CHAPTER 402: HOW OLD IS MILLIS?

"Give me another hour with the ring!" Lillian, who was without her mask, yelled as she tried to reach for the ring in the man’s hand.

In just mere inches, she was almost in Marionette’s arms. What did she do to deserve such terrible timing!?

The man stepped back, still keeping the ring tightly clutched in the centre of his palm. He then pushed his other hand out in a gesturing manner, "Another 1,000 Semis."

Lillian nodded instantly and went into his spatial ring in search of the money. However, that was when she realised that... She had already spent all the money she had brought with her!

"I-I don’t have it in cash, but I can do pay using my phone!"

"I’m sorry, but we can’t do that. Security reasons, which I’m sure you can understand."

Once the man figured that Lillian no longer had any money on her, he kicked her out and left her to sulk quietly as she made her way to the port.

And on the way, Lillian screamed internally with an agitated expression, ’CURSE YOU, LADY LUCK!’

***

Viesta, who was surveying the docks and a large blimp, which held the emblem of the Azure dragon, glanced back and found Lillian steadily making her way over.

"Ah, Lillian!" The Cowgirl waved before adjusting her hat. And as she was doing that, she found that Lillian had a rather depressed look on her face.

Lillian nodded in acknowledgement and gave the woman a small wave, "Hi..."

"What’s up with ya? Depression doesn’t suit you, Lillian." Viesta chuckled as she raised a hand and rubbed the top of the Rabbit’s head, roughing up her hair.

Lillian’s right eye twitched as she watched Veista do this before backing away and running her hand through her hair and fixing it. "Nothing, I just had a run in with someone that only lasted a split second... That’s all."

"Oh? Well, I hope you meet them again." Viesta smiled, "And for a much longer moment than just a split second."

Right as Lillian was about to respond, Millis suddenly came up from behind and wrapped her arm around the Rabbit’s neck, "Wassup, chum? What ship ya guys getting on?"

Viesta tapped her chin and looked at the current options.

The first option was to go through the air by taking the blimp she had seen earlier, or to take the second option and get on one of the many seaships that were presently docked and waiting to set sail.

"Not sure yet, junior. Each gives off their own vibes of adventure, though. But... I’m kind of leaning towards that airship for a bit more relaxation. This is a several-day journey, after all."

Millis held her chin and nodded, understanding what she meant. She then pointed towards the blimp and said, "That’s my ride for the next couple of days. I’m plannin’ on travellin’ a bit before we head back to the academy."

Lillian widened her eyes a little as she heard this. She gave Millis a strange look and asked, "Have you paid for a ticket yet?"

Millis silently stared into the eyes of the Rabbit before flashing her a grin and pulling out her phone. On the screen were newly bought digital tickets for the specific blimp.

"H-huh... When did you buy that?"

"Heh! Not that long ago." Millis shrugged before moving away from Lillian. And after shaking Viesta’s hand and bidding them farewell, she began making her way over to the blimp.

But that was until she felt a hand land on her shoulder. Looking back, she found it belonged to Lillian, who had a rather concerned look on her face, "Are you sure? Is there a need for you to go travelling?"

"Hm? Well, eh... Not really, but I wanna have a bit of fun, ya know? And also! These tickets are non-refundable and expensive as shit!" Millis stated with minor exaggeration before sighing.

Millis then added with her usual smile, "Is there anything ya wanted from me before I get on mah ride?"

Lillian, seeing that Millis was dead set on hitching a ride on the blimp, sighed and pulled her hand back. But then, a thought popped into her mind.

"Hey, Millis. How old are you?"

Millis raised an eyebrow at Lillian’s question, "My... Age? Why’d ya want to know?"

"Just out of curiousity, there something wrong?"

Millis shook her head before tapping her chin in a slow and thoughtful manner. She then answered back with a question of her own, "When’s your birthday?"

"Huh? June 6th. Wait, haven’t I told you that before?"

"Nope, ya haven’t! But that’s fine, because~..." Millis raised her right thumb and pointed it towards her face, "My birthday is also the same as yours!"

Lillian gave Millis a deadpan expression, sceptical of what she had just heard. Like in most games, you would be able to receive rewards whenever it was your birthday once you select it.

And because of it, Millis’s date of birth wasn’t a set thing. So... The fact that their birthdays are the same... Seemed rather odd.

"You aren’t lying, right?"

"Bah! Does it matter? We’re "totes~" sisters now, bro."

"Huh?"

Lillian watched as Millis’s arm wrapped around her in a tight hug. For a split moment, she groaned at the touchy Heroine, but sighed with a smile. "I’m just gonna assume our friendship escalated to us being sisters now, huh? We’ve only known each other a few months, you know."

"Bah! So?" Millis stepped back and pouted, "Ya and the Red-eyes been doing kinky ass stuff way before ya guys officially began dating—!"

"K-kinky?" Lillian blushed furiously before raising her hand, "W-what are you talking about!?"

Millis side-stepped and avoided a smack to the head. She then bursted into laughter before dashing off towards the blimp while waving back with a carefree and mischievous grin.

"Later, sister Lillian! I hope ya guys have a good trip out at sea!"

"Oi! Me and Viesta haven’t decided how to travel yet!"

As Lillian watched Millis get into the line for the blimp, she sighed and turned back to Viesta, who looked at her with folded arms and a curious expression:

"Well? Would you like to go by blimp? Or by sea? I’m fine with either really."

Lillian smiled at the Cowgirl’s words and nodded, "If you don’t mind, I would prefer if we go by boat."

"Yeah! No problem. Would you... Like to pick the boat? I think most of these boats are heading towards the Eastern nation, so I don’t think they would mind a few crewmates."

Lillian grinned and pulled Viesta by the arm, "I already spotted one on the way here!"

As the two passed by a variety of boats, big and small, they eventually ended up standing before a ship that caused Viesta to raise an eyebrow.

It was a medium-sized wooden boat that had obviously been through years of continuous use.

Without even trying, an ordinary person could identify clear signs of injury and battle on the hull of the ship, which had been obviously patched up with wooden boards and nails.

This was the same for its mast, which seemed to have broken in half long ago before being repaired back together with thick metal platings.

But besides that, one could tell that this ship has been taken care of dearly, as the wooden sculpture of a mermaid attached to the bow seemed to smile despite its condition.

Viesta gave Lillian an odd look, unconsciously judging the girl’s choice of ship before noticing the gaze of someone standing on top of the bow of the boat.

"AYE THERE, MATEYS! What dah two of you lookin’ at mah ship for?"