Of course, Ileya wasn’t just pulling in random people.
Her seemingly rule-less actions were actually picking out candidates she’d already chosen long ago.
Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh…
After picking up her feather pen and writing down the surnames of over a dozen noble families, Ileya stroked her chin in thought for a moment.
Then she slowly nodded.
Once these noble families were bound to the Marquis Castle’s big ship, the entire East Capital would be further stabilized—and firmly within her grasp.
Provided, of course, that all this was done before the Royal Army assembled by the royal family arrived.
After all, forming alliances right under the royal family’s nose was somewhat of an offense.
If it were discovered later, it would be quite troublesome.
I’ll have someone send this list to Jenny in a bit, and have her give me some support…
Thinking this to herself, Ileya, seated in her chair, slowly stretched.
The next step in the plan was to follow up on Mother’s training so she could withstand Transcendent Power as soon as possible.
And also… to improve her own raw strength.
Though, as a Necromancer, she usually didn’t need to fight personally.
In fact, she already had two [Fourth Rank] undead under her command…
One was Insmouth, and the other was the Giant Sandworm she’d hunted down in the Gobi.
That creature was known for its immense body and physical power—its armor-like shell and spiral maw that could spit acid were nightmares for adventurers.
It was about what Ileya had predicted: right after its conversion, it reached peak Fourth Rank strength.
If Ileya reinforced it with Faith Power, the sandworm might mutate just like Insmouth and become a [Fifth Rank] Transcendent creature.
But…
No matter how many powerful undead she commanded, her own strength was still only early Third Rank.
“Two months and only Third Rank… this improvement is way too slow.”
At this pace, steadily rising to Fourth Rank would take at least another month.
Ileya twirled the feather pen in her hand, thinking about whether she should risk an unstable foundation to boost her strength quickly.
After all, the foundation of the first three ranks was already solid. The benefits of continuing this steady improvement were obvious, but…
What she lacked most right now was time…
“Sigh…” With a soft sigh, Ileya made her decision…
At a time like this, she’d temporarily give up steady improvement.
If worst came to worst, she could make up for the missing cultivation later.
For this plan, the young lady set two approaches.
One was to have Veil “extract” some Death Origin, then refine it herself.
Two was to physically travel to the Underworld, using the Wind of Sighs and Death Aura to temper her soul and body.
Both methods could be done simultaneously—the fastest cultivation method Ileya could think of.
“Hmm…”
Knock, knock, knock…
As she was lost in thought, Ileya suddenly heard knocking from outside the door.
“Hmm?” She’d been thinking so deeply that she hadn’t activated her Soul Perception to scan her surroundings at all.
The moment she looked toward the door, she realized… someone had been standing outside it for who knows how long.
“This soul fluctuation… Reliel?”
Ileya was momentarily stunned, then remembered that she’d told this Miss Younger Sister to come to her room to “receive punishment” tonight.
Ah… she’d almost forgotten amidst this afternoon’s busyness.
“Come in~” Ileya said in a slow voice.
Watching Reliel walk into the room and close the door behind her…
The young lady’s lips curled up slightly.
Though this little girl showed no special expression on the surface, and her movements weren’t stiff at all…
But… from the way those eyes of hers never once dared to look at her, Ileya could be certain.
Her newly acquired dragon-girl little sister was quite nervous right now.
She had no idea why she’d been called here tonight, did she?
Thinking this, a glint of mischief flashed through Ileya’s red eyes.
“Whew~ You’re here~ Awww… I’ve been out walking for so long, my legs are so sore~”
She slowly pushed her chair back, then… rested her white-stocking-clad feet, crossed one over the other, on the table in front of her.
“Since you’re here, give me a massage~”
Reliel was stunned for a moment, then nodded without much hesitation.
Huh? You’re not going to be a little shy… huh?
The next second, Ileya felt her small feet grasped by a pair of delicate little hands, gently kneaded with a surprisingly soft pressure.
Can’t you at least struggle a little…
Besides, this was the first time in her thirteen years that the young lady had someone massage her… feet.
Hmm, why does this feel… so weird… like…
…Ahh~
Ileya frowned slightly, momentarily wanting to pull her feet back.
But… if she pulled back now… it would feel like she’d lost…
Tch… it’s just a foot massage… what… what could even happen!
“Ahem, you… you worked as a mercenary for so many years, but you don’t have any calluses on your hands~” Ileya suppressed her emotions, speaking in a steady voice.
“I used to.”
Reliel continued her “massage” of the young lady, speaking in a remarkably calm tone.
“But after the first [Dragonification], they disappeared.”
Oh? Does this count as, hmm♡ this feeling… the cleansing that Transcendent Power brings to the body… a… a bit more♡?
Thinking in a bit of a jumble, Ileya’s feet… unconsciously curled their toes tight, then relaxed…
She had no idea if this girl knew what she was doing… or didn’t…
Every time her thumb pressed down, Ileya felt a strange sensation… instinctively wanting to make some weird sound.
No… if this continued, she’d lose…
The young lady leaned back in her chair, pretending to be relaxed, casually pulling her small feet out of her little sister’s hands.
