Theus:
Why optimize something in a place this creepy? Wouldn't it be better to spend that time optimizing the self-propelled cannon?
Come to think of it, Chloe had gone from driving a self-propelled cannon to a self-propelled coffin. What was this supposed to be called now?
Before Theus could figure it out, the blue-haired girl slowly opened her eyes.
Those sea-blue eyes were lost for a moment before turning toward the people around her.
Theus could not help holding his breath.
Chloe slowly sat up. Rather than bouncing around as she had before, she quietly lowered her head and looked at herself.
She raised both hands to touch her cheeks, took a deep breath of air, and looked at her fair skin beneath the sunlight.
Then she turned to look at Theus.
"Chloe, you..."
He had wanted to offer some words of congratulations, but suddenly stopped.
Chloe unsteadily rose to her feet and walked over to embrace him.
The usually noisy girl was exceptionally quiet today, yet anyone could feel the turbulent emotions beneath the surface.
Chloe released Theus, casually wiped the snot from her nose on his lapel, then turned toward Gaia.
Gaia's expression was especially stiff. She seemed to want to appear colder, but her slightly trembling lips betrayed her.
She, Chloe, and Monica had once been the best of friends. Ever since Chloe died, they had rarely spoken.
The reckless Gaia seemed to have grown up overnight. She had taken over much of the work that once belonged to Chloe all by herself, and that little girl seemed to have vanished forever.
There was confusion in Gaia's eyes. She could not tell whether the person before her was truly her dear friend. She seemed to want to step forward and embrace her, but after hesitating for a