"Wait!"
Before anyone else could react, Lois spoke first.
"This Sister Sakura you mentioned... couldn't be the one you told us about during the day, could it?" As she spoke, the corner of Lois's mouth twitched. She then stared helplessly at Griseo, waiting for her answer.
"Mm."
Hearing that, Griseo nodded her little head and obediently admitted it.
"...Let me process this."
Griseo's single short word made Lois cover her face as her brain began processing the information.
"So, was that little pink-haired Cautus here to find you, Griseo?" Leos, who had also heard the story during the day, asked from the side.
"I don't know... I haven't seen Sister Sakura in a long time." Griseo shook her head and explained after hearing Leos's question.
"What are you all being so cryptic about? Hurry up and tell everyone."
"Leos, you knew some inside information and didn't tell us?"
"So that pink-haired Cautus came looking for Griseo? No, wait, then why did she kill so many people?"
Watching her noisy friends beside her, Leos helplessly rubbed his forehead before speaking loudly. "All right, quiet down first. Let me sort this out."
"Miss Sakura is someone Griseo knows, or rather, family. Then the enemy discovered that we had taken over the mine and sent people over to suppress us."
"But Sakura didn't come directly to find the little one. Instead, she secretly killed all the enemies... and then left?"
"..."
Hearing this, everyone fell into thought.
"Yawn..."
Unlike everyone else's serious, contemplative expressions, Griseo completely relaxed after saying it aloud. Covering her little mouth, she let out a slow yawn.
Before she knew it, it was bedtime again, and drowsiness washed over her.
Still, so that these people would not keep overthinking things, Griseo rubbed her eyes and fought back her sleepiness before quietly adding, "Don't worry. Sister Sakura is a very good person. She won't hurt you."
"Since... she came... for this... child, then... I think... she probably... has not... left. Of course... it could... also... be a coincidence." After hearing Griseo's words, Patriot voiced his own thoughts on the matter.
After all, Griseo's words made it clear that the two had a good relationship... If Sakura had really come looking for someone, Patriot did not believe that Cautus would abandon the little one and leave directly.
"Then there's nothing we can do. Since this little one's sister chose not to reveal herself directly, she must have her reasons. For now, we can only wait and see."
As she spoke, Talulah raised a hand and rubbed her temple, looking rather helpless.
"All right, Alina, take the little one to rest first. It's getting late."
"Mm."
Hearing that, Alina nodded gently, then took Griseo's little hand beside her and said softly, "Griseo, come back with me. You promised earlier that you would go to bed early."
"Okay."
After Griseo agreed, Alina gestured to the others before leading the little one away.
The others continued discussing other matters...
As they walked toward the tent, Griseo suddenly looked up at Alina, who was holding her hand, and asked quietly, "Sister Alina... can I sleep with Alyona tonight?"
"Hmm? You mean that friend you know... If you want to, that's fine. Didn't we just set up a small bed for you?"
Hearing an unfamiliar name from the little girl, Alina was startled at first before she realized who Griseo meant.
Hearing that, Griseo first nodded her little head, then began calling for Mr. Wolf in her heart. After all, Mr. Wolf was still with Alyona, protecting her.
Not long after, Mr. Wolf appeared beside them with Alyona in his arms. He was so fast that the two had not even reached the tent yet.
"So fast. Looks like you planned this all along, Griseo~" Alina looked at the enormous Mr. Wolf and the girl in his arms, smiling as she teased the little girl helplessly.
After teasing Griseo, Alina turned her gaze to Alyona and introduced herself with a smile. "Hello, my name is Alina. It's nice to meet you."
"It's nice to meet you too, Sister Alina. My name is Alyona." After having Mr. Wolf set her down, Alyona obediently returned the greeting.
"All right, it's pretty cold outside. Let's head back quickly." As she spoke, Alina extended her other free hand toward Alyona. Her meaning was obvious.
"..."
Alyona paused at the hand extended before her. A hint of wariness flashed through her pale green eyes, and she did not take it immediately.
However, that did not last long, because Griseo, who stood to the side, quietly nodded at her companion.
After receiving the little girl's confirmation, Alyona no longer hesitated and gently took Alina's hand.
Alyona did not say anything when she saw this. She merely smiled gently, then held one child in each hand and continued walking forward.
The two little ones obediently followed her pace as well.
Not long after, Alina brought the two children back into the tent.
After settling them in, she seemed to remember something. Turning toward Griseo and Alyona, she said softly, "I remembered something I need to go out and take care of."
"But I'll be back soon. If you two get sleepy, go to sleep first."
"Mm, got it."
Hearing that, the two little ones nodded obediently and agreed.
Although the two children before her were both being very well-behaved, Alina ultimately could not help giving them a few more reminders. Only after that did she turn and leave the tent.
After leaving the tent, Alina shuddered instinctively as the biting cold that seemed to seep through every opening hit her. Then she wrapped her clothes tighter around herself and gently exhaled a breath of warm air.
What she had forgotten earlier was only a small matter, one that would not take much time.
However, Alina was not someone who liked to procrastinate. Since she had remembered it, she still intended to take care of it.
"Whoosh—"
Yet before she had gone very far, Alina stopped...
Because at that moment, an exquisite katana still sheathed in its scabbard was held across her chest, blocking her path.