“Ahh~ I think a bath is better for relieving fatigue. Go get it ready~”
“Yes.” Reliel was clearly very aware of her position as the one being punished, but her eyes glanced at her own hands, then at Ileya’s unnatural, swaying feet…
Seemingly… wanting more.
Tap, tap, tap…
Only after watching her Miss Younger Sister disappear into the bathroom did Ileya suddenly cover her mouth!
Her shoulders shook in short, intense bursts as muffled, strange sounds escaped her lips…
“♡♡… Hnnnghaahh—♡♡♡?!”
Sweat was running down her back…
Why… why is this happening…
Could it be that the soles of her feet… had some kind of… sensitive point?!
How had she never… noticed this before…
After internally processing that strange feeling for a while, Ileya gradually felt like aside from her body still being a little worked up…
She should be fine… wait…
Suddenly, Ileya discovered something terrifying.
She instinctively raised both hands, pressing them against where two little animals resided.
Why were those two little animals’ noses… standing up?!
Hey hey hey!! What is this?! Am I really that weak?!
(,,> 口 < ,,)
Wait… wait a second. She still had to bathe with that girl… together…
How… how was she supposed to handle this…
Thinking this, the young lady instantly felt like she’d picked up a rock and dropped it on her own foot!
Why is such a messed-up thing happening…
She instinctively pressed down, trying to push that disobedient little nose back in.
“Hnngh♡?!”
But… it backfired, causing another strange sound to escape her.
“What’s wrong?”
Suddenly, an expressionless head popped out from behind the bathroom door, staring at the young lady whose face was flushed bright red for some reason, arms flailing wildly.
“Ah? Ah… it’s… nothing, really nothing~” Ileya quickly waved her hands, trying to find her composure again.
But she discovered… her voice was trembling even now.
“Oh…” Reliel tilted her head in slight confusion, but didn’t dig deeper, pulling her head back to continue running the hot water.
Calm down… calm down, Ileya… You’ve survived so many dangers before. Yeah, this… this little setback is nothing.
With a stiff smile on her face, she muttered to herself in self-consolation, then instinctively raised her hand…
And slapped that little animal that was “just the right size for one hand”!
Smack!
“Hisss…”
What… what am I even doing?!?
……
Drip~
A drop of water fell into the steaming bath tub.
Ileya sat there with a stern face, her red eyes staring at the utterly bewildered girl across from her.
And Miss Younger Sister looked at her sister’s stiff face, then at the clear handprint on those two little animals.
“Did… Lady hit them?”
Heh… this little mute actually spoke first…
Can’t you ask literally anything else?!
Is this something a servant should ask their Mistress?!
“This… I… I hit them myself! What… what do you know! Hitting them once in a while… makes them grow faster!”
Ileya gritted her silver teeth, activating her innate skill, “talking out of her ass.”
“Huh? Growing faster? If they’re too big… wouldn’t they affect combat?” Reliel blinked in confusion.
For some reason, Ileya felt this girl was especially talkative tonight!
And somehow targeting her!!
“Little animals like this! The bigger they are, the more imposing they are! Don’t you get it!”
Ileya said, flustered and embarrassed, then her eyes shifted…
“If you don’t believe me, I can help you…”
“No need.” Reliel raised a hand in calm refusal, her pale blue eyes carrying palpable contempt.
Ugh! Why do I feel like I’ve been labeled a pervert with a weird fetish?!
“No, I’m serious…”
“Okay, I believe you.”
Aaaahh—!! Mutiny! Total mutiny!!
(╯‵□′)╯︵┻━┻
How did this girl manage to send her into maximum rage with the shortest possible sentences?!
Ileya’s temple veins bulged.
“Hey… Lili, do you remember the punishment I mentioned earlier?”
Ugh! Here it comes…
Reliel, soaking in the warm water, instinctively tensed up her previously relaxed body.
“I remember.” The girl instinctively lowered her head, looking like a pitiful child who’d done something wrong.
“Ahem~ You, come here~~”
Ileya’s eyes rolled slightly, and her expression instantly smoothed out, clearly having thought of something.
She tossed all her earlier embarrassment aside and smiled, beckoning to Reliel.
And the Miss Younger Sister, who had indeed made a mistake, slowly rose and walked over to Ileya with a somewhat bewildered look.
“Lean over here~”
Ileya pointed to the edge of the large bath tub beside her.
“Support yourself with your arms, right~ just like that~~”
She directed Reliel to lean over the tub’s edge with a beaming smile… then!
Smack!
“Gyahh!?” The Third Miss instantly felt her rear… her rear get slapped hard from behind!
Though… though it didn’t hurt much, it was really… really…
Reliel’s cheeks flushed bright red in an instant! She shot a fierce glare sideways at that wicked girl!
“Hm? You’ve got a problem with that~ This is the punishment for bad girls!! Nine more, don’t move!”
Ugh… Reliel gritted her teeth.
Crack… The tub edge she was gripping actually started to crack apart.
But~ Ileya didn’t care about that.
Hehe~ In the end, I’m the one who took control… one step ahead~
Smack! Smack! Smack!!
The night had grown deep, yet the bathroom echoed with a series of crisp slaps.