Samantha raised her head, amused. "Oh. No need. I did nothing but stall back then."
From her five years of experience in military interrogations, she knew the difference between sincere gratitude and blatant provocation.
And the ’brat’ that sat before her belonged to the latter, without a doubt.
Feigning ignorance of Samantha’s sharp gaze, l cut her steak casually. "Regardless, even if I’m not sure what happened back then, I’m glad no one was hurt."
Technically a lie. Samantha laughed inwardly. Due to l’s little ’hypnotic and arsonist’ prank, many flat out cried in tears when transported back from the .
Worse, when the earthquake occurred, so kneeled before ’l’ as if she were the source of the disaster, begging for forgiveness.
Such embarrassing sights for the ’future generation’. Samantha will be sure to reprimand those students later after she finishes her daily ’slack-off’ routine.
The teacher pocketed her hands into her jeans, her shoulders relaxing as she examined l thoroughly. "So caring of you. I almost shed tears when the principal received complaint letters accusing you of being a terrorist."
The Witch of Lust munched on the steak. "Mm. Can’t be helped. I am sure in due ti, everyone will get along with ."
Samantha tilted her head, her rainbow eyes scanning, watching. "Oh. I’m very sure. No worries. Just contact when you enroll. I’ll ensure no injustice or harm will be done to you."
That is not a lie. Her suspicion of l aside, Samantha fully intended to protect l, as a teacher would her student.
Of course, a closer relationship with l ant more justification for monitoring movents that she would not deny.
l gulped the bite, her face beaming. "Really? I will find you a lot then!" She also didn’t lie. She knew full well how Samantha distrusted her, but with enough ddling, that distrust can turn into attraction.
The teacher nodded, her eyes smiling ’kindly’. "Of course. Teachers are ant to provide you with resources to learn more about yourself, so try not to keep everything to yourself."
...System, subtext?
[ Samantha’s Translation: Hurry up and spill where you got that from, Brat! ]
She chortled like a bird would when it received a treat. "Thank you! I would be sure to confide in you when I have the ti."
At her words, however, she felt a pinch on her thigh. Looking sideways, she t a familiar pouting face with a suspicious glare.
"Spend more ti with instead. Don’t flirt with a teacher when we’re on a date."
Lila’s erald eyes squinted further. The conversation between l and the teacher lasted about a minute in real ti, yet she could practically sense the spark flying between them!
She didn’t know what spark it was, but the Witch of Envy felt that if she didn’t snuff it out earlier, she would really, really regret it later!
[ Envy now felt suspicious of you and Samantha’s unspoken tension! ]
[ Envy Favourability: 89 -> 84 ]
l’s golden eyes curved to et her lover’s glare. "Oh. In what ways do you see that as a flirt?"
Discontent bubbled in Lila. "I don’t know. But a flirt is a flirt." Her ring finger clung to l’s skirt, and the cold tal on her lover’s skin was a quiet assertion of her place.
The Witch of Lust chuckled playfully, eying Saria and Samantha, each narrowing their gaze at her.
Then, those skeptical looks turned to shock as she leaned in and quickly pecked Lila’s cheek.
"Hic-" Lila pulled back, blushing hard and holding the spot where she was kissed. "I-what are you doing in front of everyone?"
l licked her lips, the lingering oil mixing well with the ’dessert’ she had just tasted. "What? It’s just a friendly gesture."
The Witch of Envy gritted her teeth before clutching to her skirt and glancing downward. "I-I..."
[ Envy felt reassured, embarrassed and hor-cough cough. Anyways, good job. ]
[ Envy Favourability: 84 -> 89.5 ]
l admired the deepening redness across Lila’s face, before turning to the adultly duo. "Jealous? Want a kiss too?"
Samantha shrugged. "I respectfully decline. Saria?"
"Sa here."
The Radiant Knight sighed in relief. She worried that yesterday’s l seed too cold and distant towards Lila.
