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

You see, she originally just planned to walk over and quietly rub off Saria's color to offset the influence of the others, so that she could continue shopping.

However, in that brief moment of hesitation and pause for Gretchen, Muirses, with a radiant smile, had already reached her and said warmly:

"Little sister, are you lost? Big sister can help you!"

"..."

Faced with Muirsay's enthusiastic inquiry, Gretchen not only did not answer, but even subconsciously took a step back.

"Huh? Am I that scary-looking?"

Upon noticing the little girl's actions, Muelseth, who had initially been quite pleased, couldn't help but show a hint of frustration on his face.

However, she did not continue to approach. Instead, to avoid upsetting the child, she took a few steps back and created some distance.

“Well, Aunt Snake said that elves with long ears aren’t good people…” Gretchen looked at Muelsys, who had taken a few steps back, blinked her beautiful big eyes, and then said with a serious expression.

"?"

Upon hearing this, a question mark slowly appeared above Muirsey's head. After realizing what she meant, she hurriedly replied, somewhat annoyed:

"That's nonsense, a rumor, and not to be believed! How could a cute and kind elf like me be a bad person!"

"Well……"

Watching the elf lady react somewhat "intensely" to her words, Gretsch took a small step back.

"?"

"Don't stay so far away, sister, I'm really not a bad person!"

Looking at the little girl getting further and further away from him and the strange looks from the people around him, Muirsays explained in a pale voice, almost in tears.

P.S.: I made a slight edit to the end of the previous chapter because I realized that without Mimi's touch, the protagonist doesn't look quite right next to Saria... In the end, she might just get a scolding? And then be sent home?

Chapter 132 Saria, the Iron-Willed Straight Woman

"what happened?"

After noticing the unusual situation with Muirsey, Saria put down her coffee cup and came over to ask.

"Ugh, it's just... this kid said I don't seem like a good person QAQ." Seeing her friend arrive, Muirsey looked sad and wiped away non-existent tears as she explained.

“…He certainly doesn’t seem like a good person. What this child did was right; he’s very vigilant.” Upon hearing this, Saria remained silent for a moment, then nodded gently and said earnestly.

"?"

"???"

"Saria, how could you say that! What about me is not a good person!?" Saria's serious and earnest words instantly made Muirses furious.

"..."

However, this time Saria did not respond to Muirseth's words, but instead looked seriously at the little girl not far from her.

"Did you run into some kind of problem? Or did you sneak out of your home?"

After organizing her thoughts, Saria tried to make her voice sound gentle as she asked.

In the past, the cold and impartial head of the defense department would certainly not have been as gentle as she is now, whether dealing with adults or children. Rationality has always been a constant in her life, speech and behavior.

However, during her time with Ifrit and Himeru, Saria eventually underwent a gradual and subtle change.

At least in terms of dealing with children... there has been a tiny, almost imperceptible improvement; they no longer frighten people to tears like before.

"Well, I didn't encounter any difficulties, nor did I run away from home..." Gresh gently shook her head in response to Saria's question.

"..."

Gazing at the innocent little girl before her, and finding no signs of lying, Saria frowned slightly, momentarily unsure how to continue her questioning.

After all, although she had made a slight improvement in interacting with children, she was still not very good at it.

Just as Saria was beginning to consider the feasibility of handing Gretsch over to the police, Muirseth spoke up again.

“I said, why don’t we go over there and talk… Everyone’s stares are getting weirder.”

As she spoke, Muirsey pointed to the spot where they had originally been sitting.

"..."

Saria naturally noticed the stares from those around her. Therefore, she had no objection to it, and then turned her questioning gaze to Gretsch, awaiting her answer.

"Hmm... Sister, would you lie to me?"

Noticing Saria's questioning gaze, Gretchen blinked her beautiful eyes gently and then asked in a low voice.

"will not."

Although she couldn't quite keep up with Gretsch's train of thought, Saria still answered truthfully.

"That……"

Upon hearing this, Gretchen's eyes lit up slightly. She then stepped forward and extended her small, snow-white hand to Saria, who was much taller than her, the meaning of which was self-evident.

"Ugh, this is so unfair! Why do I look like the bad guy, but this guy is the good guy? He looks so fierce!"

Seeing the little girl's actions, Muirsey, who was standing to the side, was filled with resentment and couldn't help but lower her voice to complain.

"..."

