The night passed without incident.
Time came to the next day.
Early in the morning, young birds cried among the village woods, their voices clear and sharp.
"Mm…"
A strand of warm sunlight fell across Seele's small face.
She frowned unconsciously and slowly woke.
After opening her eyes, the first thing she noticed was the extra blanket on her body.
Then a small, knowing smile crossed her face.
People in the countryside generally rose early and slept early.
The conditions here were much simpler than in a bustling city, so there was almost no entertainment at night. That was one reason.
And this was no exception, even here in Europe.
So when Seele walked out of the room, she already saw the kind elderly couple working beside their barn.
This was their daily life.
Perhaps it was a little tiring.
But it was simple, ordinary, and…
It held a plain kind of happiness.
"Morning, child."
"Good morning."
After Seele walked over, she and the old woman greeted each other warmly.
As for the old woman's husband, he was an old man of few words.
But he was only quiet, not unfriendly.
After Seele wished him good morning as well, he smiled and nodded to her.
At this moment, seeing the two of them busy with work while she stood alone at the side, Seele felt somewhat uncomfortable.
"Is there anything I can help with?"
She asked.
"No need, child."
The old woman smiled. "You're still injured. You need to rest properly… Hm?"
Her words suddenly paused.
Then she set aside her work for the moment and pointed toward Seele's right forearm.
"Child, on your hand…"
"Hm?"
Seele followed the direction of the old woman's finger and lowered her head in confusion.
The next moment…
"!"
Her eyes widened.
On the wound that had already been cleaned and covered with ointment, strange and obvious purple markings had appeared at some point.
"This is…"
The signs of Honkai sickness.
Seele's breath caught.
She remembered that the big robot had mentioned it before.
Honkai sickness was transmitted through energy radiation. As long as one stayed too close to a source of infection, meaning a place where the concentration of Honkai energy was too high, there was a risk of being infected.
She had not expected…
"I didn't expect that even I could be infected."
Even though she was supposedly the "Sixth Herrscher vessel"… wait.
Seele looked at the old woman standing not far from her, then at the quiet old man who, though not talkative, had a very good nature.
This kindhearted old couple…
"I can't drag them into this."
That thought flashed through Seele's mind.
So, right then…
"I'm truly sorry."
Seele gave the two of them a deep bow.
"I suddenly remembered that there is something very urgent I need to do. I won't trouble you any longer, Grandpa, Grandma."
"Thank you very much for helping us… If I have the chance in the future, I will come back and repay your kindness."
She promised sincerely.
After saying that, she did not even wait for the elderly couple to respond. She hurried back into the farmhouse beside the barn.
She rushed straight into the room where Bronya was.
At this moment, Bronya still had not woken up.
But…
"I'm sorry."
Seele came to the side of the bed, pulled back the blanket, and lifted Bronya into her arms.
"Mm…"
Because the movement was too rough, Seele pulled at her own wound and felt a sharp pain. Bronya was clearly uncomfortable too.
But in Seele's eyes, the current situation left her no room to be delicate.
Fortunately, Bronya's body was very light.
"Big robot, we have to leave as soon as possible."
Seele knew Project Bunny was nearby.
After carrying Bronya out of the room, she no longer cared whether this would draw attention. She shouted directly at the empty patch of ground.
[Roger!]
Quantum flow gathered. Blue light flashed.
Project Bunny appeared directly in motorcycle form, then stopped in front of Seele.
Seele hurriedly moved Bronya onto the seat, then climbed up as well.
Bronya was still unconscious, so Seele could only hold her protectively in her arms.
Bronya's head leaned back against Seele's left shoulder.
Looking at the side of the face of the person in her arms…
"…"
Seele was somewhat speechless.
Now she really did not know who owed whom anymore.
And just then…
"What's wrong, child?"
The old woman, her eyes full of surprise, and the kind, quiet old man both walked over.
Naturally, they had never seen anything as flashy as Project Bunny.
But because their experience was limited, they did not think in any overly absurd direction.
They simply assumed it was some high-tech thing from the city.
Seeing Seele in such a hurry to leave…
"I…"
Seele was anxious.
She had only learned about Honkai sickness yesterday. She had no idea that this illness did not actually spread quickly.
But there was one thing she had not gotten wrong.
The longer she stayed beside this kind elderly couple, the more likely they were to end up in danger.
So…
"We're sick. We can't drag you into this."
Seele could only say that.
Hearing this…
"…"
The old woman and the elderly man both instinctively took a step back.
Seele's expression dimmed.
She knew that after she had said it so plainly, this reaction from the two of them was only human nature.
Although, even knowing that, she still felt a little hurt…
"Wait a moment, child."
When she noticed the look on Seele's face, the old woman suddenly said this.
Then she entered the house as quickly as she could.
From inside came a burst of clattering and rummaging.
The elderly man standing not far away had a somewhat strange look on his face.
As if he were silently saying: After all these years, the old woman still had that fierce streak in her bones.
Before long…
"Take this with you."
The old woman brought out a bundle.
"Child, after you came here last night, you barely ate anything. There is some food in here."
"The burns on you two haven't healed either. This little girl's condition is even worse."
She pointed at Bronya.
"Take some medicine too."
As she spoke, she had already placed a saddlebag on the rear seat of Project Bunny.
The old woman was kind, but not blindly so.
At this moment, she had already covered her face with a cloth scarf.
With her knowledge, this was the most direct disease-prevention method she could think of.
Only then did she come closer to Seele and Bronya.
As for the fact that she had already spent a long time face to face with Seele yesterday…
Being the plain, decent person she was, she did not mention it.
Seeing all this…
"This…"
Seele opened her mouth.
But in the end, she did not refuse.
She and Bronya really did need these things.
"Thank you."
She could only thank her again.
"Thank you for everything you've done for us."
Then…
"But we really can't stay any longer. I'm sorry."
The corners of her eyes grew a little wet. Pressing her lips together, she quickly twisted Project Bunny's throttle.
The motorcycle darted forward.
Behind her, the elderly couple watched Seele's departing back.
"Such a good child, really…"
The old woman murmured to herself, her eyes full of heartache and pity.
The elderly man walked to her side and patted his wife's shoulder.
In truth…
Decades ago, if their own child had not met with an accident, if that child had not died from that "strange illness"…
"Ah!"
The old woman suddenly clapped her hands.
"I forgot to prepare clothes for them to change into."
"And water!"
The elderly man smiled.
Quiet as he usually was, he comforted her.
"Don't worry. That child is strong."
"They will be all right."