Chapter 82: A Damsel Rescuing a Damsel
The social gathering was held at a popular venue in the city center, requiring passage through several busy streets.
It seemed that the usually low-key Professor Witch was quite wealthy, which surprised Lena.
“Here’s the bill, you can reimburse it from the finance department.”
“?”
“What? They ate and drank on my tab, I put on a fake smile and toasted them, and I can’t even get reimbursed?” Professor Witch said matter-of-factly.
“That makes sense.”
Lena, sitting in the magic carriage, was slightly confused. Mines was applying medicine to Lena’s face, their intimate interaction drawing Professor Witch’s attention.
“Your little wife?”
“Bodyguard.”
“Oh, youthful energy, I understand.”
Professor Witch chuckled, hiding behind her robes, her words unrestrained. “I heard you’ve been hanging around that Imperial Flower recently. What, suddenly interested in becoming royalty?”
“Just playing around, do I look like a lolicon?”
“No.”
“See?”
“You are a lolicon,” Professor Witch said with certainty.
“Go to hell, if I were a lolicon, I would have pounced on my little fox girl long ago…”
Lena said without hesitation, watching the changing neon lights outside the window, the noisy streets and bustling crowds creating a surreal atmosphere, like a vivid dream.
“What about Agnes? I heard you two are quite close.” Professor Witch changed the subject, her arm propping up her chin, her voice filled with amusement. “I even heard some rumors about Agnes, but she didn’t seem to care, didn’t even bother clarifying, just told you to focus on your studies.”
“That sounds like Professor, she’s someone I find hard to dislike.”
“That’s the first time I’ve heard you praise someone without sarcasm.”
“Hehe, Professor Witch deserves the praise too.”
“I’m truly flattered…”
Professor Witch looked at Lena, her gaze drifting to the side. The so-called bodyguard was practically hanging onto Lena, truly a promiscuous girl.
“We’ll go our separate ways after we arrive. There will be many important figures tonight, so behave yourself. We’ll meet in the main hall after the banquet begins, is that okay?”
“No problem.”
Lena kneaded Mines’s thigh, which was resting on her lap, and kissed her lips, the temperature in the carriage rising.
“Honestly…”
Professor Witch couldn’t stand Lena’s public display of affection, and didn’t want to be a third wheel, so she made an excuse to leave.
“Alright, I’ll get off here, you two continue your lovey-dovey act.”
“See you later, Professor.”
Lena didn’t even look up, continuing to savor the sweet, citrus-flavored kisses.
Mines’s pale skin flushed pink, her lips slightly parted.
Her soft moans were like fuel to the fire, making Lena want to lift her red feather skirt and ravage her slender body…
“Master, what are you planning to do?” Mines whispered breathlessly.
Kissing was still a bit difficult for her; she hadn’t mastered the technique yet.
She wanted to practice more…
Mines’s blood-red eyes seemed to be overflowing.
She raised her neck, her hand touching her cheek, but the moment their lips met, her body went limp.
Lena took her hand and asked, “What do you want me to do?”
“Master, you tease, you know what I’m asking.” Mines shyly buried her face in Lena’s ample bosom, feeling her heartbeat. “The banquet is dangerous, but I will protect you, Master, just do as you please, I’ll handle everything…”
“Then I’ll look forward to it.”
“Yes, Master… you’ll have the perfect dance partner.” Mines smiled faintly, her eyes brighter.
…
After about half an hour, the carriage arrived at the banquet venue.
Many other carriages were also arriving, their occupants clearly from prominent families, judging by their attire.
Lena had only brought Mines, which seemed a bit inadequate.
Ling Ling was too young for such a formal occasion, and this banquet wasn’t for pleasure; escaping unscathed would be a challenge.
“Lena!”
Lena had just stepped out of the carriage when she saw a familiar face. Agnes’s water-blue hair stood out in the crowd. She hurried over, taking Lena’s hand like an older sister, her expression a mixture of worry and anger.
“Why are you here? Go back! It’s dangerous!”
“I’m here for the banquet.”
Lena felt the warmth of Agnes’s hand, a strange feeling rising within her.
Shouldn’t she be here?
And why was Professor Agnes here?
“This isn’t a place for a student like you. Listen to your older sister, if anything happens at the academy, I’ll handle it, you don’t have to be brave, okay?”
“Professor, you’re so kind, I’m going to cry.” Lena pretended to be moved.
“Lena, be serious! This banquet is a conspiracy against the Necromancy Department! Didn’t Professor Witch tell you?!”
Agnes’s eyes were filled with anxiety. She glanced at Mines beside Lena, then scanned their surroundings for eavesdroppers, lowering her voice.
“Think of this place as a shooting range, and you’re the target. With your current status and rank, countless people want to get close to you! Some are powerful, some are highly ranked, and some are from exotic races, they’re all after you, Lena!”
“Whatever, let’s go inside first.”
Lena interrupted Agnes, a smile on her face.
“Lena, are you even listening to me? Honestly!”
Agnes couldn’t stop Lena, so she could only watch as Lena entered the banquet hall, following close behind…
Guests poured in, filling the hall with noise and chatter.
As a special guest, Lena naturally received VIP treatment.
Following the attendant’s guidance, she and Agnes walked past the richly dressed nobles, who, upon seeing Lena’s face, all revealed expressions of intense desire.
Agnes felt the pressure mounting. “That’s enough, if you keep walking around like this, everyone will know you’re here.”
“Don’t worry, Professor.” Lena took two glasses of red wine from a passing cart. “Have a drink to calm your nerves, Mines, want some?”
“No, thank you, Master, I can’t drink.”
“What a pity.”
Lena downed her wine in one gulp, then turned to Agnes, raising an eyebrow.
“I won’t drink unless you leave now.”
