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

However, before she could think any further, the scene before her began to change again. The sky darkened, as if some time had passed, and she, lying on the ground, was growing weaker and weaker...

Then, a figure that Alina knew all too well appeared running on the dimly lit forest path—it was Talulah.

“Ah…Ah…”

“Talulah, I’m here…I’m alright.”

Watching Talulah walk up to "her" with tears streaming down her face and an incredulous expression, Alina couldn't help but frown. She wanted to reach out and comfort her... but she simply walked right through the person in front of her.

At that moment, Alina understood... she didn't belong here, and she had no way to interfere in anything here. She could only be a silent spectator, watching everything unfold.

Looking at...

The dying "self" was carried on Talulah's back, and they walked step by step towards the camp...

Watching "herself" weakly and feebly comfort and console Talulah, telling her not to hate...

Watching myself finally lose my breath on my best friend's back...

Talulah, facing the village events alone, then completely breaking down, beginning to hate others, and turning to the Black Serpent...

Watching Talulah commit one wrong act after another, and her comrades from the Reunion Movement die one by one...

Finally, looking at the girl who had regained consciousness but was burdened with heavy sins and shackles, Alina lowered her eyes... her eyes were full of helplessness and sighs.

"..."

“Talulah…this time I will be by your side.”

Alina murmured softly, as if making a promise, leaving behind her commitment.

As the last words faded, a gentle breeze brushed across Alina's cheek, and the scene before her slowly dissipated with the wind.

……

"Alina, Alina! What's wrong?"

Seeing Alina suddenly staring blankly at the painting and ignoring everyone, Talulah frowned and then shouted loudly.

"..."

Seeing this, Gretchen, who was standing to the side, did not stop it.

Because she was also watching Alina intently, who was affected by the painting. If anything went wrong, she would immediately step in to save her.

However, when Talulah's shouts had no effect, she was about to take action.

Alina suddenly raised her hand to cover her ears, then looked at her best friend with a helpless expression and said, "Stop, Talulah... the sound is too loud, I heard it."

Seeing the helpless look on her little deer's face, Talulah quickly withdrew her hand that was hanging in mid-air, and then asked softly, "...It's good that you're alright. Alina, what was wrong with you just now? Were you engrossed in watching something?"

"Well..."

Alina didn't rush to answer Talulah's question. Instead, she narrowed her eyes, her expression somewhat meaningful.

"So... what did Sister Alina see in the painting?"

Judging from Alina's expression, Gretchen guessed that she must have seen quite a lot, but she didn't know exactly what it was, so she was very curious.

"Little Gretchen doesn't know?"

Now it was Alina's turn to be curious. In her view, everything she had just seen was because of the painting Gretchen had given her. There was no reason why the owner of the painting wouldn't know its power.

"...Everyone's colors are different, and the paintings they create are also different."

Gretchen gently shook her little head and began to explain in her flat voice. After explaining, she continued to look at Alina with her big eyes, waiting for her answer.

However, before Gretsch could get an answer from Alina, someone spoke up first.

"What kind of riddle are you two playing? It's just an ordinary painting."

Talulah first glanced at the painting in Alina's arms. Apart from being well-painted, she couldn't see anything special about it. Then she looked at the two people in front of her, one big and one small, speaking in a language she couldn't understand, and she was completely bewildered.

"It's nothing, I just think Gretsch's paintings are really good, I was completely absorbed in them just now." After saying that, Alina winked at Gretsch, giving her a subtle hint.

Alina didn't intend to tell her best friend directly about what she had seen today. In her opinion, Talulah's view of things and people was too idealistic, even somewhat detached from reality.

Even if you tell Talulah some things, she might not believe them... and even if she does believe them, she won't have a very direct feeling about them.

In this situation, Alina didn't want to waste her breath.

Moreover, she now has ample time. Rather than speaking bluntly, she can start from various aspects and slowly train Talulah, subtly changing her perception and views on certain things.

Let her become a good leader...

"..."

Seeing Alina's hints, Gretchen became even more curious, but she didn't press the matter further for the time being.

Although she didn't know what Alina had seen, Gretsch was willing to cooperate since Alina didn't want Talulah to know. She could always ask her privately later.

……

"...I have a feeling that you've been hiding a lot from me today, Alina...Let's put everything else aside for now. I want to know what happened to you today? And why were you injured?"

Watching the two exchanging glances, Talulah's expression suddenly showed a hint of disappointment.

She wasn't sure if it was just her imagination, but she felt that Alina seemed to have more secrets since meeting this little girl. And there were many things she wasn't telling her anymore…

Upon hearing Talulah bring up the matter again, Alina's smile faded, and her expression turned serious. She slowly closed the distance between herself and her best friend.