Saria was stunned when she saw the small hand outstretched in front of her. She was clearly not expecting Gretsch to do such a thing.

After realizing what had happened, she frowned slightly again and said, "Don't trust strangers so easily next time; it's dangerous."

“???)?”

Faced with this sudden lecture from the tough, straightforward Leia, the little girl was completely stunned.

Although the little girl always knew that Saria was a straight-laced woman through the game's storyline, comics, and memories shared from other identities.

But when she faced it in person, she was completely stunned. She had really been careless; she hadn't dodged...

"Pfft, Saria, you're really consistent." Looking at her "cold and ruthless" friend and the bewildered little girl in front of her, Muirsey suddenly couldn't help but laugh out loud.

The resentment that Gretsch had initially felt due to her differential treatment dissipated considerably at this point.

"Hmph, I told you, I'm the good one. This guy is fierce and ruthless."

"Well……"

After listening to Muirsey,

After the laughter and words, Gretchen finally snapped out of her daze and tried to pull her outstretched hand back.

However, before the little girl could make a move, a coat that was still warm was suddenly draped over her, wrapping her up completely.

“???)?”

Gretchen stared at the culprit who had suddenly half-squatted down and wrapped herself up, and froze again, a big question mark slowly appearing on her little head.

It seems you two, as a "couple," are quite in sync in this regard...

However, before Gretchen could fully react, Saria's next move followed immediately.

She carefully picked up the little girl and then turned to walk towards the coffee shop.

“???)”

At this moment, not only was Gretsch stunned by Saria's actions, but even Muirseth, who was standing to the side, was stunned. The smile on his face disappeared, replaced by a look of utter disbelief.

Good heavens! My own Saria, that straight-talking, inflexible, and ruthless woman, is actually so thoughtful and gentle!

……

After picking up the little girl and setting her down, Saria sat back down in her original spot and asked seriously:

"Alright, since you didn't sneak out, let's talk about the situation."

"Hmm, little sister should indeed tell us about the situation. After all, in this season, there aren't many cute girls like you running around barefoot in skirts like you on the streets," Muelsys chimed in, gently stirring her coffee with a spoon.

"I came out to buy something."

Faced with their questions, Gretchen, who had just suddenly been dyed Saria's color, gave a serious and brief explanation.

"So you came out to buy something. But what could have made you not wear your shoes properly, little girl? Luckily, your feet aren't cut... Speaking of which, aren't your feet a bit too clean?"

As they were talking, Muirsey suddenly noticed her blind spot, paused in her hand movements, and her expression became curious.

Upon hearing her mention it, Saria, who hadn't noticed this detail before, also looked at Gretsch's smooth, fair, and clean little feet.

P.S.: Only one update today. I've been writing a bit slowly these past two days, sorry. But I've almost stopped the negative effects, and I'll try to write faster from now on.

The author's health isn't very good; he's always been plagued by minor ailments, though not major ones. A few days ago, he started having large patches of hives again, and other rashes appeared on his body. Although he's taking medication, the intense itching makes it impossible for him to sit still.

Chapter 133 Self-Introduction?

"The dirty stuff has been kept out."

Upon hearing this, Gretchen did not hide anything and spoke in the same serious and indifferent voice as Saria.

"Hmm... that tone of voice, that little expression..."

Sensing something, Muels didn't pay attention to Gretsch's answer at the moment. Instead, he stroked his chin and looked at Gretsch and Seria with suspicion.

"what happened?"

Seeing her friend's strange behavior, Saria raised her eyes slightly and looked at her to ask.

"It's even more like it now, but... tsk."

Muirse ignored Saria's question and continued to stare at the two figures, one large and one small, with identical expressions.

Then, the elf girl, somewhat unwilling, moved closer to Gretsch and gently pinched her cheek, saying, "Little one, this isn't fair at all. Not only are you close to this fierce girl, you even imitate her."

"You don't even learn from me, it's so heartbreaking..."

"Um, I... I didn't... Don't be unfair."

Gretchen, whose cheeks were being pinched, wanted to maintain the same seriousness as Saria, but... she looked too cute right now, making it impossible to see any seriousness at all.

"Obviously there is!"

Upon hearing this, Muirsays changed her hand gestures, switching from kneading to rubbing, and retorted in an annoyed tone.

Because of Muels' sudden intimate contact, the color of Saria that Gretsch had originally stained with was quietly fading away.

"Alright, stop bullying her. Let her explain the situation clearly."