In Arknights, I Became Griseo at the Start

"What did you say?! Wait, is the snake you mentioned the same thing I'm thinking of?"

After hearing Griseo's words this time, Talulah's pupils contracted slightly, and all her previous composure vanished.

Even Alina, sitting beside her, covered her mouth, unable to hide the shock on her face.

"Um..."

Seeing Talulah's agitation, Griseo did not explain again.

After giving a small nod,

she silently took the painting from her space and handed it to the person beside her before softly saying,

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

"Wait... let me sort out the situation first."

After hearing that, Talulah glanced at the painting in her hands and could not help rubbing her forehead as she began processing the flood of information she had received in such a short time.

It was not just her. Alina, whose surprise had yet to fade, was also beginning to piece together the entire matter.

Griseo was in no hurry. She withdrew her gaze and looked at Alyona, who sat to her right, taking small bites of hard bread.

"Hmm? Do you want some... Here."

Noticing Griseo's gaze, Alyona stopped eating, tilted her head slightly, and held out the food in her hand.

The little polar bear thought the little girl beside her had not eaten enough and wanted her food.

If it had been anyone else, Alyona would never have handed over food that could sustain her life. But... if it was Griseo, there was no problem at all.

It was not because she knew the little girl would not really eat her food, but because...

Alyona felt that Griseo treated her well and protected her, so she was willing to give up her food.

After all, in her eyes, missing one meal was something she had long grown used to.

"..."

Looking at the food suddenly offered before her, Griseo froze for a moment, completely bewildered.

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

PS: Something happened at home today, and it put me in a bad mood, so the update came a little late. I also feel the quality is only average and a little messy.

That's it for now. My head is starting to hurt again... Also, I'll try to update earlier tomorrow, but the editor asked me to update after five in the afternoon, so no matter how fast I am, it'll still be after five tomorrow.

Ursus Will Kill It

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

After saying that, Griseo gently pushed Alyona's outstretched hand and food back.

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

Upon hearing that, Alyona's expressionless little face, which had remained blank ever since leaving the tent, suddenly blossomed into a smile. Then she spoke seriously to Griseo.

"??? Um?"

Hearing Alyona's words, Griseo tilted her head slightly. A trace of confusion flashed through her eyes, and the cowlick atop her head swayed with the motion.

Clearly, the little girl had no idea how this topic had suddenly shifted onto her.

However, Griseo did not dwell on it too much. She gently shook her little head, tossing aside her jumbled thoughts before speaking again.

"Not me either. Alyona needs to learn to cherish and protect herself."

Looking at the adorable blue-haired little girl before her, Alyona was briefly stunned. Something complicated surfaced in her light green eyes, but it quickly disappeared.

"Okay, I understand."

Alyona then nodded lightly in agreement, though the smile on her face became even brighter.

Although the little polar bear agreed readily now, as for what she would actually do later... perhaps only she herself knew.

"Um, hurry and eat..."

After hearing her companion agree, Griseo said nothing more and merely urged her softly.

"Okay~"

While Griseo and Alyona were having their friendly exchange, Talulah and Alina had finally sorted out the information the little girl had revealed.

"Do Talulah and Sister Alina understand now?"

As she spoke, Griseo turned her head back toward Talulah and Alina, whose expressions were somewhat strange.

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

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

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

That was precisely why her expression was so strange now...

Still, even though Griseo had said she had sealed the snake inside, Talulah did not believe the painting contained a "complete" Black Serpent.

In her view, the snake sealed in the painting should only be the portion within her...

Of course, even that alone was enough to make Talulah very happy.

Although she did not think she would ever agree with the Black Serpent's theories again, having one less major hidden danger was still a very good thing. After all, no one could say for certain that nothing would happen.

"Um... because that night, the painting I made for you, Talulah, affected not only you, but also the snake inside you." After organizing her words a little, Griseo explained Talulah's question.

"..."

Griseo's explanation instantly plunged Talulah and Alina, who had been listening attentively beside her, into silence.

How should they put it? Before Griseo explained, both of them had assumed the little girl must have put in considerable effort... that it had at least been rather troublesome.

Who could have expected that after hearing the explanation, they would discover that the reason the Black Serpent had fallen for it was so absurd it was almost funny? Their expressions became even stranger.

"That day, I painted three... paintings?"

Griseo had originally wanted to say something else, but when mentioning the number of paintings, she suddenly remembered something. A trace of guilt flashed through her large violet eyes, and her tone became uncertain.

Because if she counted the one she had painted on Talulah's face in the middle of the night, she had actually painted four pictures in one go that day.

"What is it?"

Noticing the uncertainty in Griseo's tone, Talulah instinctively looked over. When she saw the guilt in those large eyes, she asked curiously.

"It's nothing... That night, after you fell asleep, Talulah, the snake appeared. Then I used its colors to paint it and sealed it away."

Faced with Talulah's question, Griseo quickly hid the guilt in her eyes, shook her little head, and changed the subject.

Talulah did not press the earlier question after hearing that. Instead, she smiled and said gratefully,

"So that's how it was. Thank you, little one. You really helped me a great deal."

