Chapter 366: Counterattack
A starry night—on the observation deck high above the clouds. A tower that reached a hundred meters into the sky, tall enough to pluck the stars with one's hand. Glass and steel formed the wide, solid platform, and a specialized atmospheric control field kept the grass and flowers vibrant and alive. Soft illumination surrounded the terrace, making the garden glow as bright as day.
Tonight's open-air barbecue was held to celebrate the return of Sigurd and the others, and the end of the Herrscher of Corruption incident.
It wasn't a lavish affair; the ingredients were nothing more than ordinary meats and vegetables, no different from what anyone else might use. But among them were several skilled cooks—Sigurd himself being a molecular gastronomy expert—so the aroma that filled the air was mouthwateringly rich.
In the midst of the cheerful, easygoing atmosphere, Kiana stood stiffly before Fu Hua and Senti, blushing from ear to ear as she bowed deeply.
"Fu Hua-sensei, Senti—I'm sorry!"
Senti, who was clinging to Fu Hua's waist with her face buried in her shoulder, let out a muffled grumble—too quiet to make out the words. Though Kiana was the one at fault this time, Senti was the one who'd been utterly humiliated. For someone as proud as her, falling victim to an aphrodisiac by accident was the kind of blunder that made it hard to even show her face.
Fu Hua gently stroked Senti's head, trying to keep her usual calm smile, though a trace of awkwardness lingered on her face.
"Ahem—well, just don't do it again."
Fu Hua sighed helplessly and cast a sidelong glance at Sigurd, who was busy grilling meat. Her gaze carried quiet reproach.
Sigurd looked back at her and said, "I should apologize too. Poor discipline on my part—I've caused you trouble."
Fu Hua exhaled softly. "Forget it. Senti was noisy and careless too, and in the end, no real harm was done. Just take it as a lesson for both sides."
She patted Senti's head again. What else could she do? She couldn't really scold Kiana too harshly, and as for Senti—though she was the victim—there was no point berating her either. And as for Sigurd… well, there was even less she could do there. Honestly, even if something had really happened, she doubted she'd be able to stay angry at him for long…
Fu Hua shook her head quickly, chasing away that strange thought.
Senti gave a small growl and punched Fu Hua lightly in the waist.
"You Old Timer! Whose side are you even on!?"
"I'm on the side of reason. Also, my Soulium body isn't that tough—ease up a bit, that actually hurt."
"…Forget it! Forget everything that happened today! Don't make me erase your memories!"
"Don't be ridiculous. You should learn something from this. You're far too mischievous these days."
"Hmph!"
Her sulky huff made her mood obvious. Still, she restrained herself from roughhousing any further—settling instead for the classic move most girls used: twisting Fu Hua's waist gently in mock punishment.
Fu Hua let her vent, chuckling softly with patient affection.
Watching the two, Kiana blinked and figured the matter was more or less settled. She trotted over to Sigurd's side and plopped down beside him.
"Ahh, I'm so tired…"
She let out a long breath, leaning her head on his shoulder as her eyelids drooped. After everything that had happened today, both her mind and body were exhausted. If she hadn't been determined to apologize to Fu Hua and Senti in person, she'd have gone straight to bed already.
Just then, Sigurd handed her a skewer of grilled green peppers.
"Sniff sniff—nooo, not peppers! I want meat!"
Her cheeks puffed up adorably, her soft pink lips catching the lamplight in a way that made them almost glow.
Sigurd's gaze deepened for a second before he swapped it out for a skewer of grilled pork belly instead. After recovering her hybrid Kaslana–Herrscher physique, Kiana's nutrition intake could be relaxed a bit. For now, keeping her happy was the real priority.
But instead of taking the skewer, Kiana just slumped lazily against him, her voice turning sugary-sweet.
"Sig, feed me~"
"If I feed you, I can't keep grilling."
"You've got the machines doing it anyway! Come on, feed meee~"
"Sigh~ you really are a spoiled little slacker."
Sigurd didn't argue further. With one hand, he gently pinched her cheek to make her open her mouth, and with the other, he fed her a piece of grilled meat. The skewers on the rack rotated automatically—he hadn't bothered making a fully automated barbecue system only because it was more fun and homely this way. Technically, he could have done it easily.
