[But to be honest, Honkai Beast is actually... not that bad to eat. At least the first bite doesn't have the bloody smell of raw meat, but rather has a soft texture like fish meat, with the skin being a little hard at best.]
[You always feel that there seems to be something wrong with your cognition, but it doesn’t have much impact, because you can really feel that your body is recovering. After getting the “nutrients”, you feel much better.]
[And you won’t feel full after eating a Honkai beast... It seems like you didn’t really “eat” the Honkai beast, but directly absorbed it as energy]
[“Ying——”, seeing that you finally started to “eat”, it chirped cheerfully, seeming very happy]
[It starts to lead you to hunt other Honkai beasts, and will give you most of the remains in the middle of the hunt, while it only eats a small part]
[It seems to really like you. This feeling has no reason and makes you feel inexplicable]
[But now, you have accepted it a little bit]
[At night, it takes you back to the deep sea, and moves forward in the dark relying on its sense of water, and continues to take you to hunt "prey" in the deep sea, and then takes a short rest near dawn, and waits until the sun shines on the sea before swimming back to the surface]
[Only at this time will it appear quiet, as if it has fallen asleep, and you will also begin to rest after observing it for a while]
[To be honest, the pitch-black environment of the deep sea always reminds you of some bad things, but after adapting a few times, you are a little used to it... After all, the deep sea is not like the house at the beginning. The ocean is wide enough that people will not feel imprisoned. The perception of water can also replace vision, and you can even feel the surrounding situation more clearly.]
[Of course, more importantly... there will be no harm here]
[Although the Honkai beasts in the deep sea are much stronger than those in the shallow ocean, their number is very small and it is almost impossible to encounter them. Therefore, it is unexpectedly a safe place to take a short rest.]
[Under its guidance, you gradually became familiar with life in the "ocean", and you could even fall asleep while soaking in the sea water... Of course, you still retained your sense of the water around you to prevent any accidents.]
[For the next few days, it has been taking you "hunting", and your condition has recovered quickly. Although you still cannot build a "river" directly in the air due to the sea water, you can now "hunt" most Honkai beasts by yourself without its help.]
[Out of a desire to give back, you gave it most of the remains of the Honkai beasts you "hunted"... Of course, more importantly, you feel that your current condition has almost recovered, and it's time for you to go back.]
[Let’s go tomorrow and try to get back to land—you thought so while diving into the deep sea in the evening]
[As always, you are searching for rare and powerful "prey" in the dark deep sea. Unfortunately, you didn't find any today. It seems that there will be no midnight snack.]
[But you didn't care too much, after all, there are really few "prey" in the deep sea, so you decided to have a good rest today]
[Perhaps because it is not yet its usual rest time, it happily swims around you. Although it does not actually touch you, it still emits a very happy emotion and keeps chirping.]
[The continuous calls gradually became orderly, sounding like some unique tune that belonged to it... It sounded like it was singing, and it was obviously in a really good mood]
[Of course, this is also a kind of "trap". If a Honkai beast in the deep sea is attracted by its "singing"... then you may have an extra meal.]
[As for whether you can defeat the attacking Honkai beasts... So far, you haven't encountered a Honkai beast that you can't defeat.]
[“Hmm—” It’s almost time for the usual rest, it chirps briskly and shows you its snow-white belly. You understand and control the sea water to touch it slightly, and it also exudes a happy mood.]
[Then, it gradually becomes quiet, as if it has fallen asleep. You wait for a while as usual, and then begin to take a light nap.]
[But tonight...it didn't get a good rest]
[After you fell asleep, it quietly woke up, gently wiggling its tail fin to prevent its movements from waking you up, and trying to control the water flow around it to prevent you from discovering its movements]
[…However, it seemed to have forgotten its huge size. No matter how careful it was, you still caught its movements. After spending some time with it, you have become very familiar with its movements.]
[However, considering its previous kindness, you did not wake up immediately, but just waited quietly, and prepared for some "not so good" endings.]
[It approaches you, cautiously crossing the distance it normally maintains when it is with you]
[Then, he opened his huge mouth, stuck out his tongue, and gently touched you.]
【…? 】
Chapter 42: Xiwang's [Painting]
[I must reiterate that it is a killer whale Honkai beast that is nearly thirty meters long. Its huge size means that no matter what it does, it will be very obvious, so... when its huge tongue "touches" you, you have to wake up.]
[After it found you were awake, it called out twice with apology, exuding a slightly flustered and aggrieved mood.]
