Three Flandres charged out simultaneously, and in an instant, those people were seized, mangled, and torn apart.
Then the three Flandres vanished from the spot; the entire process took less than ten seconds. Alina wanted to stop her, but it was over before she could even speak.
At this moment, she opened her mouth feebly, but she found herself unable to criticize Flandre in any way.
Because the girl was protecting her.
If not for that, Flandre would not have attacked those people.
Now she understood why Talulah's expression was so complex whenever she mentioned the previous operations Flandre had participated in.
This kind of slaughter was cruel and efficient, more terrifying than many casters she had heard of.
Looking at Flandre, she subconsciously wanted to avert her eyes.
"Is Big Sister Alina unhappy?" Flandre Scarlet's tone was dejected.
She had clearly protected Alina, so why wasn't she being praised? Why was the other person afraid of her? Flandre felt that her small head was filled with big doubts.
The other memory only told her that her behavior was inhumane, but what was 'humane'?
Kill enemies, protect friends—wasn't this the right thing to do?
And why should one be humane to an enemy?
Hearing Flandre's aggrieved voice, Alina reached out and gently hugged her, though tears couldn't help but stream from the corners of her own eyes.
"I'm sorry, Flandre..."
"Don't cry, Big Sister! Next time, Flandre will hide from you when she makes a move!"
Flandre reached a conclusion: as long as she didn't attack in front of Alina, then Alina wouldn't be unhappy.
Just like the previous few times.
She gently wiped the tears from Alina's face and then held them in her hand.
"Look, Big Sister Alina, the tears have turned into ice!"
Alina stood up.
"I'm sorry. You aren't Talulah; I shouldn't hold you to Talulah's standards.
However, life is a very precious thing. If necessary, I want you to think before you take someone's life, Flandre—think about whether their sins truly warrant death."
Flandre nodded. Although she didn't understand, she could memorize it for now.
If all else failed, she would ask her sister after returning to the Scarlet Devil Mansion. She was so wise and majestic; she would surely have the answer.
After calming their emotions, the two left the small woods hand in hand. The wind and snow continued, and the bloodstains here were soon completely buried by the pure white.
After returning to the base camp, Alina recalled the scene from just now, her expression somewhat dazed.
Noticing the way Alina was looking at her, Flandre blinked in confusion.
"It's nothing. You did very well, Flandre. It's just my own problem..."
"Big Sister Alina!" Seeing Alina return to the village, many children gathered around. They crowded around her, and the joyful laughter of the children instantly washed away much of the sorrow between Alina's brows.
Flandre didn't walk with Alina; she felt that Alina would be more at ease right now if she didn't see her.
Moreover, she happened to see Frostnova passing by, and she felt it was necessary to tell her about what had just happened.
After walking for a while, Alina realized she couldn't see Flandre's figure.
She couldn't help but panic internally.
Then, turning a corner and seeing Flandre standing with Frostnova, she finally breathed a sigh of relief.
Frostnova, who was just about to arrange other matters, hadn't expected Flandre Scarlet to seek her out again.
The last time she sought her was about Rhodes Island, and after that time, she no longer treated the girl as a mere child.
"Is something the matter, Flandre?"
Frostnova looked down at the approaching Flandre Scarlet.
She had a very good impression of Flandre: she was obedient, sensible, and quiet. When she had ideas, she wouldn't act on her own but would instead offer her opinions to adults and seek their advice. Crucially, she could touch Frostnova without getting frostbite.
One could say that such a low-maintenance child like Flandre was one of the few children she was willing to interact with.
Flandre recounted the encounter with those people on their way back. After listening, Frostnova's face turned ashen.
"[Ursus Profanity], those guys still dare to linger nearby?
I will immediately arrange for the Guerrillas to conduct a sweep of the surroundings.
You did the right thing. Never show mercy to the enemy.
Alina is not a combatant, so it's not surprising she has those thoughts.
But kindness is not retreat, nor is it blind forbearance.
Threats should be eliminated, enemies should be dealt with. Those we need to protect are the comrades who share our ideals."
Compared to the gentle Alina and the idealistic Talulah, Frostnova was clearly more practical.
If Talulah hadn't repeatedly refused, she would have long since expelled those people from the Reunion Movement's territory or dealt with them directly.
