"..."
The sudden eye contact made the two children's minds go blank for a moment, leaving them a bit confused.
During this pause, the fire and shouting not far away quickly drew closer.
"They are coming... Run!"
Hearing the voice behind her, the girl quickly came to her senses. After shouting hoarsely at Griseo, she bypassed her and continued to run forward.
"...Don't be afraid."
Turning her head to look at the girl running away in panic, Griseo tilted her head.
However, the soft words from a strange little girl did not stop the fleeing girl.
"Uncle Tyrant... Please, sorry for the bother, but be gentle this time." Retracting her gaze from the little girl's back, Griseo gently raised her head and spoke softly to the Tyrant.
After saying that, she jumped out of the Tyrant's arms and landed in the fluffy snow.
"..."
The Tyrant looked at his little princess with some helplessness, but nodded gently and approached the fire not far away.
Seeing the Tyrant take action, Griseo turned her attention back and walked towards the fleeing girl. She had something to ask her.
If Griseo was not wrong, the child should have escaped from the mine.
She was concerned about the specific situation of the mine and wanted to ask the person she encountered.
Of course, as a reward for exchanging information, Griseo would offer the girl protection, a super safe protection.
"Don't be so scared... Uncle Tyrant has gone to deal with the bad guys." After catching up with the fleeing girl, Griseo stopped a short distance away and calmly stated the facts in her lovely voice.
"..."
Hearing this, the girl slowly stopped after confirming that she did not hear any more noise in the distance, but she still turned to look at Griseo with eyes full of vigilance.
"Hmm...?"
Griseo tilted her head slightly at the girl's alertness and then looked at her with puzzled purple eyes.
"Who... who are you, and why are you helping me?"
Looking at the cute blue-haired little girl in front of her, the girl trembled slightly before asking in a hoarse voice.
The girl no longer trusted others... In her eyes, this little girl, who had suddenly appeared in cool clothes and was previously unseen, must have a reason for helping her.
However, she didn't think she had anything worth scheming for now, so she asked directly with doubt.
"My name is Griseo... because I want to?"
Griseo answered the girl's question with a hint of uncertainty in her tone. Then, after noticing the girl's shivering, she slowly approached her.
"!"
"... Don't come closer!"
Noticing Griseo approaching, the girl was clearly startled and shouted with a resisting expression.
"...!?"
However, the girl's resistance was futile, and she was met with a soft and warm embrace.
"Um, cold... Mr. Wolf, thank you for your help."
After hugging the girl gently, Griseo sighed expressionlessly, then softly called her Mr. Wolf.
As usual, the handsome golden-red giant wolf appeared silently after being summoned, this time holding a set of heavy clothes in his mouth.
"..."
Noticing the sudden appearance of something beside her, the thin and petite girl in Griseo's arms shook subconsciously.
Before she could react, a warm shawl was placed on her by Mr. Wolf...
"You are wearing too little. These are my clothes for you... I will bandage your wounds later."
As she said this, Griseo released the girl, took the other clothes from Mr. Wolf, and handed them over.
"..."
Feeling the warmth left on her body and looking at the beautiful clothes handed to her, the girl was a little confused...
From the moment she was hugged by Griseo, her mind had been in a state of shock, and she had remained confused.
"...?"
Seeing the girl not moving, Griseo tilted her head again, her big violet eyes full of doubt. She didn't understand why the person in front of her wasn't moving.
"...Thank you."
After being stared at by the little girl again, the girl gritted her teeth and took the clothes handed to her.
Seeing the girl take the clothes, Griseo's big eyes lit up with a touch of happiness.
Then, together with Mr. Wolf, she turned around to give the girl space to change clothes.
"..."
Watching the big and small figures turn around in unison, the girl felt complicated holding the clothes... After taking a deep look at the two in front of her, she began to change clothes.
...
Because they were only chasing a runaway child laborer, there were not many pursuers this time, just two.
After being warned by Griseo, the Tyrant did not use exaggerated means but simply beheaded the enemies in the simplest and roughest way, silencing them forever.
After dealing with the enemies, the Tyrant did not stop but returned directly to his little princess, guarding her silently.
On the other side...
"Something seems to have happened over there; I saw a fire..."
"I saw it too, but it disappeared quickly. What happened?"
Noticing the disturbance, the two snow monsters, who were not far from Griseo, lowered their voices to communicate.
"Let's not worry about what happened. Time is almost up. We will meet up with my elder sister later."
"Yeah, let's be more alert next time. The firelight means it is very likely an enemy."
"Yes."
...
"Elder sister?"
Lois and the others looked at Yelena, who had fallen silent after listening to their narration.
"It's okay. You two can just follow me back to meet up. Time is almost up." Hearing someone call her name, Yelena looked up, then shook her head and said softly.
"It's normal to fail the mission. Don't take it to heart."
"Yes, elder sister!"
"Got it."