Capital Titania was arranged in a circular formation and divided into three sectors. The residential sector is the largest, outermost ring, followed inward by the noble sector, and then at the very center, the royal sector.
Except no walls separated them from within, no gigantic titans scaling them, no terrifying monologue about on that day, ’Humanity received a Grim Reminder of x,y and z.’
Well, l was sure that if those were to exist, the Saintess would have wiped them out on the spot.
Worse than those threats, however...
l mused at such vivid imagination, before her step on a familiar ’slash wound’ pulled her back to reality. Faint, unnoticeable, if not for the scent of she knew all too well.
Sensing her lover’s contemplative look, Lila tilted her head. "Sothing wrong, l?" Her hold over l’s hand grew firr.
The Witch of Lust shook her head. "Nothing much." Only she, the ’System’, a particular Witch of Sloth, and those at the academy would comprehend the threat this bizarrely long, thin line represents.
l observed their surroundings. Crowds gathered, chattering, stalls stocked up with daily necessities, and salesn called out to attract custors to their shops.
She could hear more gossip, downward glances, and knights patrolling, though the atmosphere remained as comfy and welcoming as she had first rembered.
Chuckling to herself, l rely led Lila forward.
"This is the shopping centre in the Southern District." She watched as Lila’s gaze wandered around with curiosity. "Pretty near to the Academy of Solaria with pretty cheap wares. I used to be a common shopper here."
At age 5, after l snuck into the capital and resided herself in an orphanage, she often ca here for grocery shopping until Saria finally decided to retire from her job.
She planned to visit them after settling in the school dorm, perhaps asking Ed the rchant for a gift for that ’chocolate-loving, Witch-like’ Director.
A sense of nostalgia welled up for the easily misunderstood ’evil grin’, she turned to Lila. "Anything you want to buy? Necklace, bracelet, earring. Don’t feel obligated coz I have the money for it!"
As the System notified her yesterday, the Protagonist was in first place, as expected.
The third exam didn’t count toward the total score and was treated more like a bonus. Calina’s studious attitude earned her a well-deserved first place in the first exam.
In other words, her scam with Ed the Bone rchant succeeded, so she wasn’t about to be picky with her money.
"Hm...." Lila held her chin, frowning. "What if I want to buy sothing for you instead?"
l smirked. "Then I’ll make it fair by taking you to the most expensive restaurant here."
Facing her lover’s boldness, Lila could only pout. "Bribing with treats now?" How unreasonable. Did her l not know how much she owed her already?
l’s face bead. "It’s for yesterday! Don’t feel obligated and take your pick. If you do, help choose so souvenirs, Saria and the others too."
Cute. Lila imprinted another ’cute l expression’ into her mory before nodding. "Alright then. However, I’ll do the sa for you soday. No rejection."
"Hehe. I look forward to it."
l’s mind was reassured. She was afraid that-
"Wait, what do you an buying souvenirs for the others?"
Uh oh. l glanced playfully towards a stall, suddenly drawn to the cotton dolls hanging there. "Just so playmates at the capital. No worries, my only lover is Lila (for) now!"
"..."
The Witch of Lust watched as Lila’s eyes darkened, like part of her humanity drained away.
[ Envy felt as if you weren’t being honest. Luckily, she chose only to inquire afterwards to not ruin the date! ]
[ Favourability: 85 -> 83 ]
Yep. I deserved it.
l secretly admonished herself.
Despite the minor hiccup, the couple had a smooth and uninterrupted date. Acting as her tour guide and partner, l showed Lila where to buy groceries, clothes, and more.
Determined to buy l a gift soday, Lila listened attentively as l went stall-to-stall, picking her ’wares’ and stuffing them inside the [ inventory ].
The Witch of Envy noted. A doll, a book with a worn-out cover, a sewing kit, a fountain pen, then mysteriously, canned cat food.
Lila’s eyes blinked. Oh. l ntioned it before, but were the souvenirs for the orphanage she used to live in?
[ The Witch of Envy felt slightly, just slightly relieved knowing who you buy souvenirs for! ]
[ Favourability: 83 -> 86 ]
l chuckled guiltily as she bought and stored the scented candles. "Alright. Now onto yours, Lila!"