As the two drew closer, until only a palm's width apart, Alina stopped. She looked intently into the person before her with her earnest blue eyes and said, word by word:

"What happened to me today... Talulah, if you want to know, you'd better promise me first."

"I promise... I won't retaliate against those people."

P.S.: I had some things to take care of at home today, so the update is a bit late. The time for Chapter 2 should be around the same as yesterday.

Chapter 8 Big sister, look what treasure I brought!

"Orange..."

Standing not far away, Gretchen's ahoge (cowlick) bobbed as she looked at the two people who were almost touching each other and let out a small sigh.

Then she quickly stretched out her little hand to cover her face.

She continued to peek through her fingers at the scene before her that made her blush.

This time was different from before. Even after hearing the little girl's exclamation, Alina showed no sign of stopping. She continued to stare intently at Talulah, wanting her assurance.

"Uh……"

Unlike Alina's calm and collected questioning, Talulah, as the one being questioned... was somewhat unable to calm down.

Firstly, her best friend's sudden seriousness made her realize the gravity of what had happened before. Secondly, it was because... they were too close, too close.

Because they were so close, Alina's warm breath from when she spoke landed directly on Talulah's face... It tickled her and made her face suddenly burn involuntarily.

"I...I promise!" After saying that, Talulah quickly pushed Alina away, bringing the two back to a normal distance.

"Since that's the case, then I'll tell you, prepare yourself mentally, Talulah..."

……

Gretchen, secretly watching the scene unfold, silently gave Alina a thumbs up in her mind. "As expected of the political commissar, she's really something, having Tarua completely under her thumb."

However, Greta didn't intend to keep peeking (openly) here, because she felt that her blue hair was shining slightly, making her look like a light bulb.

So after glancing at it a few more times, she looked away.

Then, the little girl carefully walked towards her easel.

Although Gretchen's signature weapon, the Starry Sky of the Past, is also a painting tool, the complete set of tools rewarded by the system, including easel, paper, and various paints, is also very practical. At least for painting, paper is indispensable.

So, after walking over, she carefully put all the tools in front of her back into her system space.

After doing all this, Gretchen looked up and saw the two of them still "clung" together, oblivious to each other, and blinked gently.

Then she tiptoed toward the tent exit. She wanted to go out and explore; she didn't want to stay here as an outsider anymore, even though it seemed like she could join?

And so, a curious little girl successfully slipped out of the orange-colored tent.

"..."

But once she was actually outside, Gretchen didn't know what to do. She looked up at the empty night sky filled with snowflakes, a hint of confusion flashing in her violet eyes.

However, just as the little girl was lost in thought, suddenly, a dark figure rushed towards her from the corner.

"Look what I've found!"

"You must be the little kid Alina brought back from outside, right? You're really adorable."

Upon touching Gretchen, the shadowy figure immediately pulled her into a tight embrace, excitedly shouting as he did so.

"...!?"

Suddenly being hugged like that, Gretchen instantly snapped out of her daze and reflexively looked at the person who had "ambushed" her with her big purple eyes.

However, what first caught Gretsch's eye was not a human face, but a large hood with a thick white fur trim around it... and then she saw the face hidden under the hood.

Although she didn't recognize the person in front of her, Gretchen recognized the person's clothes... and she recognized them so clearly that she had a strong impression of them.

She recognized him at a glance as a member of Frostnova's Yeti squad...

"Sister...who are you?" Gretchen didn't break free from the person's embrace, but looked at her with confusion before asking seriously.

"Oh dear, look at my head. You're so cute, little one, that I forgot to introduce myself."

Upon being asked this question, the member of the Yeti team somewhat embarrassedly released Gretchen from his arms. He then straightened up and introduced himself with a beaming smile.

"My name is Lois, and I'm a member of the Yeti team led by my older sister~ Little one, what about you?"

“My name is Gretchen, and I am a painter.”

After silently memorizing the name of the person in front of her, Gretchen gave her first truly formal introduction since coming into this world.

"Gresh is a very nice name~ But little one, aren't you dressed a little too lightly? Aren't you cold?"

Upon learning Gretchen's name, Roy showered her with praise. However, his expression turned worried when he noticed her revealing attire.

She unbuttoned her heavy winter coat, then pulled the little girl in front of her into her arms, pressing them tightly together.

;?;

Gretchen, suddenly enveloped in warm clothing, was slightly taken aback before struggling and tiptoeing to peek her cute little head out from Lois's coat to explain.

"Hmm, it's alright... Gretchen isn't afraid of the cold. But why is Sister Lois here?"