Chat Group: Starting by Body Swapping with Elysia? - Chapter 137 Part 1

Chapter 137: In the Name of Truth

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When those words “Auntie Misteln” rang in her ears, Misteln herself was somewhat dazed.

Looking at that tender face that was so incredibly similar to an old friend, the countless words brewing in her chest suddenly couldn’t find a single appropriate phrase to use at this moment.

After being stunned for a moment, a wave of panic arose spontaneously.

“No, you can’t! You can’t! You can’t get this close to me!”

Although being able to see Alexandra’s daughter up close at such a distance made her very happy, Misteln, who knew exactly what kind of curse she carried, felt more fear than joy at this moment.

Bearing the name of ‘Salvation,’ she had already caused the deaths of too many innocent lives, but only for the child before her — Alexandra’s daughter Bronya Zaychik — she absolutely, absolutely did not want the other party to perish because of the curse she carried.

It was precisely because of this that Misteln had never thought of meeting Bronya face to face.

But now, ‘she’ had appeared before her.

“Auntie Misteln, you don’t need to be so panicked.”

Looking at Misteln who kept backing away, the silver-haired girl who saw through her thoughts smiled and spread open one palm.

“Honkai Energy cannot kill a Herrscher, can it?”

As a Living Stigmata, the Ideal Form that was formed, from the moment Misteln was born into reality, she would continuously emit massive amounts of Honkai Energy. This massive Honkai Energy would not only cause machines to be corroded and break down, but even most Honkai Beasts composed of Honkai Energy couldn’t withstand it.

But—

Such a thing was meaningless to a Herrscher.

As supernatural life forms created by The Cocoon, Herrschers and Honkai Energy were like fish and water. No amount of Honkai Energy could harm a true Herrscher; instead, it would make them stronger.

“Look.”

Descending from Project Bunny’s grasp and floating to Misteln’s side, 【Bronya】 took the initiative to cup the hands of this ‘girl’ who resembled Cecilia so much, looking at the somewhat panicked Misteln with that face so incredibly similar to Alexandra, wearing a brilliant smile.

Becoming a Herrscher didn’t mean changing anything. At least, the warmth transmitted through those hands was still the same as any ordinary person, as was the sincere emotion contained within.

“…”

Just like Alexandra back then, feeling that warm sensation, Misteln at this moment only felt her eye sockets moisten — though not human but a Stigmata, she shouldn’t understand human emotions, let alone cry. But after that, having recorded countless people’s information and countless people’s stories, having experienced countless emotions, Misteln, after this long time, once again encountered a second person who could approach and touch her. Like a miracle, she shed tears.

“It seems you have a lot you want to say to me.”

“Mm.”

With an extremely unfriendly attitude toward Gray Serpent, but treating the girl before her, Misteln’s voice was incomparably gentle.

They sat shoulder to shoulder at the bow of the ship.

The defeat of Chiyou seemed to symbolize the departure of disaster. The originally turbulent sea surface became incredibly calm at this moment. The afterglow of the setting sun fell on the two sitting shoulder to shoulder, creating an incredibly beautiful landscape painting.

Although it was strange why Bronya would know her, why she would know about Alexandra — after all, according to Gray Serpent, Alexandra had died not long after Bronya was born, and the young Ducky who hadn’t yet formed memories naturally couldn’t know about her — Misteln didn’t ask such tactless questions, but quietly enjoyed this tranquility that belonged to just the two of them.

Looking at the sparkling sea surface, Misteln sighed:

“You really are very much like Alexandra.”

“Really?”

“Mm.”

“After all, she’s 【Bronya】’s mom, so it’s not strange to be similar.”

Misteln didn’t notice the emphasis the girl placed on her self-reference.

Then, they fell into a long silence.

Until the silver-haired girl took the initiative to break this tranquility:

“Don’t you plan to say anything else to me?”

“You should still have a lot you want to say, right?”

Although Jiang Qiao didn’t mind giving this somewhat pitiful ‘little aunt’ the care and companionship of a niece, if they were just going to remain silent like this, it would be rather too boring.

“There are many things I want to say. In the past, I fantasized about being able to see you with my own eyes, then chat with you about a whole bunch of things regarding your mother, and of course… your own experiences over these years. But when I truly see you, although I really do have many things I want to say, I feel very confused at this moment, not knowing what exactly I should say.”

“Is this human emotion? I’m clearly not human, and although I have indeed recorded countless emotions, experiencing them myself now, I still can’t understand them at all.” Misteln lightly tapped the ship’s hull with her delicate feet, her expression filled with bewilderment and helplessness.

“Mm, after all, human emotions are such complex yet incredibly interesting things.”

“However, if it were 【Bronya】’s mother, she would definitely cover her mouth and laugh, saying: ‘You actually think about so many things? Emotions are things that even the person experiencing them can’t figure out, aren’t they?'”

The girl pinched her throat, imitating how this body’s mother would speak just like a certain famous toaster, and the way she did it was so lifelike that it made Misteln cover her mouth and laugh out loud:

“Pfft… That’s definitely something Alexandra would say.”

The two chatted for a long time, until the sky had grown somewhat dark, before 【Bronya】 slowly stood up.

“I should go.”

“Mm.”

Although somewhat reluctant, Misteln knew that the two of them ultimately couldn’t stay together forever. Using a phrase passed down in Shenzhou — there is no banquet under heaven that does not end.

“Must you really do that? I have other methods that can help you solve the problem you’re carrying.”

Misteln was stunned for a moment, but the next moment she understood the meaning behind the girl’s words.

To solve this ‘curse,’ she had been seeking true death. Gray Serpent had promised her this, and the price was — the disappearance of this initial will called Misteln.

But for Jiang Qiao, this curse was not something difficult to remove.

The Living Stigmata was ultimately just a form of life. As long as he obtained the authority of life and death that could redefine DNA blueprints — Abyss Flower or the Gem of Serenity — he could reweave Misteln’s life and remove the harmful components.

Even without facing death, the curse could be lifted. This was the promise Jiang Qiao offered.

But—

“No, that kind of result is also what I seek.”