Chapter 423: Underground Meeting

When I felt a hand touch my shoulder, I let out a manly battle cry, and immediately a purification so powerful that it manifested as a great, pure white light spread out into the surrounding area.

“…h-honey?”

When the light faded, I realized it was Astrid. She was standing there, looking at me in bewilderment while rubbing her eyes.

The intense purification didn’t affect her at all, but the light blinded her a little; it really scared me there, but when I think about it, the only ones who could get that close without me noticing would be the girls in my harem, with whom I’m completely at ease.

Sometimes I don’t know if it’s a good thing or not, since I do it unconsciously, but more important than that was—

“Astrid, my dear Astrid, finally!.”

After all, it had been a while since I could get close to her, so without hesitation I threw myself at her; I needed to replenish my Astrinium, and we kissed for a while.

..

“…Ah! I missed you too, honey… but what was that just now? What was that? Did I scare you?”

When we pulled apart, Astrid grilled me; it seems she won’t let that little moment of weakness slide.

“Ahem! N-no, of course not—it was just a very manly cry of joy at finally finding you.”

“Honey, you don’t have to pretend. You were obviously scared. Besides, how could you let out a manly cry when you’re in your original form?”

“Well, yeah, I was scared. I really can’t handle gloomy places like this.”

“Really?..”

“Ugh, I know. I just tried to assess myself objectively, and it didn’t work. I think gloomy alleys and big breasts are my weaknesses.”

“Honey, those are silly weaknesses. Anyway, come with me; the place is a little hard to find, which is why I came to pick you up.”

“Yeah, I think I got lost. Astrid, you can’t draw maps; it actually took me a while to figure out it was a map and not a new type of Rune.”

“I’m going to leave you here if you keep bothering me.”

’Yeah, I better shut up.’

Since I’m with someone now, the place doesn’t seem so gloomy; in fact, maybe it’ll become our happy place.

She said she finally found an opening tonight in her busy schedule, but meeting up wasn’t as easy as it used to be. She no longer had a private office and was sharing a room with some other instructors.

So there was no choice but to find another place, which wasn’t easy—especially since it couldn’t be a crowded spot—but with Lily’s help, she found a place. It’s good to have the right connections.

But there’s something I don’t understand.

“Astrid, why did you ask me to come here in my original form?”

This wasn’t in the note; rather, just as I was heading to my room to get ready and come here, I ran into her—or rather, she was looking for me—and she, who can also communicate telepathically, sent me a brief message telling me to come here in my original form.

If it weren’t for that, it definitely would have been a man’s scream.

“Hmm, well, some last-minute things came up.”

Her answer was too vague and tinged with nervousness, which strikes me as a bit suspicious, but ignoring my suspicious look, she continued to lead the way.

We both passed through some alleys and narrow paths and finally arrived at a place where there was a somewhat abandoned house.

“Hey, Astrid, don’t ignore me. Why are you so nervous? Did something happen?”

“Well, it’s a bit long to explain, and it’s better to talk about it with everyone present.”

“With Lily?”

“Well… it’s better if you just see it for yourself.”

“…?”

I didn’t understand what she meant, but she went inside the house, which, although it looked neglected on the outside, was curiously in very good condition on the inside.

I realized it was because it had recently been maintained.

Astrid continued on and went up the stairs; for some reason, I felt that the higher we went, the more agitated and nervous she seemed to get.

I know her, and I sensed she was up to something.

“Ahem! Honey, tonight is going to be a bit of a special night, where a lot of things could happen, but I know you’ll live up to my expectations.”

She stood in front of a bedroom door and turned to me, saying that in a slightly demanding tone, and more questions popped into my head.

’Seriously, what the hell is she going to do?… Huh?!’

At that moment, she fidgeted again and opened the door, revealing what was inside.

“Mnghmhgh! Mmngh!”

“Astrid.”

“Huh? What?”

“I didn’t think you were capable of something like this.”

Inside the room was a bound Cordelia, struggling erratically to free herself from her restraints.

Astrid had even said before that she would never follow Lily’s example of giving me Eira tied up, and here is a tied-up Cordelia.

Now I understand her attitude; it really seems that spending so much time with Lily ended up influencing her.

“Wait!, honey, I didn’t do this—Lily What did you do? Why did you tie Lia up like that?” (Astrid)

“Astrid, it’s not right to blame others.”

Astrid, seeing the hint of disappointment in my eyes, tried to defend herself by blaming Lily, who was innocently sitting on the bed—which disappointed me even more.

