Arknights, but the sickly pretty girl starts

At first, as a child, Margaret was naturally a little unconvinced, so she kept comparing herself with other children and competing with Noah for her mother's love. But she soon discovered that Noah never seemed to have won anything...

She had seen her around her mother before, always looking at ease and acting like a spoiled brat. But once she saw her approaching, she'd immediately scramble out of her mother's arms and sit to the side, as if giving up her spot. Margaret had seen this several times and found it a bit strange. But when she asked her mother about it, she got a distressed look.

"She's always been envious of you, but because of that envy, she knows how painful it is to have her love taken away... That's why she won't get too close to me in front of you." Margaret still remembers her mother's expression at that time: a mixture of helplessness, sadness, and pity. Her mother even hugged her and said, "You have to be nicer to Noah from now on, remember? Her life has been too hard, and you have to be her light. Make a promise with Mom, okay?"

So...from that day on, Margaret has been consistently getting close to Noah.

Although Noah also went through a period of arrogance, she eventually became somewhat pampered under Margaret's persistent offensive.

Unfortunately, the good times didn't last long. When both he and Noah thought they were invited by each other to go out and see flowers, they fell into a trap. When Noah was carrying him on his back and running for his life, he vaguely heard Noah's words.

"Don't be afraid, I won't abandon you. I won't abandon anyone..."

It was raining heavily, and she was very thin. Carrying Margaret, who weighed almost as much as she did, was clearly impossible. But she did it, and even avoided the criminals' search. They snuggled together in a small cave, using their body heat to keep each other warm.

She is really strong, but she is also really... not favored by fate.

Infected with oripathy... was sent to Rhodes Island for treatment, and when we last met... he had become like this.

He was once a child of other people's families, but now he has fallen into the dust and can only use his innate abilities to stir up trouble in the business world.

She was clearly a more competent knight than himself...but now she was as fragile as this piece of paper.

Although I have glued the painting together, how can I glue Noah's torn heart together?

Some things, once torn, will leave marks. Scars will not heal for no reason. In most cases, only ugly scars will be left.

This is a pain that cannot be healed by his own Originium skills, and it is also something he is powerless to do.

After a long day, Margaret was feeling sleepy. She was about to go get some sleep, but before she could leave, she felt her hand grabbed. She instinctively turned her head, thinking Noah was awake. But Noah's eyes were tightly closed, and his breathing was steady, not like he was awake. She seemed to have subconsciously grasped her hand, holding it tightly. Margaret immediately softened her heart. Never mind, she wouldn't die if she didn't get some sleep.

Margaret returned to her side again, but this time, Margaret still couldn't resist the sleepiness and gradually lost consciousness.

-

"Margaret—Noah…you two…" Zofia went to look for Margaret, but she found she wasn't in the room. She thought she must have gone to Noah's place, so she rushed over, but was stopped by Kuro. "Eh? Kuro, why are you stopping me?"

"Shh, just went to bed." Kuro raised a finger and indicated, "They didn't sleep last night."

"...Ah? Really?" Zofia was stunned for a moment, then her eyes widened. "You really...really didn't sleep? All night?"

"Yeah." Kuro nodded. "One night."

"I see. Ah, that big blockhead Margaret has finally come to her senses. She's developed a sense of crisis." Zofia smiled with relief, her lips harder than an AK. "You've worked hard, too. These two children are really a burden to you."

"...Not really." Kuro shook his head silently, "I don't care."

"Ahem, anyway, you wait for them both to wake up. I'm going to make some red bean rice. Also... I have to tell Maenna."

Sofia was so happy that she lost herself in laughter and immediately walked away happily. Kuro felt that she must have misunderstood something, but he didn't mean to correct her.

"...Ah." Kuro shook his head. When she went to find Margaret last night, she happened to be walking this way. Margaret really cared about Noah and took action. It was worth it for Kuro to find her first.

She had been with Noah for so long, so she naturally knew what she was thinking. Or rather... she knew exactly what she should do at this moment.

To be honest, she envied Margaret a little. After all, she could express her thoughts without reservation, and she had a reason to be by her side. But she couldn't...

However, this is definitely not the time for me to appear...

You got a bargain...

Chapter 126: The truth will eat people

"You came."

In the dim palace, an old man finally waited for the visitor he had been waiting for for a long time.

Noya walked through the dim yet magnificent palace. In her consciousness, she regained her sight and the right to go first. She walked slowly to the old man, gazing at him, who was clearly old and frail, yet seemed to radiate infinite power.

