Arknights, but the sickly pretty girl starts

"No, not really. I'm just... a little uncomfortable." Maria quickly waved her hand and explained, "I thought you were very unhappy with my participation in the knight competition. And you were even planning to persuade me to withdraw."

"You're right. That's what I thought."

"But didn't you just teach me sword techniques?"

"Just because I don't support you doesn't mean I can't guide you. There's no causal relationship."

Mainna's expression remained unchanged, as if she was speaking the truth.

"...But...But, since you don't support me and even want me to quit, why are you still guiding me? Wouldn't it be better to just let me lose and quit?"

"Lose? Why would you want to lose? Since you participated, wouldn't it be better if you could win? Or do you think you will definitely lose? Then you should quit early."

"No! That's not what I meant! I must be entering this because I want to win!"

Maria no longer knew what Maina was thinking, but it was always a good thing that the other party was willing to talk.

"Then keep winning. You shouldn't think about losing first, but how to win. People of the Linguang family never give up easily. They are fearless of hardship and darkness."

"...I...what about me?"

"Can you still lift the sword? If you can, come to the backyard and I'll teach you a few moves." Maenna's expression softened slightly. "No more waiting."

"Yes!" Maria quickly picked up her practice sword from the ground and followed Maina to the backyard. When was the last time her uncle taught them swordsmanship? Maria couldn't remember. But she still remembered that her uncle always had a smile on his face and was very patient.

"... Ugh... My head hurts... I drank too much last night."

The next morning, Sofia woke up in the guest room of the Linguang family's house. She stretched and looked out the window. Then she thought she might be seeing things and rubbed her eyes.

"It's over. I'm still drunk."

She muttered to herself. She saw that in the backyard, Mainna was holding a long sword and teaching Maria swordsmanship - and it seemed that the atmosphere between the two seemed to be very good.

Of course, it wasn't an all-nighter, but rather that Mainna had to go to work at nine o'clock, and when he got up, he found that Maria had gotten up earlier than him, so they simply did morning exercises together. This had been a long time since they had done this, and Maria was of course in high spirits.

Even Mainna's expression softened somewhat.

Perhaps, he really spent too little time with them.

Chapter 38: We are back, all back.

"As expected of Margaret's sister, even though the fight might not be pretty, she can still win!"

"I told you she could do it, right?"

"Come on, you were the one who was most worried at the beginning."

In the old bar, several veteran knights were discussing Maria's recent matches with great relish, their conclusions strikingly similar: Maria's strength truly exceeded their expectations. The quiet little girl looked undeniably like a child of the Linguang family. It was impossible not to accept this.

"I don't know if any journalists will come to interview us in the future. After all, we watched Maria grow up." The old craftsman asked excitedly, "Will I become famous in the future? Will I be able to make a lot of money then?"

"Making money from Maria's name?" The old knight blew his beard and glared. "You're overthinking it."

"That's right, Zofia will definitely skin me alive."

"Good to know." At this moment, behind them, Zofia gripped their shoulders tightly, squeezing them so hard it felt like her fingers were digging into their flesh. "A bunch of old, perverted people. They're useless except for corrupting my kids."

"How can you say I'm a bad influence?" the old craftsman complained. "Maria came to me to learn the craftsman's skills on her own, and I refused her many times, didn't I?"

"Come on, that's not what you said when you were bragging at the bar yesterday," the old knight said immediately. People their age are always worried about their brothers suffering and driving Land Rovers. Brotherhood is definitely not something they'd consider at a time like this. Besides, they're only father and son.

"Old man, if you don't support me at this time, I will fight you!"

"When have you ever beaten me?"

"Last time." Bald Martin said, "I still haven't received the compensation for the fight you guys had last time."

"Ah, this, I didn't pay attention last time! It doesn't count!"

"You may not win this time."

"The days of the knight master being the boss are over!"

