"Bronya? Are you okay? Why do you look like your soul just left your body?"
Elias looked at the suddenly dispirited Bronya with concern. Her empty, hopeless gaze reminded him of the Bronya from her days as a child soldier.
"...Papa Elias, do you think Bronya still has a chance to grow?"
Bronya placed a hand over her chest, visibly dejected.
Though she was technically still in her growth period, the complete lack of development at her age deeply troubled her.
Papa Elias liked big ones.
But she was still so small.
And they all ate the same food every day—so how had Seele already started to develop? Just the other day, she'd even asked Bronya if she should start shopping for bras.
(Seele... even you betrayed me? If you're so troubled about it, maybe let your big sister share the burden with you... Bronya would gladly take some of that off your hands.)
"Uh, Bronya, are you hoping to get bigger?"
Elias raised a brow, asking carefully.
"...No."
Out of pride, Bronya denied it.
She stared darkly at the game screen, at all the charming, curvy onee-san-type characters her beloved Papa Elias had chosen.
"Those things are just lumps of fat. Completely useless in combat—just a burden. Bronya doesn't envy them at all. Doesn't want that at all."
(The bigger the bust... the worse the girl.)
"Ah... is that really how you feel?"
"Yes. That is what Bronya believes."
The girl who always met his eyes now silently turned away—clearly lying.
Elias fought to keep the corners of his mouth from twitching upward, forcing a troubled expression.
"Ah~ that's a problem. At this rate, Bronya's going to grow into the exact kind of woman she claims to hate."
"Huh? What do you mean, Papa Elias?"
Bronya's eyes widened, full of confusion and cautious hope.
Could it be that Papa Elias thought her future still had potential?
"I mean it literally. One day, our little Bronya will become a curvy, stunning beauty. I just hope you won't hate yourself when that happens."
He reached up and gave her head a fond pat.
Internally, Elias mused that Bronya's future would one day prove the riddle of 50000—something even he couldn't, and wouldn't, interfere with.
Honestly, she was worrying about this way too early. Think about a certain 50,000-year-old flat immortal who hasn't grown a bit—and she's not worried at all.
(Fu Hua: Ki fist forward threateningly)
"Papa, do you have any actual proof?" Bronya asked, breath slightly quickened.
"Proof? My word is proof. If I say Bronya will grow, then she will. Think about it—have I ever lied to you?"
"...No, but it would be more reassuring if there were real evidence. Ahem, I mean—it would be more convincing."
"..."
Elias said nothing, simply smiling.
Truth be told, if he really wanted to, he could instantly give her the body of a fully matured Bronya.
Even with just the fragment authority of the Herrscher of Death, he could revive the dead, reconstruct flesh, manipulate biological cells, and evolve himself continuously.
It wouldn't even be hard to help current Bronya grow into her post-Honkai self—physically, at least.
But Elias thought... some things should be left to nature.
There was no need to rush things unnaturally.
Eventually, Bronya Zaychik would have her share of shoulder pain. Better to enjoy her current light and nimble freedom while she still could.
"What's wrong? Bronya, you still don't believe me?"
"...No. Bronya believes in Papa Elias."
"You totally don't believe me. Alright then—how about we make a bet?"
"Betting against Papa Elias is extremely foolish. Bronya knows this very well. But... no matter what Papa wants to bet on, Bronya will accept."
"Good. Bronya's got courage."
Elias nodded approvingly and even clapped for her bravery.
(After all, whether she wins or loses, it's still a reward for Bronya.) she thought privately.
Elias probably didn't fully realize how much the girls at the House of the Hearth adored him.
Even the most reserved ones considered becoming Elias' wife their ultimate dream.
Bronya was no exception. Compared to that, even her dream of becoming a game designer felt insignificant.
If she had to choose between being Elias' wife or a high-ranking executive at Mihoyo, Bronya would choose the former without hesitation.
As for the more extreme ones...