"I don't think I need to introduce myself. Unlike the little knight who strayed here, you are the one who truly understands my music - only in this way can you open this door and take the initiative to find me." The old man moved his eyes away from the book and stared at the unusually calm girl in front of him. Most people who come to this place will be so excited that they can hardly control themselves. It is not uncommon to see some people kowtow three times and nine times and crawl all the way to the old man.

There is no other girl as calm as this one.

"What do you ask for? Power? Knowledge? Music? Or... something else?" The old man asked again, and his words seemed heavier than the last time he faced Maria.

"Herhunzoren..." Noya uttered this name, a taboo in Leithania. The old man, seated in the dim palace, finally revealed his true face. Black-and-red horns, a cold, hard face, and narrow eyes combined to create the appearance of this man, arguably the greatest sorcerer of all time. Some say his talent rivals that of the gods, and the theories he pioneered remain a required course for sorcerers today.

He was a man who was praised as a wise ruler in the first half of his life, and was called a tyrant in the second half of his life.

Even though he has fallen, he has never disappeared from people's memory. The name of the Witch King Herhomzoren itself represents terror, cruelty, and destruction.

Noah had actually discovered this palace a long time ago, and she had long understood in her dreams that the palace had opened its doors to her, but this was the first time she had walked into it, into this palace filled with uncomfortable power.

"I'm looking for the truth." Noah's purpose in coming here was actually very simple. If even the Nightmare Chaser couldn't tell her where her parents were, then she could only seek the most knowledgeable person she knew.

No…it’s more of a request than a search.

Seeking answers from such an existence is itself a very risky thing, and it is almost inevitable that a price will be paid. But this time, Noah does not mind paying these prices.

"The truth..." Helhunzollen knew the girl before him wasn't lying. This seemingly young child could understand his own music, could repair his own broken pieces, and possessed unique Originium skills. If she accepted his inheritance, she might quickly grow into an outstanding sorcerer, perhaps even reaching a terrifying realm. But what she sought...

Helhunzollen lowered his eyes and spoke.

"That's the only thing I can't answer you for." His words weren't mocking, simply stating the facts. "Don't seek knowledge you shouldn't know. Curiosity and a thirst for knowledge may seem essential qualities for a scholar, but without restraint, you'll be consumed by knowledge itself."

"...I haven't asked you what I want to know..." Noah frowned, "and I'm willing to pay the price."

"The price?" Herhunzollon asked doubtfully, "What price?"

"...Lifespan? Soul? Isn't that what a demon king like you wants... I only have this life now that I can use, so I can't give it to you." Noah said, "If you want, I can sign a contract. As long as I do what I want to do, you can take these things."

"...What do I need your soul for?" Helhunzollon frowned. "Is your soul special? Does it have any special function? Or can extracting your soul bring me any benefit? Why do you think your soul is precious to me?"

"...I..." Noah was stunned by the question, "But...isn't it usually the same in stories..."

"Those are just stories," Herhunzollon replied. "I am now only a faint echo in this palace. Your life and soul are of no use to me."

"Then I..." Noah went over everything he had in his mind, but couldn't find anything that the Witch King in front of him might be interested in. "Whatever you want, I can give you anything I have. I just want to know where my parents are... That's all I ask."

"I'm sorry, but I can't tell you anything." The Witch King Herhunzollon shook his head. "If you seek power, I can give it to you. If you seek knowledge, I can teach you everything I've researched. But if you seek the truth—sorry, it's too early for you now."

"...Why?" Noya was genuinely confused. Before she came here, she'd been prepared to risk everything. She simply wanted to know the whereabouts of her parents, or even if they were still alive. Why couldn't she even be told this? They even wanted to destroy all records of them. Why wasn't even the Sorcerer King, unfettered by worldly constraints, willing to tell her this?

"Because you are not yet qualified to know all this. Your will is still weak. Even if you know a little bit of the truth, it could be tainted." Herhunzollon responded, "You are not yet qualified to know the truth, that's all."

Herhunzollon has met many people, and he has also given many people the so-called "gifts". The palace where he is is originally a backup plan he left behind, or an assessment mechanism. Only those who have cracked his music, truly understood these things, or entered the subspace, can find this place. These people are the ones Herhunzollon thinks can be trusted.

It’s just that most people couldn’t withstand the pollution and couldn’t take over their inheritance. As a residual echo, he did feel a little tired.

