indescribable sense of satisfaction washed over him.
The recent experience of going all the way in truly left him savoring the memory, even making him reluctant to let it go.
However, happy times are always fleeting. He glanced at the time, and his expression changed slightly.
"Crap, I almost forgot the match!"
He quickly got up, tidied his clothes briefly, and hurried out of the room.
...
Inside the arena, a deafening wave of announcements washed over the crowd, declaring the official start of the final Celestial King battle.
"Next up is the final battle of this Aetherium Wars Celestial King Tournament! Let's give our warmest applause to welcome the last Celestial King, from Rock Town, the Big Hair Launcher King - Seele!"
"!"
The commentator's voice was full of passion, igniting the atmosphere of the entire arena.
But before he finished speaking, a hint of confusion crept into his tone.
"Hm? Big Hair Launcher King? That title... Contestant Seele's head doesn't seem particularly large, does it? It seems the titles submitted by the netizens this year are quite... uniquely thought out."
Accompanied by the commentator's slightly odd remarks, the spotlight suddenly focused on the entrance of the passage, where a purple figure slowly emerged, instantly capturing everyone's attention.
Seele appeared in the light.
She still wore her signature outfit made of simple fabric, but it couldn't hide the unique aura emanating from her.
Her purplish-black hair cascaded freely down her back, not deliberately styled, yet looking sharp and uninhibited.
Her steps were steady and firm, her gaze sharp. She scanned the entire arena, her eyes finally locking precisely onto Daziel on the stage.
Not a single wasted movement, nor any emotional fluctuation; she was calm to the point of near indifference.
Their gazes met mid-air, and an invisible pressure instantly filled the space.
The silence was like solidified air, suffocatingly oppressive, like a bowstring stretched taut to its limit, ready to snap at any moment.
Daziel was the first to break the suffocating silence, a slightly awkward smile tugging at his lips as he tried to ease the overly tense atmosphere.
"Hey, Seele. Long time no see..."
"Long time no see."
Seele's eyes remained cold, her tone so calm that no emotion could be discerned, yet it carried a subtle sense of distance, as if deliberately creating space between them.
After those two brief sentences, they fell back into suffocating silence.
Just as Daziel was starting to feel increasingly uncomfortable,
Seele suddenly spoke again, her tone still calm but laced with scrutiny, as if trying to see right through Daziel.
"I watched your previous matches. Ho, not bad. Quite impressive."
Her words carried faint sarcasm and barely concealed anger.
Daziel scratched his head, trying to lighten the mood with a casual tone.
"Ahahaha, it's probably just because my Aether Spirits are strong..."
His smile was a bit forced, revealing a hint of guilt.
A faint, ambiguous smile played on Seele's lips.
"Come on. I know doing that kind of thing is unavoidable, but... what you did to Bronya... I won't forgive you easily! I might not be good at this game, but I will give it my absolute all!"
Seele's words were forceful and filled with unquestionable determination.
As if declaring that even in an area she wasn't skilled in, she would fight with all her might to protect what was important.
Daziel immediately felt a headache coming on.
Why make such a big, passionate deal out of it?
Didn't I just do that thing with Bronya? Is it necessary to be this worked up?
Daziel quickly waved his hands, explaining with a tone of helplessness and grievance.
"Hey now, I didn't really do anything excessive! And Bronya didn't say anything either..."
Right now, he felt an unspeakable bitterness; he was clearly trying to save Belobog.
Besides, Bronya was the one who suggested doing it. How could it be his fault?
Just as the atmosphere between the two grew increasingly tense, the commentator chimed in opportunely, his voice still full of enthusiasm, seemingly oblivious to the confrontational vibe on the stage. "It seems these two old friends have met again and must have endless catching up to do! However, I must remind you both that pleasant times are always short. Next up is the exciting battle segment!"
Listening to the commentator's enthusiastic words, Daziel felt even more speechless.