[It looks like it's apologizing, and it exudes a very aggrieved emotion. You can't help but be speechless... You thought it was a scheming Honkai beast, and it would stab you in the back after gaining your trust. Now it seems that you thought too much. It still looks silly, and it just wants to "touch you"]
[You can say it has some intelligence and wisdom, but not much]
[You begin to wonder if you see the world too badly and too darkly, and maybe you should be kinder to other things? ]
[But in the end you gave up the idea... You are not Alicia, and you cannot face the world the way she does. Your experience also prevents you from doing so.]
[But for some special existences, you can also make a little effort]
[For example...it now]
[Perhaps because you are about to leave, or perhaps simply because you are influenced by its kindness, you sigh helplessly, step forward a little, and extend your hand]
[Take the initiative and gently touch its snow-white belly, which is exposed to show friendliness and apology]
[It seemed a little surprised, but then it was filled with joy. Its tail fin swayed happily, and then it actively stretched out its head for you to touch, and even deliberately stretched out its tongue for you to touch...]
[You don’t really understand, but it’s always happy, and the joy never stops, so you just let it be.]
[After playing around for a while, you feel that it’s about time, so you return to the shallow ocean.]
[The early morning sun shines on the sea, and the light refracts through the sea surface into the blue water. The figures of countless Honkai beasts can also be seen by the naked eye. Perhaps because you two major threats hid in the deep sea at night, there are a lot of Honkai beasts in the shallow sea... In any case, this morning's "hunting" has begun.]
[After enjoying your "breakfast" as usual, you did not follow it to continue "hunting", but just stayed where you were. When it found that you did not catch up, it returned to your side, swimming slowly around you, making soft chirps and exuding a puzzled mood]
[You told it that you were going to return to land. Although you were not sure if it could understand you, you tried your best to express your meaning to it.]
[It unexpectedly understood, cried out a little sadly, then exuded expectations and blessings, and manipulated the sea water to point you in a direction]
[You build a "river" in the direction it indicates, and it quickly follows behind you, as if it is going to see you off]
[You are somewhat amazed that you are so close to a Honkai Beast, but this strange friendship should end here...right?]
[When you come to a place where you can vaguely see land, when you say goodbye to it again and want to continue moving towards the land, that feeling comes back, the feeling that the sea water is difficult to control, and the feeling that the sea water is dragging itself comes again]
[I don’t know if it’s because you’ve recovered, but you can vaguely sense the “emotions” of reluctance and worry coming from the sea, just like a mother trying to stop her child from going to a dangerous place.]
[As a "mother", the ocean is naturally much more powerful than you, a rebellious "child". At least now you don't have the power to break free from the ocean.]
[No matter how hard you struggle, you are eventually dragged back into the ocean. After you are far away from the land and can no longer see the land, the sea water becomes calm again and flows gently, caressing your body like a mother, as if to comfort you... but you are not happy at all.]
[In order to get back to them, you tried again as if in a rage, but in the end you were still pulled back]
[You start to get anxious and irritated, and try several more times, but the result doesn’t change at all, you are still in the ocean]
[You tried several times, even causing harm to your body at one point, but until the afterglow of dusk fell and the cold moonlight shone, you gave up in exhaustion, lying on the sea, letting the current carry you away]
[There is an inexplicable feeling of despair hanging over my heart]
[But fortunately, all the bad emotions from being trapped in the ocean to now have been alleviated by your previous paranoid and crazy behavior. You quickly adjusted your mentality and recovered, and made plans for the future.]
[You are ready to join the strange "ecology" of the ocean, relying on "hunting" to increase your own strength until... you can escape from the ocean]
[As for whether you will be harmed by Gabriel's genes during this process... you no longer care about it.]
[You will survive, and you will return to them]
[You believe so much]
[Besides... you are not alone here]
[“Hmm——” It cried softly beside you, exuding a worried mood. At the same time, it placed the remains of a huge Honkai beast in its mouth in front of you, and then moved away, gently waving its tail fin, as if to comfort you.]
[It seems to think that just eating can comfort you... From this point of view, it is quite cute]
[You are somewhat helpless, but still accept the "food" it gives you]
[Perhaps, your strange friendship with it can continue for a while...]
----------
rustle--
In the quiet environment, the only sound is the slight sound of the brush touching the canvas.
In this "deepest place" filled with darkness, the young girl sat quietly in the only light, painting quietly.
The nun was doing handicrafts on the side, and from time to time she looked up at the girl who was immersed in painting, smiling quietly and gently.
"........."
However, the nun's expression made the being hiding in the darkness retreat a little, as if it was afraid of her.
However, all this could not disturb the girl who was painting. She seemed to have finished the last stroke of the painting. She slowly put down the brush and palette in her hand, picked up a small box from the side and opened it. Then, with her hands still stained with paint, she picked up the cherry-colored pastries inside and stuffed them into her mouth bit by bit like a small animal.
