“Hmm, looking like this… you finally look somewhat like a girl,” Jenny said, covering her mouth with a light laugh as she looked at Reliel, whose expression was somewhat gloomy.
Xiao Yaba had completely shed her previous travel-worn appearance and no longer looked like a mercenary.
Her light golden semi-long hair was neatly arranged, tied back with a black headband. A red ribbon bow adorned the collar of her pure white blouse.
Below, she wore a short black skirt that barely reached her thighs, paired with black stockings…
It had to be said, the maid who picked out Reliel’s clothes had excellent taste.
This youthful little dress, combined with Reliel’s cold, disdainful expression tinged with reluctance… truly made anyone who saw her light up with delight!
The girl simply sat there without speaking, like an untouchable high mountain flower, or a crystal-clear ice crystal in a ten-thousand-year ice cave.
“Where are my original clothes?”
“They’re being washed, of course. Did you think you could go see your adoptive father smelling like sweat?” Jenny shrugged with a smile, darkening Reliel’s expression even further.
“Then…” Reliel rarely spoke again. She stood up and took two steps, then instinctively covered her backside…
Her face was no longer so dark now, as the gloom had been replaced by a blush.
“Can I change this skirt? At least… make it longer.”
Though it was phrased as a question, her tone left no room for argument.
“No, no, no, you don’t understand. This is what a girl your age should wear. What’s the point of always being in armor?”
“But…” Reliel seemed unable to bear it anymore, and her voice even had a grinding edge.
“If you stay the same, always in light armor with a sword at your waist… do you think the Young Lady will still see you as a girl?”
Whoosh! Jenny’s words made Reliel feel like she had grasped something.
Her mind suddenly recalled a certain Miss Goddess who always wore a maid’s long skirt.
She was especially favored by that guy.
Could it be… because that bastard particularly likes skirts?
After thinking for a moment and looking at her current outfit, she finally shook her head fiercely.
“A longer skirt… at the very least… when that guy comes back, I’ll… I’ll…”
Whether it was from embarrassment or speaking too much at once, Xiao Yaba’s face was now several times redder than before.
Hearing these words, Xiao Yaba sighed inwardly.
‘So naive. One little trick and she spilled it out…’
‘Yes, gold shines anywhere. It’s only natural she’s interested in the Young Lady, after all… the Young Lady is so outstanding, so easy to want to get close to…’
As she thought this, Jenny’s eyes overflowed with admiration and longing.
‘Another rival, huh… I want to be by the Young Lady’s side too…’
Recalling what Reliel had said earlier, she thought, ‘No matter what, her goodwill toward me cannot be denied. Compared to me, I’m actually too despicable…’
Smiling helplessly, Jenny looked back at Reliel, whose face was as red as a cherry bomb, ready to explode at any moment.
“Fine, fine, fine. Go get a longer skirt… something knee-length will do.”
“Yes, Lady,” the maid replied and left. Reliel let out a slight sigh of relief.
‘If I had to walk the streets in this skirt… I really don’t know what I’d do…’
Actually, there was something she hadn’t said.
That was what she was wearing underneath… in her eyes, it was a bit… a bit flashy, or rather shameless…
But calling the skirt itself embarrassing enough, how was she supposed to mention this?
(ノへ￣、)
She missed her white cloth chest binding and pure white, uncolored underwear.
Soon, the maid returned with a knee-length skirt similar in style to what Reliel was currently wearing.
After taking the skirt, the girl didn’t change immediately. Instead, she glared with intense hostility at the woman in front of her, who was smirking like a “bad woman” — “Bad Woman Number Two”!
“What’s wrong? We’re both girls… no need to be shy, right?”
Though Jenny said that, Reliel’s icy gaze conveyed only one message:
[Get out!!]
“Oh, come on, what’s the big deal? When you stood up just now, I saw your white stoc—”
Whoosh!! In an instant, a wave of killing intent locked onto Jenny, making her leave the room with the speed of a lightning bolt, more agile than ever before.
“Ahem, I-I need to finish the task Miss assigned me! I’m leaving now! I won’t bother you!”
As Jenny and the maid left, Reliel finally slumped into a chair, drained.
Looking at the long skirt in her hands, she felt that these short ten-plus minutes had been more exhausting than her entire ride back on horseback.
‘Can I even ride a horse in this kind of skirt?’
Thinking this, she subconsciously straddled the chair beneath her, imagining a galloping steed.
But then she felt a slight chill.