Sin Mal now treated being punished by Elias as a kind of reward.
And Dark Seele... well, that crazy girl was a whole different level of yandere-tsundere danger.
If it weren't for the constant suppression from White Seele and Elias' own strength, Bronya truly feared Dark Seele might one day drag Elias into a dark room to do all kinds of terrible things.
"So, Papa Elias, what's the bet?"
"Isn't it obvious? Since Bronya doesn't believe in her own potential, let's bet on how attractive you'll be in the future. Let's see... Ah, this one!"
Elias browsed the character gallery, tapped twice on a mature, glamorous onee-san character, and showed it to Bronya.
"Within ten years, I bet Bronya will grow up to be even more charming than her. Deal?"
"No problem. Bronya accepts the bet. But what should we wager?"
Bronya peeked at the character—a curvaceous, striking beauty—and felt like she had this in the bag!
(There's no way I'll look like that in ten years. At this rate, it's pure fantasy... Ugh, how depressing.)
Even reaching half that would feel like a miracle.
"As for the wager... let's say this—if, ten years from now, you haven't grown to be more attractive than her, then I lose. And if no one wants you then, I'll take responsibility."
"Deal. Bronya will remember that!"
She closed her eyes happily, already imagining herself still flat ten years later, walking into a chapel hand-in-hand with Papa Elias.
Elias knocked her gently on the head, smiling wryly. This girl really had no faith in herself. And besides, they hadn't even settled her half of the bet yet.
"And what about you, Bronya? If you do end up becoming a breathtaking beauty, just as I predicted?"
"Then Bronya will take responsibility for Papa Elias!"
"Pfft! Haha—hahahahaha! cough cough"
She answered without hesitation, and Elias laughed so hard he nearly choked.
The bet, in effect, was the same either way—one of them would take responsibility for the other.
Bronya wore a rare mischievous smile. It was her subtle way of expressing feelings she didn't have the courage to confess directly.
She had expected Elias to reject it.
But to her surprise—he actually accepted.
"Hahaha, alright, sounds good! If Bronya really turns into a bombshell like that, you better take responsibility for me, okay? Hehe~ this bet feels like I'm winning either way."
"Papa Elias, you really agreed to it?"
"Why not? A deal this sweet—I'd be a fool to pass it up. Bronya, you better not regret it."
"Bronya will never regret it! Wait, wait—we need to formally record this bet! Audio recording! Better yet, let's draft a contract!"
Bronya was practically floating with joy.
She never expected Elias to actually accept such a ridiculous wager. Whether she won or lost, she felt like she'd already come out on top. Papa Elias now belonged to Bronya.
Now, she just had to wait ten years—and then head straight to the civil affairs bureau to register their marriage!
Both of them felt like they got the better end of the deal. In a way, it really was mutual.
After that, Elias and Bronya didn't just game all day. Though a self-confessed hardcore gamer, Bronya could still manage herself. After a while, she suggested they go out for some fresh air and a change of scenery.
VROOOOOOM—!!
Elias revved up a high-powered motorcycle, the two of them roaring down the Siberian coast with sea breeze in their hair.
He was riding a BMW S1000RR superbike, which he had "borrowed" from a mission site the previous night. With its four-stroke inline-four water-cooled engine, it could exceed 300 km/h.
Elias had long noticed Bronya's interest in his bikes. He would have loved to gift her one, but unfortunately, she wasn't old enough yet.
Though traffic laws in Siberia weren't particularly strict, it was still best to wait a few more years. For now, Bronya was limited to those kiddie rides in neon colors.
Elias: "You can't have your license revoked if you never had one—but driving without one is still a big no-no."
Bronya: "...Fine. When Bronya grows up, I'll get my own bike! And then I'll challenge Papa Elias to a race!"
Elias felt proud—Bronya was really starting to dream big these days. First it was game design, now a biker dream too.
Still, she really underestimated her future.
Not only would Bronya ride a motorcycle, but after several license suspensions in the future, she'd even pilot a mecha.