Didn't this commentator realize the atmosphere wasn't right?
He knew very well that if it weren't for consideration of Bronya's feelings, Seele would have likely drawn her scythe and lunged at him already.
But this was the Aetherium Wars arena, so Seele was holding back somewhat.
Both threw their coins simultaneously. The crisp, brief clang of metal sounded like the signal to begin battle.
The battle was about to begin!
Seele's attitude towards this match was completely different from Natasha and Clara's before her.
Her expression was focused and serious, her gaze intense. Every command was carefully considered; clearly, she had prepared thoroughly and intended to give her all to win this match.
Her tactical deployment was rigorous and precise, evidently well-researched.
However, her opponent was Daziel's Mother of Deception, Cocolia!
Faced with overwhelming stats, all techniques and strategies seemed pale and powerless.
In the end, Seele was helplessly defeated.
The announcement sounded again, tinged with regret and helplessness, yet also a hint of expected calm, as if this outcome had been anticipated.
"Another match with a clear outcome. Please take a short break, both of you. Next up will be the thrilling championship battle. Stay tuned!"
Seele spat, her eyes filled with obvious disgust and unwillingness, glaring fiercely at Daziel.
"You won. Go on, go do those disgusting things!"
After speaking, she stood up decisively and walked towards the break room without looking back, her figure resolute yet lonely.
Watching Seele leave, Daziel felt a surge of inexplicable helplessness.
Just then, through the arena's PA system, the commentator's previously energetic voice suddenly became somewhat awkward.
"Er... uh, ladies and gentlemen, apologies for interrupting the exciting match progress, but before we go to our thrilling commercial break, um, allow me to insert a breaking news announcement."
He cleared his throat dryly, his words laced with unconcealed awkwardness and a sycophantic smile.
"Ahem, well, it's like this... before the originally scheduled championship match, it's been decided last minute to add... add one more Celestial King battle! Hahahaha..."
Even the commentator himself could barely keep it together. His forced laughter sounded dry and hollow, echoing in the vast arena, sounding particularly guilty and lacking confidence.
"My sincere apologies, everyone. I, the commentator, just received an urgent notice from above... saying the boss made a last-minute decision to add a special Celestial King battle."
"Er, anyway, please bear with us, hahaha, please be understanding!"
"This... the Four Celestial Kings actually having five members... that kind of setup is actually quite normal, right? Hahaha..."
He delivered the last sentence almost pleadingly, his tone trembling slightly, clearly aware of how flimsy the excuse sounded.
The arena instantly erupted. First, there was a brief moment of stunned silence, followed by a deafening uproar that exploded through the venue.
From the stands, countless gazes filled with doubt, dissatisfaction, and even anger converged on the commentary booth like tangible things. Boos, shouts, and murmurs intertwined into a chaotic wave of sound that nearly blew the roof off the arena.
"What the hell is your company playing at? Adding someone to the Celestial King battles last minute?"
"The Four Celestial Kings have five members? Do you take us for idiots?"
"Refunds! It's fixed! This is definitely fixed!"
All kinds of protests rose and fell, deafeningly loud.
The commentator was clearly startled by the sudden turn of events. His voice cracked, his speech quickened, laced with obvious panic as he incoherently tried to calm the restless audience.
"Al-alright, everyone, please calm down! Calm down! I know everyone is surprised, but please trust the official decision. The upcoming battles will absolutely be spectacular, absolutely worth your while!"
"And, and next up is the commercial break! Friends watching online, please don't leave, the commercials are equally exciting!"
"I guarantee on my honor, this is absolutely the last, the very last commercial break!"
The large screen flickered abruptly, crudely cutting off the chaos in the arena—
—replaced by a highly suggestive advertisement filled with silicone textures and human contours, as if instantly pulling the viewer into a world of artificial humans.
Screllum Star Technology proudly presents— "Silicone Special Tactical Partner."
