CHAPTER 121: LUST MADE UP HER MIND

The Kabroom traversed through the frozen forest, glittering with frosted leaves and iced grassland, zooming past Mel’s vision.

A sight so beautiful it reminded Mel of a perfect dating spot; a deadly paradise for those still alive to see it.

[ Overworking yourself again, aren’t we? ]

Mel blinked at the panel, recognizing a distinctive tone in those words.

"Partner?" Her lips paused in the air, then continued. "I-I know you’ve been concerned about my safety, but..."

[ Yes. Now that you were in your Witch Form, you were free of the burdens that would come with a mortal vessel. ]

"Stra-strange wording... hehehe..."

A nervous chuckle escaped Mel’s lips; she was reminded of her Partner’s indifference when she first met the ’System’, not the Saintess.

She always seemed to ’act’ inconsistently too; warmly concerned one moment, coldly robotic the next.

Mel’s eyes narrowed, a burdening smile curling up underneath before she received a Telepathy.

’Mel.’

"Ah, Maria!" Mel’s face beamed. "It’s the first time you telepath me yourself rather than-"

’Are you planning to rely on Wrath’s help to hide Lila’s Witch Identity?’

Mel’s ka-broom ground to a halt; her jaw hanging open for excuses she never thought of.

"Ah, I... just forgot. Hehe..." Mel nodded, fidgeting.

"I didn’t hand the Drake Necklace coz it’s not necessary. Wrath was... around us at the time, and her ability to cut even memories was more than enough-"

’That’s a lie." Maria chuckled in her head. ’You merely didn’t like to hand the Drake Necklace to Lila, huh?’

Another pause, a hung silence, then Mel’s smile faltered.

"It’s the first time you’ve handed me an accessory, Maria.’ Mel breathed out as she glanced down at the glittery scenery.

"Is it... Selfish of me not wanting to hand it to Lila?"

In Lila’s chant, Mel was stunned by the Ice Witch’s prowess, then her awe allowed an excuse to slip in to undo Maria’s request.

Her Lila belonged to her, just as Maria did.

So would Lila not be upset to find another’s gift endowed upon her neck?

’Hm...’

Maria watched Mel from afar, trembling hands clasped on the twig spot where Lila was, and a crestfallen look amongst the pale snow melting in the moonlight.

Mel’s lips trembled before whispering.

"Maria?" Her tone was a mock-beg, a sincerity tugged underneath the teasing tone. "How about... we make a deal instead?"

Another silence, another sense of gravity Mel couldn’t quite understand.

Mel always wished to treat love as an equal trade: not one to control and another to be controlled.

"Let’s be honest, I know you’ve been jealous seeing me flirt with others so far." Mel pouted. "So, what about you... request something of me as well?"

A gift. A first. It didn’t matter to Mel.

She was a selfish girl who hoped to work for everyone’s happiness, even if it meant scorn for her hypocrisy or foolishness.

And her Partner... she hoped to be more selfish, just a little more.

’You seem to have gravely misunderstood, Mel.’

Then, a ’hand’ skimmed her fabric, drawing idle circles on her stomach.

Mel didn’t hiccup or yelp; her skin tingling at the subtle violation.

’I never need mercy or request from you.’

Another hand glided over her left shoulder, as Mel’s body relaxed against its touch.

"Ah..." The hand slid down her arm, brushing the velvet dress’s strap aside.

Feeling exposed, Mel sneakily palmed her left chest; the nipple threatening to erect under Maria’s sensual touch.

Yet the hand on the stomach moved down and-

"Ah!" Mel slid her pelvis almost away from Marai’s palm, yet her waist arched to feel more, to be made into a wet mess more.

"Partner... partner..."

’Look at you.’ Maria’s voice grew venomous; more seductive. ’One tender moment from before, then you couldn’t help but pant underneath me for the next.’

The hands left her abruptly, and Mel’s whimper lingered with unfulfilled desire.

"Partner...?"

Her watery gaze swept the snowy night sky, her Partner again hanging her in a dreadful silence.

Then, it hit Mel for a realisation.

"You’re... handling matters regarding Lila’s Awakening, are you?"

No response, yet Mel could somehow link her feelings with Maria’s.

As if she felt similar to her partner.

’Mel...’

A sigh came from the other side; then Maria revealed it to her.

’Right now, the Church received pressures from the Iron Kingdom of the West to launch an attack on Embervale. Effective immediately.’

Mel’s brows knitted together.

The Iron Kingdom, where the Beastmen and Dwarves allied for a deadly alliance.

The war-focused Kingdom hungered to exploit Lila’s Disaster as pretext to pillage Embervale.

’Not to mention arranging the Cardinals in our Kingdom of Veneralis and responding to the North, I’m... not exactly available right now.’

"I see..." Mel’s lips curled to a fox-light smile. "You were stressed."

’Ultimately, a little.’ Maria sighed. ’Lila’s little... Winter has reached almost every corner of this World. It was hard not to respond as if this was not an emergency.’

Amidst her Partner’s urgent-like tone, Mel’s grasp over her broom grew firmer.

A thought occurred to Mel that she hadn’t gifted her Partner anything for her effort.

That must change for tonight, in the only way she knew how.

Her thighs clenched once again, her emptied bottom wetting as a warm gratitude bloomed inside her chest.

"Anyways!" Mel lightened up herself, an attempt to hide her solemn reflection. "Shall I lift your burden a little by handling the Cult here?"

’That’d...’

Maria’s Telepath crackled a little, before her chortle came through.’That’d both help and give me more work to hide your trace, but sure.’

"Yay!" Mel threw her arms up in the air. "I’d make sure to repay you, Maria!"

A childish demeanor prompted a silent laugh from the other side, as Mel’s eyes glimmered with a glacial focus.

Then, loads of information poured into her mind; every Cult’s headquarters in Embervale, exposed all for her to unmake.

All underground, huh? It was no issue.

The war terrorist in her fluttered once more, before she headed to the East.

"Thank you, Maria!" Maria smirked. "Please anticipate tonight!"

’Of course.’

The Saintess left the telepathy link with Mel’s with a surrendering smile, unaware she would receive her greatest surprise in this life.