In Arknights, Starting Out as Griseo

Griseo gently shook her little head and answered, "No... I woke up... by myself."

Then, as if she still had not fully woken up, she buried her little face in Alina's arms again.

"Hehe~"

Watching Griseo's actions, Alina merely stroked her back and smiled gently.

After dawdling in bed for a while, Griseo obediently got up with Alina.

Then they went outside to have breakfast with everyone. Although breakfast was very simple and Griseo was not quite used to it, seeing the smiles on everyone's faces and feeling the lively atmosphere and warm colors around her, she still enjoyed the meal very much.

However, after breakfast, everyone quickly dispersed... each of them went off to complete their tasks for the day.

After all, they were all Infected and fighters. They were busy every day... everyone had their own duties. Usually, they only had time to gather and chat in the mornings and evenings.

;?;

But Griseo felt that everyone seemed even busier today. Many people had gone out...

She guessed it might have something to do with those Infected who had backed down and left the group. Talulah had probably issued some related orders.

After all, Griseo still trusted Alina. Last night, she had made room for the two of them to talk for so long. It had to have been useful somehow.

However, Alina could gradually change the problems in Talulah's personality and mindset. But... the matter of the Black Serpent was rather troublesome for Griseo.

Because for now, she had no way to directly kill the Black Serpent. At least, Griseo herself did not have such a method... otherwise, that snake hiding in the shadows might have already been dealt with.

Turning into Aponia could do it, but Griseo did not know the unlock conditions. So, for now, she could only take things one step at a time.

Inside the tent—

"Little Griseo, are you really not coming with me? You could listen in too, and maybe even make some friends." Looking at Griseo, who was already seated before her easel with a painter's cap on, Alina gently tried to persuade her.

"No... Alina, I'll just paint here... Don't worry, I won't run around." As she spoke, Griseo raised the brush in her hand and lightly waved it at Alina.

"And Mister Knight will be with me..."

Almost the instant Griseo said those words, the tall azure knight appeared beside her.

"...Since you don't want to go, all right. But even with Mister Knight protecting you, Griseo, don't run around, okay?" Alina paused for a moment when she saw the tall knight before speaking somewhat helplessly.

"Mm."

"See you later, little Griseo."

"Goodbye, Alina..."

After watching Alina leave the tent, Griseo withdrew her gaze and looked back at the blank canvas before her.

Other children might have felt lonely without anyone accompanying them, but for Griseo, that was not a problem.

Not to mention that she had Mister Knight and her other three companions with her. Besides... as long as she had paper and brushes, as long as she could continue painting, she would not be lonely.

And today, Griseo did not plan to paint for anyone else... she planned to paint a picture of her current self.

Although the old "Griseo" had painted herself before, that had been the old "Griseo," not the current one.

Once she had the idea, Griseo picked up her brush, dipped it in paint, and began creating.

"..."

Griseo had already emerged from her painting state some time ago. Now, she stared blankly at the enormous object behind her, deep in thought.

Clearly, she was rather stunned by this sudden situation as well.

As for

what had happened, it had to start from when Griseo had just finished her painting.

The moment Griseo added the final stroke to her new self-portrait, the frame suddenly twisted, and the colors on the canvas broke free.

Then, a massive crimson warrior wearing a crown and carrying a longsword appeared behind her, standing there silently.

;?;

And that led to the scene from before, with Griseo blankly staring at this new friend behind her.

"Tyrant Uncle... um, it's nice to meet you."

After remaining silent for a moment, Griseo waved her little hand and greeted the Crimson Tyrant before her.

Unlike Mister Knight, who doted on Griseo, the Tyrant merely nodded proudly in response to her greeting. He did not move in the slightest.

"Um..."

Looking at the proud Tyrant before her, a hint of confusion appeared in Griseo's big eyes.

She had considered the possibility that painting herself this time might produce some new friends. But she had never expected that her self-portrait would give birth to such a proud and sharp Tyrant Uncle.

Not only was his personality very different from Mister Knight and the others, even his colors were so opposite and conflicting.

After thinking for a while, Griseo could only attribute this change to the fact that she was a transmigrator, so her temperament differed somewhat from the real "Griseo."

P.S. I feel awful. My head feels heavy, my feet feel light, and I have a headache.

I was too busy today, and I have an exam tomorrow, so there will only be one update tonight. There will still be two updates tomorrow.

?

Going to sleep. Good night.

Important Announcement (Strongly Recommended)

Today, I'm making a separate post to address some issues. Because of my writing style and because I do not want to pad the story, many people have misunderstood certain things.

First, I have never said that the protagonist can only transform into Flame-Chasers. When I mentioned the interface, I directly referred to Valkyries.

Second, this novel is yuri. It is just that Hedgehog Cat has hidden the tag for some reason. And even if it were not yuri, I would never write the protagonist transforming into male characters. That would be a huge dealbreaker. Though I may write summons later on.

;?;!

Third, some people have asked whether this will be one-on-one or one-on-many. All I can say is that, so far, it leans toward yuri. There will be affectionate interactions, but there may also be no romantic pairing. It is difficult to write deeply developed feelings in this kind of multi-identity transformation story. In that case, the most likely outcome would be a harem, but I do not want to write one.

Of course, if the protagonist's relationship with a certain character later becomes truly excellent, I will consider giving her a pairing.

Fourth, why do some people think having another person's memories is something easy? Normally, how do you distinguish who someone is? When you possess another person's complete memories, you may not even be able to tell who you are anymore, and yet you say the protagonist changed too quickly?

