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"Tsubame-senpai, keep going."
Amamiya Natsuki took the lead and walked forward.
"Mhm."
Tsubame-senpai let out a soft breath, pulled her scarf up to cover her mouth and nose, then crossed her arms and walked forward.
"I'll lead the way."
Little Red Riding Hood quickly tightened her clothes, and with her short legs, she led the way.
It was evening.
The weather grew colder.
Although they wore two layers of clothing, they weren't true cold-weather gear, and their warmth retention was limited, still making them shiver with cold.
The three of them trudged forward against the wind and snow, but after walking not too far, Little Red Riding Hood couldn't go on. Her steps were unsteady, she swayed from side to side, and her speed became slower and slower. Her petite body seemed as if it would collapse in the wind and snow at any moment.
"Natsuki?"
Koyasu Tsubame pursed her pink lips and looked over with concern.
"Stop for a moment," Amamiya Natsuki called out to Little Red Riding Hood. "Are you unable to walk anymore?"
The little girl quickly turned her head to look, her small body trembling in the wind and snow. In just a moment, her lips were already a bit purple. She said pitifully, weakly, and helplessly:
"Please, please don't leave me alone!"
"I'm not planning to leave you alone for now," Amamiya Natsuki tightened his clothes. "You stood in the snow for so long just now without anything happening, so why are you freezing so badly all of a sudden?"
"I, I don't know either."
Little Red Riding Hood hugged her arms, and her teeth chattered slightly as she spoke.
"It should be related to that mushroom," Tsubame-senpai guessed from the side. "A mushroom growing from the top of one's head might have unknown special effects."
"Possible."
Amamiya Natsuki nodded.
The only difference between this Little Red Riding Hood and the one from before was the mushroom on her head, which had been cut off like deer antler velvet. Her current weakened state was clearly related to the removal of the mushroom.
"How far is it to your grandma's house?"
Amamiya Natsuki asked.
"We still have to cross that mountain," the little girl stood on her tiptoes and pointed forward. "Grandma's house is under three large oak trees. You'll see it after you walk past."
Amamiya Natsuki grumbled:
"Is your grandma's house also surrounded by a walnut tree fence?"
Little Red Riding Hood looked up, her small face filled with shock: "How did sir hero know?"
"Because that's what it says in the fairy tale book!"
Koyasu Tsubame complained in her heart, surprised that the dungeon had so many similarities to the real-world fairy tale.
"Natsuki-kun, how about giving Little Red Riding Hood another piece of clothing?"
Tsubame-senpai coughed twice and suggested, "Her clothes are too thin. If this continues, she probably won't be able to walk much further."
Amamiya Natsuki shook his head:
"All our clothes are on us. We don't have any spare clothes left."
"Eh?"
Koyasu Tsubame was stunned by the words, then quickly bit her lower lip and looked down at the trembling little girl. After two seconds of hesitation, she quickly made up her mind.
Even though the other party was just a character in a dungeon, she really couldn't bring herself to just let someone die.
The reason humans are human is that morality and emotion are among the standards.
She just wondered if Natsuki-kun would consider her choice foolish.
Koyasu Tsubame took a deep breath, her gaze firm, and said:
"I'll take off a piece of clothing for her... Natsuki-kun, you go make another snow-walking tool."
"No need for such trouble," Amamiya Natsuki waved his hand, then reached out and directly picked up the little girl into his arms. "For an little girl like this, who weighs less than a hundred pounds, I can carry her with one hand."
"Ah..."
Little Red Riding Hood gasped in fright, nervously hugging Amamiya Natsuki's neck.
"Sir hero, put me down quickly," the little girl's voice was nervous. "You'll get your clothes dirty."
"If they get dirty, just wash them clean."
"But, but..."
"And if you don't believe me, do you want me to hang you up?"
"S-sorry!"
"…"
Watching Amamiya Natsuki easily scare the little girl, Koyasu Tsubame's lips moved slightly, and her tone was a little worried as she whispered:
"Walking in the snow is very difficult. Will Natsuki-kun's stamina be able to hold up?"
Don't underestimate someone who's lying flat! Being stepped on by girls every day, the passive effect of enduring humiliation and bearing heavy burdens is triggered, and I'm getting stronger every day!
"Tsubame-senpai actually doubts me," Amamiya Natsuki's expression became serious. He extended his right hand and said, "Come here."
"…Do what?"
"To prove my stamina to Tsubame-senpai."
"I don't want you to carry me," Koyasu Tsubame retorted with a huff. "Since you say you can, then you can. It's getting dark, so let's hurry up and go?"
Amamiya Natsuki's tone was disappointed: "Tsubame-senpai really doesn't need free transportation?"
"One hundred percent not needed," Koyasu Tsubame crossed her arms over her chest. "I can walk by myself."
