In Arknights, Starting as Griseo

"What are you talking about?! Wait, is the snake you're referring to the same one I'm thinking of?"

This time, after hearing Griseo's words, Talulah's pupils constricted, and her previous composure and calmness were completely gone.

At this moment, even Alina, sitting beside them, covered her mouth, her face unable to hide her surprise.

"Mmm..."

Seeing the agitated Talulah before her, Griseo didn't explain further.

After lightly nodding her little head, she silently took out the painting from her space, handed it to the person beside her, and then softly said:

"It's inside this painting. I'm giving it to you, Talua, now."

"Wait... give me a moment to process this situation."

Hearing this, Talulah glanced at the painting in her hand, couldn't help but gently rub her forehead, and began to digest the large amount of information she had just received in a short while.

Not only her, but Alina, whose surprised expression hadn't faded, was already trying to understand the whole matter.

Griseo, not in a hurry, withdrew her gaze and looked at Alyona, who was sitting to her right, taking small bites of a hard piece of bread.

"Hmm? Want some... Here."

Sensing Griseo's gaze, Alyona stopped eating, tilted her head slightly, and offered the food in her hand.

The little white bear thought the little loli beside her wasn't full and wanted the food in her hand.

If it were anyone else, Alyona would never give away food that could sustain her life, but... if it was Griseo, it was completely fine.

It wasn't because she knew the little loli wouldn't actually eat her food, but rather...

Alyona felt that Griseo was very good to her and would protect her, so she was willing to give up her food.

After all, in her opinion, going hungry for a meal was something she was already used to.

"..."

Looking at the food suddenly offered to her, Griseo was slightly stunned, feeling a bit bewildered.

After reacting, she quickly shook her little head and refused, "I'm already full. Also... Alyona, don't just give away your food."

ps: Something happened at home today, which made me feel down, so the update is a bit late. The quality is average, and it feels a bit messy.

That's all for now, my head is starting to hurt again... Also, I'll try to update earlier tomorrow, but the editor told me to update after 5 PM, so no matter how fast I am, it will be after 5 PM tomorrow.

Chapter 63: Ursus Will Kill Him

"I'm already full. Also... Alyona, don't just give away your food."

After Griseo finished speaking, she gently pushed back Alyona's hand and the food extended towards her.

"I won't give it to anyone else, hmm... only to you, Griseo."

Hearing this, Alyona's small face, which had been expressionless since leaving the tent, suddenly bloomed with a smile, and she said seriously to Griseo.

"???) Mmm?"

Listening to Alyona's words, Griseo tilted her head slightly, a flicker of confusion in her eyes, and the ahoge on her head swayed.

It was obvious that the little loli hadn't figured out how the topic had suddenly shifted to her.

However, Griseo didn't dwell on it too much. She gently shook her little head, clearing her messy thoughts, and then spoke again:

"I can't either. Alyona, you need to learn to take care of yourself."

Looking at the cute blue-haired little loli before her, Alyona paused slightly, a hint of complexity appearing in her light green eyes, but it quickly vanished.

"Okay, I understand."

Then, Alyona nodded gently in agreement, but the smile on her face became even brighter.

Although the little white bear agreed readily now, what she would actually do later... perhaps only she knew.

"Mmm, eat quickly..."

Hearing her companion agree, Griseo said no more, just urged softly.

"Okay~"

While Griseo and the other two were having a friendly exchange, Talulah and the others had also sorted out the information the little loli had just revealed.

"Talua and Alina, do you understand?"

Saying that, Griseo turned her head to look at Talulah and Alina, whose expressions were a bit strange.

"We understand... But how did you do it?"

Talulah gently stroked the painting in her arms before asking Griseo softly.

Others might not understand, but Talulah was different. She understood the true nature of the Black Serpent too well.

Because of this, her expression was so strange right now...

However, even though Griseo said she had sealed the snake inside, Talulah didn't believe that the painting contained the "complete" Black Serpent.

In her view, the snake sealed within this painting should only be the part on her body...

Of course, even if it were just that, Talulah would still be very happy.

Although she didn't think she would agree with Black Serpent's theories anymore, it was still very good to have one less major hidden danger on her body. After all, no one could say for sure that something wouldn't happen.

"Mhm... Because the painting I made for you, Talua, that night didn't just affect you, but also the snake on you," Griseo explained after slightly organizing her thoughts in response to Talulah's question.

"..."

This explanation from the little loli instantly plunged both Talulah and Alina, who was listening intently nearby, into silence.

How to put it? Before Griseo's explanation, both of them had thought that the little one must have put in a lot of effort...

At the very least, it could be considered quite troublesome.

Who knew that upon hearing it, they suddenly realized the reason Black Serpent was affected was so absurd, even a little funny, and their expressions became even more peculiar.

"That day, I drew a total of three... paintings?"

Griseo, who had originally intended to say more, suddenly remembered something when mentioning the number of paintings. A flicker of guilt crossed her violet eyes, and her tone became somewhat uncertain.

Because, if she counted the one she drew on Talulah's face in the middle of the night, the little loli had actually drawn 4 paintings in one go that day.

"What's wrong?"

Talulah, sensing the uncertainty in Griseo's tone, instinctively looked over. Upon noticing the guilt in those big eyes, she asked out of curiosity.

"It's nothing... That night, after Talua you fell asleep, the snake appeared, and I used its colors to paint a picture and seal it."

Facing Talulah's question, Griseo quickly concealed the guilt in her eyes, shook her little head, and changed the subject.

