In Arknights, Starting as Griseo Chapter 49

Because Mudrock's aura was calm and restrained, it wasn't until the three of them walked into a secluded corner that Alyona and Mudrock noticed the subtle changes in Griseo.

Alyona, knowing the little loli's characteristics, quickly realized what had happened, but Mudrock was different.

"...?"

At this moment, Mudrock, wearing her heavy protective suit, looked at Griseo in front of her with some confusion.

Because now, she actually felt a sense of friendship, or rather, an aura, from the little loli. She felt very close, yet also confused, as she hadn't felt this way before.

"This is what we couldn't conveniently talk about earlier. Griseo has now 'colored' herself with your 'color', Miss Mudrock," Alyona said with a hint of helplessness as she glanced at the two figures, one large and one small, facing each other.

"As for the explanation of 'color', you can understand it as a trait. Everyone's trait is different. Griseo is special; after spending a long time with someone, she unconsciously picks up their 'color'."

To be honest, Alyona, who was currently acting as a translator, felt a bit exhausted. For a moment, she even wondered why she was in this place, dealing with Sarkaz mercenaries.

But after a brief recollection, she remembered... it was because she couldn't resist Griseo's pleading and was worried about her safety. So, it was fine.

"Unconsciously picking up... If you can so easily obtain my 'color', why bother with a transaction?" After listening to Alyona's explanation, Mudrock was once again slightly taken aback, a flicker of confusion in her eyes beneath her helmet.

"Because picking up the 'color' isn't important. What's important is using this 'color' for painting..." Griseo explained, facing Mudrock's confusion with the exact same tone and expression as her.

"Besides, I don't like owing people."

"..."

Hearing Griseo's last sentence, which sounded so familiar, Mudrock fell silent again, as if contemplating something.

"Miss Mudrock, you don't need to worry too much. Even if Griseo uses your 'color' for her painting, the result will merely be a piece of art with a bit of special magic."

Alyona was somewhat resigned to her little loli, who always spoke only half her mind or was unclear. But what could she do? She was her savior, so she had to indulge her.

"Furthermore, painting can effectively help her shed the 'colors' of others, and generally, the finished painting is returned to its original owner as a gift."

"So, no matter how you look at it, this so-called transaction is beneficial to you, Miss Mudrock, isn't it?"

After clarifying the matter, Alyona quieted down and simply watched the large figure in front of her, awaiting her decision.

"...I agree to this. However, the condition is unnecessary. As you said, I also don't like owing others." After a moment of thought, Mudrock's final answer came through her helmet, her voice low.

"???)?"

Hearing this, even Griseo, who was still in the process of being "colored," couldn't help but freeze.

The little loli hadn't expected this development at all... Her original intention was to use this condition to maintain a connection with Mudrock afterward.

But how did the connection suddenly disappear with a "snap"?

Griseo didn't understand, but she was greatly shocked. Was this what they called Mudrock being an honest person? So straightforward...

"...Very well. In that case, I'll bring it to you after I finish painting later. I'll keep the condition, and you can come find me if you need anything."

After organizing her thoughts, Griseo continued to speak in the same tone as Mudrock.

However, the little loli then seemed to remember something. She took a few steps back and suddenly threw herself into Alyona's arms.

?;

"?"

After the sudden embrace from the little darling, Alyona was slightly taken aback, a flicker of confusion in her light green eyes.

But she quickly understood that Griseo in her arms was fading, so she didn't speak to disturb her.

"..."

Finally, with her companion's help, Griseo didn't take long to fade from Mudrock's "color" and return to her blank slate state.

As for why the little loli suddenly chose to fade the "color"... the reason was very simple: she had just remembered something, but in her "Mudrock state," she couldn't speak at all...

So, there was no other way. Griseo had to choose to fade Mudrock's "color" first.

However, it didn't really matter... After all, she had already remembered the "color." If she wanted to, she could even re-acquire it without Mudrock being present.

Having returned to her blank slate state, Griseo now stared intently at Mudrock in front of her with her beautiful, shimmering violet eyes.

"Is there something else?"

Seeing the little one's sparkling eyes, Mudrock hesitated for a moment before finally asking.

After all, in Mudrock's opinion, Griseo's gaze was a bit too "intense," making her feel a little embarrassed... It wasn't ideal to be stared at like this all the time.

"Sister Mudrock, can you let me see what you look like? Alyona and I will keep it a secret..."

Griseo didn't intend to hide her purpose. So, as soon as Mudrock asked, she stated it directly.

Moreover, her large eyes were filled with an emotion called anticipation, or rather, "light."

"Although I'm not used to it, but..."

Hearing this, a rare hint of helplessness appeared in Mudrock's red eyes beneath her helmet. Then, she began to unfasten her heavy combat suit...

To be honest, Mudrock never expected that the reason for the little one's "intense" gaze was simply because she wanted to see her true appearance...

She had originally thought it was something important, or a difficult task to accomplish.

As the heavy protective suit was slowly "peeled" away, Mudrock's original appearance as a Sarkaz was revealed to the two of them.

ps: It's been quite cold these past couple of days. I don't know what happened last night, but I woke up this morning with a chill in my stomach, and I'm feeling a bit uncomfortable now. However, aside from that, I noticed I felt pretty good this morning and will see if I can update another chapter in the morning.

It's Monday today. Later, I'm going to sneak over to another school's entrance to mooch some food. Please give me some votes~

A gentle nudge. Adding images also triggered a bug, forcing me to add a few words...

