Chapter 127: The Last Ice Cream Debt

“Tina Instructor, you’re so tiny—won’t people mistake you for a kid on the battlefield?”

“Shut up! I’m trying to grow taller—I’m working really hard!”

“Then you need to eat more. No picky eating.”

“We’re on the border of a human city—almost deserted. Will Bloodkin really attack here?”

“This is the edge of humanity’s territory. We have to hold it. Don’t worry—I’ll protect you all. You’re all my best students.”

“Eh? Instructor Tina doesn’t have family?”

“Mhm. Not long ago, my only older sister died in battle against the Joker Legion.
But it’s fine. I’ll carry on her will and avenge her.”

“I’m sorry for bringing up something sad… You can lean on my shoulder if you want…”

“Then I’m not giving it back.”

“Su Mu Zhe, what’s your favorite food?”

“Huh? I don’t know. I’m not picky—I eat anything. No real favorites.
Speaking of which, it’s so hot… ice cream, I guess.”

“Ice cream~”

“You’re so naughty! Running off again—can’t even find you.
Next time I’m tying your hand to mine with rope and knotting it forever so you can’t escape.”

“Then we’d never be apart!”

“Exactly. What’s wrong? You wouldn’t dare sneak off right under my nose, right?”

“But… what about bathing or going to the bathroom…?”

“The enemy is the Joker Legion—one of the Bloodkin’s top ten legions.
We’re completely outmatched. Instructor, please give the order!”

Joker Legion… Everyone, retreat.
I’ll hold them off for a while.

No way! There are too many—you can’t stop them alone!

It’s better than the whole squad getting wiped out.

Don’t die, Instructor Tina. You absolutely can’t.

Of course I won’t. You still owe me an ice cream.
I’m definitely coming back to collect it.

I’ll buy a whole box. Waiting for you.

No need for that much—I can’t eat that many.

Don’t worry. I’ll protect you.

In a flash, a long-buried memory Su Xiaoxiao never wanted to recall surfaced like a revolving lantern.

It was two years ago.
Back then, Su Xiaoxiao hadn’t even reached C-rank Exterminator yet.

But the scene was vivid, etched deeply into her mind.

When Su Xiaoxiao raised her eyes, tears shimmered in Tina’s.
She gently lowered her face and placed a soft kiss on Su Xiaoxiao’s cheek.

“Tina… wants ice cream…”

When she looked into Tina’s eyes again, the emotion had vanished.
They were empty once more—back to the mechanical void.

“Huh!? Tina just kissed Xiaoxiao! I saw it!”

Evran, who happened to catch the last moment, shouted excitedly.
Su Xiaoxiao whipped around in confusion.

What the—!?

“It’s true! Tina leaned in and secretly kissed her cheek!
I didn’t expect little Tina to be *that* kind of girl!”

Su Xiao Zi clutched her camera, blinking in bewilderment.

Could Tina really do something like that?
Of course not.

Or maybe… she found Xiaoxiao so cute that she acted on instinct?

Damn it! Such a rare, precious moment between two little lolis—and I didn’t capture it! Total loss!

“I want a kiss too! I want a kiss!
Xiaoxiao let Tina sneak one, so I should get one too—!?
Wait, did you make Tina cry?”

Evran’s words suddenly stopped.
She noticed the tears in Tina’s eyes and froze.

Su Xiaoxiao was even more shocked.
In her memory, Tina had never cried.
She never showed joy, anger, sorrow, or happiness—like the mechanical doll she claimed to be.

That was because she was a humanoid weapon.

Tina crying was like Columbus discovering the New World—unbelievable!

“Onii-chan… Onii-chan, did you do something? Did you bully little Tina?”

Su Xiao Zi asked cautiously, but Su Xiaoxiao didn’t answer.
She stared blankly, still lost in the memory.

The original plan had been to let Xiaoxiao and Tina wear maid outfits together as a way to get her used to physical closeness with girls.
Since she was a girl now, she’d inevitably be intimate with close friends.

The old Su Mu Zhe would have kept his distance from any girl who got too close.
That wouldn’t do anymore—it would hurt people’s feelings.

Evran and Xiao Zi were too familiar, so Tina was the perfect “practice partner.”

But she hadn’t expected her brother’s passive ability to be so strong—he still managed to hurt someone.
And made little Tina cry!

Though she grumbled, Su Xiao Zi knew something deeper had happened.
Just look at Xiaoxiao’s dazed expression.

Tina shook her head slightly, as if confused about what just occurred.
She stared blankly at Su Xiaoxiao and the others, wondering why Evran and Su Xiao Zi were staring at her.

The room fell silent for a moment.

Then Su Xiaoxiao forced a bright smile.

“Xiaoxiao… can we leave the red string tied for now?
I want to go to the kitchen with little Tina and get ice cream.”

“Sure~
Does Onii-chan have a special kink for being restrained?”

“No!”

Back in the room, the other two were still arguing.

“Don’t stop me! Big Sis Xiao Zi, I want to kiss Xiaoxiao too!
Tina already did it—how can I not? I’ll lose out!”

“Pfft, lose out on what? No way—you sneaky little cat.
I have to keep you under control.”

“Aaah! Let me go! I’m gonna throw a tantrum!”

“Evran, are you still a child!?”

In the kitchen, Su Xiaoxiao and Tina walked in hand-in-hand, still bound by the red string.
They opened the fridge.
The once-full box of ice cream was already half-empty.

Tina glanced at the remaining stock and reported, almost apologetically,

“All ice creams Tina has eaten, including time and location, have been reported to Big Sis Xiao Zi.
Recently Tina has been eating too quickly, causing economic pressure on Big Sis Xiao Zi.”

“It’s fine. Raising a little Tina is affordable.
Just buy ice cream—it’s the easiest pet to keep.
Consider this your home from now on. And—”

“Hm?”

“I’ll always owe you one ice cream.”

From now on, let’s fight together too.

Tina Instructor.

I can feel it—

You’ve always been right by my side.