Bronya truly was the heir to the next Supreme Guardian; at the very least, her taste in food was top-notch. Ron couldn't see any dark cuisine like mixed vegetable soup, which practically glowed with an ominous light, on the tray. Instead, a steaming hot aroma wafted towards him.
"Gurgle..."
The sound of his stomach rumbling came through. Ron did indeed feel a pang of hunger—he had been so engrossed in the game he hadn't had time to eat. It was only natural that he was hungry now.
"Ahem... Well then, it would be rude to refuse."
Ron let out a light cough to cover the sound of his ravenous stomach and stepped aside.
Bronya skillfully arranged the platter and cutlery, waiting for Ron to be seated.
Watching Bronya's movements, which were clearly born of long-standing habit, Ron couldn't help but wonder—
What's going on? Why is Bronya so proficient at this?
How come even the placement of the cutlery is so similar to my own eating habits... Does Bronya often eat with me?
What kind of fantasy world-line is this?
Ron's mind was full of doubts, but he still sat down with some restraint, waiting for Bronya to speak.
As a mature working professional, Ron understood one thing very clearly—when a superior suddenly invites you to a meal, it's definitely not just about inviting you to a meal.
Once you've accepted the invitation, you're indebted. Once you're indebted, you're willing to listen. And once you're willing to listen, the superior is going to say some things from the heart that they wouldn't normally say.
Bronya wasn't familiar with him, not to the point where she could casually invite him to dinner... Her sitting here now meant she definitely had something to say.
But it doesn't seem like there's anything important... Wait, she can't be firing me, can she?
Ron felt a bit anxious. A job with a monthly salary of 1.5 million credits was hard to find. To get one, you'd probably have to charge into Qlipoth Fort, grab Cocolia's hand, and force a thumbprint onto a contract.
But doing that wouldn't fit his slacker style... and who knows what kind of trouble he'd run into?
A job like being Bronya's personal guard, with good pay and plenty of free time, was a rare find. Ron really didn't want to lose it.
Yet, the future Ron worried about didn't materialize in reality at all.
He just ate with restraint while watching Bronya sit with her back straight, not saying a word, as elegant as a proud swan.
I get it. Don't speak while eating, don't talk before sleeping. A very strict upbringing.
Ron吐槽ed in his mind, but he couldn't suppress the worry in his heart. The hope for that 1.5 million credit salary overpowered his reason. Finally, he put down his cutlery and spoke first:
"Lady Bronya, I was wondering if there was anything you needed to instruct me on, inviting me to dinner today?"
Listen to this tone, the perfect image of a loyal, old subordinate. I'm this loyal, you can't possibly fire me, right, Duckie?
Ron thought to himself, but Bronya just looked up, a bit dazed. She was silent for a moment before asking in confusion:
"Anything?"
"...You invited me to dinner. Isn't it because you have something to discuss with me?"
"I just thought you hadn't eaten all day, so I wanted to ask you to have a meal together."
—This was the truth.
Bronya genuinely just wanted to have a meal with Ron.
The reason was simple. In the previous two simulations, Ron had always been her personal guard. They had eaten and lived together most of the time, and for Bronya, it had become a habit.
But in the last simulation, Seele had forcefully poached Ron. Bronya had been idling at the Wildfire base, and then later in the Guardian's Residence with Cocolia, without much interaction with him.
She didn't want it to be like that in reality.
"Besides, haven't I told you before? You don't need to worry about those formalities. Just call me Bronya..."
Bronya said with a hint of helplessness. Although her words weren't malicious, to Ron, they sounded quite alarming.
...What is going on?
Is Bronya this considerate of her employees?
He was silent for a moment, then said, "Bronya, I'm just a little unused to it... After all, when I was on guard duty at Qlipoth Fort before, I always called you Lady Bronya whenever I saw you."
"Ah, that's true. It's normal to be a bit unaccustomed to suddenly changing how you address me..."
Bronya took over the conversation very gently, showing no disagreement with Ron whatsoever.
Is there a need to be this gentle? Could it be that Duckie herself is a perfect boss who embodies the three golden traits of 'Only overworks herself,' 'Respects employees,' and 'Is considerate of subordinates'?
No matter how Ron thought about it, it just didn't seem reasonable.
Such a perfect person couldn't possibly exist in this world.
There had to be another reason...
