Vol 3. Chapter 42: Sisterly Reunion
Escaping from prison?
For Karina...
It wasn't difficult at all.
If she wanted to leave, she could do so at any time.
The only reason she had remained inside the imperial prison, allowing the Snow Night Empire's researchers to "play" with her, was to ensure that the overall plan proceeded smoothly.
So the reason Karina was currently bombarding the barrier with Brilliant Flame wasn't actually to escape.
Instead...
She wanted the sea of flames to conceal everything inside the prison, preventing anyone outside from seeing what was happening within the barrier.
That way...
She could secretly do a few things she'd been wanting to do.
Incidentally...
Putting on this act was actually quite difficult.
She constantly had to make sure it looked convincing without accidentally blowing the barrier apart.
It gave Karina quite the headache.
Sometimes...
She even had to personally reinforce the barrier herself.
If the barrier masters outside ever found out...
They'd probably cough up three liters of blood on the spot.
...
After confirming that nobody could observe or sense what was happening inside the wall of flames...
The giant fireball slowly opened like a gate.
Karina stepped out.
Wrapped in nothing more than a thin garment, she calmly walked through the sea of fire until she arrived beside a ventilation shaft.
She dispersed the flames surrounding it.
Then casually opened a tiny gap in the barrier.
With practiced ease, she removed the iron grate covering the vent.
The next moment—
As soon as the grate came off...
Two adorable little figures shot out of the ventilation shaft.
They were none other than Limo and Liyu, currently disguised as a little white wolf and a Hui Spirit Bird.
Unfortunately...
Since the ventilation shaft had been rather filthy...
The two sisters emerged covered in soot, looking slightly bedraggled.
Still...
Karina didn't care in the slightest.
They were her precious little sisters.
"Come here, Limo! Liyu! Hurry, let Big Sister hug you!"
The moment she saw the two girls she adored, Karina smiled warmly.
The usual coldness on her face disappeared completely.
At home...
She had always been the gentle older sister.
She doted on her younger sisters in every possible way.
"Meowu!"
"Chirp chirp!"
The two sisters exchanged a glance before simultaneously leaping toward Karina.
After finally seeing their big sister again after so long...
Both of them were overflowing with excitement.
As Shadow of Silence Power gently rippled outward...
The little white wolf and the Hui Spirit Bird were enveloped in soft crimson and emerald light.
When the light faded...
Two exquisitely beautiful little girls appeared in their place.
Just like newborn babies, they were completely naked.
They immediately threw themselves into Karina's embrace.
The impact was so strong that Karina was knocked backward onto the ground.
In that instant—
Three flawless snow-white bodies became tightly entwined together.
Crimson.
Gray.
White.
Three different colors of long, silky hair cascaded over their graceful curves like flowing streams, spreading beautifully across the floor.
Their breathtaking figures intertwined seamlessly.
As though water blended perfectly with milk.
Delicate as jade.
Graceful beyond compare.
Skin like polished ice and carved jade.
Together...
The three sisters formed a picture so beautiful it seemed almost unreal.
After so long apart...
They simply clung happily to one another.
Feeling the warmth of her sister's embrace, Limo's husky-like instincts fully surfaced.
While hugging Karina tightly, she continuously rubbed her face against hers.
Every now and then...
She even stuck out her tongue and happily licked her sister.
"Karina! It's been so long!"
"Yes! Karina, we've missed you so much!"
Holding onto Karina's arm, Liyu also wore a bright, contented smile.
"I've missed both of you too."
Karina smiled gently in response to their affectionate behavior before softly patting both girls on their heads.
Only after enjoying a long embrace did the two little sisters reluctantly loosen their grip.
Karina slowly sat upright and carefully looked over the two naked little girls before her.
At that moment...
After spending a little time with her sisters again...
Karina couldn't help frowning slightly.
Back in the Great Winter Forest—
Especially before they had learned to assume human form—
Running around naked, or wearing nothing more than simple fur garments while bathing, sleeping, cuddling, and playing together had been perfectly normal.
As Flame Demons, neither she nor Limo or Liyu had ever cared about what humans called modesty.
However...
Things had changed over the years.
Not only had Yumo taught her many things...
She had also spent a long time living among humans.
Inevitably, some human values had rubbed off on her.
Looking at Limo cheerfully bouncing around with her chest completely exposed...
Karina suddenly found the scene rather strange.
"Come to think of it... Are you two still running around naked most of the time? Or do you spend most of your time in your Abyss Demon forms?"
"Meow?"
Limo blinked blankly.
Liyu slowly shook her head.
"Not anymore, Karina. Thanks to Mother's influence, I've gotten used to wearing clothes and staying in human form. As for Big Sister..."