"Um... you're welcome."

As she spoke, Griseo shook her head again, and the cute cowlick atop her head swayed lightly.

This matter was indeed a major event for Talulah, but for Griseo, it was not really a big problem... it had merely cost her a sleepless night.

Besides, she had often stayed up late painting in the past, so it was no big deal.

Of course, most of the time she did it secretly behind Aponia's back. Otherwise, she would have to face loving instruction from her nun mother.

Moreover, in Griseo's eyes, the matter of the Black Serpent had not completely ended in a certain sense. The only ones who had been freed were Talulah and those who had previously been implanted with snake scales.

As for why she said that, it was because she could not be completely sure whether an existence like the Black Serpent... might rise again after death.

Although that night, Griseo had indirectly affected every fragment of the Black Serpent through her painting and sealed them all inside it in one stroke, she still could not be certain.

The little girl could even kill the Black Serpent sealed in the painting by tearing it apart, but that would only destroy the Black Serpent's consciousness.

On this land, so long as there were still people who believed in the Black Serpent, who agreed with and accepted its ideas and beliefs, no one could say with complete certainty that it would not return.

However, there was one thing Griseo was certain of. Whether they continued sealing it away or tore up the painting, at the very least, it would not come out to cause trouble again anytime soon.

With this time to develop, she believed Talulah would become a good leader, continue to grow, and change this country.

"So, how does Talulah want to deal with this painting?" Griseo asked, lifting her head slightly to look at Talulah.

After the little girl asked that question, Alina slowly shifted her gaze to her dear friend as well, waiting for her answer.

"How to deal with it? Isn't it already locked inside?"

Talulah was taken aback by the question. Only then did she ask in confusion.

Clearly, Talulah did not know that the sealed thing could be destroyed simply by tearing up the painting, because a certain little girl had completely forgotten to mention it...

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

Griseo blinked her violet eyes lightly and explained in an even tone.

"It is truly special... Even though all of its consciousness is sealed inside, no one can guarantee it will not come back. Unless..."

When Griseo mentioned all of its consciousness, surprise flashed through Talulah's eyes. Then she picked up the thought. "Unless Ursus changes, and the people awaken."

"Then Ursus will kill it, and the awakened people will cast aside those ignorant rulers without mercy."

As she said this, Talulah's tone became forceful. Her eyes were filled with incomparable determination and sharpness.

Her current strength and resolve, awareness and beliefs, had all come from growing through blood and sacrifice within the dream of the painting...

This time, she would not repeat her mistakes. She would steadfastly lead everyone forward, changing this already "rotten" country.

"..."

Hearing Talulah's words and sensing her determination and will, Griseo said nothing. She merely watched the Dragon Girl, who seemed to be radiating light at that moment.

At some point, Alina beside them had also curled her lips into a gentle smile, a trace of relief flashing through her eyes.

As for Alyona, she was still quietly eating... She had heard everyone's conversation, but from beginning to end, she neither spoke nor wanted to speak.

Although she had already suffered hardship and endured contempt and injustice because she was infected, Talulah's words and the Reunion Movement's goals were still ultimately too distant for a child like her.

Alyona did not want to think so much. She only wanted, and only intended, to follow the actions of the Griseo she had already chosen. Just like their initial "deal," or rather, their promise.

"So, Talulah's way of handling it?"

After waiting for a little while and seeing Talulah calm down, Griseo softly asked again.

The little girl had long been curious about how Talulah would deal with the Black Serpent. She wanted to know whether the Dragon Girl would temporarily spare the Black Serpent as in the story and put the painting away.

Or tear it apart and make the Black Serpent's consciousness sealed within directly dissipate.

However, neither method made much difference to Griseo.

After all, even if Talulah did not destroy the painting, the Black Serpent's consciousness inside would absolutely be unable to escape unless the little girl released it herself.

"Destroy it. There's no use keeping such a rotten painting, is there?"

As she spoke, Talulah picked up the painting resting on her lap. After examining it once, blazing flames burst from her hand and swallowed the painting.

Hearing Talulah's answer, Griseo's expression did not change at all. Without even a trace of surprise, she calmly said, "Okay. As long as Talulah is happy."

Then, beneath the gazes of the four of them... the exquisite yet rotten painting gradually burned beneath the licking flames.

Just as the fire reached the Black Serpent's eyes in the painting, a cold voice suddenly exploded beside their ears.

"So I was outmaneuvered..."

"But so what? Snakes cannot be killed. So long as there are still people who agree with my ideas, one day I will rise again!"

As the Black Serpent's words faded... the painting in Talulah's hand finished burning, turning to ashes that the cold wind swept into the distance.

"..."

After hearing the Black Serpent's sudden threat, Griseo's little face remained expressionless, but something strange flashed through her eyes.

Honestly, the little girl had never expected... that the Black Serpent could still leave behind a threat at the very end. Perhaps that was to be expected of it?

Talulah watched the ashes in her hand scatter into the distance on the cold wind until they vanished without a trace, then withdrew her gaze.

She then solemnly stood up, gently pulled Griseo, who was sitting beside her, into an embrace, and softly said: