Fate's Slave - Shadow Slave X Honkai Star Rail

After discussing their plans to defeat Cocolia in case of a fight, Sunny went through his runes as he thought about what Memories he could use against the Supreme Guardian. Naturally, Saint would would be key due to her immunity to mind and soul attacks. He could also give her the Everwinter Night, which would grant her a large boost in power due to the frigid environment.

And when his augmentations were added into the equation... was Cocolia not much of a threat in the first place?

Considering that they now had an idea on what her Flaw was — although it could be wrong — things were starting to seem quite straightforward.

Sunny blinked as he sensed two shadows approaching them. Sending Haughty out to see who it is, the shadow moved quickly through the tunnels of the Great Mine as it rapidly approached the incoming individuals.

Once Sunny found them, he simply sighed as he called Haughty back. A couple minutes later, Seele returned with an old man with silver hair and a mechanical left arm — one who he had a fair guess about the identity of. He had an easygoing smile on his face, but his eyes spoke of a long, difficult life.

Seele spoke as she walked over to them.

”Sorry I’m late. Some guys were injured, so I had to help them get back to the camp...”

Ignoring her unnecessary apology, Sunny used his shadows to size up the old man. He looked from head to toe, shoulder to shoulder, hand to mechanical hand... before turning to the man himself.

Frowning, Sunny spoke in a skeptical tone.

”You’re Seele’s boss, right? Why are you so hard to find?”

In reality, it was quite obvious that he was talking to Oleg. Still, Sunny wanted to hear it for himself.

The chief of Wildfire heartily laughed at his words. Sunny couldn’t find what was so funny about it, but maybe people on Belobog had some inside jokes he wouldn’t know about.

Making eye contact with Seele — who was viciously glaring at him — they had a silent conversation, unseen to all others.

’Why are you being so sassy?!’

Sunny gave her a confident smirk.

’Just staking my claim! After all, Seele, you are a filthy two-timer!’

She blinked in confusion, her thoughts conveying:

’...Do I even want to know?’

With a look of pity, he replied:

’You’ll find out whether you want to or not. Best prepare yourself!’

With a gremlin-like inner laugh, Sunny’s face returned to a more serious disposition as Oleg’s laughter died out.

”Heh, That’s quite the tone to take on our first meeting. I won’t forget you in a hurry.”

...Sunny wasn’t sure if that was a compliement, but he had plenty to say to this senior citizen... were Underworlders considered citizens?

Shaking off such thoughts, he said:

”Although you seem like a nice guy, I have to inform you that from now on, you’re Seele’s former boss! She works for me now!”

With a smug smile, Sunny continued.

”To put it simply, her talents are best used in my employment. Not only could I make better use of her, but I could also provide for her financially...”

And so, Sunny continued to ramble about how he was the superior employer; worker benefits, tax reductions — it was actually tax evasion — although he wasn’t sure if Seele paid taxes to anyone. He had even offered to help reconstruct the Underworld from the ground up using his generous funds.

’There really is nobody more generous than me!’

All the while, Oleg simply stood there with an amiable smile on his face.

”...So, is there anything that you could offer her that I can’t?”

Sunny noticed that besides Oleg, everyone seemed especially annoyed. However, this was important! He couldn’t lose such an important asset to a business rival!

If he couldn’t win over a single subordinate, how was he going to make the world submit!

After an excruciatingly long pause, Oleg stared directly at Sunny, a serious expression on his face as he opened his mouth.

”A family.”

A deafening silence echoed across the vast expanse of the Great Mine. A few moments passed, before a collective thought invaded four out of the five youths present.

’So corny...’

If one were to look closely, they could tell that Oleg was suppressing a laugh.

Sunny blinked once. He blinked twice. He blankly stared at Oleg for a second, before looking down at the floor with a hand covering his mouth as he dove deep within his thoughts. For some reason, those words reminded him of something.

’A family. Seele. Seele. A family...’

How did one start a family again?

Sunny froze for a moment, his pale complexion blanching to an inhuman degree as his face contorted into a horrified expression. He looked towards Seele’s stomach for a few seconds, before looking at her confused face.

”...Sunny?”

At the mention of his name, Sunny gulped. He formulated his words as he tried to get his mind straight.

’I shouldn’t ask her in public, right? At the same time, I should have been told as soon as possible... this involves me after all!’

Sweat trickled down his face. Feeling the compulsion of his Flaw — which seemed to apply to even untold questions like this, as long as he understood what she meant — he hesitantly asked:

”...Seele, come with me for a minute.”

Racing against the building pressure of his Flaw, Sunny made sure to have this private conversation... privately.

***

”So... what do you think they’re talking about?”

March asked in curiosity.

For some reason, Sunny had seemed distraught about something, which had caused him to pull Miss Seele away to tunnel.

Dan Heng shrugged in response.

’What’s the point of having a nerd if he can’t even answer your questions?’

He turned towards Oleg, who was looking in the direction that the two had went in with a curious glint in his eyes.

”We actually came here because we have a request for Wildfire.”

***

After a long-winded explanation about the situation in Belobog, Oleg wore a thoughtful expression.

”Ho-ho, well this is new. Wildfire can barely take care of the Underworld, and now outsiders are looking for assistance from us.”

The man paused for a moment.

”This ’Stellaron’ you speak of — I’ve never heard of it. But if it’s a secret that even we locals don’t know about, then one name does come to mind...”

Slightly frowning, Dan Heng inquired about who he was referring to.

”...Do you mean Cocolia?”

Oleg sighed, suddenly seeming as if he aged another decade.

”The current Supreme Guardian is a liar who uses sweet words to deceive the Underworld. She’s never cared about our survival—”

Bronya interrupted him.

”Stop right there... I... won’t allow you to insult the Madam Guardian.”

Dan Heng narrowed his eyes at her inconsistent behavior. One moment, she tells them her mothers Flaw knowing fully well that they might have to kill her, then she defends her over some accusations.

’Is she planning to betray us?’

Maybe she had lied to them and spread misinformation, giving them a major disadvantage during a conflict as they would prepare for a completely different set of abilities.

He sighed.

’No... I shouldn’t assume anything without real evidence. That’s her mother... of course she would be angry if someone insulted her.’

...But if that was the case, why would she assist her mother’s possible killers? Dan Heng didn’t have one, but he would assume that people wouldn’t normally do that.

Oleg shook his head at Bronya’s words.

”Miss Overworld, my words may be painful to you, but every one of them is true. Go out into the towns and hear for yourself — see how the people here suffer.”

Bronya went silent, visibly distraught at his words.

Oleg continued:

”I haven’t gotten close to voicing the extent of the Underworld’s grievances, young lady. But I will respect your request. I will leave it at that, for now. Let’s get back to the main topic. The name that came to my mind, was Svarog.”

March blinked.

”Huh...!? Isn’t Svarog Wildfire’s sworn enemy?”

Dan Heng was also quite confused.

”Why would a mere robot in the Underworld have knowledge of important secrets?”

Oleg chuckled in response.

”Sworn enemy? Not how I see it. The young master here is closer. Svarog is a cold and unfeeling machine. He recognizes only the dead reasoning of his calculations. Svarog is not against Wildfire... or perhaps I should say: Wildfire isn’t even of concern to him. That ancient robot witnessed the war... If you’re looking to pick up a thread... he may well be your best source.”

As Dan Heng thought about it, he realized that Oleg was referring to the war with the Antimatter Legion. But didn’t that happen centuries ago?

”Is Svarog really that old? He doesn’t show any signs of decay typical for a robot...”

March shook her head in disappointment.

”Don’t judge a book by its cover. I myself have put a few centuries behind me. Would you be able to tell?”

Dan Heng deadpanned.

”I’m familiar with over twenty long-life species — none of them look like you.”

She scowled.

”Hey! Would it kill you to play along?”

Oleg interrupted their banter with a cough.

”Robots don’t forget. If Svarog hasn’t heard of your Stellaron, then I’m afraid perhaps no one has.”

Dan Heng frowned. It wouldnt be easy to talk to the robot.

”In which case, we need to think of a way to convince Svarog to communicate with us.”

March stayed silent for a moment, before adding:

”Or get him to hand over his memory bank. We could go through it ourselves.”

Dan Heng stared at her blankly for a second, before thinking:

’Is everyone around me insane? Was peace never an option to begin with?’

Oleg hummed as he thought about the situation.

”We’ve tried repeatedly to negotiate with Svarog, but he rejects every effort. He believes that Wildfire is a threat. Still, if it were you guys... It’s difficult to say. We have time. Let’s get into the detail tomorrow. It’s late, and you must’ve been through a lot. Go back to the town and rest. I’ll make arrangements.”

Dan Heng unconsciously flinched as he recalled what had happened the last time they had an arranged rest on this planet. Based on March’s expression, it seemed that she shared the same sentiment.

The man turned towards Bronya.

”As for our Silvermane girl here... do you have time? I’d like to talk with you in private.”

As Oleg and Bronya left to talk privately, Dan Heng spotted Sunny and Seele approaching them. The two seemed a little... out of sorts.

Sunny had a blank expression on his face, that was strangely accompanied by a bright red handprint.

Seele, on the other hand, had a scowl on her face. Based on the context clues, Dan Heng could safely assume that Sunny had said something that she didn’t like.

’How typical...’