Chapter 413
Chapter 413
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Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter: 413
Chapter Title: Harvest Festival (6)
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The Jemernai mansion, freshly renovated in anticipation of the Harvest Festival.
Two small shadows darted between sporadically flickering candlesticks in the annex, shrouded in utter darkness without even the moon's glow.
The most energetic twins in the entire Jemernai household.
Not even the heavy drowsiness of the midnight hour could hold them back.
Sneaking through the night, the two were clad in pajamas they'd bought as souvenirs from an aquarium in the mortal world.
Odil wore blue shark pajamas with a long, floppy tail and fins.
Odet sported fluffy pink bunny pajamas with enormous floppy ears.
"Odet...! W-wait just a sec."
"Sis...! Stop dawdling!"
"My tail keeps dragging!"
Whether running, casting spells, or swimming, Odet always lagged behind her big sister Odil.
But tonight, she scolded her sister several times.
Because the long-tailed shark pajamas forced Odil to hug the tail to her chest just to keep it from scraping the floor.
Her beloved tail, usually wedged between her legs as a cushion for sleep, was now tripping her up.
As Odil readjusted her tail, Odet plastered herself to the wall at the corridor's bend, peeking around the corner like a secret agent on a mission.
"Phew... Looks clear for now."
"Hurry up. Tail sorted."
The twins took off again in pattering footsteps.
In the dead of night when even owls slumbered, their smuggling operation was all because of the small box Odet clutched.
The Harvest Festival wasn't just about boozing and dancing.
It was also a monumental day for lovers to spend sweet time together and reaffirm their bonds.
So the twins had prepared a gift for their assistant.
If it were something ordinary, they wouldn't need to move so stealthily.
But this gift was extremely dangerous.
If their master or anyone else found out, it wouldn't end with mere scolding.
From procurement to delivery, it had demanded covert schemes and tremendous effort.
First, they'd stolen Head Maid Gallina's ledger to swipe the format for imported goods orders, then researched the item's exact name.
To avoid detection as the buyers, they'd enlisted Pecha, Rena, Marsha, and Vera to sneak it bit by bit from Border Town to the mansion.
But with Vera suddenly called away on the final delivery, moving the box left alone in the mailbox fell to Odil and Odet.
Early morning meant Gallina might check the mailbox—speed was life.
"Shh...!"
Odet, leading the way, flung out an arm and slapped herself against the wall.
Odil followed, burying her face in her tail to stifle her panting breaths.
-Thud. Thud. Thud.
Gallina, Head Maid on night patrol with a lantern in hand—her profile visible, round glasses glinting in the light.
Gallina was strict at the best of times, but right now, she was scarier than the grim reaper.
-Thud. Thud. Thud.
The twins squeezed their eyes shut, trembling, as the footsteps receded.
Only after the sound faded completely did they exhale in relief.
"Haa..."
"...That was close. Sis, no more of this next time."
As they relaxed and started chattering...
-Thudthudthudthud.
"Lady Odil? Lady Odet?"
"Eek!"
The footsteps closed in abruptly, along with Gallina's thick voice.
Odil and Odet bolted in genuine panic, thumping away.
"It is you young ladies! Bedtime! What are you doing?!"
Gallina chased like an aggro-pulled wandering mob, lantern swinging wildly.
Her wildly dancing shadow evoked monsters from old tales.
The twins, hit with sudden 4D horror-game vibes, felt chills down their spines as they stumbled in frantic flight.
"Odet! You talked too loud and gave us away!"
"No! You sighed first!"
"Didn't you see we got caught right after you finished talking?"
"You sighed like the danger was gone, so I talked too!"
Gallina was the last person they could let discover the gift's secret—right after their master!
Even if they used magic to escape, they'd face reprimands for running away.
Those reprimands would extend to the maids, and then everything would be ruined.
Doom.
Realizing this, the twins noticed they'd reached the mansion's end.
Panic had led them into a dead end.
"What now, Sis?"
"Hide this at least!"
As Gallina closed in, Odil yanked open a door in desperation.
They had to stash the gift in a wardrobe, sofa, or under the bed.
They burst in.
"Huh? What are you two doing here?"
Sharon stared, eyes wide in surprise.
"Sharon Sis!"
"Hide us, please!"
