Becoming Griseo at the Start in Arknights

"..."

Noticing movement beside her, Griseo shifted slightly, then instinctively burrowed into the arms of the person next to her.

Before long, the little girl's steady breathing resumed in a regular rhythm.

Seeing that Griseo, whom she was holding, had not woken up, Alyona let out a sigh of relief. She continued maintaining her current position, afraid that she might wake her again.

Only after calming down did she finally notice how inappropriate her current posture was, and her face began to grow slightly warm.

Although Alyona did not know how she had been moved here to sleep last night, no matter how she looked at it now, it seemed like she was shamelessly hugging Griseo...

Clearly, it was already too late to adjust her position. In order not to wake her, Alyona could only maintain the embarrassing posture of holding the little girl.

As time passed, someone's originally pale little face grew redder and redder... until it nearly looked as though it was about to start smoking.

Thus, when Griseo woke up and slowly opened her eyes, the first thing she saw was Alyona's face, red as a tomato...

"???)?"

The little girl froze completely. Only after blinking her large eyes did she become a little more awake.

After waking up, Griseo stretched out her arms and gently hugged Alyona back, then pressed her delicate little face against her.

Feeling the scorching heat against her face, Griseo asked softly, her voice still a little drowsy, "So hot... Is Alyona sick?"

"Huh? No... no! I'm fine!"

When Alyona felt the slightly cool face pressed against hers, her entire body jolted. She raised her head and leaned backward, and if she had not been held in place, she might have sprung right up.

"Really? Then why is your face so hot?"

Seeing Alyona react so intensely, confusion flashed through Griseo's misty violet eyes. Then she tried to lean in again to confirm it.

"Ah, I'm really fine! It's just... just a little hot!" As she spoke, Alyona hurriedly raised her hand and blocked Griseo's soft little face from pressing against her again.

Hearing the strength in Alyona's voice, Griseo did not press any further after being stopped and instead halted her movements.

Then she raised her little face, gazed into the girl's light green eyes, and said seriously, "Mm, all right. If you feel unwell, remember to tell Griseo. I promised I'd take good care of you."

"Got it..."

Seeing the sincerity in those violet eyes, Alyona paused slightly, a hint of panic rising in her heart.

Then she gently turned her face away, no longer daring to look into those eyes that seemed so dazzling to her.

After receiving the answer she wanted, Griseo nodded lightly, then slowly released her arms from around Alyona's slender waist and carefully sat up.

It was about time. Although the little girl had gone to bed late last night, it was time to get up now.

"Yawn~ Alyona, lie down a little longer. I'll go out and find something to eat for you," Griseo said quietly after covering her mouth and letting out a small yawn, blinking her large eyes.

"No, Griseo, you should lie down a little longer. I'll go. After all, it isn't very safe outside."

Hearing that, Alyona supported herself and slowly sat up. Disapproval appeared on her still-flushed face.

"It's not as serious as Sister Lois said. Those people outside can't hurt me, and besides, Mr. Wolf and the others are protecting me." After saying that, Griseo lifted a corner of the blanket and nimbly jumped out of bed.

Feeling the cold air outside, the little girl narrowed her eyes slightly and took a moment to adjust.

After Griseo got out of bed, Alyona stopped dawdling as well and sat on the bed to put on her clothes.

After all, she was not a physically robust Fusion Warrior. In a place as freezing as the Ursus Snowfield, she could not run around in thin clothes like the little girl.

Even while slowly dressing on the bed, Alyona could still feel the cold. That chill also quickly drove the blush from her face.

"..."

While Alyona was getting dressed, Griseo lifted her bare feet, stepped around the supplies blocking her way, and headed outside.

Just as she expected, she saw the two Yetis guarding the warehouse.

"Good morning, Sister Lois. Good morning, Brother Leos."

Lois, who had been bored out of her mind, instantly perked up upon seeing Griseo and asked with a smile, "Yo, little Griseo, you're up so early. Are you hungry? Big sister will make you some breakfast."

Leos beside her was much the same, instantly perking up as well and greeting her, "Good morning, Griseo."

"No, thank you. I want to go out by myself for a while."

After hearing Lois, Griseo gently shook her little head and honestly voiced her thoughts.

Griseo had obediently stayed in the warehouse before because she did not want to cause trouble for the Yetis, and because she was a good, obedient child herself.

But she had been here for quite a while now. She wanted to go out for a walk and also find Yelena to discuss how the task of going back to deliver information would be arranged.

Since she had not gotten up particularly early, Griseo had initially thought Yelena might already have sent someone back to find Talulah.

But after sensing things carefully, she discovered... none of her companions were missing. They were either in the world of paintings or still in the mine. So she really wanted to ask about it now.

"But..."

After hearing Griseo's words, traces of hesitation appeared on both Lois and Leos's faces.

P.S.: Honestly, you never know until you look. Why do so many people save their monthly tickets until the end of the month?

I probably will not have to stay up late today. I'll finish Chapter 2 earlier, so urge me on a little more.

Going Out and Gazes

"But..."

"I have companions who can protect me, so you don't need to worry... I'll be back soon."

After saying that, Griseo stared directly at the two hesitant people with her large, earnest eyes.

