Maria straightened her back and looked at the girls.
But...before anyone could react she bowed her head.
It was not a hurried motion, not stiff or forced.
Instead it was slow and calm.
As if she had practiced it many tis in her life.
As she bent forward, her golden hair slipped gently from her shoulders.
It kept flowing down like soft threads of sunlight.
The strands caught the light in the room and shimred faintly.
The strands frad her face as they fell.
Even in that lowered posture, she looked regal.
Is was as though bowing did not lessen her presence but instead emphasized it.
There was a quiet dignity in the way she held herself.
A natural grace that remained untouched even while she apologized.
When she lifted her head again, her expression was steady.
Her eyes clear, and her posture straight.
It carried the sa noble air she had before.
"I’m sorry for everything my sister put you through," Maria said.
Her voice was calm but heavy with aning.
The words settled in the room like dust after a sudden movent.
The girls all fell silent, none of them knowing what to say.
No one interrupted, no one shifted uncomfortably.
And no one laughed it off.
They simply stared.
Each of them processing her words in their own way.
The air felt thicker, almost tense.
As if everyone was holding their breath at the sa ti.
Then Aria, who had been watching Maria closely finally broke the silence.
And tilted her head slightly and murmured,
"Sister?"
Her voice was soft, almost uncertain.
As if she was testing the word before fully accepting it.
Maria nodded without hesitation.
"Yes," she said.
"Rebecca, or as you know her, Leviathan, is my sister."
She paused briefly, letting the na sink in, then continued speaking.
She went on to explain the sa story to them.
She repeated the truth she had already told .
Laying it out carefully and clearly.
Her tone remained even as she spoke.
And she did not dramatize anything.
She simply told it as it was, one part flowing into the next.
Her words was steady and honest.
As she spoke, her hands remained still at her sides.
Her gaze moved slowly from one face to another.
She has was Making sure they were listening.
Making sure they understood.
I sat on the couch, leaning back comfortably.
Looking at all of them as they listened to her story.
I found myself enjoying their different expressions.
A kaleidoscope of emotions of that appeared on their faces as her explanation unfolded.
There was surprise, disbelief, confusion, and even a bit of frustration.
All flickering across their features in turn.
So widened their eyes, others frowned.
And a few pressed their lips together as if holding back comnts.
Watching them react like that was strangely satisfying.
I could not help it.
Seeing them hear everything for the first ti reminded sothing.
It reminded of how it felt when I first learned it all myself.
I smiled faintly to myself, enjoying every second of it.
I murmured quietly, almost to no one.
That if I were in their place, hearing it for the first ti.
I.... would probably look the sa.
Their reactions felt real, raw, and honest.
Which made the mont feel alive.
I was sitting there, taking it all.
And most importantly...enjoying the scene more than I probably should have.
Lucy walked over and sat down beside .
She did it casually, like it was the most natural thing in the world.
Then, without asking, she lifted her legs and gently pushed her feet.
They were still covered with stockings, fell onto my lap.
The movent was smooth and confident.
Her legs were long and slim.
They were wrapped in thin black stockings that clung closely to her skin.
The fabric was slightly sheer, just enough to show the soft shape beneath.
It kept catching the light in a subtle way.
The stockings followed the curve of her calves and ankles perfectly.
Only to end neatly around her feet.
They looked warm and soft.
The contrast of black against her pale skin made them stand out even more.
Lucy looked at and said, "Ragnar, please massage them."
I did not argue.
I simply took her feet into my lap.
And with one hand supporting them while the other began to move.
Slowly, I rubbed the soles of her feet.
My thumbs pressing gently at first before applying more pressure.
I might not have looked like it. But...
Back on Earth, in my previous life.
I had inherited a massage parlor from my grandpa.
He personally taught his skills.
Spending years correcting my posture.
My hand movents, and my sense of pressure.
Those lessons stayed with .
And over ti they helped very much with won.
As I kept moving my hands.
Working carefully along the soles and arches.
Lucy released involuntary moans.
They were soft at first, barely noticeable.
But soon enough, then they beca clearer.
Her moans kept slipping out before she could stop them.
Every single person in the room stopped what they were doing and looked at us.
The serious atmosphere that had filled the space changed.
It’s shattered instantly.
They all deadpanned at us, staring without blinking.
Their faces were flat, unimpressed, and almost offended.
Here they were, listening to a serious story.
Dealing with heavy truths.
And and Lucy were over here being completely naughty.
The contrast was sharp and almost ridiculous.
No one said anything, but the silence spoke louder than words.
Lucy stiffly took her legs off my lap.
Her movents quick and slightly embarrassed.
She cleared her throat and said,
"Ragnar’s massaging skills are impressive, the best I’ve experienced."
Her words landed heavily.
Everyone looked even more surprised now.
They all knew Lucy was an archmage who had lived a very long ti.
Such a declaration from her was no small thing.
It was a massive feat in itself.
The weight of her statent lingered in the air.
Then Kalia clapped her hands together sharply.
She broke the mont.
Then she grabbed Maria by the wrist and pulled her toward the kitchen.
"Food heals wounds," she said brightly.
"I know you’ve been through a lot, so let’s cook."
Maria nodded happily, her expression softening.
They soon all rushed to the kitchen.
Their voices overlapping as they talked and began trying to cook together.
The tension eased, replaced by warmth and movent.
At the sa ti, my system chid in.
Ding!
Congratulations! host.
1 super evolution chance.
I felt my body rush with excitent.
Energy surged through , making my heart beat faster.
Now I had at least a guaranteed way to attack the Hydro Kingdom and Leviathan.
The thought alone was enough to make stand up.
I grabbed my jacket and walked toward the door.
The jacket was dark and sturdy.
It rested comfortably on my shoulders as I slipped it on.
It felt familiar, protective, like a second skin.
I adjusted it slightly, then looked down at my shoes.
They were worn but reliable, fitting snugly as I stepped into them.
I opened the door, the hinges creaking softly, and stepped outside.
The cool air brushed against my face as I walked toward the forest.
The door closed behind , and the sounds of the house faded.
I kept walking for a solid ten minutes.
The ground crunching beneath my feet.
Until I felt certain I was far enough from Lucy’s house.
The forest surrounded , quiet and patient.
Then I tapped the 1 super evolution chance and just then.....
Reviews
All reviews (0)