Chapter 448: The Answer
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 448: The Answer
A bizarre atmosphere began to drift through the Saintess’s bedchamber, weaving through the pink curtains of the grand bed.
A beast named Anna was facing off against a little lamb named Liya in a cold, ruthless hunting ground, both vying for the same solitary prey.
On the surface, it seemed a wildly lopsided duel. The absolute suppression of experience and level made it seem as though the outcome had been decided before the confrontation even began.
Yet, facing the beast’s predatory smirk, the little lamb—though trembling—did not retreat.
It wasn't over yet.
Liya took a deep breath, slowly steadying her wavering heart.
So what if there was a gap in their skill? She... she would absolutely not admit defeat!
Liya refocused her attention on the poker game. Now that she knew the disparity between them, she had to be even more cautious. Her best bet was to shut down the beast’s offensive within the game itself!
...
"I finally won! Yay!"
In the third round, the winner was Ariel.
The loser was Liya.
Liya set down her cards and let out a long sigh of relief.
Even with her incredible learning ability, her lack of actual playtime meant she could clearly feel the gap in skill between herself, Anna, and Ariel.
Fortunately, poker also relied heavily on luck.
As it stood, her luck was holding out; Anna hadn't won a single round against her yet.
As for Ariel...
Liya’s gaze fell upon Ariel, who seemed completely oblivious to the sharp tension in the air. She was still immersed in the joy of victory and the excitement of being able to give Liya an order.
In a sense, Ariel could be considered her teammate.
...
Ariel truly hadn't noticed the secret clash between Anna and Liya. Even if it were someone else in her position, they likely wouldn't have imagined that two women who weren't particularly close—who weren't even "friends" until recently and held no deep grudges—could be exchanging looks so sharp they could have sliced a certain scum man into a thousand pieces.
She was still riding the high of how "open and bold" Senior Sister Anna had been.
Atmospheres were contagious. It was precisely this slightly feverish "girls' bonding" vibe that made it easier for her to achieve her goal.
However... after a moment of excitement, Ariel silently reminded herself to stay calm, gradually reining in her emotions.
She couldn't rush it.
As a woman aspiring to build a grand Crystal Palace and become a Harem King, she had devoured countless literary works on romance since childhood. After long periods of reflection and internalizing those lessons, she had finally returned to the basics, mastering the core principles.
Though she hadn't had the chance to put them into practice yet, among the countless methods she knew, there was one she considered the most reliable and the one with the highest success rate.
—Boiling the frog in lukewarm water.
Indeed, while it sounded like a trap set by a scum man, it was the ultimate killing move Ariel had summarized!
After all, while the world acknowledged the beautiful bond between girls, it was still a niche perspective. Only by slowly turning up the heat on their feelings could she make Liya fall deep into the trap without even realizing it.
She had been boiling this pot of water for ten whole years!
There was no need to rush now; the game had only just begun.
Thus, meeting Liya’s expectant gaze, Ariel gave a slight nod, signaling that she didn't need to worry. After a moment's thought, she spoke:
"Since my punishment earlier was a handstand, I’ll give you something easier, Liya. Do some squats."
"Squ... squats?"
"That's right."
Ariel cupped her chin in her hands, looking expectant. "When we were talking earlier, you said you were doing squats, but I haven't actually seen what you look like doing them. Let me think... not too many, just fifty. It wouldn't feel like a punishment if it were too easy, right?"
"..."
Hearing the punishment and Ariel’s reasoning for it, Liya’s expression turned quite strange.
When had she ever actually done squats? That night when Ariel had called her via the Voice Transmission Stone, she had been...
Wait, that actually did count as a form of squatting.
Liya’s cheeks flushed slightly as she forced herself to stop the unnecessary associations. Under Ariel’s expectant gaze, she rose with elegant grace.
Fine. It was just squats. It wouldn't...
Wait.
The moment she began to stand, she seemed to realize something. The slight relaxation at the corners of her mouth froze once more.
Her entire body went stiff, leaving her in a strange, slightly hunched posture.
"Is something wrong?" Anna asked, blinking with a look of feigned concern.
"No... it's nothing."
Liya forced a smile, but her eyes, shimmering with a hint of tearful embarrassment, shot a quick glare at Ariel.