"Alright~ once you're ready, I'll take you on any course you want. But you better hone your skills, Bronya. Don't fall behind my 'Speedster.'"
"Guh, that's going to be a real challenge... but Bronya will give it her all!"
With Elias' dynamic vision and reflexes, he could zip through congested roads without ever easing off the throttle. Bronya felt immense pressure—being his daughter was seriously tough.
After some exhilarating riding, they returned home with several new plush Homu dolls in Bronya's arms—gifts from Elias, of course.
"Bronya, do you really like that yellow bunny thing... I mean, Homu? You always ask for the same gift."
"Yes. Bronya really likes Homu."
She squished its round face fondly.
The dumb-cute expression was exactly her taste.
Elias didn't underestimate this yellow bunny either.
Back when Anti-Entropy was poor and struggling, it was Welt Yang's comic, "Homu's Great Adventure," that unexpectedly became a massive hit and funded the organization for a while.
Probably, even the lazy Anti-Entropy leader himself didn't expect that a comic he casually drew would end up this successful.
A certain well-known launcher of questionable decisions had even misappropriated St. Freya Academy's funds more than once—for the sake of that yellow bunny.
"So, Bronya, is there a reason you like Homu so much?" Elias asked curiously. (For the record, his favorite yellow creature was a certain electric mouse, not a bunny.)
"Yes. Aside from Homu being really cute, the biggest reason is... the first gift Papa Elias ever gave me was a Homu."
"Eh? Ah—now that you mention it, I remember. I can't believe you still do too."
Elias chuckled, and the memory came flooding back.
He had once placed a gun and a Homu plush in front of Bronya, asking her to choose what kind of future she wanted. She chose the latter, and that decision changed her life.
That original Homu plush wasn't anything fancy—not a limited edition or expensive—but it was the one Bronya cherished most.
For a while, she carried it everywhere. Even now, it stayed carefully placed next to her pillow, where she hugged it to sleep every night.
"Back then, after you made your choice, you asked me if you chose correctly. And I told you—only your future self can answer that. So, Bronya... do you think you chose right?"
"Yes. Bronya made the right choice—the most important one in her life."
She nodded firmly.
Looking back, she was certain her life changed tracks at that moment—from a hellish path to one toward happiness.
The two of them spent the entire day together doing everything Bronya had always dreamed of. Playing games with Elias. Riding along the coast on a motorcycle. Wandering through unfamiliar streets hand-in-hand.
It was the perfect date she'd always wished for.
"This place is beautiful. I wish Seele and the others could see it too."
"Yeah. Bronya, you've truly become a dependable big sister now. While I'm away, take good care of everyone at House of the Hearth, okay?"
"Mm. Bronya will do her best."
She interpreted his words as referring to his usual absences during missions. So, she agreed readily.
What she didn't yet know…
Was that the time for parting was drawing near.
Elias gently patted her head, his eyes flicking toward a system interface only he could see. His time remaining in this timeline wasn't much.
Just about one month left.
His time travel wasn't permanent. But compared to others like Sirin, Bronya and the girls of House of the Hearth were lucky.
They'd only need to wait a single year to reunite with the Elias of their original timeline.
And when that timeline aligned, he would return not as the mature, nearing-thirty man they knew now—but as an 18-year-old boy in his prime.
Age gaps and the perceived 'father-daughter' dynamic would no longer matter. Then, Bronya and Seele could legally and properly enter a new kind of relationship.
"Well then, we still have a little time left today. Let's enjoy every last second."
"Mm! Just for today, Bronya will ignore all of House of the Hearth's rules—do whatever I want!"
Curfews? Bedtime before 10 PM? Forget all that.
She and Elias played, laughed, and treasured every moment until the clock struck midnight.
Unlike Cinderella's fleeting magic, their bond wouldn't vanish with the chime of a clock.
Because to them, every second spent with someone important was more precious than gold.
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