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

The more anxious Gretchen became, the less she wanted to tell her...

"Let me guess now, you saw Theresa in that painting, right?"

"Let me guess again, you witnessed His Majesty's death again, didn't you?" Gretsch said these two sentences as if she were asking a question, but her tone was still quite certain.

After all, she wasn't stupid... Given W's current state and her own unique abilities, she could easily guess what was going on. However, there were a few minor details she had guessed that were catching her attention.

"So... what do you want to know? Do you want Gretsch to tell you that this isn't actually a dream?"

As she spoke, Gretchen leaned forward slightly, intently gazing into W's golden eyes, as if trying to discern something from them.

"..."

Normally, W would have struggled and argued back, but faced with Gretsch's immense strength and sharp words, she actually fell silent for a moment.

He could only stare fiercely at the person who was controlling him, his eyes, which he had used to conceal his resentment and grief with madness.

"Don't look at me like that. I'm not like that little Gretsch. I won't go easy on you." Gretsch looked at W's eyes with amusement and "kindly" reminded him.

Suddenly, as if remembering something, she smiled and asked:

"Oh, by the way, I have two pieces of news, one good and one bad. Which one would you like to know first?"

"..."

Clearly, W did not want to make a choice at this moment, so he remained silent.

"Tsk, how boring~ Let's start with the good news. The painting Gretchen gave you was painted with your colors... Logically speaking, it should only show you your deepest fears."

At this point, Gretchen paused slightly before continuing:

"So here's the question: where do the positive things you see come from? You know... this continent, while cruel, is sometimes full of miracles."

"What do you want to say?!"

After hearing Gretchen's words, W no longer remained silent as before, but instead asked a question quickly.

At the same time, Theresa's words and farewell from that night flashed through her mind... and a thought that sent shivers down her spine slowly surfaced in her mind.

"Oh dear, don't get so excited... I haven't told you the bad news yet. If I'm not mistaken, you should have already..."

"It's ruined, isn't it?"

P.S.: Honestly, I didn't even expect to turn into a bad woman while writing. Oh well, this little loli mode isn't permanent anyway. But I have to admit, being sarcastic and sarcastic is really satisfying... This chapter is already over 2400 words long.

Give it a push.

Chapter 105 W's Stiffness and Helplessness

"It's ruined, isn't it?"

The last few words were whispered softly into W's ear by Gretchen.

After she finished speaking, she stood up straight and looked at the person who had been hurt by her words with a light smile.

"Impossible! If that's the case, why did she say that at the end..." After hearing Gretchen's bad news, W subconsciously struggled to refute it.

But towards the end, her voice gradually faded until no one could hear her anymore...

"Heh~ Maybe..."

Gretchen, who had been carefully observing W's expression and listening to her words, slowly revealed a hint of understanding in her large violet eyes.

It seems she made the right bet this time.

That's right. Even if her personality were different, Gretchen wouldn't know the details of what W actually saw in the painting. She just tricked W with a general concept.

She could guess the general idea... but as for the details, she could only guess and try to trick W into revealing them.

Based on W's previous reaction, Gretchen deduced that what she saw was not entirely "fear".

Because if there really wasn't any hope or positive sign, W shouldn't be like that... at least not so eager or thirsty for knowledge.

Instead, it should feel like being fooled or having one's sore spot touched, filled with endless anger...

"..."

The two people sitting nearby, who had been keeping a close watch on the situation, were trying to process the conversation between Gretchen and W.

In their view, what the little girl was saying was indeed a bit beyond their comprehension. However, whether these words were true or false was, for the time being, unknown to them.

Because Ines's abilities have absolutely no effect on Gretsch, and even now... just glancing at her shadow fills him with dread and deep-seated fear.

It was as if I had been targeted by an unspeakable, ferocious beast...

"Oh, right, I suddenly remembered one of Gretsch's little quirks."

After admiring W's expression for a while, Gretchen seemed to remember something, slowly released her hand, and spoke again: "That is, if a person's color is strong enough, then the painting made with it might even materialize something~"

"Oh, I forgot... you've already destroyed the painting." Gretchen said, spreading her hands with a helpless smile.

How would I know if you're telling the truth or not?

The more W learned, the uglier her expression became, even her golden eyes...

A flicker of panic crossed her eyes. But... she couldn't help but stubbornly insist on her plan.

"Ha, I never force anyone to believe what I say... The truth is right here, whether you believe it or not, what does it have to do with me?" Gretchen was not surprised at all by W's stubbornness.

The little girl never imagined she could so easily "tame" someone as shrewd as her, someone with their own beliefs and a clear understanding of the situation. If it were that easy, she'd probably start to suspect that the person was acting.