Seeing the two men about to fight, Bald Martin separated them, one by one. In the entire gym, apart from Zofia, almost no one was a match for Old Martin. After all, before he became disabled, Old Martin was also a competitive knight.

"Getting back to the point, how's Maria doing lately?" Old Martin asked. "Hasn't she been training recently?"

"I handed it over to another person. He is even more powerful than me."

"It can't be Maenna, right?"

"……you guess?"

“…The sun rises from the west?”

"My reaction was similar to yours. It was so unreal, I thought I was still asleep."

The two were silent for a while, and old Martin put the beer on the table.

"Drink, maybe we are all drunk."

"That's right, I won't leave until I'm drunk tonight! I'll pay!"

"I'll pay for it," she said, and the atmosphere in the bar immediately became lively. Old Martin could see it too. Zofia was truly happy.

"We're back, we're all back." Zofia wasn't upset about losing her job. Instead, she was overjoyed. "It's too late, idiot."

In a trance, she seemed to see that day again, the carefree time when Snitz, she and Mainna were together, the serious Snitz, the unruly young man, and herself who didn't know anything but just felt very comfortable in such an environment.

The sun was setting that day, and the three of them walked along the road, their shadows indistinguishable from one another. It was the most beautiful time she could only dream of, a time she could never revisit. It was as fragile as a cicada's wing, yet deeply engraved in her memory.

It's impossible to predict the outcome: the serious ones disappear, the unruly ones restrain their edge, and the ignorant ones are forced to mature. Tragedy destroys beautiful things for you, then gives you a memory. It lets you know what's been destroyed, how irreversible it is. But at least today, Zofia felt like someone had returned: that gentle boy, always smiling, brandishing his sword in the morning sun.

It seems like the past—

So similar——

-

Noah happened to pass by this bar and thought that since he was already there, he might as well go in and take a look. As a result, he saw Zofia, who was already drunk, at the door. This unexpected encounter was not part of the plan. But after seeing it, how could he just stand by and watch? Noah arranged for Kuro to help Zofia to stand up. As a result, Zofia opened her eyes dazedly, saw Noah's appearance, and said directly, "...Yolanta? You're back?"

"..." Noya was stunned. She hadn't even wanted to mention that name. Just thinking about it made her feel a pang of helplessness. She opened her mouth, wanting to explain that she wasn't Yolanta, but Noya, but the next second, Zofia interrupted her.

"Maenna is back. When will you and Snitzer come back? I miss you guys."

"...Well, I'm back." Noya's expression softened suddenly. She deliberately lowered her voice and spoke gently to Zofia. "I'm sorry, you've worked so hard, Zofia..."

"Yeah, why did you take so long? I thought you were dead. Margaret and Maria, they both missed you so much. And Noah, the Noah you doted on the most... She has become very mature now. She is no longer the same as before. I feel so sad. But there is nothing I can do. I can't help her... I am the elder, but I am like a child in front of her. She must miss you so much, more than anyone else. In her heart, you are her mother... So go see her first? Please. Even if you are just a dream, it's okay. Let me stay here for a while, and don't wake up."

"...Well, I've seen her. She's fine, really fine. Don't worry about her. Get some sleep and you'll be fine when you wake up." Noah stroked Zofia's cheek, her voice choking. Although she was blind, her tear glands hadn't degenerated. Two lines of tears streamed down her cheeks, but she was comforting Zofia in front of her. Kuro saw this and, like a gentleman, took out a tissue from his pocket and wiped the tears from Noah's face.

"...Noah? Eh..." Zofia, having regained some of her sanity, lost her confusion for a moment, then recognized the person in front of her. "Why are you here?"

"Just think of it as me coming to pick you up?" Noah just smiled. "You can't go back like this, why don't you stay with me first? I'll call Maria to pick you up."

"...No need, I can go back by myself." Although Zofia was confused, she seemed to realize that she might have said something inappropriate just now. She stood up and said with some shame. "Don't bother you."