The ad copy was full of explicit hints and provocations, each word seemingly teasing the deepest hidden desires of the heart.
"Loneliness is the greatest vulnerability of a Pathstrider, unless you walk the Path of Nihility!"
"Say goodbye to cold data streams, embrace real warmth."
"Supports custom Path attributes / memory data import / combat posture calibration."
"Your exclusive bedside tactical partner."
On screen, various suggestive images flickered: scantily clad virtual dolls striking poses, mechanical limbs intertwined with soft curves, full of the contradictory feeling of coldness and seduction.
At the end of the ad, a line of red warning text was particularly conspicuous—
"Special Notice: Please do not use existing real individuals for face sculpting, as this would violate relevant Interastral Peace Corporation regulations!"
Daziel watched the lifelike silicone dolls on the screen, curling his lip contemptuously, his eyes filled with disdain and indifference.
This kind of mass-produced industrial trash, they actually have the nerve to show it off?
So-called "real warmth," so-called "exclusive tactical partner," are they realistic?
No matter how sophisticated the bionic technology, how could it possibly be more realistic than a Herta puppet?
Especially his own exclusive Herta puppet; that place had been specially modified by Ms. Herta herself, offering an absolutely unique experience!
How could those cold machines possibly understand what "real warmth" and "companionship" truly are?
Shaking his head, he banished these messy thoughts from his mind.
Daziel quickly turned and hurried after Seele in the direction she had left.
The corridor was silent. Only the sound of their two sets of footsteps walking side-by-side echoed, tap, tap, tap, in the empty space, punctuating the heavy atmosphere.
Seele's face was icy, her eyes like tempered frost, devoid of warmth, emanating a keep-away aura.
Daziel remained silent, feeling the oppression, but he didn't choose to speak and break the suffocating deadlock.
Pushing the door open, Seele entered the room first. Her gaze swept around before finally landing on Daziel, her tone filled with undisguised disgust.
"You pervert, what tricks are you planning now? Don't tell me you're planning to use feet again?"
Her eyes held undisguised aversion, as if looking at something filthy. Her lips curled with a hint of mockery.
"I don't usually wear stockings, so it won't be particularly comfortable."
Daziel's mouth twitched, stunned by the words "use feet".
It was supposed to be such a lewd thing, why did it sound so weird coming from Seele's mouth?
His gaze involuntarily fell on Seele's bare legs – fair, smooth, with flowing lines, gleaming softly under the light.
He collected himself and began to explain, "I wasn't planning on using that. Didn't Bronya tell you..."
"Don't you say her name!"
Seele's tone suddenly sharpened as if her sore spot had been hit. Her almond-shaped eyes widened, glaring furiously at Daziel as she rudely cut him off.
Daziel frowned slightly, softening his tone to try and explain.
"Er... Didn't she tell you? This time, only the most direct, most intimate method... can remove the meme inside you? Using other body parts probably won't work."
Hearing this, Seele's expression instantly turned uglier, her previous disgust completely transforming into fury.
"Damn it! You bastard, you really are..."
Daziel spread his hands helplessly, his tone laced with resignation.
"There's nothing I can do either. If you're unwilling..."
He deliberately paused, giving Seele time to think while observing her reaction.
Seele caught the underlying meaning in his words. Looking at him with complicated eyes, she asked tentatively,
"If I'm unwilling, what will you do?"
The air seemed to freeze, the atmosphere growing even more tense.
Daziel's expression darkened. Any thought he had of talking things through nicely evaporated completely.
Some time had passed already. Continuing this stalemate with her wasn't a solution; the mid-match break wasn't long.
He had warned himself before not to cling to naive justice. If necessary, resorting to special measures wasn't out of the question.
Thinking this, Daziel's gaze sharpened. He took a deep breath and spoke forcefully.
"If you're unwilling, I'll use force. You can't beat me anyway!"
His words struck Seele's heart like nails, carrying an undeniable finality, leaving no room for negotiation, directly backing her into a corner with no escape.