Ariel!!
Aren't we companions?
Why are you screwing me over like this!
Of all things... why squats?
There was nothing inherently wrong with squats, but the problem was that she had been busy from morning until just now. She hadn't even had time to change out of her ceremonial dress.
And because of that, she also hadn't had the chance to...
"Hmm?"
Ariel also noticed that Liya’s mood had shifted, but she was completely bewildered.
What was going on? It was just fifty squats. Why did Liya look as solemn as if she were about to walk a tightrope?
Was fifty too many?
That couldn't be right. Even if Liya’s body was delicate, she couldn't be that weak.
Besides, hadn't she practiced them before?
"Oh my?"
Unlike the clueless Ariel, Anna seemed to have caught onto something.
She leaned closer to Liya, her nose twitching as she caught a scent.
Beneath the faint fragrance of her body, she smelled something... else.
It belonged to the Saintess herself, so it wouldn't be purified by the Holy Light, but it was a scent that only manifested under specific circumstances, triggered by certain emotions.
As someone who had "been there," Anna was extremely familiar with that scent.
But precisely because she was familiar with it, she felt a surge of surprise. Her brows arched slightly as she studied the increasingly flushed Liya with a playful smile.
"Are you really okay? Do you need me to give you a hand?"
"I'm... I'm fine."
Liya smiled, taking another deep breath to calm her racing heart. Pretending nothing was wrong, she stood up quickly.
"Is that so? You don't look like you're in the right state for squats to me."
Anna’s smile didn't reach her eyes as her gaze drifted, eventually landing on the area of Liya’s lower abdomen beneath the sacred dress. She spoke with deep meaning:
"If it's inconvenient for you right now, we can change the punishment. Right, Ariel?"
"Oh... right, right, right."
The confused Ariel nodded like a chick pecking at grain. "Liya, if you're feeling unwell, I can—"
"It's fine. I can do it."
Glancing at Anna’s "enjoying the show" expression, Liya grit her teeth and said, "It's... it's just squats. I'll do them."
Liya moved to the spot where Ariel had just performed her handstand.
Even over those few short steps, Liya’s posture remained exquisitely elegant, her movements flawless.
She stood straight at first, recalling the essentials of a squat, and raised her hands to the back of her neck.
This movement made her already prominent chest appear even more towering and her back even straighter. Her armpits, usually a private area, were now exposed to the air, making Liya’s face burn even hotter.
As if making a final resolution, Liya took another deep breath, causing her chest to heave. Then, keeping her upper body still, she slowly bent her knees.
The magnificent dress she wore wasn't a puffy princess gown; it was designed to subtly trace the curves of her body. As Liya slowly descended, though her long, slender legs were hidden beneath the skirt, a stunningly beautiful line of tension formed from top to bottom.
"Mnh..."
The moment she reached the bottom of the squat, a low, sweet gasp escaped Liya’s lips.
She lowered her gaze, happening to lock eyes with the pair of eyes peeping out from under the bed. They shared a bashful look.
No way...
Under the bed, Muen hadn't quite grasped what was happening just from the girls' conversation. He had genuinely thought the airheaded Ariel just wanted to see Liya do some squats.
But in this moment, seeing Liya squatting right in front of him, Muen understood. He understood why Liya and Anna had shared that specific exchange.
At the same time, he remembered the slightly erotic joke he had made in Liya’s room early that morning.
Could it be that Liya hadn't just put the little toy away, but had actually...
Gulp.
Thinking this, Muen couldn't help but swallow hard. He felt his heart rate and blood flow, which he had been trying so hard to suppress, beginning to surge out of control.
...
After the descent came the ascent.
Still keeping her upper body motionless, she used the strength in her long legs and full hips. At the moment of exertion, another sweet, soft moan escaped her.
Over and over again.
Ariel was mesmerized. She never imagined that a simple squat could look so... glamorous and moving when Liya did it.
It was as if this wasn't a simple exercise, but a passionate, soul-stirring dance in the center of a spotlighted ballroom, accompanied by music, revealing every bit of her beauty to the fullest.
And the only audience members were her and Senior Sister Anna.
"Fifty..."
As she finished the last one, fine beads of sweat adorned Liya’s forehead, and her cheeks were flushed a deep crimson.
