Chapter 8: “But I Refuse!” (｀Δ´)

Time rewound to the moment Leinata had tackled her… which meant she hadn’t accidentally pulled off her cloak yet.

Leinata’s affection should be 0 right now.

“You sure got lucky.”

Leinata, who had just saved her from the falling rocks, was straddling her, about to get up and leave.

“There are traps all around here. Get out if you don’t want to get squashed into paste.”

Leinata’s voice was still cold, tinged with impatience.

In her eyes, the white-haired, red-eyed loli in front of her was just a complete stranger who had wandered in.

“Mmm…”

Nuo Ai’er quickly got up and brushed the grass clippings off her skirt.

Having learned from the last time, she didn’t recklessly grab at Leinata this time. Instead, she obediently stood still, looking at Leinata with a mix of admiration and slight fear.

“Um, big sister, the forest is really scary. I don’t dare walk alone… Can I… follow behind you?”

She asked cautiously, her voice soft and sticky like a little kitten seeking shelter.

Leinata raised an eyebrow, looking Nuo Ai’er up and down.

Even though Nuo Ai’er was an intruder, since she seemed polite enough, Leinata didn’t flat-out refuse.

“Suit yourself.”

With that, the girl turned and strode forward.

[Leinata Affection: No Change (Neutral)]

Even though there was no bonus, at least she didn’t immediately start deducting points like last time.

Nuo Ai’er: This is a good start (ฅ’ω’ฅ)

Nuo Ai’er picked up her basket and followed closely behind.

Soon, the two arrived at the stream.

The familiar scene replayed.

Then, just like before, Leinata introduced herself, and a little wolf named Little Gray crawled out of the bushes, baring its teeth at the stranger.

“Arwooo!”

If it had been the previous Nuo Ai’er, she would have already hidden behind a rock in fear.

But this time, she had a warning. Looking closely, Little Gray was actually pretty cute, though.

“Don’t be scared.”

Leinata stopped. “He doesn’t bite. Pet his head, and he’ll treat you like a friend.”

Saying this, she demonstratively patted Little Gray’s head, and the wolf instantly calmed down.

“Try it yourself.” Leinata looked at Nuo Ai’er.

“Mmm…”

Nuo Ai’er decided to try this time. She slowly crouched down and reached out her hand to Little Gray.

Little Gray stared at her warily.

“Be good… I don’t taste good ( ๑ŏ ﹏ ŏ๑ )”

“I told you he won’t eat you ( ᗜ ˰ ᗜ )” Leinata said.

Nuo Ai’er coaxed softly while gently placing her palm on the wolf’s fluffy head, stroking it along the fur.

Then, the previously bristling wolf actually closed its eyes, its tail beginning to wag, and even licked Nuo Ai’er’s palm.

“Wow, he really did calm down (*ﾟﾛﾟ)” Nuo Ai’er exclaimed in surprise.

Behind her, a flicker of surprise passed through Leinata’s eyes, then the corner of her mouth lifted by a nearly invisible margin.

The system sound appeared.

[Leinata Affection +5]

[Current Affection: 5 (Slightly Lowered Guard)]

It seemed the first step was a success.

Nuo Ai’er breathed a sigh of relief.

…

…

Night fell. A campfire blazed.

Leinata handed a golden-roasted fish to Nuo Ai’er. “Want some?”

[Moment of Choice!]

[A. Refuse and eat your own sandwich.]

[B. Accept the roasted fish.]

[C. Accept the roasted fish, then share the sandwich with her (Sandwich -2)]

The familiar options.

Last time, Nuo Ai’er had chosen A because of the Hunter sister. She hadn’t trusted Leinata back then.

But this time, knowing Leinata was a good person, Nuo Ai’er could eat the fish.

As for B or C…

C would consume all the sandwiches, so she’d better not. She had to bring them for Grandma.

Little Red Riding Hood couldn’t visit Grandma empty-handed, right? (

Nuo Ai’er chose B.

“Thanks.”

Nuo Ai’er smiled, took a bite of the fish, and her face lit up with satisfaction. “Mmm! Leinata, you’re a really good cook!”

Leinata was taken aback, then turned her head away.

“Hmph. Accepting a stranger’s food and eating it so happily—you’re way too careless.” Leinata teased.

[Leinata Affection +5]

[Current Affection: 10 (Friendly)]

Nuo Ai’er: And yet you’re raising affection with me even while saying that (ฅ´ω`ฅ)

After the meal, it was time for the fork in the road.

“I know how to leave the forest.” Leinata looked at Nuo Ai’er. “North is the town, east is the village. Where do you want to go?”

This time, Nuo Ai’er didn’t hesitate to choose east. “I’m going east to find my grandmother.”

“Grandmother?” Hearing that word, Leinata frowned, a complex expression flashing in her eyes.

“…What’s wrong?” Nuo Ai’er asked.

This plot point hadn’t appeared in the previous loop…

“Nothing. Just remembered something bad… Back to the point. The east road is winding and full of traps.”

If it had been the previous loop, Leinata would have just coldly pointed the way.

But this time, with affection at 10, Leinata was noticeably warmer.

Leinata sighed. “Forget it. Let’s rest here tonight. I’ll take you there tomorrow morning so you don’t get hit by a rock again halfway.”

“Really? That’s great! Thanks, big sister!” Nuo Ai’er smiled happily.