But she had only taken a few steps when she felt dizzy and nearly collapsed. Her stomach churned, and as her throat ached, all the contents of her stomach came out with a roar.

"Kuro, can you help me take her back?"

"Yes."

Chapter 39: Dream of the Void

Kuro carried Zofia back home like a bag. He was basically not gentle to anyone except Noah.

They threw her onto the bed like trash. The jolting had caused her to vomit several times, and it was clear she wasn't a good drinker. Noya instructed Kuro to prepare some hangover remedies while she stayed by her bedside, holding her hand. By the time they'd finished, she'd lost consciousness. The lucidity she'd finally regained felt like a fleeting moment of clarity.

She mistook Noya for Yolanta again, saying strange things, but Noya didn't take it seriously. She knew how good friends Yolanta, Zofia, Snitzer, and Maina had once been. They were as close as family. That was probably the time Zofia dreamed of returning to. But now it was almost impossible. Kuro brought hot water and a towel, and Noya took it and began to wipe Zofia from her face to her hands and feet, even helping her remove her sweaty clothes, stripping them down to her underwear.

After careful care, Sophia seemed to feel much more at ease and had fallen into a deep sleep.

Noah held Zofia's wrist. Zofia's dominant hand was her left, but due to an injury, she had become accustomed to using her right. The injury on her left hand was nearly incurable. Even after consulting many doctors, Noah was told it was incurable. Perhaps she should have known this a long time ago. But she still didn't want to accept it. Zofia usually didn't want to talk about it and always acted as if it didn't matter.

But what is the reality?

Noya knew better than anyone the feeling of having all her efforts vanish in an instant. Perhaps she would convince herself that her path was blocked, and that she should try another. However, if she could truly choose her own path so freely, she wouldn't have to struggle so much. She held Zofia's left hand tightly against her forehead, her hands trembling as she muttered to herself, "It doesn't matter anymore."

"You've done a great job."

"No need to worry, no need to be afraid."

"The ending of the story always has a happy ending."

She said it to herself.

Kuro had rarely seen Noah so vulnerable. In her impression, she rarely showed any weakness. Especially in front of others, but now, she looked like she was praying, as if the most vulnerable part of her heart had been touched. She might have always endured this pain, this unwillingness, but she never showed it. And Zofia was the same. Zofia's injured left hand was like her blindness, directly depriving her of something she had worked so hard for, something that had become a part of her life...

That kind of pain and unwillingness cannot be understood by those who have not experienced it. Even Kuro cannot fully understand it. She can only stand behind her and watch this girl who has always been unbelievably strong trembling all over.

After a long time, Noah finally let go of Zofia's hand, wiped the tears from the corners of his eyes, and apologized to Kuro. "...I'm sorry, I must look very embarrassed, right?"

"will not."

"You don't have to comfort me like this."

"I didn't. I thought you were the strongest girl in the world."

"……Thanks."

Kuro's words brought a smile to Noa's face again. Without Kuro's support, she might not have come this far.

"Okay, I'm fine. Let Zofia sleep here first, and we won't disturb her rest." Noya smiled and returned to her normal self, motioning for Kuro to take her back to her room. However, this time, she didn't choose to let Kuro sleep in the guest room next door as usual. Instead, after changing into pajamas, she shyly asked, "Today... do you want to sleep together after such a long time?"

"Want to act spoiled?"

"Let's just say that..." Noah blushed slightly and nodded silently, "Well... I kind of want someone to accompany me today."

"I'll sleep on the floor." Kuro looked at Noya's expression, and his heart, which had been calm all the time, suddenly began to ripple. "It was okay before, but now you're grown up, it's not good for us to sleep together."

"...Is that so?" Noya was a little disappointed. In the past, Kuro hadn't minded sleeping with her, but since she became an adult, Kuro had never agreed to do so again. She yawned with a strange sense of sadness, wrapped herself in the quilt, and closed her eyes. She sank into the darkness she had become accustomed to.

