I'm on the Ark, and I start out as Gretchen.

P.S.: It's a vicious cycle, staying up late...

My writing quality isn't great, but I'm very busy during the day. I don't know if you guys have any issues with this chapter... please let me know if you do. Goodnight, and please vote!

Chapter 30 Clothes and Girls

"..."

This sudden eye contact left both children momentarily stunned and blank.

In the short time that was wasted, the firelight and shouts from not far away quickly drew closer.

"They're coming... Run!"

Hearing the voice behind her, the girl quickly snapped out of her daze, called out to Gretsch in a hoarse voice, and then ran past her to continue running forward.

"...Don't be afraid."

Turning her head to look at the girl who was running away in a panic, Greta tilted her head.

However, it was clear that such a casual remark from a strange little girl did not stop the little girl from running away.

"Uncle Tyrant...please be gentle this time." Withdrawing her gaze from the little girl's back, Gretchen gently raised her head and looked at the Tyrant, speaking softly.

After saying that, she jumped off the tyrant's arms and landed in the fluffy snow.

"..."

The tyrant looked at his little princess with a helpless expression, but still nodded slightly and moved closer to the firelight not far away.

After seeing the tyrant make his move, Gretchen withdrew her gaze and turned to walk towards the fleeing little girl. She had some questions for the girl.

If Gretchen is not mistaken, this child must have escaped from this mine.

She was just worried about not knowing the specifics of the mine, so she could ask the person who had bumped into her.

Of course, in exchange for information, Gretchen would protect the little girl—the kind of protection that's extremely safe.

"Don't be so scared... Uncle Tyrant has already gone to deal with the bad guys." After catching up with the little girl who was running away, Gretchen stopped and stood not far away watching her, calmly stating the facts in her lovely voice.

"..."

Upon hearing this, the little girl slowly stopped walking after confirming that she could no longer hear any sounds from afar, but her eyes were still full of wariness as she turned to look at Gretchen.

"Well……?"

Gretchen simply tilted her head slightly at the little girl's wariness, then looked at her with her large, questioning purple eyes.

"Who...who are you, and why are you helping me?"

Looking at the cute blue-haired little girl in front of her, the little girl gently trembled her body before asking in a low, hoarse voice.

The girl no longer trusted anyone... In her eyes, this little girl who had suddenly appeared and whom she had never seen before, dressed in revealing clothes, must have some ulterior motive for helping her.

However, she didn't think she had anything worth taking advantage of right now, so she asked directly, still puzzled.

"My name is Gretchen... because I want to?"

Gretchen answered the girl's question with a hint of uncertainty in her voice. Then, noticing the girl's trembling, she slowly approached her.

"!"

"...Don't come any closer!"

Upon noticing Gretchen's approach, the little girl was visibly startled, then cried out in protest.

"...!?"

However, it was clear that the little girl's resistance was ineffective, and she was greeted by a soft and warm embrace.

"Hmm, it's cold... Mr. Wolf, thank you for your trouble."

After gently embracing the little girl, Gretchen first sighed expressionlessly, then softly called out to her wolf husband.

As always, the handsome golden-red giant wolf appeared silently after being summoned, and this time he was carrying a set of heavy clothes.

"..."

Upon realizing that something had suddenly appeared beside her, the girl being held by Gretchen instinctively trembled.

Before she could even react, a warm shawl was draped over her shoulders by Mr. Wolf...

"You're wearing too little clothing. Here are my clothes for you to wear... I'll bandage your wound later."

With that, Greta released her arms from the little girl and took the other clothes from Mr. Wolf's hands, handing them over.

"..."

Feeling the lingering warmth on her body and seeing the beautiful clothes handed to her, the little girl was completely bewildered...

It could even be said that from the moment Gretchen hugged him, he completely froze and remained in a daze ever since.

"...?"

Looking at the motionless little girl in front of her, Gretchen tilted her head again, her large violet eyes filled with confusion, as if she couldn't understand why the person in front of her wasn't moving.

"……Thanks."

Stared at by a little girl, the girl gritted her teeth and took the clothes handed to her.

When Gretchen saw the person in front of her take the clothes, her big eyes lit up and a look of joy appeared on her face.

Then, together with their wolf companion, they turned around to give the little girl space to change her clothes.

"..."

Watching the two people, one big and one small, turn around in unison, the little girl's feelings became even more complicated as she held the clothes... After taking one last deep look at the two people in front of her, she began to change her clothes.

……

?;

Because they were only searching for a runaway child laborer, there weren't many people chasing after him this time, only two.

This

After being instructed by Gretchen, the tyrant did not resort to any more exaggerated methods. Instead, he simply and brutally took the enemy's head, thus silencing the two noisy enemies forever.

After dealing with the enemy, the tyrant did not linger and returned directly to his little princess's side, silently protecting her.

---------------

the other side……

"Something seems to have happened over there, I see flames..."

"I saw it too, but it disappeared very quickly. What happened?"

The two yetis, who were not far from Gretsch, began to communicate in hushed tones after noticing the unusual situation.

?;

"Let's not worry about what happened. It's almost time. We'll go meet up with our eldest sister later."

"Yes, we should remain vigilant. Any firelight would most likely indicate the presence of enemies."

"Ah."

……

"Big sister?"

Lois and the other looked at Yelena, who had fallen silent after listening to their story.

"It's alright, you two can just come back with me and meet up. It's about time." Hearing someone call her name, Yelena looked up, then shook her head and said softly.

"It's normal for the mission to fail, so don't take it to heart."

"Yes, eldest sister!"

"understood."

P.S.: As before, I'll try to write the second page as quickly as possible. Sigh... I hope I can go to bed early tonight, it's too difficult.

Chapter 31 Transactions and Meetings

After changing her clothes, the little girl felt the long-lost warmth on her body, and lowered her head, looking somewhat dazed.

Honestly, everything that just happened still seems somewhat unreal to her, like a beautiful dream before her demise.

"Hmm, are you done changing?"

After realizing there was no movement behind her, Gretchen's little ahoge (cowlick) twitched slightly, and she asked in a low voice.

"Well, all right."

Upon hearing this, Greta slowly turned around and looked at the girl behind her. Then she realized that her thick winter clothes fit the little girl perfectly.

"Hmm...it's very pretty, and the colors are beautiful too." With that, Gretchen raised her hand and slowly gave a thumbs-up.

"You still haven't told me what your purpose is. I don't seem to have anything that you want from me."

?;

Looking at the dazed but adorable little girl in front of her, a complex light flashed in the girl's eyes.

"I've already said it, because I want to. So, the name..."

As if she hadn't noticed the complexity in the person in front of her, Gretchen blinked her big eyes and then asked softly.

“Alyona, this… is my name.”

Looking into the little girl's large, emotionless eyes, the girl relaxed and accidentally blurted out her own name. She could only helplessly add another sentence.

“Then let Alyona be the one to make the exchange. In exchange, you can use the information and your colors that you know.” After carefully noting down the girl’s name, Gretchen proposed the exchange she had previously thought of.

"...?"

The information was all fine, but the color Gretsch mentioned puzzled the girl.

“Well, if you agree to the exchange, Gretchen will protect you. If you have any enemies, I can also let you take revenge yourself.” As she spoke, Gretchen cast her gaze toward the mine, her words carrying a hidden meaning.

"Really!?"

Upon hearing Gretchen's words, Alyona suddenly became excited. She stepped forward, grabbed the little girl's shoulders, and hurriedly asked...

At this moment, the expression on her face was no longer numb and indifferent as before; it had become somewhat ferocious and full of hostility, and sadness and hatred had also surfaced in her light green eyes.

"Ah."