She glanced helplessly at Limo, who had already sprawled across Karina's lap demanding belly rubs.
"...she still has a very long road ahead of her."
"This time, though, we were disguised as spirit beasts, so naturally we couldn't wear anything."
"I see. You should adapt to human customs as soon as possible. That way Mother will feel more at ease about letting you come outside in the future."
"Mm. Understood, Karina."
"Oh, right."
"Hm?"
"Haven't they recently developed those clothes made from memory fibers? You two should get a set through the Black Rose Family. Once they're properly configured, the clothes can apparently shrink into your fur whenever you transform into your Abyss Demon forms. Then, when you become human again, they'll return to normal clothing. That would make switching between forms much more convenient."
Hearing that, Liyu nodded in agreement.
"That actually sounds like a good idea."
Meanwhile...
Limo, still lying there happily enjoying her belly rubs, wore a puzzled expression.
"But Karina... aren't those clothes really expensive?"
Hearing that innocent question, Karina looked at her with obvious affection before lightly flicking Limo's forehead.
"Silly girl. Do you honestly think the Black Rose Family is short on money? And even if they were, couldn't they just ask the elves or the dragons? Problem solved. Honestly, after all these years, that little brain of yours still hasn't improved."
"Meowu~"
Limo accepted the criticism obediently without arguing.
After all...
Karina possessed tremendous authority as an older sister.
Whenever Yumo wasn't available...
It had always been Karina who educated the younger girls.
Still...
Even though Limo didn't argue—
Her stomach suddenly growled loudly.
Grrrr...
Even the carefree little wolf couldn't help blushing.
Looking pitifully at her third sister, she asked,
"Karina... do you have anything to eat? I'm hungry..."
"Limo! What are you thinking? Karina is imprisoned inside the imperial prison! How could she possibly have food?"
Liyu immediately complained.
However—
Karina's next words left Liyu completely stunned.
"Well... actually..."
"I do."
"...Huh?"
"You... have food?"
"Of course. Quite a lot, actually."
The next moment—
Karina casually waved her hand.
As crimson Shadow of Silence Power surged outward...
The enormous crimson sun behind her suddenly opened like a giant doorway.
Inside...
Was what appeared to be...
Her bedroom.
The instant Liyu saw the interior...
The corner of her eye twitched.
Because it looked exactly like a luxurious five-star hotel suite.
Beds.
Tables.
Chairs.
Sofas.
Everything was constructed entirely from flames.
Yet despite being made of fire...
None of it radiated any heat.
"Karina... are you... taking a vacation in there?"
Karina thought about it for a moment before nodding honestly.
"Emmm... I suppose you could say that."
As she spoke, crimson light flashed in her eyes.
Under her control—
A small mountain of food was carried out of the room by crimson Shadow of Silence Power and gently placed in front of Limo.
"Food! Yay!"
The moment she saw the mountain of food...
Limo immediately began dancing with excitement.
She dove straight into the pile, grabbed an enormous chicken drumstick, stuffed it into her mouth, and blissfully began devouring it.
Liyu stood there utterly dumbfounded.
???
...Huh?
After staring blankly for several moments, Liyu turned toward Karina, who was happily feeding Limo, before looking at the countless daily necessities filling the room.
"Karina... where did all this food come from? And... all those household supplies?"
"These?"
"I simply create a few Flame Demons and have them sneak out to collect things."
As she spoke, Karina snapped her fingers.
The surrounding flames immediately gathered in her palm.
Soon...
A tiny little humanoid made entirely of fire, [N O V E L I G H T] complete with a pair of little demon horns, appeared before Liyu.
The little creature cheerfully waved at her.
"These are Flame Demons. Whenever I pretend to go berserk, I break open a tiny section of the barrier and let these little fellows slip out through the ventilation shaft to gather supplies."
"...Uh..."
For a moment, Liyu didn't know what to say.
One of the biggest reasons she'd secretly come here today had been to check on Karina.
She had been worried that, while pretending to be captured, Karina might have been mistreated by Xue Tianao's people.
But now...
It seemed she'd worried for nothing.
Karina...
Appeared to be living even more comfortably here than they were in the Princess's Palace.
Still...
"By the way, Karina... if you're damaging the barrier like this, won't those people notice?"
"It's fine. You don't need to worry. Every time the Flame Demons return, I repair the barrier myself. They never notice anything unusual."
As she spoke...
Karina took a coat from her flaming wardrobe.
She gently draped it over Liyu's shoulders, covering the large expanse of fair skin the little girl had left exposed.
"Enough about that."
"Liyu."
"Did you get the Child of Destiny's weapon?"
"Mm! Of course!"