The twins dove behind Sharon's sofa, using the backrest as cover, huddling tight.
"Lady Odil! Lady Odet!"
Gallina stormed in almost instantly, face stormy.
It had all happened in a flash.
But seeing the twins cowering under hoods, trembling, and the fuming Head Maid already painted a picture.
"Ah, Evergreen Witch. Sorry for the late intrusion."
"No problem, Head Maid Gallina."
"Could you send the young ladies back? I've told them bedtime over and over...!"
As the twins sensed the chaos's end and wore doomsday expressions...
Sharon gave Gallina an awkward look.
"What to do? Truth is, I called Odil and Odet here."
"Pardon?"
"Wanted to chat a bit. I've gone and troubled you needlessly, Gallina."
Sharon bowed apologetically, gently patting the twins' heads.
"I'll send them straight to bed, no later than needed. Won't happen again. Sorry."
"......"
Gallina crossed her arms, listening, then closed her eyes and nodded gravely.
"Understood, Evergreen Witch. Just ensure it doesn't recur."
"Yes, definitely."
She seemed to buy it, but pushing further against the deferential Sharon felt wrong for Gallina.
Sharon was the Jemernai family's tutor—and a Grand Witch before that.
If she apologized to cover for the twins' mischief, Gallina had to respect her.
"Then I'll withdraw."
"Always appreciate your hard work."
"It's my duty as a servant. Ladies Odil, Odet—no playing till this late again."
"Got it."
"Yesss..."
After Gallina shut the door...
The twins peeked from under their hoods at Sharon.
Having dodged disaster, their faces beamed like shipwreck survivors spotting rescuers.
"Thanks! Sharon Sis!"
"Thank you! Sharon Sis!"
"Sigh, so what's this all about?"
Sharon asked, hands on hips, eyeing the hyper twins.
2.
"We figured we need a sure-kill move too."
"Tiphereth Duke showed up outta nowhere as a rival. She's too strong."
Sipping cocoa with marshmallows bobbing, the twins explained.
This elaborate scheme wasn't just for the Harvest Festival.
It was to counter the newcomer rival, Eloa Tiphereth Duke, and secure strategic superiority.
The duke's wealth was nothing special.
But as one of only three dukes in Gehenna and a 23rd Hierarchy Grand Witch revered by countless witches...
She held a solid mentor position with their assistant and wielded asymmetric power the twins lacked—though not quite Sharon's level.
Sit idle, and they'd get trounced like with Sharon.
"So this is your sure-kill?"
Sharon tapped the box on the table.
"Haa~ We planned to keep it top secret forever."
"But since you helped, special reveal."
"No copying, okay?"
Unwrapped, Sharon instantly knew what it was—no explanation needed.
Through semi-transparent plastic between paper layers, wooden blocks neatly stacked.
Jenga.
A simple board game: stack blocks, take turns pulling, first to topple loses.
"Er...um, nice! Si-woo'll love it."
Sharon hid her thoughts.
A sure-kill? Just Jenga?
Rare in Gehenna, so it seemed special here—but in the mortal world, even board game cafes ditched it after a few rounds.
They must've gone to great lengths...
Si-woo would react well enough.
No need to crush their spirits with the truth.
"Right! But not your regular Jenga."
"Hehehe, wanna see?"
"Not regular?"
"Turn around a sec."
"Even you'll be shocked, Sis."
Auto-stacking feature? Magic effects? High-end toy?
Sharon waited, puzzled, as the twins fussed.
"Ta-da!"
"Ready!"
Sharon tilted her head at the neatly stacked blocks.
Perfectly ordinary.
"Wanna try?"
"Sure, no big deal."
Sharon rolled up her sleeve, tapped a lower middle block.
It slid out smoothly.
Nothing special, she thought—then spotted the twins grinning mischievously.
"Done?"
"Duh, check the back!"
"Back?"
Flipping the block revealed the difference from standard Jenga.
A transparent tape-like sticker with engraved text.
"What'd ya get?"
"Wh-what is this?!"
The text read...
[Pinch nipples over clothes]
A straightforward, blatant penalty clause.
"Perform whatever's on the pulled block!"
Sharon's jaw dropped.
The twins' Jenga wasn't ordinary.
It was an adults-only board game crafted for couples' steamy nights.