However…
Why would that person appear in the Resting Grounds of the Crystal Capital?
Ireya remembered that her maternal family, the Seredon Family’s territory, wasn’t in the Eastern District, right?
Moreover…that person was already dead…and had become a “Black Lady,” some kind of monster wrapped entirely in crystal and black fur.
The Lady slowly closed her eyes, organizing the information she knew.
In an instant, she reached a conclusion.
This aunt of hers…
Alek Seredon’s manner of death was still unclear to her, but one thing was certain.
Her mother had personally arranged her sister’s funeral but didn’t dare bury her under her real name.
Instead, she used a false name her aunt had given herself…and the epitaph didn’t even bear the family’s mourning.
It leaned more towards a eulogy from adventurers.
That was understandable.
If her aunt had liked that name and her non-noble status in life, it made sense.
After all, Amisa had said the woman was rebellious.
But…being buried in the Resting Grounds of the Crystal Capital instead of the Seredon Family’s territory in the Gameng River Basin—that was suspicious.
Combined with what Ireya knew about the Kingdom’s ban and her aunt’s bizarre post-mortem state…
“Mother…is hiding something… even hiding the existence of her own sister.”
Ireya murmured softly, as if she might not even hear herself.
Because the Seredon Family very likely violated the Kingdom’s Ban!
Allowing the females of their family to become Transcendents!
And the higher power they worshiped was probably the Crystal Giant Tree, which caused her aunt’s corpse to mutate into the so-called “Black Lady.”
Considering the awakening of High Priest Galuru…
Ireya could even conclude that the higher power who would go to war with humanity in a year was very likely the Crystal Giant Tree!!
Thinking this through, she seemed to connect all the dots but still felt something was off.
Where exactly it was off…
The Lady couldn’t figure it out for the moment.
“Hm…For now, let’s send this aunt back to her rightful resting place.”
Ireya sighed slowly…
Then she directed Innsmouth to place the crystal-encased Alek into a coffin, refilling the earth to bury her underground.
After standing silently in front of the tombstone for a moment, Ireya suddenly thought—since she could sense something special about the Black Lady…
She picked up a stick nearby and wrote a line of words in the soil before the tombstone.
“Hm…That’s enough.”
With a soft thud, she dropped the stick and looked back at the others.
“Let’s go~ We’re heading back.”
Meanwhile…
Inside the carriage, Yumina was anxiously gazing toward the Resting Grounds.
She had just heard a loud noise—obviously a fierce battle had taken place inside.
But all she could do was guard the carriage alongside a somewhat clumsy junior.
No help, not even the right to watch the fight…
Damn it!
Can this really be called the Lady’s first dogleg?!
Crunch~ crunch~
Compared to this personal maid’s worry and self-doubt, the Goddess Young Lady sitting beside her, holding the same position, was lazily cracking nuts.
This snack had been casually handed to her by Miss Jenny just before they left, along with some cake.
Supposedly very nutritious~
Nutritious and delicious~
How could the world have such a perfect food?~
Crunch~
“Ugh! You…”
But the nut-cracking sound only made the already troubled Yumina more annoyed.
She glanced at Veil behind her, a little reproachful on her face.
“Uh…want some?”
Veil shrank her neck instinctively under the senior’s glare, then reluctantly stretched out a hand holding the nuts…
This girl…
Yumina was speechless.
“You must have heard those sounds from earlier, right? Aren’t you at all worried about the Lady?”
Worried?
Why worry about that bad woman…
She deserves a good beating!
Uh…but after getting beaten, she’d definitely come find me for mana replenishment, right?
Hmm…better not get beaten then!
Yeah…better not get beaten…
“I’m…of course worried. She…really shouldn’t be fighting others…”
Watching her junior’s face shift from smug to bright red, Yumina finally realized she couldn’t figure her out…
But…it did seem like she genuinely worried about the Lady.
“Sigh…You, stop just eating all day or you’ll end up chubby like a little pig someday!”
Yumina said as she poked Veil’s forehead with a finger.
Yet, despite eating a lot every day, not liking exercise, always lazing around, even falling asleep standing up…
Veil’s figure was perfectly maintained, with no sign of fat at all.
How strange…
Where did all that food go?
Curious, Yumina poked the Goddess Young Lady’s cheek.
“Uh~ Is there something on my face, senpai?”
“Ah…nothing. Just thinking…Veil eats so much but hasn’t gained a bit of flesh…”
“Hmph~ I’m still growing, of course I won’t gain weight~”
The Goddess Young Lady proudly put her hands on her hips and straightened her posture.
“But you’re not getting any taller either… and…”
Yumina squinted at Veil’s deliberately pushed-out little belly…
“This part doesn’t seem to have changed either…”
“Wah wah wah <(`^’)>! I will, I will grow! Sooner or later…sooner or later I will grow!”
Looking at Yumina’s upright, youthful figure, the loli goddess turned her head sideways in defiance, somewhat hurt.
“By the way…little Veil…”
At that moment, Yumina leaned closer to Veil’s side, their shoulders touching.
Even without turning her head, Veil could smell the faint scent on the twin-tail maid, like gardenias.
“Uh…what is it, senpai?”
Seeing Yumina suddenly come close, Veil blushed slightly.
But the innocent twin-tail maid didn’t think much of it—whispering between girls was normal, right?
“What do you and the Lady do at night, huh (●w)?”
Actually, she was very curious…
The Lady sometimes slept with Veil, but when the two were together, was it really just sleeping?
And being able to sleep with the Lady at night, and even hug her…was really enviable~
“Eh? Ah…um…I…”
Veil’s face instantly flushed from pink to deep red, her black eyes darting around helplessly…
“What’s wrong? Can’t you tell me?”
Yumina tilted her head, sounding a little disappointed.
“Um…well…we do those kinds of things…kiss…kiss…”
Veil slowly lowered her head, her voice as quiet as a mosquito’s buzz.
“Hm? What did you say?”
Yumina clearly hadn’t heard and leaned in closer.
Just as their cheeks were almost touching…
“Ireya! Veil!”
Outside the carriage, Ireya’s call suddenly rang out!
“Ah! The Lady is back!”
The twin-tail maid’s eyes lit up!
Though she wanted to know the Lady and Veil’s little nighttime secret…
Right now, she cared more whether the Lady was hurt, and what the outcome of the battle was…
“Um! We’ll talk about this later~ The Lady’s back, let’s get down~”
The girl smiled and stood up from her seat, then opened the door and jumped out of the carriage.
“Lady~”
“Hmm, so? Nothing happened outside, right?”
Only then did Veil snap back to reality, looking at the scattered nuts on the seat…
She completely collapsed in place, utterly drained…
Hehe…heheh, what was I about to say just now…
(P>A<)-^↓ Angry! Let’s stir this up again (● >A<)-~^^H