The little knight had been a surprise; she had the willpower to enter, but wasn't seeking anything. But Noa was different; she wanted something, but he couldn't tell her.

The truth... there are always some truths that can eat people.

"If you just want to know the truth, you can leave." Herhunzollon turned his head and seemed to have lost interest in Noah. Indeed, she was a good seedling, but there were countless such good seedlings in the world. If she was unwilling to accept it, he would just continue to wait.

To him, time is the least valuable thing.

"I won't tell you the truth until you grow up enough to bear it..."

Chapter 127: Sharing the same bed?

When Noya was pushed out of the palace by an inexplicable force, she woke up from her dream, but this time she seemed to wake up differently. She heard a familiar breathing beside her. She froze and subconsciously clenched her hands, only to find that he had been holding her hand the whole time. Noya couldn't help but lament what she had done last night, even though she couldn't see the details...

But why would Margaret sleep next to him? And with their fingers intertwined?

Noah's heart was suddenly in turmoil, and the depression of being rejected by the Witch King was swept away in an instant. What was left was only shame and helplessness.

Last night, Margaret helped her repair the painting that she had torn to pieces, and she seemed to have fallen asleep without realizing it. In order to seek the truth, she pushed open the door of the Witch King's Palace, but was rejected and thrown out, and then... she fell on the bed?

Is there something missing in the middle... Did I miss two episodes?

As the saying goes, if your mind is in a mess, everything will be messed up. Noah's panic had obviously caused her brain to overload, and then she relaxed all over.

——Forget it, if you can’t figure it out, just stop thinking about it.

It was just a sleep with Margaret, nothing much else. My clothes were still on me, nothing unusual. Margaret probably saw me asleep and carried me to bed, and then she was sleepy, so she just slept with me. That piece of wood had done many things that would lead to misunderstandings before, and this was just a repeat of the past.

Noah had already given up a bit... Margaret was just like that, single-mindedly kind to everyone, treating them the same, like a giant, gleaming lightbulb, imparting kindness to everyone equally, like a damned central air conditioner, like the insensitive male protagonist in a light novel. If you were seduced by this guy's actions, it would only cause you trouble.

Noah thought of doing it once and for all, so he turned around and hugged Margaret. Margaret had a nice figure, a sun-like scent, and a great touch. As a touch enthusiast, Noah's evaluation was quite fair. Instead of getting too excited, he might as well let her know how embarrassing it would be to be treated like this!

This revengeful mentality only lasted for a short while. She was suddenly awakened by being thrown out by the Witch King. She had not slept enough yet and her eyelids soon started to droop. She fell asleep holding Margaret.

As her breathing gradually became steady and she fell into a deep sleep, Margaret's breathing began to become disordered.

She quietly opened one eye and stared at Noah before her. As a knight, even in her sleep, she would have woken up long ago at the slightest movement—let alone physical contact. But when she realized that she was still next to Noah, she didn't make any unnecessary movements. As a result, Noah, after a moment of stunned silence, simply hugged her. Honestly, at that moment, Margaret had even thought about where to bury herself.

But she still managed to keep breathing, trying her best not to suffocate because of shame.

Could it be that her childhood sweetheart was using her as a pillow? She did have a lot of pillows on her bed... but it seemed like she had no intention of changing her habit of collecting pillows. Margaret glanced around and found one that stood out among the pile. She hadn't noticed it before, but now she realized it was there—her own pillow?

Although it looked like a peripheral product, with just a head portrait printed on it, it wasn't something shameful - but discovering it at this time was another matter.

Margaret's face suddenly turned red. Looking at the face in front of her that she had been thinking about day and night, she couldn't help but have a feeling... Could it be that this was hinting at something?

——No, you can’t think like that.

Margaret quickly denied her own thoughts. This kind of thing cannot be said casually... and it is not the behavior of a knight to have wild thoughts.

But sleeping in the same bed with a woman and being able to kiss her just by leaning forward isn't something a knight should do... Margaret felt like Noah's breath was already blowing on her. This distance was no joke...

Margaret's struggle continued until one o'clock in the afternoon, and she was relieved after hearing someone knocking on the door.

"Sister Noah - it's time to eat! Aunt Zofia made red bean rice today for some reason." It was Maria who knocked on the door. Noah, who was awakened by Maria's knock on the door, found that Margaret was still motionless in her arms. She gave up the idea of ​​playing a prank, let go of Margaret, stood up, tidied her clothes, and then reached out and touched Margaret's cheek.

