Vol 3. Chapter 118: I Just Can’t Stop Worrying
"Sorry, Sister Yumo, for keeping it from you for so long."
Mengxi blinked her beautiful light-purple eyes and spoke sincerely.
After hearing Mengxi's apology and having her cheek gently poked by the other girl, the raging turmoil inside Yumo's heart finally managed to settle down somewhat. She looked at the smiling silver-haired girl, who was clearly suspected of deliberately acting cute, with an extremely conflicted gaze.
"You... you know I'm an Abyss Demon?"
"Yep~"
"Then... aren't you afraid of me?"
Yumo frowned and asked somewhat nervously.
Mengxi didn't hesitate for even a moment before shaking her head. Tilting it slightly, she smiled and asked in return,
"Of course not. Sister Yumo is my benefactor, after all. Back in the Great Winter Forest, if it hadn't been for Sister taking care of me, I might not even be alive anymore. So how could I possibly be afraid of you?"
Those words inexplicably put Yumo somewhat at ease.
Although even she wasn't quite sure why,
somewhere deep inside,
Yumo didn't want Mengxi to be afraid of her.
But...
"But you're the Daughter of Destiny, aren't you? You should... hate the aura of Abyss Demons, right? Besides, I'm not an ordinary Abyss Demon either. You know perfectly well that Abyss Demons hate Chosen Ones. Are you really not afraid that something unexpected might happen......"
She already knows who I am,
yet she still dares to stay this close to me.
Is this girl's courage really that ridiculous?
For a moment, Miss Yumo herself became rather baffled, her scarlet eyes filled with confusion. She even felt a hint of dissatisfaction at Mengxi's recklessly bold behavior. Without a doubt, Miss Yumo's emotions were currently extremely complicated.
Shock, depression, embarrassment, confusion, dissatisfaction, and countless other emotions were all mixed together like paste.
She had no idea what to feel.
"I'm really not afraid~"
Mengxi emphasized once more. She even stepped forward without another word and wrapped herself around Miss Yumo's arm, catching the latter completely off guard.
"Because I know perfectly well that Sister Yumo is different from other Abyss Demons. If something really were going to happen, wouldn't it have happened already back in the Great Winter Forest?......"
"That......"
"Hehe, besides? Sister Yumo, not all Abyss Demons hate Chosen Ones, right? At the very least, I don't sense any killing intent or hatred from you right now. And as for an Abyss Demon's aura? Enmmm, it really isn't very comfortable......"
Upon hearing those words, an almost imperceptible trace of disappointment appeared in Miss Yumo's beautiful scarlet eyes.
"I-Is that so......"
"But,"
"But?"
"Hehe, Sister Yumo smells different from ordinary Abyss Demons~ Not only do I not hate it, I actually really like it~"
As she spoke, Mengxi hugged Yumo's slender arm even more tightly, pressing her two large buns firmly against it. Her fair and delicate face also moved close to Yumo's, seemingly so she could better take in Yumo's scent. This series of actions quickly caused the blush to return to Yumo's face just as she had finally begun returning to normal.
"S-Smells good? W-What...... what nonsense are you talking about!"
"It's not nonsense. I'm serious."
"Enmmm, nonsense......"
"No, I'm really not making it up. How could I possibly bear to fool Sister Yumo~"
Hearing this, Yumo couldn't help pouting, a faint trace of 'anger' emerging in her eyes.
"Nonsense...... You clearly...... fooled me for so long before, making me act like an idiot the entire time......"
"Ah, that......"
Seemingly hearing the resentment and displeasure in Miss Yumo's voice, Mengxi gave a slightly helpless, bitter smile. After all, properly explaining this matter would take quite a bit of time and effort.
However,
'Sister Yumo when she's a little angry is adorable too~'
Staring at Yumo's flushed face, reddened by embarrassment and slight anger, Mengxi even began feeling somewhat excited inside. At a time like this, Miss Mengxi actually found herself missing the existence of 'Xiaomo.' If it were Xiaomo, she could have gone straight up without hesitation and kneaded those soft, fair little cheeks to her heart's content~
And Sister Yumo in that state could only let me play with her however I wanted~
Sigh,
I wonder if I'll ever get to see such a meek Sister Yumo again.
Enmm,
whatever. According to the novels,
just how soft Sister Yumo eventually becomes will depend on how hard I work!
