“Let me think about it.”
After calming down and settling the turmoil in her heart, Nuo Ai’er now had the same expressionless face as Leinata.
Return to the original world…
When Nuo Ai’er first arrived in the Inner World, that was the ultimate goal she thought about day and night, and would risk everything to achieve.
Starting from the thunder opening strings, to being doxed in real life and then kidnapped, forcibly turned into a loli, thrown into strange and dangerous dungeons, Nuo Ai’er’s motivation every day was to save enough points and go home.
Everything was for going home.
But now…
That ultimate goal was placed before her completely intact, with no cost at all.
At this moment, Nuo Ai’er hesitated.
Not just a little hesitation, but she couldn’t answer for a long time.
More precisely…
Her mind was a complete mess, oh hohoho.
Anyway, after thinking for more than ten seconds, the white-haired loli…
“Ah…”
Nuo Ai’er sighed softly, lifted her red eyes, and looked at Weiran across from her.
“I… I still won’t go back for now.”
That was Nuo Ai’er’s answer after thinking.
“What?”
Weiran’s brows paused slightly, her purple eyes showing surprise.
She leaned forward a little, looking at the unusual little girl, her tone full of obvious curiosity and confusion.
“Not going back? Nuo Ai’er, do you think Big Sister is playing with you? I really can send you back, so answer me properly.”
Weiran was genuinely surprised.
She knew too well Nuo Ai’er’s initial state.
When she was first kidnapped, the little girl was scared and crying, constantly saying she wanted to go home, not wanting to be a stupid loli.
Of course, seeing her like that, Weiran easily broke composure~
This kind of kid who likes to start threads deserved a harsh punishment.
“I know, so I’m serious.” Nuo Ai’er answered earnestly.
Weiran held her forehead, a bit unable to keep up with Nuo Ai’er’s train of thought.
Clearly, Nuo Ai’er’s deepest obsession was going home.
That’s why she endured the pressure to obediently grind dungeons and save points. But now that the opportunity was in front of her, she directly refused?
Weiran couldn’t help but ask with doubt:
“What’s your reason for giving up?”
“Hmph.”
Facing Weiran’s question, Nuo Ai’er lightly lifted her chin.
She wasn’t particularly close to Weiran anyway. After all, the reason she ended up in this mess, forced to become a loli, and dragged into the witch conflict, all originated from the person in front of her.
Even if her action of starting threads and spreading rumors was morally corrupt, it didn’t warrant throwing her into such a life-threatening quagmire.
Nuo Ai’er wouldn’t forget that, hmmph.
“Don’t misunderstand.”
Nuo Ai’er’s tone carried a clear hint of petulance and grudging pride.
“Of course I want to go back. I dream of it. Who would want to suffer in this disgusting Inner World every day, being targeted and hunted all the time? But Nuo Ai’er changed the topic. I absolutely cannot leave like this right now.”
Weiran raised an eyebrow. “Oh?”
Nuo Ai’er clenched her small pink fist, her eyes serious and determined. “Because I’m going to settle the score with that bastard Ka Fei!”
Weiran: “Settle the score?”
Nuo Ai’er: “That’s right. The person who targeted me from beginning to end was her, wasn’t it?”
“My first dungeon was secretly increased in difficulty by her, deliberately trying to kill me in the beginner stage. And that Camilla… the assassin who chased me.”
Weiran: “What about that assassin?”
In Nuo Ai’er’s memory, during one death loop where she was chased by Camilla, Camilla said her employer was someone targeting Weiran’s new recruit.
In other words, it was Ka Fei who hired her.
But that information was obtained through death; in this game cycle, Camilla didn’t reveal it.
Nuo Ai’er: “Uh, anyway, I noticed some clues!”
“That Camilla is most likely secretly hired by Ka Fei, specifically to hunt me down.”
The more Nuo Ai’er spoke, the angrier she got, her little face puffed up with defiance.
“Anyway, all the hardships I’ve been through are because of her. She’s tried to kill me again and again. If I went home now, wouldn’t all my suffering be in vain?”
“…I get it.” Weiran said.
“In short, until that bastard Ka Fei pays the price, I’m absolutely not going back.”
“I’ll reluctantly continue playing this stupid game.”
That was Nuo Ai’er’s reason.
Looking at the little loli with a vengeful face and fully ignited fighting spirit…
Though she looked so soft and cute that one punch would make her cry for a long time, there was a tenacious unwillingness to lose in her eyes.
Weiran couldn’t help but smile slightly. “I didn’t expect our little Nuo Ai’er to hold such a grudge.”
“Of course.” Nuo Ai’er pouted.
But only Nuo Ai’er herself knew in her heart.
Getting revenge on Ka Fei was only part of the reason.
She had other, more important reasons hidden inside.
Because she couldn’t and didn’t want to abandon Leinata, and of course Hui Mei.
Both of them were special existences who broke out from dungeon NPCs to become Players.
And it was Nuo Ai’er who saved them, brought them out.
They had no one to rely on. All their obsessions and spiritual support were tied to Nuo Ai’er.
Nuo Ai’er knew very well in her heart.
If she really just left without a word, returned to Earth, and completely disappeared from the Inner World…
No one knew what stupid things those two deeply obsessed, stubborn, and love-starved girls might do…
Nuo Ai’er was still self-aware.
She knew she was a scumbag… no, a scumbag loli.
But she wasn’t a bad loli. (for real)
She had her own bottom line. She could slack off and be a stupid loli, but she absolutely could not be irresponsible.
She was the one who pulled them out of the darkness, she gave them new life and hope, so she couldn’t just leave without warning, pat her butt and go.
“Alright, I understand.”
Weiran could probably guess that the little girl’s thoughts weren’t simple, but she didn’t call her out.
She simply glanced at the dream’s edge, which was flickering and beginning to fade, and gently reminded:
“It looks like the dream link time is almost up.”
Weiran downed the tea on the table in one gulp, and then the teacup began to disappear.
“I still have a bunch of loose ends to deal with at the Council, so I can’t go back for now. Let’s stop here for now, Nuo Ai’er.”
“Huh? It’s over already?”
The dream was about to dissipate, and Nuo Ai’er would return to real sleep.
But…
‘Isn’t there something I forgot…’
Besides talking about the green witch Ka Fei with Weiran, Nuo Ai’er also had one thing in her next plan that she needed to get Weiran’s approval.
‘…Oh right’
Emilia’s earlier suggestion!
“Wait!”
Nuo Ai’er suddenly spoke, quickly stopping Weiran who was about to end the conversation.
Weiran looked up. “Hm? What’s wrong?”
Nuo Ai’er: “One last question: Can I join another Player’s Guild?”
Weiran: “…Huh?”