"...Humph, not much different from before—" she muttered to herself. When she wasn't fully conscious, her perception of other people's emotions would temporarily disappear, but after she regained full consciousness, she had almost regained this perception—she reached out and tapped Margaret on the head. "Wake up when you wake up. It's time for dinner."

"...When did you find out?" Margaret knew she couldn't hide, so she stood up and said, "I thought I was pretending well."

"That's just now..." Noah shrugged, "It's time to eat, my Radiant Knight—"

"Yes, yes, do you want me to help you?" Margaret asked. "At least carry you to the wheelchair first."

"...Yeah, whatever you want." Noah held out her hand, as if asking for a hug. Although she knew it was to make it easier for her to hold him, Margaret still thought it was a little too cute, so she picked Noah up in a princess hug, and Noah's hand naturally lingered around her neck. "Just carry me over, it will be hard to say if Maria sees it later."

"...Ahem...That's right." Margaret nodded and carried Noah to the wheelchair before letting go of her hand. "Let me help you push it over."

"Okay, I'm going to go wash up before eating. You too, you've been up all night. It's okay to fight later." Noah felt the warmth coming from Margaret and smiled. "And... thank you."

"Nothing. By the way, this painting is for you." Margaret picked up the restored painting from the side and placed it in Noah's arms.

"From now on, no matter what happens, I will be with you." Margaret said with a smile, "Also, next time don't tear up something you like. You will be the one who feels the most pain afterwards."

Chapter 128: As a Family

"Thank you..." Noah finally nodded while holding the painting in his arms, "I will listen to you."

After solving Noah's washing problem, Margaret and Noah opened the door and appeared in front of Maria who had been waiting for a long time, scaring her so much that her heart almost stopped beating.

"Sister...sister, why are you in Sister Nuoya's room?" She felt like she couldn't speak at all, her tongue sticking out and unable to straighten it. "Could it be...could it be possible?"

"Don't think too much." Margaret stepped forward and knocked on Maria's head. "I'm just helping Noah."

"Yeah, it really helped me a lot." Noah nodded, "That's all."

"Oh...oh." Maria looked at the two of them with some suspicion, but she couldn't tell whether they were lying or not. She could only quietly run to Margaret's side and whispered, "Is this true?"

"Guess?" Margaret felt helpless about her sister's gossipy nature and could only reply with an ambiguous remark.

"I guess that's... you must have played chess all night last night?!" Maria suddenly thought of a possibility. "Hmph, I guessed it! You two both like playing chess, so I just remembered it."

"...Let's just leave it at that." Margaret suddenly doubted Maria's mental state, but she didn't say anything. Maria probably wouldn't have guessed that the two of them were just tired from work and had taken a nap under force majeure. Well, that's all...

Nothing exciting happened, and Margaret wasn't expecting anything like this...right?

When they arrived at the restaurant and saw the three people coming, Zofia's eyes were as ambiguous as they could be. Although Noah couldn't see it, he subconsciously shrank back.

"Noya~" Zofia sat next to Noya as expected. While helping Noya serve the rice, she asked, "How did Margaret perform last night?"

"...Yeah, it's good?" Noah felt that the atmosphere was a little strange, but considering that Margaret's behavior last night was indeed a plus, she nodded. "She helped me a lot, and... to be honest, without Margaret's help, I don't know what I would do."

"Ah~ah~" Zofia held her cheek and looked at Margaret with eyes full of admiration. "I was worried that she was too rough. After all, this kind of thing is really delicate work."

"...Hmm, ah... Margaret's actually quite considerate." Noah was touched when she thought of how Margaret, a Radiant Knight, had actually shredded paper for her last night. "Margaret may look crude, but she's actually quite thoughtful and considerate of my feelings..."

"Hey, that's good, that's good." Zofia looked at Noah's slightly red face and felt that it was almost done. "We are all young people, so it's okay to communicate more."

The emotions Noah sensed from Zofia were indeed extremely complex. If she used taste to describe it, there was sweetness and a little bit of sourness, but more of it was joy. She didn't know how to describe it. After all, this was also the first time she felt a similar emotion.

After all, my perception is vague. I have tried very hard to feel these things. Once the emotions become complicated, I can only be confused.

The most Noah can do is know whether the other party is kind or malicious towards her. As for more detailed perceptions... she can only rely on experience to judge.