Collapse, surrender to me!

But the more you talk, the more you reveal how much you care.

"Alas, if that kid can have a skill to make a living like you, I will be satisfied."

The driver talked about everything from the children, to their schools, to their parents, to family matters, and all kinds of unfounded things, and he hardly stopped along the way.

But when we were almost at our destination.

The driver's tone suddenly became serious.

"You are that... warrior who fought against Honkai beasts on TV, right? Otherwise, you can't be that strong at such a young age. At least my son can't even lift a bag, let alone a little girl like you."

"Well... I am indeed one of them." Grayshu thought about it and felt that there was nothing to hide.

"Then you don't have to go to the battlefield and fight those monsters."

“No need.” Grayshu shook her head.

"That's good."

The driver nodded with satisfaction.

"I know that these organizations will definitely cultivate fresh blood in order to continue. You are one of them, right? I can accept cultivating new people, but if they want you to go to the battlefield, I will definitely not agree."

"It will be your turn only after we are all dead."2

"..."

Grace didn't know what the driver was thinking about.

Fire Moth has done its best to cultivate fresh blood.

But the success rate is too low.

The mortality rate of super-transformation surgery far exceeds the success rate.

New members cannot be added just because we want to.

But she didn't have to fight.

She felt that she actually had some strength and could go to the battlefield to share the burden with everyone.

However, neither Eden, Alicia, or even Kosmo, who almost obeyed her, agreed.

Chapter 26: Aponia: Being both a grandmother and a mother

Whether it is Japanese comics or American superheroes.

Even if you are a middle school student of twelve or thirteen like Grace, as long as you have the power, you will save the world.

Just like what Peter's uncle said to Spider-Man - with great power comes great responsibility.

However, in the Collapse World, the situation is different.

Most people have similar ideas to this driver.

The disaster caused by the collapse was too huge. Over the years, it has been accepted that this is not something that can be actively resisted by human power, and can only be endured silently.

Humanity has now almost implemented herd immunity therapy and is in a state of coexistence with the collapse.

Just like some viruses.

Even though we know there are risks of infection and people will die.

But society is still functioning at a normal level.

As long as the social order does not collapse, civilization can still be called civilization, and there is still hope.

When they arrived at the place, the driver refused to take Grace's money.

Grace didn't say much.

She has experience with this kind of thing.

No one seemed to like taking her money, but she was actually a second-generation rich woman and had no intention of taking advantage of others.

And she has also received the care of others.

To Grayshu, this warm color is much more important than cold coins.

She did not refuse the driver's kindness.

This is the new truth she has realized in these days.

That is, when others care about her, she will feel warm, but those who care about her will also get an indescribable satisfaction at that time.

To put it simply, it means - helping others.

She rejected other people's kindness, which meant that the other person also lost an opportunity to be happy.

This is completely different from eating and drinking for free, taking advantage of others, or begging.

Gracie is also willing to pass on this color.

"Thank you uncle."

Grace waved goodbye.

It is obvious that the driver's mood has become much happier.

Of course, when he got home to clean the car, he would find that Grace had secretly stuffed a banknote under the seat cushion before getting out of the car.

"Mother Aponya, I'm back!"

Familiar buildings, familiar passages.

Before anyone came in, the voice came from afar.

The girl brought over two large bags of canned food and placed them on the table.

not far away.

Aponia sat there quietly with her eyes closed, like a devout nun.

If someone else saw her, they would think she was praying.

But in Grayshu's perception.

This is not prayer, this is atonement.

She didn't understand why such a good person like Mother Aponya felt that she needed to atone for her sins?

"Because I want to change my fate, but I always become its helper."

Aponia seemed to have heard Grayshu's thoughts, opened her eyes, and explained with a smile.

More painful than foreseeing the death of a loved one and not taking action is the action that drives the tragedy forward in order to change the tragic future.

Repeating this seemingly futile behavior over and over, receiving the gift of power close to that of a god, yet feeling so powerless.

Repeatedly trying to get the child to a different ending, but only repeating the destined fate.

"But now, there is finally a glimmer of hope."

Aponia held the girl tenderly in her arms like a mother.

He caressed Grace's back lovingly.

"Your originally intertwined destinies began to break apart and reassemble... I agreed to open a studio with you that day on a whim, but now it seems that I made a lucky choice."

Gracie stayed at Aponia's place until the afternoon.

If you ask me what I did, I actually did nothing.

Aponya is not the kind of person who goesssips.

The two of them didn't even communicate much, they just ate their meal, which was even some canned food she brought with her.

But even so, Grayshu still felt at ease.

even--

"It would be nice if Dad was here too."

She couldn't help but think so in her heart.

Grace secretly glanced at the nun who was confessing with her eyes closed.

Then he took out his cell phone and found Alicia's live broadcast room.

However, the Pink Fairy was not broadcasting live at this time.

As for what she was doing, Grayshu didn't quite understand.

Because it is not a particularly big disaster, Alicia usually does not need to take action, but stays on standby.

After all, if she goes to solve a small problem and happens to encounter a big problem that the weaker fusion warriors cannot handle, the loss will be huge.

So Alicia can’t be considered very busy.

Grace secretly sent a private message to Alicia.

……

The reminder bell sounded.

The pink fairy lady came out of the bathroom.

The wet hair stuck to the smooth back.

She casually wrapped a towel around her body, which was shaking like freshly cooked braised pork.

He wiped the water off his hands and picked up his phone.

"Let me see, who would come to me at this time... Is it little Grayxiu?"

Alicia wiped her hair with a towel in one hand and swiped the screen with the other hand, with lines of information flashing in her pupils.

However, after reading Grayshu's speech, she didn't know how to respond for a while.

Perhaps only Grayshu would have such an idea.

Because Grace's message was simple.

It was probably just asking...if Aponya could be her new mother.

Alicia knew that Grayshu had not suddenly become a filial son and forgotten his mother Blanca.

But I simply feel that this way I can... go back to the way things were before.

Grayshu felt the motherly love in Aponia, and with Hen, if the two of them were together, they would probably return to the state called "family" before.

In this case, Hen would take care of his family and would not be as radical as he is now.

Alicia could understand.

Just like a child likes his biological mother very much, but he may not necessarily hate his kind stepmother.

It is also a good thing if the new family is harmonious and happy.

But the problem is...

"There's no way Hen and Aponya can be together..."

Just thinking about this scene, Alicia felt it was very inappropriate.

This kind of thing is not simply 1+1 equals 2.

Besides, Aponia is not another 1.

Alicia felt that Aponia's gaze and thoughts towards Hen were probably no different from her views on Grayshu.

If they really get together, it is likely that the father and daughter have found a mother for themselves.

It's so weird, no matter how you think about it.

The problem was that she didn't know how to explain this kind of adult relationship issue to Grace.

"Gratio..."

Alicia thought about it for a while and decided that it would be better to leave this problem to those who should worry about it.

"It's no use asking me about this. I think you should ask your dad. After all, if your dad doesn't agree, then nothing you say will work."

Alicia felt that this was all that was needed.

After all, it is impossible for Mr. Hen to nod his head in agreement, right?