“Honey, don’t look at me like that. I definitely didn’t do it. Lily, tell me why you tied up my daughter; I’ll get angry if you don’t give me an explanation. And you gagged her.” (Astrid)

“Big sister, there’s a reason.” (Leyla)

“Speak up and clear up this misunderstanding. Honey!, I really didn’t do it.” (Astrid)

“Yes, it was me. This happened when I wanted to talk to her and get to know her, since I’d missed the chance before, but suddenly, without any warning, she tried to jump out the window and run away.” (Leyla)

“Huh? Why would she run away? Did you grope her or something?” (Astrid)

“Well, yeah, but she didn’t complain—she just gave me a cold stare while I was doing it… Ah! Now that I think about it, I think it happened when I said Sweetheart was coming.” (Leyla)

“Ah! Did you tell her that… well, specifically that Phina was coming?” (Astrid)

“Well, yeah. I know they haven’t told her yet. That’s why we came, right?” (Leyla)

“Haah~, I get it now. It’s my fault. I didn’t tell Lia that she was coming, so she wouldn’t get nervous. I should’ve told you not to mention her.” (Astrid)

“Oh! Wait… did I ruin the surprise?” (Leyla)

“Hey, I think I get it a little, but could you explain it to me?”

Well, I think I’ve figured out what’s going on and why she asked me to come in my original form, but I wonder why the change of plans.

Like she said, this seemed like a last-minute thing, not what she originally planned.

“Okay, honey, what happened is that—” (Astrid)

“Wait, big sis, before that, sweetheart, can you cast a strong purification spell? I think I saw a ghost or something like that earlier.” (Leyla)

Click.

~gyaaaa

“What the hell? Did anyone else hear that wailing scream?”

It really was a haunted house. I cast a purification spell as soon as I heard what she said, and sure enough, a pitiful wail came from downstairs.

“I knew I hadn’t seen things. Well, now you can explain, big sis. By the way, can I go ahead and strip her?” (Leyla)

“No!, I’ll speak first. For now, just untie her—she won’t run away… Okay, it’s a bit of a long story, but the point of this is for you and Lia to move on to the next level.” (Astrid)

“I get it—that’s why you tied her up for me!”

“I didn’t do it!… U-um, honey, don’t embarrass me in front of her.” (Astrid)

I looked at Cordelia, and she didn’t seem to take what Astrid just said to heart, but since she stayed quiet just as Astrid said, I’m really curious about what she’s thinking right now.

“Ah! Astrid, now that I think about it, you’ve been calling me ’honey.’ Is that okay?”

“huaah~, yes, after all, the time has come to tell the truth. I know you’ve been holding back from telling her because of me.” (Astrid)

“Nope, not really. Like I told you that day, I was going to drag you into this with me. It’s just that the opportunity hasn’t come up. I never once hesitated to tell her about us.”

“Honey! That’s so mean.” (Astrid)

“I have a complaint too, sweetheart. A little while ago, because of you, I got myself into big trouble. Elena ratted me out, and my sweet little girls looked at me with disappointment. I demand proper compensation.” (Leyla)

“At least you didn’t get hit or anything.”

“That would’ve been better. I took psychological blows.” (Leyla)

“But Eira always looks at you like that.”

“Ugh… but Selene doesn’t. When she does it, I really feel like I did something wrong.” (Leyla)

“I get it—you really feel like the worst trash when Selene looks at you like that. Luckily, it’s not something she does often.”

“That’s why I need compensation—something to help me get rid of this injustice and frustration I’m feeling, since I was the only one caught in the middle. I already brought the rope, the candles, the whip, the outfits, and the knife.” (Leyla)

“Huh? What’s the knife for?”

“To peel the apples. And by the way, they’re green apples.” (Leyla)

“Oh!, you’re really going to get sadistic… well, I can handle that and more.”

“Ahem! You two, don’t change the subject. We’re talking about Lia.” (Astrid)

“Oh, right. So, did you bring her here so I could tell her everything?”

“Yes. Originally, I only called you to… well, ahemQ… catch up, but she came to me with a somewhat delicate matter; apparently, she made Alice angry.” (Astrid)

“What? Alice?”

That’s weird. The last time I saw them together, Alice was chatting happily with her, while Cordelia, well, as usual, was giving short answers…

“Yes, Alice. I was confused too, since it’s hard to imagine, but I think she did, and it all stems from the fact that she doesn’t know all the circumstances.” (Astrid)

“I see, but why are we talking as if the person in question isn’t here? Cordelia, did you really make Alice angry?”

She’s sitting there on the edge of the bed, showing no reaction, as if what we’re talking about has nothing to do with her.

So I asked her directly to confirm; I mean, it’s better to talk to the source.

“…Yes.” (Cordelia)

“How on earth? Can you explain it?”

“…No.” (Cordelia)

“…”

Yeah, but there are times when it’s better not to talk to the source. I don’t know what I was really expecting.

“Ahem!. Honey, Lia’s a little nervous and doesn’t quite understand what happened yet, and she doesn’t know how to put it into words, so I’ll do it… You know, even if she gets… well, stiff, she can still hear you, right?”

“Huh? Really?”

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