I Thought I'd Updated, but Actually I Didn't

Maria could feel how fragile and vulnerable the woman in her arms was, and she could also feel the steel tendrils growing inside her body.

She remained silent for a long time before finally hugging him back.

A moment later, the two separated.

Madam Sicily took off the last necklace from her neck.

"This was once... perhaps a gift from my mother. I intended to give it to this child, but she probably doesn't need it anymore."

After placing the necklace in Maria's hand, Madam Sicily remained silent for a long time without saying another word.

She has already made everything she wanted to say clear; any further affectation is pointless.

She simply nodded to Maria one last time, turned around, and walked down the steps...

A cool breeze blew, Maria reached out to touch the unmarked stone tablet, silently watching the departing figure.

He remained silent.

Chapter 118 I Thought I Updated, But Actually I Didn't

[Settling your account]

[Major Event Completed: Massacre]

Task rating: Perfect

Mission Description: The Wolf Lord's games have enraged you, and you've decided to teach these guys a lesson in manners. A terrible night will be enough to make them remember your power.

Quest Reward: Umbilical Cord Fragment

[Major Event Completed (2): Friendship]

Task Evaluation: Excellent

Mission Description: As time passes, the woman known as Madam Sicily may no longer remember what you look like, but she still remembers a woman who moved her deeply when she was not so old.

Quest Reward: You will enjoy special reputation in the Siracusa region.

[Main Quest: Failed]

[Comment: You've changed so much.]

Three panels: two successes and one failure.

Maria glanced at it briefly, then frowned slightly.

"Umbilical Cord Fragment?"

As she spoke, she looked at the Little Regret in the corner, dressed in a maid outfit and crouching there with a broom in her arms.

She's been completely trained into a maid by the Doll...

It's quite strange, really. I don't know what the Doll's purpose was, but it turned the other person's appearance into that of a young Maria, so that she could see her younger self dressed like that.

Hmm... never mind, as long as the Doll is happy.

But now there's something else that's even more captivating to her.

"How did you get this reward?"

Maria asked the question while stroking the Umbilical Cord, which resembled dried tree bark.

Little Regret, on the other hand, nervously hid in a corner.

"That... is what we collected..."

"Collect?"

"Well... while you were traveling through that area, I was also researching everything there and collecting resources that became your spoils..." Little Regret said, still a little scared, "These... are actually Umbilical Cord formed from the bodies of those Wolf Lords."

"Wolf Lord?"

Maria was somewhat puzzled.

Looking down at the Umbilical Cord in her hand, she pondered for a moment before turning to look at the Doll.

"Then this shouldn't be our Umbilical Cord... Can we use it?"

"Yes, that's possible... Although it's not the same medium, the function is the same."

The Doll simply reached out its hand, made a simple touch, and gave its own answer.

"Then you can handle it, Doll."

Maria glanced at it briefly before ignoring it, handing the piece of Umbilical Cord she had obtained to the Doll, and then quietly left.

His emotional stability was almost frightening.

Little Regret, standing to the side, craned his neck in disbelief and looked around.

She was somewhat taken aback after confirming that Maria was really gone...

"It's just a habit."

Glancing at the Little Regret girl looking around, the Doll immediately guessed what she was wondering about.

"You think that Hunter would be very angry after something like this happened to him... right?"

"But she's more used to this kind of thing than you think..."

"Habit?" Little Regret was still a little confused.

How can I get used to this?

But the Doll continued talking as if it were perfectly normal.

"There's nothing you can't get used to; the only thing is that you haven't experienced enough yet."

"The Hunter is much kinder than you think, and because of that, she has experienced countless irreparable pains... especially in Yharnam, where she has to relive and experience many of the things that have already happened, and ultimately watch as what has already happened continues to happen."

"You witnessed her brutality and madness after the baby's death..."

"But that's only a part of her."

"She will always be that... kind, yet awkward Hunter never says it out loud..."

The Doll murmured, a slow smile creeping onto its lips.

Little Regret, standing to the side, looked over with a mixture of understanding and confusion.

After seeing the Doll laugh, he muttered to himself.

"She's actually quite pretty... this woman."

Back to reality.

Maria was still in Hoshiguma's room.

The surrounding layout remained unchanged; outside the window, it simply changed from night to day.

"So, at least one night has passed?"

Maria for a moment, then got up and looked out the window.

The outside environment remained the same; the bustling, modern city made it difficult to know where to look.

Maria glanced at it a few times, then calmly looked away.

But then she heard a strange, rustling whisper.

Um?

Maria frowned sharply, and after a moment, she decisively turned her head to look at the doorway.

If she wasn't mistaken... the sound seemed to be coming from the doorway?

Is something outside?!

Maria, slightly wary, quietly approached the door...

"No, no... Texas, that's too abrupt, you can't say it like that!"

At the doorway, the girl in black slapped her face with both hands, once again rejecting the idea she had just conceived.

After closing her eyes and readjusting her mindset, she suddenly opened them!

"Mrs. Maria, how have you been?"

She reached out her hand, extending an invitation once again to the unresponsive door.

But a moment later, she covered her face with her hands and squatted down on the ground again.

How can you act like an idiot!

We've seen each other in the last few days, how can you use "how have you been lately"?

Besides, I don't usually talk like that...

How strange!

Texas was completely numb.

She's been working on the invitation strategy for half an hour, but she still can't find a suitable entry point.

To be honest, she was almost ready to give up.

It's really... really not going to work.

She really didn't dare invite Ms. Maria!!!

Despite her tough demeanor when facing Lappland, if she really had to be assertive with Maria...

She wouldn't even dare to think about something like that!

Texas covered her face with her hands, squatted on the ground, and her tail drooped listlessly.

Meanwhile, Maria silently walked out of the room, looking at the girl in front of her with a puzzled expression.

What are you doing?

"Alas?!"

Dexterus looked up in surprise and suddenly stared at Maria beside her.

After a moment of panic, she spoke decisively.

"Nothing!"

"Um?"

Maria frowned slightly.

Maria didn't even need to think much to see through this level of lie.

His brows unconsciously furrowed a bit.

This simple change of expression almost made Texas's face turn green.

She barely managed to suppress her instinct to squat down, and spoke in a trembling voice.

"Ms. Maria... have you eaten?"

Texas executed a classic opening move.

Maria remained silent.

Maria's expression became very subtle!

"..."

"..."

Texas only realized what strange thing she had said almost immediately after she finished speaking.

She wished she could squat down on the ground and bury herself in a crack in the earth.

But to her utter surprise, Maria spoke very seriously.

"Not yet..."

"..."