Moreover, I added the setting that the protagonist possesses the memories of the people she transforms into precisely to restore their original personalities as reasonably as possible, because I dislike and do not want to write stories that merely wear another character's skin.

So, if you like stories that are purely about wearing another character's skin, I think you can leave now.

Fifth, there is actually another setting regarding transformations. Originally, I wanted to mention it together with the Valkyrie setting I talked about at the beginning of this announcement. But I was afraid you would say I was padding the story again, so I kept putting it off. I still have not written it even now. I will explain it in detail later, so there will not be any more misunderstandings.

Sixth, this book has detailed settings and a rough outline. Although the outline is not detailed to every extent, I do not need instruction, nor do I need suggestions about the settings. Thank you.

Of course, if you think of a particularly good plot idea, like I mentioned under the first few chapters, you can bring it up in the comments or discussion section. I will consider it.

Seventh, because I directly hide many small details in the text, I do not recommend reading this novel in fragments.

That is about it. Next, I will start writing. I will try to finish today's update as soon as possible.

I'm Not a Child Anymore

;;

After observing the tall Tyrant before her for a little longer, Griseo finally stood up from her stool, walked over to him, gently patted his arm, and said, "Tyrant Uncle... you should go back first."

However, after Griseo finished speaking, the Crimson Tyrant did not disappear immediately.

Instead, he stretched out his large armored hand and gently patted the little girl's head before silently disappearing from the tent.

"Tyrant Uncle seems unexpectedly reliable."

Looking at the place where the Tyrant had vanished, Griseo tilted her head slightly, a trace of surprise flashing through her eyes.

Although the Tyrant's sudden appearance had startled the little girl at first, she quickly accepted this new companion.

And in Griseo's perception, this Tyrant Uncle was even stronger than Mister Knight, who had always protected her.

This Crimson Tyrant truly lived up to his aura and name.

After musing over it, Griseo sat back down on her little stool, picked up her brush, and continued scribbling away.

After all, she had promised Alina that she would not run around. Griseo was a good child. This time, though, she was only painting ordinary pictures.

"I'm back. Did little Griseo miss me?"

Near noon, the tent flap was suddenly lifted... a gentle, smiling voice came from outside.

"...Mm, I missed Alina."

Griseo had already finished painting when Alina came in, so she responded immediately.

"Little Griseo is really so well-behaved. It's all because I'm too busy and don't have time to keep you company."

Looking at Griseo sitting obediently before the easel, helplessness and heartache flashed through Alina's eyes.

After all, she had been the one to bring Griseo back, yet she had no time to accompany her...

"Um...?"

A question mark slowly appeared above Griseo's little head when Alina suddenly looked at her apologetically.

"Alina... you do not need to care about that. Griseo has always been very happy, and today, I even met a new companion."

As she spoke, Griseo jumped down from her stool, walked up to Alina, then stood on tiptoe and gently patted the little deer's head in comfort.

Griseo truly did not care much about not having someone accompany her. If someone was with her, she would be happy. But if no one was, she would not be sad either, because she understood everyone...

Just as "Griseo" understood that Grandma Mobius, Sister Elysia, and the others were sometimes busy...

Besides, in a sense, she was not truly a child. Adding her age before transmigration to this body's age, she might have been older than everyone in the entire camp combined.

"Um... Little Griseo, you are just too adorable. I will definitely try my best to make time for you."

Seeing Griseo trying so hard to stand on tiptoe just to touch her head, Alina gently pulled the little one into her arms and lightly kneaded her little cheeks.

"..."

Faced with Alina's kneading, Griseo did not resist. She simply let her do as she pleased. Although she had sacrificed herself, the comforting effect had been achieved, had it not?

"...I remembered something. Alina, you still haven't given me an answer."

After a while, once she had escaped Alina's clutches, Griseo seemed to remember something. She raised her head and looked at her with big eyes.

"What is it?"

"Alina, yesterday... what exactly did you see in the painting?"

As she spoke, curiosity appeared in Griseo's violet eyes.

She had actually wanted to ask about this that morning, but Alina had seemed busy, so she had not asked and delayed her.

"This? It was the direction of the future... the endings of me, Yelena, and countless others. But because I have met a little cutie now, everything has already changed. Thank you, little Griseo."

Alina lightly touched her chin, thought for a moment, then smiled as she spoke.

"Mm..."

Griseo was somewhat surprised by Alina's words. Clearly, her adorable little mind had guessed many possible answers, but she had never imagined it would be this, and so comprehensive at that...

"Then... Alina, how do you plan to deal with that bad snake?"

"How do you know about that, Griseo? Don't you not know what effects your paintings have?"

Hearing that, Alina's pupils contracted slightly, and she asked nervously.

Having already learned the original path of fate, she did not want to drag Griseo, this little angel, into the matter of the Black Serpent. It was far too dangerous.

It was not that Alina was being overly suspicious, but in the original timeline... many things had been linked together, step by step, driving Talulah into the abyss.

She could not help suspecting many things, including whether the Black Serpent had been behind her death and whether it had all been part of his plan.

So if possible, Alina did not want Griseo involved in this matter. Although the little cutie had Mister Knight to protect her, what if she encountered someone even Mister Knight could not defeat?

Alina did not want to gamble...

"I saw it in Talulah's eyes... a black snake, with fierce eyes. I really do not know what will happen when a painting is drawn using everyone's colors."

Facing the nervous Alina, Griseo simply looked into her eyes and explained unhurriedly.

Even if she did not know the so-called plot, she could still have learned of the Black Serpent's existence.