Chapter 20: Returning Home, Resting, and Growing Closer

Yelena’s party returned to Antal City, deciding to submit proof of their subjugation mission completion later.

After returning to the Sword Saint’s estate, Yvette immediately went to handle her daily affairs and instructed the butler to move forward with the renovation plans for Yelena’s bedroom.

Anna didn’t stay idle either.

After only a short rest, she headed out to purchase supplies.

As soon as Yelena got back, she decided to take a proper bath first, washing all the dirt from her body and hair.

Since Anna wasn’t around to keep an eye on her, she finally relaxed.

She slowly removed each piece of clothing one by one.

Following Anna’s earlier instructions, she gradually stood up and gently pinched the waistband of her thick black pantyhose with both hands.

She carefully rolled them down little by little.

The smooth black fabric slid from the tops of her thighs to her calves.

Finally, to avoid snagging them, she cautiously slipped them off over her toes.

She had begun developing an odd attachment to stockings.

Perhaps it was the curiosity and slight fetishistic tendencies left over from her former male mindset.

They were strangely captivating.

They deserved to be cherished.

Yelena carefully folded her thick black pantyhose and placed them separately into a laundry basket.

“Not that I was doing it on purpose!”

The lunchbox, however, wasn’t nearly as fortunate.

She stepped on the heels of her boots, slipped them off, and casually kicked them toward the bathroom entrance.

Then she brought over the basket containing her clean clothes and set it outside the dressing room.

She balled up the rest of her clothes and tossed them into the laundry basket.

‘Whatever. Anna won’t mind!’

Wrapped in a bath towel, the little fox girl skipped happily into her private Japanese-style hot spring.

The artificial spring had been created entirely through magic.

Unknown herbs and flower petals floated across the gently flowing water.

The rocks surrounding the bath were engraved with magical formations that infused the spring with healing magic.

After thoroughly washing herself, Yelena slowly lowered herself into the water until only her head remained above the surface.

This was exactly what true relaxation felt like.

She, Yelena Moontail, had spent several days fighting through the Snowrun Forest.

Didn’t she deserve to enjoy herself for once?

A floating tray rested before her.

A bottle of sake.

A small cup beside it was already full.

“Mm… Ha!!”

She boldly picked up the cup and drained it in one gulp.

As her arm swung upward, the ample curves floating above the water gently bobbed with the motion.

Drink.

Then soak.

…

As she relaxed, inspiration suddenly struck.

She called out to the system.

“System?”

[Host, I am here.]

“My Cursed Sorcerer class… what are the description and unlock conditions for Skill Three?”

[Host, your Cursed Sorcerer class is a hidden reward obtained after reaching MAX Affection with Yvette. Do not attempt to challenge the rules.]

“Just give me a tiny hint. What’s the harm?”

[No comment. Please discover it yourself.]

“…”

‘This damn system keeps a tighter lid on secrets than anyone.’

She wanted to complain.

But she didn’t dare offend the system.

So it really was a hidden reward.

She had finally obtained such an incredible ability.

She definitely couldn’t lose it by recklessly testing the system’s limits.

Getting her account banned after coming this far would be beyond embarrassing.

“Thank you, System.”

[You’re welcome.]

After politely thanking the system, Yelena figured she had nothing better to do.

She might as well test out her new skill.

“Phantom Eyes… I need a poor victim for a little experiment.”

She looked up at the open sky above the bath.

Her gaze soon settled on a sparrow resting atop one of the rocks.

She narrowed her fox eyes and grinned mischievously.

“You’ll do just fine, little guy~”

Yelena gathered the mana within her body and fixed her pomegranate-red eyes on the unsuspecting sparrow.

The instant their eyes met, her crimson fox eyes transformed into heart-shaped pupils.

A tiny heart, visible only to her, instantly shot toward the sparrow perched among the rocks.

The sparrow was charmed.

It immediately flew onto Yelena’s shoulder and affectionately rubbed its face against her cheek again and again.

‘Whoa… It’s an instant-cast charm attack.’

‘Maybe those stories about fox spirits charming people in the blink of an eye weren’t completely made up after all…’

“All right, testing’s over.”

“I’ll give you your freedom back, little guy~”

After joking to herself, Yelena stopped channeling mana and severed the magical connection between herself and the sparrow.

The little bird quickly regained its senses.

Tilting its head, it looked at Yelena in confusion.

Then it flapped its wings and swiftly flew away.

It seemed Phantom Eyes was extraordinarily effective against weaker creatures.

As for its effectiveness against other races…

Or even demons…

That would have to wait until future battles.

“I’ve got to keep training hard!”

“And I can’t neglect my cooking either!”

The little fox girl clenched both fists in front of her chest before lightly patting her cheeks to encourage herself.

She would keep working hard.

She would find her own way to become stronger.

She would change how others saw her.

She would become an indispensable member of this new party.

…

Once Yelena felt she’d soaked long enough, she stood up, wrapped herself in a towel, tied another around her hair, and stepped out of the spring.

“Huh… Yvette’s actually behaving herself today.”

“She didn’t come sneaking over to peep…”

Yelena cautiously looked around.

Sure enough, there wasn’t a trace of that woman.

‘Confirmed.’

‘Clear!’

Barefoot, droplets of water trailing behind her, she padded across the stone floor before stepping onto the rug outside the dressing room.

But the moment she slid open the dressing room door, she found a familiar figure dressed in red sitting beside the vanity.

A faint smile rested on her lips.

“What were you washing?”

“You’ve been in there for two hours, taking forever.”

“Wah!”

“You scared me again!”

“What do you want this time?”

“Nothing.”

“I just wanted to brush your hair.”

“Huh…”

“That’s really all?”

“You aren’t plotting something again… are you?”

“I bullied you enough last night.”

“I don’t have the nerve to do anything today.”

“Hmph.”

“Good.”

Yvette picked up a towel and carefully dried Yelena’s hair, making sure to wipe every last droplet from the ends.

She intended to put everything Anna had taught her into practice.

Today, she wanted to personally care for the woman before her.

As the mistress of the Sword Saint’s estate, she wasn’t serving anyone else.

Only the person reflected in the mirror.

She deliberately controlled her strength.

Although she’d failed twice before and had even accidentally ripped out a large handful of Anna’s hair…

She believed she could take proper care of her little fox girl now.

After patiently finishing, Yelena’s hair and fluffy tail were both beautifully groomed.

Standing behind her, Yvette gazed softly at their reflection in the mirror.

Her sword-calloused yet elegant hand rested gently upon Yelena’s shoulder.

Her other hand naturally covered the smaller, delicate hand resting before the mirror.

The instant their skin touched, a faint blush spread across both of their cheeks.