The gentle threat was filled with Agnes’s concern for her student. She truly didn’t want Lena to get involved in this mess.
There were too many things involved, even she couldn’t guarantee her own safety, a testament to the complexity of the situation.
“Sigh, fine…” Lena sighed dramatically.
“You agree?” Agnes smiled, her gentle eyes almost melting Lena’s heart.
After all, an obedient student was a teacher’s delight. She would reward Lena later.
Lena: “Mm-hmm, I’ll find someone else to drink with~ Since Professor isn’t interested, then please excuse me~”
With that, she walked away.
“…” Agnes bit her lip, her ample bosom heaving slightly. “I give up, do as you please!”
…
Lena didn’t hear her; her attention was already focused on another beautiful girl.
From afar, she saw a beautiful girl with long, flowing hair, standing by the window like a graceful narcissus, admiring the moon.
Lena quickly escaped Agnes’s grasp, walking towards the girl with a glass of wine.
“Care for a drink?”
“No, I’m still young, I can’t drink alcohol.”
Vanessa’s sharp tongue was as charming as ever.
Lena sipped her wine, standing beside Vanessa, her demeanor relaxed and carefree. “Aren’t you going to ask how I got back?”
“I don’t want to know, you’re not worth my concern.”
“How mean…”
Lena had wanted to tease her, but Vanessa’s cold indifference only fueled her desire to continue the conversation.
She wanted to break through Vanessa’s facade.
To mold her into her own image.
To make this aloof flower fall into darkness, forever bound to her, becoming her slave…
Lena’s smile turned slightly wicked, then she quickly composed herself.
“My sister still isn’t talking to me, you have to help me ask her out.”
Vanessa turned her head, her elegant features like a work of art, her eyebrows and eyes remarkably similar to Angel’s, but lacking her youthful energy, replaced by a cold arrogance, like a pristine snow lotus untouched by the world.
She glanced at Lena, her voice cold. “Don’t forget our agreement, breaking promises is a sin in my eyes.”
“Helping you two reconcile, of course I remember. You two haven’t gotten along for years, the entire city knows.”
Lena swirled the wine in her glass, inhaling its rich aroma, her smile like a fox’s. “Actually, it’s not that difficult, it’s just that neither of you is willing to take the first step…”
“What do you mean?”
“The first step is always difficult and filled with fear. People often limit themselves, imagining obstacles, only to find them illusions. Perhaps what people lack the most is the courage to take that first step, and the determination not to turn back.”
Lena glanced at the podium. Mines was giving a speech on her behalf, her elegant demeanor earning applause, followed by Professor Witch, who said something that silenced the crowd…
Turning back to Vanessa, Lena continued, “You’re afraid of failure, afraid that taking that step will worsen your relationship with your sister. You keep thinking that if Angel comes to you, you’ll forgive her, and you two will reconcile. But have you considered that she might be thinking the same thing? It’s a vicious cycle.”
It was unclear whether Vanessa had listened; she remained silent and aloof, her thoughts unreadable.
“At least I’ll put in a good word for you with Angel, but not now.”
Lena nodded towards the entrance, where a girl with bright pink hair appeared, accompanied by Diana. They walked together, forming the prototype of the hero’s party.
Including Vanessa, three of the seven members of the hero’s party were present.
Excluding the hero, there were still three others who hadn’t appeared.
Lena pondered.
“When will the hero arrive? At this point, he should still be training in the Obsidian Mountains…”
Traveling from the Obsidian Mountains to the empire required crossing the vast Bis Wasteland, home to powerful monsters. Taking a detour would take several months…
“Lena… hey! Lena!”
“What?” Lena, her train of thought interrupted, was annoyed.
And an annoyed devil was a dangerous devil!
“I’ve been calling you for ages, why aren’t you responding?!” Vanessa’s beautiful eyes narrowed in disgust, as if she didn’t want to be associated with Lena. She pulled at her sleeve, then quickly let go, wiping her hand vigorously with a wet wipe. After using an entire pack, she finally spoke. “My sister is in trouble, go help her.”
Not far away, Angel was cornered against a wall by a drunken nobleman, who was guzzling wine, seemingly inviting the pure and innocent little idol to join him.
“Why don’t you go yourself?” Lena rolled her eyes. “Giving me the chance to play the hero, are you out of your mind?”
“You’re her girlfriend!” Vanessa retorted, her face flushing.
“You’re her sister.”
“Are you going or not?!”
“No.” Lena smirked, enjoying this. “You’re just a coward, relying on others to protect your sister, you spineless, cowardly sewer rat.”
“I’m not!” Vanessa’s neck turned crimson.
Her blood rushed to her head, alarm bells ringing in her mind.
“Then go save her yourself, this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, a damsel rescuing a damsel, tsk, tsk, it should earn you a lot of brownie points.” Lena’s expression was filled with schadenfreude, but her eyes never left Angel.
If that nobleman dared to touch Angel… hehehe… she would feed his hand to the ghouls.
Then slowly dismember him, letting the ghouls feast on his limbs, leaving him to die in pain and despair…
“Your smile is disgusting.”
“But many people say my smile is beautiful, only you find it disgusting, so whose judgment is flawed?” Lena ran a hand through her hair, the gray strands soft and fragrant. “Look, Angel is about to break, are you really not going to help?”
“I…”
Vanessa hesitated…
Looking at Lena, then at Angel, whose chest was about to be groped, she finally made up her mind!
“Sigh, I knew it, even the closest of siblings are no match for true love. Let me handle this, after all, a heartless sister is still… oh?”
Lena watched, her arms crossed.
The little beauty on the Rotten Wood Carpet seemed like a different person, her spatial magic ready.
She adjusted her pointed hat, flying towards Angel…
