The Quiet Fallen Angel

"Brother Yu Feng, why does Kosma's voice sound a bit blue? His voice is always so low."

The young painter asked the young man who was examining the portrait she had painted of himself.

The young man snapped out of his reverie, a mischievous smile playing on his lips. He said, "Because Kosma is always insecure; he hesitates and thinks for ages before he speaks!"

As the young painter watched the colors of the young man become more vibrant, she asked, "Then how can we make Kosma more confident?"

"That's easy. Just say to him, 'Roar, Kosma,' and he'll perk up," the young man said with a smile. "Next time you see him looking insecure and hesitant, just say that to him."

The recollection ends.

Zhu Yufeng stared at the ceiling, utterly bewildered that Griseo would regain her memories at this crucial moment. Was his reset ability a bit too absurd? Of course, it was also possible that Griseo originally possessed memories, but had been reset back to an infant state, resulting in temporary amnesia...

"Pfft..." Kevin was the first to break down, looking at Kosma and laughing, "Looks like Griseo thinks you're speaking too softly, hahaha..."

Hen couldn't hold back either, patting Kosma on the shoulder and saying, "Oh dear, since little Griseo has said so, you'd better stand up straight from now on, and don't always have little Griseo reminding you."

Kosma: "..."

(Judging from Feng's expression, did Feng teach her that? Why would Feng teach Griseo that phrase? And I remember last time, as Griseo's guardian, because I still had prejudices against Feng's actions, I never let Feng see Griseo. How did he teach Griseo that phrase?)

Zhu Yufeng, who was being looked at by Kosma with a resentful expression, almost laughed. Kosma, you have a problem too!

Well done, Griseo! I haven't spoiled you for nothing!

In a good mood, Zhu Yufeng looked at Griseo and said with a smile, "Griseo, I'm your Brother Yu Feng ~"

"Brother Yu Feng, hug me." Griseo, who was being held in Blanca's arms, stretched out her hands.

Kosma: "???"

(What's going on? Judging from the current situation, Griseo should have memories, so why would she want Feng Yi to hold her? Or did Feng Yi look for Griseo when I wasn't paying attention?)

Zhu Yufeng was also stunned. He looked at Griseo to make sure he hadn't misheard, but Griseo kept blinking and staring at him, her hand still outstretched.

"It seems little Griseo likes you a lot." Blanca smiled as she walked up to Zhu Yufeng. "Then let's grant her wish and give her a hug, Feng?"

All that time spent teaching Griseo was definitely worthwhile. I told her that Maple also had a share in her name, and that the paintbrush she received as a birthday present last time was from Maple. Come to think of it, little Griseo really loves to draw; she's been using the paintbrush Maple gave her all this time.

Whether you can bring Dr. Mobius and Maple together in the future depends on you! I'll let you come to Dr. Mobius's lab often from now on. Good luck, little Griseo!

"I... don't know how to hold a baby," Zhu Yufeng said. He really didn't know how, or rather, he had never held such a young child before. The youngest child he had ever held was Astaroth, and judging from her age, Astaroth was only one year younger than Rin. Moreover... he met Astaroth during the Eighth Herrscher Incident.

"It's okay, you'll have to learn it sooner or later anyway," Hen offered a helping hand. "Learn it now, it'll come in handy someday, won't it?"

First, let little Griseo get close to Maple, then teach little Griseo how to matchmake Maple and Elysia, or have Maple and Elysia help take care of Griseo together, wouldn't that be perfect? Wow, he's such a genius.

"Brother Yu Feng, you're lying." Little Griseo pouted, seemingly a little unhappy.

Hen and Blanca both looked at Griseo, then exchanged a glance. Little Griseo seemed unusually lively these days; she used to always have a bewildered expression, with her demeanor rarely changing.

Elysia looked at Zhu Yufeng. Clearly, Griseo wouldn't lie, meaning Feng really would hold a child? When? Would this blockhead of his voluntarily hold a child? The only possibility is that he might have held one during a rescue mission, but if Lilith were there, he would most likely have stood by and watched someone die. How did Griseo know that?

