Chapter 444: The Game

“Such a nice room.”

After a few brief pleasantries, Anna began strolling leisurely through the Saintess’s “boudoir.”

Her gaze swept over the orderly bookshelf, the messy desk, the magic stones shedding warm light, and the various simple yet solemn decorations that nonetheless highlighted the Saintess’s identity.

At last, it fell upon the conspicuous large bed deeper inside the room.

It really was a very large bed. Even if two people were to have a sweaty, hand-to-hand tussle upon it, there would be ample space; if lying flat, it could probably accommodate six or seven people with ease.

For a Saintess, having such a bed was, in fact, quite normal.

Anna wandered to the bedside as if merely browsing, her palm slowly gliding over the pink bedsheet and the goose-down quilt as though she were carefully appraising a work of art.

Then she brought her hand to her nose and sniffed lightly.

...There was nothing unusual about the scent.

Aside from the faint body fragrance that came from Liya herself, there was no other smell at all.

Of course—Holy Light could purify everything; any scent not belonging to this Saintess herself—

As for any other residue, before a cleanliness-loving Saintess, it was even less likely to be left behind.

However...

Out of the corner of her eye, Anna glanced at the head of the bed... two pillows.

Tiny chibi octopuses were embroidered on the pillows; they actually looked rather cute. The tentacles of the pink octopuses curled so that where the two pillows touched, they formed a heart shape with **.

This Saintess truly had quite a “girl’s heart.”

“This bed is so soft; lying on it must be very comfortable.”

Anna praised softly, as if sincerely complimenting the bed itself; then, incidentally, she bent forward, wanting to see what material the mattress was made of.

The movement was extremely natural.

“Senior Anna!”

But just as she was about to bend down completely, Liya called out to stop her.

“W-would you like something to drink?”

Not far away, Liya held a kettle in her hands. Her movements were elegant, but her eyes were fixed tightly on Anna:

“Coffee... or tea? The Holy City’s spring tea is famous and right in season—I highly recommend it.”

“Didn’t I say you can just call me Anna?”

Anna brushed a strand of hair back gently.

“Tea, then. I quite like green tea—especially the kind that sprouts within just one short month. The aroma is wonderful.”

“...”

Liya’s hand paused for an instant, though the smile at her lips didn’t change:

“I think I’ll keep calling you Senior Anna. After all, you are my senior; you’re a tiny bit older than me, and calling you that feels more intimate—just like a certain someone does, right?

As for green tea... the Church’s spring tea isn’t green tea, you know. It seems Senior Anna’s taste isn’t all that refined.”

“...You’re right; fair point. I don’t really know much about tea.”

Anna’s eyes curved into crescents, her smile bright—and for some reason, the magic stones in the room flickered once.

“Running low on mana, maybe?”

Ariel noticed, but only idly wondered about it, then paid it no mind and soon focused on the tea Liya was brewing with her own hands.

“Please.”

Liya’s motions were practiced; the faint fragrance of several cups of hot tea quickly spread through the room, leaving Anna no chance to continue wandering about.

After a brief hesitation, Anna still rose, and under Liya’s watching gaze left the bedside for the moment, lifting a cup with slender fingers to taste it carefully.

...

“Phew...”

Under the bed, Muen was already drenched in cold sweat.

Though the constant twinge of a death premonition sped his heartbeat and quickened his breath, he still forced himself to hold his breath, slow his heartbeat, even compel the flow of blood in his body to ease.

Because he understood just how sensitive his dear Senior Anna’s sense of smell was.

Releasing perception in another’s room would be tantamount to a declaration of war, so Anna naturally wouldn’t do that; yet with her terrifying sense of smell alone, any mouse hiding in the shadows could not escape her.

So when he glimpsed, through the half-draped bed skirt, Anna’s legs wrapped in black stockings, Muen felt as though Death itself were tracing a scythe along his neck.

Thankfully...

The Holy Light Liya unconsciously let seep into the room filled it, seemingly nullifying Anna’s sense of smell.

Even so, Muen dared not relax—because... the night was long.

Meanwhile, the three lovely girls getting along so well had already begun their true, knee-to-knee chat.

...

...

Smiles and easy laughter; a harmonious mood; their conversation seemed to bubble with pink sparkles and halos.

After all, the three of them had once been students at the same academy; naturally, they could find topics to talk about.

But as she watched Liya over here pressing her lips in a smile, and Anna over there covering her mouth with a soft laugh, Ariel... began to feel dissatisfied.

Such ordinary chatter did fit her imagination, but... what she sought wasn’t progressing at all.

Her knife was already sharpened, and yet these two beauties were still chatting about the academy’s strange rumors—with even tabloid gossip mixed in about that annoying guy, Muen Campbell?

How could that be allowed?

It seemed... the plot needed a little push.

Ariel made up her mind in secret, then clapped her hands to draw their attention.

“Ladies, just chatting like this isn’t very fun, don’t you think?”

“Oh?”

Anna obligingly arched a brow.

“What does Ariel mean...?”

“I mean...”

Ariel smiled mysteriously.

“How about we play a little game?”

“A little game?”

“Yes.”

Ariel pulled a deck of playing cards—long prepared—out from her bosom, and said excitedly:

“Let’s play cards! Of course, ordinary card games are boring, so let’s make it more thrilling.”

“More thrilling?”

“The kind with punishments. If you lose, you take a penalty. Isn’t that fun?” Ariel wagged her head with an impish expression.

“A very scary kind of penalty.”

“Uh...”

Liya hesitated; she wasn’t very good with card games. After all, if she looked back over the last full ten years, she’d been ceaselessly striving for the Saintess’s seat.

Anna, however, looked quite interested.

“Oh? And what would the penalty be?”

“Um...”

Ariel froze—she actually hadn’t thought that far ahead. She only wanted to heat up the atmosphere to make it easier to close the distance.

At that moment—while neither Ariel nor Liya noticed—Anna’s lips subtly curved into a smile Muen knew all too well... a little devil’s smile.

“How about this: since there’s a penalty, then each round’s loser must carry out one command from ❀ Nоvеlігht ❀ (Don’t copy, read here) the winner, or answer one question from the winner. How does that sound?”

“Truth or Dare?”

Ariel’s eyes shone.

Suddenly, this beautiful senior seemed all the more captivating. Truth or Dare—wasn’t that the favorite game of every would-be seduc—no, of every master of romance aiming to step into a beautiful girl’s heart?

Second only to the legendary strip poker!

“Something like that.”

Anna nodded, then looked at Liya with a hint of provocation:

“How about it? If you don’t like it, Liya, we can—”

“Of course it’s fine.”

Liya only pondered a moment; then, lifting her swanlike neck, she refused to concede even an inch.

“It’s just a game. How could I spoil Senior’s fun?”

“Hehe, that’s true.”

Anna’s beautiful eyes narrowed slightly; the tear-mole at the corner made her look even more alluring.

“It’s only a small game, after all.”