In Arknights, Starting as Griseo

It wasn't that she didn't trust everyone in the camp, but there were all sorts of Infected here, and in the end, some people, no matter their identity... just weren't good-hearted.

Although the little loli's identity was a bit suspicious, and she hadn't known Alina for very long, she didn't want the cute little person who saved her to get hurt.

"Mmm... your colors... are beautiful. Can I use them to paint a picture?"

Griseo, barely escaping Alina's colorful aura, didn't respond to her instructions but earnestly asked another unrelated question.

Before, she didn't have painting tools, but now she did. All Griseo wanted now was to capture Alina's colors on paper.

"Paint?"

"Mhm..."

After nodding gently, Griseo directly took out a set of painting supplies from her spatial storage and looked at Alina again, waiting for her answer.

"?"

"?"

Seeing the painting tools that suddenly appeared before Griseo, both Alina and Talulah, who had just lifted the tent flap and walked in, were slightly stunned, with question marks slowly appearing above their heads.

"Where did you get these things, little Griseo?"

"I just... pulled them out with a 'swish'."

In response to Alina's question, Griseo thought for a moment and then explained.

"'Swish'? ...Never mind, you paint. I'll go out and bring you something to eat. Be good and don't wander off."

After ruffling Griseo's little head again, Alina gave up asking. In her opinion, the little loli's origins were already mysterious and very special, so it was understandable that she had some secrets.

Besides, she wasn't the type of person who liked to pry.

"Talulah, you watch little Griseo here. I'll be back soon." Standing up, Alina said softly to her close friend at the entrance.

"Wait, Alina, your wound isn't bandaged yet!"

"We'll talk about it when I get back. It won't take long."

"..."

During the time these two were talking, Griseo, having received permission, had already picked up her paintbrush, mixed her paints, and was applying them to the canvas.

Once she started painting, she would disregard her surroundings and become completely immersed in her art.

Talulah, who had watched Alina leave, now turned back, carefully stood behind Griseo, and observed her and her painting process.

"Alina, how did you get injured? And what's this rumor going around... everyone's saying you suddenly have a child."

Sitting by the campfire, seeing Alina approaching, a member of the Yeti squad asked with some confusion, a hint of gossip in her eyes.

"Don't ask what you shouldn't." Before Alina could even answer, the white-haired girl with rabbit ears sitting beside her spoke first.

She first shot a helpless glare at her squad member before saying to Alina, "Go deal with your wound first, so it doesn't get infected."

"Hmph, Big Sister, you're so mean. I was just curious," the Yeti squad member muttered softly, touching her nose helplessly after hearing her older sister's words.

"Pfft, I know, Yelena. I'll go take care of it now." Seeing the interaction before her, Alina couldn't help but chuckle lightly and agreed.

But then, thinking of the little one in the tent, she spoke again, "I'll go get bandaged now. Could I trouble you to send some food to the tent, Yelena?"

Chapter 5: Painting the Outsider

"I'll go get bandaged now. Could I trouble you to send some food to the tent, Yelena?"

Upon hearing this, the white-haired, rabbit-eared girl, Yelena, was first slightly taken aback, then nodded gently.

"Then I'll trouble you, Yelena." Alina gave Yelena a gentle smile before turning to leave and tend to her wounds.

Thanks to Griseo's timely appearance, Alina's injuries weren't actually very severe. The most serious wound was a long gash on her forehead, but because she had bled quite a bit, it looked terrifying.

She had originally planned to wait a bit longer, until Griseo had dinner, before getting bandaged.

However, after Yelena's persuasion, and to avoid the wound getting infected and wasting more supplies, Alina had asked her colleague, codenamed FrostNova, to help deliver the food. It would also give the two of them a chance to interact...

"It looks like the food Alina asked Big Sister to deliver is for the child she brought back."

"Yeah, yeah! Big Sister, make sure to take a good look inside, and then come out and share with us!"

"If you're so curious, then go see for yourselves." Yelena said with a cold expression, looking at the lively group crowding around her.

"No way, Big Sister, just tell us when you get back!"

"Yeah! It's too embarrassing to go peek!"

After being refused, the members of the Yeti squad let out another wail.

Watching the group bicker, Yelena didn't say anything further, but a smile flickered in her eyes.

Inside the tent, Griseo, who had been completely absorbed in her painting since she started, had now completely shut out her external senses. She couldn't even feel her own stomach rumbling.

Now, her purple eyes saw only colors...

Unlike Griseo's immersion, Talulah, who had been standing behind the little girl watching her paint, slowly frowned, her confusion deepening.

While she wasn't deeply involved in painting and art, she had been groomed as an heir by Black Serpent, giving her at least a basic level of appreciation.

In Talulah's opinion, the art skills of this little girl, who had appeared out of nowhere, were extremely proficient. As for the artwork itself, even though it wasn't finished, she felt it wouldn't be bad at all, perhaps even rivaling top painters.

Furthermore, after observing her, she still couldn't confirm the little one's race, which made her even more curious and puzzled.

But it was clear that Alina wasn't here, and the blue-haired little girl immersed in her painting wouldn't be able to answer Talulah's questions. So, she had to hold back.

Besides her confusion and curiosity about the little girl, Talulah had another matter weighing heavily on her mind. It was something she hadn't gotten an answer about from Alina yet: the reason for her injury...

With these two matters piling up, Talulah felt like a kitten was scratching at her heart, an itchy, uncomfortable feeling...