Mobius looked at Zhu Yufeng with a thoughtful expression. If she remembered correctly, the quiet Fallen Angel Astaroth among the Thirteen Fallen Angels had a good relationship with Griseo. They had met before. Astaroth had written stories for Griseo, and Griseo had drawn portraits of Astaroth. In other words, this must have been what Astaroth told Griseo.

Under everyone's gaze, Zhu Yufeng felt somewhat helpless. He could only carefully take Griseo from Blanca's hand and then look at Hen and Blanca, asking, "And then?"

"Holding the baby like this will make them more comfortable, remember that!" Blanca instructed enthusiastically.

Hen chimed in, "Yes, yes, that's right, you learn very quickly."

Zhu Yufeng: "..."

Holding a child—he had indeed thought about that scene a long time ago, but now he had come to terms with it. And realistically speaking, he probably wouldn't have that opportunity, unless Lilith or the Vill-V the Wicked succeeded someday... Also, why did he feel that although the couple was doing the same thing, they didn't have the same goal?

He looked down at little Griseo, who was quietly nestled in his arms. He finally remembered that Astaroth and Griseo had a good relationship. He had indeed held Astaroth before. So, was it something to brag about when the children were talking?

Where does this unwarranted competitive mentality come from?

And Kosma, stop staring at me like that. Your hesitant expression is easy to misunderstand.

(Griseo, is she really that close to Kaede? When did this happen...?)

"Alright, alright, now the Present everyone's here, let's make the cake!" Blanca said with a smile.

Logically speaking, Griseo's birthday should have been a very happy occasion, with everyone participating. However, Zhu Yufeng felt that Kosma's gaze towards him was strange.

After the birthday party ended, the children's energy was easily exhausted. Seeing that little Griseo looked sleepy, Blanca took Griseo to rest first, while Hen was left behind to clean the laboratory with Zhu Yufeng and the others.

After finishing everything and seeing that Hen had left, Kosma couldn't wait to ask Zhu Yufeng, "... Feng, when exactly did you meet Griseo?"

"Huh? You didn't know that Astaroth could meet with Griseo all the time? When Astaroth leaves the Deepest Place, it's usually me or Abaddon goes with her, so I have quite a few opportunities to meet Griseo. Besides, Griseo herself will secretly come out to find me." Zhu Yufeng looked at Kosma. "Moreover, I have a good relationship with Hen, and in terms of how long I've known Griseo, I haven't known her for much less than you."

"Astaroth?" Kosma changed. He certainly knew that serene Fallen Angel, but for various reasons, he hadn't met Astaroth many times. She was far more dangerous Griseo, perhaps even the most dangerous Fallen Angel. She could materialize illusions, somewhat similar to the power of the First Law, and this power was full of uncontrollability. Once Astaroth emotions, she could easily turn a place into a living hell.

As for the thousand-faced Fallen Angel Abaddon... Kosma also knew him. The two had chatted, but they couldn't get along. Abaddon was steady and reliable in his work, and he communicated very smoothly with others. Kosma also thought he was better than himself. However, Abaddon disdained the concept of "Heroes." He didn't want to be a Heroes at all. He only did what he was supposed to do and didn't care about anything else.

(Although I also feel sorry for Astaroth, she was imprisoned and isolated at such a young age. Her abilities as Fusion Warrior are really too dangerous. If I remember correctly, after she joined the Fallen Angel Squad, only members of the Fallen Angel Squad were allowed to contact her. So... how did she meet Griseo?)

Kosma turned his gaze to Mobius, because only Mobius, as the executor of the Fallen Angel Chimera Project, had the authority to contact Astaroth as someone outside the Fallen Angel...

"Don't look at me like that. When I first found out that Yu Feng had Astaroth get close to Griseo, I was furious too. Luckily, Griseo herself didn't mind, and Astaroth was always well-behaved. Plus, every time they met afterward, Yu Feng, Aponia, and I were all there to keep an eye on things, so there were no problems." Mobius said, squinting. "By the way, Hen also knew about this. In fact, it was Hen and Yu Feng who had planned Astaroth's initial meeting with Griseo."

