"I've already dealt with the vagrants who were clashing with the mining team, Nata."
Seele, dusty and travel-worn, walked into Natasha's clinic carrying two crates of medical supplies she had just found in the Fragmentum, speaking casually to Natasha.
"The conflict between the vagrants and the mining team has been getting more serious lately. I think we need to do more; just stopping them when they're about to fight isn't enough."
"Their conflict stems from the overall situation in the Underworld. One day, this contradiction will become unmanageable. The Em... cough, the Underworld cannot allow such a situation to occur."
Seele placed the medical supplies in the corner of the clinic, her tone tinged with a hint of confidence, her entire demeanor exuding a sense of composure, as if she had the whole situation under control.
Compared to the 'her' from the last simulation, the current her merely lacked that bone-deep coldness.
In reality, she was ultimately not as cold-blooded as she was in the simulation; she couldn't become the ruthless ruler she had been.
But that didn't mean the last simulation hadn't changed her.
Having controlled the Jarilo-VI First Empire for a long time, Seele had already gained a great deal of experience in governance. Before, she had at most been the leader of Wildfire, controlling the Underworld, and even then, there were many conflicts she couldn't resolve.
However, after receiving the memories from the last simulation, her perspective had reached a much higher level. Many of the Underworld's problems could be solved with just a glance—
Although her methods were rather radical due to her personality, they were certainly extremely effective.
"Perhaps we should consider consolidating the power in the Underworld, developing it properly to give their conflicts some room to breathe."
"For example, we could have the rich merchants 'donate' a sum of money. We can reinforce the old, depleted mining areas and develop a new urban district to settle these vagrants..."
"Then, we can section off a part of the mining area from the mining team and give it to the vagrants to mine, using the money from the merchants to incentivize the team to open up new mining areas."
"This way, the conflict between them will be temporarily buffered..."
Natasha, who had been looking at a new medical book in her hands, gently set it aside upon hearing this. She looked at Seele, who was still enthusiastically talking about how to change the Underworld and was even ready to act immediately, and sighed softly.
"Seele... I think we need to talk."
Her magenta eyes cast a gentle gaze at Seele. She beckoned her over, gesturing for her to sit beside her.
Seele subconsciously shut her mouth and obediently sat down next to Natasha—this was a habit that even the memory of being the Emperor for so long in the last simulation couldn't wash away.
Because, when she was just a child, if she did something wrong, Natasha would pull her aside just like this and talk to her at length.
And as a child, she was the orphanage's most famous troublemaker. She was called over by Natasha almost every week, listening to her slightly complaining chatter while watching her sew a little teddy bear or mix a potion.
In the last year or two, as Seele grew up, she was no longer a naive child but had grown into a sharp and enterprising member of Wildfire. It had been a long time since Natasha had a talk with her.
This was the first heart-to-heart Natasha had had with Seele in recent years.
"Actually, Nata, I don't think we have anything to talk about. I haven't done anything wrong, and I'm all grown up. You can't keep nagging me like you did when I was a kid..."
The moment Seele sat down, she began to mutter subconsciously, but before she could finish, Natasha's finger touched her lips, stuffing the rest of her words back down her throat.
"I didn't say you did anything wrong, Seele."
Seeing Seele quiet down, Natasha withdrew her finger and smiled gently.
"The suggestions you just made are not a problem. The Underworld does need to change, and those are all viable methods..."
"I also know you've grown up and are no longer a little child who knows nothing. I have no intention of scolding you—but Seele, isn't all of this happening a bit too fast?"
As Natasha spoke, she cupped Seele's cheeks, looking her seriously in the eyes.
Seele had changed too much recently.
She was trying every way possible to participate in Wildfire's core decision-making, contributing all her strength to the transformation of the entire Underworld... There was nothing wrong with that. Natasha was also looking forward to Seele's growth.
But Seele was growing up far too quickly... You simply couldn't know what burden she was shouldering to have grown to this point.
Was it hatred? Desire? Or some inexplicable unwillingness that appeared out of nowhere?
Natasha didn't know.
She could only see Seele moving faster and faster, changing from a slightly naive girl into a travel-worn traveler, carrying a heavy burden and pressing forward with all her might. Even if the path ahead was fraught with thorns, she would grit her teeth and crawl through to see the scenery at the end of the road.
But that would only leave a person covered in scars.
"It's not that fast, really..."
Seele subconsciously wanted to turn her head away, but Natasha held it straight, not allowing her to get up and leave.
Looking at Seele's slightly weary eyes, Natasha could see the thick haze buried deep in her heart...
A trace of worry appeared in her magenta eyes as she said earnestly:
"You don't need to grow up so fast... The burden of the Underworld isn't on your shoulders to bear yet, Seele."
She lowered her hands, opened her arms to Seele, and gently hugged her, stroking her head.
"With me standing in front, the things you need to carry are not nearly so many... If you're tired, just stop and rest for a while."
Rest... huh?
Feeling Natasha's warm embrace, Seele's consciousness returned to the afternoons of her childhood—when she wasn't busy, Natasha would hold the children of the orphanage and gently tell them stories from storybooks.
In an instant, she felt as if she had returned to those carefree days, subconsciously wanting to cast away all the trivial matters that brought her pressure and just sink into this gentle haven...
But she couldn't do it.
She couldn't forget the people's wails, the sky obscured by haze, the Corporation's condescending aid, the confusion of walking through a forest of steel...
Even less could she forget the image of Ron, throwing himself like a moth into the gray, extinguishing fires of tribulation for the sake of salvation.
She couldn't stop... If she really stopped, then who would be left to save this world? Bronya?
She couldn't let everyone, filled with hope for the future, walk into despair... She could absolutely not accept such an ending.
Nata is still too soft... She doesn't realize what this world is facing!
With that kind of mentality, it's impossible to save the world!
"...You don't understand anything, Nata."
Seele pushed Natasha away in a fit of pique and turned to walk out of the clinic.
No one could stop her steps, not even Natasha, who was like a mother to her.
The next simulation would determine Ron's allegiance. In order to forge a more accomplished new path, Seele needed to carefully plan her actions based on the intelligence from her simulation memories.
She would not waste time on such meaningless conversations.
Watching Seele's figure fade into an illusion of butterflies and disperse, Natasha shook her head helplessly and sighed.
But soon, the helplessness in her eyes gradually faded, replaced by a determination to give it her all.
"The future of the Underworld isn't yours to bear yet, Seele..."
She murmured to herself, shifting her gaze to the side and skillfully opening a light screen:
[Life Simulation Game has logged in.]
[Welcome, Player Natasha.]
"I am enough."
She was filled with resolve.