Moreover, this wasn't Gretchen's goal. She just wanted to give W a little slap on the wrist, teach her a lesson, and make her show more respect.

"However, has anyone ever told you that you are too weak? So weak that you can't even protect the people you want to protect?"

As she spoke, Gretchen slowly swept her scrutinizing gaze over W, whose expression was unpleasant.

"Even if the painting hadn't been destroyed, I don't think you'd be capable of materializing anything from it. You probably couldn't even defeat one of Gretsch's casually materialized companions..."

At this moment, listening to Gretsch's words, Ines suppressed her inner fear, barely managing to break free from her restrained state, and then looked at her with difficulty, saying:

"...Ahem, do you really enjoy using words to attack someone you perceive as weak?"

Although she usually enjoys arguing with W and occasionally holds grudges, that doesn't mean she won't step in to stop her comrade from being hurt or suppressed.

"Tsk, how boring~ Did I let the listener speak? Besides, I just wanted to teach some people to respect others."

Greta glanced at Ines casually and said with a smile.

The little girl wouldn't actually hit Potato, but she wasn't giving her a friendly look either. After all, she hadn't seen what Potato said when W harassed her...

Although Gretchen knew that Ines probably couldn't control W either, what could she do when someone had run into her?

"...Tsk, if you want me to learn respect, then there's no need to involve irrelevant people."

As she spoke, W forced a smile, revealing a defiant grin. At the same time, she subtly shifted her somewhat stiff body, blocking Gretsch's view of Ines.

"How touching!"

Looking at the two rivals protecting each other, Gretchen teased, "Consider today a lesson for you, W. You don't know how to be flexible, and you only know how to put on that nasty mask for everyone. You'll suffer for it someday."

After she finished speaking, Gretchen walked over and sat down next to W again.

"Time's almost up... Don't let me find out you're bullying Gretchen again. Otherwise, it won't be so easy next time."

After giving her final warning, Gretchen looked at W and added softly, this time in a much gentler tone: "Try to get along with Gretchen. She's really a good girl."

"Moreover, what I just told you... might not be without a chance of a turnaround."

After saying that, Gretchen slowly closed her eyes, relaxed her body and leaned against W, quietly letting the color of "Ye Li" slowly fade away.

As she began to fade, the terrifying aura emanating from her and the oppressive presence she exerted on the three of them vanished without a trace, as if she had never existed.

"..."

Seeing the little guy suddenly go limp and lean against him, W froze again, both physically and emotionally. He looked unusually bewildered.

Normally, W would have probably pushed the person away or used "special methods" to wake them up. But now... he dared not move, dared not move.

"Phew—you've kicked a hornet's nest now, haven't you? Serves you right for not listening to my and Hedley's advice and insisting on provoking them." Ines mocked W in a low voice, looking at her now completely too afraid to move.

After all, it's one thing to lend a helping hand when there's danger, but it's quite another to be sarcastic or unfriendly when there's no danger.

“This time it’s just as that person said, W, you should tone it down a bit.” Hedley, having recovered, looked at W with a serious expression and an unquestionable tone.

What's done is done, and Hedley won't blame W, but he doesn't want anything like this to happen again... especially since he really felt a deadly threat from Gretsch just now.

P.S.: I originally wanted to continue writing, but I'm afraid I won't be able to wrap it up if I write too much, so let's finish quickly. In the next chapter, the adorable Gretchen is back. After that, W won't be so annoying in front of the protagonist anymore.

Give it a push.

Chapter 106: Autism and Misunderstandings?

"..."

After listening to her two comrades, W didn't refute them at all for the first time. Because her attention was still mostly focused on Gretchen.

She glanced down at the little one leaning against her, then looked up at her two comrades with a hint of pleading.

"Don't look at me... You called them over yourself, so handle it yourself." After seeing W's look, Ines said in a low voice without any mercy.

"..."

Meanwhile, Hedley could only shrug helplessly, looking like he couldn't help at all.

Finally, unable to get help from his comrades, W could only lower his head with a bitter face, looking at the little girl's delicate face and thinking about what to do next.

She's used to being wild and flamboyant, and asking her to change suddenly... she doesn't know what to do or how to get along with people.

Moreover, W's mind was in turmoil; although she didn't completely believe what Gretsch had just said...

Some of those words still pierced her heart deeply.

"Well……"

Feeling W's gaze upon her, Gretchen slowly rubbed her eyes and "woke up."

As for why the little girl has been relying on W for so long?

The reason is simple: she's trying to unlock Xiaoshi's secrets, after all, it's a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. And... if she's going to act, she has to go all the way.

“???)?”

However, when Gretchen opened her eyes, she was met with W's face, which was no longer smiling, and her eyes held a very complicated expression.

At this moment, the little girl had to admit that her attack power used to be quite good...

"..."