Now that those people actually dared to attack someone from the base camp, she found it unacceptable. She angrily led the Yeti Squad out of the village.
Watching her leave, Flandre returned to the house.
Alina didn't come over even by nightfall.
Hearing the sound of Talulah returning, Flandre proactively walked out.
Seeing only Flandre come out of the house, Talulah was surprised and asked in a somewhat anxious tone,
"Is Alina not with you?
What happened? Is she injured?"
Flandre shook her head.
"She's not injured! Although we met some bad people, Flandre protected Big Sister Alina very well!"
"Bad people?" Talulah's heart tightened.
She pulled Flandre along to Alina's residence.
"Knock, knock, knock! Alina, are you there? It's me!" Seeing that the candlelight in the room was still dim but lit, Talulah knew she hadn't gone to sleep yet and asked softly.
"Talulah... you're back?" Alina sounded a bit rushed, as if she had been startled out of a daze.
Tens of seconds later, the door opened. Her body tensed when she saw Talulah at the door holding Flandre Scarlet's hand.
Talulah didn't notice Alina's abnormality.
After entering the room, she reached out to press Alina's shoulders, looking her up and down.
"Flandre said you met bad people on the way back. Who was the enemy?
Are you injured?"
Alina gave Flandre a complex look.
"No, I'm fine."
"What exactly happened?" Talulah asked after sitting down.
Alina struggled for a long time before recounting the events of the day.
After hearing Alina's words, Talulah felt as if she had been struck by lightning.
She naturally knew who those people she spoke of were. Yesterday, she had even argued with Buldrokkas'tee and Frostnova because of them, and this morning she had sought comfort from Alina.
But she hadn't expected that during the day, Alina had almost fallen victim to those people.
At this moment, she recalled the things Flandre had said, and she couldn't help but feel some wavering in her heart.
Just then, an aura began to dissipate from her body.
Flandre reached out curiously as a black, eerie mist drifted toward her.
A second later, the corners of Flandre's mouth curled up.
"Got you!" Then, her small hand squeezed.
"Ah!" Talulah let out a miserable cry, then spat out a mouthful of fresh blood and fainted.
Alina, who hadn't noticed Flandre's small movement, didn't expect Talulah to have such a strong reaction. She thought it was because Talulah's convictions had been shaken.
She laid her down and hurried to find the doctor and Frostnova.
A moment later, the doctor arrived.
He looked at the unconscious Talulah, powerless.
Because he couldn't find the source of the ailment at all; he could only sense that there was considerable internal damage in Talulah's body, but fortunately, none of it was fatal.
He prescribed some hemostatic medicine and left.
Frostnova and Buldrokkas'tee asked about what had happened in the room.
Alina recounted the situation as she had seen it.
For a moment, the father and daughter didn't know what to say.
Because they believed that Talulah's heart was not that fragile.
She might feel lost or dejected, but she absolutely should not have fainted like this.
Alina opened her mouth, then hesitated.
"Alina, is there anything else you want to tell us?"
Frostnova asked.
"Let's talk outside!"
Alina pointed outside, and then the three of them walked out.
Alina recounted what Talulah had once told her about Kashchey.
After listening, Buldrokkas'tee's breathing became a bit heavier.
"Old Stubborn One?"
"It's very likely. As the Immortal Black Snake, Kashchey wouldn't die that easily.
He might have used Talulah's assassination of him to plant a seed within her body.
This seed would hide in the deepest part of her body when her will was firm.
But once she wavers regarding the path ahead, the seed will sprout and gradually erode her will.
There are records of related witchcraft in the Sarkaz bloodline."
Buldrokkas'tee answered.
"Is there a way to solve it?" Alina asked anxiously.
Buldrokkas'tee nodded, then shook his head.
"If anyone can save her, in my view, it would only be the Lord of the Liches or the Lord of the Banshees.
But the former has long since gone into hiding and disappeared, and the Banshees have already closed their doors and no longer communicate with the outside world."
Buldrokkas'tee was referring to the two tribes within the Sarkaz race who were most skilled in witchcraft.
If anyone could save the cursed Talulah, these two branches that specialized in incantations were naturally the best choice.