"The others in Belobog have already made their sacrifices for the continuation of Jarilo-VI. It can't stop with you."
He continued, his tone heavy and forceful, laying out the great cause of saving Belobog, trying to use the weight of this responsibility to make Seele understand the gravity of the situation.
"Even so, I don't want to be... by a guy like you..."
Seele clenched her jaw tightly, her teeth biting hard into her soft lower lip, making a faint sound. Her eyes were filled with intense struggle and deep unwillingness.
Seeing Seele like this, Daziel knew he had to resort to even harsher methods...
"Miss Seele, you wouldn't want the efforts the Supreme Guardian made for Belobog to go to waste, would you? Right now, you're the only one left."
Daziel's voice sounded again, this time deliberately adopting a nonchalant tone, but the weight behind his words hadn't lessened in the slightest. It struck Seele's heart like a heavy hammer, leaving her wavering resolve with no ground to stand on.
Finally, hearing Bronya's name, Seele's shoulders trembled slightly. The anger in her eyes gradually faded, replaced by deep humiliation and helplessness.
She remained silent for a long time, finally deflating like a ball drained of all its air. Her voice was low and hoarse, as if squeezed from the depths of her throat.
"You... you bastard, you're truly despicable!"
Daziel's tone softened slightly, but a somewhat malicious curve played on his lips. His eyes held a "what can you do about it" expression as he looked down at Seele, waiting for her final answer.
It had to be said, Daziel's acting was quite good.
Seele squeezed her eyes shut, her eyelashes trembling like fragile butterfly wings.
An intense struggle raged within her. Humiliation washed over her heart like a surging tide, wave after wave, threatening to drown her completely.
Seele took a deep breath. When she opened her eyes again, they were filled with despair. Her voice was as faint as a mosquito's buzz.
"I... I understand!"
Her voice was thick with choked sobs, as if it took all her strength just to utter those words.
Hearing this, a fleeting, complex emotion flickered in Daziel's eyes, but it was quickly replaced by indifference.
Now was not the time to be soft-hearted!
The room fell silent, leaving only the sound of their heavy breathing. The atmosphere was suffocatingly oppressive.
Daziel said nothing more, simply starting to undo his clothes silently, his movements somewhat rough.
Seele kept her eyes tightly shut, her body trembling slightly, her hands gripping the bedsheet so hard her knuckles turned white.
She felt immense humiliation and anger, yet she was powerless, able only to silently endure what was about to happen.
Halfway through the process, Daziel suddenly stopped. He lightly slapped Seele's bottom, making a crisp sound.
"Make some noise! Is this the right attitude for doing this kind of thing?!"
His tone was dissatisfied, as if scolding a disobedient child.
It couldn't be helped. Seele was utterly uncooperative; she wasn't reacting at all, making it impossible to draw out what he needed.
Seele's delicate body shuddered violently as if struck by electricity. She opened her eyes, her purple irises filled with terror and fury, staring daggers at Daziel.
"Not making a sound... even that Silicone Special Tactical Partner the company sells is better than you. At least after inputting data, it can make all sorts of noises."
Daziel continued deliberately speaking in a contemptuous tone, further provoking her pride.
Seele's chest heaved violently, fury almost consuming her. She ground her teeth and demanded:
"You pervert! What do you want me to do then?"
Her voice was sharp with anger, tinged with tears, and her eyes were slightly red.
Daziel leaned close to Seele's ear, forcing a malicious smile into his tone as he whispered:
"Seeing as you don't know, let me tell you, when Bronya does it with me, even using feet, she makes sounds. Much more proper than you."
His words were full of provocation and humiliation, attempting to completely shatter Seele's psychological defenses.
Hearing this, Seele's pupils contracted sharply. Her face instantly turned pale, and her body began to tremble violently.
"If you don't cooperate properly, next time I'll try it right in front of you, let you hear it too. Bronya definitely wouldn't refuse; she might even eagerly offer herself."