"Uh, do you really have to go out?"

Lois had always been the most unable to resist Griseo's serious gaze. After being stared at like that, she began to waver.

Besides, there were the things Yelena had told her last night after Griseo fell asleep.

"Mm, don't worry. I'll protect myself."

Facing Lois's question, Griseo quickly nodded her little head and answered.

Watching the atmosphere between the older girl and the younger one, Leos raised his eyebrows and hurriedly asked, "Wait... Lois, are you agreeing?"

"What else should I do? Little Griseo has the ability to protect herself. We can't keep her locked somewhere safe forever, can we?"

Hearing her friend's question, Lois curled her lips slightly and asked with a smile.

"...All right, all right. Little Griseo's companions really are strong." After glancing at Lois, Leos helplessly spread his hands.

"Then remember to come back early, little Griseo, and be careful." As she spoke, Lois smilingly rubbed the little girl's head.

"Mm, have you eaten breakfast?"

After Lois agreed, delight flashed through Griseo's eyes. But then, as though she had remembered something, she asked softly.

"Don't worry. Lois and I ate a long time ago. Little Griseo only needs to take care of yourself and your little companion."

This time, before Lois could answer, Leos spoke first.

"All right."

Griseo nodded lightly, then lifted her small feet and prepared to leave for the outside.

However, at that moment, a hoarse voice filled with urgency suddenly rang out.

"Wait... I'll go with you."

Hearing that, Griseo paused and turned around, only to see Alyona rushing out in a panic after having just thrown on her clothes.

"All right, don't rush."

As she spoke, Griseo stretched out her small hand toward the girl running to her.

Griseo did not mind having one more companion on the trip. She was even a little happy about it.

And she had the strength to protect her friend...

Normally, Alyona would never take Griseo's hand on her own initiative, but this time... by a twist of fate, she grabbed that smooth little hand stretched out toward her.

"..."

Seeing her hand being held, Griseo clasped it in return and slowly led Alyona outside.

As they walked, the little girl constantly used her warm hand to cover the girl's hand, which had become cold from hurriedly getting dressed and getting out of bed.

"Thank you..."

Alyona had clearly noticed it too, and she softly whispered those words into Griseo's ear in her hoarse voice.

"..."

Alyona's sudden thanks made Griseo's steps pause slightly. Then a trace of helplessness flashed through her violet eyes.

Honestly, Griseo did not like her friend being so polite to her over every little thing.

It gave her a sense of distance. She hoped that her little companion would not be so formal with her.

But the little girl also understood that this was not something that could be changed in a short time. It required long-term companionship.

Fortunately, time was the one thing Griseo lacked the least... If she wanted to, she could stay by her companion's side forever.

Not long after leaving the warehouse, Griseo once again became the center of attention... The many infected outside all turned to look at the two little girls.

Alyona, suddenly being watched by so many people, instinctively took a step back.

"Don't be afraid. I'll protect you."

Unlike Alyona, Griseo did not care about those gazes at all, nor was she frightened by them. She adjusted her position slightly, blocking most of the attention from reaching the companion behind her.

"It's fine. I'm not afraid, I was just startled for a moment." Looking at the petite figure standing in front of her, Alyona's eyes flickered as she softly explained in her hoarse voice.

"Mm."

After hearing Alyona's explanation, Griseo nodded, then continued leading the girl forward.

After bringing Alyona to the bonfire, Griseo temporarily entrusted her to Mr. Wolf, who was busy wearing a small apron.

Then she quickly headed off to find Yelena.

However, after Griseo was alone, the infected around her looked at her even more strangely. There were even scattered traces of malice mixed in, accompanied by whispers.

If some infected had previously gone to report to the Yeti Squad, they now understood that Griseo, a non-infected person, was with the Yetis.

But precisely because of that, these infected miners found it even stranger and more surprising.

They had not seen anyone on the land of Ursus who did not discriminate against the infected in a very, very long time. Even if that person was only a child...

Faced with all those messy gazes, Griseo's expression, eyes, and emotions did not change in the slightest. She simply focused on heading toward where Yelena was.

Although, in a sense, all of these people could be considered people Griseo had saved, she had no desire to interact with them at all...

It was not impossible that there were infected miners who were kind, innocent, and brightly colored, but there were too few...

Wherever the little girl looked now, she saw almost nothing but vast swathes of murky colors.

When Griseo finally found Yelena, Yelena was just about to send someone back to report to Talulah.

So the little girl naturally asked her own charioteer sister to escort them there.

Afterward, the two chatted for a while. It was not until Yelena heard Griseo's little stomach growl that she ended the conversation and led the little cutie to breakfast.

Along the way, Yelena also discreetly intimidated the infected who had only recently been rescued.

P.S.: I'm exhausted. It actually wasn't that fast; it's almost midnight again. Honestly, you gave me a little monthly-ticket shock tonight.

By the way, I might open a reward campaign next Monday and keep it running until the day this goes premium. I'll make a separate post when it starts. Next, let me recommend a big shot's book.

New Mission

After eating breakfast with Yelena, Griseo took Alyona's hand and returned to the warehouse so as not to cause trouble for the Yetis.