Late at night.
Sirin, who was sleeping while holding Clara, opened her eyes without warning.
As an Envoy, even though this was merely a puppet body used for remote operations, her perception far exceeded that of an ordinary person.
She clearly sensed that in a nearby alley not far from this small house, someone was wandering about.
Their movements seemed to carry a certain clear sense of purpose, as if they were…
searching for something?
(I should go take a look.)
Sirin gently lifted the blanket, her movements making not a single sound.
She lowered her head to tuck in the corner of the blanket for the sleeping Clara in her arms.
Her fingertips brushed over the girl’s soft white hair, lingering for a moment before slowly pulling back.
Her gaze turned to the large bed on the other side of the room.
Although Bronya and Seele were sleeping in the same bed according to her “arrangements,” there was a clear distance between them, as if an invisible boundary had been drawn down the middle.
Both were sleeping extremely “properly.” Bronya’s body was straight, her hands folded over her lower abdomen—it could practically be called the standard sleeping posture.
As for Seele…
Sirin knew that this child was usually a “free spirit” when asleep, capable of rolling all over the bed and assuming all sorts of bizarre positions.
Yet, at this moment, she was curled up on the edge of the bed, back turned to Bronya, her sleeping posture stiff, and her brows slightly furrowed even in her dreams.
(This won’t do…)
Sirin watched quietly, and in the depths of her calm eyes, a trace of mischief that only she could understand flashed by?
(If you two are like this, how am I supposed to ship you?)
A curve with a hint of mischief quietly appeared at the corner of Sirin’s mouth.
She raised her right hand and lightly flicked her slender fingertips toward the direction of the large bed.
A wisp of soft power, faint enough to be almost imperceptible, spread out silently like a spider silk under the moonlight, gently brushing over the two on the bed.
This power was not forced; it was more like a clever guidance, harmonizing the overly “distinct” sleeping aura between the two.
Under Sirin’s precise “micro-management,” the sleeping Seele unconsciously turned over, her arm naturally resting on Bronya’s waist.
And Bronya, seemingly under the influence of some warm and peaceful guidance, turned slightly to the side, gently resting her forehead against Seele’s shoulder.
Seele curled up slightly, her arms possessively wrapping around Bronya’s waist; Bronya snuggled against the other’s shoulder, her tightly furrowed brows relaxing, her expression showing a peace rarely seen since arriving in the Underworld.
(Mm, that’s better.)
Sirin nodded with satisfaction and withdrew her hand.
(Don’t mention it.) She added silently in her heart.
Afterward, she walked silently to the door and pushed it open.
The night in the Underworld was pitch black, with only a few tiny specks of light flickering. This chapter is updated first at g.com.
Following her senses, Sirin soon saw the “uninvited guest” at an alley entrance not far from home.
It was a gray-haired figure crouching in front of a waist-high, rusty trash can, their movements extremely focused, even carrying a sense of devout…
excitement?
“Heh heh~ Let me see if there are any treasures in this trash can!”
It was Stelle’s voice, kept very low, but that eager energy could be felt from far away.
She was seen reaching her hand into the foul-smelling trash can without hesitation, starting to rummage around with practiced movements.
Suddenly, Stelle’s movements paused, and her whole body seemed to stiffen for a moment.
Immediately after, she quickly pulled something out of the trash can and, using the faint light in the distance, took a close look—
A shimmering piece of stellar jade!
“I found treasure!!!” Stelle’s eyes suddenly erupted with astonishing brightness in the darkness, as if she had discovered a peerless treasure.
She was so excited she almost shouted out loud, then quickly covered her mouth, but that excited glow was almost overflowing.
“Ahem, ahem…”
A soft cough with a hint of helplessness rang out abruptly in the quiet alley, instantly pulling Stelle back to reality from her ecstasy.
“Who?!” Stelle gave a start, spun around violently, and at the same time, with lightning speed, stuffed that piece of stellar jade into her bulging pocket, her eyes scanning the surroundings vigilantly.
“It’s you.” Sirin walked slowly out of the shadows, her gaze falling on Stelle’s face.
“Staying up so late, out…
treasure hunting?”
Seeing it was Sirin, Stelle first breathed a sigh of relief, and then, it was as if a switch in her mind had been instantly flipped!
When she woke up on the Space Station, in that hazy light and shadow, besides Mother Kafka’s figure, there were two other figures behind her—one was Silver Wolf, and the other was the Sirin in front of her!
Countless fragmented images and sensations flooded in, instantly connecting into a clear memory!
“Auntie!” Stelle’s eyes lit up as if she had discovered a new continent.
She dashed over to Sirin, tilted her head up, and her eyes were filled with undisguised closeness and…
longing?
“Auntie!
You’re my real auntie!
Right?” Stelle grabbed Sirin’s arm, her tone eager.
“Can…
can I study you for a bit?
Just for a little bit!”
“Hm?” This time, Sirin was genuinely surprised.
She looked at Stelle’s expression, which was filled with excitement and certainty, and the lake in her heart, which had always been calm and waveless, rippled slightly.
You remembered me?
She had assumed that Stelle would only remember Kafka.
“Mm-hm!” Stelle nodded vigorously, recounting like she was reciting a list of treasures.
“Back then, you and Auntie Silver Wolf were standing behind Mother Kafka!
You two even started fighting in front of her!
It was so lively!
I just remembered everything all of a sudden!
When I saw you this morning, I felt so familiar, but I just couldn’t remember why.
Now everything just clicked!”
“I see…” Sirin nodded thoughtfully.
“Auntie!
You nodded!” Stelle, however, took Sirin’s contemplation as agreement, and her eyes instantly lit up even more.
“Nodding means you agreed!”
Before the words had even finished, she had already made her move!
First, she carefully poked the delicate, non-human joints on Sirin’s arm with her finger, feeling the cold touch and hard texture.
Then, she became bolder, passing both hands directly under Sirin’s armpits and applying a little force—
She actually picked Sirin up entirely!
Sirin: “…?!”
(Did I agree?)
She had just wanted to speak, but she met Stelle’s face, which was right in front of hers.
In those eyes, there was not a trace of guard or calculation, only excitement and curiosity so pure it was almost childish, and a kind of…
closeness to “family” that perhaps even Stelle herself hadn’t fully understood.
(Oh, well…)
Looking at those eyes, the slight helplessness in Sirin’s heart from being “ambushed” and her reserve as an “elder” quietly dissipated.
(Who asked…
me to be so doting on children.)
She relaxed her body, letting Stelle hold her in her arms like a curious baby who had just received a new toy, looking left and right, and even attempting to touch the structure connecting her hair at the back of her head.
It might not seem tempting right now but who knows what the future holds?
“And If you’re enjoying it, drop a Power Stone for me!”