However, right in the middle of this warm moment, Nuo Ai’er’s expression suddenly changed.

Something’s wrong (◦`~´◦)

Something was about to happen around now.

She abruptly looked up, staring into the dark depths of the forest.

Here it comes!

It was time for that guy to attack!

“Get down!” Nuo Ai’er suddenly shouted.

Leinata didn’t understand why, but her years of combat instinct made her dive down along with Nuo Ai’er.

“BANG—!!”

Gunfire tore through the night sky. The bullet grazed the tops of their heads, hitting the tree trunk behind them and sending wood chips flying.

“Tch, a Hunter.” Leinata clicked her tongue.

“Just as I thought…”

Nuo Ai’er stared fixedly at a bush to the right front. She remembered clearly—that was the Hunter’s hiding spot.

“Big sister Leinata! She’s in the bush to the right! Attack there now!”

Leinata reacted instantly. She picked up a sharp rock from the ground and hurled it with all her might in the direction Nuo Ai’er indicated.

“Ah!”

A sharp cry of pain came from the bush. Then, a tall figure stumbled out clumsily.

It was the long black-haired Hunter sister.

She was clutching her forehead, bleeding profusely, and glaring at them with venom in her eyes.

“Dammit… How did she know?”

The Hunter gritted her teeth.

She had planned to ambush Leinata, but instead got discovered.

She turned her gaze to Nuo Ai’er, rolled her eyes, and immediately dropped the venomous expression.

“Little girl, don’t be fooled by her. She’s a werewolf! She’ll eat you! Come over here to big sister, and I’ll take you home…”

Granted, the Hunter was really good at controlling her expressions.

In the previous life, Nuo Ai’er might have been fooled by this disguise.

But… I refuse (｀Δ´)

After the previous loops of being tricked by her, imprisoned by her, and having her eyes drained by her (

Now, Nuo Ai’er just felt sick.

“Shut up, you freak.”

Nuo Ai’er hid behind Leinata and made a face. “I’m not buying your lies! Big sister Leinata is the good one!”

Leinata was stunned, looking at Nuo Ai’er.

“You…”

“Don’t worry, big sister Leinata. I trust you.” Nuo Ai’er smiled.

The system sound rang out again.

[Leinata Affection +10]

[Current Affection: 20 (Trust)]

“…Thanks.”

Hearing Nuo Ai’er’s firm defense, Leinata still showed no expression, but a warm current surged in her heart.

She stood in front of Nuo Ai’er, the knife in her hand glinting coldly.

“Hah… Fine, fine. Then I’ll just kill you all!”

Seeing her attempt to turn the girl fail, the Hunter sister completely dropped her disguise and pulled the trigger wildly.

“BANG! BANG! BANG!”

The gunfire erupted in the darkness.

Leinata moved with extreme agility, like a gray lightning bolt darting through the trees, dodging the bullets.

The Hunter versus the Big Bad Wolf—now playing out in this dramatic fashion.

But the enemy had a firearm, which put Leinata at a slight disadvantage.

“Arwooo!”

A pained howl rang out. Little Gray, who was shielding his master, had been hit in the hind leg, blood pouring.

“Little Gray! Ah—” Nuo Ai’er tried to run to Little Gray, but her leg was also grazed by a stray bullet, bleeding profusely.

“!”

Seeing the loli and the wolf behind her both injured, the fury in Leinata’s heart exploded.

“I’ll kill you!”

She stopped dodging and charged forward like a raging wolf, running straight into the hail of bullets.

“BANG!”

A bullet grazed Leinata’s arm, leaving a bloody trail, but it didn’t slow her down at all.

In the blink of an eye, she was upon the Hunter.

“Urgh!”

The Hunter sister didn’t have time to reload before Leinata kicked the rifle out of her hands.

Then, the cold blade cut through the air.

A flash of cold light.

Leinata slashed the Hunter’s throat. Blood sprayed.

The Hunter clutched her neck and collapsed in disbelief, the light in her eyes fading.

The fight was over.

Leinata panted heavily, blood still flowing from her arm wound, but she ignored herself and ran back to pick up the injured Little Gray.

“It’s okay, it’s okay…”

She soothed the wolf, then looked at the equally shaken Nuo Ai’er.

She took the initiative to hold Nuo Ai’er’s hand.

“We can’t stay here. The smell of blood will attract more beasts. Follow me.”

…

…

Five minutes later.

Inside a hidden cave deep in the forest.

The campfire was warm and bright.

Nuo Ai’er, Leinata, and Little Gray were all injured.

Little Gray’s hind leg was hit by a bullet. Leinata’s arm was grazed and still seeping blood. Nuo Ai’er’s calf was also grazed by a stray bullet, burning and bleeding heavily.

Nuo Ai’er opened her wicker basket.

Inside, besides the remaining half sandwich, there was only one bottle of [Basic Healing Potion] .

It was one of Little Red Riding Hood’s starting items, set to be usable only once…

Now, who should she give this one lifesaving medicine to?

She looked at Little Gray, then at Leinata clutching her arm, and then at her own bleeding calf.

Just then, three options appeared in Nuo Ai’er’s mind:

[A. Give the healing potion to the wolf.]

[B. Use the healing potion on yourself.]

[C. Give the healing potion to Leinata.]