But unfortunately, one had vanished without a trace and the other was isolationist. Combined with the heavy snow blocking the roads out, they were effectively powerless.
As for Flandre Scarlet, she hadn't left; instead, she had been sitting quietly in the innermost part of the room the whole time.
Since everyone's attention was on Talulah, no one noticed she was sitting there quietly observing everyone.
Compared to the panicked crowd, Flandre was very calm. In her eyes, after she had crushed that wisp of black mist, the destructive power had followed the mist back inside and strangled most of the energy.
The reason Talulah was unconscious now was that the black mist had been in her body for a long time and was already deeply rooted.
Therefore, that strike of hers had also caused some damage to Talulah's body.
However, that one move of hers had cleared away more than half of the black mist in her body. As long as she could wake up, it would be extremely difficult for that so-called Immortal Black Snake to control her again.
So why was everyone so panicked and anxious? Wouldn't it be fine just to wait here for Talulah to wake up?
Unfortunately, no one knew that Flandre had done this.
No one asked her about the cause of this event either.
Otherwise, Flandre would certainly have answered truthfully, and then everyone wouldn't be so worried.
At this time, a pale-faced Alina walked back in from outside.
She looked at Flandre Scarlet, who had been sitting obediently and motionlessly in the innermost corner from the very beginning, and forced a smile.
"Flandre, it's very late. Let me take you back to rest!"
"Mhm, I'll go back by myself. Big Sister Alina, you probably don't want to leave Talulah's side right now, right?"
Flandre gently floated to the door.
Just as Alina was about to speak, Frostnova poked half her body in from outside.
"You take good care of Talulah. I'll take Flandre back!"
Alina nodded.
Frostnova took Flandre's hand and walked out of Alina's home.
After returning to her room, Flandre had a wonderful sleep. The next day, she heard a commotion outside.
After walking out, she learned that some people, upon hearing the news of Talulah's coma, felt that the Reunion Movement probably wouldn't hold out and wanted to divvy up the supplies and flee.
But anyone with a normal brain knew that the heavy snow had already blocked all exits. Staying together gave them a chance to live; splitting up would only accelerate their deaths.
If Talulah were still awake, these people would probably have been lectured by her, and then the matter would have been suppressed.
But she was currently in a coma, and the one currently managing things was the Big Daddy, Buldrokkas'tee.
He wouldn't easily let go of those who wanted to incite internal strife.
The Shield Guards entered the base camp from outside and seized all those brainless Infected who wanted to take the opportunity to cause trouble or seize power.
Facing the most powerful force within the Reunion Movement, those who could only talk or had only a little skill didn't even have the ability to start a riot before being easily suppressed.
A few of the leaders were even executed on the spot.
With this, everyone became well-behaved.
"So, what were those people thinking?"
Flandre Scarlet didn't understand how these people's brains were wired.
They didn't have skills like hers, nor could they unite the other Infected.
Relying solely on ambition and talk, they wanted everyone to follow them to their deaths.
Flandre sighed, shook her head, walked back into the room, picked up her book, and continued studying.
Good news finally arrived in the evening: Talulah, who had been unconscious for a day and a night, had finally awakened.
Immediately, she was taken over by Buldrokkas'tee.
Because of Alina's words last night, they were worried that Talulah's heart had already "deteriorated," so Buldrokkas'tee spoke to test the awakened Talulah.
He recounted the events of the day, glanced at Talulah's expression, and then continued to describe his methods of handling the situation.
After he finished, everyone quietly looked at Talulah.
Talulah showed a complex expression. She still insisted that there was nothing wrong with her ideas.
If they couldn't unite as many people as possible, then it would only be more difficult for the Infected to lead a normal life in Ursus.
But the events of the past few days were reminding her that not everyone was worth uniting. These two consciousnesses were constantly torturing her heart and hammering at her will.
At this moment, she remembered last night.
One second, Kashchey's voice had appeared in her ear, tempting her will; the next second, intense pain accompanied by Kashchey's miserable scream had sent her into a coma.
"Can I ask first... what exactly happened to me?"
Talulah tried to reach out to rub her aching head, but a tearing sensation from both hands forced her to withdraw the idea.
"I'll just say it straight. Are you still Talulah?" Yelena asked, unable to help herself, as she stared into Talulah's eyes.