-11- Will you hate me?

Inside the room, Linwin put on a slightly dirty apron and headed towards the cooking area to prepare a simple dinner for everyone.

Seeing Linwin heading to the kitchen, Ekko had no intention of leaving. He stood behind Powder, feeling his mouth starting to water.

"Why haven't you left yet, you little rascal?" Linwin noticed Ekko's behavior and saw him holding Powder's hand. Seeing this, Linwin furrowed his brows.

This kid.

Linwin knew that Ekko had been fond of Powder since he was little, and it wasn't just admiration—it was more of a romantic liking.

"You claim to be a tough Zaunite, but you can't even walk away at the sight of dinner?" Linwin teased Ekko.

Seeing Linwin smile, Ekko immediately felt less nervous.

They couldn't really play with Linwin, including Vi. Even though Linwin wasn't much older than them, in fact, Linwin was only two years older than Vi, spending time with him, including Vi, made them all feel uneasy.

Ekko also thought Linwin was even more nagging than Benzo, always keeping an eye on them.

Dinner was very simple—some dark brown bread rolls and a piece of dried meat for each person. Despite the simplicity, it made the youngsters quite content.

Because even in Vander's place, Vi and Powder rarely got to eat meat. In Zaun, a nicely baked oatmeal bread was expensive, not to mention fresh meat.

Did Bogtoad count as meat?

With that taste and its anesthetic toxicity, ha... definitely not.

"Mylo, Claggor, stay out of trouble on your way to Benzo's place tonight."

After sending Ekko, Mylo and Claggor away, Linwin turned around. Vi was washing dishes, a small basin filled with water and a wet cloth, but she was going to use this bit of water to wash several dishes. Powder, on the other hand, was sitting on the sofa cuddling her rabbit doll, lost in thought.

Linwin noticed that something was off with Powder.

He had noticed it during dinner.

She didn't seem as lively as before. After all, when Linwin used to give her dried meat, she would cheer and leap around. But this time, when Linwin brought out the meat, Powder just took it silently and held it like a little rabbit, nibbling on it.

This was not right.

Powder was not a quiet girl.

Although she didn't act as wild and tomboyish as Vi, she had been with Vi on the streets of Zaun since she was young. 

 Gentle? 

That word truly didn't fit the children of Zaun.

Linwin walked behind Powder, bent down, and gently placed his arm on her head.

"What's wrong? Your eyebrows are all furrowed," he asked.

"First of all, let me clarify, Vi and I weren't arguing. I was educating her because she's immature," Linwin said.

"Sure, sure, you're always right. My bad," Vi complained while washing the dishes.

"Linwin..."

Powder gripped her rabbit plushie tightly, pressing its arm into a small hollow.

"If I make a mistake, will you hate me?" she asked, her voice trembling.

Linwin ruffled Powder's hair. 

Clean water in Zaun was precious, so maintaining a bubbly hairstyle like this was not as easy to take care of like Vi's hair. Powder's hair was slightly dirty, but Linwin reached out and gently ruffled it. Unlike when he spoke to Vi, Linwin's tone was very gentle when talking to Powder.

"No, but depending on the severity of your mistake, I'll have to discipline you," he answered.

Powder looked up, and Linwin withdrew his hand. She looked at him, biting her lower lip. "Will you hit me, like how you hit Vi?"

"He won't hit you. He'll just lift you up, tell you bedtime stories, and take you to buy delicious food the next day!" 

Vi's hand shot up, making a gesture of being speechless. Then she lowered her voice and said, "Damn you, Linwin, even though I'm also your little sister..."

How good was Linwin's hearing?

Of course, he heard Vi's voice clearly.

In the original universe, the brutal enforcer of Piltover would say something like this... 

Ha, Linwin wasn't surprised at all.

Because Vi was truly a kind and adorable girl.

She easily placed trust in someone, but at the same time, she could easily get angry at them.

A straightforward and carefree young girl—that was Vi.

And she was the first champion card Linwin ever collected.

"I'll save the disciplining for when you grow a bit older."

"Ah..."

