Standing at the door to Wende's room, Stelle hesitated as she saw the warm light spilling from within. Should she really go to Wende for this? It was something she could handle on her own... If she went to him, wouldn't she seem like a child who runs to her parents for every little thing?
But... if she were to face Kafka directly, truth be told, she wasn't entirely sure of herself. Kafka gave her a feeling of closeness, and it didn't seem like she would ever harm her...
"No, no, no!"
Stelle shook her head. What was wrong with her? How was she falling into Kafka's gentle trap again?
"Or maybe... I should just ask for Wende's opinion? Yeah, just ask."
After giving herself a small pep talk, Stelle nodded and pushed open Wende's door.
"Wende, I have something I want to..."
Seeing the situation inside the room, Stelle froze on the spot.
"Stelle?"
Wende, who was sandwiched in the middle, was startled by Stelle's sudden intrusion, but his surprise quickly morphed into an unimaginable will to survive.
"Quick! Stelle! Save me!"
Trapped in deep water and scorching fire, little Wende immediately cried out to the lifeline that had just appeared before him.
"...You guys, what is this... You..."
Stelle stared at Wende, who was caught in a pincer formation. Her brain short-circuited, and she stood rooted to the spot.
"Oh my isn't it Benefactor Stelle? What are you doing just standing there? Come, sit down and have some tea"
Tingyun, who reacted in an instant, decisively placed little Wende into Jingliu's arms. She then casually walked over to the tea table, her large, fluffy white tail still puffed up like an exploding flower, looking utterly adorable.
"Oh? Your little one has come looking for you."
Jingliu's lips curled into a playful smile as she looked at the stunned Stelle. She gently placed Wende on the bed, then quietly slipped behind Stelle.
Thump!
Thud...
Stelle collapsed to the floor.
"What are you..."
Little Wende's jaw dropped. What the hell are you doing?!!!
"Oh? I'm doing this for the sake of your reputation. It wouldn't do to leave any... unpleasant impressions in your little one's mind, now would it?"
Looking at Jingliu's black-bellied expression, Wende couldn't help but swallow nervously.
This woman... so she knew she was ruining his reputation!
"Oh my, my, why is Benefactor Stelle sleeping on the floor? It's so cold down there..."
Tingyun, who was in on the whole thing, wore a fox-like smile as she effortlessly lifted Stelle's body and placed her on the sofa in the room.
Wende stared at Tingyun with a complicated expression. So both of them were this black-bellied? Miss Tingyun! Where did your cute, sunny, and lively personality go?! Have you been possessed again? Phantylia! Was it you?! Give me back my adorable Miss Tingyun!!!
"Since Benefactor is unharmed now, this little lady will take her leave."
Tingyun blinked her eyes, which had turned golden due to the Yang energy, and playfully turned to leave Wende's bedroom.
"..."
Little Wende remained silent.
"Good luck."
Jingliu casually ruffled Wende's hair and walked out with a light chuckle.
"Sigh..."
Within Wende's bedroom, only his lonely sigh echoed.
Things... have certainly taken a strange turn...
With dead fish eyes, Wende looked listlessly at the "sleeping" Stelle. My child... you can't win against those two. You'll have to wait for Dad to recover to get your revenge! As for now... we must endure!
He took out a lightning needle and jabbed it into the acupuncture point on Stelle's philtrum.
Zzzzzzt...
"Ngh..."
Accompanied by the crackle of the lightning needle, Stelle rubbed her head and slowly came to. What had happened? Wasn't she about to ask Wende for his advice on Kafka? Why had she fallen asleep?
However, all these questions were instantly thrown to the back of her mind the moment she saw the deep worry in little Wende's eyes...
"Wait? Why are you making that face?"
Thump!
"Huh? Wait! This isn't right!"
Wende, who had been tackled to the ground by Stelle's sudden pounce, looked up at her in terror. This wasn't how he imagined it! Wasn't she supposed to rescue him from his sea of suffering?! Wasn't this just escaping the tiger's den only to enter the wolf's mouth?!
Zzzzzzt!
"Ah~"
---o---
"Is this where she told you to meet?"
Staring at the empty space ahead, Wende asked the wooden-faced Stelle behind him.
"This should be the place, right?"
Stelle's voice was flat, as if devoid of all emotion.
"Sigh..."
Seeing Stelle in this state, Wende felt a pang of pity. Say what you will, this silly kid at least had merit in trying to protect him. He'd let it go this time...
He withdrew the lightning needles from her back. Watching the light gradually return to Stelle's golden eyes, Wende sighed again.
This child... her lightning resistance is getting stronger and stronger. It seems I'll have to think of another method in the future.
"Since she isn't here, I'll be leaving first. You should look for her and have a talk."
Wende decided not to wade into these muddy waters. The time, the place, and the people were all against him. Plus, with the lack of any increase in player Emotion Value lately, he decided it was best to lay low and not participate in the plot for a while.
"Mm, I'll walk you back."
"No need. Go find her. Perhaps... she's waiting for you, too."
Giving Stelle a gentle smile, Wende turned and left. Under the night sky, the glow of the streetlamps cast a halo around his small frame, making his figure seem incredibly thin... and lonely.
"Wende..."
Stelle watched Wende's retreating back, a sudden sense of loss washing over her. But in the back of her mind, a voice whispered that if she didn't go see Kafka, she might come to regret it...
After all, in this world, only Kafka knew her true origins... but Wende...
Stelle was caught in a dilemma.
Beep beep beep...
Wende
"Go find her without hesitation. Don't leave yourself with any regrets."
Looking at the message from Wende on her phone, Stelle's eyes became resolute. This time, she would face Kafka alone. She would face her true self!
---o---
"Eh? He left!"
"Hehe, that was expected. A bit of a shame, though..."
Gazing at the approaching Stelle, Kafka's smile was radiant.