Kiana chewed happily, her lips glistening with oil, eyes half-closed in bliss like a small, satisfied animal enjoying her meal.
The scene made quite a few of the girls nearby feel a pang of jealousy.
And then—
Clink!
The sharp sound of a fork scraping against a porcelain plate came from a nearby table.
Kiana's cheeks puffed as she chewed, glancing toward the direction of the voice. Then her movements froze, and she quickly looked away in guilt.
There stood Bronya, her expression cold, eyes sharp as ice.
Sigurd lecturing Kiana was nothing new—it was practically a daily ritual. But today, he'd scolded her for half the day, and when night came, Kiana showed up all docile and tired, carrying the faint scent of perfume after a fresh bath.
Bronya wasn't stupid. She'd even checked Kiana's room logs—there was no denying what had happened.
Oh, what a pair. Sigurd. Kiana. While she'd been buried in work all day, those two had been off somewhere, wrapped up in each other, being all sweet and lovey-dovey.
Unforgivable!
Sigurd, sensing the burning chill of Bronya's glare, reached over and placed a few skewers of grilled meat on her plate.
"Hmph."
Bronya's face remained stiff as stone, her cold eyes still fixed on the two.
Eventually, Kiana couldn't take the pressure. She grabbed a few skewers off the grill, opened a black hole behind her, and fell backward into it.
"I'm not feeling well. I'll go sleep first. You two… take your time."
And with that, she vanished along with the swirling vortex.
Sigurd looked down at the half-eaten skewer in his hand. The top piece of meat still bore the shape of Kiana's bite marks. He stared at it, lost in thought.
But Bronya gave him no time to think. She sat down right beside him and said coolly,
"Feed me."
"Do you mind Kiana's saliva, or should I get a new one?"
"The top piece—you eat that. The rest, Bronya will have."
"Alright."
Sigurd bit off the top piece, the one with Kiana's bite mark, and then held the rest up to Bronya's lips.
The sour scent of jealousy thickened in the air once more.
Only Sin Mal watched in silence, unsure which of the two girls she was supposed to envy more.
. . .
Later that night, when the barbecue party finally ended, Sigurd returned to his room—only to find a certain little tuna already curled up under his blanket, fast asleep.
She hadn't come to bother him the first night, so he knew she'd insist on sharing the bed the second. He was mentally prepared.
Thankfully, Bronya had dragged Sin Mal away at the end—otherwise, things would've been way too crowded.
Sigurd sighed, looking at the bundled-up girl.
"At least sleep in a normal position… You'll strain your neck like that. Ah, forget it—she'll just roll around anyway."
He tugged the blanket gently, uncovering her face so she could breathe more easily. Then, he headed into the bathroom to take a shower.
When he came out, wrapped in a bathrobe, something soft and warm dropped from the ceiling.
He reached out instinctively, catching the petite girl in his arms—one hand resting against her plump, springy bottom. The feel of her was so perfect his fingers itched to sink in.
Sigurd narrowed his eyes, glancing down into a pair of calm, silvery-gray eyes.
"A night raid, huh?"
"Am I not allowed?" Bronya's voice was quiet but firm. "Kiana spent half the day with you. She even got your ring… and then made love with you again, behind my back. Even Bronya, as understanding as she is, can still get jealous."
"…You drank it?"
"Bronya did." Bronya nodded seriously, arms looping around his neck.
Then, she added with that same frosty composure,
"If you don't believe me… you can taste it yourself."
"Kiana's still asleep in there."
"Doesn't that make it even more exciting? Besides…" She leaned in closer, her voice a whisper of heat. "Sigurd must've noticed, right? Right now—Bronya's not wearing anything."
"…"
Sigurd's fingers flexed slightly, confirming the truth of her words through touch—the smooth softness, the unmistakable curves.
She tilted her head upward, her pale, adorable face drawing closer.
His lips curved faintly. The cool, restrained look in his eyes darkened, taking on a dangerous edge.
"You shouldn't tease a fusion warrior like me."
"Will the consequences be serious?"
"Yes."
"Then Bronya… is ready to face them."
And with that, her lips brushed against his cheek.
The night stretched on, long enough for Bronya to pour out all her longing and affection.
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