A pat on the head…
was it really such a comfortable feeling?
If he were to stay sick and injured, could he continue to receive head pats from Kafka…
from Sister Kafka?
Zao Wu had tried calling Kafka “Mama” twice.
Neither time had he received a response.
This meant Kafka had not yet agreed to become his mother.
So, afraid of making her angry, Zao Wu chose to restrain himself.
Even in the private depths of his own heart, he no longer dared to call out to her with that sacred title.
As for the dangerous thought that had just surfaced in his mind, he quickly tossed it into the mental junkyard reserved for redundant thoughts.
Deceiving Mother…
is what a bad child does.
He didn’t want to be a bad child.
If he wanted Sister Kafka’s touch, he had to strive to be a good, useful boy.
—Good boys get rewards.
He didn’t know where he had learned that principle.
But it existed within Zao Wu’s body as if it were embedded in his very genes.
—o— “You’re awake.” Kafka gently removed the goggles covering the boy’s eyes and handed them back to Silver Wolf.
This was the first time Silver Wolf had ever lent her goggles to anyone.
Perhaps it was because Zao Wu was a soft, sweet-smelling boy?
For some reason, she didn’t find it repulsive.
After taking them back, she even gave them an inexplicable sniff.
Was it her imagination?
There seemed to be a faint fragrance of plum blossoms…
Realizing what she had just done, Silver Wolf’s face instantly flushed red.
She hid the goggles behind her back and darted her eyes around nervously.
Fortunately, Kafka’s and Blade’s attention was focused on Zao Wu, and Zao Wu himself was completely absorbed in his conversation with Kafka.
No one had noticed her small, strange action.
Even so, the girl’s heart was not at ease.
Instead, an awkward feeling began to sprout…
Dammit!
Am I the third wheel in this family!?
A faint blush appeared on Zao Wu’s fair little face, as stunning as a winter plum fallen upon the snow.
“Yes…
Thank you, Sister Kafka, Sister Silver Wolf, Brother Blade.” “Heh, the little guy is quite the sweet-talker.” “How come you’re not calling me Mama anymore~” Kafka teased Zao Wu without restraint.
So, she had noticed his sensitive withdrawal of his true feelings.
But instead of letting it pass, she called him out on it directly, leaving Zao Wu with a hard-to-describe sense of shame and bewilderment.
Zao Wu, whose mind was also a hundred times faster than an ordinary person’s, could have deciphered a thousand different meanings behind Kafka’s words in an instant.
But he didn’t.
He just blushed, unsure of what to say.
Still just a child, after all~ Kafka patted his head again, her smile carrying a strange, doting quality.
She ruffled his snow-white hair a little, then left the sickroom with a smile.
Zao Wu stared blankly at her beautifully curved back until that secretive purple and alluring darkness disappeared behind the door.
Silver Wolf waved a hand in front of Zao Wu’s face, snapping him out of his reverie.
He didn’t get angry.
Instead, he mobilized what little strength had returned to his body from the thawing process and struggled to sit up in bed.
It was clear he was still forcing himself.
Fine beads of sweat dotted his handsome face.
Seeing this, Silver Wolf grabbed his shoulders without another word and pushed him back down onto the bed.
Zao Wu looked utterly innocent and confused.
“Sister Silver Wolf…
What are you going to do to me?” “When you’re done, can I get up and practice my swordsmanship?” “???” “I just want you to take care of your own body, you idiot!” This was the first time since she had started the “game” of being a Stellaron Hunter that someone had nearly made her break a sweat with words alone.
“But, I want to stay…” If he didn’t practice the sword, he couldn’t become useful to Sister Kafka.
And he wouldn’t be able to stay by her side…
Zao Wu’s voice was clear and soft, but behind it lay a persistence and stubbornness unimaginable to an ordinary person.
Silver Wolf was so exasperated she almost laughed.
“Aren’t you staying right now, you fool!?” Within a single day, Zao Wu had unlocked the achievement of being called a “fool” by two different members of the Stellaron Hunters.
But judging from the way his jade-green pupils suddenly brightened, he didn’t seem upset at all.
In fact, he looked quite excited.
So, this counts as…
staying!?
Even Blade couldn’t help but let out a soft, huffed laugh at the sight.
He crossed his arms, tucking the Shard Sword into the crook of his elbow, and turned to leave with a cool demeanor.
For a time, only Zao Wu and Silver Wolf, this pair of “younger brother and older sister,” remained in the supply base’s sickroom.
“Perfect.
You’re just lying around in bed being bored anyway.
Play games with me!” “Games?” Although Zao Wu understood the definition of a game, he didn’t think he had ever truly played one since his birth.
That is, if the games of Go he played against himself in his mind didn’t count.
Of course, right now, they didn’t count.
The boy’s memories were completely sealed away.
Whenever he tried to touch them, it was like facing an insurmountable, boundless wall.
“What, you interested?” Silver Wolf was already itching to share the collection of two-player games she had amassed over the years with Zao Wu.
But Zao Wu looked hesitantly at her, his expression clearly troubled.
After a moment’s pause, the boy answered honestly.
“But I’d still rather practice the sword.” Silver Wolf was about to lose it.
No wonder people say, “No man can ever refuse a long, straight stick!
For it is their holy sword!” But how could a genius girl, known throughout the universe as a super hacker, be defeated by such a small obstacle?
Obviously, Zao Wu just hadn’t experienced the wonders of the gaming world yet.
She just needed to cater to his interests and guide him step by step.
Silver Wolf had no doubt that the day would come when Zao Wu would become her best gaming buddy!
Got it!
“But you can practice the sword in games, too!” Silver Wolf put on a “you’re so clueless” expression, successfully bluffing the inexperienced Zao Wu.
“Really?” “Of course!” “And the sword isn’t even the strongest weapon in games.
The strongest is the Long Sword!” “Have you ever heard of a sword technique that descends from the heavens?” Zao Wu quickly shook his head, his eyes filled with a pure yearning (and foolishness).
Silver Wolf was instantly energized.
She had never realized she enjoyed teasing soft, sweet-smelling boys, but meeting Zao Wu had opened up a whole new world for her.
Probably no one on earth could resist the boy’s clear, limpid eyes.
Silver Wolf put on a mysterious expression and boasted with narrowed eyes.
“This is a dragon-slaying art that you could absolutely never learn from your Brother Blade!” “Once you master it, even Kafka won’t be able to look away from your handsome, heroic figure.” Zao Wu’s cheeks reddened.
He had clearly been thoroughly hooked by Silver Wolf.
“Then this technique…
what is it called?” The boy had taken the bait.
Silver Wolf smiled faintly.
From some pocket dimension, she produced a terminal and tossed it to Zao Wu.
“It’s called…” “Helm Breaker!” —o—