Someone in Arknights, Starts as Griseo

After all, no matter how you look at it, saving a life is more important than dealing with a Black Serpent.

"Is that so... If you want to protect your sisters, Griseo, you need to grow up quickly."

Listening to Griseo's childish remark, Alina didn't realize anything was wrong and just helplessly ruffled her head again.

"Mhm."

Hearing this, Griseo nodded her little head gently.

However, even though she agreed, Griseo knew very well that her current body would never grow up. From the moment she became a Fusion Warrior, her body had been fixed.

"So don't overthink things. Children should smile more."

Not long after the two returned to the tent, Talulah also arrived from outside.

"So, Alina, you called me over for something else?" Talulah asked, looking at the two of them, one big and one small, with a hint of confusion.

Before Alina could speak, Griseo looked up at Talulah with her big eyes and said, "It's not Alina who has something, it's me..."

"I used your colors, Talulah, to paint a picture I want to give you..."

As she finished speaking, Griseo took out the painting, covered by a canvas, from her system space.

Once the painting was revealed, she turned her gaze to Alina beside her.

Alina immediately understood Griseo's intention. After nodding gently, she walked out of the tent, leaving the two of them alone.

"?"

Talulah, not quite understanding why Alina was leaving, looked at the little one in front of her with a confused gaze, seeking an explanation.

"Here... Talulah, open it and take a look."

ps: I probably won't be staying up late tonight. Chapter 2 should be out before midnight. Also, do you think the protagonist's change in this chapter feels jarring? Sigh, I've revised this chapter several times already.

Chapter 18: Little Griseo, Do You Want to Leave Here?

"Here... Talulah, open it and take a look."

Without rushing to answer Talulah's confusion, Griseo first held the painting in her hand and presented it to her.

"Okay, thank you."

Although still a bit confused, Talulah took the painting from Griseo's hand and thanked her.

"The reason I asked... Sister Alina to leave just now was because I was afraid this painting might affect her."

Only after Talulah accepted the painting did Griseo explain unhurriedly.

"So, this is the painting with magic that Alina mentioned?"

After listening to the little loli's explanation, Talulah suddenly remembered the information Alina had revealed to her and Patriot earlier that evening.

"..."

Hearing this, Griseo merely nodded gently and continued to watch Talulah's actions, remaining silent.

She was not surprised that Alina had told others about her existence or characteristics, nor did she care.

Rather, if she had cared, Griseo wouldn't have told anyone in the first place. Since she had told them, it meant she didn't mind it spreading.

Then, under Griseo's earnest gaze, Talulah completely uncovered the canvas, revealing the painting beneath.

"...It's indeed a superb painting, with impeccable technique. However... I feel like you, little one, are being quite suggestive. And, nothing has happened either."

After carefully observing it, Talulah raised her eyebrows slightly and gave her evaluation.

"So, did Alina tell you about its existence?"

After a brief evaluation, Talulah's gaze fixed on the Black Serpent in the painting. She pointed gently, then looked at Griseo and asked.

"...? "

Griseo tilted her head slightly, and a deep confusion flashed in her large purple eyes as she looked at Talulah.

At this moment, she wasn't confused by Talulah's question, but by why nothing had happened.

How can I paint the world?

"You little thing, why are you looking at me with such a confused expression?" Seeing Griseo's adorable appearance, Talulah slowly leaned down, pinched her tender little face, and said helplessly.

Although Talulah felt a little bit resentful towards Alina for telling such a young child her secret, she couldn't bring herself to scold her when looking at the cute child in front of her.

"Mmm... It's really... really strange..."

Griseo mumbled, her words slightly unclear as her cheeks were being pinched.

"What's so strange about it? Speaking of which, can we call Alina back in now? We still have something we want to tell you." After pinching Griseo's little face again, Talulah let go and said helplessly.

Gently rubbing her slightly reddened little face, Griseo said, "...Cover the painting up, and then you can call Sister Alina back in."

Although she didn't know why the painting had no effect, Griseo still intended to be cautious... After all, she trusted her intuition when she painted.

"Mm, then you go call Alina in. I'll put the painting away."

Although Talulah was beginning to doubt the authenticity of the matter due to not witnessing the "magic of the painting" firsthand.

She still listened to Griseo's words, carefully covered the artwork in her hands, and then cautiously set it aside for the time being.

Because for Talulah, whether the matter was true or not, the painting in her hands was a gift. And since it was a gift, it should be treated with care.

"Sister Alina, Talulah is calling you in..."

After Griseo lifted the tent flap and stepped outside, she immediately saw Alina waiting outside.

"So soon? Did something happen?"

Called by Griseo, Alina turned around and asked with some confusion.

"Nothing happened, but my paintings usually don't lose their effect... It's strange, how could this happen?"

Facing Alina's question, Griseo gently shook her head, her large eyes filled with confusion.

"You mean Talulah looked at the painting, but nothing happened?" Hearing this, Alina briefly summarized the information from the little loli's words.

"Mm... However, it's not impossible that something did happen, but I just didn't see it." She first nodded her head, then as if remembering something else, Griseo added.

"So, can I sleep with Talulah tonight?"

"That, you'll have to ask Talulah. Alright, since there's nothing else going on right now, let's go inside quickly." As she spoke, Alina reached out and gently patted Griseo's incredibly soft little head.

