Ursus Snowfields— Endless snow fell silently from the leaden sky, only to be swept up by the whistling north wind, spinning around the barren branches before finally vanishing into the empty distance.
But this quiet did not last long.
A figure sprinting at full speed along the snowy forest path shattered the stillness.
“Huff… huff…” “Thud thud thud—” The rapid breathing mixed with the sound of footsteps revealed the owner’s current anxiety.
The Draco girl, who had been running non-stop yet still hadn’t seen the person she was searching for, felt her worry and fear steadily growing.
Alina… where are you… “Thud…” The girl running suddenly seemed to spot something, halting abruptly and slowly coming to a stop… Talulah froze as she looked at the bodies lying not far away, and at the scarlet stain spreading into the snow.
“Alina…” Miss Dragon Girl’s gaze fell on an empty basket beneath a tree, and she suddenly snapped awake.
Whispering her dearest friend’s name, she hurried forward to examine the scene.
After checking carefully, Talulah received two pieces of news.
The good news was that she didn’t see her friend’s body here.
The bad news was that Alina had most likely been attacked by the Infected that Talulah herself had released… “Damn it, those bastards!
I shouldn’t… I shouldn’t have let them go!” “Alina, you must be okay.” Even after seeing this, Talulah did not relax.
She couldn’t allow herself to dwell on the worst outcome, instead frantically searching the nearby area.
She hoped to find even the slightest sign proving her friend was still alive… It’s all my fault… if it weren’t for me… Alina, how could you be in danger… “…” Despite her frantic searching, Talulah could not find the clues she wanted.
The snow… it was too heavy.
The endless white covered every possible trace.
At this moment, Miss Dragon Girl forced herself to calm her increasingly anxious mind and once again analyzed the situation.
The dead attackers, the cans scattered by their sides… and the complete absence of her friend.
“N-No, Alina should still be alive… she might have been rescued.
I need to go back and check!” Although she said that Alina might have been saved, Talulah was certain it wasn’t by nearby villagers—or the remaining Patrols.
Neither would show mercy toward the Infected… the first couldn’t be trusted, the second would be cruel.
Miss Dragon Girl didn’t believe either could both defeat the attacking Infected and choose to rescue or spare an Infected like Alina.
So… it had to be someone else.
With hope in her heart, Talulah returned to where Alina had been attacked, picking up the basket on the ground and the scattered cans, then urgently made her way back just as she had come.
She had to see if her friend had returned, and call everyone to help search… “Thud thud thud—” Yet as Talulah ran with the same urgency, the icy wind and snow stripped heat from her body… And forced her mind, stirred by hope, to gradually regain clarity.
If she returned to camp and didn’t find Alina, could she really rally everyone to search?
The people in camp had just finished fighting the Patrols, had counted their numbers, and were preparing to lie low to avoid the remaining Patrols’ search.
How could she, at a time like this, risk mobilizing others… But… Alina… what should I do?
——————————— Elsewhere— In the silent forest, Alina stood on the snow, looking at Griseo with concern.
She asked, “Little Griseo… don’t you really need to change clothes and put on shoes?” It wasn’t surprising that the little deer was worried.
Anyone seeing a cute child in a thin white dress, standing barefoot on a freezing snowfield, would feel the same concern… The snow almost reached your calves!
Hey!?
Honestly, if her arm hadn’t been injured, and if she weren’t worried about scaring Griseo, Alina might have already scooped her up to check for frostbite.
“Mm, don’t worry, Mama Alina… I’m fine.” Griseo gently lifted one foot to show her, as if proving it.
The tiny foot remained snow-white and delicate, just as it had been before.
Not only was there no frostbite, not even a trace of melted snow had touched it.
“…” Seeing this, Alina was momentarily silent, then let go of her worry and said resignedly, “I almost forgot that Little Griseo isn’t an ordinary child.
But even if you’re not afraid of the cold, be careful where you step.” After speaking, the little deer lightly touched Griseo’s head, which had caught a bit of chill.
“I know… Mama Alina, you have to be careful too.
It’s about time.
Let’s go.” Griseo nodded gently, then took Alina’s hand.
With the little loli’s words, the shop door that had been open beside them quietly closed, dissolving into light and vanishing into the air.
The snowfield’s cold was bone-chilling, even deadly, to many Terrans.
But for Griseo, with her fused warrior constitution, it was merely a bit cold—far from frostbite.
Not to mention the System, which could protect her from harsh conditions, and her own Honkai energy, which could isolate the cold.
Speaking of energy, the little loli had already decided that after drawing a Star Rail character later, she would try converting her Honkai energy into imaginary energy.
“Okay.” Alina smiled and nodded at Griseo’s concern.
After one last glance at the place where the doorway had disappeared, she held the little loli’s hand and followed the path from memory toward the Reunion Movement camp.
At first, Alina had never considered having Griseo accompany her back.
She had intended to simply let her be returned to the spot where she had been attacked.
She knew the way herself and could return alone.
But she couldn’t resist Griseo’s insistence and care… so she had no choice but to allow this small guardian to accompany her.
Even the coordinates for “teleportation” had been shifted, avoiding the place where she had been attacked.
As for exposing the camp… Honestly, Alina didn’t think someone capable of instantaneously crossing from Columbia to Ursus would care about a small Infected camp, nor did she believe they couldn’t find it if they tried.
So there was nothing to worry about.
Moreover, she didn’t want to malign Griseo, no matter how special or mysterious she was.
So… what exactly is Little Griseo’s race?
Walking home, Alina couldn’t help pondering this question she still had no answer to.
★ ★ ★ T/N: If you spot mistranslation, do tell me!
★ ★ ★ Shilling time!