Kosma wore a thoughtful expression.

(Did Astaroth meet Griseo before the Ninth Law incident? Indeed, if that's the case, then there shouldn't be any problem...)

Zhu Yufeng recalled the scene from that time.

"You mean you want Astaroth and Griseo meet?"

"They are all quiet and obedient children. Astaroth always locked away in the Deepest Place, and hardly anyone talks to her. Every time I see her, she is reading fairy tales by herself. I have also seen the books she is reading. She also wants friends, so... I wanted to ask you, could you... do me a favor?"

"..."

"I know that Astaroth's abilities are indeed very dangerous. I was just asking. Farewell..."

"Griseo loves to draw, Astaroth loves to read fairy tales. Maybe the two of them are really suited to be friends? After Blanca left, Griseo just kept drawing. Because of her abilities, she didn't have any friends. As her father, I have indeed failed in my duty... Maple, you are a reliable person, and I am willing to believe your guarantee for Astaroth."

"Thank you... I will keep an eye on Astaroth."

"No... if Griseo can become friends with Astaroth, perhaps I should be the one saying thank you..."

Coming back to his senses from his memories, Zhu Yufeng looked at Kosma and said, "Astaroth is a good child. She has always been a good child. At least, compared to us other Fallen Angel, she is the most innocent. Although her abilities are dangerous, it also depends on the people around her. If you treat her with kindness, she will reciprocate with kindness. If you treat her with malice, her retaliation will be terrifying."

If we were to describe Astaroth, the concept of a tokusatsu monster would fit quite well. Griseo and Astaroth are friends, and Astaroth wrote a story for her, creating a fairytale-like stage. Astaroth's enemies, on the other hand, will be trapped in an eternal and endless nightmare from which they cannot escape.

As long as no one harbors ill will towards her, Astaroth is perfectly safe.

Unfortunately, people, especially those fighting against the later stages of Honkai, can never truly trust each other. Therefore, they will not trust Astaroth, whose level of danger is related to their own likes, dislikes, and moods, and Astaroth will not reciprocate with any kindness.

This is why Zhu Yufeng dared to take Astaroth out of the Deepest Place several times to go to amusement parks and other places in the outside world. He would protect Astaroth from being harmed by malice, and Astaroth was willing to believe that he would protect her, so nothing ever happened to them.

"If that's the case, then why did you send her to the battlefield to fight against the Honkai?" Kosma asked.

"Because Astaroth doesn't know." Zhu Yufeng replied, "Her emotions rarely fluctuate, and she doesn't know what she's doing. In her eyes, perhaps fighting against the Honkai with us is just a story being written, and stories aren't always fairy tales."

During the suppression of the Rebel Army, Astaroth did not participate in the final massacre, but she did participate in the suppression and showed no mercy to the soldiers who took up arms and fired at her.

As Fallen Angel, whose hands are not stained with blood? Even Astaroth is no exception.

There's another reason, really. Although the Fallen Angel took great care of Astaroth, what kind of good child could a bunch of Artificial Collapse corrupt people raise? Like Beelzebub, who, in front of Astaroth, devoured the person who tore up her storybook and told her that he would eat anyone who bullied her again...

After that, Astaroth learned how to Artificial Collapse...

When Zhu Yufeng and Abaddon found out, they beat Beelzebub up.

Astaroth was able to get to this point thanks to Aponia's help...

"I do know one thing: the Thirteen Fallen Angels you absolutely mustn't mess with is Astaroth. Because if you provoke her, putting aside Astaroth's own abilities, the other twelve Fallen Angel will come after you first," Mobius said slowly. "Right, Yu Feng?"

"After she joined the Fallen Angel Squad, we became her family. If you bully the little ones, the big ones will come knocking on your door," Zhu Yufeng said.

Elysia glanced at Zhu Yufeng, family...