Honkai: Man(Sludge) From Future

There was very little Bronya could actually do, and it was directly related to her own abilities.

Unlike Otto, Durandal, Rita, and Old Yang, who all possessed sufficient combat power from the start, and even excellent organizational and management skills, Bronya was different. She clearly lacked these skills that were honed through training. No matter how well she could imitate them, she couldn't organize the Academy City Judgement force.

This was a key reason why Bronya focused on wielding the powers she was best at, and delegated the rest to others.

She wasn't Kiana; she couldn't borrow the power of the Stigma Matriarch to bind all users of Stigma battlesuits. That was a platform of rule designed by Noldrei himself specifically for Kiana.

Bronya, at best, was just a minor concubine. How could she receive such special treatment?

But Bronya was a content girl. All she needed was to know that she had brought Seele back.

Even if it meant giving up her work with Judgement...

No, that wouldn't do. If she gave up her job with Judgement, how would she find a place with a good internet connection to play games?

"Seele, when I take you back, you'll get to meet the Olenyeva sisters. You have no idea, the Olenyeva sisters' fans have all been stolen by an outsider. Her name is Benares, a pseudo-humanoid Honkai Beast, and she's the brightest idol in Academy City right now. Mama Cocolia is there too, but she's not a good person..."

"Anyway, everyone is living well in Academy City. Of course, there are some strange people too. Seele, if you go out to play, you must tell me in advance. You absolutely cannot interact with people from unknown origins. Understand?"

Bronya was genuinely worried about Seele encountering unsavory characters. She thought about the changes in Academy City over the past year, especially the countless quirky little shops in Nagazora City that sold body modification organs.

While the outside world was still arguing about which skin color was orthodox, Academy City had already started offering organ upgrades.

Recently, they even released some new liver products, specifically for people who enjoyed binge eating and drinking to do so without worry.

'It's too terrifying! Seele! Seele! How are you going to live in the future?!'

Thinking about Seele's future education, Bronya grew even more worried, not knowing what to do.

'Maybe I should just let Seele become a little pony and stay at home? But didn't even Ana go to school just fine? Or maybe I could send her to St. Freya? I hear the management there is relatively reasonable and conservative.'

'Wait! What am I thinking? Why did I have the idea of turning Seele into a little pony? Why do I want to see what kind of little pony Seele would become?'

The realization of her own thoughts startled Bronya. She immediately concluded that she must have been tainted by Noldrei's plague, that he must have used some kind of black magic on her.

"I know, Bronya-oneechan... I want to go back and see everyone first. I'm already so happy to be back in the real world. I just want to live happily with everyone. It would be even better if we all grow old together..."

Seele looked forward to the future, excited for her new life.

'Ah, this... I...'

Bronya herself had already become a little pony. In terms of a normal lifespan, Bronya could outlive many generations. The Olenyeva sisters had become something akin to MANTISes, and there was no telling how long they would live.

It seemed only Sin Mal might die a little earlier. What? Just her?

'Then let her die!'.

Little Bronya's mood instantly brightened. As for that jerk Sin, she could just pretend she didn't exist.

Bronya would live for so long that she could see off the old lady Sin in her cute little loli form. The thought of it was as refreshing as drinking an ice-cold cola in summer.

Her only concern was Seele. She just didn't know how long Seele, who had been transformed by the Sea of Quanta, could live.

'Maybe, by then, none of us will be able to grow old...'

"Seele, with your current body, you could easily live for tens of thousands of years. Not just you, even the Olenyeva sisters and Bronya might live for who knows how long in these forms."

The thought that she might never grow into a big-breasted beauty pained Bronya deeply, but having Seele by her side wasn't a bad thing either.

Amidst Bronya and Seele's chatter, the Schicksal floating battleship that had been stationed there for some time transported them to Academy City.

Academy City had finally welcomed its true behind-the-scenes controller of Judgement.

Who knew that the moment Seele stepped off the battleship and onto the streets of Academy City, she would feel such a strange and powerful impact.

["Hey, coward, what's going on?! There's a sign over there that openly says 'Nintendo Brand New Uterus'! Is that really something that can be bought and sold?!"]

Veliona was shocked. She had thought Bronya was already a standout among humans. The act of pulling a friend into work after rescuing her was truly a rare sight.

But she had never imagined that this real world would seem even more bizarre than those twisted Bubble Universes.

Seele had never experienced such a scene. Her already pale face turned even whiter with fear, and she tightly gripped Bronya's hand.

"Don't worry, Seele, these are all legitimate businesses. They're specifically for people in Academy City who are infertile."

As soon as Bronya finished speaking, a burly "man" came out of the shop. She said happily, "Thanks, boss! That was an amazing experience. I'm going home to try it out with my boyfriend right now!"

"Come again! Be sure to come back when we get new products in!"

"Definitely!"

Seele watched in shock as the muscular woman and the shop owner conversed. She could no longer make sense of what was happening.

"That... that man?" Seele cautiously pointed at the person leaving and asked, "Bronya-oneechan, is what he said true?"

"Seele! How can you just assume someone's gender?! Can't a woman who looks like a man just exist? She just likes to work out, what's wrong with that? Seele, you shouldn't say things like that in the future, it's rude, you know?"

Bronya earnestly explained the situation to Seele.

Academy City was too open and free. She was genuinely worried about corrupting Seele.

"This... that...?!".

Seele's mind was numb. She couldn't understand how the world had changed so much in the few years she was gone.

["I say, what if this isn't your world? It's not impossible that there's a Bronya who also lost another Seele, right?"]

Veliona's mind was sharp, and her words completely stunned Seele.

'What? You're saying Bronya-oneechan... isn't Seele's Bronya-oneechan?!'

The shock of that statement was immense. How sad would little Bronya be if she found out?