"
Daziel continued, his tone still deliberately mocking.
"You... you bastard!"
Seele couldn't bear it anymore. Tears burst from her eyes as she cursed hoarsely, the grievance and anger in her heart erupting like a volcano.
Daziel ignored Seele's curses, slapping her bottom again. It was still gentle, but it made Seele feel deeply ashamed.
"If you don't want that, then behave!"
His tone remained stern.
Seele's eyes filled with tears, rolling down like broken strands of pearls. She was on the verge of sobbing aloud.
Biting her lip hard, suppressing the urge to cry, she lifted her hips slightly and didn't dare move an inch.
"I... I understand."
She choked out the words, her voice thin as a whisper, filled with despair and submission.
....
A heavy sigh escaped Daziel's lips. Those words, torn from her with such pain, were enough. He looked at Seele, curled up on the bed, her eyes still tightly shut, her body trembling like a green sapling. So stubborn… and so beautiful in her stubbornness, he thought, a pang of something that might have been guilt mixing with the raw desire that consumed him. If circumstances were different…
He approached slowly, trying not to frighten her further. The tension in the room was palpable, thick with resentment and a raw electricity. Daziel began unbuttoning his own pants, but his eyes remained fixed on her. He noticed how her nipples were stiff beneath the thin fabric of her blouse—her body betraying her resistant mind. She feels something, no matter how much she denies it.
Carefully, he sat on the edge of the bed, the mattress dipping slightly under his weight. Seele stiffened even more.
"Seele," he began, his voice surprisingly soft, almost a whisper. "Look at me."
Hesitantly, she opened her eyes, her violet pupils dilated, swimming with unshed tears. They glared at him with a mix of hatred and fear.
"I don't want to hurt you more than necessary," he said, and it was true. "But we have to do this. And we need you to… cooperate a little. The faster we go, the sooner it's over." And the sooner Belobog is safe, he added silently.
He reached out and brushed the back of his fingers against her cheek, pushing aside a strand of purple hair stuck there by tears. Her skin was soft, despite the harshness she projected. Seele shuddered at his touch but didn't pull away.
"You're strong, Seele. I know you are," he continued, his voice still low. He began unbuttoning her blouse, one button at a time. She held her breath but didn't stop him. With each undone button, more of her pale skin was revealed, the contrast with the simple dark bra underneath almost painfully alluring. She has an incredible body… firm, agile. Bronya has softer curves, but Seele… Seele is like a blade, sharp and dangerous. The image of the two of them together, complementing each other, flashed in his mind—fleeting and forbidden.
When her blouse was fully open, he gently pushed it aside, revealing her small but perfectly shaped breasts, her pink nipples stiff and peaked. He leaned down and placed a light kiss in the valley between them, then moved up to lick one of her nipples.
Seele gasped, a sound halfway between a moan and a sob. "S-stop…" she whispered, but there was no strength in her words.
"Shhh," he murmured against her skin, his stubble grazing her lightly. "Just feel." He sucked her nipple more firmly, swirling his tongue around the sensitive tip. His other hand trailed down her flat stomach, stopping at the waistband of her pants.
He unbuttoned her pants and slowly pulled down the zipper. Seele closed her eyes again, biting her lower lip hard. Daziel pushed the fabric aside, along with the simple cotton panties beneath, revealing her trimmed dark pubic hair. It was an intimate sight, almost sacred in its vulnerability.
He spread her legs with a gentleness that contrasted with the urgency of the situation. His fingers explored her, finding her wet, tight entrance. She was ready, even if her mind still fought. The body doesn't lie.
He teased her entrance gently while his thumb made slow circles on her clit. Soon, Daziel slid two fingers inside Seele's already slick pussy.
"Aanh~" Seele couldn't help but let out a small, stifled moan. She covered her face with her arms, trying to hide the blush on her cheeks and ears, clamping her lips shut to avoid making any more embarrassing sounds.
