Chapter 850 - 412: Grasping the Future
"Here, put it on. It’s a sample design from the forge on the ship, adult size, to cover you up; stop running around the ship like a savage."
The white-haired girl tossed the dress onto Meluna, covering her face and body, as if she was no longer afraid of her.
Meluna held the dress in her hands: "Not a savage, just fulfilling his desire."
"His desire isn’t for you to run around like this, is it?"
Meluna studied Meimei’s face: "You’ve stopped resisting him. Well, after all, you are me."
"I think you misunderstand me... sigh."
Meimei was speechless at her other self, shaped by different pasts.
"Do you know how terrifying it is to disappear for many days and suddenly appear like this? Pay attention to the impact."
"Looks like you’ve been completely tamed."
Meimei felt angry: "What taming?"
"You’re considering those fox spirits."
Meimei took a deep breath, staring at the expressionless Big Meimei: "I’m curious, how do you even understand words like ’fox spirit’ and ’straying cat,’ where did you learn them?"
"I lived under a bridge for a while, catching fish and practicing swordsmanship. The household nearby often quarreled; the mistress shouted those words loudly every day. Hearing them frequently, I roughly got the meaning."
"Uh, okay."
Thinking about being taken in by Grandpa Otto and never having life difficulties before the world started to collapse, even living luxuriously in the Holy City, Meimei decided to skip this topic.
"I mean to help you, you don’t want to leave Li Ang, and I don’t understand what you’re trying to do here, but if you want to stay by his side, you must learn to get along well with them."
After Meimei spoke, Meluna was unsurprisingly indifferent as she expected.
"Looks like you fit in well, just an armor set can win you over."
Meluna looked at Meimei, who had not returned for rest, still wearing the Water Fairy Armor, carrying scorched battle scars from the lava environment.
The white-haired girl chuckled lightly: "Who was ecstatic over just a headband?"
Rip——
The fabric in Meluna’s hand tore open as she unconsciously exerted force.
Done, she evidently cared a lot.
Realizing she still feared confronting her, Meimei quickly said: "You listen to him, why would you lack a set of equipment?"
"I’ve always been listening."
"The nature is completely different, you know? This is the point I want to make. You only listen when he says things that align with your desires, but you’ve never responded to his true thoughts, you haven’t realized this?" Meimei frowned.
Meluna remained silent, Meimei continued: "Why did he make something for me but not for you, have you thought about it?"
The Female Sword Saint’s eyes were filled with cold light like a sharp blade, sweeping over Meimei’s body, causing her exposed skin to shiver with tiny bumps.
"Take it off."
"What? Are you going to snatch it? Even if you take it, it won’t fit."
"Take it off."
The white-haired girl stood with hands on her hips: "That’s absolutely impossible, and don’t even think about using force, listen up—"
Meimei rarely showed determination, surprising Meluna, who paused momentarily and listened to her continue.
"Whether it’s equipment or he starting to care for you again, it’s all one thing. You only have very few opportunities for it all to be as you wish; I hope you remain clear-headed."
Meimei’s tone grew heavier, and Meluna temporarily abandoned the idea of using violence.
Meimei placed her palm on the armor plate at her chest: "This light armor looks very good, but I’ve actually worn even better-looking ones. I guess, before you came here, with your power, you could have taken... pieces that combine appearance and strength, right?"
"Equipment should prioritize fitting and power," Meluna said.
"Then why do you look at my armor like a hungry wolf?"
The girl sighed: "I think we were born the same, our circumstances... although differing, have similarities. After all, we are the same person, so I can understand you, and you can understand me; that’s why I say this.
"We are both orphans, without a normal childhood, without parental care, unlike ordinary girls living comfortably, and clothing and dressing are similar.
"Even if we’ve grown up to be able to kill Excellence Realm Demons with one strike, and the rewards from that can buy countless beautiful clothes, our mindset has changed, and no amount will allow us to live that kind of extravagant ordinary life.
"We are Swordsmen, Sky Knights, so-called ’Saviors’; the most suitable dress for us is this kind of armor.
"Those scattered equipment pieces with extremely strong power, and this one set, are like wearing branded items picked up by chance versus wearing uniquely yours affordable pretty clothes. This is something I think you can understand.
"Without spending time to prepare a set of equipment from various origins, pondering combinations, more time is spent on self-improvement and inner reflection, which is stable and comfortable."
Meimei’s eyebrows relaxed, her delicate cheeks showing a smile, tugging at the shining skirt armor’s edge: "When I got this armor, I truly understood why those troubled girls would like him.
"They are somewhat like us, in times of confusion, suddenly someone isn’t coveting their power and appearance, but validating them, showing them the way forward. What they receive is not payment for certain things, but a skipping of troublesome processes to obtain the deserved reward through that leader’s extraordinary skills.
"This affirms them and appreciates them, which is something I once wanted to pursue but couldn’t achieve.