[Find the memory anchor, then replace it with yourself.] The Key of Remembrance gave its answer. Seele focused her mind and was about to reach for the Key.
"Wait! Are you an idiot?!" But just then, another voice anxiously appeared. "You don't even know what the consequences will be! And you're rushing to do it?"
Seele's hand did pause for a moment, but then she continued to reach for the book without hesitation.
"I know, but I have to save Bronya-oneechan!"
"What if the side effect is death?! What if you never get to see Big Sister again?!" the voice desperately tried to stop Seele's actions.
"Even so... Seele must do this." Seele was firm. Her life was saved by Bronya-oneechan in the first place. It didn't matter if she gave it back to her now.
"Aaargh! You idiot!!" the voice in Seele's mind screamed in frustration. "Even... even... even if something like that has to happen, it should be me who does it!"
"Huh?" This time, Seele was truly stunned. The next moment, as if realizing something, her paused movement suddenly accelerated, as if she were afraid someone would snatch it away.
"You—!!"
Slap.
The voice stopped abruptly. Seele looked up and stared in disbelief at the person before her.
"Mama Cocolia..." Seele's fears had come true. She looked at Cocolia, who had grabbed her hand, a pleading look in her eyes.
"Don't..."
"I heard." Cocolia wiped the wound at the corner of her mouth and glanced back at Bronya, who was standing still, not pursuing them. "There's a way to have someone replace Bronya, right?"
"Then what's the price?" Cocolia looked down at the Key of Remembrance. The Key slowly turned a page.
[Before activating the ability, the power must be spread over. This will destroy the connection on the target, which means the connection will be severed prematurely.]
Seele's hand trembled. Cocolia narrowed her eyes.
Severing the connection prematurely meant that Bronya would be saved, but the others would very likely die...
To save Bronya-oneechan, she could trade her own life. But if it meant sacrificing the lives of others... Seele really couldn't bring herself to decide the life and death of others like this.
"Any other way?" Cocolia asked, her eyes downcast. Seele could clearly feel Cocolia's grip tighten slightly.
Could it be... Mama Cocolia is really going to...
The Key of Remembrance turned to the next page.
[The casting of the power requires time. Only by starting the coverage at the exact moment the countdown ends can the connection not be severed prematurely. But because the coverage of the power at this level is not instantaneous, so...]
"The time to sever the connections will be staggered no matter what, right?" Seele said the answer, then immediately looked up at Cocolia.
"Mama Cocolia! Let me do it!" Seele wanted to reach for the Key of Remembrance. "Everyone at the orphanage still needs you, but Seele doesn't!"
"What?!" The voice in her mind seemed to crack. "What nonsense are you talking?! How do you think Big Sister will feel when she wakes up and finds you gone?!"
"But everyone really needs Mama Cocolia..." Seele said, gritting her teeth. At this point, she was in no mood to whisper to that voice in her mind.
"Damn it... Hey! I can do it too, right! Then let me! Anyway, only this crybaby knows I exist. I'll do it!"
"No!" Seele exclaimed. "Seele can't let others... because of Bronya-oneechan..."
"She's my Big Sister too, you know?"
"I..."
"Hmph, you can't stop me. As soon as you touch that book, I'll definitely get the authority faster than you!"
"You..."
"Alright, both of you can leave now." The argument, as if no one else were present, ended. Cocolia glanced at Seele, then silently applied force, pulling Seele away from the Key of Remembrance.
"If someone has to die here today, I think it will only be me," Cocolia said, her gaze fixed on Bronya in the distance, her tone as calm as if she weren't discussing life and death.
Suddenly, Seele began to struggle in Cocolia's grasp, struggling with great force. If Cocolia didn't let go, Seele would definitely sprain her wrist.
Startled, Cocolia let go, but not because she was afraid of hurting Seele.
If she could, Cocolia would absolutely not shy away from using force to protect Seele.
But this kind of struggle was something even Bronya and Rozaliya wouldn't do. And Seele had always been a timid, well-behaved girl. She shouldn't be someone who would act like this.
So Cocolia was a little surprised. She thought Seele would obediently leave after she gave the order.
"Seele will be fine!" The first thing Seele did after pulling her hand back was to place it on her chest, doing her best to introduce herself to Cocolia.
"Seele can promise Mama Cocolia! When this is all over, Seele can still talk to Mama Cocolia just like now! Seele can still run, and jump! Nothing will happen to Seele!
"So please let Seele do it! Everything will be fine!"
Cocolia turned back and looked at Seele, frowning slightly.
Seele met Cocolia's gaze without flinching. Her eyes, like the deep sea, made Cocolia lose focus for a moment.
That's right, how could I forget...
When I found this child in the refugee camp in Estonia, among so many people, only this child would meet my gaze... That was a courage so many people lacked...
Even Sin Mal and Bronya would subconsciously avoid her sharp gaze when they first met her.
"Is that so..." Cocolia closed her eyes. She had never been the one to end such a staring contest, not even when Shu was pressuring her. She had never looked away.
Seeing this, Seele's eyes flickered slightly.
In Seele's world of consciousness, the figure hidden in the darkness looked at the Seele standing in the sunlight, gently closed her eyes, a bitter yet gratified look on her face.
That's right... if I do this, no one will be hurt. Big Sister can be saved, Mother can continue to take care of the orphanage, and the crybaby won't be hurt...
"But—" Cocolia's tone suddenly changed.
Her question left both Seeles stunned.
"After this is over, will the one standing before me still be you? Or... do you think Bronya won't be able to tell the difference between you and the other Seele?"