"Don't hold back, Seele. Your moans are beautiful—I want to hear more of them." Daziel whispered in her ear, nipping lightly at the now-pink shell.
He lowered his face to Seele's dripping pussy, admiring it for a moment before removing his fingers and replacing them with his mouth. He gave a long, wet lick, his tongue working more insistently, sucking and lapping as if she were the most delicious fruit he'd ever tasted.
Seele fought with all her might not to moan loudly, her legs trembling from the overwhelming pleasure.
After one final lick, Daziel pulled back, looking into Seele's eyes as she recovered from the small orgasms his ministrations had drawn from her.
"You're ready, Seele," he said, his voice rougher now, desire clouding his earlier gentleness. He positioned himself between her legs, the tip of his cock brushing against her sensitive folds.
Seele let out a low moan, a mix of anticipation and dread.
"This will hurt a little at first," he warned, his eyes locked on hers, trying to convey some reassurance, some promise that it wouldn't just be brutality. "But I'll try to be… careful."
And then he pushed in, slowly at first, feeling her resistance, her tightness welcoming him.
"Nngh… D-Daziel…" His name escaped her lips in a pained whisper. Her entire body tensed, her hands gripping the sheets.
He paused, giving her a moment, feeling her heat envelop him. He felt the thin barrier of her hymen. A virgin… damn. That made everything more complicated—and, in a twisted way, more intense.
He leaned down and kissed her, a kiss that started hesitant but soon deepened, trying to distract her, to soothe her. As he kissed her, he pushed in more firmly.
The hymen gave way. Seele cried out against his mouth, the sound muffled, hot tears now flowing freely. He felt her warm blood mix with her natural wetness.
He broke the kiss, panting. "Shhh… the worst part is over, little butterfly…" he murmured, using the affectionate nickname Bronya sometimes called her.
He began moving slowly, each thrust deliberate, letting her adjust to the feel of him inside her. The pain was still there—he saw it in her eyes—but something else was beginning to surface: a spark, a reluctant recognition.
"Y-you… animal…" she managed to say, her voice strained.
Daziel gave a half-smile. "Maybe. But I'm the animal who's going to purify you." He picked up the pace slightly, his hips finding a steadier rhythm. He gripped her slender waist, pulling her against him.
Seele's moans began losing their edge of pure pain, growing deeper, longer. She still fought, but her body was yielding, responding to his rhythmic invasion.
"This… ah… isn't fair…" she gasped, her head thrown back against the pillow.
"Life is rarely fair, Seele. But this… this is necessary." He felt her relax slightly, her inner muscles adjusting, accepting him.
He kept thrusting, firmly but with precision, aiming for pleasure rather than pain. He wanted her to feel it, wanted to break through her hatred, even if just for a moment. He heard her gasp when he hit a deeper spot—a sound that was undeniably pleasure.
There it is, he thought with a dark sense of triumph.
He sped up, carrying her with him. The sounds in the room changed, her cries of pain shifting into ragged breaths and broken sighs. Her hands, which had once clutched the sheets in agony, now dug into his back—not to push him away, but to hold on.
When he felt his own climax approaching, he pulled her closer, sinking into her as deeply as he could. He came with a stifled groan, feeling her body convulse around his, a reluctant but undeniable orgasm shaking her.
He collapsed onto her, panting, their sweat mingling. For a long moment, they stayed like that, only the sound of their heavy breaths filling the silence.
Finally, Daziel rolled to the side, pulling her with him so she wouldn't lie in the blood and fluids. He held her from behind, nestling her against his chest.
Seele was trembling, silent sobs wracking her body.
"It's over, Seele," he whispered near her ear, his voice hoarse. He kissed the top of her head. "I know this was… hard. And I didn't want it to be like this, so… raw. But time was against us. The corruption…" He sighed. "I'm sorry if I was too rough. Truly."