Hearing Vi's words, Powder was initially smiling, her little face showing happiness. But when she heard Linwin's addition, she immediately wore a worried expression.

"I think I know why the explosion happened."

"?!"

Vi rushed out, holding a wet cloth, but when she saw the water stains on the cloth flying onto Linwin's face, and Linwin looking at her silently, she quickly ran back into the kitchen.

But her hand holding the dish didn't move, and her head was turned in this direction.

"Linwin, Mylo was right. The explosion happened because of me."

"But I didn't lie to you. I only discovered it just now. I really didn't lie to you."

Remembering her conversation with Linwin earlier in the morning, Powder felt nervous. She was afraid Linwin would think she was lying, but she really wasn't!

Powder squeezed the arm of her rabbit plushie tightly and whispered, "I really didn't mean to. Someone was banging on the door, and I got scared. I really didn't mean to."

"Why did the explosion happen?"

Powder felt her pocket and pulled out a few small balls from her pants. They were small stones emitting a blue glow, appearing beautiful like precious gemstones.

This indeed seemed like something girls would like.

However, it was clearly not in Vi's preference range.

Powder held the stones carefully and said, "It seems to be because of this thing. It fell on the ground, then hit the wall, and then... the explosion happened."

Linwin took one of the balls and tried to examine it using the system. Suddenly, he froze. Then, he grabbed all the balls and hugged Powder tightly, giving her a kiss on her little face.

"Huh?" Startled, Powder touched the spot where Linwin kissed her.

I... I didn't get scolded and got a kiss?

Is Linwin going crazy?

"This is a very dangerous thing. Stealing is wrong, but this time... you brought back something really good for me."

Vi, who had come over at some point, leaned closer, looking at the small balls. 

"Isn't this just a rock?"

"Smack!"

"Why do you keep hitting me!"

Vi, holding her head, squatted down and looked at Linwin, gritting her teeth.

"That's why I told you to read more books. Can a rock that explodes still be called a rock? Powder, we can't be like Vi, a dumb one who only knows how to use fists."

"Oh... okay!"

"Powder, I'm your big sister!" Seeing Powder agreeing with Linwin, Vi fumed.

"Anyway... let me research this. If I can crack this thing, we'll have some leverage," Linwin said, squinting at the blue stones in his hands.

He didn't notice little Powder rubbing her face. 

Only Vi would kiss her on the forehead and cheeks.

In truth, always being Vi's shadow, Powder sometimes felt sad. 

Due to her young age, she would often become the burden of the group of four, her real playmate being only little Ekko. 

However, she didn't want to leave Vi, so... even though she often heard Mylo's complaints, Powder still chose to follow them.

But over time, Powder also began to feel inferior.

She was just an eleven-year-old little girl.

But... Linwin always spoiled her.

So, she liked Linwin, though a bit less than Vi, but at a level equal to Vander.

His fondness made Powder feel acknowledged and needed—a sense of happiness.

Powder lowered her head.

Why did Linwin like her so much? He always spoiled her, never scolding her even when she did something wrong, unlike Vi, who always get scolded for her mistakes.

She just can't stop thinking about it.

"But!"

Linwin kept the gemstones and suddenly looked at Powder seriously. "Stealing is a bad behavior."

"I won't allow you to go up to the..."

"Forget it, I've lost count of how many times I've said that. Anyway, you never listen."

Linwin said helplessly, mostly complaining about himself.

Yeah, always warning, warning, warning, and they kept breaking the rules. What's the use of my warnings?

Vi... she's just disobedient!

Upon hearing Linwin's words, Vi burst into laughter.

Powder also raised her head and looked at Linwin, who had a helpless expression. She joined Vi in laughing.

Ding: Affection level from The Demolition Diva increased, gaining experience...

Ding: Congratulations, player. The Champion—[The Demolition Diva]—has an affection level with you exceeding 90%. Player gains a reward: 1 lottery chance.

Ding: Congratulations, player. You've obtained a ★★★ Champion Card (The Demolition Diva). Please check your inventory for details.

Linwin: ...

This little Powder... Your card can be obtained with just a kiss on the cheek?