For now,
'I should explain everything first.'
After fooling Sister Yumo for so long, even Mengxi felt rather embarrassed about it.
Thinking this, Mengxi put away her playful gaze and cutesy smile. For once, she revealed a serious expression and met Miss Yumo's anxious eyes. However, just as Mengxi was about to properly comfort the depressed Miss Yumo,
a peculiar fluctuation suddenly entered Mengxi's mind, causing the silver-haired girl's brows to abruptly knit together.
The words she had just been about to say were forcibly swallowed back down.
?!!
T-This feeling......
Could it be......
Seemingly realizing something, the smile on Mengxi's face gradually faded, replaced by a solemn expression.
Seeing Mengxi's expression change, Miss Yumo, although still unhappy inside, instinctively revealed a trace of concern.
"Um, what's wrong?"
Hearing this, Mengxi froze.
She immediately realized how poorly timed her change in expression had been. The solemnity on her face was abruptly concealed, and her signature captivating smile once again appeared.
"It's nothing. Don't worry, Sister Yumo. Just a few minor matters."
"M-Minor matters?"
"Mm. Though they are a little troublesome. So, sorry, Sister Yumo, but I need to go deal with these troublesome matters first. Once I come back, I'll explain everything to you."
As she spoke, Miss Mengxi reluctantly released Yumo's slender arm and thoughtfully gazed toward the western side of the sky.
"Are you really okay?"
Yumo was still somewhat suspicious.
But Mengxi firmly nodded and casually waved her hand.
"I'm really fine. I just need to go take care of something. Wait for me to come back, Sister Yumo. Also, be careful. Don't let anyone else discover your identity again~............"
After giving her a few brief instructions,
and even pushing her luck by planting a kiss on Miss Yumo's cheek, Mengxi was enveloped in a surge of silver-white Sacred Aura. She transformed into a silver meteor and rapidly flew toward the eastern sky, leaving Miss Yumo alone, standing there completely dumbfounded.
Her black hair fading into crimson at the ends fluttered in the wind.
......
......
Watching the silver light rapidly disappear from her field of vision, Miss Yumo pouted unhappily.
Wuwu, seriously!
And she said she wouldn't fool me! She was obviously fooling me just now! What do you mean nothing's wrong?! Something is definitely wrong! And it's obviously something urgent!
Yumo couldn't stop grumbling furiously inside her head.
Clearly,
Yumo was sulking now.
Humiliation and anger.
After the humiliation came the anger.
The thought that the adorable girl she'd trusted so deeply in the past, the child she'd cared for like her own 'little sister,' had actually fooled her like this?! Just thinking about it made Yumo furious. The moment she imagined the 'mocking' thoughts Mengxi might have had every time she watched Yumo putting on her little act, the flames of anger in Yumo's heart surged even higher.
'Stupid girl! Bad girl! Damn girl! How dare she fool me like that! And I trusted her so much!'
I hate her so much!
I'm not talking to her anymore!
In her irritation, Yumo even angrily raised her foot and stomped the ground, causing the surrounding earth, which had only just managed to calm down, to once again shake violently. Fortunately, there was no one nearby. Otherwise, the waves of terrifying Shadow of Silence Power released by Yumo in her displeasure would have been enough to leave ordinary people half-dead, if not outright annihilate their souls on the spot.
After briefly recalling Mengxi's expression just now and how hurriedly the silver-haired girl had left,
Yumo couldn't help frowning.
'Could something really have happened?'
Enmm,
forget it!
I'm ignoring her! Whatever happens, happens!
She dared fool me like that! I'm not dealing with her anymore! If something happens, then something happens! What the hell does it have to do with me?!
......
......
But,
b-but, what...... what if something really did happen?
If something happened to that girl, I......
Enmmm,
......
Sigh,
'So annoying, so annoying, so annoying!......'
After thinking it over again and again, Yumo helplessly sighed.
After cursing inwardly and shaking her head in utter conflict, Yumo glanced toward the distant ruins with complicated emotions.
As Blood Butterflies fluttered through the air and scarlet Shadow of Silence Power slowly rippled outward, three adorable giant bird-like Abyss Demons covered in dark-red fluff obediently put down their 'lunch' at Yumo's command. They poked their heads out from among the ruins and looked obediently toward Yumo.
'What's up?! Boss!'
'You three, follow that girl. Don't let anything happen to her.'