"It's time we had a talk."
P.S. I originally wanted to write a 4,000-word chapter, but after writing for ages, I only managed 3,000. I've been pushing myself too hard these past few days. I still have a low fever and my head is spinning.
There should be another update tonight, though that chapter will probably only be 2,000 words. Give me a push.
Warming the Bed?
After watching Alina leave, Griseo slowly climbed onto the bed and slipped into the cold blankets.
After all, this bit of cold was nothing to her... It was perfectly fine for her to get in first and warm the bed.
But it was different for Alyona. If she got in, it would take a long time before both her body and the blankets warmed up.
"Mm... I'll warm it up for you first. Alyona can come up later." As she spoke, Griseo poked her fluffy little head out from beneath the thick blankets.
"...Okay~"
Hearing Griseo's words, Alyona froze slightly. Once she recovered, she nodded gently and gave Griseo a radiant smile.
To be honest, the little girl's words and actions always caught Alyona completely off guard, so unexpected that she could barely handle them.
However, she did not dislike this feeling, because she could feel the affection and sincerity within it...
"Mm, Mr. Wolf."
Suddenly, Griseo seemed to remember something and softly called out her loyal companion.
"?"
Looking at Mr. Wolf, who had suddenly appeared beside the bed, Alyona's eyes flashed with confusion. She then looked toward Griseo with a questioning gaze.
"I suddenly remembered that Alyona doesn't seem to have pajamas. I'll have Mr. Wolf get you a set."
Lying in bed with only her little head exposed, Griseo blinked her large violet eyes and explained to her companion.
"Ah..."
Clearly, Alyona once again failed to keep up with the little girl's train of thought. Even if she racked her brains, she would never have guessed that Mr. Wolf had been summoned again just to fetch pajamas for her.
While Alyona was still stunned, Mr. Wolf had already produced a suitable set of pajamas and elegantly offered them to her.
Looking at the pajamas before her, whose quality was obvious at a glance, Alyona hesitated. But when she met Griseo's beautiful eyes, full of expectation, she still reached out and took them.
"...Thank you."
"Mm, as long as you like them."
As she spoke, Griseo slowly tucked her adorable little head back under the blankets. Before disappearing completely, she did not forget to say in a muffled voice, "It's already nice and warm inside. Griseo won't peek."
"Okay~"
Watching the blue-haired little cutie slowly burrow back in, Alyona's heart completely melted, and even her voice softened instinctively.
She had always been wary of everyone else and kept a cold expression... but for some reason, she simply could not harden her heart toward Griseo.
Logically speaking, even if the little girl had saved her life, Alyona should not have let down her guard this much...
That was the conclusion she had learned through bloody lessons after living on this cruel snowfield for so long.
Yet Griseo seemed to possess some strange magic that drew Alyona in, making her want to get closer, make contact, relax, and even trust her.
"..."
Thinking that, Alyona quickly changed into the pajamas without much concern... Then, feeling the cold around her, she walked toward the bed.
The reason she moved so quickly was that she did not want Griseo to remain under the blankets for too long and become uncomfortable from the stuffiness.
However, reality was completely different from what Alyona imagined. Griseo, completely buried beneath the blankets, was currently following the drama through Sakura.
To be honest, if she had not suddenly been contacted... the little girl might not even have noticed that Sakura had barged into the Reunion Movement camp and stopped Alina.
"You really shouldn't have barged in so recklessly, should you?"
After being stopped, Alina instinctively looked to her side. The first thing she saw was Sakura's mask, followed by those conspicuous long "rabbit ears."
"There are simply some matters I need to discuss with you. I have no great interest in this place." Sakura answered Alina in a calm voice as she withdrew her katana.
"Then... Miss Sakura, are you here to take Griseo away?"
After seeing the blade withdrawn, a complicated look flashed through Alina's eyes. She hesitated for a moment before asking Sakura quietly.
However, Sakura did not answer Alina's question directly. She merely said softly, "Call over a few of your leaders first. Then we'll talk."
"...I'll go call them, but Miss Sakura, you..."
"I'll wait for you here."
"Okay."
Hearing that, Alina said no more. After taking a deep look at Sakura, she jogged toward the campfire.
After all, since this Cautus had said so, there was nothing for her to agonize over.
Moreover, Alina felt that if Sakura truly had any ulterior motives, calling everyone over would make it easier to stop her, especially Patriot.
Although she had never witnessed Patriot's terrifying strength herself, she had heard the rumors.
Besides, there had always been a saying in Ursus: "Three Wendigos can conquer a small city." From that, one could imagine just how powerful a pure-blooded Wendigo like Patriot was.
However, Alina had no idea that even after trying her best to overestimate Sakura, she had still underestimated her severely.
"..."
Watching Alina's departing figure, a trace of helplessness flashed through Sakura's azure eyes beneath her mask. She had grown used to being around Griseo in the identity of the little deer, and she had nearly failed to maintain her composure just now.
Fortunately, she had not broken character in the end. As expected, she still needed to adapt more, especially in front of people she knew.
After running all the way to the campfire, Alina successfully drew everyone's attention. Talulah and the Yetis alike all turned to look at her as she arrived, slightly out of breath.
Before you continue