After following Alina back into the tent, Griseo began to wonder what exactly the two of them wanted to talk to her about.

However, the two sat together, looking at each other and exchanging glances for a long time, but neither of them spoke first.

"Ah~"

Time ticked by, and soon it was approaching bedtime again. Griseo let out a slow yawn, a hint of moisture appearing in the corners of her eyes.

And at this moment, Alina seemed to have made up her mind and suddenly spoke, "Little Griseo... Do you want to leave here and return to a normal life?"

"!"

Upon hearing Alina's sudden words, Griseo's drowsiness, which had been creeping in as bedtime approached, instantly vanished.

The little loli looked up, her still-moistened violet eyes gazing at the two sitting not far from her, and asked, "Sister Alina, do you not want me anymore..."

"N-no, that's not it. How could I not want you, little Griseo."

Under Griseo's big-eyed gaze, Alina's conscience was immediately struck, and she quickly stood up, explaining in a flustered manner.

Seeing her little doe flustered, Talulah helplessly picked up the conversation and explained, "It's not that we don't want you."

"It's just that Patriot spoke with us tonight. We felt he made a lot of sense. You're not an Infected, after all, and it might not be safe for you to stay in the Infected camp."

"Furthermore, the nature of our organization... means we're destined not to live a peaceful life. So, we wanted to ask for your opinion."

After Talulah finished speaking, both she and Alina quietly looked at Griseo, awaiting her answer.

"I... I won't leave here."

ps: If the previous chapter wasn't particularly jarring, I won't change it. Because I spent a long time searching for this entry point. I've written about several characters, but they all felt wrong in the end, so I deleted them. The previous chapter was also revised several times before reaching a state of slight awkwardness.

The reason I looked for this entry point is that I felt the plot was a bit bland, or rather, developing too slowly, and I wanted to speed things up. But it's hard to speed up, given Griseo's personality.

Chapter 19: Awakening

"I... I won't leave here."

Looking at the two waiting for her answer, Griseo gently shook her little head, her eyes full of seriousness.

"But you would live a better life in a normal family. You could have a normal life, without hunger or danger." Although she heard Griseo's answer, Talulah still hesitated and tried to persuade her.

Talulah didn't dislike the little one who had only been here for two days. In fact, she quite liked her. After all, who wouldn't like a cute and well-behaved child?

But it was precisely because she liked her and understood what they would face next that she was wavering now and had the idea of sending Griseo to a safe place.

;;?

"Mm... Can little Griseo tell big sister why?"

Looking at the serious Griseo, Alina slowly stood up, walked to her side, and asked in a gentle tone.

As for Griseo, Alina felt even more reluctant to part with her than Talulah, but she also couldn't deny that what Patriot had said earlier made a lot of sense.

"Because Griseo doesn't want to leave you... I'll be very good." Looking at the gentle Alina beside her, Griseo said earnestly.

At times like these, Griseo would resent her own excessively young body.

Because it made her words completely unconvincing... Everyone would just treat her as a child.

"I see..." Hearing this, Alina reached out and gently patted Griseo's little head, then looked at Talulah.

After Alina looked at Talulah, Griseo also turned her gaze, her big eyes filled with anticipation fixed on her.

"Sigh... If that's the case, then stay for now if you don't want to leave. I remember you have a Mister Knight, who should be able to protect you in the camp. We'll discuss other things when you're a bit older."

Seeing the anticipation in Griseo's big eyes, Talulah sighed helplessly and then said softly.

"As for Patriot, I'll go persuade him."

"...Talulah, you're the best."

As Talulah's words fell, the anticipation in Griseo's eyes instantly turned to joy, and she cheered in a calm tone.

Although with Griseo's strength, she could have reliably followed Reunion even without the leader Talulah's permission. However, secretly following and acting together openly were definitely two very different things.

But speaking of danger, Griseo actually felt that in many ways, she herself was much more dangerous than an Infected...

"You're using that nickname again. You little one won't even call me 'sister'."

Looking at Griseo, whose eyes were full of happiness, Talulah couldn't help but reach out and pinch her little face again.

"Mmm... Talu...lah sister." After hearing Talulah's words, Griseo thought for a moment and then changed her address.

"You... forget it, at least you're calling me sister now."

Griseo's way of addressing her, which was changed but not entirely changed, made Talulah even more helpless. However, the curve of her lips at that moment revealed that she was in a good mood.

"So... can... can I sleep with you tonight, Talulah sister?" As if sensing Talulah's good mood, Griseo asked about the matter she had been thinking about all along.

She hadn't forgotten that Talulah had looked at the painting, and nothing had happened.

To prevent any delayed effects, Griseo still planned to stay with Talulah tonight to observe her closely.

"Hm? Why do you suddenly want to sleep with me? Don't you usually like sticking to Alina?" Hearing this, Talulah released Griseo's cheek and asked curiously.

"The painting... it's very strange, and I want to look at it again. So I want to be with you tonight, Talulah sister."

Griseo didn't hide her thoughts and told the truth directly.

"So that's why. No problem."

Although Talulah hadn't experienced the power of the painting herself and her body showed no abnormalities, she didn't entirely believe Alina's words about "the painting's magic."