"That's good," Amamiya Natsuki's expression changed, returning to his usual calm. "Good thing you refused. I was just worrying about what to do if I couldn't carry you with one hand. Tsubame-senpai, after all, weighs over a hundred pounds."
"I don't weigh over a hundred pounds," Koyasu Tsubame said subconsciously. "I'm clearly only forty-nine kilograms."
Impossible.
Absolutely impossible.
Amamiya Natsuki's gaze shifted downwards, falling on the curve of Tsubame-senpai's chest. Even though she was wearing two layers of clothing, that prominent curve could not be concealed.
With so much fat, her weight should definitely be over a hundred pounds.
Tsubame-senpai's cheeks puffed out slightly: "Don't look at me!"
"…"
The two talked as they walked forward.
After Amamiya Natsuki held Little Red Riding Hood in his arms, without the burden, his and Koyasu Tsubame's movement speed greatly increased.
After a long trek, they finally saw a wooden house not far away.
"Sir hero, we've arrived at Grandma's house!" Little Red Riding Hood's eyes lit up, and she pointed and said happily, "It's right under those three oak trees."
Amamiya Natsuki nodded:
"I see it."
Under the trees was a small wooden house, standing alone in the wind and snow, looking quite desolate.
So, you, an old lady, living alone in the forest, with inconvenient transportation and zero public infrastructure, are simply asking for trouble, aren't you?
"Natsuki-kun, do you want me to carry her instead?"
Koyasu Tsubame looked over.
This Tsubame-senpai was still worried about Amamiya Natsuki's stamina and had asked many times along the way.
Amamiya Natsuki didn't refuse this time and handed Little Red Riding Hood to Tsubame-senpai, taking a short rest to recover his stamina.
They didn't know what the situation was like inside the wooden house, so it was natural to be prepared and face the challenge in the best possible state.
"Let's keep going."
Amamiya Natsuki rested briefly, then stepped forward towards the wooden house.
Tsubame-senpai followed behind, holding Little Red Riding Hood. At first, it was fine, but after a few steps, she quickly felt the little girl in her arms become heavy, and walking became quite difficult.
(My arms are so tired.)
(Natsuki-kun actually carried Little Red Riding Hood so far without his expression changing at all. His stamina is indeed impressive... Maybe he really can carry me with one hand?)
Amidst her random thoughts, the three of them had already arrived outside the small wooden house.
Amamiya Natsuki observed the surroundings calmly, then looked at Tsubame-senpai.
Koyasu Tsubame understood and put down the Little Red Riding Hood in her arms.
"Grandma, open the door! Open the door quickly!"
The little girl took small, quick steps, eagerly running to the door and happily knocking.
"Not only a guide, but also a door-knocker," Amamiya Natsuki murmured, "No wonder she's the 'big clever' in the fairy tale."
Tsubame-senpai looked over and whispered:
"She's still just a child. It's normal for her not to understand right from wrong."
"She just wanted to turn us into puppets," Amamiya Natsuki said. "Luckily it was me. If it were someone else, she would have already made them call her daddy."
"…"
As they spoke, a dull rubbing sound was heard, and the door slowly opened a crack.
Amamiya Natsuki stopped talking and raised an eyebrow, looking over.
The door only opened halfway before stopping. The light inside the house was dim, and they could only see a wrinkled face behind the door, a hunched body, and a pointed hat on her head. It was unclear if she had grown a mushroom.
"Grandma, I've come to see you, and that's Brave person and his companion..."
Little Red Riding Hood chattered, explaining the situation.
Grandma still stood silently behind the door, not coming out. After listening to Little Red Riding Hood, she slowly nodded and said in a hoarse voice:
"Please come in, both guests."
Looking at the dark house, Tsubame-senpai suddenly felt a little nervous. She grabbed Amamiya Natsuki's hand, leaned in, and whispered cautiously:
"The light is so dim, I can't see clearly. Could it be the Wolf Grandma?"
"Being cautious is a good thing," Amamiya Natsuki whispered. "However, theoretically speaking, no wolf in the world can completely swallow a human."
Koyasu Tsubame said:
"This is a fairy tale world."
"Even fairy tale worlds need basic common sense," Amamiya Natsuki said. "Look at Little Red Riding Hood, she almost died just now."
"That's true..."
Tsubame-senpai tightened her grip on Amamiya Natsuki's hand, took a deep breath, and cautiously stepped into the small house.
After entering, they found a small oil lamp lit on a table in the corner. The flame was dim and small, as if a single breath could extinguish it.
The entire room was narrow and dark. Although there was a fireplace, nothing was burning in it, and the air was cold.
Amamiya Natsuki calmly observed the environment, then looked at Little Red Riding Hood's grandma.
