After composing herself, Kiana still voiced her concerns. "Shu, in your current state..."
"I'm fine, don't worry," Shu shook his head.
"No, I mean you look completely different from before. Are you going to go in like this?" Kiana waved her hand, then pointed at Shu's long, enviably smooth hair.
Shu paused for a moment, then grabbed a handful of his long hair. He raised a hand to touch his ear, and the pointed tip made him a little dazed himself.
He really did look... and he couldn't let go of this big scepter in his hand for too long either. It was fine to put it somewhere temporarily, but not for too long...
"How about... I cut my hair?" Shu hesitated, holding a strand of hair in one hand.
"No way!" Kiana quickly shook her head. "It would be such a waste to cut such long hair! And who knows if you'll go bald if you cut it and then change back?"
Shu abruptly raised a hand and clapped it to the top of his head. He had to admit, he was indeed a little averse to the idea of being "bald."
"Then what should I do?" Shu didn't even realize he was asking Kiana for help.
Kiana thought seriously for a moment, then looked at Shu.
"Shu, can you make clothes?"
---||---
Shu and Kiana returned. Mei, who was waiting in the dining room, looked up. She was about to go over and ask what had happened when she saw Shu wearing a hood and sunglasses.
Mei paused for a moment, unable to help but take a second look at the hooded outer robe.
She remembered that that piece of clothing didn't have a hood before, did it?
With a heart full of doubt, she approached the two of them standing at the door. As she got closer, Mei sensed that something was off about Shu's condition.
It was just like in the dreamscape before... had the appearance of the enemy forced Shu into that state?
She immediately became nervous, but her strict upbringing allowed her to show no emotion on the surface.
"Mei, it's like this..." Kiana rushed to explain the situation to Mei in detail. Mei nodded in understanding and raised a concern. "But... what if our talks with Cocolia don't work out?"
"Then we knock everyone out and pack them away!" Kiana clenched her fists, showing off her strength.
"Are we really going to solve it like that?" Mei was a little surprised. "Will Bronya agree?"
"I don't know, but I think she will," Shu said. "I'll have to explain it to her clearly... I don't want to resort to this method until the very last moment, but we have to take these people with us."
With the precedent of Vakh going after Natasha, Shu wouldn't trust any Herrscher to maintain their "humanity," even if he had to be wary of himself...
He didn't know if he could always maintain his current state. The price he had paid in Babylon had already served as a wake-up call. Right now, it was just the loss of his childish innocence. He hadn't forgotten that one of the listed prices was "losing the ability to love someone."
Losing the ability to love... he didn't know what that would be like, and he didn't want to imagine what would happen if he reached that point.
But right now, Shu couldn't think of many ways to counter himself. The few he had were difficult to achieve under the current conditions. At the very least, he had to return to the base to have Otto do it.
For example, implanting a micro-bomb in his cerebral cortex or heart, or implanting a tranquilizer that could be triggered at any time. Shu was more inclined to implant a bomb. Not only could it counter him, but it would also be convenient for using his final trump card.
"Leave this to me," Mei said, turning to look at Bronya, who was sitting silently at the dining table. She sighed. "But for now... let's just let that child have a moment..."
After all, she was only fourteen... Although her childhood experiences were richer than most adults', they were by no means happy memories.
Those fleeting moments of happiness couldn't support a person's maturity.
Shu nodded and then turned to leave first.
He shouldn't have believed Kiana's idea of a disguise. His own optical camouflage would have been more reliable than Kiana's physical disguise. Besides, Schrödinger was right here. He might even be able to get the "Mosquito's Breath" technology.
Who would even notice his long hair and pointed ears then?
Oh, and his eyes that were prettier than colored contacts.
---||---
"You're already done eating?" Sin rushed by with a large roll of blankets and froze when she saw the three of them standing at the door.
Kiana once again touched her stomach. In reality, none of the three had eaten anything. But it was just one meal. Apart from Kiana, it wasn't a big deal for the others.
Just take this opportunity to lose that half a pound I've gained!
Kiana made a painful decision in her heart and then nodded at Sin.
"Alright then. This is your last set of blankets. I've cleared out three rooms for you, all double dorm rooms. You'll have to make do. Even if you complain to me, I won't change them."
"Then I want to share a room with Mei!" Kiana immediately realized that room assignments were an important issue.
So the remaining people on the train were Shu, Frélle, Sirin, Bronya, and Schrödinger...
That was five people, but they had to stay in two double rooms... Was Sin planning to have Bronya go back to her old room?
If that was the case, the arrangement would be reasonable.
"If Bronya and Seele are sharing, then Schrödinger and Sirin can share a room, and Frélle can stay with me."
Frélle had no self-defense capabilities. It was better for him to protect her.
Wait, this double room isn't a double bed, is it?
Sin listened to Shu's arrangement and gave him a strange look. "That Bronya even told you she used to live with Seele? Looks like you guys are pretty close."
"Of course, we're partners who entrust our lives to each other!" Kiana said, her hands on her hips, as proud as a cat that had caught a fish.
"Tsk..." Sin showed a disdainful expression, snorted contemptuously, and then stuffed the blankets into Kiana's arms.
"Then go make the bed for your entrusted partner!"
After saying that, Sin walked away angrily, kicking a small stone along the way.
"I'm not providing a dorm for that bear! If it hurts anyone, I'll definitely roast it and add it to the orphanage's meal!"
As she left, Sin threw out that last sentence. Kiana, holding the blankets, peeked her head out from behind them and whispered to the others.
"Is she jealous?"