She returned to the grand bed, still breathing heavily, her gaze somewhat dazed.
"Is... is it really that tiring?" Ariel asked blankly.
"No... it's not."
Liya wiped away the sweat with a handkerchief. She declined the tea Ariel was fussily offering—Ariel truly thought she was exhausted—and gave a soft smile.
"Perhaps I've just been too busy today, and my stamina is flagging a bit."
Having said that, she turned her smiling gaze toward Anna.
"Did I do well, Senior Sister Anna?"
"..."
Anna remained silent, her expression turning solemn.
She had underestimated her.
She had thought this innocent, cute Saintess was merely a harmless little lamb, but she hadn't expected that beneath that lamb’s skin lay the temptation and whispers of a venomous serpent.
Like the forbidden fruit hanging high upon a tree, the sweetness and taboo hidden beneath that sacred, stainless exterior would only invite more frantic obsession and pursuit.
As expected of someone that bad man took an interest in. None of them were simple characters, were they?
Anna rubbed her temples, feeling a bit of a headache. She didn't know whether to admire that bastard’s taste or curse the scum man’s promiscuity.
But thinking about it, she herself was likely one of those "not-so-simple characters" who stayed by his side because of his "fickle heart."
Well, she had expected this when she chose to grasp that hand of salvation back then. He was the true forbidden fruit—so sweet, so wonderful. Like the sun, he would always attract butterflies fluttering toward the flame.
So, what should she do next?
Anna pondered for a moment.
Since she was already here, there were some things she had to confirm.
...
"It seems it's finally my turn to win a round against you," Anna announced with a smile.
Another round had ended.
The winner: Anna.
The loser: Liya.
Liya pursed her lips, her heart pounding with trepidation as she waited for this "senior’s" punishment.
"Let me think..."
Anna stroked her smooth chin, glancing at Liya’s lower abdomen.
Having noticed what she had, she had originally wanted to tease her—perhaps make her do a split or something—but now she realized such actions were meaningless.
Therefore...
"A question."
Facing the defensive Liya, Anna finally spoke, her words measured and deliberate.
"Liya, is there someone you like?"
"Eh?"
Liya froze, not understanding why Senior Sister Anna would ask something she surely already knew the answer to.
Was everything Anna had said and done before based only on speculation?
"This... this... we're going straight to the main topic?!"
But before Liya could react, Ariel suddenly burst out with a huge reaction.
She was shocked that Anna had thrown out the very question she had been saving for the climax of the game, yet she also looked at Liya with intense anticipation.
Under their combined gaze, Liya frowned slightly, thought for a moment, and answered truthfully:
"Yes."
"!"
Ariel sat bolt upright, her eyes sparkling.
Anna glanced at her as if sensing something, then looked away indifferently and continued:
"Then, the person you like..."
"Senior Sister Anna, you can only ask one question per win."
"...True."
Anna nodded slightly, and the game continued.
Then... Liya suddenly realized there was no point in continuing the game at all.
As a former black-hearted shopkeeper who had swindled countless people in the Lower District of Belland, winning a mere game of poker was as easy as breathing for Anna.
Aside from one round where Ariel managed to win using her own experience with "underground" dealings, Anna won every single time.
"Liya, the person you like... is it someone close to you?"
Ariel asked nervously, using her only right to a question.
"...Yes."
"!"
Ariel’s eyes grew even brighter, her hands unconsciously clenching into excited fists.
Next came Anna’s interrogation time.
"Is the person you like a citizen of Belland?"
"Yes."
"Are they in Belland right now?"
"No."
"Are they in the Holy City?"
"...Yes."
"Where in the Holy City? North Street? South Street?"
"No."
"Is it the Emiel Cathedral?"
"...Yes."
After a string of questions, the smile on Anna’s face grew richer, like a beast that had finally cornered its prey.
"One last question."
Amidst Ariel’s increasingly tense and expectant expression, Anna spoke each word slowly, like a final judgment:
"The person you like... are they in this room?"
"..."
In the long silence that followed, Liya looked toward the statue of the Goddess on the other side of the room.
Under the Goddess’s gaze, she could not lie.
Therefore, she could only utter the answer that was already screaming to be heard.
"...Yes!"