He looked at Bronya's beautiful face, and a terrifying thought suddenly welled up from the bottom of his heart—
Don't tell me Duckie is also a player in the simulation game, and even inherited her memories from it?
Although he knew this possibility was extremely bizarre, the more he thought about it, the more plausible it seemed—
After all, besides the possibility that Bronya was a perfect boss, the only other explanation for her reactions was that her affection level for Ron was high enough.
But that was simply a joke—Ron had only been Bronya's personal guard for less than three days!
Her taking a liking to him at the start could be explained as her having a keen eye for talent. But now, she was so proficient at serving him dinner, anyone who didn't know better would think they ate and lived together every day...
Unless, Bronya was also a player and had experienced the years of companionship from Ron as her guard in the previous two simulations.
The affection level that had been maxed out through that companionship was then loaded into reality, which would make all of this reasonable.
No, I have to test her...
Based on Duckie's pathetic performance in the simulation... Oh, I've got it!
Ron pondered for a moment, then tentatively said to Bronya:
"By the way, Bronya, I haven't been by your side these past two days. Did you find the answers you were looking for in the Underworld?"
"What's the current state of life in the Underworld, and how do you plan to solve these problems?"
Hearing Ron's question, Bronya was slightly taken aback. Then, relying on the experience left by the memories of the previous simulations, she thought for a moment and replied earnestly:
"The Underworld isn't that large. These two days were enough for me to walk through it once."
"There are many problems here... the Fragmentum, mine poisoning, public security, supplies. All these troubles have made the entire Underworld chaotic."
"However, these problems can be solved—the simplest way is to open up the Overworld and allow passage between the two districts. The conflicts in the Underworld will immediately be alleviated by a great deal."
"I've decided that after I return to the Overworld in a while, I will vigorously promote the opening of passage. Although there will certainly be a lot of resistance, there are also many allies who want to see it happen..."
"When the time comes, by relying on the power of the Silvermane Guards, this matter can always be accomplished."
As Bronya spoke, she sighed with a somewhat complex look in her eyes:
"However, this matter still can't bypass Lady Cocolia... It was she who personally issued the decree back then, and it was her choice to seal off the Overworld and Underworld."
As she said this, her tone gradually became firm:
"But her choice was wrong. I will compile the truth of the Underworld into a report and prove it to her myself... I absolutely cannot watch my mother rush down the wrong path and fall into the abyss."
After hearing Bronya's speech, Ron's heart, which had been in his throat, dropped back into his chest.
Although Bronya's approach was a bit naive, it was clearly reasonable.
Compared to that super feeder duck in the simulation game, she was stronger by an unknown amount... They absolutely could not be the same person.
And most importantly—this Bronya was not a mama's girl!
Did you hear what she just said? She said Cocolia was wrong, and she was going to personally set her straight!
Now that's the attitude the next Supreme Guardian should have!
What the hell was that AI feeder duck in the simulation game? Can it come out and apologize to Bronya?
"This is what we will work on together in the future... We still have to go to the mining team tomorrow morning to ask about their output. Get some good rest. I'll be leaving now."
While Ron was still muttering to himself, Bronya had already tidied up the tray and returned to her own room.
She was already very tired. From yesterday until now, she hadn't rested at all.
The time she should have spent resting was used to try and navigate the Life Simulation Game. During the day, she wasted a long time because of her wager with Seele. If it weren't for wanting to have dinner with Ron and holding on with her strong willpower, Bronya would have collapsed long ago.
Ron watched her departing figure and closed his door with some emotion.
I never thought that this proper-looking Bronya would actually be a perfect boss...
These past two days, he had hardly done any work. He'd just been slacking off and sleeping in, and he still got to have dinner with his boss. This was like Qin Shi Huang eating Sichuan peppercorns—winning so hard it's numb!
Ron lay lazily on his bed and habitually opened the Life Simulation Game's light screen.
Bronya's instructions to rest early had long been thrown to the back of his mind. Rest early? What rest early?
So what if he had to go to the Underworld's mining team tomorrow? That was a minor matter among minor matters. There was no need to conserve energy at all. Just slack off.
Staying up all night to play games is the best!
Thinking this, Ron unhesitatingly chose to start another run.
And at the same time—
Seele, carrying two heavy crates of supplies, pushed open the door of the clinic.