This time, for some reason, perhaps because she had released some of the pent-up pressure in her heart today, she had a rare dream. In the dream, there was an endless grassland, the wind blowing across the grassland, and the silent figures standing in the air like stone pillars. Noah seemed to be among them, marching on the grassland with this group of faceless strange people. The sky was full of stars, but this silent team did not make Noya feel afraid. Instead, she felt a sense of intimacy from the bottom of her heart.

It was as if she originally belonged to them, or was born to be in their team.

I don't know which strange person started it, but they began to sing a song, a pastoral song, or maybe a war song? I don't know when the melodious piano music started, and I don't know when it turned into a chorus of the entire team.

Noah opened his mouth and sang along with them. The tune was melodious, yet with a hint of sonority.

They kept walking, heading north, towards the end of the grassland, towards the snow-capped mountains, towards the end of the journey.

The team marched forward like this, advancing endlessly, until the starry sky filled their chests, until only the leading figure remained—

She took a few quick steps forward, hoping to see the leader's face, but the man didn't stop, nor did he wait for her. He simply continued forward, heading towards a circular building. She didn't know if it was Noya's illusion, but she suddenly understood where the leader was going.

He was going to die.

She stopped and watched the tall figure walking across the galaxy. Half of his body was swallowed by the sea of ​​stars, but his pace never stopped for a moment.

He walked further and further away, but the desolate pastoral song continued to sing loudly among the sea of ​​stars, shocking and never-ending.

Go forward... go forward at all costs...

Noya suddenly wanted to follow, but she couldn't move. The shadow beneath her feet held her back, preventing her from moving even a fraction. She felt the entire world tremble, and she suddenly realized that this might be the last time she saw that figure. But then, she glanced into the circular building, and in that one glance, she felt a gaze that spanned time and pierced the galaxy. It met her gaze for a moment—a mere instant before a sword and spear descended from the sky, severing the line of sight. Noya finally broke free, and the next moment, she seemed to see the backs of two familiar figures.

"...Yolanta..." She murmured to herself and stretched out her hand towards Snitz and Yolanta, but it was like the moon in the water and the flower in the mirror...she could not touch it.

Chapter 40: Stand User

"Yolanta!"

With a scream, she woke up from her dream. She was covered in cold sweat, as if she had fallen into a cold lake.

Although she had only seen her for a fleeting moment in her dream, she was certain it was the Yolanta she had always yearned for. Although not her biological mother, she was her most important family member. The silhouettes of her and Snitzer seemed to have saved her once again in her dream.

She clutched the blankets. She didn't know what this dream meant, but whether it was the towering figure, Yolanta, or Snitz, they all seemed to be fighting against something within the circular structure, or rather... some entity. A single glance from that entity was enough to send tremors through her soul, leaving her hands and feet cold and unable to move. And if it weren't for the sword and spear blocking her way, she feared she would have been affected by that entity even in her dream.

Although it seemed like just a nightmare, the fear of being glanced at penetrated the nightmare and went straight into her heart, planting a seed.

A seed of fear.

"What's wrong?" Kuro's voice was like a heavenly sound, pulling Noah out of her fear. "Did you have a nightmare?"

"Hmm..." Noah nodded. "I hope it was a dream..."

If that wasn't a dream, then the opponent Snitzer and Yolanta were trying to defeat was simply too powerful, leaving Noya feeling despair. How could they possibly resist a being that could even contaminate their dreams? She had no answer, and she couldn't imagine how they could possibly triumph.

She closed her eyes, and for the first time, she was thankful for her blindness, preventing her from seeing anything strange in reality. The feeling of being locked onto her, a glance that had clearly transcended time and space in a dream, was truly too terrifying.

But she quickly regained her composure. If she panicked now, Kuro would surely be affected as well. Right now, she didn't need to consider what the circular structure in her dream was. It looked like a strange portal, and the eyes within, the majestic figure protecting her, Snitsch, and Yolanta. And that song... that... pastoral song?