Whoosh! She pressed the “unruly” little skirt down again, feeling like crying inside.
‘I’ll just walk, then.’
However, that wish was clearly not to be fulfilled.
When she had changed into the knee-length skirt and stepped outside, she found the same maid waiting with a carriage at the mansion’s entrance.
“Miss Reliel, please get in.”
The young maid was about her age, with two shallow dimples when she smiled.
She looked quite energetic.
Reliel stood still for two seconds.
She had been riding in carriages this whole way, but now… she suddenly felt a bit uncomfortable.
Still, she didn’t keep the maid waiting long.
She just tightened her face and slowly boarded the carriage.
“Phew…” Only after Reliel had boarded did the maid dare to let out a long breath. Her eyes showed visible terror and lingering fear.
‘That Miss Reliel… her expression just now was so scary. I thought I was going to be punished…’
‘She’s so beautiful, but she doesn’t seem to smile much…’
Thinking this, the maid wasted no time and climbed onto the carriage, took the reins, and drove with practiced skill.
Clop, clop, clop…
The horse pulled the slightly ornate carriage slowly along the street. Watching the receding street scenes and the occasional envious or indifferent glances from passersby…
Reliel felt as if she had stepped into another world.
She should have been down there, among the masses struggling to survive.
But now…
Feeling the texture of her clothes, completely different in quality from what she used to wear — soft, smooth, light as clouds…
‘But… I’m a mercenary. Isn’t this kind of dress inappropriate?’
Sighing softly, she thought that if she went to the mercenary company dressed like this, Beina would definitely laugh at her.
With that thought, Reliel propped her chin on her hand, her pale blue eyes gazing absently at the bustling street outside.
The cool autumn wind blew through the window, brushing against her face, making her light golden hair sway gently…
Perhaps she didn’t notice it herself, but to outsiders, the noble aura she unconsciously exuded in this pose seemed as if she was born for it.
Just as the carriage was nearing its destination…
“[I F— love you— muted!] You [Cybertronian—] want to fight? Anytime! I’ll be there! Using this trick on my [longevity—] whole [happy—] family?!”
A familiar voice rang in Reliel’s ears, making her turn toward the source.
It was a familiar figure — a brown-haired single-tailed girl with a sharp tongue.
Though it was a strange thought, seeing her full of energy like that put Reliel somewhat at ease.
“Head over there,” Reliel said, pointing toward the argument.
Though the young maid was a bit hesitant, she didn’t dare disobey. She braced herself and drove the carriage closer to the dispute.
“You… you… damn…”
As they approached, Reliel heard Beina’s opponent — clearly not on the same level. The man, middle-aged, was red-faced with anger, his finger trembling as he pointed at Beina.
“If that’s all you’ve got, go home and [nurse] from your [family]! Be careful I don’t [handle with care] you, you [worthy old man].”
Thud! Either because of Beina’s raised middle finger and constant magical attacks were too strong, the middle-aged man rolled his eyes and collapsed to the ground, twitching slightly.
Then chaos erupted.
Reliel saw many familiar figures rush forward to confront the opposite side.
But at most, they just shoved and jostled — no one actually fought.
“Is this… a turf war?” the young maid muttered, bewildered.
It did look like a turf war, but… when did Hunter Blade start running a gang? Had they quit being mercenaries and switched professions?
Reliel was also puzzled, but she had never been one to hesitate.
“Beina!!” The next second, the girl’s clear voice, carrying a hint of cold authority, reached everyone’s ears.
The voice brought an almost tangible pressure, instantly silencing the noisy atmosphere!
“Huh?” The zapped girl called by name froze, turning her head to see a luxurious carriage slowly rolling toward the “battlefield” that everyone else was avoiding.
On the side of the carriage, a girl was resting her chin on one hand, a faint smile on her face, looking at her.
“You… Xiao Yaba?!”
Beina opened her mouth slightly, her eyes a bit dazed.
And those around, especially the ones who had been clashing with the Hunter Blade Mercenary Group, frowned.
‘A noble?’
‘When did Hunter Blade get involved with a noble in the city? And with that aura, it’s definitely no ordinary minor noble…’
“Hey, does anyone recognize the coat of arms on that carriage?”
“That’s not a coat of arms…”
“That’s… the emblem of The Hive, right?”
“The Hive!? Really… seriously?”
The crowd was confused. They looked again at the emblem on the carriage. Indeed… it was the mark of [The Hive]!
Damn… when did Hunter Blade get involved with The Hive?!