This grandma looked quite old, her body shriveled and thin, her face full of wrinkles, and she wore a black dress, which made her look eerily sinister.
"Hello, thank you for saving Little Red Riding Hood," Grandma said as she walked over, trembling, holding a basket. "There's a little food left at home. If you don't mind, please take it and eat."
Amamiya Natsuki looked down and saw that the basket contained dried fruits like pine nuts, not random things.
"Hoo…"
Tsubame-senpai quietly let out a sigh of relief. She had been super worried that Grandma would serve up a pile of indescribable, bloody food.
"Brave person, and Senpai, please eat."
Little Red Riding Hood happily handed over the food.
Koyasu Tsubame's lips twitched slightly. She reached out and took a pine nut, politely saying,
"Thank you."
The elementary schooler was flattered and quickly shook her head, "Later, I'll still need to ask Brave person to help Grandma remove the mushroom."
Amamiya Natsuki said,
"Where is your Grandma?"
Little Red Riding Hood replied, "Grandma went to make food."
"It's so dark, can your Grandma see?"
"Oh, right." The elementary schooler blinked, suddenly enlightened, "I'll go find Grandma."
At the same time.
Koyasu Tsubame had originally intended to put down the pine nut in her hand. In a dangerous scenario, she naturally wouldn't eat unfamiliar food. But for some reason, as time passed, Koyasu Tsubame suddenly felt the pine nut in front of her was full of temptation.
(So hungry, my stomach is so hungry… After walking for so long, my stomach is already empty…)
(But unfamiliar food cannot be eaten.)
(But I'm so hungry. If I only eat one pine nut, it definitely won't be a problem.)
Tsubame-senpai dazedly picked up the pine nut, preparing to put it into her mouth.
At the critical moment.
A hand reached out and snatched the pine nut from the Senpai's lips.
"A-Wahhh—"
Seeing her food taken, Tsubame-senpai immediately got angry and opened her mouth to bite, Just right biting Amamiya Natsuki's finger.
"Senpai, wake up." Amamiya Natsuki said in a deep voice, "Don't forget where this is."
Without the pine nut, Koyasu Tsubame quickly sobered up. She quickly spat out Amamiya Natsuki's finger, her pretty face flushed as she wiped her lips, "I'm so hungry. I don't know what happened just now, I really wanted to eat that pine nut…"
As Tsubame-senpai spoke, her gaze fell on Amamiya Natsuki, and a struggling and conflicted expression appeared on her face, "Natsuki-kun, let me have a bite?"
Amamiya Natsuki said, "Where does Senpai want to eat?"
"Anywhere is fine!"
Tsubame-senpai blurted out.
"Anything is fine, you're really not picky."
In this short amount of time, Amamiya Natsuki himself also felt an inexplicable hunger attack, and the urge to eat rapidly increased.
Undoubtedly, this state was very wrong.
"Natsuki-kun…"
Tsubame-senpai couldn't help but stand up, propping her hands on the table, leaning close to Amamiya Natsuki, a super conflicted and struggling expression on her face, breathing rapidly:
"Natsuki-kun, let me have a bite?"
"Senpai, steady yourself first." Amamiya Natsuki reached out and pressed Tsubame-senpai's shoulder, "Otherwise, you'll definitely regret it later."
"I won't regret it."
The Senpai's breathing became more rapid, her exhaled breath warm and sweet, and the conflict in her eyes grew stronger.
"Tsk~"
Amamiya Natsuki was also inexplicably affected, but fortunately, his willpower resistance was higher, and he could still endure.
"You won't say that later."
Amamiya Natsuki didn't delay, quickly stood up, and walked backward.
Through the hallway, behind it was the small kitchen.
The light grew dimmer. Amamiya Natsuki could vaguely see Grandma hiding in front of the stove, her head lowered, holding something in her hands, eating with relish, non-stop. It even sounded like there was a crunch.
Amamiya Natsuki silently walked over and looked at the old lady squatting by the stove. He vaguely saw a strip-shaped object in Grandma's hand and suddenly remembered a certain dark and distorted Little Red Riding Hood fairy tale that ruined childhoods.
Speaking of which, in some unknown year in the fairy tale world, Little Red Riding Hood carried a basket and happily went to deliver things to her Grandma.
She met the Big Bad Wolf on the way, but she didn't pay it any mind.
After arriving at Grandma's house, it was already very late, and Little Red Riding Hood stayed to sleep together.
In the darkness, Little Red Riding Hood suddenly heard rustling eating sounds, as if someone was secretly eating something.
"Grandma, Grandma, what are you eating?"
"Eating delicious candy."
In the darkness, the Wolf Grandma handed over a "candy."
Little Red Riding Hood hid the candy under her pillow. When she woke up the next morning, she discovered it was a bloody finger…
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