He felt her muscles relax slightly under his touch. Her sobs began to subside.
"Everything I did… was to protect Belobog. And to protect you, even if it doesn't seem like it," he added, the sincerity in his voice undeniable. He stroked her hair, hoping his words might begin to heal the wound he himself had opened.
Checking the system, he saw that Seele wasn't fully purified yet.
Looking at Seele's tear-streaked face, still lost in the aftermath of pleasure, he realized she hadn't heard a word he'd said. It seemed he'd have to repeat those words to her once the purification was complete…
With a resigned sigh, Daziel continued the purification for several more hours…
…
In the room, a certain heart-palpitating atmosphere lingered, like invisible threads winding through every inch of air, impossible to dispel.
The bedsheets had long lost their smoothness, crumpled into messy piles, a scene of disarray.
Seele's originally fair bottom was covered in faint handprints. Though not painful, they were deeply shameful.
Her eyes were empty and unfocused, staring blankly at the ceiling.
Tears slid silently from the corners of her eyes, winding down to soak the pillow, spreading a cold, damp patch like a silent accusation.
Daziel decisively zipped up his pants, then meticulously straightened the hem of his clothes before letting out a long sigh.
Finally finished. It really was...
He hadn't wanted things to turn out like this.
Thinking this, Daziel turned around. Facing Seele, who was clutching her hands protectively over her chest, her eyes brimming with tears, he spoke sincerely and apologetically:
"I'm sorry, Seele!"
As if struck by sudden thunder, Seele's body jolted. A flicker of life finally returned to her previously vacant eyes.
She couldn't understand at all why the man before her was apologizing.
Daziel continued with a serious expression, "I didn't want to treat you with such a vile attitude either. It's just that you weren't cooperating, and you know, time was tight."
"If I had kept arguing with you, or if your resistance prevented me from finishing quickly, it would have delayed the next match, and could even have affected saving Belobog."
She stiffly moved her eyes, staring blankly at the man who had just been as rough as a tyrant.
Daziel stepped forward and gently pulled Seele into his embrace.
His voice sounded by her ear, carrying a special kind of comfort:
"I know you hold resentment for what I did, that you feel angry and humiliated, hating me for doing that kind of thing to Bronya."
"But, Seele, please believe me. Everything I've done is for Belobog, to protect Jarilo-VI. This is the only way."
"After everything is over, I will formally apologize to you again and make it up to you properly, Seele."
Seele, who had already been like a spent arrow, barely holding on, finally had her inner defenses completely crumble upon hearing Daziel's almost unfairly gentle words.
The strength she had gritted her teeth to maintain, like a sandcastle washed away by the tide, instantly disintegrated.
The pent-up regret, pain, and grievance deep in her heart poured out like a bursting dam, utterly uncontrollable.
"Sob... sob..."
Suppressed sobs escaped from deep in her throat, like the whimpering of a wounded, despairing animal.
At this moment, Seele suddenly felt incredibly foolish and laughable.
Clara, that child so much younger than her, had shown far more awareness and cooperation when facing this kind of situation.
She had clearly promised Bronya and Natasha she would make sacrifices for Belobog, yet when the time actually came, she had been so willful, so immature, throwing a tantrum at a critical moment and causing trouble for Daziel.
Daziel held the sobbing Seele in his arms, took out his phone to check the time, realized the match was about to start, and gently patted her shoulder.
He folded the clothes scattered beside the bed, placed them neatly at the headboard, then turned towards the door.
"Get some rest. I'll come find you after the match."
After saying this to Seele, Daziel opened the door, walked out, and gently closed it behind him, shutting out all sound from within the room.
The room fell silent once more, leaving only Seele curled up alone on the bed.
Tears continued to fall uncontrollably, soaking the pillow and blurring her vision.
She hugged herself tightly, her thin body trembling slightly, like a child who had done something wrong – helpless, lost, and filled with deep self-loathing.
___
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