Hearing this, Talulah didn't dwell on the previous question. Instead, she smiled and said gratefully:

"So that's how it is. Thank you, little one. You've been a great help."

"Mhm... You're welcome."

As she spoke, Griseo shook her head again, and the cute ahoge on her head swayed gently.

Although this matter was indeed a big deal for Talulah, for Griseo, it wasn't really a major problem... It was just staying up all night.

She had always done this kind of thing, staying up late to paint... so it wasn't a big issue.

Of course, most of the time she did it secretly behind Aponia's back, otherwise, she would face the "loving education" from her nun mother.

Moreover, in a sense, the Black Serpent matter wasn't entirely over for Griseo. Only Talulah and those who had previously had snake scales implanted were freed.

The reason she said this was because she couldn't be completely sure if an existence like Black Serpent... would rise from the dead.

Although that night, Griseo indirectly influenced all the fragments of Black Serpent through her painting, sealing them all within the artwork, even so, she couldn't be certain.

Even though the little loli could indeed kill the sealed Black Serpent by tearing up the painting, that was only the consciousness of Black Serpent.

On this land, as long as there were people who believed in Black Serpent, who agreed with and recognized its thoughts and ideals, no one could say with absolute certainty that it wouldn't reappear.

However, there was one thing Griseo was very sure of: whether it was continued sealing or tearing up the painting, it wouldn't cause trouble again for at least a short while.

With the development during this time, she believed Talulah would become a good leader, would grow, and then change this country.

"So, Talua, how do you want to handle this painting?" Griseo asked, tilting her head slightly to look at Talulah.

After the little loli asked this question, Alina also slowly shifted her gaze to her dear friend, awaiting her answer.

"Handle it? Isn't it already sealed inside?"

Talulah was suddenly asked this and was stunned for a moment, then asked doubtfully.

Clearly, Talulah didn't know at this moment that she could directly destroy the sealed entity by tearing up the painting, because a certain little loli had completely forgotten to mention it...

"Mhm, Talua can directly tear or burn this painting. If you do that, the thing sealed inside will also be destroyed along with it."

Hearing this, Griseo blinked her violet eyes and calmly explained.

"It is truly special... Although its entire consciousness is sealed within, no one can guarantee it won't return. Unless..."

Upon hearing Griseo say "entire consciousness," a flicker of surprise quickly flashed in Talulah's eyes. She then picked up the conversation, "Unless Ursus changes, unless people awaken."

"Then, Ursus will kill it, and awakened people will cast aside the foolish rulers."

At this point, Talulah's tone became powerful, her eyes filled with unparalleled determination and sharpness.

The strength, determination, resolve, and ideology she possessed at this moment were all gained through the growth experienced amidst blood and sacrifice in the dreamscape of the painting...

This time, she would not repeat her mistakes. She would resolutely lead everyone forward and change this already "corrupt" nation.

"..."

Listening to Talulah's words and feeling her determination and will, Griseo said nothing more. She simply watched the Dragon Girl, who seemed to be shining with light at that moment, in quiet silence.

Meanwhile, Alina, standing beside them, had also unconsciously curled her lips into a gentle smile, a hint of relief flashing in her eyes.

As for Alyona, she was still quietly eating. Although she had heard everyone's conversation, she had not spoken from beginning to end and had no intention of speaking.

Although she had suffered hardships and faced scorn and injustice due to her identity as an Infected, Talulah's words and Reunion's goals were ultimately too distant for her as a child.

Alyona didn't want to think so much. She only wanted, and intended, to follow the actions of Griseo, whom she had already decided upon. It was just like the "deal" or agreement at the beginning.

"So, what will you do with Talulah?"

After waiting a moment and seeing

Talulah calm down, Griseo quietly asked again.

The little loli had been curious for a long time about how Talulah would deal with Black Serpent. She wanted to know if the dragon girl would, as in the story, let Black Serpent go for now and put the painting away.

Or would she tear it up, causing the consciousness of Black Serpent sealed within the painting to dissipate directly?

However, neither of these options made much difference to Griseo.

After all, even if Talulah didn't destroy the painting, the consciousness of Black Serpent within it would absolutely not be able to escape, unless the little loli actively released it.

"Destroy it. There's no point in keeping this rotten painting, is there?"

As she spoke, Talulah picked up the painting that was on her lap. After a brief inspection, scorching flames erupted from her hand, engulfing the artwork.

Hearing Talulah's answer, Griseo's expression remained unchanged. She calmly said, without a hint of surprise, "Mhm, as long as Talulah is happy."

Then, under the gaze of the four of them... the exquisite yet rotten painting gradually burned under the licking flames.

Just as the flames reached the eyes of Black Serpent in the painting, a chilling voice suddenly boomed in their ears.

"To think I was tricked..."

"But what does it matter, even so? A snake can never be truly killed. As long as there are still people who acknowledge my ideas, I will return one day!"

After Black Serpent's words fell silent... the painting in Talulah's hand had just finished burning, turning into ashes that were swept away by the cold wind and drifted into the distance.

"..."

After hearing Black Serpent's sudden, harsh words, Griseo's small face remained expressionless, but a flicker of strangeness crossed her eyes.

Honestly, the little loli really hadn't expected... Black Serpent to be able to utter such threats at the last moment. Should she say it was worthy of being called It?

Talulah watched the ashes in her hand, which scattered without a trace in the cold wind, before finally withdrawing her gaze.

Then, she solemnly stood up, gently embraced Griseo who was sitting beside her, and softly said: