"Scylla, did your Master answer the doubts in your heart?"
"Of course."
Calypso and Scylla sat at the table, chatting casually.
Seeing the curiosity and longing in her friend's eyes, Scylla smiled faintly and lifted her teacup to take a small sip.
"Eh? Master is really that amazing? He can even do something like this?"
Scylla glanced at her friend. "Of course. He is our all-powerful Master. Problems that seem impossible to us are nothing at all in front of him~"
"Eh~" Calypso's eyes sparkled with curiosity. "Scylla, tell me! I'm so curious—Master isn't even a repair ship. How did he solve your problem?"
"Hehe…" Scylla set down her teacup. "Even a repair ship couldn't have solved this one…"
"Ah?" Calypso propped her chin in her hand. "Now you've made me even more curious…"
"Alright, alright. Since you're so curious, I'll satisfy you… for now. But," Scylla added, a mischievous grin spreading across her face, "next time you get the chance to clean Master's room, you'll have to give it to me."
Calypso pouted.
She wanted to clean Master's room properly too…
In the port, with so many maids, such opportunities only came every few days.
"What's the matter, can't bear to part with it?" Scylla teased. "If you can't, then forget it…"
"Anyway, I want to keep Master's little secrets to myself~"
Calypso hesitated, torn between curiosity and desire, before finally extending her small hand. "You have to make it worth my while."
"Of course~"
Scylla recalled the events of that day, curling her toes inside her heels instinctively, as if the warmth of that milky heat still lingered beneath her feet.
…
To Levi's surprise, Scylla's task hadn't been completed—but it hadn't failed either.
By his understanding, normally, a task either completed or failed would refresh automatically the next day.
If a task was completed, after claiming the reward, even the reward would update to a new one.
But now, both the task and reward in the system panel remained unchanged. For a moment, Levi wondered if time itself had stopped.
"Master, Scylla has come for her second treatment session."
Scylla's complexion was much improved from yesterday, though traces of the previous day's events were still visible.
"Did you sleep well last night?"
"Thanks to you, yes—much better." Scylla smiled brightly. "But… my body still seems to need further treatment."
"I understand." Levi nodded.
Since the system task hadn't been marked complete, it was clear there were still unresolved issues. It made sense that Scylla came back to continue seeking his help.
"Did you have any dreams last night?"
"Last night…" Scylla sat across from Levi, lifting her legs skillfully and placing her feet in familiar positions. "Just like now, I was serving you this way, and then…"
Levi reached out, feeling the silk against his fingers. "And then?"
"And then…" Scylla's delicate movements, agile as a silken thread, pressed on, "I dreamed that you were no longer satisfied with just this angle…"
Levi understood immediately. Following her description, he cleared the tabletop and gave her enough space to lie down comfortably.
"And then… like this…" Scylla's cheeks flushed with embarrassment. With a gentle but firm grip, she wrapped her arms around Levi like a small octopus, guiding him into the pose from her dream. "Master, like this… yes, here…"
Levi couldn't help but laugh through his exasperation.
Wasn't this the same position he had used during Time Stop? She wanted to replicate it exactly?
"Master, you seem to understand?"
"Yes." Levi took charge without hesitation. "I think… I roughly know what comes next in your dream."
"Mm…"
"Master is really that incredible? You already know what I want to do next, without me saying a word?"
"Yes." Levi snapped his fingers, placing Scylla into a hypnotic state.
"Tell me everything that happened that day, truthfully."
Levi suspected that Scylla hadn't revealed everything. While no shipgirl could truly deceive him, it didn't mean they would volunteer every single detail.
Using his ability, Levi ensured he could uncover exactly what Scylla experienced.
Under hypnosis, Scylla revealed all her thoughts and feelings, in perfect detail.
Up until yesterday, everything she had done was completely honest.
The Time Stop had caused abnormal reactions, but Levi's treatment had fully restored her to normal.
Today's "second treatment" was merely an excuse for her to return.
"Heh…" Levi's expression betrayed no surprise.
If you can't resist hypnosis, can't resist an advance, and your mental cube is at my control… how could you possibly fool me?
…
Scylla felt herself slip into another state again.
When she woke, her entire body tingled and ached, as if from intense exercise.
"Mm… Master?"
"I've thoroughly examined your body." Levi sat behind the desk, looking at Scylla resting on the sofa. "There are no remaining issues."
"As a punishment, your chance to clean my room this time will be revoked and given to Calypso."
"Ah? Ah… no, Master~" Scylla's protest was weak. She understood Levi had seen through her intentions. Though she didn't know how he discovered everything, all resistance was futile.
Levi lifted his gaze. "Dissatisfied?"
Scylla lowered her head. "N… no…"
Levi sighed. "Next time, you may try a different method. Just… don't do it this way."
"Master, you don't understand how fierce the competition for this chance is…"
"That still won't work. That's the bottom line."
Levi stood, catching Scylla by surprise, and lifted her up. "I understand your feelings, but using excuses to sneak away isn't acceptable."
"I'll always be with you, so being honest might actually work better, you know?"
"Then… should I just say it directly?"
"Yes. Say it."
Scylla leaned close to Levi's ear, her voice soft, seductive, and tempting. "Master… please love me once more~"