Chapter 85: Stick Together and Experiments

"..."

Because Griseo had already seen Mudrock's appearance in the game, a flicker of amazement crossed her eyes, but her expression didn't change much.

"!"

Alyona, on the other hand, was completely astonished.

Although she had believed Griseo's words before and knew that this big person in front of her was a woman, even so, she never imagined that this Sarkaz mercenary captain would be so beautiful.

"Um... I might not be as good-looking as you imagine, and I'm not really used to taking off my protective suit."

Seeing the two "stunned" little lolis in front of her, a hint of helplessness flashed in Mudrock's red eyes, and she moved to put on her protective suit again.

"Sister Mudrock, you are beautiful, both as a person and in your colors... Wait a moment." Hearing Mudrock's words, Griseo instinctively retorted.

After speaking, the little loli temporarily let go of her companion, walked to Mudrock's side, and then put her arm around the Sarkaz Big Girl's slender waist.

"Eh?"

After hearing Griseo's words, Mudrock instinctively stopped putting on her protective suit. However, she never expected the little loli in front of her to initiate physical contact.

This caused her body to stiffen, and she dared not move. At the same time, as she looked down at the fluffy little head of the little one hugging her, a faint stirring suddenly arose in her heart.

"..."

In the end, Mudrock compromised to her inner thoughts. She slowly placed her hand, clad in a heavy glove, on top of Griseo's fluffy head.

"Mmm..."

Sensing the weight on her head, Griseo blinked gently, making no move to dodge. Instead, she let the other person stroke her little head.

The little loli suddenly hugging Mudrock wasn't for fun or to take advantage of her. She had suddenly thought of something she wanted to test, so she came over to actively "color" herself.

As for why she didn't color herself as before, or automatically color herself from memory, the reason was simple: the colors obtained that way weren't enough to meet the conditions for Griseo's experiment.

Coupled with not wanting to waste time, the little loli just went ahead and stuck to her directly.

[Ding, (Floating Life) Hua, unlocking, current progress 1%]

However, just as Griseo was about to let go of her little hands, the long-lost voice in her mind sounded again, causing her body to freeze.

"What's wrong? Did I poke you?"

Sensing Griseo's stiffening, Mudrock looked down at the protruding Originium on her abdomen, a complex look flashing in her scarlet eyes.

"No, thank you, Mudrock..."

Hearing Mudrock's words, Griseo quickly let go of her hand and looked up at the person she had been clinging to.

To be honest, after hearing the voice just now, the little loli now wanted to stick with the Sarkaz Big Girl like this all the time...

"It's nothing..."

Hearing this, Mudrock instinctively replied. But after saying that, she had nothing more to say.

Because this was the first time Mudrock had been so close to someone, or rather, a child. She appeared somewhat flustered.

And so, the two people, one large and one small, with completely identical expressions and temperaments, remained in a close embrace, looking at each other, falling into an awkward silence.

It was no help that Mudrock wasn't a person of many words, and Griseo had now been deeply colored by her, her personality also becoming like Mudrock's.

Thus, for a time, neither of them knew what to say.

"..."

Finally, Alyona, who had been standing aside, couldn't watch any longer and spoke to the pair in front of her:

"Since the matter is resolved, Griseo, let's head back soon. The commotion we made this time was quite significant. If we're late getting back, Sister Alina might scold us."

"Also, please rest assured, Miss Mudrock, we will keep your appearance a secret."

"Mm."

"Okay."

Hearing her companion's words, Griseo carefully took two steps back, increasing the distance between herself and Mudrock.

As the little loli pulled away, the unlocking progress for Hua also stopped. However, she wasn't in a hurry about this matter. After all, there was plenty of time.

For Griseo, the most troublesome part of this broken system wasn't the unlocking through physical contact, but finding the right person.

Now that she knew who it was, it would be easier... ???)?

Griseo's innocent thought only lasted until Mudrock put her heavy protective suit back on.

At this moment, the little loli finally remembered that the usual Mudrock almost never took off her heavy protective suit.

For a moment, Griseo couldn't help but feel a bit dejected.

In the end, dejected or not, it was time to leave when the time came.

Griseo and Alyona chatted with Mudrock a few more times before taking their leave and departing first.

After all, as Alyona had said, if they stayed any later, they might really get caught by Alina, which would lead to another lecture.

Even though the lectures were gentle, they were still lectures... and no child wanted to hear them.

?;|

"..."

On the way back, when Griseo and Alyona passed by a less crowded area, Griseo suddenly stopped in her tracks.

"?"

Noticing this, Alyona's light green eyes flickered with confusion, and she also stopped. She quietly watched Griseo, waiting for an explanation.

"I want to try something, just a moment."

Griseo didn't offer much explanation, instead using her actions to show Alyona what she intended to do.

As Griseo concentrated, a brown light appeared and began to flow around her.

The next instant, on the flat, frost-covered frozen ground before them, a sizable, hard rock broke through the silver frost and emerged, floating in mid-air, announcing its presence to the world.

"?"

Now, Alyona, who had watched the entire process, was even more confused. A large question mark appeared above her slightly tilted head.

Clearly, she had no idea what was going on.

ps: I originally said I'd try to update in the morning today, but unexpectedly, I received news this morning that an elder in my family had passed away. I've been busy all day, so the update will be a bit late.