"Grace, wash your hands before eating..."
A somewhat helpless reminder came from the shadows nearby.
"It's okay, Kosmo... the paint is water, you can eat it."
Grayshure swung her legs in the air and responded softly.
"No, Gray."
Aponia, who was beside Gresh, put down her craftwork, wet her handkerchief and went forward to wipe the paint off Gresh's face. Then she gently wiped her hands, and finally took the snack box, picked up the cherry blossom-colored snack from it, and slowly fed it to Gresh. Gresh ate it bit by bit, looking very well-behaved.
As for Kosmo, he was cleaning up the scattered paint to prevent Grayshu from stepping on it all over the place.
"...Kosmo, I've finished the painting... Can you help me give it to Sister Sakura?"
After finishing her snack, Grayshu looked at Kosmo who had finished cleaning and asked softly.
"……Can."
Kosmo nodded and agreed.
Although he had to stay in the Deepest Place for a long time due to some special reasons, the Fire Moth would still assign him tasks when needed, and he could take this opportunity to bring the painting to Sakura... However, Grayshu's painting had to be handed over to Vilvi first, and then framed in a special frame before it could be taken away, otherwise the spirits of the Fire Moth's top management would be tense again.
Kosmo stepped forward and helped Grayshut take the painting off the easel, then he looked at the painting in his arms.
The first thing that catches the eye is a large area of dark blue dotted with some white and pink, like cherry blossom petals fallen in the sea, and under the sea is an unknown woman with wings on her back, holding treasures in her arms, and wearing a strange mask that looks a bit like a fox, except that the ears on both sides of the mask appear long and thin, and the mask itself is broken in half, revealing the woman's beautiful profile.
The woman closed her eyes peacefully, tears quietly seeping out of her eyes, but there was a smile on the corners of her mouth. She held the broken treasure in her arms, and the wings that should have flapped high in the sky no longer moved, but just let herself fall into the depths of the sea, only a few pink petals fell with her.
"........."
Honestly, Kosmo didn't quite understand it. Clearly Ling's request was to ask Grayshure to draw a portrait of Sakura, but now it seems... Grayshure seemed to have added something else?
Maybe that was Gray's own idea.
Kosmo thought so. After all, he had learned something about it when he was learning harmonica with Eden. In the aspect of "art", whether it is painting or music, the creator will always add something of his own to the work more or less.
And Aponia also said that the paintings that Grayshue drew for others always have some special meanings, perhaps because Grayshue's way of cognition is different from that of ordinary people.
But Kosmo doesn't care about those things too much.
"I'll give it to Sakura the next time we go on a mission."
He just put the painting away and prepared to give it to Weiwei later.
"…Aponia?"
But halfway through, he saw Aponya's eyes linger on the painting in his hand for a long time, as if she cared about it very much.
"...No, it's nothing."
Aponia slowly withdrew her gaze and shook her head gently, indicating that nothing was wrong, which made Kosmo feel strange.
"Grace, be careful not to step on the paint."
Aponia warned gently as she watched Grayshue jump off her chair and run towards the piled-up paintings.
"Okay, Mama Aponya."
Gretsch only responded softly, took out a painting from among the numerous paintings, and put it back on the easel with the help of Kosmo. Then she was picked up by Aponia and put back on the seat.
"........."
After returning to her seat, Grace once again looked at the painting she had painted for Xi Wang.
This is a highly completed painting. A boy lies on the grass under the starry night, sleeping soundly in the cool night breeze. The pale pink petals on the treetops beside him fall quietly, and a few complete flowers luckily fall into his palm. There are some lights on in the town in the distance, making the atmosphere of this painting seem peaceful and tranquil.
But the most eye-catching thing about this painting is the hexagonal star that shines the brightest in the starry night, located in the upper center of the picture. If other stars are just lightly dotted in white or yellow in the night sky, then this star was specially drawn by Grace, and even the brushstrokes were used to draw the brilliance in six directions of the star.
Gretsch has spent a lot of time on this painting and has gone through several adjustments and revisions. Every time when Aponia and Kosmo thought she had finished the painting, Gretsch would gently shake her head, indicating that the painting was not yet finished.
"...Kosmo, isn't Brother Wang back yet?"
Gracie picked up the paintbrush again and looked at the boy beside her and asked softly.
"Grayshudder, Captain Hope... won't be coming back."
Kosmo hesitated for a while, but still told Grayshu the answer again.
This was not the first time that Grayshu had asked this question, and his answer had not changed.