Her lover’s Erald eyes wavered, her suspicion ’proving’ to be another petty jealousy. "Co-co to think of it, didn’t I already have a gift from you?"
The Witch of Lust’s brows raised before smirking knowingly. "Oh. Of course."
Over their clenched hands, l’s thumb swept over Lila’s ring finger, where the still rested firmly.
Lila froze for a second, her shalessness back in the exam resurfacing. "Uh-um... never mind..." She would never, never ntion the ring to l. Never!
l’s free hand held her chin, then rely shrugged. "Of course." Her mind conjured a plan to bring it up later.
They soon headed silently to another stall. This ti, a selection of hairpins rested on the counters.
"Oh!" l exclaid before grasping one with a butterfly hairpin, its delicate wings made of eralds that fit Lila’s eye colors, gleaming with a touch of elegance.
l eyed the female stall owner with flashy, totally-not-suspicious sunglasses shimring under the sun.
It was rare to witness a jewelry stall out in the open. Thievery was uncommon with the patrols’ presence, but most jewelry sellers preferred shops instead.
Regardless, after asking the System that the jewels had no faults at a reasonable price, she turned to Lila. "Want to try?"
Lila’s eyes widened. "Can I? What’s the price?"
"Don’t sweat it. Just yes, or no?"
Lila hung her head. It is another debt to repay, but it would be too rude to reject l’s favor, her lover’s, for another ti. "Mm."
l’s expression softened at Lila’s obedience, assuming the girl planned not to leave her debts unpaid. Again, no heavy burden, but she wished to indulge her desires for a little while.
And so, the Witch of Lust leaned forward, brushing aside Lila’s hairlock. In a practiced motion, she attached the hairpin to the side, its shimring wings catching the light blue hair as if attracted to a field of flowers.
She pulled back with an examinative look, nodding approvingly. "Perfect."
Then a naughty thought ca, before her nail traveled Lila’s cheek to tickle Lila’s ear a little.
The mischievous seducer smirked at the faint blush, paired well with the graceful butterfly to form the perfect image of a noble maiden in love.
This is a little dangerous. Biting her tongue to regain clarity, she shifted her gaze to the stall owner. "This one, please!"
Lila hiccuped. "Hey... you didn’t ask for my opinion..."
"You’ll just agree to again, not wanting to be in debt further, right?"
l cast a soft, mischievous glance at Lila. "Like I said again, selfishness. Next ti, I will receive your gift without asking, hinting, rejecting, or fussing. So, I look forward to it!"
Lila shuddered with the weight of l’s words. "Of course... I will do my best!"
"Hehe. Don’t feel pressured."
l handed the gold coins to the stall owner, seemingly casual and innocent.
Then, she cast a piercing look at the stall owner, whose shoulders shivered a little.
She mumbled to ’him’, "Hi Ed. How long have you been staying here?"
Ed, in the disguise of a female stall owner, rely gazed away. "Good afternoon, Miss Witch."
l softened her glare. "I’m surprised you know my true identity. Even where my Lila and I were staying."
In the extra excerpts, she knew that Ed was an extrely inford rchant, but not omnipotent.
One of the information she thought he wouldn’t grasp would be the Witch of Lust, who has not appeared throughout the original gacha ga.
Her mind received Ed’s ssage.
I’ve... well, I’ve co to respect our dealings, concerning the God of Contract, Miss Witch.
But a little too much for monitoring us, don’t you think?
No. I’ve only intended to watch myself closely while not wasting ti and idling away. So I decided to open a temporary stall here.
l’s lips curled up to a wry smile. Ed likely couldn’t easily handle the ’monitoring one of 7 calamities’ duty to anyone, so it would make sense for him to do it himself.
But to open a stall during the monitoring? She could only be impressed by the multitasking.
Well, good luck. I’ll be finding you later.
Of course, and please take care. The Church is scattering to search for you now.
Patting her Lila, who seed to be confused at l’s pausing over the stall, a playful glint flashed across her eyes.
Thank you. But I don’t think I’m going to worry anyti soon.
Leaving behind a vague reassurance, she dragged Lila away for their dates. For now, it is ti for lunch.
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