"Hoo—"

;?!

Just then, the tent flap was lifted by a slender, snow-white hand. A gust of cold wind blew in, adding a touch of sound to the quiet environment.

"...Is there something, Yelena?"

Talulah, who had initially thought Alina had returned, showed a hint of surprise upon seeing who it was.

"Alina went to get her wounds bandaged. I'm here to bring food." After a brief explanation, Yelena placed the food she was holding on the table.

"I see."

"..."

After putting the items down, Yelena didn't rush to leave. Instead, she observed the little girl who was painting.

But as her gaze swept over the thin white dress, her exposed legs, and her snow-white, delicate bare feet, her expression was exactly the same as Alina's had been, filled with disapproval...

There were quite a few children in Reunion, most of whom were taught by Alina and were studying. However, Yelena had never seen a child dressed so lightly before.

But noticing that Griseo didn't seem cold, Yelena immediately categorized the cute and harmless-looking little girl as special, believing she must have some abilities.

Just like herself, she didn't wear heavy clothing, but due to her Originium Arts, her body temperature was much lower than normal...

After a quick assessment, Yelena withdrew her gaze and prepared to turn away.

However, as if suddenly remembering something, she stopped and said, "Do you know what Alina encountered when she went out this time?"

"No, Alina hasn't told me yet. This child... seems to be completely absorbed in her painting too." Talulah shook her head helplessly in response to Yelena's question.

"Then, let's ask her properly when she gets back. I think you have the same suspicions as I do." With that, Yelena didn't linger any longer and turned to leave the tent.

It was a pity that Griseo was completely immersed in her painting at the moment and couldn't pay attention to the outside world. Otherwise, she might have briefly tried to keep the white figure there, after all, she was the living Miss FrostNova...

"..."

Watching them leave the tent, Talulah slowly lowered her eyelids, concealing the complex expression in her eyes, making her emotions unreadable. A wave of lingering fear and dread washed over her again.

She could actually guess... Although she didn't know the specifics of what happened, she knew... it was only by a slim margin that she wouldn't see her little deer again.

"Hoo—"

"I'm back, Talulah. Huh? Why the long face? Did something happen?"

Just as Talulah was feeling a bit down, the tent flap was opened again. Alina had returned and immediately noticed her close friend's unusual expression.

"..."

But Talulah didn't answer Alina's question. Instead, she quickly stepped forward and threw her arms around her.

"?"

;?;

Alina let out a helpless smile at the sudden embrace from the dragon girl, then gently patted her back, offering comfort.

ps: I had some things to deal with the past two days, so the updates were slow. Today, normal double updates will resume. The plot is progressing a bit slowly, I'll try to speed things up.

;?;

Chapter 6... What are you guys doing?

In the quiet tent, Griseo placed the final stroke of color on the canvas and slowly withdrew her thoughts from the painting, leaving the vibrant world in her eyes.

The originally blank white canvas, after Griseo's efforts, now displayed a perfect painting.

Warm yellow sunlight streamed down upon the lush green forest, casting dappled shadows.

On a forest path, a little deer with snow-white fur lay peacefully on the ground, as if asleep, causing passersby to instinctively tread lightly, not wanting to disturb it.

However, upon closer inspection, faint, unidentifiable black, hard substances could be seen growing on the deer's white fur. And in the shadow behind the deer, these hard substances had bloomed into a Originium flower with a cold glint and messy leaves...

Completely emerging from her immersion, Griseo put down her palette and brush, gently blinking her dry eyes. She decided to rest for a while.

"Gulp~"

Not long after putting down her brush, Griseo's perpetually hungry stomach protested again.

At the same time, the hunger that had been suppressed due to her immersion in painting surged back into the little girl's mind.

Then, just as Griseo was getting off her stool to find something to eat, the orange scenery that had been blocked by the easel suddenly caught her violet eyes.

"?"

Then, a look of great confusion appeared in the little loli's eyes.

"Sister Alina... what are you guys doing?"

As the little loli's voice rang out, the two who had been embracing instantly pushed each other away...

"Cough cough... nothing, I was just comforting your sister Talulah..."

Although it was the truth, for some reason, under Griseo's innocent gaze, Alina suddenly felt an inexplicable sense of guilt.

It made her feel as if she had just been doing something shameful with Talulah...

"Yes, yes... Alina is right, she was just comforting me... Cough cough, little one, is your painting finished?"

After echoing Alina's words, Talulah, ignoring her slightly flushed face, quickly turned her head to change the subject.

Like a certain little deer, she hadn't felt anything at first... but when she met the little loli's innocent gaze, she also felt a shameful pang of guilt.

"Mhm... Sister Alina, I'm hungry."

Listening to their explanations, Griseo looked at the two for a moment longer before gently nodding her little head.

"Then let's eat, Yelena has already brought it over." After gently patting Griseo's little head, Alina took her hand and walked towards the table.

"Yelena...?"

Although she let Alina lead her, upon hearing a certain name, Griseo's head twitched like a machine that had recognized a keyword... her mind became active.

To be honest, Griseo, who had been completely immersed in her painting, hadn't noticed FrostNova's arrival at all. Otherwise, she might have gone to snuggle with the white rabbit.

After all, before her transmigration, she was a Doctor who had cried tears of sorrow over FrostNova's death...

"Little Griseo didn't see Yelena just now?"

Seeing the little tuft of hair on Griseo's head suddenly become active, Alina couldn't help but pat it again before asking.