Perhaps it was a concern that grew too uncontrollably. Or possibly l sensed Lila’s discomfort after that Witch...
The Knight’s hand gripped into a fist, the anger under that grey sky resurfacing.
Even when long retired, her sense of justice flared up again upon rembering Lila’s tears, which signified a stain in her innocence upon the Witch’s violation.
Then, as if on instinct, she gently bent forward and embraced Lila, tight, her (absent) chest colliding with Lila’s.
"I promise." She muttered. "I will find the one responsible and make her pay."
l blinked at the sight, before-
"Pft."
[ ....pft. ]
Simultaneously, the Witch of Lust and ’System’ held back a chuckle.
Lila’s guilt shot up in her chest, her heart pounding nervously. "Uh-um...yes. Please do your best."
The quickening heartbeat only pained the Knight’s heart, as she tightened her hug. "Of course." She was ashad of her solemn tone slipping out. Her closest one’s lover, traumatized, yet she remained helpless with only an empty, unfulfilled vow.
Then, the Knight felt a tug on her shoulder. Her heavy eyes shifted toward l, who t her with a softened, understanding gaze that seed to pierce through her troubled thoughts.
"It’s alright, Sis."
The Knight’s eyes widened. Throughout her years, l’s voice has never seed so tender. So fragile.
"I believe in you. You can do it."
The Knight admonished herself further. If she arrived in ti, would Lila not suffer as the Witch’s hostage? Would l not suffer a humiliation of her lover being defiled without her knowing?
She almost wished to confide in l her sins. She wanted to confess her guilt about failing to protect her lover.
[ Yet she rely pulled back from grasping Lila, letting go of her. She could only trust in the Saintess’s capability, that she would promise retribution upon the calamity Witch... ]
"Sto-stop... my tummy hurts..."
Viewing the System’s panel narrating Saria’s predicant, the cruel witch bit her tongue, mustering all her strength not to laugh aloud.
l sincerely wished Saria would know her identity soday, but the timing is off. It must wait until or after the { Draconic Invasion } in the North, where Greed resided.
So for now, Saria must suffer a little. Don’t worry. The Witch of Lust would gladly, voluntarily offer her bum to be smacked when the ti cos.
Samantha glanced over the trio, sensing the uncomfortable suspense in the situation.
She pulled back Saria by her neck sleeve. "Good enough now, Knight. Let’s not disrupt their date further."
The Knight shook, rembering they were the intruders here, before bowing her head a little. "Sorry. My sentint got to . Please forget it."
l smiled. "No worries."
System. Did you record it on film?
[ Crystal-clear with high dynamic range (HDR), my Host. ]
Good job. As expected from my partner-in-cri.
l sipped her li tea with ease. Blackmail materials, settling perfectly within her grasp.
She would review the footage personally later when she visited ’her’.
As Saria excused herself, discreetly sliding so coins onto the table, she headed toward the bar counter. Samantha followed close behind, but not without casting a glance back.
"I was not joking earlier. et any trouble at the academy? Co find in the Teacher’s Office. Unlike today, I promise I’ll be available."
She then waved and walked away. "And welco to the academy, you both."
l stared at the teacher’s back, the jacket fluttering slightly with each step. Her stride had a quiet authority, a confidence forged through strengths and experience.
[ You have gained the attention of Gluttony! ]
[ Gluttony Favourability: 0 -> 1 ]
Wow. So low.
l comnted to herself inwardly. Her tactic to gain the teacher’s enmity and then to earn her attention worked immaculately.
The issue? In her dutiful approach to the job, the teacher naturally viewed her as a ’student’, albeit with an extra flair of suspicion.
However, excitent was only set afla in her chest at the challenge known as Samantha.
It would take l a long ti, but she would slowly break the barrier between them.
Until the teacher willingly pushes her down, she will wait patiently, gradually building Gluttony’s resolve to confront her own self willingly.
She hoped, at the very least, that Samantha would drink a little less often until then. Just a little.
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