Cute Bug Overlord, Joins the Chat Group!

Mm, I couldn't look gloomy in front of such a little child.

"Snow?"

The Swarm Overlord's eyes widened slightly.

"Yeah, Ursus winter is coming."

The weather was incredibly gloomy, with no warm light shining down.

"Zerg, are you cold?"

Alina suddenly remembered that the little child seemed to be wearing only thin clothes.

"Zerg isn't cold!"

The Swarm Overlord's body feared neither bitter cold nor scorching heat.

"Really?"

Squatting down, Alina couldn't help reaching out to touch the little child's cheek.

It was very warm, without the flush of red caused by the cold.

What a miraculous child.

The Elafia girl couldn't help sighing.

She wasn't an idiot.

Zerg had already displayed his unusual traits.

Teeth that could bite through metal, and a body that didn't fear the cold.

Had he mastered some kind of Originium Arts?

Alina lowered her eyes as she thought this.

If only she knew Originium Arts too.

Clearly, she...

"Alina has black stones on her body?"

At some point, the sleeve around her wrist had been lifted, revealing her fair wrist—and the mottled purple-black stones scattered across it.

Zerg observed the blackness that stood out so sharply against the surrounding whiteness.

His eyes opened slightly wider.

"Wait, Zerg, don't touch me!"

Alina jolted, immediately pulling down her sleeve and covering her wrist.

She stumbled back a few steps in panic.

"Alina, what's wrong?"

The little Swarm Overlord was confused.

"...Don't come near me, Zerg."

After several seconds of silence, Alina said this.

"Big sister... is sick. I don't want to infect you."

It was said that Oripathy could spread through mere contact. Alina didn't know whether that was true, but she rarely came into contact with others.

Apart from Talulah... and her father.

Zerg was simply too adorable, so the Elafia girl had forgotten that she herself had Oripathy.

Until her sleeve was lifted and those demonic stones came into view, reminding her—

She was an Oripathy patient everyone despised.

"Zerg doesn't understand?"

The Swarm Overlord was puzzled.

Those black stones seemed to be a combination of organic and inorganic matter.

But that wasn't the most important thing—

The black stones were resources that could be used.

And highly energetic resources at that.

The Swarm needed vast amounts of resources to develop.

The resources gained by dismantling Ægir city buildings were fairly plentiful, but their decomposition efficiency and conversion rate weren't particularly high.

Yet the black stones he had just seen were high-energy materials. If they were fed into the Hatchery, perhaps they could quickly become resources the Swarm could use.

But why did such stones grow on Alina's body?

"Zerg, just don't get close to big sister."

Alina forced a smile.

It seemed Zerg wasn't from Ursus.

Otherwise, he would definitely be showing disgust and disdain right now.

For some reason, that made the Elafia girl feel relieved.

"Can Alina let Zerg have a lick?"

Then, the little child made a strange request.

"?"

"..."

The Elafia girl's mouth fell open at the little child's shocking words.

It was wide enough to fit an Ursus leba, thick and hard.

What had Zerg just said?

Alina couldn't help recalling his words—

"Can Alina let Zerg have a lick?"

Her heart trembled.

Don't misunderstand. It wasn't because of anything weird.

She was simply shocked.

"Um, Zerg..."

The girl forced out a smile.

"Could you repeat what you just said?"

She must have misheard, right?

Alina tried to convince herself.

Look at how adorable Zerg was. How could he possibly make such a strange request?

"Um... Alina, can Zerg have a lick?"

The little Swarm Overlord tilted his head and repeated his request.

The black stones he had just seen were high-energy minerals, but he still needed to try them himself to be sure.

"..."

The Elafia girl instinctively glanced back at the wooden door behind her.

It was firmly shut.

The soundproofing was questionable, but the wind outside should be enough to cover their conversation, right?

If someone overheard her conversation with Zerg, her life would probably be over.

Alina could practically see her good friend's gaze, as though she were looking at a pervert.

"Alina..."

The little Swarm Overlord fixed his gaze on the girl's wrist, hidden beneath her sleeve.

"..."

The Elafia girl's face tightened.

She couldn't let the people inside hear!

What should she do?

Right, then she'd just make a lot of noise to cover it up!

"Ahaha, Zerg, come with big sister first."

For some reason, Alina didn't bring Zerg into the house. Instead, she took his hand and led him around to the woodshed not far behind the cabin.

She covered the little child's voice with her own words while coaxing and practically tricking him along.

"Creak..."

The woodshed's wooden door made a rather piercing sound before closing.

The view suddenly went dark, with only a little light filtering in through the window.

Alina turned around and met the little child's gaze.

It was still so pure and flawless, without the slightest strange expression.

"Um, Zerg, why do you want to... lick big sister?"

A faint blush colored the girl's face. Suppressing the embarrassment in her heart, she asked this.

"Because the black stones look delicious!"

Anything that could provide energy was delicious!

Zerg said innocently.

"..."

The Elafia girl froze.

Black stones...

Wasn't that Originium?

Lick, lick Originium?

Alina couldn't help backing away a few steps.

Not out of fear, but concern.

If she let Zerg lick Originium, wouldn't he become an Infected like her?

The Elafia girl refused to let that happen.

Such an adorable child shouldn't become an Infected that everyone despised!

He still had such a wonderful life ahead of him!

"Zerg, no."

Waving her hand, Alina rejected the little Swarm Overlord's request.

"Alina, Zerg wants to lick it."

Zerg put on a pitiful expression.

Based on experience, as long as he made this expression, the other person would hand over food.

Successful examples included Kiana Kaslana and Bronya.

"..."